More coolness from recent weeks…
A baby quilt that’s photo op ready
Nothing says "welcome to the world baby" quite like a cozy quilt. We must have gotten half a dozen of them as gifts when each of my sons were born. We are fully loaded with brightly colored patchworks, dizzying animal prints and handmade woven blankets, all of which...
Once place to find Missoni for less, that isn’t Target
Maternity wear is a tricky thing. Looking like a slob for nine months is not what most of us want. On the other hand, spending a ton of cash on clothes with such a short shelf life can seem like a big old waste. The answer might be in a new online boutique offering...
Audio books for toddler? Reader Q&A
My daughter is turning 3 next month and is starting to outgrow her naps! I am trying to enforce quiet time on the days she won't nap, and someone gave me the idea of letting her listen to audio books as her quiet time activity. I was hoping you had some ideas or could...
In silhouette
As I've learned, finding the perfect holiday gift for nieces and nephews can be tough, particularly when I'm trying to avoid picking out some random thing from the giant toy store chain. This year, I'm thinking about something personalized and special that they will...
Baby name. You’ve got the cutest little baby name.
I've always been a big fan of custom baby gifts. After all, what parent doesn't want to see that oh-so-perfect name they've spent days or months (or years, ahem) agonizing over ,emblazoned on something special? The delightful custom posters from alfabetika are a...
Monster tees for your monster dude
Lots of mamas to boys have a common complaint: not enough awesome boy clothing in the world. But you know what? Around here, we see more and more evidence that boy clothes are starting to rock. Like these, for example, from a most unexpected place. The boy clothing...
The baby travel crib that raises the bar for all other travel cribs
I finally get the baby travel crib thing. My first baby had a play yard which was great for storing all kinds of new baby gifts, diapers, blankets--you get the idea. We didn't bring it out at all with my second child, giving it away soon after she was born. Then came...
Subscribe to Cool Mom Picks and get the celebrity baby treatment
If you're not a Cool Mom Picks subscriber yet, oh boy is this the perfect time to join the ranks of thousands of cool moms. Not only will you get the scoop on the hippest clothes, coolest gadgets, and most amazing resources for families, but you'll find phenomenal...
Now I lay them down to sleep
My organic-eating, organic-dressing, organic-playing kids sleep on regular old foam pillows. There, I said it: they spend half of their lives with cuddling up with chemical-filled foam. Not one of the greatest horrors of childhood, of course, but still, I'm so glad to...
We’ve waited five years for this: New music from Dan Zanes and Friends
My kids and I know that our lives are made even more awesome because of all the friends who join us on our adventures, something I couldn't help but think about while listening to Dan Zanes and Friends latest release. One that happens to be heavy on the "and Friends"....
4 Kids or More helps larger families find good company
I remember the time I told a friend that I was pregnant with my third child in less than four years. She shook her head and said sagely, You're about to be outnumbered. Good luck with that.While there are definitely times my husband and I could use another pair of...
Ooh la la! Quelle playhouse!
Qu'est-ce que c'est? Why it's only the sweetest cardboard play structure I've ever laid eyes on. Okay, I've only laid eyes on it online, but still. I think my children need this thing, stat. The French Café from Little Play Spaces takes the fun and convenience of a...
Dishes for kids that are safer than plastic – they only look like plastic
It's hard trying to sort through all the plastic safety issues these days when it comes to feeding our kids. Between BPA, pthalates, melamine fears and microwave warnings, sometimes I just want to throw up my hands in frustration; does everything have to come with a...
Support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with one easy act of kindness
I'm only one person with one meager budget and very limited time. How can I do something important and meaningful this October to show my support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when I can't donate a gazillion dollars and don't have the hours to donate to a...
Stamp of approval
Need a gift for the superstar girl who has everything? She could be 8. Or heck, 38. Either way, I think she'll like this adorable necklace which it turns out, is a lot more than a necklace. The Super Star Stamp Necklace is an adorable, eco-conscious masterpiece from...
Always Saturday – music for your permanent weekend
Always Saturday makes me happy. While this is technically a "kids" band, the beats are appropriate for big people, too. I'm thinking of their CD as a dance party waiting to happen, and I just want to be a part. After all, any band that evokes the feel of a fun and...
Masquerade, pretty faces on parade
In spring, a young man's thoughts lightly turn to love. In fall, everyone's thoughts turn to a really kickass Halloween costume. Right? If you're looking for something really special this year, that will last past midnight on the 31st, the lovely leather masks from...
Indian Prints
Indian patterns are totally (and beautifully) on-trend right now-- we wrote about Ikats and other beautiful prints a few months ago, and our allegiance has yet to waver.Especially since we saw these lovely designs. Hammocks & High Tea's new "Dreamweaver"...
Mommy Poppins expands. Boston and LA moms, rejoice!
When I first discovered Mommy Poppins I remember thinking, oh finally--a non-pretentious guide to all the best things to do around New York and the NYC area. There is rarely a week in which I fail to check the site to find free activities, special events, and great...
The fountain of youth for your hands
They say your hands show your age. In which case I'm in trouble. The last time I tried to pamper my hands was when a relative gave me a Mary Kay Manicure Set as a gift that had been --gulp-- used. There were fingernail gouges in the cream and a... let's say, a...
Fighting breast cancer with a new color: blue
There's a lot of pink out there in October, and that's a great thing. We applaud any effort to fight breast cancer by spreading awareness or raising donations for research and support. Still, if pink's not your color, we'd like to introduce you to a breast cancer...