More coolness from recent weeks…
My first tools. Ideally not followed by my first stitches.
My boys love woodworking. It certainly helps having a super handy husband and grandpa to keep them busy and tinkering away in the garage. But I have to admit, seeing them wielding heavy tools does frighten me some. A while back, I searched high and low for kid-sized...
Luchador Love
Nacho Libre happens to be one of my all time favorite movies. Something about Jack Black in "stretchy pants," as he calls it, just puts me in a good mood. Well these posters bring out the giddiness in both me and the kids. Rebecca Paragine is my kind of...
Buffy the Dry Skin Slayer
I love exfoliators, but I rarely buy them. Why? I hate digging my fingers into goop and then watching half of it ooze down the shower grate. But with the cold weather here and the radiators blasting, I'm happy to have found a yummy scrub that sidesteps the bad stuff,...
Sew you want to be in pictures
This holiday season, you can do almost anything with your fancy photos: make books, cards, puzzles, even an afghan. But we found one artist putting a beautiful homemade twist on capturing your family's image, and we think this one's worthy of framing. Etsy artist...
Godspell is back on Broadway. Prepare ye.
I first saw Godspell on Broadway as a young girl back in the 70s (I know I know, I'm old) and fell in love with it forever. As one of my favorite all-time musicals, I was counting down the days until I could catch its return to Broadway. Well now it's back, and...
Fabulous boys clothes at fabulous prices. At last! At last!
As a mom of a boy, I still can't believe how challenging it can be to find cool, stylish clothes that will last an entire season (ideally longer!) without killing my budget. I'm more than happy to spend a bit more if it means I won't have to buy new clothes every...
NYC Parents: A perfect excuse to get a sitter Monday night
If you're a NYC area parent in need an adult night this week (and who doesn't?) we have a fabulous idea for you --the annual PS8 Author's Night to Celebrate Reading Monday night at Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO. Stop by for very fun night of champagne, nibbles, and a...
Cool Mom Picks + Lucky Magazine
So here's some fun news: We're so excited to be this week's guest bloggers at the Lucky Kids site this week! We've put together 5 picks for a handmade holiday, featuring 5 fabulous handmade items that we're crushing on hard.Click over to the Lucky Kids blog for all...
Simple, seasonal crafts for the not-so-crafty
Back before I had kids, I was actually pretty crafty. But add four bundles of joy and I'm struggling to think of something to make for dinner, let alone what to do with empty egg cartons. Well, thanks to this new book from one of our fave craft bloggers, Marie...
Harajuku Mini for Target launches. Super heart!
So we've finally got a look at the much anticipated Gwen Stefani Harajuku Mini line for Target. While it's hopefully not going to lead Missoni-style riots at the store, I'd say if you've got some funky kids to clothe, it's definitely worth a trip to Tarzhay. [see some...
Because kids really do say the darndest things
Between a personal blog, a paper journal, Facebook and my memory, I have plenty of places to jot down those hilarious things my kids say. The problem is, I have too many places. But mama Alexandra of the creative Kinderpendent blog has designed a sweet little template...
Surviving winter days with color
At the risk of this turning into the Fab.com blog (I can't help it!), today I discovered a new textile artist there that I'm so excited about, because she makes the most lovely scarves. And wildly affordable too. The lightweight scarves and wraps from Portland artist...
Alastair Moock bring American folk music to friends of all sizes
Like singer Laura Veirs, Massachusetts musician Alastair Moock has had a long and successful career playing American folk music for grown ups. And similarly, both musicians started making kids' music after the birth of their children, but in a way that keeps true to...
Neighborhood Toy Store Day – go forth and buy toys!
Before the 24-hour carols, the jammed parking lots, and those news stories about people fighting over the latest Elmo toy, there is Neighborhood Toy Store Day today, November 12. This is one that hits near and dear to our indie-loving hearts, as a great opportunity to...
Blocks with substance
Here at CMP, we're total blockheads. We've brought you classic blocks, magnetic blocks, and amusingly subversive blocks. But this is the first time we're taking it old school, all the way back to the periodic table. Yes, friends, you're not just building towers....
Why you should look for The Man in the Moon
When I was little, I used to stare at the moon looking for a tiny dot moving around, going about his business. It wasn't until much later that I realized that the "man in the moon" was a shadowy face on a full-moon's facade---I liked my idea a lot better. Apparently,...
Holiday cards that are truly a work of art
Every year after I spend half the day trying to get myself ready, and then wrangling my four kids and my husband for our annual holiday card family photo extravaganza, I vow to do something different the next year. I have found it! With one of a kind cards featuring...
The perfect baby doll for your own growing baby.
Please tell me I am not the only one with such nostalgia for some of our baby clothes, that I've saved them. The little peasant dress from Mexico, the smocked dress from a great-grandmother, the onesie with the swallow tattoos on the chest just like daddy has--I'm a...
And a hug around the neck
When I came across this gorgeous lilac crochet scarf on Etsy, I just about clicked "add to cart" right on the spot. Good thing I didn't because then I would have missed all the other beautiful colors. Brooklyn's VitalTemptation is a name that pretty much says it all....
Being Elmo
I still remember the first time I saw Kevin Clash, the man behind Elmo, on a TV show--and I couldn't believe my ears. Who knew a big guy like Kevin was the voice of the lovable--and, yes, sometimes annoying--little red guy on Sesame Street.Now with the release of a...
5 cool modern piggy banks
We're so thrilled to be teaming up with our sponsor Harris Bank who's asked us to offer up cool picks to help teach money management early. Back when I was a kid, a piggy bank was no more than a basic way to teach money savings to those old enough to dump a few...