Labor Day generally signals an onslaught of falling leaves and cool breezes, but before these last few days of summer are gone, get out there and have some fun! There are still sun rays to be soaked up, so before you pack your short shorts and bikinis away, take a look at this list of 20 things to do before summer kisses your bronzed skin goodbye!

1) Get your camera and start snapping.  There is no better way to capture the essence of the summer than with pictures! Take a few shots that will help you to remember the summer of 2010 forever.

2) Get a bright colored mani-pedi.  Its summer time! When you get to the nail salon and its time to choose your nail polish, give the standard french a rest.  Go for a hot pink or orange, if for no other reason than because its summer and you can do that!

3) Let your hair air dry.  Feel free to wash your hair and let it dry into its natural state without risking pneumonia.  The summer sun can do amazing things to your hair color so let it loose and don’t worry about styling, primping and pressing for a change

4) Put on that bikini! Whether you have been avoiding it all summer or you just want to get one last good run out of it, put on your swimsuit and go for a swim (or just look cute sitting by the pool).

5) Have lunch at a sidewalk cafe.  Scope out a cute little table at one of those quaint little eateries and eat! Outside!

6) Go check out your local botanical gardens.  Don’t miss out on the beautiful flora growing in these neighborhood sanctuaries.

7) Ride around with your windows open.  As wonderful as air conditioning is, scarcely do we realize how isolated it causes us to be.  Pick a not-too-hot day and put those car windows down. Enjoy the fresh air.

8) Drink lemonade. There’s nothing quite like an ice cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer day, is there?

9) Go to an outdoor movie. Check your local newspapers and libraries for info on outdoor movie screenings.  Sometimes you can catch old classics or even newer films.

10) Have a girls night out.  Pick out a hot little number and some cute sandals, choose a nice lounge or nightclub, call up your girlfriends and go gallivanting about your city. Trekking through the snow in four inch heels to get to the club is just not as much fun.

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11) Catch an outdoor concert.

12) Buy an ice cream cone and eat it while you stroll somewhere. Anywhere.

13) Go to the beach.  Feel your toes in the sand.

14) Barbeque.  If you can’t light up your own grill, then head to the local steakhouse and savor the smokey BBQ flavor.  It just doesn’t taste the same in January.

15) Have a picnic.  If the whole blanket and basket thing is too much for you, then just have a sandwich with a good friend on a park bench.  Enjoy your meal and the warm breeze.

16) Get a tan. No matter what the shade of your skin, lathering up with a good SPF and taking some rays will always leave you with a bronzed glow.

17) Watch the sun set. By the time winter comes back around, you’ll be so focused on getting through rush hour traffic that the sun will set with out you even realizing. Welcome dusk while it’s still later in the day.

18) Wear colorful sunglasses. Its easier to get away with during the summer.

19) Enjoy the fresh fruit that will soon go out of season.

20) Take a romantic stroll with your honey! Let the sweet summer weather lend its self to your romance.  Oh those summer nights!

Not going anywhere over the Labor Day weekend?? Don’t worry, we have a handy guide from allyou.com on how to make your vacation at home feel like you’ve traveled far and rejuvinated yourself completely.

Do schedule something special every day, even if it’s just a trip to the new coffee shop in town. Other ideas: a hike through the woods, a museum visit or a leisurely lunch with a friend.

Here’s how to make a DIY at-home spa!

Don’t resolve to tackle a long home-repair to-do list. Unless DIY projects are your passion, you’re likely to end up resenting that you used your time off to do work around the house.

Do entertain with a film festival. Pick a genre, and rent a movie for every night of the week. Pop corn with a twist―you can find recipes for pizza-flavored and cinnamon-chocolate popcorn at allyou.com.

Do indulge in your local cuisine. You’re saving money by not travelling, so why not splurge―at least one night―on a nice restaurant in your area that you normally go to only on special occasions.

Do get the kids into the act. Have them pick a name for the family “hotel,” then get them to make a welcome sign. Kids can pick pretend jobs such as front-desk clerk (they can check in “guests”) and room-service waiter (help them serve breakfast in bed to family members).

