Moms and Dads, Here is What You Should Know About the Gardasil HPV Vaccine for Girls and Boys

Are you considering Gardasil for your son or daughter? 

Obviously, after what happened to my dad, it is no secret that I loathe vaccines.  Still, all of my children have been vaccinated against harmful childhood diseases.  If you have questions about whether or not to vaccinate your children, please check out What You Should Know Before Giving Your Child a Vaccination or Getting One Yourself for more information.  Today, though, I want to talk a little bit about the HPV vaccine known by the name of Gardasil here in the US.  I didn't think I could hate the HPV vaccine any more, but now that they are offering it to boys, I think I might be mustering up a bit more loathing for this vaccine.

 "Story at-a-glance

Great Green Gifts Under $20 in the Environmental Booty Easy Green Holiday Gift Guide! The Best Eco-Friendly Deals Are HERE at Buy Green Wholesale Pricing PLUS 10% OFF with Free Shipping!

Great Green Gifts Under $20 in the Environmental Booty Easy Green Holiday Gift Guide!  The Best Eco-Friendly Deals Are HERE at Buy Green Wholesale Pricing PLUS 10% OFF with Free Shipping on Orders Over $75!  

It's time to get shopping and start saving!!

I love just about every single eco-thing I have ever seen offered on BuyGreen.com so I have partnered with them for this year's Environmental Booty Easy Green Holiday Gift Guide.  The folks at Buy Green are really friendly, easy to work with and their wholesale prices are the absolute best I have found.  This year for holiday, green gift giving I am pointing you in the best direction for great pricing and super customer service.  I have arranged for you to be able to enjoy the best eco-friendly deals for under $20 here on Environmental Booty through our partner, Buy Green.  And the best news is that these green deals and our special discount code last all through the holidays!

Just be sure to use code "EBFAN" at checkout for an additional 10% off of everything in our Easy Green Holiday Gift Guide and any order over $75 ships FREE. Don't worry if you don't see everything you are looking for below in our Green Holiday Gift Guide, you can see the entire selection of eco-friendly items available for holiday gift giving on our BuyGreen partner's site here. 

Don't you love getting great deals on eco-gifts you know will be loved?  Happy saving and happy holidays!!

Drinking a Few Cups of Coffee a Day Lowers Cancer Risk in Women. So Should You Fill Up On Caffeine Free or Full Strength?

Image via Wikipedia

A  new study from the Harvard School of Public Health, which was backed by the National Institutes of Health, says drinking a few cups of coffee a day lowers the rate of endometrial cancer in women.  Drinking coffee has also been linked to a lower rate of diabetes and Parkinson's disease.

The researchers at Harvard analyzed data on 67,470 women between the ages of 34 and 59 who were followed for about 26 years. Compared to women who drank little or no coffee, those who averaged four or more cups per day had a 25% lower risk of developing endometrial cancer, and those who drank two or three cups per day had a 7% lower risk.

If you can't handle the caffeine don't worry!  The study did not find that caffeine was necessary for the health benefit.  Women who drank 2 cups of decaffeinated coffee still had a 22% reduction in endometrial cancer.  Although a direct cause and effect relationship has not been established between coffee and cancer fighting, the best guess is that coffee acts as an antioxidant.  Interestingly, the same association was not found from drinking tea as it seems that coffee has even more antioxidants than green tea. 

My Super Fast & Easy Secret Weapon Guacamole Recipe Revealed Just In Time for Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Quesadillas!

I get so many compliments on my my Super Fast & Easy Secret Weapon Guacamole Recipe that I have decided to reveal the ingredients just in time for you to serve it with my favorite organic blue corn chips, salsa and turkey quesadillas you can easily make from leftover Thanksgiving turkey.  Like I have said before, I am not so great in the kitchen but my guacamole is really fast and easy and to make with my secret weapons - Seven Oak's Ranch Organic Southwest Blend Nuggets and Jane's Crazy Mixed-Up Salt.

