holiday Archives - now & gen

Holiday Gift Guide

Heather Catania — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:06:37 +0000

Christmas is less than two weeks away! (How did that happen?!) If you’re feeling behind on your shopping, you’re in luck! I have compiled a holiday gift guide full of things I love or have on my Santa list, as well as items I think men or kids will love. Even better: These gifts start at $15, so you’ll find plenty of steals as well as splurges. Keep reading for 40+ gift ideas for everyone in your life, as well as eco-friendly stocking stuffers that are fun and sustainable. Take a peek and let me know if anything catches your eye. Happy shopping! FOR HIM 1. Outerknown Lost Coast Moleskin pants, $118 Comfort and style go hand in hand with these organic cotton pants. 2. TISSCARE foot massager, $150 Who doesn’t love a massage after a long day? This heated machine goes deep on sore feet, hand, and calf muscles. Sounds like heaven. 3. Murray classic polo, $72 William Murray infuses stodgy traditional golf shirts with some fun. These polos wear well on the course and at the bar when your guy goes for a beer afterwards. Cheers! 4. Watches: A Guide by Hodinkee book, $85 My husband is a […]

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My Guide To Hacking The Holidays With Mastercard On File

Heather Catania — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 20:08:15 +0000

You know that person who has all their Christmas cards sent, gifts bought and presents wrapped to perfection under the tree by the first week of December? Um, yeah…that is NOT me. I wish it were. I so want to be that person who doesn’t procrastinate and gets the holiday prep done way ahead of schedule, but every year the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas feel shorter and shorter. I’m always scrambling to get it all done, despite my best intentions. One thing I am good at: Improvisation. Life with three kids under six is anything but predictable and I try to approach the holidays with a flexible mindset. Accepting that my best-laid plans might fall apart from the outset puts less strain on everyone. And it makes it easier to roll with the chaos and come up with a plan b (or c) when things don’t go as expected. I also keep my Mastercard saved in all of my favorite apps that help me “mom-hack” life. Sounds like a small thing, but being able to check items off my to-do list and solve unexpected problems with the click of a button can be huge—especially in a week where all […]

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Homemade Salt Dough Ornaments

Heather Catania — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 18:52:00 +0000

Salt dough ornaments are one of those crafts that look easy and fun to make…and they actually ARE. They also keep my kids occupied for hours, which feels like a major parenting win during the chaos of Christmas. In between sports and school they plop down at the table and pick up a brush and paint the ornaments. I’ve been letting my OCD guard down and leaving the drop cloth on the kitchen table with all the supplies and just let them pick up where they left off with their creativity. My inner clean freak is losing it a little, but I know that I will be so happy we did all of these next year when I am hanging them on the tree and lamenting about another year passing by. They really do provide such nostalgia and let me know what the kids were into that particular year. (Dinosaurs were a common thread for Shep this year while Odette seems to be having a Jackson Pollock moment.) I can’t remember where I found the original recipe, but it’s morphed over the years and this is the version I’ve found to work best. Here’s what you’ll need to make the […]

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Simple Christmas Craft: Orange Pomanders

Heather Catania — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 19:44:08 +0000

I’d completely forgotten about these until I came across a drawing in one of Odette’s illustrated books of a beautiful Christmas fireplace mantel adorned with old-fashioned clove-studded oranges. Could we make a fun activity out of making these together? Is this even achievable?? Google to the rescue and YES! Turns out the word “pomander” comes from the French term “pomme de ambre” which means, eloquently, amber-scented ball. Centuries ago, citrus pomanders were pricked with cloves and rolled in other delicious smelling scents (cinnamon and nutmeg) then tied with ribbon and hung around the neck – the OG deodorant! The combination of citrus and cloves really does smell amazing. It’s also incredibly easy. What you need: Firm Citrus We used a mix of navel oranges, tangerines and lemons Whole Cloves I purchased 2 large jars (1.3 oz each) of cloves Toothpicks Ribbon and/or twine Drop-cloth for catching citrus drips We covered the dining table with the drop-cloth and put the citrus in a pile in the middle with bowls of cloves and toothpicks in arms reach. The toothpicks are handy piercers as the citrus skins can be a little tough, then we pushed the clove stems into the pre-made holes. You […]

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Christmas Gift Guide

Heather Catania — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 02:21:31 +0000

It’s officially gift-giving season and I am officially WAY behind on my Christmas shopping. In hopes of getting organized and inspired, I pulled together 50+ ideas for all your gifting needs. Some are splurges, some are steals. Some we already have in our home and others are things I wouldn’t mind finding for myself under the Christmas Tree (hint hint, Jared). I hope you’ll find some unexpected gifts you can surprise your friends or loved ones with. Happy holidays! Love, Gen KIDS 1.Doterra Kids Collection Essential Oils, $127 These specially formulated blends in scents like Brave, Calm and Strength help little ones to learn to live in the moment. 2. Doctor Kit, $40 A doctor kit is great for encouraging imaginative play—plus, I find that it makes going to the doctor less scary, too. 3. Cubcoats, $45 An adorable bear that transforms into a super-soft hoodie? Think of it as a kinder, gentler Transformer. 4. Maileg Superhero Little Brother Mouse, $27 This caped crusader goes everywhere with Odette, especially with his handy tin carrying box. 5. Avanchy Amboo Bowl and Spoon, $20 This eco-friendly toddler bowl has a cool suction feature, so when your little one wants to throw their […]

