lighting Archives | Cool Mom Tech

The most gorgeous, modern lighting is sustainably made from…corn.

Sometimes I discover a new company at a tech press event that I’m so excited about, I run right over here to tell you about it. And sometimes, that product is so perfect that I first make a quick stop at the company website to buy one for myself. That’s...

Ooh…Cromatica Bluetooth speakers are music for the eyes, too

by Liz Gumbinner | Around the House, Audio

One look at the Italian Cromatica Bluetooth speakers and…whoa. Think of this lamp-speaker hybrid like a mood ring for your home. You choose the color illumination that suits you, choose your music, then lie back and chill. Or, clean your bathroom. Or, get some...

6 smart night lights that go way beyond our smart night light expectations.

by Ellyn Exley Dvorkin | Baby Tech, Smart Appliances

Technology is changing and our night lights are changing, too. If you haven’t seen everything that they can do, let me tell you: you’re missing out. They’ve come a long way, baby. These days, night lights double as baby monitors and speakers, even smoke...

The Sparkr flashlight is your zombie apocalypse must-have

by Liz Gumbinner | Gear

If you’re an Amazon Prime member that survived Prime Day 2017 without spending all your money on vitamin supplements and Hummel figurine knockoffs, take a breath, clear your palate, and be sure to check out the new Amazon Exclusives page. The program feels like...

The Helio nightlight helps your kids learn as they fall asleep

by Kristen Chase | Tech Toys and Random Fun

Along with Turtle Mail, one of my other favorite finds at Toy Fair was Helio, a cool, educational nightlight that actually helps your kids learn as they fall asleep. And as someone with a child who has sleep issues, you can probably guess why I got so excited when I...

BeON Home: The smart lightbulbs that keep your house safer

by Kate Etue | Home Security

I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that whenever my family heads out on a trip, we worry about the safety of our homes when we’re gone. So I was intrigued by the BeON smart lightbulbs, which use clever lighting responses to prevent burglary, plus have...

Your iPhone flashlight just got a whole new use.

by Kate Etue | Art + Decor, Cell Phone Accessories

There are times when the brightness of my iPhone flashlight is helpful — like, when I’m helping my kids look for their forgotten shoes outside in the dark, or I can’t read a darn menu in a restaurant. Then, there are times when a little bit of...

A great light therapy lamp to help you beat the shorter days.

by Liz Gumbinner | Around the House, Fitness + Health

Oh, Daylight Savings. The time that non-parents cheer for that extra hour of sleep. As for me, I kind of dread the shorter daylight hours knowing that Seasonal Affective Disorder tends to hit me hard. I get tired, cranky (sorry, colleagues), crave carbs up the whazoo,...

Cool night lights for kids: Because anything to help them sleep better, right?

by Kristen Chase | Art + Decor, Baby Tech

If your house is anything like mine, then a night light is as much of a bedtime essential as your kid’s blankie and cup of water. So, I’m not sure why purchasing one has always been an afterthought for me! Well, now that I’m settling into my new...

The smart bulb with a speaker built right in: A bright new trend in mash-up technology.

by Nicole Blades | Smart Appliances

Question: How many Beyoncés does it take to screw in a light bulb? Answer: As many as you’re in the mood for, because these rad LED light bulbs are also Bluetooth wireless speakers. So basically whatever strikes your fancy when you’re turning them on,...

NEW: The podcast that helps you be a savvier digital parent in under 15 minutes a week

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

We started Cool Mom Tech in 2010 to help make our increasingly digital lives easier, more organized, more meaningful, and more fun, however old your kids may be.

We love that it's grown to become the go-to source for millions of parents who want commonsense info about tech delivered with a smile.

We even have the privilege of sharing our tips + tricks with The TODAY Show, CNN, HLN, GMA, Nightline, newspapers and magazines around the country, and our favorite -- regular parents who stop us at PTA meetings and ask us how old kids need to be to get a smartphone, and whether they really need to panic about Snapchat.

(Answer: It's complicated.)

We're so glad you're here! And we hope we can help you too.