Crib Sheets Made for Sleeping
As adorable as they generally are, kids can be an assault on the senses. Their rooms are littered with plastic toys, most of which emit ear-splitting sounds and require daily battery changes, and their walls are painted with rainbows and clowns and construction equipment. Is it any wonder that the darlings have trouble falling asleep in there?
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The Writing on the Wall
As far as I'm concerned, one of the best parts about being the grown up in the house involves the simple fact that I can write whatever I'd like on the walls if I so choose.
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Making Grandma's (Mothers') Day
I am not a diy-er, crafter, Martha-in-training, or whatever you want to call people who have the genius ability to make things that don't look, well, like they made them. This is not a big deal until my own mother gets on the phone and tells me to "make her something" for Mother's Day. And I don't think she's referring to the new grandbaby on the way.
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Lick My Manolo
Mother's Day is the perfect opportunity for me to troll for two of my favorite indulgences - accessories, and chocolate. Although I admit I wasn't expecting to encounter both rolled into one.
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Don't Miss Another Shot
I am one of those moms with my camera always at the ready. (Seriously, it's annoying and when my kids can talk they will tell you as much.)
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How Do You Say ‘Awesome’ in Italian?
As a lover of all things multi-cultural, I am on the hunt for quality baby gear that is both inclusive and multilingual. I mean, I get the charm of diapers embroidered with ‘Oui Oui!’ but I’ve been looking for something a little more…classic.
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Jackson Pollock for Your Ears
Whenever I hear about a new "alternative" kids album, I grab it off the shelf, listen hopefully to the acoustic arrangement of "Sheri Had a Little Lamb" (or whatever) and bang my discerning ear drums against a wall. To me, music should be serious business. And by business, I mean something more tolerable than your average American Idol tryout. More artistic integrity, less Sanjaya.
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I never saw myself as the mommy calling card type - you know, someone who would have a stack of cutesie little cards giving me a job title like "So-and-So's Mommy" But then, I never saw calling cards like the ones from Born Into Luxury
The selection of the perfect moses basket has become one of those over-the-top rituals of the new mother-to-be. I can't tell you how many friends I saw absolutely frenetic over finding exactly the right first sleepy place for their new little guy or gal.
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Nursing in Vogue
With baby #1 I was all about the receiving blanket when I nursed al fresco. This time around, I'm doing it in higher style. The nursing cover-ups from My Turtle Baby may in fact be the best-looking ones I've ever seen.
Sunday Driver
When I first had a baby I remember very distinctly getting the single word of advice: Zutano. My friend turned out to know what she was talking about. I loved the mix and match, durable styles for newborns, never having any idea that this mom-and-pop run company (turned fashion force to be reckoned with) also made cool stuff that older kids could get into. Now I know.
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Finding Your Child Through Art
My five year old is on a mission to find herself--not through junior self-help seminars, but in every movie poster, magazine ad, or book cover she sees. Mimi will exclaim, "I'll pretend to be that little girl in the picture, Momma. You can be the cow." (I don't love being the cow.)
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Finding Nemo? Well, Not Here.
Boys can be just as fickle as girls, and household budgets can't always accommodate tastes that shift each time a new cartoon hits the big screen.
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Family Jules
Keepsakes make me cringe (sorry, keepsake fans) as do sappy baby mama gifts. This is not because I'm some sort of cynical, unfeeling hipster, but rather because I've found most baby mementos to be anywhere from meaningless to downright goofy.
... [More]Because I'm the Mommy, That's Why
It doesn't seem that long ago that when someone mentioned The Rules, my mind leaped to "don't accept a Friday date on a Thursday," as opposed to, "no eating the cat litter." How quickly things change.
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Viva La Revolution!
I'm always looking for great political kids' tees because really, what is more 2007 than a toddler with a cause? But the fact is, most of the threads look like the design was an afterthought. Why can't socially-conscious families dress their kids in hip clothes too? Does it always have to look like some guy in the mall just stamped "No War" on a ratty tee in iron-on letters and called it a day?
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Little Green Thumbs
There's no better way to honor Earth Day than to grow something. Anything. That is, something besides mold on the expired sour cream in the back of the fridge. Or is that just me?
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Saving the Earth One Sore Nipple at a Time
We know the decision to breastfeed has nothing to do with saving the planet. But when you're slathering on the Lansinoh, it's nice to have in the back of your mind that you're doing something more than just sustaining your own flesh and blood (like there's a more honorable cause).
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My daughter is a freak for magazines -- heck, she'll even spend hours with the Pottery Barn Kids catalog. So, when I found out about Highlight's new 2-5 yearpublication, Excuse Me But Are Those Diapers in Your Wallet?
While we’ve had no shortage of diaper clutches to review here at Cool Mom Picks, I have yet to find one that really truly doesn’t look like one. Not that that's a huge problem, but still, it's nice to have an option that doesn’t scream “baby crap inside!”
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Git Along Little Raindrops
With two little girls, I've got boxes full of dress-up clothes for rainy days. Fringed flapper dresses, feather boas, and sequinned high heels - they've got it all. But why should girls have all the fun?
