Now that the kids are back in school, it’s time to start driving them all over the place for swimming, soccer, and pogo-stick practice, or if your kid is artsy, ceramics, beading and sewing. A recent rise in the popularity of crafting — knitting, it’s not just for Great Aunt Bertha anymore — means many kids are a part of the trend and NJ has no shortage of captivating shops. Some are drop-ins, some are multi-week courses, and they aren’t cheap, but then neither are Junior’s sword-swallowing lessons.

You know how sometimes a piece of clothing can bring back a past conversation or experience? From a white wedding veil to a black funeral dress to a sequined dance recital leotard, our wardrobes and our memories are intertwined. It's a girl thing and it unites women everywhere.

That's what makes the show Love, Loss, and What I Wore such a great way to spend a moms' night out. A series of vignettes about the ups and downs of various women using clothing as the connecting thread, the hit Off Broadway show will celebrate its two-year anniversary on October 1, and it doesn't look like it's going out of style anytime soon.

While my previous moms' night out suggestions, like cool dance and art classes, and a downtown scavenger hunt, were more interactive, Love, Loss, and What I Wore is really engaging and moving, and inspires meaningful post-show conversations. Plus, at select performances, you can add on childcare for just $15 per kid. So gather your girlfriends, put on something fabulous and get ready to bond.

Ahhhh, date night. Just the mere thought of this rare event can bring parents right to their happy place. You know, that place where you can finish your sentences without interruption, only cut up your own food, enjoy an activity without whining or reprimanding and most importantly, spend quality time with your significant other. Pure bliss, indeed. As lovely as this is, date night can often be a challenge to plan. Coordinating (or even finding) a babysitter can be a feat in itself and then there’s the task of planning the actual night out. Not to fear, weary parents, we’ve done some of that research for you and there are many options for quality and super fun childcare in the evenings. Let us get you and your significant other out on the town!

The Los Angeles Grail, the Great Quest of the Southland, may well be the search for the ultimate family weekend getaway. The vacation that gives the most pleasure for the least effort. The highest decadence to travel time ratio. And I am here to share the news that Nirvana is only an hour away down an Orange County stretch of the 405 to Huntington Beach.

Yes, you read that right: surfing nuns. I know you're intrigued, so read on to find out about those ladies of the cloth and their saintly surfboards. If you'd prefer non-religious sports, try wending your way through the corn maze at Terhune Orchards on Apple Day. Or if you're looking for a good old fair, there are country fairs, folk fairs and a clown hoopla to choose from. And remember, the first official day of fall is next week, so enjoy your last weekend of summer!

Even though autumn doesn't officially start until September 23, we were all about fall this week. We began updating our Fall Fun Guide, and shared our picks for the best concerts, museum exhibits and theater shows for kids this coming season.

Our two new sites in Boston and Los Angeles are picking up speed. Boston highlighted six cool exhibits for families and in LA they're already looking ahead to Halloween with a roundup of pumpkin patches. Let your friends in those cities know that they can sign up for their respective newsletters.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut.