More coolness from recent weeks…
Controversy over little girls and bikinis, and the new summer camp debate | Spawned episodes 44 + 45
If you've already binge-watched the entirety of OITNB and you're looking for a little entertainment, we've got you covered with two episodes of Spawned! And yes, that's kind of a pun. On the recent episode of Spawned with Kristen + Liz, we're discussing our post about...
Hot fashion trend: Fringe bikini tops hide your not-so-favorite trouble spots
Confession: I don't love my stomach. And while I really want to feel super confident sporting a bikini, I just never have been able to get there. That was until I discovered the fringe trend, which is a very cool way to still wear a bikini but keep my not-so favorite,...
7 expert tips for decluttering kids rooms when all else has failed
Let's be real: kids' room clutter is the gift that keeps on giving. And it's not just kids' bedrooms that are problems -- we always find the need to declutter our entryways, the kitchen, the bathroom, the garage, the area around the TV, every corner of...
The smartest way for new parents to save some money: Rent baby gear from Expectantly
Budgeting for a new baby can be overwhelming for many of us. You need clothes, diapers, a crib, a stroller -- the list goes on. And on. While some items like rattles and burp clothes are relatively inexpensive, others -- like a car seat and high chair or even crib...
Our favorite summer sandals for women and kids from the massive new Target sale: Most under $12!
This post presented in partnership with Target If you're not a total Target addict like I am (seriously, my daughter and I spent a good two hours in their Brooklyn store yesterday and I have the biceps to show for it), you may not be aware that they just kicked off...
Our new favorite stuffed animals from To The Market
We're already big fans of To The Market: Survivor-Made Goods, which produces the most gorgeous accessories, home goods, and toys. A couple of years ago, our editor Liz featured the store and its mission to support causes such as the fight against abuse, poverty, 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...
Common mistakes parents make when applying sunscreen on kids and how to fix them.
With four outdoor-loving kids and lots of pool and beach time on our calendar this summer, you can bet I am always stocking up on sunscreen. I'm pretty careful about when and how I slather it on, too, which is why I was surprised to see that I was making a few very...
Temporary safety tattoos: A life saver for parents of kids who like to wander.
We all know that theme parks, playgrounds, and big outdoor events can be pretty overwhelming places to bring younger children, especially if you have several to keep track of. And big distractions like fireworks, cotton candy, and costumed characters certainly don't...
Shark Week is coming! Get ready with our 10 favorite shark picks for kids
Though the Fourth of July may be the number one holiday of the summer, Shark Week comes in a close second. It's pretty popular among our readership because our kids get a good excuse to watch an entire week's worth of programming about our favorite toothy fish. And,...
5 free summer reading challenges for kids. Prizes included!
Even though I've got a couple of avid readers in my house, I'm always looking for ways to continue to encourage them to pick up a book. Thankfully, there are no shortage of summer reading challenges that offer kids a little incentive for their participation. Whether...
The 4-in-1 nursing cover that covers way more than you’d think.
We're typically not huge fans of nursing covers around here. Grabbing a baby blanket or muslin swaddler and tucking it into our bra straps always worked just fine for all of us when we felt the need to cover up a little more. But when I found out about the new Covered...
Renegade Made helps kids create random acts of kindness through crafting.
Over the years, we've featured loads of great craft kits for kids that flex our children's creative muscles as they try their hand at making cool new works of art. But I've never seen anything quite like the brand new craft kits for kids by Renegade Made that aim to...
11 wonderful inspirational nursery prints that you might not think to buy for a baby’s room
I'm long past the days of decorating a baby's room (sniff), but when you find inspirational nursery prints this wonderful and beautifully designed, it's a wonder we ever used to settle for those ubiquitous licensed children's characters or generic animals. After...
Waterproof diaper bags that just happen to make the perfect pool totes
Even if you’re not in the market for a new diaper bag, you might want to give the waterproof diaper bags from TWELVElittle a second look. My kids haven’t been in diapers in years, but I’ve been using their new waterproof diaper bag daily because it makes a perfect...
Finding Dory review: What to expect before you take your kids
This past weekend, my family and I braved the crowds to catch the new Finding Dory movie, the long-awaited sequel to the perennial favorite, Finding Nemo. With kids ranging in age from 5 up through 12, I was hoping it was something they would all enjoy, and thankfully...
The best drugstore makeup for tweens and teens: Top picks from a pro
Now that some of our girls are starting to hit the age where they're asking about more than just a little flavored lip balm, we turned to an expert to offer us advice about makeup for tweens and teens. Because things have come a long way since we were all first...
The cutest baby sun hats to protect your baby’s skin this summer.
When it's brutally hot outside like it is now in some areas -- hello, summer! -- we start thinking seriously about protecting our littlest ones' skin from damaging UV rays. And, sunscreen can only do so much. It's important we find other ways to protect our baby's...
The Real Meaning of Father’s Day: Fathers
If you're lucky enough to have a fantastic father, grandfather, stepfather, or father figure or father of your children in your life. this one's for you. Happy Father's day cool dads. From Liz, Kristen, and everyone at Cool Mom Picks.
26 of the best car games and activities to keep kids happy without screens.
I was one of those parents who insisted that I'd raise the kind of kids who would play fun, screen-free car games on our family road trips, or perhaps watching the world whiz by while asking intelligent questions about all the sites and sounds around them. Sound...
The world’s cutest tableware for kids: We have a contender!
When my kids first started eating solids, they often reminded me of wild baby animals -- flinging food all over the place, trying to eat without using their hands, and getting all the gooiest stuff mashed into their hair. So I'm pretty impressed with the new kids'...