I love to throw parties for my kids, especially with inspiration from all the great party ideas here on Cool Mom Picks. In particular, I'm always on the lookout for activities where our guests can make cool stuff that they'll actually wa…
Many of my Cool Mom Picks comrades swear they prefer backpack shopping to planning school lunches, but I admit it: I enjoy the challenge of getting creative with packed lunches. Sure, I get in a rut sometimes, but a pantry full of go-to …
Gee, another place to eat sweets, opening in New York City? That's no big whoop. But when the new eatery serves up gourmet rice crispy treats (because Rice Krispy Treats would be a trademark issue, right?) in flavors like red velvet, bir…
So here's a chore I haven't been missing this summer: packing endless school lunches . Argh! Trying to come up with variety and good nutrition for my kids drives me nuts. I'm already looking for new ideas for the coming school year, and …
I admit it, I'm a bit of a loudmouth about the benefits of skipping juice for kids. Most options are packed with sugar--like 20 grams per single-serving box, nearly the same amount of sugar in a full-sized Hershey's bar. Whoa! I know, I …
Soon I'll be carrying on here about school lunch gear , packed lunch recipes, and the best after school snacks. So this week, I want to take in summer. I want to take it in the biggest, baddest way that I can imagine. This week, I want t…
One of my favorite things about summer is dining al fresco. Backyard meals, beachside bakes, picnics in the park: you name it, I'm in. If you're grilling your eats, try one of these delectable 8 summer BBQ recipes. But if you're planning…
My first reaction to the wicked hot summer heat was to turn off the oven in favor of these no-bake desserts. Now, midway through the season, I'm turning away from my stove all together and opting instead for some of the very best, simply…
I'm a hardcore fan of SIGG reusable water bottles. They're seriously durable--and I know, because my kids put them through the wringer, dragging them from school to skatepark. Now I'm in love with a new collaboration between SIGG and Cui…
It's only from years of business travel to LA that I got to know the delight that is Peet's coffee. And now that I don't have access to their coffee shops in NYC (sniff), I'm glad that now it's even easier to bring it home. Peet's K cups…
My family and I are hitting the road soon and, having learned the hard way to never be caught empty-handed on a long trip, I'll be prepared with an arsenal of travel snacks. Ideally healthy ones. Since you might be traveling soon too, wh…
I feel like the most awesome mom when I bring home bags of fresh fruit--until I realize the bananas have become overripe in two days, and the mangoes and strawberries are threatening to do the same unless I use them, stat. Morning smooth…
No need to get fussy this Fourth of July. We've found seven patriotic snacks that are super cute, festive and easy to make. So easy, your kids can do most of the work , leaving you to celebrate your sweet independence! - Stacie These Sta…
As a New Yorker, Mario Batali is everywhere, from the impressive Eataly and the tantalizing Otto to the places a little farther out of my budget . Batali is known more for his amazing cooking than just his TV personality, and the word on…
The heat of summer is on, so I'm turning the heat of my oven off. I'm bidding a temporary farewell to cookies, cakes and brownies until the weather cools down, but fear not, there's plenty of dessert to be had with these 5 no-bake, all-t…
As I start to take inventory of our end-of-school-year bento boxes and food storage options, I ask myself, where did all the freaking lids go? Then I quit complaining and start looking for replacements. {Don't miss a great limited time o…
Chill , my new favorite e-cookbook ever, is an homage to ice cream complete with more than 30 recipes that any and every ice cream lover must have. Hyperbole, you say? Well I say: Red Velvet ice cream, S'mores Ice Cream, Peanut Butter Nu…
My kids, as with all kids, are obsessed with gummies. But I find that fruit chews give them the same satisfaction with a little less guilt. On my part. Hooray for a new brand that avoids the guilt entirely, and just in time for me to see…
Father's Day is this Sunday, so we're talking bacon. I know: so predictable, so genderist, and yet...so right. Take one look at these six recipes using bacon and try telling me otherwise. (Coffee Bacon Waffle Sandwich? C'mon, daddy!) Let…
Want to get in on the superfood fun, but have no clue what to do with a bag of chia seeds? (Other than turn them into a grassy novelty pet?) I've got five delicious ways to enjoy these wonder seeds, which were once the go-to survival foo…
It's (unofficially) summer and I'm thirsty for lemonade, limeade and orangeade. I know how much we all love a good cocktail: the proof is in the love you've shown for these 6 spring cocktails and also these 10 margarita recipes. Sometime…
We've gone cuckoo for coconuts. According to my last count, there are a million and one coconut snacks on the market today. (And, yes, that's official market data, ha.) Turns out, pure coconut is pretty healthy stuff. It is still high in…
We've officially hit that time of year that every day ice cream requests have replaced the every day hot chocolate requests. Since my kids have come home from school more than a few times with the telltale artificial blue-icee stains und…
Just like snowflakes, no two moms are exactly alike. So it only follows that no two Mother's Day brunch menus should be exactly alike either. In honor of Mother's Day, I've composed three brunch menus that can be served as I've put them …