Memorial Day is so much more than the beginning of summer. One blogger writes a touching and personal essay that reminds us why we celebrate. -- MomLogic

Did summer sneak up on you after a winter of too many hot chocolates and not enough exercise? Cool Mom Picks has swimsuits that are not only fun, they help out the places that need helping too.

Grilling out this afternoon? Reduce your risks of those unhealthy burnt tidbits on your burgers and brats by precooking in the microwave first. Here's more tips for safe grilling. -- Well

No more pencils, no more books -- but what about camp? Do your kids enjoy a free range summer or do they structure of summer camp? -- Momversation

Picky eaters eat better when the food looks more fun, so why not try one of these edible murals? -- LilSugar

Rainy day fun: KidsBowlFree.com gives kids two free games of bowling a day, all summer long.

Kids and grocery stores don't always mix, which is why parents are known to relax their standards a little to get through their list. Here are an imperfect mother's five rules of grocery shopping. -- Divine Caroline

Kids are on the run more than ever during the school-free summer months. Here are some tips for teaching them safety, without wrapping them in bubble wrap or locking them in their rooms. -- Motherlode

Expecting a summertime baby? Here's a baby name trend among celebs: They give their babies big, dramatic names, like Maximillienne, but then couple it with a short nickname, like Emme. -- Celebrity Baby Blog

A new article touts the best beaches to consider hitting this summer. Now that Memorial Day is upon us in all its promising glory, beaches (as well as sunblock, floppy hats and other sun considerations) are tops on everyone's mind. I read this article and thought, "Gee, if I were single or my husband and I were in the honeymoon phase of our relationship these beaches would be GREAT to visit." But, you know what? We have kids. Well, we have one kid, and another one on the way--and we like them. And we like the thought of taking them with us on vacation.

There are beach vacations appropriate to taking children and some not so much. Not exactly romantic to rub zinc oxide on your toddler's nose rather than slather oil on your significant other's back. But, in a way, isn't the beach a perfect opportunity for a family vacation? I know my mother is already planning on how to get all of us back to Florida once my newest addition is old enough.

Sites like the Travel Channel offer a nice selection of domestic and world beaches to consider when planning your family vacation. What makes a beach better for a family than, say a romantic getaway? Well, I think that ultimately may be in the eye of the sea shell holder. About.com also offers some great choices, including my beloved Emerald Coast on the Gulf of Mexico. Specifically, I'm talking about Destin (the article sites Sandestin resort), which seems to be the ultimate family-friendly beach destination. I've been going down there since I was a kid myself, and whether a child, teen or adult I've always had the time of my life.

To what beach do you take your family? Tell us why it's the best for family vacations!

Picof Destin from the ysky by FlyGuy92586.

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This Memorial Day, like nearly every since I've known him, my husband will buy a large bunch of flowers. He'll round up our entire, sleepy-eyed family, load us all in the van for a short drive across town to the park with four bridges and three volleyball courts.

In addition to the bridges and fun, there are several monuments at the park. One is a wall that bears the names of every soldier in the state who died or vanished in Vietnam.

There is a larger-than-life statue of a soldier cradling a fallen comrade, looking off into the distance, far beyond the plastic slides and picnic grounds. The sculptor did an amazing job, the soldier's gaze is one of determination, sadness, anger, pain and love all at the same time. It is haunting. Children can't take it for long and quickly run to the nearby swing set, adults force themselves to linger.

I'm not really a Great Outdoors kind of girl; I'm more of an Air Conditioning and Running Water type. But while I don't love camping, I DO love S'Mores (really who DOESN'T?) so you can imagine my delight at learning that I can make them right in my own back yard!

You know, close to the running water and AC.

You can find the classic S'Mores recipies at the Hershey web site, including a microwave variation (although microwaving graham crackers can result in soggy S'Mores, just so you know). Of course, the traditional S'More is made with a marshmallow that has been toasted over a campfire, but if the idea of handing your child a stick and telling him to stand next to an open flame makes your heart skip a beat, don't worry! You can make S'Mores at home, on the grill, which pretty much guarantees that no one will get scorched.

You will need the following: marshmallows, the big ones (not the minis), graham crackers , a chocolate bar (we use the GIGANTIC Hershey bars, not the typical individual bars), tin foil, barbecue grill.

Cut a piece of tin foil that is about twice the size of the graham cracker -- it should be large enough to completely wrap the uncooked S'More up. Assemble the pieces on the foil: graham cracker, chocolate pieces, marshmallo, second graham cracker. Wrap it all up in a neat little foil package; put the package on the preheated grill, either on the top rack (if you're using a gas grill) or as far from the center as possible (if you're using a charcoal grill). Heat for about five minutes, unwrap and serve.

So simple and so delicious.

Want to make your own marshmallows? Love and Olive Oil has a recipe! Let us know if you try it.

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In addition to cookouts and sun tans, summer generally means some sort of travel. And whether you're taking plane, train, or automobile, there's nothing worse than scouring the depths of your purse to find something entertaining for bored kids.

The gadget gurus at Engadget have discovered five great products to keep your child too busy to even THINK about kicking the seat in front of them repeatedly. For three hours. Nonstop. While humming.

1. The old stand-by: a travel DVD player (don't forget a set of headphones!)
2. Hooked-on-Phonics Touch Screen Learner: great way to keep those developing reading skills sharp over the break!
3. Small Worlds Preschool Laptop: might even help keep their sticky little fingers off your Mac or PC!
4. Tiny Love Wonder Wheel: this toy for very young children is for car trips only as a "repetitive noise" is involved.
5. Tomy's Gearation: kids of all ages will enjoy creating a working mechanism with the magnet-backed gears that attach to the magnetic board.