Don’t check in with work. So you can truly feel away, avoid contact with your colleagues.

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Do embark on a manageable project. Maybe you’ve been meaning to perfect your chocolate mousse recipe. Here’s your chance.

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Is September really here? Are Labor Day plans the next on your agenda? It’s time to wrap up your summer with a bang. Was there something that you were avoiding all summer? There has to be something that you’ve been wanting to do but have been putting off until the time seems “more right”.  What better time than when the summer nights are cooling down and the bathing suits are almost going back into the drawer?

Whether it’s a crazy hair cut or roadtripping to another state to see that special someone… let’s wrap this summer up right.  The worst would be to finally be ready to take that crazy jump off the airplane as soon as it starts raining every other day.  Or finally being ready to see the cutie that you’ve had your eye on and the busy work schedule picks up again.

We are going to use this fall and winter to reflect on our amazing summers and prepare for an even crazier one next year: so give yourself something to smile about when you’re snowed in with nothing but hot chocolate and unbelievable summer memories.

So what do you say ladies? It’s now or never: let that last bit of crazy out.

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THE DAILY GREEN: With much of the U.S. experiencing a summer heat wave, everyone’s thinking about cooling off.

1. Close your windows (as silly as that sounds)
It may seem counterintuitive, but opening the windows will often make your home warmer, not cooler. Open your windows at night if the air outside is cooler than inside, and close them – along with blinds and shades – before the sun hits your house in the morning. This will allow cool night air to circulate, and prevent a good deal of the sun’s heat from reaching indoors. You may also put houseplants – particularly larger potted trees – in front of sunny windows to absorb some of the sun’s energy.

2. Cook a cool meal (or don’t cook at all)
Just as drinking a nice cold cocktail cools your body, eating cold food helps keep your internal temperature lower on a hot day. One great option: Watermelon and Cherry Salad with Fresh Mint Syrup. If you do cook, use the grill or the microwave, or else you’ll heat up your kitchen from using the oven and stove.

3. Shut off the lights
While modern lightning, like compact fluorescents and LEDs, are more efficient, incandescent light bulbs can produce as much heat as they do light. Energy Star-rated light bulbs produce 75% less heat, so consider that when replacing bulbs. It’s always a good idea to shut off lights to save energy, it makes a big difference on hot sunny summer days. The same goes for many electronics, so consider unplugging any device that isn’t needed (even in standby mode, many electronics remain hot).

4. Go for a swim or take a cold shower
It may sound obvious, but it’s worth saying: If you’re hot, cool it off by immersing yourself in cold water. The immediate refreshment works immediately by cooling your core temperature. And unless there’s 100% humidity, the evaporation of water off your skin will further cool you. For a short cut, use water and ice cubes to keep your wrists cool; since your blood vessels are so close the skin there, you’ll feel cooler by applying cold directly to your blood. READ MORE HERE!
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First of all, make yourself a time line. People start to stress out when they realize that they’re still behind on their list by Labor Day. BUT, Summer does not technically end until September 21st, so give yourself some breathing room.

Organize your time line based on what is actually possible. It’s probably not smart to plan all of your beach trips, concerts, and amusement park visits in the same few weeks. It gets tiring and overwhelming. Instead, save the beach days for the hot and sunny days in August and go to the outdoor night concerts throughout the summer. Learn to make new dishes weekly instead of burying yourself in recipes until nothing actually sounds appetizing anymore. Work out a few times a week instead of forcing your body to re-mold itself in 6 days.

So what do you say? Let’s empty out our bucket lists and feel like we accomplished something come September. Planning ahead will let you get more done and enjoy yourself more while you’re doing it.

Do you have any other tips for having a productive summer? Help us out!

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Check out these hair accessories to help you beat the heat and let me know what your your favorite is.  What else do you use to beat the heat?

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There’s nothing like fresh flowers to add a personal touch to an apartment.I love to buy flowers every Friday for my apartment, but lately I find that my flowers are wilting before the weekend is over.  Here are some tips on how to revive wilted flowers from sohaute.com:

1. Trim the stems on a diagonal, preferably under running water. This gives the stems more surface to drink from.

2. Fill your vase with very warm (almost hot) water. If you have flower food, great – you can add that to the vase as well.

