Cool Mom Staff, Author at Cool Mom Picks

Our own best tips, secrets, and tricks to save you money on your holiday shopping | Spawned 179

by Cool Mom Staff | Podcast, Tips + Tricks

We love sharing tips for saving money when it comes to holiday shopping. Maybe because we love saving money ourselves? So this week on the Spawned Parenting Podcast with Kristen and Liz we are hooking you up, big time. We’re rerunning a favorite show that...

The Best Black Friday Deals 2019 online: From the big brands to the small businesses we love.

by Cool Mom Staff | Holiday Picks

If you’re looking for the very best 2019 Black Friday shopping deals and discounts around the web, you’ve come to the right place. Because our thing is, stay home! Be with your family! Shop in your PJs! You too? Got you covered. Here are some of the deals and...

Holiday tech gifts: 11 of the coolest STEM toys and gifts for big kids and tweens

by Cool Mom Staff | Holiday Picks, Kids

STEM toys and gifts are definitely high on lots of holiday wish lists this season, so we’re rounding up some of the coolest options for big kids and tweens. From cool STEM building sets to STEM subscription boxes, in every single price range (hey, we know that...

How writing thank you letters could totally change your life

by Cool Mom Staff | Podcast

You can probably hear your mom’s voice right now. “Did you write a thank-you note, dear?” I can’t be the only one whose mom was a stickler about thank-you notes. Well, as I learned from our recent Spawned podcast guest, author Nancy Davis Kho,...

2 smart baby gadgets to help make new parenting easier | Sponsored Message

by Cool Mom Staff | Baby

This is a sponsored message for SunvalleyTek Technology has helped make parenting so much easier that it’s often at the top of many baby registries and baby shower wish lists. That’s where you’ll find the VAVA Baby Monitor and the TaoTronics...

It’s here! Our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide. And it’s very 2019.

by Cool Mom Staff | Gift Guides, Holiday Picks

We are incredibly thrilled to present our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide. Whoo! If you can believe, this is our 14th annual holiday gift guide, and this year, well, we think we might have outdone ourselves. (Or maybe it’s just the exhaustion talking). We’ve...

A modern Christmas story that will be a new family favorite for years to come | Sponsored Message

by Cool Mom Staff | Books for Kids

This is a sponsored message for Candlewick Press There’s nothing like a magical story to get kids into the Christmas spirit, which is why you’ll be so glad to have Dasher, a new book with a female protagonist (yay!) from New York Times bestselling author...

On acting, activism, and taking action: A conversation with Alysia Reiner

by Cool Mom Staff | Doing Good, Podcast

Considering we’re pretty passionate about activism and binge watching, it’s probably no surprise that we’re a big fan of Alysia Reiner, known best for her role as Natalie “Fig” Figueroa in Orange is the New Black, a show that might have...

Big family tips for families of any size | Spawned Episode 176

by Cool Mom Staff | Podcast

With eight kids between us, Liz and I have come to learn tips, systems, and organizational advice over the years that’s help make life a little easier for us. So on this episode of our Spawned Parenting Podcast, we’re sharing them with the hopes that...

5 reasons this STEM toy should be at the top of your holiday shopping list

by Cool Mom Staff | Toys + Playthings

Every year, we keep an eye on hot holiday toy trends, and no surprise here, STEM toys are still a big ticket item for the 2019 holiday season. When we look for STEM toys, we particularly appreciate ones that teach kids STEM concepts by encouraging creative,...

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).