There's no doubt about it, the holiday season is one of the most beautiful times of the year. With lights and activities everywhere (and sometimes even snow!), this magical time of year just warms the heart. If you've never been, Bucks County is the perfect place to celebrate the holidays. There's something about this place that makes the season feel a little bit more special. Plus, the area offers so many wonderful activities that are perfect for families looking for some holiday spirit.

Winter months can be tough on the whole family. When it's too cold and blustery to play outside, what do you do? Local playgroups are a great way to get everyone out of the house. Kids will love making new friends and playing with new toys, and you'll love staying warm and chatting with other adults. A playgroup can be an essential part of any stay-at-home parents life year-round, so check out these great places and see if there's one near you.

Confession: I might be a bit of a Target addict. I've spent my fair share of rainy days wandering the aisles looking for nothing in particular and the Our Generation Dolls section has caught my eye on more than one occasion. All those pink and orange boxes, displaying a tempting array of dolls and tons of accessories to make a child’s imagination go wild, have had me itching for when my kid would be old enough dive into this world.

So I was intrigued to partner with Our Generation Dolls at the recent in-store event at Target in Mt Laurel, NJ. It was a great opportunity to spend some time in that oh-so-tempting doll area and explore the universe of OG Dolls a little more closely. Plus, Mommy Poppins gave away a $100 Target gift certificate. If you missed the event, don’t worry, because I have lots to report back and we’re giving away another $100 Target gift card here!

Once a year, Chestnut Hill and all its local businesses transform into a magical place for the Harry Potter Festival. From Butter Beer, to sorting hats and quidditch, if you're a Harry Potter fan this event cannot be missed. You can even meet Harry and his friends! Here's everything you need to know before you go on October 22.

Oh, those two wonderful words: no homework. The rare days when those words are uttered, children can play outside, and adults can plan satisfying family time. Wouldn't it be great if our kids' schools supported that sort of routine every day? If evenings could be spent reading together, playing games as a family, or even taking advantage of free museum nights instead of hovering over a pile of worksheets due tomorrow?

That’s where The Country School comes in— a progressive, project-based school in Valley Village that prioritizes the whole child and his or her creativity, compassion, and emotional intelligence. The mission of the school is to provide kids from preschool through eighth grade with a warm environment where they can approach learning in their own way. Instead of focusing on pop quizzes and worksheets, kids might be planting trees, making their own movies, creating maps, or learning to play instruments. The idea is that kids should be excited to tell their parents what they did at school that day.

It's true that homeschooling creates a really unique and wonderful bond with your kids, but, sometimes, it's really hard. When you consider the fact that you're responsible for teaching your child everything, getting some socialization time in with other kids, and making sure they're healthy and physically active- well, it's just too much. That's why we started this monthly series of articles, to help homeschool parents, new and vets alike, find all the resources you need to make it a completely enjoyable experience. Which means, taking some responsibilities off of your plate. There are a lot of great classes out there, specifically for homeschool kids. Maybe there's a subject you don't feel comfortable teaching your child, or maybe you just don't know how to keep them active, or (real talk), maybe you need a break. We've found a lot of great phys ed, gym, and sport options to enroll the kids in to keep them healthy and strong. 

If you're thinking about homeschooling, your first concern is probably how your kid will ever see other kids. It's normal to worry about feeling isolated and not knowing what to do or where to go, but don't. Your kid will be socialized, I promise. I was homeschooled from 5th grade all the way through high school, and I struggle more with maintaining adult relationships now than I ever did with friendships then, and trust me, it has nothing to do with the fact that I was homeschooled. Homeschooling has changed so much in the 10 years since I was homeschooled. While the resources are still a bit lacking, there are definitely more families homeschooling now for more of a variety of reasons. Whatever your reason may be, whether your jumping in for preschool or high school, starting out can be daunting and hard. The first thing you'll want to do is find a good group, which may offer classes, get togethers, and field trips.

Mommy Poppins hopes to become a great resource for homeschool families, so stay tuned for our series of articles on different homeschooling topics.

Working out is hard. It's ten times harder if you've got kids climbing all over you, or whining for snacks and screen time, or just plain crying. Let's be honest, we could all use a little time for ourselves anyway. For your health, and your sanity, check out one of these great gyms in the city that offer childcare. Drop your kids off for a morning of fun and play, while you sweat it out.