Carrie Underwood doesn’t eat meat, but she doesn’t mind if you do.

“My parents have cows,” she says. “They have cattle that put me through college so I respect the industry. It’s why I don’t preach, but I also don’t expect people to preach to me. Every once in a while, someone will come up and say, ‘You’re from Oklahoma, you need to blah, blah, blah,’ and it’s like, ‘Nope. My body, my money.’ I buy the food I want and put it into my body. I’m not going to tell you what you can or can’t buy and put into your body. I don’t defend myself. I just tell them to buzz off.”

Underwood quit eating beef when she was about 13 years old and gave up fish a few years later. She never liked pork and dropped chicken and turkey from her diet about three years ago. For breakfast, she may prepare organic, cage-free egg whites with vegetarian bacon or vegetarian sausage; she’s also a fan of yogurt and toast, as well as Kashi waffles without syrup. After snuggling with her dog, Ace, for a few minutes after waking up, she likes to work up a sweat on the elliptical machine or go for a run/walk.

For people who are considering going vegetarian, Underwood believes it’s not such an obstacle.

“Everybody thinks, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so hard. That sounds like it’s so hard.’ It’s really, really not. It’s just a way of life and I don’t preach at all. If people ask me questions like, ‘What do you eat?’ or ‘How do you do this?’ I’ll answer questions, but I don’t like, ‘Oh my gosh, you eat meat? That’s so gross! I can’t believe it. You can’t eat within five feet of me.’ That’s stupid. It’s a personal decision. It’s just not as hard as you think it is.”
 

Ribs are the first thing I order at any barbecue restaurant, and the ones at Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue in Kansas City are delectable. I’ll order them next time, too, but on my next trip, I’ll arrive as hungry as possible, because I’m also a big fan of the burnt ends. These are one of the Jack Stack house specialties – small chunks of meat that are tender in the middle, but seared to be crispy on the outside. I could have eaten a bowlful like cereal.

Fiorella’s Jack Stack BBQ is now 50 years old, still family-owned and has four locations in the Kansas City area. The restaurant’s atmosphere is clubby but comfortable, and I can’t imagine any meat-eater going hungry at this establishment. I struggled to decide what to order, because of the overwhelming menu, so I just went with my waiter’s recommendation – ribs and burnt ends. The table service was terrific but don’t expect white linens. In fact, the napkins on my visit were burgundy-colored, just like the robust barbecue sauce. Next time I’ll order hickory pit beans (and skip the fries), and maybe savor a glass of red wine from their extensive list. The moist, homemade carrot cake will put you over the top, but it’s worth it.

The most eye-popping photo in their mail-order catalog is the meal titled “18th & Vine Legend,” inspired by Kansas City’s once-bustling jazz district. The package includes pork spare ribs, sliced brisket, two signature sides, sauces and an all-purpose rub – the only thing missing is a big box of beef burnt ends. The catalog also features chopped pork, chopped beef, hickory-roasted whole chicken, sausage and lamb, not to mention the ultimate dessert, cheesecake. That ought to make you think twice about sticking to your ribs.

Every kid wants a dog, but not every parent is sold on the idea. Aside from weighing the responsibilities involved in caring for a pet, adults sometimes fear they can’t trust their children with a new furry friend. Could the dog be dangerous? Will he be able to put up with the manhandling he’s bound to endure at the hands of his young pals?

Just like people, dogs have personalities, and some are better able to deal with children than others. There are no real hard-and-fast rules, and you can find good-tempered, patient individual dogs in every breed. But in general, experts say, if you have small children, stick with small dogs who are less active. A big, boisterous playful dog is likely to accidentally mow right over a tiny tot. And with a small dog, if he does at some point nip at a child, he can’t do as much damage as a large breed.

According to The Reader’s Digest Illustrated Book of Dogs, here are a few of the best breeds for families (especially with young children):

Beagle: Beagles are good-natured, friendly and relatively small. You rarely see one without his tail wagging.

English Cocker Spaniel: Gentle and loyal, the English Cocker makes a devoted friend.

Golden Retriever: An ideal family dog, the Golden Retriever is calm, gentle, loyal and intelligent, which makes him easy to train.

Pug: Pugs are quite even-tempered, mischievous and downright funny. Even though they’re small, they’re sturdy — almost like a big dog that’s been shrunk — so they can handle some roughhousing.

Labrador Retriever: They don’t come any smarter, gentler or more patient than a Lab, and those are prized traits when it comes to living with kids.

Jason Aldean used to hit the gym every day, but now that he’s about to start his first headlining tour, he’s sure to indulge in his favorite athletic pursuit – golf.

“I’ve been playing golf for about 10 years but I could never really afford to go that much,” he says. “I’d play five or six times a year, and now we’ve got a good system going – we’ll trade tickets to our show if they’ll let us come play golf. It’s a pretty good deal. Now I get to go about three or four times a week, and that’s only been going on for the last two or three years.”

