When I returned to work while breastfeeding my first daughter, I found myself sorely unprepared for everything it entailed. I can't even begin to convey the frustration I experienced -- though I'm sure a lot of you know just what I'd bee…
We've always made it our mission to encourage kids to keep the art of handwriting alive, and to help parents looking to do the same. So we've put together some really terrific handwriting practice printables for kids of all ages . Yes, e…
You've probably seen the food blog headlines: Ripen an avocado in just minutes! or How to ripen an avocado in the oven! Given that a) I love cooking with avocado since it's an easy, nutrient-dense fruit that I can serve as a kid-friendly…
We love a good birthday party around here. In fact, we've loved sharing our ideas for Minecraft , Star Wars , Minion , Finding Dory , and even storybook birthday parties for your kids. But some of the ideas we've seen on Pinterest (or ou…
Starting solids can be one of the most stressful times as a new parent. It sounds easy enough: I mean, just mash up some bananas and spoon it in their mouth, right? Sure. . . once you get the hang of it. The first step is determining whe…
I can't say precisely how many boiled eggs I've accidentally smushed, cratered, or generally man-handled when trying to remove the peel, but it's definitely in the dozens—maybe hundreds. I bet you know the feeling. Some days it comes off…
Like many moms who choose to breastfeed, I was fairly aware of the benefits of breastfeeding my first baby well before I started. But I actually didn't know how many benefits there would be for me too, at least until I was pretty far alo…
When it comes to tween and teen skin, and figuring out the skincare routine that will work best for them, I like to take the less is more approach -- at least until action is really needed. When I was younger, I had great skin until I st…
The end of July and early August mark the end of summer for many, so it's no wonder that it's also the most popular vacation time of year for families. Here at Cool Mom HQ, we are big fans of renting a vacation home over a hotel room(s) …
Defining a picky eater can be hard. Some would argue that my toddler doesn’t fall within the typical guidelines because, yes, she loves broccoli, but she also doesn’t like normal “kid” foods like chicken breast or pasta. The part of feed…
I am a neat person. Well, as neat as a mom of four kids can be. I wasn't always considered neat. In fact, my college roommate might read this and laugh hysterically because there was a point in time that you couldn't even see my bed beca…
The idea of combining education and conservation with a family vacation is super appealing to parents, which is why ecotourism is such a fascinating concept for me -- and maybe for you. If you're not familiar with ecotourism, it's aimed …
I love coffee like the rest of the Cool Mom team, but honestly, I'm fine with my homemade cold brew coffee . The problem is that all of the money I save by skipping Starbucks goes straight to my juice bar addiction, because if you ask me…
Kitchen space, especially counter space, is a precious commodity in my small-ish kitchen, so in order for a gadget to earn a piece of prime real estate, it really has to earn its keep. Stand mixer? A shoo-in. Cast-iron skillet? Worth its…
Somehow, the slow cooker has earned a reputation for being a winter kitchen gadget, but the slow cooker lovers among us know better ( hello, hand raised! ). A handy, all year around kitchen tool, the slow cooker can make cooking long coo…
This week, Larry Olmsted's book Real Food, Fake Food hit bookstores; it's already a bestseller, and people are freaking out about what Larry has to say. And rightly so. Maureen Callahan's review of the book at the New York Post reports t…
I may not speak for everyone, but my own critical thinking capacity pretty much evaporates when I walk into the grocery store. I'm usually hungry and in a rush—and never mind if I've got children in tow. Then, as soon as I walk in, the s…
I have officially made it through the Whole30 diet and have lived to tell you all about it. Over the last month, I've been pretty amazed by both the physical and emotional changes I've experienced. If you're wondering whether the Whole30…
If you think that homemade popcorn means standing over a stove and yet another dirty pot, you're going to love our method for making microwave popcorn at home. It's super quick and easy, you get to flavor the popcorn any way that you wan…
You cannot even believe how much time I spent last summer tracking down the best beach umbrella. I finally went with my parents' strongly recommended pick, which was a surprise one to me. (And you have no idea how strongly recommended it…
Of all the toys that have passed through the hands of my three kids over the past dozen or so years, there is no question that LEGO bricks have been the most enduring and versatile. From their first little plastic bucket of mixed bricks,…
I didn't take my own advice about when to start the Whole30 diet and went on vacation during my third week. Granted, I decided to do the Whole30 after I had scheduled my trip, but I thought that two weeks would give me a good enough star…
Most of us have experienced that post-steakhouse glow that comes from eating a perfectly cooked, perfectly juicy, perfectly pink-all-the-way-through steak. But no matter how hard I’ve tried to replicate this restaurant-style steak at hom…
Happy 4th of July everyone! Oh America, you look pretty great for 240. Here's our advice for making the most out of the holiday: (Top image: popsicle stick American Flag craft via A Pumpkin and a Princess) 1. Be safe out there. 2. Fire u…