Vanessa Leigh

Vanessa Leigh is a busy mom of three (including twins!), a Midwesterner turned East Coaster, and a chocolate enthusiast. She’s a copywriter specializing in Early Childhood and Motherhood, plus the creative force behind her Etsy shop. When she’s not writing or designing, you can find her indulging in dark chocolate peanut butter cookies at Levain Bakery. Connect with Vanessa at www.vanessaleighagency.com or browse her creations at MamaMagicByVanessa.etsy.com. She loves chatting with fellow parents—don’t hesitate to reach out!

Latest posts by Vanessa

Best Family Christmas Card Photo Ideas

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Tue, 12/05/2023 - 10:34am

Put on a holiday sweater—ugly or not!—and strike a pose!

Want to make your family Christmas photo cards stand out this year? Here's how!

We're making our list. And it's long. We don't even need to check it twice. We need to make sure everything gets checked off easily and quickly. For most families, taking a Christmas photo and sending a holiday or family Christmas card is high on that list. It's also high on the list of activities we don't like to do!

But this year, let's make it easy. We've got you covered with the best ideas for an easy, clever, and creative family Christmas photo shoot. We've got tips for getting the best picture, places to take the picture, the best shops to order the Christmas photo card—plus some really original themes and ideas from family game shows to album cover recreations.

Tell some Christmas jokes for kids to keep 'em smiling, pop a classic holiday movie on a screen to keep 'em occupied, and say cheese! For more holiday fun, check out our Guide to Christmas Activities and Holiday Fun for Kids.

Not-So-Scary Halloween Activities and Toddler Events in Boston

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Fri, 10/06/2023 - 11:08pm

Greater Boston's zoos are a hit with preschoolers for some not-so-scary Halloween fun! Photo courtesy of the Franklin Park Zoo

Looking for some not-so-scary Halloween events in Boston for toddlers and preschoolers? For little kids, Halloween is usually more about the treats than the tricks. The excitement is in getting dressed up for a costume parade, making decorations, and hitting the trick-or-treat trail with a pillowcase or pumpkin bucket in hand.

For fun, not-so-scary Halloween happenings in and around Boston this month, read on. We've rounded up some of 2023's best Halloween activities for families with young children. While older brothers and sisters may want to be spooked (or even scared silly), these activities are for kids and families who just want the Halloween festivities to be sweet.

Best Toddler Gifts: Toys, Books, and More for 2- & 3-year-olds

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Sun, 09/24/2023 - 12:00pm

The KidKraft Wooden Train Set & Table is hours of creative fun that grows with your kids.

Looking for the best toddler gifts for 2- and 3-year-olds? Check out our ultimate toddler gift guide for our favorite toddler gift ideas.

At ages 2 and 3, children are expanding their minds every day and learning mainly through play. The best toddler gifts are those that promote and allow for open-ended play, creativity, and imagination. But toddlers can be difficult to shop for because while they crave more independent play, they're also not old enough to play with toys that have small parts, sharp edges, or other safety concerns. Toddlers are also still developing fine and gross motor skills.

If all of those considerations sound daunting, you're in the right place, as we've checked in with our experienced panel of parents (our writers and editors!) to round up the very best toddler gifts for 2- and 3-year-olds, including toys, books, and experience gifts. These are all toys we have put to the test, have lasted, and have passed down to younger siblings and friends.

If you've got a range of ages to shop for, check out the Mommy Poppins Gift Guide for Birthdays and Holidays, which has suggestions for the best first birthday gifts for 1-year-olds, and so much more.

100 Top Unique Baby Names For Generation Alpha Babies

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Tue, 08/29/2023 - 11:56am

Hey baby! Welcome to the world. What should we be naming this new generation? Photo by Nan Ross

Unique baby names are the name of the game (or game for the name?) for Generation Alpha babies!

Move over, Gen Z. There's a new generation in town. What's in a name? Well, Generation Alpha's trending baby names are all unique and individual as befits the times. Gen Alpha is coming through with a few still-popular Gen Z boy baby names and girl baby names, but is coming in fresh with a whole slew of unique and gender-neutral baby names.

