More coolness from recent weeks…
4 nursery themes for the coolest kids’ rooms
Picking a nursery theme doesn't have to be hard--but it doesn't have to be boring, either. We always say, skip the easily outgrown cartoon characters and go for something you won't have to change so fast. We know it's hard to imagine when you're pregnant and every day...
Swear to Mod: Amazing mid-century vintage shop on Etsy with an extra reason to shop there
Browsing around Etsy as I am apt to do...oh, every hour or so, I discovered the wonderful Swear To Mod shop, featuring so much of the mid-century, 60's, and 70's housewares and art that I love. Only this experience was a little different than most. I had the...
Cool school supplies: Back to School Guide 2013
While we love the annual ritual of picking out a new backpack or fun lunch box to start the school year, there's something about finding just a few cool school supplies for our kids that remind us that school isn't just about homework and tests. Well, okay, sometimes...
The best advice for new parents from parents who get it: You!
Recently, we had an awesome discussion on our Facebook page about the best parenting advice we ever got. Which led to some insightful, honest, and often hilarious contributions from our own community. Here, a wonderful range of parenting advice from our very own...
Not just backpacks: State GiveBackPacks also help kids who need them.
So here's something I didn't know: More than 46 million Americans are living below the poverty line right now. And of those 46 million people, 23% of them are kids. So we're very happy to support a company that helps kids living in poverty to head back to school...
5 tech picks you won’t want to miss this week
Here are 5 of our favorite tech picks on Cool Mom Tech this week, just in case you missed them. 1. You won't believe what this cool iOS app does to your kids' doodles. 2. Does mama need a brand new bag? We say yes. Or in this case, YES. 3. Our readers are going...
Black and white for babies. (You were expecting pink and blue perhaps?)
With black and white back as a hot trend this fall, my eye went right to these super cute handmade baby onesies and accessories on a very cool Etsy shop that's new to us. At Mabelretro, you'll find all kinds of fun, vintage-inspired baby clothes, from 40's-era diaper...
Zoobean: Personal book recommendations for your one-of-a-kind kid
Finding just the right books for your child can be, well, challenging--especially if your kid is as finicky about what she reads as what she eats: No peas, broccoli, or dumb princess books, thank you. So I love this cool, custom service made to create your kid's dream...
The Orla Kiely baby bag: designer on the outside, diapers on the inside
Since I love everything Orla Kiely, I'm so glad to see this London designer out with a cool new diaper bag for moms who don't want to trade their sense of style for their sense of practicality. The Orla Kiely Baby Bag is so great looking for fall. I love...
You know who wins with fair trade soccer balls? Everybody.
We're big fans of supporting fair trade at Cool Mom Picks, and it's always fun to find new artisans whose creations we adore. Personally, I love buying fair trade items because responsible purchases make me feel even better about shopping, which is already one of my...
Ergobaby X-tra: The baby carrier we love now with a little extra awesome.
My first son turned me into a hard-core babywearer when he made it mighty clear that he hated riding in strollers or car seats. We'd travel everywhere with nothing but our Ergobaby carrier and a diaper or two. Magic! So my ears perked up when I heard that Ergobaby's...
A new baby gift set that gets around
We love the whole premise of Lately Lily, who teaches kids the joy of travel and worldliness--a little like our generation's Eloise, but without the bad attitude. And now kids can start joining her on journeys from birth, with these cute new gift sets for baby boys...
Bella and Harry: Books to take children around the world in 35 pages
My kids are increasingly fascinated by travel and different cities around the world, but alas, I've yet to find that spare million in my old jacket pocket that will allow us to travel the globe every year. Still, this new book series for kids is a really wonderful way...
Is there anything cuter than a dad reading to his kids?
What's cuter than a dad reading to his kids? It's a dad reading to his kids while wearing an adorable shirt featuring this distinctive artwork by the ever awesome Edward Gorey. Edward Gorey is known for his delightfully creepy drawings and his love of cats and books,...
Best lunch containers for kids (and other goodies that make lunch boxes more fun): Back to School Guide 2013
There's no shortage of cool lunch containers, bento boxes, water bottles and other fun accessories to help make your kid's lunch a little more appealing than our own brown-bag days of yore. Here, we've pared them down to a few of the very coolest for our 2013 back to...
Our lips are sealed…and safe from the sun.
I'm a sunscreen addict. I won't leave the house unless I'm slathered with the sunscreen. (And you wouldn't be mistaken if you saw two kids leave my house in the mornings looking like they were dipped in white paint.) But finding moisturizing lip stuff with good SPF?...
9 simple school lunch ideas that have nothing to do with making (yet another) sandwich
At some point this school year--sooner than you think--both you and your child will grow weary of the humble school lunch sandwich. It's a known quantity, which is comforting some days, but not every day, right? So here are 9 easy school lunch recipes--most of which...
Zippy nighttime diaper changes? We’re in.
As excited as I am about the impending arrival of Baby #3, one thing I am not particularly looking forward to is the sleep deprivation that arrives on the scene with a newborn. I recall with vague familiarity the middle of the night feedings and changings--and...
Making the first day of preschool a little easier. On the kids, if not you.
As kids go back to school, some are ready to jump right in, make friends, and get busy with the water table, while others need a little more help separating from mom and dad. So I love this craft that could make that first day of preschool, daycare or kindergarten a...
The Day the Crayons Quit: A very cool creativity manifesto
I have a child who once angrily crumpled up any coloring page if it didn't turn out "perfect." Grass had to be the perfect green, sky had to be the perfect blue, and don't even get me started on the perfect cherry red needed for superhero capes. So maybe that's why...
Going back to school with Gap, and a nice shiny Gap gift card from us to you.
We like back to school shopping for kids, obviously. And we like giving things away. So we're super excited that our sponsor Gap is hosting an amazing event in more than a dozen of their stores--and letting us give one of our readers a $200 to spend with them. Whoo!...