Gorgeous printables: some free, some just free for Cool Mom Picks readers

by Lexi Petronis | DIY, Party Ideas

I made a huge withdrawal from the Crafty Mom Bank on Halloween, when I decided to make a Big Bird costume for my daughter by hand. Turns out even a mini bird requires a lot of faux feathers. So I’ve been ever-so-slightly grinchlike when mustering up creative...

Wrap it up to go

by Barbara | Party Ideas

I love the hustle of the holiday season: cooking, shopping and giving are three of my favorite things. What I really don’t like is finding the right wrapping paper for my latest treasures – and it can get ugly when I have multiple smaller gifts, for...

The gift(wrap) that keeps on giving

by Betsy | Party Ideas

I’m not sure which is cooler, the actual lyziwraps reusable gift bags that I just discovered, or the story behind them. They were originally designed by an 8th Grader, for an innovation competition, who was trying to find a way to decrease the amount of waste...

Martha Stewart: Now encouraging spider webs.

by Delilah S. Dawson | Party Ideas

Yes, she’s usually the one holding the antique French albino ostrich duster while explaining that it’s a good thing to keep spiders out of your house with handmade pomanders. But now Martha Stewart is actually encouraging you to have windows full of...

Little blog of big party dreams

by Delilah S. Dawson | Party Ideas

My daughter’s fourth birthday is coming up, and I spend a good bit of time daydreaming of mastering fondant, hand calligraphing creamy envelopes, and crafting a birthday banner in lovely watercolor washes over newspaper. Ha freakin’ ha. Instead,...

This birthday, give your prince or princess the royal treatment

by Betsy | Party Ideas

Edited to add: Unfortunately, Kate Landers Events no longer exists.Why settle for paper plates with generic movie princesses on them when you can actually have a party fit for a princess, complete with a hand-made felt crown and personalized party pouches? These are...

A little slice of baby shower heaven

by Delilah S. Dawson | Party Ideas

Let’s face it: no one’s ever going to say, “Whoopee, a cello bag of Jordan almonds!” It’s just not in our DNA. And yet we feel the primal call to give cutesy favors out at at baby showers.( I once painted twelve identical paintings in one...

Boy’s First Birthday Party Ideas – Reader Q&A

by Christina Refford | Party Ideas

I need some great first birthday party ideas and some adorable first birthday party attire for a little boy. Any suggestions? I am a recent follower, but a huge fan! Thanks! -Emilie Congratulations on the upcoming first birthday for your little guy! I’m sure you...

We see cool crayons in your future

by Cool Mom Team | Party Ideas

We’re always on the lookout for cool party favors that do not include small plastic toys that last all of four minutes, or sugar-infested treats that seem to last four hours.So if you’ve got a party coming up, stuff those goody bags with these cool fortune...

An unbirthday worthy of your own Alice (or Jillian or Chloe)

by Christina Refford | Party Ideas

The story of Alice in Wonderland involves a tea party, funny little cakes, a menagerie of characters and lots of adventure. In other words, all the ingredients for a kid-friendly birthday party, as my daughter has recently discovered for herself. When she inevitably...

Lovely gift boxes that take the ugh out of gift wrapping.

by Cool Mom Team | Party Ideas

I am beyond grateful for all the pretty boxes and gift bags out there because I am 1. Totally spazzy with wrapping paper (seriously, it’s sad) and 2. Totally impatient with long gift wrap lines at department stores. Let’s also add 3. Totally annoyed with...

Plates to mark the end of another year and hopefully, unfinished dinners.

by Cool Mom Team | Party Ideas

When I was a new mom, I swore that I would never make tableware “an issue.” I would stick with neutral plates and bowls, basic silverware, and my kids would just deal with it. Right.As it turns out, serving dinner on “your special plate” can...