Choosy moms choose GIF
We have an ongoing debate around here, knowing that GIF is supposed to be pronounced like the name of a popular peanut butter brand -- but still having trouble saying it that way, considering the G stands for graphics which would indicate a hard G. You get our...
Make a splash with these 6 must-see geeky-cool pool floats and rafts
When it's time to unplug the devices and hit the pool, lake, or ocean to cool off, I know my kids love stretching out and relaxing on a comfy pool float or raft while they talk to their friends. And, whoa, they would go nuts for any of these totally cool options we...
The new Urban Decay Vice Lipstick app might just be the coolest thing to happen to make-up in a very long time
If you're like me, you try a bunch of lipsticks out on your hand, then think you find the right one only to realize it's totally not your color. Well, that's all about to change thanks to the new free Urban Decay Vice Lipstick app which is currently my new favorite...
Lights, music, party!
With the warm weather here, I'm spending much more time outside with my family, whether it's just eating dinner outside or having a few friends over for an impromptu gathering. And to spruce my little outdoor space up a bit, I think I might need to spring for...
Here’s how to get your Amazon credit from Apple. Yay free money!
It must be the week of class action lawsuit settlements. First with Ticketmaster, and now Apple, who's required to fund over $4 million dollars in credits to eBook customers. That means if you bought eBooks on Amazon between 2010 and 2012, you might have credit...
3 genius mosquito tech solutions to keep your family itch free
Preventing mosquitoes is one of my big concerns, especially this summer. Not only are they annoying and itchy, they carry some serious diseases that I don't want anywhere near my family. But I don't like the idea of spraying chemicals in my yard either. The right bug...
Game Developer Barbie is here, she’s hip, and she actually knows how to code.
The folks at Mattel have been pretty busy this year, with a new girl power rebranding campaign, a line of curvy Barbies launched with much fanfare, and even a Misty Copeland Barbie that flew off the shelves. Well now, a mere 24 years after Barbie uttered "math class...
5 online coding summer camps for kids that turn screen time educational
Even with school out for summer, that doesn't mean learning has to go on vacation too. If you've got a computer-crazy kid who's interested in the creativity that comes from learning to code, there are so many great resources online. You can always start with your...
In case of emergency: How to set up Medical ID on the iPhone
After seeing a helpful Facebook post going around reminding people to set the Emergency contact information on their iPhone, I realize that I hadn't actually done it for myself. And, my older kids who have their own phones, haven't done it either. By doing so, you can...
How to claim your free Ticketmaster tickets
If you've seen posts floating around telling you that you've got free Ticketmaster tickets to claim, it's totally legit. Due to a huge class action lawsuit that just settled, if you bought tickets between October 21, 1999 and February 27, 2013, you should have free...
Sound Sleeper white-noise app for parents: Our cool free app of the week
If there is one gift I could give to all new parents, it would be the ability to make their baby fall right asleep on command. But since my super powers were never really strong in that area, I'll have to settle with telling you about a cool free app that might help...
6 fantastic last-minute Father’s Day gift ideas you can create online right now. Hurry!
Did June 19 sneak up on you this year? We hear you! If you're looking for a cool, thoughtful last-minute Father's Day gift that requires little more than your computer or mobile device and an internet connection, we've got you covered. No need to hit the mall or comb...
Tech Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way) Easier
8 simple, smart tips to help work-at-home parents crush productivity and get more done in less time.
There are two things folks typically say when you tell them that you work from home. The first is: You’re so lucky. You get to be in your pajamas all day and wake up whenever you want! Uh, sure. And the second is something along the lines of, I wouldn’t get anything...
Here’s how to keep Facebook’s On This Day feature from rehashing your worst memories
For so many of us, Facebook is like a having your own personal time machine and their On This Day feature can definitely make for a fun throwback, plus let you re-share those important digital memories. But there's a flip side to skipping down memory lane for the...
How to use the Spotlight Search Page in iOS 9 to make your life easier
Like most busy working parents out there, I pretty much unboxed my new iPhone 6S and started using it like I did with my iPhone 5S. In other words, I was texting and calling and really not spending a ton of time getting to know about all the cool new iOS 9 features....
Even More Coolness. Enjoy!
5 terrific pro photography tips for kids who want to get beyond selfies. (And you can learn from them, too!)
As our kids get older, they're often more excited to be behind the camera than in front of it. Or, maybe it's a close tie. But we don't blame them -- with so many older kids with their own smartphones, it's easier than ever for budding shutterbugs to hone their...
This little light of mine
I've actively spent the week looking for simple photos and items to share that make me happy. After a tough week, I'm sure a lot of us could use more smiles in our day, and one standout to me is the brand new BRIGHT IDEA Lamp from French graphic artist Jean Jullien....
How to listen to podcasts on your smart phone
So your friends keep bugging you to listen to Serial (Season 1, trust us), or you've heard us keep telling you to download our Spawned with Kristen and Liz podcast but you have absolutely no idea how to get podcasts on your smart phone. Well, we're here to help with...
The Octopus wearable teaches little ones more than time, it teaches time management. Awesome!
With three kids ranging from preschooler to tween, time management is always an issue for us. Especially when it comes to trying to cajole my youngest to adhere to the demands of the older siblings' hectic schedules. (Sadly, trying to tell a toddler that we're going...
How to back-up your Facebook photos so they won’t be deleted
If you've been using Facebook's photo sync feature to back-up your photos, then you'll want to be sure to back them up. Why? Because if you don't do it by July 7, they will be deleted for good. Keep in mind that this only applies to Facebook users who specifically use...
Endless Spanish: Our cool free app of the week
Mis Amigos! One of our favorite early-reading apps, Endless Reader, has gone espagñol with the Endless Spanish app, an adorably playful and educational preschool app for both iOS and Android users. Similar to the awesome Endless Reader, Endless Spanish introduces kids...
2 simple iPhone tricks for quickly sharing texts and voice mails
We love discovering awesome iPhone features that help make our lives easier, which we can all use, busy parent or not. This is exactly the case with these two tricks that make sharing your texts and voice mails super simple. How to share texts on the iPhone Instead of...
A DIY tassel charger that you can really DIY. Promise.
We've featured a couple of cool tassel chargers here on Cool Mom Tech because they're stylish and a pretty handy way to ensure you've always get a charging cable at your fingertips. But, if you're feeling crafty, you can actually make your own thanks to this super...
5 simple Facebook tricks to help your posts get seen by more people
There's nothing worse than putting a post up on your Facebook feed only to have only a few of your friends like or comment on it. Okay, there are lots of things worse than that, but you know, it's annoying, especially when you've got a question you want some help...
The Apple invoice scam email to watch out for, and what to do if you get it
This week I got a scam email claiming to be an invoice from my iTunes account on Apple. Luckily, a few things tipped me off that this wasn't legit, so I contacted Apple about it and saved myself the tremendous hassle of having to change all my credit card numbers --...
Tablets vs E-book Readers: What’s the best way for kids to read? Reader Q&A
So, I want my daughter to read more this summer, and with all our upcoming travel, I'm considering a tablet or e-book reader but I'm not sure which is best. -Dawn We're definitely with you that gadgets can be a whole lot easier to travel with, Dawn, and while we love...
SkyView stargazing app: Our cool free app of the week
Summer nights are perfect for staying up late, lying on the lawn (or roof deck if you're a city dweller) and looking up at the stars. But, often, streetlights and other ambient light can make it hard to see everything that is up there clearly. Or, truthfully, I just...