Yummy, Easy and Impressive Go Green Treat for Your Fourth of July Celebration

Even if you aren't a foodie, this yummy to eat and easy to make green living treat will make you the star of this year's 4th of July celebration!

I ran across this yummy and easy Fourth of July treat in a Prevention magazine article on the importance of GMO labeling by super greenie and super mom, Robyn O'Brien.  I think the flag kabob is the perfect dish for non foodies like myself to easily put together to impress the kids, friends and guests at this year's 4th of July celebration or bar-b-q.  For an extra cool treat, freeze them! 

Veg Heads Listen Up! Treat Yourself to Organic, Vegan Halloween Candy for Parties, Gift Giving, Trick or Treaters and Yourself!

Finding vegan treats around the holidays for parties, sharing and enjoying is never easy is it?  Well this Halloween 2010, Environmental Booty has teamed up with Sjaak Organics to make it easy for my friends who choose veg for their health, our earth and the animals to celebrate, enjoy and share their passion for living vegan. 

The Sjaak Family - Sjaak's Organic Chocolates aims to create the highest quality gourmet organic chocolates possible while simultaneously supporting a positive work environment, fair trade practices and encouraging sustainable agriculture through the use of organic, non-GMO ingredients. It is also the goal of Sjaak's Organic Chocolates to build a socially responsible, profitable business that can be carried on for generations to come.

It's Not Too Late to Get Mom Sweet P's Organics at a Sweet Price! Free Organic Shea Lip Balm and Hand & Body Whip with the Purchase of Organic Crystal Heart Perfume...all for just $20!

So I just got word from Paula Morris, the creator of Sweet P's Organics, that she wants to share an unbelievable deal with those of you who may have let Mother's Day creep up on you like I have!  It's not too late to order your mom the perfect gift that will make her feel your love whenever she sees it and especially when she wears it. Choose a special scent in the Sweet P's Organic Crystal Heart Perfume and Paula will send along a complimentary Organic Shea Lip Balm and a small Organic Hand & Body Whip to make the deal super sweet for you and your mom!

This picture does not do the beautiful crystal heart bottle justice and the entire presentation (organic perfume, shea lip balm and small hand & body whip) will be top notch coming from Paula.  There are a ton of scents available and you are sure to find the perfect one for your mom.  Maybe you took a special family vacation to Hawaii so Hawaiian Ginger might be perfect or perhaps she carried Lily of the Valley in her wedding bouquet so that scent might be the one. 

You can check out all of the delicious, organic scents and pick out a memorable one for her in our Environmental Booty OpenSky Shop.

Listen Up Men...Valentine's Day is Fast Approaching and I Have THE Perfect Organic Gift for Your Sweet P that Won't Break the Bank!

Okay guys do not let Valentine's Day sneak up on you and then have to run into the nearest mall trying to find the perfect gift!   Remember last year?  Does your sweetie even remember last year's gift?  This year get moving now and pick out a gift that will make her go, "WOW!" and won't break the bank.  I have been thinking about how to help you find a gift that is as special as she is and I have hit the jackpot with Sweet P's organic Crystal Heart Perfume.

The Perfect Addition to your Weight Loss Efforts...Plus, your entire family will love these gluten free, wheat free and anti-oxidant packed Action Nutrition Bars!

Okay so really I am in love with these yummy and healthy Action Nutrition Bars and there really couldn't be a better time for you to give them a try.  It's like today right?  Okay, so then yes, this IS the best time to try out one of my family's favorite, healthy snacks.  These healthy, packed with protein bars will keep you feeling full longer (great for weight loss) and satisfy any sweet tooth with all natural ingredients.  Action Nutrition Bars are packed full of  "good for your body stuff" in the form of essential vitamins (like B-12), minerals and anti-oxidants (like Omega-3's).  Plus, they are wheat free, gluten free and Kosher!

It is not often that I find a super sweet, totally satisfying, chewy and healthy treat that I can feed to my family and know that they are actually benefiting from eating it.  My favorite is Peanut Butter Chocolate and my daughter (who is 13) loves the Chocolate Molten.  She eats them like crazy which is great as she hardly seems to eat anything at all anymore.  The only downside I have found with these "candy" bars is that when the kids eat them, they leave the wrappers all over the house...not a bad downside huh?

So what are you waiting for? Go pick up a 12 pack right now!

Want Green and Healthy Recipes? Check this Eco Recipe Site that Kicks Booty!

