The latest from Spawned: Our award-winning parenting podcast
Developing healthy eating habits and positive food relationships with our tweens and teens | Spawned Episode 281
We're back with Season 6 of Spawned with Kristen and Liz, launching our new season with an incredibly helpful episode about developing healthy eating habits and positive food relationships with tweens and teens. But, our guest, Nicole Cruz, a registered dietician...
The world needs funny women! A chat with award-winning humorist Wendi Aarons | Spawned Ep 280
Let's be honest, the world sucks a whole lot these days. So I thought this would be a good week for a light, fun episode of Spawned just to take your mind off the world -- something my guest Wendi Aarons happens to be very good at. Which is why I invited her back! The...
So… about that whole mental load thing. A chat with Fair Play author Eve Rodsky | Spawned Episode 240
If you're like, "oh hey, how did Kristen and Liz get a photo of me?" you need this. The issue of division of labor and mental load are not new problems in relationships, but the pandemic has certainly exacerbated them. There's been no shortage of articles, like this...
Broadway’s Ali Stroker on helping kids be proud of their disabilities | Spawned Ep 239
When we talk about diversity and inclusion, people with disabilities are often left out of the conversation. We think about gender, race, sexuality, cultural heritage -- but not always disabilities. So was I a wee bit excited to talk to Tony award-winner Ali Stroker...
Manicures are not self-care: Why moms need to recenter ourselves in our own lives | Spawned Ep 237
This week on Spawned, I loved chatting with Nina Restieri. entrepreneur and MomAgenda founder, and author of the new book Overcoming the Mom-Life Crisis: Ditch the Guilt, Put Yourself on the To-Do List, and Create A Life You Love. The book is filled with terrific,...
More coolness from recent weeks…
Step away from the Hydroflask! We found the best water bottles and they’re not $50 a pop either.
When my daughter needed a new water bottle for school two years ago -- or 20 years ago in pandemic time -- she had mentioned something about a Hydroflask. So I looked and...holy sticker shock. 50 bucks for a 32-oz bottle with a straw lid! I'm all for spending money on...
The coolest safe bike helmets for kids. As in, ones they’ll actually want to wear.
The best kids' bike helmet in the world won't do any good if your kid doesn't want to put it on, which is why yes, it matters if they think they have a "cool" bike helmet. We're here to help! I've spent hours searching the inventory from our favorite helmet brands (so...
The single most important thing your kids can do after they’ve been vaccinated from Covid-19
I can hardly express the relief and utter joy we've felt over the past few weeks, since my teens got their first Pfizer vaccines against Covid-19. The feelings increased substantially since their second shot -- knowing they can safely see friends, go to the movies,...
The power of influence in parenting, with Kelly Rippon | Spawned Episode 241
We read a fair amount of parenting books, and lately we've seen the idea of "influence" popping up when it comes to the role we play with our children. That's why we were so excited to welcome author Kelly Rippon as a guest on Spawned with Kristen and Liz this week....
The coolest pool floats, from yachts and butterflies, to rainbow clouds for two (for all that safe social un-distancing we’ll be doing!)
When I saw the FUNBOY pool floats my pool envy grew three sizes, because, a flamingo? Flaming lips? A rainbow unicorn? I need to have these in my life right now. And not just because they're freaking cool. They actually give back in an amazing way too. These fancy...
In the Heights movie is a celebration of love, dreams, community, family, and the melting pot that makes New York the greatest city in the world
Fair warning: This is not so much a review of the new In the Heights Movie, opening tonight, as it is a love letter. I am a movie person, as any longtime reader here knows. I'm also a Broadway person, a Lin Manuel person, and a proud native New Yorker. Put them all...
NYC is back and these baby gifts celebrate it.
A friend of mine recently asked for a good, affordable baby gift idea fo ra "very NYC couple." I often recommend the NYC ABC book that's featured in our list of the coolest birthday gifts for 2 year olds, and has appeared in our annual Best Baby Gift Guide, but now I...
A cool Father’s Day gift idea that celebrates the dad in your life, all year long.
