More coolness from recent weeks…
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,...
How to be a bare minimum parent with James Breakwell | Spawned Episode 134
If you've heard of helicopter parenting, well, sorry to say, we're not talking about that today. We're actually talking about the polar opposite (or well, close enough) with the hilarious social media sensation and author James Breakwell (aka Xploding Unicorn on...
17 feminist gifts that honor our activist women friends after a long, hard year
While our 2018 Holiday Gift Guide is up and running with hundreds of gift ideas, there are still a few very specific types of people on our lists that you might be shopping for. In my case, I'm thinking of all the incredible, engaged, active, activist women who worked...
5 things parents need to know about administering over-the-counter medicine to kids | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message on behalf of KnowYourOTCs.org With cold and flu season officially here, parents are doing their best to help their kids when they're not feeling well, which often means giving them over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to help relieve their...
How not to make yourself crazy this holiday season.
I always start the holiday season with good intentions, like this will be the year that we have lots of fun and don't stress about the cookies not getting baked and the tree not getting up until the week before Christmas. But then I'm not sure if it's the egg nog or...
4 cool black sneakers for people who would rather be wearing anything but sneakers
As anyone who knows me knows, I'm not a sneaker person. I mean I love the comfort, I've just always felt more...dressed, when I'm in boots or booties or basically anything but sneakers. But recently I've discovered a few pairs that are striking the right balance...
This baby and toddler subscription is like a 3-year Montessori education | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from Monti Kids Kids learn through play. And this is the season so many parents, grandparents, and caregivers have play on our minds. Enter Monti Kids, the only at-home Montessori learning toy subscription program that's designed and safely...