More coolness from recent weeks…
1977 Stocking stuffer flashback
I fondly remember those goofy frustration pencils with the googly-eyed gnomes at the top, and how you'd spin them between your palms to make the neon hair get all crazy. You know, to unload all the frustration we had pent up in fourth grade.Artist June Pfaff Daley...
Let your monsters make your monster pendant
We love the Metal for Monsters pieces at Blend Creations so much, we were delighted to hear that they've expanded the line: Now you can design your own monsters, or--better yet--let the kids design one for you and Blend will laser-etch their design right on the...
Play food for the future foodie
If you've got a budding foodie in your house like I do, he just can't cook pretend Eggs Benedict or Strawberry Chantilly Crepes on some nicked plastic pan nabbed from a garage sale.The utterly gorgeous Soop Sori Breakfast Chef Set from mom and dad owned Design for...
A poppy quilt that makes my uterus jump
If I were to have another baby, there is no question that at the very top of my wish list would be this Poppy Quilt from Boston's All the Numbers. With its big childlike poppies the motif CMP has been crushing on of late, I'd use this oversize quilt for snuggling time...
Giving your kids’ wardrobe a Kico in the pants
For every rule I think I have, there is always one pesky exception that crops up. Like when I say I don't love ruffles on my girls, suddenly I find Kico Kids and their modern, preppy-meets-flouncy woven and knit girls clothes that are more Milan runway than scary...
Holiday cookies way better than the ones you’ll make. Trust me on that one.
There are definitely some folks on my holiday list who deserve better than the lopsided bells and gingerbread amputees that pass for holiday cookies around my kitchen. In other words, everyone but Grandma. The holiday cookies from Better Bit of Butter are exactly what...
Glass Bottles That Don’t Look Like Glass Bottles
Can you imagine there are actually people out there who don't coordinate their baby's bottle to his blanket, bib, and onesie? Heh.But seriously, if you're a glass bottle user or just want to take the plunge from plastic, make sure to check out Smitten Baby's cool new...
Fresh air fun
I am constantly looking for: 1) Winter clothes for kids 0-12 2) Clothes that are designed to stand up to the rigors of hard play 3) A way that kids won't get suited up in and announce they need to use the bathroom.Item 3 may just be Murphy's Law at work (sorry),...
If you don’t know Jack. . .
I love receiving a birthday card in the mail, but when it's my time to send them out, I usually resort to a hastily typed email. Forgive me, but taking three kids anywhere near a rack of greeting cards is just asking for a headache. I have fewer excuses now that Jack...
Designer stroller pads turn even that third generation MacLaren into a swanky ride
Stroller pads seem to be the new hot thing now and we totally see why. It's a smart way to keep from investing in a whole new stroller when money is tight--says the mom who's now on baby number three.Our latest find is the stylish Ajo Bebe stroller pad. You definitely...
The Coolest Advent Calendars
I'm always the one in the drug store on December 5th shopping for an advent calendar--and wondering why the selection stinks. This year, I vowed to start earlier (albeit by just a few days) and wanted to share three options that I think are way cooler than anything...
Custom Christmas ornaments, delivered on doves’ wings
It's not that I don't go "awwww" just a little bit over the beautiful hand-cut ceramic dove ornament with a customizable message from Paloma's Nest--it's that mentally I'm sometimes still about nine or ten and imagine all the hilarious words I could put in...
Ingrid & Isabel Leggings – A maternity wardrobe essential we’d swear by
If you had told me that I'd be wearing leggings almost every day during my pregnancies I would have laughed at you. Well, politely of course. But when I realized how great they felt and looked, I got over myself and gave in to the trend.So if you want the ultimate...
Applique tees worth the double take
I know, I know, another appliqued t-shirt for kids. Or at least that's what I was thinking until I got my hands on the adorable creations by sisters and moms Autumn Durbin and Erin Payne of Noodle and Meatball. There was something appealing about their classic hand...
fin + roe: For parents who still get to pick out the Christmas cards
Since I've got a house full of kids, it's a safe bet that my holiday cards are going to feature photos of those kids. But I still want those cards to reflect my taste--which means no cards with ice-skating penguins or dancing candy canes.The holiday cards from...
Because a screaming baby in velvet doesn’t say “holiday cheer”
Even though my mother-in-law insisted on photos of my then 6-month old daughter in this ridiculous lace and velvet number, when it came down to holiday parties and Christmas day, we stuck her in a comfy, festive one piece. You can bet we'll be doing the same with our...
Expressing our thanks through acts of do-gooding
Happy Thanksgiving cool moms. In the spirit of giving thanks, we thought we'd share with you each of our favorite charitable orgs, some of whom are really getting whomped by the economy this year. Not from individual donors per se (you guys are always so great!), but...
Yes Eye Can
I am never going to be the mom who walks around Michael's picking all the supplies for origami finger puppet ornaments or hot glue gun 3-D stuffed animal baskets or whatever the heck other moms are making with their kids these days. I am the mom who instead grabs one...
Hanging out on the Loquat Rooftop
I've never thought of the Blues as particularly cheerful until I heard Brooklyn's Randy Kaplan sing Good Morning Blues, the first song on Loquat Rooftop. Amidst the amazingly nimble-fingered guitar work, I heard him ask, Good morning blues....blues How do you do? to...
Big brands doing cool things – Skip Hop’s new baby toys at Toys R Us
We love finding cool gifts and gear from small, up and coming designers, so we especially love when the humongo chains get smart and help turn them into big, up and coming designers. That's why we were excited to discover mom and pop founded Skip*hop has created a...
The sweetest announcements. Literally.
Out of consideration for my post-baby figure, I rarely bake any more. It's just one of the sacrifices I make in the name of vanity. But at holiday time, my no-bake resolution goes out the window (and takes my willpower right along with it). Send me a recipe for...