You had big Halloween plans, right? And then...time slipped away. I've been there. Start by forgiving yourself: it's just Halloween after all, and to a kid, everything looks delicious. Throw together a one of these super cute, last-minut…
The age-old Halloween question: what to eat before heading out to trick-or-treat? It has to be a meal that's quick or easy to fit between the mad rush of getting home from school and heading out for your annual candy collection. Plus it …
I love beautiful bento lunch boxes, but some of them make you feel like you need an MFA in order to make your kid's lunch. Especially holiday-themed lunch boxes! For Halloween I decided to come up with a few easy, festive lunch ideas. I …
Last week we talked apple treats , and this week it's pumpkin time. You're picking pumpkins this year, right? If only from the grocery store? Now all you have to do is seed, peel, and cube your pumpkin. Then roast and puree the pumpkin f…
We're big fans of yogurt here at Cool Mom Picks and with good reason. It's an easy go-to that kids love because it's delicious and we moms love because it's (mostly) healthy. Unfortunately, some of the most packable yogurts are also the …
I admit that I can get a little "boo humbug" (heh, get it?) when it comes to holiday-themed goodies for kids. Because with four little ones running around, hey, I need to get one for everyone...which is perfectly fine with me if it's som…
Most of the Halloween candy I eat is pilfered from my kids' bags when they aren't looking. But if you'd like to give--or get--some chocolate treats that are much more grown up than snack-sized bars, check out what we've unearthed for Hal…
Apple season is in full swing, which means we've got to find things to make with all them apples! As much as I love them, I'm finding myself seriously challenged by the the huge quantity of fruit I end up with during apple season. It doe…
The ever-growing lead time on holiday marketing can be overwhelming. I'm really not ready to think about Hanukkah or Christmas. But Halloween? That's a different story. Especially Halloween party snacks. Bring it on! We've already had a …
Easy weeknight dinners, check. Simple school lunch ideas, check. Quick healthy breakfasts? Finally...check! Breakfast recipes--the kind that you can actually make on busy weekday mornings--are the final frontier of family cooking. But re…
Need a clever coaster for that grande pumpkin spice latte? We've got you covered. We love how Coastermatic can turn any of your Instagram photos into coasters. But we also love the way photographer Jennifer Daniels has turned her images …
I can confidently cook for nearly anyone, but one type of guest stumps me over and over: the little ones who come over to play with my kids. In fact, figuring out what to serve on my kids' playdates is way more stressful than planning a …
For most of us, the school year is all about "keeper" recipes. Dinners you can rely on. Easy sides that the whole family will eat. Recipes that make life easier and more delicious. We've shared some of our favorite weeknight dinners and …
I consider myself a master meal planner, but there's one thing that gets even me: veggie side dishes. That's right, even I--the self-proclaimed Queen of Meals--am often stumped for creative vegetable dishes to serve to the family with my…
Now that we've covered awesome school lunch resources and simple lunch ideas--it's time to tackle dinner recipes for the kids. Here are six fairly fast dinner recipes sure to fit into your back-to-school routine, no matter how hectic. Th…
At some point this school year--sooner than you think--both you and your child will grow weary of the humble school lunch sandwich. It's a known quantity, which is comforting some days, but not every day, right? So here are 9 easy school…
I love to throw parties for my kids, especially with inspiration from all the great party ideas here on Cool Mom Picks. In particular, I'm always on the lookout for activities where our guests can make cool stuff that they'll actually wa…
Many of my Cool Mom Picks comrades swear they prefer backpack shopping to planning school lunches, but I admit it: I enjoy the challenge of getting creative with packed lunches. Sure, I get in a rut sometimes, but a pantry full of go-to …
Gee, another place to eat sweets, opening in New York City? That's no big whoop. But when the new eatery serves up gourmet rice crispy treats (because Rice Krispy Treats would be a trademark issue, right?) in flavors like red velvet, bir…
So here's a chore I haven't been missing this summer: packing endless school lunches . Argh! Trying to come up with variety and good nutrition for my kids drives me nuts. I'm already looking for new ideas for the coming school year, and …
I admit it, I'm a bit of a loudmouth about the benefits of skipping juice for kids. Most options are packed with sugar--like 20 grams per single-serving box, nearly the same amount of sugar in a full-sized Hershey's bar. Whoa! I know, I …
Soon I'll be carrying on here about school lunch gear , packed lunch recipes, and the best after school snacks. So this week, I want to take in summer. I want to take it in the biggest, baddest way that I can imagine. This week, I want t…
One of my favorite things about summer is dining al fresco. Backyard meals, beachside bakes, picnics in the park: you name it, I'm in. If you're grilling your eats, try one of these delectable 8 summer BBQ recipes. But if you're planning…
My first reaction to the wicked hot summer heat was to turn off the oven in favor of these no-bake desserts. Now, midway through the season, I'm turning away from my stove all together and opting instead for some of the very best, simply…