Lovely gift boxes that take the ugh out of gift wrapping.

by Cool Mom Team | Party Ideas

I am beyond grateful for all the pretty boxes and gift bags out there because I am 1. Totally spazzy with wrapping paper (seriously, it’s sad) and 2. Totally impatient with long gift wrap lines at department stores. Let’s also add 3. Totally annoyed with...

The perfect little gift for the tween who has everything. (And don’t they all?)

by Stephanie Slate | Tech CMP-Style

Got a tween girl on your list this year? I don’t, I confess. But if I did, I totally know what I’d get her. (See, isn’t that always the way? Now if only I could trade this great tween gift idea with someone who knows the perfect thing for a...

Giving the gift of creativity – Great craft kits for kids

by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings

As the nieces and nephews and various children in my life get a little older, I’m increasingly more into finding crafty gifts that not only entertain them for a little while, but let them show off their handiwork when they’re done. Here are a few favorites...

Not your grandma’s recipe cards

by Mir | Food + Recipes

My grandmother wrote recipes on flowery little cards expressly for that purpose, and my mother rebelled against the cute by using nothing more than plain index cards. Me, I fall somewhere in the middle–plain cards seem kind of depressing, but I’m just not...

The Whiplash Scooter according to Brodie – 4.5 stars out of 5

by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings

When the makers of the popular Wave skateboard asked me to send their much buzzed-about new Whiplash Scooter for a test drive, I was like uh…not on your life. But I have a 12 year-old nephew named Brodie who I knew could give me the scoop since that’s who...

Drink This – The perfect gift for wine lovers, wannabe wine lovers, or people who just want to punch pretentious wine lovers

by Cool Mom Team | Books for Adults, Food + Recipes

I’ve let my own wine knowledge atrophy since falling in love with someone who makes a point to say that actually, he prefers Northern Rhone wines. (Seriously.) So I was excited when I first got wind of Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl’s new tome, Drink This: Wine...

Cool robot toys that won’t give me a (bleeping) headache

by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings

I’d like to make this holiday the Year Of Fewer Batteries, which could be a bitter pill to swallow for my little robot-aholic who hopes to add a few droids, bots or even a ridiculous robotic hamster to his collection. He’s in luck, though, because...

Please pass the gelt

by Christina Refford | Food + Recipes

Gold coin chocolates are certainly a Hanukkah necessity, although I love how this tradition can be made even better with Divine Chocolate’s gold-wrapped fair-trade coins. Made from cocoa coming from a farmer-owned cooperative of growers in Ghana, Divine...

Real men write nice notes

by Betsy | Uncategorized

This year for the holidays, instead of getting your guy a remote control bottle opener or electronic book mark, I say go off the grid and surprise him with this elegant, yet undeniably masculine set of ManCards stationery for men, by Michael Magrin. This $15 set of...

You can never thank a teacher enough (really)

by Susan | Cards + Stationery

Looking for a gift that’s Just Right for your child’s teacher? A wee gift that says “We appreciate everything you do!” without getting too personal? Lovely monogrammed notecards are always a good bet – you know, to write thank you notes...