Here Kid, Fix My Hem

Crafty parents - we know you're out there with your embroidery floss and glue guns, waiting for the day that your kids will be old enough to start crafting alongside you. In the meantime, Nico and Zoe has the perfect little project to introduce your child to needlework. ... [More]

Chic Organic Maternitywear. For Real.

Only once in my life have I encountered a woman who told me, "I can't wait to get pregnant because the maternity clothes are like SOOOO CUTE!" I think she was high. ... [More]

A Pillow to Keep the Tooth Fairy Coming Back

I willingly admit I'm a tooth fairy pillow hatah. I hate them. Haaaate them. I think they're stupid and sentimental, and good God, what is wrong with sneaking in and slipping the stupid quarter under your kid's pillow like our parents did for us anyway? ... [More]

Give Me Clarity

No matter how many electronic organizers they come up with, I'm still a pen and paper kind of girl. We've pointed out a few great multi-schedule organizers for moms, and now we've found another we're liking a lot.
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Pearls, Schmearls

It's not everyone who can pull off a single strand of choker-length pearls. Maybe the hoity-toity fashion editors of the world disagree (and I've seen them say as much) but without that neat little bob and the Connecticut zip code to match, you might prefer something a little more shiny. ... [More]

Eh, Counting Sheep is Passé

I love the idea of hanging a cool alphabet or counting series along the walls in my daughter's room, but alas I have a bit of a wall space challenge. As in we don't have any. ... [More]

Into The Woods

Summer is officially over, meaning even if it's still 85 degrees out, I'm poking around in the jewelry box to see what's beneath the summery bangles and turquoise rings. ... [More]

I Like Smooth Butts and I Cannot Lie

Leave it to a company named Least Likely 2 Breed to come up with a natural and very catchy solution for diaper rash. Hilarious mom and founder Leigh Stevens' travel tin of Bad Ass Booty Balm has become a permanent fixture in my diaper bag. And not just because it's fun to pull it out in public and wave it around.

More Toys Not Deemed Hazardous to Your Health

On a recent trek through a big box store, I noticed that even the Lincoln Logs were made in China. Not sure how Lincoln would feel about that, but I certainly know how I feel about it. ... [More]

Don't You Know That Your Tie's Too Wide?

Want a kid's tee with an ironic hipster slogan on it? I've got a few ideas if you've got all day. So how happy was I to find a totally fresh take on pint-size hipster fashion via Canadian Rock & Rattle boutique. ... [More]

Music for Teeny Beboppers

To me, listening to Jazz is like ordering at an Indian restaurant. I may have no idea what's on the menu, but I always love whatever I get. This counts for Verve Records' Jazz for Kids: Sing, Clap, Wiggle and Shake, which serves to demystify Jazz and seriously entertain at the same time. ... [More]

Toys That Won't Sit in the Closet for Three Years

I'm definitely not the person to count on for remembering what developmental milestone comes when so good thing I found ebeanstalk before I bought the poor girl a rattle for her first birthday. ... [More]

Haute Coat-Ure

I first met Beth Miles, the designer and visionary behind the Ses Petites Mains label earlier in the year at a trade show, and instantly fell in love. Not with Beth per se--although she is pretty cute--but with her absolutely inspired clothes. ... [More]

Vegan Chic: Not an Oxymoron

As a former vegan sans kids, finding fabric bags was a pain in the butt but not impossible. But after having babies, I can't be the only mom who's eyed the easy-clean leather bag with envy. ... [More]

Pigging Out

I am just not one of those parents who believe that every moment in a child's day must be devoted to flashcards, language drilling and hardcore mind shaping. Sometimes kids just need to kick back and chill out around some fun cartoons. ... [More]

For Those About to Breed We Salute You

There are a few benefits to being a so-called younger mom, and one of them is that you can get away with the way fun maternity fashions available from Rock Star Moms. ... [More]

Beverly Hills Manners Lesson #1: Don't Bogart the Caviar

I think we can all agree that we'd like our children to be skilled in the social graces, whether they're enjoying supper with the ambassador to Switzerland on your next family ski trip to Gstaad, or at a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party. ... [More]

PB & J, Hold the PVC

I'm fickle when it comes to selecting a lunch box for my kids -- just ask my husband how many I've bought, used for a week or so, and abandoned. ... [More]

For Babies With a Taste For Reading

While others may look at the gnawed corners of our board books and question my kids' fiber intake, I prefer to view it as...evidence of their affection for the printed word. But sadly, some of our books have been adored beyond repair ... [More]

Solid!

