More coolness from recent weeks…
We’re kind of freaking out over this Game of Thrones Sesame Street video
There have been many brilliant Sesame Street parody videos over the years, many of which we've featured here on Cool Mom Picks, but this new one starring Elmo and the Lannister siblings from Game of Thrones might just take the cake. Or should we say, crown? Related:...
10 super easy, totally free ways to help support your favorite independent publishers + keep that content free for you!
It's hard out there for an independent publisher. But here we are, like we have been for the past 13 (whoa!) years, putting out out stories, offering tips, and uncovering cool finds that we really hope our readers enjoy -- all while making sure it remains free for...
Why this is the best soap our resident beauty product junkie has ever tried
You know how so many honey beauty products smell like one of the bees was turning 21, so the whole hive went out to celebrate, but they could only afford cheap pollen, and as a result they got completely blitzed on cheap pollen and bootleg nectar, then they made their...
Barcelona with teens: 6 tips to make your family vacation worth the investment
If you're considering traveling to Barcelona with teens or older kids, I can help! As a diplomatic family now living abroad in Germany, we have the amazing opportunity to live and travel around Europe. Traveling with kids at any age brings a certain set of challenges,...
Exclusive look: Get a first peek at June and January’s new swim collection for kids!
Searching for cute, modern swimwear that our kids like as much as we do can be harder than you'd think, but this year I'm excited about the new swim collection from June & January. Even more exciting -- we get to give you all the exclusive first look at their new...
Help for picky eaters from a reformed picky eater | Spawned ep 149
This week's Jacky Lamenzo is a health coach with a focus on picky eating, to help make mealtime less stressful. We like that while we've gotten some great picky eater tips in the past, Jacky has a more kid-centered approach, focusing on how kids feel, and why some of...
Hot trend alert: Adidas Stan Smiths are back, and it’s 1972 all over again!
I've been spotting the iconic Adidas Stan Smith sneakers all over the feet of NYC's young and fashionable -- and okay, not-so-young but still pretty fashionable -- and I am loving it! I'm not much of a high heel gal, and it's so great that comfy sneakers (that aren't...
8 fun, easy Easter egg ideas for toddlers and preschoolers. Big kids shouldn’t have all the fun!
Let's talk about easy Easter egg ideas for toddlers, like mine. Because dyeing eggs with traditional techniques for this age group can be a risky proposition. Adorable? Yes. Liable to require hours of steam cleaning the carpet? Also yes. While we've covered some great...
The Urban Decay x Game of Thrones line is coming. Just like winter, as you may have heard.
As a devoted Game of Thrones fan who's waited two loooooong (oh God it's been so long) years for the final season that premieres this weekend, I'm scouring the web for basically anything GOT. The last thing I expected to find: A Game of Thrones makeup collection from...
Comparing 4 prom dress rental sites to save you time, money, and dressing room meltdowns
We all know that buying a prom dress can be an exhausting and expensive process, but after learning about these prom dress rental sites, I'm convinced it really doesn't have to be. These rental sites all let you browse online, select a dress to borrow for a few days,...
Why POP light-up sneakers for kids are the hottest thing in kids’ shoes right now.
First, I have to get this out of the way: POP Shoes are not for families who get sticker shock at the price of high-end kids wear. But if you are down with designer stuff here and there, splurge on birthday or holiday gifts, need some crazy cool shoes for a Bar...
10 incredible new children’s books this spring, from the biggest names in children’s literature
Spring is in the air at my house, and I'm channeling my energy into refreshing our bookshelves. We've taken boxes of old books to the used bookstore, and we're making room for some new favorites. Because the best new children's books coming out this spring happen to...
The custom map jewelry that has us thinking Mother’s Day gifts (hint, hint)
It's never too early to start thinking about Mother's Day gifts, in my opinion. And when I spotted the custom street map jewelry over at Talia Sari, I knew these were going straight to the top of my wish list. The minimalist style is sleek and understated, yet each...
Look closely at these new Vans: Yes, those are horses!
If you've got a horse lover in your home, I strongly suggest you click immediately over to Vans and snag a pair of these Vans x Molo horse sneakers. Yes, the design may look abstract at first, but if you look closely, you'll see that this super rad pattern created in...
The personalized handbags that are more meaningful than a monogram
We've covered lots of clever personalized gifts that we've discovered over the years, and especially personalized gifts for Mother's Day -- with more in the next few weeks, no doubt! And the new-to-us Irvine-based Etsy shop, Fontem, is a new one to add to the top of...
A Piglet Named Mercy: Kate DiCamillo’s newest picture book for young readers | Sponsored message
This is a sponsored message from Candlewick Press Tens of thousands kids are devoted fans New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson chapter book series from two-time Newbery Medal winner Kate DiCamillo, and popular children's illustrator Chris Van Dusen -- after all,...
The new Star Wars graphic novel that will get kids bargaining for more reading time
As educators and experts have told us for years, whatever your child is reading -- magazine articles, graphic novels, comics, sports bios -- it's all good, because it's all still reading. So when you combine the format of a graphic novel, the humor of the most popular...
Can astrology help you find more direction in life? It can when you look at it this way. | Spawned episode 148
Whether you're a skeptic, an astrology devotee, or just curious about the science behind it, we had the most fascinating chat with Mimi Truong, a life coach, trained lawyer by background...and an astrologer. She combines strategic coaching expertise with her extensive...
An Easter onesie your baby can wear all spring and summer long
Not everyone is down for spending a ton on a fancy baby Easter dress that may get worn once -- or even a specific Happy Easter onesie that won't quite work once we hit May. But then I found this absolutely adorable spring bunny onesie from new baby shop, Kinderbirch...
9 cool Easter egg ideas for tweens and teens who are over solid colors: Star Wars, pop art, fake cacti, and more
If your older kids are totally over PAAS kits for Easter egg decorating, I've got you covered! I've tracked down 8 cool Easter egg ideas for tweens and teens to suit all kinds of tastes. From pop art and comic inspiration, to Star Wars and retro 80's style, these are...
Why Britax BOB strollers weren’t recalled after 200 crashes. Spoiler: It’s political.
I just read the shocking new report in the Washington Post about the fight to recall the Britax BOB Jogging stroller and it's disturbing, to say the least. It is worth your time to spend a few moments reading the entire story, but the essence: between 2012 and 2018...