Cool Mom Picks - the coolest gifts and gear for parents

Tuesday 09 February

Women helping women with supima cotton

Are you heart-ed out yet? No? Good. Because we just discovered the charity-minded Michael Stars Joyful Heart tees, created in part by Mariska Hargitay and pimped out by fab friends like Jennifer Aniston, Hilary Swank, Debra Messing, Courteney Cox, and others who spell their names totally differently than you think they do until you look it up on IMDB.

The tees were created to support the Joyful Heart Foundation (founded by Hargitay) which does good by victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. For every shirt that you buy, Michael Stars will donate one of their very wonderful tees to a woman in need.

I'm grabbing myself the short-sleeve v-neck, but there are four swanky designs to choose from, including ones with the stylish heart design on the back instead of the front. Which also helps to draw attention up and away from the postpartum posteriors. Because we may share our t-shirts with A-list mamas, but I can assure you I don't share a jeans size with them. -Liz

Find the Joyful Heart tees online from Michael Stars and learn more about the Joyful Heart Foundation on their website.

Find More: Causes and General Do-Gooding, Mama Wear

Tuesday 09 February

Get into the Valentine's Day spirit from the top down

Okay, so I couldn't resist featuring just one Valentine's Day themey, adorable heart barrette. Especially after I was kind of wishing I had one at my daughter's preschool Valentine's party this past weekend. (Not for me - for her.) The heartfelt clip from Natty Bratty's brand new Etsy shop fits the bill, with three layers of felt hearts--and a little repair work that your sweet girl will hopefully never experience.

The neat part is that you can order it with a hair clip backing or as a pin, in case you want to wear it yourself this week.

Oh, take off the cynicism hat. Live a little. -Liz

Find hair clips and more online at Natty Bratty

EXTRA-COOL: WIN IT! We're giving away TWO items of your choice from the website to one lucky winner. Fun! Just email contests@coolmompicks.com by midnight tonight with NATTY BRATTY in the subject. Check the site and tell us which two you'd like should you win. US only please, good luck!

Find More: Hair accessories

Kindiefest 2010! Get out your child-safe Zippos.

I'm so excited to be speaking on a panel this spring at the third annual Kindiefest, the conference for all that's cool in family music (or as we affectionately call it, kindie rock). In other words, the kinds of CD reviews you see on these here pages each week, thanks in part to our indie music-savvy associate editor Christina.

While the conference itself is definitely for those in the industry (and hooray for a keynote from Dan Zanes!) on Sunday May 2 there will be a phenomenal concert that's open to all. Or at least all of you in the Brooklyn area or who think it's worth the trek. And it will be.

As of now the line-up includes CMP faves like Ralph Covert of Ralph's World (shown), Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, and Kristen's own kindie crush, Recess Monkey, with lots more to come. Grab tickets now while they're discounted, and give your kids a chance to rock out with their favorite bands from Noggin and Jack's Big Music Show and get some CDs signed.

Because one of the things I like about this industry? Besides how talented they are and how they save us from the Wiggles - they're all the nicest people in the world. -Liz

Get tickets now for the Kindiefest festival concert for just $10 - prices go up to $15 after February 15. Find out more on the Kindiefest website or their Facebook Fan page

[photo: liz gumbinner]

Find More: Travel and events, Tunes

But, MY Teen Tells Me Everything. (Uh-huh.)

Why are we talking about teens? Because every single one of your tiny bundles of joy are going to grow up to be one, and you might as well know what you're getting into. Trust me, you're going to want to know this stuff.

In 35 Things Your Teen Won't Tell You, So I Will, Ellen Pober Rittberg gives us some tactics to use with our teens. Some of them seem pretty common sense, like Rule 10, Use your approval and disappointment, which I think parents generally do without thinking about it. Your child does something you don't like? You disapprove, right? But some of her other ideas, like Choose your battles wisely and Give your child meaningful chores, are really smart and provide good food for thought.

