Stacie Billis, Author at Cool Mom Picks

7 simple, sanity-saving tips for moving homes when you’ve got kids.

by Stacie Billis | Living, Tips + Tricks

The holidays were a blur for me, and not for the usual reasons. I recently moved into a temporary 7-month rental while we do some much-needed home renovations to our home. And oh boy, after 13 years in one spot, was it a doozy of a move. Not only did I have to pack up...

Great ideas for sweet after-school treats that go easy on the sugar. (Sorry cookies!)

by Stacie Billis | Food + Recipes

When my kids were younger, after-school snacks served largely as a reward for making it through the school day. Now that they are a bit older, what they eat after school and before their after-school activities provides necessary fuel to keep them going strong through...

5 super fun bento box ideas that are as easy to make as they are to eat.

by Stacie Billis | Food + Recipes, Tips + Tricks

We love a fun bento box as much as the next person, but has anyone else noticed that most playful school lunch ideas require a PhD in arts and crafts? So cute, but who has the time — or, um, ability? While we admittedly attempt more ambitious school lunches for...

Boost your beginner eater’s diet with these 10 best superfoods for babies and toddlers.

by Stacie Billis | Baby, Food + Recipes

We here on the CMP team have a lot of collective parenting experience under our belts — or, uh, stretchy waist bands — and one thing that we all agree on is that starting solids is one of the most exciting and overwhelming developmental stages....

A clever idea to get kids in the kitchen on their own, no nagging (or even talking!) required.

by Stacie Billis | Kitchen + Dining, Tips + Tricks

My boys have been cooking alongside me ever since they were little. But now that they’re older and I’d love for them make their own breakfast, prep their own snacks, and put together their own lunches from time to time, I’m finding it harder to get...

Your new favorite make-ahead brunch recipes: A foolproof Easter brunch menu.

by Stacie Billis | Food + Recipes

While we love sharing lots of recipes on Cool Mom Eats — from sticky buns perfect for Easter brunch to easy Easter treats that you can make with kids — there is something to be said for having a go-to menu for whenever you’re entertaining over...

An unexpected way to turn snack time into together time — even with older kids.

by Stacie Billis | Tips + Tricks

My kids are wiped when they get home from school. They always seem to need a snack to recharge and a bit of time to zone out before gearing up for the rest of their day, whether it be for basketball practice, homework, or just running around for some free play time....

Yummy and totally easy Valentine’s Day treats for the classroom that there’s still time to make. Because procrastinators give love too!

by Stacie Billis | Food + Recipes

‘Tis the weekend to make those classroom valentines if you haven’t already (ahem, like me and my boys). But no worries: Sometimes being a procrastinator works in your favor. For example, edible gifts shouldn’t be made more than a couple of days ahead...

Kitchen lifesavers! 21 favorite easy holiday recipes made easier with kitchen shortcuts

by Stacie Billis | Food + Recipes

Those of you who are also fans of Cool Mom Eats (and hey, thank you!) know that I’m all about coming up with smart solutions to help busy parents with home cooked meals that still feed our families quickly and easily. Especially this time of year, when...

10 essential kitchen safety rules to set, that keep little cooks safe in the kitchen.

by Stacie Billis | Food + Recipes, Tips + Tricks

We’re big fans of pulling kids into the kitchen early and often. But that also means setting kitchen safety rules for kids — and for you. Not just because it keeps them safe (though that’s obviously the most important thing), but because it’s...

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.