handmade toys Archives | Cool Mom Picks

More than 50 amazing holiday gifts for kids under $15: Like, GOOD gifts. Not stocking stuffers.

by Liz Gumbinner | Holiday Picks, Toys + Playthings

Each year, we love putting together a list of affordable holiday gifts for kids under $15. With budgets tight for so many this year, it really helps to know that there are plenty of affordable gifts that still seem like big deals to kids, tweens, and even teens....

18 fantastic Easter gift ideas for kids, from Etsy shops that could really use the support right now.

by Liz Gumbinner | Kids, Toys + Playthings

We know that this year’s Easter gifts are going to take on a lot more meaning for our kids this year. At the same time, Easter gifts sold by small businesses can really make the difference in another family’s life, too. Which makes it an extra wonderful...

These no-carb dumplings on Etsy are perfect for your Valentine.

by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings, Valentine's Day

Happy year of the Rat everyone! With the Lunar New Year upon us, I’m so happy to find this adorable new Etsy shop, which celebrates all things dumplings. Only, not the edible kind, so if you’re low-carbing right now, you’re in luck. Christine Jee has...

Our favorite space themed toys and kids’ gifts to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

by Kate Etue | Books for Kids, Kid Fashion, Toys + Playthings

This month marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing on July 20th, and our kids are so excited about it. Considering it’s an event that happened way before they were born, I love their enthusiasm. In fact, my son just checked out a bunch of moon...

14 seriously cute Easter gifts for babies to keep them from eating the fake grass

by Liz Gumbinner | Baby, Holiday Picks, Toys + Playthings

Looking for cute Easter gifts for a baby’s first (or second) Easter is always so fun. So much cuteness! So much pastel! So many rabbits! And the best part is, you can save all the good chocolate for yourself. I skipped the fussy baby bow ties and itchy crinoline...

We found wonderfully diverse dollhouse dolls: Multicultural, multiracial, differently-abled and more.

by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings

If a dollhouse is on your kids’ holiday wish lists, don’t forget to include some dollhouse dolls so that they can get right to the business of playing (while you clean up wrapping paper). But unlike dollhouses which come in lots of different styles, from...

Get well soon Ruth Bader Ginsburg! We need you!

by Liz Gumbinner | Holiday Picks, Toys + Playthings

I just received a news alert that our strong, feisty, beloved SCOTUS Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, fell and fractured three ribs last night. It’s happened before (she evidently “did not skip a beat” during that time, according to the court because,...

Love Every Baby: the beautifully curated toy box subscription by developmental stage

by Caroline Siegrist | Baby, Toys + Playthings

Pretend for a moment you have a personal shopper for your baby — who also happens to have amazing taste and a degree in developmental psychology. Well that’s basically what you get with Love Every Baby, a new subscription service that curates and ships...

Throw pillows that unfold to become awesome play sets for kids: So great!

by Caroline Siegrist | Toys + Playthings

Plastic behemoths have pretty much overtaken my home since having a toddler, which means I’m always on the hunt for compact toys. Bonus: They’re soft. And attractive. My latest find? These awesome new Pillow Playsets from Sago, which are now available from...

Handwriting help for kids of all ages: 11 fun and effective handwriting resources because that note says WHAT?

by Kate Etue | Tips + Tricks

I desperately need handwriting help for kids in my home, and so I’ve been working so hard to find resources, printables, and other tricks to help make handwriting practice more fun (hopefully? maybe?) for them. My requirements: They have to get them excited to...

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).

We still love what we do every single day. And we're so glad you're here.