Liz Gumbinner, Author at Cool Mom Picks

Barbie’s Inspiring Women collection of dolls make the best gifts. (And not just for girls)

by Liz Gumbinner | Holiday Picks, Toys + Playthings

I want to be cynical, because you know, Barbie, but something moves me about the new Barbie Inspiring Women set of collector’s dolls that I stumbled on last night as I browsed the Target site. To think that in my childhood, Barbie was…well, Barbie, and now...

My fave chunky boots for fall 2021 that take you right into winter. Bring on the lug soles!

by Liz Gumbinner | Fashion

I started browsing all the cool chunky boots for fall 2021 during a rare free moment of downtime this weekend, and wow — leave it to fashionable footwear to get me excited for fall. (And yes, I know we’re a month in but considering I’ve still been...

Cool non-candy Halloween gift for a cynical tween or teen? Reader Q & A

by Liz Gumbinner | Kids

When Lisa asked us for cool non-candy Halloween gift ideas for her tween/teen nieces and nephews, I was on the case! I checked with my own Halloween-loving but decidedly…particular tween and teen to see what kinds of things they would think are cool. I mean, of...

Instagram, girls and body image: What parents need to know | Spawned Ep 252

by Liz Gumbinner | Health, Fitness + Wellbeing, Podcast

Recently, I wrote about that article, the one about Instagram, teens, body image and self-esteem — and the conversation I had about it with my 14-year-old daughter. It generated so much great conversation on our social feeds, that Kristen and I wanted to chat...

The new Queer Eye LEGO set is not just about building, but building people up.

by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings

I could not be more excited that LEGO just announced a new LEGO Queer Eye set featuring The Fab 5 Loft that’s coming out October 1. (No pun intended. Seriously I just caught that on the re-read.) haven’t been this excited since they came out with the Women...

The one trick to make sure your child’s face mask fits properly, to comply with the brand new CDC recommendations.

by Liz Gumbinner | Health, Fitness + Wellbeing, Kids, Tips + Tricks

After 18 months (sigh) it’s now clear that we’re past the point of “any mask is better than nothing” for preventing Covid spread, especially with the Delta variant here. In fact, just this weekend, the CDC issued new, specific recommendation...

What is Labor Day? This book (and its read-aloud video) is a perfect way to explain.

by Liz Gumbinner | Books for Kids

I’m not sure how many kids have ever really asked what is Labor Day? It’s become synonymous with the unofficial end of summer, a three-day weekend, barbecues, and yeah, mattress sales. So much so, we kind of blow past it without the typical tributes and...

The kids are fighting and it’s exhausting: Tips to resolve sibling conflict from a psychologist and family counselor | Spawned Ep 248

by Liz Gumbinner | Podcast

With everything going on in the world right now, kids are extra-stressed, they’re extra-restless, they’re extra-anxious, and, if they have siblings, they’re fighting. Yay! So what’s a parent to do to help manage it all? After a few listeners...

For every parent who’s yelled about stepping on a LEGO, this new Adidas collection is for you.

by Liz Gumbinner | Fashion, Kid Fashion, Toys + Playthings

What parent among us has not joked, complained, or (possibly) cried about stepping on a LEGO brick at some point since having kids? Exactly. That’s why I’m not sure which I love more — the Adidas x LEGO sneaker collection, featuring sneakers that...

If you’re a woman reentering the workforce, you won’t believe who’s offering free 1:1 mentorships

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Thinking : Parent

We all know that re-entering the workforce is particularly hard if you’re a woman. Even more so if you’re a mom who’s taken time off to raise kids. Even more than that, if you’re a mom of color. So here’s to some incredible mentors who...

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).

We still love what we do every single day. And we're so glad you're here.