Parents of a Generation Alpha baby can find loads of tips, tricks, and favorite products in the Mommy Poppins Baby and Maternity Guide. And our handy Birthday & Holiday Gift Guide for Kids can help you narrow down what to buy for a Gen Alpha baby's first birthday gift, and every birthday thereafter!

100 Popular Kids' Birthday Party Themes for Every Age and Interest

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Thu, 07/27/2023 - 12:16pm

Unicorn parties never go out of style! Photo by Malcolm Garrett/Pexels

Looking for the best kids' birthday party themes? We've got you covered!

Choosing a theme is the first step towards planning an epic kids' birthday party, and for picky kids, it can be tricky. We've got a birthday party theme for every interest you can imagine—and then some you probably couldn't!

From trending themes, like Barbie, to classic dinosaur parties, we've rounded up suggestions that will appeal to kids with every obsession. Plus, we've got tips for easy ways to throw the party of your child's dreams.

Here are 100 popular kids' birthday party themes for everyone from 1-year-olds to teens. Visit our Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties for more ideas on throwing your child an epic birthday bash, including birthday cakes you can make at home and the best goody bags and party favor ideas.

Best First Birthday Gifts: Toys and More for 1-Year-Olds

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Thu, 07/20/2023 - 12:00pm

Toys make perfect first birthday gifts for budding toddlers! But which ones? We've got you covered.

If you're looking for some fabulous first birthday gifts for a special child in your life, check out our ultimate gift guide for 1-year-olds.

A child's first birthday is a big milestone, and often comes with plastic gifts that delight kids for all of 5 minutes, and then clutter the house up before becoming landfill. To avoid that fate, we've rounded up the most amazing first birthday gift ideas that will delight any 1-year-old—and their parents!—for a very long time.

Naturally, toys make some of the best first birthday gifts. The best toys for 1-year-olds foster sensory exploration and help develop fine and gross motor skills. Open-ended toys that can be played with in different ways as kids grow, such as building blocks, are the #1 gift among the parents at Mommy Poppins.

But of course, you don't have to stick with toys. On our list of the most beloved first birthday gifts we've included books, clothing, furniture, and other unique suggestions that delight kids and parents.

Check out our Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties for more fun ways to celebrate, including tips for planning an at-home birthday party and great birthday cake ideas. And if you're looking for gifts for kids older than a year old, the Mommy Poppins Gift Guide for Birthdays and Holidays is literally your one-stop shop!

Best Road Trips from NYC for Summer Adventures

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Tue, 07/11/2023 - 3:46pm

The road trip is only part of the adventure when your destination is Camelback Resort with its mountain coaster, plus family-friendly restaurants, and waterpark fun.

When you're planning for a summer road trip adventure, the preparation is just a part of the fun. To beat the summer heat, you may be dreaming of an oceanside retreat or perhaps a mountain getaway not too far from home. Tri-state area families are lucky to have several great road trip destinations within easy driving distance of Midtown Manhattan.

To help you plan the perfect summer road trip from NYC, be sure to bookmark our ultimate road trip planning guide for essential tips and read on for 12 summer road trip destinations near NYC.

If you're venturing further, we've got an entire Family Road Trip Guide to fill your travel needs and fuel your sense of adventure from coast to coast.

Best Inflatable Water Parks to Visit in New England

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Sun, 07/02/2023 - 6:34pm

Bounce, splash, and make the most of summer at the best inflatable water parks in New England. Photo courtesy of Brownstone Adventure Sports Park

The best inflatable water parks are some cool spots to beat the heat. Summer in New England is a truly special time. We've crawled out from our winter hibernations and are fully ready to embrace the sun, fun, and season of... water parks! Water parks come in all shapes and sizes. Some parks are an integral part of one of America's top amusement parks for families. Others stand alone and are great for family day trips. If you're looking for a new adventure, check out New England's inflatable water parks. We've also included an inflatable adventure park in Massachusetts that is coupled with a separate water park.

What's an inflatable water park? Inflatable water parks are just that: inflatable, blow-up play structures meet water park features. If you visited one of New England's indoor water parks during the winter months, now's the time to enjoy some fresh air and splash around in the great outdoors. And if you're looking for a completely dry theme park experience, check out the best amusement parks near New England for families.

Vanessa Leigh

Latest posts by Vanessa

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