5 tips for getting back into the workplace after kids… and finding balance after you do: Tips from Samantha Ettus
As many moms who have done it before (including us!) can attest, re-entering the workforce after taking time off for kids, whether it’s been six months or sixteen years, is no easy feat. You may have taken a break from your career for personal reasons, financial...
The hilarity and terror of raising teens: Tips + humor to get you through it | Spawned Ep 52
Today we’re speaking with humorist, best-selling author and actual real-life teacher Robert Wilder about raising teens! We first discovered his hilarious Daddy Needs a Drink way back in the early CMP days, and we’ve been fans ever since. Break up your day...
Chatting with Lisa Loeb about why kids music doesn’t actually suck | Spawned ep 51
If you think kids’ music is the stuff that makes you want to jab forks into your ears, then you need to listen to the latest episode of Spawned with Kristen + Liz, featuring the one-and-only Lisa Loeb! This indie alt rocker sensation turned mom of two and kindie...
A fun interview with Anne Holton, wife of Tim Kaine, about parenting, politics + funny tweets | Spawned ep 50
This week on Spawned with Kristen + Liz, it’s our golden anniversary, and we’re extraordinarily thrilled to be joined by an incredibly special guest, Anne Holton, wife of Senator Tim Kaine, the Democratic candidate for Vice President. But wow, Anne is a...
The worst TV shows for kids with Wendi Aarons | Spawned episode 49
On this week’s episode of Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we’re chatting with humorist and writer Wendi Aarons about one of the most popular posts she wrote on Cool Mom Picks: The 9 worst television shows for kids. Wow, did people have a lot to say about...
Hey sexist Olympic journalists: We’re watching you. | Spawned episode 48
This week on Spawned with Kristen + Liz, we’re talking about the rampant sexist media coverage of the Rio Olympics — and beyond — and why, as parents, it particularly bugs us and needs addressing. Take a listen as we discuss the craziest headlines,...
What the hell is a backpack fairy? The back to school episode. | Spawned episode 47
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...
The magic art of tidying twice a year: Spawned Episode 46
If you’ve already watched all the Rio Olympics replays and you need a little entertainment, here’s our newest Spawned episode. On this episode on Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we tackle the topic of life with mess. How do you deal with your kids’...
Controversy over little girls and bikinis, the new summer camp debate | Spawned episodes 44 + 45
If you’ve already binge-watched the entirety of OITNB and you’re looking for a little entertainment, we’ve got you covered with two episodes of Spawned! And yes, that’s kind of a pun. On the recent episode of Spawned with Kristen +...
Getting real with Jenna + Bodhi Elfman about parenting and relationships after kids | Spawned Episode 41
Well this is a good one, Spawned podcast fans! In our newest episode of Spawned with Kristen + Liz, we’re getting real about relationships and parenting with two very special guests, Jenna and Bodhi Elfman. (Yes, that Jenna and Bodhi Elfman.) Beyond being famous...
15 simple, possibly unexpected ways parents can connect with their tween or teen
We all heard that raising tweens and teens are hard, but now, here we are ourselves with a few on our hands, and doing our best to navigate the challenges of parenting them. Whether you’re in the throes of it yourself, are approaching it rapidly, or just want to...Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!
We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, easier, more organized, more meaningful, and more fun for parents of all kinds.
Trivia: It was called Cool Mom Sh*t for the first two days. (Yeah, we rethought that.)
We had no idea our site would grow to become a major lifestyle network, that we'd end up sharing our finds with the TODAY Show and Martha Stewart, that we'd be able to make a real difference for so many small businesses and women-run companies, or that we'd end up with an incredible community of the coolest readers on the planet. (If we do say so ourselves).
But we did.
And we still love what we do every single day.
We're so glad you're here.
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