More coolness from recent weeks…
9 smart ways to organize video game controllers and reclaim your home at last!
It's about this time every year that we need to ramp up our efforts to get our homes organized and looking awesome for holiday guests. It's like, what the heck happened to all that spring cleaning I did six months ago? Yeah, well, welcome to parenthood. And one of the...
This Bridge Will Not Be Gray by Dave Eggers: Why can’t all history lessons for kids be like this?
I admit I'm a sucker for fantastic adult authors who turn their talents towards children's books -- and succeed. See also, Neil Gaiman. It's not an easy task for sure; it's hard to strike a balance between child-appropriate and childish, and a lot of authors just...
Pop culture peg dolls, for fans of The Penguin, Harry Potter, pirates, princesses, or Percy Jackson.
Though there are sure to be many awesome high-tech toys out there this holiday season, our latest obsession is the adorably low-tech wooden peg dolls by Wooly Llama on Etsy. I mean, what could be better than hearing your kids playing their own imaginary game of Star...
YOXO: Affordable gifts that build imagination. Oh, and maybe a pegasus.
With holidays coming up, we're seeing a lot more interest in building toys and maker toys, a trend we've loved since, well, before it was a trend. And earlier this year at Toy Fair, when I saw the new 5-in-1 pegasus kit from YOXO I thought whoa, that's going to be one...
Hot trend alert: 12 adorable food printed leggings from candy canes to…kale.
The next big fashion trend is here, and it's food. Considering my kids' favorite shows are Master Chef and The Great British Bake Off, it only makes sense that they'd take their love of cooking to their...leggings? Yep, we're seeing food prints all over our kids legs...
You never forget your first unicorn.
As we're browsing the web for our huge annual holiday gift guide (it's coming readers, sit tight!) I just had to stop to share this amazing find: A plush unicorn rocking horse. Or, I guess, a rocking unicorn would be more apt. While we've shared lots of amazing modern...
20 awesome stocking stuffer ideas under $20 all from The Container Store. Convenience FTW!
As the holiday season gets kicking into high gear, we're reminding ourselves to simplify as much as possible so that we can really enjoy the holidays with our families. That means cutting down the time we spend running -- or clicking -- from store to store to get...
Sponsored message: Find unique, handcrafted items for less at Etsy on Sale — and possibly win them, free!
This is a sponsored message from Etsy on Sale. What's better than finding that perfect gift for someone special over the holidays? How about finding it on sale, all without the need to search for a parking space or stand in long lines of holiday shoppers. The huge new...
Fresh Prince nail decals? Parents just don’t understand.
The team at Cool Mom Picks always makes fun of me because of my strange aversion to nail art. (Seriously, do you see any nail art on our Pinterest boards? Exactly.) The way some people hate feet, I'm a little weird about close-up photos of nails. And yet I've finally...
Simple tips for staying healthy if you sit at a desk all day long
If you spend many hours of the day sitting at a desk or working in front of a computer like we do, then you know how tough it can be on your back, your neck, and uh...even your waistline. But there are actually things -- really easy things -- that you can do to make...
The Mountain Buggy Juno baby carrier: From the high-end stroller company, comes a high-end baby carrier that’s really worth a look. And a carry.
When one of our favorite rugged, stylish stroller brands, Mountain Buggy, announced they were getting into the baby carrier business, I was definitely intrigued. I knew that keeping up with a baby and a six-year-old of my own was going to require some kind of super...
Awesome holiday cards from Minted: You pick them, they address them. Actually, they may pay for them, too.
If thinking about your holiday card photos already is stressing you out, take a deep breath. Because we're about to make it easier for you in a whole lot of ways. First off, our amazing sponsor Minted (yay, Minted!) is back with a brand new indie...
The closest you’ll get to making time with rock stars
If you happen to have a cool grand or more to spend on a very special, one-of-a-kind gift for a rock fan in your life who you love a lot, we've just discovered maybe the coolest ever gift that will connect them to some of the biggest rock icons of our time. And also...
Do you have Pinterest Syndrome?
In honor of our 21st episode birthday (because that's totally a thing, right?), we're talking about booze! Just wait until you hear what Kristen mixes vodka with. And, let's just say we get into a little vent session about Pinterest Syndrome. Do you suffer from it?...
Our ultimate last-minute Halloween help guide: Hundreds of fun costumes, delicious treats, free printables and crafts, pumpkin ideas and more!
We truly love Halloween, which is one of the reasons we start looking for the coolest costumes, spookiest decorations, and most delicious recipes around, oh...July. But we're all busy parents! So if, like us, you still need some last minute Halloween help for...
Sponsored Message: SRC Recovery Shorts can help you get your pre-baby body back faster
This is a sponsored message from SRC Recovery Postpartum recovery can be quite a challenge, and if you're a new mom or about to be one, take a look at SRC Recovery Shorts. They're recommended by healthcare providers to help speed up the healing process and get your...
Comotomo: Cool new silicone baby bottles that are soft, gentle, and awesomely squishy
As a mom of three, I have checked out my fair share of bottles. Some are great while others...just awful. And during those sleepless days (and nights), it's fair to say that a bottle that eases my mind, whether the baby is right in my arms while I work from home, or...
20 awesome last-minute Halloween buys you totally need this week
If you're like me, Halloween week is one of those weeks that you're hitting stores far more than usual, whether it's for last minute treats, decorations, or that one element of your kid's costume that gah, you totally forgot about. Even though it's been on your to-do...
Easy, fun Halloween papercrafts for kids that don’t require anything you don’t have in the house already. (You have scissors, right?)
If your kids are like mine and Kristen's, they started counting down to Halloween...oh, November 1 of last year. Now that they're in full Halloween commando mode, I've been looking for some easy crafts to distract them from asking me for the hundredth time to just...
Custom Star Wars family portraits: The ultimate holiday gift from a galaxy far, far away. Or you know, Etsy.
Since Star Wars is back this year in full force (ha, get it?) we bet a whole lot of you will be thrilled to see your families done up as your favorite characters in these custom Star Wars family portraits. (Update: The shop is sadly no longer operating. For a similar...
The Originals: Freshly Picked baby moccasins by Susan Petersen
Next up in our series The Originals, in which we honor makers whose original designs are so wonderful that we start seeing knock-offs everywhere, features a longtime favorite of ours, mom and designer Susan Petersen of Freshly Picked. We fell in love with her...