Paula Morales

Latest posts by Paula

Family Opportunities to Volunteer in Orlando this Holiday Season

Submitted by Paula Andrea Morales on Fri, 11/18/2022 - 10:15am

Toys for Tots Foundation brings holiday joy to children in need. Photo courtesy of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation

Looking for ways to share your holidays with others? Families can volunteer in Orlando this holiday season, as parents and children help their neighbors in the community. The holiday season can be especially tough for those in need and offers a wonderful chance to give back, especially during winter break and school vacations. Read below for just some of the many deserving local organizations and programs to volunteer in Orlando!

Whatever your family's cause, there are ways for you and your children to help! Kids may even find that the joy of sharing and generosity is so wonderful, they'll want to do it all year long. Happy holidays to all our Mommy Poppins families!

Top Kids Resale and Consignment Shops in Orlando

Submitted by Paula Andrea Morales on Fri, 08/19/2022 - 7:08am

Since babies and kids grow out of clothes so quickly, save money and shop at an Orlando consignment store like Once Upon a Child. Photo courtesy of the store

Orlando schools are back in session and that means the inevitable back-to-school shopping spree! Going beyond standard school supplies like pencils and crayons, many kids want to add to their closets and drawers. Just one growth spurt and your child may require an entirely new collection of pants and shorts! And with all those changing sizes in clothes and shoes, a new wardrobe can get quite pricey. Consignment shops to the rescue! Save money by visiting Orlando thrift and consignment stores for kids. Children can enjoy "new" back-to-school outfits, while parents can enjoy more money in the bank.

There's lots of reasons to shop resale shops! At a time when everything seems to get more expensive by the week, shopping from a thrift or consignment store is a great economic choice. Thrifting supports environmental sustainability, by repurposing clothing that might have otherwise ended up in a landfill. And the profits of some thrift stores go to important causes that help the community, like job-skills training and animal shelters.

Read on and learn about some great consignment stores near Orlando!

Airboat Rides and Tours near Orlando: Family Adventures Await

Submitted by Paula Andrea Morales on Sun, 07/24/2022 - 9:08am

Wild Florida airboat rides allow passengers close-up experiences with Florida's native wildlife and vegetation. Photo courtesy Wild Florida

If you are looking for an exciting family adventure while exploring native wildlife and vegetation, Everglades airboat tours are a MUST! While the Florida Everglades are a few hours from Orlando by car, the gateway to the Everglades is in Central Florida's backyard, and only accessible by airboat rides. Orlando is fortunate to have a variety of airboat tour companies, each specializing in specific airboat experiences to give your family the adventure of a lifetime.

For those who don't know, airboats, also known as fan boats, swamp boats, or plane boats, are powered by motors or engines that move massive propeller. The above-water propeller engine allow these flat-bottom boats to skim shallow waters, ideal for the Florida Everglades and other swamps. The airboat tours are loud, fast, and exciting, plus riders may get to see alligators, turtles, wild hogs, birds, and other native animals.

Attending an Orlando City SC Game with Kids: Parenting Gooooooals!

Submitted by Paula Andrea Morales on Sun, 07/03/2022 - 7:05am

Cheer on Orlando City SC during one of their exciting home games.

While baseball may be America’s pastime, make no mistake, Major League Soccer (MLS) is alive and well in Central Florida. With local fans coming from as far north as Daytona Beach and as far south as Melbourne, Orlando City SC fans also come from out of state and even around the world. I am already a fan of Orlando City and Orlando Pride (the National Women's Soccer League team). As a mother of three, I wanted to put the "fun factor" to the test, so I invited my teenage daughter. I figured if she has a good time at an Orlando City game, then anyone can!

Orlando City draws people from everywhere. Lions players proudly represent a number of countries in South America and Europe, in addition to the United States. Orlando City games are an exhibition of sport, camaraderie, and a celebration of our differences.

There is a lot to cover about this soccer experience, so keep reading. If you are looking to get your family off their devices and out of the house, attending an Orlando City soccer game is a great option!

Orlando Donuts With a 'Hole' Lot of Taste

Submitted by Paula Andrea Morales on Fri, 05/06/2022 - 10:59am

Take a box of deliciousness to-go from Donut King.

Frosted, sprinkled, or filled, Orlando donuts are a tasty treat that know no season! Delicious because of their sweet, "hole-y" goodness, there is no shortage of Orlando donuts to try. Orlando has a robust variety of donuts to choose from, so Mommy Poppins is breaking it down for you.

To offer the youth perspective (don’t judge me), I invited my 10-year-old son to join me on this donut adventure. He is a bit of a foody, so I was thrilled when he accepted! When I asked him why donuts are such a big deal, he replied, “Donuts are special because we don’t get them all the time.”