More coolness from recent weeks…
Thanksgiving printables and craft ideas that are a lot easier than cooking a turkey
I consider myself fortunate that I do not have to cook Thanksgiving dinner---as does most of my extended family, as they will tell you. But, that doesn't mean I can't help all you hosts out with some great (and inexpensive) Thanksgiving craft ideas, to can help you...
BeginAgain toys – Simpler toys Santa’s elves would approve of
When the toy store ads appear in our Sunday newspaper, I'm mostly uninspired by all the blinky, noisy, plasticky stuff touted as The Next Big Thing. Would these really be the toys that Santa's elves carefully assemble in the North Pole?But now, just in time for the...
The paper book that’s as interactive as a digital one
With all the cool apps and e-books on my iPad, I sometimes worry that my kids will have a hard time appreciating real books. But then I find ones that remind me that children's books can be just as engaging, if not more, than the ones with all the technological bells...
The coolest modern menorahs
The countdown is on--you've now got one month until Haunukkah! Do you know where your menorah is?While I love the idea of using a menorah at Hanukkah that's passed down through the generations, I think there's also something great about finding one that suits your...
Bento goes mainstream
My kids are grazers; they'd sooner eat a whole bunch of little things than one giant sandwich. Bento systems have always been a smart option for us, as you can imagine. Now there's a smart new one courtesy of Skip*Hop, the little mom-run company that seems intent on...
Fids and Kamily and the top kids albums of 2011
As much as I love listening to the awesome music that comes my way as part of being CMP's primary kids' music reviewer, I find picking my favorites to be one of the harder tasks I have to do. It's like deciding if I like salted caramel better than mocha fudge better...
National Adoption Day gives us reason for thanks
While most of us will give thanks on Thursday for Thanksgiving, there will also be many families giving thanks today, for National Adoption Day which falls almost midway through November's National Adoption Month. In honor of this special time for so many, we have...
Toasty warm, and cute as a double-breasted button
Ever since Zara started selling online this fall, I've been stalking their site for European styled clothing for my kids at great prices. But recently, I popped into one of their NYC stores just to make sure the clothes were as awesome as they look online. The truth...
Best dollhouse for holiday gift – Reader Q&A
I was wondering if you could recommend a classic dollhouse for my two daughters' Christmas gift? Would love any suggestions you have. Thank you!! -Amy Ooh, dollhouses! One of our favorite things to look for, now that there are so many to choose from. If you're into...
Boys like cute shoes too. Even if they don’t call them cute shoes.
Every time I go shoe shopping for my son I feel like I'm swimming in a sea of flashing sneakers. Then I remember to check one of my favorite kids' shoes purveyors Livie and Luca and voila, I find cool shoes that won't double as a night light. The Ten Browns are a...
I’m just trying to do my jig-saw puzzle…
If you're looking for a cool little holiday gift for a cool old school friend, I'm thinking this old school jigsaw puzzle might fit the bill. As in, 33 1/2 RPM old school. The Vinyl Collection Puzzle by Bob's Your Uncle is so cool for the right person; 550 pieces come...
Beautiful ornaments with a past life.
Garfield has never been called elegant, nor is Snoopy considered stylish. And yet, in the right hands, the Sunday comics are being transformed into stunning holiday ornaments. The Sea Urchin Recycled Newspaper Ornament from kissadesign on Etsy is a fun new twist on...
5 ideas for birthday parties that give back
We are honored to once again be working with our sponsor, the American Cancer Society, on their More Birthdays campaign since if we could make one really big wish, it'd that cancer never steals someone from us again. But wishes alone will not cure cancer, so we think...
‘Ere-be-dragons on your wall
Wallpaper is cool again, and it's not all girly flowers and damask. If you've got a knight in shining armor (and Converse chucks), you won't want to miss this quirky but elegant wallpaper made just for junior jousters. The 'Ere-Be-Dragons wallpaper from Paper Boy...
Children’s thank you cards that will grow on you
Thank you cards can be a chore or an adventure. A joy, even.We vote for joy. The delightful Thank You Card Set from the wonderful shop Draw Me a Lion is the perfect way to make handwriting--and gratefulness--blossom. Two each of the three designs features a flower...
The handmade custom eco stockings were hung by the chimney with care…
I start every holiday season with the craftiest of intentions. Forget visions of sugarplums. In my head, visions of all the gifts and decorations I'm going to make are dancing up a storm. But every November, it hits me. I'm mere weeks away from Christmas and I haven't...
Congrats to our Publisher Liz Gumbinner, the Parents Magazine Editors’ Pick for Best All Around Mom Blog
A looong time ago when I had this idea for Cool Mom Picks, I reached out to a few of my blogging friends for help, one of whom was my co-Publisher and Editor in Chief Liz Gumbinner, who I only knew then as the blogger Mom 101. Taken by her amazing ability to string...
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...