Cool Mom Picks - the coolest gifts and gear for parents

Wednesday 08 September

We like WeWe (and so does Hollywood)

Some kids put on a Superman cape when they want to run super fast. But my kid puts on her "Cheetah Dress," which is actually the Jasmine Shell Puff Sleeve dress from WeWe Clothing.

And she has good taste, according to celebs like Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jessica Alba, who also love the label. (Not that I needed the affirmation.)

Comments: 0 | Find More: Kids Clothing, Mama Wear

Wednesday 08 September

Mamas & Papas is good news for mamas and papas everywhere.

The last thing that the world may be waiting for is another stroller brand. And yet Mamas & Papas is not new to the world - just to the US. As of, oh, about right now. And I actually was waiting for it. For real.

[don't miss a seriously fabulous giveaway after the jump]

Comments: 138 | Find More: Gear Essentials, Strollers and Stroller-y Things

The wit, wisdom, and expensive stationery of Simon Doonan

Dempsey & Carroll makes the kind of fancypants stationery that you drool over in high end department stores -- that is, if you're the type who drools over fancypants stationery at all. Yes, I am that type.

It's the kind of stuff you want on hand should you ever need to send a handwritten note card to Martha Stewart or Michelle Obama for some reason, what with the heavy-duty 3-ply cards, wedding-quality engraving, and gorgeously lined envelopes.

Comments: 1 | Find More: Announcements, Invites and Cards

Tuesday 07 September

The joy of skinny jeans. On kids.

This post also appears on the Gap 1969 Stream, along with tons of photos, articles, inspiration, and tips about denim.

When skinny jeans first hit the world of kids' fashion, a lot of parents were thinking, huh? Me included. Back in the olden days, I remember thinking of them as "painted-on denim" and they required a friend (and a super flat tummy) if you wanted to have any hope of actually zipping them and buttoning them closed.

But I've come to learn that skinny jeans are simply fabulous on little kids for all sorts of reasons.

Comments: 16 | Find More: Baby Clothes, Kids Clothing

Tuesday 07 September

Shopafrolic has us frolicking! And shopping. Not necessarily in that order.

Most of us know designer Liz Lange for her fabulous maternity clothes, to which I'm eternally grateful for saving me from trapeze shirts. Four times. You may also know about her new Completely Me line of non-maternity clothes, at least if you're an avid Cool Mom Picks reader.

But what you might not know is that Liz, along with her sister and graphic designer Jane Wagman, are dishing out invaluable shopping tips totally free of charge.

Comments: 0 | Find More: Mama Wear, Websites

The power of restaurant placemats now at your dinner table

I've long thought about how to channel the power of the restaurant paper placemats in my own home so that we can all enjoy a pleasant meal. In other words, one in which the kids are occupied while I'm busy cutting their food into a billion pieces.

Comments: 4 | Find More: At the Table

Monday 06 September

Cool Jewish New Year's cards! Who knew?

Trust me when I tell you that finding cool High Holidays card is not easy. Which would explain why every year I receive duplicates, sometimes triplicates, of the same cards. I'm sure you fellow MOT's know of which I speak.

Comments: 1 | Find More: Announcements, Invites and Cards, Holiday Picks

Monday 06 September

In support of the hardest laboring folks of all.

moms rising - changing more than diapers

Happy Labor Day, mamas! On this day, we really wanted to give a big hooray to the hardest laboring folks of all: Moms.

(No pun intended.)

Of course Labor Day really is about, well, labor. Or unions, to be more specific. And while there's no such union for parents, we thought we'd give a mention to an organization that comes pretty darn close.

Comments: 0 | Find More: Causes and General Do-Gooding

Bark if you love animals (and then buy a t-shirt)

My kids love animals. Like the kind of love that renders our cat somewhat helpless when they come at him with hugs and kisses on an hourly basis.

If it were up to them, our house would be a veritable Noah's Ark, but since I'm just not open-minded enough to welcome a pig, puppy, hedgehog, snake, hamster, fish and goodness knows what else into the house (and, really, we all know who would be taking care of this animal menagerie), I've got an alternative.

Comments: 2 | Find More: Kids Clothing

Sunday 05 September

Decorating for the hard to commit crowd

By the time my husband and I agree on a paint color, I'm pretty sure we'll be ready to move out of this house. So instead of waiting until we find the perfect shade of green for our bedroom, I'm taking the bull by the horns and investing in a few wall decals - like the cool ones from Single Stone Studios.

Comments: 1 | Find More: Art+Decor (Sounds Fancy)