An indoor s’mores recipe in case your campfire plans get rained out. Consider it a chocolately, silver lining.

by Kate Etue | Food + Recipes

Monday is Memorial Day, and my family has big plans for swimming and grilling which of course means s’mores. I’ve been hoping we’d be outside all day, lathering on the sunscreen and catching up on some summer reading but there’s one problem:...

Cool custom family dolls, because everyone needs a mini-me. Or a mini-us.

by Kate Etue | Toys + Playthings

We have a thing for personalized dolls at Cool Mom Picks, but I am legitimately swooning over these sophisticated (but still adorable) custom family dolls, handmade by Liliana Tijeras of Citizens Collectible on Etsy. They may be made in Spain, but the couple with the...

Our favorite DIY teacher gifts from the class that make a big impression.

by Kate Etue | DIY

We love teachers so much which is why we’re always excited to track down great ideas for teacher gifts from the class. After all, they give to our kids all day long without complaining (to us, anyway) about the runny noses they wipe, or the fifth round of lice...

5 great photo book ideas for Father’s Day gifts

by Kate Etue | Father's Day Gifts

Father’s Day is coming up, and I’m excited that it’s time to celebrate the amazing dads and grandpas in my kids’ lives. One of our favorite gifts is photo books, which is such a simple way to create an affordable, truly special keepsake...

Picnic-perfect plastic tableware for toddlers

by Kate Etue | Kitchen + Dining

It’s picnic weather down South, and we’re spending most nights out on the back porch, sipping on some tea and eating dinner with the neighbors. It’s idyllic, until the kids start playing frisbee with their plates. I’m not big on plastic...

The DIY teeny tiny letter writing kit that’s filled with great big awesomeness

by Kate Etue | DIY

Letter writing isn’t a hobby I would have imagined my almost-seven-year-old daughter would become obsessed with, especially with our love for Rainbow Loom still strong. The Tiny Mail Activity Kit from Leafcutter Designs has caught on fast, though, and turned her...

Cool stencils for kids that make crafts you’ll actually want to keep.

by Kate Etue | DIY

So many times I’ve spent hours working on a craft with my kids, only to quietly throw it away after they go to bed. (Shh, don’t tell them.) Sometimes it’s more about the process than the end result around here–crafting for the sake of crafting....

Wine2go portable wine bags: The life of the (pool) party

by Kate Etue | Kitchen + Dining

Our neighborhood pool has a strict no-glass policy, which is why I’m excited about the portable wine bags from Wine2Go. I get that glass, concrete and bare feet are a dangerous mix, but relaxing by a moonlit pool after a long day while my kids swim just feels like a...

Mother’s Day gifts that give back, because they save lives.

by Kate Etue | Mother's Day Gifts

We’re getting down to the wire on Mother’s Day gifts, and if you’re looking for last minute inspiration, we always love gifts that give back. When you buy a beautiful, artisan gift from Given Goods this Mother’s Day, like the gorgeous Shaya...

The new Project Kid craft book offers ideas beyond pasta necklaces. Hallelujah.

by Kate Etue | DIY

We are starting to get really excited about summer break around my house, but I know the inevitable chorus of We’re booorrred will start up before too long. Luckily, I am armed and ready with a copy of Project Kid, the new kid craft book by Amanda Kingloff,...