What's in the New All Natural, Low-Calorie Sweetener Called Susta? We Know it's an Alternative to Nutrasweet and Equal (Both Made with Unhealthy Aspartame), but is Susta Safe and What's in it Anyway?

If the video does not load, please click the title above in blue

-After what happened to me with aspartame, I checked Susta out thoroughly.  I have spoken at length with (and trust) the folks at Susta and they are absolutely impassioned about bringing a safe, low calorie, all natural sweetener to consumers!

-I love the way Susta sweetens but has absolutely no after taste
-Only 5 calories per pack!
-I have a major sweet tooth and I use two packs to sweeten a big cup of iced green tea
-Safe and natural
-When I am out, I always have packs in my purse
-I appreciate the added benefit of inulin fiber to help with immunity
-Stable for cooking or use in hot drinks
-Bulk size (called Sustabowl)  for cooking coming soon!

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.

10 Green Storage Solutions

Guest Post by Art Decker, division manager with Self Storage Company

So many people are moving and downsizing these days. I hate to see families hauling huge rolls of bubble wrap and piles of cardboard boxes into their homes to get ready for a move. Most of that stuff just gets thrown away after the move -- or it has to be stored with everything else, in many cases being kept warm or cool in a climate-controlled storage environment. To me, that's unnecessary waste. If you get creative, there are ways to avoid using so much processed packing material -- and to minimize the resources that are used in storage. Here are my top ten green storage solutions:

Making New Green Friends (NOT), Why my Husband is a Moron and How to Move Beyond the Reusable Bag and Really Live Green

So my weekend was totally hectic with the girls cheerleading for Pop Warner Football all day Saturday.  I know I was a cheerleader in HS but this Pop Warner crap is ridiculous.  I mean seriously they take it like it is flipping the most important thing in the world; practice Tuesday, Tumbling Wednesday, practice again Thursday and Friday.  God how I remember looking forward to going out on Friday and now I look forward to my taxi mom duties...NOT!  Then I have to sit through two games on Saturday, which are of course never back to back, because I have a Junior Pee Wee and a Midget or some crap like that.  Well at least this week at the game I think I made some new green friends.  Well, actually I am being facetious.  I really don't think I  made any new friends. 

What's Wrong with Kids Today? Maybe it is the Lead and Cadmium in their Justice and Claire's Jewelry, McDonald's Toys, Brine Lacrosse Gloves, Target Belts, Bauer Hockey Gear, T-Rex Cloth Books and MORE! New Recalls You Need to Know About for Kids' Consumer Products

I keep an eye out on the latest recalls for kids consumer products and this time when I checked in I was flabbergasted at the number of things on the list that I have in my home!  Do you shop at Justice...

Yea, so do I and now I find that these earrings, some of which I have given as gifts, along with necklaces and bracelets are being recalled because of high levels of lead and cadmium.  The latest recall news also contains Claire's Jewelry, McDonald's Toys, Brine Lacrosse Gloves, Target Belts, Bauer Hockey Gear, T-Rex Cloth Books and MORE! 

Please take a moment and run over to Planet Green and check to see if you have any of the recalled items in your home.  You do not want these products around your children!

P.S.- I am really glad that you stopped by our Environmental Booty Blog and I hope you have learned or shared a thing or two.  I hope that , now that you've found us,  you won't lose us!  You can join our green living online community, subscribe to our posts,  download our community toolbar, Tweet with me on Twitter or Come Shop with Me to stay in touch!  - Shane :)

Ditch the Botox and Learn How to Fight Wrinkles Naturally without Harmful Chemicals

Thermaskin works and I love the results!

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Greensations ThermaSkin Repair Stick -- 0.35 oz

Product Details

- Contains: PhytoCellTec, Malus Domestica & Capsaicin.

- Natural Beeswax & Olive Oil Base.

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- Use on chapped skin & lips.

- 100% Natural proprietary formula.

- Protects longevity of skin stem cells.

- Reduces depth of Lines & Wrinkles.

- Combats Chronological Aging.

Want more information?  Check this out!

Be sure to check out these great Thermaskin products too.  I love, love, love Thermaskin!!
















