More coolness from recent weeks…
A geeky gift shop for science gifts we can’t resist
If science truly is a jar of secrets behind the magic of our universe, this adorable shop is like a jar factory. Or, just a great way to buy handmade, beautiful objects that celebrate the wonders of science. If you've ever watched a murmuration of swallows or played...
We like our keychains with a sense of humor
Keychains aren't exactly at the top of my gift list, but when I saw these, I couldn't help but snatch a bunch up for my stash. I love the simplicity of the humor on Keytags, which are made here in the USA. Each word, with more added daily, is usually available in a...
21 of the most amazing DIY kids Halloween costumes that definitely warrant extra treats
We're divided on kids' Halloween costumes around Cool Mom Picks. Some of us spend a good few months planning, sewing, and executing the most wonderful Instagram-worthy Halloween costumes for our kids, while the rest of us are happy just finding some Halloween costume...
Just announced: Fids and Kamily’s Top Kids & Family CDs for 2013!
It's never easy to go through all of the great family music picks we have covered over the past twelve months and rank our top ten favorites for the annual Fids and Kamily Awards. But it's also so great to get together virtually with all the other journalists,...
Move over, Fancy Nancy. The Fairy Birds are here.
My daughter is at that sweet age where she's still fascinated by all things "fancy," which equals "grown-up" to her six-year-old mind. She loves a great fairy tale, but she's getting a little tired of the damsels in distress. So I'm sooo excited that this week I found...
5 tech picks you won’t want to miss this week
Here are 5 of our most popular tech picks from this week, just in case you missed them. 1. Here's how to make sure your personal profile doesn't show up on a Google ad. 2. Even if you're not a Star Wars fan, you've got to see these amazing accessories. Talk...
Take on candy season with these 5 great electric toothbrushes for kids
The way we check our smoke detector batteries twice every year with the time change, I like the idea of replacing my children's toothbrush at Halloween, or at least checking to see if it's time. The ADA recommends you change brushes every 3-4 months, but I admit I...
Great music for tween girls: somewhere between The Wiggles and Katy Perry
Now that my oldest is hitting that early tween phase (eek) she's becoming more interested in the lyrics to Call Me Maybe than I'd like. I don't blame her entirely, but I need some great tween music for her to love that I can feel good about too, And I don't mean...
Tired of sheets draped across your dining room table? 3 beautiful indoor play tents that will save the day.
My kids have always loved having a cozy, private nook to call their own. While a sheet draped over the dining room table can do the trick, I would prefer something that doesn't interfere with every meal. Instead, check out some cool-looking play tents that are the...
6 pumpkin-inspired sweets you can serve up without lifting a finger
Last week we talked apple treats, and this week it's pumpkin time. You're picking pumpkins this year, right? If only from the grocery store? Now all you have to do is seed, peel, and cube your pumpkin. Then roast and puree the pumpkin flesh and we're almost ready to...
The best-ever bandages for bibliophiles
Because as fabulous as neon, ponies, and Dora can be, this line of literary bandages are a lot more fun for adults--especially those who love Poe, Shakespeare, or Jane Austen. Who wouldn't want a little Poe for that Halloween zombie bite wound? Each metal tin from...
Non-candy Halloween treat ideas that are still pretty sweet
Though candy and Halloween go hand-in-hand, there are plenty of non-sweet treats my kids would still love to find in their bags at the end of the night. And for kids with severe food allergies, I think it's always a good idea to have a few food-free treats set aside...
The Cambridge Satchel goes rock ‘n’ roll
When we first discovered the (then) itty-bitty mom-founded Cambridge Satchel Company, who knew it would become a huge fashion phenomenon? I love that while staying true to their traditional, veddy British structure and shape, they've taken risks...
Moisturize like you mean it: 3 of our favorite skin-soothers for fall
Helloooo, fall and winter skin. We meet again...sigh. It's always around this time of year that my poor face starts to look--and feel--like it's going to flake off completely. I've experimented with a ton of different products (and I mean a ton) to find the best skin...
5 zero-effort Halloween costumes for lazy babies (and busy moms)
Babies are so incredibly lazy. They do nothing but eat and sleep all day while their parents do all the work. Fortunately, we found some adorable and super easy Halloween costumes that even the most frazzled mom can put together. 1. Charlie Brown Costume (above)...
Love yogurt to go? Two perfectly portable all-natural options we love
We're big fans of yogurt here at Cool Mom Picks and with good reason. It's an easy go-to that kids love because it's delicious and we moms love because it's (mostly) healthy. Unfortunately, some of the most packable yogurts are also the most sugary. Ick! Enter two new...
Haunt your house with 10 of the coolest, easy Halloween printables. No glue guns required.
I don't worry about running to the store to buy Halloween decor anymore, because I know that some of the best ideas can be printed right at home, for no more than the cost of some fresh ink in my printer. So keep reading for some of the coolest, spookiest, and, in...
Personalized Halloween plates that kids will love using all year long
I admit that I can get a little "boo humbug" (heh, get it?) when it comes to holiday-themed goodies for kids. Because with four little ones running around, hey, I need to get one for everyone...which is perfectly fine with me if it's something they can use well beyond...
Lundby Dollhouses: the perfect combination of imagination, technology and DIY
Got a dollhouse on someone's holiday or birthday list? There's an option you might not be aware of. Or maybe I am the only one in the world not aware of these cool houses, since they've been around for 65 years and keep coming up with really novel ideas. The Lundby...
Crack open a coffin of gourmet Halloween chocolates. This one’s just for the grown-ups.
Most of the Halloween candy I eat is pilfered from my kids' bags when they aren't looking. But if you'd like to give--or get--some chocolate treats that are much more grown up than snack-sized bars, check out what we've unearthed for Halloween from chocolatiers L.A....
The designer diaper bag you won’t give up with the diapers
It's been a while since I've found a designer diaper bag that made me wish for a do-over on the diaper bags I carried during my own early stroller-pushing days. And now, here are three from one of my favorite designers. While Marc Jacobs may not know...