Our friends at An Organic Carrier With the Soul of a Backpack
Back when I was carrying my babies around, if you wanted an earth-friendly choice you could've gotten a really ugly hemp sling. If you wanted something earth-friendly in a structured carrier, well, you were completely out of luck.
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A Silver Cross Stroller We B-Listers Can Afford Too
When I had the chance to try out the new Silver Cross stroller, the Dazzle, I jumped at it. This is the stroller brand ("pram" if you're fancy) favored by the likes of Jennifer Garner...
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Laying Down Roots for Mother's Day
Not every mama wants something on Mother's Day. Plenty of mamas are very happy with just a phone call, a handmade card or a contribution in her name to a decent cause. For that latter group, TreePeople is a great dot-org that does some good in the actual US of A
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Simple Words. Simple Necklace.
While I'm definitely a sucker for jewelry with lots of bells and whistles (okay, diamonds too), I was surprisingly taken with the simplicity of the concentric circles necklace by Lisa Leonard.
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Feeling Glam in L&D. If That's Even Possible.
In the final weeks of my pregnancies, I was alphabetizing my CDs, scrubbing out the kitchen cabinets, and laundering everything in sight. I most certainly was not thinking about packing my hospital bag.
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A Baby Blanket Just for Their Heads
I confess, I'm one of those "crazy" moms who's taken all three of my babies out and about right away. I refuse to be stuck with cabin fever, especially as the weather warms up. The only problem? How to protect that brand-new baby skin from the sun.
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Go Ask Alice When She's 10 Feet Tall
I've always had a thing for Lewis Carrol but most of the Alice prints that would be cute for a little girl's room have a 19th century feel that doesn't jibe with my modern decor. Then I came across the Tea With White Rabbits print.
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International Man-Child of Mystery
My daughter regularly has twice as much in her closet as her brother does. But shopping for a boy doesn't have to be boring anymore as CMP is constantly assuring you.
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Hand Picked Pumpkin: A Set in the Right Direction
I tend to steer clear of sets for my kiddos. Sure, they're an easy grab when you need to dress them in a snap, but other than that, they're not hugely versatile, particularly when you're trying to get the most bang for your buck.
Baby Shower Invitations That Come With a Makeover
I was That Person who spent like six hours online creating my Simpsons avatar. Needless to say I got completely sucked into playing around on the Pose Prints website, which lets you do that very thing on custom invites and cards.
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Kitsch Me Like You Mean It
I have a thing for chunky, loud, way-too-full charm bracelets, ever since I inherited one from my super cool Great Aunt Bea.
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Give a Mom a Table Saw and Look at What You Get
When both Liz and I were searching for a toy chest for our homes last year, we each ran immediately to Mod Mom Furniture.
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Even Vegans Carry iPods
I'm a podcaster for God's sake and I still do not own an iPod. But since iPods aren't exactly the most obvious sentimental mom gift, I'm hoping my husband will pair one with this great photo iPod case by Smoy.net.
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Cool Mom Picks Loves San Francisco!
A big welcome to all of our new San Francisco area readers who caught us on ABC's The View From the Bay Thursday showing some of our favorite Mother's Day gift ideas. If you missed it, you can catch it here.
LA Humor: Beyond Plastic Surgery Jokes
If you have spent any time on the West Side of LA, you will get a chuckle out of the new kids clothing line Rabbit Kinney.
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Queasy and Nauseous Never Tasted Quite So Good
I am fortunate to have made it through my first trimester fairly unscathed, with only a few "race to the toilet, hand over mouth" incidents. But if you're going to reach for a shaky tummy remedy about 24 times a day, forgo all the artificial sweeteners...
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Rainboots for the 2s, 3s and 70s
We've still got another week of those proverbial April showers, but considering the April we've had so far, I'm banking on those downpours well into May. And this year (for a change), my older daughter is prepared, armed with a... ... [More]
Hooded Animal Towels, and They Aren't Even Scary!
I decided early on in my parenting career to eschew hooded towels with larger-than-life animal heads on top, simply because all the ones I saw scared me.
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For Families Really Really REALLY Into Tattoos
My daughter has reached that very important milestone in a child's life: Adoration of temporary tattoos. And spare me the anti-hipster parent eyeroll please.
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Your Child 2003-2008: An Artistic Retrospective
Tada Baby has got a brilliant way to help me keep my daughter's art but ditch the reams of paper: A personalized poster featuring my her favorite artistic creations.
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Cool Mom Picks and The View From the Bay
Hey, Bay Area CMP readers - got anything to do at 3PM PST today? Well stick the kids in front of the computer with a DVD so you can tune in to watch co-editors Kristen and Liz live today on... ... [More]
Handmade Dolls for Your Little Doll
Until I got involved with CMP, I confess that I had no idea there were so many wonderful handmade dolls out there. I assumed that you either had a crafty grandma in the family, or your children were pretty much stuck with whatever was on the toy store shelves.
