Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Friendships after kids: Smart tips and resources for making new mom (and dad) friends | Spawned Episode 30
Making new friends as adults is hard enough as it is, but it can be especially challenging when you have kids. And it's not just making new friends, but also maintaining those old ones too. I know first-hand that when you've already gone all those life changes that...
Decluttering tips from 5 top organization experts: Which is best for you? | Spawned Episode 29
I fully admit that home organization is the bane of my existence. If you're a hard-core reader of this site or a listener of the Spawned podcast then you know that while Kristen is an avid purger, I'm what I like to think of, fondly, as a Nostalgic Hoarder. It's like...
19 cool Rey Star Wars toys and gifts: She might not be in Monopoly, but she sure is here. | Spawned episode 28
We've been super frustrated with the lack of Star Wars toys for kids featuring Rey. Not just because she's a woman, and all of our kids -- male and female -- love her, but uh...she's the hero. How the heck do you make a Star Wars Monopoly set or a Star Wars 6-piece...
More coolness from recent weeks…
Here’s why you may now need a passport to fly domestically, and how it impacts family travel.
If you're a parent in Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania (sorry, Kristen!), South Carolina or Washington State, a simple family trip to visit the grandparents is about to get trickier. And a lot more expensive. All thanks to the REAL...
Our honest review of Function of Beauty custom shampoo and conditioner | Damn You, Social Media Ads
We're so glad you've all been loving our Damn You, Social Media Ads review series, in which we purchase products from those ads flooding our social feeds, then test them out just for you. Today, we've got the honest scoop on Function of Beauty custom haircare...
Fun July 4th party must-haves because hey, you only turn 241 once.
Do you like July 4th parties? I like July 4th parties. I mean, what's not to like? Sparklers, hot dogs, watermelon, friends -- and I don't have to wrap any gifts! If you're planning on hosting a shindig -- or just bringing something to a July 4th potluck -- I've found...
Bandages to heal kids’ emotional boo-boos: Helicopter-y or helpful? | Thinking: Parent
This post is written by guest contributor Anna Caudill, Executive Director of PALS (Post Adoptive Learning Services) and adoptive mom of two. Recently, Dutch bandage company Hanasplast created a limited time box of Hearts bandages designed to "heal emotional wounds."...
How to wear stars this summer. Stripes, optional.
If you've ever bought that awesome American flag t-shirt for July 4th only to feel like it's kind of passé on July 5th, I just found the perfect fashion solution in these totally fab new star-adorned Lily flip-flops from TKEES spotted at ShopBop. They come in three...
Do you know where your kids are? This new device could help. | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from Jiobit Keeping track of your kids just got a whole lot easier thanks to Jiobit, a location tracker designed to help give parents peace of mind. Don't miss the special offer for Cool Mom Picks readers, below. The Jiobit works with a...
Who was John Newbery? This children’s book makes finding out so fun.
We've shared so many children's books over the years that bring history's most wonderful real-life heroes to life for kids. From specific heroes like Frederick Douglas (whom a few adults need to read more about too, ahem) and Josephine Baker; to pioneers of space and...
4 of the most gorgeous baby bassinets you’d keep in the bedroom, even when the baby has moved on.
Since my husband and I sleep with our 3-month-old in our bedroom, I wanted to share some of the more gorgeous baby bassinets I've come across as a new mom. Because I know I don't want to look at swirls of neon plastic every time I lay my exhausted head down on my...
The new Crayola nail polish by Sally Hansen: Sorry kids, these are just for us.
As parents, we're familiar with colorful crayon masterpieces pinned to our walls and, let's be honest, on our walls. But on our nails? Shut the front door. Sally Hansen has teamed up with Crayola to launch Crayola Insta-Dri Nail Polish in 12 of their crayon shades. So...
The Beyond Tablet: Is this cool new screen-free gaming system worth the price?
When my kids get bored over the summer, their go-to entertainment, other than the Xbox (of course), is board games. So when we got a chance to try out the new Beyond Tablet -- an electronic, but screen-free, tabletop gaming system -- in advance of its release, we were...
A BTDT mom’s guide to surviving sleepaway camp (you, not the kids!) | Spawned episode 79
Today on Spawned, guest host Stacie Billis joins Liz for a great chat that should put all you first-time sleepaway camp parents -- or future sleepaway camp parents -- at ease. Well, mostly. Tune in for tips like when to know your kid is ready for camp, how to decide...
Every kid doesn’t deserve a trophy. But they might deserve a merit badge.
This is a new take on the old idea of positively rewarding your kids. It’s 2017. It’s a new type of merit badge.
How one celeb is making Bessie Coleman’s story soar for kids.
When she decided she wanted to fly, she didn’t let anything hold her back.
The hipster baby carrier of the year, courtesy of Keith Haring
The upcoming Keith Haring special edition Ergobaby carriers are being promoted as a celebration of parenting and art. Which they are. But if you know about the vision of this now iconic pop artist, wearing these new carriers says so much more. Keith Haring’s rainbow...
23 of the coolest mermaid party ideas we adore. Fin-tastic!
Mermaids are big with kids. In other news, water is wet. So of course, mermaid parties are big with kids and honestly, with us adults too. In fact, this mermaid trend has legs. (So to speak.) And that means if you're looking for amazing mermaid party ideas for an...
Star-spangled slime: The perfect 4th of July DIY for kids.
My kids are way into slime -- and by "way into," if you're a parent, I'm pretty sure you know exactly what I mean. So of course I wanted to create a 4th of July slime recipe that would appease them. We've tried almost every safe, Borax-free slime recipes we've come...
So smart! A new board game subscription box to keep family game night fresh.
My kids' playroom has a bookshelf with piles of board games taller than me. So yeah, you could say we're fairly avid tabletop gamers at our house. But, even so, we're still always on the lookout for fun new games. If they're really affordable, even better. So you can...
The Rebel Girls are back, and they’re more badass and inspiring than ever.
It's hard to overstate how excited I was about the first volume of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. A whole book full of the biographies of stereotype-busting sheroes? Illustrated with gorgeous portraits from female artists around the world? Heck yeah, I was sold!...
Meet KOOV, a new STEM kit that lets kids build and control their own robot | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from KOOV For kids who love STEM -- and those parents who want to foster their kids' passion -- KOOV is a remarkable educational kit to help kids 8 and up create and control their own robots, bringing their own imaginative designs to life....
Should you really avoid SPF over 50? We’ve got facts, and we’ve got answers.
Growing up as a fair-skinned, redheaded kid, I'm no stranger to the intricacies of SPF labels. Or sunburns. Like lots of us, I always believed that the higher the SPF, the better the sun protection I'd get, but that's not necessarily the case. In fact, the EWG warns...
The new Ken dolls are here, some with big muscles in case you’re thinking of mocking their man buns.
In light of last year's big launch of the curvy Barbie dolls in three curvalicious body types, Mattel is following suit with a whole new series of next gen Ken dolls, A.K.A. "The Fashionistas." Let's just say, they've come a long, long way from the pale, scrawny...