Cool Mom Picks - the coolest gifts and gear for parents

Monday 08 February

Valentines for kids with very big hearts

This is the week, mamas. The week that your kids are going to have to bring in Valentine's cards for every single kid in the class, the teacher, the assistant teacher, the art teacher, the dance instructor, the janitor, and probably the neighborhood dog. But we've got you covered with our affordable Cool Mom Picks printable, color-your-own Valentine's Cards at the Etsy Store.

For just $3.99 you'll get 12 downloadable cards from each of 12 phenomenal artists, that you can print as many time as you'd like. Just print them on some nice paper and let your kids add their own artistic touches and sign the backs.

Plus every single penny goes to the Children's Heart Foundation to help kids with congenital heart defects. So you can explain to your children that their Valentine's cards are making other kids all around the country feel pretty loved too.

Our goal is to raise $1000 - and we're getting close!

Thank you so much for your support. And an extra big thanks to the incredible artists who donated their time and energy to this project. You've done good. -Liz + Kristen

Grab your printable, color-your-own Valentine's Day Cards at the Etsy store and 100% goes to support the Children's Heart Foundation

And psst...if you want to know more about the talented artists behind the cards? Check our left sidebar the whole month of February for links to their shops!

Find More: Announcements, Invites and Cards, Causes and General Do-Gooding, Holiday Picks

Monday 08 February

There's way more to Japanese pop art than Hello Kitty

When I was in Japan a few years ago, I tried desperately to pack my suitcase full with as much adorableness as possible. But lucky for me (and you), I don't have to endure the super long plane ride to stock up on imported Japanese goodies thanks to new find Japanistic.

Take the Shinzi Katoh cotton tote bags, which feature the illustrator's signature whimsical artwork that we've already completely fallen in love with (Remember these bento lunch boxes?) And I'm thinking that we might have to forgo the candy hearts for my oldest next week and stuff one of those totes with the adorable Elph + Epha school supplies instead, like the sweet little journals and oh my goodness, the pencil cases (pictured) instead.

It's just like perusing those tiny Japanese boutiques, except without the wicked exchange rate. And the jet lag. -Kristen

Visit Japanistic for a plethora of gorgeous Japanese products and gifts and get free shipping with all orders over $50.

Find More: Baubles & Bags, Misc Paper Goods

Girls will be girls at Tollipop

I love little prints of little girls (as anyone familiar with our art archives probably can garner). So when I saw an entire of gallery them from Kirsten at Tollipop I immediately started bookmarking.

Kristen is a real artist, writer, and creative visionary who sells original watercolors and prints of sweet little girls - and one boy. Goes by the name of Edwin Fink. Actually what I think is cool about them is that they're are not too sweet at all. In fact, I see a wee bit of Edward Gorey in her children, which is in part what makes them so interesting. I'm especially liking the prints from her original Hundred Dresses series like Lucy seen here.

For just $12 each unframed, grab a series of your three faves and create a triptych your daughter can get lost in for a long time to come. -Liz

[via design mom]

Find More: Art+Decor (Sounds Fancy)

Sunday 07 February

Is your faux leather handbag carrying high levels of lead?

I've coveted Shiraleah's handbags after spotting them on CMP favorite Darlybird, and I recently scooped up a forest-green pleather style which has gone with me everywhere.

Until this morning.

That's when my mother told me she'd heard that hundreds of non-leather handbags were found to have excessive levels of lead in them. Yes, lead, which doctors warn has the worst effects on children, pregnant women and women of childbearing age.

[Update: Darlybird - who we continue to love and respect - originally stocked Shiraleah bags because of the very strong eco clams made by the company, and is as disheartened as we are. We have no doubt that the bag manufacturers will respond in a satisfying way.]

What makes me angriest about all of this is that lead was discovered in faux-leather handbags back in April 2009, but it was only last month that the Center for Environmental Health was able to sue four of the largest manufacturers to create the first legally binding rules to end high levels of lead in purses--in California. (As of now, there is no federal standard for lead in purses.) And there are more than a hundred companies whose purses failed the lead test but are not named in the suit.

