Holiday craziness and stress: Let’s sloooooow things down a little, please? | Spawned ep 174
If you feel like the holiday season came sooner this year — along with the holiday ads, the holiday sales, the Mariah Carey videos, and the holiday pressure, it’s not in your head. There are lots of reasons we’re feeling it more this year, and social...
4 smart, simple tips to help kids make good media choices with their screen time.
We write a lot about the importance of raising good digital citizens. The way we see it, the internet isn’t going away, and the older your kids get, the harder it is to start teaching them good behavior. So we start young, so that as kids get older,...
Reader Q+A: What is a thoughtful gift for a friend who’s had a miscarriage?
Recently, we received a question on Facebook that hit me in the gut: Q: What is a really thoughtful gift to give someone who’s suffered a miscarriage? This is so tough. And since October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, it’s a topic I...
Can we please stop freaking out about kids and social media? : How to raise responsible digital kids | Spawned Ep 170
After seeing so many discussions in our Out Tech Your Kids Facebook community filled with parents who seem panicked — or at least very concerned — about kids and texting and social media, we thought it would be helpful to devote this week’s episode...
Decluttering solutions: Hang these 8 things to free up floor space!
As a small-space apartment dweller, I’m always thinking about ways to declutter. Not that I always achieve it, but I try! A lot of the trick, as I’ve learned, is about getting stuff off the floor that we just assume goes…on the floor. So we all know...
15 things to pack for your next trip to Disney World that make the difference between enjoyment and survival.
My family recently returned from our fourth trip to Disney World (thanks to a very generous grandmother), and I’ve finally figured out those BTDT pro-tips for a successful Disney vacation. For me, it starts with packing the right items. And, knowing what to...
Adoptive parents: These are the forms you need to ensure your adopted child’s US immigration status is safe.
As an adoptive parent, the recent ICE raids have left me more than a little uneasy. Across almost all the adoption boards I’m on, in any social media channel, I’m seeing parents ask what documents they need to ensure their child’s adoption status is...
What to do in San Diego with Teens: Tips for a cool getaway
Teens can be picky, and I don’t have the easiest teenagers myself. So on a recent long weekend getaway in San Diego, I planned out our days carefully with them in mind and hooray, it worked! Planning is the key to a good family vacation with teens. Especially when you...
7 time-saving hacks that are back-to-school lifesavers for parents | Back to School Guide 2019
You know, our 2019 Back to School Guide may feature the coolest new gear, but it’s also got lots of helpful tips for you, parents! Like the best school year planners to keep you organized. And today, time-saving hacks that we all could use. After all, back to...
5 smart and easy tips for your first backyard campout with the kids.
We’ve still got a lot of summer left for camping out with the kids! If you love the idea, but you’re not sure you’re ready to head out into the wilderness with the family just yet, a backyard campout is a great place to start. If it goes wrong...
We tried making Amazon returns at Kohl’s (yes, Kohl’s) and here’s how it works.
Returning items purchased from Amazon has never been all that hard, so when I heard you can now make Amazon returns at Kohl’s I was kind of thinking, Why? But then I realized, getting to the post office or repackaging a return if you don’t have supplies on...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 still love what we do every single day. And we're so glad you're here.
The Coolest Father’s Day Gifts
The Ultimate Kids’ Gift Guide: An age-by-age list to the best gift ideas
Tech Tips for Parents
Our Award-Winning Podcast
Support for Ukraine
