Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
5 tips for getting back into the workplace after kids… and finding balance after you do: Tips from Samantha Ettus
As many moms who have done it before (including us!) can attest, re-entering the workforce after taking time off for kids, whether it's been six months or sixteen years, is no easy feat. You may have taken a break from your career for personal reasons, financial...
The hilarity and terror of raising teens: Tips + humor to get you through it | Spawned Ep 52
Today we're speaking with humorist, best-selling author and actual real-life teacher Robert Wilder about raising teens! We first discovered his hilarious Daddy Needs a Drink way back in the early CMP days, and we've been fans ever since. Break up your day with this...
Chatting with Lisa Loeb about why kids music doesn’t actually suck | Spawned ep 51
If you think kids' music is the stuff that makes you want to jab forks into your ears, then you need to listen to the latest episode of Spawned with Kristen + Liz, featuring the one-and-only Lisa Loeb! This indie alt rocker sensation turned mom of two and kindie...
More coolness from recent weeks…
Beautiful wool basics for kids who are picky about fabrics
If you know the joys of merino wool -- the four-season wool that doesn't feel like wool at all -- or you have a kid with fabric sensitivities or discerning preferences but need something heavier than cotton, you'll definitely want to take a look at luvmother,...
Ignoring your kids: Surprise! It makes you a good parent | Spawned Ep 84
When we became parents, no one told us...ha, okay, scratch that. Everyone told us that there'd be terrible twos, terrible threes, terrible tweens (oy) and all sorts of tantrums and difficult behaviors to manage. Experts to the rescue! This week on Spawned with Kristen...
On having a 9/11 birthday
I still meet expectant moms from time to time who share, with trepidation, that their due date is somewhere around today and they’d prefer any other delivery date at all. So I tell them I understand. I tell them it’s my birthday. And then I tell them what my dad said...
The Ruth Bader Ginsburg baby bib: For when dissent means no peas, please.
As she was browsing the Doylestown Art Festival today (lucky!), Kristen sent me a photo of these Ruth Bader Ginsburg baby bibs -- or Ruth Baby Ginsburg bibs, as they're called by maker Becky Garcia Dirtsa Studio -- and I died right here and now. (Hyperbolically...
Her Right Foot: Why Dave Eggers has written the perfect picture book for our times
Back when I first discovered Dave Eggers, I never would have thought that he'd turn out to be one of the beloved children's authors on my kids' bookshelves. But he's certainly cemented that honor with the new Her Right Foot, an equally powerful and charming story...
One cool new safety feature every car should have
On a recent press trip to Michigan, I was invited by Chevrolet to drive a 2018 Chevy Traverse for the weekend, and discovered a very cool safety feature that I haven't stopped thinking about. In fact, now that I'm back to my regular minivan at home, I find myself...
Gorgeous essential oil jewelry that doesn’t look like it at all
Essential oils are everywhere, if you haven't noticed, and they're not going away anytime soon. At least if my Facebook feed is any indication. So why wouldn't essential oil jewelry be A Thing right now? I'm a big fan of peppermint oil to cure headaches along with a...
What parents need to know about Sarahah, the anonymous commenting app that makes cyberbullying a snap.
The number one concern we hear from parents when it comes to kids and their devices is online bullying. Which is why we think you're going to want to know about the new Sarahah app. This personal bulletin board app has blown up all around the world, with a whopping18...
These vintage Vogue illustration tattoos are the cat’s pyjamas.
It's September Issue season so what better time to check out the awesome Vintage Vogue Special Edition temporary tattoos from our friends at Tattly. The 1920's era tattoos are just gorgeous, and perfect for all those cutout dresses and rompers that you fashionistas...
Immigrants: We Get the Job Done
Here's what I'm listening to today. How about you? Immigrants: We Get The Job Done: The Hamilton Mixtapes by K'naan featuring Residente, Riz MC & Snow Tha Product And here's what I'm reading: -Read what business leaders say about DACA. -Read how DACA significantly...
In defense of class moms: Would it be so hard to, you know, just say thanks once in awhile?
We are always so grateful to those class moms (and dads, of course -- let's get more of you!) who volunteer their valuable free time to do what's often a thankless job. So with school in full swing for most of us, or just getting ready to kick off (hey, NY friends!)...
The most brilliant small space solution for kids and homework
This week, I got the most amazing tip for small space organization when it comes to kids, desk space (or lack thereof) and organization, thanks to professional organizer Laurie Palau of Simply B Organized, host of This Organized Life podcast, and author of the...
Women Who Dared blocks are the feminist baby gift we’ve been waiting for.
The accomplishments of women build on one other. We couldn't have a female presidential candidate today, for instance, if suffragettes like Elizabeth Stanton hadn't demanded the right to vote, and pioneers like Shirley Chisholm hadn't broken that first presidential...
The brand-new, must-have activity book for your family road trips
One of my kids' favorite go-to activities for road trips on holiday weekends are sticker activity books. Because it's hard to argue with good old-fashioned fun. They're simple and affordable -- and they keep my kids busy for a good hour or so. I've actually bought...
The unicorn donut teether is the It Baby gift of the year
Don't you love when your favorite trends meld together into one perfect item? In this particular case, we're talking unicorns and donuts. So of course someone had to go ahead and create a must-have baby item in this new unicorn donut teether. From Loulou Lollipop,...
Cool skull school supplies for our edgy kids | Back to School Guide 2017
In our most recent back to school shopping guide post, we focused on the 23 of the cutest animal school supplies featuring kawaii creatures of all kind. And wow, they are cute! But for some of our kids, it takes a skull (crossbones optional) on their school supplies...
Great ideas for sweet after-school treats that go easy on the sugar. (Sorry cookies!)
When my kids were younger, after-school snacks served largely as a reward for making it through the school day. Now that they are a bit older, what they eat after school and before their after-school activities provides necessary fuel to keep them going strong through...
How to create a capsule wardrobe for kids. Even kids obsessed with their clothes.
I am happy to admit it: Marie Kondo is my guru. I love the concepts of capsule wardrobes, minimalist decor and paring down the clutter in my life overall. There is very little in my home that stresses me out more than piles of stuff -- which is why I have done my...
8 incredibly cool ways to customize your denim jacket and make it your own
One of the fun things about getting old -- ahem, I mean being a parent -- is seeing the trends we loved as kids reemerge on our own kids. Case in point: DIY customized denim jackets. Not only are they on trend this fall for back-to-school wear, they're a great way for...
Cartwheel by Target just made saving money even easier. Whoo!
This is a message on behalf of our partner Target If you're a Target shopper, you're probably a fan of the Cartwheel app like we are, because hey, we like saving money. Especially on stuff we were going to buy anyway. (At least that's what we tell ourselves as...
11 wonderful kids’ t-shirts that promote a love of learning and the importance of education. Yes!
We are enamored of those tees for our kids featuring superheroes, pop culture references, rock bands, and sports teams. And they love them. In part because they know that we love that stuff, and they're pleasing us to show their allegiance to The Justice League or...