Hot trend alert: Cool camouflage clothing and accessories for non-hunting enthusiasts

by Kristen Chase | Fashion

I have to admit that I’ve loved wearing cool camouflage clothing and accessories even before they were all over the runways. Now it’s everywhere you look. If you shy away from camouflage because it seems a bit outdoorsy for your taste, you’re not...

25 of the most adorably creative DIY baby costumes for Halloween…that you can actually make.

by Christina Refford | DIY

We always have the best time each Halloween poking around the web looking for the most awesome baby costumes. But the truth is, we’re busy! While some of you blow our minds putting those sleepless hours to use building outrageous costumes, we know there are tons...

DIYers: Get inspired with these very cool handmade rubber stamps

by Stephanie Slate | DIY

Ever since a Cool Mom Picks editor forwarded me a link to the Creatiate Etsy shop devoted solely to cool handmade rubber stamps, I’ve been imagining the inky possibilities. These stamps are gorgeous–like I wish I could spend a week stamping an entire wall...

Need a Hunger Games alternative for your tweens to read? Find an unlikely heroine in The Categorical Universe of Candice Phee

by Christina Refford | Books for Kids

The lead character in Barry Jonsberg’s excellent new book for tweens, The Categorical Universe of Candice Phee, isn’t as strong as Katniss in The Hunger Games or as fearless as Divergent’s Tris, but Candice Phee is still my new favorite literary...

ToGoKins: Little cloth napkins with a big impact

by Stephanie Slate | School Gear

My kids’ backpacks are filled to bursting every morning as they leave for school, with books, lunch, snacks, and whatever else they can find to cram in there, it seems. Adding something else to that haul might seem ludicrous, but I love the environmental aspect...

Banned Books Week: Rallying book lovers right down to their toes.

by Liz Gumbinner | Fashion

If you love the written word, if you’re an avid supporter of your local library, or if you think Fahrenheit 451 should be required reading for anyone over the age of five, you might already know that this is the start of Banned Books Week which, honestly,...

10 cool DIY leaf crafts for kids that they can actually do. (No offense, Pinterest.)

by Liz Gumbinner | DIY

As the chill starts to hit the air and the sweaters come out from the back of the closet around here, that means it’s almost time for DIY leaf crafts for kids. Or hey, maybe you’ve already started? (Hey, Minnesota!) While there’s no shortage of...

An awesome new meal planning website that personalizes your meal plans. It’s like doing it yourself, without having to do it yourself.

by Stacie Billis | Helpful Services

How many times have you heard “Just meal plan!” when you groan about the never-ending responsibility of feeding your family night after night?  But time constraints, logistics, or the fact that organizing ahead isn’t everyone’s strong...

I like big bins and I cannot lie.

by Kristen Chase | Storage + Organization

We’ve featured no shortage of kid-friendly storage bins here on Cool Mom Picks, but now that my kids are getting older (sniffle), I’m in the market for a little organizational help that’s a little more my taste, like these stylish storage bins from...

The best gifts for a 4 year old? Tons of fantastic ideas.

by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings

Buying a special gift for a four-year-old is so much fun since this is the age that kids really start to show their preferences and interests. Plus, they aren’t sticking every little piece into their mouths (phew) and can play independently for a lot more time...