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Navigating step-parenting with Coach Naja Hall | Spawned Episode 250
We keep saying that we often get our best parenting podcast topic ideas from our readers, and a lot of you have asked for support navigating step-parenting. And that's just what we're talking about, in this dynamic, wonderful chat with Certified Parenting Coach and...
Raising resilient kids in a world gone sideways, with Dr. Madeline Levine | Spawned Episode 249
We've had a slew of amazing guests on our Spawned podcast recently, who have offered helpful advice on how to raise our kids. This week, we add another one to the list: Dr. Madeline Levine, a New York Times bestselling author, whose book Ready or Not: Preparing Our...
Manicures are not self-care: Why moms need to recenter ourselves in our own lives | Spawned Ep 237
This week on Spawned, I loved chatting with Nina Restieri. entrepreneur and MomAgenda founder, and author of the new book Overcoming the Mom-Life Crisis: Ditch the Guilt, Put Yourself on the To-Do List, and Create A Life You Love. The book is filled with terrific,...
Taking the stress out of the college application process | Spawned Ep 237
It's kind of crazy to think we started this site writing about cool swaddles and baby carriers, and now we're thinking about...college applications. (Insert sobbing emoji x 100000.) And yes, it's stressful. So we turned to one of the most knowledgeable, supportive,...
Rene Syler on speaking up and speaking out about racism and racial injustice | Spawned Ep 236
No sooner did we all feel the relief of the George Floyd verdict last week, that even more Black Americans were needlessly shot and killed by police officers. It's upsetting, it's infuriating, it's terrifying. And we all need speak up and work toward the long overdue,...
So much coolness. Where to start…
Why parents need a little escape right now (and a little something to help with that)
Even though we're starting to dip our toe in a bit of normalcy these days - with kids in school and the world opening up a bit more - the idea of getting a little respite from the daily grind still sounds magical. We've all done our best to find those silver linings,...
Jellies shoes are back! Here are 7 favorite styles for kids, teens, and those of us who may actually remember the 80s
I couldn't be more excited that jellies shoes are back, because these were my absolute favorite 80s fashion trend as a kid. Well, friendship bracelets were totally rad too. And I did love my tie dye everything. Let's just say I'm thrilled that some of my favorite 80s...
7 outstanding high school or college graduate gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)
When my daughter graduated from high school five years ago, the headmaster gifted each graduating senior a book with a personal message inside. Her class received Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson. The following year, my niece’s...
5 messages about your relationship that high school graduates need to know, before they leave home
With my almost 17-year old graduating from high school this summer (WHAT?), I've been spending a lot of time thinking about the things she needs to know before she leaves. Suddenly, I've got an urgency to make sure she remembers how to boil an egg or hang dry her...
Manicures are not self-care: Why moms need to recenter ourselves in our own lives | Spawned Ep 237
This week on Spawned, I loved chatting with Nina Restieri. entrepreneur and MomAgenda founder, and author of the new book Overcoming the Mom-Life Crisis: Ditch the Guilt, Put Yourself on the To-Do List, and Create A Life You Love. The book is filled with terrific,...
10 cool vaccination t-shirts that let people know, even when you’re walking around (safely) without a mask.
Vaccination t-shirts are more than a trend, they may be kind of important to you. I have seen so many people tell me that they are thrilled to be vaccinated, they're ready to take off their masks outside or with friends -- but they don't want people to think they're...
Connecting with your teens and tweens: A simple, free way you’ll both enjoy!
A couple of weeks ago, I was chatting with my friend, who also happens to be a therapist, about how hard it's been to find ways to connect with my tweens and teens. I couldn't quite put my finger on why, because if you're like me, you've seen them a whole lot more...
Taking the stress out of the college application process | Spawned Ep 237
It's kind of crazy to think we started this site writing about cool swaddles and baby carriers, and now we're thinking about...college applications. (Insert sobbing emoji x 100000.) And yes, it's stressful. So we turned to one of the most knowledgeable, supportive,...
