More coolness from recent weeks…
Braille Bricks: the coolest new toy for kids with visual impairments
If you know us at all, you know we geek out when we find cool toys or kids' gear that promote inclusivity. So when we discovered Braille Bricks, the LEGO-inspired building blocks that help visually impaired kids can learn to spell through play, we thought they were...
Budget family travel tips: 5 smart do’s and don’ts to save you a ton on your next family vacation
A few months ago, I decided I wanted to celebrate my 40th birthday with a big trip, but whoa, family vacations are certainly not cheap! Especially when you're traveling with kids -- or in my case, four of them. Even though I'd been saving for a while, I was determined...
6 modern baby bouncers that are super stylish space-savers
Sometimes in the world of baby gear, less is definitely way more. These modern, space-saving baby bouncers capture this spirit in a big way. Their sleek designs mean your living room can look less like a mini gymnasium and more like smart, stylish adults live there....
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 bug sprays for Zika virus protection and how to apply them safely. Because we’d like to panic as little as possible about our kids, thanks.
This year, the Zika virus is on my mind (and everyone else's, I imagine) so I've been avidly researching the best bug sprays for Zika virus protection. It happens that my daughter is extremely allergic to mosquito bites, so when she goes outside in the summertime, I...
The new TOMS shoes let you dip a toe into the political process
You may be vaguely aware that another US presidential election season is upon us, unless of course you've been sequestered in a Himalayan yurt somewhere, totally unplugged until just this very second. (In which case, hey! Thanks for making a visit to Cool Mom Picks...
6 clever ways to get your reluctant reader to love reading
Not too long ago, I realized my 8-year-old son was a reluctant reader. He's a perfectly good reader, but would rather do just about anything but read. And that's a particular sore spot for me, because there are few things I’d rather do more than sit down with a good...
Young moms vs old moms: The new phase of the mommy wars? | Spawned podcast episode 41
Thank you so much for all of your tweets, emails, DMs and as Liz would say, "letters," asking whether we were okay. YES we are okay! And after a brief hiatus, we're so happy to be back with a new episode of Spawned with Kristen + Liz, and it's a fun one. Says us. You...
5 inspiring new picture books for National Readathon Day that make kids want to get out and play
As someone who grew up with her nose in a book, I sure spent a lot of time hearing my parents tell me to put down that book and go outside to play! So in honor of today's National Readathon Day, I've rounded up five wonderful new picture books for kids that not only...
Why Bombas socks are the bomb
With summer slip-on shoe season finally here, it's also officially stinky feet season, which is why I've been on the hunt for peds that don't suck. You know, those no-show socks that keep your feet dry while you wear your favorite TOMS, Chuck Taylors, Vans (or if...
What we think about THINX Period Underwear: An honest review, with all the details.
After 25 years as a woman with a period, you can't blame me for growing tired of the monthly tampon, pad, and pantyliner rotation. Sorry, no menstrual cup love from me -- though I know lots of ladies love them. So, after seeing the Facebook ads for THINX period...
Keepsake jewelry under $75 that makes a meaningful gift for your favorite grad.
'Tis the season for graduations, whether you've got a new college graduate in the family, a niece or nephew graduating from high school, or like me, a sixth grader moving up to middle school. Sniff. While so many of us are looking for just the...
Blankie Tails makes a big splash with new mermaid tails for dolls
If our most popular post of 2015, which introduced the brilliant and much coveted Blankie Tails, is any indication, there are now swarms of kids across America, flipping (ha) for their super-soft, well-made mermaid and shark tail blankets that are perfect for cozying...
14 of the coolest baby gifts and gear we wish we had when we were new moms. (Yeah, just a little jealous.)
If innovative baby gear is any indication, we can confidently say this is an awesome time to be expecting. My youngest just turned 6 years old, so I'm only a few years out of the baby stage, and yet there has been so much amazing change in baby gear even since he was...
Super rad Father’s Day T-shirts? Check.
Whether the special father in your life goes by Dad, Pop, or Daddy-O, you can celebrate the year he earned that title with one of Branded's personalized cotton tees. We love this idea for the coolest Father's Day T-shirts, which, by the way, we also included in our...
7 of the coolest craft kits for kids
As much as my older kids love their electronics, good old-fashioned crafts still hold some appeal for them, especially if the finished product is something really worth making. And with summer vacation fast-approaching, I really want to find smart, interactive...
What’s black and white and cool all over? Hip new kids swimwear from Nununu
I pretty much love all the hip, modern kidswear from Nununu. Some of it pushes design boundaries though, so when I heard they introduced new swimwear for kids this season-- well, I wasn't sure if it would be a little too avant-garde for most parents, or as wearable as...
6 smart tips to help prevent distracted driving and make car rides safer for families
With the busy travel season upon us and so many families planning spring and summer road trips, keeping our kids safe while we're driving and preventing distracted driving is a huge concern of ours. Of course, you don't necessarily need to be on a long haul to to the...
10 really cool activity books for kids. For summer travel, or for regular boredom, which knows no season.
From books full of creative DIY projects to endless coloring pages, I have tracked down some of the absolute coolest activity books for kids, that I think your kids are sure to love as much as mine this summer. After all, I adore the warm weather and the break from...
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 most outrageous beds and bunk beds for kids. Just, whoa.
I have big dreams of redesigning my kids' bedrooms with one-of-a-kind, fun furniture that will capture their personalities and make way for the most awesome sleepover destination ever. Which is why my jaw dropped when I saw the amazing VW camper bunk bed. Created by...