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…
3 organizations that let you send heartfelt holiday cards to kids who need them most
On this Giving Tuesday, we're 100% for you donating whatever money, time, and resources you can the causes you care about most. And we know there are a lot of them. While you're at it, consider another group that could benefit from your love: Kids spending the holiday...
This cookie stamp lets you give back to teachers in an awesome (and delicious) way.
Every holiday season, we parents want to give back to the teachers who spend the rest of the year giving so much to our kids. And, truthfully, finding the right teacher gift is hard. Really, what gift strikes a balance between "thank you for all you do" and "sorry...
The best Cyber Monday 2017 deals from around the web to help you shop big or shop small.
Friends, may we present...the best Cyber Monday 2017 shopping deals and discounts around the web. No "2% off with a $1000 purchase" deals. Just the very best stuff from the shops we love, big and small. Things have come a long way since the days that Cyber Monday was...
6 lovely gifts that give back on Shop for Good Sunday. Or any day!
Between Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, there are a lot of dedicated shopping days in your life right now. But Shop for Good Sunday is another to add to the list — and you should add it, because today is about supporting businesses and brands...
Small Business Saturday deals that make your heart grow three sizes today.
Way back before Small Business Saturday, there was Cool Mom Picks. Kristen and I originally started our site as a way to support cool small businesses, mom-run companies and makers (F.K.A. "artisans") that could use a signal boost. So while every day is basically...
All the best deals for Black Friday 2017 right in one place!
If you’re looking for the very best Black Friday 2017 shopping deals and discounts around the web, we've got you covered! And by best, we mean...best. Like, no junky stuff, no "buy one, get one for 6% off." Just the best deals for the shops we love, big and small....
Our own best tips to save you money on holiday shopping and Black Friday | Spawned 95
We love sharing tips for saving money when it comes to Black Friday and holiday shopping! Maybe because we love saving money ourselves? So this week on Spawned with Kristen and Liz we are hooking you up. These are some of the tips we've shared with national magazines,...
5 bright and colorful snow boots for kids, to beat the winter drab
It's getting chilly outside, and we've even had snow in the forecast down here in Nashville! (Although it missed us, whew.) So, I guess it's time to start thinking about kids' snow boots for the winter, for those of us who never think about such things until you know...
Win the holidays with these 6 cool, affordable, pop bags for girls
My daughter has a pretty firm holiday wish list drawn up already, but I still want to find a few surprises to add in for her. Because it's so much fun to watch the kids open something they weren't expecting to get, especially when it's something fun and cool that...
3 great new middle-grade novels your kids (and you!) should be reading right now.
Over the last few months I've received a stack of advance review novels that's now literally taller than I am. But from the pile of books, three great middle-grade novels in particular have caught my attention. Each explores themes of justice, activism, empowerment...
A huge Black Friday deal on mega-popular kids toys | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from MEGA If you love saving money around the holidays, now's the perfect time to stock up on gifts your kids will love with some big Black Friday deals on Mega Bloks and Mega Construx products, exclusively at Toys "R" Us. Whether you're...
We’re giving away $1000 worth of scooters for your whole family! Woot!
You all know we like giving you stuff, right? Right! So to make a few families' holidays a little more fun, we're excited to give away $1000 worth of Micro Kickboard scooters for the whole family. How cool is that? This contest is now over. However, be sure to...
5 expert, guilt-free strategies to make me-time a reality for more moms.
Given the work I do daily with so many amazingly strong, tuned-in, competent juggling moms, a little bit of smoke comes out of my ears every time I read lines like, it’s so important to set aside "me time" every single day to be an even better mom and wife! So many of...
Can’t we all just get Along? Brutally honest answers to Thanksgiving questions | Spawned ep 93
This week on Spawned with Kristen and Liz is one of our very favorite annual episodes: Answering all of our listeners' and readers' burning Thanksgiving questions! Wondering how to get the men to actually do dishes this year? Trying to feed 12 people with 14 different...
7 Thanksgiving activity printables to keep kids busy before turkey
What would we do without Thanksgiving activity printables this week! After all, cooking for Thanksgiving can intimidate even the most seasoned cook, let alone when you're surrounded by young kids who are a little too eager to "help." (Or in my case, an infant who...
Check out our top picks for toys and games all 25% off at Target today. YES!
Target rolled exclusive weekend deals every weekend in November and December and as a dedicated Tarzhay shopper, I am all about this! Especially since today's deal is a whole 25% off toys at Target. What better way to say, "attention holiday shoppers: Please stay home...
Move over, elves. Mermaid Christmas stockings are coming for our shelves and mantles!
I don't think it's a surprise that our kids are obsessed right now with mermaid blankets, mermaid Vans, and mermaid pillows -- and that we adults are fully giving into the obsession. In a world gone somewhat mad, a little fairy magic can certain brighten a day. So...
7 of the coolest modern, handmade Christmas stockings on Etsy
I have had the best time scouring Etsy to find some of the coolest, handmade modern Christmas Stockings that all support talented indie makers. Some even have personalization, should your kids fight every Christmas morning about which belongs to whom. (Ahem.) In my...
10 extra awesome Thanksgiving hostess gifts under $30 to make you extra welcome
While most of us want to know what we can cook, bake, or otherwise whip up when we head out for Thanksgiving dinner, sometimes there's a host or hostess who gives you the old, "just bring yourself!" But since we know you should never show up at a party empty handed,...
Christmas sweaters have nothing on the new collection of holiday TOMS
There's a fine line between wearing something kitschy-cool for the holidays and looking like you barely survived a sale bin eruption at the craft store. I'm going to put these new glow-in-the-dark Christmas light TOMS shoes firmly into the first column. They are so...
11 things from our childhoods that should definitely stay there!
This post is sponsored by Nintendo, who is awesome for letting us do this. The 80s and 90s were...quite a time. And so we cordially invite you to laugh with (at?) us as we depict some of the stuff we don't miss a bit. From the hell of cassette tapes to scrunchies to...