Restaurants and supermarkets across the country pulled tomatoes off their menus and shelves on June 9, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded its warning against a rare form of Salmonella found in red Roma, red plum, and round red tomatoes.

What better time to forego supermarket tomatoes and instead nurture your own backyard crop? Tomatoes are one of the easiest plants to care for, and you'll reap some of the sweetest rewards. It's too late to use seeds, but the perfect time for a plant since tomato plants love heat (something the country has plenty of at the moment). When choosing a tomato plant, look for a hybrid (they produce the most fruit) that's marked 'VFN,' indicating the variety is resistant to three types of diseases: verticilum wilt, fusarium wilt, and nematodes. Buy a plant without flowers and plant it deep-up to the first set of leaves. William Alexander, author of The $64 Tomato, recommends leaving the soil around the base a little below ground level to create an area for water to pool and keep the plants moist.

Spring is here, and with new buds blooming and baby birds chirping, love is in the air and it's gone straight to the dogs. It's not that surprising when people are considering cloning their furry friends that there are tons of lavish ways to plan your pet's nuptials. Yes, we're in a recession and gas is over $4 a gallon. But why not blow some money on a taffeta bridal gown for your dog? Might sound ridiculous, but it's entirely possible.

If you're thinking of planning the perfect mutt-rimony ceremony, here are some options to consider:

ANIMAL ATTIRE
It doesn't matter if the groom needs to lift his paw to pee, he still needs to look good. PoochieHeaven.com has a surprisingly wide selection of formal dog wear, including a navy pinstripe tuxedo ($39.99), a white tuxedo (perfect until Labor Day, $39.99), and for the destination affair: A collared shirt with Hawaiian themed necktie ($27.99).

Larger brides and grooms don't have to sacrifice style to find the right plus-sized attire. At Bowwowsbest.com, sizes go up to XXL (or 70 pounds). Your golden doodle bride will feel nothing but beautiful in a three-tiered satin wedding gown with hand sewn chiffon flowers and matching six-layered tulle veil ($99.95). If she opts for a wedding party-and not all brides do-then scoop up pink satin bridesmaids dresses ($49.95) that come with matching leashes (always useful in case the bridal party gets a little wild).

Gas prices continue to set records, making potential vacation expenses seem so great, I almost have to forgo all hopes of a summer vacation. On top of that, foreign currencies continue to make a killing against the dollar. Who wants to pay $6 for a Parisian croissant? Not me. But you don't have to completely sacrifice that annual summer trip. There are still great domestic deals to be found, and one industry that's desperately trying to attract summer vacationers is the good ol' amusement park. It's an easy, one stop destination to take the entire family.

Here are some of the best discounts I've found:

BUSCH GARDENS
Whether you visit the African themed Tampa Bay, Fla. location or the European themed Williamsburg, Va. park, there are lots of ways to cut costs. Show your AAA card at the gate for an automatic $5 off up to six tickets. And once you've purchased a ticket, you can return a second time completely free as long as it's within seven days. Active duty military and National Guard members can take up to three dependents to any of the Anheuser-Busch theme parks, including Busch Gardens, Sea World Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio, Sesame Street Place, Water Country USA and Adventure Island, completely free. All you have to do is pre-register on Hero Salute and show your Department of Defense ID at the park's gate.

When I was getting ready to finance my college education, (after hitting up my parents) I looked to Federal Pell grants and the beloved FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). But things have changed, and in the age of Facebook and online interconnectivity, it only makes sense that students are utilizing these new tools for borrowing.

Several companies have popped up in recent months that allow students to tap into cyber-resources. On Fynanz.com, students design a profile detailing goals, interests and financial need, and then non-institutional lenders can shop through profiles based on majors, academic institutions or other interests.

The terms are set by the student, who can choose to start paying it back immediately, pay only the interest, or wait up to 20 years. Rates are between 7% and 12%, a good chunk cheaper than the 16% that's more common for private loans.

GreenNote.com, which launches June 4, seeks to utilize a student's social network to solicit friends and family to contribute to a college fund. Much like Fynanz, the student creates a profile with personal details and academic interests. However, then the student invites friends and family to contribute, and hopefully, pass on the profile to other community members. There's something very encouraging about people being able to support young people they know, or who are in their circle, with small loans.

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