It's that time again – as September draws near, parents and students await the beginning of the school year, and all that it entails. One back-to-school activity that few can avoid is shopping. Whether it's in search of school uniforms, new shoes or basic school supplies, almost every family will hit the malls to get ready.

"Every year I set a budget for back-to-school shopping, but it can be really tough to stick to," says Jessica Gabriel, an Ottawa mother of two school-age children.

The kids are out of school, the temperature is slowly rising and the lazy summer days are upon us. For many, this means one thing: it's vacation season. Every summer, many Canadian families choose to visit different parts of the country, the continent or the globe in search of adventure and new experiences.

According to recent findings in the 2009 Royal LePage Recreational Property Report, Canadians are still eager to pursue their dreams of owning a recreational property despite the economic downturn.

The report indicated that 55 per cent of Canadians said they would be willing to make compromises to their financial or lifestyle habits, such as purchasing a property with family, renting out their cottage, making a cottage their primary residence, buying a fixer-upper or moving into a smaller principle home, in order to own a cottage.

ONTARIO AUTHORS OFFER A BOUNTY OF STORIES FOR ALL TASTES

With our warmest season upon us, Ontarians are scouring their local bookstores and libraries for great reads to take them through the lazy, hazy days of summer. Whether it's a steamy novel for the cottage or more serious fare for a rainy day, Ontario's crop of homegrown authors has something to please everyone's literary palette. The finalists for the Ontario's government's 22nd Trillium Book Awards are a great place to start.

Whether your summer involves cheering at soccer games or leaving on family trips, chances are you plan on making the most of the warm weather and time off from work.

However, according to the Canada Safety Council, during the summer months, more Canadians die on the road than any other time of year.

Consider these tips to ensure you don't take a vacation from safe driving practices this year.

As the school year winds down, parents across Canada may start to dread the endless choruses of 'I’m bored' from their kids on summer holidays. While day camps, summer school, family trips or part-time jobs may be on the agenda, the break from the classroom offers unique opportunities to talk to middle or high school students about managing personal finances. Research indicates that over half of kids who talk about money management at home with their parents are more likely to be confident about saving money than those who do not.

New Family Road Trip Guide Focuses on Easy Tips for Saving Gas, Protecting Environment and Ensuring Safety

The lazy, hazy days of summer should soon be upon us. Sounds nice doesn't it? But in fact that haziness could actually be summer smog! Summer smog builds up mainly from April through October, causing reduced visibility in cities and a visible layer, similar to fog. It also causes a health hazard to people.

Did you know the average light-duty vehicle produces roughly three times its weight in CO2 every year? If poorly driven and maintained, it can generate even more CO2. In Canada, light-duty vehicles produce a signficant 12% of Canada's CO2 emissions.

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the birdies is? You know where they're going to be as soon as you wash your car. Bird droppings have a high acid content, so they are one of the worst threats to your car's finish. Along with tree sap and spills of gasoline or other automotive fluids, these are things you should wash off immediately.

They seem to pop up by magic almost overnight. Spring temperatures warm the cold pavement, melting and evaporating any ice. This creates air pockets that can eventually cause the pavement to break up. A winter of heavy snow or rain and several freeze-thaw cycles can mean a big pothole season ahead!