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Decorate Your Christmas Tree Like a Pro

Heather Catania — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 21:22:11 +0000

Ever wonder how magazines and department stores decorate a picture-perfect tree? I turned to my dear friend and designer extraordinaire, Virginia Davidson, for answers. Her impeccable taste has never steered me wrong. And I love that she proves that you can still have a gorgeous tree without ditching all the sentimental, sometimes kitschy, things that make Christmas trees so special in the first place. Because while sparkling glass ornaments are gorgeous, nothing fills me with more holiday cheer than seeing the perfectly imperfect decorations my kids have made hanging from the branches of our tree. Follow her step-by-step guide below for simple hacks and chic design ideas to decorating a tree that’s both beautiful and personal. Happy trimming! Love, Gen Five Steps to a Stunning Christmas Tree By Virginia Davidson If you’re a “give me the bad news first” kind of a person, you’ll want to know that the lights are the toughest piece of the tree-decorating puzzle. I tackle those early before I can come up with very many viable excuses. But once you’ve cleared that hurdle, things get a LOT more entertaining! Step 1: Stock up on lights My motto: You can never have too many tree […]

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Holiday Clothes Shopping With Amazon Fashion Prime Wardrobe

Heather Catania — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 17:59:23 +0000

With three small kids and a husband who works the week in a foreign country, clothes shopping can be a bit of a challenge these days (and probably explains why Odette mainly wears her brother’s hand-me-downs). Lugging the kids to the mall to try anything on kinda feels like the tenth circle of parenting hell. And it inevitably leads to a sympathy purchase after one of my children accidentally breaks something or has a meltdown in the dressing room. So, when Amazon Fashion reached out about working together to show how their new Prime Wardrobe service could make holiday shopping less stressful, I said, “Um…yes, please!” Like many of you, we already have (and love) our Prime subscription and this new service is included in your membership. How does it work? Select up to 8 Prime Wardrobe items—anything from men’s, women’s and kid’s clothes, to shoes, jewelry and even baby clothes. Once your box is full, it’s shipped to your house and you have 7 days to try it on and decide what you want to keep and what you want to ship back. No crazy mall parking lots. No cramped dressing rooms with unflattering lights. No insane checkout lines. I […]

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Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude

Heather Catania — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 06:00:34 +0000

Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to pause, sit down, and reflect on what we are thankful for. Every Thanksgiving, like many of you, my family has a tradition of going around the table to say what we’re grateful for. (Me? I’m most thankful when someone else does the cooking.) I know it’s a little cliché, but it’s a sweet ritual and I look forward to hearing what the boys come up with each year. It also reminds me that I should be practicing gratitude more often—not just when I’m shoveling another bite of stuffing into my mouth. Because between diaper changes and shuttling the boys to school and sports practices, the days can feel like a blur. And I’m not exactly thinking,” I am so grateful for this moment.” No. I’m usually thinking, “Oh crap—I’m late, I suck at this mom thing, or what time exactly is too early for a glass of wine?” Gratitude really is good for us, though. Research shows that it can lower blood pressure, improve sleep, boost our immune function and reduce our risk for depression. In a recent study, they even found that the simple act of writing gratitude letters—regardless of whether they’re sent—can […]

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How to De-Stress Your Thanksgiving

Heather Catania — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 22:36:14 +0000

I have a confession: I’m sort of known as The Grinch of Thanksgiving dinner. I know, I know! I love the ritual of the entire family gathering around the table to show gratitude for all the good things in our lives. But actually preparing all the food is stressful and I’ve just never been a big fan of the traditional Thanksgiving foods. There, I said it. Luckily, I know a pro who does love cooking Turkey Day dinner: Gaby Dalkin. She is the founder of my absolute favorite cooking blog What’s Gaby Cooking. Her recipes are approachable, and she has that easy-breezy California sensibility about cooking (good ingredients, not a whole lot of fuss) that I admire. I knew she’d have great advice since her cookbook (see it here) is full of creative ideas, so I asked her to share her chef secrets before the big day. Here, her four fail-proof tips to getting Thanksgiving dinner on the table with minimal stress. 1. THINK AHEAD The key to less cooking anxiety: More prep. “Anything that can be done ahead of time should be, including setting the table,” says Dalkin. “And keep in mind that almost all the veggies can be […]

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New Year, New Look with Amazon Fashion

Heather Catania — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 23:50:36 +0000

Thanks Amazon Fashion for sponsoring this post! ‘Tis the season for gingerbread houses, giving back, and holiday parties. So many holiday parties. Friends, family, school, co-workers–everyone is having a get-together and every get together needs a new outfit. It can be exhausting! In the past (aka, before I had three kids under six), I had time to hit the stores for last-minute looks procured in a pinch. But this year, I’m shopping on Amazon. Yes, Amazon. If you think Amazon is only a one-stop-shop for household items, keep reading. Amazon is my go-to shop for books, tech, and now fashion. I know, I know. It’s hard to hear Amazon and think “fashion mecca,” but I promise you, you will. Coming across Amazon Fashion for the first time, I felt as if I were uncovering a hidden jewel. You know how Amazon has the latest gadgets and movies? Imagine that, but with an awesome clothing and accessories to match. Amazon Fashion is changing the way I shop. I can find an outfit I like then browse for accessories like jewelry and shoes to go with it–all while sitting at the kitchen counter. It’s a perfect (and somewhat dangerous!) playground. High-end, every day, […]

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