More coolness from recent weeks…
Cool printable chore charts to motivate kids of all ages to clean up. Even your toddlers.
Have your kids been slacking on their daily chores lately? Or really, have you been slacking on enforcing them? First, give yourself a break; summer just unofficially ended. Second, I've got help for you: Download one of these cool printable chore charts for kids....
This is kids’ music? 6 new family albums that may surprise even the pickiest adult listeners
I know there are parents who say they don't like kids' music and don't understand why kids can't just listen to whatever the adults are listening to, perhaps just quickly turning down the volume on their own playlists when the lyrics get a bit too mature. But, like...
Should you pay your kids for chores? Ohhhh the various opinions.
Sometimes we agree on topics, sometimes we disagree, and sometimes we just figure it out as we talk it out. Sometimes, it's all three! Which is in part why we think you'll really enjoy this week's discussion on the Spawned podcast about kids' and chores. How do we get...
12 fun, easy fall nature crafts for preschoolers: Let the season begin!
Our kids are all officially back to school this week -- whoo! -- but that also means that some of us now have bored preschoolers at home part of the time, missing their big siblings. They don't want to miss out on the excitement their big brothers and sisters are...
Join us for a Twitter Social to help you get into the back to school groove
Back-to-school season is in full swing, some of us just starting this week and others already a month in. But however long your kids have been in school this year, you know how hard it can be to adjust to the new schedule -- homework, activities, volunteering -- the...
Smart tees for kids that will make teachers happy in more ways than one
We imagine that nothing makes a teacher happier than seeing their students light up about a subject, ready to learn more. Whether you've got a number lover, a big reader, a mini scientist, or an artist-in-residence -- or maybe a mix of all of the above -- you need to...
9 beautifully designed inspirational quote art prints for when you need a pep talk. From yourself.
I'd like to preface this post by saying that I know inspiration quote art prints aren't everybody's jam. Kristen, for example, prefers funny inspirational quotes for her walls. Her picks are hysterical, but I admit that when I'm in the middle of a total fail day, I...
Is Stitch Fix worth it? Two brutally honest she said/she said reviews from two of our editors
As busy mamas, we admit we don't always find the time to shop for ourselves. As we've heard more and more about Stitch Fix from friends posting photos of themselves in cute outfits from the online shopping service on social media, we've grown intrigued. We also had...
The Star Wars bed for kids that would make you you the intergalactic queen of the world on #ForceFriday
Star Wars fans everywhere (and pretty much the rest of us) know that today is #ForceFriday --the day a whole bunch of new Star Wars gifts and toys goes on sale to help build excitement for the December release of Episode VII The Force Awakens. Also known as The One...
How to throw an Emoji party: The ultimate roundup of seriously awesome snacks, invitations, activities + other ideas.
It's unmistakable, emoji are everywhere! So of course my kids are begging for an emoji party. They are like the new My Little Pony. The new Cabbage Patch Kids. The new Pet Rocks. (Ha.) I am waiting for Time Magazine to give their 2015 Person of the Year cover to the...
The cutest travel pillow just for kids, when they’re too old to just fall asleep in your lap (sniff).
I admit that I still love that feeling when my tweens want to cuddle up next to me and rest their heads on my shoulder next to me on the plane. But I also admit -- and yes, it's a little sad -- that one day you will not be so enamoured of that moment. So I've found...
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...