Ready to try camping with kids? Here are 8 camping essentials you need, and how to get them affordably
If you’re considering becoming a first-time camper (and more power to you!) you’re probably wondering exactly where to start. I’m here to help! You’re probably not going to find me back-country camping off the Appalachian Trail any time soon,...
10 things you should always keep in your car, especially if you’re driving with kids.
If you live in your car like I do, then you know that the safety of your kids — and hey, yourself — is always top of mind. After finding myself unprepared for minor incidents (thankfully small ones!), I’ve learned the hard way that I need to remember...
9 things parents do that deserve to be rewarded
Parenting is awesome. And really, really hard. We know, understatement of the year. That’s why we think you’ll appreciate the laugh you’ll get from watching a few (or nine) of the crazy things we parents do every single day that deserve to be...
Pro tips for saving a ton of money on family travel | Spawned Ep 99
Now that so many of us are traveling for the holidays, we’re thinking a lot about how to do it better next year — whether that means saving money, making the most of our reward programs, finding apps that make life easier and keep you organized, or just,...
One cool new safety feature every car should have
On a recent press trip to Michigan, I was invited by Chevrolet to drive a 2018 Chevy Traverse for the weekend, and discovered a very cool safety feature that I haven’t stopped thinking about. In fact, now that I’m back to my regular minivan at home, I find...
Here’s what happened when I took a solo road trip with my 4 kids. Spoiler: It was awesome!
As my kids get older and my status as single mom changing with the blending of my family with my fiancé and his pug (Hi Audrey!), I decided I wanted to start a new yearly tradition: a solo road trip, just me and my kids. Alone. Gulp. This year, I had my...
Bouncie: The simple, powerful device that’s keeping families safer on the road.
If you’re like most parents (us included!) you spend a whole lot of your time in your car. Whether it’s shuttling the kids to and from school, activities, sports, and playdates, running errands, or just hitting the road on the weekends. And when...
What’s new about the new AAP car seat guidelines that parents need to know.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) wants to be as clear as can be on the safest way to buckle up your kids in the car. They just released new car seat guidelines for 2017 with very specific age and weight requirements and the folks at Healthy Child have...
Mifold vs. BubbleBum: Travel booster seat smackdown
My kids have all used traditional booster seats in the car, but recently my son has had a chance to test out two cool booster seat alternatives so we could really give you the scoop on the pros, cons, and differences between the Mifold and the BubbleBum travel booster...
Cool hard-side kids’ luggage: 9 options that might get them to carry their own bags
There are few better moments for traveling families than the day your child is ready to carry their own luggage through the airport! (Can I get a woot?!) I’ve put together some fantastic hard-side luggage for kids that makes for fantastic first-time luggage,...
All about that babe: 7 of the most outrageous kids’ amenities at hotels and resorts
Sometimes it’s the little things that make your vacation really special … and sometimes it’s the huge splurges you’ll remember forever. If that’s what you’re looking for on your next vacation, check out these five luxury resorts and...Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!
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.
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