Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Smart tips for tackling digital clutter with Joshua Zerkel of Evernote | Spawned episode 77
If you're like us, you've got a bazillion photos sucking memory on your phone, not to mention all those unnamed documents on your computer. And we won't even talk about our email inboxes. But that's all about to change for us, and you, thanks to our special guest on...
Getting kids excited about science: A chat with NPR Wow in the World hosts Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas | Spawned ep 76
Well, if Spawned with Kristen and Liz haaaaas to be beaten by someone in the Kids + Family podcast category, we're happy it's the new NPR podcast Wow in the World, a weekly science show "for kids and their grownups." Especially because it's hosted by two of our...
Work after baby: Lauren Smith Brody’s tips for surviving with sanity and style | Spawned ep 75
How do you get back to work after having a baby without losing your mind? How in the world can you start looking -- and feeling -- human again when you feel anything but? How do you carve out me-time when it seems least likely? And the big one: Is it possible to ever...
More coolness from recent weeks…
I’m a mom. Explaining the word “shithole” is far from my biggest concern.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! - Emma Lazarus After yesterday's racist, hateful, and decidedly non-presidential presidential "shithole" characterization of immigrants to America from predominantly black and brown...
6 of our favorite Disney movies that you can watch free at home this week.
This is a sponsored post on behalf of our partner Disney. We are total entertainment geeks, and as our readers know, we're big fans of family movie night. (i.e. Put down those screens, kids, and come watch the big screen right here with us.) So we are pretty psyched...
The best stay-put lipstick I’ve tried. Kiss me, Nars!
I am always looking for a good stay-put lipstick, which means it uh, actually stays. Plus, it can't be too drying, it has to distribute the pigment evenly, and it uh...actually has to stay put. Within reason of course. Well hallelujah for Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment...
Why #TimesUp made last night’s Golden Globes important family viewing. | Thinking Parent
Knowing that the Golden Globes would be more about female empowerment than fashion this year, with more red carpet questions and speeches about #MeToo movement and activism and gender parity and social justice, I decided to let my kids stay up and watch the awards...
Everything you ever wanted to know about eyelash extensions
After admiring my friend's gorgeous eyelash extensions a few months ago, I decided to bite the bullet and try them myself. As someone who doesn't wear a lot of make-up, and doesn't have a lot of time, I figured it would a cool way to make me look a little more awake...
The best children’s books of 2017 to read in 2018: All the year-end lists, all in one place.
This is my favorite recurring post every year on Cool Mom Picks, in which we collect all the best children's books of 2017 lists from all over the internet -- from big publications like the New York Times to our favorite indie bloggers with great taste in literature....
12 of the very best printable calendars we hope are as inspiring as 2018 will be.
2017 was...quite a year. And if you're anything like me, you find the idea of a fresh calendar for a fresh New Year a great way of wiping the slate clean and getting a fresh start (to use a cliche or two). That's why I poked around to find some of the coolest 2018...
The parents’ ultimate guide to snow day sanity with 34 genius snow day activities.
Are you in snow day hell, stuck inside with antsy kids, looking for some fun ideas besides staring at your Instagram Stories? We feel you! Don't lose your mind looking for great snow day activities; start with these ideas, newly updated for 2018. We've got nearly 3...
A wonderful little gift to yourself to help power you through the new year.
We featured the Speakeasy Works Equality wristlet as one of our favorite feminist gift ideas all created by women in our recent Holiday Gift Guide. And even though the holidays have passed, we all love it so much we think it makes an amazing gift for yourself to get...
The Generosity of Regular People. Like You. | Editors Top 10 of the Year
Our final Editors Top 10 of the Year pick seems the perfect one to close out 2017 -- and really, to lead us into 2018. There's always been a current of social good through our site from the day we started it, as we've highlighted incredible charities, gifts that give...
Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls Vol. 2 | Editors Top 10 of the Year
The truth is, we want to give a shout out to the many wonderful children's authors this year who dedicated their energies to supporting, uplifting, and empowering girls -- and to those publishers who gave them the opportunity. But the one that really steals our hearts...
The Ibtihaj Muhammad Olympian Barbie | Editors Top 10 of the Year
During a time that so many people are waking up to the essential need for diversity reflected in all aspects of life, we're so thrilled to see that toy makers are getting it too. Especially one of the biggest in the world. Which is why we're cheering for the launch of...
Amazing Card Games for Family Game Night | Editors Top 10 of the Year
This year we featured a few super cool card games that we just can't stop playing with our own families. And no, we're not talking Go Fish or Gin-Rummy! So we decided the awesome family card game trend deserves a spot on our Editor Top 10 Picks of the Year list. Like...
End-of-year charitable giving: 8 organizations raising the next generation of awesome women.
We love giving back all year round, but right now, we find ourselves especially drawn to those organizations working so hard to make positive changes for girls and women in 2018. If you're looking at a way to maximize your giving right now (especially considering the...
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna | Editors Top 10 of the Year
Read Rihanna's mission statement for her new Fenty Beauty line and it was a contender for our top 10 of the year before we even tried it. The brand was "created for everyone: for women of all shades, personalities, attitudes, cultures and races. I wanted everyone to...
Wow in the World Podcast | Editors Top 10 of the Year
We knew you when, Mindy Thomas! Well, she was already a huge star on Kids Place Live, but now her new NPR podcast with co-host Guy Raz has blown up the airwaves. And for good reason. Wow in the World is a truly fantastic listen for kids of all ages. Whether you've got...
LEGO Tape | Editors Top 10 of the Year
If your house is covered in LEGOs like our homes are covered in LEGOs, you're probably as excited as we were to discover this LEGO tape. Yes, your kids can actually stick it to surfaces, then build on it with their LEGO blocks, which is why it's one of our Editors Top...
Unicorn Vans | Editors Top 10 of the Year
The second we spotted these Unicorn Vans in bigger kid sizes, we knew they would make our kids freak out. And well, they did, along with our Facebook fans, and their lucky kids. See the rest of our Editor Top 10 Picks of the Year here! Now, we've seen our fair share...
The Girls Sports Bras from Yellowberry | Editors Top 10 of the Year
2017 has arguably been a year for women and girls and you'll see that reflected in a lot of our top Editors Top Picks of the Year. So next up, we're giving a shout out to the wonderful, woman-run, indie label Yellowberry. And more specifically, their amazing new girls...
The Wonder Movie | Editors Top 10 of the Year
Each year, we put together our editors' picks for our favorite finds of the past year. This year, instead of sorting by category, we thought we'd pare it down our top 10 discoveries of 2017, and roll them out right up until New Year. It's been a tough year in a lot of...
Tips for caring for baby’s sensitive and eczema-prone skin | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from Eucerin Caring for a baby's skin can require special care and TLC, especially during the cold winter months. To keep it soft and smooth, parents love the Eucerin Baby Line from the trusted dermatologist- and pharmacist-recommended...