Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
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...
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...
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...
More coolness from recent weeks…
The work and words of Emily McDowell Studio | Editors Top 10 of the Year
Welcome to our editors top 10 of the year! Through the rest of the year, we'll be sharing 10 of our favorite things (no offense, Oprah) of this past year and we hope you love them too. Of course we love everything we've shared, but these things are all extra special...
Merry Christmas, cool moms!
From our families to yours, we hope you have the merriest of Christmas holidays this year. It's been our pleasure, as in years past, to bring you the coolest of everything on the web. Your readership means the world to use and our families, and for that, we're deeply...
Christmas morning fun that doesn’t cost a thing: Try this free printable Christmas Secret Decoder Wheel
Wish you could slow the kids down just a little bit on Christmas morning? Then check out BugabooCity's free printable Christmas Secret Decoder Wheel that will pause the tearing of wrapping paper long enough for your kids to play detective and find a "missing" gift....
Creative holiday gift wrap and printable gift tags: A roundup of our favorite ideas
If you're like me, you're already kind of dreading the annual, late night "OMG we have to wrap every one of these gifts after the kids get in bed" conversation on the 24th. Or, if you're like half the people in my Instagram feed, you've already wrapped everything...
The sweetest, easiest, last-minute DIY gift from the kids to the grandparents. And you already have the supplies.
If you're looking for some last-minute Crhristmas gifts that can add a few more goodies under the tree, I've got a sweet, sentimental idea for you. It costs nothing (well, maybe a few cents), and it might just end up being the favorite gift of the year. This year I'm...
5 tips to help you take better holiday photos of your kids
We know the holidays are full of photo opps, and lots of parents taking advantage of them. We also know that kids can be notoriously difficult to photograph, especially when there are presents and cookies to distract them from being their adorable selves on camera....
How to cope with grief and loss (and support others who have) with author Kate Inglis | Spawned Ep 137
At some point in all our lives, we've experienced a loss, whether it's an immediate family member of our own, or someone close to us who has lost a loved one. And we all navigate the process of grief, from our own to supporting someone else who's going through it,...
The 6 big eyewear trends for 2019 and how you can wear them with style
I'm looking at the hot new eyewear trends for the coming year, and I'm so excited! My sunglasses definitely need an update -- one of the downsides of rarely losing my glasses, is that everything I own now is looking kind of dated or is kind of beat up. Or both. So...
Holden Caulfield, Luna Lovegood, and your dad: How to win a chance to name a character in an upcoming novel from a big author.
Still trying to figure out that perfect, one-of-a-kind gift for that very, very special book lover in your life? Then hop on over to the Literature Lovers' Holiday Auction by December 20. There, you can bid to win an incredible gift for someone on your holiday list: A...
The Barbie same-sex wedding set: Why it needs to happen | Thinking: Parent
Could Mattel be developing a Barbie same sex wedding set? Well, yeah. They could. And they might. And I am here for it. We've been writing for so long that in all things -- especially for our kids -- diversity matters. Inclusiveness matters. Representation matters....
Last-minute holiday shipping deadlines for all the big stores this season
We're scrambling to track down the last-minute holiday shipping deadlines too right now! After all, most of us busy parents are doing more and more of our shopping for the holidays online -- usually late at night, after the kids are in bed, right? I'm sure you've...
Last-minute holiday shopping help: We’ve got you covered, parents! | Spawned Ep 136
Every year, we do an entire show dedicated to help you with your last-minute holiday shopping. Lucky for you, we've got an entire holiday gift guide full of awesome gift ideas, many of which are from handmade artists, indie artisans, and small businesses. So, on this...
50 cool but still practical stocking stuffers, for people who just can’t with the plastic crap.
The truth is, I've looked at a lot of lists of practical stocking stuffers around the web and... I never like them much. Because no, chocolate bars are not "practical" gifts, as much as I like getting them. And no, deodorant is not a cool gift, even if it's practical....
3 popular YouTube channels for kids that educate and entertain | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message on behalf of WildBrain There's no shortage of YouTube channels aimed at kids these days, and as parents know, not all YouTube programming for kids is created equal. That's why you'll want to have these 3 popular WildBrain Network channels...
Succulent of the month: An adorable and affordable gift idea for the person who has everything
Need a creative gift that doesn't cost a fortune and will have the recipient saying, you got me WHAT?! in a happy, not horrified, way? You've got to check out the Succulent-of-the-Month subscription club from Succulent Studios. When I saw the company pop up in an...
How to make the most of the holiday (and not lose your mind) | Spawned Ep 135
We know that the holidays can be a busy, stressful time for lots of families, which is why we thought it might be helpful to discuss ways we try to make the most out of the holidays (and not lose our minds) with our own families on our latest Spawned podcast. In this...
History nerd alert: Famous Family Trees is the book your kids will disappear into
We've shared a lot of books lately that are really resonating with our history-geek kids. Books like Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, Little Guides to Great Lives, and HERstory, each tell the stories of important figures, past and present, in a compelling way for...
Yip Yips stockings! Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Yip yip yip.
We've seen Seuss stockings. We've seen Mermaid stockings but I don't know if I've ever laughed as hard at a stocking as I did when Kristen shared these knit Yip Yips Muppet stockings with me. With the help of a free knitting or crochet pattern offered by Carissa...
11 thoughtful gifts that help support first responders, in California and beyond
After putting together a list of ways to help the first responders and victims in the California Camp and Woolsey wildfires, we knew right away that we wanted to start collecting gift ideas that help support and give back to first responders. I for one have been...
The white elephant gift that everyone will end up fighting over.
We know a white elephant gift exchange is not a competition, but let's be honest here. We all know that deep down, everyone wants to give the gift that everyone else ends up fighting over. And that is what we predict will happen with this hilarious shower wine glass...
A beautiful custom gift for the holidays. Tissues sold separately.
Some of our favorite gifts to give (and receive) are custom gifts because they feel so personal. And really, what's more personal than a loved one's handwriting? That's why we fell instantly in love with these custom handwriting cuff bracelets by Emily J. Design,...