summer fun

You may already know we are big fans of Tattly, the way cool temporary tattoos we first told you about at their launch three years ago. (See? Ear to the ground over here.) Well, they've grown hugely since then with literally hundreds of …

Can it get any cuter than this? That's the first thing that I said to myself when I saw The Polaroid Cube camera . I mean, look at it: This new little number is teeny -- less than 2 inches -- but can shoot quality 6 megapixels photos and…

If there is a sound that can make my kids run in 90 degree weather, it's the sound of the ice cream truck's music coming down the street. Your kids the same way? Then grab a download from Brady Rymer And The Little Band That Could: Ice C…

About halfway through our summer, my bag of tricks is getting dangerously empty when it comes to creating fun, new things to do with the kids. But one of our favorite arts-and-craft companies, Kiwi Crate , has developed Kiwi Corner , a w…

If you are labeling clothes , checking sunscreen off your packing list, and contemplating what to include in care packages , chances are you are getting a kid ready for summer camp. And we've got a great song to send them off for their w…

A long holiday weekend here in the states is the best way to usher in the hazy, lazy days of summer which makes the hip-hop, kid-friendly rap of Cool Mom Picks' favorite Secret Agent 23 Skidoo's Unwind track sound so perfect. And for a l…

Editor's Note (April 2015): Due to numerous issues with order fulfillment and reports about non-response from this company, we are compelled to rescind our recommendation of this company. We're deeply disappointed by this because we valu…

One of the things I love best about summer is that we go into full-on BBQ mode. And while my husband primarily holds the reins on the tongs, I like exploring different recipes and fun summer dishes, which is where these great BBQ apps an…

Depending on where you live, school is either winding down or over completely. And with the unofficial start of summer here this weekend, we've picked the song Day Camp by Justin Roberts as our music download of the week. It's sure to ge…

Ice cream for dinner. Late nights blowing off bedtime. Skipping baths because, Hey!, we cleaned off in the pool, right ? Oh, I do love summer, which can feel like one big party, and if you agree, grab this download and get ready to par-t…

We're all longtime fans of Pingg , the free ecard site with their designs created by independent artists and designers. It's been a while since we checked in, and now they've got so many cool new options especially for any summer parties…

One of the many things I love about summer is the enticing and oh-so-summery smell of things cooking on the grill. Mmmm...meat. My husband is the house-appointed grillmaster, but I'd like to start expanding my grilling horizons beyond ha…

Believe it or not, summer brain drain is a real phenomenon. Bill Nye the Science Guy even said so recently on Kids Place Live (yes, the de facto radio station on in my car) and he mentioned that math and science are the first subjects to…

Even though my kids still have weeks left of school, Memorial Day weekend feels like the unofficial start of summer to me. For that reason, we've had the latest Okee Dokee Brothers' release, Can You Canoe? , on heavy rotation because its…

Any other parents in denial that the school year is coming to an end? Summer vacation beckons and lots of trips to the beach, trips to Grandma and Grandpa's, and trips in general are on the horizon. Yay! That said, the planning leading u…

'Tis the season to purchase baby pools, slides, and sandboxes-- oh my--but it can be hard knowing exactly which one will work best in your backyard space. So how smart of Toys 'R Us to use the technology of QR codes to make shopping for …

Though my kids generally loathe being dragged along from store to store when I have errands to run, there is one store I have no problem getting them into: The Apple Store. In fact, I usually have to drag them out when I'm ready to leave…

During these long, unscheduled, fun-in-the-sun summer months, I've been on the lookout for some smart apps that keep my kids' brains thinking and not turning into soft serve. That's a big reason why I am so excited about this math app wh…

Summer is just around the corner (finally!) along with fun, sun, and of course, cute little bodies in cute little bathing suits which make for plenty of photo opportunities. But there's nothing like a big splash of water on your camera (…

My family and I were beyond thrilled to be invited to experience Universal Orlando for a week, and were nothing short of amazed at how cutting-edge technology is such an integral part of both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Fl…