He says that fresh air is reason enough to visit the local country club. “It really clears up your head a little bit. It gets you ready for the next 16-hour trip that you’re about to take. It gives us a chance to get off the bus and do something. Otherwise, I think you go stir crazy. Buses are nice these days, don’t get me wrong, I love it, but at the same time, you can only be on there for so long before you start going crazy and have to get off.”

Since he’s been heavily touring over the last two or three years, his golf game has improved gradually, but he acknowledges that his game is not quite up to par – or would that be under par? “I’ve gotten to where I’m pretty consistent, as far as hitting drives on the fairway. Now, that being said, my second shot leaves a lot to be desired,” he says. “If I can ever figure out how to get from the middle of the fairway on the drive, to on the green in two, I might be doing all right. That’s what I’m working on next.”
 

More than any other time of the year, the holidays are about tradition. Many country stars also have at least one thing they revisit every season that makes the holidays special — a food, a song, a visit to a special friend, you name it.
 
Jack Ingram has a classic gift-giving tradition: “On Christmas Eve, I listen to ‘Pretty Paper’ by Willie Nelson and wrap all the presents that should have been wrapped before Christmas Eve but aren’t,” he says. “Then I wait up all night to see if Santa Claus will come down the chimney. Then I wake up all the kids at 5 in the morning and ask, ‘Is it time yet?’”
 
Blake Shelton shares his holiday with a longtime country favorite. “About 15 years ago, I moved to Nashville and worked for Anne Murray’s publishing company,” he remembers. “While I was there I ‘borrowed’ one of her Christmas albums. It has become a Christmas tradition that I play the album every year. I don’t listen to a lot of Christmas albums, but Anne Murray tops my list every year.”

Sunny Sweeney remembers learning about giving during the Christmas seasons of her childhood. “When I was little, Momma and I would go deliver meals on wheels to people who couldn’t leave their houses,” she says. “We did that for years when it was just the two of us.”
 
Friends are a big part of the holidays for some artists. “It’s a tradition back home in North Carolina that, on every Christmas Eve, my family and I go to a close friend’s house, have dinner, and gather up all the kids — even the young ones — and play a game of hide-and-go-seek,” says Jimmy Wayne. “Sometimes it last for a few hours.”
 
Says singer-songwriter Lori McKenna, “My husband and the kids and I walk to my neighbors house every year for New Year’s. We like staying home on New Years Eve — and this is perfect because it’s a party where the kids are welcome and it is within walking distance, even in the snow.”
 
“When I get home to Georgia for Christmas and Thanksgiving, I go see a lot of buddies,” says Luke Bryan. “My dad has some land, and we’ll get a jeep and ride around and quail-hunt and talk and visit and hang out. It’s more of a social thing than hunting.”
 
That’s nice — just don’t shoot any reindeer!
 

If you love Southern cooking, bring your appetite and your manners to Monell’s, where they know how to make you feel welcome. Located in the Germantown neighborhood of Nashville, Monell’s resides in a beautiful 1880s Victorian home. A garden with trees, flowers and bumblebees line the path leading to the side entrance of this eating oasis.

Don’t be alarmed if you’re seated with strangers, because they won’t be strangers for long. You’ll be led to a large wooden table with other guests, usually around ten people, sharing the same one-of-a-kind experience. A choice of tea, sweet tea and fruit tea will be at the table when you sit down. Since there is no menu and you don’t have to order, this cuts down on waiting time. Cole slaw usually starts the parade of food, then an assortment of breads. Without delay, an overwhelming aroma soon hits. You’re ready to feast: Fried chicken, homemade mashed potatoes, chicken and dumplings, corn, green beans and as much cornbread as you can handle. If your plate begins to run low, a friendly waitress is always ready to fill each bowl with fresh fixin’s. And don’t forget to leave some room for the end of the meal, as a savory pudding is brought to the table. (The banana pudding is just divine.) Even more important to remember: ALWAYS pass to the left.

Lunch is served Monday through Friday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday and breakfast and lunch Saturday and Sunday. A meal will cost about $15 but it’s worth every penny. There are no reservations at Monell’s, so it’s first come, first serve. You’ll feel quite at home with this pleasant atmosphere, but let me warn you — you may need to unfasten a button or two and don’t forget to allot at least an hour of naptime afterwards.

For years now, I’ve kept a clipped-out recipe for shrimp and grits on my refrigerator. I’ve had it so long that I don’t remember the restaurant behind it, but I’m betting it’s the Hominy Grill in Charleston, S.C., because when I ordered a big plate of shrimp and grits from the delightful eatery a few months ago, it tasted precisely as I expected –creamy, delicious and fresh, with snips of bacon and scallions to top it off. I should have ordered seconds. Too bad I was so stuffed from the moist cornbread with huckleberries and a small plate of pimiento cheese. If you ever need a favor from me, bribe me with pimiento cheese.

If you go to Charleston, and the weather is agreeable, consider walking around or renting a bicycle in the historic area. It’s a magnificent view of the city, with gorgeous houses lined up like soldiers. If you’re on foot, you can read the historic plaques and maybe step into a home tour. If you look out on the water far enough, you’ll see Fort Sumter, where the opening shots of the Civil War were fired. The architecture of the churches is inspiring, especially framed by the diamond towers of the Cooper River Bridge. If you gawk long enough, you’ll certainly work up an appetite.

