Jewelry that feels as good to give as to get from the Kwagala Project

by Liz Gumbinner | Fashion

I’ve always said that one of my favorite categories in our Holiday Gift Guide are gifts that give back. We managed to pare it down to 14 this year, but honestly we could have gone on forever. And while you have probably heard of some of our favorite...

A comparison of our 11 favorite custom photo book services, for one of our all-time favorite gifts.

by Kate Etue | DIY

This is that time of year when I start thinking about putting together a photo book with all my pictures from the year, but I usually get hung up on wanting one that will actually last until my kids are adults, so they can enjoy them for years to come. There are so...

Meet Our Team

by Cool Mom Team

About the Cool Mom Picks Team Liz Gumbinner, CCO & Editor-in-Chief, is a born and bred New Yorker but without the accent. She has a background as a creative director in world of advertising, contributes commentary on culture, trends, media, and parenting to top...

About Cool Mom Picks

by Cool Mom Team

Washington Post: There are a ton of sites out there for kids, about kids, by moms, by dads. This site makes sense. Martha Stewart: "The best in gifts, gear, and everything new and cool for moms." Parents Magazine: "Liz Gumbinner is The online arbiter of cool for the...

Free Birds movie review: Thanksgiving is not for turkeys.

by Delilah S. Dawson | Entertainment + Media

Let me start out this review with a spoiler alert: although Free Birds is a buddy film and the buddies are dudes, the strongest and most intelligent character by far is a girl. And a turkey. And she has a lazy eye. And let me go on to say that I’ll definitely be...

Turning kids’ artwork into stuffed animals. As cuddly or scary as you (or they) want.

by Kate Etue | Toys + Playthings

I’m always looking for cool ways to preserve my kids’ artwork. Sure, we’ve got plenty of it taped up in the kitchen, plus boxes of the really great stuff stored in the hall closet. But now my kids are going to be able to sleep with their favorite...

Move over, Fancy Nancy. The Fairy Birds are here.

by Kate Etue | Kid Style

My daughter is at that sweet age where she’s still fascinated by all things “fancy,” which equals “grown-up” to her six-year-old mind. She loves a great fairy tale, but she’s getting a little tired of the damsels in distress. So...

The Verve Pipe’s Are We There Yet? has indeed arrived

by Christina Refford | Entertainment + Media

After listening to indie-rockers The Verve Pipe’s debut kids’ CD, A Family Album, a while back, I remember hoping they’d be back soon with more of their rockin’ charm. Fortunately, The Verve Pipe has decided to splash around in the kindie pool...

Belts little kids can do by themselves. Whoo!

by Liz Gumbinner | Baby, Kid Style

We discovered mom-run Myself Belts back in 2006 (wow), and it’s awesome to see how they’ve grown. They make a brilliant line of first belts for toddlers, especially during the potty training months. You know what I’m talking about. And now there are...

9 playdate recipes and snack ideas that will make your house the most popular spot on the block

by Stacie Billis | Food + Recipes

I can confidently cook for nearly anyone, but one type of guest stumps me over and over: the little ones who come over to play with my kids. In fact, figuring out what to serve on my kids’ playdates is way more stressful than planning a party for 10 hungry...