This week on Spawned with Kristen + Liz we’re talking back to school! It’s awesome! And yet…it’s exhausting! Take a listen as we commiserate, laugh, offer helpful tips, and gawk at the most insane first day of school traditions that we found on Pinterest. (The backpack fairy? Seriously?)

Listen here right now, and be sure to subscribe to Spawned through iTunes so you never miss an episode!

Some of the topics we talk about in episode 47

Cool back to school goodies in our 2016 back to school shopping guide.

Free printables for back to school including the weekly calendar Liz discussed.

Printable chore charts to help with busy mornings

Kristen on the TODAY Show sharing 5 brilliant hacks for easier mornings with kids

11 make-ahead breakfast ideas for easier school mornings

7 tips to help kids pack their own lunches in the morning

5 sandwich alternatives to make kids lunches more fun

Liz’s annual first day/last day of school brick wall photos of her kids. A not-ready-for-Pinterest idea that any parent can do!

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This week’s sponsor:

We’re so happy to welcome Way Better Snacks as our podcast sponsor this week! Their Tortilla Chips are absolutely delicious, in flavors like Nacho Cheese, Ginger Sweet Potato, and Sweet Chili. And beyond that, they’re made with nothing but simple, premium ingredients that we feel good about, like whole grains of all kinds, sprouted flax, chia and ancient grains.

(But hey, you don’t have to mention those details to your kids. We get it.)

And if you hurry, visit our post on lunch box sandwich alternatives on Cool Mom Eats to enter our big giveaway for three month’s worth of free snacks from Way Better Snacks!

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Our Cool Picks of the Week

Liz: Holly McNish’s powerful “Embarrassed” Breastfeeding Video by Independent Films

Kristen: T-Fal Non-Stick One Egg Wonder Fry Pan ($5.47 from our affiliate Amazon)

And as always, we love hearing from our listeners! Email us at spawned@mompicksprod.wpengine.com, or find us on Twitter or Facebook @coolmompicks with hashtag #spawnedshow. And thanks for listening!

*Spoiler alert: Kristen did, in fact, make it through the podcast after drinking that entire bottle of probiotic kefir. We know you’re relieved.

Top photo: Angelina Litvin via Unsplash