Melanie Preis

Latest posts by Melanie Preis

Black-Owned Restaurants, Retailers, and Landmarks to Discover in Atlanta

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Fri, 02/04/2022 - 11:27am

The TEN Spot beauty bar in Morningside offers mani parties for kids of all ages. Photo courtesy of The TEN Spot

Atlanta has and remains a crucial piece of African American life—the birthplace of the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King Jr.; now a utopia for successful black-owned businesses, practices, restaurants, and more. Atlanta pays homage to King's work and the fight for equality at various museums and landmarks throughout the area. The city's African American roots continue to extend, as today's Atlanta attracts bright minds and great leaders from around the world, including younger generations attending notable historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) of the Atlanta University Center consortium.

In honor of Black History Month, we're spotlighting black-owned restaurants near Atlanta, black-owned shops, and African American historical sites and important locations in Atlanta. This round-up only scratches the surface of the many black-owned businesses worthy of a visit; but it is a reminder for our community to support locally-owned businesses, large and small, owned and operated by people from all races, religions, and backgrounds.

Fabulous Orlando Birthday Party Spots for Teens and Tweens

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Fri, 01/28/2022 - 11:09am

Fun Spot America is the perfect birthday party spot to celebrate your teen or tween's big day. Photo courtesy of the venue

Planning a teen birthday can be challenging—it's a tough crowd to satisfy with specific tastes and wants. Luckily Orlando birthday party settings offer a lot of cool elements that teens want to include on his or her big day. There are awesome outdoor spots especially perfect for warm-weather birthdays (and since Orlando has moderate conditions, an outdoor teen birthday can happen through much of the year); fantastic indoor spots for those with more of a theme in mind; and there's always a combination of the two at famous venues, like Universal and Disney attractions.

Tweens and teens may be more outspoken about their birthday party, as opposed to years earlier where you were able to plan the whole event totally on your own. But that's also the exciting part—watching teens mature and getting a taste of what they're into, who is on their guest list, and the chance to work together to create a birthday party that truly reflects who they are.

Atlanta Kids Will Love These Birthday Party Entertainers

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Fri, 01/28/2022 - 10:05am

Venus de Hooplah shows off her amazing hula hoop skills at birthday parties for all ages. Photo courtesy of entertainer

Birthday party entertainers can change a party from dull to delightful, from frumpy to fantastic, and from just plain boring to breathtaking! Atlanta has some fantastic birthday party spots throughout the metro region, but sometimes, it's nice to bring the fun into your house. Parents can keep the hijinks centrally located in their own home, while getting a breather to actually enjoy the party with the help of these talented birthday party entertainers.

These birthday party entertainers run the gamut of themes and talents: clowns, magicians, princesses and characters, scientists, artists, and much more. There's definitely an Atlanta birthday party entertainer destined for your child on his or her special day!

Orlando Kids Will Love These Birthday Party Entertainers

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Sun, 01/23/2022 - 10:34am

Bubble Bus Orlando enhances any birthday party with bubbles...lots and lots of bubbles! Photo courtesy of Bubble Bus Orlando

Whether your child is into magic, sports, princesses, clowns, or something else entirely, there are birthday party entertainers to satisfy even the most narrow interests. Orlando kids (and parents) love these birthday entertainers because they keep the kiddos engaged and happy during the special day, and mom and dad can take a break to actually enjoy the party. Yes, Orlando has some fantastic birthday party venues throughout the area, but sometimes it's nice to bring the entertainment to your own home or neighborhood.

We at Mommy Poppins have rounded up some of the most interesting, sought-after birthday party entertainers in Orlando. These creative, family-friendly folk will make sure to enhance Orlando kids' birthdays with a huge amount of fun!

Free Indoor Playgrounds for Kids in Atlanta to Let Loose

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Fri, 01/14/2022 - 9:22am

The High Museum's Greene Family Learning Gallery is a magical space full of color and shapes. Photo by CatMax Photography, courtesy of the museum

Free indoor playground time in Atlanta means exciting (and warm) hijinks for the kiddos and a load off the wallet. Atlanta is boiling in the summer, icy in the winter, and a wet mess during the rainy season, so free indoor playgrounds can offer relief for kids to run around without hefty fees and entrance costs. And besides the happy moment of watching your children run off that pent-up energy in a place other than your own house, it's also a perk to have saved some cash in the process.

45 Fun Things To Do in Phoenix, Arizona with Kids

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Sat, 12/18/2021 - 12:30pm

Get some air-conditioned relief from the heat at the Arizona Science Center.

Phoenix, Arizona is where I grew up. Though I traded Phoenix's dry heat for the humidity of Atlanta after college, I still regard myself as a Phoenician for life. With family and friends still in Phoenix, we get to visit the desert at least three times a year. And what's really nice is now that I'm a mom, I get to revisit some of my favorite childhood attractions with my kids and discover awesome new things to do in Phoenix. Seriously, there are so many delicious Phoenix restaurants, fun family activities, and great hotels and resorts.

A trip to the Valley of the Sun makes for a perfect getaway for a sun-soaked family vacation. Kids love all of the fun things to do in Phoenix, and so do adults (the resort spas are out of this world). Here are the 45 top things to do in Phoenix for families with kids, plus some great family-friendly restaurants and hotels in Phoenix. Whether you stay at a five-star resort or spend your vacation with family and friends, this gem of the Grand Canyon State has a little something for everyone.

25 Things To Do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama with Kids

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Sat, 10/30/2021 - 11:35am

The white sand is perfect for sandcastles at Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Photo courtesy of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Tourism

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama are the perfect places to take kids on a beach vacation. Nestled along Alabama's Gulf Coast, this family destination is bursting with a ton of water activities, can't-miss attractions, and an unending amount of tasty treats. Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama have been popular for years among those from Southern states like Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida; however, the appeal of its white, sandy beaches and family-friendly vibes now attracts visitors from across the country.

Visiting the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach isn't like taking any other beach vacation. Besides the pristine, soft sands of the beach, visitors can also head to the back bays of the area, perfectly suited for fishing, kayaking, observing coastal wildlife, and other outdoor adventures. Kids love exploring the back bays and surrounding trails, discovering the natural habitat of this diverse ecosystem. In fact, if you really have an outdoorsy child, think about camping for a few nights in the area.

No matter what your family's interests are, we promise everyone will enjoy their trip to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. Be sure to check out our Family Travel Guide for more fun family vacation ideas!

Best Art Classes for Kids in Orlando to Unleash Creativity

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Sun, 09/12/2021 - 9:08am

Kids enjoy plein air classes at Crealdé School of Art, expressing creativity outside.

Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh, and all genius artists share something in common—they were once children! Before they became masters in their field, they were just little Claude and Vincent fingerpainting and tiny Pablo doodling in the dirt. Further your own child's artistic talents by enrolling him or her in art classes for kids. Orlando art classes cover a variety of mediums -- pottery, drawing, painting, sculpture, and many more—and welcome all ages, from young children all the way to talented teens (and even adults).

Enriching children's lives with art provides a well-rounded education, promotes creativity, teaches independence and decision-making, unlocks an appreciation of the surrounding world, and helps develop fine motor skills. Oh, and keeps your child entertained, happy, and messy! We've put together some of our favorite Orlando art classes for kids for budding artists in need of unleashing their creative talents.