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Plush Is an Understatement
With all the oodles of baby blankets on the market, it’s certainly hard to pick a favorite. But if you’ve got a picky mom with a penchant for all things plush, then we’ve got just the thing.
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Oooooh, Balmy
I've got enough in my diaper bag without having to worry about the hundred products I might want to add come spring--Calamine, lip balm, Neosporin, blah blah blah. But after trying a sample of Bye Bye Boo Boo from Zen Momma, I think I've just pared down my kit by about 16 pounds.
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Home Run Style
Now that baseball season is in full swing (haha) we've had our eye out for appropriate kids duds that transcend the same old same old. Not that there's anything wrong with an authentic Derek Jeter jersey (Bosox fans, hold your tongues) but we like it when our kids can stand out a bit in the crowd of 15,000 at the stadium.
Dear Mr. Darcy...
I always feel like a character in a Jane Austen novel when I pull out a box of fancy cards. Like I'm a 21st century Emma. Or Gwyneth Paltrow--in a good way. And with the new Glitzy & Golden cards from Dorothy Teng's Charlyn Koo Design Studio , I suddenly I feel like writing Mark Darcy a sassy, solicitous letter.
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Arts and Science
As part of my ongoing crusade as a lover of science, my girls are exploring the natural world through trips to planetariums or even just finding ladybugs in the backyard. B
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Jonesin' for Some Soda
While I'm a fairly noncompetitive person, and I'm not so much about the one-upping around the birthday party circuit, I have to ooh and ahh over what has got to be the coolest party favor ever for my daughter's next bash.
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Keep On Rockin' In the Preschool
It's never too early to introduce your kiddos to the joys of rock. Oh sure, they'll eventually rebel, coming home from high school blasting Steve and Eydie from their 16th generation iPods. But there's no reason you can't at least start them off on an acceptable musical path.
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Kids Art With a Longer Shelf Life
As I've learned rather quickly--too quickly--the artwork you buy for your baby's nursery might seem...well, babyish in a very short matter of time. Those sweet little Peter Rabbit prints that made you teary when your boy was just a babe in arms aren't cutting it now that he's three and answers to the name Mr. Destructo.
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As you may well know, for moms with a shoe thing, Cool Mom Picks can be a dangerous place. And I count myself among you. Consider yourself warned before you click over to super talented designer Janaina Vaugn's online Etsy shop, Scrapbooks Out, Storybooks In
Those fill-in-the-blank baby books didn't work well for me. While some of the questions didn't apply, I just didn't like to leave the pages completely empty--or worse, use the bureaucratic Not Applicable. Eventually, I decided to eschew the preformatted books and put together a baby book of my own design.
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Parenthood: A Taxing Experience
How you feel about today comes down to one thing: Whether the number in that teeny little box at the bottom of your tax return has a plus before it, or a minus. But one thing we can all agree on is, it's a good day to have kids. Many, many kids.
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A-List Teddies
Sure, your toddler loves that ratty old blankie - it goes everywhere that he does. But did you ever stop to think about what that ratty old blankie says about you and your style...or lack thereof? I shudder to think.
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Sanity Amidst the Minivans
We all love swapping war stories with another mom friend: You share your potty training adventures, she describes her toddler's attempts to escape from the crib. By conversation's end you're laughing, crying, and grateful for the venting tha
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Like Craig's List Without the Weirdos Looking to Buy Placentas
You've spent months agonizing over bedding options for your baby's nursery, only to discover your must-have ensemble was discontinued, and the whole county is sold out. Who'd have thought Pirate Bunnies would be so popular?
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Thrifty Gifting
In my late twenties, I used to buy expectant friends the beautiful white blankets or the attractive silver picture frames. Now with two kids myself, I've done an about face from all that keepsake stuff. What can I say? I'm practical.
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Whatcha Got Cooking?
It's no secret that cooking doesn't usually inspire warm and fuzzy feelings in me. I'm especially hesitant to try new recipes - after all that effort, will it turn out well? Or will it end up dumped into a napkin when I turn my back and shoved into the nearest receptacle or willing household pet?
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Cool Mom Picks Nominated for Blogger's Choice Awards
We're pleased and humbled to announce that Cool Mom Picks has been nominated for two Blogger's Choice Awards: Best Shopping Blog, and Best Blog About Stuff. Aw, you guuuuuuuys... We're so used to giving things away it never even... ... [More]
Step Aside, Batman
I'm all for supporting my daughter's wild imagination as my blouses become her beautiful gowns and that old ratty dish towel, a magical cape. The only thing I don't love is the argument that precedes almost every trip out the house when we have to leave her creative outfits behind.
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Still Washing Those Pacifiers, Eh
While I'm a big proponent of pacifiers, picking them up off the ground every four seconds stinks. Especially when you're still in that early stage where you actually wash the thing off instead of just wiping it on your jeans.
