School's out for summer and the excitement over choosing a camp lunchbox is overwhelming. I guess it's just the little things in life that make children happy, but the lunchbox euphoria goes over my head. We went online together to lunchboxes.com, "your one-stop lunchbox shop." I thought my son was going to have a cow! Shrek, Spiderman, Star Wars and my personal favorite, Bionicles. If you have to ask...

On field trip days,campers are asked to bring disposable lunch bags and God forbid we send in the ol' kraft paper bags that we all grew up with. I found Spiderman and Hello Kitty paper lunch bags--woohoo! Let the party begin. Plates Plus for Kids has these paper lunch bags not to mention a large selection of lunch boxes, thermoses, canteens and other assorted superhero and princess lunch paraphernalia. Another option for the oh-so-fun summer mom are the personalized lunch bags from Stationary Studio. These make great goody bags, too!

We go to a very lax camp and shoes seem to be optional...so of course, every year on day one of camp, one of my children loses a shoe. This year I have vowed to label every piece of clothing and every shoe! Stuck on You has specialized labels for every article of clothing your children will lose. They come in iron-on, sew-on, stick-on, blah blah blah. I ordered the Day Camp Pack which comes with shoe dots, small labels, clothing tattoos, and a bag tag. Stuck on You also has allergy labels, which seems sorta handy.

Need to further pimp up your child's lunch box??? Have I got a hot tip for you! Rubbermaid (no I'm not suggesting a Tupperware party...yet) has come out with Hipsips. Rubbermaid's sales pitch is "make hydration fun". Ugh, you'd think they were saving the world. All that aside, I bought two, 'cause they really are cute. All the models come with a Sharpie to decorate with, a spot to add a picture, a hook, a carry strap and pockets to store ice cream money. The Diva and Fashion Models (I know, I know, sooo queer!) come with mini gems--exciting stuff, right? They can be purchased at Target and Walmart.

Some Helpful Hints from Heloise:

--Soy nut butter with lots of jelly tastes like peanut butter for those camps that don't allow real nuts.

--Freeze a juice box to keep their lunch cold.

--Save leftover birthday party napkins, 'cause any lunch tastes better w/ Dora and Diego wiping your face! Cheers-H.V.

My husband happens to have more recreational pursuits than a 12-year-old boy so coming up with a gift for him on Father's Day is pretty easy. "We" have more gear and sporting apparatus than a camp in the Catskills. Coming up with an idea for my own father is pretty simple, too. He happens to be a pretty sharp dresser and enjoys a groovy something or other. I'm not saying he's still wearing a Nehru collar, but there was the 8-ball jacket that we'll never let him live down! Here are some easy ideas that just about any dad could enjoy.

Last year I bought my Dad a pair of Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses. You can find them in any department store or sunglass shop which makes it any easy and fun gift. They make tons of styles from the classic Sportsman or Aviator models to the Daddy-O.

If Daddy is still wearing a Speedo, burn it and buy him a pair of fancy swim trunks from Vilebrequin. The French manufacturer makes their bathing suits in 5 styles and over 80 prints.Vilebrequin is sold at upscale department stores and has two NYC boutiques. Pair them with some Havaianas from American Sole and papa bear is set for summer! They have 50 styles of the very popular flip flops and will do same-day shipping.

Want something new and different this year? Offshore Sailing offers sailing classes throughout the country. In NYC, Offshore Sailing School is located at Chelsea Piers. The Learn to Sail class teaches sailing skills and the fundamental knowledge needed for Dad to confidently handle a daysailer up to 30 feet. It's a 3-day course with classroom and water instruction. How fun will your next vacation be when Dad takes everyone out on the boat he rents?? Ok, so maybe you should take a sailing class together!

Here's one that every man (boy) should have. The Dangerous Book for Boys is the perfect book for every boy from eight to eighty. Daddy will love spending time in his "office" learning how to build a fire, how to play poker, why the sky is blue, how to make a paper airplane, and so on. You never know when the man in your life might need to know how to hunt and cook a rabbit! It's truly a delightful classic that any man will love to own. Cheers--H.V.

Since casual dress overtook the workplace, that whole gift range of cufflinks, ties, and custom dress shirts went out the window. Finding a gift that will tear my husband away from his blackberry is no easy task and, of course it's five days until Father's Day, but here goes...

Lately, my husband has gotten into buying wine. My father-in-law introduced us to Napa's Miner Family Vineyards. Both their reds and their whites are divine, and they even offer a wine club. Speak to Steve, the manager of the tasting room, and he can set you up with a beautiful case of assorted wines in any price range. If you're too late to order and need to go local, try Astor Place. As someone whose knowledge is pretty much limited to either cork or screw-top, I've spent time in there with the very patient and knowledgeable staff, who can hook you up with an assorted case.

