What to say when you call your representatives (and why it’s not scary)
We’ve seen so many important issues rise to the surface in 2017, and with that, more people calling their representatives. But we also see people saying that it makes them nervous, or they don’t know just what to say. I can safely say that all of us here...
How to talk to kids about tragedy and natural disaster: Helpful tips and resources.
This has been a brutal month with consecutive natural disasters, many right in the contiguous US or close to home, and our hearts are so heavy. There’s Hurricane Harvey‘s devastation in Texas, Hurricane Irma pounding Florida and the Virgin Islands, and now...
13 effective ways to support your school if you don’t have a ton of time or money
As a dedicated public school parent, two things have become abundantly clear to me over the years: 1) Schools are woefully underfunded and 2) Any school is as good as the commitment of the school community. I’ll skip number one right now because seriously,...
How to create the perfect kids’ workspace so it actually gets used.
You know, we joke a lot about how hard it is to convince our kids to do their homework, because — well, it usually is. But the truth is that we understand — it’s hard to do our own work when we’re not in a workspace we love and look forward to...
What parents need to know about Sarahah, the anonymous commenting app that makes cyberbullying a snap.
The number one concern we hear from parents when it comes to kids and their devices is online bullying. Which is why we think you’re going to want to know about the new Sarahah app. This personal bulletin board app has blown up all around the world, with a...
5 important tech tips to keep your family safer in hurricanes and other emergency situations
With so many people still recovering from Hurricane Harvey, and now with Irma (and possibly Jose) on the way to contiguous US shores, we wanted to share some helpful information from a dear friend, cool mom, and Hispana Global founder, Jeanette Kaplun. Her family also...
How to get kids excited about reading: 8 expert, research-backed tips and tactics.
Sadly, studies have shown that toward the end of elementary school, kids start losing their enjoyment of learning. As parents, that really concerns us. Especially because we all know a child’s natural state is to be excited about exploring the world around them....
How to create a capsule wardrobe for kids. Even kids obsessed with their clothes.
I am happy to admit it: Marie Kondo is my guru. I love the concepts of capsule wardrobes, minimalist decor and paring down the clutter in my life overall. There is very little in my home that stresses me out more than piles of stuff — which is why I have done...
Cartwheel by Target just made saving money even easier. Whoo!
This is a message on behalf of our partner Target If you’re a Target shopper, you’re probably a fan of the Cartwheel app like we are, because hey, we like saving money. Especially on stuff we were going to buy anyway. (At least that’s what we tell...
5 super fun bento box ideas that are as easy to make as they are to eat.
We love a fun bento box as much as the next person, but has anyone else noticed that most playful school lunch ideas require a PhD in arts and crafts? So cute, but who has the time — or, um, ability? While we admittedly attempt more ambitious school lunches for...
Creative ideas to help little kids with school anxiety: 7 small items that can make a big difference.
Preschoolers or kindergarten students often feel really nervous about their first day of school. Or their first month of school. Even older kids may feel anxious about a new teacher, new friends, or just getting back into a more rigorous schedule after a long and lazy...Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!
We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, easier, more organized, 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).
But we did.
And we still love what we do every single day.
We're so glad you're here.
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