After three-and-a-half months of quarantining, I wanted to take advantage of the open road and try to find a new horizon for our family. While it seems like an odd time to consider a summer vacation, I find that I do my best thinking when I can get outdoors and into nature. I knew the change of scenery would do us (well, me) good. Traveling by road with three children
Read More11 Swimsuits I’m Obsessing Over This Summer
I’ve long considered the Fourth of July the official kickoff to beach season, but this isn’t a typical summer. Depending on where you live, there are no fireworks, no barbecues, no open beaches. But that’s all the more reason for a little retail therapy, in my opinion, so I rounded up 11 swimsuits I’m obsessing over this summer. Whether you’re a fan of one pieces, sporty suits, or bikinis, there
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What It’s Like to be a Doctor on the COVID Frontline
I’m eternally grateful to all the brave doctors, nurses, and frontline workers who are facing COVID-19 head-on every day. One of them is my husband’s cousin Jeremy Padalecki, who is an ER physician. He works in freestanding emergency rooms throughout Texas, including in Corpus Christi, Austin, Round Rock, and Bryan. Personally, watching Jeremy graduate from medical school and witnessing him become the doctor he is today, I can attest to
Read More6.20 What’s On My Nightstand
Y’all (as we say in Texas), this has been quite the month! COVID-19 doesn’t seem to be easing up—cases in Texas are on a very fast rise—and we are all taking a hard look at ourselves and the racial bias in this country. It’s a heavy time, but I hope in a few years we can look back on Summer 2020 and be proud that we forged ahead with a
Read MoreFather’s Day Gift Guide
After spending three-plus months in isolation, when every day has felt largely the same, we are taking every opportunity to celebrate. Father’s Day is this weekend (!), so I put together this Father’s Day gift guide because I’ve been looking for special ways to honor the men in my life, from my own husband to friends, uncles and grandpas. Since Jared hasn’t been filming, we’ve gotten to spend a ton of time
Read MoreTurning Words Into Action
I have always prided myself on being informed, but, after listening, researching and looking inward this past week, I’ve realized that I still have a lot to learn (and unlearn) about being a true ally. That’s uncomfortable to admit. The perfectionist in me never wants to do or say the wrong thing. But I’m realizing that the only way to move forward in a meaningful way is to be willing
Read MoreN&G Book Club: The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires
*Update: Out of respect for the protests, our book club zoom event was postponed until July 20th at 4:30pm PT. Join the N&G Bookclub to get info on how to RSVP xo – Gen Hey Friends! I just wanted to follow up with everyone about the N&G Book club that we officially launched this month! Our first read: The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix. I couldn’t
Read MoreDIY: Rocket Ship for the Kids (Plus Cosmos for the Adults)
At this point, Elon Musk’s mission to Mars couldn’t come any faster. We’ve all been cooped up with nowhere to go and running out of ideas to keep everyone entertained. We’ve baked bread, planted vegetables, and made chalk obstacle courses—that I still am unable to get out of my kids’ clothes and our new sofa cushions, FYI. And I don’t know about you, but I’m not super enthusiastic about going
Read MoreThe Full-Body Stretch We All Need Right Now
Moving my body is something that’s really important to me, and I love to switch it up: running, yoga, classes, hikes. So exercising during quarantine has definitely been challenging. With nowhere to go, I’ve relied heavily on full-body stretch workouts from my friend and trainer Michelle Kuhnreich to fit in whenever and wherever (like the bathroom floor while I supervise the kids). It really doesn’t matter where I workout. Sometimes I just
Read More5.20 What’s On My Nightstand
We’re still adjusting to the new normal over here—will life with coronavirus ever feel normal?—and it’s very evident by what’s on my nightstand. The six items I’ve been obsessing over lately focus on my mental and physical well being. (And one is courtesy of my kiddo.) Every day we are all just trying to keep it together. What about you? How are you feeling these days? Are you still quarantining
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