Why is it that I can find the greatest quality shirts chock full of funny sayings and funky patterns--but the solid shirts in stores are limited to the mall store's 2 featured ugly colors of the season, or the discount three-pack with the too-tight crew necks? ... [More]

5th Avenue Slings

If you thought slings were just for the crunchy moms--well, first, you haven't been reading Cool Mom Picks very carefully. (We'll have a talk about that later.) ... [More]

Me and My Shadow

I like to think I've got some cool tricks up my sleeves for rainy days. But I'm still open to adding to my repertoire.Take these adorable shadow puppets from Owly Shadow Puppets. ... [More]

Sweet Tea

I'm always intrigued by Asian art traditions, not only because my mother is Chinese, but because, let's face it -- the stuff is absolutely gorgeous. And this hand-dyed baby kimono from Itty Bitty Lady Bug is no exception. ... [More]

Bags For the Price of the Lipstick Inside

I can rationalize almost any purse purchase, even though the price tag might be a bit (okay, way) higher than I should be spending on a bag. ... [More]

Dolls Made in Not China

As I sit here, gazing at my four month-old as she sucks the end of a silver rattle, I know I'm doing the right thing in limiting the mass-produced plastic garbage that enters our house. And enters her hands. And thus, enters her mouth. My latest focus: Dolls.

Psst...Pass It On

While there's no shortage of layettes out there for sale, I'm always on the lookout for items that are worthy of being handed down through the generations. ... [More]

The Bird is on the Wing. And the Ceiling.

Considering a mobile is essentially the centerpiece of your nursery, parents might consider putting as much thought into it as the bedding. But alas, most people just settle for the lame mass-produced mobiles that the big baby stores merchandise along with the cribs. ... [More]

Motherhood is a Beautiful Thing (After That Whole Labor Ordeal)

I was never a fan of sentimental jewelry but now, look what you've done to me, motherhood! Suddenly anything that reminds me of my kids has entered the consideration set.

Cool Mom Picks Goes a Little Dr. 90210 On Y'All

Do not adjust your screens. Yes, this is Cool Mom Picks.

Only a little prettier (we hope).

For the Princess Whose Poop Don't Stink

There is certainly more frivolous girlie-girl, princessy, pink, ridiculous kidswear out there than you know. And actually, you don't want to know. ... [More]

As Close to a Martin Guitar As You're Going to Get, Kid

Seeing how we have way too many expensive guitars piling in our closet, I feel the need to put a kibosh on daddy's new tactic for bonding with our daughter--the hugely expensive toddler guitar purchase. ... [More]

Block-Heads

I'm loving linoleum block prints lately. There's something about this ye olde time-y way of putting image to paper that actually feels really fresh amongst today's sea of clean-lined computer generated design. ... [More]

Crochet Isn't Just for Sweaters

After surviving yet another summer, I'm more than ready for that glorious Fall sweater weather. The only problem is that I live in the South, and that crisp air probably won't be hitting my face until late November (if I'm lucky). ... [More]

Best Editing of a Motion Picture Goes To...

Like all parents in this digital age, I've taken thousands of photos of my two girls. I've captured those "firsts" both big and small, but it's not easy to share those precious moments with friends and family without making them suffer through 75 nearly identical shots of, say, "first spit up." ... [More]

Ironic Tees: Now With More Irony

There are no shortage of ironic materni-tees, a few of which we've highlighted here on Cool Mom Picks. But for every funny tee I come across, I can always think of my own saying that I know be a winner. ... [More]

A Dress You Take Out for a Spin

It's a rare girl who can resist a bit of twirl. If you haven't spun around in a billowy dress until you were so dizzy you staggered and fell down on the lawn, well, you haven't lived. ... [More]

The Horsepower of Babble

The only upside to the drab colors of most car seats is that bodily fluids blend in well. Otherwise, ugh. I know safety is the first priority, but car seats look and feel as if they were fashioned from Aunt Martha's ancient sofa. ... [More]

Whoooooo Has The Coolest Shirt?

Longtime readers may notice that we never feature $80 toddler jeans on Cool Mom Picks. Why? First of all, they're stupid. ... [More]

Say My Name, Say My Name

As a certifiable word nerd, I’m not a fan of children’s books that seem to be written by marketers and not authors. While I like a good gimmick as much as the next parent, I also want a book that’s worth reading once you get beyond the “look what a cool idea!” stage.

