Cait Sumner

Latest posts by Cait Sumner

Where to get Fasnachts, King Cakes, Paczki, and Donuts for Mardi Gras in Philadelphia

Submitted by Cait Sumner on Wed, 02/22/2017 - 10:00am

Whether you call it Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Tuesday, one thing is clear- the best way to celebrate is with some delicious sweet treats! The King Cake is a Mardi Gras tradition where a plastic baby is baked right inside the cake! Whomever receives the lucky slice, gets to host the next party (or at least get next year's King Cake). The Pennsylvania Dutch celebrate Fasnacht Day by getting rid of all the fat in the house before Lent, which means yummy donuts (and the tradition states that if you don't eat one, you won't have a very good year). Paczkis are the Polish version of the pre-Lent donut. No matter what you call it, we've found all the best places around town to grab your special treat.

Leap into Something Fun with Frogs: a Chorus of Colors

Submitted by Cait Sumner on Mon, 02/06/2017 - 10:00am

Does your little one love frogs? You're in luck; The Academy of Natural Sciences is hopping with tons of these amphibious friends! There are over 4,000 species of frogs living on every continent except Antartica, and you can see a few of them on display at the museum right now! Frogs: A Chorus of Colors is presented in conjunction with Clyde Peel's Reptiland and is on display Feburary 4- May14, 2017. Read our review and leap on over to the museum to learn more about these awesome creatures.

Where to Get Your Chocolate Fix in Philly

Submitted by Cait Sumner on Fri, 02/03/2017 - 10:00am

If you love chocolate, Philly has no shortage of this sweet treat. Chocolate shops and even chocolate restaurants abound in the city of brotherly love. Just in time for celebrating Valentine's Day, we've got some great places to enjoy this delicious treat. Because what kid (or parent) doesn't love chocolate?

6 Places to Try Thai Rolled Ice Cream in Philly

Submitted by Cait Sumner on Wed, 01/25/2017 - 10:00am

Whether you've heard about it or not, there's no denying it sounds intriguing: Thai rolled ice cream (also known as smash ice cream). The name itself describes it pretty well, but the process is just as fun to watch as the ice cream is to eat. Just watching videos of it is pretty mesmerizing. Liquid ice cream is poured onto a cold metal sheet and then expertly shaped and formed into a perfect rolled cylinder about the size of a roll of quarters. It resembles something like a Swedish roll, but it's made entirely of delicious, sweet ice cream. You can make it even more unique and yummy by adding mix-ins and toppings. We've rounded up some great places in the city to try this delectable new phenomenon! It's the perfect way to celebrate or to finish out a fun day of adventures.

Birthday Freebies: Where Philly Kids Eat Free and Get Free Stuff on their Birthdays

Submitted by Cait Sumner on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 10:00am

Birthdays are the best time of year for kids, and nothing makes a special day sweeter like free stuff! There's something extra exciting about being treated to something free on your big day. We've got a list of tons of great birthday freebies for kids. From meals to ice cream, to clothes and books, you can find just about anything for free on your birthday. Take note, these freebies require you to sign up for emails ahead of time, so even if your child's birthday isn't coming up, you might want to get started.

5 Places to Take Childbirth Preparation Classes Near Philly

Submitted by Cait Sumner on Tue, 01/17/2017 - 10:00am

If you're a first-time mom, childbirth can be scary. Heck, let's face it, if you've already done it before, it's still a little scary. Childbirth classes are essential for any pregnant woman and her partner. Seriously, I cannot stress just how important these classes are for anyone who is expecting. If it's been a while since you've had your first baby (or babies), you may even want to refresh. Maybe you're trying something new this time around- whether it's a VBAC or unmedicated birth, or you just want to make sure you know what you're doing, a birthing class can help with that. The most important things that birth classes will help you with are pain management, knowing the signs of labor, understanding the labor process, and knowing your rights so you can be in control of your birth. We've rounded up a few great places (other than hospitals) that offer birthing classes in the area. Also included in this list are breastfeeding classes, as those are essential for any new mom who plans to breastfeed.

Help Us Choose Our BESTIES: Vote for Your Favorite Spots and Win!

Submitted by Cait Sumner on Fri, 01/13/2017 - 3:00pm

How do we love Philly? Help us count the ways! We know that Philadelphia is full of great stuff to do with kids, but we need help finding the best of the best. So we're counting on you, our Mommy Poppins readers and the most savvy parents we know, to help us pick Philly's BESTIES. The best play spaces? Philly has 'em. Family restaurants? We've got those, too.

Postpartum Support Resources for New Moms in Philly

Submitted by Cait Sumner on Tue, 01/10/2017 - 10:00am

Congratulations! You're in the homestretch. Baby is almost here and you're making all the final preparations before becoming a new parent (or becoming one all over again)! The bag is packed, the car seat is loaded in the car, the nursery is all set. It feels like you've checked everything off your list, but you probably haven't. Most new moms (and dads) get so excited to welcome their new little one, they don't take much time to think about what happens after baby gets here. Life will be incredibly different when your new bundle does finally arrive- take the time now to think about yourself before lack of sleep and baby brain truly take over.

At Mommy Poppins, our goal is to make parenting easier for you. So, check out this list of postpartum services in the area. Whether you decide to opt for a postpartum doula, you end up needing breastfeeding support, or you're looking for a local parenting group, we've got it all right here for you.