Moms and Dads This Halloween Meet The Candy Witch to Get Rid of Unwanted Candy and If You're Over 40 Just Say NO to Black Licorice - My Green Halloween Tips

Moms and Dads This Halloween Meet The Candy Witch and If You're Over 40, Just Say NO to Black Licorice - My Green Halloween Tips

Candy Witch for iPad, iPod, iPhone
By Wavy Games
The Candy Witch flies, she jumps, she shoot stars from her magic wand when you touch the screen.
Rated 4+
$0.99

Happy Green Halloween my green friends!!  I absolutely love this holiday and the good news is that consumers are spending a ton of cash this Halloween.  Sadly, they are spending a ton of that cash on candy for your kids with HFCS and a rainbow of artificial colors and flavors. Although I am certain there are times when my three girls would give a good argument in favor of that fact that I am, I must say that I am not a mean mom.  I do let my kids eat candy and foods filled with artificial colors and flavors once in a blue moon.  Ever notice how many blue moons there seem to be around birthdays, holidays and those rare times when bribery becomes a necessary evil?  Still, I do not want my kids eating too much crap, even on Halloween, so this year I am using the Candy Witch to help me Green Halloween and get rid of most of my kids' Halloween candy loot.  Listen up because this might just work with the little ghosts and goblins at your house too.

Just How Green is Your State? American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Releases 2011 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard

Just How Green is Your State? American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Releases 2011 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released their 2011 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard this month and, despite a sluggish economy and no comprehensive energy policy from Congress, the news is generally good for states in the US.  You can find out just what your state is doing to improve energy efficiency by viewing the entire report here.  This is the 5th year the ACEEE has made this information available and for the first time, Massachusetts has overtaken California to earn the #1 position.

Top 10 Energy Efficient States

I have often wondered just how green my home state of Florida is and now I know.  Well at least I know how energy efficient Florida is - we are tied for 27th place with North Carolina and New Mexico.  Not bad, but there is plenty of room for improvement and states like Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, Tennessee, Alabama and Maryland scored big showing the most improvement this year. 

Source: ACEEE | The 2011 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard

Pregnant? 5 Ways You Can and Should Avoid BPA

Pregnant? 5 Ways You Can and Should Avoid BPA 

Did you know that bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most widely used chemicals of all time?  In fact, it is probably circulating through your body right now.  It is found in the cord blood of newborns and was present in 93% of 2,517 Americans age 6 and over, tested by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Researchers have linked developmental exposure to BPA to reproductive harm, increased cancer susceptibility, and abnormalities in brain development and fat metabolism.

Canadian and European leaders have already banned BPA for use in baby bottles and in 2009, Sunoco (a Philadelphia based leading gas and chemical company) told investors that the company would no longer be selling BPA to companies for use in food and water containers for children under age 3. The company reportedly told investors that it could no longer vouch for the safety of BPA when used in those products.  Now, a government-funded study published online Monday in the journal Pediatrics is adding to the large body of evidence that BPA is harmful not only to children and adults, but also to the unborn.

In this latest study, Harvard researchers took urine samples from 244 pregnant women living in Cincinnati twice during their pregnancies and once directly after giving birth and measured the BPA concentration.  The study concluded that mothers with high levels of bisphenol A in their urine were more likely to report that their children were hyperactive, aggressive, anxious, depressed and less in control of their emotions than mothers with low levels of the chemical.  While several studies have linked BPA to behavioral problems in children, this report is the first to suggest that a young girl’s emotional well-being is linked to her mother’s exposure during pregnancy rather than the child’s exposure after birth.

Although a total reduction of BPA is impossible, there are things that you can easily do to have a healthier, greener, BPA free pregnancy and life.

Latest News in HFCS Corn Sugar False Advertising Case - US Consumers and Sugar Farmers Win Big as Federal Judge Rules Against Corn Processors

Latest News in HFCS Corn Sugar False Advertising Case - US Consumers and Sugar Farmers Win Big as Federal Judge Rules Against Corn Processors

Federal Judge Rules Against Corn Processors!
Consumer Deception At Issue In False Advertising Case
Case brought by American sugar farmers against big corn processors to stop their false advertising about high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) must go forward.

Remember how all of the sudden HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) is suddenly being called "corn sugar" and we are being told by the CRA (Corn Refiner's Association) that it is safe to eat and just like sugar?  Well, according to U.S. District Judge Consuelo B. Marshall, who issued two opinions comprising her ruling last Friday, “Plaintiffs* have met their burden in showing a reasonable probability of success on their argument that the statements are false.” The judge also ruled that the challenged statements in CRA's multi-million dollar campaign “constitute ‘commercial speech.’”

