For some kids, back-to-school shopping means pencils, paper, and a book bag. For others, it means tracking the latest fashion trends and planning at back-to-school wardrobe.

In my 6 years of teaching middle school, I could have easily told you what was “hot” and “so last year” for the tween to teen crowd, but now I have to seek out the experts for the inside scoop on what’s hot for Fall.

Basking Ridge sisters Rehana and Shaila Saifee explained that middle school fashion was relaxed and casual but still trendy and chic.

“Skinny jeans, neon Sugar Lips tank tops,  gladiator sandals, converse sneakers, and high wasted skirts are trendy,” said Rehanna who is in 8th grade. “So Low sweatpants are also popular.”

Shaila, who is in 5th grade, described her personal style as “t-shirt and jeans with converse” and was most likely going to wear a plaid skirt and collared shirt for the first day of school.

Livingston resident and high school Junior Jaynie Siegel sees trends constantly in motion with the seasons and “many girls may look the same, and wear the same pants and tops, but the difference is always something like their hair style, jewelry, or shoes.”

The wise-beyond-her-peers fashionista also likes to mix styles and seasons because “I can show that once a trend is over, you can still wear what you like.”

Mixing seasons is also a good way to be fashionable and budget conscious at the same time.  Felicia Pollaro, Marketing Manager of the Deptford Mall has shared a keep-toss-buy list for 2010 where all items are available in major retail chains around New Jersey.

Keep It : plaid shirts, anything with faux fur, boyfriend blazer (but with a twist), over-the-knee boots, 60’s inspired silhouettes

Toss It : sequined leggings, neon, super-exaggerated shoulders, vampire-esque makeup

Buy It : animal print accessories, nail polish in greige (a grey/beige), lace-up booties, a camel coat, rose gold jewelry, military-inspired jacket

NJ My Way Managing Editor Hilary Morris wrote this article.

Photos of recent Deptford Mall fashion show-featuring performances by Kingsway Regional HS, Glassboro HS and Williamstown HS

This weekend’s monsoon washed away many of the planned St. Patrick’s Day parades around the state. Check www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/nj/  for re-scheduled marches and upcoming celebrations.

Acclaimed best selling American jazz instrumental artist Chris Botti plays the Patriots Theatre at the Trenton War Memorial (nj.gov/state/divisions/memorial/).

Joy Behar gives her own unique view at New Brunswick’s State Theatre (www.statetheatrenj.org) this Friday night.

Get the little ones pictures snapped with the Easter Bunny at the Deptford Mall (www.deptfordmall.com) you’ll get a free gift with the photos.

Can Yoga to improve your golf game? They’re teaching it on Saturday mornings at Four Winds Yoga in Pennington (fourwindsyoga.com/yoga_golf.htm).

Feel like a taste of the shore? The newly renovated favorite Doris and Ed’s (www.dorisandeds.com) in Highlands is back open for the season. Stay tuned for a review.

Get your beer here!  The Atlantic City Beer Festival hosts dozens of brewers from all over the nation (www.celebrationofthesuds.com). Check before you go because tickets were selling out fast.

Catch Exposure Time at the New Jersey Repertory Theatre (www.njrep.org) an original play about the battle to become Britain’s premiere photographer.

See the stars in a different perspective when the Morris Museum (www.morrismuseum.org) holds Astronomy Day, on Saturday, a day of space exploration for the entire family. Your kids can meet real Astronauts, check out the night sky with an evening session.

Bring your kids to a pint-sized Iron Chef cooking competition on Saturday at 1pm at Graces Kitchen (600 Cleveland Ave., Plainfield). (www.jlnj.org/press-release-junior-league.html) The kids will be paired with celebrity chefs to create some great healthy recipes. The event is sponsored by the Junior League of New Jersey to raise awareness about childhood obesity.

Got an event to share? Click on the Write The Editor link below, or post it on our website at www.njmyway.com

This being a short holiday week, we wanted to give you plenty of time to plan for the long weekend ahead.

It’s never to late to head for the shore; celebrate Christmas in Stone Harbor this weekend with music, food, caricature artists, and a dog parade (www.stoneharborbeach.com)

BYOB at Doris and Ed’s, in Highlands, (www.dorisandeds.com) and they’ll donate the normally $10 corkage fee to the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties (www.foodbankmoc.org).

