More coolness from recent weeks…
Mighty mittens that stay put so kids stay warm
In my neck of the woods, it seems the snow is now here to stay. And with the cold, snowy weather comes the whining. And the complaining. And the putting-a-pair-of-mittens-on-your-toddler-sixteen-times because you know, he keeps pulling them off.So I'm happy to see...
5 tech picks you won’t want to miss this week
Happy New Year, tech-fabulous moms! Here are a few of our favorite finds from the last week, just in case you missed them while engrossed in that e-book. 1. Don't we all wish we had more time to read? We can help you read more in 2013 thanks to tech. Possibly for...
Give old books new life while giving yourself more storage
Fabric bins are fine for the kids, but this gorgeous storage solution is just for you. If you love books, you'll be glad to know you're giving a new home to abandoned tomes, all while enlivening your bookshelf with the prettiest box on the block.And, yes, they'll fit...
Bundling the kids up in winter jackets you’ll want for yourself
It happens to us every year--midwinter hits and we realize that the fall jackets won't cut it, and last year's cheap parkas are now outgrown and looking ratty. This year we took the plunge over to what might be one of the best kids' winter coats ever. Indie label...
Downton Abbey returns to the States tonight! Oh, how we missed you, Cousin Matthew
It may be so very middle-class, but as a Downton Abbey addict, I'm so happy to see that season 3 is kicking off tonight--and along with it, some awesome Downton Abbey goodies on sale at Fab.com. For a limited time, Wonder-Shirts' Downton Abbey totes and...
Starbucks gives you one more reason to drink too many caramel lattes – reusable cups
As someone who has greatly increased my Starbucks consumption as of late, I was thrilled to hear the news that this week, they introduced $1 reusable cups to help cut down all that paper waste. Starbucks is definitely on a roll with it's good-global-citizens business...
Cool thank you cards from kids (that they’ll actually want to write)
One of my resolutions this year is to be a little more diligent about getting kids to write thank-you cards. So the first thing I did was order some that they got to pick out themselves. They were so thrilled to see them arrive that they jumped at the chance to start...
Rock star science shirts for rock star kids
The thing about smart kids is that most t-shirts out there are not made for them. You know what I mean. So I was so excited to find this awesome shop that pays homage to everyone from Carl Sagan and Marie Curie to Tesla and Dr. Who. (Who smart kids know was not...
The best handmade American Girl Doll clothes on Etsy: Should you succumb?
I caved. After years of avoiding the store and hiding the catalog, I finally gave in and bought two American Girl Dolls for my daughters for Christmas. But in doing so, I swore that I'd support Etsy artists and crafters by buying as much handmade clothing for American...
The 9 best recipes of 2012 from the 9 best food bloggers of 2012
We food bloggers are a prolific crop. Here, I've narrowed it down to my favorite nine (and, yes, I've shamelessly included myself), and I've asked them to all share a favorite recipe that they posted this year. Some of them are moms, some not, but regardless, all of...
Nursery art for Maurice Sendak Fans. Is that all of us?
We're all big Maurice Sendak fans around here, and his passing in 2012 was one of the toughest for a lot of us. So it's wonderful to see his amazing vision live on through his books that fill my kids' room. If I had found this adorable print when they were babies, it...
The Board of Education makes smart music the kids want to hear in Binary
They Might Be Giants makes it sound so easy to put together educational music that is fun and doesn't sound like a lesson plan, but--take it from this homeschooling mama--it isn't so easy to do. In fact, I've found that there isn't a lot out there that the kids want...
The superhero of winter skin creams
What can destroy the yearly family photo calendar, ruin the shoulder of your holiday sweater, and repel grandmothers in a single bound? Answer: It's the little kid with the green snot waterfall and the gnarly red snot rash.And that, dear friends, was my kid this...
A DIY LEGO Star Wars Clock: a better way for kids to ring in the New Year than champagne
You have to love any DIY tutorial that includes among the instructions "print out Death Star from the Internet." And I especially love it when it combines two of our favorite things--LEGO and Star Wars. I love this tutorial for a DIY Star Wars LEGO...
Merci pour les cadeaux
No sooner are the holidays over that I need to get on that thank-you note writing for all those generous gifts. And when I saw this stamp, I thought, ooh...that could help. A merci hand lettered rubber stamp would not only add elegance to the outside of your envelope,...
If I could save time in a bottle: creating a family time capsule
I love the idea of using this first day of the year to reflect back on 2012 by creating a keepsake that we'll be able to look back at someday. And when the idea is as easy as this one, I know I may even be able to handle pulling it all together even after staying up...
Happy 2013, Cool Moms!
Thanks from the bottom of our hearts for spending this year with us. Here's to a wonderful 2013! -Kristen, Liz, and Team Cool Mom Picks
Our most popular posts of 2012 – from recipes to baby gifts to DIY crafts for dad
With more than 1000 posts this year covering the coolest baby gear, recipes, crafts, children's toys and more, we thought it was fascinating to look back at our most popular posts of the year, based on the number of visits. Turn out, you all like iced coffee. A lot!...
The coolest children’s books of the year: Editors Best of 2012
We can't think of a nicer way to end our Editors Best of 2012 than with our very favorite kids' books of the year. Especially because they will still be relevant in 2013 and beyond--unlike handbags or even tech, books never go out of style. Here, three of our editors...
Outstanding ideas for that last-minute charitable contribution for the year
We can't think of a better way to bid farewell to the year than by highlighting our editors' and contributors' favorite charities and non-profits, just in time for a final contribution--and tax deduction--for 2012. Do any of your favorites line up with ours? Or hey,...
5 tech picks you won’t want to miss this week
Whether you're curled up in bed with a new gadget or outside taking pics of snow angels, we're excited to bring you our favorite picks from the last week, including our Editors' Best tech picks of the year! 1. If you take oodles of photos with your iPhone, this free...