If you're wondering just what to put in a guest room to make your guests feel more welcome, I can help! Whether you're lucky enough to have an entire room dedicated to guests, or you're just trying to figure out how to turn your kids' be…
I'm a total geek for the Olympics, which means I'm a total geek for Olympic crafts for kids every two years. Sitting with my kids, watching the pageantry of the opening ceremonies featuring athletes from countries all over the world, is …
This year, we've found so many fun new free printable valentines especially for older kids who have outgrown the cutesie stuff, and I'm sharing some of my favorite printables from previous years too. Thanks to so many amazing, creative m…
Chocolatiers and florists would have us believe Valentine's Day is all about romance, but we know the truth. It's all about cutting out 8 zillion classroom valentines. (Ha.) The truth is, when you become a parents, any excuse to shower o…
When I saw Etsy editors recommending mood-boosting jewelry for this time of year, I was in. Let's just say, I've felt like Cinderella lately . . . pre-fairy-Godmother. I'm constantly cleaning up after my kids because it's too cold for th…
When the weather has made taking your kids to the park impossible -- or at least, miserable -- it's helpful to have a few creative educational activities handy to keep preschoolers busy and entertained indoors. Because these winter days …
This year, I'm determined to get some of my home decor annoyances crossed off my to-do list and that includes finding a new comforter. One problem. I've been looking for a comforter that's just the right shade of navy for a while now, an…
It's become devastatingly clear that not everyone recognizes Haiti as the naturally beautiful, culturally rich, nation that it is. Not to mention a resilient one, as we commemorate the 8-year anniversary today of the massive Port-au-Prin…
This is my favorite recurring post every year on Cool Mom Picks, in which we collect all the best children's books of 2017 lists from all over the internet -- from big publications like the New York Times to our favorite indie bloggers w…
Have your kids written their letters to Santa yet? If not, you need to download this adorable dear santa set of printable stationery from one of our favorite indie shops, Caravan Shoppe , right now. You'll have printable letters to Santa…
A new pair of Christmas pajamas for babies (and kids!) is an annual tradition for so many families. Since I was a little girl, our own family gave a new pair of Christmas pjs every Christmas eve as the one gift we could open early. It al…
I don't know about you, but I do not have the mental space to craft an elaborate, handmade gift for my kids' teachers this year. And, as adorable and delicious as it may be, I can't do yet another mason jar full of hot cocoa mix. Instead…
This year's DIY slime craze isn't going anywhere anytime soon, if my kids' obsession is any indicator. So when I saw this DIY Santa Slime tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids I knew I had to bookmark it. Honestly, how brilliant is this as…
Ken Burns called our national park system, "America's Best Idea." And I have to say, the president's decision yesterday to eliminate more protected public land than ever before in US history -- nearly 2 million acres -- is absolutely dis…
Our local bookstore has a kids' section that's a swath of red and green right now. But books like Clifford's Christmas or It's a SpongeBob Christmas are not my first choices. (You guys, I totally just made up those titles in my head, sea…
If you’re looking for the very best Black Friday 2017 shopping deals and discounts around the web, we've got you covered! And by best, we mean...best. Like, no junky stuff, no "buy one, get one for 6% off." Just the best deals for the sh…
It's getting chilly outside, and we've even had snow in the forecast down here in Nashville! (Although it missed us, whew.) So, I guess it's time to start thinking about kids' snow boots for the winter, for those of us who never think ab…
Over the last few months I've received a stack of advance review novels that's now literally taller than I am. But from the pile of books, three great middle-grade novels in particular have caught my attention. Each explores themes of ju…
My daughter has a pretty firm holiday wish list drawn up already, but I still want to find a few surprises to add in for her. Because it's so much fun to watch the kids open something they weren't expecting to get, especially when it's s…
I've been lugging a big bag full of toys and snacks to keep my three year old entertained lately, but I'm planning on lightening my load, thanks to the cool, modern printable paper dolls by Merrilee Liddiard that I just found. Aren't the…
As a working mom of four kids, with a husband who often works from home too, our home has a tendency to be...out-of-control crazy. I love organization -- the pages of Marie Kondo's book are my happy place -- but over the last year it see…
I didn't grow up in NYC so I don't have FAO Schwarz shopping memories like some of my city friends. But I did know about them from Big , and I loved pouring through their catalogs around the holidays every year, carefully circling the hu…
My kids' grandparents regularly ask what cool, creative gifts they can give them at the holidays (because we have awesome grandparents), and this year I'm putting Playpa play paper on our list without a doubt. I just discovered this huge…
As an adoptive mom, I'm committed to fighting against Trump's new tax bill that, among other things, eliminates the essential adoption tax credit for families. Here's why. Adoption is expensive. Like, crazy expensive. While it's 100% wor…
