I cannot be the only one who sequesters myself in the bedroom oh, say around midnight on December 24, frantically trying to wrap, ribbon, and generally beautify Santa's hard work. If you're still looking for a few finishing touches for y…
Forget germs or flu bugs or anything like that. The way I see it, there are three new reasons to wash your hands right now: The three new holiday scents from Method. I can't remember the last time I bought a hand soap that didn't smell m…
I'm pretty sure my Christmas list one year included a puppy, a kitten, a bunny, and The Black Stallion. I was deeply disappointed not to find any boxes with air holes under the tree, but you can get at least 3 out of 4 with these adorabl…
I was in Starbucks this week--okay, a few times this week. ( What? It's Peppermint Mocha, season. ) And I was thinking about how much the people in my life like getting Starbucks gift cards over the holidays. Glancing at the display, I w…
In my family, our Christmas day tradition always involved a nice big breakfast, lots of coffee, lots of gifts, and then afterward, we'd bundle up and brave the crowds at a midtown movie theater for one of the big releases. (Yes, crowds -…
This year, I planned on getting my holiday cards out with plenty of time and all of a sudden it's Christmas week . Good thing there's a service that lets me send out cards--really, professionally designed holiday cards--digitally. Not on…
I was fretting to my sister that I didn't know what to get her kids, my sweet little niece and nephew, who seemingly have everything. Her response: Don't you review kids' music for Cool Mom Picks? Just get them some cool new tunes! Funny…
Don't worry, little narwhals and belugas. My kids' sticky mitts will never touch you, much less rip you to shreds to get to the booty beneath. No, my sweet blubbery friends, you are far too precious for that. Yes, I'm talking to wrapping…
If you're sick of the frantic rush of live holiday shopping but still want to take up some real estate under the tree, you need to go check out the cool stuff at Discovery Kids, the exclusive toy section of The Discovery Channel Store. I…
Still looking for a few last minute gifts for the family? Clearly we're crazy, mad, marry-us-in-Vegas in love with Etsy and all the wonderful artists and crafters we've discovered there. That's why today, on Etsy's The Storque blog, we'v…
People always say that nothing is for free, but here is something that really is: A customized letter to your child from Santa that you help create. And it will do more for other kids than your own. At Letter from Santa , add personal de…
I hear in some places, you have to book the best mall Santa in October to get a word in with the jolly guy, and he still might get your kid's name wrong leading to a public freak-out. ( It's happened to us all! ) But now, thanks to the w…
One year, I got my mom an electronic photo album for her holiday gift . Well, that was a flop. She told me she really wanted a regular photo book of her grandkids, just like I gave her the year before. But, I like to complicate things! S…
I know that this year I'm going to end up with a bunch of kids I've forgotten about on my holiday list, so I try to amass a repertoire of fun, not too expensive gifts to keep on standby. If they don't get given out this month, there's al…
I don't usually go the disposable paper plate route, except when it comes to kids parties. But here are some paper plates so adorable they might be worth making an exception. Why? Well, they're personalized. With a photo of my smiling sw…
We're now formally in the "handing-someone-a-bottle-of wine" season, and while most of us can simply stick a bow on it and pass it on, there are times when that bottle needs a little more oomph than a plain brown paper bag or a crinkled …
Oh sure, I try to be all nonchalant at this time of year: Christmas cards? I'll get to them! Wrapping? I have weeks! But, don't let my cool exterior fool you. I am quaking as the clock ticks down to Christmas . But before I tackle my nev…
Something strange happens to me every December. I don't usually have much patience for craft projects, but every holiday season, something comes over me and I feel the need to do something with glitter. Well, here's a holiday gift for al…
A lot of us are probably more used to popping bottles of milk and apple juice than champagne these days. But the holidays call for sparkle--and I'm talking fancy shoes, party dresses, and champagne, not Elmer's glue and glitter (as much …
I love crafty people. I wish I were one of them, but, alas, I'm not even that great at wrapping gifts. They end up looking like my three-year-old took the reins. But, this year, my friends and family will think I've developed some seriou…
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, neither, or both, there's no better gift for kids than the gift of reading. If you don't need a fourth copy of the Velveteen Rabbit to make you cry on your toddler's footy pajamas, try one of th…
The only thing better than connecting our readers with fabulous finds is knowing that those purchases do real good in the world. So we thought we'd take a look-see around Cool Mom Picks for some of our favorite picks that put your money …
To me the holidays is nothing without our annual viewing of Rudolph. Herbie! The Abominable Snowman! The Isle of Misfit Toys who aren't quite misfits! It's all pure magic. So who's with me in jumping for joy that this year, A four-DVD se…
As a native New Yorker, I admit I'm totally biased when I say that this is one of the most magical places for a family to be over the holidays. Because I get so many emails each year from readers and out-of-town friends asking me about m…