Liz Gumbinner, Author at Cool Mom Picks

Who can be called a single mom? | Rachel Sklar, Spawned ep. 168

I think our listeners will find this is a slightly different kind of Spawned episode than usual. It’s a lot more personal for me than most of our interviews. It was a little tough in some ways. And above all, it was inspired by a listener. A few episodes, ago I...

There are so many great reading lists for kids: This one from the Florida DOE is not one of them.

by Liz Gumbinner | Books for Kids, Thinking : Parent

Yesterday, one of my favorite contemporary authors, Angie Thomas, sent out a tweet that’s stuck with me all night and into this morning. It was a response to the Florida DOE Commissioner, Edward Corcoran, who launched a recommended reading list of...

This inspirational heroine poster supports classrooms in more way than one.

by Liz Gumbinner | Art + Decor, Doing Good

We all fell in love with artist Karen Hallion’s “She Series” empowered heroines poster last year, which featured some of our favorite fictional badass ladies (plus Eliza Hamilton). This week, she announced a brand new limited-edition poster in the...

Remembering Toni Morrison: Here’s her complete list of novels. Pick one up today.

by Liz Gumbinner | Books for Adults, Thinking : Parent

The passing of Toni Morrison today at the age of 88 is a serious gut punch to me. I think a lot of writers — and readers — are feeling it in a very personal way. I was first introduced to the Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize-winning author by my English Lit...

Naruto run to grab these Storm Area 51 meme shirts: The best designs, for all your conspiratorial fashion needs

by Liz Gumbinner | Fashion, For the Menfolk, Kid Fashion

If you have a teen, surely you know of their great hopes and dreams to storm Area 51 this coming September. The meme has taken hold, and I’m afraid I’m going to wake up one morning with a note from my kids saying, Gone to see them aliens. Took some money....

How to keep a subtle summer glow, without the rays.

by Liz Gumbinner | Beauty + Cosmetics

I’m less of a lie-out-in-the-sun gal, and more of a how-can-I-look-like-I-like-out-in-the-sun? gal. I haven’t really used a bronzer for years, but I found a blush-bronzer combo from NARS (man I love NARS) that’s been making me happy for quite a few...

Set up a lemonade stand this weekend, help support kids in crisis at the border

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good

Kids are born with big hearts. They are full of kindness and compassion. They want to do something when they see awful things in the world, especially impacting other children. I know my own kids have been distraught following what’s happening to children...

Take a look at the brand new It’s a Small World baby collection. (And sorry for the earworm.)

by Liz Gumbinner | Baby

Even if the song can drive me a little nuts, I’ve always loved It’s a Small World. Disney artist Mary Blair created such iconic concept artwork for the attraction, it still makes my retro-modern heart go all a-flutter. And if I were having babies again...

So we don’t normally get excited about toothbrushes, but…

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Health, Fitness + Wellbeing, Kids

Is some new toothbrush a thing to get all pumped about? Generally…no. I mean I am a recent devotee of Quip and Quip Kids after reading Kristen’s raving reviews, but now I’ve found a low-tech toothbrush that gets me just as excited about dental...

25+ cool backpacks for teenagers in 2019 | Back to School Guide

by Liz Gumbinner | Back to School Shopping, School Gear

Next up in our 2019 Back to School Shopping Guide, we’re sharing more than 2 dozen of our favorite cool backpack for teenagers in 2019. As kids head to middle school or high school, they need bigger, sturdier backpacks, better shoulder straps, laptop protection,...

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).