With later sunsets and later bedtimes in the summer, one of the things we've been trying to do is spend more time reading with our kids at night before bed--or encouraging them to do it on their own. We imagine we're not the only ones, s…
One of the things I love about the Cool Mom Picks community is how entrepreneurial so many of you are. Every week we hear from bloggers finding their voices, start-up owners pursuing long-held dreams, mothers returning to work in new ful…
Let's face it. Once our kids hit the age of 2 or 3, our days of choosing adorable outfits for them are pretty much over. So squeeze in all that clothing cuteness while you still can. We loved the Artoo onesies and buntings from The Wishi…
Can you feel it? There's been a great disturbance in the world of footwear, as if millions of Ewok-sized voices had just cried out in excitement: "Mommy, those shoes breathe like Darth Vader!" The Star Wars by Stride Rite Vader Light & S…
Last summer, after my kids saw some little beach bums flinging skimboards into the surf, they couldn't wait to try the sport themselves. Uh, I'm not sure their tailbones will ever be the same. Let's just say that skimboarding is not easy…
I don't know what it's like in your neck of the woods, but here it's got to be the hottest summer on record. But how many hours can you realistically keep the kids locked in the AC or cooling down in the pool? So we are mighty big fans o…
If you love the idea of toys that represent kids of all sorts , we think you'll dig the way one of our favorite indie companies is Kickstarting some even more fun mix-and-match block sets. And the higher-level rewards might just blow you…
We've always loved supporting the Etsy artists making handmade birthday crowns and hats for birthday parties and special days thereafter. (Like, Tuesdays. Or Fridays.) But here's one, in honor of all the royal baby talk this week, that j…
Books make the best baby gifts , especially when you know it's not a book that the mom has already been showered with 14 times. And now there's a whole new kind of board book series just launched that's aiming not only to freshen up the …
Though we are still waiting to hear if the royal baby is a he or a she, we can't help but help fuel the rumors that it will be a little princess that makes her royal appearance any day now. And because we know in this day and age that pr…
Every so often, it's fun to see how the rich and famous live, especially those with kids. Should you have a spare 10, 20, or 50k lying around , check out these unbelievable kids playhouses. Or hey, if you buy one yourself? Invite us over…
Back to school shopping season gets earlier every year, doesn't it? I have to say, there's something about a shiny new backpack ready for new learning and new adventures that makes the season more fun. I mean, for the kids. Of course. We…
I have to say that one of my proud parent moments is realizing my girls aren't afraid of bugs or worms or things they see in the garden . Of course I can't take credit for it at all (thanks, grandparents!) but nonetheless, I love encoura…
Sure, we all know what song to sing when the cake comes out, but the day becomes even more special when the music cranking at the party is all about your birthday girl or boy. And, when some of our favorite kindie artists get together to…
When there is a new board book from Taro Gomi, I am always interested. Because that means a near guarantee that I'll have fun reading it to my kids too. And hooray--the prolific writer/illustrator has not just one but three great new boa…
Burt's Bees Baby has gone from making cute little bathtime gift sets you can find at CVS to a serious contender in your baby gift shopping arsenal. Yesterday I got a sneak preview of some of the adorableness coming your way, but there ar…
Sometimes kids with summer birthdays (ahem--mine) feel a little ripped off because their friends are out of town. I love the idea of a summer camp themed party right in your own local park or backyard. It's a great way to make the party …
This post is part of a monthly series with our Baby Shower Gift Guide sponsor, babyGap celebrating motherhood firsts. We hope you enjoy our tips! Great close-up of baby June Blair with her older sister, via Gabrielle Blair of Design Mom.…
And here I get all excited when my six-year-old puts together a LEGO Lord of the Rings set and only asks for my help twice. Recently opened, artist Nathan Sawaya's solo show Art of the Brick features unbelievable creations all created ou…
If the baby I'm having next month is anything like me, the kid will appreciate a really good pair of shoes . (I've already passed that gene onto my daughter, who clamors for any beautiful pair of heels she sees.) I find most people focus…
Though my kids' bin of play food has been a source of countless hours of play , from "grocery store" to "let's make mommy breakfast," I can't say the food (which includes an orange hot dog and floppy slice of pizza) is all that inspired.…
I dream of taking the kids to Paris, strolling past little cafes, and gazing at La Tour Eiffel. On this Bastille Day those dreams are still just that--le sigh. But I've discovered the cutest handmade play set that will have visions of cr…
Having lived in big cities through my entire pre-kids existence, I admit to a pretty intense fondness for designs with an urban edge. So it's no surprise I fell hard for this creative, city-inspired collection of cool tees for babies (an…
We can hardly believe it's been two years since we first told you about the launch of the hippest, best-looking temporary tattoos ever made. And we've got the zillion photos of our kids covered in them to prove it. Well in honor of their…