Besides swimming and lemonade, watermelon is one of the true signs of summer. It’s also a super-nutritional food. Watermelon is packed with vitamins and nutrients including the antioxidant lycopene. It is cholesterol free, sodium free, and virtually fat free.

Probably the biggest reason watermelon is a summertime staple: it is a natural hydrator, being 92 percent water, so it’s helpful for warding off dehydration at swim parties and barbecues. Healthy stuff aside, this tasty treat is also a hit with kids especially when you serve it up in one of these creative ways:

• Watermelon Fire & Ice Salsa
  
• Watermelon Banana Split
  
• Watermelon Dippers
  
• Grilled Scallop and Watermelon Kebabs

For more fun recipes, carving ideas, and instructions for cutting and picking the perfect watermelon go to watermelon.org.

A common teenage complaint goes something like this: “Mom, stop! You’re embarrassing me!” Oh, if only they knew. Sometime between when a child learns to talk and when they learn tact — those innocent little ones will say things at the most inopportune moment. Maybe when they’re teenagers we get to turn the table on them. Then again, maybe what they’re saying now is the grandparents’ chance to turn the tables on us.

Drop Dead. My mother-in-law has a condition called Lupus, which requires a lot of doctor visits. On one such occasion I brought my son. As we passed through the cancer ward my son blurted out, in the middle of a crowded room, “Is this the hospital where people go to die?” He was three, and I still don’t know where he got that. Needless to say, I got out of that room quick.
–Brownsboro, TX

Dirty Hands. My husband and I are trying to teach our three year old to be more diligent about hand washing. We live in a very multicultural community and were going up to our apartment via elevator when a black man got on. My son took one look at him and said, “Boy, are your hands dirty!” I turned three shades of red, but luckily the man just laughed. At least it was a great way to begin the next lesson — everyone is different.
–Toronto, Canada

Hold Your Tongue. We were at a church luncheon with the theme of celebrating every woman for who she is. As I was collecting my three-year-old daughter from the nursery another lady walked by and said the name of a fellow church member with whom I’d had some conflict. As we were walking by the kitchen my daughter very loudly said, “We don’t like (insert lady’s name do we Mommy?” As I turned to shush her I saw the lady in question in the kitchen doing dishes, well within earshot. How mortifying!
–Green River, WY

There is a certain kind of embarrassment that only a Mom can truly understand. Our MomMoments column is filled with these war stories of motherhood. We’d love to hear your stories so please share with us!

Bronze your Skin the Safe Way with these Superior Sunless Tanners

It’s no secret that basking in the sun — or worse, a tanning bed — invites a whole host of ills. Exposure to harmful UV rays can cause premature aging, brown spots and even deadly skin cancer — not worth it, we say! If you’re seeking bronzed skin this summer, forgo the sun’s rays and instead opt for a safe “tan,” courtesy of topical bronzing agents like bronzing powders, gels, lotions and sprays.

If you tend to find such products a touch intimidating, fear not; a good fake tan is possible at home. With the right products and technique, you can get a streak-free, natural-looking faux glow — either instantly with bronzing gels and powders or, for a longer-lasting yet still temporary tan, self-tanning sprays and lotions.

Need a little guidance? Below, find a list of our favorite self-tanners as well as some hints on how to use them in order to achieve perfectly golden, perfectly healthy skin. read more