More coolness from recent weeks…
Shop for Anissa
We were dismayed when we learned that our friend, fellow blogger, and all around cool mom of three, Anissa Mayhew, suffered a severe stroke a few weeks ago which has left her hospitalized--but increasingly responsive every day. Known for her lively tweets and honest...
You can never thank a teacher enough (really)
Looking for a gift that's Just Right for your child's teacher? A wee gift that says "We appreciate everything you do!" without getting too personal? Lovely monogrammed notecards are always a good bet - you know, to write thank you notes for the 47 mugs the other...
Because there’s never fresh ground organic cloves on the table when you need them.
I think I just knocked a couple of gifts of my list with the Mobile Foodie Survival Kit spotted at Uncommon Goods. This purse-sized tin of organic herbs, spices and condiments will help the finicky eaters of the world better endure the indignity of rest stop fast food...
Air Protect – Car seat safety from every angle
There's nothing like watching an actual safety demonstration to convince you of a car seat's actual safety, and that was just the case with the new Air Protect car seat from Safety 1st after I saw it in action at the ABC Kids Show in Las Vegas.The seat...
Cool Mom Picks loves Psychobaby – Holiday shopping edition
For years we've been professing our love for Psychobaby, mostly because they make our job of finding edgier baby gifts ridiculously easy. And since they're always updating their inventory with new, fabulous items, we decided to update our own category of Cool Mom...
When you care enough to send the letterpress
While you might manage your holiday-based communications via e-cards and virtual greetings, you probably, like me, have a secret print fetish. Thick, creamy paper stock, imprinted with subtle, artsy inks -- in a world of texting, a simple "I miss you" note written on...
Christmas music to help you supress your Grinch; Express your Elf
Whereas Alvin and the Chipmunks blaring on the radio this week was a far too jarring transition for me into Holiday Music Overplay Season, popping in the new Uncle Rock CD, Express Your Elf, was much more what the doctor ordered. Or at least the two kids in the back...
Just say Yo
I think holiday ornaments always make a cool little gift, especially when you (or the kids) have made them yourself. And the YoYo ornament kit at Mahar Dry Goods, is hooking you up this year with the happiest, most colorful decorations around.YoYo is actually the...
Nice holiday cards for those who don’t mind being a little bit naughty
Every year I think, Yes, this is the year I am going to get my act together and do holiday cards. But maybe the problem hasn't been my utter lack of motivation, maybe the problem is that I just didn't know about Bumble Ink's cheeky (or downright irreverent) greeting...
7 holiday hair clips to keep girls festive from head to toe. (But don’t wear them on your toes.)
We're big fans of handmade hair clips, which make fun stocking stuffers and an inexpensive way to get in the holiday spirit. Whether you're looking to coordinate with your daughter's holiday best or just make a simple pair of jeans and red shirt look more festive,...
A new twist on the old game of dreidel
Playing dreidel is a staple of celebrating Hanukkah, and I have to say our games have been known to get very competitive. Hey, there are M&M's at stake! But Staccabees take dreidel playing to a new height. Literally. This dreidel game set comes in a cotton travel...
GLAD to give this season. More like ecstatic.
December is here, and around my house that means the official start of cookie season. If you, like me, end up with piles of snickerdoodles and gingerbread men that you end up off to friends and neighbors (or eating yourself), perhaps you'll consider...
World AIDS Day is today, and every day
The biggest health chatter in my town may be about swine flu, but we can't forget that AIDS is still a force to be reckoned with, especially among women and children who make up more than half of the people living with HIV worldwide. Today being World AIDS Day,...
When a holiday card is much more than just a holiday card
For the past eight holidays, I've sent out standard flat photo cards featuring the kids, and I usually hear a few comments about how much the kids have grown. If I should send out Minted's new Minibook Holiday Cards, I expect my phone would soon start ringing with...
Automoblox Minis deliver big fun
Automoblox have taken over more than a few toy chests in the last few years, and it's not surprising - these modular, creativity-inspiring toys cars and trucks inspire imaginations, while still delivering the joy of vrooming a car around the living room floor and...
…and warm woolen mittens.
I love being a mom of boys, but I envy my mom-of-girls friends one wee thing: Barrettes. Especially when I see ones as cute as the felt barettes from Redhaven.Redhaven's no-slip barrettes are handmade of 100% wool felt; each set of three includes two hearts and a...
The little red wagon gets a makeover
When we made the move to suburbia, one of the first purchases we made was a wagon. But like most people, we were limited to what we could find at our local chain store, which was definitely about functionality and not at all about sleek modern design.Lucky for you,...
20 of Pixar’s greatest animated shorts in one night – No wonder they call it a special
Well kids, gather round and let me tell you about an animated short film about a desk lamp, that came out in 1986. Sound boring? No way. It was the first glimpse of what the future of CGI would look like, created by a (then) little-known company called Pixar. You may...
Gourmet chocolates for vegans and omnivores alike
I've bought enough chocolate for my milk-allergic daughter to know that milk isn't a necessary ingredient for super-delicious chocolate, especially when it's the extra-good-for-you darker varieties. And while Divvies is my first choice for safe, dairy-free...
Gift tags that come back as wildflowers
Indeed the whole eco-friendly gift tag embedded with wildflower seed thing isn't brand new, but I like it anyway. I like that it makes the giver feel as good as the getter. And in time for the holidays, I especially like the Plantable Ornament Gift Tags shaped like...
Aden & Anais Burpy bibs – It’s a bib! It’s a burp cloth! It’s both!
Ever since I was introduced to the Aden & Anais muslin swaddlers, I've anxiously awaited (and subsequently been blown away by) their new products, most recently the baby sleep sacks. So I'm not surprised that I was instantly smitten with their new genius...