Kristen’s 10 favorite cool picks of 2021
On every episode of our podcast Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we share our cool picks of the week. We even started an email full of them every week. And now, we give you, our favorite cool picks of the year. Granted, it’s pretty hard narrowing it down to just 10...
4 ways to help parents prioritize work-life balance
Whether you’re still working from home, or have gone back to your place of employment, work-life balance can be difficult to find as busy parents. The juggle was always real, but now it feels really difficult to keep up. So, it’s probably no surprise that...
4 ways to get your kids involved in vacation planning… and why you should.
I’ve always had my kids involved in vacation planning. In fact, we voted on our first official family road trip from a power point presentation my son did after researching three locations, and they’ve been involved in some capacity ever since. And well,...
Connecting with your teens and tweens: A simple, free way you’ll both enjoy!
A couple of weeks ago, I was chatting with my friend, who also happens to be a therapist, about how hard it’s been to find ways to connect with my tweens and teens. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why, because if you’re like me, you’ve seen...
The coolest virtual experience gift ideas for kids and adults. They’re fun, we promise!
You might think experience gifts are out this year, with the pandemic is still raging, but I’m here to tell you they are very much in. They’ve just gone virtual. And yes, I realize we all have serious Zoom burnout at this point, so if you’re looking...
A weekend away with your teen or tween: 5 ways to make the most of your time alone together.
Over this past year, I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to take a few of my kids away alone, which is an extra special treat as a mom of four. But really, we parents know that it’s a special treat no matter how many kids you have. As my kids (and I) get...
What to see and do (and eat!) with teens in Boston…in the winter. Yes, the winter.
Winter in Boston with the family may sound…well, cold. It ‘s true that the sun sets earlier, and you have to bundle up when you go out, because, New England! Even so, Boston an excellent city for a getaway with teens any time, and that includes winter....
Insider tips for your Nickelodeon Resort Punta Cana vacation: How to get the most out of your trip
Last year, I was invited to visit the Nickelodeon all-inclusive Hotel & Resort in Punta Cana on a press junket. The truth is, I hesitated a bit. I tend to be a more intrepid traveler, though I do love the convenience of all-inclusive beach resorts for family...
8 thoughtful tips if you’re hosting kids with special needs for the holidays
Nothing gets me emotional quite like the Folger’s coffee holiday commercial, with the sentimental mother-son reunion at 5:30 AM over a cup of coffee. (I’m not joking, I cry every time.) But that’s not quite most people’s reality when we travel...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.
Holiday Gift Guide!
The Ultimate Guide to Gifts for Kids!
Thanksgiving Recipes + Last-Minute Cooking Help
Thanksgiving Crafts + Ideas
Our Podcast. (It’s won awards and everything!)
Best Baby Gifts of the Year
Tech Tips for Parents
Support for Ukraine
