More coolness from recent weeks…
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...
4 cool DIY Star Wars slime recipes to keep little Padawans busy: May the Fourth be with us all.
Not that we ever need an excuse to find our kids some cool DIY Star Wars themed slime recipes. But considering Star Wars lovers everywhere — locally and in galaxies far, far away — are celebrating May the Fourth today, well, it seemed particularly appropriate. As you...
How to support the first Off-Broadway musical about children with disabilities.
The conversation around disabilities can be tricky with young children, so I was happy to learn about the Addy & Uno Off-Broadway show that's educating kids about diversity and inclusivity in the most fun way: with music and puppets. And I was even more touched to...
32 cool (really!) Mother’s Day Gifts, all $15 and under | Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2018
If you're looking for affordable Mother's Day gifts, as in, all $15 or less (really!) you've come to the right place. Because around here, we all know the best Mother's Day gifts have nothing to do with how much you spend. Even so, I get that it's super hard to find...
15 beautiful Mother’s Day gifts that give back, beautifully | Mother’s Day Gift Guide
If you're struggling to shop for Mother's Day gifts for the mom who has everything, we always say, turn to Mother's Day gifts that give back in some way. Some of the most memorable gifts our own kids have given us are ones that support other moms and families who...
6 smart home tech upgrades for the family that are totally worth the money
If you’ve got spring cleaning fever like we do, then you know that there’s just something about the change of weather that makes us want to get things clean and organized so we can enjoy our homes and families. Turns out, there are a bunch of cool gadgets that can...
Whoa. These celebrity-designed Vans for Custom Culture offer crafting inspiration galore.
If you have a tween or teen (or you're just a cool mom) you probably have a pair of Vans in your house. How many are gathering dust in your closet? Five? Ten? Forty? Van’s Custom Culture program might just inspire you to give those shoes a new life. The program...