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Jacqueline Stansbury

Jacqueline Stansbury's picture A native Angeleno, Jackie enjoys revisiting her childhood as a mom and writer for Mommy Poppins. She did a lot of cool stuff as a kid and has newfound respect for her own mom who made that happen without the internet! Today in Los Angeles, some things are gone, some have changed and some, like the grunion, remain exactly the same. In her former life, Jackie was a development executive on the Fox Studios lot where she rounded up writer/director lists and covered screenplays. Mommy Poppins is much more fun. Jackie's kids, Benjamin and Juliet, agree.

Latest posts by Jacqueline

Indie Toy Stores: LA's Best Spots To Shop for Toys

Jacqueline Stansbury's picture Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Sat, 03/31/2018 - 12:29pm

Monkeying around at  Kip's Toyland

Toys. Kids love ‘em; parents wish they would put them away. But in this the age of electronics, we can all agree that a good old-fashioned manipulative beats a device with a screen any day. With even big toy store chains like FAO Schwartz and Toys 'R' Us closing shop, it's time for us to rally and support the local toy stores we love if we want them to be here next year—particularly the ones where you find an unusual gift just when you need it.

Read more.

Camps by the Day: Book One Day at a Time for the Beach and Beyond

Jacqueline Stansbury's picture Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Fri, 02/16/2018 - 11:12am

My family doesn’t do a lot of camp. I have two children who loath having their time scheduled, and I am mostly home with them, so in the summer I let them loaf. We all enjoy not having a schedule, and, let’s face it, camp can be pricey. We peruse Mommy Poppins’ Event Calendar, where I always find something fun and usually free. Inevitably, though, the point arrives when somebody, maybe even everybody, is a bit bored—or, in the case of the camp director (me), tired. Also, I do work part time, so I can’t always be in charge of the entertainment. This is a recipe for that most dreaded of all childhood diseases: too much screen time. That's when camp starts to seem like a really good idea, and I regret not having signed up. Even the kids sometimes yearn for something scheduled, because most of their friends aren’t around; they're at camp.

So what to do with a couple of bored couch potatoes? It’s summer. Send them to the beach, the beach, the beach! This is a no brainer. People travel from far away to spend their summers by our shores. We are already here. It would be crazy not to take advantage of this most glorious natural resource. Slather on the sunscreen, get some UV sunglasses, maybe even invest in a wet suit, but make sure those kids get some time in the surf and sand! Of course, if the beach is not your cup of tea, we also know a few other places that don’t require advance planning and will welcome your children for the day. As the summer progresses you may even find more, because sometimes a camp that books by the week becomes more flexible if it doesn’t fill all its places.

Here are 10 you can count on:

Read more.

Free, Kid-Friendly Workouts for Mom or Dad at Malls around LA

Jacqueline Stansbury's picture Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Wed, 08/09/2017 - 4:36pm

The malls of Los Angeles want you to visit, and they’re willing to do you a favor or two to get you there—including free workout classes. It may seem counterintuitive to head to the mall in search of free stuff, but, in the spirit of reeling us in, many malls offer kid-friendly, free workouts for moms. In other words, the mall is one of very few places where you can exercise without dropping a wad of cash. I can’t promise that you won’t end up splurging on lunch or a new pair of skinny jeans (that’s the whole point of the free workout, isn’t it?), but the sweat sessions listed below are free to anyone with an iron will.

Read more.

10 Kid-Friendly Happy Hours in Santa Monica, Marina del Rey, & LA's Westside

Jacqueline Stansbury's picture Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Sat, 04/08/2017 - 11:17am

Let the parent who has never yearned for a drink and a cheap kids' menu cast the first stone. While Happy Hour was indeed invented as a way to sell alcoholic beverages during a restaurant’s slow period, and mostly conjures images of a not-so-kid-friendly array of inebriated partiers, it can also mean great deals on meals. Many restaurants have Happy Hours that cater to (or at least accommodate) family dining. Here on the Westside, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to late-afternoon or early-evening discounted dinners. As a rule, Happy Hour is mostly a Monday through Friday 4 to 7pm proposition, but the terms are constantly changing, so it is best to call or check a restaurant’s website before settling into a booth. And while you’re checking, it's wise to be sure that you're heading somewhere kid-friendly. Some restaurants are more about the booze than the burgers, and that’s not going to work with kids. The places we've found (and selflessly tested) below are all spots that a family can enjoy together.

Read more.

Choosing a Preschool: 5 Things That Matter & 5 That (Probably) Don't

Jacqueline Stansbury's picture Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Tue, 01/17/2017 - 3:54pm

As parents we face the pressure to find the best of everything, and finding the best preschool for your little heir is no exception. Some parents jump on this task intimidatingly early, doing research and attending open houses even while Junior is still in utero. And there are so many choices: Play-based or academically focused? Montessori, Waldorf, full-time, part-time, cooperative, parochial, or secular? Media-free or media-intensive? A philosophy of "let children be children" or "teach them everything as soon as possible"? Perhaps we want our kids to learn to use their words in more than one language, to preserve their midday nap, or to spend most of their day playing outdoors in nature.

Read more.

Choosing a Preschool: 5 Things That Matter & 5 That Probably Don't

Jacqueline Stansbury's picture Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Sat, 01/14/2017 - 1:52am

In Los Angeles there is pressure to find the best of everything, and finding the best preschool for your little heir is no exception. Some parents jump on this task intimidatingly early, doing research and attending open houses even while Junior is still in utero. And there are so many choices: Play-based or academically focused? Montessori, Waldorf, full-time, part-time, cooperative, parochial, or secular? Media-free or media-intensive? A philosophy of "let children be children" or "teach them everything as soon as possible"? Perhaps we want our kids to learn to use their words in more than one language, to preserve their midday nap, or to spend most of their day playing outdoors in nature.

Read more.

Hot Holiday Deals: Diggerland, Sahara Sam's, Rockettes, and More

Jacqueline Stansbury's picture Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Tue, 12/13/2016 - 1:00pm

We've rounded up some great deals from our partners to get your holidays hopping with special savings. Help yourself to extra servings of fun and convenience with discounted tickets to area amuseument parks, top shows like the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Gazillion Bubble Show, and more. With so much going on, it's the perfect time to try delivery from Babeth's Feast. Your special offer will make dinner a snap and a great deal. As always, you'll find lots more holiday fun in the Mommy Poppins Holiday Guide.

Read more.

12 LA Restaurants Where Kids Can Try Ethnic Foods They Just Might Like

Jacqueline Stansbury's picture Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Wed, 11/30/2016 - 2:58pm

Photo courtesy of Benihana

Food is one of the fraught topics of parenting. From day one it’s us against them when it comes to eating. Having spent weeks with a lactation expert for baby number one, I thought I had it down, but baby number two had other ideas. Moving on to solid food, our kids really show us who is boss. They like what they like and will eat what they will eat - even if that means pizza as vegetable and ice cream as protein. Meanwhile, mom and dad are craving something ethnic. You know, a little spice, more than one ingredient, maybe even a variety of vegetables. It may sound more daunting than another round of nuggets at Kids Eat Free night, but with a little planning your family could have a tastier, more exotic dinner out.

Read more.

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