I read 39 books in 2018 in Goodreads’ Annual Reading Challenge. Here are my 10 favorites.
Now that my kids are teens (sniff) and need less handholding to get through every second of the day, I’m trying to read more books instead of spending all my “down time” reading Facebook updates or watching Netflix. So at the start of 2018, I joined...
12 acts of kindness you can do with your kids over the holiday break, to make the season about more than presents.
On the first day after Christmas, Santa will be back at the North Pole, the toys will all be unwrapped, and you’ll have at least a week to entertain your sweet, energetic children while they are home from school. If there’s ever a time to let the kids...
Christmas morning fun that doesn’t cost a thing: Try this free printable Christmas Secret Decoder Wheel
Wish you could slow the kids down just a little bit on Christmas morning? Then check out BugabooCity’s free printable Christmas Secret Decoder Wheel that will pause the tearing of wrapping paper long enough for your kids to play detective and find a...
Holden Caulfield, Luna Lovegood, and your dad: How to win a chance to name a character in an upcoming novel from a big author.
Still trying to figure out that perfect, one-of-a-kind gift for that very, very special book lover in your life? Then hop on over to the Literature Lovers’ Holiday Auction by December 20. There, you can bid to win an incredible gift for someone on your holiday...
Succulent of the month: An adorable and affordable gift idea for the person who has everything
Need a creative gift that doesn’t cost a fortune and will have the recipient saying, you got me WHAT?! in a happy, not horrified, way? You’ve got to check out the Succulent-of-the-Month subscription club from Succulent Studios. When I saw the company pop...
3 terrific books for children who celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah
We’ve covered so many holiday books for kids over the years, and one thing we’ve realizes is missing: a good selection of books for children who celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah. While my teens may be jealous of friends who celebrate both of the big...
We found wonderfully diverse dollhouse dolls: Multicultural, multiracial, differently-abled and more.
If a dollhouse is on your kids’ holiday wish lists, don’t forget to include some dollhouse dolls so that they can get right to the business of playing (while you clean up wrapping paper). But unlike dollhouses which come in lots of different styles, from...
These funky handmade holiday dresses are perfect for girls who say no to frills and flounce
Before you deck the halls, deck your girls out in the handmade, one-of-a-kind holiday dresses and skirts from one of our longtime favorite indie makers, Courtney Courtney. They’re much more comfy than a red faux-taffeta dress with scratchy white lace, we...
Fun backyard Olympic games that give your own gold medal athletes a chance to shine
With the Summer Games set to begin on August 5, we are getting ourselves ready to do some Olympic-sized television viewing as we cheer on the amazing athletes from around the world. So if you’re celebrating what is sure to be a spectacular opening ceremonies...Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!
We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, easier, more organized, more meaningful, and more fun for parents of all kinds.
Trivia: It was called Cool Mom Sh*t for the first two days. (Yeah, we rethought that.)
We had no idea our site would grow to become a major lifestyle network, that we'd end up sharing our finds with the TODAY Show and Martha Stewart, that we'd be able to make a real difference for so many small businesses and women-run companies, or that we'd end up with an incredible community of the coolest readers on the planet. (If we do say so ourselves).
But we did.
And we still love what we do every single day.
We're so glad you're here.
Valentine’s Day Ideas
Work with us!
OUT TECH YOUR KIDS: Join our new private Facebook community
RECIPE RESCUE: The best crowdsourced cooking + food advice for parents
Doing Good
