Nestled on a quiet cozy street on the Upper West Side, Metropolitan Montessori School just might be the program you didn’t know you were looking for. Not only is it Manhattan’s only Montessori school for kids ages two years and eight months up to twelve years old, but it's dedicated to diversity in all its forms — from race and religion to family structure and sexuality — and it recently welcomed a new Head of School, Racheal Adriko, whose passion for education is contagious. If you're currently applying to preschool or private school in NYC, MMS's individualized learning approach, small class sizes, commitment to sustainability, and record for prepping grads for top-notch schools (Horace Mann, Riverdale, and Brearley have been the most popular since 2000) will also easily earn it a spot on your list.

As the mother of two New York City tots myself, I was looking forward to having an opportunity to connect with Racheal and hear more about Metropolitan Montessori School, and I found myself listening to her inspiring personal story with my mouth wide open. Read on to learn more about Racheal and everything MMS has to offer.

After welcoming my second baby, I wouldn't say I was feeling my best... A tough pregnancy had left me seriously out of shape, lifting my newborn and toddler was taking a major toll on my back, and let's just say the baby weight wasn't exactly "falling off." At 4-months-old, my little one was diagnosed with a milk protein allergy, which forced me to clean up my diet (no dairy or soy — yikes!), and it finally started to show on the scale. But when the ban was lifted 6 months later, cheese plates and pints of ice cream seemed like the obvious way to celebrate. It was right around then that I heard from obé, an at-home workout app and fitness program, and I figured it had to be a sign, right? I've never been much of a gym-goer, but their apartment-friendly signature 28-minute workouts required no equipment and looked manageable. I put down the mint chocolate chip and the heating pad and created an account.

Read on to find out how the obé fitness app actually got me working out, and why it seems like it was made for busy parents everywhere. Mommy Poppins readers can also snag their first month for just $1 with the code below.

Let’s face it: Your baby's first birthday isn’t just about celebrating the start of toddlerhood. It’s about acknowledging the fact that you’re still standing after a whole year of parenting, even if you can’t remember the last time you slept!

At this age, the kids in attendance probably won't be running in circles (in fact, many of them might not be walking), so you don't need as much space as you will in a few years, and there’s a good chance that your guest list is heavy on the grown-ups. We've already rounded up great best first birthday spots in Manhattan, and now we've put together a list of top Brooklyn baby-friendly first birthday bash spots that adults and kids will appreciate.

Looking for more party-perfect ideas? Take a look at these Brooklyn gym parties, or visit our handy Party Guide and Directory to find entertainers and more.​​