More coolness from recent weeks…
Hare brush! Get it?
That old wives' tale about heartburn being a sign that your baby will be born with a head full of hair didn't work out so well for me. I had twenty-seven months of fiery heartburn and three bald babies. But for luckier mamas who've got something besides peach fuzz to...
I’m a little bit country
We first found Dame Star Baby back in 2007 (check out our gushing gusher of a review here) and fell instantly in love with their amazing Martin Guitar tee with an appliqué made of an intricately handstitched collage of fabrics. Well a quick poke around their shop...
Cool kids music – There’s now enough to fill its own video site
Did I ever tell you that my oldest daughter is a music video star? Yep, it's true. Check out the Bedhead video from the Jimmies, and at about 1:40 you'll see her rocking out with a spiky red mohawk and huge smile. You'll find this and more at Jitterbug.tv, a new site...
A baby changing pad that stays clean? Well, pretty much. Yeah.
While I don't have a lot of patience for unnecessary baby "essentials" if there's one little doodad I'm a big fan of it's the changing pad. I stash one in the car, one at grandma's, one in a diaper bag, one under the stroller, and even one on the actual changing pad...
Flying the friendly presidential skies
Okay, we'll stop soon with all the Obama keepsakes. But we'd be remiss if we didn't share with you this very cool President Obama Air Force One wooden toy plane that we just discovered at Wooden Toddler Toys. It's US-made, of course, from safe natural hardwood from...
Chic diaper bags priced so you can afford the diapers too
Who was the evil mastermind that convinced moms they needed to schlep around gigantic, ugly quilted diaper bags in order to carry baby essentials? Personally I like bags like this Everyday Bag from Christy Studio, which is stylish enough to swap out the diapers for a...
Things to do with kids when you’re too busy to think argh, what can I do with the kids?
I think of Yojo Mama as that clued-in friend who knows all the hot spots in town. Except instead of tipping you off to a new shoe store, she knows fun places to take an active toddler, which restaurants are kid-friendly and even the nearest diaper changing station...
Hooded baby towels that actually do what a hooded baby towel is supposed to do. Shocking.
Hooded towels are pretty much a requisite baby registry purchase, but most of the big shops that moms register with offer the thinnest, scratchiest, least absorbent towels in the world. I know. I've been there, as have my poor shivering kids. So you'd better hope your...
The big polka dot elephant in the middle of the room
Leave it to the darn CPSIA to help us discover a ton of wonderful artisans thinking about calling it quits on February 10th thanks to the new toy testing regulations.Such is the case for Kristen Dirmeier, musician and artist, who hand creates the most adorable stuffed...
Into the wild blue yonder
Since my husband is a pilot, you can probably guess the amount of plane toys and clothes we've got strewn about our house. But we have yet to see anything like the Margalo Aviator Cap from Soil. Modeled after a classic pilot's cap and even featuring a set of appliqued...
The 2009 inauguration. You know, for kids.
Wondering how to amply convey excitement and understanding about Obama's historic inauguration for your children? Me, I'm going to click over to Share My Inauguration with my oldest daughter, and show her what it all looks like from a kid's perspective. Not just any...
The new Electric Company plugs in today and that’s C…ool…Cool
Hey you guyyyyyyyys! Let me just come right out and say the new Electric Company kids' show on PBS does not disappoint, and, believe me, I was worried. In fact, my first reaction to the relaunch was one of skepticism. How could they mess with Easy Reader? Fortunately,...
Revved up like a deuce
An occupational hazard of writing for Cool Mom Picks is spending waaaay too much money buying all the cool stuff you're writing about. One glance at this original 1970s Olds print and my 8-year-old was declaring he had to have it.It's not surprising considering these...
An infant massage DVD that rubs me the right way
I'd always heard about infant massage, but I never felt comfortable enough to give it a try. I figured that slathering my babies with lotion after their baths was about the closest I'd ever get to practicing infant massage.Then I got a chance to check out the...
Can You Hear Me Now?
These days I woo clients while emptying the dishwasher, refilling sippy cups, and changing poopy diapers. Yes, really. Obviously, a Bluetooth headset is a must. But not all headsets are created equal, which is why I lo-ove my Zivio Boom. It's got six different...
Cafe Handmade’s virtual craft show: open 24 hours
A few days before Christmas, I decided to visit a large indoor craft show, jam-packed with cool, one-of-a-kind items. I arranged for a sitter to watch the kids, got directions and was ready to go. Then, it snowed. I wish I had known about Cafe Handmade when I was...
Moey’s Music Party throws a preschooler bash
Melissa Levis, the Moey of Moey's Music Party, communicates to toddlers the way I wish I could, especially when they are getting on my nerves. Rather than tensely demand, "Share your toys!" this off-Broadway songwriter sings a bouncy song about sharing. Instead of...
If these walls could read
Ever been tempted to rip the pages out of your kids' books and hang them on the wall? Is that only me? Oops. I'm tempted by every single framable children's book illustration by illustrator Adam Record of Fall Down Tree, a man so cool and 2.0 that he...
A baby activity center that lets mom get some activities in too
Of course those gihunda baby activity centers and Exersaucers are a big hit for new parents because the kid will happily swat at some puppets or jingle balls in there long enough for you to hit the shower and wash the pureed chicken out of your hair. (Don't hurt me...
Last day to vote – Save handmade from the CPSIA
Today is the last day to vote at Change.org for "Save Small Businesses for CPSIA", a proposal from the Handmade Toy Alliance that help to save handmade. If you have a minute (or a few seconds if you're a fast clicker), hop over and vote digg style. The top 10 ideas...
Toby + Rei spin bamboo and cotton into a whole lot of cute
I don't think I could ever send my kids off to school with a flimsy paper lunch bag after getting one of Toby + Rei's sturdy and very cool reusable Robot Lunch Sacks. These heavyweight, 100% organic cotton sacks are so much bigger than the typical lunch bag, meaning I...