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Being mixed race in America, with author Lauren Kung Jessen | Spawned Episode 291
As a mixed-race Chinese American, I've struggled to feel a sense of belonging. I grew up feeling more accepted by the German (white) side of my family. Then, as I got older, I learned more about the Chinese side of my family and felt a connection to the experiences of...
Preserving memories in the 21st century. Shouldn’t this be easier? | Spawned Episode 290
If you're like me, you thought that smartphones and tablets would make it a whole lot easier to grab photos and videos of your kids. But while they do make it easier to make memories, actually preserving them and being able to organize and then find them is a whole...
How our relationship with our mobile phones has changed (and changed us), with Emmy-winning journalist Shawna Ryan | Spawned Episode 279
Since I got my first smartphone back in 2006, my relationship with my phone has certainly changed my life. It's also changed how I function as a person in this world, for better and for worse. Turns out, I'm not the only one, which is why I was so excited to chat with...
How to get into college: Invaluable tips and fascinating insights from Ned Johnson | Spawned Ep 278
Was the college search always this overwhelming or does it just feel that way? Do my kids really need to take the SATs? Does test-optional really mean optional? How did covid impact admissions? When should I be signing up my kid for college tours? Or wait...should...
Helping kids foster positive relationships and learn effective communication, with Catherine Newman | Spawned Episode 277
After two years in a pandemic, I'm sure I'm not the only one with kids who are struggling with various aspects of their social lives. From fostering positive relationships with friends and school peers, to learning effective communication in the many awkward...
So much coolness. Where to start…
Get all shook up with Kristen’s debut novel, A Thousand Miles to Graceland
To say that I'm thrilled to share that my debut novel, A Thousand Miles to Graceland, is now available for pre-order and hitting stands on January 24, 2023 is an understatement. I've been working on this story of fun, heartfelt mother-daughter road trip from El Paso,...
19 cool subscription gifts for men this Father’s Day…from fair trade coffee to tech toys and everything in between
This has been a tough few years on parents, period. With Father's Day coming up, there's no more perfect time to think about a subscription gift for men that shows him you really, really get him. Not only are subscription gifts for men available with basically every...
Pride Month: 5 simple ways to be a good LGBTQ ally
While we've shared so many resources for Pride Month over the years, we wanted to write today about ways to be a good LGBTQ ally, whether you're a parent, friend or family member of someone who is LGBTQ, or whether you just want to step up and be a more compassionate,...
feelClings: A little inspiration, right on your mirror
If you're like me, there have been a lot of days, especially as of late, where it's been hard to rally yourself, between the news, the pandemic, and just being a mom. Well, our longtime friend, author, and mom of 4 Jill Krause took her practice of hanging...
Another free download we wish we didn’t need: A Kids Book About School Shootings
The fact that a book called A Kids Book About School Shootings even exists should tell you exactly how big a problem this has become in the years since the horrific Columbine school shooting over 20 years ago. As we shared in today's post How to talk to your children...
How to talk to your children about mass shootings, bombings, and other tragedies in the news: Helpful resources
Another day, another mass shooting. And I'm not being flip. This week it's the unfathomably awful shooting at Robb Roy Elementary in Uvalde Texas. Â Just last week it was a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. Â This just adds to the already unconscionable list of mass...
15 cool but practical Father’s Day gifts. Because they should still feel like gifts, ya know? | Father’s Day Gift Guide
The past few Father's Days that we've celebrated, it seems even dads who like the more frivolous stuff are seeing the joy in practical Father's Day gifts. Whether it helps him around the house, master the WAH thing (for the short-term or the long-term), enjoy cooking...
20 unique gifts (good ones!) for dads who have everything | Father’s Day Gift Guide
It can be tough each Father's Day to look for unique gifts for dads, grandpas, or stepdads, especially when you're shopping for gifts for dads who have everything already -- or worse, they say "I don't need anything." (C'mon... a little help please?) My go-to source...
