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!

When you're trying to make lifestyle changes to lose weight or to become more heart healthy, you may come across the phrase “lean protein.”

Protein is considered one of the building blocks for the body—most every system relies on it. Many protein-rich foods, however, are also high in fat, which can raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease. Lean protein is the best of both worlds: the protein you need, without a lot of the fat you don’t.

Here are some easy ways to add lean protein to your diet:

• Eggs  Low in calories and high in nutrients, the versatile egg can be a simple way to add protein, whether eating it boiled, scrambled, in an omelet, or added to baked goods or meatloaf.
• Fish  Fish is usually a good source of protein, because even if there is fat, those omega-3 fatty acids are good for you. Just skip the deep-fried fish, as well as any high-fat sauces.
• Dairy  Low- or non-fat milk, cheese, and yogurt are good choices. Whey protein shakes are another source, too.
• Vegetables  Not all protein comes from animal sources. Beans, peas, quinoa, and lentils are also good lean protein sources, particularly for those who follow a vegetarian diet.

There are plenty of choices out there, many of them not only healthy but tasty as well. There’s no reason why you can’t ‘go lean’ today.

If you’re hunched over your desk all day and aren't taking regular breaks to move around, you're probably suffering from one or more of the following:

• stiff neck
• achy back
• numb butt
• shoulder pain

A little exercise can do wonders for these ailments. Even if you can’t work out while you work, schedule small stretching breaks throughout the day to loosen up those tight muscles.

Here are six stretches you can try today. Hold each stretch for about 15 seconds. Try doing them at least once an hour (think “shoulder, shoulder, neck, neck, back, back”).

Shoulder stretches:

• Lace your fingers behind your back, gently straighten elbows while reaching up and back.
• Grab under your right upper arm and pull the arm across your chest at shoulder level. Repeat for other shoulder.

Neck stretches:

• Lace your fingers behind your head and gently pull your chin towards your chest.
• Do slow exaggerated nods—looking up and down—several times, followed by shaking your head from left to right several times.

Back stretches:

• Sit up tall in your chair, lace fingers together and stretch your arms overhead, palms toward the ceiling. Lift your chin up, and then tilt your head back, inhale, exhale, release. Repeat.
• Place your hands on the edge of your desk and slowly push your chair back until your head is between your arms and you're looking at the floor. Slowly pull yourself back in. Repeat a few times.

Just because you’re stuck at a desk all day doesn’t mean you can’t sneak in a little exercise. Your body will thank you for it later. 

If you just feel like there never seems to be enough money to do anything extra, it could be time to take a look at your how you're handling your finances. 

Sometimes even small changes can make a big difference.

1. Time is money.Start a side business or work on your qualifications so you can get a promotion at your job.
2. Find ways to cut spending.It really doesn't have to be more elaborate than stopping at a dollar store for basic items instead of that deluxe specialty store.
3. Say “no” to impulse buying.And not just in a brick and mortar store either. Unsubscribe from those email sale reminders, too.
4. Look around the house. If cooling costs are making you hot under the collar, check your home's insulation or to have the air conditioning system serviced.
5. Clean out that wallet. Keep track of your spending for a month and try to set up a realistic budget.
6. What else is in that wallet?If you're walking around with all your valuable information in your wallet, you're apt to lose a lot if it’s stolen.
7. Pay attention to when you spend.For example, if you go a bit overboard when you go out to lunch, make those cash only events.
8. Splurge! There's no reason you can't indulge yourself now and again, but try smaller treats, more often.
9. Join a credit union.They tend to have lower fees and higher savings rates than regular banks.
10. Remember the first rule about credit cards:Never spend more than you have.

You don't need to be a financial genius to improve things. Just keep an eye on the situation and do what you can.