If you’re unfamiliar with the Mommy Poppins brand, we’re all about finding what’s unique and fun in our respective areas. What we love: free stuff, inexpensive stuff, cool artsy activities, and taking advantage of our location (incredible out-of-doors and urban opportunities). What we don’t love: expensive, over-commercialization, crowds, advertorial content, and lame events that aren’t worth the gas/Light Rail/PATH/NJ Transit cost.

Now, a few things about the site itself: we’re in the midst of construction, so please excuse our mess. Some of the cool features aren’t completely fleshed out yet, like our Calendar, which (soon, we swear) will have daily events for you to check out. We’re also working hard on comprehensive Guides for NJ Summer Camps, Mommy and Me classes, Seasonal Fun Guides, Day Trips and Travel, and so much more.

One nifty thing that is up and running is our Map (which you'll see if you click on one of the articles); if you hover over one of those groovy blue and orange markers, you’ll see a fun location that we’ve written about, and if you click on it, you’ll go straight to the article. How awesome is that? We also have a New Jersey Book Store listing some of our favorite tomes about parent/kid-dom, and a list of NJ resources.

If you’ll notice in the toolbar, we’ll be categorizing events by county; Hudson, Essex, Bergen, Shore and Central Jersey. Yes, everyone has their opinion about what “Central Jersey” actually encompasses, and even if there is a Central Jersey (for you “only North/South Jersey” diehards), but for Mommy Poppins purposes, Central Jersey will cover events in Monmouth, Union, Morris, Somerset, Middlesex, Mercer, and Hunterdon counties. The rest of the counties? Well, you’ll just have to be patient, we’ll get to you. Anyone ever noticed how big New Jersey is??

Ultimately, the best thing about Mommy Poppins is our writers. Real NJ parents, actually participating in the events that they’re recommending/panning. We will do our best to help you find what is worthwhile and truly fun to do with your kids while still allowing you to have enough cash left over to pay your mortgage. We are open to and genuinely appreciate suggestions, comments, and recommendations from you, our readers. After all, you’re the ones out there in the trenches, I mean, the family-fun activities, right? So talk to us. We’re excited to hear you. And we’re excited to be here.

Shari Simpson
Editor