Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Spring 2018 fashion trends: The good, the bad, and the OMGWTF
We're lightening up the mood this week on the Spawned podcast, as we take a look at this year's hottest spring/summer fashion trends and...well, we laugh. And gasp. And covet -- just a bit. Take a listen this very fun episode of Spawned, and get our takes on some of...
Kids and activism: 10 smart ways they can put their passion to good use.
With the strong, courageous teens of Parkland Florida's Majory Stoneman Douglas High inspiring so many of us over the past two weeks (jeez, has it only been two weeks?) Kristen and I been thinking so much about kids and activism. In part, because we're already seeing...
7 tricks to create more positive thinking in your life | Spawned ep 102
While I'm not at all someone who believes that positive thinking cures all ills, brings all joys, and sends millions of dollars pouring into your bank account (as I said pretty clearly on our recent episode of Spawned), I do understand that positive thinking does have...
More coolness from recent weeks…
A wonderful picture book reminding us all that Love is Love.
I've always said that teaching children about love is the easiest thing in the entire world. So maybe the new picture book, Love Is Love, is more for some of the adults in our lives? Dr. Michael Genhart's sweet and moving story, illustrated beautifully by Ken Min, is...
Target now offers next-day delivery nationwide! We rejoice!
As delightful as it is to visit Target and buy fun stuff like clothes and toys, there are the times when you have to go for not-as-fun stuff like laundry detergent, paper towels, vitamins, and bandages. These are the times that try parents' souls. But now that...
9 of the best tweets from the Royal wedding that show it was more than just a Royal Wedding.
As I wrote on Facebook, there was something so restorative this morning, watching the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle -- now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. It was all about love, inclusion, diversity, a brilliant 19-year-old cellist, a moving...
Honor the royal wedding of Ed Sheeran and Meghan Markle with this commemorative plate.
The whole world has gone Royal wedding crazy and I can't say I entirely blame them. Unless of course, they're snapping up royal wedding souvenirs so fast they didn't catch that this Royal wedding commemorative plate actually features Meghan Markle and...Ed Sheeran....
CHNGE is more than hip organic streetwear, it could change business practice as we know it.
We've always talked about conscientious consumerism around here -- buy fewer things, but love all of them -- and wearing fashion from companies we feel amazing about supporting. The newest addition to our closets: CHNGE, a hip new streetwear brand committed to...
Strong as a Mother: The radical idea that moms need to take care of themselves first.
I've been so glad to see more books about self-care for moms, especially since there are so many books on how to care for babies that leave us out of the equation, more or less. Strong as a Mother: How to Stay Healthy, Happy, and (Most Importantly) Sane from Pregnancy...
Over-scheduled kids: 7 questions to ask your child to help prioritize activities and bring more sanity to the family
Raise your hands if you may have an over-scheduled child. It's not a judgment or a criticism. I get it -- it happens. Our kids have lots of interests, their clubs or sports or lessons require big commitments, or maybe we just really need the kids scheduled so we can...
6 toys that guarantee summer fun, indoors and out | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message on behalf of the toys seen here. There are two words moms and dads dread during the long, long days of summer: I'm boooored. That's why seasoned parents have come to understand the importance of fun summer toys, and how they keep that...
This new FEC ruling is a political game-changer for parents.
Those full-time parents that couldn’t previously run for a federal office because they’re, well you know, being full-time parents, now have the chance to utilize campaign funds to cover childcare so they can actually campaign for a federal office.
5 reasons moms need to see Tully, a totally unsentimental, gritty, important look at motherhood.
There are a lot of sentimental movies about motherhood; Tully isn't one of them. And yet it's absolutely 100% worth your while. Oscar-winning writer Diablo Cody's latest script, directed by Jason Reitman, is a gritty, sometimes painfully realistic look at early...
Cool kids’ rainbow clothing and accessories for summer: Always in style
One of the best things about the rainbow clothing trend we've seen so much of lately is...it's really not a trend at all. Especially if you're a kid. After all, rainbows never go out of style. So if you're asking, When is a good time to get my kids' rainbow clothes,...
Mother’s Day is not for dog moms | Spawned Ep 109
After getting a Mother's Day pitch for dog moms, we're trying to figure out why everyone is trying to claim Mother's Day from moms. Can't we just have one day that's our own? On this fun episode of Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we're talking about all the people who...
Say my name, say my name.
How hard was it to pick the perfect name for your baby? Ugh. My husband and I discussed (and debated) for months over the merits of different names, and name meaning always came into play. In fact, we even threw out some good contenders just because we didn't like...
A list of excellent articles + analyses to help parents discuss “This is America” with our kids.
On Saturday night, I saw messages from friends, including our own editors and contributors, pop up on my computer. They all were versions of, "Whoa. WATCH THIS," with a link to the new Childish Gambino video, "This is America." After watching it just once, I was...
10 things you should always keep in your car, especially if you’re driving with kids.
If you live in your car like I do, then you know that the safety of your kids -- and hey, yourself -- is always top of mind. After finding myself unprepared for minor incidents (thankfully small ones!), I've learned the hard way that I need to remember to have certain...
15 seriously funny Mother’s Day cards for moms who can appreciate a good laugh
Every year, we search far and wide (well, spend a lot of time on the internet) to find you the funniest Mother’s Day cards. Because some moms just appreciate a little sarcasm and wit over a flowery, sentimental message (But hey, that doesn’t let you off the hook for...
6 ways to simplify your tech life on your smartphone or tablet
It's probably no surprise that decluttering — your home, and your life in general — can really help keep stress levels at bay. Whether you go full KonMari on your closet or just purge your kids' toy bins from time to time, being able to access what you need, when you...
8 of the sweetest mother-daughter necklace sets, from fancy to DIY | Mother’s Day Gifts 2018
These awesome mother-daughter necklace sets are making me teary. The mother-daughter relationship can be really special, especially with little ones or even those tweens and teens for whom the connection is extra important. Oh -- and of course, for moms too! That's...
Is Avengers Infinity War okay for kids? A no-spoiler perspective from one mom.
Should I see Avengers: Infinity War with kids? Is it okay for middle-schoolers? Will my third-grader freak out? Is there a ton of violence? Am I the best mommy in the world because I refuse to allow my children to be exposed to unnecessary violence, profanity, and...
Great tips from Siri Daly to make it more fun to feed your kids | Spawned 108
Feeding kids! We all love it so much! Hahahah. No. Well, maybe some of us do. But most of us -- it's just another one of those things we have to do as parents, and make the best of it. That's why it was so fun to speak this week about that very thing, with the super...
31 affordable Mother’s Day gifts for all kinds of moms, and how to make them more special
We've always said that Mother's Day gifts don't have to be expensive -- but they do have to be thoughtful. (Well, at least they should be, right?) One of my favorite gifts from my kids of all time, aside from the hand-written cards and artwork of course, is an awesome...