She's Well Suited

I'm sick and tired of every single magazine cover's focus on swimsuit season. "Suits that flatter every BODY" "Reshape your legs for summer." "Summer suits that hide problem areas." I can't open a magazine without the constant reminder that summer is coming and that I need to buy a swim suit and look good in it. Women are quite aware of this. Many a hot fudge sundae has been consumed because of this fact. I saw one cover that read "Are Your Friends Making You Fat?" No, but I might burn a few calories when I throw that magazine against the wall. I know no one who would reevaluate their friends for this reason. In fact she is planning with the girls-some will take a road trip, others do the mom and kid trip, while some families camp together; last year's suit will do for now.

Her college kids are moving back home, while for high schooler's, graduations parties mark the beginning of a new era in their lives. She's plans, parties, cleans up, realizing the true meaning behind "it goes fast" when it comes to raising children. Prom season puts a strain on the emotions and the wallet as teenagers dance the night away in clothes they probably will never wear again.

With her reality shows coming to a finish, she will soon seek replacements for her routine television schedule. You can be sure most will be watching American Idol tonight even if she hasn't watched all season. And she would not be surprised to see Swimming with the Stars added to her lineup in the fall. She may joke about these shows but the truth is, she's likes them. They help her wind down after a long day.

Her day could have her running in many different directions, and as busy as her mind gets she still thinks about that friend of hers who is sick or the permission slip she forgot to sign for her child. Her life is full of many twists and turns, so many details and decisions that don't always add up. For example, does she really need to purchase sunscreen for her hair or is that just this week's gimmick?

She buzz words

• Hydration
• crepe paper
• vaccination
• Kong

Right now she could be

• Purchasing "Lost" DVD's
• Writing a song
• Taking her toddler to swim class
• Flossing her teeth
• Renewing her drivers license

She's looking forward to

A three-day weekend or a chance to make some holiday pay

She quote

"Normal is nothing more than a cycle on the washing machine." - Whoopi Goldberg

She vent

"Sunscreen always messes up my nail polish!"

She's online

Moms are blogging and corporate America is listening. So The Gap and Old Navy are now offering more than one weekly coupon in response to the feedback received from www.consumerqueen.com, a website read by 30,000 daily. Walmart has a specific site just for deal seekers called www.elevenmoms.com. K-Mart follows with a link for coupons only at www.Kmart.com/coupons. And when it comes to saving money on food, check out www.5dollardinners.com, a site that considers every coupon available and provides recipes so every meal made costs $5 or less.

She green

She can save 80 percent on cooking energy when using a microwave instead of an oven.

58 percent of household gardeners plant because they think their home-grown produce is better tasting than store bought.

Tomato diversity

• Here is a list of the tomato names she's growing and purchasing in the farmer's market:
• Speckled Roman
• Great White
• Costoluto
• Big Zebra
• Dr. Carolyn
• Dorothy's Green
• Mr. Stripey

She health

If she lost her health insurance, she may find help at the National Association of Insurance Commissioner's website. She or her children may qualify; each state has different options. www.naic.org

For help with COBRA, visit the Department of Labor's website at www.dol.gov/cobra

• Get more She Prep at www.ShePrep.com