Cool Mom Picks - the coolest gifts and gear for parents

Monday 23 November

What's better than a scarf? A Snood.

When I was in Spain last month, I was introduced to Snoods from Kid Cashmere, these beautiful handmade cashmere sleeves from mom Jolie Sutton. Over the head they're like ear-warming hats, but down around the neck they replace scarves - maybe even better, after hearing all those scary stories about little kids who get their scarves caught in bad places. (Eek.)

All the items in the shop are handmade from Italian and Scottish spun cashmere, and silk yarns, making them really smooth and not the fuzzy kind of cashmere that ends up in your mouth. And now that I know how to wash cashmere and roll it in a towel to dry (thanks Martha!) taking care of them is really easy.

Kid Cashmere Baby Cap

If you're putting together a special holiday present or baby shower gift, I love the gift set that includes the Snood and matching cashmere mittens - the funky kind without fingers. So very European and fabulous. There are also children's ponchos that I wish came in my size and lovely cashmere baby caps too. Because if you're going to do the cashmere thing for babies, best on a garment that is least likely to be the target of spit up. -Liz

EXTRA-COOL: WIN IT! We've got a beeeeautiful pale pink cashmere Snood and mitten set in size 2 (1-2yrs) to give away to a lucky reader drawn at random. Email contests@coolmompicks.com by midnight pt tonight with KID CASHMERE in the subject and tell us the three colors they come in . Good luck!

Find More: Baby Clothes, Kids Clothing

Monday 23 November

Shutterfly Photo Books + Our Readers = Ooh, Creative.

Big congrats to Linda H, whose photo book of her first family vacation - to Hawaii no less - is the winner of our sponsor Shutterfly's photobook contest. Of course we feel like she already got the grand prize with a Hawaii vacation in the first place, but now she'll get to preserve the memories on free photo books, cards, a calendar and more.

You can check out all of the photobook contest entries on the Cool Mom Picks Shutterfly share page, but there were a few that we found so inspiring, we thought we'd give them an honorable mention here. Plus we're so honored that they've all let us in to take a peek at their beautiful families.

Elizabeth's spectacular photographs of her journey into motherhood

Tania's lovely, simple book about a single day in the park with her daughter

shutterfly photobook by allie

Allie's scrapbook-quality tribute to her husband on his 30th birthday.

shutterfly photobook by catherine

Catherine's Pink Bunny book, complete with hand-tinted bunny (shades of Mo Willems)

shutterfly photobook by paige

Paige's charming alphabet book for her son

shutterfly photobook for fred and viola

Aida's tribute to her parents' 50th anniversary. Go Fred and Viola!

Find everything you need to make DIY photo book gifts at our sponsor Shutterfly. And thanks to everyone in our community for your beautiful entries.

Find More: Helpful Services, Websites

The bling I'm coveting this holiday isn't blingy at all

Looking around the Shokay e-shop recently, it turns out one of our favorite fair trade purveyors of luxury hand knit baby clothes are doing beautiful things with accessories now too. Kristen and I pretty much gasped simultaneously when we saw their link floral necklace. It can even be customized in any colors which is amazing.

If you've spent any time anywhere remotely hip recently - even if it's just buried in the pages of your favorite fashion magazine while you're nursing - you'll know that woven and fabric necklaces are the new hot thing. It's such a great way to layer on more jewelry for festive occasions, without feeling like everything is shiny. In other words, keep the blingy earrings and the metal bangles, and add something woven to keep things interesting.

No doubt you can find other gorgeous fabric jewelry for less money on Etsy, although I'd imagine this may be the only necklace hand-woven out of cashmere-like yak hair cultivated by Himalayan herders through a fiber cooperative that helps support the formerly impoverished Hei Ma He village. Now that's a backstory -Liz

Find the link floral necklace and more luxury hand-knit gifts from Shokay.

Pssst. Hey Cool Dads and Moms. Looking for more hip holiday gift ideas for the fashionistas in your life? Look no further than our 2009 Holiday Gift Guide.

Find More: Baubles & Bags

Fresh flower delivery for those who actually want their flowers delivered fresh

I send flowers several times a year and I've found it to be very hit or miss in terms of the quality and freshness. When most of the "fresh" flowers you order are shipped in from abroad, how fresh can they be? That's why I'm madly in love with Flowerbud.com.

The majority of their flowers are grown right here in the US then cut and shipped the same day. You're literally getting them a day after they were picked. They're all sent as buds so within a few days they bloom into an explosion of beautiful blossoms in a tasteful vase. The Ranunculus bouquet made me swoon and I think I must have it for my Thanksgiving Day feast.

The prices are definitely a bit steep (they do include overnight shipping) - more in line with the higher end floral artist shops than the mainstream catalogs for sure. If you're hoping for a $19.99 bouquet of roses that comes with a teddy bear and a balloon, this is not the site for you. -Betsy

Just in time for the holidays! find beautiful flower bouquets, and fruit baskets at Flowerbud.com.

Find More: Holiday Picks

Sunday 22 November

The best kids music of 2009 that parents will love too...pinkie swear

2009 may go down as a year of the sucky economy, but at least I can feel pretty happy about the state of children's music. Especially after seeing the brand spankin' new list of 2009 Fids & Kamily Music Poll Winners. I'm honored to have been one of the judges along with movers and shakers in the kids' music industry, including bloggers, journalists, performers and producers. So who won?

Find More: Tunes

Christian Siriano's maternity line kind of makes me want to be pregnant

Confession: I was miserable in the last trimester of both of my pregnancies. Not because I was huge and couldn't see my feet and had a person sitting on my bladder. No, I hated that I was compelled to wear really really boring clothes every single day.

