More coolness from recent weeks…
Affordable interior designer is now officially not an oxymoron.
I think I did okay decorating my son's nursery nearly a decade ago, but if I'm honest with myself, it was hardly original. I wish iBabyInteriors existed back then; I would have killed to have worked with Julissa Arias, founder and creative force behind this amazing...
Over in the Hollow – Halloween as imagined by Stephen Britt
If you're looking for a fun Halloween gift for the kids without the added benefits of tooth decay and hyperactivity, I just learned that the wonderful illustrator Stephen Britt has just taken on his first children's book, Over in the Hollow, by author Rebecca...
What’s in your kid’s toothbrush that you don’t want to be in your kid’s toothbrush?
I don't know why I've spent all this time thinking about BPA in plastics but it never once crossed my mind to look into what's in my kids' toothbrushes. (Of course our friend Jen at the Smart Mama was thinking about BPA in kids toothbrushes a whole year ago because,...
Yes, it’s stroller blanket season again
It's only mid-October and already the babies in my hood are being bundled under stroller blankets and sleep sacs and other bits of coziness to keep the chill out. After four winters doing this mom thing, I've learned that it makes sense to invest in the good stuff...
A limited edition designer high chair for those with unlimited designer funds
If the Fresco Fiamma was a car it would be a Lamborghini, all sleek and red and sexy. But since it's a limited edition baby high chair it feels weird to refer to it as sexy, so I'll just say super-awesome-cool. Bloom Baby, purveyors of some of the most innovative,...
Breaking news – Baby Einstein is issuing full refunds on their DVDs
If you've purchased a Baby Einstein DVD any time in the last five years, you're entitled to a full refund, due to the work of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood which thinks that mayyyybe they don't exactly make babies into Einsteins. We're all for videos as...
Recycled, charitable, and oh so fancy
I'm going to be perfectly honest with you; in general the notion of putting cashmere on a baby seems absurd to me. In my world, babies and "hand wash only" are two things that don't go together.But now I humbly eat my words, having checked out Liza Taylor's cashmere...
clinQs – I’ll drink to that!
Yes, I know that you can use a Sharpie to scribble kids' names on their drink cups at birthday parties. But for a more stylish option, consider the reusable drink stickers from clinQs.My favorites for kids are the colorful Happy Birthday stickers that can keep up to...
Want your kids to love reading? You need to love reading to them.
Evidently reading to your kids is more than just reading to your kids. And seriously pedigreed educational consultant Diane W. Frankenstein explores her concept of "conversational reading" in her excellent resource, Reading Together: Everything You Need to Know to...
Plates to mark the end of another year and hopefully, unfinished dinners.
When I was a new mom, I swore that I would never make tableware "an issue." I would stick with neutral plates and bowls, basic silverware, and my kids would just deal with it. Right.As it turns out, serving dinner on "your special plate" can make all the difference...
Whoo makes the cutest owl softies? (Heh, sorry)
The first day of Autumn brings to mind leaves falling and stark naked trees and owls hooting at night. Crisp evenings and cold nights and noses with frozen snot-drips. (Maybe we won't talk about that last one.)We found this selection adorable owl softies on Etsy,...
Bugs. They’re big with kids. Even when they’re not.
I have to admit getting a little flush of pride knowing my daughters are willing to pick up earthworms and tickle those pillbugs until they roll into tight little balls. At least for now. So I was happy to see that The Bug Book and Bottle is presented in a way to be...
The best car seats for children – also some of the coolest.
Now that Wize has announced the winners of their best car seats for children, we're glad to see two of our own favorites made the list: The Britax Roundabout and the Graco Nautilus 3-in-1. Both of which we love because they're safe, they're easy to install, and...
Socks in Box
I'm constantly on the lookout for fun little gender-neutral baby gifts. (I mean, what is it with all these moms who "want to be surprised" anyway? Can't everyone be as impatient as I am?) One of my favorite new finds are the adorable bamboo-blend newborn sock sets...
Foodzie is like Etsy for food. I’m doomed.
Do you hear that sound? It's my hips expanding.I know I'm going to rue the day I discovered Foodzie, the marketplace for hand-crafted and artisan foods. Whereas my resolve is unwavering when I pass the fun-size candy bars in the supermarket aisle (Full of chemicals! I...
Oh! what a cool book
Browsing the Picasso Museum gift shop in Barcelona last week (I know, totally rubbing it in) I came across the most wonderful little book called Oh! by Josse Goffin. I had an idea that my two year-old wouldn't be able to put it down and indeed, that's just how it's...
The winner of The Bump’s Best Fashion Blog is…Cool Mom Picks!
You guyyyyys... We're so so grateful so many of those of you who rallied and voted for us as The Best Fashion Blog for Moms by The Bump. But because we want you to have more to show for it than carpal tunnel, we're turning over our prize, the $100 Pottery Barn Kids...
All-natural gummies that won’t get your house TP’d on Halloween
My kids still recall with disdain the house that gave out unsweetened popcorn balls and apples one year for Halloween. I understand the desire to offer something less junky, but a safer bet against toilet paper in my trees might be some of the all-natural, Vitamin...
Gender neutral baby bedding? Reader Q&A
I just found out we're expecting a boy who'll be sharing a room with our 3-year-old daughter, who will be 3 years old, so I need to buy bedding for both of them. Any suggestions on where to find bedding that will look great in a boy baby/girl preschooler shared...
We’re in the running!
Thank you all so much for your support of Cool Mom Picks in the best fashion mommy blog on The Bump this past week. It would seem we might actually have a chance . .. but we need your help.And today is the last day of voting.So if you think that what we do here...
Jade’s ToyBox delivers boxes of pure happiness
Jade's Toy Box no longer exists I'm starting to think that group gifts are the way to go. Chip in with a bunch of other folks, and get someone one seriously awesome something-or-other that they'll really appreciate. And I think that's what Jade's ToyBox was thinking...