Melissa Epifano Melissa Epifano is a freelance writer and editor who focuses on home and lifestyle topics. Her work has appeared in The Spruce, Real Simple, Forbes Home, InStyle, and MyDomaine. About Southern Living Southern Living, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, celebrates the food, homes, places, and culture of the South. We reach 7.2 million readers a month. Our content is written by experienced journalists and fact checked for accuracy. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines.