Only One Sheep Required
As an avid musician, children’s toys and music boxes have all but killed my love for music–it’s nearly impossible to find a nice nursery music maker that isn’t bright yellow and blue and doesn’t play a weird choppy version of Fur Elise. (You know, that awful Beethoven piece that you never want to hear ever again).
Beyond Cheerios and American Cheese
I’m a huge fan of ethnic foods, however any attempts to get my 2-year-old to try curry or sushi has failed miserably. Well, I may just have found a solution that requires neither cooking, nor the hurling of unusual foods in the nice, quiet restaurant.
Picking the Bucket
I’m always looking out for interesting gift sets for new babies, and there are certainly plenty to choose from. But once in a while I find one with a nice extra touch, and that’s the one I just have to get. In this case, it’s the gift buckets from Confetti Kidz.
Show ‘Em The Battleship, Emma
They’re the latest and greatest non-edible treat for kids: Temporary tattoos. Way cooler than character-themed bandages covering non-existent boo-boos, and with better results than freehand Sharpie drawings, temporary tattoos let kids decorate themselves (instead of the walls–key!) without consequence.
Family Tree
For some reason, finding a photo ornament to hang on the tree is like looking for a recipe for no-calorie cheesecake–it’s out there, but you’re not gonna like it.
A Pregnancy Book That Won’t Cause Night Sweats
The combination of hormones and excitement forced me to buy umpteen pregnancy books that caused me anxiety for most of my pregnancy. Other than the few times I referenced them for help with weird uterus pangs and a description of "the mucus plug," the stack of them were better as a nursing stool than source of comfort.
Mod Farm
Cool Mom Picks is constantly on the lookout for truly fantastic kids’ room art, and it’s not easy. Just google "nursery art" sometime, and behold the frightening array of garish watercolor farm animals in straw hats. The prints look more like something from one of those Starving Artist stadium shows than something you’d be proud to display over a crib.
From Field to Fingers
Let’s face it, some parents aren’t gourmet chefs, let alone halfway decent cooks, so when it comes time for solid foods, many of us (and yes I’m raising my hand, here) struggle with the guilt that comes with feeding the kid pears out of a jar.
The Other Hendrix
I love to find moms making great kids’ music. And I love it even more when those moms turn out to be smart, funny, and cool – the kind of mom I would want to hang out with at the park or at soccer, if only she would have me.
Heart-Felt Art
I’ve always believed there’s something special about a child’s name. While my daughter’s name is not "a family name" but rather just one we both agreed on (which was a feat in and of itself), it still feels as if it were meant for her, both in its sound, meaning, and intent.