Hot chocolate goes with all winter activities at my house, whether we're picking out a Christmas tree or going out to see the lights. Making homemade hot chocolate is so easy that I kind of feel guilty using the powered mix from the groc…
You’ve planned and prepped for your Thanksgiving meal and then suddenly you remember: wine! (Or is that just me?) I generally drink wines I like, no matter what’s on the table--I’m easy that way. The Thanksgiving challenge is that there’…
Stuffing is one of those Thanksgiving dishes that I’m always changing. One year cornbread, the next sourdough. Sometimes sausage, other times bacon. Every once in a while I make it in the bird, though mostly it's done in a separate pot. …
Let me first be totally upfront: The idea of setting a holiday table kind of terrifies me. I am not someone who can just effortlessly whip up an Elsa's castle centerpiece made of handmade gingerbread, or pick up a calligraphy pen and go …
We recently shared our essential tips for how to make a homemade pie , but have a feeling that some of you may skip out on the baking this Thanksgiving. No judgments here if you’d rather place an order and have your Thanksgiving pies del…
The long season of "eat, drink, and be merry" is almost upon us, so it's time for you pregnant, breastfeeding, or abstaining-from-alcohol mamas to consider what you'll be sipping from now until the ball drops on another year. Fortunately…
We have featured so many fun Halloween posts this year--and years past, too--featuring our favorite Halloween ideas of all kinds. Including the last minute ones. We're talking dozens of recipes for treats both healthy and uh....well, you…
Looking for last minute Halloween awesome? Follow our Pinterest boards for these 5 fun Halloween pins, plus lots more of our daily picks and more coolness from around the web. 1. Helpful tips for taking great Halloween photos of kids . 2…
Halloween is coming soon, and it's time to plan our parties. First up: invitations. And not just any Halloween invitations, but seriously impressive, over-the-top, creative Halloween party invitations this year. If you're not up for the …
I'm okay with the fact that most holidays involve a lot of cooking, but a party on the 4th of July should be easy and laid-back, summer style. Put out some sparklers, throw food on the grill, make lemonade—and maybe a pitcher of one of t…
If you're looking to amp your your kids' birthday parties this year with a little more DIY, I feel you. While I'm not a huge crafter by any means, there's something really gratifying about putting together goodie bags yourself around som…
When I've spent hours working on the perfect Christmas meal, a great holiday table setting is important to me. Serving it on plastic Santa Claus plates with paper napkins is not really my thing, since I want to show my friends and family…
Liven up your Christmas decor this year by printing out some great printable holiday decorations without leaving the comforts of home. The best part: you won't need a degree in Paper Arts or a stash of obscure crafting supplies to get th…
It's no secret that I think the crock pot is a miracle machine for busy family cooks, and not just for weeknight meals. Crock pots are also great for keeping big quantities of food at just the right temperature when you're entertaining, …
We grownups know that the best part of holiday parties are holiday party appetizers. This year, I'm letting the kids in on our fun with seven appetizers that they'll love, too. These kid-friendly apps are grown-up enough for the adults, …
I love me some red, white, and blue around Independence Day, but I'd rather not break too much of a sweat prepping for our Fourth of July festivities. It's hot enough as it is! So here's a few perfectly easy, perfectly patriotic ideas fo…
I adore everything about the holidays, especially decorating. Growing up in my family, prepping the house pretty much stopped at setting out the menorah. Now that I'm in charge, I love decking out our home with a cozy all-holidays-welcom…
With Halloween an entire day behind us, our thoughts at Cool Mom Picks already turn to the best holiday gifts . (We can't help it!) So when I saw these beautiful little Japanese bowls on sale, I thought, ooh...hostess gift. The modernist…
We've loved the beautiful cards and invitations from Minted.com ever since we discovered them on day one, so it makes perfect, brilliant sense that they'd evolve from cards and invitations, and launch a gorgeous new Party Decor line. Hoo…
The best party recipes for occasions like the Fourth of July, are simple party recipes that allow you enjoy the celebration too. These festive treats are just that easy. You can even have little ones help with the prep work, while older …
I love Fourth of July parties, but not all Fourth of July party decor. Beer, hot dogs, fireworks and vintage Americana are good. Red white and blue painted garden gnomes, not so much. I've tracked down these cool, classy options for fest…
As much as I like to tap into my inner Martha Stewart during the holiday season, this year there just isn't enough time to crochet snowflake ornaments, whip up petit fours wrapped in fondant, and glue-gun wreaths made of pinecones and mi…
Not to be dissing those chalk gold-wrapped coins with an actual chocolate content of about .03%, but if you're going to treat your dreidel winners with sweets this Hanukkah, we've got a better idea. The Hanukkah chocolate disks from CMP …
I always feel more social during the holidays. Maybe it's the cooler weather and festive music that inspires me to finally bring out the welcome mat and throw a party. (Fine, the fact that the house is finally decorated doesn't hurt.) Bu…