Spawned With Kristen And Liz Of Coolmompicks

We're so happy to welcome our special guest Jessica Lahey, author of the NYT best-seller, The Gift of Failure. She's got tons of helpful tips for parents that you'll want to hear. Plus she schools us on just why we need to let our kids fail more (and not bring their lunches to school when they forget them, ahem), how to get kids excited about learning for its own sake, how to identify and encourage your kids' strengths, and why quitting activities isn't the worst thing in the world. We'd love to know if you agree! Find us at @coolmompicks on social media with hashtag #spawned show or email Kristen and Liz at spawnedshow@coolmompicks.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we've got a racy one for you, as maternity designer, parenting author and Bravo star Rosie Pope joins us for a very candid chat about sex after pregnancy: The dos, the don'ts, and the don'ts that apparently Liz and Kristen did anyway. Oops. Get the kids out of the room, pour some wine then take a listen! You'll find all the show notes at coolmompicks.com, and feel free to tweet us with your own questions or comments using #spawned show.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've polled our friends, fans and followers and come up with 14 of the very best, most honest, and sometimes most hilarious tips for new parents from other parents who've BTDT. Do you agree with the advice? (And no, we don't get into sleep training or circumcision so, breathe.)  If you have your own new parent advice to share, or questions or comments for Kristen and Liz, you can email us at spawned@coolmompicks.com, or find us on Twitter and Facebook @coolmompicks using the hashtag #SpawnedShow. You can also find show notes on CoolMomPicks.com. Thanks for joining us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's it like to parent when your spouse or partner's job keeps them away a lot? Both Kristen and our special guest co-host Courtney Greisman share their own experiences as a single married parent (and their thoughts on that controversial moniker). And Kristen spills the beans on her 3-day juice cleanse. No potty jokes, promise.  Make sure to visit coolmompicks.com for all the links you hear on the show, find us on Twitter @coolmompicks, on Facebook, or send us an email at spawned@coolmompicks.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You might think we earned our explicit this week talking about Valentine's Day, but no, it was actually our lively discussion about Grease Live! and all the sexual innuendos and euphemisms that went right over our heads as kids. And possibly now too. We do also chat about all things Valentine's Day with kids -- the cards, the crafts, the mailboxes?! -- plus all the people who think it should just be an adult holiday. Join the conversation by tweeting us @CoolMomPicks with the hashtag #SpawnedShow, email us spawned@coolmompicks.com, and make sure to visit our site CoolMomPicks.com for all the links we mention on our show. Thanks for listening!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's true! After only sixty years or so of women complaining about Barbie’s unrealistic figure, Mattel has decided to get with the 21st century zeitgeist and the changing look of the world, releasing Barbies with three new body shapes, along with new skin tones, hair colors, and facial features. And of course, Liz and Kristen had to talk about it: The good, the bad, and the curvy. But first, the crazy winter storm Jonas that brought out the sanctimommies.  Catch all the links from our show over on CoolMomPicks.com, and find us on Twitter @CoolMomPicks #SpawnedShow. Got a question? Want to suggest a show idea? Email us spawned@coolmompicks.com. Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we tackle a question from listener Shari who wanted us to talk about making friends after kids. Or as Liz added, "Or kids after friends." We share our own experiences losing and making friends as new parents, plus offer up helpful tips for new parents to meet other new parents. And we couldn't help but talk about the passings of so many rock music greats as of late. What is going on? Are you freaking out about it too? Plus, we've got our own cool picks of week, one just in time for the first big storm of the season if you're on the East Coast like we are.   Catch all the links from our show over on CoolMomPicks.com, and catch us on Twitter @CoolMomPicks #SpawnedShow. Got a question? Want to suggest a show idea? Email us spawned@coolmompicks.com. Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yes, perhaps it's a bit cliche' but we couldn't help but tackle organization with inside tips and tricks from five top organizational experts. Maybe you, like Liz, will find something that will finally click and magically whip your house into shape. But first, a lively discussion about rules amongst friends, and why Kristen wants you to tell her she's got food stuck in her teeth. And as always, we're sharing our cool picks of the week.  