Times have changed (thank goodness) and now mamas-to-be can pick up super cool pieces designed by none other than Project Runway winner Christian Siriano. The appropriately named Fierce Mamas line consists of tops and dresses; all the pieces are hip, but we're really loving the plaid tunic. Plaid is hot this year, and so are ruffles, and this top has both. And with its subtle pleats and back tie, it can carry you all the way through your last trimester. Pair with comfy leggings for day or a slim skirt for evening; layer over a non-maternity tee or turtleneck for colder days.

It may be the only Siriano piece you ever get to wear, where you don't have to suck in your belly to look great in it. Enjoy. -Susan

Christian Siriano's Fierce Mamas line is available exclusively at Moody Mamas. And if you're shopping for the holidays, be sure to check out the Fierce Mamas dresses.

Find More: Maternitywear That Doesn't Suck

The inflatable toddler bed that just might get us all a better night's sleep

Loved my ginormous collapsible playpen when the kids were little. Loved. Though I admit to doing a happy dance when I no longer had to lug that thing around to hotels and overnights at the grandparents. But because we're still big travelers, when I caught a glimpse of the Tuckaire inflatable toddler bed on at the ABC Kids show, I jumped at the chance to take a closer look.

In a word: awesome. Especially in these days of staycations and houseguests and single hotel rooms for whole families who might have once rented two. (Also, those rollaway beds always freak me out a little.)

The Tuckaire is similar to the inflatable Aerobed we got ages ago, with an attached electric pump that inflates it easily and super fast. But this one has features that make it smart for kids besides the smaller size. Like an inflatable "rail" on either side to keep small kids from rolling off, and the ability to just tuck sheets around the mattress in the center and still have the rails. It comes in a twin size too if you want a bed you can get more use out of in the long run. But my little girls loved cuddling together in the toddler bed at Grammy's and word has it, they actually slept through the night. Not sure if I believe it though.

The bed is made out of a safer PVC that's 99.9% free of phthalates, which was important to designer Scott Severson who's a dad of young kids himself. Evidently, he too understands the joys of getting a kid sleeping safely on the floor instead of in your bed, kicking you in the head all night. -Liz

You can find the Tuckaire inflatable toddler bed through the Shrunks website or at One Step Ahead and if you order from the Shrunks, get a free $20 children's character pillow (they're cute!) when you enter "CoolMomPicks" in the "heard from" part of the registration page.

To receive your bed before Thanksgiving, order by Monday by phone at 1-866-354-2237

Find More: Doodads and Random Bits of Coolness, Travel essentials

Momiji dolls make passing notes cuter than ever

I'm a little unbalanced when it comes to "Japanese cute" like Momiji Friendship Dolls, the uber-trendy little resin dolls from London's Artforum, which are a modern and more affordable spin on the traditional Japanese wooden Kokeshi dolls.

Like the Kokeshi, Momiji dolls display an amazing attention to detail and expression that have both me and my eight-year-old daughter unable to decide which one is our favorite. At under $20, these heavyweight dolls are meant to be handled, not displayed--a good thing since I know my girls would have one in their pocket to take on their adventures. Before they head out, though, write them a little note and tuck it into the special "secret message" slot under the doll. Or insert a sweet dreams message and leave it on the pillow to find at bedtime.

Tweens apparently like to pass the dolls back and forth in school to share secrets with their friends. Thankfully, the slit is so small, they're limited to CU L8R or CALL ME. But you may want to insist the doll stays out of the school backpack, just in case you have a tiny writer. -Christina

Juvie Shop carries a great collection of Momiji Friendship Dolls. Poppet, the doll shown, is temporarily out of stock, but Juvie will let you know when she returns. If you can't wait, there are eight other adorable styles in stock from which to choose.

EXTRA COOL: WIN IT! We have the Momiji of your choice from Juvie. Just go to Juvieshop.com and search for them. Then send us an email at contests@coolmompicks.com by midnight PT with MOMIJI in the subject and the name of the doll you'd most like to win, and we'll pick one reader at random.

Find More: Toys and Other Playthings, Tweens + Big Kids

Cool Advent Calendar Ideas? Reader Q&A

I have a pretty wooden advent calendar/box with little doors that my boys use to count down the days until Christmas but I always have trouble finding cute items to put inside. Any ideas? -Kristin

The advent calendar is the first thing my kids race to on December mornings, so while candy is an obvious filler, it isn't something I want them ingesting at 7AM. But, if I try to find a toy for 24 days multiplied by 3 kids, I need a loan just to afford the month.

So a few years ago I made my first trip down the scrapbook aisle and picked up some festive paper. On strips of this paper, I write down an activity a day that I can easily do with three young kids, like call relatives to sing Christmas carols, or make hot chocolate with a candy cane stirrer. I also have figured out how to check off some chores from my ever-growing list by "letting" them stamp Christmas cards, or wrap gifts for me. I'm sneaky like that.

If you want even more ideas to make it through the 24 days of Advent, check out some great Advent Calendar ideas at Kids Craft Weekly. Or if you still need an advent calendar, we found some that you can order now and have ready to go by December 1st.

Find More: Ask Cool Mom Picks, Holiday Picks

Two more reasons to spend the holidays in NYC. Besides the sheer awesomeness of it all.

This time of year, the entire world descends on my fair city, or seems to, judging from the midtown traffic and my inability to get anywhere near the fitting rooms at H+M at lunchtime. So I'd be remiss if I didn't point out a couple of really fantastic events to consider with the family if you're going to be anywhere around NYC this holiday season.

Find More: Holiday Picks, Travel and events