More coolness from recent weeks…
Forget waxy chocolate. Gourmet gelt is here!
Gold coins are a must for Hanukkah, but you don't have to settle for the waxy ones at the store that make your teeth itch. Check out these six amazing kinds of gourmet gelt and revel in quality ingredients, fair trade cocoa, and posh packaging. There's even one just...
Chic winter accessories that look great, and give back in a big way too.
Everyone has that person on their list who's impossible to buy for because they already have it all. And while I try to opt for more meaningful gifts in these situations -- like donations to a cause they'd appreciate -- a printed receipt shoved in an envelope...
Bring on the holiday cheer with 4 great gifts for new moms that support amazing causes too.
If you've already checked out our awesomely extensive holiday gift guide this year, which of course we hope you have, you know we've handpicked the very best gifts for pretty much everyone on your nice list -- from your hard to please mother-in-law to that coworker...
Glam holiday statement jewelry under $50 that looks far more expensive.
Tis the season for looking glam! If you've got a calendar packed with holiday parties, we've got you covered with a some of the most gorgeous statement jewelry we've seen. And they all happen to ring in under $50, so you can kick your holiday outfits up a notch...
Modern Christmas tree alternatives for small spaces. And, no pesky needles.
Full disclosure: I was at Home Depot the day after Thanksgiving, picking out the perfect tree that I'll probably keep until it's brown and desiccated on Valentine's Day. I've got plenty of space for a gigantic Douglas fir, no family members with allergies, and a dog...
8 of the coolest high-tech baby gifts that new parents will actually use | Baby registry essentials guide
There's a ton of high-tech baby gear out there these days -- but not all of it is stuff we'd actually use or recommend. I mean, just because you can invent a training potty with an iPad stand that doesn't mean you should. So we put our heads together and took a good...
Custom superhero action figures for kids with imagination
With Marvel and DC pretty much taking over entertainment for the past decade or so, plenty of kids are clamoring for superhero action figures for the holidays. But what I think is even cooler than Chris Evans in miniature (not that I'd complain if I had the full-size...
Cool, modern Christmas tree skirts that go with your own home decor, not Grandma’s.
We're pulling out the Christmas decorations and dusting off the ornaments around here, and I'm realizing that one easy way to spruce up my holiday decor is with a fresh, new tree skirt. But have you ever searched for a modern Christmas tree skirt? They're nearly...
The great holiday cookie gift guide: Something for every sweet tooth on your list.
We've recently become Cheryl's Cookies converts around here, after having received a generous gift basket delivery of their buttercream cookies. (Now that's a friend.) And now...they're our newest sponsor! Which makes us very happy. If, very hungry, because we've...
6 unexpected nativity sets your kids can actually play with
Let's face it: Some nativity sets are just begging to be played with. Their tiny animal figurines and family of little dolls is simply irresistible to little hands. And as anyone who's ever tried to convince a preschooler that these are not actually toys knows, not...
Bitsbox: The fantastic STEM gift idea that taught my 4 kids to code their own apps.
It's no secret that parents love finding tech gifts for kids that we can justify as being both fun and educational, but the true test isn't whether we think they're cool -- but rather, whether our own kids play with them. Over and over again. That's why we we're so...
Retail is for suckers! Save money shopping online with these expert tips and resources | Spawned Ep 60
After ten years of browsing retailers for a living, putting together shopping guides of all kinds (like Holiday Gift Guides, ahem) and getting to know the ins and outs of online shopping, we thought it would be helpful to devote an entire episode of Spawned to all of...
17 irreverent stocking stuffers for adults both naughty and nice
You can only put so much candy coal into an adult's stocking, so here are 17 fabulous but irreverent stocking stuffers for adults who've been mostly nice...but a little naughty. Or for those who just need a good laugh this holiday season. Or a little extra nope. CMP...
12 of the coolest menorahs for kids, from rainbows to dinosaurs to emoji.
While I think using an heirloom Hanukkah menorah that has been passed down from previous generations is a lovely idea, it's also nice to have a menorah just for kids, to help get them as excited about lighting the candles as they are about eight days of gifts. And...
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...
The best group card games to play with the whole family: Game night, bring it.
Now that Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror, it's really starting to feel like Christmas to me. And as much as I love the shopping and the hot cocoa and the decorations, my favorite part is the parties. Instead of sending the kids to the playroom to watch a movie...
Prime: The photography book of women who make us want to be better women.
Looking for a cool holiday gift this season? Well, we do have 350 cool gift ideas in this year's holiday gift guide, including a whole category of empowering gifts for girls who are going to grow up to run the world. And now here's one for those same empowered,...
The papercraft book that makes Christmas crafting so, so easy.
Houses up and down our street are starting to turn on their holiday lights, and it's beginning to look at lot like Christmas in our neighborhood. My craft-loving kids would like for us to DIY everything holiday around here -- cotton-ball snowmen, reindeer food,...
We found 5 fab waterproof boots that also keep you warm this winter
Weather experts from Europe to the US are warning us to brace ourselves for the coldest winter in years...again. So, when life gives you snow, I say go shopping for a great pair of snow boots! When it comes to a good snow boot, I want something that will keep my feet...
Free printables + activities that help grow kids’ hearts 3 sizes this Grinch-mas
Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. We read that line in Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas every year, but it can sometimes be difficult to drive home the message with kids who are a bit...
The subscription box that shines a little light this holiday season.
Confession: The end of daylight savings is killing me. It's dark by dinner time, the cold is creeping in, and the stress is high, and I just want to hibernate forever. One surprising thing that's helping me? Candles. They add warmth, a beautiful scent, and a cozy...