Browsing, schmowsing. Get your own piece of the cool, tasty goodness right here at the CMP Emporium. We've rounded up some of our truly favorite shops and designers, then scored you exclusive discount codes and deals to make the acquisition even sweeter.
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With their fabulous taste in toys and an outrageous selection of Danish Flensted mobiles, parent-owned KangarooBoo is always one of our first shopping stops on the web. at KangarooBoo |
The selection of cards and announcements from Tiny Prints make them among our very favorites. The quality is beautiful and the selection makes it tough to choose. at Tiny Prints |
For the best of the best in rock n' roll gear and fun stuff for kids, head straight for Duck Duck Goose Boutique which has today's hottest brands. at Duck Duck Goose |
Looking for a bunch of our coolest picks in one place? Mom-owned Craftsbury Kids features one of the best selections of handmade and fair trade toys and gifts.
at Craftsbury Kids |
 Desperate for a full-time nanny or night on the town? Much-lauded Sittercity provides background checks, references, and a whole list of qualified candidates. We LOVE this service! at Sitter City |
Yay for Modernseed which rocks the furniture, fashion, and design for kids with a decidedly modern flair. We covet everything at this amazing shop. at Modernseed |
 CMP readers just go crazy for Isabubu Designs' awesome, affordable, ultrasuede booties. at Isabubu Desgns |
 eBeanstalk is a terrific concept - year-long gift series of the best of the best learning toys for kids under 5.
cm15% for 15% off gift series at eBeanstalk |
 For lovely handmade bags from clutches to diaper bags to kitchen sink totes, explore the many stylish options at Jenna Claire. at Jenna Claire Studio |
 We love Lucina Jewelry's beautiful, socially-conscious baubles that help women around the world.
at Lucina Jewelry |
The motherlode of ironic tees awaits you at Kitsel, along with great shoes, accessories, and even goodies for mama. Such a fun shop. at Kitsel |
You pick the size, style and fabrics of baby clothes and Handpicked Pumpkin sews them just for you. So great. at Handpicked Pumpkin |
The great selection of toys, clothes and organic, and fair trade goodies at Wild Dill are at the top of our want list! at Wild Dill |
Cookie is required reading for any 21st century parent, and easily our fave pedicure mag. tote bag with your subscription |
Find the hottest gear, nursery furniture, toys and more at Estella NYC, a fave of the NYC celeb moms. (excluding gear) at Estella NYC |
Planning parties just got more stylish with the fantastic invites and cards at Paper Shouts. |
Interested? Email kristen@coolmompicks.com for more info.
Books for moms, books for dads, books for kids and for parents who think they're kids (also called dads). Here's a selection of the fantastics books we love at Cool Mom Picks, all a click away. For adults: 15 laminated cards with instructions for simple, cute plush toys. The 1960's classic about escalating trades is restored and ready for your clever kid. An imagination-sparking adventure about friendship. Anything that includes a dating site for royalty is worth a read. A book that stops the kids for fighting - what more could you need? Barney Saltzberg is taking the name 'Barney' back.
Oh So Helpful
100,001 baby names and lists galore to help you figure out if you've got a Jane or a Juniper.
If you think Madysynne is bad, this list of real names will have you equally howling and cringing.
250 very smart activities to keep you sane the first year, first child or not.
Great, digestible advice from 100 real moms around the country.
An engaging beginner's guide to keep you abreast (ahem) of the lastest info.
Finding the humor in breastfeeding - yes, such a thing is possible.
Celebs from Robert Redford to Will Ferrell offer simple everyday tips for greening up the place.
A funny little gift book with the poses moms will find themselves in most.
Absolutely essential new mama gift book on what, why and how to read to kids of any age.
The tome that keeps you from losing even more sleep with a newborn.
From friendship bracelets to campfire building to lists of women inventors. A modern classic.
Every nursery rhyme you can't remember - plus the backstories.
A lot of stuff about a lot of stuff
Cool Non-Fiction
Blogger and author Rebecca Wolf's memoir is poignant, hilarious, and unfairly hip.
Laugh your way through the insanity. It's good for you.
A great little bathroom read. Pun intended.
Judith Warner's tome on mothering in modern times.
26 fierce essays reminding us that we all lose it at times.
A wonderfully curated anthology of spectacularly good essays... because we're in it!
Essays about women at the intersection of motherhood and social change.
Journals, Organizers and Memory Books
The perfect place to store those belly shots you don't want in the family album
One of the nicest adoption journals we've found
A fabulous first-year memory book, whether you fill in every page or only a couple.
Keep track of memories and report cards stylishly from K through 12
A busy mom's lifesaver. Nice looking too!
Cooler Than Your Average Pregnancy Book
Surprisingly good (and humorous) advice for getting through 9 months dry.
Frank indeed. Who else will tell you about cauliflower butt?
Complete from preconception to postnatal - only the scare tactics are missing.
How to get green when the stick turns pink. No judgment, nice.
From Liz Lange's maternity style tips to Harvey Karp on soothing a crying baby.
Activity Books
Budding artists go nuts for this oversized scribble book with drawing prompts for ages 3-99
When your child has graduated from Scribbles, start adding color.
"This lead paint thing is out of control. We're just going to start playing with cardboard boxes."
Crafty tweens flip for this very fun book to help you make gifts from bookmarks to pillows.
