In my neck of the woods, it seems the snow is now here to stay. And with the cold, snowy weather comes the whining. And the complaining. And the putting-a-pair-of-mittens-on-your-toddler-sixteen-times because you know, he keeps pulling t…
One of the neat things about sending the kids off to preschool is seeing all the fun developmental toys they get to play with. It's also one of the mildly guilt-inducing things. Like, uh...was I supposed to be giving them all these fun d…
Fabric bins are fine for the kids, but this gorgeous storage solution is just for you. If you love books, you'll be glad to know you're giving a new home to abandoned tomes, all while enlivening your bookshelf with the prettiest box on t…
It may be so very middle-class, but as a Downton Abbey addict, I'm so happy to see that season 3 is kicking off tonight--and along with it, some awesome Downton Abbey goodies on sale at Fab.com. For a limited time, Wonder-Shirts' Downton…
It happens to us every year--midwinter hits and we realize that the fall jackets won't cut it, and last year's cheap parkas are now outgrown and looking ratty. This year we took the plunge over to what might be one of the best kids' wint…
Happy New Year, tech-fabulous moms! Here are a few of our favorite finds from the last week, just in case you missed them while engrossed in that e-book. 1. Don't we all wish we had more time to read? We can help you read more in 2013 th…
As someone who has greatly increased my Starbucks consumption as of late, I was thrilled to hear the news that this week, they introduced $1 reusable cups to help cut down all that paper waste. Starbucks is definitely on a roll with it's…
The thing about smart kids is that most t-shirts out there are not made for them. You know what I mean. So I was so excited to find this awesome shop that pays homage to everyone from Carl Sagan and Marie Curie to Tesla and Dr. Who. (Who…
One of my resolutions this year is to be a little more diligent about getting kids to write thank-you cards. So the first thing I did was order some that they got to pick out themselves. They were so thrilled to see them arrive that they…
I caved. After years of avoiding the store and hiding the catalog, I finally gave in and bought two American Girl Dolls for my daughters for Christmas. But in doing so, I swore that I'd support Etsy artists and crafters by buying as much…
We food bloggers are a prolific crop. Here, I've narrowed it down to my favorite nine (and, yes, I've shamelessly included myself), and I've asked them to all share a favorite recipe that they posted this year. Some of them are moms, som…
We're all big Maurice Sendak fans around here, and his passing in 2012 was one of the toughest for a lot of us. So it's wonderful to see his amazing vision live on through his books that fill my kids' room. If I had found this adorable p…
They Might Be Giants makes it sound so easy to put together educational music that is fun and doesn't sound like a lesson plan, but--take it from this homeschooling mama--it isn't so easy to do. In fact, I've found that there isn't a lot…
What can destroy the yearly family photo calendar, ruin the shoulder of your holiday sweater, and repel grandmothers in a single bound? Answer: It's the little kid with the green snot waterfall and the gnarly red snot rash. And that, dea…
You have to love any DIY tutorial that includes among the instructions "print out Death Star from the Internet." And I especially love it when it combines two of our favorite things--LEGO and Star Wars. I love this tutorial for a DIY Sta…
No sooner are the holidays over that I need to get on that thank-you note writing for all those generous gifts. And when I saw this stamp, I thought, ooh...that could help. A merci hand lettered rubber stamp would not only add elegance t…
I love the idea of using this first day of the year to reflect back on 2012 by creating a keepsake that we'll be able to look back at someday. And when the idea is as easy as this one, I know I may even be able to handle pulling it all t…
Thanks from the bottom of our hearts for spending this year with us. Here's to a wonderful 2013! -Kristen, Liz, and Team Cool Mom Picks
We can't think of a better way to bid farewell to the year than by highlighting our editors' and contributors' favorite charities and non-profits, just in time for a final contribution--and tax deduction--for 2012. Do any of your favorit…
With more than 1000 posts this year covering the coolest baby gear, recipes, crafts, children's toys and more, we thought it was fascinating to look back at our most popular posts of the year, based on the number of visits. Turn out, you…
We can't think of a nicer way to end our Editors Best of 2012 than with our very favorite kids' books of the year. Especially because they will still be relevant in 2013 and beyond--unlike handbags or even tech, books never go out of sty…
Whether you're curled up in bed with a new gadget or outside taking pics of snow angels, we're excited to bring you our favorite picks from the last week, including our Editors' Best tech picks of the year! 1. If you take oodles of photo…
This year felt like an extra amazing year for discovering gorgeous jewelry, bags, and accessories that keep mamas feeling cool. (Even if we're just faking it.) Here, a few of our editors' very favorites of the year. And phew...it wasn't …
Whether your family wants to get the party started with some kid-hop beats or needs to settle down to some gentle folk tunes, our top kids' music picks of 2012 has a little something for every mood. And, you'll find great musical options…
