Summertime is filled with fun activities from local festivals to neighborhood parties and vacations. These events always seem to have one thing in common – the wonderful food – which can be difficult to avoid with tasty temptations around every corner. However, by taking advantage of the season’s best fruits and vegetables, you can treat yourself to some delicious dishes that are heavy on flavor, yet still waist-line friendly.

(NAPSI)Ribs are a grilling favorite; however, according to the 24th annual Weber GrillWatch Survey, 17 percent of grill owners consider ribs to be the most challenging food to grill.

(BPT) - Whether it’s in the backyard or on a rooftop, summer is an ideal time to entertain outdoors. The long days and warm nights create the perfect backdrop for a relaxing get-together with family and friends.

(BPT) - The weather is warming up and summer is right around the corner. From holiday celebrations to road trips, family vacations to block parties, it’s the time of year for cookouts. Make all of your summer cuisine extraordinary no matter what the occasion with these five simple tips:

(BPT) - Grapes from California are in abundant supply throughout the summer, which is welcome news for those seeking a healthy, refreshing snack. They’re also a boon to the home cook: grapes provide bright color, a sweet-tart flavor and a refreshing burst of juice to warm-weather dishes.

(NAPSI)As summer approaches, many of us are looking to find healthy ways to cut calories from our daily diet without sacrificing flavor. Asian-inspired salads are a great choice for lunch or dinner since they are highly flavorful, versatile and packed with nutrients. With all these attractive qualities, youll find yourself indulging in guilt-free freshness all summer long!

(BPT) - Simple, fresh and delicious – that’s summertime eating at its best. Less time in the kitchen means more time to enjoy the bright delicious flavors of just-picked berries, peaches, greens and other vegetables.

(StatePoint) There are unlimited excuses you can make to skip cooking. But if lack of time or money is the reason you’re getting take-out yet again, consider this -- plenty of fresh, inventive meals can be prepared quickly and on a budget.

(NAPSI)—Show your love for mom by looking after her health with the gift of heart-smart cooking.

(NAPSI)According to a recent study, 62 percent of Americans now report grilling year-round. Take a tip from these backyard grillers and pick up some steaks, break out the tools and perfect your grilling techniques. These quick and easy tips will help take your home-grilled steaks to the next level:

(BPT) - Holmes and Watson, Riggs and Murtaugh, Starsky and Hutch – when it comes to sleuthing out just what critter is munching on your spring garden, you may feel like your partnership with Mother Nature is as contentious as any that ever graced the big, or small screen. After all, how are you supposed to fight the “crime” of a decimated garden if you can’t identify the suspect who’s been devouring your daylilies?

(NAPSI)—Parents and teachers can do their youngsters a good turn by helping them learn to love science. Fortunately, it can be both easy and enjoyable to do. Here are a few hints on how:

(BPT) - Families have many special traditions to celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Starting new traditions around these days is also common. If your family is looking for some new ways to enjoy Mother’s Day or Father’s Day this year, check out these tips and gift ideas that will help make your celebrations special:

Do you have a slow drain issue in your bathroom or kitchen sink? Even after using the handy plunger? If you are like most, we hope that time will remedy the problem and miraculously drain away. Unfortunately, this problem left unattended can create a bigger issue over time and become an expensive job to repair. Before you reach the phone to call the super, plumber, take a run to the local store for Drano or some other toxic substance; try an environmentally friendly route first. You may already have what you need in your cabinet to combat this small problem. All you need is washcloth/rag, water, vinegar and baking soda. Are you ready for battle? You just might win this one if you caught the slow drain issue on time. So this is what you need to do:

(BPT) - As the weather turns warmer, most of us are experiencing cabin fever, anxious to escape to the outdoors. But has the harsh winter weather put a damper on your outdoor spaces? Don’t fret. You can easily spruce up your exteriors with a few easy and inexpensive home improvement projects. Here are a few fast fixes that will have your home looking great without taking a huge hit on your wallet.

Americans have embraced recycling and are enthusiastic about cleaner energy sources. Yet when it comes to caring for their outdoor environment, many people still use less earth-friendly tools and techniques. So what’s standing in the way of Americans going green in their gardens and landscapes?

(StatePoint) Cleaning your home from top to bottom this spring? Do so with care. From falls off ladders to muscle pain, heavy-duty chores can be hazardous to your health and wellness if you’re not careful.

(NAPSI)—Whether you eat most of your meals at home or tend to grab something on the go, eating healthy doesn’t have to be difficult. A good place to start is looking at the nutrition information located on the food package or provided by the restaurant, especially when you look for the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark.

You have seen it before, and we all get it from time to time. No matter how many cleaning sessions we give our bathrooms, mold is an enemy that just won’t go away. You know what I am referring to. Just look at the corners of the tub that you have a daily love/hate relationship with. When was the last time you had your bathroom cleaned? Less than a week ago I am sure. It is crazy how quick mold disappears and reappears. Did you know that mold only needs a gestation period of 24 hours to germinate and grow? Let us start with the basics.

Mold loves damp, dimly lit and isolated areas in the bathroom, i.e., behind toilets. The bathroom is one area of the house that remains wet for a period of time. It is just enough for mold to build up. Did you know that ventilation or lack thereof has a lot to do with the growth of mold? There are other traps like rugs, grout, sponges, faucets and shower curtains that retain moisture. So what do you do about it? You may want to consider a ventilation fan for starters. They are relatively inexpensive. Rule of thumb is to allow at least 30 minutes of running time to combat the moisture in the bathroom after usage.

(StatePoint) While regular kitchen chores like doing the dishes and taking out the trash are almost impossible to ignore, it can be easy to forget certain maintenance tasks that keep your ship smoothly sailing.

(BPT) - When you clean your house in the spring, you really want it to be clean. Dirt, dust and germs are banned, and all appliances, floors and walls are scrubbed clean. But is your house really clean, or have you traded dirt and germs for caustic and toxic chemicals found in most conventional cleaning products?

(NAPSI)—One of the best things about dining out are the mouthwatering appetizers. Theyre special treats because they are often menu items that can be difficult to re-create at home.

Replacing a shower washer is one of the simplest and quickest plumbing repairs you can undertake and it is usually the source of many leaks one finds in regards to showerheads. While performing the repair, you’re also able to clean and maintain basic parts of the shower and de-scale the showerhead to ensure that you won’t have to fix or replace the washer again for a while.

A common yet often ignored problem, low water pressure in a kitchen faucet is caused by a myriad of issues. On occasion, low water pressure will need the experience of a professional, but even in those cases, identifying the problem will help greatly in getting the repair finished quickly.

(BPT) - During the winter months, it’s important to take extra care of your home, your family and especially yourself. In addition to taking steps to prevent cold and flu viruses that are common at this time of year, you should also pause to relax and recharge, if only for a few minutes each day.