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Flowers for Mothers Day? Oh Yeah.
This choker-length flower necklace of mixed metals from jewelry artist Laura Baxter? I just can't resist. 15 little flowers made of 18k gold, warm rose gold, and silver all nestle together rather nicely along a substantial chain.
Gifted At Birth: You. And Yeah, Maybe the Kid.
I only wish Gifted at Birth had been around when my daughter was born. A service that delivers newborn essentials then has a premiere NYC doula on call?
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Shrinkage. The Good Kind.
I realize that pregnancy does give you some type of justification for those wiggly bits that would ordinarily drive you nuts. But the third time around, I have no patience for the extra juicy thighs.
Today's Nursery Decor is Brought to You by the Letter J
Personalized gifts are always a huge hit at baby showers but the problem is, so many of them are kinda lame. Not so the sweet handmade letter cushions from Netherlands shop Yvestown.
Dear Husband, Get In My Head.
One would think that because I run a shopping website, my husband would have no trouble finding me gifts. Every year I tell him to just click on anything in our Baubles and Bags category and he'll be the world's greatest husband. But every year, he ignores me and decides to go out on his own.
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Earth Day Pick: Old Tees Made New
After discovering Courtney Chu's original recycled t-shirt dresses, I am pleasantly reminded that eco-friendly kids wear doesn't necessarily mean expensive organic onesies.
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The Rorshack Mobile
I have a soft spot for felt crafts, pun only intended a little. So of course when I discovered UK etsy shop Lupin from brilliant felt crafter Laura Howard, of course I got click happy.
... [More]The Perfect Spring Skirt
I was surprised to realize, after having written up Louise Hedley and her wonderful little girls' skirts last year, that she in fact was the designer behind one of my own favorite Spring skirts. Who knew?
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Rockabye by Rebecca Woolf: A Shining (Yet Tatooed) Beacon in a Sea of Mom-oir Sameness
When former CMP contributor Rebecca Woolf left us to pursue other writing opportunities, we were terribly disappointed, but hugely anxious to see what brilliance she was brewing up. The result: The must-read Rockabye: From Wild to Child
Breastfeeding Just Got More Beautiful
It's taken me three children in six years to reach this point, but I'm finally comfortable nursing in public. It may be beautiful and natural, but I find I really am happier with a nursing cover.
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Hey, Someone Forgot to Make the Online Invitations Look Ugly
In an increasingly paperless world, online correspondence is rapidly replacing snail mail even for major events. Does evite ring a bell? But I haven't lost my love for beautifully designed correspondence, whether offline or online.
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Tea For The Twos. And Threes.
While I'm not a member of the matchy-outfit fan club, I'm definitely partial to mix and match clothes for the kids.
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Art, Charity and Shoes. Three of Our Favorite Things.
Now kids everywhere have an excellent reason to go all Jackson Pollack on their white shoes.
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I See Some Cute Socks In Your Baby's Future
In my mind, "lucky socks" means that I don't lose one every time I do the wash. But in the case of Fortune Tootsies, I think it means your baby will have extra luck when he wears them.
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Putting Stuffed Animals to Shame
If you are like me and think you don't need yet another stuffed animal, then you have not met Bla Bla Kids' newest addition to their cuddly family.
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Paging Doctor Mom
I'm thrilled to have found a reputable source of information at MommyDocs. Founding doctors Jamie Freishtat and Rachel Schreiber bring a practical perspective to their site -- they're both moms themselves. So they understand that frantic need to help a sick kid feel better.
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What Mama Couldn't Use More Zen in Her Life?
I'm fascinated by tales from other parts of the world; introducing stories I've never heard before to my daughter is one of my favorite parts of motherhood.
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Gate Checking Your Car Seat Just Got a Tad Less Nasty
Why why why why why oh why did no one tell me about the Car Seat Gate Check Bag until now?
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I'm This Many Years Old
With my kids' birthdays now close enough on the horizon that I can smell the beer bill (what can I say, we have fun parties) I've definitely got their birthday attire on the brain.
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Hey There, Georgie World
If bowling shirts for little boys ever went out of style I'd be sad.
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A Play Mat Without the Ugly
When I was expecting, I dutifully put a tummy time play mat on my registry complete with lights, music and hanging rattles.
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Your Mama Wears Last Year's Combat Boots
If I woke up Mother's Day morning to two smiling children bearing breakfast I would be delighted.
