More coolness from recent weeks…
Obama? Hillary? Duck?
I admit that my eyes have been glued to the Presidential debates and caucuses, much to the chagrin of my Noggin-addicted three-year-old. So instead of fighting about when she gets to watch the Backyardigans next, I'm going to get her fired up about a better show:...
Show the Love All Year Long
We're certainly not anti-Valentine's Day here at Cool Mom Picks; I mean what crazy person is going to turn down an excuse to eat chocolates and get flowers? But we like to think that if you're going to stock up on holiday-type stuff for your kiddo,...
Not Your Ordinary Mortal Alphabet Book
I've been calling my daughter Wonderbaby for, like, forever. She's always seemed the type of child - even when she was only days old - who might just take off at any moment and leap tall buildings in a single bound. So when a dear friend sent me The Adventures Of...
That’s Kangaroo Rat to You
With the gaggles of educational animal shows and books out there, the cows, chickens, and puppy dogs of my childhood have been replaced with orangutans, meerkats, and my daughter's current favorite, chinchillas. When not just any old farm animal shirt...
Stick It To The Kids
When I sent my older daughter off to day care, I scrawled her initials on masking tape and stuck these makeshift labels haphazardly on her bottles, thinking that ought to suffice. Oh, how wrong I was. Some of her things never made it home, and those that did were...
Enviro+Chic
These days, you can't throw a virtual stone without hitting a new environmentally conscious boutique. As we can attest, not all are created equal. Note to boutique owners: Just because it's got hemp in it doesn't mean I want my kid wearing it. On the other hand, Hazel...
Child Development Expert? Yeah, Me Neither.
As much as I would like to believe I'm an expert on my own child, I've been known on occasion to bring home a book before realizing that yeah, maybe she's not quite ready for the whole "and then Bambi's mother dies" thing. Now Savvy Source is helping me out...
You’re So Green and You Don’t Even Know It
In trying my hand at a new greener lifestyle, I have to say it definitely takes effort. But this Re-Run Bag from the Fleurville diaper bag empire spotted at fantastic green boutique Generation Orange, requires nothing but the ability to sling it right over your...
Pulp Non-Fiction
You'd think it would be easy to shop for a newly pregnant woman, but it's harder than it seems. Especially if you don't know whether the mama-to-be would prefer a pedicure or that everyone just leave her alone and stop touching her, dammit! Pulp Factory Calendars may...
Sleeping More Beautifully
It seems that while baby blankets are bequeathed to new moms in abundance, quilts and toddler pillows are overlooked. Blink your eyes and your infant is now a kid whose cold feet are sticking out from under that baby blanket.That's when you turn to Jesseca Bellemare,...
A New Take on the Good Old A to Z
I had the great fortune of receiving a lovely personalized Ida Pearle print from my gorgeous and brilliant CMP co-editor upon the birth of my son. [Co-editor's Note: I'm funny, too.] So when I learned that Ida had recently released a set of alphabet cards, I couldn't...
Handwashing Should Make You Feel Better Not Worse
I suppose it takes becoming a parent, or in my case, working in a hospital, for you to realize that your own parents knew what they were talking about when it came to the whole handwashing thing. Unfortunately most anti-bacterial soaps contain triclosan, the stuff...
Because Not All Great Gifts Come From Santa
My son has a birthday that falls right after the biggest gift giving holiday of the year, making it a bit hard to figure out what to get him that feels "special." Considering how well he cleaned up at Christmas, it's not easy giving the old guy in the red...
Definitely Beats a Big Sibling T-Shirt
As surprised as I was by my third pregnancy, my older daughter was downright shocked. She may have actually gotten used to the idea more quickly than I did, thanks in part to Making Me: The Pregnancy Activity Book for My Big Brother or Sister. Written by mom Julie...
Nipples to Spare
Ever thought to yourself, nursing's great and all but you know what I could really use? Some spare nipples. Oh admit it, of course you have. And clearly you're not alone. Which is why the always clever folks at Wry Baby has created just that - a set of extra...
People Safe, Planet Safe
My husband and I go back and forth about my penchant for sleek, modern design versus his love for the old-fashioned basics. But what we don't argue about is our desire for safe, environmentally conscious furniture for our children.I just may be able to tip him...
The Amazing Adventures of SuperChloe
I think every kid should have a costume chest (or costume closet if you have a big house like my sister-in-law). Boy or girl, there's no better rainy day activity than pretending to be a butterfly or an alien or a superhero firefighting princess.The handmade capes...
Aprons That Get an A
As much as I love those cute flouncy cotton kid's aprons, frankly, they're no match for a toddler and a spatula full of brownie batter. So I absolutely fell in love with the kids aprons from Beansoup the second I took mine out of the package. The first thing that...
We’ve Come a Long Way, Baby
Regardless of how you stand on the candidate herself, the fact that there's a woman leading more than one presidential poll is pretty awesome. We've come a long way from the 70s when they ran ads in the back of Ms. Magazine for tees proclaiming A Woman's' Place is in...
Royally Rocking
Right now, with writers striking and award shows canceling, we're in need of some good entertaining. Thank goodness for Princess Katie & Racer Steve stepping in to save the day by pre-releasing Fast & Feisty, a fast (and feisty) tribute to all that's great...
Our Kind of Princess
With a princess-obsessed three year-old, I'm always on the lookout for pretty much any book that has absolutely nothing to do with them. And yes, I know it's cruel to cut her off entirely from the little crowned ladies just because they drive me nuts. So if you've got...