More coolness from recent weeks…
Annie the Musical is back on Broadway! The sun is out, people.
I am old enough to remember the original Annie on Broadway, starring Andrea McArdle. That show had me and a zillion other little girls dreaming of living in a mansion with a swimming pool and a cute dog--although maybe keeping our own parents. So when I heard Annie...
Hair ties that are way prettier than a hair tie should be
I'm not one to get too excited about hair bands, but when I saw the ones from Emi-Jay, I gasped. Seriously. I know that sounds lame, but for those of us bored of ponytail holders and not up for fussy poufs and clips, this is a beautifully brilliant alternative. The...
Swaddle sweetness: a genius new product for fussy babes
It seems like no matter when you have a baby, a couple years later there's a new product on the market you wish you'd had at the time. If it's baby time right now in your world or a friend's, you won't want to miss this snuggly wonder. *sigh* Oh, how I needed...
Ice cream in November? Heck, yeah.
As we head toward the season of celebration, I'm so excited to see the new fall flavors come in from CMP's favorite little handmade custom ice cream shop, eCreamery. And to hear that they're not too overwhelmed on shipping, now that their Shark Tank appearance fame is...
6 essential pieces of cookware for the holiday cooking season and beyond
With Halloween behind us, it's time to let the holiday cooking season begin! Which means stocking up on the cookware you need. Even if you're not normally a cook, chances are you may be doing your fair share of cooking and baking over the next couple of months....
DIY LEGO gift boxes for LEGOriffic parties
LEGO never goes out of style, and so we love this tutorial we just found for making your own LEGO gift boxes. The free DIY LEGO gift box templates at Lines Across look super easy - You just need card stock, scissors and glue, and craft foam (or improvise) to make the...
This style-savvy stroller bag moonlights as a messenger bag
It's always tricky trying to figure out which bag to bring with me on when I've got the stroller in tow. My usual diaper bag is way too heavy and tends to topple the stroller if my son hops out. My purse, on the other hand, is too small for outings with the kiddo. But...
The purple map
I don't know about you, but I've seen enough red state outlines and blue state outlines to last me a lifetime. Today, I wanted to feature a message of unity--if there's any to be found today--in this purple US map. Maybe hanging one of these is on the walls is...
Vote!
We know how busy you mamas are these days, do we ever, but we really hope you'll take a break from playing super woman today and vote! Whichever button you decide to push (or hole you decide to punch), please take a moment today and hit your local voting booth. Pack...
Word to Big Bird: neff helps skaters and boarders sweep those clouds away
If there's one thing I hope all parents can all agree on, it's a love for Big Bird. (There are certainly more polarizing muppets, but Big Bird isn't one of them.) With the cooler weather finally making an appearance for most of the country, we love that one of the top...
The Inspiring Mom Awards: help a deserving mom win $1000 for her charity
Recently we told you about the Inspiring Mom Awards, sponsored by Tea Collection, and now I'm so thrilled to let you know that after much (much!) deliberation it's been narrowed down from 100 nominees to 9 finalists in 3 categories. And your vote can help 3 of...
Sling savvy: we’re loving the LBD of baby carriers
If you've discovered the joys of babywearing, then you know that slings can be as addictive as shoes and cute dresses. But now we've found a super-light buckle baby carrier that shares the same magic as that perfect little black dress you can pull out of the closet...
5 tech picks you won’t want to miss this week
Whether you're reading this email from your regular laptop or you've got your smartphone plugged into an ATM in NYC after Sandy, we're so glad you're here and that tech is keeping us all connected. Here are a few of our favorite picks from the last week, just in case...
Buy one, gift one, make someone’s day: kindness comes in travel size
We adore this new trend of "buy one, donate one" products, in the model of TOMS Shoes. And now there's one more, from a mom of two who took a personal tragedy and turned it into a truly inspiring company. After the near-drowning of her three-year-old son, Laura Metro...
Afraid of the dark? Not with this just-in-case kit stashed away
In light of Hurricane Sandy, I think a lot more of us are thinking about preparedness and safety precautions our families. Not that it's such a fun thing to think about. But when I saw this kit created for blackouts, I liked the balance of straightforward approach...
Man Candles: the perfect gift for the bacon fiend in your life
Sure, we love fancy candles as much as the next mom trying to cover up the smell of a yogurt pop hidden under the couch for two weeks. But men need candles, too, and we think they're really going to love this collection of masculine scents for discriminating fans of...
Hurricane Sandy: More than a dozen ways you can help
Like many of you, we've been overwhelmed by the photos and stories of Hurricane Sandy. Some of us have even lived through it (but we're all safe, thank goodness!) so have been grateful that so many of you have asked how to help those in need after this devastating...
Why your little one should see this book before a trip to the eye doctor
My daughter was a bit nervous before her first trip to the eye doctor, especially since she knew there was a good chance she'd need reading glasses. Fortunately it wasn't a scary visit, and she loves her cool new fuchsia frames, but I wish Arlo had been around back...
Feed the world with beautiful limited-edition art
My kids are getting to an age when they're understanding that there are big differences between the way we live and how families around the world live.It's pretty tough these days, though, for a kid to feel like they can make any kind of impact in a faraway country....
We’re grooving on Ozomatli’s rockin’ new album for kids
Eighteen years of rocking out plus a Grammy win thrown in for good measure, makes Ozomatli a band for the ages. Yet as big as they've become, the band still rocks a happy home-grown vibe. And their latest venture is a kids' album every bit as awesome as fans like me...
Pretty bowls make great hostess gifts. Especially when they’re on sale.
With Halloween an entire day behind us, our thoughts at Cool Mom Picks already turn to the best holiday gifts. (We can't help it!) So when I saw these beautiful little Japanese bowls on sale, I thought, ooh...hostess gift. The modernist Japanese bowls at West Elm are...