More coolness from recent weeks…
5 of the cutest backpacks and lunch boxes to give you a head start on back to school
With lots of kids heading back to school in early August, and September really not that far behind, it's not too soon to start thinking about back to school. Especially when they're some of the most adorable backpacks and lunch boxes you'll see, and at an extra...
Why I stopped making my daughter clean her room | Thinking : Parent
I am a neat person. Well, as neat as a mom of four kids can be. I wasn't always considered neat. In fact, my college roommate might read this and laugh hysterically because there was a point in time that you couldn't even see my bed because of the piles of crap. And...
4 reasons to consider an ecotourism vacation for your family. (Besides being awesome.)
The idea of combining education and conservation with a family vacation is super appealing to parents, which is why ecotourism is such a fascinating concept for me -- and maybe for you. If you're not familiar with ecotourism, it's aimed at providing travelers with...
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: 5 cool fall and winter staples we love
I love a Nordstrom sale, and their Anniversary Sale is no exception, because you can get great discounts on brand new items. So, if you've got a little cash stashed, here are 5 of my favorites, all fabulous fall and winter staples, if I do say so myself, that I'm...
13 cool art projects for those summer seashells
If you're feeling a bit #clambitious about that bucket of shells you and your kids collected on your beach vacation, we've got good news for you. Here, we've rounded up some of our favorite seashell art projects for those summer finds, good for kids of all ages,...
4 fun DIY friendship bracelet patterns for a rainy (or just unbearably hot) day.
It's no mystery that crafts for kids are great for when they're feeling a little listless (or demanding to go to the pool yet again). But tons of prep work and shopping for supplies (Dremel tool. Um, no)? Not really worth the hour or two of entertainment they might...
10 cool nighttime activities for kids that let you be the fun parent
With the kids out of school and the days so much longer, I've been trying to make summer extra fun for them, which means extending bedtimes way past their normal time and heading out for nighttime adventures. Seriously, there are so many fun things to do with kids...
Our favorite summer sports bra to keep you stylish and supported
The ladies in my Zumba workout class have been seriously bringing it when it comes to stylish workout gear lately. And even though I remind myself that it's not a competition (something I have to tell myself a lot when we get to the Latin dance portion), I sometimes...
How to talk to your kids about politics? Ken Burns has a book for that.
This election cycle has been pretty brutal, leaving a lot of us wondering how to talk to our kids about politics. Well, I just got a copy of Grover Cleveland, Again! by the celebrated documentarian Ken Burns and illustrator Gerald Kelley, and I'm convinced that...
Over 20 of the best Finding Dory birthday party ideas
Even though Finding Dory has only been out for a few weeks, she already has a ton of fans who are likely going to want her be the star of their birthday party (well, after the birthday child of course). So we've gone fishing for some of our favorite Finding...
The 2016 best board games of the year from Spiel des Jahres. Family game night just got a whole lot cooler!
During the summer I usually let my kids stay up late, but we ditch the screens and play board games together instead. So, each year I keep my eye on the Spiel des Jahres award-winning board games to find the best new board games that are guaranteed to be interesting...
The Disney LEGO castle that has us all wishing upon a star.
We all know that there are some pretty amazing possibilities when it comes to LEGOs, from the skills they develop to the fantastical forms they can take. But the new LEGO Disney Castle is honestly pretty jaw-dropping. Disney fans, this is no glorified plastic...
11 family-friendly television shows that everyone can agree on. Seriously.
We've been moving away from solo gadget time in my house and exchanging it for family screen time, within reason, of course. That means we all gather around the television and watch something that we all enjoy. Really. With kids ages 5 to 12, you might think that it's...
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...
A cool custom ring we love, for a cause we love too.
We're been dedicated followers of FashionABLE for a while now. What's not to love about their sleek leather goods, gorgeous scarves, and minimalist jewelry? Plus, when you make a purchase from their website, you're providing employment to women in need, domestically...
Finally, a beach towel that leaves the sand at the beach. Whoo!
My idea of a perfect day? Relaxing at the beach with a fun read while the kids play in the waves and never argue. Not even once. Okay, maybe that's not so realistic, but what might make me almost as happy is a beach towel that sand won't stick to. So, as you might...
The awesome feminist onesie for our girls…and boys
We're so glad we're raising girls in an era where feminism is front and center, and the number of strong, visible female role models is growing across every profession at the highest levels. So I was thrilled when I saw this adorable feminist baby onesie at Etsy shop...
A super simple tip to help your kids with their summer reading right now
It's probably one of my kids' least favorite things to talk about these days: Summer reading. Which is odd, because they really do love to read. They just don't like someone else telling them what they have to read -- and when to read it. Recently, though, a friend...
After Nice: Advice for talking to kids about terrorism and tragedy, and where to donate
In light of the Nice, France Bastille Day celebration attack last night, our hearts are heavy -- again -- as they have been far too many times lately. When we look for advice about talking to our own children about tragedies like these, it becomes clear that parents...
The coolest free printable adult coloring pages on the web. Because we deserve a little Prismacolor action too!
The adult coloring trend is here to stay, and rightfully so, considering it can help you focus and give you some much-needed relaxation. And best of all, no special skills required, just some cool coloring material and art supplies, like Prismacolor colored pencils...
Cool shorts alternatives: Yes, mamas, you can wear culottes
I admit, that while I totally rocked culottes the first time they came around, I was a little hesitant to try them again. But I have to say, that I really do love them, especially with all the short shorts every where I turn. If you're looking for cool shorts...