Whether your vacation plans involve domestic or overseas travel, general health and safety measures can help you and your family prevent illness and injury.  Make sure to keep the following tips in mind when planning your family vacation this summer:

1. Watch What You Eat

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers these healthy eating suggestions while you are on vacation:

• Sample small amounts of high–calorie foods. You do not have to avoid these foods entirely; just reduce the amount that you eat to a few bites.
• Share large portions. Many restaurants serve very large portions, so do not hesitate to split orders.
• Space meals throughout the day. It can be easy to "graze" while on vacation. Try to set meal times and stick to them.

But wait, there`s more! »

It’s that time of year again!  Sit by the pool (of course under an umbrella and covered with SPF 50), read one of those books you’ve been meaning to crack, while sipping on a cool drink.  That’s why the folks over at the sustainable online book store Better World Books put together the list of the top 10 book series of all time.  Here we go:

10. Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series

9. The Sherlock Holmes series by Arthur Conan Doyle

8. The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

7. Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series

6. The Tomorrow series by John Marsden

5. L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series

4. Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien

3. The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis

2. Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander Series

1. Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling

So save a little bit when you’re buying books off your kid’s summer reading list, and buy something for yourself.  Better World Books is reducing the price on a huge selection of books.  You can get 20% off 3 or more used books – just go to www.BetterWorldBooks.com and use the code STARTSUMMER12.

As a former teacher in an underprivileged school, I saw firsthand the plight of some our country's children.  Most of these children were born into severe poverty and the meals they were fed at school were likely to be the only food they would receive that day.  It broke my heart to see these sweet and innocent children suffering so much at such a young and impressionable age.

Now, there is an organization determined to help our children in need.  Cars to Help Kids is an organization centered around your car donation.  With the money raised from auctioning off your car, Cars to Help Kids will support children's hospitals, educational programs around the country and other various outreach initiatives.  If you would like to donate your car for kids, simply click any link in this post and learn more about how to donate your car.

All you need is the title of your car and the accompanying keys.  The vehicle doesn't even have to be in working order.  Any donation is greatly appreciated and you can even receive a tax write-off of no less than $500 for donating your car to Cars to Help Kids.  With your help, we can paint a brighter future for some of our country's most underprivileged children.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, and I have received compensation for writing this information.

It's time for that perennial question: What do you do with the kids when summer rains or intense temperatures strike? There's only so many indoor activities that will truly keep the little ones occupied.

Happily, lots of places are offering free or cheap movies this summer, including theaters, libraries and city parks. Check out the following list of some major theaters and be sure to view the comprehensive directory at MrFreeStuff.com.

1. Carmike Theaters

From June 7 through Aug. 9, the Summer Kid Series at Carmike Theaters offers $2 tickets which include admission, popcorn and a drink. Eligible movies show at 10 a.m.

But wait, there`s more! »

Thanks to Facebook's weekly reminder of your friends' birthdays, more attention is being paid to natal anniversaries than ever. Adults particularly tend to celebrate landmark birthdays that end in a round figure. The cost for such parties, however, can easily get out of hand. In the spirit of creating a back-to-basics bash, I offer the following nine tips.

1. Discount Decorations

Dollar stores are your go-to place for party decorations. You'll save up to 70-percent off party store prices and the selection is equally nice. Dollar stores also are a great place to finding inexpensive wrapping paper and reusable gift bags.

But wait, there`s more! »

Social media sites like Facebook connect users with old friends, new acquaintances and everyone in between. However, studies are revealing an inverse link with online connections and deeper, face-to-face relationships.

Norwegian researchers recently developed a test for networking sites, called the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, which likens inordinate amounts of time spent on the networking site to drug and alcohol abuse. The test measures how often people use the site, if they do so to forget their problems and how using the site negatively affects their personal and working lives.

Researchers found the following groups of people most at risk for Facebook addiction:

• Women, who are more social than men
• Young people, who are more tech savvy than older people
• Anxious or socially insecure people

"Social media, and the new emphasis on the importance of "multitasking," have helped drive a wedge between family members," says psychologist Gregory L. Jantz, author of #Hooked: The Pitfalls of Media, Technology and Social Networking (www.drgregoryjantz.com).

But wait, there`s more! »