Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
The 2017 Oscars, A.K.A. things that change after you have kids | Spawned Episode 65
We got all excited to do a 2017 Oscars episode on our Spawned podcast until we realized....we hadn't seen any of the movies. Unless you count a couple of the animated features. Ah, parenting. So on this episode of Spawned, we don't talk about the Oscars at all!...
F*ck yeah, Meryl Streep! | Spawned Podcast Episode 64
While yes, 8 zillion other outrageous things have happened since Sunday night's Meryl Streep speech that brought down the Golden Globes (and a certain volatile twitter account), we still think it bears discussing. So today on the latest Spawned podcast episode, we're...
Tips for tackling the most common New Year’s resolutions | Spawned Episode 63
If you're like us and you love to make New Year's resolutions but can never seem to actually keep them, well, this is the Spawned podcast for you. On this episode, we're taking a closer look at the most common New Year's resolutions, and sharing our own advice, plus...
More coolness from recent weeks…
Color-your-own printable paper dolls that bring twice the creativity.
I've been lugging a big bag full of toys and snacks to keep my three year old entertained lately, but I'm planning on lightening my load, thanks to the cool, modern printable paper dolls by Merrilee Liddiard that I just found. Aren't they gorgeous? I fell in love with...
7 genius, edgy-cool diaper cakes that are making us change our minds about diaper cakes.
I'm skeptical of anything that masquerades as cake and doesn't taste like cake. Slash isn't edible at all. So naturally diaper cakes -- those sculptural designs made out of diapers and used as centerpieces at baby showers to make people oh and ahh and "die of...
Getting blunt with my daughters, because #metoo.
“You have to learn to tell the server what you want,” I insisted. She winced. “Go on…” No dice. For some reason, my outspoken, truth-telling, totally-not-shy ten year old is having issues asking for a waffle at the neighborhood diner. This is the diner where we know...
Feeling overwhelmed? Try this one-thing-a-day method to stay organized. You got this!
As a working mom of four kids, with a husband who often works from home too, our home has a tendency to be...out-of-control crazy. I love organization -- the pages of Marie Kondo's book are my happy place -- but over the last year it seems that I've been forced to...
FAO Schwarz is back for the holidays, and everything is not even a billion dollars!
I didn't grow up in NYC so I don't have FAO Schwarz shopping memories like some of my city friends. But I did know about them from Big, and I loved pouring through their catalogs around the holidays every year, carefully circling the hundreds of high-end toys on my...
Rock n Roll Parenting: Would you take your kid to a rock concert? | Spawned ep 93
This week on Spawned with Kristen and Liz, with Kristen just back from an Imagine Dragons show, we've got kids and concerts on the brain. Join us for a lively discussion about the joy of tweens and big kids, safety concerns, tips and tricks -- we even share our own...
The Disney Channel’s first gay character makes me shout yay for Andi Mack! | Thinking Parent
Last season, my family discovered the Disney Channel show Andi Mack and we were instantly hooked. This series for tweens and young teens pulled us in with its smart writing, well-developed characters, and diverse cast. But after the recent Season 2 premiere, I love...
A modern, small-space art solution for crafty kids
My kids' grandparents regularly ask what cool, creative gifts they can give them at the holidays (because we have awesome grandparents), and this year I'm putting Playpa play paper on our list without a doubt. I just discovered this huge roll of coloring paper that...
2 incredible new personalized keepsake gifts to make any mom or grandma cry.
Every year, I wish I'm that person who's on the ball enough to order incredible personalized keepsake gifts for some of my family members who'd love them. And every year I find something amazing...only to see I've missed the "order by" date. D'oh. So I'm so excited to...
Help your kids navigate the hell of middle school with the new graphic novel from the author of Roller Girl.
Let's be honest, middle school sucks in more ways than we can count. Which is probably why so many of us relate to the plight of outsider-turned-insider-turned-outsider-again heroines like Cady Haron of Mean Girls, Heathers' Veronica Sawyer, or Laney Boggs of She's...
Trump’s proposed tax bill will keep parents from adopting. That sucks for everyone.
As an adoptive mom, I'm committed to fighting against Trump's new tax bill that, among other things, eliminates the essential adoption tax credit for families. Here's why. Adoption is expensive. Like, crazy expensive. While it's 100% worth it without a question, by...
Ceci n’est pas un nursing cover.
Calling all moms supporting nursing moms! My favorite baby shower gift of the year is here! You have to check out this wonderful Boobs baby blanket created by Lot 801 in partnership with Gravel & Gold, which is a perfect way to honor the #dropthecover campaign....
The Stranger Things doormat you need for the holidays
Okay Stranger Things fans (isn't that all of us?), have we got the holiday gift for you! Check out this genius Stranger Things Christmas Lights doormat from Etsy shop Ry Nic Products, which is is basically made for the holiday season. Or any season really. But you...
5 popular diet trends right now: Safe or stupid? | Spawned ep 92
This week on Spawned with Kristen and Liz we're tackling diets. More specifically, some of the hot diet trends right now (or, ahem, culinary lifestyle choices or whatever they're being called that's not "diet") to discuss the pros, the cons, the differences, and...
The wonderful Disney x Kiehl’s charity collection is doing great things for people in need.
As we go into the holiday season — because, not to be alarmist about it or anything, but it is totally on its way — we love finding the coolest gifts for our family and friends. And we love it even more when the coolest gifts also give back in a meaningful way, like...
Attend this cancer charity gala…from the comfort of your own home.
Thursday night is the annual gala to raise money for Lolly's Locks, a non-profit that's donated nearly 500 fabulous wigs to women around the country going through cancer treatment. But this year there's something new about it: You can stay on the couch binge-watching...
11 of the absolute best homemade kids’ Halloween costumes of 2017.
While all kids' Halloween costumes are of course wonderful and creative and adorable and perfect, well, we're kind of blown away by these in particular. They're all handmade, all made by regular old parents in our network -- no professional costume designers or...
8 of the most adorable kids’ crafts using fall leaves. After they rake them. Hopefully.
Well, it's officially November. And while it's been a warm October for a lot of us, there's no fighting the fact that it's now fall. We know kids everywhere are excited, too, so we've rounded up 8 fun, easy crafts using gorgeous fallen leaves. Grab yourself some...
Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Box: A shower gift that gives back beautifully
Heads up, friends! Burt's Bees Organic has just created the ultimate practical new-mom gift, and I cannot resist it. Not only does their brand-new Baby Bee Box include all the essentials a new mom would covet for her baby, but with your purchase, the company will...
Halloween Bingo for Parents: Just print, fill the card, win fabulous prizes from your child’s treat bag!
Why yes, this is a Halloween Bingo card just for parents. (Possibly precocious teens.) We're always looking for ways to make one of the craziest days of the year as a parent just a little more fun. Just download, print, and enjoy filling every square. Then, cram it in...
5 hot fall lip trends you can totally wear every day. Hey, if we can, you can!
As much as I'm obsessed with beauty products and keeping up with make-up trends, I feel like most of them are for people with tons of time (and well, expendable income). And let's be honest, lately, I feel like they're meant to stay on the runway, or designed to go...