I had the chance to talk with toy expert, Elizabeth Werner, on what's hot for kids this summer. Take a peek at our interview to find out what Elizabeth, toy expert for the Today Show, recommends. It's the middle of the summer, and if you're like me, you could use some suggestions for fun ways to entertain the kids!

We're only two weeks into the kids' summer vacation, and I'm having a bit of a hard time keeping up the positive attitude I promised myself I'd have. Honestly, I know that I'm very fortunate to be able to be at home with my kids. That flexibility is amazing. When I was working full time, I was so envious of the moms who were able to take their kids to the pool, do crafts with them and just hang out together.

The truth is, I just don't feel like I have the energy to keep up with them. I've definitely lost my mamavation, and I'm not in the physical shape I'd like to be. The goal was to work on eating healthy and feeling my best so that I could give them my best this summer. Big fail, which leads to big guilt, which leads to low motivation, and the cycle starts all over again.

I refuse to become a victim of that vicious cycle. My kids are all going through various phases right now. My oldest son, who's 11, has hit the pre-teen sassy stage. My 9-year old daughter is moody as can be, and my little boy has hit the terrible twos. Three awkward phases combined with one tired mama is not a good mix.

Do I have a game plan for this? Um, no. Not really. But I will try my damndest to come up with one. I will take my babysteps toward eating better. I'll get the work done that I can and try not to stress out about what I can't do. My intention is to get up a bit early in order to get some writing done and have some time to myself. I'll ask the kids to help watch their brother in the morning while I work some more, and then we WILL all do something together in the afternoon. I will not beat myself up if we don't make it to the pool. Quite frankly, running after three busy kids out in the open, in the heat, near deep water is a bit overwhelming, but we will do some kind of activity together. My hope is that this plan will lead to the balance I'm craving and result in everyone being satisfied.

Plus, if we run around in the afternoon doing some kind of fun activity together, it's likely to end in moments like this:

And then we'll all feel better!

How do you handle summer stress, and do you have any suggestions for me? Thanks in advance!

We're about midway through the summer. Does your hair feel like mine, coarse, dry, and dull? I recently realized that I should have been taking better care of my locks from the very beginning of summer. After swimming at the pool and playing outside, the damage from so much chlorine and sun is really starting to take its toll. But it's not too late to repair the damage. Here are some things you can easily add to your routine to bring back your hair's shine and vitality.

Wear a Hat

Your mom probably told you to wear a hat in the summer to protect your scalp from sunburn. This is still a good idea, but it's also smart to cover up your hair to protect it from sun damage. While SPF is great for protecting your skin from the sun's damaging rays, it doesn't work the same way with hair. A sun protectant in hair products like shampoo and conditioner would only be washed away when rinsed out. Therefore, the FDA has not allowed for hair products to display an SPF level on their packaging.

Moisturize

Though you won't find an SPF hair product, you can look for ones that contain a protectant like sunflower oil. Also, check for moisturinzing and conditioning ingredients to help restore moisture lost to sun and surf. You'll want to apply protective products liberally and regularly in order to maximize their benefits. I use KMS California Solperfection After Sun Shampoo, which contains coconut oil, grapefruit extract, and caffeine, all beneficial to hair health. I recently started using Healthy Sexy Hair's Soy Renewal. This product came in My Pretty Pink Box and has sunflower oil and argan oil to protect hair. Since adding these to my regimen, I have noticed a difference in the condition of my hair. You may also want to try using a leave-in conditioner containing natural ingredients like keratin, wheat germ protein, or jojoba oil to condition your hair. The product's effectiveness wil be enhanced by the summer heat.

Give It a Soak

Rinse hair with clear water before and after swimming. Wet hair will absorb less chlorine than dry, and it makes sense to rinse away as much of the chemical as you can after taking a dip. Bring along a bottle of fresh water with you expressly for this purpose. I usually fill a bottle or two with water to keep us hydrated throughout the day, anyway.

Take a Break From the Burn

You may want to take a few days off from your electric styling appliances like blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons. That kind of heat just strips away moisture and damages your hair's cuticle. I recently got a cute new style that requires lots of straightening, but it also looks nice with my hair's natural curl. So I skip the iron at least every other day, which helps to mix things up a little, too.

Good luck keeping your hair in tip top shape this summer and have fun. Stop by Total Beauty and check out their quiz to find out what's the best shampoo and conditioner for your hair for a little help on deciding which hair product to buy.