«Back to March Mavens Monthly 

March’s experts Liz Gumbinner and Kristen Chase draw from their experiences as the co-founders and editors of Cool Mom Picks to answer your questions on blogging, product picks and life/work balance.

I would love to know how you keep your focus about what content to feature on Cool Mom Picks. I started as a travel blog but I have so many interests I now feel that niche is too narrow.

Liz: Together, Kristen and I have a very specific process for determining if something is a pick. Basically one of us says, "Is this cool?" and if the other agrees--done.

We definitely lean towards emerging brands, outstanding modern design, mom-run companies, and an independent sensibility. We're always excited by someone doing something artful and innovative in a cluttered product category like hair clips or baby tees. And anything organic, sustainable or upcycled is huge with us. But in the end it comes down to whether we'd buy it ourselves. We're not fashionistas, we're moms; we try to stay away from things like dry clean-only layettes and 6-ton leather diaper bags.

We also like bigger brands with a great story to tell. I think moms really like supporting companies who behave ethically and treat their employees, vendors, consumers, and the environment with respect.

How can a stay-at-home mom like me, make money with my blog?

Liz: Blogs are about the author's passions, first and foremost. We really believe that the money should come second. But if you find you're onto something and you have a loyal audience, you can always sell ads, join reputable affiliate programs, or use your blog as a jumping off point for a paid writing career. Or just call yourself a Social Media Expert and consult - that's what everyone else seems to be doing these days.

How do you balance your time between being a mom and running your own Web site?

Kristen: Not well. I do a lot of work at night and during nap time, as well as when I have a babysitter here a few mornings a week. But it helps to have a great partner and a circle of fantastic contributors and staff to provide you with extra help and support.

Liz: We don't sleep a whole lot.

I am getting ready to start a blog, but am worried that there are days where I will have nothing interesting to say. How do I come up with topics that people will want to read?

Kristen: A great post can be as simple as just writing down a cute thing your kid said. Popular parenting bloggers are able to find a balance between writing about their lives but doing so in a way others find compelling. And even if they don't, it certainly doesn't mean you shouldn't record a moment in your life. I guess it depends on what you deem as interesting and who you're writing for.

There are plenty of ways for personal bloggers to find inspiration. I actually read more - news, magazines, other blogs - and often get inspiration from other folks in the community. If there's a day where you just don't find anything inspiring to write about, maybe you just take that day off (ha!).

What are healthy snacks my kids will actually eat?

Kristen: Thankfully, the number of healthy snacks out there has about tripled since I weaned my oldest daughter who's now 4 and 1/2, and even better, you can find them at your local grocery store. When I found the Immaculate Baking Company's ready-to-bake cookies, I was in heaven. They are organic, and have absolutely no preservatives or weird chemicals. I always keep a pack in my fridge for when we get a hankering for something sweet.

Liz: Stonyfield farm recently came out with plain YoBaby organic yogurt if you're worried about sugar, and you can add a dab of jelly or real fruit for older siblings. I'm also in love with a brand called Lesser Evil which makes these all-natural potato sticks you can't stop eating. Not sure if that's a good thing.

Um...I mean vegetables. I feed my kids lots of vegetables.

Visit our Contest Updates to learn how you can win a Freestyle from Cool Mom Picks.

Next month Maria Lennon, RN, MSN, CNM, IBCLC and Clinical Education Specialist for Medela, will share how to best prepare for breastfeeding a newborn while in the hospital. Lennon began her career more than 30 years ago in maternal child health and nursing, and has been a board certified lactation consultant since 1985. If you have a question for Maria, e-mail us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it no later than Friday, April 10th and we’ll select a few of the top questions for her to answer in our April newsletter. Please use “Ask The Expert” as your subject line.