Healthy eating doesn’t have to be a luxury. There are some great blogs out there that not only show you how to make a healthy meal, but make it with style.

• Food52blog: This blog is a meeting place for cooks of all stripes. The blog features a wide variety of guest bloggers sharing advice on new culinary delights and a new perspective on old favorites.  It’s packed with recipes to suit any occasion and diet, and it’s updated several times a day. 

• Oh She Glows: If you have a restricted diet, or are looking to make a healthy change in the way you eat, you’ve come to the right place. This award winning blog focuses mainly on vegan dishes.  It contains hundreds of recipes, most of them gluten-free and allergy friendly. 

• Simple Bites:With so many cooking blogs focusing on adults, Simple Bites reminds us that kids need something to eat too. The blog contains plenty of recipes for children of all ages, as well as advice on planning a healthy diet for the whole family. 

• Big Girls, Small Kitchen:Not everyone has time to plan out an elaborate meal, or the space to cook it in. This blog is designed with just those people in mind. It has plenty of recipes, organized both by category and season, as well as helpful tips on how to maximize your kitchen space and stretch your food budget. 

No more excuses. Start eating healthier now. Your body will thank you later.

The smell of the grill, the sultry heat of a summer evening, fireworks lighting up the night— the 4th of July means summer is in full swing.

Early Traditions

The tradition of celebrating the 4th of July goes back to the very beginning of the United States, though it wasn’t officially marked as a federal holiday until 1870. Back in the early days, red and blue paper was expensive and hard to come by so George Washington and his troops started using decorative greenery to mark the occasion. 

Should have been the 2nd?

In fact, it almost wasn’t the fourth of July at all. The original Continental Congress that gathered to sign the Declaration of Independence meant to have everything wrapped up by July 2nd.

John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that: "the Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival." Only two of the delegates actually signed the document on July 4th. It wasn’t until the 2nd of August that most of the delegates actually wrote their names on it.

A day for fun and family

The 4th also means a day of summer fun. The American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) estimates that more than 14,000 fireworks displays will light up U.S. skies. And according to the National Hotdog and Sausage Council, over 150 million hotdogs will be eaten.

The 4th is also a time for family celebrations.  62 percent of Americans will gather for a family cookout or picnic, and 34.9 million of us will travel more than 50 miles to visit someone. 

So whether you’re planning a small family get-together, or travelling to one of the big fireworks shows across the country, enjoy the summer and be sure to wish Uncle Sam a happy birthday.

Summer is great for catching up on all your reading. With schools letting out for kids across the country, it’s also a great time to introduce them to some new books. 

Here are 3 great stories recommended by Education World:

• Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows (Ages 6-10)Seven year old Bean prefers to spend her time splashing through puddles, climbing over fences and pestering her older sister Nancy. Ivy is studying to be a witch, and has a lot of reading to do. The last thing she wants is to get involved with Bean. The two would seem to have nothing in common until Bean gets herself in trouble, and Ivy unexpectedly comes to her rescue. 

• The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary by Candace Fleming (Ages 8-12)The school’s worst class is about to get a surprise: their new teacher Mr. Jupiter. The short chapters are filled with typical fourth grade antics, each one drawing a parallel to Aesop’s fables. Filled with plenty of humor, the stories offer life lessons and are a refreshing modern take on the classic fables.  

• Trash by Andy Mulligan (Ages 12 and up) In an unnamed third-world country, three boys make their living sifting through the city’s sprawling trash heaps. When one of them finds a strange bag, their lives are changed forever. It’s up to them to solve the mystery of the bag and right a terrible wrong, all the while trying to stay a step ahead the sinister forces that have suddenly taken an interest in them. 

Encourage your kids to keep reading this summer. It will keep their skills sharp for the next school year.

Summertime. You’re kicking back on a beach chair, the gentle ocean breezing softly caressing you. After a hectic schedule during the winter months, it’s finally time to relax and catch up on all the good books you’ve been hearing about. 

