Shari Simpson

Shari Simpson

Shari Simpson has Anna Fader and Mommy Poppins to thank for learning to appreciate her own state. Before she started editing Mommy Poppins NJ, Shari dragged her spawn into NYC for any type of "culture"; now she knows all the good stuff to be had in New Jersey and is not so fast to hop on that PATH train. In her other life, Shari is a comedic playwright ("Maybe Baby, It's You", Dramatic Publishing, Inc.), a humor blogger ("Earth Mother just means I'm dusty"), and a freelance writer. She is mother to four (two human, two pug) and resides in Hoboken, where she can be found jogging along the waterfront or dragging her Brownie troop of 30 crazy little girls around town.
You can also follow Shari on Google+.

Latest posts by Shari

Gift Guide to the Best Toys & Gifts for Kids, 5-Year-Olds to 9-Year-Olds

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Sat, 10/12/2024 - 10:40am

Suspend Family is a game the whole family can play. Photo courtesy of the Melissa & Doug Toy Company

If you're looking for the perfect birthday or holiday gifts for kids from 5-year-olds to 9-year-olds, you've found the right place!

When it comes to choosing gifts for kids, particularly this marvelous, coming-into-their-own age range of 5 to 9-year-olds, the temptation is to start veering towards digital. While we’re not into screen-shaming at Mommy Poppins, this list is free of screens and leans heavily on hands-on toys, physical books, and wonderfully messy art supplies. These creative and tactile toys keep kids' brains as active as their hands and bodies.

The lack of screen inclusion among these toy recommendations isn't a case of virtue signaling; we've seen that these are the toys that get treasured and played with for years to come.

Looking for awesome gifts for other ages? Find our faves for first birthday gifts, the most beloved toddler gifts, and more in our Mommy Poppins Gift Guide for Birthdays and Holidays.

Christmas Tree Farms in New Jersey

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Sun, 11/19/2023 - 7:59am

Find the perfect tree at Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm in Manalapan. Photo courtesy of the farm

For many New Jersey families, cutting down a Christmas tree is an annual tradition that marks the beginning of the holiday season. If you're thinking of going the cut-your-own route this year, start your tree hunt by checking out this list of the best Christmas tree farms throughout NJ.

Many farms sell refreshments to keep you fortified during your search, and some also offer seasonal farm fun like Santa visits, scenic wagon rides, and marshmallows around the fire pit. Don't feel like cutting a tree down yourself? Most farms will cut it for you and take care of the drilling and baling.

Once you've checked that off your list, be sure to take a look at our write-up on where to take Santa pictures, and visit our Holiday Guide for New Jersey families for even more ways to celebrate the season.

Best Magazine Subscriptions for Kids for Gifts and Classrooms

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Tue, 10/10/2023 - 12:56pm

Okido is an excellent magazine for STEAM-loving kids.

Magazine subscriptions for kids make the perfect gifts for children who love to read, those who are learning to read, and teachers looking to build up their classroom libraries. As old as I am (some would say “well-seasoned”), I still remember the excitement I'd feel whenever my Highlights magazine came in the mail.

And despite the advent of smartphones and iPads, kids today have more magazine options to choose from than ever. That means there are magazines for kids of all ages and reading levels, whether they're into animals, sports, technology, the world around them, or any other topic.

Here are our favorite magazine subscriptions for kids, from babies and toddlers all the way through teens. Our list includes award-winning Cricket Media and Highlights magazines for kids, plus several other interesting choices.

Check out our Mommy Poppins Gift Guide for more great gift ideas for kids, including our lists of awesome monthly subscription boxes for kids and 100 kids' books every child should read before they grow up.

Best Vacation House Rentals in the Catskills for Families

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Thu, 10/05/2023 - 12:36pm

This Log House in the heart ofthe Hudson Valley is perfect for multiple families, a large family get-together or a birthdaygetaway!

