Georgia
6 things only Georgia locals know
I can still hear my parent’s voices after we moved to the state of Georgia when I was a child. They couldn’t believe the way Southerners pronounced DeKalb County (the L is silent), and that was only the beginning of the way things sound different in the Peach State.
After spending most of my life living in and around different parts of the state, I now call myself a true Georgia peach. I’m astute in our cultural and conversational ways. I’ve helped colleagues from other parts of the country adjust to living in Atlanta, and given a few lighthearted pointers about our local words and phrases.
Here are the six most important things you should know before visiting Georgia, especially if it’s your first time in the state.
1. Pack plenty of lightweight clothing
There’s a reason why those of us who live in Georgia prioritize linen, cotton and other lightweight fabrics, especially in the summer months. Average temperatures dance in the lower 90s (Fahrenheit), but locals are quick to tell you, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” Around 70% humidity is the average for the state. If you’re not used to what that may feel like, “soupy” is a great adjective to describe the feeling of Georgia’s humid summer air. If you visit during the summer, plan to drink plenty of water – it’s necessary to fight heat exhaustion.
Outside of summer, temperatures and humidity levels are much more mild and pleasant.
2. Don’t forget your allergy medicine
If you’re planning to visit in spring, prepare for allergies, or at least the occasional sneeze. Cities throughout the state have landscaped public areas with too many male trees and not enough of their female counterparts, so many parts of Georgia get covered in pollen. If you see a yellow coating of dust, you’ll know it’s springtime in Georgia, when most locals hope for rain to wash it all away. Even if you’ve never really experienced allergies before, sometimes the intensity of the pollen here can affect you.
3. We love y’all and bless your heart
Travel across the state and you’re likely to come across a number of different southern accents, but there are a few phrases that are universal no matter where you visit. The most common colloquialism is the contraction of “you” and “all.” Use it and y’all will see how it comes in handy. (If I were talking to someone from Georgia, I’d combine “y’all” and “will” to say “y’all’ll,” but that’s an intermediate level of southern speak, so we’ll save more of that lesson for another day.)
Pay close attention if someone tells you, “bless your heart.” Depending on their tone and the context, this could mean they truly wish the best for you, or that they’re showing you sympathy. However, a slight change in tone changes the intent; it could also be used to say they think you’re stupid.
4. Some local name pronunciations are unexpected
I shared how my parents were surprised by the pronunciation of DeKalb County many years ago. There are many more counties, cities and street names with unexpected pronunciations. For example, Houston County in middle Georgia is not pronounced the same way as the city in Texas. The “Hou” is pronounced as “how,” so Houston sounds like “How-ston.”
Even the way locals pronounce the name of our capital city, Atlanta, is a little different than other parts of the country. Most people in metro Atlanta will drop the second t (some drop both), so the city is pronounced more like “Atlanna” or “Alanna.” Most people will know you’re a visitor by the way you pronounce these names. No one expects you to know these – just make sure you don’t say “Hotlanta.”

5. Acknowledging strangers is common
What do you do when you’re walking on a sidewalk and pass by someone walking in the other direction? In many parts of Georgia, the customary thing to do is to make eye contact with them and give a nod or smile. Some people will take the greeting a step further with a quick verbal greeting. None of this is intended to stop or even slow down your stride; it’s all done in passing.
This is one of the ways Georgia residents express southern hospitality, but there are many ways you could encounter this while visiting the state. A stranger could start a friendly conversation with you while waiting in line. Or if passersby perceive you need help, such as if you’re having car trouble or a flat bike tire, some people will stop to offer assistance.
None of these examples are universal, especially in the cities. But if you do run into a stranger who offers a friendly hello, don’t think it’s strange! It’s part of Georgia’s local culture.
6. You’ll never be too far from a Waffle House
My last tip won’t make or break your trip, but it is an observation many people who aren’t from Georgia find amusing. Georgia is the land of Waffle House. The first one opened in 1955 in Avondale Estates, Georgia, so we naturally embrace our home state’s diner. We also have more than 400 of the restaurants in the state. Get off any highway exit in Georgia, and you’ll probably spot a Waffle House, or even two.
Georgia
Georgia fans react to Carson Beck’s national championship interception
The majority of Georgia Bulldogs fans were cheering for the Indiana Hoosiers against the Miami Hurricanes in the national championship game. A big reason why many Georgia fans cheered for Indiana, aside from the Hoosiers being a team without much of a winning history, was because former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck transferred to Miami after the 2024 college football season.
In Beck’s sixth season of college football, he led Miami back to the national championship game. The Hurricanes kept the game close throughout the second half and got a forced an Indiana field goal attempt to get the ball back with less than two minutes left in the game.
Beck engineered Miami’s final drive past midfield after taking a major hit, which drew a roughing the passer penalty. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti called a timeout to slow Miami’s momentum. With a touchdown, Miami would, in all likelihood, be national champions. On the next play, Beck threw an interception to Indiana cornerback Jamari Sharpe to clinch the Hoosiers’ first national title in school history.
