More coolness from recent weeks…
2014 Best Books for Kids: All the lists, in one place.
Thousands of books are published for children each year, and it seems like there are thousands of "best of" lists published too. If you're shopping for kids books for Christmas like we are, you'll want to check these lists out for some great book ideas you might not...
Gift a year of creativity with Curious Jane Magazine
If you have a curious, crafty, smart, and creative tween, we have a cool new gift idea that isn't a craft kit or art supplies, but a brand new magazine that will fill her head with things to make, projects to do, and fun ways to spend her time in the upcoming year....
Adorable, free printable holiday gift tags from illustrators you may already know and love
If you're like me, you have yet to take all those parcels and toys out of their hiding places and start hunching over the gift wrap and ribbon to get them all gift-ready. One of my plans is to make use of some of the truly gorgeous printable gift tags that our...
Neil Gaiman’s Hansel and Gretel: Spooky amazing.
It's the time of year to build gingerbread houses covered with candies, but I've been mesmerized by the new Hansel and Gretel by Neil Gaiman (a favorite around here) and Lorenzo Mattotti, and their interpretation of the classic Grimm story of the wicked woman who...
5 crazy easy Christmas cookie recipes that make a perfect last-minute treat for Santa.
Santa may have a team of elves working for him (not to mention a name-taking Mrs. who pretty much keeps the whole show together), but the rest of us are running on fumes by Christmas Eve, and with little back up to boot. Still, cookies must be made. Because once every...
D is for design, in the fantastic new alphabet book by Maira Kalman: Ah Ha to Zig Zag
The Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City houses incredible exhibits for lovers of design, including fantastic workshops for kids to help them gain an appreciation for fine design before they even hit kindergarten. And Ah Ha to Zig Zag, the new...
Rental maternity clothes: the genius way to look good at holiday parties
Having three babies in the winter means I spent three Decembers struggling with whether or not I should invest in a maternity winter coat I would only wear for a month or two. Same with holiday party dresses. It was such a shame to buy clothing I knew would get such...
NYC food truck offers locally-sourced food with a side of social justice
The next time I'm in NYC, I hope my plans take me to wherever the Snowday Food Truck is parked. A maple syrup-themed food truck with a seasonal farm-to-truck menu, its purpose is greater than serving delicious locally-sourced food. The truck is run by Drive Change, a...
3 fun long lasting lipsticks for the holidays that actually work
I've been obsessed with bold lip colors ever since I got a pixie cut a couple of months ago, but after reapplying way too often during the day (hello, coffee addiction) I decided I needed to switch to long-lasting lipsticks. But if you've tried them, you know that too...
Deck the halls with printable Christmas ornaments from Smallful
I've woken up a few times over the last couple weeks to the sound of ornaments falling from my tree and crashing to the floor. Not good. I've got a few gaps in my tree now, but with just a couple days until school is out and the kids are home, I don't have time to...
Be the last stroller standing, no matter how many gifts are weighing you down.
Maybe you've been there, too--out holiday shopping or enjoying a lovely family day when your kid hops out of the stroller and down it goes. Thanks, overstuffed stroller bag! There is a chance that tipped strollers could be a thing of the past with SureShop, a new...
How to make the best ever mulled wine. Because winter is coming.
Knowing how to make mulled wine is at the top of my holiday season skills list, along with pie making, gift wrapping, and secret keeping. (I score 2 out of 4. Can you guess my failures?!) Mulled wine is one of my favorite winter drinks. Like a warm version of sangria,...
5 of our favorite Pinterest pins – Holiday help is here!
Obsessed with Pinterest as we are? Follow us for great ideas like these from our site and beyond. 1. One of the easiest, most adorable DIY Christmas gifts from kids. 2. Nice ideas for gift-wrapping a bottle of wine. 3. If you're heading out of town, you might...
6 fun new family games to freshen up your stash. Or your stache.
When the holidays--and the cold weather--hit, it's the time I make sure our games are in good shape. As in, half the cards from UNO aren't missing and there is actually Monopoly money in the Monopoly game. As opposed to the play kitchen. (I know you feel me, mamas.)...
Please judge these beautiful gift books by their covers
A glance through our archives shows that we love wonderful books for kids. If you would like to help get a child in your life as hooked on books as we are, check out this stunning four-book collection of classic children's titles. With new cover art by Rifle Paper...
15 hilariously funny Christmas cards you may need some cajones to send
Every year, I love finding funny holiday cards available online, so many from cool small designers and shops that don't have shareholders on their boards who look at the holiday card messages and say Are you kidding? We can't sell that into Walgreen's! Here are some...
Connect Four, only in wood. And gorgeous.
My husband comes from a family of players. Game players, that is. The next time we host a family dinner, I'd love to pull out this gorgeous four in a row wood game to engage in a bit of healthy competition. (Spoiler alert: I've always been awesome at Connect 4.) This...
The ultimate subscription gift box gift guide: 10 cool subscription gift boxes that keep on giving
Yes, Hanukkah is here and Christmas is coming (fast) but no need to panic if you still have VIPs to shop for on your list and are scrambling for last-minute gift ideas. By now, you've surely heard of the magic of subscription gift boxes as gifts: Just sign up and...
4 easy, semi-homemade pasta dinners that taste great, save time, and don’t have a single artificial ingredient.
As someone who develops recipes professionally, you’d think that I’d always have a plan for feeding my family dinner. Just like everybody else, though, the busier I get, the harder it is to get dinner on the table. Thanks to natural brands like Three Bridges (who is...
Wait wait, don’t tell me: Awesome gifts from NPR
Working in the independent music world, I have a high esteem for non-commercial radio and of course the mother of it all, NPR. Supporting public radio is so important to me, as they rely heavily on listener funding to stay afloat. So if you find yourself still looking...
3 new Kiwi Crates for older and younger kids to help you finish that holiday shopping in a snap
You've heard us singing the praises of Kiwi Crate's monthly subscription crates full of projects for kids ages 3-8 for years, but if your kids fall outside of those age ranges, tough luck, right? Not anymore. Their three new crates will help you cross off even more...