P.S.- I am really glad that you stopped by our Environmental Booty Blog and I hope you have learned or shared a thing or two.  I hope that , now that you've found us,  you won't lose us!  You can join our green living online community, subscribe to our posts,  download our community toolbar, Tweet with me on Twitter or Come Shop with Me to stay in touch!  - Shane :)

Latest Research on BPA or Bisphenol-A by University of Missouri Professor, Frederick Vom Saal, Says Rates of Human Exposure are Higher and More Harmful than Previously Thought from Household Products

Since his lab made frightening discoveries about the plastic lining of aluminum cans, MU professor Frederick Vom Saal drinks his beer from glass bottles.*

So I am sitting in front of my computer in absolute and utter disgust with the top five makers of Bisphenol A: Dow Chemical, Bayer Material Science, Sunoco Chemicals, SABIC Innovative Plastics and Hexion Specialty Chemicals.  Frankly, I don't know how their CEO's sleep at night.  As a mother, I think what they have been doing to consumers, and in particular to children, is reprehensible.  These companies should be held accountable for their complete and total disregard for the future health of our children.

Are Your Purchasing Decisions Influenced by a Company's Efforts to Go Green? Does Going Green Matter?

I received a message from a fellow blogger, named Stephen, who asked me this question, "Are Your Purchasing Decisions Influenced by a Company's Efforts to Go Green?  Does Going Green Matter?"   My eyes lit up when I saw his message because I think it is so important for consumers to give props to companies who are doing their part to go green.  Stephen went on to ask if I might consider taking part in a survey he is hosting on SoftwareAdvice.com to help get some answers to just how important consumers think it is to support green industry.

Stephen's survey coincides with an article he wrote about five companies that are greening their supply chains. In the article, he discusses the efforts of IBM, Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, Patagonia, and Pepsi to reduce their impact on the environment, which are certainly commendable. But he, like many of us, asks the question "Should they be doing more?"   What are the real motivations behind a greener supply chain? Are consumers even aware of these efforts?

If you could please take about 30 seconds of your time and help answer a few quick questions on Stephen's survey, you can help shape the future of green industry.  We are hoping to get a big response that would lead to some substantial results and analysis, so your participation would be a big help. Thanks in advance for your response! 

P.S.- I am really glad that you stopped by our Environmental Booty Blog and I hope you have learned or shared a thing or two.  I hope that , now that you've found us,  you won't lose us!  You can join our green living online community, subscribe to our posts,  download our community toolbar, Tweet with me on Twitter or Come Shop with Me to stay in touch!  - Shane :)

What's Wrong with Kids Today? Maybe ADHD, Asthma, Allergies and Other Illnesses, are Aggravated or Caused by the Artificial Food Additives We Put Into Our Shopping Carts and Kids' Mouths!

Do you know much about the artificial food additives you are tossing into your shopping cart and into your kids' mouths?  Well I have been slowly trying to learn about them and the more I find out, the more I try to eliminate them from my family's diet.  Listen, I am not perfect and I certainly have my struggles with unhealthy habits, but I refuse to let a few unhealthy habits stand as an excuse for me to give up and let it all go to hell.  We have to take time to green ourselves and our families.  I have said it before and I will say it again, going green is about the health of our planet as well as our health!  Want to live green?  It is not hard, it just requires being open to learning new things like where many artificial additives come from and acting on what you learn. 

Did you know that the brand of ice cream, cookie, and potato chip you select could have a direct effect on the behavior, health, and ability to learn for you or your children?  Numerous studies show that certain synthetic food additives can have serious learning, behavior, and/or health effects for sensitive people.  Look I know how hard it is to say no to your kids begging and pleading for oatmeal with colored dinosaur eggs and Fruity Pebbles, but it goes beyond saying "no" to the obvious crap that is on our grocer's shelves.  We must explain to our kids why it is important to take natural vitamins free of artificial colors and additives as opposed to Flinstones artificial vitamins. But exactly what should you tell your kids about artificial additives?

R.E.U.S.E. Jeans...Step into a smaller carbon footprint one leg at a time with 80% recycled denim

I am constantly amazed at how people seem to stop making green consumer choices just after they purchase their stainless steel water bottle and reusable bag.   Living a greener lifestyle means incorporating your care for your health and the health of our planet into every day purchases.  That is why I love my Environmental Booty OpenSky Shop to help us all find the treasure in living green.  Still, I cannot carry everything green in my shop and I need a new pair of jeans.