Does your significant other have a bike so that he can keep up with the kids? Doesn't have to be anything fancy...a few years ago I bought my husband a beach cruiser, which is perfect for our summer riding needs. Had a kids' bike seat attached and Dad was all set to hit the bike path with a toddler in tow. And when that toddler outgrew the bike seat, we clamped on a trailer bike, which basically turns your bike into a tandem and is super for transitioning to a two-wheeler.

Going on the theory that a way to a man's heart is through his stomach, I've always found that food is a great gift for Father's Day. Throughout the years, my husband has "collected" some foods that are near and dear to his heart. Having the foods sent to us is a bit of an extravagance, but it makes for a great surprise. Amongst his favorites: Giordano's, Chicago's famous deep-dish stuffed pizza; Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, the St. Louis specialty that is the inspiration for New York's Shake Shack; Green Corn Tamales from LA's El Cholo; and Peet's Coffee (which totally blows Starbuck's out of the water). Since I haven't bought anything yet for this year, I'm seriously considering an "of-the-month" food gift, but I am having a hard time deciding between jerky-of-the-month or pickle-of-the-month. Perhaps the kids can choose.

And if the dad in your lifeloves technology, perhaps this year's ultimate Father's Day gift is the Apple iphone. True, it won't be released until June 29th, but a gift certificate for the promised combination of all things tech (ipod, phone, internet browser, maps, etc) will surely delight even the fussiest dads. --Best, AS

Ok, so maybe this subject is a little frivolous to actually write about, but once the weather warms up, everyone seems to be talkin' about frizzy hair! Back in the olden days (as my daughter calls them) when I was in high school, I used to arise at 4:45 to straighten my hair...Oh the turmoil my crinkly, ringlety hair has caused me over the years. Through lots of trial and lots of error, I have amassed a collection of tips for the frizzy. Here goes:

Blow Styling Salon at 342 West 14th Street will give you a great blow out and offers discount "blows" Monday-Wednesday, 1-3pm. I just recently tried Blow's new line of hair products and love the Weather or Not Climate Neutralizer. My hair looked great for days! Their products are available at the shop or on their website.

Another product line I love is Rene Furterer. My hair stylist turned me on to this stuff and it makes blowing out your hair a breeze. I make a little concoction by mixing a little of the Furterer Control Emulsion and a little Furterer Fioravanti Straightening Gel. Who knows, but the combo seems to work. The entire Furterer line is available at sephora.com.

If you are headed to the beach try Phytoplage Protective Styling Gel. You simply work it into wet or dry hair and your hair stays protected from the sun, salt water, and chlorine. With all the money spent on highlights, it pays to protect! This stuff doesn't keep your hair straight but it does smell great.

When your hair seems beyond repair and you need help Frederic Fekkai makes a fantastic Hair Mask w/ Shea butter. Take a shower at night and sleep with it in your hair. Don't forget to rinse it out the next morning unless you're going for the grease ball look!

Our real secret weapon is Melissa Krantz. Call her and she'll pop over to your apartment with a giant bag o' brushes and a blowdryer and--we kid you not--have your hair blown out in just about 20 minutes. No fuss, no muss. And my hair looks great two days later. 516.807.7831. Don't be fooled by the 516 area code, she's in downtown Manhattan but will travel the city. Prices start at $45 (and it's IN YOUR HOUSE!!!).

And if you decide to just throw in the white towel and just go au natural...Try Set It Free from Devachan. Their products are made specifically for curly hair to stay curly but not unruly or frizzy. Personally, I think this stuff smells like Janitor-in-a- Drum, but it works miracles.

Hope this helps. If not, I suggest borrowing your child's Mets cap and heading out!--Cheers, HV

This is totally embarrassing but I'm a sucker for infomercials. I've been known to watch Ron Popeil roast a chicken at 3 a.m. or to stare at that annoying lady who dehydrates food during sleepless nights. I'm the one who stops at the street fairs to find out how I can slice, dice, chop, and perform brain surgery with one cordless appliance. I'll spare you the details on my less-successful purchases (suffice it to say that you CANNOT turn your vacuum cleaner into a health spa) but here are a few I can recommend.

Stainarator is the most versatile cleaning product in my household. I've used it to remove stains from clothing, children, and countertops. I've even poured it into the carpet cleaning machine that I rented last year (please don't tell Desco). I've shouted things out, sprayed and washed, and oxy-cleaned till the cows come home but nothing works like Stainarator.

Rainbow Art has given my kids hours of pleasure. Oooh, that doesn't sound very wholesome but it's a ridiculously simple kit of watercolor paints. And sponges. My daughter first begged for this some time around her fourth birthday (she's now ten) and we're now onto our third kit. I just noticed that the new kits come with six color-changing markers for added fun.