My Super Fast & Easy Secret Weapon Guacamole Recipe

The Latest News on The HFCS Corn Sugar False Advertising Case Just Got a Little Sweeter for Consumers

Sugar Growers Accuse Corn Refiners Association, ADM and Cargill with Conspiracy to Deceive Consumers through National False Advertising Campaign

The Corn Sugar false advertising case just got a little sweeter for consumers.  Sugar cane and sugar beet growers have filed an amended complaint in federal court charging that corporate members of the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) – makers of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) – are behind a “conspiracy” deliberately designed to “deceive the public.”  This goes further than their initial filings and actually claims a conspiracy.  Now we're getting somewhere.

The amended complaint, filed late last Friday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, alleges that senior executives of agribusiness conglomerates, including Archer-Daniels-Midland, Cargill and others “organize[d] collectively in order to dominate and … control” the ongoing marketing campaign to rename HFCS as “corn sugar.” Their national advertising campaign also claims that HFCS is a “natural” product equivalent to real sugar from cane and beet plants. The sugar farmers argue that those claims are untrue and it looks like the courts are on their side.

What You Should Know Before Giving Your Child a Vaccination or Getting One Yourself

One of the last times I danced with my father.  Now he is in a wheelchair from a Hepatitis-b vaccination

Since my father contracted Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) from a Hepatitis-b vaccination 10 years ago, I have become an advocate for knowledge and personal choice when it comes to vaccines.  Before my dad became ill, I never believed that anyone could be injured from getting a vaccine.  All of that silly talk I heard about vaccine's being dangerous just went in one ear and out the other because I believed my US Government was protecting consumers.

I couldn't have been more wrong about who was actually protecting consumers from vaccine injury and that is the one thing you need to know before giving your child a vaccination or getting one yourself.  The only person who will protect you or your children from vaccine injury is you. You must take the time to get informed about the possible side effects of vaccines, who might be susceptible and when to say "No" to a vaccine for yourself or your child.  If you are wondering where to start, head to the National Vaccine information Center.  As a mother, I have found them to be an invaluable resource.

Visit the NVIC today to find out what 8 questions you should ask before you or your child gets a vaccination

Green Is Universal Giveaway - Win a $100 NBCUniversal Gift Card in Honor of Green Week!

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Rafflecopter entry form below to enter to win a $100 NBCUniversal gift card

NBCUniversal kicks off Green Week!
This past Sunday kicked-off Green Week at NBCUniversal and they want YOU to tune in, take part and enter to win a $100 NBCUniversal gift card in the Green Is Universal Giveaway! 

Just in time for holiday gift giving win a $100 NBCUniversal Gift Card good for anything in the NBCUniversal store!   Enter below

NBCUniversal believes that "Green is Universal" and they translate that belief into action every day...
From installing sustainable bamboo flooring and finding ways to save energy through product innovation and distribution to educating consumers through environmentally friendly themed programing, NBCUniversal is walking with us on the path to a greener tomorrow. 

• Sustainability @ NBCUniversal
• Programming
• TV Production
• Film Production
• Theme Parks
• Products and Packaging
• Facilities
• International
• Employee Engagement
• Consumer Engagement
• Press & Recognition

NBCUniversal wants YOU to know that "You Don't Have to Do a Lot, to Do a Lot" and they want YOU to be a part of Green Week!   
Aside from offering you a chance to win a $100 NBCUniversal gift card, they want to get the recycling message out that Mugs Save Trees.  In fact, they are asking you to take a personal pledge to help save trees and use a reusable mug.  People are even posting pictures of themselves with their reusable mugs in the  Show Us Your Mug Sweepstakes.  It's pretty cool to see so many people going green!

NBCUniversal wants you to know that Mugs Save Trees!

NBCUniversal wants to hear how you Pay Green Forward in YOUR life for a chance to win a $100 NBCUniversal gift card!
I think it's totally cool that NBCUniversal is working so hard to go green and is asking us to take part in recycling and going green with them.  Green truly is universal and each of us every single day can, and do, work in little and not so little ways to live green don't we? I try to set a good example for my girls by recycling everything I possibly can and it is so rewarding to see them sharing that green message with their friends.  One of my daughter's friends actually collected scrap paper from her friends at school and brought it to our house to toss in the recycling bin. You don't have to do a lot, to do a lot right? 

