Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Help for picky eaters from a reformed picky eater | Spawned ep 149
This week's Jacky Lamenzo is a health coach with a focus on picky eating, to help make mealtime less stressful. We like that while we've gotten some great picky eater tips in the past, Jacky has a more kid-centered approach, focusing on how kids feel, and why some of...
Can astrology help you find more direction in life? It can when you look at it this way. | Spawned episode 148
Whether you're a skeptic, an astrology devotee, or just curious about the science behind it, we had the most fascinating chat with Mimi Truong, a life coach, trained lawyer by background...and an astrologer. She combines strategic coaching expertise with her extensive...
Are female friendships actually good for our health? Spawned Episode 147
Have you been missing time with your female friends? (Hi Laura Mayes! We miss you!) Turns out, research says they're actually good for your health and well-being. How's that for an excuse for a girl's night out or weekend away? On this episode of Spawned with Kristen...
More coolness from recent weeks…
Activism 101: How to get involved with issues you care about when you don’t see yourself as the activist type | Spawned 140
We talk a lot about being the change you want to see in the world, but how do you do that? How do you get started? What if you're like us, crazy-busy parents who are already juggling a lot of stuff? What if the word "activist" doesn't seem to really apply to you? On...
18 of the very best romantic movies streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu in February
If you're a parent who's spending Valentine's Day on the couch with your sweetheart this like I am, I've got a list of the best romantic movies streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu that you'll definitely want to check out. Because if you ask me, even a low-key...
The Bell Rang: An important children’s book about the realities of Black slavery and family separation.
Children's books that deal with slavery and other dark aspects of America's history often wrap stories up neatly, with messages of hope and freedom and and liberty and justice for all. But of course, that's not the way things often go. And in Coretta Scott-King...
6 free printable, color-your-own Valentines that make the perfect party craft for kids
Yep, it's that time we fill our site with the best free printable Valentines for the classroom, to help save you all time, money, and the conundrum of shopping for 26 store-bought Valentines when they call come in packs of 24. If you're looking for your kids to do a...
Paris with kids: Tips, tricks, and helpful advice for a memorable Paris family vacation
Over the Thanksgiving break, we enjoyed a vacation in Paris with kids, and wow, I'm still thinking about our amazing time. I have to admit that I was worried taking my family of six to Europe for the first time, but thanks to lots of research and planning, we had...
Quick: Nab a free $15 -20 Target gift card (and other great deals) just for buying baby essentials
Clicking over to Target today (as one does), I was so happy to see the current promotion they're running to support new parents -- with the purchase hundreds of of baby essentials, you'll get a $15 Target gift card when you spend over $75. CMP is an rstyle affiliate I...
Traveling to Iceland with kids: Everything you need to know and more!
If you're thinking about traveling to Iceland with kids like we did last summer, let me just say you're in for a special treat. Our trip in August 2018 was one of my all-time favorite family vacations. Whether you're currently planning an Icelandic vacation, or you're...
5 thoughts about my first month at Orange Theory Fitness
I realize that a fitness New Year's resolution is a bit of a cliche', but in my case, it's a choice I need to make for my health. After losing 25 lbs last year with a change to my eating habits (and no exercise), I've been needing to add a workout routine of some kind...
Talking about a feminine revolution, with author Catherine Connors | Spawned Episode 139
We've talked at length about how the future is female, hey, it's even on shirts now, but the jury is still out on how female power impacts femininity and the associated stereotypes. That's where our guest (and dear friend) Catherine Connors comes in, who is addressing...
7 wonderful Year of the Pig Chinese New Year crafts for kids to welcome a year of fortune, luck and prosperity.
With the Year of the Dog waning and the Year of the Pig right around the corner, I've been browsing the web and uncovering some of best Chinese New Year crafts for kids! Even if you've never celebrated before, the Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, is a fun way to...
Our review of the popular Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions mascara
Ever since I had to have my eyelash extensions removed (RIP - seriously, I loved those things), I've been on the hunt for a mascara that would give me the same amazing lash length that I had with the extensions. That's not as easy as it sounds considering most...
12 hilarious titles for parenting books that need to be written, stat!
On our Facebook page this week, we shared a meme from Mother Playlist, that said, I'm going to write a parenting book called "Fine. Whatever. Go ahead." Can you relate? Hilarious as our Facebook followers are, they started sharing titles of their own parenting books,...
This bath bomb shoots rainbows into your tub and OMG
When our beauty contributor Ibi shared this rainbow bath bomb with me, well I just pretty well near bought 10 of them right then and there. I have a daughter who is obsessed with bath bombs and I can't even imagine what her reaction would be if I told her to place the...
How to make more time for the things you love with Jake Knapp | Spawned Episode 138
If you're like us, then you've said something like "I wish I had more time" at least once. Or like 1000 times. Well, that's exactly what we learned how to do with author Jake Knapp in our recent Spawned with Kristen and Liz podcast episode. He chatted with us about...
We found the cutest, curated baby gift boxes. (And no, there are no babies in them. Just baby gifts.)
Heads, up baby shower attendees! I've found cutest gift idea for new babies in this collection of wonderfully themed Baby Boxy boxes. Since I don't have the budget for a Snoo (sorry, new parent friends!), I usually like to go with an assortment of small, fun gifts for...
14 non-candy Valentine ideas for kids with printables: Perfect for classroom parties or kids with enough candy in their lives
A couple years ago, we shared 10 wonderful non-candy Valentine's Day treat ideas for the classroom, and this year, I've put together so many more. And they all come with free printables, whoo! We love giving out little treats with our kids' printable Valentine's Day...
7 really smart decluttering habits to start now, so you don’t have to KonMari your house later
After reading Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I immediately started purging my closets and folding my clothes differently. I've also binged on her new Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and am currently in the process of piling all of my...
Here’s to Colleen Ballinger who shares the truth about new motherhood on Twitter. (It’s sticky and smells like baby pee and mold.)
Every time I hear someone complain about social media, or how they're quitting this platform or that because of "all the negativity," I can't help but think about all the ways that social platforms have literally saved moms. From blogs that share true, difficult...
Yoga mats with more personality than your average yoga mat
I've been trying to re-kickstart my yoga habit, and there's nothing like a fresh new yoga mat to get me motivated. So when we saw that yoga mats in tons of fantastic designs from independent artists are now available as limited editions from Society 6, I kind of...
3 inspirational art prints to celebrate Mary Oliver’s wild and precious life
I was so sad to find out that one of my favorite poets, the bestselling and Pulitzer prize winning Mary Oliver, passed away earlier today. Her poetry collections were some of my all-time favorites: Wild Geese helped me slow down and appreciate the natural world; Dog...
A creative way to take baby milestone photos for more cuteness, less fuss
We didn't have Instagram when my kids were babies, so I wasn't exactly all over the "photograph every baby milestone" thing the way new parents are now. But if I had found this creative Monthly Milestone Play Mat made just for photographing those many baby milestones,...