More coolness from recent weeks…
A big-kid bike for the toddler who’s done with the tricycle
As a 4-year-old, my daughter is at the age where her eyes grow wide at the sight of a kid riding a bicycle. Tricycles are so last year--get the girl a two-wheeler, stat! And what could be a more appropriate first bike than a FirstBIKE Balance Bike?For little kids,...
Bananagrams go Hebrew. We’re kvelling!
While bananas are not normally something you find associated with Hanukkah, this year we have good reason for you to reconsider- Bananagrams have gone Hebrew. This awesome modern word game already exists in English and in Spanish so we're excited to see Hebrew...
Handmade Holidays: Ten DIY gifts that don’t look like you cheaped out
If you're the type who likes to fill your holiday gifts with handmade love, we've got a whole bunch of beautiful ideas for you. My grandmother was a crocheter who made such hilariously bad gifts (sorry, Grandma!), they were the highlight of our holidays. Thankfully,...
The kids holiday collection from Jacadi. Try and keep your drool marks off the cashmere blends.
We've adored the gorgeous baby and kids luxury brand Jacadi since we first discovered them at our own baby showers (thanks to some very generous friends!). The name conjures up what you might imagine from any top-of-the-line French clothing designer: beautiful...
Organizational simplicity + brilliance
I have a confession to make. I have a hard time finding my stuff, and I am always losing something. It's usually my cell phone (do you even know HOW many times I end up calling it just to locate it?), my keys (darn buggers are always missing), and my purse. Flip and...
A step up from Hanukkah gelt and candy canes
Not to be dissing those chalk gold-wrapped coins with an actual chocolate content of about .03%, but if you're going to treat your dreidel winners with sweets this Hanukkah, we've got a better idea. The Hanukkah chocolate disks from CMP fave Rogue Confections are just...
Flummox and Friends: Because quirky can be funny
There are a lot of days when having a kid with social challenges isn't particularly funny; when his feelings get hurt, when making friends is difficult, when he despairs of ever "getting it right" when it comes to following society's rules... that's not particularly...
A totally non-ironic, non-cynical, totally happy tee
In a field of ironic, cynical tees for kids (homework sucks, anyone?) I was kind of glad to stumble across this one. Reading simply Today Is the Best Day Ever in big bold type of the FRANKIE SAYS RELAX variety, I could totally see an older kid wearing this for a...
The ins and outs of South Walton Beach – bring sunscreen, not your passport
Growing up on the East Coast, our family beach vacations were always limited to the Jersey Shore (no, not that one), where the beaches were crowded and the water was pretty cold, even in the dead of summer. It wasn't until I was living in the Deep South and met my...
Lucky Kid is back! Lucky kids.
Remember your pre-baby years when you would gazing longingly at the adorable baby and toddler clothes in your favorite stores just dreaming of the day when you would be part of the world with a valid reason to buy them? That was exactly how I felt for years when...
Three words: portable ping pong
I have this one person on my list that I can't stand holiday shopping for. Why? Because she already has everything. Really. If it's something she likes, she buys it before anyone else has the chance. It's the worst. But, for the first time ever, I may have found...
A new holiday tradition, and it involves cake!
I love teaching my children about different cultures and how to appreciate the beauty of family traditions. This lesson is most important around the holidays. There is a Christmas tree on every corner, sometimes with a Hanukkah menorah making its presence known....
Slipper socks with oh-la-la
I hate the feeling of cold feet -- yuck! -- but my kids must not mind because they kick off their slippers at the slightest provocation, freezing floors be damned.Kids! They just don't appreciate cozy toes. Or baths. Or naps. (Silly children.)Thankfully, my in-laws...
Animoto – The holiday cards guaranteed to make grandparents cry.
Life with four kids means there are a lot of last minute "oops" happening around my place when it comes to gifts and cards. This is also why I've been a fan of Animoto since we first featured them on Cool Mom Picks a few years ago. Their super easy-to-use video...
Jonathan Adler Skip Hop Diaper Bags – Maybe the only ones that would make me want to change diapers again.
I'm particularly envious right now of the Jonathan Adler Skip Hop line that launched yesterday. Which is funny, because I do not miss the days of hauling a baby bag around with me. I love a great bag, don't get me wrong, but when my kids were in diapers, there were...
The perfect gift for baby’s first Hanukkah
Baby's first anything can be difficult to shop for and baby's first Hanukkah doubly so. So if you are looking for something different and special for the little bundle I suggest you check out Judaica pioneer Emily Rosenfeld. I have personally been gifting from Emily's...
Expensive fashion for those with more modest wallets
Designer clothes tend to be timeless and well made -- I guess that is why the magazines call it "investment dressing." However, the reality is that most moms simply cannot afford to invest thousands of dollars on one article of clothing, no matter how timeless and...
Ways to help on World AIDS Day. Some of them free, and some of them fun.
Last night, I was privileged to attend a taping of the Daily Show, thanks to the wonderful folks at One.org. Yes, I was sitting about 15 feet from Bono. Feel free to be jealous--I was jealous of myself! Bono spoke in such an impassioned way about the real, viable end...
Free holiday invites and cards from Paperless post — last minute gets more stylish
I always feel more social during the holidays. Maybe it's the cooler weather and festive music that inspires me to finally bring out the welcome mat and throw a party. (Fine, the fact that the house is finally decorated doesn't hurt.) But custom paper invitations take...
The Cool Mom Picks Holiday Gift Guide is here!
We're kicking November to the curb and happily welcoming December with our highly anticipated, super spectacular 2011 Holiday Gift Guide! Whoo! For the 6th straight year, we've scoured the web for the best gifts ever--150 this year at every price point for everyone on...
4 modern nativity sets, not one of which lights up
Though my religious affiliation can best be summed up with a long puzzled silence, there are certain things from my youth that I carry with me to this day, like praying when the plane jets down the runway, and setting up the nativity scene before Christmas.Our...