Indiana won the national championship 27-21 after a couple of kneel downs on the following plays. The Hoosiers, who led the nation in turnover margin, waited all night to force a Miami turnover, but it came at the most crucial time possible.
Very similar ending to Georgia’s 2024 game at Alabama
Beck had the chance of a lifetime
Beck saw his national championship dreams turn into a nightmare.
Interceptions comeback to haunt Beck
One fan called the ending
Beck couldn’t believe his interception
“You can take Carson Beck out of the hood, but you can’t take the hood out of Carson Beck,” said one fan.
This storyline got a little old
Barstool compares Beck to CJ Stroud
Stroud threw four interceptions in the Houston Texans’ playoff loss to the New England Patriots.
Georgia
Georgia man gets life in prison for rape, child molestation
Jaylen McCrary was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of rape and child molestation on January 15, 2026. (Paulding County Sheriff’s Office )
DALLAS, Ga. – A Georgia man is facing life in prison after he was convicted last week of rape, child molestation, and other gang-related offenses in connection with a 2021 case.
What we know:
A judge sentenced Jaylen McCrary, 22, of Dallas on Jan. 15 to life imprisonment plus an additional 80 years following a four-day trial where a jury found McCrary guilty on all counts.
Paulding County deputies began an investigation in November 2021 when the victim reported McCrary had sexually assaulted her, state prosecutors said.
During the trial, the victim testified describing how the assault impacted her life and the trauma she continues to deal with.
What they’re saying:
District Attorney Robert S. Lane reiterated that people who commit sexual assaults and crimes against children will be taken seriously in the county.
“This conviction and sentence make clear that in Paulding County, rapists and child molesters will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Lane said.
What we don’t know:
Prosecutors did not reveal how old the victim was when the assault took place. Although an investigation began in November 2021, it is unclear if that is when the assault occurred.
The Source: Information in this report comes from a Paulding County District Attorney’s Office release.
Georgia
The Beauty Products Celebrity Aesthetician Georgia Louise Uses to the Last Drop
Photo: Courtesy of Georgia Louise
Georgia Louise’s career is proof that cold calls work. Inspired by her mother, who worked for a cosmetic surgeon, the aesthetician opened her first studio at the age of 19 in London. After building her clinic into a success, she left it all to move to New York City with her then-husband in 2011. She didn’t know anybody and had no idea how she would continue her work. Louise began calling up aesthetic-equipment companies, offering to help with training, sales, facials — whatever they needed. A few days later, she had her first job: helping a company called Caci, which produces microcurrent machines, repair a device for a VIP client.
“That person was Linda Evangelista, who became my first client and is now one of my best friends,” the 45-year-old founder says. “Linda put me on the map when I first moved to New York, and I became very successful within a short period of time.” After Louise wowed the model with her lifting and sculpting skills, Evangelista began spreading the word to her neighbors and friends, including Gucci Westman, Drew Barrymore, and Anna Wintour. Louise eventually opened her own atelier, gaining regulars like Jennifer Lawrence and Anne Hathaway.
Over the years, as she grappled with her own health struggles and observed the routines of her celebrity clients, she began to realize that internal well-being is just as important — if not more so — than aesthetic treatments. “For me, beauty is about the harmony between your body, skin, and soul,” Louise says. “It’s about feeling beautiful and rested and nourished.” She moved her practice to a more spacious location on the Upper East Side, creating something she calls a “longevity center.” The place is complete with a nutritionist, a nurse practitioner who specializes in facial balancing, lymphatic massage specialists, and a one-of-a-kind hyperbaric chamber. The clinic also offers IV drips, peptide therapy, and, of course, Georgia Louise facials.
Keep reading for a full breakdown of her own holistic beauty routine, the unique reason she became a “bath person,” and how a brow transplant changed her life.
My alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m., but I’m always awake before it. It’s called menopausal life. I do 30 minutes of breath work or a mild meditation. Then I get up and have a full glass of water and some coffee. I grab my two fluffy dogs, Lucy and Leo, and I’ll take them for a walk. It’s such a beautiful way for me to feel grounded. The streets are quiet. It may still be dark outside. Then I roll out my yoga mat and do 20 minutes of home exercise routines. I used to belong to Equinox, but I found it was more stressful for me because of the stress of getting there.
I always give myself ten minutes in the morning for my skin care. It’s nonnegotiable. No one is allowed in, not even the dogs, and it’s ten minutes to myself. I start by spraying the Georgia Louise Rose Water all over my face and body. I don’t typically use cleansers in the morning because I’ve done such a good job the night before. Then I go crazy with all my incredible serums. I’m a believer that you have the important hero products you always have as your staples but you’re allowed to switch it up for the season. At the moment, I’m using three quintessential serums from Biologique Recherche: Progeskin, which is anti-aging; VG Tensil, which is skin-tightening; and Amniotique VG, which is hydrating. I mix them together. Then I use three-to-four pumps of the Georgia Louise Hollywood EGF Serum, which is anti-inflammatory and has all the growth factors to really soften and plump my skin.
