by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
When it comes to buying gifts for my friend’s kids, I really try hard to find unique items that no one else would think of, but aren’t so obscure that the poor kid has to ask his parents what the heck it is.Enter the Dumpling Dynasty Explorer Kit, one of a...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
You wouldn’t think a bunch of blabbermouths like our family would need help starting a conversation, but I’ve got to thank The Chatterbox for providing some welcome encouragement in that area. Instead of questions about obscure Baby Boomer-era trivia, the...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
“Oh my”, I thought,”these look like a bunch of colorful floppy discs. What in the world are the kids going to do with these?” Silly mommy. Don’t you see that they easily fit together and make…a rocket ship that I can fly around the...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
I used to think that a rattle was some generic baby gift that people gave when they couldn’t think of anything more original. Wow, was I wrong. My babies adored their rattles so much, we kept them in every diaper bag, crib, Pack n Play, stroller and car seat in...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
I have a strong sense of empathy for the uglier creatures of the world. I have an English bulldog, not a lab, always thought those misfit toys from the Ruldoph movie were cooler than the non-misfit ones–even if I never was entirely sure what was wrong with that...
by Kristen Chase | Toys + Playthings
In theory, I do love those make-your-own-doll kits, but even with the craftiest of kids (and moms) at the helm, they still scream “homemade” a little louder than you’re hoping for at times. (Oops…there goes Teddy’s eye.) With Make My...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
You should know right off that I am not the biggest Barbie fan, for all of the obvious reasons. But there did come a day when my daughter’s begging got the best of me, and I went out to survey the choices. I came home with a doll we henceforth referred to as...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
Aside from my finger and a random corners of our furniture, the only thing that temporarily relieved my teething babes’ sore gums was a frozen wet washcloth. So leave it to a fellow mom to create a teething toy with just that very thing attached. The handmade...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
Q: When is having Mixed Emotions a Good Thing? A: When they are the super-cute kind that comes inside a Kimochi. What is a Kimochi you ask? Kimochis are soft, cuddly, stuffed toys that come in a variety of shapes, with a surprise inside–a set...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
Generally speaking, I pry out the batteries from those loud plastic toys at first opportunity. But upon seeing the New School DJ Mixer at Ollie Bollen, the only thing I could think about digging out were my go-go boots; you know, if I could still fit my big...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
I bombed Goody Bags 101 at my youngest daughter’s party. The Play-Doh bits ended up all over my couch, the babies ate the crayons, and the cheap imitation slinkies broke faster than you can say choking hazard. The one thing I did get right were the bubbles. Or...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
Mostly we’re fans of handmade plush around here, but we also understand that not everyone wants to spend $85 on a penguin hand-knit from recycled sweaters then hand-stuffed with locally harvested cotton (even if it is totally awesome and you would be seriously...
