There is only one real rule this holiday season if you are bringing a hostess gift to a dinner party or a weekend get-away: the gift has to be something your harried hostess would actually enjoy. Okay, there is the secret second rule, wh…
I like to give crafted baby items made of fabric that are as soft and as safe as possible. And if they look fabulous? Even better. A brand new organic baby line is in town (virtually), and the fabrics are sophisticated enough for grown u…
One year, I got my mom an electronic photo album for her holiday gift . Well, that was a flop. She told me she really wanted a regular photo book of her grandkids, just like I gave her the year before. But, I like to complicate things! S…
I know that this year I'm going to end up with a bunch of kids I've forgotten about on my holiday list, so I try to amass a repertoire of fun, not too expensive gifts to keep on standby. If they don't get given out this month, there's al…
I don't usually go the disposable paper plate route, except when it comes to kids parties. But here are some paper plates so adorable they might be worth making an exception. Why? Well, they're personalized. With a photo of my smiling sw…
We're now formally in the "handing-someone-a-bottle-of wine" season, and while most of us can simply stick a bow on it and pass it on, there are times when that bottle needs a little more oomph than a plain brown paper bag or a crinkled …
I do the vast majority of my communicating via email but I still love sending and receiving handwritten notes , opening a really cool party invitation or getting an almost-too-nice-to-write-on notepad for my desk. (Don't worry, I'll writ…
Just around this time last year, my husband was returning home from his deployment in Afghanistan and he mentioned how he and his fellow troops really did appreciate the goodies and treats folks sent their way. With that in mind, I could…
Those of us who grew up on author S.E. Hinton's books like The Outsiders , Tex , and Rumble Fish , might be interested to know that she's got a new book out for the next generation. Actually, a graphic novel. And if you have a middle gra…
Oh sure, I try to be all nonchalant at this time of year: Christmas cards? I'll get to them! Wrapping? I have weeks! But, don't let my cool exterior fool you. I am quaking as the clock ticks down to Christmas . But before I tackle my nev…
We call my oldest daughter a mini version of her beloved aunt, my sister. And it's no surprise that my sister's "mini me" would love her style as well, like her penchant for soft scarves thrown around her neck as soon as the temperature …
There are a gazillion ABC books out there--plenty of which we feature here. While I believe that as long as you're reading to your child ,you're already doing great, once in a while a book comes along that really stands out from the othe…
Hanging boughs of holly and popcorn is fine for the mantel, but you wouldn't want to wear them yourself. I mean, think of all the cleavage sap full of popcorn crumbs. If you're looking to decorate yourself for the holidays while staying …
As all grown up women know, the LBD (little black dress) is the secret weapon in every wardrobe. We can pull it out whenever we need something a little nicer than a pair of jeans and we can dress it up or down depending on the occasion. …
Something strange happens to me every December. I don't usually have much patience for craft projects, but every holiday season, something comes over me and I feel the need to do something with glitter. Well, here's a holiday gift for al…
This Christmas, I'm dreaming of... white sand beaches, umbrella drinks, and menus in a language that is not my first. Oh, and a phalanx of babysitting-ready grandparents. All of that seems slightly more within reach with this super cool …
I'm the first to admit that discount sites can get overwhelming. I get so swept up in the dealiness of everything that I put a bunch of too-good-to-be-so-cheap things in my cart, second-guess every one, and then abandon the whole thing i…
A lot of us are probably more used to popping bottles of milk and apple juice than champagne these days. But the holidays call for sparkle--and I'm talking fancy shoes, party dresses, and champagne, not Elmer's glue and glitter (as much …
I love crafty people. I wish I were one of them, but, alas, I'm not even that great at wrapping gifts. They end up looking like my three-year-old took the reins. But, this year, my friends and family will think I've developed some seriou…
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, neither, or both, there's no better gift for kids than the gift of reading. If you don't need a fourth copy of the Velveteen Rabbit to make you cry on your toddler's footy pajamas, try one of th…
There's something to be said for well-made kids' accessories , right? Something else to be said for well-made kids' accessories that sport some of the most adorable designs around. But it's something else entirely when we're talking well…
The only thing better than connecting our readers with fabulous finds is knowing that those purchases do real good in the world. So we thought we'd take a look-see around Cool Mom Picks for some of our favorite picks that put your money …
Manners books for children may sound a little old-fashioned, but thank goodness they aren't. I've come to realize that children of a certain age love learning rules and getting to understand social construct; my own five year-old thinks …
To me the holidays is nothing without our annual viewing of Rudolph. Herbie! The Abominable Snowman! The Isle of Misfit Toys who aren't quite misfits! It's all pure magic. So who's with me in jumping for joy that this year, A four-DVD se…