So after a little detective work with my friend Google, I found an amazing little online shop that specializes in selling recycled jeans, shorts and skirts for women.  R.E.U.S.E. Jeans is a must stop if you are a green girl looking for an adorable and sexy pair of jeans.  Check them out and then begin to take into account greener choices when you are spending your all mighty dollar.  All of your consumer choices make a difference in your health and the health of our planet. 

P.S.- I am really glad that you stopped by our Environmental Booty Blog and I hope you have learned or shared a thing or two.  I hope that , now that you've found us,  you won't lose us!  You can join our green living online community, subscribe to our posts,  download our community toolbar, Tweet with me on Twitter or Come Shop with Me to stay in touch!  - Shane :)

First Consumers Find the Petroleum Derived Food Additive TBHQ in McDonald's Chicken Nuggets and Now Kellogg's Eggo Frozen Waffles? Just How Many Products is TBHQ in Anyway?

So you think you are getting a healthy waffle with the whole grain, but wait a minute..."What is with the TBHQ Kellogs?"

Judging from the number of hits that my post about TBHQ in Mc Donald's chicken nuggets   gets, I thought you guys might be interested in yet another product I have found which contains petroleum (crude oil) derived TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone).   Amazingly enough, I just found TBHQ in Kellogg's Eggo waffles!  According to A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives, TBHQ is a form of butane* (or lighter fluid) and ingesting amounts as little as one gram of TBHQ can cause "nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, delirium, a sense of suffocation, and collapse."   Ingesting TBHQ has also been associated with ADHD in children.  So I wondered, just how much of our food supply is doctored up with TBHQ anyway? 

Why is Pepsico Holding Back from Giving Their HFCS Free, Sugar Sweetened Pepsi and Mountain Dew "Throwback" and Dr Pepper "Made with Real Sugar" Sodas a Permanent Spot on our Grocer's Shelves while they Replace Sierra Mist with New Sierra Mist Natural ?

I was really excited to see the high fructose corn syrup free (HFCS) Pepsi and Mountain Dew Throwbacks and "Made with Real Sugar" Dr Pepper products back on my local market's shelf last month.  Although I am not a soda drinker (aside from the occasional Diet Rite), for the sake of my soda drinking friends and hubby, I hoped these HFCS free sodas would stay this time.  Hey the third time's a charm right?  Well I was wrong.

Pepsico rolled out their "Made with Sugar" Dr. Pepper in  July and has rolled out their Throwback sodas twice before for limited time offerings but this time, in the same month, they rolled out their permanent replacement for Sierra Mist with their new Sierra Mist Natural.  Since the Throwbacks, "Made without Sugar' Dr. Pepper and Sierra Mist Natural all are made with sugar, I kind of thought they would all be here to stay.

Not only is the retro packaging for the Throwback line fun for us old folks to see, the fact that the Throwbacks, "Made without Sugar" Dr Pepper and Sierra Mist Natural products contain absolutely no HFCS, is great green news for all.  The flip side of this good news is the fact that Pepsico seems to be holding back on giving their HFCS free Pepsi, Mountain Dew and Dr Pepper drinks a permanent spot on our grocer's shelves.  I wondered why.  

Why My Latest Green Read "This Borrowed Earth - Lessons from the 15 Worst Environmental Disasters Around the World" by Robert Emmet Hernan Should be on Your To Do List!

I have always been a voracious reader and lately I have happily been devouring green books.  My latest green read, This Borrowed Earth - Lessons Learned from the 15 Worst Environmental Disasters Around the World by Robert Emmet Hernan, has turned out to be one of the most delicious!  So the title could be a little shorter but, for me, the book proved to be a great eye opener and thought provoker.  Aside from the introduction and last chapter (which bombarded me with doom and gloom about how we are killing ourselves through carbon emissions), I really felt like I was getting a missing education on important lessons from the past; this book can only help us to  avert future disasters.  I urge you to put reading this book on your To Do List!

You can pick up a paper back edition for only $17 or the e-book for just $9.99 HERE!

As Hernan says, "If we forget how and why these disasters happened and what horrible consequences emerged from them, we will not avert future disasters."  I could not agree more.  The potential of this book, Global Warming doom and gloom aside, is to help us never forget, to learn about and learn from these lessons to prevent future environmental disasters.  Although there were parts I found unsettling, this is one book that I think every teen and adult should take a couple of hours out of their busy lives to read.    

Americans, Do You Really Know what President Obama's Health Care Advisers Have in Mind for YOU?