3. Place your flowers back in the vase then find yourself a spray bottle which you’ll fill with very cold water.

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Do these simple exercises and show off that sexy back before summer ends:

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It can be easy to get caught up in the stress of every day life, even in the summer. Maybe your family is driving you crazy or your work is strenuous, even during the warm months. It can be hard to anticipate a vacation when you still have so much on your plate, even if the vacation has been in the works for months! How do you transition from a stress-inducing life to lying by the pool, relaxing in the sun, and putting everything on hold? It’s difficult to get into the right mindset, but you can prepare yourself for fun in the sun if you know a few simple steps:

1. Put your stressful thoughts to rest. If you’re constantly worrying about stuff that’s going on in your life, where’s there time for you to be excited about your upcoming break? Nothing is too stressful that you can’t put it away for a short vacation. It’s important to remember that sometimes, space is all you need to reassure yourself that any worrying is in vain. By being able to reorganize your thoughts and see your vacation as a welcome break from your every day life, then you can relax and enjoy your time off effectively!

2. Start making a mental list of all the relaxing things you’ll soon be doing. What does your vacation entail that will make it a good catharsis for you? Will you be biking down a beach or drinking cocktails by the pool? Perhaps all you’re planning on is getting a good tan and finishing a favorite book. Whatever relaxing moments are on your agenda, it’s good to remind yourself about them a week in advance in order to prepare your mind for the good times that are coming! It can be hard to get into “vacation-mode” when you’re still very busy on the home-front, but starting to get yourself to a relaxing place while under stress is a great way to prepare yourself for a break in your routine!

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3. Prepare your living space for your departure. It might sound silly to clean your house while you’re packing up for a vacation, but if you leave your house in disarray, you’ll only be more stressed when you get home! Make sure to clean up after yourself as you’re packing up your clothes and vacation-related items (ie. don’t leave clothes on the floor), as well as make sure the garbage and recycling are done before you leave. If everything’s spotless when you leave, then you’ll have less of a reason to worry about things when you return!

4. Pack in advance. This might sound like a daunting task, since you’re already stressed and still trying to get into the vacation mindset. However, it’s important to remember to work toward your goal of relaxation in advance or you might never get there! By getting together your beach volleyball, for example, and sun-bathing essentials, you’re getting yourself into a mode where you can just sit back and read a book on the beach once you get there. You’re not running around like crazy the night before trying to get your vacation items into a suitcase and you’re able to have time to spare to catch the plane or load the car. De-stressing is a difficult task sometimes, but by being prepared for your relaxation catharsis, you’ll be able to release any negative energy more easily and have fun in the process!

5. Make sure you leave nothing undone before you leave. Never bring work on vacation unless it’s absolutely necessary. It doesn’t make for a relaxing vacation if you’re still attached to your Blackberry or anticipating a meeting that’s more than a week away – and you’re at the beach! Get everything you need to get done BEFORE you get in the car or catch the plane. How are you supposed to unwind if you’re thinking about all that you have to get done AFTER you get back? Traveling stress-free involves being industrious before you leave and then changing your mindset completely once you get to your new destination. Don’t leave anything undone – get everything together before you leave and you’ll thank yourself later!

Vacations are supposed to be relaxing times, so make sure you’re prepared to just lie back and take in the scenery while you’re there! Soak up the sun, girls, and make sure you do the activities that relax you while you’re away. You can come back to the office or your home relaxed, tan, and happier than you previously were. Sisters, we have to keep ourselves healthy, so de-stress and enjoy the rest of your summer in style!

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5. “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neal Hurston: this classic tells the story of Janie Crawford and her search for love as she pushes through after a few failed marriages during the 20th century.

4. “Shyt List” by Reign: Unlike so many other African American fiction novels, “Shyt List” is not just about some drug dealing dope boys and paper chasing chicks.”Shyt List” tells the raw and cut throat story of Yvonna Harris, who is a very disturbed woman suffering from severe Schizophrenia that developed as a defense mechanism as a result of a troubled childhood. This is a woman you do NOT want to cross unless you have plans to make it on her “Shyt List.” “Shyt List” is a 5 part book series by Author, T. Styles also known under the pseudonym, Reign.

