Photo from Self magazine

I heart Zooey Deschanel. She's too cute. The 29-year-old actress plays Summer in the film 500 Days of Summer and she's also one half of the band She & Him.

When Deschanel isn't busy planning her wedding to Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard, she's taking full advantage of the warmest season. 

Zooey is Self magazine's August covergirl and she shares her tips on how she keeps healthy emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Photo by CamsMom82208

I'm part water rat, and after a full day of swimming in our pool when I was little, my mother used to tell me, "Well, you sure don't need a bath tonight!"

Just now reading bltcahill's Journal post on all the yucky stuff that's floating around in swimming pools, I think Mom was mistaken.

bltcahill pointed out that chlorine doesn't kill everything. Several different forms of illness-causing parasites and bacteria have been found in pools, including ones that cause hand, foot, and mouth disease and herpangia. And, yes, they are spread through fecal matter ... poop!

Mosquitoes will bite anything!

I usually get bit by mosquitoes...a lot. But the other day I was having lunch with my friend who must have gotten bit seven times all over her legs as we sat in the outdoor area of a restaurant. I didn't get bit once. Maybe she is sweeter.

I felt so bad -- her wedding is on Friday and she is wearing a short dress!

If you and your family have been scratching at those pesky bites, you know mosquito season is here.

Photo by dstny157

There's lots of opportunities to be healthy in the summer now that so many fresh fruits and veggies are in season. Then again, there's also lots of temptation with beer, burgers, ice cream, and other summer treats everywhere we turn. Are we healthier in the summer? Glamour Magazine weighs the pros and cons...

Schwinn Intercept Helmet, $19.99

Congrats to Cr8tivmom, dkmomglz, Jacksmommy1027, and natasia61589 -- they're the winners of this contest! We're always giving stuff away, so check back often ...

I don't care if it makes me sweaty and gives me helmet hair! I always, ALWAYS wear my bike helmet when I ride my bike, even on short trips around my neighborhood.

Because bike safety is so very important, we are giving away four Schwinn Bike Helmets...

Photo from Amazon

Kids love jumping rope. And next time they do, why not join them? It's one of the best exercises for heart health -- and it's the perfect summertime exercise you can even do as a family.

Do you live in a place where the temperature gets well above 90 degrees in the summer? I feel your pain. It's absolutely brutal trying to exercise outside when it's so hot. As if I needed another excuse not to workout!

To keep us in shape this summer, I've got a few alternatives to consider when it's too hot for our normal exercise routine, as well as some exercise safety tips for those brave enough to venture outdoors in the blazing sun...

Grilling is one of the healthiest ways to cook your food. Your meat, poultry, fish, and veggies get tons of great smoky flavor from the fire—not from unhealthy fats, butter, and oils. Here are some grilling tips for eating healthy this summer...

I was practically living in my flip-flops this summer—until I read this article from AOL Health about the hazards of flip-flops. I had no idea my feet were in such danger!

Looking for some motivation to get fit and lose weight this summer? The warm weather is the perfect excuse to get outside and exercise. Check out KeaganzMommy07's daily outdoor exercise routine: She speed-walks for 2 miles with her toddler, does pull-ups on his swing set, and climbs up and down the steps to her house. It's impressive...but do-able, right?