Bob's Yer Uncle
If you haven’t yet caught on to the indie-rock-for-kids movement, Plays Well With Others, the new release from Uncle Rock would be a briliant place to start.
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And Then Miss Muffet Smashed Her Guitar Into Tiny Bits. The End.
I've got no beef with fairy tales and nursery rhymes characters--on the bookshelf. But in the dresser? Not so much my style. Fortunately, Hollywood mom and designer Tracy Bobbitt has more imagination than I do. In her wonderful world of Crib Rock Couture, classic kids characters are reimagined as rock stars on the road.
Be the Envy of The Entire Gym
I try to lay low during my infrequent workouts. No fancy footwear or coordinating clothes to bring any attention to myself or my built-by-Krispy Kreme hips. But with one of these Euro-chic aluminum SIGG water bottles at Reusable Bags, I'm bound to up my gym status without even joining the marathon club.
Only a Baby's Butt is Softer
You've been there before: You get the baby shower invite, peruse the registry, and try to figure out what you can buy that will actually be of use. And let's be honest, a "keepsake blanket" is probably not at the top of your list. Isn't that just a polite way of saying "blanket that goes in the cedar chest covered with moth balls?"
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Like a Monkey on Your Back
My back hurts. New moms know what I'm talking about--it's all that lugging around baby blankets and baggies full of Cheerios and water bottles and diapers. And in my case, multiple hats. Always multiple hats.
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Nice Package
I'm a sucker for great wrapping. Yep, I'm the one at gift exchanges who instead of shaking the box and examining its size and shape picks a present solely on the pretty paper -- even as I end up the proud owner of a new electronic nose hair trimmer.
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I'm Pining for Some Wood
With an anti-sleep toddler, I barely have time to get a shower, let alone match jewelry to an outfit. But that doesn't mean I'm willing to sacrifice my stylish tendencies. It just means that I need pieces that can multi-itask as competently as I try to.
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The Rhythm is Going to Get You
Every once in a while, I come upon some new children's music that makes me want to grab other parents on the street, plop my headphones over their head and scream, "You've got to hear this!" Frances England is one of these arists.
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When You're Too Sleep-Deprived to Cut Through the BS
As a new mom, it’s hard to know where to turn for good advice. There are several websites offering free newsletters, which at their best clutter up your in-box unopened. At their worst, they make you feel like if you don't buy a particular developmental toy from their online store right now now NOW, your child will grow up to rob banks and torture small animals.
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Let's Hear it For Less Laundry!
We all know that any eating, drooling, or art-making extravaganza on the part of your toddler is never pretty. But while you may successfully protect your child's cute top with a smock, the pants are never so lucky.
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Out of Africa
One of the greatest gifts my daughter received for her recent birthday was a pair of hand-batiked t-shirts--especially once I discovered the story behind the label. My ever socially-conscious (and gift giver extraordinaire) best friend tracked them down through Global Mamas, a non-profit helping small women-led businesses in Africa.
A Great Card Speaks Louder Than a Bad Gift
We all know that pregnancy doesn't mean you suddenly crave little ducks and teddy bears on everything you own. So then why is it so hard to find a card that doesn't look like it got lost at the pastel animal farm?
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Where the Real Stars Hang
If you're a frequent reader of Cool Mom Picks, then you know we believe that being a cool mom transcends what kind of diaper bag you carry. For the past three years I've balanced my love of stuff with my work for the Starlight Starbright Foundation, a non-profit organization for seriously ill children and their families.
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Nursing, the Rock 'n Roll Way
The nursing pillow: The number one item on every baby registry. The nursing pillow: The number one ugliest textile in my home. Finally, FINALLY someone has come up with a solution.
Who You Callin' Cupcake?
Cupcakes are one of the easiest treats to make, which is why they're a mainstay at school bake sales. "But how can I make my cupcakes stand out from the bunch?" you ask, like the good 1950s housewife that you truly want to be.
A Recipe for the Perfect Gift
I love that my crafty friends are willing to share their cute knit bootie pattern with me, however the illegible scribble on a piece of notebook paper just doesn't do their creations justice.
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Little Miss Can't-Be-Matched
You've surely heard the wisdom that if you buy socks for newborns and toddlers in a single color, such as white like I did, then you'll never be without a matched pair. But just as you're thinking you've outsmarted the dryer elves, along comes a bigger challenge - a two year-old with strong opinions on clothing, and white is definitely not all right.
