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What you need to know about perimenopause, with Dr. Makeba Williams | Spawned Episode 284
If you're like me, you got to your mid-40s and suddenly started to get weird period symptoms and sort-of hot flashes and night sweats and asked yourself, "Wait, is this perimenopause?" Well, we're not the only ones. Even though perimenopause happens to all of us women...
The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care, by Rina Raphael | Spawned Ep 283
I will never think of yoga, supplements, activated charcoal or bath salts the same again. Today Show producer turned health/wellness journalist, Rina Raphael, joined me to talk about her absolutely fascinating, fairly funny, and very smart new book The Gospel of...
The world needs funny women! A chat with award-winning humorist Wendi Aarons | Spawned Ep 280
Let's be honest, the world sucks a whole lot these days. So I thought this would be a good week for a light, fun episode of Spawned just to take your mind off the world -- something my guest Wendi Aarons happens to be very good at. Which is why I invited her back! The...
How our relationship with our mobile phones has changed (and changed us), with Emmy-winning journalist Shawna Ryan | Spawned Episode 279
Since I got my first smartphone back in 2006, my relationship with my phone has certainly changed my life. It's also changed how I function as a person in this world, for better and for worse. Turns out, I'm not the only one, which is why I was so excited to chat with...
How to get into college: Invaluable tips and fascinating insights from Ned Johnson | Spawned Ep 278
Was the college search always this overwhelming or does it just feel that way? Do my kids really need to take the SATs? Does test-optional really mean optional? How did covid impact admissions? When should I be signing up my kid for college tours? Or wait...should...
So much coolness. Where to start…
Cool non-candy Halloween gift for a cynical tween or teen? Reader Q & A
When Lisa asked us for cool non-candy Halloween gift ideas for her tween/teen nieces and nephews, I was on the case! I checked with my own Halloween-loving but decidedly...particular teens to see what kinds of things they would think are cool. I mean, of course they...
This wonderful activity kit for kids welcomes refugees to their new home.
As the daughter of an immigrant and a long-time resident of Massachusetts, I watched in disgust as Florida's governor tried to humiliate and punish vulnerable migrants by flying them, unannounced, to the island of Martha's Vineyard. Without any support systems in...
Developing healthy eating habits and positive food relationships with our tweens and teens | Spawned Episode 281
We're back with Season 6 of Spawned with Kristen and Liz, launching our new season with an incredibly helpful episode about developing healthy eating habits and positive food relationships with tweens and teens. But, our guest, Nicole Cruz, a registered dietician...
What Liz is reading this week: Links to check out, from dream analysis to shocking truths about “maternal instinct”
There is so much good reporting these days, so many good op-eds, so many independent journalists and bloggers and substacks worth reading these days and I thought I'd share a few of the articles I've really found fascinating lately. I tend to read a lot about...
Gen Z for Equity: This teen’s small business is taking a stand against racism
If your kids' book covers or school folders are looking a little plain this early in the school year, take a look at the cool social justice stickers we've just discovered from new, teen-led Etsy shop Gen Z for Equity. The stickers were all designed by creative...
15 magnificent children’s and YA books for Hispanic Heritage Month
September means new backpacks and football kickoff and pumpkin spice latte month (*insert eyeroll), but mid-month, September becomes Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15). So we put together some of our very favorite children's and YA books honoring...
The personalized baby shower favor that was too cute not to share immediately
As I mentioned recently, my heart has always been with small businesses, and particularly those run by women. So when I came across this completely adorable baby onesie teabag -- personalized, no less! -- I had to share it. This post contains affiliate links and some...
Creative ideas to help young children with school anxiety: 7 small items that can make a big difference.
Preschoolers or kindergarten students often feel nervous about their first days and weeks of school. Or their first month of school. Even older kids may feel anxious about a new teacher, new friends, or just getting back into a more rigorous schedule after a long and...
The Immersive Nutcracker is the ultimate experience gift for families this holiday.
This is a sponsored message from The Immersive Nutcracker For generations, The Nutcracker has been an essential part of so many families' holiday traditions. The classic story never fails to make a little magic for our children, no matter how many times they've seen...
COVID in the house: How to best prepare yourself and your family
After two and a half years, we finally had COVID in the house. I'm certainly grateful for science (we're all fully vaccinated and boosted) because the folks (including me) who were infected had relatively mild cases. And while I knew that at some point we would...
5 fabulous boots and booties for fall 2022, and their affordable Target dupes
Back to school for my kids means back to boots for me. Seems fair, right? Take one peek at any fall 2022 shoe trend post at your favorite style magazine and it's boots, boots, and more boots, which yay! because I have that category covered in my closet. But that...
Setting up a study space at home: How to make it one your kid will actually use
So many parents have learned over the past few years that setting up a study space at home is more important than ever. Maybe you homeschool, maybe your kids just need a dedicated space for homeworkr, or maybe they've got virtual tutoring or other extracurricular...
Ted Lasso’s new Little People Collector set: Believe!
We've been gushing about Ted Lasso for a while on Cool Mom Picks, and now I get to gush about the new Ted Lasso Little People Collector set from Fisher-Price, featuring six of the most iconic characters from the AFC Richmond locker room. Here's where I confess that...
5 random cool things I’m loving this week: Women-owned small business edition
We first started this site with the mission of discovering cool things -- particularly from small businesses and women-run companies -- and share them with you all. While we've become popular for our gift guides to suit every budget, our tech tips, our support of...
Thinking of trying melatonin to help your kids sleep? Please read this first.
Like so many other desperate -- and exhausted -- parents, we turned to melatonin supplements to help my son sleep when he was younger. I spoke to our pediatrician first of course, and did enough research about melatonin on my own to know that melatonin supplements...
13 dorm room essentials you might not have considered | Back to School Guide 2022
I've become a bit of a pro at picking out dorm room essentials -- and separating the must-haves from the nice-to-haves from the not-going-to-haves if I'm paying for it. Having sent two of my three kids off to college already, it's become clear how much I actually have...
Cool plus-size clothes for teens: 8 of our favorite destinations | Back to School Guide 2022
A reader reached out this year to ask for a few of our favorite cool plus-size clothes for teens, to help get her own teen daughter up to speed for back-to-school. And we are happy to oblige! Considering school will be starting up again soon, we know our teens will be...
15 of the coolest backpacks for preschool and kindergarten | Back to School Guide 2022
When we put together our picks for the coolest backpacks for preschool and kindergarten each year, we think about how exciting it is for little ones to pick what may likely be their very first school gear ever. They seriously geek out overall school supplies of...
The world needs funny women! A chat with award-winning humorist Wendi Aarons | Spawned Ep 280
Let's be honest, the world sucks a whole lot these days. So I thought this would be a good week for a light, fun episode of Spawned just to take your mind off the world -- something my guest Wendi Aarons happens to be very good at. Which is why I invited her back! The...
12 smart personalized label ideas to help you save money, cut down on fights, and bring home fewer germs | Back to School Guide
With back to school coming up, I'm sharing some of my favorite personalized label ideas to help keep you organized, keep you sane, save you money (whoo!) and even keep the peace if you have more than one kid. (Parents of two or more, you know what I'm talking about!)...
20 cool backpacks for teens this year | Back to School Guide
When we look for cool backpacks for teens, it's not enough for them to just be, you know, cool. As kids head to middle school or high school— especially after a whole year at home more or less (sigh) — they need bigger, sturdier backpacks, better shoulder straps, and...