16 adorable free printable lunchbox notes for kids: From Minecraft, to Star Wars, to fill-in-the-blank with your own words of love.

by Liz Gumbinner | DIY

I am never going to be the mom who makes that impressive bento lunch for my kids, featuring a Chewbacca made out of sesame noodles. But I am in fact that mom who stashes a bunch of free printable lunchbox notes in the drawer under the kitchen counter, and when I...

Break out the new crayons for this awesome coloring book from indie illustrator Laura Palmer

by Kate Etue | DIY

Who doesn’t need more coloring books in their lives? Well, okay, if you look in my kids’ craft drawer, maybe we don’t. But, we do need awesome ones. The cheap, thin, licensed ones can get tossed and we’ll replace them with cool, creative...

The end-of-summer bucket list: 9 fun, easy ways to get in some last-minute fun in August

by Nicole Blades | Tips + Tricks

Hey, wait a minute. Is that you, August? How did you get here so fast? I know I’m not the only one who feels like this. Wasn’t it April just yesterday? Instead of trying to wrap our collective heads around the theory of relativity, let’s focus on how...

Cool kids’ tees that help support the endangered animals we love, and make kids feel more empowered too.

by Julie | Kid Style

We’ve all been saddened by the story of Cecil the Lion this week, and we know a lot of you feel the same way. It’s an especially hard thing to explain to kids who may have heard the news too, since children always have such an an innate fondness for...

12 creative tips for getting your kids ready for kindergarten. Because, kindergarten! Also, pass the tissues.

by Cool Mom Team | Tips + Tricks

We are having so much fun with our kids home for summer break, the occasional sibling squabble aside, but we’re already thinking about back-to-school. Especially on behalf of those of you in the south who start in what, like four minutes?  There’s so much...

How to keep your kids from forgetting their lunch boxes. Maybe? Hopefully?

by Liz Gumbinner | School Gear

When I saw the brand new Skip Hop Forget Me Not backpack and lunch bag sets earlier this year at Toy Fair, it was like an instant, I HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THIS. And now, at long last, they’re available for purchase from their site, our affiliate Amazon, or...

7 sweet, non-candy Valentine’s Day treats for Candy Meltdown Avoidance. (C.M.A.)

by Stacie Billis | Food + Recipes

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all about sugary sweets, of course. Though kids do clamor for those conversation hearts and pink jelly beans, they may get enough of them elsewhere this week. So I’ve put together ideas for non-candy Valentine’s Day treats that...

New Year’s eve as a parent: How to celebrate when things don’t quite go as planned with the kids.

by Liz Gumbinner | Entertainment + Media

We all know that parenting means giving up sleep, hygiene (admit it), disposable income, and perhaps, the wild New Year’s Eve plans of our wonderfully misspent youth. So you can see why I had the best time sitting down with my partners at American Express on...

40 creative stocking stuffer ideas for kids: Beyond bubbles and Play-Doh.

by Liz Gumbinner | Uncategorized

I’m always looking for cool stocking stuffer ideas for my kids. I mean, we all know that you can get bubbles and Play-Doh and packs of stickers but I like to get a little more more creative when I can. So I’ve put together these 40 stocking stuffers for...

3 ways to save money on Small Business Saturday while supporting your favorite local businesses

by Liz Gumbinner | Uncategorized

We love Small Business Saturday, which gives a much-needed boost to our favorite moms and pops around the US, from restaurants to shops to services. (Hey, need some dry cleaning done? Today’s the day!) Here are three ways you can shop small today and save, too....