During Pravassa's Sunday morning farmers market tour, Chef Melissa Petitto showed us how to pick a ripe cantaloupe. Check out the video below so you know what to look for at the market this week.

As a kid my friends and I loved to hop on our bikes and ride around the neighborhood or hit the pool in the dead of summer. In the fall, we'd toss the baseball with our dad or rake a huge pile of leaves to jump in. Little did we know that all this fun was actually good for us! As we become parents of our own, it's important to make sure our kids are staying active too. This can be easier if you live in a suburban environment with sidewalks and yards, but what do you if you live in a place like New York City or London where apartment dwelling is the norm?

The number one rule of exercise is to make it fun! Start getting active with your kids when they are young so it becomes part of their daily routine. If everyone is having a good time, what's not to love? Here are some great ways to get started that everyone can enjoy.

Family outing to the playground - Challenge your child to a how high can you go swing contest. You'll laugh together in delight and get an ab workout too! If you feel like cooling down in the heat wave, some NYC playgrounds offer sprinklers which we know is always fun for kids.

Check out your community center for classes - Some places offer Mommy and Me yoga sessions or you can find a family bike riding club. There is something out there for everyone's budget, but the YMCA offers everything from camping to scuba diving and doesn't turn anyone away. 

Head out to watch your local sports teams - Whether is baseball, soccer or volleyball you're child will get interested in the game and find some stars to identify with. Best of all, toss, kick or spike around the ball before you head out so that your child starts to understand the ins and outs of the game.

Swimming at the local pool - If you don't have room set up a sprinkler in your backyard, then check out what your local neighborhood has to offer. Swimming lessons get everyone in the pool and once your child progresses; you can hold races and time each other.

Image: Tina Phillips / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I recently read a statistic that stated people who have upcoming vacations scheduled are happier than those that don't. So why do 34% of U.S. adults skip their vacation days? I'm pretty sure people who don't take vacations want to be happy too! Is that group finding other ways to release stress or are they badly in need of some time off?

To those workaholics that don't currently use your vacation days: You too DESERVE a vacation! Remember the last time you got to be lazy on the beach or had the chance to stroll the streets of a breath-taking city? Didn't you feel more creative and alive? You'll come back to your job more relaxed and rejuvenated. Not to mention time off can make you appreciate your workplace and the people in it, therefore decreasing your burnout rate.

If your employers are still not convinced, make sure they know vacations are good for your health. People who take annual vacations take less sick days during the year, are less at risk for heart attacks and make smarter decisions in the workplace. And let's face it; if you're really addicted to work, you'll be sneaking a look at your email while you're gone anyway!

Image: br3akthru / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The threat of rain did not stop 10,000 yogis from showing up to New York's Yoga on the Great Lawn, but it did send everyone home early. Crowds streamed into Central Park starting at 4pm on Tuesday and waited in line for hours to get their Jet Blue Yoga Mats and free snacks. As the Karma Crew made sure to everyone got in and secured spots, the bands entertained the crowd and yogis warmed up with stretches and partner assists. Yoga assistants such as YogaWorks' Heather Seagraves and Equinox's Ruah Bhay circulated and were ready to get hands-on. 

Elena Brower finally took the stage as the drops started falling. Up front master teachers Alison West and Sadie Nardini, among others, were ready to help spread Elena's words and demo the postures. One of the most fantastic scenes of the night was Siri Dharma Mittra, who is in his 70's and could out backbend most of the crowd. Unfortunately just as quickly as the yoga portion of the evening started, it ended. Noise from the helicopters hovering above made it hard to hear Ms. Brower's directions and rain pelting the yoga mats turned them into slip 'n slides.

Alas, 10,000 people made their way quickly out of the park in a nice yogic fashion. A rain date has been promised so that we can all try again! Hopefully this time the weather will pay attention. Visit our YouTube channel for some videos from Yoga on the Great Lawn.

photos - top right: line through the park; center: Alison West & Sadie Nardini, bottom right: Elena Brower and Siri Dharma Mittra

photos clockwise: Bent on Learning girls, Masters at the front of the stage, group down dog before the rain, waiting to begin, Mittra backbends.

It's hard not to get caught up in the World Cup fever when you live in a place as international as New York City (and it's not just about catching a glimpse of Ronaldo). Even though I played soccer as a kid, (most U.S. kids in the suburbs do), it's a sport that has never seemed to grab this country's attention. Yet now, my neighborhood has transformed into Puma City.

I find myself waking up every morning and turning on ESPN to watch countries such as New Zealand and Slovakia battle it out on the field. Things get really exciting when my adopted home team, Argentina, is in motion and not just because of the Maradona/ Messi controversy. This weekend I watched a morning game at home, went to a bar with friends for one of the afternoon games and then went to Puma City to catch part of a third game. Even if I'm not rooting for a specific team, it's such a rush to watch the players open up for shots at the goal.

The World Cup 2010 is going on until mid July. Things will start to get quite heated when the quarterfinals get underway on the 2nd. I'm looking forward to the excitement and energy you can feel in the NYC air as the city comes together as a community to celebrate the largest sport in the world. 

Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net