The Catskills have been famous for many things and these unique Catskills vacation rentals make planning a family getaway to the region easier than ever. So, whether you want to explore the history of Borscht Belt comedians, Rip Van Winkle, Woodstock, and Dirty Dancing or enjoy some outdoor recreation in the 700,000 acres of mountains that cover four New York counties, we've found a vacation rental home in the Catskills to fit your family.

Once you've found the perfect Catskills vacation rental for your crew, all that's left to do is decide which of these 25 things to do in the Catskills with kids you'll check off first, including camping, hiking, skiing, river rafting, cave touring, visiting alpaca farms, horseback riding, zip-lining, and more.

Read on for our top vacation rental picks in the Catskills. These properties can sleep a crowd and provide family-friendly perks, like game rooms, bunk beds, and even sledding hills right out the back door. Find more local getaways in our Guide to Day Trips and Local Getaways.

Halloween Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids, Plus Free Printables!

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Tue, 10/03/2023 - 12:00pm

A Halloween scavenger hunt is the perfect kids' activity for fall. Photo by Monserta Production via Pexels

Looking for some fun Halloween games for kids? Try a Halloween scavenger hunt!

A Halloween scavenger hunt allows kids to use their sugared-up brains to solve clues, read maps, decipher riddles, and build team friendships. Whether you’re looking for super-duper simple or next-level complex, we’ve got Halloween scavenger hunt ideas that will engage all ages, from kids who aren’t even reading yet to those “everything is so boring” teenagers.

And scavenger hunts aren’t just for this spooky time of year. Check out our list of indoor and outdoor scavenger hunt ideas for kids, which has more tips on planning, clue-creating, and setting rules.

Find even more Halloween games for kids in our Halloween Activities Guide for Families, which includes our list of fun at-home Halloween party games.

These Funny Animal Memes Explain the Stages of Parenting Perfectly!

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Tue, 09/19/2023 - 11:00am

No one said the teen years would be pretty!

Cat memes, dog memes, and more funny animal memes tell the story of the stages of parenting...

Bawling babies, terrible twos, sassy school kids, petulant pre-teens, terrifying teenagers—let’s be real, no matter where you’re at in your parenting journey, it feels like the toughest stretch, right? That’s why we’ve got you covered for the entire ride with 20 of those delicious, bite-sized morsels of humor known as memes.

Sometimes all it takes is a good laugh to get through a rough patch, and what’s funnier than our trials and errors depicted through the animal kingdom? Get your giggles on with a tour of the stages of parenting as told through cat memes, dog memes, and other funny animal memes.

For more parenting humor, check out Funny Parenting Memes That Will Make You Feel Seen and 25 Funny Mom Jokes. It's all in our Jokes and Humor Guide.

Halloween and Fall Foliage Train Rides for New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Thu, 09/13/2018 - 9:30am

The Whippany Railway Museum's Pumpkin Festival includes a ride on the Pumpkinliner and other festive fall fun.

Halloween and hayrides go hand in hand, but if you really want to up your game this year, take a trip on a Halloween train! If you have a junior conductor in your family, don't miss out on one of these four seasonal NJ railway adventures—plus one across the Delaware in Pennsylvania.

From spooky to scenic, these rides offer a unique bit of fall fun for the whole family: passengers can take a seat in a vintage caboose, travel through gorgeous fall foliage, visit a pumpkin patch, and even trick-or-treat onboard. After the ride, round out the day with autumn activities like corn mazes, crafts, and a costume party.

Check out our NJ Fall Fun Guide for even more seasonal family fun around the state.

Halloween Fun at New Jersey Zoos with Boo at the Zoo

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Thu, 09/07/2017 - 12:35pm

Whether you're looking for an alternative to traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating, or you just want to have a little extra Halloween fun in the days leading up to the big event, the zoo just might be the place for you. Visiting with the animals is always an enjoyable way to spend a family day, but throw in some candy, costumes, and spooky activities, and you're bound to have a howling good time.

Shari Simpson

Latest posts by Shari

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