With Halloween an entire day behind us, our thoughts at Cool Mom Picks already turn to the best holiday gifts . (We can't help it!) So when I saw these beautiful little Japanese bowls on sale, I thought, ooh...hostess gift. The modernist…
Get out the flour and sugar. Crack the eggs (better use than egging the grouchy neighbors, trust us). Monster mash everything up. And then select the perfect creepy cookie cutters for a very happy Halloween snack. First we brought you NI…
So I've been told I have a tea towel addiction. I prefer to think of it as a healthy obsession. Tea towels, after all, are awesome. They're there for you whether you're drying dishes, produce, or your hands. They can also be used in a pi…
Ah, the poor humble placemat. Sure, placemats serve a noble purpose: to keep spills and mess (somewhat) contained. But have you ever fallen in love with one? I have. I'm totally smitten with Pop Placemats . These puppies demand attention…
That's no moon-- it's... a tea diffuser, and it's fully operational, Star Wars fans. You lovers of Star Wars and loose leaf teas: rejoice! This exquisitely detailed stainless steel Death Star Tea Infuser is an officially licensed Lucasfi…
I know I'm not the only one who's always wondered if there's an easier way to pit cherries. Every year, I wait for cherry season with much anticipation, only to be reminded that with half of my kids needing me to pit their cherries befor…
Merely a place mat for children? Perish the thought. It can be a hat, a brooch, or a pterodactyl. Or just a handy color-your-own disguise kit for a messy kid who needs a mustache. The Paper Disguises Place Mat at My Sweet Muffin is a fan…
I make it no secret that I have a huge crush on the Canadian Ryans: Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Gosling. But since I'm not 15 anymore, I'm pretty sure the glossy posters on my ceiling or calendars on my wall are out of the question. But a tea…
If you love animals, alphabets, good deals, and clean tables, we have the deal for you. But you have to hurry. These adorable silicone ABC Placemats from Brinware are on sale at Fab.com through Wednesday only (or until they run out) and …
If there is a stage called "Booster Seat Battles," none of the parenting books have mentioned it--but that's exactly what my family is currently dealing with. The 2-year-old has refused to sit in a booster, preferring instead to reach up…
The sippy cup. Ah, how I wish we were past this stage of life. For now I accept my fate that is the avalanche of cups and lids falling on my head every time I open the cabinet. My disdain however only makes me more appreciative of those …
Mother's Day is one of my favorite holidays and not just because my boys spoil me silly with kisses. It hits at the best time of year when the weather turns warm, the flowers bloom and the farmer's market begins showing signs of bounty. …
This year, I thought one of the more inspired picks in our Baby Shower Gift guide was the Keurig coffee maker. I figure for those moms who thrive on caffeine (or will, once they start to accept their new sleep patterns, or lack thereof),…
As my kids get older we are (gasp) transitioning away from the non-breakable plastic wear and gingerly setting down proper plates and drinkware at their table settings. They still have their personalized placemats so it's not like I'm tu…
I fully admit to drinking way more bottled water than I should, even though I'm aware of how bad the plastic is for the environment, let alone the risk of water that's been marinating in chemicals used to produce said plastic. But now I'…
Whether you're into classic Zeppelin or that annoyingly peppy pop song about a party under the Hollywood sign, you can't play it without a guitar. And you definitely shouldn't party without these extra tiny, extra awesome guitars, just i…
It's hard trying to sort through all the plastic safety issues these days when it comes to feeding our kids. Between BPA, pthalates, melamine fears and microwave warnings, sometimes I just want to throw up my hands in frustration; does e…
I'm not shy at all about my love for eco-friendly Green Toys, so it's probably no surprise that I squealed a little (okay, a lot) when I heard they were launching a line of tableware for kids. Not toy tableware--the stuff you can actuall…
I want the pink plate. I want the blue one. If I have to use the orange one, I'll die, because I hate orange more than a thousand. (All actual quotes from my dinner table.) And if Mommy has to hear the kids argue over plates again, she's…
I have a thing for tea towels, but most of the ones I see fall squarely into the Country Living school of design. What, cityfolk don't dry their dishes too? So I was happy to be introduced to San Francisco studio Studiopatro, which makes…
There has been a perceptible increase of ice cream consumption in our home over the last week. In fact, once the weather gets warm, I don't think a day goes by without my kids asking for ice cream. (Yeah, it's for the kids.) The folks fr…
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…
Even vegetarians can get behind this pick. Because the well-plated rabbits that have captured my heart are from our clever friends at Le Papier Studio-- you know, the folks who brought us that ingenious Easter Egg Silhouette tutorial and…
My son is the proud owner of a Skip Hop Zoo Backpack (a froggie, in case you were wondering), so when I found out they were making a line of tableware to match, I got excited about the idea of luring my son to dinner with something besid…