Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Answering teens’ (brutally honest!) questions about college admissions | An Insider Guide to College Admissions
For our final podcast in our Insider Guide to the College Application Process, I thought we'd do things a little differently. This week, we gathered questions that teens themselves gave us about college admissions and applications -- and I'm joined by two special...
Jonathan Van Ness: On his new children’s book, and creating a culture of acceptance for kids who are different.
This week on Spawned, I had the best time speaking with the one and only Jonathan Van Ness!! They've just released an amazing new picture book, Gorgeously Me!, which is already making waves as a #1 new children's book on Amazon. Our chat was not only fun but super...
A grade-by-grade guide to college admissions: What to do when (and why not to panic) | An Insider Guide to College Admissions
I'm so happy to be back with Alyse Levine, one of the foremost college counseling experts in the country, to continue our Insider Guide to the College Application Process. This week, we took a cue from you, our readers and listeners, who wrote in to ask what you...
More coolness from recent weeks…
The best summer camp care package ideas for tweens and teens: A comprehensive list from a mom who’s been sending them for 10 years
There is a certain joy in putting together summer camp care packages for my tweens and teens each year. It's not just loading them up with stuff so I can make sure they remember me (ha), it's that a summer camp care package can provide them with some little surprises...
Morgan Harper Nichols’s beautiful art becomes artful hair accessories | One Cool Thing
Browsing Target this morning, I was surprised to come across these Morgan Harper Nichols designed hair scrunchies. In fact, I did a double-take to be sure it was the MHN referenced on the packaging. Considering I know Morgan from her wildly popular Instagram feed --...
What is Juneteenth? 6 great children’s books that explain this important holiday.
If you want to learn more about Juneteenth as we approach its anniversary, or just want to be sure its history and relevance has a place on your bookshelves, we have found some terrific children's books about Juneteenth to help. After all, I know a lot of us...
How do I know if a college will provide a safe environment for me? | An Insider Guide to College Admissions
Next up in our Insider's Guide to College Admissions podcast series, a question we've been getting more and more from both parents and prospective students: How to know whether a college environment will be a safe place for you physically, mentally and emotionally....
The addictive Emoji Kitchen lets you combine emojis to make your own
Now that I've discovered the Emoji Kitchen, I have one more time suck I didn't need...except wow, did I need this one! Ever wish that you could make a rainbow star? A ghost holding a dead flower? A "100" but in green? That's what Emoji Kitchen does. Just visit...
Amazon Editors announce their Best Children’s Books of the Year So Far…including one I adore!
Today, the Amazon Books Editors announced their annual mid-year list of the Best Books of the Year So Far, including a hand-picked list of The Best Children's Books of the Year So Far. And I'll get to them allll in a sec. But first, there's one book in particular that...
How do you know if a college is a good fit? 7 questions to ask | An Insider Guide to College Admissions
We've received so many questions from parents regarding the college admissions process, and we couldn't address them all in our Insider's Guide to College Admissions podcast series. I want to get to them all! So we are kicking off a Q&A series with Alyse Levine,...
7 flowy, flirty floral dresses for summer weddings
If you're looking for a cute, flowy, floral dress for a summer wedding, you're in luck! This year's floral dress styles hit all the right notes with light, breezy, flouncy fabrics, fun mid to maxi lengths, and so many cheery color combinations, You don't have to wear...
Thinking about switching from Audible to Libro.fm? This may be the month to give it a try.
As a big audiobook fan -- and supporter of indie booksellers -- I am excited to see the big promotion that Libro.fm is offering this month to honor their 10th anniversary. If you sign up as a new member right now, you'll get 3 audiobook credits for the price of one...
My favorites from the ABLE 30%-off sale: One of our favorite companies is now of our favorite women-run companies!
I have been proudly supporting ABLE since I first visited their Ethiopian facilities where women wove and dyed handmade scarves and sewed beautifully crafted leather goods to earn benefits, fair working conditions, and a living wage. ABLE has come a long way since...
17 brilliant last-minute Father’s Day gifts: Make, buy, print, ship, IOU or DIY
We always love helping you all out with the best last-minute Father’s Day gifts for Dad, Grandpa, your stepdad, or anyone you’re celebrating this Father’s Day. Because it helps us out too! While Father’s Day gifts have been on our minds — and our shopping lists — for...
12 fantastic foodie gifts for dads with great taste, all on sale right now | Father’s Day Gifts
If you're searching for a foodie gift for Dad or a special grandpa or stepdad this Father's Day who has impeccable taste, we've found some wonderful ideas. Not only are they all stellar gifts on their own, but they're all on sale -- sometimes by a lot. Turns out that...
Jonathan Van Ness: On his new children’s book, and creating a culture of acceptance for kids who are different.
This week on Spawned, I had the best time speaking with the one and only Jonathan Van Ness!! They've just released an amazing new picture book, Gorgeously Me!, which is already making waves as a #1 new children's book on Amazon. Our chat was not only fun but super...
The Definitive Guide to Gen Z Slang: Written by actual teens who think all the other guides to Gen Z slang are mid.
When we asked our readers about your favorite Gen Z slang words, the second most popular answer was low-key. But that's only because the first most popular answer was what the heck are you talking about? So I reached out to my teens and their friends to put together...
The best of the end-of-season sales: Up to 75% off brands we love
Hooray, it's June! Which also means... huge end-of-season sales before summer kicks in. Officially. Visit this week's Cool Mom Picks Deals Page, recently updated with fresh deals, discounts and offers from our favorite brands. From the big stores we all shop, to the...
21 wildly cool subscription gifts for men. From fair trade coffee to tech toys and everything in between
For the perfect gift for a man in your life, or a special dad or grandpa, a subscription gift for men can be the perfect way to show you really really get him. Not only are subscription gifts for men available with basically every theme you can imagine—so there's one...
A grade-by-grade guide to college admissions: What to do when (and why not to panic) | An Insider Guide to College Admissions
I'm so happy to be back with Alyse Levine, one of the foremost college counseling experts in the country, to continue our Insider Guide to the College Application Process. This week, we took a cue from you, our readers and listeners, who wrote in to ask what you...
Check out these cooling dog beds and other ingenious summer essentials for pets. Now on sale if you hurry!
If you have dogs, cats, or hermit crabs (well maybe not hermit crabs) we found the coolest summer pet essentials at Paw.com. From cooling beds to cooling blankets, road trip car-savers and more, they'll help make a huge difference this summer -- for all of you. And if...
One Cool Thing: The perfect striped summer beach tote. On sale!
Our friends at Able just extended their Memorial Week sale on all of their leather goods, accessories, and clothing that give back in meaningful ways. So of course...I browse. The one item that caught my eye instantly: The perfect striped summer canvas beach totess,...
These are the 5 most meaningful gifts for teachers, according to a longtime educator
We're happy to welcome Becca Reed to share her choices for 5 meaningful gifts for teachers as the school year draws to a close. Close your eyes and think about the people in your life who helped shape you for the better. Those who sparked a belief or curiosity or...
The best of the Memorial Day Sales: Up to 80% off the brands we adore
Hooray, it's the weekend! Which also means... huge Memorial Day sales. Visit our Cool Mom Picks Deals Page, which we just updated to include plenty of deals, discounts and offers from our favorite brands. From the big stores we all shop, to the indie companies we love...