It makes all the difference in your relationship with your teen if you are an Auto-No parent or one that really listens before deciding. And whether you really need them to come home because their part in taking care of the household is important or just a token job that can be ignored.

While reading the book, I was reminded of the times I took at face value what my own teen said, just wanting to believe what she told me instead of looking a little deeper to see what really might be going on. It's kind of their job at that age to create a secret life and figure out how to take care of themselves. Any parent will find this book helpful in navigating the difficult waters of giving your fully grown kid enough room to find their way and enough rules to keep them safe. -Leah

Find 35 Things YourTeen Won't Tell You, So I Will by Ellen Pober Rittberg from our affiliate Amazon

Find More: Books for Kids

Monday 08 February

Valentines for kids with very big hearts

This is the week, mamas. The week that your kids are going to have to bring in Valentine's cards for every single kid in the class, the teacher, the assistant teacher, the art teacher, the dance instructor, the janitor, and probably the neighborhood dog. But we've got you covered with our affordable Cool Mom Picks printable, color-your-own Valentine's Cards at the Etsy Store.

For just $3.99 you'll get 12 downloadable cards from each of 12 phenomenal artists, that you can print as many time as you'd like. Just print them on some nice paper and let your kids add their own artistic touches and sign the backs.

Plus every single penny goes to the Children's Heart Foundation to help kids with congenital heart defects. So you can explain to your children that their Valentine's cards are making other kids all around the country feel pretty loved too.

Our goal is to raise $1000 - and we're getting close!

Thank you so much for your support. And an extra big thanks to the incredible artists who donated their time and energy to this project. You've done good. -Liz + Kristen

Grab your printable, color-your-own Valentine's Cards at the Etsy store and 100% goes to support the Children's Heart Foundation

And psst...if you want to know more about the talented artists behind the cards? Check our left sidebar the whole month of February for links to their shops!

Find More: Announcements, Invites and Cards, Causes and General Do-Gooding, Holiday Picks

There's way more to Japanese pop art than Hello Kitty

When I was in Japan a few years ago, I tried desperately to pack my suitcase full with as much adorableness as possible. But lucky for me (and you), I don't have to endure the super long plane ride to stock up on imported Japanese goodies thanks to new find Japanistic.

Take the Shinzi Katoh cotton tote bags, which feature the illustrator's signature whimsical artwork that we've already completely fallen in love with (Remember these bento lunch boxes?) And I'm thinking that we might have to forgo the candy hearts for my oldest next week and stuff one of those totes with the adorable Elph + Epha school supplies instead, like the sweet little journals and oh my goodness, the pencil cases (pictured) instead.

It's just like perusing those tiny Japanese boutiques, except without the wicked exchange rate. And the jet lag. -Kristen

Visit Japanistic for a plethora of gorgeous Japanese products and gifts and get free shipping with all orders over $50.

Find More: Baubles & Bags, Misc Paper Goods

Girls will be girls at Tollipop

I love little prints of little girls (as anyone familiar with our art archives probably can garner). So when I saw an entire of gallery them from Kirsten at Tollipop I immediately started bookmarking.

Kristen is a real artist, writer, and creative visionary who sells original watercolors and prints of sweet little girls - and one boy. Goes by the name of Edwin Fink. Actually what I think is cool about them is that they're are not too sweet at all. In fact, I see a wee bit of Edward Gorey in her children, which is in part what makes them so interesting. I'm especially liking the prints from her original Hundred Dresses series like Lucy seen here.

For just $12 each unframed, grab a series of your three faves and create a triptych your daughter can get lost in for a long time to come. -Liz

[via design mom]

Find More: Art+Decor (Sounds Fancy)

Sunday 07 February

Is your faux leather handbag carrying high levels of lead?

I've coveted Shiraleah's handbags after spotting them on CMP favorite Darlybird, and I recently scooped up a forest-green pleather style which has gone with me everywhere.

Until this morning.