If you think the answer to the formula shortage is more breastfeeding, read these perspectives first.
Though my "babies" are all old enough to drive a car, I've been following the nationwide baby formula shortages with alarm over the rhetoric being aimed at parents who are feeding their babies formula. Instead of trying to find ways to help panicked parents feed their...
RuPaul’s new Little People Collector set sashays down the runway today.
Fans of RuPaul, you'd better work on getting your hands on this new, fabulous set from Fisher Price's Little People Collector because it could sell out faster than you can say Sashay! Shante! This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small...
Are moms going to be okay? Terrific insight from NY Times Parenting Editor Jessica Grose | Spawned 275
Are moms okay right now? I really want to know. So I called on the one guest I knew would have a terrific birds-eye view: Jessica Grose, author and The New York Times Parenting Editor. If you've ever had a must-read parenting article sent to you by a friend, it's...
I tried this affordable, highly-rated bathing suit from Amazon and here’s what I thought
Last year, I decided to take a peek at Amazon for an affordable bathing suit, and after reading a ton of reviews, I grabbed this one from the brand Sporlike. And let's just say, it didn't disappoint. I feel fantastic in it, and every time I wear it, I get tons of...
20 kids shared what they wish they could give their moms for Mother’s Day. Their answers are awesome.
With Mother's Day right around the corner, we thought it would be so fun to ask the kids in our lives, if you could have anything delivered to your mom, what would it be? Let's just say our kids know us very, very well! Also, who has a direct line to George Clooney,...
The best digital photo organization tips with Casey von Stein, aka Miss Freddy
If you've got as many photos on your phone as we do, then you know how challenging it can be to find what you need when you need it. Holy smokes. But we are not alone! How do I know this? Well, this week's Spawned podcast guest, Casey von Stein, aka Miss Freddy, a...
8 cool ways to wear lime green, this season’s hottest color
If there's ever a seasonal style trend I can behind, it's a specific color, especially this year's lime green, mostly because it can be super easy and mostly affordable to add to your existing wardrobe. I'm already a big fan of bright colors, so grabbing a few lime...
25 special Mother’s Day gifts under $25, which we totally want ourselves
Mother's Day gifts don't have to be extravagant or expensive to be wonderful -- something I'm very appreciative of considering the price of everything from groceries, to gas, to how many kids are we putting through college? In fact, my favorite Mother's Day gifts will...
The new Simone Biles x Athleta Girl collab is a lot more meaningful than you might think.
I can't think of a better role model for young athletes (and young people in general) than GOAT gymnast and mental health advocate Simone Biles, so I was thrilled to see the new Simone Biles collaboration with Athleta Girl. The collection for girls 6-16 features fun...
10 ways to celebrate Earth Day with kids, today and every day.
Readers have asked us for ways to celebrate Earth Day with the kids -- and while the 50th anniversary in 2020 was marred by quarantine, 2022 seems like a perfectly good time to make up for it. Certainly there will be celebrations in local parks, collaborative town and...
The Crayon Project: Helping get more inclusive school supplies into every U.S. classroom.
Two years ago, Crayola introduced the Colors of the World crayons, which included a veritable rainbow of 24 skin tone crayons that not only celebrate diversity, but create an opportunity for kids to learn respect for others and more fully represent themselves. The...
8 wonderful Mother’s Day gift book ideas to celebrate all she is, and all she loves.
This year, I've been on the hunt for Mother's Day gift books, because even the mom who has everything can always use an inspiring, uplifting, sentimental, or just thoughtful new book. Consider that a Mother's Day gift book can be for any mom who loves reading of...
Presenting your kids’ new favorite play clothes, especially at these prices
This is a sponsored message for Generation Joy When parents say we need need basics for our kids, we don't mean basic basics. They have to be soft and comfy so kids wear them, high-quality and durable so kids can wear them a lot, and of course stylish. Because why...