Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
SPAWNED Episode 5: Girls Toys vs. Boys Toys.
It's that time of the week! Our newest episode of SPAWNED with Kristen + Liz is live, and it's a fun one. Well, we think they all, are but we had a really good time with this one in particular. Join us as we talk (and yes, rant a little) about summer birthdays and why...
SPAWNED Episode 4: Grownup Panties
We've got our newest episode of SPAWNED with Kristen + Liz up today! And first we want to thank you for all the support. It's been so nice seeing your emails, your tweets, your comments, and your kind reviews. Some not even from our own parents. This week, we're...
Spawned Episode 3: Boobage
It only took us three episodes to talk about boobs, which led to our first explicit rating for it. Aw, new milestone! In this episode of Spawned with Kristen + Liz, we chat about bathing suit shopping (ugh) and the crazy things people say to Kristen when she's out...
More coolness from recent weeks…
A penny for your thoughts? This new card game helps kids process those hard emotions.
When I look back at some of my biggest parenting fails, most of them have occurred when I haven't taken the time to consider my kids' emotions or help them process their worry, anger, fear, or whatever else it is they are experiencing right in that very moment. That's...
Your new favorite make-ahead brunch recipes: A foolproof Easter brunch menu.
While we love sharing lots of recipes on Cool Mom Eats -- from sticky buns perfect for Easter brunch to easy Easter treats that you can make with kids -- there is something to be said for having a go-to menu for whenever you're entertaining over brunch. This one is my...
How to help the Syrian victims: A comprehensive list of 20+ outstanding organizations.
If you've taken some time to watch the atrocious results of the chemical gas attack on Syrian citizens in the village of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib this week, I'm sure you've spent some time feeling as outraged and helpless and heartbroken as I have and wondering how to...
The panicky mom’s guide to removing ticks from kids — yikes!
You may be wondering just how to remove ticks from your kids, should the need arise. And we don't blame you one bit. With the warmer weather comes longer days spent outdoors and kids running barefoot in the yard. Also, increased warning about ticks and Lyme disease...
10 fun and easy Easter crafts using everyday, regular old household objects. Yay!
I am especially egg-cited about these egg-ceptionally (ha!) fun and easy Easter crafts made entirely with household objects. No schlepping to the store, no waiting in line, no expensive price tags...just good old-fashioned crafting with what we have laying around at...
Move over Kim: 10 awesome celebrity parents on Instagram who aren’t afraid to get real
Not all of us moms are so genetically blessed as to fit into our skinny jeans two weeks postpartum -- let alone thick-skinned enough to "love ourselves as we are" all the time. #NOnomakeupselfie #sorrynotsorry So bless those awesome celebrity moms -- and dads! -- who...
Mom Up to let your representatives know Equal Pay Day needs to be every day.
Yesterday was Equal Pay Day which feels kind of empowering while it's happening -- and then honestly a little depressing the day after it's over. Like, who's still fighting for us? You may already be aware that the gender pay disparity disproportionately impacts...
7 yummy food-themed Easter egg decorating ideas
These fun food-themed Easter egg decorating ideas may not trick my kids into thinking they're actually eating pineapple or a hamburger, but I still think they're a cool way to switch up our normal egg-dyeing routine. If you want to try your hand at something a little...
Huge EpiPen recall, parents: Check those expiration dates!
If you have a child or family member with food allergies (like I do) , you need to check those EpiPens. Like, right now! Mylan, the company that makes EpiPen, has issued a voluntary EpiPen recall of 13 lots of EpiPen and EpiPen Jr Auto-Injectors distributed in the...
The free Hamilton Haggadah: History is happenin’ at the Passover seder table
How can this family of obsessive Hamilton fans slash-Passover revelers not be totally thrilled to discover a Hamilton Haggadah? Yep, you read that right. How does a Hebrew, poor man, son of a slave and a Bondsman, born to nothing in a Rigged system of...
10 sweet first Easter gifts for the new baby in your life
If the new spring season also means a new baby in your family, don't miss these 10 sweet first Easter gifts we've found at some of our favorite indie shops and makers this year. From keepsake ornaments to baby wraps so cute you won't be able to resist Instagramming...
10 tips to help you finally write that book, from a published author who did it…while nursing a baby.
I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that you can totally write a book. You don't need otherworldly talent (though you do need some talent); you don't need an MFA you promised yourself you'd get but never did; you don't even need somebody else's...
Here’s how you can follow Cool Mom Picks, Cool Mom Tech, Cool Mom Eats. We promise we’ll make it worth your while.
Whichever social media site is your guilty pleasure du jour, we’re there, making sure you don’t miss our favorite posts on parenting, fashion, apps, recipes, deals and discounts, and random awesomeness from around the web. Plus our favorite part: we love hearing from...
30+ fantastic open-ended questions to ask your kids, so you don’t get a yes or no answer.
If you're not getting much more than a "yeah," "nope," or "fine" when you ask about your kid's day at school, it might be time for some new conversations starters. (Trust us, we're right there with you.) So we set out to collect dozens of smart, easy, open-ended...
15 gorgeous Easter egg decorating ideas all about color
Easter Egg decorating these days is not your mama's store-bought kit with hard pellets and a bottle of vinegar. Every year it seems like our favorite craft and mom bloggers are going above and beyond to bring us the brightest and boldest Easter egg decorating ideas....
Calling Cool Mom Picks Readers: Can you spare two minutes?
Every year we ask you, our amazing readers, to tell us a little more about yourselves so that we can keep telling you about the products, services, and other picks, tips and tricks, and advice that matter to you and your families. If you would be so kind as to fill...
Pow! 6 superhero party themes for girls that really pack a punch.
Feats of strength, superhuman powers, outrageous costumes...our superheroes (and beloved supervillains) have it good. Which is why it was so much fun to pull together this list of amazing superhero party themes for girls we know our girls will love. Of course, we know...
5 time organization techniques from experts that really work | Spawned Episode 70
Who doesn't want more time in their day? That's why on this episode of Spawned, we decided to take a closer look at 5 popular time organization techniques from experts and share how they'd work for parents. If you've been wrangling a never-ending to-do list, or you...
15 of the coolest bunny gifts for all your kids’ Easter baskets
Are you ready for Easter yet? It's coming soon. And we're here for you! I've spent hours browsing my favorite indie shops for the coolest bunny gifts for Easter and I've found 15 of the most adorable ideas for kids' Easter baskets. Pick one or two of these gift ideas...
15 non-candy Easter basket gifts so sweet, kids will surely forget about sugary treats. Well, maybe.
Without question, kids expect the Easter Bunny to deliver marshmallows, jelly beans, Cadbury creme eggs, bunny gummies, and what seems like a gazillion other sugary treats. Which is why we love the idea of non-candy gifts so sweet our kids might actually forget about...
We’re All Wonders: Now, R.J. Palacio shares Auggie’s message with younger children too.
A few years ago, R.J. Palacio gave the world Wonder, a middle reader book that we here at Cool Mom Picks believe should be mandatory reading for all children and their parents, which is why we named it among our best children's books of 2015. The truly moving novel...