More coolness from recent weeks…
How to scare up the hot new LEGO Monster Minifigures in time for Halloween
You know what's scary? When LEGO comes out with a new series of 16 LEGO Monster Minifigures that would be perfect for Halloween, but when you go to their website to snag a few to surprise the kids, you see that they are all sold out. {cue scream audio} OK, so maybe...
Olivia comes to Gymboree, and now dressing like a pig is the best compliment ever.
I'm looking at the brand new Olivia for Gymboree collection of girls clothes (6mo-12y) that just launched today, and I must say, it's all pretty darn cute. While I'm not always a fan of kids' cartoon characters all over my children's clothes, when it's a beloved...
9 smart tips for starting a budget. And even better, sticking to it.
Money doesn't grow on trees, you know! How many times have we heard those words coming out of our parents' mouths, and now these days, coming out of own mouths when talking to our kids about spending? Funny how that happens, right? But the lesson behind the old saying...
Born to be Awkward: More laughing out loud from the people who brought you Awkward Family Photos
Every family has those terribly awkward and humiliating baby pictures capturing those off-moments you can't escape. Lucky for you, yours likely aren't included in a new book to be shared with the masses from the folks who brought us Awkward Family Photos....
The motherlode of free construction party printables for your little builder
If you've got a construction themed party on the brain, well first, you have to check out the awesome DIY dumptruck cake idea we included in our post on how to 18 easy cake decorating ideas for a store-bought cake. Then, you have to sign up for emails from our friends...
If you want the newest kids’ music from The Pop Ups and Lisa Loeb, there’s only one place you can get them: Amazon
If you want to get your hands--and ears--on the two new albums from CMP favorites The Pop Ups and 90's pop icon Lisa Loeb, there's only one place you'll find them: Amazon. That's right, Amazon is showing its support for kids' music by exclusively debuting albums by...
9 easy Halloween crafts for preschoolers with just the right amount of spookiness
It's that time of year that we're all digging up all sorts of easy Halloween craft ideas for kids to share with you. And yet I've said it before (and I'm sure I'll say it again): I'm not a very crafty mom. I hardly ever have the urge to DIY, and my hobbies have...
Fire safety for families: 10 amazing fire safety products that provide peace of mind
October (eek, it's October!) is Fire Safety and Prevention month, and we are totally amazed at the advances in fire safety products for families. From appliances of all kinds with auto shut-off to smoke detectors that go beyond anything we ever grew up with, we're...
What manners do kids need to know?
Here's hoping Emily Post doesn't roll over in her grave after our discussion about kids and manners on today's episode of SPAWNED with Kristen and Liz. We share which manners are important to us: Please and Thank You, yes. Using Mrs. Last Name for every single adult...
Ready for the world’s cutest birth announcements? We’re warning you.
Since birth announcements no longer really need to "announce" anything -- Facebook seems to be taking care of that these days, right? -- we love when we find something really fun and unique to commemorate your baby's appearance into the world. Which is why we’re...
cuddle + kind: The new handknit dolls good at snuggling, playing, and feeding kids in need
We love companies that help us do a little extra good when we purchase their products, like TOMS shoes and Bears for Humanity and Mitscoots Socks which each have "buy one, give one" business models. And now we've discovered a line of adorable new handknit dolls...
7 of our favorite gifts for coffee lovers on National Coffee Day
Let's be honest, when you're a parent, pretty much every day is National Coffee Day. But because we have a heart for silly food-related holidays, we're all for celebrating. So here are just a few of our favorite fun gifts for coffee lovers that we've featured here....
Where to find the cutest French baby gifts and room decor without the $2000 plane ticket.
I always love finding and sharing European brands for kids that we don't see so regularly around our parts, but mostly, they're actually in Europe. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but you know, shipping. Well it turns out a French expat maman in LA was missing the...
Swanky metallic cosmetics cases: Coveted accessory? Or organizational essential.
Buying a new cosmetics case isn't a bad annual tradition, at least if yours gets as beat up as mine do, with spills and smudges and that glittery who-knows-what embedded in there. It's more affordable than buying a whole new handbag, and a great way to stay organized...
Helping kids practice the fine art of patience with Waiting, the new children’s book from Kevin Henkes
I don't know about you, but my kids aren't the most patient people I know. I'm not either, for that matter, but I'm trying. I promise. And I think my kids are too. Still, it's hard for all of us to practice waiting in a world where almost everything is on-demand....
8 awesome diaper bags and totes that give back to other mothers
The most essential (or at least the most fun) part of your new-mom gear collection just may be a great diaper bag. Since you'll have it with you all the time, you want it to be well made, look great, and let you find that paci immediately when your baby starts to...
Remember trouble dolls? Now Worry Eaters dolls are helping kids manage anxieties.
Emotions seem to be a big topic with kids at the moment, from help from the Pixar's Inside Out and the ubiquitous emoji. I like that these are giving us the opportunity to pay more attention to our kids' feelings and figure out the best way to support them. So I was...
Easy hair tutorials: Update your basic ponytail with these braids, buns, and twists
Sitting in a Brooklyn hair salon at the start of the summer, I agreed to let my stylist chop my long hair into a trendy lob on one condition: I still needed to be able to pull it back into a ponytail. Because with two kids under the age of four, I don’t get to wash...
Letting kids fight their own battles: Should parents intervene?
Do you let your kids handle their own battles, or do you step in to help? Or, gulp, do you fight the battles for them? On this week's episode of SPAWNED with Kristen and Liz tackle this pretty sticky parenting question and offer some solid approaches for how to...
Really helpful expert college tuition savings tips for parents, and why you need to start immediately.
Saving for your kid's college education might seem super far off, as you sit awake in the middle of the night bouncing a tiny baby back to sleep or checking over that first-grade math homework. But actually, it's never too soon to start thinking about it. Yes, we...
Little Balena handmade baby blankets. Preppy is back!
Any parent knows the importance of a go-to baby blanket, because a baby blanket is never just a blanket; it's a play mat, a changing pad, a lovie, a spot for tummy time and sometimes yes, a perfect cover for snuggling up and keeping warm. That's a lot to live up to,...