They are lighting the Christmas tree on Friday evening in Red Bank. The festivities begin at 7pm, on Broad Street and Canal, and the Holiday Express choir provides a great musical backdrop. You can get on-board the free Santa Express train bound for the tree lighting, beginning at 4pm at the Little Silver train station (www.redbankrivercenter.org).

Speaking of Red Bank, they are buzzing about the brand new Urban Outfitters store that opened in town, just in time for Black Friday. Hours, etc for this store and others in En Jay at www.urbanoutfitters.com.

The Deptford Mall, like so many others, will be open at 5am on Friday, but more than a dozen stores will be open at midnight! Check out www.inspireyourstyle.com to win a new wardrobe and get fashion tips from the experts.

Pick up a bottle of just arrived Beaujolais Nouveau at any Gary’s Wine (www.garyswine.com) stores to go with that Thanksgiving turkey. Need help choosing the vino? Check out the video at http://www.garyswine.com/world_of_wine/fwpv_turkey.html.

It’s the last weekend of a very special month-long sale of unique pieces by jewelry designer Helene McMullen, (long chains with large clusters of mixed beads, very dramatic and striking) at Virginia Perle Art Gallery in Toms River (www.virginiaperleartgallery.com).

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (www.njsymphony.org) holds Family Day on Saturday at NJPAC in Newark; a unique concert that introduces audience members to different instrument families. Some spectators will be invited to join the performance on stage.

At Montclair Art Museum (www.montclairartmuseum.org/) the popular Park Bench series for families on Friday and Saturday, art projects, interactive galleries and light refreshments.

At the Newark Museum, (www.newarkmuseum.org) Friday is a Family Festival, you can wear old clothes and get down and dirty discovering (and creating) pottery.

Down south, you can watch them attempt to make the world’s largest glass ornament at the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center in Millville (www.wheatonarts.org). Try your hand at designing an ornament, and shop the museum’s crafts and trunk show.

Let us know about your special event by posting it on our calendar at www.njmyway.com, or drop us a line by clicking on the Write The Editor link below.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s an all St. Hubert’s weekend, as the animal shelters host a benefit Wine Tasting at the Morris Museum on Friday night, and their Fabulous Fall Fair on Saturday at the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township (www.sthuberts.org/poop/).

Boomers converge on the 50+ Better Living Expo, on Sunday at Mayfair Farms in West Orange. All kinds of exhibitors and speakers aimed at keeping you looking and feeling young. Sponsored by NJ Savvy Living Magazine (www.njsavvyliving.com).

Christmas comes early in Port Murray at the Well-Sweep Herb Farm’s Christmas In The Country Open House on Saturday, including special demonstrations, a greenhouse tour, hot cider and cookies (www.wellsweep.com).

Get a Taste Of Ocean Grove on Friday night , as nearly a dozen area restaurants join offering a special tastings menu in this pretty Victorian shore town (www.oceangrovenj.com).

The Deptford Mall welcomes Santa and Mrs Claus, with a holiday parade on Friday morning. The first 500 kids will get a free teddy bear (www.deptfordmall.com).

Noted jewelry designer Norma Wellington (www.nwjewelrydesign.com) hosts a one-woman show at Englewood’s Bergen PAC on Sunday, to benefit arts education for children (njmonthly.com/events/5530.html).

This weekend marks the 32nd Cape May Jazz Festival (www.capemayjazz.com) featuring a performance by the Count Basie Orchestra.

It’s the final weekend to take the kids to Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse at Hoboken’s Mile Square Theatre (www.milesquaretheatre.org).

The Grapes Of Wrath continues through next weekend at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (www.shakespearenj.org).

The Rainbow Experience production of the musical Leader Of The Pack starts this weekend at the United Church of Christ in Plainfield (rainbowexp.wordpress.com).

Ladies, join the Beauty And The Beach 5k run on Saturday at Pier Village in Long Branch. Proceeds benefit Aslan Youth Ministries in Red Bank (www.beautyandthebeachrun.com).

Finally, take the family to spot Ducks At Dusk at Celery Farm in Allendale (www.fykenature.org).

If you’ve got an event to share, make sure you include it on our calendar at www.njmyway.com!