More coolness from recent weeks…
Estrogen surges: preserve the memory
So I always thought estrogen was exclusively about raging hormones, hot flashes, and that lovely monthly visitor that comes knocking at the most inopportune times.But not according to Raven Hanna, a jewelry artisan and self-proclaimed science geek. Thanks to her...
Attention: Lazy Gift Card Redeemers
Not to look a gift (card) horse in the mouth, but I when I get one I often forget to use it in time. I guess it's people like me who account for the $8 billion in gift cards that gets wasted each year. Yikes. If you anticipate a few gift cards this holiday season, you...
A Little Separation Between Your Kid and the Dining Room Table is Never a Bad Thing
Just because my daughter can feed herself does not mean she actually gets all the food in her mouth. Hence our love affair with Bibbitybop's Placemats. These hearty vinyl-covered placemats come in such fantastic fabric choices that you can set them out for...
Going Soft
After having two babies, I am a certified blanket snob. There's just no reason to settle for a mildly soft blanket when there are so many amazing ones to pick from. Take this simple yet gorgeous velour blanket from Satsuma Designs. Now I was instantly sold on its...
Better You Than Me, Sister
Even having gone through two mostly uneventful pregnancies (I know, don't hate on me), I'm happy now to be back in my regular jeans and regular shoes with not one ounce of lower back pain--and no forthcoming labor and delivery.And so, being the kind thoughtful friend...
Personal Cards (Even When They’re Not Personalized)
If there's anything that made me more weepy than is customary during those first few days after having my son, it was all the kind notes of congratulations sent to me. I'd like to reciprocate, except getting out the house with two kids to find the perfect baby card...
I Feel Pretty. Even at 35 Weeks.
I've reached that point in my pregnancy where I feel like that old cliché, the beached whale. Worse - I feel like I'm insulting whales with the analogy. It's time to treat myself to something fabulous to help me feel pretty through the home stretch.The very new...
The Three Little Kittens Would Never Lose These
Even though snow isn't exactly headed to my side of Atlanta any time soon, that doesn't mean my kids don't need mittens. Chilly little fingers need protection with or without the white stuff.I'm envisioning my son in a pair of these mittens* by Liz Jones Handmade....
The Best PR That Wool Could Ask For
American parents tend to have this hang-up with wool. Maybe generations of itchy grandma sweaters have made us skittish about the fabric but the truth is wool, especially for babies, can be amazing if used properly. So when we were given a first look at the new...
Contrary to Popular Belief, Moms Do Have a Few Brain Cells Left
After months spent in OB offices browsing parenting magazines that ran the gamut from mindless fun to downright annoying, I had no idea that there was something out there for moms that was actually (gasp) literary. While I love a good holiday cookie recipe or rainy...
Über-Hoodie
With December weather fluctuating between mildly cold to oddly warm, layering pieces are a mom's best friend. On my own wish list for my daughter: A Random Nicole hoodie, just one of many fantastic finds at mom and pop-run boutique for junior fashionistas,...
Awkward Family Dinners No More
You're more likely to find my family all yapping over each other a mile a minute during holiday dinners than staring awkwardly at our soup bowls. But other families? Not so lucky. Here are a couple of solutions to get things rolling. Table Topics is the maker of...
Ponytail Moms, Be Not Ashamed
As an avid ponytail wearer, I'm always left with a conundrum when it comes to winter hats. Do I just suck it up and deal with hat head? Not according to Girl32, a company founded by two women with a love of fashion and a knack for clever design. Their beanie cap with...
Giving New Definition to The Soft Shape Sorter
You don't have to be a parent too long before you realize that kids instinctively like sticking things in other things. Without delving into the old electrical outlet chestnut, let's just say there's truth in the stereotypes. So I'm totally smitten with Brooklyn...
From the Cradle to The Cradle ™
There are more "mom" websites and social networking sites popping up than we can shake a BPA-free baby bottle at. And who can blame them? We are collectively awesome, thus everyone wants us to grace them with our virtual presence. One of the more promising...
32 Degrees Out? How Did That Happen?
I am definitely not the together mom that has the warm stroller blanket out and ready to go for the first cold-weather day. And so here it is, December, and I'm still looking for a great sleeping bag kind of a thing to work with all the different strollers that we've...
Giveaway: $250 Gift Certificate from the Silly Wagon
Boy, did you pick a great month to start subscribing to the free, and yet oh so valuable CMP monthly newsletter.(Since, you know, you were totally about to do just that.) At the end of December, we're going to draw one new subscriber to win a $250 gift...
Clean up those toys, young lady
If you live in a little-ish place like I do, toy space is a commodity. Of course that doesn't stop the trucks and books and dolls and crayons from accumulating (God bless the grandparents) so we always look for furniture that serves more than one purpose. My newest...
Moving On From Macaroni Necklaces
My older daughter and I have finally reached the point where we can do crafts together that involve more than just dry pasta and pipe cleaners. There's only two problems: 1) I'm lacking the creative-mom gene. 2) I'm not enthused about projects that turn into clutter....
Art You Can Walk On
I have been in love with Lisa Masterson's artwork for so long I could hang it on my walls, my ceiling, lean it against my furniture, and rub it all over my body. But walking on it? Something I hadn't considered.But Lisa considered it. Because now her great shop...
Ordering french fries isn’t actually speaking French
Bilingual educational tools are all the rage in the US these days and The Cool Mom Picks editors have certainly come across our share of DVDs, CDs, books and other tools to get kids speaking everything from Spanish to...well, not Sanskrit. Yet. One of the cooler...