Doing Good Archives | Cool Mom Picks

3 new books for kids about climate change that inform, uplift, and help us move forward

by Caroline Siegrist | Books for Kids, Doing Good

I know I’m not the only parent struggling with how to talk with their kids about climate change. So I was thrilled to discover these hopeful kids’ books about climate change, each of which educates without inducing panic or despair. A tall order if you ask...

If you’re a woman reentering the workforce, you won’t believe who’s offering free 1:1 mentorships

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Thinking : Parent

We all know that re-entering the workforce is particularly hard if you’re a woman. Even more so if you’re a mom who’s taken time off to raise kids. Even more than that, if you’re a mom of color. So here’s to some incredible mentors who...

Barbie honors real-life healthcare heroes and wow, more stories like this please.

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Toys + Playthings

If the Barbie #ThankYouHeroes initiative isn’t the epitome of our times, in the best possible way, I don’t know what is. Barbie has added all kinds of famous role models to their collection in recent years, and now they’re honoring some global women...

This non-profit creates absolutely free, Instagram-worthy room makeovers for adopted kids and foster families

by Kate Etue | Art + Decor, Doing Good, Kids' Furniture

Several months ago I stumbled on the work of the non-profit group Bloom Family Designs on a friend and fellow adoptive-mom’s Instagram feed. This organization creates beautifully designed rooms for adopted and foster kids — at absolutely no cost to the families....

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...

What was the Tulsa Race Massacre? Resources to help teach kids (and adults) of all ages

by Kate Etue | Doing Good, Kids, Thinking : Parent

May 30, 1921, marks one of the darkest days in America’s history. And yet the Tulsa Race Massacre isn’t an event I ever learned in school — and unfortunately most kids today don’t either. The Burning of Black Wall Street can be a hard day to...

7 incredible aspects of The American Families Plan you may not have caught. It’s a big f*cking deal (to paraphrase a certain current president)

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Kids

Watching President Biden describe some of the details of his American Families Plan this week — well, it’s made me emotional. It’s so much of what we’ve hoped for. And frankly, so much of what our own parents and even grandparents have hoped...

Create to Stop Hate: The online auction 100% supporting the work of Stop AAPI Hate.

by Kate Etue | Doing Good, Living

We have all been just devastated by the increase in hate crimes against the AAPI community. Even if you’ve avoided the horrific videos, from Atlanta to San Francisco to NYC, surely by now you’ve seen the #StopAsianHate social media posts and hashtags. In...

We love this jewelry supporting AAPI communities and helping to #StopAsianHate

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Mother's Day Gifts, Style + Beauty

For years, we’ve been covering the beautiful work of Peggy Li. I mean, we’re talking years and years. I just adore her affordable jewelry, which always makes its way onto the arms of the rich, famous, and highly televised. I mean, who wouldn’t take a...

Meaningful actions for International Women’s Day. It’s more than wearing a “boss girl” t-shirt.

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good

Today on International Women’s Day, I’m feeling more hopeful than I have been for a while. For the past four years, it’s been rough, and now here we are, with our first ever woman elected into the White House, hope for some important new legislation...

How to help Texas right now: Millions of people need us.

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good

The stories and photos I’m seeing in the wake of the Texas storm, some from close friends, are shocking. Right now, all 254 counties in Texas have been hit, with 2.5 million Texans still without power at the time of publishing. Many of them are are living...

6 cool ways to support indie bookstores right now. They need it…and we need them.

by Caroline Siegrist | Doing Good, Entertainment + Media, Tips + Tricks

I’d like to put in a plug for supporting indie bookstores right now, even if it takes a little extra effort. I’m seeing a lot of people trying to get through this looooong February (what’s that even about?) by recommitting to reading. I mean hey,...

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.