Toys + Playthings Archives

Barbie’s Inspiring Women collection of dolls make the best gifts. (And not just for girls)

by Liz Gumbinner | Holiday Picks, Toys + Playthings

I want to be cynical, because you know, Barbie, but something moves me about the new Barbie Inspiring Women set of collector’s dolls that I stumbled on last night as I browsed the Target site. To think that in my childhood, Barbie was…well, Barbie, and now...

Chance Basketballs give every move on the court more style. But that’s not all they do.

by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings

Looking for a fabulous gift for an athletic kid this year? I’ve got you! Whether your teen can hit a three-point shot from half court, or your grade schooler is still trying to fling the ball high enough to touch the net, the next Lebron James or Sue Bird will...

The Schitt’s Creek Monopoly game is simply the best… at least as far as Monopoly games go.

by Kristen Chase | Entertainment + Media, Toys + Playthings

If you’ve been missing your “Ew, David!” fix, or Moira’s capacious vocabulary (see what I did there?), I give you the ultimate family game night board game: The brand new Schitt’s Creek Monopoly game. Let’s just say that if you are...

The inspiring women of Fisher Price’s Little People. Yes, you read that correctly.

by Caroline Siegrist | Toys + Playthings

I’m already looking for ways to introduce my kids to inspiring women of history, and while we have tons of books on the subject of remarkable, inpspiring women, I love that Fisher Price’s iconic Little People is out today with two new sets of all-star,...

The Hamilton Funko Pop figures are here, shipping, and we’re helpless to resist them.

by Caroline Siegrist | Toys + Playthings

Hamilton fans! Drop everything because I’ve just discovered that the Hamilton Funko Pop figures and keychains — you know, the ones that super fans have been eagerly awaiting — are now available and starting to ship earlier than expected. How lucky we...

The new Queer Eye LEGO set is not just about building, but building people up.

by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings

I could not be more excited that LEGO just announced a new LEGO Queer Eye set featuring The Fab 5 Loft that’s coming out October 1. (No pun intended. Seriously I just caught that on the re-read.) haven’t been this excited since they came out with the Women...

8 cool fidget toys that aren’t spinners, to help kids of all ages get the wiggles out.

by Caroline Siegrist | Toys + Playthings

Move over, fidget spinners! Thanks to all the new fidget toys that our kids are loving, you spinners have just been relegated to the junk drawer. (Say hi to those dead batteries for me.) In fact,I think these are even more fun than their predecessors. By now most of...

For every parent who’s yelled about stepping on a LEGO, this new Adidas collection is for you.

by Liz Gumbinner | Fashion, Kid Fashion, Toys + Playthings

What parent among us has not joked, complained, or (possibly) cried about stepping on a LEGO brick at some point since having kids? Exactly. That’s why I’m not sure which I love more — the Adidas x LEGO sneaker collection, featuring sneakers that...

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...

Game on! These 6 fun group board games are perfect for summer camp

by Kate Etue | Toys + Playthings

When I send care packages to my boys at summer camp, I generally include snacks and silly toys for them to goof around with. And in Liz’s recent post packed with the best ideas for summer camp care packages, she talks a lot about sending fun board games the...

11 of the best Prime Day 2021 Deals from brands we trust. No “ACKHYDRO” or “PROFORL7” or whatever.

by Liz Gumbinner | Baby, Living, Tech CMP-Style, Toys + Playthings

Each year, we try to go through all the clutter and crap, and put together the best Amazon Prime Day deals for you. I mean, with all due respect to the “flash deals” on Amazon Prime Day that look like your Great Aunt Hilda just cleaned out her attic, This...

We found a new bike for kids 5-12 that’s made to grow with them — in smarter and safer ways than just raising a seat

by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings

We’ve reached peak bike-riding season, but if you’ve been trying to buy a quality kids’ bicycle, they aren’t as easy to find in stock right now as you might thing. (Maybe because it’s peak bike-riding season?) That’s why a new line...

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.