Trying to find something fun for the family to do once school starts? Looking for a unique date experience, particularly one that gives you an excuse to be outdoors?

September and October signal apple picking time! This is a great activity—a little wholesome and old-fashioned, but that's the stuff memories are made of.

Before you head out for the nearest orchard, do a little online research and/or call first. Find out their hours, and if there are any regulations you'll need to follow. Some orchards may offer other attractions, such as hayrides, mazes, games, or pony rides. You may even be able to enjoy such treats as caramel apples, apple donuts or apple cider. Pickyourown.org is a good resource you can use to find apple orchards in your area, as well as information about fruit picking.

Some hints to make it a great day:

• Make sure you aren't wearing your best new sweater—apple picking can be dirty work! Do dress in layers, and don't forget to bring sunscreen.
• Bring the camera! Whether it's a special date or you've got the kids with you, be sure to capture the day in pictures.
• If the farm allows it, bring a picnic lunch.
• Don't eat all the apples there—take some home with you!

Later you can amaze that date or the family when you turn those freshly picked apples into a pie. There are tons of recipes online, but here's an Apple Sour Cream Dessert that's simple and impressive.

Put this fun event on your calendar now—don't wait till the apples are gone!

The practice of giving a child an allowance developed a little over a hundred years ago, when child-rearing experts recommended giving children a regular and fixed amount of money so they would have respect for money. Allowances may seem to some people as an almost antiquated idea, something that was left behind in their own childhoods. But the fact is, if children are to be able to handle their finances as adults, it's important for them to start to learn how to manage money early.

Working to earn money

Children often have personal expenses, and a small bit of pocket money can save them embarrassment in front of their friends and help them feel more confident. Just remember that as adults, your children will have to earn their money by working for it; they may be a bit more budget-conscious if they understand the purchase price of an item equals a certain number of hours of labor.

Setting savings goals

An allowance can help your child with realistic goal-setting and saving. When you are deciding how much money your child's allowance will be, bear in mind that your child may see most large purchases as impossible goals that they will never be able to reach, which could result in him/her not saving at all. Help your kids set budgets so that they are able to buy small purchases and still able to save and purchase a larger item within a reasonable amount of time.

Here's a bit of nostalgia that perhaps says it best—Opie asking his pa for a raise in his allowance.

If you've been reading any articles about improving your health, you've no doubt come across the topic of antioxidants and how they prevent free radical damage to your body. If you're unfamiliar with what free radicals are, there is a well-written explanation in this article. Basically free radicals cause damage to your cells by “stealing” from other healthy cells. Your immune system sometimes creates and uses free radicals to neutralize viruses and bacteria, but they can also cause damage to your cells, leading to serious health conditions such as cancer and heart disease.

Antioxidants are food and vitamin sources that can stop free radical damage to the body, and just as there are doctors who specialize in certain areas of medicine, so are there antioxidants which specialize in certain areas of the body:

• Some research indicates that berries can reduce the risk of certain cancers, and are good for heart health.
• Vitamin C protects the plasma in your body, and red bell peppers are an excellent source.
• Lutein-rich peaches support healthy vision.
• Plums are good for cell damage.
• There's research suggesting garlic can help prevent degenerative brain diseases.
• Tomatoes, which are rich in lycopene, are good for healthy bones.
• Rich in vitamins A and C and lutein, kale and collard greens can lower your cholesterol and protect your liver, heart and other body systems.

Take charge of your health by making a few smart choices in your diet!

How does that song go---? “Summertime....and the living is easy...”

Except maybe it's not. Maybe the kids are home for the summer, and the summer months are your busy time at work.  Maybe it's just too darn hot to even think about working out. Exercising is still one of the best stress-relievers, and if you try some of these cool fitness apps, you may discover that working out might be the most excitement you'll have this summer!

Zombies, Run! If you're a zombie fan, this is the app for you. Players walk, run, or jog anywhere (even on treadmills) and listen to both their mission and music through the headphones. Zombies are chasing you, and you'll have to increase your speed to escape. It’s interval training with an exciting twist. Available on iOS and Android, players can save their runs and track their progress online.

Spectrekking. Ever considered a career in ghostbusting? With this Android app, you can walk or run around using your phone's GPS and camera to find and catch virtual ghosts. The game offers statistics, awards, titles, records, so you can keep track of the ghosts you captured.

Fit-Quest Lite. Available on the iTunes store, here’s an app that's guaranteed to cause a giggle or two. Jogging in place, hopping and ducking will get the baby squirrel safely to the tree house. It’s a perfect fitness activity for the kids, and there's no reason why parents can't join in too!

With these creative apps, you can not only add some variety to your workout, but a more important thing: fun!

Will you be able to afford a vacation this summer? Can you buy those new designer sneakers for your son this fall? If you aren't keeping track of your finances and setting goals, the answer to those questions is: you don't REALLY know.

Creating a budget is easy though, with the help of phone and tablet apps. Here's the low-down on some of the best apps out there:

Mint.com This app makes it easy to see what you have and what you owe. You can connect an unlimited number of bank accounts, credit cards and bills for free, allowing you to see your available cash and credit alongside your upcoming bills.

Ready for Zero links all your accounts (student loans, credit cards, mortgages), makes a personalized payoff plan, and tracks your progress. You can receive alerts, access your finances and track account changes.

MoneyStream analyzes your spending by accessing your bank account. Your bills are automatically entered on a calendar for you. Unusual activity, such as a higher bill than the prior month, will trigger a notification to you.

Goodbudget is based on the envelope budgeting system, helping you save for big expenses, share household expenses, and budget on-the-go.

HomeBudget has an advanced feature allowing the household to exchange expense and income information, and work together within a single budget.

Putting together a household budget isn’t just about getting a pencil and paper and opening up your check register anymore. These apps allow you to budget your way no matter where you are.

With temperatures beginning to creep into the triple digits in many places, a great way to beat the heat is with frozen or cold snacks and drinks. Here are three of my grandma's favorite easy recipes that won't heat up the kitchen and the whole family will enjoy--

Nacho Dip:

16 oz softened cream cheese
16 oz. sour cream
2 pkgs taco seasoning
shredded lettuce
shredded cheese
prepared salsa
nacho chips

Combine softened cream cheese and sour cream. Stir in taco seasoning and mix well. Spoon onto a large plate, and then top with lettuce, salsa, and cheese. Arrange nacho chips around the outside of plate.

Dreamsicle Smoothie:

12 ounces frozen orange juice from concentrate
8 ounces vanilla ice cream
8 ounces vanilla nonfat yogurt
4 ounces milk
4 ounces ice

Place all items in a blender and blend for about 3 minutes, or until smooth.

Frozen Lemonade Pie:

1/4 cup water
1/3 cup lemonade flavor drink mix
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1 tub (8 oz.) whipped topping, thawed
1 ready-to-use graham cracker crumb crust (6 oz.)

Add water to drink mix in large bowl; stir until mix is dissolved. Stir in milk. Add whipped topping; stir gently until blended. Spoon into crust. Freeze about 6 hours or until firm.

Enjoy your summer, and keep cool!