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On My To-Do List: 1) Find a Better To-Do List
Are you a member of the scrap paper/atm receipt/used envelope scribblers club? The first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem. And considering my husband has a penchant for throwing away any piece of paper that is not attached to a spiral binding, I'm in desperate need of some list therapy.
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Look Ma, No Sparkles!
My older daughter, Mimi, is a princess-kittens-glittery flowers kind of girl. I can't convince her to don any clothing that doesn't scream I AM A GIRLY GIRL, most often in some shade of pink. Rosie, however, is more tomboy than princess, which makes shopping for both of them at once a little challenging.
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Find Your Inner Silly
If I have to hear Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy one more time, I just might check myself into the mommy loony bin. Thank goodness for musician Jim Gill and his newest release, Moving Rhymes for Modern Times.
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Take Me To Your Bathroom Sink
I've met kids who will eat raw oysters and kids who clear their plates without being told. But I have yet to meet a kid who likes to wash his hands. Maybe if the bathroom were a more child-friendly place, the odds would tilt in the favor of personal hygiene?
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The Next Best Thing to Springsteen Pulling Her Up on Stage
While I know from experience that kids love hearing their own names in songs--even my own frighteningly off-tune renditions--I've got to admit I'm wary of those "personalized" CDs. The few I've heard have been absolutely, heinously, eardrum shattering. Then I discovered Name Your Tune, and suddenly I'm changing my tune.
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SHOOOOOOOOOOE!
Every year the World Cup brings in a new spate of obsessive soccer fans, and this year my own baby's daddy was among the casualties--er, ranks.
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Dads-To-Be, Rejoice
If your partner is anything like mine, his definition of hell is eight consecutive weeks of Lamaze class. Modus Five has come up with such a simple solution, it makes you wonder why no one has done it sooner.
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Even Better Than Being Made By Elves
We're suckers for charming handmade baby toys, doubly so when they're crafted from natural materials like recycled wood, and double that when buying them does a little good for humanity. Pastel Toys hits the Trifecta for sure.
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Booking Agents
Hurricane Katrina's wrath was devastating for sure, but it also did damage in ways we don't always think about. Consider the public libraries, for example. Seeing as how water and paper aren't a very good combination, several libraries lost entire book collections--every single book--and desperately need to restack those stacks.
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We Don't Need No Stinkin' Fork
Maybe you're a champ with the chopsticks now, but do you remember how hard it was to get the hang of it? I bet you stabbed your Moo Shu Pork at least once (or worse) before the nice server made you a set of tong-sticks so you could eat more than three bites an hour.
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Let's All Do the Bump
If there is a "next time" and I end up with a cute little bump instead of the quadruple roly-poly thing I had with baby number one, I'm getting a cute little BUMP shirt to match.
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Whose Books Are These Anyway?
I'm happy to lend out my daughter's 1,278 books, however, I can't be bothered penning our name and phone number in every single one. But without some type of identifying mark, I have a feeling I'll never see them again.
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Babies + Chemicals: Not The Best Combo
It seems that along with my bright wit and sparkling personality, my daughter has inherited my sensitive skin. And while I have found a few products that suffice, sufficing isn't good enough when it comes to my girl.That's why I'm... ... [More]
Take That, Atkins
As the old ad used to say, I love sweets but they don't love me. And then I discovered the carbs that love you back: The absolutely 100% calorie-free goodness of Heidi Kenney's felt creations at My Paper Crane Shop.
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The Other Layettes Will Be Jealous
Yes, you can purchase a "layette" as a baby gift--a complete set of boring onesies, bibs, and Victorian-era booties that I'm not sure ever make it out of the box, let alone the house. And then there are those sets... ... [More]
Wait, So All Drummers Aren't White?
As a woman of mixed heritage, I've often wondered how to promote diversity in our home when most of my toddler's toys and clothes feature white folks--you know, because all farmers, ballerinas and musicians are white. Right.That's why I love the multi-culti... ... [More]
Just Don't Call it Scrapbooking
I cannot tell you exactly why I still have my Junior Prom corsage stuffed away in a shoebox between old report cards and notes my best friend passed me in French class, but I do. I mean, I didn't even like the guy and he cheaped out on the champagne. But throwing away the things feels too much like throwing away the memories. Which also explains why I'm already on shoebox number three for my year-old daughter.
