More coolness from recent weeks…
Affordable baby shower gifts get even cuter with Skip*Hop
I remember my first baby's activity gym. It lit up, it sang, it was really annoying. (And you know who else thought it was annoying? My cat. She peed all over it.) But, I used that activity gym constantly--after washing it thoroughly, of course. So my advice to new...
I (Lovebirds-Ostrich-Vicuna-Elephant) this print
Sure, Z is Zebra. But A is Aardvark, and N is Narwhal. And that's how you win my heart-- with unusual animals and hand-drawn art. This charming and retro-esque alphabet of animal silhouettes by Etsy artist besty perfectly straddles the line between beautiful and...
5 new mom must-haves
The more kids I add to my brood, the more aware I am of what I absolutely do not need as a mom. But more so, I'm now completely convinced of what I can't live without. This is the kind of thing I wish someone had shared with me waaaay back when I spent too many hours...
Rockin’ Blocks
Whenever I go shopping for baby toys, I am dismayed at how many toy developers design their blocks in sherbet-y pastels even though babies prefer the colors high contrast and vivid for the first few months. (I am also wondering who decided babies love...
The tribe has spoken, and they are very, very pleased this Hanukkah.
There's a conversation that goes on in almost every Jewish household around the holidays, where kids wonder where all the cool Hannukah decorations are? Who gets more gifts? And, how is a spinning top not lame? I'm going to answer those questions in the order in which...
Come on let’s play
My kindergartener started taking soccer lessons this year, forcing me into the kids sports apparel section of our local humongo chain store for the first time. Little did I know how hard it would be to suit her up; I'd have to force feed her Twinkies for a year to...
Martha Stewart wants your input on what’s cool. Seriously.
It's like Miss America for crafters, and you're a judge. But there's no Miss Congeniality. This one's all about looks, and you only get one vote. Actually, it's the competition for Martha Stewart's annual Holiday Craft Fair at her company headquarter in NYC. Vendor...
Red21Boys.com – The motherlode of cool boys clothes
A neighbor and I were just discussing the challenge of purchasing boy's clothes these days and we both agreed that you really do get what you pay for. And since I'm not too keen on purchasing two sets of clothes every season--sometimes more--I'm on a constant mission...
I’m dreaming of a big city holiday
I'm dreaming of a picture perfect holiday season, like a vintage postcard, with over-sized snowflakes and smiling kids singing songs at my door. I'm also dreaming of taking the perfect holiday photo of my two girls and they'll both smile at the same time and sit still...
Rag dolls from simpler, battery-free times
I'm kind of in love with anything vintage, especially when it comes to toys. We always joke that generations of children somehow made it through life without dolls that walked, talked, or did the cha-cha, and ours can too, darn it. And get off my lawn, you kids. If...
Wooster Street Meats goes Pescetarian
I may be the biggest fan of the tees from Wooster St Meats on the planet, perhaps because I've got a sigOth who's the biggest fan of meat on the planet. I've now gotten him a couple for various holiday gifts, and after seeing their latest offering, he's about to get...
Winter wonderland photo cards, even in warmer climes
At the first sign of snow, every parent in our neighborhood bundles up their little dumplings and runs outside with three or four cameras-- because it's Georgia, and we go crazy over a little snow. But when we get back inside, the photos are ruined by slushy bits and...
The Family Dinner – So much more than just a cookbook
There are some women out there who seem to overachieve the pants off of the rest of us. Environmentalist, author, producer and mother of two Laurie David is one of those ladies. Her latest project is The Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect With Your Kids, One Meal at...
Good things come in small packages containing frames
It may sound less than surprising, but I still think that a framed photo of the kids makes one of the single best grandparent gifts ever. At least if the photo is fantastic. And the frame is gorgeous. So I'm so happy to hear that Obrien & Schridde, whose...
B. Toys, now with extra holiday spirit
While plastic toys tend to fall a bit lower on my own personal shopping list, I wouldn't complain one bit if the brand spankin' never seen before holiday themed toys from B. Toys just happened to fall out of Santa's sack (or Grandma's purse) and under our...
This week on Cool Mom Tech
Haven't stopped by Cool Mom Tech this week? Here are a few posts definitely worth a peek. A kitchen radio from one of our favorite designers is piquing our geek - definitely not your grandma's AM tuner.The new Kinect for XBox 360 motion-sensor game system is out this...
Jewelry that really makes a statement
Remember when slogan t-shirts were all the rage? (Yes, I still have my "Frankie Say Relax!" shirt from college.) Well here's a new way for me to express myself through accessories, maybe even a little bit more cleverly than I could do on my own. Melanie Favreau's...
An advent calendar for your artistic holiday spirit
As December nears, my house is ready to to become a big, kid-friendly fun house of colored blinky lights and tinsel. With three kids, I know what to expect and have given in to All Things Christmas. Except I've just seen the most beautifully refined and...
HappyBaby = HappyMama
Kids like snacks. Like, really, really like them. Understatement of the year, right? I truly believe that if I just had a constant supply of snack-type foods on hand, my children would eat all day. And I have a sneaking --or is it snacking?-- suspicion that they...
Petit Tresor for Target: cuteness and philanthropy go hand in hand
I just went through my little girl's infant clothes to give to my sister-in-law and wham... seeing those tiny bodysuits brought me back to those early days. I could still smell that baby smell and see her chubby little arms and legs in the teeny clothes. Of course, I...
Organic crib bedding for the wild at heart
When I planned my baby's nursery, I obsessed over the furniture, color scheme, storage ideas, art, hamper, family photos, plus which toys to display and which ones to put away. I thought about everything, except what moms think about these days--how and where to go...