The latest from Spawned: Our award-winning parenting podcast

The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast

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More coolness from recent weeks…

Buh-Bye Mom Shoes

Buh-Bye Mom Shoes

Mom jeans definitely get more than their fair share of negative press. But hit the playground and you’ll see that mothers can be just as big fashion offenders in the shoe department. Comfort is one thing, but running shoes? Really? Like, all the time?

The Only Thing They Can’t Do is Push the Kid Out for You

The Only Thing They Can’t Do is Push the Kid Out for You

It took me all of 20 minutes to run screaming out of Babies R Us while attempting to put together my registry. If only I had a bit ofguidance–and a trust fund–to help me navigate my way through baby preparations. I would have surely relied on one off the two amazing if indulgent mom services we’ve recently uncovered.

Mine!

Mine!

Thanks to the terrible threes, possessiveness has risen to a new level in our home. So, in order to keep my son’s clothing from turning into my daughter’s dress-up wardrobe, I’ve turned to Mabel’s Labels new Tag-mates for help.

Diapers Are So Last Year. Literally.

Diapers Are So Last Year. Literally.

When my daughter started potty training, I was introduced to the world of toddler underpants that come smothered in the 2-D world of licensed characters. While I can sort of see the incentive of wearing your favorite talking animal on your bum, I’d like to think that there are other options.

Playing Like it’s 1899

Playing Like it’s 1899

Kids today, they’ve got it so good. Back in my day, toys were made of plastic. We played with their semisynthetic choloride polymer parts, and no one complained. But now we’ve grown up and want something completely better for our offspring, something like our great-grandparents might have owned.

Eating Groovy

Eating Groovy

Who says that kids have to eat off of plates with ducks or chickens or other barnyard animals on them? Besides if you ask me, there’s got to be some sort of bad karma when it comes to feeding a kid a burger on a plate featuring a cute cartoon cow.

Who Has Time to Scrapbook?

Who Has Time to Scrapbook?

Don’t ask me why exactly I still have the ribbons off the generic going-home gift the hospital gave us, but I do. I save and document everything, which is all well and good when you’ve got a first year baby journal to fill up, but after that you’re pretty much to your own devices. Can you say "shoeboxes?"

Your Kid the TV Star

Your Kid the TV Star

The consensus at Cool Mom Picks headquarters is that we don’t love licensed character products as a first choice for gifts. The only problem is, our kids generally do. So being the lovingparentsthat we are, we’ll occasionally cross the line to make our kids happy — or in this case, totally indebted to us for life.

It’s All in the Cards

It’s All in the Cards

There are a few things in life that you don’t realize you need until someone gives you it to you. And then you can’t believe you ever lived without them. Like that battery operated "massager." Thin Mints in the freezer. And personalized note cards.

Build Me a Martini?

Build Me a Martini?

We’ve officially hit the temperatures in my neck o’ the woods where icy cold liquid refreshments are starting to be top of mind. And just in time, we’ve turned up this totally clever and very official LEGO ice cube tray.

There’s a Rocket in My Pocketbook

There’s a Rocket in My Pocketbook

I’m embarrassed to say it took me a long time to learn mommy lesson #416: No matter how much of a rush you are in, never throw a bottle or sippy cup into your purse. The learning curve cost me a new cell phone battery and way too many hours getting orange juice pulp out my lovely bag.

Welcome to the World. Love Your Outfit.

Welcome to the World. Love Your Outfit.

The way I see it, the poor little gestating fetus has been naked for a full nine months. It’s only fair that once he or she starts breathing oxygen that you swap that hospital-issue swaddling blanket and cap for something a bit more worthy.

Touch My Tummy. No, Really.

Touch My Tummy. No, Really.

Now that I’m pregnant the second time around, I had forgotten about the insane, intrusive, totally bizarre need for strangers to accost you on the street and touch your stomach. On the other hand, I have no qualms about letting friends grab the belly. And if it’s in fact your shower, it’s practically required.

Invitations from Simpler Times

Invitations from Simpler Times

We at CMP are sooooo over the over-the-top birthday parties for kids. While yes, we all want something that’s creative and different and memorable, maybe blinging out your kids’ invites with real diamonds and a voice chip that plays a birthday message recorded personally for you by Bono isn’t so appropriate for a second birthday.

Because Kids Need Another Excuse to Lie Around This Summer

Because Kids Need Another Excuse to Lie Around This Summer

Nothing to me says summer quite like lazing in a hammock. That is, after I’ve awkwardly attempted to climb in, fallen off twice, exposed my arse to the world, and settled into a pseudo-comfortable position having left one shoe on the ground and my dignity shattered to bits. Perhaps hammocks should be left to those who really adore them – the kids.

Mothers for Women

Mothers for Women

While we’ve got no problems with the "ply me with gifts" aspect of Mother’s Day (obviously), we’re no less fans of using the occasion as an opportunity to reflect on how lucky we all are–and pay it forward accordingly.

War (huh), What Is It Good For?

War (huh), What Is It Good For?

If you’re the type with Another Mother For Peace’s classic War is Not Healthy For Children and Other Living Things button on your blog, or decal on your tote bag, or bumper sticker on your hybrid…we’ve got just the materni-tee for you.