Masterpieces To-Go

Masterpieces To-Go

Considering my daughter can spend upwards of two straight peaceful hours a day drawing and coloring, it would be great if I could find something to help us take her artwork on the go. Oh how much I would pay for a quiet restaurant meal! So my holiday wish list...
Back in Block

Back in Block

One of my favorite pastimes as a child was building mini kingdoms with my brothers’ wooden blocks. There was something entirely gratifying about building big towers and castles – and then knocking them all down with one fell swoop. I’ve tried...
Oh Rats!

Oh Rats!

I’m not the most experienced parent in the world, but from what I understand, I have only a few months left until my daughter asks that inevitable question: Can I get a pet? Knowing her, it won’t be any old pet; it will be a turtle or a snake or, help me,...
Ant Buy Me Love

Ant Buy Me Love

Oh, the ant. The sweet, sweet ant. Yes, I love the little guys and in fact one of my fondest childhood memories includes my trusty ant farm. The memory could only be made fonder had the ant farm been instead the super-looking Antquarium.Invented in 2000 by NASA for...
Balloon Animals

Balloon Animals

Ever since I got wind of the whole latex balloons are the devil stuff, I’ve been distraught. While I would hate for my daughter’s birthday celebrations to be entirely balloon free, I also don’t need to decorate the place with a bunch of colorful...
Play it Again, Bunny

Play it Again, Bunny

When I was young, I had a beautiful wooden music box that featured a dancer pirouetting on a mirror inside. It was regaled to a high shelf in my bedroom except for the few times a year when my mom reluctantly pulled it down for me. I’m still bitter whenever I...
Take That, Atkins

Take That, Atkins

As the old ad used to say, I love sweets but they don’t love me. And then I discovered the carbs that love you back: The absolutely 100% calorie-free goodness of Heidi Kenney’s felt creations at My Paper Crane Shop. Heidi turns your favorite bakery items...
Dino-Mite

Dino-Mite

Choosing gifts for boys can be a bit tricky. Okay, it’s pure hell. While boys like what boys like, that doesn’t mean you have to settle for a fleet of miniature metal cars that only end up under the sofa. Instead, check out the colorful dinosaur...
Build Your Own Blocks

Build Your Own Blocks

We come across quite a few personalized products at CMP. Apparently if you put someone’s kid’s name on something no matter how useless or inane (monogrammed bottle sterilizer, anyone?) it’s a surefire hit. By far the coolest customization we’ve...
Who Needs Paper?

Who Needs Paper?

My daughter has recently discovered the wonderful world of coloring. You name it- she isdrawing on it, and sadly, it’s rarely on actual paper. So instead of squashing her inner artiste, I’m thinking a Chalkboard Table from Sparkability might be just the...
Wood if I Could

Wood if I Could

Plastic, plastic everywhere. Argh, I’m going out of my head with all the neon plastic around our house! Er, what I mean is…anything for the kid. One place we can compromise is with these wooden blocks from Tree by Kerry Lee. They’re beautifully...
Get Your Own Derby

Get Your Own Derby

With today being the annual running of the Kentucky Derby, we tried to come up with something apropos for cool moms. But, quite frankly, we can’t see anyone wearing a huge hat or taking the time to make a mint julep (I just pour whiskey in my coffee nowadays)....