More coolness from recent weeks…
Special DIY Mother’s Day crafts and cards to really make someone’s day
With Mother's Day just a few days away, it's time to focus on the little handmade touches that make the day so special and heartfelt. Along with breakfast in bed ideas, we've got a bunch of ideas for very special handmade cards and little banners that the kids can...
The eco beach totes that look like summer heaven
With our family living at the pool all summer long, a strong, sturdy tote bag is a summer must-have. This year, I'm thinking of switching from my standard canvas bag to one of these amazing totes made from recycled sails. Sea Bags are an old favorite of ours, designed...
Inspiring words for aspiring adults
I'm not generally one for inspirational quotes around the house. But sometimes there are phrases that I just want to think about all day--and I wouldn't mind my kids spending time mulling them over either. The Work Hard and Be Nice poster from prolific...
Three Mother’s Day brunch menus as fab as the moms we’re honoring
Just like snowflakes, no two moms are exactly alike. So it only follows that no two Mother's Day brunch menus should be exactly alike either. In honor of Mother's Day, I've composed three brunch menus that can be served as I've put them together--or mixed and matched...
Making your own Mother’s Day jewelry with a little help from Martha. (And Darcy.)
This week I discovered the very cool Martha Stewart jewelry craft collection while guest pinning for the Martha Stewart Living Pinterest board--which, by the way, has been so much fun. Have you stopped by yet? So I was excited to get a look at what Darcy Miller, the...
The prettiest coloring book in the world
First thing each morning my kids usually plop themselves down at our kitchen table and proceed to sketch, color, and print until they're practically late for school. I love how focused they are on their little projects. I also love that it gives my husband and I some...
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...