Christina Refford, Author at Cool Mom Picks

For just $15, you can send little boxes of joy to the people you’re missing

by Christina Refford | Cards + Stationery

As we enter the hundredth or so month of this COVID-19 craziness, I have been thinking so much about all the far-away friends and family I’m missing this summer: The nieces and nephews I cannot hug. The great aunt I won’t see down the Jersey Shore. The...

8 homemade Father’s Day cards from the kids. Keep tissues nearby. | Father’s Day Gifts 2020

by Christina Refford | DIY, Father's Day Gifts

Homemade Father’s Day cards are so perfect, whether they’re from kids old enough to manage their own craft supplies, or you know, “from the baby.” In fact we all feel like a homemade card should be part of any Father’s Day gift...

Crayola introduces Colors of the World crayons with 24 gorgeous skin tones in every box.

by Christina Refford | DIY, Doing Good, Toys + Playthings

There’s so much in the news right now, you might have missed that today is International Diversity Day. (Not that every day shouldn’t be International Diversity Day but that’s another story.) Which makes this the perfect day for Crayola to announce...

11 easy Father’s Day crafts for kids that celebrate #1 dads, rock star dads, and superhero dads. | Father’s Day Gift Guide

by Christina Refford | DIY, Father's Day Gifts

As we look for the best Father’s Day crafts for kids to make for their dads, grandpas and stepdads as part of our annual Father’s Day Gift Guide, one thing becomes evident: While not all dads have mustaches, or wear neck ties, or play golf or like bacon,...

Mother’s Day and grandmas: Beautifully simple ideas to help you to feel close when you’re apart

by Christina Refford | Mother's Day Gifts

While many of us will wake up on Mother’s Day to breakfast in bed, a few handmade cards and crafts, or hopefully at minimum some well wishes and a day of semi-relaxation, we are also thinking about all the grandmas on Mother’s Day. There are so many we are...

15 easy recycled Mother’s Day gifts your kids can make from stuff you have right at home | Mother’s Day Gift Guide

by Christina Refford | DIY, Mother's Day Gifts

On Mother’s Day for the past few years, I’ve always loved my kids’ homemade gifts and cards most of all. But, this year, I don’t want my family to worry about shopping for craft supplies to make, or to have to go anywhere to buy me something....

8 creative ways to thank our teachers during a very different Teacher Appreciation Week

by Christina Refford | DIY, School Gear

If there is any year we should all be making sure we send an extra thank you to our favorite teachers, it’s this one. They’re reimagining their entire spring curriculum so that kids can continue to learn from home, they’re getting up to speed on...

10 ways to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with kids, safely at home.

by Christina Refford | DIY, Doing Good

Readers have asked us for ways to celebrate Earth Day with the kids while we’re all sheltering in place right now and I have to be honest — with all of the days starting to run together while we’re in quarantine, the holiday kind of snuck up on me...

7 special graduation ideas during Covid-19 for your 2020 grad. They deserve it!

by Christina Refford | Party Ideas, Tips + Tricks

Our Facebook groups have been asking for graduation ideas during Covid-19 and quarantine, and as a mom to a rising senior, and a high school grad last year, my heart goes out to all the 2020 grads. While school kids everywhere have had their lives and routines upended...

How families are making Easter special for the kids this year: 7 ideas from our readers

by Christina Refford | DIY, Kids

No matter how you celebrate Easter with your kids, things are going to be different this year during quarantine. There will be no town-wide Easter egg hunts or photos with the Easter Bunny at the mall. Church services, if you attend, will be virtual, and big family...

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, 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).