3. “Justify My Thug” by Wahida Clark. “Justify My Thug”, also a book series, is about our favorite black couples in Thug Fiction, Kaylin and Angel Santos, Tash and Trae Macklin and it tells more about what happened in Tash and Trae’s marriage after Tash decides to try and play a game of “get back” but cheats too close to home and Trae finds out about Tash’s infidelity and possible love child. Meanwhile Kaylin and Angel’s marriage is on the rocks after Kaylin is under the impression that Angel knew of Tash’s affair with Kaylin’s brother, Kyron. Can these two marriages remain standing after the ultimate betrayal?

2. “Pleasure” by Eric Jerome Dickey. This erotic tale is set in Atlanta and is the story and Nia Simone and her insatiable appetite for more than one man. Lucky her, she happens to meet twins and she can’t pick just one. The book is filled with eroticism for your ever wandering mind.

1. “Getting To Happy” by Terri McMillan. Ms. McMillan is back and  with the sequel to every black woman scorned tale, “Waiting To Exhale.” This tale fast forwards to fifteen years later,  Savannah is getting a divorce at age 51, Bernadine is onto failed marriage number 2 and is taking prescription pills to mask the pain. Meanwhile Robin is becoming a shopaholic as her wedding aspirations goes unnoticed and Gloria realizes she has taken her happiness and security for granted. See what is next for the ladies of “Getting To Happy.”

Already read some of the books listed, feel free to comment or leave suggestions.

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Here are 4 easy ways to decorate your bedroom:

1) Switch to sheer curtains. If your bedroom windows are still sporting those heavy winter curtains, try switching them out for a light sheer curtains.

2) Bring in some fresh flowers. Fresh flowers brings new energy into the air.

3 easy steps on how to make a bed.

3) Candles. Invest in candles that arouses the senses: try a beachy scent or a light floral scent.

4) Repaint your headboard. If your headboard is a dark wood, lighten it up by painting if a light creamy color. The lighter color will compliment your summer bedding.

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What Can You Cook?

Flat pieces of meat like steaks, pork chops and tenderized chicken breasts work best for indoor grills. Seasoning them with a dry rub or just salt and pepper tends to work better than any type of wet marinate – this leads to a lengthy clean up and sometimes a lingering smell. Flat vegetables like sliced zucchini and eggplant will cook evenly but need to be watched closely so they don’t burn or start to stick.

What Can’t You Cook?

Grilling vegetables is tricky, but trying to do this on an indoor grill is literally impossible unless you lather the veggies with oil – and that sort of defeats the whole purpose. Using sugar based sauces like teriyaki and sweet and sour can be tricky also. This leads to the marinate getting stuck to the plates and a lot of clean up time. Hamburger meat is best use when it has about a 15% fat content.

Clean Up

Wait until the grill has cooled off, but not completely cooled. Then, taking a semi-wet sponge, squeeze out some soapy water on the surface and let it soak for a little bit. For tough stains you might need to really use some elbow grease to get the stains off – use a sponge with a scrubber side to it and go up and down the grooves of the grill until you loosen up the stuck on food items. Don’t use any type of metal utensil to try and loosen the food – this will ultimately leave the grooves gouged out and reduce the non-stick appeal of the grill.

Click here for more info on eopinions.com

Happy grilling y’all!!

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It’s hard to believe that it’s already September. Unfortunately, now it’s getting down to the wire and maybe you haven’t finished exactly what you hoped to accomplish. Maybe you have some books you wanted to read, but they’ve been put aside in favor of family activities. Perhaps the rooms of your house have become progressively more cluttered now that you’ve been traveling to the beach during every free moment. What can you do to improve your levels of productivity before the summer’s over and you’re back to the daily grind?