Um ya think? Does this look like a commercial to you?

How Facebook Is Going Green and Taking Consumers Along for the Ride. Facebook Partners with Opower and the NRDC to Offer Home Energy Efficiency App in 2012

How Facebook Is Going Green and Taking Consumers Along for the Ride.  Facebook Partners with Opower and the NRDC to Offer Home Energy Efficiency App in 2012

Who knew Facebook was so into green?  Did you?  Well soon, the entire world will know as they announced Monday that they are going green with a new Energy Efficiency App to help consumers become more energy efficient.  Slated for release in 2012, the new, green energy app is a collaboration of Opower's existing technology as a home energy management software company and the NRDC's (National Research Defense Council) considerable clout in the green space.  Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Could an Electric Car Be Right for You? Meet The Most Affordable Electric Car in America at The Mitsubishi i 100% Electric Experience and Find Out

Could an Electric Car Be Right for You? Meet The Most Affordable Electric Car in America at The Mitsubishi i 100% Electric Experience and Find Out

Mitsubishi says their new all electric i is "the most likeable car on the planet",  I say it's in a class by itself.

       

If you are wondering if an electric car might be right for you, but you are feeling just a tad bit overwhelmed by all of the green car choices out there, I think I can help you sort through some of the confusion.  You see electric cars don't have to be expensive, difficult to operate or so small that you feel like you should be wearing a big red nose and a clown costume.  In fact, in comparison to all of the green cars available on the market (including the Nissan Leaf), the Mitsubishi i is not only the least expensive electric ride but it is, in my opinion, in a class by itself when it comes to ease of use and efficiency.  But you don't have to just take my word for it, you can find out for yourself what makes the i the leader in electric car technology during the Mitsubishi i 100% Electric Car Experience Tour.

Latest News About Haiti - Where is Haiti after the 2010 Earthquake and How You Can Support The Heart of Haiti with Trade Not Aid to Help The Haitian People Rebuild Their Communities

Latest News About Haiti - Where is Haiti after the 2010 Earthquake and How You Can Support The Heart of Haiti with Trade Not Aid to Help The Haitian People Rebuild Their Communities

The 7.0 Magnitude, January 12th,  2010 Earthquake in Haiti was followed by 53 aftershocks measuring a 4.5 or greater within 12 days.  Up to 220,000 people died and around 1.5 million to 1.8 million were left homeless. The government of Haiti also estimated that 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings collapsed or were severely damaged.  Can you imagine the struggles the Haitian people have had, and still face, as they work to rebuild not only their homes and lives but their economy too? 

Choose Raw Milk or Organic Milk to Avoid This Harmful Monsanto Creation. Don't ask yourself, "Who is Monsanto?" Ask Why rBGH is Allowed in the US but isn't Allowed in Europe or Canada

Choose Raw Milk or Organic Milk to Avoid This Harmful Monsanto Creation. Don't ask yourself, "Who is Monsanto?"  Ask Why rBGH is Allowed in the US but isn't Allowed in Europe or Canada

Yesterday I received the following Tweet from one of my favorite green guys, The Certified Health Nut - Troy Casey...

I really like Troy, and I have come to value his opinions on health so I clicked on the YouTube link.  What I saw, and what you will see in a moment, is yet another example of how Monsanto is putting the health of  US consumers far behind their bottom line.

"Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) is a synthetic (man-made) hormone that is marketed to dairy farmers to increase milk production in cows. It has been used in the United States since it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1993, but its use is not permitted in the European Union, Canada, and some other countries." - The American Cancer Society

NASA and US Farmers Urge You to Get Lost in Space. Space Farm 7 Project Celebrates US Space Program Through Agri-Tourism. Offers Chance to Dine with an Astronaut

The Space Farm 7 project is designed to celebrate the accomplishments of the U.S. space program through agri-tourism

It seems that seven farms across the U.S., in collaboration with NASA, are inviting the public to get lost in space — the space inside crop circles — this fall.  Considering the recent changes over in Titusville at The Space Center,. who knew that NASA was so good at PR ?  Pulling off this huge of a stunt through agri-tourism is sure to be a hit with people all over the country.  But actually, it wasn't even NASA who came up with the plan. 

Win a Chance to Get Your Groceries for Free? Sound Too Good to be True? Well It's Not. Welcome to The Green PolkaDot Box EnvironmentalBooty.com Green Living Giveaway! Everyone Who Enters Gets a FREE Club Membership Valued at $50!

