June! A Lovely Name If Ever We Heard One!
Forget Spring! After all did Spring actually come this year? Summer is in the air! It’s that time of year when it really and truly feels fabulous to be a New Englander. And we deserve this weather, don’t we? We’ve certainly earned it! After shoveling snow, dodging downpours, and dealing with weather that has more mood swings than your pre-teen daughter we certainly are allowed to bask in the glory that is the SUN (but don’t over do it -- we’ll warn you about all that later!!)

This month the kids are through with school (is that good news or bad?), the beaches are packed, the grill is going “in full force” (oh stop, how could we resist?) and we celebrate dear OLD Dad. And, on a more serious and moving note, we are featuring a woman who will not only inspire you but make you appreciate the meaning of fatherhood more than ever with her story (and her husband’s story) of bravery and determination! So, read on, enjoy the warmth, and bask in the glow of some of the best moments of the year!

SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER

Now what?

Have no fear, boredom (and bickering) is not an option! We’ve compiled some of the best hot spots to take your kids, your friends or yourself this summer!

A Home Run Day! Can’t make it to Fenway this summer? We have the next best thing. The Museum of Science’s “Baseball As America” Exhibit opens on June 15th and features over 500 artifacts from The National Hall of Fame. And it’s not all just viewing old gloves and bats -- they’ll have you (and your baseball fanatic kids) exploring the “science” behind baseball stats and the different types of required dirt on baseball fields.

Nothing says summertime better than a hot concert! So, if your kids have you ‘Livin’ on a Prayer!’ this summer, pray that you can score tickets to Bon Jovi coming to the TD Banknorth Garden on July 10th! Be sure to get your tickets early! If your “Shot Through the Heart” and can’t get tickets -- be a part of the buzz and go to The Greatest Bar across the street from the Garden for 4 floors of excitement and fabulous fun! There’s sure to be plenty of Jon Bon Jovi dancing and shaking in his videos as they air on the largest high-def TV in the city. And, if you’re really desperate to get tickets, visit higstickets.com where you can always find the best seat in town whether you’re an American Idol fan or a material girl searching for some Madonna this summer -- Higs Tickets will hook you up!

STOP HIDING, EMBRACE A CUTE SUIT!

It’s that season ladies, we’re all in the same boat. Some of us boot camped our way through April and some of us were stuck on the chocolate recipes in February. Some of us did a little of both. Regardless if you’re ready, it’s that time of year -- time to bare your bodies! It’s time to get a swimsuit that makes you feel like the fabulous female you are. And we’re going to make it easy on you ladies! Enter Lindsay Condron, local swimsuit designer extraordinaire who can show you the ropes (pads, ties, under-wires, etc.) that make swimsuit season the happiest time of the year! And we mean it!

1. Busted! Are you wearing the right top for your bust? Small busts can get away with some slight padding to give a perfect amount of bust boost. Small busted women should also look for prints vs. solid colors and can have fun with ruffles, ruching, fabric puckering and darts. To our bigger busted ladies- rock a halter, play with tops that feature sheering, draping and crossover styling!

2. The dreaded mid-section. Are you rocking that six-pack from boot camp? Yeah, neither are we! Luckily Lindsay has some helpful tips for tucking in the tummy (while remaining comfortable). Tankinis and one-pieces are a quick fix but don’t rule out the bikini. Don’t do it. Don’t stop reading. Hear us out. A lower rise hipster with a little ruching on the sides will avoid unwanted pinching.

3. Nice bum, where ya from? Lindsay encourages solid prints and lighter colors on the bottom to minimize bigger bottom sizes. Try wide side straps to even things out. Thick side straps with ruching will help you avoid pinching at your hips. And if you want to see these tips come to life, simply visit www.lindsaycondron.com and find your perfect fit!

And if you really want to see these suits come to life, simply attend Fabulous In Full Force ~ North of Boston where you can see Lindsay’s hottest designs for summer ‘08 in the fabulous fashion show! For details visit www.fabulousinfullforce.com today!

