Summer Solstice is officially June 20, but it sure feels like summer is already in the air. Kids are out of school or getting out very soon. Graduations are happening. Warm weather and longer days make the beach and being outdoors so enticing. One of our favorite outdoor summer evening activities is playing badminton in the backyard.

If you're looking for a good summer read, either for a teen daughter or for a little escapism yourself, a great one to check out is Loving Summer by Kailin Gow. It's a contemporary romance with a little bit of edge, tackling a few real issues teens and families face. The Southern California beach setting makes the book a light, fun read as well. Right now when you get it on Kindle, a bonus copy of The Loving Summer Cookbook: Recipes for Losing Weight and Getting Summer Healthy is part of the deal as well!

Speaking of cooking, light summer fare already sounds so good. Add some fresh fruit like mango, strawberries or watermelon to a favorite salad and voila - instant healthy, tasty dish!

What I love about summer is that it's a time for creating fun family memories. Some of my favorite ones from childhood are riding our bikes until it got dark, waiting for our dad to get home so we could go swimming, and, yes, it's an odd one: watching The Price Is Right with Bob Barker. It was the only time of year we indulged in such leisurely television watching.

Get out there and make some summer memories to look back on for years to come!