Hi there peeps!  I am in full swing getting ready for the Holiday...if full swing means I still have to buy and wrap presents and prepare a Green Christmas for 30 people.  It seems like there is never enough time in the day for kids, volunteering, husband, work, bills, shopping blah blah blah.  Anything I can find to green my family and make my life easier is mega valuable to me and I have a great find to share today.

There are certainly a ton of  recipe blogs and sites out there but I have never really found one that flipped my lid until today.  You must check out the Eco Recipes blog.  The first dish that grabbed my attention was the Avocado Citrus Salad recipe as I am an avocado freak.  The recipes take the angle of no GMO's, refined sugars or unhealthy fats and there are some really delicious sounding dishes to prepare.

Check it out and enjoy some delicious healthy eats!


Click HERE to join our community!

Check out PETA's "Banned" Thanksgiving Day TV Ad called "Grace"...would you have wanted to see this during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?

I think this is a cute ad, right?  The little girl kind of reminds me of how I act at family functions when I talk about environmental and health issues surrounding plastic water bottles, aspartame, food additives, recycling, parabens, organics...everyone loves it!

The ad is right on target when it talks of the toxins in our poultry in the USA.  NPR recently posted a report titled "Tests Find Chicken Often Contaminated, But Better Than Before" which says that
Two-thirds of store-bought chickens are contaminated with salmonella, campylobacter or both. The good news is, the rates are lower than they were lower than they were two years ago.  Organic birds fared
only slightly better.

I am on the precipice of going vegan and two of my daughters are ready to jump on board.  If I were to show them this ad, it would most certainly push them over to the vegan way of life.  How about you?  Does this ad bother you?  Are you happy ABC, Nickelodeon, and other networks would not let it air on Turkey Day here in the US?

Click HERE to join our community!

Paul McCartney Launches New Food Campaign to Curb Carbon Emissions...Meat Free Monday!

Who gives off more gas?  A vegan in an SUV or a meat eater in a hybrid?  Okay we are not talking gas from the bean and veggie consuming driver, we are talking about Greenhouse gas!  The answer is...the vegan in their huge, gas guzzling SUV still gives off less gas than the meat eater.  It seems that just one day a week spent not eating meat can reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally by 20%!

I am sure you have heard all of the jokes, cows and their um..."emissions".  Well it seems that livestock's contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions or GHG can be 18%!  Compare that to the 13% of total global emissions from transport.  This information comes from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization which, I don't know about you, but I am not a big believer in.  Remember the  Oil for Food fiasco from 1993 to 2003?  You can read the UN's response to this criticism HERE. 

Still, there is a huge body of information out there that says that  carbon emissions are contributing to climate change.  Of course there are also scientists that say human contribution is not a causal factor in climate change and there are some that say climate change is a myth completely.  What do you believe? 

It seems like things like carbon offsets and doing things to reduce our emissions can only be a good thing right?  Some would argue that the costs associated with reducing, taxing and offsetting those carbon emissions, without total assurance that it is necessary, is a cost America does not need to pay.  Across the ocean, though, it is a different story. 



Sir Paul McCartney (along with two of his daughters Stella and Mary) has launched a new food campaign called Meat Free Monday.  He is asking people to go meat free on Mondays help slow climate change. 

Environmental group Greenpeace estimates that every kg of beef we eat represents roughly the same GHG emissions as flying 100km and the group, Compassion in World Farming, estimates that if the average UK household halved its consumption of meat, this would cut more emissions than if they cut their
car use in half.

So what do you say?  "Where's the Beef" or where's the need?

iPhone Goes Green...Veganize your iPhone Apps and Search for Food Additives!

I just found this awesome app for your iPhone or iPod Touch that is a must have for Vegans and Vegetarians. VegOut makes food choices easy peasy when eating out. VegOut provides the world's largest international listing of vegan, vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants at your finger tips. You can find listings by your exact location using your iPhone's GPS or, if you are planning to travel, you can input a custom location.

VegOut is powered by HappyCow. Visit happycow.net for restaurant listings and much more.

Click Download VegOut from the AppStore now!

For those who want to find out what additives are in our food, Food Additives is another must have. This app will give you the skinny on every additive in your food and whether or not it has animal derived ingredients. We all need this one!

VEGAN Soup Recipe Means Dinner is Done!

A hearty soup, whether meat, seafood, vegetable or grain-based, makes a satisfying one-pot meal. Add a loaf of your favorite crusty bread (sans partially hydrogenated fats) and dinner's done. Please let me know what you think about this vegetarian soup recipe with cheese crisps. VEGANS you'll have to substitute with your own cheese-less crisps. You can make this soup ahead of time or freeze it. Did I mention it is packed with fiber which helps keep you healthy and your immune system functioning properly! Enjoy and click HERE for more great recipes from Whole Foods.