For all the links we mention on our show, be sure to head over to our podcast page on CoolMomPicks.com, and feel free to connect with us on Twitter (@CoolMomPicks #SpawnedShow), Facebook (@CoolMomPicks), and via email: spawned@coolmompicks.com. Thanks for listening! Today’s show is brought to you by the new Middle grade novel The Terribble Two Get Worse, the hilarious sequel to The Terrible Two, which spent over 10 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You guessed it, listeners! We're talking Star Wars. Do we still need a spoiler alert? Like the rest of the world, we're wondering where the heck all the Rey toys are, and not just for our girls, by the way. Plus, we've got the scoop on one of the hottest (and possibly most bizarre) new tech products from the big Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that's happening in Las Vegas this week. And of course, our cool picks of the week, one of which might help you tackle that Christmas 15 we talked about. Visit coolmompicks.com to get all the links mentioned on our show, also find us on Twitter (@CoolMomPicks) and use #spawnedshow or drop us an email spawned@coolmompicks.com. Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to our last episode of 2015! Kristen and Liz are closing out the year with a discussion about New Year's Resolutions: Why those three words, when all together, completely suck. We've got some better ways to think about them so you might actually keep them this year -- we're rooting for you! Plus, family why family resolutions can be a very cool idea. We're also laughing about the "Christmas 15" and all the absurd weight loss tips we've seen in magazines lately. Plus, our cool picks of the week, which gets Liz a little emotional this time around. If you have questions, comments, show ideas, catch us on Twitter or Facebook at @coolmompick using hashtag #SpawnedShow or email @spawned@coolmompicks.com. And don't forget to subscribe to our feed so you don't miss an episode in 2016, which will be our best full year of episodes yet, guaranteed. Happy new year everyone! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Kristen and Liz take on the Santa debate: Is it all about childhood magic and the spirit of giving? Is it a great big lie that will destroy the trust with your kids for all of eternity? And what do you say when kids ask the big question? Wow, do people have strong opinions about this and we cover them all. Including what to tell kids when they ask how he gets into a NYC apartment building. (Hint: Liz did not a do a good job with this one.) We're also talking about holiday cards and whether they've jumped the shark, and of course we've got our cool picks of the week, which both happen to make really great last minute gifts. If you have any questions, comments, strong feeling about Santa to share, or last-minute gift conundrums, catch us @coolmompicks on Twitter or Facebook with hashtag #spawnedshow or pop us an email to spawned@coolmompicks.com. We love hearing from you so keep them coming! And don't forget to subscribe to our feed, which would be a nice, free holiday gift for us. Thanks so much for lis

Today Kristen and Liz are determined to help you with all the hard-to-shop-for adults on your holiday lists! From budget ideas and DIY gifts to charitable donations and great big splurges, we've got ideas for your mother-in-law, your partner, even that one person who says "don't get me a gift at all." If you have questions about the show -- including your biggest gift conundrums -- send them our way! We love listener questions. Reach us at spawned@coolmompicks.com, or find us on Facebook or Twitter @coolmompicks using the hashtag #SpawnedShow. And don't forget to subscribe to our feed so you don't miss an episode. And if you love the show, we love you back! Even more so if you leave us a kind review on iTunes. Think of it as your holiday gift to us. And, it's free! Thanks so much for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Kristen and Liz are talking holiday shopping, the hell that is Black Friday (unless you shop from home in PJs like we do), the apps that save you money, and some of our very favorite gift ideas for kids of all ages. Basically, it's like an entire cool picks of the week episode. Fun! We're so glad you joined us today! Remember to subscribe to our feed so you never miss any episode. And if you have comments, questions, or a holiday gift conundrum, email us at spawned@coolmompicks.com, or catch us on Twitter or Facebook @CoolMomPicks using hashtag #SpawnedShow. We love answering gift questions -- even the hard ones.   This episode is sponsored by Little Passports. SPAWNED listeners can save 40% on their first month today with promo code SPAWNED. Learn more at www.littlepassports.com/SPAWNED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Okay so yeah. The Starbucks red cup controversy. We just couldn't help but weigh in on whether we approve of Satan's own minimalist design. Then Kristen and Liz talk about raising kids in a world that's so obsessed with beauty and image. How do we talk to them about makeup, retouching school photos, Instagram trickery, self-esteem and other tough questions? Plus, we've got two very cool, and very different, cool picks of the week Thanks so much for listening to Spawned! Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You can find all the links we reference today on coolmompicks.com, and if you have any questions, comments, or your own tips about talking to kids about beauty, you can email us at spawned@coolmompicks.com or find us @coolmompicks on Twitter with the hashtag #SpawnedShow. We're glad you joined us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've had so many emails from our awesome listeners on topics from helicopter parenting to our musical tastes (and lots in between!), we thought we'd take them on one by one in our first ever very special Spawned Listener Day episode. Whoo! Plus, we've got a special surprise with this week's Cool Picks of the week. And if you've got a question for us, email us spawned@coolmompicks.com and maybe we'll answer it on the show. You can find us on Twitter @coolmompicks.com with the hashtag #SpawnedShow, on Facebook, and on our site CoolMomPicks.com. Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whoo, we're legal! Well, actually we're 21 weeks but that's legal in podcasting years, so Kristen and Liz have a very funny discussion about what we were actually drinking at 21, versus now. (Uh, Kristen is mixing vodka with WHAT?) Then we have a little...okay, let's call it a vent session about Pinterest Syndrome. What's great about all those recipes and DIY photos and what makes us crazy. Because we can't be the only ones who look at some 32-ingredient "easy" Thanksgiving stuffing recipe and think, are you freaking kidding me? Plus, we share each of our cool picks of the week. You'll find all of the show notes and links for this episode of Spawned at bit.ly/SpawnedCMP. Don't forget to subscribe to our feed so you never miss an episode! And if you have a question, comment, or an awesome drink recipe to share, email us at spawned@coolmompicks.com, or find us on Twitter using hashtag #spawnedshow. Thanks for sharing our 21st birthday with us! We raise a glass to you. This week's episode was sponsored by Amulet

Kristen and Liz talk thank you note etiquette because wow, our Facebook fans have strong feelings about this one! Are we all doing it wrong? Will a text message thank you or an email blacklist you from parties forever? And what's with those weird thank you notes for baby gifts "from the baby?" We're also confessing all our Halloween candy sins that we hope our kids never discover. And as always, we've got our cool picks of the week, including one of the funniest yet. Especially if you like seventh grade humor. Which we absolutely do. We sure to subscribe to Spawned so you don't miss an episode! And if you've got a comment, a question, or you're just feeling a little lonely today and want to say hi, we'd love to hear from you: Tweet Kristen + Liz @coolmompicks using hashtag #spawnedshow, find us on Facebook, or email us at spawned@coolmompicks.com. We'll even write you back. Pinky swear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After one of you awesome iTunes subscribers mentioned you'd have Liz and Kristen at your famous person dinner (aw!), Liz and Kristen discuss who would be at their own famous person dinner... well, beyond Kristen's request for a table of hot guys. Then we tackle getting your kids started on email. Wow, so many things you might not have thought about that we bet you'll appreciate hearing, whether your kids are email-age or not. And hey, if you've got a question for Liz and Kristen, a funny story, or you just want to say hello, we love getting your emails (or letters, as Liz still likes to call them). Send them to spawned@coolmompicks.com. Catch us on Twitter at @coolmompicks, and use the hashtag #SpawnedShow. Also be sure to visit coolmompicks.com for show notes and links to everything we discussed today -- and subscribe to our feed so you never miss an episode. Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So let's talk about kids and cursing. Kristen has some interesting rules at home that really surprised Liz! Actually, we talk about parents and cursing too -- what do you say around your kids? What do they say around you? What do they say when they think you're not listening, and how do we talk about it with them? Is a more lax media to blame? What's the surprise benefit of cursing that we recently learned from research? Plus, we talk about me-time and how moms definitely need more of it. Especially compared with Denmark. (Anyone want to move to Copenhagen with us?) And of course, we've got each our cool picks of the week. (psst...you might want to listen to the very end.) You can find all the links we mentioned in today's show on coolmompicks.com And if you've got questions, comments, hilarious knock-knock jokes, we'd love to hear from you! Email us at spawned@coolmompicks.com, tweet us using #SpawnedShow @coolmompicks, or find us on Facebook. And don't forget to subscribe to our show on iTunes so you don't

Here's hoping Emily Post doesn't roll over in her grave after hearing Liz and Kristen's discussion about kids and manners. What should kids know? How do you decide what to teach your kids? Also, Kristen and Liz talk about Halloween costumes for kids and why they seem to have gotten so sexy, or as Liz's daughters call them, sassy. And as always, we share our cool picks of the week. Catch up on all the links from our show over at coolmompicks.com, and don't forget to subscribe to Spawned on iTunes so you never miss an episode. Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices