Placemats that put the eating back into family dinner

by Cool Mom Team | Kitchen + Dining

Regardless of what type of activities we bring with us to the table when we eat out, we still only ever get about 10 minutes of peaceful eating time. And that’s on a good night. If you feel my pain, you’ll want to invest in a few pairs of the Hello Hanna...

You can never thank a teacher enough (really)

by Susan | Cards + Stationery

Looking for a gift that’s Just Right for your child’s teacher? A wee gift that says “We appreciate everything you do!” without getting too personal? Lovely monogrammed notecards are always a good bet – you know, to write thank you notes...

Natura paints, hold the VOC’s

by Christina Refford | Living

When I was pregnant with my firstborn, I spent a lot of time thinking about the nursery color, but spent exactly no time actually painting the room since the VOC’s in most room paints are considered a no-no for pregnant women. My asthma didn’t like it much...

Plates to support the hungry and the art-starved

by Cool Mom Team | Art + Decor

While we’re busy here trying to support artists with our holiday picks, we love that the artists are trying to support others too. Case in point: The Ferrin Gallery Paper or Pottery not Plastic exhibition. This Berkshire-area gallery called on dozens of artists...

Ceramic Christmas ornaments and other bits of loveliness

by Cool Mom Team | Art + Decor

We fell in love with Paloma’s Nest last year when we first featured this Austin artist’s ceramic Christmas ornaments in our holiday gift guide. (Speaking of which – our 2009 guide should be out next week. Whoo!) We were so blown away by this Austin...

iPhone cases for the terminally hip

by Mir | Cool Tech

I could count the many ways in which I am completely obsessed with Threadless, the original crowdsourcing art-to-product site, but who has that kind of time? Suffice it to say that the whole family enjoys their t-shirts, and I dream of rooms festooned with their Blik...

XBox 360 makes holidays more fun for everyone. Including those who need it most.

by Cool Mom Team | Cool Tech

Deep down, I’m a 13 year-old boy with a thing for video games, as any of my friends who have ever seen my “drum face” when playing Rock Band will tell you. So I am totally coveting the new Microsoft Xbox 360 which I had a chance to try out at the...

A teaching clock that also teaches kids “Go away. Mommy’s sleeping.”

by Cool Mom Team | Art + Decor

I’m not much for toys with vchips and dolls that talk – in fact, they kind of scare me. But I will say I’m making an exception for the Teach Me Time clock for children which blends form and a lot of function.The first thing that drew me to it at a...

Congratulations – you’re a grandparent!

by Mir | Books for Adults

When I told my parents I was expecting, I didn’t tell them I was expecting. I told them we’d done some interesting sightseeing, and did they want to see pictures? And then I gave them my ultrasound photos.If The Grandparents Handbook had been around, back...

I’ve never felt this way about felt before

by Mir | Art + Decor

Honestly, I think of felt and often I think “meh.” But I’ve just seen the light, because the light, apparently, comes in the form of felt cushion wall hangings featuring bunnies and Matryoshka dolls that would brighten up any nursery in the world.If...

Modern Hanukkah menorahs? Thanks, Jonathan Adler

by Betsy | Living

Jewish kids know all about the Hanukkah miracle but what they don’t know is how hard it can be to celebrate it in cool, modern style. Well I have to tell you, when I saw Jonathan Adler’s collection of modern menorahs and Hanukkah gifts I proclaimed that a...

A new iPhone app that will make your kids beg for a long check out line at the supermarket

by Betsy | Cool Tech

It seems like App-mania is sweeping the nation and our neighbors to the north are responsible for a fantastic new one called NFB Film, as in National Film Board of Canada. Best of all, it’s free.The NFB App is packed with channels of easy to download,...