Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
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More coolness from recent weeks…
Tips for styling cool back to school looks, and how to save while doing it
We've spoken here -- a lot -- about never shopping online without first searching for a discount code, and one of the first places we always turn for that is RetailMeNot.com. You too? Perfect! Because they're our newest sponsor and we love that. Hey, any site that...
Kids and activities: When to start, when to stop, and everything in between
With school starting, that means activities are starting up too, and both of us are a little overwhelmed about what to do with our own kids. (Also, Minecraft isn't necessarily considered a viable skill that will get them a college scholarship. Or is it?) If you've...
Superhero Comic Kit: A BIG way for kids to write their very own BIG comics. Did we mention they’re big?
Our superhero-loving kids are going to leap over a tall building to get their hands on The Superhero Comic Kit, an activity book that gives them the chance to write and illustrate their very own comic books. No super skills required, only an active imagination, which...
How to make your own photo-real gifts and gear: One cool trend you can totally DIY easily.
You may not have heard the term "photo-real," before -- I hadn't -- but you've most likely seen this trend all over boutiques, fashion spreads, and your kids' own gear, since it's been growing steadily for the past few years. From backpacks to leggings to cell phone...
10 ways to make driveway bike riding more fun for kids
It's hard to feel like King of the Road when really, you're King of Don't Go Beyond the End of the Driveway! With three kids and one long paved driveway, I've been there! So, whether you live on a house on a high-traffic street, or you just need to keep your kids a...
My Big Art Show: the fun family card game that might turn your kids into art history whizzes.
Two of my kids have now outgrown some of my own favorite childhood board games like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders -- classic versions only, please. (And yes, I admit I do like Candy Land. Don't ask why.) My kids are now into the kind of strategy board games that...
10 cool backpacks and bags for LEGO lovers heading back to school
While kids may not be able to bring that 647 piece LEGO x to school, it's not to say they can't bring bricks along in the form of a cool LEGO backpack or bag. There are quite a few neat ones to choose from this year for back to school -- and even a few vintage ones...
How to turn your kid into a mermaid without surgery
Summer may be ending but that doesn't mean that mermaid season is over, at least if you have some mermaid-fanatic kids in your life like I do. So when I discovered Blankie Tails, handmade sleep-sack style blankets that look like shark or mermaid tails I immediately...
What’s black and white and cute all over?
How cool is this world map muslin baby blanket from Modern Burlap? I saw it and was instantly taken with this shop, that features some truly lovely baby gifts. Some nearly as cool as the map. (Ha. No, really lots of them are cool. It really is a great shop.) What...
Fun new parent gift: Peripop is a baby play mat, blanket, and floor cushion all in one.
The nursery in our apartment was used by the previous tenant as a walk-in closet so as you can imagine, it's small. Every item our baby's room has to earn its place by either looking great or serving us with high functionality. Ideally both. Sadly this means when I...
Simple tips for moving with kids: How to make it easier, from a mom who’s done it. A lot. Alone.
Over the last three years, I've moved alone with my four kids twice -- once long distance, once pretty much right around the corner -- and hey, I survived. And so did my kids. All of us with our sanity intact. Well, mostly. Of course, there were plenty of challenges,...
Should every kid get a trophy?
This week's outrage du jour is brought to you by football star James Harrison and his now controversial Instagram photo in which he threatened to take away his kids' participation trophies. So of course we tackle (puns! puns!) this controversial stance on...
13 outrageously cool sneakers for kids not satisfied with the same old same old.
If your kids are like mine, and want to express their personality through cool kids' sneakers, you're in luck. That's pretty much what's on the shelves these days, and they're not just the so-called fashion brands. Even the big athletic sneaker brands are getting...
What Does it Mean to Be Kind? | A perfect children’s book for our time.
If you ever pick up a newspaper in front of your children, turn on the news, or even have an adult conversation about the day's events, there's no doubt that they are aware in some way of the tensions, divisiveness and frankly, ugliness, in our world right now. As...
16 adorable free printable lunchbox notes for kids: From Minecraft, to Star Wars, to fill-in-the-blank with your own words of love.
I am never going to be the mom who makes that impressive bento lunch for my kids, featuring a Chewbacca made out of sesame noodles. But I am in fact that mom who stashes a bunch of free printable lunchbox notes in the drawer under the kitchen counter, and when I...
A terrific opportunity for teens to do some good this fall with the Baby Buggy Youth Service Corps
As the carefree days of summer wind down and the structure of the fall rounds the bend, its time to start thinking about curricular activities. While sports and school clubs are great, I like the idea of encouraging a teen to take on a hobby or activity that...
We’ve got 21 of the coolest coloring books for adults. Pass those markers over, kids.
It's so easy to find yourself on-the-go all the time as a parent, but having downtime is important. In fact, I think it's vital to being a good mom or dad. Of course, a few hours alone to get a manicure or go for a walk is so nice, but I like to find ways to unwind...
A lovely new line of natural baby and pregnancy skincare: Dear Baby
When you are pregnant or have a new baby, you are suddenly super aware of all the ingredients in everything you put in and on your body. Decoding labels can be a chore and while we're all for splurging when it counts, it's even nicer when we can find affordable,...
13 great fantasy and adventure books for tweens. Get ready to buy the sequels!
My ten-year-old is the kind of kid who is still reading in bed long after his siblings have fallen asleep. But it can be hard to keep up with his pace, and continue finding age-appropriate fantasy and adventure books that tweens like him will be excited about. I mean,...
The coolest school supplies to make the year a little more fun | Back to school shopping guide 2015
While there are certain must-haves for school, like backpacks and lunch boxes, we always love finding the coolest school supplies that just make things a little more fun this time of year. Whether you're helping your kid express his or her individuality with a cool...
The coolest backpacks for kids who carry more than a change of clothes | Back to school 2015
We've already shared our picks for this year's coolest preschool backpacks in our Back to School Guide, but now we've got you covered for backpacks for big kids too. Older kids, tweens and teens, as you probably know, have slightly more sophisticated taste (aw, we'll...