More coolness from recent weeks…
12 cool kids’ toy storage solutions
What do you get when you combine an influx of holiday toys with a New Years resolution to declutter? A great reason to explore new toy storage solutions, that's what. Whether you're into DIY, Etsy shopping, or heirloom-quality furniture, here are a dozen of our...
5 tech picks you won’t want to miss this week
With both of our Cool Mom Tech editors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas this past week, we've gotten some exciting sneak peeks at the coolest gadgets for 2013. Check out our favorite picks from the last week if you want to be in the know! 1. Talk to the hand....
Barrel of Monkeys for a new generation
Monkeys are fun, no doubt about it. I will even go out on a limb (see what I just did?) and say that watching monkeys leap from branch to branch is one of my favorite stops at the zoo. Which is why the kid inside me--along with my actual kids--loves this wonderful...
Throw an awesome birthday party for kids without a lick of planning
I'm all about at-home birthday parties for kids. Which is not to say that they don't stress me out, because they totally stress me out. But the idea is so appealing and old-fashioned, isn't it? You know, if someone else would do all the planning and purchasing of said...
New year, cool new storage bins! (Man, we love bins.)
As I continue to knock through my New Year's resolutions, I decided it was high time to replace the scraggly looking bins sitting on my kitchen counter. You know, the ones full of mail, and chargers, and poker chips from 2004 (Oh, just me?). In addition to the stylish...
Better than a sled. Better than a plastic saucer. It’s a Zipfy.
It only takes about 3/4" of snow to get my kids begging to go to the sledding hill in town. They used to bang a big plastic sled up and down the hills, arguing over whose turn it is to lug the awkward thing back to the top, but this winter they have something new,...
You know that book you keep meaning to read? You might now.
The idea of a bucket list of sorts is wonderful, although the name itself has always been a little morbid. Still, I've been really like the idea of making lists for myself that don't include things like "lose weight." And now there's a new website made...
Kiss your feet? Don’t mind if I do.
The only thing cuter than adorable baby feet is adorable baby feet wearing sweet little baby booties. And if you're planning some Valentine's Day photo ops, we've got the shoes for you. These lovely little Valentines Baby Booties from Good Wishes Quilts on Etsy are...
Is Rent the Runway worth it?
With a business trip covering the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on the horizon and nary a sparkle or fun party dress in my wardrobe, I figured I'd use the cool coupon I received in my monthly BirchBox subscription and give Rent the Runway a test ride....
What’s the difference between a macaron and a macaroon? Where do we start!
Macarons are all the rage these days, and certainly not to be confused with those big coconut things that one eats at Passover and generally stay in your stomach until oh, June. The difference is, macarons are melt-in-your-mouth delicious French almond cookie...
Stylish storage solutions for an organized home
Let's talk storage solutions, shall we? Or rather, my lack thereof. Bills and random paperwork end up mishmashed into the Play-Doh tub (which, of course, contains no actual Play-Doh). There's not one item of winter clothing in the winter clothing box, but for some...
The best portable travel crib? journeyBee is an excellent new contender
Back when my now-tween was a babe, the one piece of equipment I dreaded using above almost anything else was her "portable" playpen. It weighed a ton, pinched my fingers every time I tried to assemble it, and just looked like a big ugly netted cage taking over...
A letterpress recipe for success
The holidays might be over, but we're willing to bet you know a hostess, bride, or prize-winning baker who deserves the world's loveliest letterpress recipe cards. This starter set even comes in a handmade wooden box. Delicious, right? The Letterpress Recipe Box from...
Vered makes music for babies that you can love too. In other words, not too babyish.
I have no doubt of the power of music to soothe the savage beast--or the overtired 6 month old child. If you too are looking for something lovely, lyrical, and fun-to-hear to play for your little one, here's a wonderful CD by a kindie artist and music therapist who...
5 little things you can do to make better food choices with your family
With the new year here we know we're not the only ones thinking about how make better food choices--not just for us, but for our kids. Of course we know that we're not going do a 180 overnight with our eating habits (boy, we love our Sunday pancakes), but there are...
Colorful coasters with serious design savvy
Bold. Graphic. Modern. Who'd have guessed the humble coaster could be so fun--and protect furniture so gorgeously? Bonus: They're sturdy enough for your kids, too. The gorgeous coasters from ArtisEverything on Etsy are sturdy enough to survive three generations of...
Decorating with winter whites
When the tree is down, the tinsel away, and everything glitzy and shiny and blinky put safely back in the closet, I always have this need to surround myself with the serenity of white in my home. I collect white mid-century ceramic vases in various shapes--along...
The puzzles that give other puzzles puzzle envy (is there such a thing?)
One of my favorite pastimes with my kids has always been puzzles. I love the combination of relaxing and challenging. My son usually only lasts a quarter of the way through, but my daughter patiently works until the very last piece is placed. (I try to quit but she...
Letting your kid draw on the furniture
Every once in a while, my toddler and I will be walking through our house when he stops, points, and says his sister's name. Why? Because she has so kindly written it or drawn a picture in that very spot. On the wall. Or the door. Or the kitchen cupboard. It seems...
The best Schoolhouse Rock videos on YouTube – Happy Birthday Schoolhouse Rock!
Schoolhouse Rock for me, is more than just a part of my childhood, it's a part of my family. As a kid, my dad worked at the ad agency with creator David McCall, and the other writers and art directors who brought us this genius educational series. In fact, one of my...
Montessori style fun in a box. Actually, it is a box.
One of the neat things about sending the kids off to preschool is seeing all the fun developmental toys they get to play with. It's also one of the mildly guilt-inducing things. Like, uh...was I supposed to be giving them all these fun developmental toys to play with...