Back in my day, we played with twigs and rocks and we liked it!
Sit up and say Hey, I can make that!
Picture Or Mostly Picture Books
Wonderful participatory book for preschoolers - with a great surprise ending.
Award winning photographer Joanne Dugan brings counting to life in a Manhattan kind of way.
B is for Bagel. C is for Chrysler Building.
Not the right gift book for your one friend with no sense of humor.
We say, it beats the first book of Twinkies.
For kids obsessed with life's little unexplainables.
Metro mamas will love getting this at their shower instead of the 100th copy of Goodnight Moon
From Swimsuit to Sweater, or perhaps just Longjohns. Slide, Already!
A truly magical pop-up book to inspire creativity and imagination
A sweet little tome for your little Valentine about a melodramatic pig
The Marx Brothers meets Tin Tin - a must for any kids library.
Seeing shapes in some of the great modern art of the world.
Unexplained itching? Check this cartoon book.
An ABC Book for Minimalists, Modernists, and Just Regular Kids Who Love Animals
Cool Story Books
Buddhist lessons, beautifully illustrated
Mo Willems does it again.
This old Russian folktale comes to life beautifully
Great gift book for any baby born in 2008
The lighter - and wetter - side of politics.
A new take on alphabet books for your wonderbaby.
Purchase with confidence, feminist moms - this is the princess book for you.
The Magic Flute and six other operas come to life proving kids can like opera too.
She dreams of all the things she can be in life, slutty rock star not among them. Celeb voices in accompanying cd.
Girls with magical powers trying to save the earth. Right on.
An amazing collection, wonderfully illustrated with an accompanying CD.
Country fans will not want to miss this one.
The real story behind A League of Their Own. (Spoiler: Madonna wasn't really there.)
Worthy Cookbooks
If your kids have any food allergy at all, we cannot recommend a better book for baking.
The best-selling take on getting picky kids to eat veggies by hiding them in otherwise appealing recipes.
The original "hide the beets in the pancakes" cookbook - highly recommended.
No time to cook dinner? Perfect.
The original celebrity chef takes children on a worldwide culinary tour. Yum.
Oh, the things that you will cook.
If your kid lives on peanut butter, throw every other cookbook away.
Helps kids tell their teglia from their tagliere.
Ready to be the mom who truly takes the cake?
It delivers deliciously on what its subtitle claims: Fresh, fast, family food.
Top Chef comes to your kitchen. Yes, Sam too.
Raising whole wheat kids in a white bread world.
Books for the Menfolk
Celebs, politicians and other fascinating folks answer kids' most unusual (and hilarious) questions
Frank, funny essays from humorist (and dad) Robert Wilder
If a man in your life doesn't own it by now, he should
What dad wouldn't be proud to be known as the dad who's best at everything?
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Emporium
Featured Partner:
eBeanstalk
A terrific concept - year-long gift series of the best of the best learning toys for kids under 5.
cm15% for 15% off gift series at eBeanstalk
For more discounts from our hand-selected partner shops, visit the brand new CMP Emporium.
Ask Cool Mom Picks
I'm looking for eco-friendly party favors for my 5 year old's birthday party. Any suggestions? -Michelle
We're betting moms everywhere would agree that if you're going to do party favors at all, eco-friendly ones are the way to go. We suggest snagging a few goodies from Stubby Pencil Studio. They've got everything from eco-friendly playdough, to cool pencils, crayons that don't break the budget.
For extra special favors, order up some Story Blox Name Crayons. Granted, you'll want to make sure all your invitees RSVP, but just these alone would make any 5-year-old super excited.
And as far as bags go, why not grab some plain canvas mini-totes at your local craft store and let the kids paint them during the party? It'll keep them busy and they'll get lots of use out of them.
Here's Something Cool
NYC area moms, nothing to do Saturday? Check out Xanada on bway (tickets $65) and you'll get a voucher for a free after-show family friendly party at Dave and Busters, a $10 gaming card, and a goodie bag< too. Use code XUFAM65 at broadwayoffers.com
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Ooh, to be in Seattle on 8/9. Then we could hit Crystalyn Kae's trunk show and scoop up her wonderful bags. Details here.
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Want to check out your favorite bloggers dishing on cool home decor for families? Check out Linden Street's Home Style Guide which just launched. This week, you'll be privy to one of Dooce's favorite etsy shops, and learn what campy piece of art CMP co-editor Liz used to decorate her daughter's bedroom.
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Looking for some cool tween book picks from an actual, bona fide, tween? Check out Mrs. Magoo Reads for recos, author interviews and more. Then hope your daughter grows up as smart and articulate as site owner Sophie Epstein.
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Yay to PBS show (and CMP pick) Wordgirl, which just won a daytime Emmy for best writing in an animated series. See? We do know how to pick them.
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From a global postcard project to a crafting challenge including a T-shirt design competition, 350.org is hosting a variety of fun and educational activities to promote climate change awareness: 350 is the most important number on the planet!
CMP Flickr Group
CMP co-founder Kristen's daughter celebrates her 4th birthday decked out in her Cakies crown and Courtney Courtney dress.
Have a picture of your little one (or yourself) in a Cool Mom Picks find or prize you've won? Join our Flickr group so we can show off your good taste to the world.
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