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My Kingdom for an Hour of Sleep
As a new mom, I had heard that swaddling was the answer to my sleep deprivation. I tried to make that perfectly tight burrito blanket the nurses achieved so effortlessly in the hospital, only for my daughter to free her hands in a matter of seconds and commence screaming.
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The Gift That Gifts Back
When I was a kid, every gift-giving holiday came with a request from my mother to make her something. After a few years of amateur photo collages and tedious poetry I was plum out of ideas.
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Ring Me
Whoever decided diamond rings were the ultimate symbol of love never to be removed from one's fourth finger, certainly didn't take care of a toddler.
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For several years now, Music to Calm the Savages in the Back Seat
Summer travel season is in full swing, which means it's time to drown out the "she's touching me!" cries from the back of the car with some fresh, fun music. Spin Your Web, the third release from award-winning singer/songwriter Mary Kaye, is one CD you’ll want to have on hand on that four-hour drive to the lake.
No More Ring Around the Coffee Table
There were a few precious pieces of furniture we sacrificed after having kids, but our gorgeous coffee table? No way.
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Journal-ist
While every new mom-to-be has an insane list of things she needs (wipe warmers not withstanding), there's nothing cooler than getting her something she needs but doesn't yet know she needs.
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Give Peas a Chance
Before we even popped in their CDs, The Sippy Cups won our award for best kids' band name. After giving them a listen, it only got better. Kids Rock for Peas is a live album of covers of mostly late 60’s and early 70’s psychedelia, including Pink Floyd’s Bike, The Rolling Stones’ She’s A Rainbow, and The Beatles’ Dear Prudence.
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Reese's Monkey
I've never been much of a pastel gal myself, so it wouldn't have crossed my mind to decorate the nursery in baby pinks and soft blues. But now that I've discovered the work of illustrator Brandon Reese I might have to rethink my position.
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Baby in Red
When you're fresh out of the maternity ward, you can hardly be counted on to brush your teeth, let alone pick out coordinated accessories for the offspring. It seems a small matter until months later, when you scan through the... ... [More]
So That's What Happened to Grandpa's Underwood
It's not easy for a fashion-conscious new mom to find a piece of jewelry to commemorate her (my) newborn. Well, one that you'll (I'll) actually wear since non-ironic wedding script initials on gold rope chains are out of the (my) question.
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I'm This Many Years Old
It's birthday time here at Cool Mom Picks--it just so happens that our girls (Liz and mine) will be celebrating their first and second birthdays within a day of each other. But instead of attempting to keep a tiara on... ... [More]
Independence From Pink
As anyone familiar with New York knows, tonight the FDR drive will be lined with junior firework watchers wearing--what else--black. It's not that they don't love America in the big city; it's just that red white and blue screams Wayward Tourist Lost on the Way to Madame Tussaud's.
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Oh, Just Print the Damn Photos Already
Switching to a digital camera was supposed to mean no more shoeboxes of curling, dusty photos in the closet. Of course now my snapshots are cluttering up folders on my hard drive, never to see an album or picture frame... ... [More]
Dino-Mite
Choosing gifts for boys can be a bit tricky. Okay, it's pure hell. While boys like what boys like, that doesn't mean you have to settle for a fleet of miniature metal cars that only end up under the sofa.
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Orange You Glad It's Summer?
There's something about the sweet, icy, fresh from the freezer goodness of a popsicle that signifies summer. Well that, and mosquitos. But I much prefer to think about popsicles (as my bathing suit size would indicate).
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The End of "Are We There Yet?"
Before you endure another rendition of The Wheels on the Bus on your next long family car ride, you might want to consider this nifty Travel Bingo Game instead.
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Ask Cool Mom Picks
I have been searching for a photo album or scrapbook that is NOT in the classic style you see everywhere that's either pink and fluffy or traditional leather. Any ideas? -Sarah
Googling "photo albums" can definitely lead to very bad things. We always find cool stuff at Zanisa and we like the Molly West books at Chittypulga.
But lately we really dig the handmade wooden albums from Tree by Kerri Lee [pictured] with metal hinges and the funky wooden ring and strap. And the prices are terrific.
Got a gift dilemma? A shopping conundrum? Write to CMP at info@coolmompicks.com.
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CMP reader Sarah's daughter Alli looks cozy and snug in her Baby Bisou Carrier.
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