Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Helpful tips for flying with kids from been-there-done-that moms who survived. Mostly.
With spring break here or coming up for lots of us, and summer vacations around the corner (whoo!), we know so many families will be hitting the skies -- some of you for the very first time with kids in tow. So, as a couple of been-there-done-that moms who've flown...
Earmuffs! Or, how to talk to your kids about politics during an ugly election season
I've always aimed to raise my kids to be politically aware and engaged, and to help them understand how valuable their voting rights are and how important it is to become an informed voter. Ever since they were toddlers, I've taken them into the election booth with...
Are you oversharenting? 5 questions to consider before you share photos of your kids on social media
Not a week goes by where we don't get some question related to social media and kids. It's definitely something on most parents' minds these days, and a debate that can get, well, pretty heated. And we get it, no one wants to be judged about their parenting choices....
More coolness from recent weeks…
How good are the $3 beauty products from Brandless? An honest review.
I like to keep things simple when it comes to shopping for beauty products, but I have to admit that it's far from easy. I want high-quality, conscientious beauty products and I want them inexpensive. (A big ask, right?) That's why I was intrigued to order a few items...
23 of the coolest space-themed school supplies | Back-to-school shopping guide 2017
Looking at all the space-themed school supplies and cool gear we're this year, we were thinking...wow, we could do a whole post on this! So, that's just what we did. In fact for this year's annual back-to-school shopping guide we decided to devote each post to a...
Bouncie: The simple, powerful device that’s keeping families safer on the road.
If you're like most parents (us included!) you spend a whole lot of your time in your car. Whether it's shuttling the kids to and from school, activities, sports, and playdates, running errands, or just hitting the road on the weekends. And when you've got a teenager...
New backpacks that make us glad our kids need new backpacks.
The effortlessly cool backpacks and lunchboxes from SoYoung have been topping our lists of favorite back-to-school gear for years. And now our favorite durable, long-lasting, raw linen backpacks and lunch packs have gotten even cooler (yes, it is possible) because...
US means all of us
I was so happy to come across the beautiful US means all of us message, which started as a grassroots campaign from Selman Design to help attack ignorance and fear, especially about the Muslim-American community, while promoting equality and respect for all Americans....
What’s new about the new AAP car seat guidelines that parents need to know.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) wants to be as clear as can be on the safest way to buckle up your kids in the car. They just released new car seat guidelines for 2017 with very specific age and weight requirements and the folks at Healthy Child have...
How you can do your back-to-school shopping affordably, while helping kids in need.
We love when big brands put energy toward doing good, especially when it positively impacts the lives of children. That's why we're so pleased to be teaming up with JCPenney, to help spread the word about their wonderful new Pair Up program and just in time for...
7 fun, not-so-prickly cactus crafts for kids that will endure in any climate.
This summer we're borrowing a page from the Southwest with gorgeous, totally fun cactus crafts for kids. If you ask me, it's one of the most DIY-able plant inspirations out there and kids seem to love them. So I've rounded up 7 of the coolest cactus crafts for kids to...
Oh just a Blink-182 drum and a Chance the Rapper dirt bike for auction to support St. Jude’s
Usually, the amazing feeling you get when you donate to a cause you care about is enough reason to do it. But if that cause you care about just happens to be hosting an auction featuring items like signed instruments and band memorabilia, well — don't mind if we do!...
A simple way to help refugee children feel a little more confident on their first day of school in the U.S.
I can't imagine adjusting to a new school and a new country at the same time, but that's a challenge many refugee children will be facing this back-to-school season. Which is why I loved learning that the Tiyya Foundation is organizing a Backpacks for Refugees...
New on Netflix for families in August: Top picks from cute kids’ cartoons to kitschy 80s classics to Sing! (Whoo!)
If your family is like mine, summer nights are more often Netflix and chill (like, actually chilling, not a euphemism) than theater and $7 snacks. So, I thought I'd look ahead to the next month and round up what's new on Netflix for families in August so we can map...
6 literary totes to help you with your book nerd cred.
As a new mom to a 4-month-old boy, I look at my rare lounge chair time to lie back and crack a novel a rare indulgence -- and necessary sanity-saver. Happily, I've found some of the very coolest literary tote bags for all the readers and avowed book nerds out there...
The perfect LBD…for your toddler
Kate just turned me onto the very cool online boutique Will and Ivey, and poking around their sale section, I instantly fell in love with this super chic toddler swing dress. On sale, no less! It's everything I always loved about dresses for my girls when they were...
Grab this Golden Snitch fidget spinner now! No Nimbus 2000 required.
Attention muggles: we've just discovered the fidget spinner of your Harry Potter-loving kids' dreams.They will love taking pretend-play to the next level with this totally on-trend Golden Snitch fidget spinner. UPDATE: This shop no longer seems to exist. We've found...
I found the best bath bombs in a kind of random way.
My girls are totally infatuated with bath bombs, ever since my middle schooler joined a Harry Potter Potions after-school science club (so cool, right?) and made her own handmade bath bomb. So when I started combing our neighborhood looking for one for a gift, well...
Behold! The magical color-changing rainbow unicorn mug that we need now.
One look at the short video of the color-changing rainbow unicorn mug in action and you will want it too. You may even scream, I WANT IT! like I did when Kristen sent me the link. Just pour in hot water and -- magic -- the mane slowly becomes a rainbow, while the...
3 fantastic children’s books to get the kids to read before they become hit movies.
There are three fantastic children's books being made into movies for release this fall and early 2018. The way I see it, that gives us plenty of time to read them before scheduling a family movie night to see them! I'm a big believer in reading the book first before...
9 OMG emoji photo booth props you can totally make yourself.
We've embraced the emoji world takeover with clapping hands, champagne bottles mid-pop, and dancing twins in bunny leotards. Resistance is futile we've learned. And with The Emoji Movie coming out this week, we imagine even more will be psyched to discover our...
This Women’s March coloring book is what democracy looks like.
There's no denying that the massive success of The Woman's March on January 21, 2017, marked it as an historic day in our country, the world and the continuation of a long history of boss ladies making our voices heard. So I was so excited to discover this We March...
A dad created this awesome makeup brand to empower his daughter. And all of us too.
It's not often that you'll find a makeup brand that celebrates who women already are instead of making promises as to what women should be. But when Bill Xaing's daughter was born, he realized that he could do something to change that. So he created RealHer Makeup, a...
Mifold vs. BubbleBum: Travel booster seat smackdown
My kids have all used traditional booster seats in the car, but recently my son has had a chance to test out two cool booster seat alternatives so we could really give you the scoop on the pros, cons, and differences between the Mifold and the BubbleBum travel booster...