I love pretty much every part of back to school shopping, but picking out the new school bag might just be the best part. And it's even more fun these days now that there are so many cool options, like these cool messenger bags (and back…
I love designer bags from big names, don't get me wrong. But there's also just something awesome about handcrafted bags from indie designers and smaller names, especially when they are as modern, sophisticated, and hot (did I mention hot…
Of course we are all guilty in today's society of overpraising our children; everyone gets a trophy right? Yeah, not in my world. However, there is nothing wrong with a little extra parental encouragement. So, as I am starting to assembl…
I find it's always a good idea to have a few nice hostess gifts stashed away in the hall closet in case of last-minute dinner party invitations or weekend plans. I do this with kids' birthday presents too, and it makes life so much easie…
I don't have much space on my kitchen walls these days (I blame it on that folder that comes home on the last day of school filled with more art than my kids could have possibly created in only one year). But if I did, I know exactly wha…
When you have a kid losing a tooth, whether it's the first or the fifteenth, you know how special it can be. Maybe that's why I've always had a thing for tooth fairy pillows , and the lovely, affordable handmade ones from AppleWhite on E…
I'm a sucker for cool serving dishes, and right now I'm loving these handmade ceramic bowls from Marina Marinski at her Etsy shop, Marinksi Handmades . Marina's engraved illustrations are whimsical and seriously cool. Don't they kind of …
When you think tea, you think Mr. T, right? Smooth, powerful, totally in control of a rainy afternoon next to the sleeping cat, B.A. Baracus pities the fool who doesn't enjoy a nice cuppa. This Mr. Tea Tea Set for One from Squackdoodle o…
I've said before that a quilt is the perfect baby gift . That said, all families are different and all blankets are not created equal. That sweet pastel quilt you fell hard for might not work for your funkier friends--you know, the ones …
We always have so much fun discovering new artists, and one of our recent finds is Cheeky Monkey Home . Her handmade pillows are the kinds that just require one to make a whole room. And they're made with such exquisite detail, they're t…
I remember keeping a certain unicorn tee in heavy rotation when I was about nine, so girls' obsession for unicorns is hardly new. If you know what I'm talking about, I've tracked down some cool unicorn clothes for girls out there to sati…
When I was growing up, my grandmother had a lovely little poster on her bathroom wall reminding us of all kinds of old fashioned bathroom manners. My favorite was the reminder not to "keep the bath an hour or more when other folks are wa…
We're thrilled to present our annual Father's Day gift guide series, starting off with the coolest personalized gifts for the men in our lives we love. But hurry--personalized gifts need to be ordered stat! This year, we're also so happy…
While you're busy looking for the perfect Father's Day gifts , you can't forget the perfect funny card, right? If you're like me (and your dad like my dad) then you'll appreciate these 18 funny Father's Day cards that I tracked down on E…
I can't tell you how sad we all are about the death of Maya Angelou today at 86. Starting with the must-read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings back when I was a kid, I was instantly captivated by her amazing command of the language, and ho…
We have a thing for personalized dolls at Cool Mom Picks, but I am legitimately swooning over these sophisticated (but still adorable) custom family dolls, handmade by Liliana Tijeras of Citizens Collectible on Etsy. They may be made in …
One of the most fun things about this site is the ability to introduce new artists to all of you. One of our favorite finds: the lovely handmade cloud mobiles from Jahje Ives of Baby Jives Co. I was never a big fan of mobiles with music-…
When I was a kid, we called the deep purple crayon plain ol' Violet. Then it was Purple Mountains' Majesty. Now it can be Titanium (III) Ti3+(aq). Because these Chemistry Crayon Labels turn that 64-count box of childhood's favorite art m…
We love Star Wars posters and the fact that its imagery, icons and lines never get old. The evidence being that there are still so many great artists finding inspiration from the series and creating terrific Star Wars inspired artwork of…
If you have a mom who responds more to humor than sentiment, here are some of the absolute best (IMHO) funny Mother's Day cards, all created by independent artists and small companies on Etsy . Warning: some are not safe for...well, for …
It's the time of year that I can go for a nice, beautiful little indoor herb garden on my urban windowsill. I love the idea of always having fresh basil for pesto, and fresh mint for lemonade or iced tea. A Click and Grow Smart Herb Gard…
I bought a few felted wool bowls a long time ago and while they seemed a bit of a frivolous purchase at the time, they turned out to be really useful. They sat on my dresser to catch all my rings, dainty bracelets, and tiny necklaces jus…
If you asked my daughter what her favorite color is, her answer would be "rainbow." I can't agree more, and its bright and cheery vibe makes the sweet rainbow learning toys for toddlers so perfect for spring. This acorn sorting game is a…
My daughter's baby mobile came with the crib and featured four demented and hungry-looking rabbits, so I don't know why I'm surprised she had sleep issues. Maybe a cozy handmade modern baby mobile like the new from our pals at Blue Witho…