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…
If you’re going to watch Green Book, read these articles first. Or, after.
Last night's 2019's Best Picture award at the Oscars went to Green Book, a film based (ever so loosely) on a real relationship between prominent Black jazz pianist and classically trained musician Dr. Don Shirley, and his hired driver, Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga, an...
Hot new accessory alert: 7 cool barrettes for adults, from fun to super chic
Last week, Elle magazine reported that the hottest accessory new stealing the show at NY Fashion week was barrettes...for adults. And despite some of the totally bizarre fashion trends we've seen lately, this is one we can totally get behind. Because, anyone can pull...
We tried Hairstory New Wash shampoo: Here’s what we thought | Damn You, Social Media Ads series
I typically fly right past most of the ads in my Facebook and Instagram feeds, but recently the Hairstory New Wash shampoo ad caught my eye. This sulfate-free shampoo is supposed to change the way you wash your hair, and with 4/5 stars and more than 5,000 reviews, I...
The new clothing line that lets kids protect endangered species in style.
As an animal lover and toddler mom, I am so taken with the new line of animal-adorned clothing in the new collection from Art & Eden and Animal Planet. Not only are the tees and dresses adorable, they help support Project CAT, a World Wildlife Fund initiative...
These edgy-cool craft kits let kids make their own handmade gifts
One of the great new trends at Toy Fair 2019 this week was the explosion of really thoughtful, creative craft kits. As you all well know, we're big fans of craft kits as gifts for kids, especially when craft kits enable kids to make their own gifts for friends and...
3 great printable sleep logs. Because we’ll try anything, you know?
Recently, we've seen more and more doctors recommending sleep logs and sleep journals for those of us who regularly wake during the night, or have trouble falling asleep in the first place. It makes sense. Especially for parents. One of our problems, which KJ...
How to raise creative, imaginative kids in a digital world with Peter McNerney and Beth Newell | Spawned Ep 142
We're always looking for ways to foster imagination and creativity in our kids, and who better than to help us with that than Peter McNerney from Story Pirates, and his wife Beth Newell, co-host of the We Knows Parenting podcast, both of whom are popular improvisers...
Attention knitters: This new yarn is transforming plastic into gorgeous sweaters and scarves
We all know that knitting is a fantastic way to soothe anxiety, but this Wool and the Gang New Wave yarn delivers even more peace of mind, because it's helping rid the oceans of discarded plastic -- each ball of yarn is upcycled from three entire plastic bottles. So...
5 ideas for cool coffee bar carts for your home, whatever your decorating style. Barista not included.
I'm thinking of taking my coffee obsession to the next level, with one of these cool coffee bar carts. Kind of like bar carts, only...for coffee. I'm seeing them absolutely everywhere, and I love the idea of a dedicated space for my coffee supplies -- but one that's...
The new Spanx maternity line: totally unnecessary or total godsend?
I admit, when I heard that about the new Spanx maternity line, I was skeptical. After all, isn't pregnancy the one time we don't have to worry about sucking in our guts? Or "smoothing?" CMP is an rstyle affiliate But after getting a closer look at the Spanx maternity...
What Does it Mean to Be American? This picture book says it better than any TV pundit or long-winded article.
Kids are smart. And observant. Even our littlest children know that right now, there's a lot of talk about what it means to be American, who's a "real" American, and what kinds of values America stand for. And it's complicated, but that doesn't mean we should avoid...
Home decor inspiration: How to hang fabric on your walls instead of wallpaper
It's that time a year that I start to get a little stir crazy at home and have this major urge to redecorate. The newest home decor trend that caught my eye: fabric walls instead of wallpaper. Okay, so it kind of hit the internets about six or seven years ago, but...
Valentine’s Day nails: 7 fun, fairly easy ideas to get your fingers feeling the love
Here's a fun way to get festive for Valentine's Day this year: Valentine's Day nails. These are blowing up social media, and the creative designs we're seeing are making us so happy to go beyond switching up your favorite color for red or pink. We've kept these...
5 ideas from LEGO Movie 2 to discuss with your kids : A guide for parents
Last week, I caught a press screening of the The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part with my kids and I have to admit, my expectations were...tempered. The genius of the first LEGO Movie (sorry for any spoilers but you know, 5 year statue of limitations and all) is that the...
The 5 biggest sleep-training mistakes that parents make and how to fix them | Spawned episode 141
Is there anything new parent topic that generates more controversy than sleep training? Arguably...no way. But can we finally stop fighting about what's right and wrong? Yes! Maybe? Certified sleep training expert Tamiko Kelly, owner of Sleep Well Wake Happy, has...
Where to stream the 2019 Oscar nominated movies, and which ones to watch with your kids
If you're like me, you've seen very few of the Oscar-nominated films this year outside of the "Best Animated Films" category. (Life as a parent, right?) But I love movies, and I love movie award-shows, which means I don't want to sit there all night wishing I had seen...
I found the absolute perfect cashmere scarf and it’s now on sale too
This past Christmas, I wanted a perfect cashmere scarf -- long enough to wrap a couple of times, short enough that it doesn't poke out the bottom of a knee-length coat. Soft enough that I can wear it indoors, tightly knit enough that I don't end up with pieces of...
The new Wonder Park movie is launching this week, starring Jennifer Garner, Matthew Broderick, Ken Jeong, Kenan Thompson, John Oliver…and we can’t wait
This post was created in partnership with Paramount Pictures Ever since the Wonder Park movie trailer debuted, our kids have been asking, "can we go? Can we go?" And now that the movie is coming out this Friday, March 15, they don't have to wait much longer. A fantasy...
How to get big coupons on the Tide laundry detergents you may be buying anyway.
The following is a sponsored message from Tide This week, America's #1 trusted laundry brand, Tide, is offering two big money-saving deals on the products you may be buying anyway: Tide PODS, and Tide laundry detergent. The coupons are available online now through...
7 new must-read Black History Month book releases for kids and teens. Because Black history is American history.
Whether we're taking the time to celebrate our own heritage or exploring those different cultures and backgrounds of our friends and neighbors that help make America what it is, books are always a favorite way for me to learn with my kids. And as Black History Month...
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...