A New Year A New You! Arbonne Figure 8 Weight Loss Challenge

Healthy living is a choice. One that is very much in your control. With this in mind, Arbonne developed Figure 8, a complete line of products that help you re-establish a positive relationship with your body by achieving and maintaining the healthy lifestyle you desire. So whether it’s to lose weight or to continue on your path to healthy living, with Figure 8, the power to control your health destiny is in your hands.

Figure 8 helps you to ...
• Lose and maintain weight
• Choose healthy snacks and meal alternatives
• Add protein and fiber to your diet
• Find the energy you need to get through the day
• Detox your body

Nutritious products for weight loss, weight management and healthy living.
It’s what’s on the inside that counts. What we put into our products isn’t the only thing that separates us from other brands; it’s what we leave out that puts us in a league of our own.

Figure 8 includes a combination of products that:
1. Help control appetite — feel fuller longer*
2. Boost metabolism and increase energy*
3. Are high in protein
4. Are low in calories
5. Are low in sugar
6. Are low in fat, have no saturated fat or trans fat
7. Contain no cholesterol
8. Have no artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors
9. All Figure 8 products are formulated Vegan and Kosher.




* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease

What's Wrong with the Way we Eat?

In this fiery and funny talk, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman weighs in on what's wrong with the way we eat now (too much meat, too few plants; too much fast food, too little home cooking), and why it's putting the entire planet at risk.

Bugs in my Food and Makeup?

By SUSAN SALISBURY
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Monday, January 05, 2009
Got bugs? Got waffles, lipstick, yogurt or strawberry milk? How about candy, shampoo and nail polish? Unknown and unnoticed by most consumers, the juice of a tiny beetle first used by 16th century Spanish explorers is responsible for red, pink, orange and purple coloring in hundreds of U.S. products.
Now, the Food and Drug Administration has decided to make food and cosmetic manufacturers identify the buggy source of carmine or cochineal extract, which may be identified only as "color added" , E-120 or simply cochineal in a product's list of ingredients.
There is no way to tell how many products contain the dyes, said Mike Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington: "It can be anything red."
Or other colors: Cochineal is bright orange, while its more purified form, known as carmine, is vivid red. They also may be found in purple or pink coloring.
Center for Science in the Public Interest has spent the last decade attempting to get the ingredient banned, based on reports of severe allergic reactions to the coloring, but even it hasn't been able to accumulate a complete list of products colored with the dye made from the female insect's crushed, dried body.
According to anecdotal cases published on the FDA's Web site, one girl ate a red ice pop and broke out in hives. A woman was hospitalized for five days after eating red candy. A woman who ate strawberry yogurt and fruit punch had difficulty breathing.
Such allergic reactions are the basis for the FDA's rule, which officially was posted Monday. "Cochineal extract and carmine are safe for the majority of the general population," FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Kwisnek said. "FDA is taking this action to protect the small number of consumers who are allergic to these color additives."
However, the labeling won't take effect for another two years.
Some manufacturers have begun voluntarily listing carmine as an ingredient on packaging. A check of supermarket shelves found both Dannon and Yoplait strawberry yogurts stating "colored with carmine" on their labels. And cosmetics manufacturer Aveda markets lipsticks free of "bright magenta red pigment extracted from the boiled, dried or crushed shells, wings and eggs of the female beetle Coccus cacti." Estee-Lauder uses carmine and will comply with the new ruling.
Cathy Cook, a spokeswoman for the International Association of Color Manufacturers, said, "The beverage companies have been doing voluntary labeling for some time now" and points out that the bug, used in dyes since the 1500s, has a long history of safe use. The trade group supports the FDA's labeling requirement. Adds Cook, "If people have a genuine medical need to avoid something, they can contact the companies."
But the Center for Science in the Public Interest thinks the voluntary and the required labeling are not enough. The center also wants labeling to let people know the coloring is from an insect, without consumers having to scurry to the dictionary. Vegans may want to know they are ingesting even minute residue from an insect, said Jacobson, as would people adhering to strict kosher laws.
The Juice Products Association in Washington, which represents 130 companies, supports the label requirement but balks at any requirement indicating the dyes' insect origins, pointing out that carmine is already the common name for the bug-derived dyes.
Palm Beach Gardens dietitian Christine Bandy said she has never encountered anyone allergic to carmine, but said, "Anything with a label is not natural anyway. The more clean and whole food is, you don't have to worry about it to begin with. That is the take-home message."
For a complete line of personal care products, including makeup, without carmine, click on the title above.