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Mommytrack'd Helps Gets Moms Back On Track
When a product is presented as the "Ultimate Family Organizer" it's setting the bar pretty high. You nearly expect it to come with a personal assistant and three more hours in the day
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Like Steven Sprouse for the Toddler Set
Classic Baby Gifts to Replace the Stuff Your Great-Grandma Never Saved
Not every mama in my life has the same taste in baby gifts that I do. Shocking, I know, but some of my friends really do prefer smocking and gingham.
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Tax Day Splurge: The Summer Dress Love-Fest Continues With Room Seven
We have to be careful that Cool Mom Picks doesn't turn into Cool Dresses For Little Girls Picks. But man, it's hard to avoid when there are so many sweet offerings this season.
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Tax Day Splurge: Italian Tricycles the Grown-Ups Will Covet Too
Buying the kid's first tricycle was wrought with way more emotion than I had expected.
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Tax Day Splurge: Modern Kids Furniture that Should Come In Big People Sizes Too
Not all of us looking for kid-sized table and chairs are looking for our playrooms. Because, um, ain't got no playroom.
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The Next Best Thing to Annie Liebowitz Popping By the Maternity Ward
Oh my God, where was Bella Baby Photography when I needed them? This is such a brilliant concept - talented freelance photographers spend a little time at the hospital with you getting those first precious hours or days captured the way they should be.
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So Maybe Sparkles Aren't The Best Ever Ingredient For Baby Lotions
It's difficult having to choose between Big Name Baby Products that are loaded with artificial ingredients and Natural Products that smell, uh, a little too natural if you catch my drift.
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The Least Raggy Rag Dolls Ever
It's been a while since we found some handmade dolls that we're really crushing on. After all, December isn't the only time we need great gifts for the special girls in our lives.
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More Boo-Boos, Please
My daughter has fallen in love with the very cute Boo Boo Gel Packs from Tiny Tillia.
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Skateboards That You Wear
It's been (cough, cough) twenty years, but I still haven't outgrown my adoration for skateboards and the guys who ride them - which is why I'm so enamored of these earrings made from old skateboards.
Paper Shouts: Not So Much Shouting. Which Is Nice.
I'm one of those few new mothers who actually enjoys writing thank you notes. Even if I thank you in person for your lovely and thoughtful gift, be assured that I will break out a box of fabulous cards to thank you in writing as well.
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Junking Junk Mail
Recently we reviewed Catalog Choice which I continue to love (love! love!) but recently I've been turned onto a similar service to help cut down on junk mail: Green Dimes.
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Dinosaurs Are Our Friends
I'm more than happy to oblige my daughter's new dinosaur obsession, that is if I could find a cool shirt that doesn't display a mean, scary T-Rex.
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So the Girls, They Like to Twirl
The notion of a dress "that twirls" used to seem kind of foo-foo to me until I thought back to my own childhood
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Presenting the Ultimate Mother's Day Shopping Guide. (If We Do Say So Ourselves.)
Today is April 11 which means it's exactly one month until Mother's Day, a perfect time to launch our second annual Mother's Day Gift Guide.
Forget Duckies, Have the Only Baby With a Sea Urchin On Her Chest
One of our fave discoveries last year were the bold alphabet toddler tees from BioME5 featuring authentic alligators, bears and camels.
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Foot Fungus: The Good Kind
We realize that baby booties are a frivolous purchase for a cute little lump who doesn't do much more than poop and sleep (or if you're my kids, not sleep). So that's why you don't buy them for your own baby. You get other people to get them for you.
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Too Much...Magic Bus
Kevin Meeker, teaches one of the more popular Music for Aardvark classes in Brooklyn. But for those of you in the rest of the country (including Staten Island), there's always the CDs from his kids band, Opus Ditty.
The Pigeon Want 1. A Puppy, 2. To Take Over Story Hour Completely
Mo Willem's newest release in the pigeon series: The Pigeon Wants a Puppy in which our consistently unfulfilled winged hero uses charm, humor, and his trademark pleading to make his next request.
Heather Moore is for Lovers. Of Mothers.
A reader recently turned us on to Heather Moore Jewelry and now, well, we're turned on. What can I say, awesome, expensive custom baubles make me hot. (Hint to the sigOth.)
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DIY Baby Announcements That You Won't Regret Having DIY'd
Self-serve baby announcements that you create on the computer aren't necessarily my thing. Although I appreciate the cost savings (particular for children number two through 17) I am always squidgy about the quality of those things, to say nothing of... ... [More]
Thomas Paul: From Wallpaper of the Rich and Famous to the Pencil Holders of the Cluttered and Not-So-Famous
With Mother's Day on the horizon, there is definitely one gift you do not need and that's a World's Greatest Mom mouse pad. Or pencil holder. Or stationery.
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Jewelry For Mothers Day? Yes, Please.
Mother's Day is coming, and once again you're thinking "Wouldn't it be nice to have a piece of mother's jewelry?" and in the next breath, "Too bad I sort of hate mother's jewelry."
