Ally Noel
Ally Noel has lived in Connecticut for over two decades. Before becoming a parent, she worked as an Educational Technology Specialist, helping schools and teachers integrate technology into learning. Now, she’s all about discovering the best family-friendly adventures, activities, and hidden gems. Share your tips, questions, or just say hi at ally@mommypoppins.com, and follow along for family fun at @mommypoppinsct.
Latest posts by Ally
Why should cheese and crackers have all the fun? These dessert charcuterie boards can make any day sweet! It is not difficult to assemble one of these trays once you have the right ingredients and supplies in your kitchen. Dessert boards are no-cook, easy dessert recipes that are perfect for celebrating a birthday, holiday, or just to add a little fun to a night at home. You can use any flat surface to build your dessert board—we like to use a deep tray with handles, but a cutting board, serving tray, or any flat surface is a perfect stage to show off your delectable dessert creations.
From s’mores masterpieces to movie night treats, these five dessert boards will let you indulge your family’s sweet tooth. Find more dessert recipes and sweet kitchen inspiration in our Guide to Easy Recipes for Kids.
These crafts for kids celebrate Earth Day the best way we know how—with recycling! You don’t have to buy any extra stuff to create one of these beautiful crafts. Basic supplies like scissors, glue, and paint allow kids (and their grown-ups) to do their part to save the planet.
Clean out that recycling bin to gather supplies for these fun Earth Day activities for kids. From glass and plastic to packaging and cardboard, there is a treasure trove of crafting material just waiting to be reused. Whether you are taking a pile of cardboard boxes to the next level or turning T-shirts into totes, these easy crafts for kids provide a little inspiration to get you going.
We suspect everyone could use a little dose of Vitamin Sea right about now, so we've rounded up some gorgeous, kid-friendly beach house rentals on Airbnb. It's hard to resist a charming beach cottage and all the vacation can offer to a busy family: fresh salt air, lazy days, gorgeous views, ice cream after every meal, board games on rainy days, and long walks with the family along the shore.
These lovely beach cottages along the East Coast come stocked with tons of family-friendly amenities like pools, easy beach access, sports and beach equipment, and more. From the charming New England coastline of Maine down to the sunny shores of Florida, these beach house rentals offer plenty of room to stretch out those sandy toes and sip a glass of sunshine on the porch.
Find more inspiration in our Family Travel Guide.
In the past year, Connecticut families have been heading to the hills, trails, and streams of the Connecticut countryside more than ever to enjoy some outdoor fun on the weekends. Thankfully, we are never that far from a dedicated, family-friendly nature center in the Nutmeg State. These centers provide a wide variety of programs, scavenger hunts, camps, classes, guided hikes, and animal encounters. Nature Centers can be enjoyed year-round: Many even have indoor spaces with live animals, nature specimens, and more interactive elements for kids.
Plan a visit to one of these Connecticut nature centers for a healthy, educational, and affordable family day trip. Then, broaden kids' horizons with an adventure to a Connecticut state park or forest to see nature at its grandest—nearby!
Whether you call them hand pies, toaster pastries, Pop Tarts—or just plain ol' delicious!—these treats sweeten up any family morning. Frozen pie crust simplifies this homemade Pop-Tart-style pastry recipe. It's easy to follow and comes together faster than you might realize. Kids can fill these, and top them, with their preferred flavors, from jam to chocolate and sprinkles.
Friday night is pizza night in my house, and although we love picking up the phone and having our favorite pie delivered, cooking with kids is special—and there is nothing quite like pulling a homemade pizza (on homemade pizza dough) fresh out of the oven. DIY Pizza Night has quickly become one of our most beloved screen-free family fun nights.
It all starts with a great pizza dough recipe, and I'm sharing my family's favorite easy pizza dough recipe. Plus our favorite pizza recipes, tricks, and hints for how to bring your next homemade pizza night to the next level. And pssst, save room for dessert.
Pages
