More coolness from recent weeks…
Homemade soda: recipes as simple as P-O-P
Soda, or "pop" if you're from the Midwest, is not something you tend to think of as homemade. Even as one of the great American culinary traditions it tends to be mass produced and super sized, laden with high fructose corn syrup, and tagged an enemy in the fight...
Esperos Backpacks – Buy a bag and help send a kid to school
During this back-to-school season, it can be kind of easy to forget that there are some kids in the world who don't go to school at all. But you can help--all with the purchase of a super-cool bookbag or backpack from an amazing company. After a trip to rural Central...
Box Play Stickers turn trash into recycled toy treasure
I've always been envious of those crafty upcycle types who can turn a cardboard box or egg carton into an adorable toy or trinket holder. I just don't have enough of the craft gene to make trash look like much more than...well, trash. But now that I've discovered...
Possibly the world’s cutest baby shoes ever. If you like elephants.
When my daughter was a toddler, she suffered from a malady we called "foot claustrophobia". Wrangling a pair of shoes onto that squirming, hyperventilating child was an exercise in futility, until we found a pair that had a high "distraction" factor--a butterfly sewn...
Free recipe card printables that blend classic design with modern technology
On one hand, actual paper recipe cards seems like they could be going the way of the Betamax and the Rolodex. On the other hand, here comes a wonderful stationer creating lovely free (free!) printable recipe cards that actually make use of technology in the perfect...
Avast, me hearties! It’s a pirate rattle! And it’s cute!
Arrr! What could be cuter than a tiny pirate rattle? Why, a tiny baby holding on to a tiny pirate rattle, of course. September 19 is Talk Like a Pirate Day. But just because you're too little to talk, doesn't mean you can't participate. For every baby who ever dreamed...
ABCs from a time when B was for Balloon, not Boy Band
My mother-in-law is amazing at keeping childhood treasures -- we have everything from my husband's toy car collection to original copies of his favorite children's books -- and we treasure this vintage ephemera so. I love that these old toys and books are just as...
Great organization solutions now that September is here (sigh)
While spring may be best known for cleaning, for me, September is my big organization solution month. As the kids get back to school and we start falling into routines, I feel like if I don't get organized now, I'll never catch up. I went through our archives to put...
5 tech picks you won’t want to miss this week
From retro to oh-so-new, we've got the tech for you. Here are a few of our favorite picks from the last week, just in case you missed them. 1.Even little babies can get in on Instagram, thanks to this adorable handmade toy. 2. Store your kids' artwork using your smart...
DIY silhouette storage organization tutorial that makes organization pretty!
Considering how well the drawer organization stickers we found have been working for my kids, I thought it might be cool to try some new storage organization around our house thanks to a little inspiration from this tutorial at See Jane Work. Now I'm not exactly the...
Romero Britto, come to baby
Back when I was shopping for baby gear for my now-tween, my choices for stroller and car seat covers were pretty blah: Solid navy, neutral plaids, and teddy bear. You new mamas have it so good, especially those of you with a penchant for the modern pop-art of artist...
Decorate with a name
Celebrating a baby's name is part of having a child. That's why it is so refreshing to see modern, stylish name decals for nursery and kids' room decor that feel personal yet up-to-date. 41 Orchard has created these adorable name and personal wall...
2 new cleaning products from Honest that we love. Honestly.
Even though my fellow Cool Mom Picks Editors have tried and loved the eco-friendly Honest products, I'd yet to give them a whirl myself. So recently, I had the chance to test out a couple of their newest natural cleaning products for home use, and I have to say, I'm...
Subscribe to Cool Mom Picks for a heck of a ride
We know our readers have style, but we offer extra swagger to our subscribers. For example, we're offering prize packs to eleven subscribers this month, including the mother of all statement strollers. You could use one of those, right?One Cool Mom...
The baby girl gift that warrants an extra-nice thank you note
My favorite baby girl outfits were ones that could be worn for a fun little playdate or a special day out with just a simple change of shoes. And that's exactly why I love this adorable tunic and leggings combo from Cool Mom Picks fave Bean New York. [don't miss a...
DIY Free Printable Tooth Fairy Notes – oh the cuteness!
When we found this DIY project at one of our favorite design blogs, Handmade Charlotte, we nearly died. The best part is that the instructions do not include mentions of glue guns, professional equipment, or paper stock only found in the foothills of Sweden. ...
WhyTripIt is keeping me sane when I travel
Exactly a year ago I discovered the genius that is TripIt, a super simple organization and travel management app for pretty much any smartphone you've got. And we're talking simple. If you're a frequent traveler like I am, it is nothing less than a lifesaver.Including...
Gustafer Yellowgold’s musical tour through the holidays is a trip worth taking
Yes, the years are going by so fast, though I've never had one whiz by in 28.4 minutes, thank goodness. But if anyone can make that happen in a way that will put a smile on your face, it's the musical, yellow-hued cartoon Gustafer Yellowgold, whose latest...
Poketo for Target – Back to school shopping gets cooler and more affordable
When the first Poketo for Target collection hit stores, I snatched up a few awesome pieces before it was too late. And so you can bet I'm ready to track down their newest Target collection, ready for the picking starting now. Poketo's 2012 Target...
Come to the Dark Side; we have tea!
That's no moon-- it's... a tea diffuser, and it's fully operational, Star Wars fans. You lovers of Star Wars and loose leaf teas: rejoice! This exquisitely detailed stainless steel Death Star Tea Infuser is an officially licensed Lucasfilm collectible -- and...
8 tasty nut-free and gluten free lunchbox snacks for kids
With back to school in full swing, I'm mulling over lunch box ideas to keep things fresh for the next ten months. (Ten!) I recently posted 13 healthier versions of kids' favorite lunchbox snacks and this week I'm sticking with snacks; specifically those made without...