1. Make a list of what you hope to accomplish by summer’s end. Is there a book you’ve been meaning to finish for ages, but you haven’t gotten around to the rest of the year? The summer’s the perfect time to accomplish that fun task, especially when work’s dying down and you have the opportunity to sit outside and enjoy the warm weather. Perhaps your house needs cleaning or there are some other important tasks that need to be done. Just put them all on one list to complete, or make two lists: one for “required tasks” and one for “tasks that I’d love to accomplish.” If you differentiate what type of work needs to be done and spread out the “required tasks” among the ones that you actually want do, you’ll have a much more enjoyable, balanced rest of the summer.

2. Set aside some time every day to check off what you’ve accomplished. Make yourself feel good for doing a month’s worth of laundry or completing that 5o0 page novel that’s been on your nightstand forever! Check off what you’ve done and survey the importance of the upcoming tasks. Make sure you’re not just getting through the list without really thinking if these accomplishments were worth the effort. Prioritize well and don’t make the list set in stone. In the end, you should be able to congratulate yourself for a job well done and feel good about your work!

3. Try to kill two birds with one stone – multi-task (but not too much!) It might be tempting to read two books at once while cleaning the house and doing laundry, but isn’t that going a little overboard? While a little multi-tasking can be good and make perfect sense sometimes (ie. doing laundry while watching a movie you’ve been wanting to see), once you’re spreading your cognition too thin, something’s going to get done wrong and then all of your efforts will be shot. Get as much done as you can with the time you have, yet also realize that you’re only human and that the summer’s a time for relaxing, not stressing yourself to the point of confusion.

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4. Make activities that are for “summer only” a priority! If you have to choose between cleaning out your attic or taking a weekend beach vacation, which one sounds more promising for the summer? It’s only warm out for a few months out of the year, so take advantage of the sand and sun while you can! The attic and the dishwasher will be there when you get back. There might be a lot of important chores to accomplish at home, but the beach is the perfect place for multi-tasking the right way: you can read a book you’ve been meaning to pick up while relaxing on a beach blanket; maybe in the end, you might even get some extra sun in your brown cheeks! There are so many “summer friendly” activities out there, so make sure you don’t miss out on what’s most desirable during the warm months!

5. If you didn’t do everything you wanted to by summer’s end, start making plans for next summer in advance! Plan that coveted beach vacation now and you’ll already have something good to look forward to for next year – isn’t it about time you treat yourself? Maybe not everything went as planned this summer (maybe your beach days were rained out or you didn’t get all the relaxation you wanted due to the kids), but it’s not all lost! There are many years in the future left for your enjoyment, so don’t be disappointed if you didn’t accomplish all you wanted during these warm summer days. There’s always next year and much time even now to get the priorities done. Keep your life balanced, sisters!

There’s still a month left of summer, girls, so don’t forget to get a mix of planned events and time set aside for relaxation. It’s been a long half a year, so don’t miss out on what could be a productive, exciting end to the warm months!

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Glorious, shiny hair is not a matter of luck —it is a matter of good hair care. During the summer, the sun’s heat rays can be very damaging, causing hair to become dry, brittle and frizzy. A few simple summer hair care tips will help you keep hair strong and healthy. When it is time to turn on the air conditioning, it is also time to step up the hair conditioning. Regular conditioning treatments are important to keep hair moisturized, shinny and flexible. Don’t take shortcuts when it comes to summer’s hair care regime.

Consider These Summer-Survival Tips:

• If you normally use hot hair tools (blow dryers, hot irons, electric curlers) every day, try and give your hair a break during the summer months. Consider letting your air dry. Take a break from hot curling.

Hair braided with medium to lose tension when wet will air dry into beautiful waves

• For sun exposed or sun damaged tresses, perform regular deep hair conditioning treatments utilizing hair repair products.

• Jojoba oil applied to the ends of your strands will help soften them. Jojoba oil also works wonders on frizzy hair; and can also be utilized as a pre-shampoo treatment or applied to dry strands for protection during the day.

• For extra conditioning treatment apply a deep conditioner to damp or dry tresses, wrap in plastic wrap or a shower cap just before bedtime. Allow the deep conditioner to soak into damaged hair sections overnight for extra repair and re-moisturizing benefits.

