I believe in the essential power of reading--my kids have the stuffed bookcases to prove it. But not every kid does. So I love the idea of this website that lets you buy an amazingly cute, supersoft, combed-cotton T-shirt to get more boo…
My kids inherited a rocking horse that's all bells and whistles--it whinnies, neighs, clip-clops, and plays some sort of country song. I'm pretty sure it says "yeehaw," too, which doesn't really make sense. It's too much, even for them. …
Wabi sabi suki is a Japanese concept that means "tranquil beauty." It is based on the simple elegance of form, texture, and color and occurs when human hands bring out nature's beauty in a way that echoes the material's inherent nature. …
I want my kids to be book lovers , as in sneak a flashlight under the covers, beg for a nighttime story, know their way around the library kind of book lovers. So along with a sturdy bookshelf packed with favorite childhood titles and th…
Happy Chinese New Year, mamas, or as my Chinese relatives say: Kung Hei Fat Choi . I'm doing a little extra celebrating this year because it's the Year of the Dragon, which just so happens to be my own Zodiac sign. For those of you with …
We joined Wednesday's blackout to protest SOPA and PIPA, but we're glad to be back online, sharing some of the coolest tech finds from the last week, many of which we found through the very web sites we're hoping to protect. 1. If you li…
I don't have many strong beliefs but one thing I feel very passionately about is travel. We have just this one world provided to us and I believe it is our responsibility as global citizens to get to know it a bit beyond our own backyard…
We do quite a bit of reading in our house especially now that bedtime has somehow extended to an hour. The hour mostly involves the reading and re-reading of a single book over and over and over. So I know a book has gotten a major kiddo…
I thought my three-year-old was a total potty pro until I learned today that he has been peeing in his closet every night for a week. Oops. If only we had this fresh and truly inventive new potty, I think a lot of things would stink less…
I fully admit to drinking way more bottled water than I should, even though I'm aware of how bad the plastic is for the environment, let alone the risk of water that's been marinating in chemicals used to produce said plastic. But now I'…
Dan Consiglio is the amazingly talented and funny author of the blog What My Kids' Art Says . It's a great site because Dan isn't afraid to call it like it is. He looks at children's artwork with the lens of an erudite art critic, not a …
It is a sad moment when I put a barely worn outfit on one of my kids and realize they've outgrown it before they've even had a chance to spill something on it. But now the smart people at online clothes-swapping site thredUP have come ou…
Pantone has decreed that 2012 is the year of Tangerine Tango, which they describe as "a spirited reddish orange that continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward." I couldn't agree more. It doesn't hurt that…
I've been pleasantly surprised by all the cool, modern updates to alphabet decor, like this recent Etsy discovery which almost makes me wish that I had another baby's room to decorate. The Now I Know My ABCs mobile from MiChiMa L.A.N.D. …
For an awesome kids' room design quick change, I head straight for removable wall decals , which are such a smart choice for parents like me who have large wall spaces, fickle kids, and no desire to add more holes in my walls. My latest …
O, G. Can it B? Y, yes, I can C that a rainbow of letters is waiting for U. Seriously, though. Aren't these recycled felt letter pillows too adorable for words? The Personalized Letter Pillows from MableDear on Etsy are big, snuggly, and…
Labels are a necessary part of school life, but don't go to the dark side and use marker on masking tape. With these free Star Wars printable tags, you don't have to. Whether your kid goes to the Jedi Academy or PS 81, these labels will …
In solidarity with the many websites protesting the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA)--those sites we rely on every day for news, entertainment, information, and community--Cool Mom Picks will not be posting today. …
Why yes I still am in full-fledged January organization mode, thank you so much for asking! I am spending wayyy too much of my free time (when I'm not organizing, of course) searching for beautiful and functional storage solutions . Aren…
I like me a good sale, especially on kids' clothes. And there's something about the words 60% OFF that force me to click, especially when it's from one of my favorite, durable, stylish kids labels, Polarn O. Pyret. The Polarn O. Pyret fa…
Twin gifts can be among the toughest to find for new babies--that is, if you want something more unique than two matching onesies and hats. That's why I love this art idea. Barcelona artist Judy Kaufmann is an extremely talented artist t…
Whatever we thought of the red carpet fashion at the Golden Globes last night--to say nothing of some of those skinny, skinny arms (eat something, will you people?) it was so much fun to watch. I couldn't get enough of Michelle Williams,…
If my kids ask me to tell them about Martin Luther King Jr's accomplishments, I'm scared I'll ramble on for so long, my kids' eyes will glaze over. Hey, he did a lot. Thankfully, smart-website Brain Pop and its little sister Brain Pop Jr…
One of my favorite pre-bedtime rituals with my son is massaging his little feet before I put him in his PJs. He immediately relaxes and gives me the biggest smile. I usually do this routine on his changing table, which is never that easy…
