quarantine Archives - now & gen

My Fall Playlist

Nowandgen Author — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 18:32:45 +0000

Six months into this global pandemic, music is still helping me cope. Here is my fall playlist, featuring a mix of upbeat tunes and songs that calm my brain.

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How We Traveled Safely

Nowandgen Author — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 14:00:00 +0000

After three months in quarantine, we made the calculated risk to drive from Austin to New Mexico to Utah to Idaho to Montana and back. Keep reading for a look at how we traveled safely.

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What We’ve Been Cooking in Quarantine

Nowandgen Author — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 14:00:30 +0000

We’ve always cooked a lot in the Padalecki household, but man—I’ve never cooked so much (or done so many dishes!) in my entire life as I have these last two months. And I know I’m not alone. With restaurants closed and takeout much harder to get these days, I’m pretty sure everyone is spending a lot more time in the kitchen cooking in quarantine. To battle the food boredom and use up produce before it goes bad, we’ve been trying to get creative and find delicious recipes that don’t require too many ingredients or too much effort. Here are eight of my go-to quarantine cooking recipes, from salmon and egg standards to vegan and junk food–inspired options. See any that interest you? Give them a try, and then let me know how they turned out! And I’d love it if you would share your favorite recipes in the comments below. I’m always looking for new things to cook that will please the whole family. Quinoa beet salad with feta from Amy Chaplin I love anything with beets, particularly this recipe. You can see Amy’s passion for food and food prep in her cookbook, Whole Food Cooking Every Day. Her recipes reflect […]

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Parenting Through a Pandemic

Nowandgen Author — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 14:00:37 +0000

When I first started this blog, I wrote about how I wished we’d all stop the mom shaming. (And yes, for some reason it’s always mom shaming, not dad shaming!) So I was thrilled when I heard that Lindsay Powers, who was editor in chief of Yahoo Parenting when they created the #NoShameParenting movement, wrote a book. Called You Can’t F*ck Up Your Kids, the book is a research-based, judgment-free look at hot button parenting issues, from breastfeeding to daycare to sleep training. Lindsay spoke to dozens of experts, ranging from doctors (including the pediatrician who co-wrote the American Academy of Pediatric screen-time rules), to researchers, social workers, and more—she’d basically an encyclopedia of parenting information. Since we’re all learning as we go while parenting through a pandemic, I asked Lindsay to answer some questions I’ve had about how to keep yourself and your kiddos happy and sane during these crazy times. Keep reading for her level-headed tips on everything from screen-time restrictions to how to help anxious kids cope. And then let me know in the comments: What’s been your biggest parenting win and biggest struggle since having to quarantine at home? Covid-19 has changed the world—and parenting—in a […]

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April Quarantine Playlist

Nowandgen Author — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 14:00:17 +0000

We are coming up on a month of sheltering in place at home, and—I’m not going to lie—things are tough. My brain is pulled in eight different directions all day long, and few things make me feel like myself. Along with nature (virtual and in real life), music has been providing some solace. Since we’re all in this together, I wanted to share my April quarantine playlist. (Fingers crossed there isn’t one of these next month!) Give it a listen, and then let me know in the comments what you’re listening to on your long, tough days. I’d love to know! April Quarantine Playlist “TIme to Get Ill” by Beastie Boys “Lake of Fire” by Nirvana: The Nirvana unplugged album makes me feel so much nostalgia. There’s something so dark about Nirvana at times and yet so comforting. I suppose in times like these their songs validate my feelings of despair and frustration. I can “go there” with my emotions and have a moment. “Can’t Be Happy All The Time” by Tones and I “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” by The Police: I mean, for obvious reasons. lol “Break My Baby” by Kaleo “The Bones” by Maren Morris, […]

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6 Nature Livestreams We Love

Nowandgen Author — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 16:50:00 +0000

As the quarantine days tick by, I’ve been wishing I was back at Nimmo Bay. My boys and I took a trip of a lifetime there in the fall, where we escaped into the wilderness and saw grizzly bears, humpback whales, jellyfish and more. Since most of us are stuck at home these days, it’s even more important to turn off the news and get outside. And if you can’t get outside, whether because of bad weather or because you don’t have a yard to hang out in, I’ve found that nature livestreams are a fantastic and needed substitute. In fact, studies have shown that even just looking at photos of nature can reduce stress. That’s why Sierra Club is one of my favorite follows on Instagram. The environmental nonprofit posts beautiful nature pictures and cute clips of penguins and other wildlife. Whether you’re looking to bring down your blood pressure, or just want to show your kids some cool animals, here are our six favorite wildlife cams to check out. And tell me in the comments: What’s your favorite nature livestream? I’d love to discover others great finds! Monterey Bay Aquarium This California aquarium is letting fans keep tabs […]

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