Washington DC

Things to Do in DC this Weekend: Harvest, Festivals October 19-20, 2019

Submitted by Christine Mooney on Wed, 10/16/2019 - 9:10am

There’s much to do on this fine fall weekend. Pick a pumpkin, sip some apple cider, enjoy a fall festival, or check out some fun jack o’ lanterns. Families can also enjoy some arts and crafts, live music, and guided walks out in nature. Whatever you choose, we here at Mommy Poppins Washington, DC wish you a great weekend with your family!

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Easy Halloween Treats for Kids and Classroom Parties

Submitted by Ally Noel on Mon, 10/14/2019 - 11:12am

Candy bars aren't the only Halloween treats to hand out this October 31. School kids across the country are getting ready to celebrate with Halloween parades and classroom parties, meaning you might be on the hook for homemade Halloween treats.

But there's no need to fear the sign-up email headed your way. I've planned more than a few Halloween parties and have put together a list of easy Halloween treats to help parents skip the last-minute scramble. These tried-and-true spooky snacks transform pretzel sticks into ghouls, mandarins into pumpkins, and make enough Monster Mash Brownies that will turn the entire class into sugar monsters.

100 Things To Do in California with Kids Before They Leave The Nest

Submitted by Susan Leslie on Sat, 10/12/2019 - 1:00pm

Whether your kids are leaving the nest in one year or in ten years, there are at least 100 things to do in California worthy of any family's bucket list. From San Diego to Crescent City and every town in between, there are amusement parks, great hikes, drives to the mountains, adventure activities, and so much more!

Did you know that California has 58 counties? Okay, maybe your bucket list doesn't need to cover all 58, but we have awesome family excursions covering over 30 counties across California's 163,696 square miles. How many have your kids experienced?

Columbus Day Weekend Things to Do in DC: Oktoberfest, Pumpkins, Art October 12-14, 2019

Submitted by Christine Mooney on Wed, 10/09/2019 - 9:08am

Pumpkins, apples, jack o’ lanterns, festivals...there are so many ways for DC families to enjoy fall this weekend. Have you already checked off all the fall things from your family calendar? No worries - there’s plenty more to do, from art to treasure hunts. Read on for our top picks for this weekend, and then head over to our events calendar for more ideas.

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Easy Pumpkin Carving Stencils and Ideas for Halloween

Submitted by Sally Chaffin Brooks on Mon, 10/07/2019 - 11:12am

If your family pulled out the Halloween decorations well before the first pumpkin spice latte sip of 2019, then we're sure you're looking for great pumpkin carving ideas now, too.

The cornerstone of any great Halloween display—the jack-o-lantern—is always one of our favorite things to do with kids in the fall, right after the apple picking and pumpkin patch outing, of course. Pumpkin carving is one of those rare activities that every member of the family can enjoy equally. Little kids love the mess, big kids love the chance to wield a knife, and parents love to show off our creative skills.

We’ve rounded up 12 of our favorite pumpkin carving stencils, all of which include a link to the FREE pumpkin carving design. With a little practice and plenty of options, we're sure you'll find the pumpkin design that captures your family's Halloween vibe, from Baby's First Halloween sweetness to Cyclops to superhero character themes. So read on to step up your Halloween fun (and game).

Best Things To Do in Aruba with Kids: The Beach and So Much More

Submitted by Siobhan Adcock on Sat, 10/05/2019 - 2:02pm

At less than 70 square miles, Aruba might be a small island, but it packs in a lot of kid-friendly activities for a Caribbean family getaway. Snorkel or splash in the bright blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, explore breathtaking natural parklands, dig in to a wide variety of tasty restaurants and food options, support Aruba’s wildlife sanctuaries, or just stake out a spot on the powdery sand beaches to watch the kids build sandcastles. With its mix of beach beauty and easy-access family attractions—and a relatively protected location south of the main Atlantic hurricane corridor—Aruba is a kid-pleasing choice for a sunny school-break vacation.

Perhaps best of all, Aruba has a well-deserved rep for being one of the friendliest places on Earth, even by popular vacation destination standards. As my awestruck 9-year-old daughter exclaimed, “Everybody is so generous!” (Well, she is from Brooklyn.)

Whether you’ve got an active crew in search of some new adventures, or you’re just looking for a fabulous hotel pool to sink into for a few days, here are the best things to do in Aruba, as well as where to eat and what to see with kids.

Top Halloween Events for DC Kids

Submitted by Christine Mooney on Sat, 10/05/2019 - 9:22am

Bring on the candy! The jack o' lanterns! The costumes! Halloween is finally here, and with it comes lots of seasonal fun, from fall festivals to apple picking. And don't forget, you've got to pick out the perfect pumpkin to decorate your front porch. So round up the young witches and ghouls in your family and set out for some Halloween fun in the DC area. Read on for our top picks.

50 Best Kids' Movies for Family Movie Night

Submitted by Ally Noel on Thu, 10/03/2019 - 11:18am

Some of the best kids' movies were made decades ago. If you're looking for the perfect flick to please everyone tonight, we suggest putting the new releases aside for now and introducing kids to these classic family movies.

Get the popcorn popped, the kids snuggled up on the couch, and now you're ready to peruse this list of our top 50 kids' movies sure to win over the pickiest of film critics. From The Wizard of Oz to Sandlot and everything in between, it’s time to turn down the lights and enjoy some quality time with the entire family.

Things to Do in DC this Weekend:Festivals, Culture, Pumpkins October 5-6, 2019

Submitted by Christine Mooney on Wed, 10/02/2019 - 9:08am

The first weekend of October is upon us, and with it, fall goes into high gear. Fall festivals, pumpkin picking, apple picking, Halloween activities...there's a lot to choose from! Read on for our top picks and then head over to our events calendar for more ideas.

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How Obé's At-Home Fitness App Actually Helped Me Start Working Out

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Mon, 09/30/2019 - 10:17am

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.