More coolness from recent weeks…
9 things parents do that deserve to be rewarded
Parenting is awesome. And really, really hard. We know, understatement of the year. That's why we think you'll appreciate the laugh you'll get from watching a few (or nine) of the crazy things we parents do every single day that deserve to be rewarded. And nope, we...
Girl toys and boy toys: Are we still doing this? Really?
Adapted from an article originally published on Mom-101.com Each year, our annual Brooklyn Fresh Air Fund trip to visit friends in suburban Massachusetts leads to our semi-annual fast food drive-thru lunch. (Oh, come and get me Sanctimommies. My kids love the Apple...
7 simple, sanity-saving tips for moving homes when you’ve got kids.
The holidays were a blur for me, and not for the usual reasons. I recently moved into a temporary 7-month rental while we do some much-needed home renovations to our home. And oh boy, after 13 years in one spot, was it a doozy of a move. Not only did I have to pack up...
Artwork honoring the diverse women whose shoulders we all stand on.
Yesterday, being able to march in the second Women's March with my mother and daughter and a group of incredible like-minded women, I feel re-energized and empowered to do what I can to help make this country the best one it can be for my kids. But as much as I'm...
14 Spawned podcast episodes you have to listen to. Because they’re our favorites too.
Whether you love podcasts or you're just getting into them, we've got 14 Spawned episodes you need to listen to. We're celebrating our 100th Spawned podcast episode by sharing our favorite Spawned episodes from over the years: the funny, the helpful, and the most...
A new magazine inspiring kids to do more than find a new lipstick color.
As a new mom, I'm excited to see a growing trend toward empowering children's books and magazines, especially ones that encourage kids to discover their own unique voices and interests. My latest favorite discovery is Bravery Magazine, a new, beautifully designed,...
Cheering for Tommy Hilfiger’s new styles of of adaptive clothing for kids and adults: WOW are they good
Getting dressed presents special challenges when you have special needs, so we love it when big-time brands recognize the need and create adaptive styles that are just as cute and affordable as the originals. Target's Cat & Jack Adaptive line for kids was launched...
Unicorn gift boxes spread magic. And we need magic-spreading unicorns.
Just when you were thinking the unicorn trend was passing...haha, just kidding! With all our Lisa Frank loving hearts, we all know that unicorns will never go out of style! And that's just one of the reasons I was so excited to find these new Send a Unicorn boxes....
6 educational activities for preschoolers that make time fly when you’re stuck indoors
When the weather has made taking your kids to the park impossible -- or at least, miserable -- it's helpful to have a few creative educational activities handy to keep preschoolers busy and entertained indoors. Because these winter days are soooo long. Even if they're...
Black History flashcards that inspire and educate, 52 cards at a time.
Each year, Black History Month is a wonderful time for Americans to celebrate the historical achievements and contributions of Black people in this country. But I dream of a time that these achievements will be given equal representation in our history books and...
Can’t find the exact bedding of your dreams? Flaneur has the (spendy) solution.
This year, I'm determined to get some of my home decor annoyances crossed off my to-do list and that includes finding a new comforter. One problem. I've been looking for a comforter that's just the right shade of navy for a while now, and I haven't been able to find...
3 wonderful new picture books about African American heroes, all written by authors of color
As a strong proponent of bookshelves filled with diverse books -- in our libraries, our schools, and certainly at home -- I've become much more aware of not seeking out books featuring heroes of color, but ensuring that a diverse group of authors and illustrators are...
Family ideas for making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a day of service, not just a day off.
Over the years, we've shared some of our favorite activities for Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Reading outstanding kids' books about activism, getting messy with some inspirational family craft projects (we're still loving this DIY mural), or seeking out other ways to...
Which state does the most reading? Innnnnnnteresting….
If you haven't yet checked out our annual roundup of the the best lists of the best children's books of the year, it's well worth your time. But here's one more book list that really caught my attention: Amazon's list of the states that read the most. The top 10...
5 books about Haiti for kids that celebrate its beauty, resilience and culture.
It's become devastatingly clear that not everyone recognizes Haiti as the naturally beautiful, culturally rich, nation that it is. Not to mention a resilient one, as we commemorate the 8-year anniversary today of the massive Port-au-Prince earthquake that struck the...
I’m a mom. Explaining the word “shithole” is far from my biggest concern.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! - Emma Lazarus After yesterday's racist, hateful, and decidedly non-presidential presidential "shithole" characterization of immigrants to America from predominantly black and brown...
6 of our favorite Disney movies that you can watch free at home this week.
This is a sponsored post on behalf of our partner Disney. We are total entertainment geeks, and as our readers know, we're big fans of family movie night. (i.e. Put down those screens, kids, and come watch the big screen right here with us.) So we are pretty psyched...
The best stay-put lipstick I’ve tried. Kiss me, Nars!
I am always looking for a good stay-put lipstick, which means it uh, actually stays. Plus, it can't be too drying, it has to distribute the pigment evenly, and it uh...actually has to stay put. Within reason of course. Well hallelujah for Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment...
Why #TimesUp made last night’s Golden Globes important family viewing. | Thinking Parent
Knowing that the Golden Globes would be more about female empowerment than fashion this year, with more red carpet questions and speeches about #MeToo movement and activism and gender parity and social justice, I decided to let my kids stay up and watch the awards...
Everything you ever wanted to know about eyelash extensions
After admiring my friend's gorgeous eyelash extensions a few months ago, I decided to bite the bullet and try them myself. As someone who doesn't wear a lot of make-up, and doesn't have a lot of time, I figured it would a cool way to make me look a little more awake...
The best children’s books of 2017 to read in 2018: All the year-end lists, all in one place.
This is my favorite recurring post every year on Cool Mom Picks, in which we collect all the best children's books of 2017 lists from all over the internet -- from big publications like the New York Times to our favorite indie bloggers with great taste in literature....