summer posts

A little extra money is always a good thing.

When I was a kid, I remember my Dad getting frustrated by my continued requests for things - he would ignore me for awhile, and then would say - so who's going to pay for that?

With summer holidays soon upon us, parents are feeling the burden of their children's wants and desires for summer, but does it have to be just Mum and Dad paying for everything?

Families who want to help kids understand the value of a loonie or toonie can make a plan to help everyone lean how to save money, and create a family slush fund.

Everyone loves when the forecast regularly calls for sun, sun and more sun. But not everyone loves high temperatures or for some Canadians, high humidity. I love both!

I don't dislike air conditioners - in fact I grew up happily benefitting from it as a kid who was hard to keep inside during the summer months.

But, I do know there are many tips to keep cool that won't cost big bucks and can help keep everyone smiling despite the thermostat edging up closer to the top end.

Keeping cool is a bit of a state of mind - but its also easy to keep oneself cool with a few simple tricks of trade.

With the first long-weekend of summer fast approaching, many Canadians are feeling the pinch financially. With high gas prices grinding our road trips to a halt and hotel costs through the roof, what other ideas might you and your family entertain this summer?

Read on to find out!

I know, I know - I've been talking a lot about summer clothes but with the short hot summers we get in Canada, I say let's enjoy it and wear pretty dresses.

It's even better when the dresses are on sale! Jacob is offering a coupon that will get you 30% off all regular-priced dresses. Just print it off and bring it with you when you go to the store. It's good until June 12th.

For the male of the species, weekends can only mean one thing -- BBQ so good you'll slap yo' momma to get some. Now, this article is agonizing to write for apartment dwellers like myself and I'm sure agonizing to read for my fellow compatriots on the eleventh floor, since we can't have a real grill and must settle for a George Foreman.

At first I thought help was on the way in the form of the Bruce Grill, (pictured right). An innovative grill concept from German designer Henrik Drecker that takes its cues from a flower planter. The Bruce is a charcoal grill (as gas violates the fire code for most apartments) that sits very securely on a balustrade, which allows the smoke to drift away from the patio door. The only problem is, there's no way to get one. The manufacturer's website seems to be down and even if it wasn't, the company is based in Germany.

So, bully for us then. Yet for the rest of you, there are plenty of barbecues to choose from for your weekend festivities, and we're counting down some of the best.

There is no shortage of glowing screens at Yonge-Dundas Square (Toronto's rather pale imitation of New York's Times Square). However, to see a screen there that doesn't feature a bored-looking H&M model strutting around is a treat.

All summer long, Yonge-Dundas Square is screening free films on Tuesdays at sunset. The theme is heist movies, and on some nights they're showing back-to-back originals and remakes, which is either pretty neat or incredibly redundant, depending on how you look at it.

The lineup for today and next week is as follows:

July 27, 6:30 pm - The Thomas Crown Affair (1968 version)
9:00 pm - The Thomas Crown Affair (1999 version)

August 3, 6:30 pm - Ocean's 11 (1960 version)
9:00 pm - Ocean's Eleven (2001 version)

For the complete schedule, click here.

What would summer be without our favourite pain-inflicting frozen treats: Mr. Freeze (cuts/swelling in sides of mouth) and Slurpees (brain freeze)?

Just the other day, my boyfriend and I were calmly sipping Slurpees when he stopped dead in his tracks, clasped his forehead and bellowed "kill me now!!!!"

You, too, can experience this seasonal delight - for free, in fact - if you visit 7-Eleven stores on July 11. This is officially "7-Eleven Day" and to celebrate, stores are each giving out 1, 000 free Slurpees. For more details, click here.

This might be very popular. In other words, if you want to take advantage, you're having a Slurpee for breakfast.

Happy summer solstice everyone!

Pagans, Druids, etc. are out there in capes celebrating the longest day of the year. For the rest of us: it's BBQ time.

To aid in your quest to grill meat and assorted side dishes to perfection, download this free grilling cookbook from Martha Stewart Living Radio. Say what you will about Martha and her jail stint, but I will defend her recipes to the grave. I've never, ever had a bad result under her guidance. You could throw one of her roast beefs into a mud puddle then douse it in arsenic and it would still taste good.

In addition to main dishes, the book also covers salads, sides, appetizers, desserts and drinks.