I couldn’t resist returning to Hominy Grill the next morning for brunch. Banana bread was the first order of the day – in addition to a pleasant cup of coffee. Fried green tomatoes are always a sure way into my heart. In time, I savored every bite of a breakfast casserole from the specials board but I am so grateful that I saved room for chocolate pudding. I think the neighbors over the patio fence could hear me scraping the bowl with my licked-clean spoon.

Cold winter weather brings new challenges for both indoor and outdoor pets. When the weather outside gets frightful, check out this checklist to keep Fido’s life delightful:

Cold weather can aggravate arthritis, which is most common in older pets but can occur at an early age, especially in overweight animals. If your dog or cat has trouble getting up, lying down or climbing stairs, talk to your veterinarian. You might consider giving your pet glucosamine, a dietary supplement that many find relieves joint pain. It’s available in some brands of pet food, and in tablet form at most supermarkets and health food stores. But never give your pet human pain medications without checking with your vet first. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be toxic to animals.

Be careful when you change antifreeze. Dogs and cats love the sweet taste, but it can be deadly. Consider switching to animal-friendly antifreeze, which costs a bit more but is safe for pets.

If you have an outdoor pet, make sure it has shelter and plenty of straw or warm bedding, and replace it if it gets wet. Don’t use an electric heater made for your home, which is a common cause of fires. When it snows, check your pet’s paws for ice balls or injuries. Keep hair around paw pads trimmed to prevent buildup of ice and snow.
 
Break the ice! Fresh water is crucial, even in winter, so check your outdoor pet’s water dish regularly. Not all pets know how to break through a frozen surface to get to the H20 below. Investing in a heated bowl, available at most pet supply stores, will solve the problem. If the temperature falls way below freezing, it’s too cold even for outdoor pets to stay outside, so bring them in!

Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook and Karen Fairchild are partners in marriage – and in the gym, too.

“We like to work out together,” Karen says. “We try not to talk too much business while we’re working out, and plus we like to hold each other accountable for staying in shape. We hadn’t been very good at in the last year, because we had gotten so busy, and in the last few months, it’s picked up again. We said, ‘OK, we’ve got to be disciplined.’ It’s a chance to clear our heads together and be away from everyone else on the road, and to be a couple.”

With a boost from a personal trainer, they gravitate toward circuit training, because it hits so many body parts in a short amount of time. Jimi, fellow LBT member Philip Sweet and the guys in their touring band are also partial to basketball on the road. “That’s some of the best cardio you can get because you’re constantly moving,” Jimi says.

“That’s fun for the boys,” Karen adds. “I like to do yoga too. That’s a newfound interest for me. Sugarland is really into yoga. I had taken about 10 classes or so, and now that we’re on tour with them, I’ve been taking more classes with them. It’s great to give your mind a break, and the stretching. You have to be pretty strong to do some of those positions.”

In the last few years, Jimi and Karen have discovered a feeling of peace that goes along with skiing, citing Crested Butte and Steamboat Springs, Colo., among their favorite slopes. With the fourth member, Kimberly Roads, heavily devoted to her fitness routine on the road (as well as bringing along her new baby on tour), the band members simply can’t shrug off an afternoon of exercise.

“We don’t really have an excuse on our bus,” says Karen, “other than just laziness.”

Does leather ever go out of style? Not for some people. If you’re in love with leather, you’re at the forefront of fashion these days. This fall, leather jackets are as plentiful as falling leaves– and just as colorful. Beyond the classic brown and black, you’ll spot shades of cream, gold, green and this season’s trendiest color for everything, gray.
 
Nowhere are the color choices greater than in the season’s hottest style, the motocross jacket. Short and sassy, with multiple zippers, pockets or other smart touches, motocross jackets come in colors ranging from bright green and orange to classic black. Gucci, Hermes, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton and other top designers featured the jackets in their fall collections, and nearly every retail store stocks some version of the style.
 
If you like your rawhide to cover a little more hide, there are plenty of longer, more fitted leather options, like the rich brown blazer Danielle Peck wore at a Major League Baseball playoff game (left). Styles with a tucked-in waist highlight curves, something everyone loves. Luckily, the hourglass silhouette is another of the season’s hottest trends.

Guys are getting in on the leather fun as well. “I worked with Bucky Covington on his last video, and we put him in a cool, distressed motocross jacket,” says Libby Callaway, stylist and fashion columnist for the Nashville City Paper.

Leather isn’t cheap, but you don’t have to spend $900 for one of the designer looks. One great thing about a hot trend is everyone jumps on board, so you’ll find stylish lower-priced options in lots of department stores. This is one fashionable item that’s definitely worth it — a wardrobe must-have that works wonders. “It can dress down a skirt or dress up jeans,” says Callaway. “Everything looks good with a leather jacket.”