My little family of four and I have already blasted through 12 bottles of sunblock since early May. At nine dollars a pop ... the cost is certainly adding up. But then I think about the investment I make each day, and the price it will prevent us all from paying some day in the future. Here's a short list in no particular order.

• Painful Sunburns -- Ouch!
• Freckles
• Moles
• Leathery Skin
• Sunspots
• Flaking
• Chemotherapy -- Not cheap!

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When we're picking out foods for out kids, we tend to choose things that have the word 'fruit' somewhere on the label; After all, fruit is healthy and we're always trying to get our kids to eat more of it. But how many items actually contain fruit? How about that fruity cereal? How about that fruit-flavoured yogurt? What about fruit leather? What about licorice?

If you're wondering the same thing, take this quiz from CNN. I think you'll be surprised with some of the answers -- I know I was. And while I know that kids can be picky eaters, let's remember that nothing compares to eating fruit in it's natural form.

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Olivia writes on urbanmamas about advice she got from the children's shoe expert at Nordstrom department store. Her post brought back sweet memories of going to Stride Rite and getting to stand on the metal shoe sizer, full of pride at how I'd grown. I always knew we were getting "good shoes" (with the doggie on the logo, or am I just imagining that?).

But I didn't realize they were also good for my health.

Developing feet need good shoes that fit just right. According to the UK's Children's Foot Health Register, bones continue to harden and grow - and shoe fitting is crucial - all the way up through age 18. What Olivia learned echoes this exactly. Correct sizing - length and width - is the most important issue in selecting shoes for children. But she also writes about the characteristics of a few popular children's shoe brands and the benefits of real leather in the fight against unhealthy shoe stink.

Our son is 16 months old and just beginning to wear shoes. I've had him in used shoes that we got at consignment shops, but Olivia's post has got me reevaluating that idea. It may be time for him to take his first trip to the shoe store.