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Liz + Kristen’s 10 favorite holiday picks this year
As we close out the year (phew, what a year it's been, we wanted to devote our last episode of Spawned 2021 to cool picks of the week. Holiday style. Whether you still have time to grab one last-minute, or you want to bookmark them for holidays, and other celebrations...
Lessons in gratitude for the holidays or any day | Spawned Episode 264
This week, we're taking a little break to catch up on all of the things (anyone else feeling overwhelmed?) by sharing a Spawned podcast episode from a couple of years ago with a message we could all use right now. Back in 2019, author Nancy Davis Kho, shared how her...
The benefits of Minecraft for kids, with author Delilah S. Dawson | Spawned Episode 259
If your kids are like our kids, they are obsessed with Minecraft. Still! Kids of all ages are loving this game, and well, let's just say, it's here to stay. That's why we were so glad to welcome former Cool Mom Picks associate editor, now New York Times bestselling...
How to make change in the world, without losing your joy: A chat with author Karen Walrond | Spawned Episode 258
We know that over the last few years in particular, many of us have felt extra activated to help make change in the world. But if we're honest, engaging in activism can be exhausting and at times, soul sucking. Well, our good friend, life coach and author Karen...
Can you name the 5 core principles of raising responsible digital citizens?
We've talked a long time on Cool Mom Tech about the importance of raising responsible digital citizens. And one thing we know: However old your kids, it's never too early -- or too late -- to learn a few new parenting tips to keep our kids safe in the digital world....
So much coolness. Where to start…
The top 10 hot holiday toys and games in 2021 to grab before they sell out | Holiday Gift Guide
Each year, there are zillions of lists out there of the hot holiday toys and games for the year. And each year, I kind of wonder how they came to that list. (Sorry, I'm picky!) So I thought that this year, I'd put together my own list to help you out. Here you'll find...
Handmade play food for kids: 10 of the most adorable shops on Etsy
Kids love playing with real food in the real kitchen, which usually makes...a real mess. To cut down on some of the flour-all-over-the-floor-itis that comes with kids' cooking, I found some of the cutest play food makers on Etsy. Their creations are so appealing, kids...
Hot winter nail trends of 2021-2022 that are sophisticated, not silly
We've all had the best time looking at the hot winter nail trends of 2021 into 2022, to help get our fingers up to date -- if not our shoe collection. One limb at a time perhaps? When it comes to beauty trends, I love nail polish because it's a relatively inexpensive,...
18 of the best Advent calendars for 2021: From the crafty to the luxurious, to… goofy dad jokes?
I may not be in the holiday spirit yet, but as someone who tracked down the best Advent calendars for 2021, as I do ever year, I can safely say it's time to order the family's Advent calendar! Not just so they don't run out of our favorites, but so we can be ready to...
We’re grateful for this Thanksgiving tablecloth that lets kids doodle during the meal
With big holiday dinners back on the menu this year, I was thrilled to discover this cool color-your-own Thanksgiving activity tablecloth at Tiny Expressions. It's full of activities for kids -- like word searches, tic-tac-toe, and ample coloring opportunities -- and...
How to make change in the world, without losing your joy: A chat with author Karen Walrond | Spawned Episode 258
We know that over the last few years in particular, many of us have felt extra activated to help make change in the world. But if we're honest, engaging in activism can be exhausting and at times, soul sucking. Well, our good friend, life coach and author Karen...
Here’s a wow: This browser extension gets you free purchase protection for the things you buy online
This is a sponsored message for Mulberry 'Tis the season for holiday shopping, and that also means holiday savings. At least if you're savvy. That's where Mulberry comes in. Download the free Mulberry browser extension from Chrome, and for 12 entire months -- even...
A lovely way for kids to send a letter of thanks to our vets on Veterans Day. (Or any other day)
November 11 is Veterans Day, and while every day is a good day to honor our brave veterans and give thanks to retired soldiers for their service, it's always good to have a national holiday to inspire us to action. So many of us here come from military families, and...
