More coolness from recent weeks…
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...
Why everybody needs to read Rad Women Worldwide. Like, right now.
Let's face it: women are rad. At everything -- from sports to science, and painting and political activism. And since so much of our history focuses on men, and the Eurocentric ones at that, we love books that introduce us to new heroines from places beyond our daily...
Happy Halloween from Cool Mom Picks!
Tomorrow we can diet. But today? Enjoy all those mini Snickers, mini Reese's, mini Milky Way Darks, mini 100 Grands, and if you're lucky, a few full-sized chocolates too. From Liz, Kristen, and everyone at Cool Mom Picks
Here’s how you can follow Cool Mom Picks, Cool Mom Tech, Cool Mom Eats. We promise we’ll make it worth your while.
Whichever social media site is your guilty pleasure du jour, we’re there, making sure you don’t miss our favorite posts on parenting, fashion, apps, recipes, deals and discounts, and random awesomeness from around the web. Plus our favorite part: we love hearing from...
Cool custom temporary tattoos from Love and Lion that we want for our special events. (Or, heck, just any event.)
We've seen plenty of tutorials from crafty bloggers on how to DIY temporary tattoos, but they've never turned out quite right. I recently discovered the insanely creative indie temporary tattoo company Love & Lion out of my hometown Nashville (whoo,...
Plum Print will digitize your kid’s artwork and turn it into keepsakes you’ll love. Hooray for custom holiday gifts!
We all have talented spawn, which means we all have an old box stuffed full of artwork or a tower of papers threatening to flood the closet. And, we've been (and still are!) big fans of services that allow you to take photos of doodles and drawings and turn them into...
7 quick, easy face paint tutorials for kids this Halloween: Great last-minute costume trick.
Take it from an ex-face painter: Face painting doesn't have to be hard for you -- or on your kid. The first rule of Face Paint Club is to avoid using the crummy cheap face paints that are sometimes sold at grocery stores. They tend to be coated in chemicals and are...
A family album tribute to David Bowie that gets everyone up and dancing
If the impromptu dance party my girls and I broke into at the dinner table last weekend is any indication, Spare The Rock Record's soon to be released album Let All The Children Boogie: A Tribute To David Bowie is going to be a huge hit with families. Whether you've...
10 things not to say to a working mom | Spawned Episode 57
What we thought was a helpful post about the new uber-for-kids services popping up around the country turned into the Mommy Wars on Facebook. And so, on this week's episode of Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we discuss the not-so-nice comment in question, along with...
How to get some Hamilton on your front porch this Halloween.
Look around, look around, at how lucky we are it's Halloween right now! Why? Because the awesome people at the Hamilton Facebook page have released the official instructions to create a #HamiLantern. And who wouldn't want a little Lin-Manual Miranda hamming it up on...
Give the gift of reading all in one cool gift box, from the new Brightly Gifts | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from Brightly Gifts Whether you're shopping for a special gift for your own child, grandchild, niece, nephew or best friend's cool kid, books are at the top of so many wish lists. Which is why you'll want to check out Brightly Gifts, a...
7 fun political activities for kids to do on election night. No mudslinging included.
This election in particular has been a tough one for me to wade through all the issues with my kids, so I've been getting creative with how I'm involving them in our family's political discussions. I've been implementing Kristen and Liz's great tips for talking...
4 favorite new kids picture books that celebrate fall beautifully
Like many people who love the cooler months of the year, I am very happy we've enter the season of crisp air, cozy sweaters, and pumpkin spice everything. But one of my favorite things about fall is the colors. Those breathtakingly beautiful fall colors. And I love...
Beyond Schoolhouse Rock: A fun new music video about Washington D.C. from the Not-Its
Looking for a fun way to get kids learning about the election -- without all the awfulness of what's appearing on the news lately? One of our favorite kindie bands, The Not-Its, are out this week with Are You Listening, a very entertaining new video for kids...