More coolness from recent weeks…
Keeping them busy all summer long with fun kids’ games and crafts
Summer break starts in two weeks down here in Atlanta (yes, two weeks!), so I'm already stocking up on cool kids' games and activities to keep my kids occupied. My go-to stop on the web: mom-owned Cattiwampus, where I always find a few keepers I know my kids...
The 2013 Baby Buggy Bedtime Bash: We’ll be a part this year, come join us!
When I first discovered Baby Buggy, the remarkable organization that helps new mothers most in need, I was instantly captivated. As a new mom myself, I wanted to know what I could do to help. And now, several years later, I'm so excited to not only join the amazing...
7 easy DIY craft ideas for National Teacher Appreciation Day or end of year teacher gifts
With the end of the school year looming (cue the screams of delighted children everywhere), it's time to start thinking of ways to thank the tireless, wonderful, and inspiring teachers in our kids' lives. And with tomorrow being National Teacher Appreciation Day, it's...
A monogram necklace with character
We love it when monograms go monoglam, but we also love it when initial necklaces show some character. If you're looking for an awesomely affordable Mother's Day gift, or just a sweet little soemthing to go with your summer sundresss, these pendants pop with...
Foodies, welcome to your digital recipe box of awesomeness.
There's an avalanche of recipe sites out there, and one of my personal favorites is about to become yours, too. Foodily (which appropriately stands for "Food, I Love You") is a social recipe network combining a massive library of curated recipes (i.e., recipes you can...
5 tech picks you won’t want to miss this week
Here are 5 of our favorite picks from this past week just in case you missed them. 1. The coolest Mother's Day gifts for camera lovers. Aren't those necklaces awesome? 2. We bet you'll love these Mother's Day tech gifts for under $30. And not just because of the...
The fairest trade gifts of them all (for the fairest mom of them all)
Once upon a time there was an online store filled with beautiful gifts from all over the world: bags, scarves, jewelry, quilts, stamps, and decor. Every purchase helped transform lives and make the world a better place. It's not a fairy tale, and it's not magic,...
Kids helping kids with tees? That’s mightee fine!
This cool website has one goal: to help teach kids valuable lessons in helping other kids in need. The really cute shirts just happen to be a bonus. Each month, Mightee Kids works with one special charity to craft a gorgeous, soft, kids' tee shirt with a stylish...
A love for leather
Discovering Melissa Zook jewelry last year was the best thing to happen to my wrist since...I don't know. Something else good that happened to my wrist. I immediately splurged on one of this Brooklyn artist's black leather cuff bangles and not only have I worn it...
How to throw the best Star Wars party. Or: Plan a Star Wars party, you will
It's May the Fourth, Star Wars fans. Get it? May the Fourth...be with you. So party hard, we must with these recommendations for the coolest items and tips for throwing a great Star Wars themed party for the kids. Or...not the kids? One of the great things about Star...
Dear Mom: I love you more than a stack of Earl Grey cookies
Diamonds are forever, flowers are for this week, and heavenly spiced cookies are for the best ten minutes of Mothers Day. The Mothers Day Cookie Gift Box from Whimsy and Spice on Etsy is the Tiffany's version of baked goods. Each collection includes fennel olive oil...
The best baby’s first year calendar: Precious and totally low pressure. (We like low pressure.)
I am a planner: to-do lists, calendars, and Post-Its rule my universe and make me feel complete. You would think that I would have been all over the baby book record keeping, right? Looking back, I think it was a commitment issue, the same way I never feel right about...
What to buy for twin babies? Reader Q&A
Q: I'm having twins and I need everything. Where do I start? Please help! -Julia A: For this post, we've called upon friend, blogger, and twin mom Kelcey Kintner for some first person advice. Twins! Yay! Wait, why are you hyperventilating? Ha. Kidding. I know it can...
Subscribe to Cool Mom Picks and win something cool for the kids, something swanky just for you
This month, if you're a Cool Mom Picks subscriber, one grand prize winner will snag a gorgeous Jonathan Adler diaper bag from Skip Hop, plus $250 to spend at Melissa & Doug. And if that weren't enough, two runners-up will receive a $50 gift certificate to Melissa...
Affordable art makes a very cool mom gift. Maybe even for yourself.
When we were young and carefree (i.e., had no children), my husband and I decided that nothing would grace our walls but original artwork. Flash forward ten years. Yes, there's original art hanging, but most of it was created by our kids. It's not that we gave up...
Pamper your favorite mama, organically
If you counted the number of times my reviews have stated that moms love being pampered... well, it might start to sound like a cry for help. As we all know, motherhood is a 24-7 job, and when we finally get some down time, we deserve the best--in bath products and in...
Keepsake jewelry from children’s artwork for moms who aren’t always the keepsake jewelry types
Custom jewelry inspired by children's artwork is probably one of the most popular gifts that we feature for Mother's Day each year. And now, there's one more option that's way more funky mom jewelry than sweet grandmother jewelry. Should you be more of a funky mom....
A celebration of motherhood firsts: Tips for taking those first baby photos
This post is part of a monthly series with our Baby Shower Gift Guide sponsor, babyGap celebrating motherhood firsts. And there are lots! These days, it's not like you need a professional portrait photographer to make sure you've got those newborn baby photos covered....
Hopscotch mat: fab indoor fun for rainy spring days
We've been having what feels like a particularly cold and wet spring in my neck of the woods. Which means we've been spending a lot of afternoons rushing home from school in the rain and then pulling our hair coming up with fun new indoor activities. But now I have a...
5 tech picks you won’t want to miss this week
In case you missed them, here are five of our favorite tech picks from this week. 1. A huge round-up of fabulous Instagram gifts for Mother's Day. Even chocolates! 2. Quite possibly the coolest power strips we've seen. 3. Finally, a safe way to share your iPhone...
Baby is here -STOP- telegrams are back in style -STOP-
I love a beautiful birth announcement as much as the next person, but they are starting to seem redundant these days. Now nothing's faster than a quick tweet or Facebook post letting everyone you've ever known since you were 4 that the baby arrived....like, two...