The Journey by Francesca Sanna: A powerful look at the refugee experience, for children.
My kids hate to see me cry, but there have been times when I'm following the Syrian refugee crisis that I can't help it. They've caught me looking at the haunting photo of Omran Daqneesh in the ambulance, seeing the tragic body of 3-year-old Alan Kurdi on a...
Move over family movie night — we found 4 fun art activity books the whole family can enjoy together.
In an effort to reduce screentime at home, especially with Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks around the bend, I've been stocking up on some arts and crafts-type activity books for kids. Instead of everyone sitting on the couch, looking at their own devices, now we sit...
8 shows to binge watch when the kids are asleep | Spawned Episode 58
If you're like us and need a little break from the news (cough Election cough), or you just want to enjoy some grown-up time after the kids are asleep, we have the perfect diversion. You know how much we love binge watching, so on this episode of Spawned with Kristen...
Gathre’s bonded leather playmats are wipeable, waterproof, and so chic.
I can still vividly remember the playdate I had for my toddler the same week we laid new carpet in our house. You know where this is going, right? Within minutes, the mom's mega-venti-grande-whatever coffee was all over the place. And yes, the stain is still there....
6 cool digital election night party invitations to precede the pizza, booze, and Pepto Bismol
The last time I hosted an election night viewing party with friends was back in 2000 when our friends resignedly left around midnight, with no winner decided. (It's a good thing or they might have been camped out on our living room floor for a week.) I haven't held...
The Girly Girl Doll Company: Redefining what it means to be girly.
My daughter isn't what you'd typically call a "girly girl." Her favorite clothes are athletic wear and she can hold her own (and then some) with the neighborhood boys in a game of flag football. But she still loves to dress up and has a collection of dolls that has...
Mattresses in a box? We’ve tried them. Here’s what we think.
I've been needing a new mattress for a while now, but the idea of spending $2,000 (or more, yeesh!) on a traditional box spring and mattress set has kept me from heading to the stores to try them out. Because with multiple kids at home, there are a million other...
The subscription box for kids that ships pure imagination
In a world where a quick Google search can answer even the toughest question in just seconds, we love the delicious act of waiting for a surprise in the mail. But while most subscription boxes give you a pretty good idea of what to expect (makeup and books, hooray!),...
Freshly Picked Marketplace: The new indie marketplace you need to bookmark for your holiday shopping
When Kristen and Liz started Cool Mom Picks, their desire was to highlight cool, indie shops that make innovative products with fresh ideas for kids and families. A decade later, that's still our driving passion, and the chic handmade baby moccasins at Freshly Picked...
Stunning Native American bracelets that do more than dress up an outfit
Recently, I had the joy of attending the annual Martha Stewart American Made event, or what I think of as Cool Mom Picks gift guide central. Truly, it's always a joy to discover amazing new makers and other small businesses (a few are on the @coolmompicks Instagram...