More coolness from recent weeks…
How to support small business and your own community this holiday | Spawned Podcast Ep 222
Today we're talking about one of our very favorite subjects, how to support small businesses this holiday, during a year that needs it more than ever. After nearly 15 years, we've become quite the experts (if we do say so ourselves!) and so we're sharing some of our...
10 of the best holiday gifts on Amazon this year, most supporting small businesses
Not to be cynical, but like, what happened, Amazon? You search for cool holiday gifts, and next thing you know there are 47 sponsored listings for the same item, from brands like XIPOSIRPOWR and HARINGOH-783. On the other hand, Amazon is often where a lot of small...
We found 50+ seriously cool gifts for men and women, all under $15
We've shared our favorite gifts for kids under $15, and now of course, we've got gifts for adults under $15. After creating these affordable holiday gift lists for years now, we have one rule: No stocking stuffers! In other words, a lip balm from the drug store, a...
This handmade ornament set celebrates the heroes of 2020
I was thrilled to discover this set of four ornaments celebrating 2020 heroes: nurses, teachers, store clerks, and delivery people. The handprinted set comes from our friends at Brooklyn's Goose Grease, and I think it's the perfect holiday decoration for this year....
How to “meet” Santa this Christmas during COVID: 5 fun, safe ideas to get kids in front of the big guy.
Let's talk ways to "meet" Santa this Christmas this year, during Covid. Because my young son will want a Santa Claus visit this year, and I know he's not the only kid, by a long shot! So I've been brainstorming alternatives to sitting on a stranger's lap in a...
Because of Winn-Dixie: The 20th anniversary edition makes the perfect gift
This is a sponsored message from Candlewick Press It's hard to believe that it's officially the 20th anniversary of Newberry Honor book Because of Winn-Dixie, the modern classic by Kate DiCamillo that's captivated the imaginations of hundreds of thousands of young...
These retro-modern tree skirts make your Christmas decor the ginchiest.
With lots of us going a little bigger and bolder with our decor this holiday season, I realized I needed a new tree skirt that was not an old bed sheet. (Don't judge!) An Etsy search yielded the gorgeous retro-modern tree skirts from Crash Pad Designs. Oof, be still...
These shirts remind us that it’s almost as if…there’s no war on Christmas at all. Weird.
I had to laugh when I caught wind of Kayla Pekkala's wonderful holiday gift collection on Tiny Werewolves -- the highlight of which are the mugs, hats, tees and sweatshirts, all lovingly adorned with a classic Christmas sweater pattern. Oh, and the words, The War on...
We found the very best Schitt’s Creek gifts for all the fans on your holiday gift list
Well of course we had to share our favorite Schitt's Creek gifts this year! After all, you might realize that one of favorite holiday gift recommendations each year are the up-to-the-minute pop-culture gifts, like Fleabag gifts in 2019, 90's TV pop culture gifts for...
Funny 2020 ornaments that celebrate a weird year, from Dr. Fauci to Savage, toilet paper to Schitt’s Creek.
While we often share our favorite funny Christmas ornaments, we just had to share our favorite 2020 ornaments, specifically. I mean this country can't agree on much lately (sigh) but I think we can all agree, that it's been one crazy year. In the alleged words of GW...
15+ inspired gift ideas for the most devoted The Crown fans
I know I'm not alone when I say I'm obsessed with The Crown. And I would happily take any The Crown gift this Christmas, because escaping to 80s London, if only through my screen, has been a very nice retreat from our home these days. (Even if we all have...
5 fabulous new books about Black women leaders and activists, all written by Black women.
As we reflect back on all that has happened this year, it's clear that so many people are seeing -- and honoring -- all the work that Black women are doing to effect change. And all the work that Black women have always done. It's a legacy that's been handed down for...
The very best Black Friday deals of 2020, from the big stores to our favorite small businesses
Time to get your holiday shopping on, for real. Black Friday is here, and there are some incredible Black Friday 2020 deals out there. Like always, we're skipping the "$10 off when you buy two pet rugs" deals, and focusing on the really good stuff. Like 50% off Mark...
Making peace with A Very Pandemic Holiday ™ | Spawned Ep 221
Liz has cancelled Thanksgiving. Kristen is staying in her bubble. We've worried, we've cried, we've reconciled with it, and then sometimes we're not quite so reconciled. We're being honest about what we're missing and what sucks and what the problems are and who we're...
Presenting our 100% entirely Small Business Holiday Gift Guide 2020: See our top 10 gifts for everyone on your list
This holiday season, for our 15th annual holiday gift guide (!), we just knew we had to create a 100% Small Business Holiday Gift Guide, exclusively featuring the best holiday gifts that support small shops, small brands, independent designers and makers, and local...
“This is a Book of Shapes”: Bet you can’t get through it without laughing.
This is a sponsored message from Candlewick Press There are some books for a child's library. that are must-haves: An alphabet book, a counting book, a shape book. They can be straightforward...or they can be fun. That difference matters when you're going to be...
What to send loved ones spending Thanksgiving alone, so you feel just a little more together.
Yesterday, my daughter who is attending graduate school for social work in Denver, called to tell me that she thinks it is best for her to cancel her planned trip home for Thanksgiving thanks to the new COVID warnings and restrictions in Oregon where I live. My first...
Quarantining your Elf on the Shelf. Is anything more holiday 2020 than this?
Am I a fan of Elf of the Shelf? Not particularly. But I know lots of you are -- including members of our own team. So when I saw this handmade quarantine bag for Elf on the Shelf on Etsy, well... come on. Join me in celebrating the ingenuity. And laughing. Remember...
Target’s early Black Friday sale, week 2: We pared it down to the good stuff!
Target rolled out their Black Friday deals way early this month, and we've been scouring the deals here. If you missed our post on last week's Black Friday deals, don't worry! Several of them are still marked down this week, like the Beats Studio 3 over-ear...
This truly special keepsake Advent calendar helps you countdown in a year like no other.
After rounding up 11 of our favorite new Advent calendars for kids and the best food Advent calendars of 2020 (seriously, amazing finds there so be sure to look!), I found just one more gorgeous keepsake Advent calendar. And I love it so much, it deserves its own...
8 easy gratitude activities for kids this Thanksgiving
With Thanksgiving looking so different this year, we're really trying to focus on gratitude and gratitude activities, so that we're spending more time feeling, well, thankful, instead of resentful. With my own Thanksgiving family plans cancelled -- though though that...