Check this out!

Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you know that on my last detox I lost 3 pounds. When you have 30 minutes listen to this great info on detoxing and how it works with your daily skincare regimen. Download to your ipod and listen on the go!

4.24.08 : Product KnowledgePartner your Daily Skin Care regimen with the SeaSource Detox Spa™ line — Sr. VP Product Development & Field Events, Candace Keefe and Sr. VP of Marketing, Brad Wayment- Listen Online- View Script- Download MP3s to burn: Full Session (32.7 MB)

Help...How do I take care of my skin? By Bonnie Primm

Taking Care of Your Skin is its Own Reward
SKIN CARE
I’ve been thinking about why some
women care more about their
appearance than others. I think
some of it is inherited behavior, but for
many women, the problem is not knowing
what to do. Perhaps they do not
understand what is really happening to
their skin as it ages. By the way, caring
about your appearance is not a superficial
vanity. Good-looking and goodfeeling
skin is good health.
How well we age is due to many
factors. Surprisingly only 10% is due to
our genetics. Ninety percent of the
visible signs of aging is a result of
outside influences, which means we can
do something about it. This article will
help explain how you can slow down the
visible signs of aging. Devoting a small
amount of time to taking care of your
skin can make a huge difference, and
using the best products to help our face
and body age will reward us with beautiful
skin for years to come. I don’t think
this is a generation who believes in the
dignity of aging without looking great!
Perhaps you’ve cleansed your face
the way many of us were taught to, that
is, using soap and water, or Noxzema or
the drug store brand of facial soap.
Unfortunately, soap removes the protective
acid mantle of the skin for six
hours. I actually have friends who never
remove their makeup before going to
bed.To be honest, I would rather shop for
new shoes than peruse the department
store cosmetic departments and try to
understand the jargon, the combinations,
and, I hate to say this, the hype. Perhaps
the most obvious reason is there is so
much out there to choose and to try, that
it just gets time consuming and expensive.
Instead we head over to the shoes.
But there comes a time when you
cannot avoid what you are seeing: the
lack of freshness, grayness, dryness,
flaccid texture, larger pores, fine and
deep lines. It happened to me, and I
knew I had to do something. So, I went
to the back of local off-price stores and
found creams from France or spas and
thought this was the right thing to do.
Results were few, and unanswered needs
many.
I began to pay closer attention to
available products and learned a few
things that I’d like to share. All of us
need to cleanse, tone, and moisturize. It’s
best to avoid products made with
petroleum products (i.e., mineral oil),
fragrances and dyes, and animal products
or by-products. Mineral oil has a composition
of molecules that lie on top of
the skin and prevent the natural breathing
of the skin. Ninety percent of everything
we put on our skin goes into our body.
And, the toxicity in the air easily enters
our skin creating oxidation and aging.
Fragrances and dyes promote or create
allergic reactions, and they too are
absorbed. When properly formulated,
botanically based facial products are the
safest and purest type of ingredients to
use on your face and body.
Cleansing is your first step. What to
use? No soap—remember?—because
soap removes the protective acid mantle
of the skin. That’s what “squeaky clean”
means. Proper cleansing means removing
dead cells and stimulating new ones, as
well as dissolving excess oils and
impurities, and it should soothe and
condition.
Toning is important to achieve the
proper pH balance for healthy skin,
which is 5.5. Toners also remove
cleansing residue, restrict pores, and are a
tonic for the skin. Without the correct
pH, good skin products cannot do their
best work.
Moisturizing is a final step. Believe it
or not, even oily skin needs a moisturizer
to protect the skin and maintain moisture.
Moisturizers are meant to keep moisture
in and prevent dryness. (How long would
an apple last if it did not have its protective
peel?) Keep in mind that facial
moisturizers should not be applied to the
eyes because you do not want to plump
up delicate eye tissue or create sensitivity,
burning, or redness. To reduce
puffiness, use an eye cream with safe
astringents, such as watercress and
cucumber, and soothing ingredients to
firm and moisturize.
Some additions to the your skin care
regiment would include antioxidant
vitamin serums to feed your skin, scrubs,
and masques. Again, please make sure
these products are pure, safe, and
beneficial.
If we look healthy and attractive, we
feel good, and vice-versa. I personally do
not know many people who do not want
to look younger and be healthy for a long
time. Is it worth the time and money to
look and feel better, maybe even great?
Think about how much you spent on
that last outfit and how often you’ve
worn it. How many days a year do you
wear your skin? I can assure you, the
price of a few “pretties” is never worth
the price of skin that is not healthy,
glowing, and fresh looking.
Isn’t it time to bypass your family’s
history of skin care and start pampering
your skin? Do you really want to
wrinkle and dry up? With today’s
incredible skin care products, you
definitely don’t have to. ■
Bonnie Primm

Compare Olay to Arbonne

Click Olay.com – Total Effects Fights 7 Signs of Aging

Above and below are links to facial, skin care products that have worked the best for me. Click on the link above and below to compare the Oil of Olay (please know they contain parabens) to the Arbonne (no parabens) Information below.