 Win 1 of 3 FREE Reward Memberships to the Green PolkaDot Box that Can Help You Get FREE Groceries!  
Everyone Who Enters Automatically Wins a FREE Club Membership to Get a 60% Discount on Healthy Non-GMO Foods, Organic Foods and  Products

Win a chance to get your groceries for free?  Sound too good to be true, well it's not.  I am so excited about our new green partner, The Green PolkaDot Box organic and non-GMO buying club (like Sam's Club but focused on healthy foods), and the green living ease and savings it offers to consumers in every corner of the United States. Over 11,000 consumers have joined already!  Welcome to The Green PolkaDot Box and EnvironmentalBooty.com Green Living Giveaway!  Everyone who enters will receive a FREE Club Membership valued at $50 and three people could WIN a valuable Reward Membership valued at $125!  This isn't your average giveaway...slow down and take it all in. I promise, it will be worth it.

Even if you live in an area where there aren't any organic foods offered or if you are on a really tight budget, you will still be able to order healthy, organic, non-GMO foods and products from The Green PolkaDot Box.  The Green PolkaDot Box will open for business on the morning of November 1, 2011!  Everyone can order with their Club Membership (normally $50) at up to a 60% discount and Rewards Members can earn up to 5% more in Personal Purchase Discounts as well as PolkaDot Rewards that can pay for your groceries and more!

EnvironmentalBooty.com is giving away 3 FREE Reward Memberships worth a total of $375 to the Green PolkaDot Box but remember, everyone who enters will receive a FREE Club Membership normally valued at $50! That means that everyone who enters automatically wins a FREE Club Membership to get a 60% discount on healthy non-GMO foods, organic Groceries and more.

Everyone who enters our EnvironmentalBooty.com Green Living Giveaway will have access to up to a 60% discount on all of my favorite organic and non-GMO products including: Annie’s Organic, Organic Valley, Earth’s Best, Tom’s of Maine, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, Bob's Red Mill, Health Valley Organic, Kettle Classics, Mineral Fusion, Badger Balm, Preserve (BPA free toothbrushes) and literally hundreds of other brands, covering food, baby care, personal care (including make-up), household, pet care, dietary supplements, BPA free products, non GMO seeds, all the organic fruits and veggies you love and much more. 

With the Green PolkaDot Box Harvest to Home Program, you will even be able to get fresh, non GMO, organic produce shipped to your front door within 24-48 hours of harvest...at a 60% discount!  How easy is that?

The Green PolkaDot Box! 

Launching soon and backed by not only EnvironmentalBooty.com, but also by five of most well-recognized organizations in the world of organic and non-GMO food: Mission Possible World Health International, Citizen’s for Health, NaturalNews, Organic Consumers Association and The Institute for Responsible Technology (Jeffrey Smith's Stop GMO’s group), you know you can feel confident saving and shopping with The Green PolkaDot Box.  

 

It's like a Sam's club but focused on groceries and products for green, healthy living for you, your family and your pets!!  The difference here is that The Green PolkaDot Box makes it easy to live a greener, healthier lifestyle and of course the fact that The Green PolkaDot Box doesn't take any profit from the foods and products that they sell.

The Green PolkaDot Box makes their profit from memberships and it is not unrealistic to expect one million members within their first year.  You see any way you add it up, this online way to shop for organic, healthy, non-GMO foods is every US consumers answer to going green and saving BIG money on their grocery bill - if not eliminating it.  You can even shop by dietary needs you or your family members might have like gluten free, vegan or even diabetic needs.  

  Shopping by non food attributes like BPA free, paraben free, fragrance free or non toxic is easy too!

Plus I love the idea of shopping online for groceries to save time and headaches...no more fights with the kids at the market over what to toss in the cart!  Now Momma's in charge!

Enter to win your FREE Reward Membership valued at $125 below and the chance to get your groceries paid for and automatically receive a FREE Club Membership normally priced at $50 to save up to 60% on your grocery bill!!

How to Buy Affordable Non-GMO Organics, Health Food, Natural Foods, BPA Free Products and More at Up to a 60% Off Discount? Welcome to The Green PolkaDot Box!

How to Buy Affordable Non-GMO Organics, Health Food, Natural Foods, BPA Free Products and More at Up to a 60% Off Discount?  Welcome to The Green PolkaDot Box!

The Green PolkaDot Box!

It's like a Sam's club but focused on groceries and products for green, healthy living for you, your family and your pets!! 

The first nonGMO, organic buying club has opened with over 12,000 members!  Backed by not only EnvironmentalBooty.com, but also by five of  the most well-recognized organizations in the world of organic and non-GMO food: Mission Possible World Health International, Citizen’s for Health, NaturalNews, Organic Consumers Association and The Institute for Responsible Technology (Jeffrey Smith's Stop GMO’s group), finally you can shop online and buy healthy groceries online at wholesale pricing of up to 60% off. 

