More coolness from recent weeks…

Scaredy cat

Scaredy cat

If you're looking for a fun Halloween gift for a child that sidesteps the cavity quotient, I think this black cat push toy is just adorable. Or, as the toymaker calls it, the "Scaredy Cat - Not Scary Cat Push Toy." Important distinction. It's real American folk art...

bTrendie – Discount shopping never looked better

bTrendie – Discount shopping never looked better

I was initially introduced to the members-only sale site bTrendie as a beta tester and later as an advisory board member offering my opinions about the site itself as well as what products moms would want to buy. One of them is easily a Quinny stroller, which I fell...

Smart art makes a smart baby gift

Smart art makes a smart baby gift

When products claim to make your newborn baby smarter, I can't help to be skeptical. Sure, I want the best for my kids but part of me wonders whether I really need a bunch of special educational toys and other gear to give them the upper edge. But the Smarts decals...

Not your mama’s jeans jacket

Not your mama’s jeans jacket

Eek, is it October? Really? Good lord, how did that happen? I suppose it's time to start curating the jacket closet and making sure we have some decent fall outerwear options for the girls. On the casual side -- hoodie sweatshirts. On the snazzier side, I'm crushing...

Custom cons! Custom cons!

Custom cons! Custom cons!

What's cooler than a pair of Chuck Taylor Converse high tops? How about a pair of canvas Chucks that your kid gets to customize from the outer pattern down to the color of the shoelaces? I know! I am swooning! The Converse website is really easy to navigate and you...

Rock n roll princess

Rock n roll princess

As my oldest daughter starts to get more into fairies and princesses and all things pink (God help me), I'm still trying to keep her just a wee bit rock 'n roll. So I love the looks of this handmade guitar lap tee that feels both girlie and rocking all at once.I think...

The Mini Mini Cooper

The Mini Mini Cooper

If I had a million dollars, as that song goes, I think I would add this Mini Cooper ride-on toy to my kids' holiday gift list. While I haven't tried it out personally, my kids would zip around the living room in that hot little car in a minute. Come to think of it, do...

Chilewich, and your table is set

Chilewich, and your table is set

I've been a fan of Chilewich pretty much since designer Sandy Chilewich first launched the line of woven vinyl decor and accessories in 2000. I've always had to track her stuff down at small home boutiques and museum stores where the selection is generally limited....

Busy, busy, busy

Busy, busy, busy

What's that line about how a woman's work is never done? That's probably why I've always hoarded notepads and sketch books and blank journals to help keep me as organized as possible. So I love this handmade busy busy busy book filled with lined to-do list sheets from...

And then he ate the naughty children. The end.

And then he ate the naughty children. The end.

Pat the Bunny is the essential baby gift book for about a zillion people--including me--so it's not surprising that it's spawned a number of parodies. Now there's one more to add to the list: The very funny Pat the Beastie. Henrik Drescher's outrageous "pull and poke...

Abe’s Market is fabulous. Naturally.

Abe’s Market is fabulous. Naturally.

Mamas who like their products of the natural variety will be happy that there's now one more webshop on which to find them all in one place. Abe's Market just launched this week and as far as I can tell, all signs point to awesome. The lovely site has a modern, clean,...

Drinking wine to save lives. Seriously.

Drinking wine to save lives. Seriously.

It's October (holy cow) and as most of you know, this means Breast Cancer Awareness month. And that means 600,472 products jumping on the pink ribbon bandwagon. Some are awesome. Some are not. And we do our best to try and pare them down for you. (In fact, Cool Mom...

Portrait of the Wonder Woman as a young girl

Portrait of the Wonder Woman as a young girl

Parents who love Baby Legs looooove Baby Legs, and they'll be excited to see that the new fall styles are now out on the new and vastly improved website. My favorite has to be the Hero legwarmers and by hero, we all pretty much recognize the strong nod to Wonder...

Cool Mom Picks and Vogue Bambini – Magnifico!

Cool Mom Picks and Vogue Bambini – Magnifico!

Pageants? Not really our thing. But fashion shows - ooh la la! So we we're excited to be a sponsor of Vogue Bambini's kids' fashion show at the ENK Children's Club trade show in NYC this coming weekend, along with fellow sponsors Weleda and the New York Botanical...

Cool felt play food – CMP does etsy

Cool felt play food – CMP does etsy

When I was young, I loved playing house. Tea parties and market shopping were two of my favorite things. I had no idea I was practicing chores I would have to do the rest of my life. Aaaaanyway, felt food is always such a fantastic children's toy, and the handmade...

To improve your ice cream, just add Garbage

To improve your ice cream, just add Garbage

I recently treated my kids to a scoop at the local gourmet ice cream shop and was shocked to find that to add a topping (i.e. four M-n-Ms) was about half the price of the ice cream itself. Holy moly. New recession tip: Staying in for ice cream and doing our own fun...