More coolness from recent weeks…
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...
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...