Liz Gumbinner, Author at Cool Mom Picks

Elected leaders need to do more than just “recognize” Juneteenth. Tell them to act on these 5 issues.

Today marks the very first Juneteenth since the US Senate unanimously passed a resolution to make Juneteenth a national holiday this week and it was quickly signed into law by President Biden on Thursday. It’s amazing! So many of us grew up never having heard of...

14 brilliant last-minute gifts for Dad. So many ideas! | Father’s Day Gifts 2021

by Liz Gumbinner | Father's Day Gifts

We always love helping you all out with great last minute gifts for Dad, Grandpa, your stepdad, or anyone you’re celebrating this Father’s Day. Because it helps us out too! While Father’s Day gifts have been on our minds — and our shopping...

Inspirational quote art for your home office which may be your forever office: 14 amazing quotes to encourage amazing women

by Liz Gumbinner | Art + Decor

She believed she could so she did. My very favorite inspirational quote. The first time I saw it, not long after I had graduated college, it was printed on a funky wooden brooch by an artist at a craft fair. I pinned it to a jacket, and wore it for ages. From then on,...

Step away from the Hydroflask! We found the best water bottles and they’re not $50 a pop either.

by Liz Gumbinner | Living

When my daughter needed a new water bottle for school two years ago — or 20 years ago in pandemic time — she had mentioned something about a Hydroflask. So I looked and…holy sticker shock. 50 bucks for a 32-oz bottle with a straw lid! I’m all...

The single most important thing your kids can do after they’ve been vaccinated from Covid-19

by Liz Gumbinner | Health, Fitness + Wellbeing, Thinking : Parent

I can hardly express the relief and utter joy we’ve felt over the past few weeks, since my teens got their first Pfizer vaccines against Covid-19. The feelings increased substantially since their second shot — knowing they can safely see friends, go to the...

In the Heights movie is a celebration of love, dreams, community, family, and the melting pot that makes New York the greatest city in the world

by Liz Gumbinner | Entertainment + Media

Fair warning: This is not so much a review of the new In the Heights Movie, opening tonight, as it is a love letter. I am a movie person, as any longtime reader here knows. I’m also a Broadway person, a Lin Manuel person, and a proud native New Yorker. Put them...

NYC is back and these baby gifts celebrate it.

by Liz Gumbinner | Baby

A friend of mine recently asked for a good, affordable baby gift idea fo ra “very NYC couple.” I often recommend the NYC ABC book that’s featured in our list of the coolest birthday gifts for 2 year olds, and has appeared in our annual Best Baby Gift...

Why I’m supporting these brands and their cool Pride month products and collaborations.

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Living, Style + Beauty

I had a long talk with my (avidly LGBTQ+ supporting) teens this week about the overlap between Pride Month and brands. On one hand, there’s an argument about the “corporatization” of Pride Month, and the rainbow washing of products. On the other...

11 creative Father’s Day gifts for hard-to-shop-for dads

by Liz Gumbinner | Father's Day Gifts, For the Menfolk

We’ve been thinking about creative Father’s Day gifts for a while now, and how much the idea of gifting has changed over the past year. We’ve always valued experience gifts, together time, and keepsake Father’s Day gifts from the heart, but...

Broadway’s Ali Stroker on helping kids be proud of their disabilities | Spawned Ep 239

by Liz Gumbinner | Books for Kids, Podcast

When we talk about diversity and inclusion, people with disabilities are often left out of the conversation. We think about gender, race, sexuality, cultural heritage — but not always disabilities. So was I a wee bit excited to talk to Tony award-winner Ali...

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.