
An unexpected way to turn snack time into together time — even with older kids.
My kids are wiped when they get home from school. They always seem to need a snack to recharge and a bit of time to zone out before gearing up for the rest of their day, whether it be for basketball practice, homework, or just running around for some free play time....

7 creative winter birthday party themes for the great indoors (no jackets required).
Kids with winter birthdays may not have the same options that their summer friends have -- playgrounds, parks, picnics, pools, and other outside fun is, er, out. And that's exactly why we love these creative winter birthday party themes, and all the smart, fun ideas...

6 celeb-worthy, creative birth announcement ideas for twins + multiples. We’ve got you covered, Beyoncé!
First Beyoncé and Jay Z, now the Clooneys and Madonna? In case you haven't heard, twins are seriously hot right now. So I've rounded up some super creative birth announcement ideas for twins with a little extra oomph -- for those of you lucky enough to be in on the...

The one scene in Hidden Figures that every parent should be talking about | Thinking: Parent
Hi, nice to meet you. I'm one of the many parents who tries desperately to squeeze in a few last-minute Oscar nominated movie screenings just before the actual ceremony each year so I have at least a moderate shot at the family Oscar pool. You too? At the very top of...

The backpack that might convert even the most anti-backpack people
This hard core tote lover hasn't been so excited about a bag in a very long time, let alone a backpack, but just a few hours into carrying around the new Dakota laptop backpack that our friends at Dagne Dover sent me and I want to tell everyone how great it is. CMP is...

Here’s what happened with I tried Hubble, the company that sends daily wear contacts to your door.
I'm a long-time contact wearer here, especially in those glasses break now and then moments (or when a style moment hits hard). And as much as my optometrist has tried to get me to try daily wear contacts because they're waaaay better for my eyeballs, they dry out by...

4 fabulous DIY Mardi Gras masks for kids to save you a trip to New Orleans
Your kids may not be ready to attend the parades in NOLA just yet, but they can get into the spirit with fabulous, feathery, jeweled-up DIY Mardi Gras masks for kids. So for those of us who'll be eating our King Cake at home, it's a good time to start procuring beads...

Three cool LEGO add-on sets that make your builds even cooler
I'm not so sure my kids could ever get bored of the LEGO sets that are currently blanketing the floor of our playroom, but just in case, I found three cool LEGO add-on sets that will make their builds even more exciting. These sets are for kids who are able to follow...

How to get kids to eat better, even picky eaters. | Spawned Episode 68
If you have kids, then you know all the challenges that come with trying to feed them, especially those picky eaters. Well, on this week's episode of Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we've got our amazing Cool Mom Eats editor and cookbook author Stacie Billis, who...

The courageous action figure that helps kids with cancer. Now that’s super!
This fierce, courageous action figure does something pretty amazing: She helps kids fight the toughest battle of their lives. For each Courage Core Power action figure purchased, one is donated to a child affected by cancer who could use a little courage. That's her...