More coolness from recent weeks…
Pediped Goes Big
Pedipeds are a dream come true for those of us in need of a stylish yet baby-foot friendly alternative to leather booties for our crawlers and cruisers. But now our big kids can enjoy Pedipeds too, thanks to their brand spanking new Flex line.The styles are...
“Just One More Book,” Definitely Preferable to “Just One More Cookie”
My three-year-old daughter (the little angel) has entirely too many dumb books, which is killing me softly, because why waste time on dumb books ever in your life? My problem: Only children's boutique bookstores have the right level of selection, and libraries can be...
Giving Cold Shoulders the Cold Shoulder
I admit (don't kill me, urban fashionistas) that I mourned the day the pashmina went out of style. I loved the versatility of this great piece and was glad to tuck one into my bag to keep for unexpected forays into too-cold offices or airplane cabins. Last week, when...
Eau de Notbabyfood
If you're suffering from Postpartum Fragrance Rut (PPFR) but you're not ready to delve back into the world of $70 an ounce eau de parfums, here's a thought: Elizabeth Morrison's artisanal theme fragrance collection of hand-poured perfumes. I will be honest, with...
You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Wallhanging
Looking out on the morning rain, I used to feel uninspired. But then I found wooden wall art. And super cuteness transpired. What? You were going to hang paper prints on your wall? Weird. Because wood is the new, um, paper. And to celebrate the closer-to-nature...
Tees That Inspire Imagination
I always get happy every time another talented graphic designer decides to spawn, because it means the talent gets redirected from gig posters or shampoo packaging to cool duds for kids. Case in point: The utterly fabulous new design (and parenting) team of Julio and...
One Way to Distract Them From the Overcooked Meatloaf
So say your name is Matte Stephens. And say you're this way-cool, modern artist. Wouldn't it only be a matter of time before your original Mattes are matted on a mat? We're thinking that's an obvious yes. This new limited edition placemat collection from Modern-Twist...
Just don’t call them push presents
Let me start by saying that the idea of "push presents" creeps me out. Hate the name, hate the notion that we're entitled to a Birkin Bag or $5,000 tennis bracelet because we employed our uterus. (Okay, so maybe I've been spending too much time on NYC...
Children’s Books the Way They Used to Be. Literally.
I'm so excited to have discovered (at Toy Fair, of all places) the wonderfully named Seattle-based Laughing Elephant Books. If you're feeling nostalgic for beautifully illustrated, printed and bound books of your youth - or more likely the ones passed down by your...
Pillowcases That Could Keep You Up Giggling
I have so much respect for designers who really do innovative things with nursery bedding. And if it's got a sense of humor - all the better. I mean, who says kids sheets have to be all about super heroes or butterflies?So of course I was instantly taken with the...
Socks To Be You
Socks don't tend to be something moms get excited over. In fact, aren't they the butt of jokes about bad gifts, along with fruitcakes and Dustbusters? But then mama-run Nix Baby came along with their awesome All-Star collection of socks, and now I'm giddy about the...
The Drool On the Diaper Bag Will Be Your Own
While we love tracking down cool, smaller label diaper bags, there's something extraordinary about finding one that really - no, really - no other mom on the playground will be carrying. How can we make that guarantee? Well in the case of the Nathalie Bag, there were...
Dropps it Like it’s Hot
I really wish someone had warned me about the crazy amount of laundry that one tiny baby requires - and the crazy amount of extra-special baby detergent that, truth be told, doesn't work worth a damn. But now I have Dropps, a fantastic enviro-friendly...
And the Seasons, They Grow Round and Round
My philosophy is if you're still looking for a desk calendar in late February, then you're the type who needs one the most. Take this Plantable Eco Calendar found at the Olive Barn. At first glance, I was taken by the whimsical artwork, but when I realized that...
Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Drool Catchers
No doubt that when the punk subculture began back in the mid-70s, the hope was that one day the iconography would be co-opted and mass produced on waterproof baby bibs, then sold through major retailers for $5.95 plus tax. All cynicism aside, the new Urban Chaos bibs...
Pak Nak Fever
As a child of the 70s, I remember insisting that my mother sew my soccer patch, my daisy patch, and two souvenir patches from a family trip to Europe right on the top of my Osh Kosh overalls. Ah, my early days as a fashion trendsetter. Patches may have gone the way of...
Time To Work Off Those Pregnancy Kit-Kat Cravings?
Now that the baby is out and spring is on its way, I'm itching to get back on my bike and out on the trails in my neck of the wild, wild west. But breastfeeding the kiddo through three layers of activewear isn't feasible - or is it? Turns out, it's not only feasible,...
“I’d Like to Thank Cool Mom Picks…”
Motherhood means giving up more than your waistline, I realize, as Oscar weekend is upon us and of all the nominated flicks, I've managed to catch only one of them. If you're in my (sad, pathetic) boat, we have the solution for you: Get yourself a sitter tomorrow and...
Pillows Almost Too Cute To Hurl at the Kids
We know. When it comes to kids, sometimes you just have the urge to, you know, toss something about. For such an occasion, we humbly suggest the throw pillows from the Modern Basics brand new Baby Boo collection. Designer Page Ikeda (about to be a mama herself) has...
A Long Way From Dumbo
I'm not always enamored of animal artwork for the kid's room because much of the time, you end up with baby-ish images longer than you have actual babies. But in the case of the elephant canvases at Modern Dose, heck, I could live with them in my own bedroom. Artist...
Wonder Woman, Mom…Same Difference
Ah, at last "mommycards" that recognize the true nature of the mommy has nothing to do with juggling grocery bags and walking a dog while wearing a Bjorn. They're the WonderWoman notecards from Pink Sugar Dots. And they're personalized, so yes, they'll have...