20 wonderful Hanukkah gifts for toddlers to teens 2021 | Holiday Gift Guide
With Hanukkah coming up November 28, it's time to share some of the best Hanukkah gifts for kids in 2021 -- that actually are Hanukkah gifts. And yes, that's November 28. As in this month! While it's not quite the Thanksgivukkah madness we went through way back in...
Spectacular Sisters is the perfect gift for a favorite sister in your life
As one of three sisters, I was naturally excited to get my hands on Spectacular Sisters: Amazing Stories of Ssters from Around the World, by Aura Lewis. I've been having so much fun revisiting some of my favorite sister stories, while also learning about some amazing...
My fave early Black Friday Deals at Nordstrom that let you treat yourself. And yes, they’re available now.
Yes there are Black Friday deals at Nordstrom today, and no you did not time travel to the future. When you combine the ubiquitous conversation around supply chain issues with the excitement for a lot of us to get into the holiday spirit ASAP to try to make up for...
Celebrating Diwali in a country that hardly knows it exists
Diwali. Being the light we share. Guest contributor: Nirasha Kumar Growing up as a minority in South Africa, living under an Apartheid regime, I was forced to live only with people who looked like me, That meant that for me, the spirit of Diwali was merely going along...
Can you name the 5 core principles of raising responsible digital citizens?
We've talked a long time on Cool Mom Tech about the importance of raising responsible digital citizens. And one thing we know: However old your kids, it's never too early -- or too late -- to learn a few new parenting tips to keep our kids safe in the digital world....
VOTE: The puzzle
Now that more of us know that voting isn’t just something we talk about on Election Day, and certainly not just every four years, I think this new women VOTE puzzle is the most wonderful gift for a civic-minded friend. Officially titled “Women Will Decide” (catch that...
10 voting rights organizations making sure all our votes count. Here’s who we’re supporting.
Each November, we urge our readers to vote, but this year in particular voting rights organizations are also top of mind for us, since they're working so hard to make sure we can actually vote in the first place. Whether Tuesday's election is a biggie for you (I'm...
Meet Stephanie V.M. Lucianovic and Vashti Harrison, the author and illustrator duo behind Hello, Star
It's probably no surprise that I'm a big children's picture book fangirl, considering I've got my own children's picture book coming out in late 2023, so when I got the opportunity to interview Stephanie V.M. Lucianovic and Vashti Harrison, the duo behind Hello, Star,...
Barbie’s Inspiring Women collection of dolls make the best gifts. (And not just for girls)
I want to be cynical, because you know, Barbie, but something moves me about the new Barbie Inspiring Women set of collector's dolls that I stumbled on last night as I browsed the Target site. To think that in my childhood, Barbie was...well, Barbie, and now there are...
My fave chunky boots for fall 2021 that take you right into winter. Bring on the lug soles!
I started browsing all the cool chunky boots for fall 2021 during a rare free moment of downtime this weekend, and wow -- leave it to fashionable footwear to get me excited for fall. (And yes, I know we're a month in but considering I've still been able to wear my...
100+ easy Halloween costume ideas for kids and parents. Because it’s all last-minute these days!
It's not too late to pull together an easy last-minute Halloween costume idea that helps make Halloween awesome.Even if you're doing everything last-minute lately. It's not just about the costumes, by the way; Liz recently shared some incredible ideas for alternate...
Jenny Lawson on depression, anxiety and why we have to talk about it | Spawned Episode 255
We can't believe after all these episodes of Spawned, we've never had the chance to chat with Jenny Lawson. A.K.A. The Bloggess. A.K.A. the best-selling author. A.K.A. new indie bookshop owner. A.K.A. the woman who first left a comment on Liz's blog comparing her to a...
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 tween and teen to see what kinds of things they would think are cool. I mean, of...