When You Think of David Baldacci, Think of My Kid

Think about how much harder it would be for someone to throw away your baby's picture on a bookmark. Or a refrigerator magnet.Clever custom stationer, Ringo Baby, makes both.

Chocolate Goes With Everything

Lately I've got a thing for brown and pink on my little girls. I find brown to be less severe than black and less expected than navy. ... [More]

Aesop 2007

The artistic potential of fables and fairy tales is often obscured by the pedestrian illustrations that accompany them. Those classic stories are so full of vivid characters, I'm actually surprised that more artists aren't inspired by them. ... [More]

Oh, Kaed!

I finally came to grips with having to carry a diaper bag for the next year, if not more. So instead of pining after the hot leather bags for Fall that you don't want anywhere near a leaky bottle, I found one that's actually made for carrying them. ... [More]

Pavarotti Lives On

The passing of opera great Luciano Pavarotti this week has taken a wee bit of sunshine out of the world. In his honor, we found the Barefoot Book of Stories From the Opera by Shahrukh Husain, at one of our favorite publisher's sites. ... [More]

Making Al Gore Proud

I wince every time I take that double plastic bags home from the grocery store, but remembering to bring my own bags, let alone ones that can carry more than a few apples, seems unlikely. ... [More]

Calling All Anal-Retentive First Time Moms-To-Be...

Everyone knows that designing the nursery is one of the most painstaking endeavors of pregnancy. That is, the first nursery. Once you're on your second kid you're like, eh, this crib that someone left on the side of the road looks okay. ... [More]

It's Good To Be the King

With Texas Hold-Em having taken over the world--let alone our living room one night a month--it was only a matter of time before it made its way into nurseries too. ... [More]

Hey Bud (Or Cadyn), Let's Party

Being a minimalist where it comes to children's birthday parties, particularly those early ones, I applaud Lilybeans for creating these fabulous all-in-one party packs. ... [More]

My Fellow Germaphobes, I Salute You

For all the snickers I get from my friends for owning and proudly using a shopping cart cover, I am dying to say shut up! I love it. ... [More]

The Amazing Letterwoman

"We're all for girl superheroes!" responded my co-editor, Kristen, when I forwarded her the url for the new animated series, Word Girl. My response: "Totally!" ... [More]

Congratulations! It's a Pig!

I always have trouble with those baby gifts you need to get when the parents want the sex to be a surprise. Don't they know what a burden their surprise is on their generous friends? Don't they know it's all about me? ... [More]

Style-Conscientious

Only two minutes of searching the web for baby shoes for my newly crawling little man of the house and I'm drowning in a sea of leather booties. Love leather booties, but isn't there something different out there? ... [More]

Berry Cool Artwork

If it's not clear from our past artwork picks, we often lean towards designs with a sense of humor. Not like a big pair of Groucho glasses - just a subtle wink. ... [More]

"Mommy, What's That Dog Doing to That Other Dog?"

I'm a sucker for the hilarious questions kids ask--who isn't?-- particularly if I'm not the one who has to answer them all. Which is why I haven't put down the absolutely engaging new book, Father Knows Less, Or "Why Can't I Cook My Sister?": One Dad's Quest To Answer His Son's Most Baffling Questions. ... [More]

Kaboost Makes My Heart Go Kaboom

Okay so maybe we're the last shopping blog to cover the new KABOOST chair booster. What can I say - we're picky and it looked a little too good to be true. I had to try it out for myself. ... [More]

A Good Reason Not To Take A Holiday Off

Maybe if you just worked a teeeeeny bit more or stopped taking those damn weekends off for family time you could afford this: The stroller starting at $2500.

Taming Food Allergies

Ever since I learned about my niece's egg allergy, I've been on the lookout for helpful products and services to help her mama out.
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So Soho

I've come to find that a lot of the smaller designers we like use many of of the same fabrics in their bibs and blankets. Evidently there's been a run on pink "disco dots" at some fabric wholesaler somewhere. ... [More]

The Elephant in the Room

Please tell me that my child isn't the only toddler in the world who sleeps with like 800 stuffed creatures in her crib. What can I say, the girl loves animals. ... [More]

Speed Dating for Sitters

Scoring a fantastic, trustworthy babysitter can be like searching for the holy grail. It's hugely time consuming to call for references, conduct background checks and beg all your friends for personal recommendations, to say nothing of making sure you've hidden all the toys under the couch for the interview (ahem). ... [More]