We've long extolled the benefits of a chore chart for kids . It's remarkable the things you can get a preschooler to do in exchange for a little star sticker. (Free child labor!) Now I've found a new chore chart that not only keeps the k…
There's something so precious about that pride of ownership that comes with one's very own storybook, clearly marked with one's very own personalized bookplate. I remember having fond memories of my own bookplates, and I'm so excited for…
I love the idea of carrying a calling card that really speaks to me. It would give my work-at-home career some validation. And who knows... just carrying that card could open up some doors. Choosing the design is like deciding who you ar…
At the beginning of every new year, I treat myself to a pretty, new notebook. It's an almost-literal way to start the year with a clean slate. New year, new notebook, new thoughts. The only problem with this method, now that there are ch…
I don't know about you, but I'm only a few months into school lunch-making and I'm running out with ideas to keep it interesting. Mostly for me. I try to create little surprises in my daughter's lunchbox every day, from slicing her sandw…
Three cute kids? Check. Three cute kids who will sit still for holiday photo? Who will not blink, grimace, scratch, look away, hunch, scowl or stick out their tongue for said photo? Yeah, not a check. Good thing I've found a way to prese…
Your spouse fell in love with you, married you, and actually consented to create tiny people with you. And when you get to the Happy Anniversary section of the greeting card display, what are your choices? Gold-trimmed champagne glasses …
Hey you, Famous Mom. Yes you, the one who held the kiddo's first birthday party at the Beverly Hills Hotel, hired Martha Stewart to make your cakes, and asked the Jonas Brothers to stop by to sing Happy Birthday. What are you going to do…
Anyone with kids know how important it is to label every single item they have. How else are you going to identify all the stuff that winds up in the lost and found bin? Over the years I've tried many different labeling methods and have …
I'm so high tech that, sometimes, I need to go low tech. For those of you like me, or those who just plain reject iPads and online organizers and anything with a plug, may I recommend the MEpad from LobotoME? Okay, so you can't surf the …
I've been thinking about having a small Halloween party for my three-year-old and her friends . Nothing elaborate. No baking required. And I'll send out the invitations on-line because who has the time to dig up everyone's actual address…
It's unlikely that you need to let anyone know that the stagecoach is likely to be late or that there's trouble at the train depot, but why should that stop you from adding a vintage twist to that special message? If you go to Telegram S…
My birthday is coming up tomorrow (happy birthday me!) which means I have cards on the brain. If not in the mailbox. As much as I love ecards and send them with abandon, there's still something nice about getting something in the mail th…
Dempsey & Carroll makes the kind of fancypants stationery that you drool over in high end department stores -- that is, if you're the type who drools over fancypants stationery at all. Yes, I am that type. It's the kind of stuff you want…
I think I've discovered party favor central. And much to my delight, it's not in a mall or a half-abandoned shopping center, which is where those party favor stores seem to be in New York. In fact, this little party supply shop is not ev…
I guess I must have just assumed that Hallmark already offered customizable baby announcements because they're pretty much the greeting card pioneers. But apparently, that was not the case, since I just got word that their brand new line…
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…
I used to organize a girls night out with friends once a month, and it always started with one itty-bitty email to the group. Pretty soon though, that email had mushroomed into dozens of reply-to-all's, forwards, links to can we try this…
My husband has Mother's Day pretty easy these days since my kids are now old enough to make me a card all by themselves. But giving a card from a little baby-- aside from the little foot print signature that most parents are not brave en…
I think I'm in love. The object of my affection: The selection of decorative artwork embellished with handcut paper hearts from the brand new Etsy shop Paper Cut Works . Ania Alyson, Seattle artist by way of Poland, creates artsy, anatom…
I'm a huge fan of Robert Subuda and Matthew Reinhart's pop up children's books. My son's copies from the Encyclopedia Prehistorica series show the wear and tear of well-read books. So why am I not surprised that I am awestruck by their b…
We are so excited to make sure everyone hears that cardshop extraordinaire, Hello! Lucky , now makes super cool birth announcements . One of our favorite brands for hip holiday cards and stunning letterpress paperworks, it's no surprise …
The world of custom cards and invitations has really exploded. I've written about tons of great companies on Cool Mom Picks alone, so it's really exciting when one still makes me go "Oooh!" Mango Ink cards are beautifully designed and pr…
As a former buyer of books for a chain of toy stores, it's pretty much redundant for me to tell you that my children have amassed quite the library. But when you're five (or, say, twenty-nine-and-a-half years older than five), you can so…