Rose Sala

Rose Gordon Sala is a mom to three but also a longtime editor and journalist. She's covered all the capital 'P' subjects, including pets, politics, PR, and parenting. She's written for MSNBC.com, TODAY.com, the New York Post, and Mom.com.

Latest posts by Rose

NJ Amusement Parks, Water Parks, and Playgrounds Allowed to Reopen

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Wed, 06/24/2020 - 11:02am

NJ water parks were cleared to reopen on July 2. Photo courtesy Raging Waters Water Park in Wildwood

New Jersey's amusement parks, water parks, and playgrounds can reopen on July 2 with new restrictions in place. NJ Governor Phil Murphy made the announcement Tuesday, June 23, at his daily coronavirus briefing as the state continues to reopen businesses temporarily closed due to the ongoing health crisis.

The amusement park reopenings, which come just ahead of the July 4th holiday weekend, include the Jersey Shore's popular boardwalk rides, theme parks, and water parks. Some boardwalk games and outdoor eateries had already reopened, and Governor Murphy said he expects to release guidelines on indoor amusements, such as arcades, as soon as tomorrow.

Best Bath Toys for Toddlers and Babies

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Mon, 01/20/2020 - 11:08am

Take water play to the next level with Boon Building Bath Pipes.

Don't let bathtime be a battle! Easier said than done, right? Try these colorful bath toys to soothe cranky kids or entertain those fearful of the dreaded water and soap in the eyes.

Bath toys are sometimes the difference between a disaster of a nighttime routine and a chill one in my home, which includes three little kids. Picking the right bath toys, or a brand-new one, has always worked to distract my kiddos, so check out these 11 tried-and-true bath toys for toddlers, big kid bubbles, and even sweet baby bath toys, such as color-changing bath books.

Best Places to Travel in 2020 with Kids: Hidden Getaways, Top Resorts, and Fun Cities

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Sat, 12/14/2019 - 2:17pm

A beach vacation often gives families plenty of quality downtime together.

Our list of top family travel destinations is here! We love our hometown cities at Mommy Poppins, but we’re also explorers, a trait many of us hope to pass along to our kids. How better to pique their interest by ferrying them on trips across the country and even across borders?

Last year, we traveled to big-time resorts, such as Atlantis in the Bahamas and a brand-new indoor water park resort in the New York Catskills, and to quirky artsy towns like Asheville, North Carolina and Venice Beach, California. We explored waterfalls and geysers in Iceland, played tourist with the kids in London, and dived into culture and maple crepes in Quebec City. Of course, it wasn’t all walking tours or hotel pools. Relaxing on the beach in Aruba topped our list, as did a trip to California’s rugged Big Sur coast.

Read on for travel inspiration for your family with our final “best family travel” list of this decade.

Baby Sleep Aids to (Hopefully) Get Baby to Sleep Through the Night

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Thu, 10/24/2019 - 11:30am

The portable Cloud b Sleep Sheep plays white noise and baby sleep music.

Baby sleep aids can help soothe and snuggle newborns back to sleep, making these items essential for new parents. The trick is to figure out which baby sleep aids work best for your little one.

As a mom of three, I’ve tried quite a few hacks and products to get my baby to sleep. I’ve also desperately googled things like, "when do babies sleep through the night," "sleep regression," and "how to get baby to sleep." Because if there’s one thing that probably tops every new parent wish list, it’s more sleep (and coffee, of course)!

Before you struggle through another night, consider these 11 baby sleep aids, including swaddles, white noise machines and baby sleep music, and on-the-go sleep items for travel, all preferred and tested by our parent writers and editors.

Macy’s Unveils Santaland Details for 2019 Christmas Season

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Thu, 10/17/2019 - 10:00am

After a magical journey through Santaland you will finally meet the man himself! Photo by Sara Marnetette

Santa is sprucing up his sleigh and getting ready to fly into New York City’s very own North Pole, Macy’s Santaland, where for the third year in a row, visits with Santa will be by (FREE) reservation only.

Santaland will open for the holiday season Friday, November 29, 2019, the day after the Thanksgiving Day parade, and will welcome visitors through Tuesday, December 24, 2019, Macy’s revealed in a statement.

The 34th Street retailer will reinstate the reservations-only policy it implemented in 2017 as a way to cut down on the lines. (Around 170,000 people visit the NYC Macy's Santaland each Christmas season.) This year also sees the return of the popular Express Lane option. Read on for everything you need to know about visiting Santa at Macy's this year.

These STEM Summer Camps Are Creating a Generation of Inventors

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Mon, 04/08/2019 - 10:34am

Digital Media Academy offers STEM-focused camps at top universities.

Curiosity, critical thinking, and a collaborative attitude might be three attributes all parents aspire to see in their children. These are also traits fostered at STEM summer camps where the subjects of science, technology, engineering, and math are turned into hands-on group and individual projects. Whether your teen is itching to found the next hot tech startup or she’s just into robots or maybe biology, summer camp offers kids a great place to explore these subjects in-depth, away from the pressures of the classroom.

We’ve put together a list of some of the top science and tech camps that offer sessions in multiple cities and states across the country. Some offer programs for kids as young as 6; some are more focused on coding and computer science, while others include “STEAM” programming with design, music, writing, and other creative pursuits on the roster. All emphasize hands-on collaboration aimed at creating the next generation of engineers and inventors. In many camps, kids will also gain presentation skills, leadership traits, and most likely, the confidence to stick with these sometimes difficult subjects and tasks...even when they fail.

Best Winter Baby Clothes and Gear for Cold Weather Survival

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Thu, 01/10/2019 - 11:08am

A footmuff envelops tots in cozy warmth in their stroller. Photo courtesy of Bugaboo

It’s no secret that winter babies require more gear and baby clothing than their summer siblings, especially those born in northern climates, such as Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago.

New parents should prepare to do battle with snowdrifts, chilling wind gusts that leave faces and fingers raw, and otherwise icy and wet conditions on the way to daycare, playdates, the local library, or wherever. Stock up on some of our favorite stroller blankets, footmuffs, toddler mittens, adorable baby snowsuits, booties, and winter hats before the real storms hit.

Cold weather protection doesn’t stop at the baby phase, of course, especially for those navigating city streets outdoors. “NYC kids stay in their strollers a bit longer than suburban kids, because they have to deal with the elements a lot more,” explains Carol Adams, owner of Torly Kid, a popular kids clothing boutique in Manhattan, by email. “I know I kept my kids wrapped in their 7 A.M. Enfant footmuff and covered the stroller with a wind protector until they were almost 5!”

Read on for our top picks of baby winter clothes and gear for keeping newborns and toddlers toasty—no matter the temperature.

Best Family Travel of 2018: Great Cities, Beaches, Hotels, and Memories

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Sat, 12/22/2018 - 2:00pm

Sightsee by air via the aerial tram at Grouse Mountain in Vancouver. Photo courtesy the ski resort

Our Mommy Poppins families really traveled this year! We scoped out some amazing cities with our kids in tow, from New Orleans to Santa Barbara, up to Vancouver and over to Chicago.

There were some epic science museums to explore, Christmas towns to make us cheery, gorgeous beaches, fun at amusement parks, and of course, a slew of entertaining family-friendly resorts, from Mexico and the Caribbean to Los Angeles and New England ski resorts.

So if you’re planning your next family vacation, take a look at our favorite destinations from the last year, including these warmer climates for February or spring break. In each profile, we highlight the most kid-friendly activities and events and let you know what to skip with toddlers or what to see with the teens.