My kids have been back to school for a few weeks already, and my inbox runneth over. I need more volunteers for the coupon drive , says the coordinator. This is quickly followed by a bevy of reply-alls which are making me crazy, so I can…
I am a Photoshop spaz, so I love finding programs that let me do cool things with my photos with little to no mental anguish. It's not just a great tool as a blogger, it's cool when I'm uploading them into e-invitations or videos or keep…
I do not have six million free hours in my day but if I did, I just might consider turning my kids' sandwich into a giraffe. Or a caterpillar. Or Sponge Bob. Just because I could. And if I were to do that kind of a thing, I would have to…
So you're pregnant, and every blurry black-and-white ultrasound photo of baby is up on the fridge, and you spend many a quiet moment imagining what your baby might look like. Will she have your eyes? His chin? That funny little dimple yo…
There's so much advice for new moms to wade through, and after being pregnant and told you can't eat spicy tuna rolls or a good brie for ten months, it would be easy to throw up your hands by the time you get around to choosing the safes…
After researching my proposal for my own parenting book ( Ahem, Sleep Is for the Weak , shameless plug, shameless plug ) I thought I'd read every baby handbook on earth. And, I admit it, I became really jaded and snooty about them. Let's…
Kids these days have it so easy: Cell phones, computers, and cartoons on TV twenty-four hours a day. Technology has even made studying a cinch. No more Encyclopedia Britannica -- now it's all about search engines. But flashcards are one …
I'm pretty sure my pregnant bladder had a mind of its own, ensuring that I would have to run to the bathroom at all the most inopportune times. You know, like immediately after you pass a rest stop on the highway , just when you fall asl…
Proving the quip that, Yep, there's an app for that , Baby Brain has created the ultimate iPhone app that we think you new moms will love for tracking baby's vital stats. Once you've programmed in your baby (or babies), it's as simple as…
With a child heading to second grade next year (how did that happen already?), I'm well-versed in the usual procedure of collecting money for a group teacher gift . Problem is, we're still doing it the same way we did it when I was a kid…
My oldest daughter is now firmly planted in PG-movie territory which means I really have to pay attention to what she is seeing, reading and listening to -- hopefully without having to actually watch, read and listen to it all myself. Th…
I'm always on the lookout for websites that can help me with my neglected crafty side, like tips, tutorials, and ideas for cool new projects. I'm feeling the inspiration from the talented folks at Cut Out and Keep . Basically this member…
My crush on Ideal Bite began with the first sentence of their philosophy: If we all knew what we could do in the day to day to impact the planet and our communities in a positive way, we'd do it. I used to say that I would live a greener…
We've all been there; the kid has found his Most Favorite Book Ever, and he wants to hear it over and over. Sure, you were a patient and loving model parent the first 5,000 times, but after that I think you get a pass. With One More Stor…
I just discovered the wonderful Poppytalk Handmade , and I am wondering where it's been all my life. This online craft fair comes from the minds behind the wonderful Canadian design blog Poppytalk and each month there's a new theme (righ…
While I wholeheartedly support the idea of grandparents getting outside to play with the grandkids, don't let the fact that this downloadable Go Play Outside guide is being offered through Grandparents.com dissuade you from checking it o…
My husband is a photographer, and the good news is that we have countless professional-quality photographs of the kids. The bad news is that almost all of them exist only on my husband's computer. Ahem . Because just as the shoemaker's c…
The funniest thing I've seen in a good long time is the satirical new website, Let's Panic About Babies! which just launched today. Think of it as a cross between What to Expect When You're Expecting and The Onion. It might even be funni…
On a good week, I plan our meals but in reality, I sometimes find myself facing a nearly-empty fridge, wondering what I can cobble together for dinner out of half a lemon, some mustard, and a handful of mushrooms. (Oh, like that's never …
Ever on the search for more money-saving ideas that don't compromise your design sense, we've found there's no need to pay for stickers when you can download awesome designs for free and print them right in the comfort of your own home. …
I pride myself on my "gift closet"--I always have a few goodies stashed for those unexpected invitations, and it saves me tons of time and money to stock up at my leisure (and when things are on sale). But if I had a nickel for every tim…
When I put my little guy down for a nap, I close the door and don't look back. I'm not one for compulsively checking on him (because with my luck, I'll wake him up) and I'd never even considered using a video baby monitor. Until now. Lat…
I bet you've wondered how we find the great children's books we review here at Cool Mom Picks. Well, we will share one hot tip: Bookmark sites like the brand new One Potato . This children's book site is like literary nirvana for book-lo…
Not to brag, but for a non-geeky girl I know my way around a computer. I'm not even afraid to dive into code. But where it comes to video editing, I'm a complete dolt. So when I created my very own free (free!) 30-second video at animoto…