Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
How to help kids identify and develop their interests | An Insider Guide to College Admissions
In January, I interviewed Alyse Levine, one of the foremost college counseling experts in the country, about de-stressing the college application process. It was so well-received, that we've partnered to create An Insider Guide to the College Application Process....
Are we thinking about kindness all wrong? A chat with Jaclyn Lindsey, founder of Kindness.org | Spawned Podcast
The Spawned Parenting Podcast is back and I couldn't be more thrilled! I'm excited to get back to what I love most -- helping us get through the ups and downs of parenting together, especially today when we all seem to need support more than ever. I am honored to kick...
A college guidance expert and former admissions officer helps de-stress the application process. Phew! | Spawned Ep 301
Navigating the college search and admission process is rough -- emotionally, practically, financially. (Eep!) It completely stressed me out, and I'm a pretty Type B mom. So learn from my mistakes! Make it easier on yourself by listening to all the helpful advice...
More coolness from recent weeks…
Fall 2024 shoe trends: 12 hot steals under $75 that update your wardrobe for less
If you're wondering what the fall 2024 shoe trends are, IMHO we're in luck! Chelsea boots are back, chunky heels that won't make you wobble, kitten heels that are feminine but not too tall, edgy moto boots, classic loafers, variations on mary janes. And if you want a...
What is Labor Day? This book, audiobook, and read-aloud video is a perfect way to explain. (With discount codes)
I'm not sure how many kids asctually ask what is Labor Day? It's become synonymous with the unofficial end of summer, a three-day weekend, barbecues, and yeah, some pretty great sales. So much so, we kind of blow past it without the tributes and memorializing we tend...
Labor Day Electronics Sale: Save $1000 off 4K Projectors, 25% off baby monitors and other smart home electronic deals from Vava
Starting today through September 4, visit Vava for a huge Labor Day weekend electronics sale. Cool Mom Tech has recommended their excellent products for years and you'll find huge discounts on everything from best-selling home theater tech to smart home essentials...
35 Labor Day weekend sales you definitely don’t want to miss! Big brands, small shops, high tech, high fashion…it’s all here.
While Labor Day of course means a lot more than a three-day weekend, we're certainly not saying no to the big Labor Day sales that are going on right now! To help you out, we've put together 35 of our very favorite Labor Day weekend sales worth checking out this...
30 cool lunch box accessories to make school lunch more fun. Lots on sale too! | Back to School Shopping
Each year, in our annual back to school shopping guide, we always love tracking down those cool lunch box accessories, water bottles, bentos, and other fun goodies that help make opening that same lunch box every day a little more special. Some of of these lunch box...
Free (mostly) printables for kindergarten sight word help, 12 ways
Finding all of these free sight word printables for kindergarten instantly brings me back to those sweet early days of school, sniff.I have teens now, but I remember how scary it could be to send your kid off to kindergarten, hoping that their reading and writing...
These pop-up floral cards are perfect for teachers or those college students you’re missing
With back-to-school season here, it's the time we start thinking about teacher gifts, thank you notes, and for those of us with college kids in our lives, tokens we can send to let them know we're missing them like crazy. For a gift idea that makes a bigger...
How this new mushroom coffee is gentler on your body, and doing good for the world
More and more friends (plus my own mom!) over the years have extolled the benefits of mushroom coffee to me, but I still hadn’t taken the plunge. That is, until we partnered with The Kind Coffee Cooperative, who sent me some of their new mushroom coffee to try. Made...
Cool Deal: We found the 256GB iPad for 27% off PLUS an additional $20-off coupon
When we see the iPad go on sale, we jump! Especially during back-to-school shopping season. Right now, we found a huge Amazon deal on the Apple's Wi-Fi enabled 256GB 10.2" Retina display iPad (9th gen) on sale for a whopping 27% off, PLUS, there's an additional coupon...
Cool Deal: We are buying ALL THE TKEES at 40% off during their end-of-summer-sale
Our editor Liz has been swearing by TKEES for years, and this is a great time to score the chic sandals that never go out of style. Right now, a big selection of TKEES is 40% off including best selllers. You'll find their popular glosses (shiny), liners (matte),...
Cool Deal: Freshen your footwear for fall with up to 50% off Converse Chuck Taylors
Right now, Footlocker is having a terrific sale on Converse shoes with amazing deals for the whole family. Styles for women like the All-Star Lift, the Chuck 70, the Converse All-Star Platforms, and edgier styles like the Run Star Legacy CX are nicely discounted up to...
15 of the coolest backpacks for preschool and kindergarten | Back to School Shopping Guide
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 be their very first school gear ever. They geek out over all their school supplies of course, but...
Deal of the Day: Up to 33% off the Fjallraven Kanken Backpack!
It's not often that we see such a steep discount on the classic Fjallraven Kanken Backpack but wow -- we spotted the classic 14" Kanken on sale at Zappos in black for 25% off, plus other styles up to 33% off if you hurry. Some purchases may generate a small affiliate...
Which lunch boxes and bags hold up the best? Here are our 5 picks after trying dozens over the years.
Hi Cool Mom Picks, I know you've tested so many lunch boxes every year and I was hoping you could tell me what you think really are the best lunch boxes. I want something I don't have to get rid of at the end of every year! And it should be sturdy and cute, so not...
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...
Deal of the Day: Huge Sale on the Educational Cooking Kits for Kids from I’m a Chef Too
If you're starting to plan fall activities for the kids -- or even getting a head start on birthday or holiday gifts -- the popular educational kids' cooking kit subscription boxes from I'm The Chef Too are on sale, and the savings are terrific. Some purchases may...
Brad Montague on seeking out “joy rebels” and making hope a habit
"Joy rebels." Doesn't that sound like a wonderful thing to teach our kids to be? If you think so too, you're going to love my conversation with NY Times best-selling author and illustrator, director, dad, and all-around excellent human, Brad Montague. It's such a...
Lunch bags and totes for teens who have outgrown lunch boxes | Back to School Shopping
The first trick in finding a cool lunch bag for teens that they'll actually use is to make sure they have a say. So sit down with them and peruse our picks, created with the help of our own teens. As our own kids have gotten older, we know they prefer lunch bags and...
Deal of the Day: Neutrogena Hydro Boost 56% off!
If you're a fan of Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel, you're in luck! We spotted it for 56% off on Amazon today, making it just $11.85 instead of nearly $27. The best-selling Neutrogena gel is lightweight, it's oil-free so it's non-greasy, it's...
Natural bug bite patches that actually work | One Cool Thing
When looking to send the last of the summer camp care package gifts to my kids this season, I stumbled across these natural bug bite patches that get great reviews. I bought the single pack of 27 Quitch Bug Bite Itch Relief Patches and my daughter immediately wrote to...
Understanding the Ease of Cryptocurrency with Coinbase: Modern Finance for Families
In the fast-paced world of online shopping and digital transactions, we're all seeking simplicity, reliability, and security in our financial dealings and families have a powerful ally in Coinbase. As a leading platform dedicated to the world of digital currency,...