halloween Archives - now & gen

DIY: Feathered Halloween Masks

Heather Catania — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 16:25:03 +0000

Confession: I’m a huge stan of Martha Stewart. I used to hoard all her magazines growing up and could spend hours flipping through the pages. She has this inner toughness mixed with femininity that I admire. Not to mention all those amazing crafts! I’ve always found crafting fun and relaxing, especially when the items you make, like these Halloween masks, are pretty and usable. My friend Virginia Davidson saw these DIY feathered Halloween masks on Creative Bug and suggested them to me as an activity to do with the kids. They were a huge hit and a fun way for me to channel my inner Martha. When doing this craft with kids, you will need to be careful of burning little fingers (yours included) with hot glue. But the gorgeous end result is well worth it. Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to make your own DIY feathered Halloween masks. And let me know how you feel about crafting with your kids (crazy fun or crazy stressful?) in the comments! What You’ll Need store bought white or black masks hot glue gun scissors craft felt in a variety of colors loose feathers Step 1 Pick three or four felt colors. (For an owl, […]

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Scary-Easy Halloween Recipes

Heather Catania — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 06:00:39 +0000

I love the idea of a DIY Halloween party, of Martha Stewart-ing every last detail of my kids’ favorite holiday. But the sad truth is: I’m kinda terrible at it. I can admire a curated Pinterest board of perfectly decorated spider cupcakes and handmade costumes as much as the next mom, but “craftsy” is not a word I’d use to describe myself. Unfortunately for me, my kids are begging for all things Halloween-themed right now… I decided to try out a couple of seemingly easy DIY Halloween recipes that I thought even a craftily challenged mom like myself could pull off. Well, as you’ll see, my results wouldn’t exactly make anyone’s Pinterest board. The snacks still made my kids’ day though, which is really the most important thing. Shep and I had the best time playing in the kitchen together—and laughing my missteps. I love that these moments with my kids never fail to remind me what the holidays are really about. If you’d like to give them a go, the “recipes” don’t require a lot of tools. All you need are a couple of cookie cutters, and you’re ready to go. And I even added my own little “Not-So-Pro […]

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Happy Hour: Fall for This Spiked Mulled Cider

Heather Catania — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 20:39:37 +0000

Nothing says fall like apples—especially mulled apple cider spiked with bourbon. This is my go-to autumn cocktail. It’s insanely easy to make, perfect for big gatherings and its warm spices make my house smell ahh-mazing. We’re having a bunch of families over before we commence trick-or-treating this year and I’m already planning to have a pot of this stuff on hand. Simply heat up the apple cider in a slow cooker or stockpot with the spices. All the kids can drink it as is and the grown-ups can add a little kick to their mug as needed. Pro tip (er, confession): We sometimes take one to-go in a coffee thermos for a cozy Trick-or-Treat roadie. It’s good way to stay warm—responsibly, of course!—as we trek from house to house. Kentucky Mulled Cider Ingredients: Apple cider Dash of cinnamon Dash of nutmeg 1¼ oz of your favorite bourbon Cinnamon stick or star anise pod Orange peel strip Warm the apple cider over low heat, stirring in the cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour the bourbon into your favorite cup, then top with the warm spiced cider. Add a cinnamon stick or star anise pod. Twist the orange peel strip to release its […]

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