PASS THE SPF PLEASE

Okay, so you’ve selected the skin baring suit, and now it’s time to protect your skin!!! Gone are the days of baby oil and iodine. None of us want a future of LOOKING like a leather bag, we just want to OWN lots of them! So Fabulous In Full Force decided to do some research to help you protect your skin while also allowing yourself to enjoy the summer sun. Here are some summer skin care tips from spas North, South and West of the city.

Dawn Tardiff, owner of BodiScience Holistic Spa in Beverly has figured the formula for attaining a summer glow without harming your skin. Now math isn’t our forte, but even this is easy to figure out. Just multiply the SPF in your sunscreen by the Length of Time You’ll Be in the Sun = Length of Time In Sun WITHOUT burning. For example if you are using an SPF of 4, you can stay in the sun for 40 minutes without burning. They don’t call it BodiScience for nothing. Dawn has skin care literally, down to a science. And all you would have to do is take one look at her beautifully radiant skin to know that this lady knows her stuff. To check our more of BodiScience’s skin care philosophy, visit www.bodiscience.com.

Sometimes don’t you wish you had the inside scoop? With so many products on the market to “defy aging” it’s hard to figure out what’s real and what’s an expensive fancy bottle filled with nothing special. We brought this up with our friend Allison at Keldara Salon in Dedham. We asked her how her teams deals with the summertime sun. And we got the real deal. Allison loves the G.M. Collin Vitamin C facial for an exceptional treatment that’s just perfect for pre and post sun exposure. She explains that Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant designed to correct free-radical damage from the sun and delay the signs of aging (note to self: drink more OJ)! This treatment reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles (really!), evens out the skin tone (yes!) and illuminates the skin restoring its youthful appearance (what’s better than that?!?). So glow girl! Get your pretty face to Keldara for this one! Visit Keldara.com to learn more.

For those of you who attended our Fabulous In Full Force ~ West of Boston event you were lucky enough to receive some incredible bronzer from InVogue Spa of Sudbury in in your gift bags. This stuff is truly amazing -- it evens the skin tone, makes you radiant with a warm glow, and minimizes pores all while protecting your skin from the sun -- and it makes us want more of this bottled tan magic. No worries, Owner Tammy has got it all under control. She airbrushes by hand leaving you with a golden tan instantly. How fabulous! The tan will last 7-10 days depending on the skin type and hydration levels. This amazing new system is completely safe (yes ladies, FDA approved!) and will leave you looking as if you just returned from an exotic island. Find out now! Visit www.invoguespa.com today.

NOT ANOTHER TIE!

Although Dad may love that checkered silk traditional gift; we are proposing something new and different for dear old Dad this year. There are so many other fabulous ways to let him know how much we love and appreciate all that he does! Here are just a few ideas for the man in our family’s life!

Dad got a sweet tooth?
We just discovered the Cupcake Boutique in Andover and Yummy Mummy Brownies in Southborough (great for Delicious Daddies as well!). Both of these delectable businesses cater to people who are looking for deliciously different gifts for those they love. And a gift from either one of these sites will have Dad saying “you’re so sweet” to his fabulous family this year! And you get to stay out of the mall on these beautiful pre-summer days! Now that’s sweet!

Give Dad Some Face Time!
Our friends at getsugar.com are promoting a 60 minute mens facial. C’mon ladies, you know he’s never going to ASK for it! He has no idea how great it will be and you know he will just love it! So, go on and pamper your man like he deserves (and like you absolutely do not have the time to do yourself)! With a name like Barber Ship Lounge, it certainly sounds manly.

And if you don’t think that will do the trick, just tell him it’s called the Harley Davidson special! And for the guys simply loves a good tie? Seriously, some guys just love a new tie -- or golf shirt, or cargo shorts, or dress pants -- something to help him look cool in the hot summer sun! Check out Giblees for the best men’s clothing around!