We're always on the lookout for wonderful wooden, eco-friendly kids' toys as an alternative to the plastic stuff that seems to be eating up the toy store aisles more and more each year. Etsy is always a great place to turn , and this won…
There you are, planning a nice simple kid's birthday party, and bam! Suddenly your best laid plans to keep everything simple go haywire and you've reached wedding planning levels of crazy. Gearing up for my 4-year-old's birthday party th…
Back when we started this site in 2006 (and we have the archives to prove it), messages for kids were all about irony, irreverence and sass. Over the years, it's been thrilling to see the trend turn towards positivity, encouragement and …
Browsing around Etsy as I am apt to do...oh, every hour or so, I discovered the wonderful Swear To Mod shop, featuring so much of the mid-century, 60's, and 70's housewares and art that I love. Only this experience was a little different…
You can't buy your kid a life-sized AT-AT or landspeeder. But you can give them the coolest Star Wars-themed book shelf we've ever seen. This AT-AT Imperial Bookcase from WhittledinWood on Etsy is a masterpiece of engineering. Handmade o…
It's still a little toasty outside for me to consider baking, but I'm busy lining up recipes for when the temperature takes a dive. And because I usually bake more than my family can eat, I'm also collecting creative ideas for sharing my…
The coast is clear. We checked under the bed, in the closet, and behind the curtains. The only monsters we found are these utterly adorable ones framed on the wall. And they look friendly. Well, except maybe for the chupacabra. If you ha…
I'm a huge fan of email, instant messaging, text messaging , direct messaging, and wishing people happy birthday on Facebook. If there's a way to reach out and touch someone with kind words, hey, I support it. But a handwritten note is s…
Light switches are boring. Mostly. But thanks to our clever friends at Graphic Spaces, we've now got these fun switchplate covers in shapes like owls, octopi, and a rocket ship. So it's a little more fun to turn off the lights for bed. "…
My girls have hit the age where they like to have their own purses. Well, we'll use that term loosely, considering what they put in them. While I've given them my share of hand-me-down handbags , I know they'd adore the sweet handmade li…
I'm hardly an inspirational quote junkie, but every now and then I find something that catches my eye. This time, though, it wasn't a poster, but rather something I can wear around my neck . I've heard of (and adore) letterpress cards, b…
As huge supporters of the handmade movement, we've been fans of Etsy since about day one. And now that they've teamed up with the amazing charity Kiva , well, let's just say if you share our passion, this is an effort worth getting invol…
Always on the lookout for cool personalized gifts, I'm really taken with this one which would be so perfect as a hostess gift after an extended stay. The personalized coffee mugs are rendered with an architectural drawing of your own hom…
Back when my daughter was a toddler, the only show she'd watch was the Muppets Show. Let's just say Kermit and Miss Piggy got me many a quiet shower, and to them, I'm mighty grateful. These days, there's no shortage of awesome Muppets pa…
Let's face it. Once our kids hit the age of 2 or 3, our days of choosing adorable outfits for them are pretty much over. So squeeze in all that clothing cuteness while you still can. We loved the Artoo onesies and buntings from The Wishi…
If you love both Star Wars and the beautiful design elements of China, we've got excellent news for you. And a discount code, too. {A discount code for Cool Mom Picks readers awaits after the jump!} We fell for the cool movie prints in t…
We've always loved supporting the Etsy artists making handmade birthday crowns and hats for birthday parties and special days thereafter. (Like, Tuesdays. Or Fridays.) But here's one, in honor of all the royal baby talk this week, that j…
Of all my parenting achievements, I'm particularly proud that I've passed on a love for The Muppets to my own three kids. And now that they carry their own torch for Kermit, Beaker, and Fozzie Bear, I think they'll love decorating their …
You know how it goes. You spend an hour rocking the baby to sleep, carefully tiptoe to the crib, nail the arm-to-mattress transfer, and slip out the door. You're home free. You're almost downstairs to the brownies, wine, and Hannibal. An…
If the baby I'm having next month is anything like me, the kid will appreciate a really good pair of shoes . (I've already passed that gene onto my daughter, who clamors for any beautiful pair of heels she sees.) I find most people focus…
I dream of taking the kids to Paris, strolling past little cafes, and gazing at La Tour Eiffel. On this Bastille Day those dreams are still just that--le sigh. But I've discovered the cutest handmade play set that will have visions of cr…
If your family is anything like mine, all their famous recipes are tucked away in over-stuffed folders and recipe boxes...and only the chef knows for sure where they are. How wonderful would it be to start serving some of Grandma's famou…
If you love showering your children with all-natural goodness in a rainbow of colors, you'll love this veritable smorgasbord of vibrant veggies, scrumptuous sushi, and fruit fit for a king. Just don't let them eat it. Because it's all ha…
Of course today isn't just about barbecues, sparklers, and if you're lucky, a big fireworks display that kicks off a four-day weekend. It's about those awesome forefathers (and foremothers, ahem) of ours who transformed the original 13 c…