More coolness from recent weeks…
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...
7 easy, holiday chocolate bark recipes. Because candy made in minutes is the best gift of all.
Chocolate candy is a must over the holidays. Festive sweets make a special treat to have around the house, serve as part of a holiday dessert spread, or give as a gift. Store bought is great—we love supporting local chocolate shops—but it can get expensive, and who...
Great handmade craft gifts that kids can make themselves
We are always pinning DIY projects that kids can actually do (with maybe just a little help here and there, of course) on our Printables+DIY Pinterest board. When it comes to getting gifts from my kids, I always love the handmade ones the best. It doesn't matter if...
The chocolate gift so good, I bought one then ate it myself.
Well here's a first. I ordered what looked like a really awesome chocolate gift for a chocolate-loving friend--a box of assorted cake truffles from Red Envelope, and kind of forgot about it. Because when they arrived with a card from Shari's Berries, I had no...
Shwings make old kids’ shoes new. With extra super powers.
A few years back we discovered the brilliance of Smallfly on Etsy, which made cool lightning bolts and wings to lace onto the sides of your sneakers. And our readers went crazy for them--because you are all highly discerning shoppers with excellent taste, of course....
Four of the best multiple-solution puzzles for kids. Because there’s no one right way to play.
If you're still puzzled (yes, I went there) over what to get some of the kids on your list, keep reading. Whether it is a small wooden puzzle for little hands to manipulate, or something larger and more complex that gets the entire family involved, a well-made puzzle...
10 simple, time and money-saving grocery shopping tips, just in time for the holidays
We're always looking for ways to save time and money grocery shopping, especially during the holiday season when we're all feeling stretched thinner than usual in every way. We're spending more on holiday gifts and family travel, and even on household groceries for...
Cool craft kits for kids that give back
If you've got big kids like mine who love to DIY, then you need to snatch up one of these KidKnits craft kits for kids that help give back to people in need. Founded by 9-year old (yes, 9!) and avid knitter Ellie, KidKnits is a non-profit organization that helps...
Our favorite cocktail party foods to have on hand for easy entertaining.
Holiday entertaining doesn’t have to be a blockbuster affair. In fact, some of the best holiday gatherings are small, impromptu get togethers and relaxed gatherings with easy cocktail party foods, festive snacks and, of course, seasonal drinks. During the holidays...
Superhero hats for kids who already have the capes. And the imagination.
Even superheroes can get chilled while out leaping tall snow drifts in a single bound. To keep your caped---or cloaked--crusader toasty, check out Neon Eaters' warm and adorable superhero knit hat at Psychobaby. I love the simple styling with its contrast-color "mask"...
2 cool new coloring books to inspire creativity in older kids
I never think we can have enough coloring books around the house--or stashed in the travel bags for road trips and plane rides. As much as I love handing my kids plain sheets of paper for open-ended creativity, there's something about coloring in the lines and having...
Gorgeous wooden toy cars that run on imagination
Some of the best toys don't need a lot of bells and whistles, or even horns, to make them a plaything that kids will love for years. Our newest find is Candylab's stunning, yet durable, wooden toy cars. After Candylab wooden toy cars received some acceleration from a...
Easy Christmas cookie shortcut: Walkers shortbread. Really!
If you would love to decorate cookies with the kids but have a to-do list as long as mine, my new favorite, and delicious, shortcut to easy Christmas cookies may work for you. It's those amazing, pure butter shortbread cookies from Walkers, the Scottish company that...
A gift for kids who believe fairies are real. Aren’t they?
I may not allow Elf on a Shelf in my house, and Peter Pan is definitely not welcome to fly through my kids' bedroom window, but having some magical fairy visitors would be just fine. Especially if it means my kids go eagerly to bed in the hopes that one will stop by...
O LEGO tree, O LEGO tree…
If all your kids want for Christmas is more LEGO pieces to add to their never big enough collection, they'll be thrilled to discover that you can even cover the Christmas tree with those beloved bricks in the form of LEGO ornaments. Here are three great shops to start...
8 of the best jelly donut recipes for Hanukkah. Or for anybody, anytime. Because donuts are non-denominational.
If you’re not Jewish, get ready to wish that you were: Jelly donuts are a traditional Hanukkah food. As in, you must eat them to celebrate the holiday or you get kicked out of the tribe. Okay, you don’t really have to eat them, but you can and should, and these...
14 of the most beautiful free printable holiday gift tags and paper to make gifts look great for less.
Every year, we are so indebted to the amazing graphic designers and bloggers who give us the gift of free printable holiday gift tags and wrapping paper. It's like they keep getting better every year. While you can always return to our archives, that feature so many...
13 tips for a more sustainable holiday that can save you a ton of money.
These days, there's no shortage of ways to save money, which is certainly welcome over the holiday season and our growing shopping lists. And it's not just about coupons, discounts, and deals, which we love, of course. Taking steps to live more sustainably can...
Holiday food gifts for future chefs—or any kid who likes ice cream and chocolate.
There may be more talk of picky eaters than foodie kids, but some kids really dig food. I know for sure that these seemingly rare creatures exist because I happen to be mother to one. My older son loves eating, looking at food magazines, and is fearless in the...
11 essential cleaning tips before your holiday party. Whether you’re a neat freak or a “hide everything in the closet” kind of person.
It's that time of year when pretty much everyone is entertaining. And yeah, we all know how to run the vacuum and wield a toilet brush (or hire someone else to do it, if you're lucky), but as the resident Cool Mom Picks neat freak, I've got a few pre-holiday party...