More coolness from recent weeks…
A DIY family craft kit for everyone–even ninjas!
We can pick our friends, our noses, but not our families. But thanks to this kit? We can pick exactly what the fam looks like and what they're wearing. Including ninja relatives. Here's what I love so much about this DIY Fair Trade Wooden Family Craft Kit from our...
A new baby card with seriously awesome sass
Sweet little bundle of joy? Yeah, right. Anyone who's already a parent knows exactly what's swaddled in that cozy blanket. I salute our pals at Hello Lucky for telling the truth about that adorable new baby with this stylish card: she's a tiny little dictator, and...
Delicious recipes using overripe fruit. A.K.A. kids can’t complain about the “mushy part.”
I feel like the most awesome mom when I bring home bags of fresh fruit--until I realize the bananas have become overripe in two days, and the mangoes and strawberries are threatening to do the same unless I use them, stat. Morning smoothies have become a staple, but...
Instant heirlooms: custom ceramic plates fired with handwritten family recipes
If your family is anything like mine, all their famous recipes are tucked away in over-stuffed folders and recipe boxes...and only the chef knows for sure where they are. How wonderful would it be to start serving some of Grandma's famous oatmeal squares atop a...
Baby bottles that come close to the real thing. Or so we can hope.
When my daughter was a baby, she was a hardcore bottle protester. I went through every single bottle brand I could get my hands on at the local Target, hoping that one would magically work on the kid. Luckily, with Baby #3, I think I've found a bottle that I am hoping...
5 tech picks you won’t want to miss this week
Here are 5 of our favorite picks from this week just in case you missed them. 1. A helpful round-up of the safest search engines for kids. 2. Meal planning just got a whole lot more awesome with this free app. 3. Here's a fabulous, free way to snazz up your...
Taste the rainbow of adorable felt play food. But don’t really taste it.
If you love showering your children with all-natural goodness in a rainbow of colors, you'll love this veritable smorgasbord of vibrant veggies, scrumptuous sushi, and fruit fit for a king. Just don't let them eat it. Because it's all handmade felt food. And felt on...
What I did over my summer vacation
With so much talk about summer brain drain, I'm always looking for activities to keep my kids learning without realizing it. That's why I love this DIY that helps kids answer the perennial question: What did you do over your summer vacation? At Dana Made It,...
Corolle’s new doll is ready for bathtime. Even if your kid never is.
Despite all the water play of the season, summertime means extra bathtime for my kids to wash off the grimy residue of the day's sunscreen, sweat, and sand. To keep the kids company, long-time favorite Corolle offers plenty of dolls for the bath, and this...
It’s fun, it’s a wonderful toy.
I am absolutely fascinated with these posters, which bring classic toys to life in new...or old ways really, by use of vintage patent drawings. The Slinky Poster from art collective Oliver Gal might be my favorite, with it's 40's-era textbook style industrial...
aden + anais just made summer a little cooler. Babies everywhere say thank you.
My daughter was born smack in the middle of the summer, so it was a constant battle to find fabrics that kept her comfortably swaddled but not too hot. Luckily, a new line of baby blankets and sleepwear from one of our favorite indie labels, aden+anais, makes it...
Go Dutch with this dashing (and affordable) stroller from Nuna
The thing about high-end strollers is this: sometimes it's hard to imagine spending all that money when what you really want is a fancy vacation. Or an iPad. Or gorgeous new patio furniture. Not every family needs a break-the-bank stroller. Especially now that there's...
Making your walls a little more literary
I love prints that play with typography. Clever, modern design has a way of turning what could be a cheesy inspirational quote into a piece of art I could live with. That's why I love the work by New York graphic artist Evan Roberts on Etsy. These cool literary...
Independence Day indeed: the best indie shopping in celebration of the original 13
Of course today isn't just about barbecues, sparklers, and if you're lucky, a big fireworks display that kicks off a four-day weekend. It's about those awesome forefathers (and foremothers, ahem) of ours who transformed the original 13 colonies into the beginnings of...
The Marimekko summer sale has us clicking “add to cart” way too much
My love for the Scandinavian design of Marimekko goes back to when I slept on their sheets as a kid myself. (My parents had great taste, lucky me!) So when I see the whole shop is on sale up to 50% off, I'm all over it. Visit the Marimekko sale for truly amazing deals...
Forget the baby book: 6 creative ways to document baby’s first year in photos.
Baby books and photo albums are great, though we love how so many people are getting super creative in documenting their baby's first year using photography. Still, "super creative" doesn't have to mean "super hard" as you can tell from these inventive and adorable...
Alphabet lovers young and old will swoon over these gorgeous blocks
We bet you've at least once bought a set of alphabet blocks as a new baby gift. But buying a set of alphabet blocks that a new baby can enjoy all the way into adulthood? Now that's a really cool gift for a baby born into a home full of, say, graphic designers or...
40% off Tea Collection sale items which means…go! Now!
We get super excited when Tea Collection goes on sale. Because it's the kind of stuff we pay full price for anyway...at least until today. When you can get an extra 40% off already low sale prices. Seriously! Tea is a CMP affiliate. I bought a bunch of stuff...
Cool Mom Picks loves Kids Place Live
It's not a secret that we're big Kids Place Live fans here at Cool Mom Picks. In fact, I'm pretty sure there would be a mutiny in my care if I tried to change the channel, especially during the Absolutely Mindy show, our afterschool staple. So when my daughter Quinlan...
7 Independence Day treats the kids can (almost!) whip up without you
No need to get fussy this Fourth of July. We've found seven patriotic snacks that are super cute, festive and easy to make. So easy, your kids can do most of the work, leaving you to celebrate your sweet independence! -Stacie These Star-Spangled Marshmallow...
The best July 4 memories from top parent bloggers–and a great app to help you share your own.
Our kids are easily the most photographed generation ever. While we have to settle for maybe a few old snapshots to help recall our summer holidays--like the ones our favorite parent bloggers are sharing below-- our children will have so many photos to jar those...