More coolness from recent weeks…
Virtuoso! Handmade handbag masterpieces
It's no secret that I have a handbag obsession. That's pretty clear the second you walk into my closet. But these handcrafted beauties I found on Etsy are on a whole other level. And if you think this violin bag is amazing, just wait until you see the other ones....
Personalized notebooks for your superkid at a super amazing price
I do a whole lot of roleplaying with my daughter. Whether we're reading books or playing dolls, my daughter assigns us our roles: "That's you mommy, and that's me!" She loves to picture herself in whatever imaginary world we visit. So imagine her elation when I...
This DIY dollhouse delights (with free wallpaper designs, no less)
I have a dollhouse-obsessed five year old...and I'm not complaining a bit. I love the fun creative play and imagination it inspires. (Currently, the little girl who resides in the dollhouse is named "Frodo.") If you're more interested in the idea of play than the idea...
Cool kids’ clothes ripe for the picking
I've always loved early fall for the chance to go apple picking (and the subsequent homemade apple treats!) But long after the apples are gone from the trees, there will be plenty of ways to celebrate apple season with some adorable graphic clothing that's ripe for...
The new Cambridge Satchel: be still my colorblock-loving heart
Last year I fell in love with the Cambridge Satchel. Not just because of the fabulous styling, hand craftsmanship, and relatively affordable price for such a hot handbag, but in part because of the beautiful story of Julie Deane and her mother, Freda Thomas, starting...
The most dapper DIY Halloween masks, yours for the printing
If I started today, I could probably create Halloween costumes by hand for my three, although it would cost me dearly in terms of time and sanity. But here's another thought: instead of sweating over fabric and glue, I could just hit "print" for some super-cute free...
5 tech picks you won’t want to miss this week
We're all about laps, apps, and yapping with the stars--at least, according to some of our favorite picks from the last week. 1. Want a happier lap? We've got the perfect bedroom accessory. (Get your mind out of the gutter--it's a tech gadget!) 2. This retro-cool app...
Shake, rattle, and drool: handcrafted heirloom baby rattles
Let me rattle off a few words for you to chew on: heirloom, handmade, safe, affordable.Also: pretty. These Heirloom Baby Rattles from Windfall Boutique on Etsy are everything you could possibly want in a baby toy--but at half the price you might expect to pay for...
Be Happier at Home…and wherever else this book goes with you
On my nightstand, there's a gigantic pile of self-help books stacked underneath a coffee cup. Not exactly helping much, unless you count them as an overpriced coaster. What you might notice if you peeked at my self-help lit pile is that Gretchen Rubin's newest...
Mineral makeup for tweens: sweet, soft and skin-smart
What does my daughter remember most from her big roller skating birthday party extravaganza?The fact that I let her wear makeup, something that's never happened before.Not my makeup, of course. This new find for tweens and teens is adorable, made from especially...
Fighting childhood cancer with the strength of 1000 ladybugs
Before I was a cool mom, I was a cool aunt with very high standards. Lucky for me, being a cool aunt in New York City isn't tough, as fabulous boutiques beckon from just about every other corner. But one in particular really captured this cool auntie's heart...in more...
Give your kids a passport to faraway lands with Hartlyn Kids’ new series of books
Though my kids are mildly amused by the stories of my youth (what do you mean, there was no internet?), they are much more fascinated by stories about kids from faraway lands. So I'm excited to find a new series of globe-trotting books that offers my kids a glimpse of...
PAIGELAUREN Baby’s terrific new collection is now for toddlers, too
We fell in love with the lovely baby clothes from PAIGELAUREN Baby years ago--oh, that tailoring! Those stripes! Those polka dots! And now, our mama-fashionista hearts are swelling once again as they get into clothing for the actual walking and talking set....
Japanese anime-inspired diaper bags? We say Tokidoki!
Diaper bags are kind of like minivans. They are super practical, but don't exactly scream funky fresh. But this new Tokidoki and Ju Ju Be diaper bag collaboration is like taking your Honda Odyssey and making it a low rider. We're talking blinged out, and we're talking...
A hand-painted, multicultural mobile babies (and grownups) will love
My favorite kind of mobile isn't my cell phone. I love hanging mobiles. What's not to love? They're moving pieces of art, transformed by light, wind, and perspective. And I've just found a real beauty that you might love as much as your baby. Why should they have all...
Forget grungy: upcycled gets downright gorgeous
Creating art, decor and furniture with upcycled materials is not just a fleeting design fad. It's a way of living for many artists who want to create items that are sustainable and friendly to our earth. Fortunately, a lot of upcycled pieces are on the forefront of...
The Little Book of Hindu Deities: a beautifully illustrated guide
These days, there's so much intolerance in the world, it's dismaying. As a mom, I try to counteract the negative messages out there by teaching my kids to celebrate diversity, and by taking time as a family to learn about cultures and religions different from ours. So...
7 of the cutest (and creepiest) Halloween cookies haunting the Internet
I'm not much of a cookie aficionado, but Halloween brings out the baker in me. (It also brings out the witch in me, but that's for another post.) In honor of my favorite cookie-making holiday, we've found the cutest, yummiest Halloween treats ever. So feast your...
Six reasons to drink less bottled water
My family and I have been longtime Brita fans. That filtered pitcher of tap water is a mainstay in our fridge. But that's pretty tough to keep up on the go, especially when I'm trying to remember to fill four sippy cups for four little kids I'm struggling to get out...
Fashionable scarves. With an emphasis on -able.
At this time next week, I'll be traveling through Ethiopia with the wonderful humanitarian organization ONE. Yes, I'm excited. Yes, I'm nervous. No, Bono won't be there that I know of. And yes, you will be hearing more about it. But when I got my informational travel...
The Home by Novogratz book helps you make your home more yours
A few months back, I had the pleasure of meeting TV's increasingly notorious design mavens, the Novogratz family, and drooling over their unbelievable Manhattan apartment firsthand. While I keep inviting them to break into my home and have their way with it when I'm...