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One of our favorite trends, is this summer’s metallic eyeshadow!! If you love eyeshadows as much as we do, we’re sure you can relate.

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Makeup is meant for your face—but keeping it there gets a lot harder once summer hits. Makeup artist Laura Mercier gave Allure tips about how to stop the stuff from melting when the mercury rises.

Prime. “Primers are lightweight, so you won’t feel the extra layer on your skin, but you will notice that your base and blush last much longer,” says Mercier. After you’ve washed and moisturized your face, smooth on a pea-size drop of oil-free makeup primer (such as Laura Mercier’s Oil-Free Foundation Primer).

Change heavier foundation and powder you use during the winter for lighter products. “Choose formulas that contain silicone, which prevents them from melting when your skin warms,” says Mercier. You can keep makeup looking fresh by applying thin layers. Try Giorgio Armani Beauty Lasting Silk UV Foundation.

Switch your powder blush to a gel or cream. “Sheer creams, liquids, and gels sink into the skin,” says Mercier—they also don’t cake like powder can in the heat. Lancôme Color Design Blush gives a great natural flush that doesn’t fade.

Use waterproof mascara. Panda eyes aren’t cute any time of year, but regular mascara can melt in the heat. Waterproof formulas, on the other hand, stay in place. Maybelline New York Define-A-Lash Waterproof Mascara has a great high-shine finish.

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Sometimes summer flings are meant to be fleeting, but other times, those casual summer romances have the potential to become serious. If this is the case and you really like your current guy, follow these steps to turn him into your boyfriend before the season’s over.

1. Reveal Yourself

Don’t hide who you are. Be yourself. He’s going to find out eventually, and if you pretend to be someone you’re not, you’re just wasting everyone’s time. If you like the guy, give him a chance to see the real you. Hopefully he’ll like it.

2. Become A Friend Magnet

If you want your fling to turn into a relationship, your guy’s friends have to approve. Men aren’t like women where their friends’ opinions mean everything to them; they don’t sit on the phone for hours asking their friends what they think of their latest girl. But, if your guy’s friends like you, that’s a huge plus. Men are more simple minded and want to date someone who their friends get along with. So, stop wasting time and start making friends with his friends.

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3. Try A New Activity

It’s rumored that couples who play together, stay together. I certainly believe it. If you want your relationship to last, you have to do things besides just going out for dinner. Taking up an activity will allow you to connect outside the bedroom. Besides, you might just find a new hobby.

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The summertime can be a busy time for a variety of factors: the kids are out of school, it’s warm out, and there’s both the temptation to relax in the sun or even taking a spontaneous road trip. It can be a crazy and unpredictable time, as there are plenty of activities to do with friends, family, or co-workers, but also a lot of opportunities to enjoy the weather by going to the beach or pool. While being a busy, independent woman, how do you make the most of all of these activities while also relaxing and enjoying what this season has to offer? Here are some tips for getting the most out of your summer plans:

1. Pick your plans according to your mood. Do you really want to go to the beach or hang out in the park? Is is a better day to relax and enjoy a good book or are you in the mood to get your fitness on? Since there are a few months of warm weather left, make sure you get the most out of the outdoors and spend a bit of time in nature. Even if it’s just a short walk in the park or a quick trip down to the waterfront, there are a ton of ways you can just enjoy the warm breeze or catch some sun.

2. Get caught up on the movies, books, and television shows you’ve been wanting to enjoy. Start by making a list or just pick up what feels most interesting at the moment. The point is to find things that are relaxing and fun for you, so that this summer can be the best it can be. For example, find a hammock and curl up with a trashy summer romance you’ve been wanting to read. Do whatever you want, since the weather’s nice and you couldn’t enjoy the outdoors the same way while it was snowing!

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3. Road trip somewhere new. Have you been meaning to get away all year? The summer’s the best time to plan an unusual trip that you might not otherwise take while it’s cold or during the school year. Get the kids, your significant other, and/or some of your friends together and get packing – find a place you’ve always wanted to go and make reservations at places along the way. It’s the best time to get away and see the scenery, so try to check some new places out. Do some exploring and you’ll become more relaxed than you’ve ever been.

