Grow-it-yourself is the new do-it-yourself. Unfortunately, I tend have the touch of death for plants. But you know what? I didn't let looking awful in denim overalls stop me from wearing them throughout the 90's, so I haven't let being p…
Even though we've lived in Atlanta for almost five years, we've yet to explore all this area has to offer. And really, the idea of a quick weekend trip without a long car drive is really attractive when funds are low and you're chasing a…
Finding beautiful girls' clothes may be one of our favorite jobs at Cool Mom Picks. This year there were no shortage of great picks from small indie designers; and even some bigger brands we like got into the action. Tutu Du Monde Liz: T…
I hate those winter days in which my lips are so chapped that wearing lipstick isn't the best idea. So when I saw Burt's Bees came out with a 100% natural tinted lip balm, I was like yep. Sign me up for some of that. [don't miss a huge l…
Method definitely had me in mind, when they developed soaps and cleaning products that not only look good out in the open, but they smell nice enough that you don't mind washing everyone else's dishes. (Ahem.) This year they've got a hol…
Back before I had kids, I was actually pretty crafty. But add four bundles of joy and I'm struggling to think of something to make for dinner, let alone what to do with empty egg cartons. Well, thanks to this new book from one of our fav…
I am a total Etsy junky; it's my first stop when I'm looking for cool, quirky accessories or for gifts for friends and family. I'm always particularly amazed by the beautiful handmade kids' clothing on Etsy, which is why you see so much …
The first time I packed my kids up for a week of summer camp, I couldn't get believe all the stuff they needed, even for day camp. And everything, everything, needed a name attached to it, something I unfortunately left to the last minut…
Okay, so I have a decent sized crush on designer Orla Kiely. I have only owned one of her bags which I bought with a Christmas bonus, and I wore it to death. I am holding out until my next birthday for a replacement, however her spring r…
Sprucing up for spring usually doesn't include my kitchen utensil container, but I have long been a convert of silicone spatulas. And these swirly, pretty, funky spatulas are exactly what my kitchen needs right now. Silicone spatulas are…
I have one word for this time of year and it's not nice. Stores are featuring spring clothes and outdoor toys, but outside my front door there are still the last vestiges of frozen snow, and I'm sure it's not the last of it for the seaso…
Based on the color offerings of most sleep sacks out there, I'm left to believe that manufacturers think bright colors will somehow keep babies awake at night. What's with all the pastels? Well, that's exactly how mom Holly MacLean felt …
As a native New Yorker, I admit I'm totally biased when I say that this is one of the most magical places for a family to be over the holidays. Because I get so many emails each year from readers and out-of-town friends asking me about m…
Perhaps you've poked around our holiday gift guide this year and come across the category called Gifts Under $15 That Don't Seem Cheap at All . If so, you very likely spotted the gourmet lollipops. You know the ones. The ones that call t…
You talented artists, you! You made it so hard for us to choose among all the amazing entries to our Cool Mom Picks + Etsy color your own paper ornament design contest to support Housing Works, and we have, after much deliberation, final…
I'm such a huge fan of finger puppets for kids , which inspire all kinds of creativity and good thinking. I'm thinking about tracking down a finger puppet theater this holiday, so we can have a more formal stage for all that tiny enterta…
If you're an artist, a wannabe artist, or even an artist-in-training, we sure hope you'll enter our Color Your Own paper holiday ornament design contest that we're putting on with the fine folks at Etsy . All it takes is your design for …
As you all know, we love Etsy. Big huge puffy heart love. And we just had such an amazing time collaborating with them on our Color-Your-Own Valentine's Day Card contest that raised over $2000 for charity that we decided get together aga…
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and it's certainly one of my kids' too. But with all the costume-wrangling and candy-buying and party-coordinating, I suddenly realize I have yet to hang so much as a fake spiderweb on my front d…
I've owned my fair share of diaper bags, and I've definitely got a sweet spot in my heart for the huge, honkin', very pricey bags that might just fit all your personal belongings and your baby. But by the same token, it's just not feasib…
It was her very first ballet recital, and I wanted everyone we know to see her joyful smile as she hugged her first bouquet of roses. But that doesn't mean I'm going to just give away our new custom photo cards from Shutterfly. I might j…
With my daughter's birthday coming up, I've got party decor on the brain. (Expect more on these pages in the coming weeks!) So when I saw these awesome beach ball decorations made out of waxed Japanese washi paper I went oooohh ...You ju…
Now that our air conditioner is blaring full force (curse you, NYC humidity!), I've finally gotten around to summer-izing the linens. I find a simple little change like switching throw pillow covers from wool to cotton or swapping out ou…
So what do I have in common with some of the coolest celebrity moms in America? And no, it's not rock-hard abs; it's an appreciation of Organically Raised: Conscious Cooking for Babies and Toddlers , an intriguing new "cookbook with a co…
