When it comes to teaching our kids about money, we've learned that the most effective--and easiest--trick is teach by example. In other words, the better example we can set for them, the more prepared they'll be to tackle their own budge…
Spring just makes me want to get out. Also redecorate. Which is hard to do if I'm always out. But now there's this lovely bit of art that kind of bridges both needs for me. This "Off to See the World" embroidery hoop art from the UK's Th…
Along with a big chocolate rabbit, the Easter bunny always leaves a bunch of sugary jelly beans for my kids in their basket. And though I don't always love his artificially-colored-and-flavored choices, I let it slide for this one specia…
Has anticipation overwhelmed you yet? Are you ready for the new season premiere of Mad Men tonight? We can't get enough petticoats, pencil skirts, Jackie O scarves and cat-eye sunglasses. (To say nothing of the actual storylines. Promise…
Hand-washing is big in our house, especially after that last bout of stomach flu, which has cured my son forever of licking the bathroom floor at Michael's. (I kid. Mostly.) It's easy to take something as simple as a bar of soap for gran…
Ah, Spring. When our thoughts turn lightly to disinfecting the keyboard and running away from zombies. Yours will too, once you check out these top picks from the last week. 1. Kids and parents of all ages will love this amazing atlas iP…
Every year, I try to find more eco-friendly alternatives to the ubiquitous plastic Easter eggs. And while I have seen reusable wood eggs and lovely handmade felt ones to fill, they can be pricey if you have to buy more than a few. This y…
With so many kids having rediscovered Muppet Mania with the release of the new Muppet Movie this past year, it's not surprising that everyone's favorite Henson creations are making a big pop culture comeback. Our latest discovery--Michal…
Decorating the nursery is one of the best--or most frustrating, depending on your point of view--rituals of pregnancy. Whether you're a perfectionist that knows exactly what you want and can't find it anywhere (oh, how I feel you!) or ar…
With two kids under four in our household, we are huge fans of Munchkin. From eating essentials to bath time fun, they've hooked a lot of mamas up over the years. So I was psyched to get a sneak peak at their new lineup, only to discover…
Any fab gift ideas for 9 month old boy who has everything? - Alysia, via Twitter If you're about to visit a little one who has "everything" (a slightly daunting proposition when he's not even a year old!) I like giving toys that can be b…
Long before I had children, I fell in love with the clay stop-motion characters of nerdy inventor Wallace and his lovable dog Gromit. And now that I've succeeded in bringing three more over to Wallace & Gromit fandom, I've found a fun li…
I remember the early baby days, when finding the time to see a big release movie like Hunger Games was even less likely than or showering regularly. Just getting out of the house seemed so exotic, and often too daunting. I wish we had th…
I've often wished that I could buy samples of items before trying them because with my luck, I end up grabbing the biggest bottle of something and then hating it later. Well with this new service from CMP fave Abe's Market, you can do ju…
It's officially spring, hooray! And while I've got a slew of spring and summer play clothes ready for my son, I always find that scoring a cool dressier option to be a challenge. If you're in the same boat as me, moms of boys, you'll wan…
I love my Hunter rain boots. Unfortunately, I live in LA where it almost never rains, even as the rest of the country wades through those upcoming April showers. Okay, I lie; It drizzles, sometimes. And that's when I climb into my fabulo…
As my kids get older we are (gasp) transitioning away from the non-breakable plastic wear and gingerly setting down proper plates and drinkware at their table settings. They still have their personalized placemats so it's not like I'm tu…
If you have your cake and eat it too, what are you left with? A whole lot of pretty is what, so long as you own a fab cake stand. You bakers may already have cake stands, but we promise that thse picks are worthy of a spot (or two!) in y…
There's something to be said for small children looking adorable wearing characters on their chests, and yet having no earthly idea who they are. We're smitten with the Micielomicielo shop on Etsy, where pop culture icons are transformed…
Never miss a day of Cool Mom Picks! Here's how: 1. Like us on Facebook 2. Follow us on Twitter 3. Subscribe to our RSS feed 4. Follow us on Pinterest *Bonus! Become an email subscriber. It's not daily, but feel free to read our newslette…
Our inbox is jammed lately with parents asking for non-caloric Easter gift ideas. As luck would have it, we have quite a few. The latest being the adorable, affordable handmade creations from Etsy's Bossy's Feltworks--and just in time fo…
As much as I love seeing my camera savvy friends' own photos on their walls, I think this cool print from Project Type might just be the next best thing for that favorite shutterbug in your life. The colorful Oh Snap retro camera print f…
I always need another reason to eat cupcakes (well, I don't need a reason) and now I have one. All I need is a baby shower invitation and I'm all set. The edible icing cupcake topper folks at Ticings.com (a big fave around here) have col…
"Creativity takes courage." You know who said that? The wrapper around the piece of caramel I just ate. (And, yeah, Henri Matisse.) There's something super sweet about candy that talks back, spreading a positive and uplifting message. An…