4. Rest your mind. Don’t worry as much because it’s the summer and a time for beauty. Relax a bit and try to be in the moment wherever you are. Enjoy the scenery, warmth, and even if you have to work, make some time to enjoy what the waterfront, vacation areas, and general summer options are in your area.

5. Most importantly, have fun. There is so much to do during the summer, but the trick is to pick and choose what you want to do and then just go with it! Even if there’s a lot to do, you still have to enjoy what the summer has to offer and not look back. The point is to enjoy yourself and embrace the stress with the relaxation. Balance what’s important and what isn’t – the summer is what you make it!

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Outdoor swimming is something that is limited by the weather.  So take advantage while the summer is around! I’m not talking intense laps and training:  splash around and bring a floatie and a book.

Swimming can be a leisurely activity or a fun workout.  Just by swimming around a little bit you are working all of your major muscle groups. The bets part is the cooling effect of the water. What’s better than a workout without sweat?

Another good thing about swimming is that it can be fun during the day or at night.  What’s even better? A jacuzzi.  Something that I enjoy is swimming until I get tired and sore.  Then I go into the jacuzzi and feel each part of my body relax one by one. Turn swimming into a hangout activity and relax in the water.

Here are a few fun pool ideas:

Chicken fights

Marco Polo

Sharks and minnows

Cannonball contests

So what do you say? We only have a few months to enjoy swimming outdoors, so get sunkissed… but remember the SPF!

Summer Lovin’: What Makes It A Blast?

Let Loose And Learn To Love

There’s something about the summer that makes relationships more fun. The warm weather allows for more options with your man.  Whether it’s a serious relationship or a summer fling, take advantage of what the summer has to offer and see what makes summer lovin’ happen so fast!

Along with good weather, summertime is usually the best time for vacation.  Whether it’s a trip across the country or a trip to the beach, traveling with your significant other is generally easiest during the summer.  Make it a point to go places together whenever you get the chance- the opportunity doesn’t come along as often during the other seasons.  take it a step further and plan a couple’s vacation! The best part of the summer is people’s flexible schedules.  Give yourself some time to plan ahead and come up with something fun and memorable for both of you.

Along with traveling, plan cute dates! Going to the movies is no longer your only option.  Eat dinner at an outdoor restaurant and then finish the night with some drinks on your roof.  Take some time out and plan a camping trip.  This is a lot of fun if you go with a group of people.  All you need is a campfire, some tents, and a sky full of stars. These are the types of things that become impossible by November: so take advantage of the season!

More heat= less clothing. Try new things! Everyone is trying out risky outfits that work with the heat, so step outside your comfort zone.  Put on something exciting and his eyes will definitely get fixated on you.  There’s nothing better than being on a date and having his constant gaze make you feel more comfortable in your new outfit.

Summertime means that there are no boundaries.  Use the outdoors to explore your man’s adventurous side.  See if he would be down for some PDA in interesting places.  Make a places-to-do-it list and see how many you can cross off by August.  This is deinitely risky.  If it turns out that it’s too difficult to find some privacy outside of your own neighborhood, then at least take advantage of your own outdoors.  Whether it’s your roof or your yard, stay out of other people’s site and enjoy each other under the sun with a cool breeze.

Ladies: do you have more ways to take advantage of the summer with your man? Fill us in!

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Let Loose And Learn To Love

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The kids are home for the summer and are you wondering what to do? They need to stay busy and you need peace of mind. Here are some great activities to keep them occupied and some for you too!

The Beach or the pool

The beach is always a fun place to explore with the kids. Looking for seashells are some of my kids favorite pass times. Digging sand castles and just plain ol’ swimming in the ocean are enough to have fun in the sun! Live in-land, no problem! Find a community pool or your neighborhood YMCA. Poolside with a book and or a good ol’ game of Marco Polo, are some fun things to enjoy!

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Water Balloons

Don’t feel like making a trip to the pool but still need to cool off. There is no party like a water balloon party! Split up into team and bombs away!!!! Add water guns and a hose to create more water fun!