Any of these suggestions are more fun than my standby: having the kids McGuyver something with an old cough drop, a hair band and assorted grocery receipts and should help get you arrival at your final destination with minimal passenger meltdowns.

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I don't even think about ice cream from October to May, but once the mercury hits a certain point, it becomes another food group. When we walk into our local ice cream store every spring after a long winter apart, the woman behind the counter greets us with, "The usual?" I'm pretty sure that can't be good. I'm only admitting this as a way to tell you that we love ice cream at our house.

Whether you've planned a backyard BBQ for Memorial Day, a camping trip, or just plan on celebrating at home with your family, homemade ice cream sandwiches are sure to hit the spot with your little ones. Unlike the store bought versions, your kids can customize these sandwiches to their very own liking. Try making a couple different kinds of cookies, and buy a variety of ice creams, frozen yogurts, or sorbets, as well as nuts, chips, or sprinkles to roll the sandwiches in before freezing them.

Family Fun has a very authentic-looking ice cream sandwich, while Whole Foods will help you make it a little healthier (killjoys). Cottage Living has me drooling with these Chocolate and Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches. Finally, for you honey lovers, The Domestic Goddess has her Bee-Nut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches.

Delicious!

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After a long and EXTREMELY snowy winter (at least up here in the northern latitudes) everyone gets a little punch drunk at the thought of summer. Cook outs! Camping! Bike rides! Hiking! Bare feet without fear of frostbite!!!

But what about those days of summer that aren't so terrific? The sweltering, humid, bug-infested, sunburned, or torrential rain days when you're stuck inside with kids who don't have school and have grown petulant with every plaything on the premises? THAT my friend, is when you head out to the nice, air-conditioned comfort of your local movie theater!

And because Hollywood is slowly getting the drift that sex in the city leads to children in the suburbs, this year there is a wide array of summer flicks suitable for popcorn munchers of all ages. The entertaining minds at MovieFone have compiled them all into one time-saving list and there is truly something for everyone!

Even the youngest of viewers will sit still for karate chopping panda bears, and bookworms will enjoy seeing their favorite characters come to life with big screen versions of An American Girls Adventure and the next installation of the Chronicles of Narnia series, as well as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2.

Check out the list to find the perfect summer flick for your brood!

Memorial Day is rapidly approaching with the promise of pool parties, outdoor barbecues and food galore, and I can't think of a better family dessert to serve than this Dirt Cake from Martha Stewart's website. Is it a plant? A housewarming gift? Nope, it's a cake made from ingredients such as Oreos, chocolate pudding and whipped cream served in a terracotta pot. (Don't worry, it's sterilized.)

Unique and quirky, these cakes are sure to create some buzz and keep the kids digging for more. Plus, you can experiment with different toppings, such as gummi worms placed around the "dirt". Head over to Martha's website to get the full details on how to create this cake for your Memorial Day festivities.

Though it was only 48 degrees where I live yesterday, I've heard a rumor that it's finally heating up in other parts of the country. With a three day weekend on the way, that's good news! It's also a good time for a refresher course on sun safety, because the fastest way to ruin a great holiday weekend is with a bad sunburn. So here are some tips for keeping your little ones safe while they play in the sun this summer:

• The suns rays are hottest from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. If at all possible, schedule outdoor time in the morning or late afternoon/evening.
• When you can't avoid midday sun, keep kids under cover as much as possible. If it's not too hot, lightweight long sleeves and pants are an option, but when it's hot outside, consider bringing an umbrella or a pop up tent for instant shade.
• Eyes need protection too. Look for a child-sized pair that offers 100% UV protection.
  

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My 4-year-old son Bennett says, "It smells like the pool, Mommy" and I know exactly what he means. He's talking about the bleachy smell our new towels have, which reminds me, too, of the chlorine in the swimming pool at the hotel we visited (unexpectedly) last year, when our travel trailer broke a leaf spring on our family camping trip.

Or sunscreen. It's like having the beach in a bottle; as soon as I smear Banana Boat on the kids, I recall long days throwing rocks in the lake, or floating belly first on inter-tubes, trying to catch the tiny minnows that flash and dart in the shallows.

The lilac outside my window reminds me of the ones by my parent's house, when I was a little girl. I have a memory of falling asleep tucked between cool, clean sheets, to the gentle fragrance of a bunch in a jar by my bedside.

Which of course reminds me of my own Mom--on the nights she and Dad went out, I'd sit on the edge of her bed and watch her finish getting dressed, in the big, long mirror over her dresser. She'd put on a necklace or earrings; then perfume, which she kept on a little mirrored tray on her dresser. She'd let me twist open the lids and smell the fragrances with names like Charlie or Anais Anais, then she'd reach down and dab a bit of whatever she was wearing on each of my wrists.

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I don't know about your neck of the woods, but it is extremely warm out here on the West Coast. Sizzling, to be exact. I'm too frightened to look at the weather report for the upcoming holiday weekend, but if it's just more of the same, this gal will be in need of a cold treat.

Root beer floats, anyone? Sure, two scoops of vanilla with some root beer will do, but let's jazz it up for Memorial Day weekend. Paula Deen's Vanilla Chocolate Chip Root Beer Float and Sandra Lee's Root Beer Float Sundaes are sure to be crowd pleasers. Looking for an adult version? Rachael Ray's Root Beer Bomb and Emeril Lagasse's Kicked Up Banana Root Beer Float should be right up your alley.

Feel free to leave any tried and true cold treats in the comments because Lord knows, it's going to be a long and HOT summer.