As a registered Democrat who no longer automatically votes along party lines, I am appalled at what President Obama's advisers on health care are planning to do with our lives. Are you?  Part of living a green lifestyle is about not only keeping an eye on the future health of our planet, but also looking out for the future health of each and every one of us.  Obama's health care plan is certainly turning me green...as in the color you turn before you puke.

I was all for health care reform but the bill that passed into law through back room deals was NOT THE RIGHT PLAN and it must be repealed.  Do you really know what President Obama's health care advisers have in mind for you?

God help you if you are not 25 or have any type of disability.  Regardless of whether or not Obama calls it what it is, we will be subjected to death panels.  Obama's own adviser Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel put it this way in  February of 2008 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) , "Vague promises of savings from cutting waste, enhancing prevention and wellness, installing electronic medical records and improving quality of care are merely 'lipstick' cost control, more for show and public relations than for true change."

Oh but he didn't stop there.  In the June 18, 2008, issue of JAMA, Dr. Ezekiel writes "Medical school education and post graduate education emphasize thoroughness.  This culture is further reinforced by a unique understanding of professional obligations, specifically the Hippocratic Oath's admonition to 'use my power to help the sick to the best of my ability and judgment' as an imperative to do everything for the patient regardless of cost or effect on others."

Oh so right, if it weren't for that damn Hippocratic Oath, we could save sooo much money on health care right?

Now meet President Obama's  national coordinator of health-information technology, Dr. David Blumenthal. Part of Dr. Blumenthal's job is insure that doctors follow electronically delivered guidelines about what care the government approves as appropriate and cost effective.    

Blumenthal has long advocated government health-spending controls, though he concedes they're "associated with longer waits" and "reduced availability of new and expensive treatments and devices" (New England Journal of Medicine, March 8, 2001). But he calls it "debatable" whether the timely care Americans get is worth the cost. (Ask a cancer patient, and you'll get a different answer. Delay lowers your chances of survival.)


So do you get this yet?  Your doctor will no longer be allowed  to manage your care as they see fit.  Advisers like Dr. Blumenthal will be setting the guidelines for your care to be handed down from a government data base of care.

No wonder so many doctors are so angry; they get it.

Do you?

How do you think we are going to pay for this health care plan without rationing and dare I say it, death panels? 

We must remember who we are.  As Americans, we hold the key to reversing this health care plan.  Use your voice and vote this November to elect people who will help us repeal this flawed plan and do not be afraid to inform your friends and family so they can act too!

P.S.- I am really glad that you stopped by our Environmental Booty Blog and I hope you have learned or shared a thing or two.  I hope that , now that you've found us,  you won't lose us!  You can join our green living online community, subscribe to our posts,  download our community toolbar, Tweet with me on Twitter or Come Shop with Me to stay in touch!  - Shane :)

5 Things You Don't Know About the Electric Car (But Should)

1. HOW THE HECK IT WORKS
In a (layman's) nutshell...Rechargeable batteries provide electricity to a controller, which powers a motor, which, in turn, spins the wheels. Yup, that's it. Instead of filling up with gas, batteries are "filled up" with electricity. Recharging can be done by plugging into a normal 120- or 240-volt electrical outlet and takes anywhere from 4–10 hours.

2. HOW FAR IT CAN GO
Though driving range might vary depending on the type of vehicle and batteries, most EVs can go 80–100 miles on a single charge. And while that's not sufficient for a Thelma & Louise-type adventure, for the general population, it's plenty of power to get to work and home again with a few errands in between. Plus, similar to fuel-powered cars, the way you drive an electric car can affect battery efficiency.

Get a Sneak Peek into Justin Timberlake's Green Certified Mirimichi Golf Resort

 

If you cannot see the video, click the title to refresh the page.

Everyone knows that Justin Timberlake loves golf, but I honestly had no idea that he was so into green that he would shut down his Mirimichi golf course just so he could change it into the first golf course in North, South or Central America to become Golf Environment Organization (GEO) Certified!

The Eco-apparent pop star and his family bought the former Big Creek Golf Course in 2007 which is in his hometown of Memphis.  They spent a reported 16 million renovating, then closed Mirimichi (still not sure what that name is about) back in January of this year to spend even more money to make it more Eco-friendly.

