Liz Gumbinner, Author at Cool Mom Picks

Post-Hamilton Broadway for teens: Editors’ Best of the Year.

by Liz Gumbinner | Editors Best of the Year, Entertainment + Media

It’s no surprise to anyone who knows me or my kids that we are massive Broadway fans. We are so fortunate to live in The Greatest City in the World (name that tune), which allows us to see a lot of musicals. A lot. But my kids are hardly alone in asking for show...

Mattel’s Creatable World and other progress towards gender non-comformity and inclusivity: Editors Best of the Year

by Liz Gumbinner | Editors Best of the Year

it’s time for our annual Top 10 Editors Picks of the Year! To kick things off, I wanted to start with one of the biggest, most positive events that pops out to us as we reflect on 2019: the growing awareness of gender fluidity and gender identity, and the...

Greta Thunberg and youth climate activism: Editors Best of the Year

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Editors Best of the Year, Health, Fitness + Wellbeing

When we first started this site in 2006, eco-friendly was one of our most popular tags. Parents were concerned about where their products were made, what ingredients were in them, and how they impacted the planet. Then the recession hit. Suddenly no one wanted to pay...

Happy whatever you celebrate. Because we need more happiness in the world.

by Liz Gumbinner | Holiday Picks, Thinking : Parent

There have been years that I received kind Christmas cards from family and friends that blessed me and my Atheist-slash-Secular Jewish family, wishing Our Heavenly Father’s blessings upon us. They expressed hope that we have found peace with The Lord Jesus Christ....

Yes, real Christmas trees are better for the environment than artificial trees. Here are the facts.

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

Lately, I’ve seen a lot of well-meaning posts from people around my social networks, with comments like, “well I want to protect the environment….that’s why we’re getting a fake Christmas tree this year.” Suddenly I was like crap,...

15 cool gifts for the guy who has everything. Except…well, these.

by Liz Gumbinner | For the Menfolk, Holiday Picks

Oh, men. We love them, we love shopping for them, but we hate when they seem to already have everything they need — maybe because we’re all such amazing gift givers? Ha. Fret not! Over the years, we’ve put together a lot of fabulous guides to cool...

Baby Yoda Funko POP! The stocking stuffer we desperately want will be here…not by Christmas.

by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings

The good news: I finally found the one affordable little gift I know will please every one of my kids. Baby Yoda: The Child Funko POP! figurine, fresh off his Mandalorian boost into meme-of-the-year status, complete with a Lin Manuel approved viral Baby Yoda Hamilton...

24 gifts that give back beautifully to everyone on your list. Because any day can be #GivingTuesday if you make it.

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Holiday Picks

Each year, we love putting together some of our favorite gifts that give back in substantial and specific ways — not just some undetermined percentage of your purchase going to “charities.” While we definitely share these kinds of gifts that give...

The best deals on men’s gifts at Zulily right now: 5 gifts we love, for the men we love

by Liz Gumbinner | For the Menfolk, Holiday Picks

If you’re already up on your holiday shopping, good for you! If you need a little nudge, then our partner Zulily just may give you the motivation you need to get it going. You’ll find thousands of products up to 70% off including gifts for men. (And if you...

5 incredible deals on home decor at Zulily right now. It’s holiday entertaining season!

by Liz Gumbinner | Art + Decor, Holiday Picks, Kitchen + Dining

If you’re looking to score some deals right now without dealing with the Black Friday madness, our partner Zulily.Is a great option. You’ll find thousands of products up to 70% off including an entire home & garden category. If you’re freshening...

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).