More coolness from recent weeks…
5 wonderful MLK Day crafts to help inspire important conversations with kids
My kids, like so many, have this Monday off of school to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and I always find that craft activities are a good way to engage kids around any important day. So I've tracked together some really fun craft ideas for MLK Day...
OMG! American Apparel is closing. Here’s how to comfort yourself with 40% off.
Bad news, cool kids: American Apparel is closing their factories and basically being cannibalized and moving to Canada. So much for "designed, cut, and sewn in Los Angeles." Yes, the company has their share of controversies, but they always did make solid basics we...
5 wildly cool STEM bath toys to inspire future scientists. (Even if they can’t spell scientist yet.)
If your kids are getting older and casting off rubber duckies for something a bit more stimulating when it comes to bath toys, we've tracked down some very cool science-based bath toys with an educational spin that might do the trick. Even though little plastic...
10 outstanding children’s books about activism in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
As we approach MLK Day, we're thinking it's the perfect time to get our kids learning about activism and about how one man, through his peaceful and steadfast fight for equal rights for all, made lasting changes and a huge impact on generations. Inspired by his words...
We can’t believe what these 3 amazing kid inventors have created.
We're firm believers that kids can change the world. In fact, there are kids doing it right now. So we're sharing three kid inventors we're absolutely thrilled to know about because their work is so mind-blowingly amazing, it gives us remarkable hope for the future....
F*ck yeah, Meryl Streep! | Spawned Podcast Episode 64
While yes, 8 zillion other outrageous things have happened since Sunday night's Meryl Streep speech that brought down the Golden Globes (and a certain volatile twitter account), we still think it bears discussing. So today on the latest Spawned podcast episode, we're...
This cool Keith Haring wooden stencil set will inspire your kid to draw like…well, Keith Haring.
If your kids are anything like mine, there's a good chance they may not recognize the name Keith Haring in the same way they might, say, Stan Lee or Matt Groening. After all, Haring was making his most major marks in the art world way back in the '80s. You know, a...
The Ultimate Birthday Party Gift Guide is back, newly updated for 2017!
One of our favorite guides we've ever put together has been our Ultimate Birthday Party Gift Guide, featuring the coolest gifts for kids of all ages, from those sweet first birthdays right through to picky tweens and big kids. And seeing as how it's the start of a new...
Unicorns, lions, and Yoda? Adorable animal winter hats for babies
If you're a parent of a new baby, you'll soon find that many experienced moms and grandmothers on the street will stop and tell you: You have to put a hat on your baby during cold winter weather! Some will even suggest you dress your babies this way in spring and...
7 books to help you feel fabulous right now (because shame is so 2016)
Yep, I'm one of those suckers who dives head-first into the self-help section every January. Not only because I actually have a few days of leisure to read as long as I wish, but also because the cold, dreary weather makes me want to hit my reset button and make a...
A play mat that teaches your baby how to speak emoji. (Insert winking face here.)
When my kids were babies and tummy-time touring their way throughout the house, it was a given that their play mat migrated to each room with them. And while I have fond memories of our jungle themed mat and odd interactive thingies (who doesn't love a squeaking,...
Tips for tackling the most common New Year’s resolutions | Spawned Episode 63
If you're like us and you love to make New Year's resolutions but can never seem to actually keep them, well, this is the Spawned podcast for you. On this episode, we're taking a closer look at the most common New Year's resolutions, and sharing our own advice, plus...
Berries Everywhere: Would you ever let your kids do this to your kitchen?
This post was created for our partnership with Very Berry Cheerios My kids love berries. In fact, their aunt nicknamed them "my little fruit bats" because they love berries in their lunches, on their desserts, and yes, with their breakfast. So of course we were all...
The game-changing winter fleece pullover for kids. Who knew there was such a thing?
Trying to get your toddler to quit squirming long enough for you to wriggle on a pair of mittens is basically a parenting rite of passage. One much easier said than done. Which is why I'm so impressed with the lightweight kids' fleece pullover with mittens attached I...
Causebox: The ultimate do-good subscription box for women.
We love subscription boxes, and we've covered so many of our favorites since they became such a hot gift to give. And now we've found one that comes with built-in warm fuzzies. Each Causebox subscription box is filled with about seven beautiful surprises, each...
7 simple changes I’m making before I turn 40
2018 is the year I turn 40. Wow. It seems like such a big deal, this milestone, complete with black "Over the Hill" balloons and all. No -- kidding. I mean, sure I was afraid of 40 once. But, now, thanks to the women in my life who have not only reached this milestone...
New helmet designs so cute your kid might actually want to wear theirs.
We've been longtime fans of Nutcase bike helmets, since they offer some of the cutest designs and trustworthy safety features for our kids. So I'm very excited about the brand new launch of their newest designs for their Little Nutty line. My favorite? The Tin Robot...
Clarisonic Mia 2 Skin Cleansing System review: Is it really worth the price? An honest look.
As the new year loomed over me, I got an early start on my resolution to rid myself of dry, dead skin, and take better care of my face. I tested out quite a few skincare devices over the course of one month that had been sent to me for review consideration -- from...
Little Big Girl by Claire Keane: The perfect gift for a new big sister.
When you've been the littlest in your family your whole entire life, but things are about to get real because a new sibling comes along, you need the book Little Big Girl by Claire Keane. This sweet story about a little girl growing up and getting bigger and bigger...
6 fantastic pairs of kids’ winter boots on sale right now. Hurry!
The good thing about living down South is that I can wait until the last minute to buy snow boots for my kids, when they're all on sale! And when you're buying four sets of winter snow gear, those savings help a lot. That said, all of these kids' winter boots on sale...
8 family music albums that you’re going to want to add to your playlist in 2017
Here at Cool Mom Picks, we love finding the best kids music and sharing it with you. And I'm excited to share these 8 albums that I think you and your family will love right now. Of course, we're always big fans of our friend Lisa Loeb and TMBG’s Danny Weinkauf, both...