... [More]Why Is This Finger Puppet Different From All Other Finger Puppets?
For those of you who have searched high and low to find a finger puppet in the shape of a piece of matzoh, you are in luck.
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Let the Mommy Cards Do the Talking
If you'd rather pick up playdates in style, check out the mommy cards from...Mommy Cards.
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I Like Zutano in the Springtime
One of the perks of editing Cool Mom Picks is that I get to run around trade shows with a press pass acting all important (ha) while checking out the kids clothes that won't be out for another six months.
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Q, R, S, Tween
When we come across a great pick that we think is perfect for the tweens in the world, we're happy to spread the word.
Car Seat Covers That Even Your Kid (Who Just Peed On It) Could Put On
I'm all for car seat covers, but my measure of their usefulness has to do with whether they are actually easier to install than the car seat. Thank you, Traffic Glam, both for getting into my head and making a cover that does not require a master's degree to use.
Amy Tavern: Necklaces in Waiting
Just because I have to keep some of the pieces in my jewelry box away from Mr. Destructo, my 14 month-old, it doesn't mean I can't add to my collection.
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Bringing Bamboo to the Bath
Moms with an eye towards organics know that sustainable bamboo is popping up everywhere for babies these days from towels to tees and now, bath products.
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Clips That Stay In. Without Corn Syrup. or KY Jelly.
I remember the time someone suggested using corn syrup to stick a bow on my then bald daughter's head.
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Don't Forget
Do you consider yourself brilliant and utterly intelligent? How about busy? And forgetful? If so, then we have found the to-do list for you.
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Lucky Wang = Lucky Baby
Oh how I love kimonos on little babies. Just love them. My faves are easily the breezy, flowy, spectacularly gorgeous cotton Kimono one-pieces from Lucky Wang.
My daughter informed me that she wants to "lose her bangs." I'm not sure if it's because she has somehow gone from 3 to 14 overnight, or if she just wants another few Go Ahead and Get Picky With That Crib Bedding
Javis-Davis, easily our fave custom crib bedding company, has just cut down the time you'll need to spend looking for nursery bedding.
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Baby Loves Hip Hop. And Dinosaurs. And Eating Dog Food - But That's Another Story.
The way I see it, kids are ridiculously obsessed with dinosaurs, and they love a kicking beat. It was only a matter of time before the two came together.
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Time to Pack Up the Wool Blankets
Call me a blanket snob, but it drives me crazy when a blanket isn't finished as perfectly on both sides.
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The Glass Sipper
We're always looking out for safer, non-leaching plastic baby bottle alternatives, but I'm still a bit reluctant to make the leap to glass.
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Video Birth Announcements: It's a New World, Isn't It
I procrastinated greatly putting together my second daughter's birth announcement, in part because I couldn't settle on a single photo
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Burp Cloths That Don't Encourage Spitting Up - From You
I confess, I'm not much of a fan of burp cloths. The fabrics are either too scratchy or too foo-foo, and the nice ones don't exactly make you want to employ them for their intended purpose.
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Family Photo Sorting Help, Just In Time for Mother's Day
Inspired to tackle our own mess of family photos for the benefit of the next generation, we're counting on CatchMyMemory to help get the job done.
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I Wish They All Could Be California Boys
Right now, one of our new fave finds for boys is the wonderfully named West Coast shop, Peek...Aren't You Curious.
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When I Think Nursery Decor, I think Deer Head
When brainstorming decor for my daughters' room, the first thing that comes to mind is definitely Deer Head. Okay, so I'm not about to decorate my daughters' bedroom in a hunting lodge motif.
Sweet Shoes! No, They Really Are Sweet Shoes.
It is never too early to start a child on the righteous path towards ultimate footwear coolness.
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Lockets Like They Used to Make 'Em. Literally.
As much as I don't love most keepsake jewelry, I absolutely adore vintage lockets.
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Insuring Yours is the Prettiest Baby On the Block
One of those things that no one warns you about in Lamaze class is newborn acne.
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The Alphabet According to Pop Culture Junkies
Yeah yeah yeah, A is for Apple. B is for Ball. Whatever. I'm far more interested in Brooklyn dad/designer Adam Scherr's retro cultural take on the alphabet.
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Boon is Putting the Self in Self-Feeding
I have one of those toddlers who insists on feeding himself with a spoon or fork. He also refuses to wear a bib. Put those two together and it's a brutal combination.
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Win It!
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a $250 Room Seven shopping spree from The Silly Wagon
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Congrats to April winner Amy L
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Featured Partner: Wild Dill
Looking for fair, natural, and organic products for your kiddos? Then put Wild Dill at the top of your list.
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For more discounts from our hand-selected partner shops, visit the brand new CMP Emporium.
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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