Click https://www.arbonne.com/products/anti-aging/

9 Key Anti-Aging Elements Combined Into A Proprietary Blend

1.Bio-Hydria Complex - proprietary blend of plant nutrients that soften and condition skin.
2.Nanosphere Technology - nanosphere contains vitamins A,C & E, which act as antioxidants. Nanospheres help product, condition and adjust to skins specific needs.
3.Vitamin C, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate - A biologically (highly)-active form of vitamin C that helps support collagen, elastin and ground substance (the strength and elasticity of the skin).
4.Stimu-Tex - Elhibin, a revolutionary, plant-derived skin protectant, contributes to skin's elasticity, softness and smoothness. Stimu-Tex, a unique, plant-derived skin moisturizer, helps to improve the appearance of the skin's epidermal lipid layer, minimizing water loss.
5.Alpha Lipoic Acid - A powerful antioxidant that penetrates skin quickly to help reduce the signs of aging.
6.Kojic Acid - A highly effective , natural skin lightening agent that reduces the appearance of long term sun and environmental damage.
7.Copper - Visibly smooths, softens and firms skin. Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, while promoting younger-looking skin.
8.Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids - Activates healthy cells, while diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
9.Peptides - improves skins roughness and lessens the appearance of wrinkle volume and wrinkle depth.

Arbonne International is the first and only skin care company to blend this unique combination of anti-aging elements in a proprietary system of day and night products.

I experienced good results with both products but an increased glow, tightening of skin, and wrinkle reduction with Arbonne.

Compare Oil of Olay's Base skin care product which adds 7 "ways" to fight aging as opposed to Arbonne's 9 proprietary ingredients. Do they test on animals? Arbonne is 100% VEGAN and never tests on animals nor does any member of their supply chain. Arbonne is a P.E.T.A. Silver business friend and contain no animal products or by-products. With Arbonne everything is packaged in 100% recyclable materials. I am not sure if the plastic insert in the Olay product is actually bio-degradable or recyclable? What does all of this mean to your face - nothing. But it definitely means something to me as an informed consumer. It is important to me what companies I support and believe in and on what principles my products are based. I need products that deliver on their promises and that have a corporate conscience about our world. I welcome positive information and comments on Oil of Olay - Total Effects and Arbonne. Thoughts?

The Skin is an Organ too!

The skin is an organ too and absorbs allergens just like your stomach does. Please be careful what you put onto your body as much as what you put into your body;in make-up, skincare, haircare, weight loss products, vitamins and supplements. We do not have to be careful of only products like mineral oil and animal products and byproducts in our toilletries and skin care, we must also be aware of our allergies and sensitivities. Remember too that there are many names for products. For example, take a look below at all of the various names for SOY:

Hydrolyzed Soy Protein (common name: Soybean) Hydroylzed Soy Protein Maleated Soybean Oil (common name: Soybean) Soy Lecithin (common name: Soy Lecithin) Soy Lecithin (scientific name: Soy Lecithin)Soya Lecithin Soybean (scientific name: Glycine Soja Oil) Soybean (scientific name: Glycine Soja Protein) Soybean (scientific name: Hydrolyzed Soy Protein) Soybean (scientific name: Maleated Soybean Oil)

Granted, most of those names contain the word soy, but would you know that Glycine Soja Protein is soy? Here is another example. Here are various names for Wheat:


Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol
Wheat (scientific name: Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract) Wheat (scientific name: Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil) Wheat (scientific name: Triticum Vulgare Starch)Please note that ingredients may have more than one name and could possibly be listed under these various names; therefore, please do not regard any of these product lists for certain ingredients as comprehensive.


I can make it easy for you and use Arbonne International's extensive Consultant Product Knowledge help tool for access to allergen information specific to your sensitivity or allergy in our over 400 products in 6 categories. Contact me for a personal consultation. shane@arbonne.com or check out my website at http://www.shane.myarbonne.com/ . Make it a healthy day!