Mirimichi reopened on Monday (9-6-10) with Justin and his family showing off  enhancements and additions that were made throughout the property to improve the greens themselves as well as the environmental sustainability and beautification:

How to Live a Greener Lifestyle? Save Money, Save the Ocean

Wondering how to live a greener lifestyle and save some money too?  Well, live greener and save money with by Saving the Ocean by using reusable stainless steel bottles. 

Save the Ocean?  Those are strong words, and they are becoming more relevant every day.  The habits we’ve adopted on land are severely impacting our ocean Eco-system.  We drink countless bottles of water and since we are drinking them on the go so much (and there aren't many public recycling bins), most do not get recycled!

Take a Page out of Ikea's Book and Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

I love Ikea and now I have just found a reason to not only love them, but to be inspired by them.  I know that they are into green and offer CFL recycling stations in their stores.  Plus by January of 2011, they will be the first US retailer to phase out the sale of incandescent lighbulbs. 

“IKEA is committed to integrating sustainability into all IKEA strategies and practices in the entire product life cycle. We also believe our customers are looking for every day environmentally responsible solutions for themselves. Eliminating incandescents is a simple way to lead the charge for IKEA customers to use energy saving light bulbs, thus reducing energy consumption and reducing the amount of greenhouses gases. It’s a little step with a big impact on our planet,” commented Mike Ward, US IKEA President.

Now I find out that they have created a sort of Ikea's list online (now only in Swedenbut coming soon to you ) to help people resell their gently used Ikea furniture!  The service is free to sellers and shoppers and would seem to go against their bottom line.

September is Organic Harvest Month. Celebrate Organic! Lower the Pesticide Levels in Your Body by Using the Environmental Working Group's Handy iPhone App or Free Copy of the Shopper's Guide to Pesticides

Click the picture above to download your free EWG Shopper's Guide to Pesticides or iPhone app!

September is Organic Harvest Month and you can celebrate with a free iPhone download or by picking up a free copy of the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Shopper's Guide to Pesticides. 

P.S.- I am really glad that you stopped by our Environmental Booty Blog and I hope you have learned or shared a thing or two.  I hope that , now that you've found us,  you won't lose us!  You can join our green living online community, subscribe to our posts,  download our community toolbar, Tweet with me on Twitter or Come Shop with Me to stay in touch!  - Shane :)

Moms and Dads, Safely Prevent and Battle Head Lice Naturally without Pesticides Like Pyrethrin

If you are in scootie cootie crisis and need a natural solution now...skip to the end of this post!*

If you are a mom and have kids in school, chances are you have had the cooties in your child's classroom or worse...in your child's hair and in your home!  A friend of mine was forced by the school nurse to keep her daughter out of school for almost a month and I know of a neighborhood near me that had almost an entire street with kids infested.  Well moms and dads, it is time to get prepared to safely prevent and battle head lice naturally without pesticides like pyrethin.

It doesn't matter how much money you make, where you live or how clean you keep your kid.  Once kids get back to school, sooner or later you will get that dreaded note from the school nurse that a child in your child's class has head lice. God help you if it is your kid who is infested.

Organics Last Longer than Traditional Fruits? Yea You Heard Me Right. New Study Shows Organics Kick Environmental Booty!!!!!

Organic strawberry fields in Watsonville, Calif. (Greg Peck)

A new study is out and it is all good for organics.   Apparently, at least when it comes to the organic strawberries which were studied, organic farms produced more flavorful and nutritious berries while leaving the soil more healthful and genetically diverse. You know, the way farming is supposed to work?  In a surprising twist, the organic strawberries also had a longer shelf life than the other varieties.

My Green Girls are Back to School with Healthy Food in Their Lunch Boxes...but are all Kids that Fortunate? How You Can Help with Ann Cooper's LunchBox Project

So I got my green girls off to school last week and  whew what a relief.  I really love having them around but I know they are just as happy as I am to be able to get back into the groove of school.

This year, unless I okay the lunch on the school menu, I have made a commitment to make nutritious lunched for them to take to school in their lunch boxes.

Things that I consider rare treats or totally off limits are served each day at school.  The school district has made an effort in that they give choices like fruit instead of chips and this year they are even offering vegan options  Still, as I was making my daughter's mozzarella and tomato salad this morning, I thought about all of the kids who may not have parents who are in the position to be able to provide nutritious lunches for their kids and must rely on not so healthy, free lunches from the schools.

Well, check out this renegade lunch lady...