1 Year Before the Desired Due Date

Check your health insurance. Make sure it covers prenatal visits and the actual delivery. If it doesn't, upgrade to a plan that does, or your baby could cost you about $6,700 before you even hold him or her—and that's only if there are no complications. Encourage your partner to choose an ob-gyn from your insurer's preferred-provider list so you're hit with only a few copays here and there.

 

Stave off Seasickness

Degree of Difficulty: Dude

Hunger can trigger nausea, so it's important to stay full at sea. High-protein snacks are most effective, according to a study by seasickness expert Robert M. Stern, Ph.D. Eat a protein bar every 2 hours. Stick to the middle of the boat (where there's less motion) and keep your eyes on the horizon or on land. Also, take slow, deep breaths to encourage your stomach to contract normally, but don't wait until you're about to spew. "It works only if you do it as soon as you feel the least bit of nausea," says Stern.

  

Beat the Heat

Degree of Difficulty: Dude

...BY COOLING HER OFF
Stick a bottle of lotion in the refrigerator. Opt for one with a summery scent, like citrus or coconut. She'll like Philosophy Aloha Girl Body Lotion ($25 a set, sephora.com). Once you're home (and hot), give her a lotion massage.

...AND TURNING HER ON
Freeze strawberries and cherries. Trace the end of the frozen fruit across her body—over her stomach, down her inner thigh and back again—lingering and licking as you go. When the fruit defrosts slightly, begin nibbling.

 

Talk Her out of That Bikini

Degree of Difficulty: Summer God

Skinny-dipping will spark her sense of adventure and strengthen your bond, says Bridget Marquardt of Bridget's Sexiest Beaches (Travel Channel). We like where this is headed.

PERSUADE HER
We know why you like the idea of skinny-dipping: naked woman! But it turns her on too because it's a shared adventure. "If there's a partnership in doing a dangerous thing, there's a real sense of bonding," says Marquardt. "Plus, the feeling of freedom is sexy." So play up the partnership angle and promise you'll doff your duds first.

EASE INTO IT
Don't be too quick to coax her out of her clothing. Let her enter the water at her own pace. Offer to hold her bikini in case she needs to put it back on while she's in the water. And don't be too playful while you're in there. Keeping quiet is sexier, Marquardt says. Stay close to her so she feels safe. And enjoy.

FIND YOUR SPOT
Choose water that's deep enough to cover your assets in case a passerby passes by. Prime locations: a backyard pool (with a high fence), water around a lake dock after hours, or a secluded ocean inlet.

Make Great Iced Tea

Degree of Difficulty: Dude

Once you taste this version by Matt and Ted Lee, authors of The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern, you won't go back to the syrupy swill in those 2-liter bottles.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED
6 regular-size bags of orange pekoe tea (Lipton, for example)
1 lb ripe peaches, pitted (skins left on) and cut into wedges

HOW TO MAKE IT
1. Bring 2 cups of cold water to a boil in a saucepan or kettle. Put the tea bags in a heatproof pitcher and pour the boiling water over them. Let the tea steep for 15 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, puree the peaches in a food processor until smooth, about 90 seconds.

3. With a wooden spoon, press the tea bags gently against the side of the pitcher to extract the liquid from the bags. Then remove and discard them. Stir in 4 cups of cold water and the peach puree; refrigerate for 45 minutes until well chilled.

4. Strain the tea into a pitcher using a fine-mesh sieve or a folded-over piece of cheesecloth. Keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.

5. Pour the tea into tall glasses filled two-thirds to the rim with ice cubes, or combine 1/2 cup with an ounce of your favorite bourbon or whiskey to make a julep.

Serve up Perfect Watermelon

Serve up Perfect Watermelon

Degree of Difficulty: Newb

DECIPHER RIPENESS
Check the color, says Marcel Vigneron, star of Marcel's Quantum Kitchen on SyFy. "The melon should be dark green with a yellow area where it sat on the ground. If that area is white, then the melon hasn't matured." And give it a rap with your knuckles. If you hear a loud thud and the melon feels heavy, it's ripe.

SLICE WITH PRECISION
Use a large chef's knife to lop off the top and bottom of the watermelon so it sits flat on your cutting board. That's safer than trying to cut it as a wobbly whole. Now slice the melon into wedges. Or you can remove the rind with a smaller knife and then cut the flesh into cubes.

SERVE
Try some unexpected pairings. Vigneron serves cubes of watermelon (drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt) along with cherry tomatoes on a toothpick. "It sounds weird, but the acidity of the tomato and the sweetness of the watermelon go really well together," he says. Or try a side of watermelon with pork belly or duck—the sweetness contrasts nicely with the fattiness of the meats.

7 Healthy Desserts That Will Satisfy That Craving

 

I love dessert. After dinner, I’m guilty of looking in my freezer for ice cream or for anything sweet. This isn’t good. Especially if you are trying to lose weight and get your dream body. I have found some healthy alternatives that will satisfy your sweet tooth. These desserts seem to work for me… and they don’t ruin my eating healthy plan!

These look amazing!

1. Popsicles. Popsicles are great because they can me made by you, for you. You decide what they are made out of. And they are very easy to make. My favorite is pouring orange juice into a plastic cup and sticking it in the freezer. So good and healthy! But you can blend strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, or anything! Get creative. Try new flavors. Also, if you are all out of popsicle sticks just make an italian ice. Then eat it with a spoon once it’s frozen. It’s the same thing just not on a stick. If you don’t want to make them just go to the supermarket. Healthy popsicles are almost everywhere. If you want chocolate, go for a fudgsicle. One fudgsicle only has about 60 calories. 60 calories won’t set you back. the nutritional value isn’t much but if you have a chocolate craving this is one that won’t make you guilty. Heres the recipe of the popsicles in the picture!

2. Pudding. It will really help satisfy that chocolate craving. In one serving of sugar free Jell-O pudding there’s only 60 calories. Also, try freezing pudding to make a delicious popsicle. I enjoy eating my pudding with pretzels. If you dip the pretzel in the pudding, it’s basically like eating chocolate covered pretzels. Love it.

Parfaits are sweet, delicious and healthy!

3. Parfaits. Once again, these can be made with the ingredients you love. You pick the yogurt, fruit, granola, or anything else you would like to go in it. Parfaits are very filling and nutritious. I like to get my favorite flavor of fat-free yogurt with strawberries, blueberries, and cereal (like Cheerios or Special K) for the granola. Then, I make some layers of those ingredients in a cup and eat it all up. So good. And healthy for you!

4. Jello. Jello is very low in calories. It doesn’t have much nutritional value but it has that sugar boost you are looking for. Jello is definitely a late night snack that won’t ruin your healthy diet.

5. Mousse. Chocolate, raspberry, blueberry, strawberry or any other type of mousse is sure to hit that craving. It’s so light and fluffy. It will be just what you need to fill up your stomach before bed.

Delicious Chocolate Sorbet

6. Sorbet. If you are like me and love ice cream, sorbet is not far from the taste you love. There are so many different flavors, even chocolate. All 150 calories or less. Chocolate sorbet is a great alternative to ice cream. Have a cup or sorbet instead of having a cup of ice cream. You will be saving many calories. And I am a chocolate lover so it’s nice to know I can still have something.

Angel food cake

7. Angel Food Cake. This cake is so good. If you have never tried it, I suggest you do. And you will be happy to know that it’s low in calories, probably less then 150 depending on the size of your slice. Angel food cake is delicious and very light. It won’t weigh you down.

You may love a low calorie dessert that I didn’t include in this list and that’s fine. But these are some of my favorites. I just thought of Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas! Those are also a good choice! You may like a few of these ideas but a few is all you need. You shouldn’t have to give up dessert. You only live once so don’t give up completely on foods you love. As long as they are eaten in moderation they won’t hurt you. I hope some of these will help you on your way to achieving your goal. Also, I hope I didn’t stir up any cravings but if you get one… remember to be smart about it.