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Got Problems? Need Advice?

Send questions to Terrance Dean at: girlworkonyou@aol.com Hello Beautiful People!

Welcome back to this week’s book review edition of “He Said, She Said,” with “Read A Book” Thursday.

This week’s featured book is from the talented author, Victoria Christopher Murray. Her newest release, Sins of the Mother (Touchstone – June 2010; $15) is the continuing story in her series of the cunning and devious Lady Jasmine. Jasmine Larson Bush is finally living a drama-free life. She’s left her lying, cheating, stealing stripper days behind and is standing by her husband’s side as the first lady of one of the largest churches in New York City. The Bushes have been blessed with the best of everything—including two lovely children.

But just when Jasmine has committed her life completely to God, her daughter Jacqueline is kidnapped from a mall the day after Thanksgiving. The police and the church community join in the frantic search to find the four-year-old. As the days pass without any sign of her daughter, Jasmine begins to crack under the strain and turns to Brian Lewis, Jacqueline’s biological father, for solace.

Has Jasmine’s past finally caught up to her? Will her daughter be found or will Jasmine pay the ultimate price?

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If this is your new introduction to Victoria Christopher Murray let me tell you a bit about her. A native of Queens, Victoria first left New York to attend Hampton University where she majored in Communication Disorders. After graduating, Victoria attended New York University where she received her MBA.

Victoria spent ten years in Corporate America before she tested her entrepreneurial spirit. She opened a Financial Services Agency for Aegon, USA where she managed the number one division for nine consecutive years. However, Victoria never lost the dream to write and when the “bug” hit her again in 1997, she answered the call.

Victoria originally self published Temptation. In 2000, Time Warner published Temptation and it made numerous best sellers list and remained on the Essence bestsellers list for nine consecutive months. In 2001, Temptation was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in Outstanding Literature.

She was a contributor to the first Christian fiction anthology, Blessed Assurance and the Contributing Editor for the Aspire Women of Color Bible published by Zondervan.  All of her novels have continued to be Essence bestsellers.  In addition, Victoria has received numerous awards including the Golden Pen Award for Best Inspirational Fiction and the Phyllis Wheatley Trailblazer Award for being the pioneer in African American Christian Fiction.  In 2008, Victoria won the African American Literary Award for best novel (Too Little, Too Late) and Female Author of the Year.

Victoria splits her time between Los Angeles and Washington D.C. In Los Angeles, she attends Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church under the spiritual tutelage of Dr. Beverly “BAM” Crawford and in Washington, D.C., she fellowships at Metropolitan Baptist Church under Dr. H. Beecher Hicks, Jr.  She is also a member of the Long Beach Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Check out mine and Nakea’s review of Sins of the Mother:

He Said

Terrance Dean:  This is not your mommas Christian Fiction! Victoria did not disappoint with this highly anticipated release. Jasmine is seriously a humdinger and I was glad to see her evolve. Its a shame it took the abduction of her child and her chickens coming home to roost for that to happen. Sins of the Mother had a great blend of faith, reality, conflict and just enough heart breaking scenes to keep you enthralled.

She Said

Nakea Murray:  In Victoria Christopher Murray’s latest work Sins of the Mother I was happy to see she brought back the infamous Jasmine Bush even though I love to hate her. Well, maybe hate is a strong word but fans of Victoria Christopher Murray’s previous works will catch my drift :) Jasmine, now married and a mother in this installment quickly learns that her sins do affect others. Ms. Murray who isn’t any relation really turned it up with this book. The scandal, sex and suspense was all there.

You can read an excerpt of Sins of the Mother on Victoria’s website, HERE:

Also, the first five persons to email me at girlworkonyou@aol.com the name of Victoria’s teen Christian series will receive a copy of her new book, Sins of the Mother.

Also, please share in the comments section your favorite Victoria Christopher Murray book and why you love it so.

Lastly, if you are an author, or if you know an author who should have their book reviewed for our “He Said, She Said” column, then send us an email to: hesaidshesaidreviews@yahoo.com – Once you send an email of the book to be reviewed you will receive a response with the submissions guidelines.

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