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We're Gonna Rock This House
How can you not be intrigued by a band referred to as "the Aerosmith of kids music?" This isn't to say that they're going to cast the lead singer's barely legal daughter as a Lolita in their next music video, but if you stick with the music part - that's a pretty accurate description of South Jersey boys and much lauded kid rockers Ernie and Neal.
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Vintage Fabrics Go to Waist
While I rarely take the time to accessorize myself, I love finding just the right adornments to complete my daughters' outfits. No matter how cute the clothes themselves may be, it's often the hair clip or the cardigan or the belt that perfects the look.
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Because the Old Milkman Joke Never Gets Tired
If anyone ever comments that our daughter looks like her father, her father's answer is always some form of, "really? The milkman?" Yes, it's a chestnut. But for some reason, he's that rare guy who can totally pull it off.
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Making Breastfeeding Easy (If That's Possible)
I naively thought breastfeeding would be a piece of cake -- you know, stick the baby on and go. But then I had the leaking, the nipple pain, the engorgement. Needless to say, it was hard not to get discouraged.
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See a Pinny, Pick it Up...
No matter how cute the current trends in baby threads may be, there are some children's classics that never go out of style. Or at least they shouldn't, in my opinion.
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21st Century Flower Child
When I first was contacted about Flower Child, a dvd of children's poetry on video, I admit I had visions of dirty-nosed hippie children reciting spoken word pieces by the light of lava lamps. I was wayyyy off. The dvd is wonderful.
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Golden Girl
I'm feeling like I need a little more delicate in my life these days. Perhaps it's the fact that I'm nearing that 40 week of pregnancy mark...or maybe it's just Spring.
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Special Delivery
I think back to how panicked I was over choosing birth announcements for my first child and realize now I was being silly. Especially when there are so many services who make it easy for you.
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Clips That Stay In? Be Still My Heart.
Not to brag, but my girls have quite lovely hair: Think spun silk. However, it's a bear to style since elastics tangle easily, and barrettes slide right out. If my preschooler was more open to me fussing with her hair for 36 bazillion hours at a sitting it might not be so much of a problem.
Craft Your Way to Unboredom
It's the phrase all mothers dread: "Mom, I'm booooorrrred!" After the kids have made their way through every puzzle ("I've done that"), book ("read it already"), and game ("we played that this morning") in the house, what's a mom to suggest?
What's That Saying About Denial?
I've entirely accepted that fact that I must carry a diaper bag when I'm out with my kids. I know plenty of women however, who don't care how much the thing looks like a regular handbag, it still screams "mommy" too much for their liking. Of course I think the diaper clutch, leaky bottles, and wet wipes spilling out of their purse does that regardless.
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The Joys of Boys
I never truly realized the value of baby powder until I had a boy -- need I say more? But with a baby with sensitive skin, I wasn't going to settle for just any powder.
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Slings Gone Simple
I have a confession to make: Slings scare me. While the benefits are undisputed and the styles no longer just for the granola set, they've always seemed like the kind of thing I'd be destined to tie wrong and whoops!--out the baby would go
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For the Birds
Artwork depicting the ABC's or 1-2-3's usually has a fairly short shelf-life (or wall-life, more accurately). Pastels and teddy bears are often deemed "babyish" around the same time that the diapers disappear.
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Personalized Onesies, Hold the Cheese
I love buying personalized tees for my friends' babies, but it's often hard to find something that isn't either absurdly blinged out, or so cutesie-sweet it makes your teeth hurt. So I'm loving the personalized tees and onesies from the hip new online shop, Little Uni.
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Getting All Felt Up
I love watching my daughter's imagination in action. She sets the table for five so her imaginary friend can eat too, and there's no end to the litany of cool animal pals that she describes as stopping by for a visit at bedtime.
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Brush With Greatness
Art by Actual Artists: What a Concept
I've always liked the idea of turning a favorite photo of my child into a piece of artwork. But a lot of those Warhol-eque services just look like a computer novice took a Photoshop 101 class, and went nutty with the filters. What ever happened to art made by actual artists?
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April Showers Bring Laundry Mayhem
Gnome-in-the-Box
I always loved jack-in-the-boxes as a kid, but you've got to admit, there was something about that original "Jack" that was pretty creepy. Clowns are generally a little questionable anyway, come to think of it, let alone one intended to scare the bejeezus out of a preschooler by design.
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YouTube for Moms: The Boob Tube?
One thing pregnant women and new mothers are definitely not lacking is a variety of information sources--some more desired (Cool Mom Picks) than others (the mother-in-law with some very interesting views on putting whiskey in the bottle). But picking and choosing from among the stacks of books and lists of URLs can be daunting. And frankly, who has that kind of energy these days? Sometimes a passive medium like TV is just what the doctor ordered.
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Win It!
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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.
CMP Flickr Group
CMP reader Sarah's daughter Alli looks cozy and snug in her Baby Bisou Carrier.
Have a picture of your little one (or yourself) in a Cool Mom Picks find or prize you've won? Join our Flickr group so we can show off your good taste to the world.
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