I brush my brows because I had an eyebrow transplant. It’s my real hair, and if I don’t groom them, I look like a crazy person. Once all those serums have absorbed a little bit, I go ahead and apply the Biologique Recherche Creme VIP O2 face cream. It’s really brightening and oxygenating. I use the Georgia Louise finishing serum on top to seal everything in. Right now, I’m using Eighth Day tinted SPF.
In the evening, the ten minutes is nonnegotiable too. I cleanse with the Georgia Louise cleansing balm, rinse it off, and do another layer while massaging my face. It feels so nice and relaxing, and I work on any tension, my TMJ, and any fascia release I need to do. I spend the most attention on my jaw.
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I cleanse again with the Biologique Recherche VIP O2 cleanser. I really like that it’s creamy and milky. I alternate between the Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 and the Environ retinol. I’ve been using that retinol for 20 years, and it’s the only one I recommend to all my clients. It’s time-released, has antioxidants that give you some protection when you wake up, and doesn’t irritate your skin. I mix it with the Environ Vita-Peptide serum, which is a beautiful one. Then, on the lower part of my face, I use the Biologique Recherche Serum Matriciel Visage, which tightens the skin, so I apply that to my lower face. On top, I apply the Element Eight O2 Growth Factor cream, which is a great oxygenation cream I’m obsessed with. After I’ve done all that, I jump into bed.
A healer once told me I need to submerge myself in water for ten minutes a day to cleanse myself from all my clients. So I’m a bath person and I’m also British, so I love to have an Epsom-salt bath with magnesium. I use the Molton Brown Neon Amber Bath & Shower Gel. When I get out of the bath, I use the Environ Derma-Lac Lotion mixed with the Environ Vitamin A, C & E Body Oil. I apply that all over, even my heels. It really helps with skin laxity and dryness. Then I use the Biologique Recherche Huile Dermotonique — I love oils for my skin.
I’ve been using Hairapy Haircare for hair loss, and I think it’s really working. I like the Densifying shampoo and conditioner. My hair isn’t shedding as much, which has been amazing. I also use the Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector to strengthen.
I don’t wear a lot of makeup because I did my eyebrow transplant, and I have Japanese eyelash extensions using sable hair. I do use the Westman Atelier highlighter and the stick contour in Biscuit. I have thousands of lip glosses, but right now, I’m using the Chantecaille one. Because my eyes are looking good and my skin is clean, I find that, at this age, if I wear foundation or blush, it makes me age more. I don’t want to intimidate people in my practice by coming in like a Chanel makeup-counter lady.
I have Hashimoto’s disease. It’s a thyroid condition where you can lose your eyebrows. So I decided to get my eyebrows tattooed. I did microblading. At first, it was amazing. But within two months, they blurred out. They were beginning to turn purple and gray. I was like, This is awful. Why is this happening? It turns out because I use so much oil on my skin and have slightly combination skin, the oil was pulling the color from the tattoo. It was making it turn gray really quickly and blurring the strokes. I was going to go and have it lasered off, but I thought going through five rounds of laser sounded so extreme. I decided what I was missing was having real brows, so last March, I went to Miami to see Dr. Anthony Bared. He’s one of the pioneers of eyebrow transplants. He took 750 hairs from behind my head, one by one, and planted them into my brows.
I get a lymphatic massage once a week. I do the hyperbaric chamber once a week, and I do IVs when I need them. For example, if I find I’m low on vitamin D, I’ll get a vitamin D IV. And I get 90-minute monthly facials from my team.
I put collagen powder in my coffee. I also take the Omi Hair Growth Peptides capsules. I then take Magtein with vitamin D and magnesium for sleeping. Then I take the Pure Encapsulations DIM Detox because I’m having night sweats as I’m going through menopause. Then I take vitamin C, zinc, and peptides, including two peptides I inject.
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I also use estradiol gel and progesterone to manage my hormones. I was suffering from really bad sleep, feeling sluggish, and getting these night sweats I couldn’t figure out. I’m a type 1 diabetic, so I was putting it all down to that. I thought I was tired because I’m a mom with two kids and I work really hard to run a business. I was 43 and didn’t even think about my hormones. Then I went to a doctor friend in Newport Beach, and we ran a blood panel. I got the results back, and they said I was postmenopausal. I was like, How is that even possible? I was in shock because I was like, Oh my God, my ovaries have given up on me. It was a really hard thing to read. I had a consultation with his nurse at the time, who said, “Let’s start with some estradiol gel.” Within two days, it was like a light switch. My night sweats were gone. It’s one of the most important drugs I have to take now.
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