With a heavy heart, I scanned the list of manufacturers and designers whose bags were cited and found the manufacturer of my favorite new bag along with surprising names like Bloomingdale's, Cole Haan, Kate Spade, Tumi, and Tori Burch. (Can't say we're as shocked to see discount brands like WalMart, Express and Forever 21 mentioned.)

If you are like me and have switched to non-leather for animal rights reasons, or simply because it's more affordable, you need to see if your bag is in this long, long list of offenders.

But, note: Leather bags are not off the hook just yet unless they're vegetable-dyed; they just have not been tested as far as we know.

Right now, we're checking on a few of the bags we've featured here to see what we can find out. In the meantime, I've been looking at vegetable-dyed leather bags as an alternative, but, as someone who has sworn off leather for almost 20 years, this is a bitter pill to swallow. And even as I come to terms with this news, I am quite literally waiting for the other shoe to drop: It will be just a matter of time before I find out that my non-leather shoes are doused in lead as well. Ugh. -Christina

We will continue to update this story, so please check back.

UPDATE: We've checked in with Crystalyn Kae, maker of some of our favorite vegan leather handbags, who has reassured us that her US-made bags do not have high lead levels, and that the glazed fabrics she uses comply with domestic standards for children's goods.

Find More: Causes and General Do-Gooding

Sunday 07 February

The football widow's reward

Congratulate me. As of today, I've officially survived another full football season of Sundays home alone with the kids, never knowing whether my sigOth would come home from the bar happy or Stay away from me, they lost again.

(He's a Redskins fan, so I'll let you guess which it is.)

I'd say I deserve a little something for my patience, understanding, and ability to fall so easily into stereotypical gender roles.

You too? Well what perfect timing. Because the new spring handbags are just starting to creep into Barneys.

While what I'd really like is the Prada Saffiano Bowler Bag for a mere $2,450, but because Fantasy Football didn't exactly pay out for us this year, I'll settle for the $1,650 Bottega Veneta Ottone Zip Tote which is probably more practical anyway. I'd imagine that's close to what his annual bar tab came to this year anyway.

Now g'wan. Gawk at all the designer bags and leave some drool marks on the virtual store windows. You know you want to. -Liz

Find the new collection of designer handbags for spring at Barne's New York.

Find More: Baubles & Bags

Kid safe utensils for future foodies

Of all the things to gawk at, at the sprawling Atlantis Resort last weekend, there was one thing that seemed to catch the eye of every editor there--the bright, kid-friendly cooking utensils in the Kids Club.

Sadly when I found info on the nested mixing bowls that looked so fabulous on the shelves, they turned out to be a whopping $49.99 for a set that gets dismal Amazon ratings. But I was happy to discover the Fiesta Heads silicone whisk, spatula and pastry brush which the kids had a blast playing with before the cooking even started, thanks to the fun character-like shapes. They're not cheap either, but they are built to last. And they'd make a cool gift for a budding chef who'd be excited to have his very own set of kitchen stuff.

His own set of kitchen stuff with belly buttons on it. -Liz

Find the nested mixing bowls by Joseph Joseph and Fiesta Heads silicone utensils for kids at our affiliate Amazon.

[h/t lil' sugar, digital dads]

Find More: Around the House

Saturday 06 February

DriveSafe.ly keeps your hands on the wheel, where they belong

I know that there is no text or email worthy of taking my eyes off the road while driving, especially now that I'm carrying precious cargo in the back seat. But, the urge is strong, oh so strong, to see what message has just popped up, and I'm such a good driver, there's hardly any traffic, I'll just grab my phone and take a quick peak, only for a second. . .

Not cool, right? And now, totally unnecessary with the new free app called DriveSafe.ly on the scene. DriveSafe.ly reads your phone's texts and emails out loud and you don't have to take your hands off the wheel once. You can even preset your own auto response like Am driving, call l8r.

