Walking and running are great workouts for your heart and lower body, and they're also free. So take advantage of the warmer weather and make your workouts even more challenging and workout at the beach. Walking or running on sand burns about 30 percent more calories than you would on a harder surface such as asphalt. Resist walking on the flat sand right at the water's edge and go for the dry Read more

Dear Casa, I have seen posts on pet-friendly vacuums, but my problem is not just dog hair. It is massive amounts of sand that my beautiful Chow Chow drags in from Crissy Field [in San Francisco]. I need a recommendation for a vacuum for wood floors and carpets strong enough to pick up the sand. Any ideas? Thanks, MaryBeth To hear my response to MaryBeth, read more Read more

The next time you're at the beach, take a break from relaxing in the sun and get up and move around. Resist walking on the flat sand right at the water's edge and go for the dry sand. Ditch your shoes so you can really use your toes to grip the ground. Walking barefoot in the sand is not only great for the muscles in your feet and your calves, but because it's so much harder than walking on a Read more

Cool Running, the web site that brought you the ever popular Couch to 5K running program, has rated running surfaces. Why? In an attempt to help keep runners free of injuries — that's why. Running on rock hard surfaces like concrete, like sidewalks, is hard on the body. To protect your joints you want to look for surfaces that have shock absorbing qualities for the majority of your runs. Read more

Bobbi Brown has a fresh, outdoorsy line called Beach. It's a summer collection that includes body oil, body lotion, body scrub, bath fragrance and her most famous fragrance, which happens to also be called beach. Yet I think one of the coolest, simplest and most innovative products that she has ever created is Sandbar Soap ($16). This creamy bar soap has a luxurious lather, a crisp beachy Read more