We admit that sometimes we avoid the really fun painting and craft projects that include supplies other than the box of nice, neat, perfectly sharpened colored pencils we know will minimize cleanup time. (The glitter glue, that's a whole…
If you've been reading Cool Mom Picks for a while now, you know we're strong advocates of increasing opportunity for women and girls across the globe in all kinds of ways. Sometimes it's promoting businesses that support women in need, l…
Spring is in the air and our kids are clamoring to make some easy Easter crafts -- the holiday will be here before you know it! So this year, I'm looking for some fun, realistic (ahem) craft ideas for Easter that incorporate things I hav…
Sharpie Easter eggs are some of our favorite no-mess, no-dye Easter egg ideas over the years. What's cool for us as parents is that not only is there less to clean up but hey, what kids don't jump at the chance to play with a forbidden S…
It was with immense excitement that I ordered Marie Kondo's newest book, Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up . After all, it's been a year since I wrote about her first book, The Life-Changing M…
I know I'm not alone in wanting to hurl my laptop out the window many times during what's probably been the most contentious election cycle of my lifetime. So I had to just stop, smile and breathe a little sigh of relief when I saw the n…
I've had my eye on Micuna, a popular, gorgeous line of eco-friendly, modern baby furniture made in Spain, for a while now. But shipping from Europe is kind of a nonstarter. Well, now parents of new babies -- at least who happen to have a…
You can't have a conversation about Women's History Month without including second female Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She's fought tirelessly for women her whole career, and following the success of the best-selling Notor…
Hold on to your bracelets of submission, ladies. We've found a smart new gift for girls. My First Book of Girl Power by Julie Merberg teaches our little girls what it means to be strong, important, and powerful. The geek in me loves that…
We're big fans of toys that inspire creativity in our kids . And if they're small enough to fit in a backpack, even better. The Dollhouse Book by Rock and Pebble is perfection. This house-shaped cardboard-cover book is a 30-page blank ca…
Since the release of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens , kids all over planet Earth and Jakku are begging for a Star Wars Force Awakens birthday party that incorporates Rey, Finn, BB-8, and yeah, Kylo Ren along with our favorite p…
Every year, we so love honoring the birthday of Dr. Seuss and celebrating all the wonderful work he created for generations of children. Of course his many books and their important lessons are the most dear to our hearts, but he's creat…
I admit I have always coveted a SodaStream ever since I tried an earlier model at my parents' house. However theirs seemed pretty big to me, and I live in a small apartment, where we're supposed to subscribe to the rule about not owning …
We are so thrilled to present, our 2016 Ultimate Baby Shower Gift Guide , back by popular demand after a short hiatus. It's been a labor ( pun kind of intended ) of love to seek out over 175 of the absolute coolest baby gift ideas, inclu…
Walking the toy aisles of most big discount stores can make any parent feel dizzy, to use a polite word. Where are all the cool wooden toys? Where are the toys that inspire imagination? Why does it seem like every toy made for kids these…
If your kids love mani pedis as much as mine do, but you're not a fan of the chemical-packed polishes in a lot of salons, I've put together 7 non-toxic nail polishes for kids from some of our favorite safer brands , all in adorable shade…
This weekend kicks off the NYICFF, or the NY International Children's Film Festival , which has become one of our favorite annual traditions. We are definitely a movie-loving household, and work hard to find the good stuff. (Multiple vie…
As a suburban mom of four, I live in my car. And as much as I try to tell my kids that this time we will not be eating in the car (don't laugh too hard), I can never stick to that rule because, well, we're all in it so much. That's why t…
My daughter loves her screen time, that's for sure, but lately I have been keenly aware of the other creative toys that she, as an 8 year old, really gravitates to, without any prompting from me. Or really, the toys that I realize I'm al…
Flipping through some of the new projects on Kickstarter, the one that grabbed me right away was this hysterical concept for a unicorn pooping rainbows plush doll and scarf . Because unicorns poop rainbows, of course. I mean, duh. What's…
It's hard enough to get the kids up and ready for school most days, but when your morning routine also includes a lengthy struggle with buttons and zippers, it's extra frustrating. This week, some of my friends and their fashionable tots…
This post has been updated for 2019 Even if the only movies you've seen this year are the animated kind (no judgment, parents!), it's always fun to have an excuse to get together with friends and ogle all the Hollywood glamour over a gla…
What's even better than snuggling your baby in the soft, stylish swaddle blankets we love from Buttermilk Babies ? Knowing that your purchase is going to help low-income kids get the things they need to feel well-cared for. That makes me…
My kids come downstairs with mismatched socks all the time, but I learned to let it go long ago. Who needs to match, when wearing stripes and polka dots together is so much more fun? (Also, it makes putting away the laundry way, way easi…
