More coolness from recent weeks…
How to be a tech-positive parent (and why you want to be one) | Spawned Episode 175
When we started Cool Mom Tech almost 10 years ago, there wasn’t a lot of language around digital parenting. But considering we tend to be the non-alarmist type of parents, we approached parenting our own digital-native kids like other difficult parenting topics: with...
Illustoria is the perfect gift for your favorite thinking kid.
As the holidays get closer and our annual search for off-the-beaten path gifs for kids gets more intense, I'm so delighted to recommend a subscription to Illustoria. A magazine "for creative kids and their grownups," it makes an amazing gift for kids and tweens who...
5 incredible deals on hot toys at Zulily right now. The holidays are coming!
If you're looking to get a head start on holiday shopping -- especially toys for all those kids on your list -- you can score some truly fantastic deals right now thanks to our partner Zulily. And I can help! This parent-fave online retailer launches 100+ sales daily,...
Holiday craziness and stress: Let’s sloooooow things down a little, please? | Spawned ep 174
If you feel like the holiday season came sooner this year -- along with the holiday ads, the holiday sales, the Mariah Carey videos, and the holiday pressure, it's not in your head. There are lots of reasons we're feeling it more this year, and social media isn't...
4 smart, simple tips to help kids make good media choices with their screen time.
We write a lot about the importance of raising good digital citizens. The way we see it, the internet isn't going away, and the older your kids get, the harder it is to start teaching them good behavior. So we start young, so that as kids get older, they'll know how...
How the new HomeHawk by Panasonic makes home monitoring simpler, easier, and way less expensive
This is a sponsored message from Panasonic HomeHawk If you don't yet have a smart home monitoring system, it can seem overwhelming to get started. Systems can be expensive, and complicated, with professional home-wiring to schedule, and installation to figure out....
These 8 single-use products are going away in our lifetimes. Here are alternatives that make switching easy.
I love that increasingly, so many of us are trying to be more mindful with our product purchases, opting for eco-friendly reusable products instead of wasteful single-use alternatives. It doesn't just make good earth sense, it makes good budget sense. Besides, some of...
Finding Kindness: A beautiful new children’s book with a message the world needs | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message on behalf of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group Kindness comes in all shapes and sizes, which is exactly the lesson kids will learn reading the newest book from New York Times-bestselling author Deborah Underwood. Finding Kindness...
The most creative handmade kids’ Halloween costumes on Instagram this year
I've seen so many clever Halloween costumes this year, it's hard to keep up! There are always the year's super popular costumes -- the astronauts, the princesses, the superheroes and a lot of VSCO girls. (Including me, ha. Hey, it was what I could throw together 5...
Last-minute Halloween crafts, printables, pumpkin decorating, and party activities to keep the whole week fun.
If it's not clear by now, we loooove Halloween around here! And if you need some ideas for party activities on Halloween night, or fun printables and craft ideas to keep the kids out of the candy stash for a few more days, take a look at these terrific ideas we've...
Summer Discovery: A summer enrichment program for middle schoolers that’s tween approved
This post was written in partnership with Summer Discovery This past summer, my 12-year old son mentioned to me that he was finally ready for sleepaway camp, but knowing him, I wasn't sure the traditional sleep-in-a-cabin type experience was right for him. He's an...
This magical Harry Potter Advent calendar is so cool! Grab one now or good luck finding one.
We love finding cool, creative advent calendars each year, and this year we're geeking out over the new Infinity Harry Potter Advent Calendar Liz found over at Merchoid. Potterheads, don't let this one disappear (through the forces of muggles, not magic) before you...
Long belted shirtdresses: 5 favorites you’ll want to live in this fall and winter.
This past week, I made a rare impulse clothing purchase: a gorgeous, long belted shirt dress from Uli Herzner that I spotted at a Chelsea Market pop-up. I've admired her work ever since she made it to the S3 fashion show on Project Runway, and I'm so excited to get to...
The affordable, life-saving, NO FREAKING SNAPS baby pajamas our readers swear by
Last week, we shared the hilarious, if painfully relatable new mom complaint about snap-up baby pajamas, thanks to comedy writer (Jimmy Kimmel!), humorist (the New Yorker) and author of Nobody Will Tell You This But Me, Bess Kalb. Seriously, she's one of my favorite...
Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Book Club Selection #11
After speaking with Dr. Ken Ginbsburg on our Spawned Parenting Podcast, I went out and bought all his books, one of which I'm thrilled to share is the next pick for our Cool Mom Picks Virtual Book Club. I found his approach to parenting teens (and well, kids in...
Reader Q+A: What is a thoughtful gift for a friend who’s had a miscarriage?
Recently, we received a question on Facebook that hit me in the gut: Q: What is a really thoughtful gift to give someone who's suffered a miscarriage? This is so tough. And since October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, it's a topic I thought was...
These hand-knit animal scarves require no food, no water, but lots of love.
While a real pet requires food, water, and responsibility, the phenomenal hand-knitted animals scarves from Dutch Etsy artist Nina Fuehrer require...well, just enough responsibility that they come home with your kids at the end of the day. At a recent Etsy holiday...
8 cute pumpkin decorating ideas for kids that are not scary at all
It's time to decorate those pumpkins, parents! And it's always fun to look around for some of the cute, creative pumpkin decorating ideas. Especially for those of us with little kids who aren't quite into the super creepy pumpkin vomiting...
11 new cookbooks parents should pick up now, from Suzy Chase of Cookery by the book
Cookbooks aren't just about recipes -- they open us up to new perspectives, new cultures, new ways of thinking about food. They can be funny, quirky or heartfelt., and they can even make our lives richer -- both at mealtime and beyond. Whether you're nodding along...
Cards honoring women’s achievements beyond motherhood and marital status. (Shocking, I know.)
I just got wind of Statement Cards, a new line of greeting cards designed to honor women's successes beyond the traditional congratulatory occasions. You know, like engagements, weddings, pregnancy and childbirth. Not that there's anything wrong with any of those...
23 wildly cute baby Halloween costumes on Etsy that will make you want many babies to dress up this year.
When you're a new parent, it's not like you have a ton of time, energy or brain cells to carefully DIY an Insta-perfect baby costume. So to make it easier, I've put together the guaranteed cutest handmade baby Halloween costumes on Etsy from all kinds of talented...