That's when my mother told me she'd heard that hundreds of non-leather handbags were found to have excessive levels of lead in them. Yes, lead, which doctors warn has the worst effects on children, pregnant women and women of childbearing age.

[Update: Darlybird - who we continue to love and respect - originally stocked Shiraleah bags because of the very strong eco clams made by the company, and is as disheartened as we are. We have no doubt that the bag manufacturers will respond in a satisfying way.]

What makes me angriest about all of this is that lead was discovered in faux-leather handbags back in April 2009, but it was only last month that the Center for Environmental Health was able to sue four of the largest manufacturers to create the first legally binding rules to end high levels of lead in purses--in California. (As of now, there is no federal standard for lead in purses.) And there are more than a hundred companies whose purses failed the lead test but are not named in the suit.

With a heavy heart, I scanned the list of manufacturers and designers whose bags were cited and found the manufacturer of my favorite new bag along with surprising names like Bloomingdale's, Cole Haan, Kate Spade, Tumi, and Tori Burch. (Can't say we're as shocked to see discount brands like WalMart, Express and Forever 21 mentioned.)

If you are like me and have switched to non-leather for animal rights reasons, or simply because it's more affordable, you need to see if your bag is in this long, long list of offenders.

But, note: Leather bags are not off the hook just yet unless they're vegetable-dyed; they just have not been tested as far as we know.

Right now, we're checking on a few of the bags we've featured here to see what we can find out. In the meantime, I've been looking at vegetable-dyed leather bags as an alternative, but, as someone who has sworn off leather for almost 20 years, this is a bitter pill to swallow. And even as I come to terms with this news, I am quite literally waiting for the other shoe to drop: It will be just a matter of time before I find out that my non-leather shoes are doused in lead as well. Ugh. -Christina

We will continue to update this story, so please check back.

UPDATE: We've checked in with Crystalyn Kae, maker of some of our favorite vegan leather handbags, who has reassured us that her US-made bags do not have high lead levels, and that the glazed fabrics she uses comply with domestic standards for children's goods.

Find More: Causes and General Do-Gooding

The football widow's reward

Congratulate me. As of today, I've officially survived another full football season of Sundays home alone with the kids, never knowing whether my sigOth would come home from the bar happy or Stay away from me, they lost again.

(He's a Redskins fan, so I'll let you guess which it is.)

I'd say I deserve a little something for my patience, understanding, and ability to fall so easily into stereotypical gender roles.

You too? Well what perfect timing. Because the new spring handbags are just starting to creep into Barneys.

While what I'd really like is the Prada Saffiano Bowler Bag for a mere $2,450, but because Fantasy Football didn't exactly pay out for us this year, I'll settle for the $1,650 Bottega Veneta Ottone Zip Tote which is probably more practical anyway. I'd imagine that's close to what his annual bar tab came to this year anyway.

Now g'wan. Gawk at all the designer bags and leave some drool marks on the virtual store windows. You know you want to. -Liz

Find the new collection of designer handbags for spring at Barne's New York.

Find More: Baubles & Bags

Kid safe utensils for future foodies

Of all the things to gawk at, at the sprawling Atlantis Resort last weekend, there was one thing that seemed to catch the eye of every editor there--the bright, kid-friendly cooking utensils in the Kids Club.

Sadly when I found info on the nested mixing bowls that looked so fabulous on the shelves, they turned out to be a whopping $49.99 for a set that gets dismal Amazon ratings. But I was happy to discover the Fiesta Heads silicone whisk, spatula and pastry brush which the kids had a blast playing with before the cooking even started, thanks to the fun character-like shapes. They're not cheap either, but they are built to last. And they'd make a cool gift for a budding chef who'd be excited to have his very own set of kitchen stuff.

His own set of kitchen stuff with belly buttons on it. -Liz

Find the nested mixing bowls by Joseph Joseph and Fiesta Heads silicone utensils for kids at our affiliate Amazon.

[h/t lil' sugar, digital dads]

Find More: Around the House