birthday parties Archives | Cool Mom Picks

Birthday parties in the age of quarantine: We love these social distance birthday party ideas that make the day special no matter what

by Kate Etue | Party Ideas, Tips + Tricks

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...

Presenting our NEW Ultimate Birthday Gift Guide: The coolest gifts of the year for kids of all ages

by Liz Gumbinner | Baby, Gift Guides, Kids

We are so excited to announce our brand new Ultimate Birthday Gift Guide! Whoo! For years we’ve been combing the web, talking to kids and parents, and carefully curating the very coolest birthday gifts for kids each year by age. Well now it’s back, with a...

3 different ways to make DIY balloon arches for your next party. Make your entrance!

by Caroline Siegrist | DIY, Party Ideas

Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of gorgeous DIY balloon arches in my Instagram feed that have me inspired to figure out how to try my own. And after sleuthing around for tips from my favorite craft bloggers, I’ve discovered that it’s actually totally...

6 outrageous birthday party ideas for kids, when money is no object

by Lexi Petronis | Party Ideas

When it comes to planning our kids’ birthday parties, we tend to aim for the trifecta: cool, easy, inexpensive. Which is why I’m always in awe when I come across big budget, outrageous birthday party ideas for kids like the ones here. These are all popular...

23 of the coolest mermaid party ideas we adore. Fin-tastic!

by Lexi Petronis | Party Ideas

Mermaids are big with kids. In other news, water is wet. So of course, mermaid parties are big with kids and honestly, with us adults too. In fact, this mermaid trend has legs. (So to speak.) And that means if you’re looking for amazing mermaid party ideas for...

20+ magical unicorn birthday party ideas that are truly one of a kind. Just like the birthday kid.

by Lexi Petronis | Party Ideas

They’re sparkly, mysterious, and gorgeous… is it any wonder then that kids (and, um, the rest of us too) find unicorns so entrancing? It’s why I searched the web to find the most magical unicorn birthday party ideas out there, which was so much fun...

Cool Beauty and the Beast birthday party ideas: 40+ of the most inspired treats, activities, decor and more.

by Caroline Siegrist | Party Ideas

With the much hyped Beauty and the Beast movie coming out today, we have the feeling more than a few kids will be raring for a Beauty and the Beast themed birthday party this year. And have we got ideas! We scoured the web for the very coolest, most fun, most...

7 creative winter birthday party themes for the great indoors (no jackets required).

by Lexi Petronis | Party Ideas

Kids with winter birthdays may not have the same options that their summer friends have — playgrounds, parks, picnics, pools, and other outside fun is, er, out. And that’s exactly why we love these creative winter birthday party themes, and all the smart,...

The best Hamilton party ideas: Decor, invitations, treats, and more. WORK!

by Georgette Gilmore | Party Ideas

Hear ye, hear ye! How does a parent of a Hamilton-obsessed kid score major points without spending your child’s college fund on Broadway tickets? By throwing a Hamilton-themed birthday party, that’s how. While I would love to give my daughter tickets to...

7 simple changes I’m making before I turn 40

by Kate Etue | Health, Fitness + Wellbeing, Tips + Tricks

2018 is the year I turn 40. Wow. It seems like such a big deal, this milestone, complete with black “Over the Hill” balloons and all. No — kidding. I mean, sure I was afraid of 40 once. But, now, thanks to the women in my life who have not only...

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

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).