You can even shop specific products for any dietary restrictions you or your family members might have like gluten free, vegan or even diabetic needs.  

See How Kia Gets Hybrid Right with the 2011 Optima. It's Picture Perfect

It seems as though I always find something wrong with each of the hybrids that have hit the market over the last few years. One is too small, another too expensive.  This time, Kia gets it right with the totally hot, hyper fuel efficient 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid Sedan.  Motor Trend calls it "bold and athletic looking", I call it picture perfect.

Designed by Peter Schreyer, known for his simple yet elegant shapes and forms, this modern, midsize sedan looks nothing like a hybrid but delivers fuel efficiency, comfort and the features of a high priced sedan we all want. Being the car buff that I am, I can't help but look at this ride and want to get behind the wheel.

"Since arriving in showrooms in late 2010, the all-new Optima's combination of stylish design, upscale features and remarkable safety have attracted new customers to the Kia brand, and with gas prices continuing to rise the arrival of our first hybrid model will continue our unprecedented growth and momentum," said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO, KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia. "With a starting price under $27,000, the Optima Hybrid provides fuel-conscious shoppers with an outstanding value proposition by being priced below nearly all midsize hybrid competitors and delivering class-leading fuel economy along with head-turning style and advanced technologies."

Win a Save the Ta-Tas Laughter Heals Tee and Surround Yourself with the Positive, Healing Energy of Happiness! Laugh Yourself Silly and Laugh with the Ones You Love to Help Fight Breast Cancer this October and Beyond

Win a Save the Ta-Tas® Laughter Heals Tee and surround yourself with the positive, healing energy of happiness!  Laugh yourself silly and laugh with the ones you love to help fight Breast Cancer this October and Beyond

I love the way the Save-the-ta-tas® Foundation laughs in the face of cancer, don't you?  Over the last 6 years, the ta-tas® Brand has donated 50% of the profits from their shop to the cause.  To date, with the help of men and women just like you supporting their brand and purchasing their products, they have donated over $680,000 to fund the fight against cancer. 

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, Environmental Booty®  has partnered with Save the Ta-Tas® to urge you to support this year's Campaign to FIGHT CANCER YOUR WAY, FIGHT CANCER TOGETHER! by surrounding yourself with the positive energy of laughter.

"Things that used to bother me, like getting my hair wet in the rain, now make me laugh. I don't sweat the small stuff. I've always been a happy person, but in the aftermath of something big, like cancer, you realize how much needless worry we all go through as human beings." - Good Morning America's Robin Roberts who kicked cancer's butt

So when life doesn't go quite right and you feel like you've been dealt a bad hand, do you ever find yourself thinking negative thoughts or worrying incessantly?  Have you ever stopped to think what kind of affect your negative self talk and worry could be having on every single cell of your body? But wait, it's not just the negative or worrisome thoughts you say to yourself that you should be aware of, your body will respond with a weakened immune system to any negative energies (or people) around you...if you let them. This is the negative side of the mind-body connection.

Folks, the term "mind-body connection" is not just a phrase used to sell books. Believe it or not, there's solid science behind the words.

"Our grandmothers knew all along that our minds and our bodies were connected, even if the scientific community didn't. We've simply provided irrefutable data showing that it's true." - Neurobiologist Dr.David Felten,one of the leading scientists on the mind-body connection 

To Felten's own surprise, in 1981 at Indiana University School of Medicine, he and his team of researchers discovered a hard-wire connection between the body's immune system and the central nervous system under control of the brain. Using special fluorescent stains, Felton's team traced nerves to different locations in the body including bone marrow, lymph nodes, and the spleen.

Incredibly, Felten discovered a network of nerves leading to blood vessels as well as cells of the immune system! The researchers also found nerves in the thymus and spleen which ended near clusters of lymphocytes, macrophages, and mast cells, all of which help control immune function.

So there it was, the mind-body connection. Felten's team had produced clear evidence that the brain has the ability to send signals to immune system cells.  Just think of the power laughter could hold for your immunity. 

This discovery gives you one very big reason to find every opportunity to laugh yourself silly and surround yourself with people who make you happy and bring joy into your life. Be sure to give your mind-body connection the attention it deserves.

"You must give birth to your images. They are the future waiting to be born." - Ranier Maria Rilke

You must give birth to the healthy, happy and productive life you want through the images you create in your mind as well as through your relationships with others. What your mind's eye "sees" is an important part of creating the healthy, happy future you desire.  Surrounding yourself with people who love you and bring happy tears to your eyes is just as important.

Plus, LOL, it's just another reason to listen to grandma!