We have 45 BRILLIANT last-minute holiday gift ideas you can ship, make, pick up, or IOU. (Hey, moms are busy!)

While we've been sharing plenty of our favorite Amazon Prime Day Deals, there are so many Prime Day beauty deals they've added for day 2 that we wanted to call out our favorites. We're talking everything from the high-end premium beauty brands at prices lower than...

Sale Smackdown! Steals and deals from 45 shops that are not Amazon

While we happen to have put together more than 150 of the best Prime Day deals this week, we know that not everyone is an Amazon shopper. Or maybe you're not exclusively an Amazon shopper, same as our team. Fortunately, this year tons of brands and retailers are...

The Best Prime Day Deals: Top-Rated Items You May Actually Want, Plus Exclusive Promo Codes

If you're a Prime Day shopper, you know that it can get a little garage sale-y in there. So we're here to save you time and energy, helping you jump to the best of the Prime Day deals. You know. the sales on things you would buy even if they were full price -- or...

10 ½ incredible deals from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale that I want right now this very second

Whoo! It's that time of year -- the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, in which I always buy the things I would buy anyway....only for less! With that, I'm sharing 10 things I love that are totally worth buying at Nordstrom Anniversary Sale prices. But hey, feel free to find...

5 small life edits that make a positive difference in rough times: Dr. Christine Koh

The world is...rough right now. And that's an understatement. So I reached out to my great friend, podcast host, and purveyor of wisdom, Dr. Christine Koh, who is sharing 5 small, tangible things we can all be doing to make positive change in our lives and stay steady...

The new water bottles your kids may want to take to bed: One Cool Thing

Trying to keep the kids hydrated this broiling hot summer? Here's one option that may help: The world's cutest new animal water bottles for kids, just released from Uncommon Goods. (You know how much we love Uncommon Goods.) While they're ideal for back-to-school...

Summer Sales! The best of this week’s deals on beauty, home, fashion, kids, and summer fun

If you thought you had to wait until Prime Day to score huge deals on things you actually want and need...you're in for a treat! Visit the Cool Mom Picks Deals Page for our favorite deals we've tracked down from our favorite brand partners this week. From the big...

This giant Connect Four game that’s taken over suburban lawns this summer is on sale

If you're looking for a fun new outdoor toy for summer, we have plenty of backyard swings and water toys to check out. And now there's one more: This giant Connect Four game (technically, "Four in a Row Connect Game") that's been spotted this summer in backyards from...

Beat the heat with 10 of the coolest backyard water toys, inflatable pools, and sprinklers.

by Kate Etue

This is a terrific time to find some cool backyard water toys for the kids, because they're all on sale, and let's be honest, we're all feeling the heat this summer. Back in 2020 we first shared our favorite backyard water toys when we were all stuck at home dealing...

The best of the 4th of July week sales: Huge savings on beauty and style, travel and tech, home and decor

If you're holding out for Prime Day and Nordstrom Anniversary Sale deals, we get it. And we'll have plenty of our favorite deals from them coming soon. But some of the July 4th week sales happening right now are pretty spectacular. So we're sharing our favorites that...

Your summer lifesaver, now on sale. Or is that my summer lifesaver?

Browsing through the early Prime Day deals on Amazon and looking for some camp care package gifts for my kids, I came across a deal that was made for me: The hands-free, USB-charged neck fan I have been craving for ages. After sitting through the hottest, sweatiest,...

Help kids be the change they want to see in the world with these 7 terrific children’s books about activism

by Kate Etue

We have written often about raising activist kids and what we can do to encourage them to get involved with whatever cause inspires them. One of the first place we turn are books, and in this case, wonderful children's books about activism. With the looming election,...

Can a high GPA make up for a low SAT score? And do “test-optional” schools really mean it? | An Insider Guide to College Admissions

Next up in our Insider's Guide to College Admissions series, we're answering questions about the SATs and ACTs, like their relative importance, whether they matter more or less than your GPA, and whether "test-optional" schools really are. Here to answer: Insider...

Kids, social media, and mental health: Devorah Heitner on what we’re getting wrong and how to fix it

This episode is a must-listen for all parents of kids who have smartphones, especially if you're worried about the impact of social media on mental health. And isn't that all of us, these days? Dr. Devorah Heitner a renowned author and expert on kids and technology,...

Should you apply Early Decision to a college? Pros and cons? | An Insider Guide to College Admissions

Next up in our Insider's Guide to College Admissions series, we're answering that tough question about Early Decision (ED) applications. What are the pros and cons? Does it really give you an edge? Is there anyone who shouldn't apply ED? Here to answer: Insider Alyse...

Summer job or internship? Do colleges have a preference? | An Insider Guide to College Admissions

Next up in our Insider's Guide to College Admissions series, we're answering a common question about how to spend your summers in high school -- and especially that important summer between junior and senior years. Insider Alyse Levine, top college counselor and...

My go-to shops for the best camp basics for kids. (Hurry: Big sales now!)

It's that time of year: Camp clothes shopping! Or more accurately, the time of year I look at the kids' camp clothing checklist and realize we have outgrown everything and gah, where am I going to get those non-itchy navy shorts again at this late date? If you're in...

Deal of the Day: My favorite crew-neck tee is on sale under $10!

I'm often asked for the best t-shirts for women -- why this is such a hard thing to find I don't know, but it is. My answer these days: If you like a crew neck tee, the Uniqlo crew-neck tees are on sale for just $9.70 each this week. Wow. They're thick, soft, and...

We found 10 stylish, athletic two-piece swimsuits for teens who aren’t feeling the teeny bikinis

by Kate Etue

While some of our daughters are rocking the teeny bikini that are back this summer, others are more interested in athletic two-piece swimsuits that let them be as active in the pool or on the beach as they'd like. As it turns out, it's a little harder to find stylish...

Summer sales! The best of the June deals right now

Hooray, it's Monday! Which also means... v Visit the Cool Mom Picks Deals Page for our favorite deals we've tracked down from our favorite brands. From the big stores we all shop, to the indie companies we love supporting. You'll find deals on style, beauty, home,...

The Original Makeup Erasers: Okay fine, I love them. Here’s why.