12 inspirational books for graduation gifts, beyond Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
While there are so many graduation gift ideas that we could give to this year’s accomplished graduates, from preschool to high school, we love the idea of giving sweet, inspirational books for graduation gifts. Especially when they deliver messages about empowerment,...
Loads of last-minute Mother’s Day gifts she’ll love. There’s still time!
If you haven't secured the perfect Mother's Day gift yet, rest easy. Okay, not that easy, because it's literally just a few days away. But if you hustle, we can still help you out with these awesome last-minute gifts that don't feel improvised at all. Even if they...
Save 40% on these cool Star Wars clothes that kids will wear long after May the Fourth.
Being Star Wars Day and all, I was so excited to discover that one of our favorite small-label children's clothing brands, Nununu, launched a Star Wars clothing collection for kids. I was even more excited to see that it's all 40% off for a limited time! With sizes...
7 incredible aspects of The American Families Plan you may not have caught. It’s a big f*cking deal (to paraphrase a certain current president)
Watching President Biden describe some of the details of his American Families Plan this week -- well, it's made me emotional. It's so much of what we've hoped for. And frankly, so much of what our own parents and even grandparents have hoped for. This is big. For...
If you can read this, thank a teacher with one of these free, customizable, Teacher Appreciation Week ecards
As I was browsing ecards for teacher appreciation week, I was thinking that when I wrote about 8 creative ways to thank our teachers during a very different Teacher Appreciation Week last year, I had no idea that a full 12 months later, many of our teachers and kids...
Rene Syler on speaking up and speaking out about racism and racial injustice | Spawned Ep 236
No sooner did we all feel the relief of the George Floyd verdict last week, that even more Black Americans were needlessly shot and killed by police officers. It's upsetting, it's infuriating, it's terrifying. And we all need speak up and work toward the long overdue,...
15 perfect home office gifts for moms who may be working from home…forever? | Mother’s Day Gifts
Honestly, we have never done a dedicated guide to home office gifts for moms, even if we have incorporated home office gifts for her throughout our other Mother's Day gift guides, and especially on Cool Mom Tech. But this year, more moms than ever are working from...
3 cool ways to turn memories into art for Mother’s Day
As moms ourselves, we can say that photos gifts for Mother's Day are one of our favorite gift ideas, especially these days when so many of the pics of our kids (and with our kids) are sitting on our phones or hard drives. That's why we're so excited to be working with...
Empowering tweens and teens with books, with author Helena Dahlgren | Spawned Episode 235
By now, you know that we're pretty big book fans here at Cool Mom Picks, so we always jump at the chance to talk about them, and to their authors. This time, we're so thrilled to chat with an author of books for older kids like ours, and ones that have such an amazing...
18 meaningful Mother’s Day gift ideas for the far-away mom or grandma you really miss.
While I think any and all Mother's Day gifts are meaningful, this year is different. If you normally see your mom on Mother's Day, like I do, this year is going to be extra hard if we're not able to have those huts, that time together, those...
The perfect pandemic era Mother’s Day cards, from hilarious to oof…my heart.
Leave it to Em & Friends, the site formerly known as Emily McDowell and Friends, to create the perfect pandemic-era Mother's Day cards. From funny to encouraging, insightful to empathetic, they're got to be one here that suits someone you know. As soon as I saw...
Here’s a fantastic deal on a Trade Coffee subscription gift. Just in time for Mother’s Day!
For years, we've been recommending cool subscription gifts that make great gifts, and that includes Trade Coffee. So we're happy to partner with them on a fantastic deal -- right in time for Mother's Day and Father's Day. too. Right now, we're offering our readers 50%...
Judith Warner on “that article” about adolescents getting through the pandemic | Spawned Ep 234
Last week, my entire social network (online and off) buzzed loudly about author Judith Warner's New York Times article about adolescents and the pandemic, Stop Calling It a Lost Year. Parents had very strong opinions! Especially those who didn't actually read the...