We’ve got 5 eco-friendly paper towel alternatives to help you make the switch at the perfect time.
I’ve been meaning to wean our family off paper towels for years, and this quarantine is finally giving the push that I need. Thanks, empty paper towel shelves at Kroger! So I’ve been chatting with eco-conscious friends and colleagues about favorite paper...
#SaveThePostOffice: 7 thoughtful things you can mail to friends and family during quarantine
Even before the Coronavirus pandemic, the United States Postal Service (USPS) was getting hit pretty hard. And now, well, it’s worse than ever, with no bailout in sight. As you might have seen on social media with the #SaveThePostOffice hashtag, people are...
Birthday parties in the age of quarantine: We love these social distance birthday party ideas that make the day special no matter what
My son turned 10 this month, and I have to admit, it was a bit of a bummer birthday. He had a great attitude and enjoyed some chocolate cake, but with the current quarantine and social distancing guidelines, his party was cancelled and his friends weren’t able...
Here’s why we’ll be doing April Fool’s Day pranks with our kids tomorrow. Shhh, don’t tell them!
If you’ve lost track of days like we have, then you might not know that it’s April Fool’s Day tomorrow. Which used to mean all sorts of crazy Internet pranks (us included – like this one, and this one… just to link a couple), and ones...
6 sweet “I miss you” gift ideas to help stay connected you with friends and family
Huddle up, friends, because I’m about to give away a bunch of my secret gift ideas that I send to folks when I want to tell them how much I’m missing them. And when you’re under a shelter-in-place order thanks to this Coronavirus crisis, that’s...
5 deschooling tips for new homeschooling parents, and how it will keep you from feeling like a total failure.
I know a lot of parents have jumped right into homeschooling their kids (or, schooling-from-home might be more accurate) so that they won’t get too far behind in their studies. But with news that Virginia has canceled school for the rest of the academic year due...
All the best free classes and memberships online right now: Get fit, learn a language, read a book, have family movie night…
We’ve all been seeing our social feeds fill up with amazing “OMG THIS IS FREE RIGHT NOW!” posts from friends, and it’s hard to keep track of it all! Between the online story time for kids, the Club Quarantine virtual dance parties, the museum...
Creating a homeschool schedule: 8 different ideas to help you figure out what will work best for you.
Hi! Total homeschooling newbie here, and now here I am, trying to create a homeschool schedule — or some semblance of one — to help keep us sane. Um, it’s not easy. For background, I am the parent who thought I could wing it with newborn nap...
10 simple writing exercises for kids that don’t even feel like schoolwork
As we all scramble to grapple with the new normal of our kids home from school, I’m thankful for the teachers in my life who have been doing this job for years. I can always count on them for great ideas, like these 10 writing exercises, from a friend and former...
The best homeschooling resources right now for newbies: ELA, science, math, and social studies home learning.
With all the school closures right now, we know so many of you are looking for the best homeschooling resources. (Like, a lot of you!) We hear you! So first, I suggest you read my post on a homeschooling mom’s tips for teaching your kids at home during school...
A homeschool mom’s tips on homeschooling your kids during school closures. You can do this!
So, school’s been cancelled for the indefinite future and you’re about to become a homeschooling parent, maybe for the first time. Now that you’re stuck at home with the kids for the next two, four…ten weeks, what in the world are you going to...Father’s Day is Coming!
Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!
We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, more meaningful, and more fun for parents of all kinds.
Trivia: It was called Cool Mom Sh*t for the first two days. (Yeah, we rethought that.)
We had no idea our site would grow to become a major lifestyle network, that we'd end up sharing our finds with the TODAY Show and Martha Stewart, that we'd be able to make a real difference for so many small businesses and women-run companies, or that we'd end up with an incredible community of the coolest readers on the planet. (If we do say so ourselves).
We did.
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Covid Support + Quarantine Help for Families
* Our complete Covid-19 and quarantine archives
* Expert tips for talking to your kids. Very reassuring!
* Helping teens who are struggling
* Quarantine birthday party ideas
* Fun ways to celebrate your graduate
* Board games to play over Zoom or Facetime
* Pantry-stocking tips from someone who's trained her whole life for this
* Meal planning tips during quarantine to stretch your budget and your time
* The best ways to clean and disinfect your phones and gadgets
* 10 books to help our kids + teens cope with anxiety
* Safety tips for ordering take-out and delivery
* 15 awesome podcasts to keep kids engaged
* Simple ways to connect with our own moms and grandmas when we're apart
Doing Good: We’re Supporting…
“Who else is giving up on screen time limits right now?”
“I over-ordered sour cream! What can I do with it all?’
Work with us!