Betty Crocker Bake 'n Fill (or as we call it, the "bacon fill"). My kids pleaded for this and since there's a sucker born every minute, it arrived at our home not long ago. Everyone needs a pan that allows you to make a dome-shaped cake that you can fill with ice cream or fashion into a "watermelon cake" (you have to see it to believe it). It's a bit of a science experiment but my kids have decided that anything prepared in the "bacon fill" tastes better.

Whether it's macaroni and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, or noodles and butter, it seems like there's always some type of pasta boiling on my stove. And since I'm generally rushing to feed hungry children, I love my Pasta Pro, a pot and colander combination. Once the pasta is ready, you pop on and lock the perforated lid, turn it upside down, and drain. One less thing to clean, one less thing to store. And while the instructions say not to put it in the dishwasher, I have yet to wash the dern thing by hand and it's no worse for the wear.

Since my entire sewing kit existed of random needles and thread that I've collected from hotel rooms, I hit the wall when it came time to sew name tapes for summer camp. One caffeinated evening this sewing kit came to me in a vision of late night TV. It has every last bit and bob you need for repairs, whether you're sewing a button, ripping a seam, or even searching for thread to match a torn American Girl doll dress. Mind you, I'm not doing any major alterations at home, but it's nice to have this kit in place so I'm not searching last year's travel bags each time I need a needle. --Best, AS

I love summertime and I have a great feeling about this one! To me there is nothing better than a day at the beach, a picnic in the park or anything cooked outside on the grill! I thought I'd share some easy summer ideas with you.

If you left your grilling tools outside all winter you'll probably need some new ones. Williams-Sonoma has a new 4 piece monogrammed set. The set has teak handles and comes in an attractive, sturdy box perfect for gift giving. But the coolest thing Williams-Sonoma has is a monogrammed steak brander. You can order it with 2 or 3 initials. BTW, it takes 3-4 wks to get, so getting ahead of myself, this would make a great Father's Day gift. Cheftools is a great website for all your summertime cooking needs. They have a huge selection of grill tools, grilling baskets, grilling woks,fried shrimp, boiled shrimp... assorted grilling paraphernalia. My favorite from Cheftools is the set of mini steak thermometers. Everyone can have their steak cooked the way they like it and you won't have to watch your husband cut into the steak 10x to see if it's ready, a little red pointer tells him it's done! Here's a cute idea: Little Tikes makes a Grill n Glow Electronic BBQ guaranteed to keep any toddler busy for a minute or 2.

To go along with your Skin so Soft mosquito repellent and the cortisone cream you ordered last week from Drugstore.com, Crate and Barrel has colorful citronella torches and candles. I'm not sure they do a thing to keep the mosquitos away, but they look pretty.

I have a friend who's probably the nicest mother on the face of the earth and decided last summer she would build a fire (yes, I said build a fire) each night (yes, I said each night) at sunset and make s'mores with her kids. Since I never learned the fine art of rubbing 2 sticks together and making a fire, I 'm thinking about ordering a fire pit from the Fire Pit Shop. I'll pop up the Thomas the Tank Engine tent and we can make s'mores in the back yard and just maybe I can pass it off as the camping trip they are begging for!

When you get the grill fired up, here's my favorite easy summertime meal!

Make-Your-Own Gyros

Lamb

(I like to use grilled lamb, but grilled sliced chicken or grilled sliced sausages are just as amazing)

Feta cheese, diced

Cucumbers, seeded and diced

Grape Tomatoes, halved

Red Onions, thinly sliced

Pitted Greek Olives

Tzatziki Sauce(dairy section of grocery store)

Hummus(dairy section of grocery store)

Pita Bread, cut in half, wrapped in foil then placed on the grill for a couple minutes to heat

This is such a fun easy make-a-head meal.

Marinate lamb or chicken in a Ziploc bag for a few hours with olive oil, crushed garlic and a few sprigs of rosemary. Season generously with salt and pepper, get someone to grill it for you then slice it into bite-size pieces. If you use Italian sausage, get some hot and some sweet, grill them and slice them.

Place all the accoutrements in little bowls on a tray in the center of the table and everyone can just "go to town"!

And now for the icing on the cake...My famous Palm Vistas! I promise you this is the best summer drink (although I drink them in the winter, too) you will ever have.

In a pitcher mix:

1 12oz thawed can of frozen Minute Maid limeade

1 1/3 can (use the empty can from above) Vodka

1 liter Club Soda

a handful of fresh mint smooshed up

Pour over ice and garnish w/ a mint leaf. You're done!

Cheers-H.V.