We’ve been thinking about playing tennis since the snow melted, but first we'll watch the pros make a racquet.

How to deliver the perfect grunt to go with an overhead smash, how to pull off the mini-dress-with-sneakers look, how to be sweaty yet elegant… we’ll learn it all by watching the world’s best at the Rogers Cup.

Tickets start at $25, an exceedingly reasonable price tag for the chance to see top women players, including Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki, and a stable of gorgeous Eastern European competitors who have taken the tennis world by storm.

Love, love. —Christine Laroche

Uniprix Stadium, 285 Faillon St. W., Montreal, www.rogerscup.com/women

In these brand-new northern tropics, beauty routines have to be fuss-free and sweatproof. These four low-maintenance products will give you an easy on-the-go glow.

Ditch lipstick in favour of Korres lip butter ($12) for a no-makeup look with polish. Some shades, including my favourite plum, can double as a cream blush. 

Canadian favourite Consonant's new matte mineral sunscreen (15 mL, $36) in SPF15 goes on smooth, sans grease, white residue and questionable ingredients.

Hot off the press, Weleda's new all-natural body lotions (200 mL, $20) are rich in plant oils and packaged in a fancy pump bottle that promises to leave no lotion behind; the lightweight citrus version contains organic Sicilian lemons and smells bright and clean.

Use pure Moroccan argan oil as a multipurpose moisturizer for skin (it might even make your face less greasy) and hair (to tame frizzies); look at your local health food store for brands or try Essence of Argan (15 mL, $45). —Kat Tancock

This month, we’re watching the sky light up as the world’s top pyrotechnicians show off their skills in our city.

For this 28th edition of l’International des Feux Loto-Quebec, participants are turning up the heat with themes like the extraordinary journey of Jules Verne (France), pyro Fantasia (United States) and the rebirth of civilization (Greece).

For the best view in town, we’ll head to La Ronde, where a table at an SAQ bistro (and a bottle of wine) is our ticket to fireworks bliss.

Bring on the big bangs! -- Christine Laroche

www.internationaldesfeuxloto-quebec.com

(Photo: Robert Burch)

Evil UV rays must be blocked, but is the list of unpronounceable ingredients contained in chemical sunscreens really better? It’s hard to say, but thankfully, we’ve found a sweet solution.

Coola Sunscreen SPF 35 Spray ($32 at Chapters is made from 97 per cent natural ingredients. Think soothing aloe, cucumber and algae extract as well as red raspberry seed oil—a natural sunscreen with anti-inflammatory properties.

The weightless formula contains no nanoparticles, its spray format is easy to use and the pina colada or mimosa fragrances are incredibly addictive.

The only thing missing? A paper umbrella. -Christine Laroche

Chapters, 1171 Ste-Catherine St. W., Montreal, 514-849-8825, www.chapters.indigo.ca

We consider our beach towel an extension of our outfit, and this Canada Day weekend, we'll be wearing red and white with pride.

PC Canada Day towels ($6) come in four pro-maple leaf designs; our favourite features a toy Mountie standing tall for all that's right and good in the Great White North. Summer on the dock, here we come. —Kat Tancock

At select Provigo and Loblaws stores, www.presidentschoice.ca

While we are busy waxing, spray tanning, and sweating on a treadmill to get ourselves beach ready, it is good to know that it is far more simple to get baby ready for the beach. Here's how.

Head
These Kuki Kids sun hats feature a cotton outer with a towelling lining, a strap (so they can’t pull it off every two minutes) and an adjustable head size. $19.99 from Raspberry Kids.

Shoulders
A good suncreen is important for more than just the shoulders, we’re covering their delicate skin from head, shoulders, knees and toes with this Eco Baby Eco Logical Skin Care Sunscreen ($21.50) And while we are protecting their skin, try these Buzz Away DEET-Free insect repellent towlettes ($16). So much easier than accidentally spraying product into their eyes. Both from Lavish & Lime.

Knees
A re-usable swim diaper not only saves you money but means your kids aren’t swimiming around in a diaper full of weird, absorbent chemicals. And, these diapers won’t become so heavy they end up at their knees. We love Canadian made Applecheeks, their swim diaper is $19 at Dandelion Kids.

Toes
If your beach’s sand isn’t soft and white, you may want to protect their feet with a pair of waterproof Native Howard shoes. These work on the rocks and on deck. And we love that they look like mini boat shoes. $34.99 at Life & Soles. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

Ever wonder what happens when a tennis ball strikes cheap sunglasses on someone’s face? Eek.

Because we plan on playing outside as much as possible this summer (and keeping our vision intact!), we’re smitten with POC’s all-new line of shades, especially the bold WAS frame pictured ($299.95).

The brand is known for merging high safety standards with impeccable style, and the sunglasses are no exception. From high-tech lenses to hand-processed frames, every detail is about performance and safety.

Bottom line? These shades have it made! —Christine Laroche

Austrian Ski Shop, 5706 Monkland Ave., 514-483-3666, www.austrianskishop.com

We may all be looking forward to the hot weather, but we are also dreading the task of finding entertainment for our kids (do they really need two whole months off?)

StageCoach is a musical theatre company founded in England that runs week-long summer camps for kids in BC, Ontario, and soon Quebec. Each camp is based around a theme: Musicals Unlimited features songs from Glee and High School Musical, while Waifs and Strays includes Les Miserables, Annie, and Oliver. Depending on your kids’ ages, the camps run a half or full day, and feature an end-of-week show.

Book before June for the early bird discount, and ensure that the Little Shop of Horrors, Stomp, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels will be in their house, not yours. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

From $150, www.stagecoachschools.ca

The warm weather is fading fast, so we’re getting our summer fun in while we can. Here are our top ten to-dos before the deep freeze hits.

1. Have a gelato-off pitting le glacier Bilboquet against Havre au Glace and newcomer Kem Coba.

2. Learn to surf or stand-up paddleboard on the lake with KSF.

3. Head down to the Old Port to find the Monsiour Felix and Mr. Norton mobile bakery and stuff yourself with cookies.

4. Take a day trip to Balnea, just to jump in the lake.

5. Book a wine route road trip with Kava Tours, get sauced, and get a lift home.

6. Drive just across the border to Ontario and book a VIP cabana at Calypso Water Park.

7. Ride The Cobra at La Ronde.

8. Host a local-ingredients-only potluck and hit one of Montreal’s markets for fresh fruits and veggies.

9. Hit the end of season sales and pick up items you know will still be in next summer.

10. Run through a sprinkler (on a stranger’s lawn).

—Jennifer Nachshen

After our successful first foray into adult popsicles using Caramilk liquor, we started searching around for other icy recipes to help us beat the heat with a bit of a buzz.

We found recipes for mango-mojito popsicles from Erica’s Sweet Tooth, sangria ice-pops from Emily Bites and these fab vodka-spiked ices made with fresh watermelon by culinary goddess, Giada de Laurentiis. We used these stunning stainless steel molds from Onxy Containers to make our ice-pops, but you can go green by freezing your libation of choice in a thoroughly cleaned yogourt container with a lid.

Just make sure that the kids don’t find them, or there might be tears at happy hour. —Jennifer Nachshen