May is a pretty awesome month, with beautiful weather for festivals, parks and picnics. Celebrate that very special woman in your life with  a Mother & Daughter Tea at Acorn Hall or a laid back Mother’s Day hike at Tenafly Nature Center. And check out our article about the Mommy Poppins-sponsored show, Listen To Your Mother, at Symphony Space in Manhattan! You can also soak in even more spring with the Butterfly Festival at the Camden Children’s Garden or the Scavenger Hunt and Grill Out at the Great Swamp Outdoor Center. Read on for our top picks and remember, you can always find a listing of all NJ activities in our Event Calendar.

It's rare that we write about things to do without children on Mommy Poppins but, the fact is, while eating Mother's Day brunch and enjoying fun activities with the kids is lovely, some years, what you really want for your day is something all about, well, you. (Apologies to any dads reading right now, but you get your own Sunday in June.) We've gathered up some off the beaten path ideas for Mother's Day (and beyond) that don't include sticky fingers or crafts made out of pipe cleaners. From wine tastings to adults-only performances, here are five ways to celebrate Mother's Day without the bambinos.

As New Jersey editor, I am very excited to tell you about something that I'm doing--in New York City. If you're looking for a wonderful and unusual way to spend Mother's Day, consider coming out to the "Listen To Your Mother" reading series at Symphony Space! Showcasing moving, socially relevant and hilarious stories about motherhood from moms, non-moms and even a couple of dudes, "Listen To Your Mother" will be a memory-making end to the day that honors mothers everywhere. (Which means New Jersey, too, as there are five NJ writer/performers in the show!) Read on for all the exciting details about this Mommy Poppins-sponsored show.

Mother's Day now out ranks other occasions in my life to be celebrated, since motherhood is certainly my most important accomplishment to date.  Each year, I anticipate the handmade cards, coffee in bed, and few, extra moments of sleep.  But almost as much as I excitedly wait for those things, I count down the days to one of the best meals of the year: Mother's Day brunch.  We reserve a brunch outing for this one Sunday in May, and include our entire extended family, which makes it even more memorable.  Interested in toasting Mom with a mimosa or omelet made to order?  The selection of Mother's Day brunch spots in New London county is fantastic.

The days are warmer, the produce is ripening and it's a great time of year to get the kids involved in choosing healthy fresh food ingredients. You may not immediately think of Hudson County as offering many options in that department; we all know it offers close proximity to NYC, museums, fabulous restaurants, but the truth is Hudson County offers 12 fantastic Farmer’s Markets, so check out our list of Hudson County Farmer’s Markets by city and get Jersey Fresh with your NJ kids and families!

At Mommy Poppins we don't just inspire our readers, we inspire each other! After hearing about our founder Anna's trip to the Guggenheim's Gutai exhibit with her nine-year-old, I decided to take my seven-year-old. That's her in the pic, having a blast literally leaving her mark on a piece called "Please Draw Freely." It's a thought-provoking show that prompted my daughter to start thinking about what constitutes art. Gutai closes next week, so it's your last chance to check it out and enter to win our Guggenheim giveaway.

It's a new month, which means it's time to get out your calendar. Our NYC, New Jersey and Connecticut sites all posted their May Go Lists, highlighting the absolute best things to do with kids throughout the month. With spring kicking into high gear, there are lots of amazing free festivals and fairs, plus Mother's Day is on the horizon. Speaking of the holiday, in addition to our posts about fancy brunch spots and readers' restaurant picks, we came up with five unique Mother's Day brunch ideas in NYC that offer more than just a meal. Meanwhile our Boston site has three easy recipes kids can make for mom on her big day, and our Travel site has Mother's Day getaway deals.

Here's what else we covered on NYC this week:

Our weekend calendar is packed with fun and free things to do in and around Boston this weekend. From the return of the Birds of Prey at the Stone Zoo and the Open Arts Day at Arsenal Center for the Arts on Saturday to the Harvard Square May Fair on Sunday, the weekend is filled with festivals and celebrations. Read on for more of our weekend picks, and be sure to check our Events Calendar for even more ideas.

What else will you find on Mommy Poppins Boston this week? We’ve rounded up some of the great learn to sail programs that are available for kids in and around Boston. And Kristin shares some tips for planning a toddler birthday party at home in Boston. Yes, you can bring a bouncy house into your living room! Mother’s Day is only a week away; you may want to consider a special meal at home (giving you plenty of time to get to The One Family Music Festival to support The One Fund!). And for families looking for more ways to volunteer and help out those in need, Tara has some insights in her family volunteering post.

Enjoy!