Writing about big, fuzzy balls makes me think of that Schweddy Balls sketch on Saturday Night Live. Except these balls aren't salty and nutty and made by Alec Baldwin. No, they're gorgeous and made of recycled sweaters or fleece and soft…
Sometime after the thrill of the Easter egg hunt, but before dinner is ready for the table, my kids hit a sort of jittery, must-do-something phase. This is when I had best have a few tricks up my sleeve before they decide to see how far …
We've got no shortage of toys in our house, but of all the ones my kids consistently play with, their simple set of building blocks win over anything else they own every single time. So when I saw the GoodWood Deconstructive Blocks, I kn…
I'm fortunate to have a daughter who takes violin right next to the Blabla Kids storefront in Atlanta, so every week, I poke my head in to say hello to their lovely staff and design team, and take a peek at what's new. And just wait unti…
My son, like so many kids, has a thing for robots, but the first few realistic robot toys he received were greeted with suspicion and trepidation: Why are those eyes blinking? and--- ack!---will it talk at night when I'm in bed?!? So, bo…
When you think of a baby rattle as a keepsake gift, silver is probably the first material that pops to mind. But I've just found a wooden one that's so gorgeous, it's giving silver a run for its money. The Timbur Baby Rattle combines tra…
If you could see the ground-in crayon and magic marker stains all over the back seats of our minivan, you'd understand why I'm so fond of a cool portable drawing tablet that uses nothing more than water, and generates no mess at all. As …
Ever since my daughter declared Easter was her favorite holiday, I've paid a little extra attention to the gifts I put in her Easter basket . After all, I'm sure the Easter Bunny thinks she's pretty great. While Easter is still a few wee…
Don't tell the Easter Bunny, but there's a new rabbit in town. Actually, a few new rabbits. Mirabelle is a dancer and Balthazar is a magician and I think they probably have French accents. Don't they look like they would be great guests …
For one brief night in third grade, I was Wonder Woman. Though my polyester Halloween costume was pretty unremarkable, I loved those superhero wrist cuffs that had the power to deflect everything from bullets to spit balls. Now I have tw…
The next Twilight movie doesn't come out until this November-- don't ask me how I know . So for now, if you've got teens into Twilight or tweens into goth gone adorable, you might want to check out the Vamplets. This coven/nursery of snu…
My love runs deep for Green Toys and for good reason. Their sturdy, inviting toys made from recycled milk jugs never fail to make my kids squeal with delight. But the new addition to their line has me as happy as it does my kids. [don't …
I sent my daughter to kindergarten with the new version of the slap bracelet that's out, and she was instantly the most popular girl in class. Which means absolutely nothing has changed in 25 years. Yep, slap bracelets are back. This tim…
Boom, boom, acka-lacka-lacka boom, baby. We're proud to show you the results of humanity's first attempt to literally Walk the Dinosaur. Bonus: This king of the terrible lizards has some sweet dance moves. The Tyrannosaurus Rex Push Toy …
Though my sleep-addled brain may never forgive him for Fox in Socks , that tongue-twister of a story my son requested night after night, there is no question that Dr. Seuss' collection of fanciful stories include some of our very favorit…
The beloved car keys--Babies just can't get enough of them. And no matter how realistic those toy keys look, babies know the difference. And even though desperate times can call for desperate measures, it's certainly not ideal. That's wh…
Now that my nineteen month old has officially reached the dreaded "dropsy stage," I try to attach everything I can to her stroller and high chair, from her sippy cup to her toys. So, when I found the MoMA Shapes and Colors Stroller Cards…
As a mom of two girls, I haven't had the pleasure of exploring any of the typical themes for boys' bedrooms, like cars, boats, fish and monsters and I'm fine with that. However, robots, at least in my mind, are cool for anyone. I am all …
A couple of weeks ago, we invited you to nominate yourselves or your favorite handmade artisans for the Handmade Olympics, a fun, entirely unathletic competition featuring amazing handmade creations. Cool Mom Picks was invited to be the …
I have a soft spot for good quality wooden toys . I like them so much I find myself decorating my daughter's room with them, and these handmade, wood puzzles from Just Hatched are no exception. They're much too pretty to keep in a drawer…
When I first became a mother of two, my own mom introduced me to the concept of collaborative board games. Think less "I did it!" and more "We did it!" In other words, less "I hate you, I'm never playing with you any more ever again!" an…
This past week, I had a dandy time perusing the 600,000* aisles of the NY International Gift Show, scouting out what's cool in gifts and gear and design for our fair readers. I was also honored to be one of ten judges of the Best New Pro…
My go-to standard baby shower gift was, for a long time, either a baby bathtub, or infant footie sleepers. Useful, and admittedly a little uninspired. These days, I want to give something unusual, beautiful and creative: both moms and ba…
Four is a magical age. And for us, it includes a daily account of closet gremlins and nightmares that involve an epic battle between Scooby Doo and armored Transformer/My Little Pony hybrids. I love the imagination. The fear of bedtime, …