We love the idea of gifts that keep on giving, long after the celebration is over, which is why we're so fond of photo gifts for Father's Day. Sure, it's not golf t-shirt or pair of cufflinks (no offense to either, of course), but we think there's something so special...
7 cool tie-dye pattern tutorials to help you DIY your own trendy tee
My 15-year-old son recently came home after a camp planning meeting with his friends and announced that they have decided to tie-dye their camp shirts this year. I kind of love this idea, so I wanted to look up some tie-dye pattern tutorials on You Tube to help them...
So… about that whole mental load thing. A chat with Fair Play author Eve Rodsky | Spawned Episode 240
If you're like, "oh hey, how did Kristen and Liz get a photo of me?" you need this. The issue of division of labor and mental load are not new problems in relationships, but the pandemic has certainly exacerbated them. There's been no shortage of articles, like this...
Why I’m supporting these brands and their cool Pride month products and collaborations.
I had a long talk with my (avidly LGBTQ+ supporting) teens this week about the overlap between Pride Month and brands. On one hand, there's an argument about the "corporatization" of Pride Month, and the rainbow washing of products. On the other hand, I'm old enough...
Download this free, printable summer reading list challenge for kids of all ages. (Yes, summer is here!)
When I saw this printable diverse summer reading list challenge for kids over at the Oaxacaborn homeschool group on Facebook, I immediately had to share it. Schools here in Nashville have already dismissed for summer break —I know the rest of the country is...
What was the Tulsa Race Massacre? Resources to help teach kids (and adults) of all ages
May 31, 1921, marks one of the darkest days in America's history. And yet the Tulsa Race Massacre isn't an event I ever learned in school -- and unfortunately most kids today don't either. The Burning of Black Wall Street can be a hard day to discuss, but that's why...
11 creative Father’s Day gifts for hard-to-shop-for dads
We've been thinking about creative Father's Day gifts for a while now, and how much the idea of gifting has changed over the past year. We've always valued experience gifts, together time, and keepsake Father's Day gifts from the heart, but this year more than ever....
Broadway’s Ali Stroker on helping kids be proud of their disabilities | Spawned Ep 239
When we talk about diversity and inclusion, people with disabilities are often left out of the conversation. We think about gender, race, sexuality, cultural heritage -- but not always disabilities. So was I a wee bit excited to talk to Tony award-winner Ali Stroker...
12 meaningful and creative adoption anniversary ideas shared by adoptive parents
My family recently celebrated the fourth anniversary of our daughter's adoption. It's always a special day for us, in which we try to honor her heritage; we pull out photo albums, eat at a Korean restaurant, and send updates to her adoption workers. But most of all,...
Why parents need a little escape right now (and a little something to help with that)
Even though we're starting to dip our toe in a bit of normalcy these days - with kids in school and the world opening up a bit more - the idea of getting a little respite from the daily grind still sounds magical. We've all done our best to find those silver linings,...
Jellies shoes are back! Here are 7 favorite styles for kids, teens, and those of us who may actually remember the 80s
I couldn't be more excited that jellies shoes are back, because these were my absolute favorite 80s fashion trend as a kid. Well, friendship bracelets were totally rad too. And I did love my tie dye everything. Let's just say I'm thrilled that some of my favorite 80s...
7 outstanding high school or college graduate gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)
When my daughter graduated from high school five years ago, the headmaster gifted each graduating senior a book with a personal message inside. Her class received Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson. The following year, my niece’s...
5 messages about your relationship that high school graduates need to know, before they leave home
With my almost 17-year old graduating from high school this summer (WHAT?), I've been spending a lot of time thinking about the things she needs to know before she leaves. Suddenly, I've got an urgency to make sure she remembers how to boil an egg or hang dry her...
Manicures are not self-care: Why moms need to recenter ourselves in our own lives | Spawned Ep 237
This week on Spawned, I loved chatting with Nina Restieri. entrepreneur and MomAgenda founder, and author of the new book Overcoming the Mom-Life Crisis: Ditch the Guilt, Put Yourself on the To-Do List, and Create A Life You Love. The book is filled with terrific,...