Here are five great summer reads to fit almost any tastes.

• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is the story of Jacob Jankowski, a young medical student turned desperate circus performer. Trapped in a nursing home, a 90 year old Jacob recalls the joys and agonies of his life, drawing the reader into the Great Depression era world of ringmasters and elephants, sideshows and conmen.

• Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King.The acclaimed horror writer returns with his latest tale about a disturbed killer who’s tasted the thrill of murder and mayhem and is longing to try it again. Only a retired cop with demons of his own stands in the killer’s way. (June 2014 release)

• Panic by Lauren Oliver.From the New York Times best-selling author comes Panic, a story of a dangerous, high-stakes game played by the jaded high school students of a forlorn small town. Panic has already been sold to a major Hollywood studio, and hopes to become the next Hunger Games.

• Stardust by Neil Gaiman.The popular fantasy author takes the reader on a magical journey with Tristan Thorn, who sets out to capture a fallen star for his beloved. Along the way the young man will discover an enchanted world far beyond the simple country village he’s known. 

• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Gone Girl is a darkly suspenseful thriller about a missing socialite, a marriage gone wrong and sinister secrets coming to light. When events start unraveling, it turns out the perfect couple might not be so perfect after all. 

Whatever your taste, pick up a good book and enjoy. Summer reading isn't just for kids.

Dad, Daddy, Pop, Papa, Father - Whatever you call him, this Sunday is a day to honor him. It is his day to shine and be in the spotlight. Create a simple or super celebration he will remember, or give him a gift he will treasure.

Add Zest to Your Father’s Day Celebration

If you're planning The Great Daddy Event of the Year, start his day with a hardy “Good Morning”and treat Dad to breakfast at his favorite cafe. Take him where he can show off his family with button-busting pride. After that, head to the golf course (or bowling alley) with those special shirts you had imprinted with “World’s Best Dad”and “Son/Daughter of World’s Best Dad”. Then, it’s time to end the day with a fun and relaxing outdoor family event. Get the family together and bike, ride, walk, or run to his favorite nature spot. Lay out the plastic tablecloth, paper plates, and Styrofoam cups and enjoy his favorite picnic goodies while you watch the stars come out.

Gifts That Say “You Are Special, Dad”

Family photographs are a great gift. Make a memory book; it just takes a bit of creativity mixed with great family photos and captions. Add children’s’artwork and items that recall a special event, whatever you can find. Dad’s Memory Book will be a special treasure.

The greatest gift you can give Dad is time. So mark your calendar. Set aside the third Sunday in June to spend with him. Let him know you appreciate and love him. Make this Fathers’Day one he will remember forever.

We all wish we had more money in our savings accounts. But how? You want to save more but there isn’t any extra money in the budget. Here are some creative ways to add to your savings when you can.

Extra Cash

You may have extra cash you did not think you had. Take the cash from rebates, tax refunds, and bonus checks and add to your savings. You always have change rattling around in your pocket or purse. Create a change jar and watch the coins pile up. Nickels and dimes add up to dollars and dollars add up to increased savings. Some banks even have a machine you can use to put your coins in, to make an automatic deposit to your savings account.

Trash or Treasure?

Have a garage sale. You've heard it said that one man's trash is another man's treasure. Sell everything you haven’t used, worn, or looked at for 6 months. To get more people, have a neighborhood sale. Still have unused gifts or a door prize? Turn them into cash by selling them online or at a consignment shop.

Reduce Spending and Add Cash to Savings

Groceries can be a major expense item. Make a grocery list before you go and stick to it. You can save money by shopping at discount grocery stores and don’t forget to use coupons. Take advantage of the reward points available at some grocery stores to purchase gas. The few dollars you save in the grocery budget will be a little more you can add to savings.

So gather up all those nickels and dimes, cash in that bonus check, and plan that garage sale. Get started adding more money to your savings account. Saving even small amounts will add up.