You know what's scary? Realizing you've invited a bunch of little butterflies and superheroes to invade your home for a pre-trick-or-treating soiree, and then realizing your house is not ready. Ahem. Since making a last-minute dash to a …
The UK's Meri Meri has put together these smart Cupcake Kits and my party-throwing life just got a little easier. With 24 colorful cupcake wrappers and assorted toppers, the designs are way cuter than the plastic licensed character stuff…
The joke around here is that a great many of us are devoid of the crafty gene, hence our obsession with the amazing creations by many of the folks we feature here at Cool Mom Picks. But that doesn't mean we don't have crafters envy, espe…
Here are some things we've liked reading around the web this week. We hope you will too. No-carve pumpkin decorating ideas from Amy Atlas. Sign us up! On momformation, Kristen shares an awesome coloring book that doubles as a babysitter.…
When it comes to iPhone apps and kids, I'm a big believer that simple is better. Too many bells and whistles usually means too many "Mom, come fix this!" calls from the other room. (And it's usually far more dire sounding and less polite…
My three kids, and even my 2-year-old, are super eager to help me in the kitchen. And surprise, they seem even more eager to consume what I've prepared when they've had a hand (or entire arm as it seems to go) in making it. Granted, they…
I have no trouble getting my kids to go outside on a summer's day, it's getting them to stay outside when the siren song of kids' cartoons and super-exciting video games beckon from the air-conditioned comfort of our home. That's when I,…
We're sure you're all set for tomorrow, but if you are still looking for a way to wow dad when he first stumbles down the stairs for breakfast, check out the awesome free printable banner that you can have ready and hanging before the co…
The mom and pop team behind Smiling Planet has a line of totally adorable melamine-free tableware for kids that we've already introduced you to, that are pretty, safe and eco-positive. And now from The Deane family comes something just a…
While the gorgeous spring weather is here and I want my kids out out out of the house, I still need to keep our craft supply drawers stocked for those stormy days . My kids have been going nuts lately for the Martha Stewart craft punches…
Announcing the birth of. .. um... well...forget it. Back in 2008 I was so busy sitting on an ice pack and juggling two kids that I never sent announcements. It just seemed like either a lot of trouble or a lot of money, and I didn't dig …
My daughter is a normal three-year-old: obsessed with being big, doing grown-up things, and wearing leotards for 90% of her life. Okay, so maybe the leotard thing isn't normal, but it's no wonder she gets bored with the same old princess…
If Valentine's Day is coming closer and closer (and it is), and you still have no idea what to give your beloved, don't fret. Instead take a look at what Ayako Akazawa, a senior designer at Chronicle Books, has put together for those of …
Now that I'm in the thick of holiday gift-wrapping, and starting to look for finishing touches, nothing warms my heart more than the words free and you don't have to go to the store for this. Which is why I love these awesome gift-worthy…
Normally, if you were to call me lazy at this time of the year, you'd find a candy cane in a most uncomfortable place, but the kind people at The Lazy Baker are my new best friends for creating gourmet baking mixes, like their Gingerbrea…
I still remember being about seven and getting my first set of "serious colored pencils" from my mom. I recall the pride of knowing I'd outgrown the kid stuff, and that I had been deemed worthy enough to own art supplies that came in a f…
If you're looking to knock off a half-dozen of teacher gifts or cousin gifts or classmate gifts in one fell swoop, I love the idea of the holiday ornament kit from CMP fave, Thomas Claire . This wonderful mom-run company will hook you up…
This year we're teaching the kids more about the joy of giving , so I wanted them to think of something they could make for their (mostly girl) cousins. Then along came the jewelry making kits from Bijoux in a Box and bam, problem solved…
One of my kids thinks that Mickey Mouse is a horror figure, so I've learned to keep our Halloween "unscawy." Instead of settling for whatever I can find in the big box stores, I get to look so put together by downloading CMP fave Paper&C…
We're so happy to announce the twelve winners of the Shutterfly learning photobook contest. Each was drawn at random and yet, all so clever. Suddenly we want to go make like a hundred Shutterfly DIY photobooks ourselves. Thanks so much t…
When the thunderclouds roll in, digging up rainy day kids' activities to keep the brood entertained indoors isn't so easy. Especially when all they can think about are beaches, bikes and bothering each other. So we thought it was high ti…
I'm always on the lookout for websites that can help me with my neglected crafty side, like tips, tutorials, and ideas for cool new projects. I'm feeling the inspiration from the talented folks at Cut Out and Keep . Basically this member…
With two craft-loving girls, I have enough kids' art supplies in my home to start a small store. That said, I have never seen anything like the adorable set of paint-your-own nesting dolls from Kookle and know my kids would go ga-ga over…
I fondly remember those goofy frustration pencils with the googly-eyed gnomes at the top, and how you'd spin them between your palms to make the neon hair get all crazy. You know, to unload all the frustration we had pent up in fourth gr…