It's currently available only for Blackberry and Android phones, but expect iPhone and Windows Mobile versions soon.

I think DriveSafe.ly isn't just about preventing distracted driving; I think it's perfect for new moms who are busy nursing or find themselves trapped on the couch with a sleeping baby in their arms. Because no matter how much I wanted to see who was emailing me, there is no way I'd have budged an inch to pick up the phone once I finally got the baby down. -Christina

Download DriveSafe.ly for free at DriveSafe.ly.com. If you want more options---like the ability to read longer messages--- upgrade to DriveSafe.ly Pro.

And to learn more about the campaign against Distracted Driving, check out the Mom Sends the MSG campaign from our friends at TheMotherhood.com where you can sign a pledge, grab a badge for your blog or website, or download a free car window sign.

[via UrbanDaddy]

Find More: Causes and General Do-Gooding, Tech, CMP-Style

Saturday 06 February

Child labor - yet another benefit of parenthood

I have to appreciate any shop with the cajones to put out something called the Child Labour Collection; but then again, I'd expect nothing less from our irreverent friends across the pond at Twisted Twee.

I'm laughing at the silkscreen tea towel featuring a rewards chart that suggests washing the cups and saucers are worth 10 minutes of TV, and the cutlery earns one extra bedtime story. But what I really like are the towels that say Princesses Dry it Best and This is a Job for Dryer Man! Grab one of each, give your kids their "special towel," and put your legs up while they demonstrate their tableware-drying prowess. You've earned it.

And so will they. -Liz

Find the hilarious Child Labour Collection from Twisted Twee.

Find More: Around the House

Friday 05 February

Sleep, my little valentine. Sleep.

Love pirate organic cotton and bamboo sleep sack There's no shortage of Valentine's Day attire for little girls (like the Kideko heart pajamas we found this week) , but when it comes to boys, it's pretty slim pickings. And I get it. Dressing a boy in a rose-colored heart shirt is a tough sell, even if there is a Spiderman on it too.

But the adorable Love Pirate sleep sack from CMP fave Baby Burrito is the perfect festive nod to Valentine's Day for both baby boys and girls without smothering your little one in pink. Made from organic cotton and bamboo, and featuring a simple heart and cross bones, this sleep sack is a welcome change to the typical baby pastels and barnyard animal themes. There's a matching baby blanket too.

Once February 14 has come and gone, you'll still get plenty of use out it, without anyone thinking otherwise. -Kristen

Check out the lovely handmade baby gifts at Baby Burrito.

EXTRA COOL: WIN IT! We've got this very sleep sack up for grabs. Send an email to contests@coolmompicks.com with "PIRATE" in the subject by midnight PST tonight and tell us the name of the three other sleep sack designs at the shop. US & Canada welcome - Good luck!

Find More: Baby Clothes, Cool Clothes for Boys, Organics

Web Coolness - Valentine's Day tips and Super Bowl Treats

Here are some of the things we've been reading around the web this week. We hope you'll like them too.

A fabulous list from Parenthacks on all their past Valentines-themed parent tips like creating heart-shaped window decorations, shown here.

Interesting article on Slashfood about Why We Give Candy on Valentine's Day in the first place. (Not like it matters, heh.)

Lil' Sugar suggests 15 ways to celebrate Valentine's Day with kids.

If you happen to be in Boston (or within driving distance), check out this awesome pre-Valentine's Day mom's night out next week with CMP co-founder Kristen.

iVillage has a roundup of 50 fabulous Super Bowl recipes including five just for chicken wings. Although they call it "Big Game Recipes." Because of the trademark issues of saying Super Bowl. Whatever.

Also a list of 7 great ready-made Super Bowl Party snacks from Real Simple, if you're the type who trades up from Lays to Kettle Chips.

Lovely post at BlogHer from Gina Caroll about Defending Motherhood Choices and fending off the judgy people online.

[photo: rookiemoms]

Find More: Link Roundups