More coolness from recent weeks…
The 2017 National Book Award finalists that YA lovers will want to get their hands on now.
The 2017 National Book Awards have just been announced, in time for those crisp autumn nights cuddling up with a good book. And while you should check out all the finalists in the fiction and nonfiction categories, we're sharing the Young People's Literature...
A dedicated Boy Scout troop leader on why allowing girls into the organization won’t ruin life as we know it. | Thinking: Parent
Boy Scouts of America made a huge announcement yesterday: starting next year, girls will be able to enroll in their Cub Scouting program, and by 2019 be qualified to earn the coveted Eagle Scout rank. And of course, there is much debate, outrage, celebration, and...
Inspiration and encouragement in the most unlikely of places: Your underwear.
We've seen plenty of inspirational art and motivational mugs, but never have we even seen... panties. Well, until now, thanks to Innertruth Panties, a line of embroidered underwear with inspirational messages. On the inside. Admittedly, I giggled, but then, really,...
Unicorn pumpkins FTW! The cutest tutorials from around the web
We are here for the unicorn pumpkin trend! And, maybe you are too. I mean, unicorns are not going away because, unicorns. And magic. And glitter. And make-believe. Whether you've got a kid trick-or-treating dressed as a unicorn, or just want some front porch decor...
The flag is getting more respect than women right now, and we’re calling it out.
When we're feeling angry, feeling distraught, feeling completely gutted -- as we have been for the past week following the news about Harvey Weinstein and so many (too many) related stories -- it's always helpful to talk out our feelings. So Kristen and I got on the...
Free printable posters to empower our children with favorite quotes from strong women.
We're all such fans of the wonderful work of maker, designer and crafter Ursula Rosien of KRAFT&MINT design. So when we connected to discuss creating a series of free printable inspirational posters just for our kids, a whole lot of lightbulbs went off. With so...
5 reasons we’re excited for a groundbreaking new comic from Marvel that celebrates diversity.
Plenty of comic fans and geeks of all kinds are counting down the days until November 8. That's they day you can get your hands on the much buzzed-about Blessing in Disguise by award-winning Nigerian-American writer Nnedi Okorafor. It's an 8-page comic in Marvel's...
How to play more with your kids without going insane | Spawned ep 88
This week on Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we’re talking about indoor play. Because as the weather is getting cooler, our kids still need to stay active and keep the fun going. Yet...there's only so much we can handle, if we're going to be honest. So we invited,...
Crimson to Clover: 11 incredible Coach fall handbags in colors that we’re here for.
I have to get out of the black handbag rut. Like, now. Considering most of my wardrobe tends to be blacks, greys and neutrals, I have absolutely no excuse not to dip my toe (or uh, shoulder) into the gorgeous, colorful handbags and accessories that are so hot for fall...
Nerd parent alert! 7 brilliant ideas for kids’ Game of Thrones costumes.
If your post-bedtime routine is all about Westeros, Wildlings, and Winterfell, you're going to love these cheeky Game of Thrones inspired costume ideas for kids this Halloween. And while there's no chance my kids will be watching The Mountain and Prince Oberyn's...
The Roots create a Schoolhouse Rock-ish video about slavery. Here’s why every parent should watch. | Thinking Parent
Last week's episode of Blackish focused on Columbus Day and why some Americans still celebrate or honor a man who really was no hero. The entire episode was powerful -- and brilliantly funny, as the show always is -- but it was I Am A Slave from The Roots, a song and...
How would you describe yourself with just four 4 things?
I love receiving personalized gifts, because they show that a friend has put a little more thought into gift-giving than, "Hey, it's on sale!" So when I saw these fun personalized 4 Things tote bags at The Shop Forward, I went ahead and passed it along it to a few...
Lisa Loeb’s latest lullaby album is the perfect chill out music. For adults.
I've been a big fan of Lisa Loeb since her hit song "Stay (I Missed You)" in the 90s. Then I became a mom and she started making really good kid's music and I loved her all over again. Now, those world's collide with her latest Amazon Original album Lullaby Girl, just...
An honest review of Glossier Balm Dotcom Universal Salve | Damn You, Social Media Ads
I can't be the only one seeing Glossier ads all over my Facebook feed. Those videos of dewey-skinned young lovelies applying their skincare products and popular lip balms were too much for this beauty product fan to resist! So in our latest installment of Damn You,...
Glow-in-the-dark pacifiers for Halloween! Or you know, baby’s first rave.
On Halloween, bigger kids may get all the action when it comes to face paint, fake fangs, multicolored hair, creepy costumes, and spooky masks. But glow-in-the-dark pacifiers? These suckers (ha) are babies-only. Related: 7 easy, creative baby Halloween costumes you...
A personalized children’s book that shows all kids that they can be anything they want.
We're always on the lookout for children's books that feature diverse characters, depict positive gender-neutral roles, and inspire. So I was pretty excited to discover this Kickstarter project for Seeing is Believing, a personalized picture book showing children that...
3 new building toys for animal lovers that kids (and parents!) will adore | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from MEGA Whether you're shopping for birthdays, holidays, or even World Animal Day (that's today!), these three new animal-themed building toys from kid-favorite MEGA might just be the perfect gift for the little animal lover in your life....
You won’t believe the features built into these 3 new jaw-dropping luxury strollers.
The new fancypants luxury strollers that have come out recently have me thinking, whoa. How did I survive my own baby's years with a regular old, not expensive, stroller? I mean, these new luxury strollers push themselves (literally). They monitor themselves for...
The first AR teddy bear blends high-tech with old-fashioned creative play | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from Seedling Kids love tech. Kids love stuffed animals. So of course kids are going to love Parker, the world’s first Augmented Reality teddy bear who's here just in time for the holidays. Parker combines classic pretend play with amazing...
What to say when you call your representatives (and why it’s not scary)
We've seen so many important issues rise to the surface in 2017, and with that, more people calling their representatives. But we also see people saying that it makes them nervous, or they don't know just what to say. I can safely say that all of us here at Cool Mom...
The best travel mug we’ve ever used. And we’ve used a lot of them.
I have used an embarrassing number of travel mugs in my life, and none have come close to the YETI Rambler that I received as a gift from a friend a few months ago. It's going to be my new go-to gift for everyone because I can't stop talking about it. Which brings me...