11 Year Old EcoErek Recycles 10,000 Pairs of Jeans and Gives the Gift of Meaning to His Community

Click above to see the slide show that will make you smile

I am constantly amazed by kids.  I stand in awe of my daughters' energy, imagination and dreams.  Not that kids aren't a total challenge and more work than we parents could have ever imagined, but they are our future aren't they?  They are our future doctors, teachers, mothers and fathers that we must place our trust in to lead our country to a prosperous, healthy and sustainable future.  Kids like 11 year old "Eco" Erek aren't waiting until we adults give them the reigns, though, they are making their impact felt now.

What I am Loving Right Now for Green Holiday Gift Giving - All Natural, Non-Toxic, Aromatherapy Candles Sustainably Made from Beeswax...at Wholesale Pricing!

What I am Loving Right Now for Green Holiday Gift Giving - All Natural, Non-Toxic, Aromatherapy Candles Sustainably Made from Beeswax...at Wholesale Pricing!

Two options:
- Set of Beehive Glass and Two (2) Refill candles, shown above beautifully packaged and ready to give!
- Candle Refills - Single Six (6) ounce (4.2 oz. by weight) candle - burns for over 35 hours.

I have been looking through all of my green living partner sites to prepare a Green Holiday Gift Guide but I came across a most awesome green gift giving idea that I just cannot wait to tell you about.  Since I have been trying to live more sustainably and have fewer chemical scents in my home (due to my daughters' asthma), I have fallen in love with beeswax candles and I  have discovered that Big Dipper Wax Works has the best all natural, non-toxic and non-allergenic, beeswax candles that burn clean and soot free for what seems like forever.  I like that beeswax is the purest of all waxes, is a product of the sustainable beekeeping industry and is paraffin free; paraffin is a petroleum based product that most candles are made of.

I have become a big fan of Big Dipper Wax Works' therapeutic aromatherapy candles and today I found these special candles boxed and ready to give in an adorable beehive, glass votive!  The price is right too.  You must check them out and pick some up in just the right scent for your mom, sisters, friends, teachers, coaches and anyone else who could use a little aromatherapy in their life!

Big Dipper Wax Works offers nine fabulous Aromatherapy Scents boxed and ready to give:
 1. Clarity - Lime and May Chang is a cheerful, citrus tonic that fuels awareness and certainty
 2. Enlightenment - Bergamont and Mint is a fresh, energizing union that brings wisdom and clarity
 3. Harmony - Lavender and Geranium is a calming, floral blend that promotes balance and relaxation
 4. Meditation - Rosewood and Cedarwood is a calm, woody aroma that clears the mind and promotes inner peace
 5. Radiance - Ylang Ylang and Tangerine is a warm, delightful blend that inspires well being and wisdom
 6. Rapture - Patchouli and Cassia is a stirring exotic aroma that arouses passion and renews the spirit
 7. Rejuvenation - Sweet Orange and Clove Bud is a spicy, uplifting medley that revives and restores inner strength
 8. Sensuality - Palmarosa and Geranium is a warm, floral blend that relieves anxiety and sparks desire
 9. Vitality - Lemongrass and Grapefruit is a zesty, refreshing fusion that stimulates the senses and restores the spirit 

My Family's Story - 3 Natural Ways to Decrease Asthma and Allergy Symptoms

My Family's Story - 3 Natural Ways to Decrease Asthma and Allergy Symptoms 

When my middle daughter was three, she was diagnosed with an allergy to egg whites which triggered asthma.  That was eight years ago.  Over the years, I have learned a thing or two about natural and not so natural ways to decrease her symptoms.  Initially after she was diagnosed, her doctor told me that she would most likely outgrow the egg white allergy around age 5 and that there were things we could do (like not allowing her to sleep with her stuffed animals and vacuuming frequently) to keep her asthma at bay.  He also told me that the very best thing I could do to treat her asthma and allergies was to give her Singulair.  I followed all of his orders including dosing her with Red 40, artificially cherry flavored, aspartame laced Singulair.

Bring Your Family Back to the Table with 10 Fast, Easy and Healthy New Favorites Any Cook Can Make with Organic Garlic Gold® Nuggets Southwest Blend and Herbs de Provence

Bring Your Family Back to the Table with 10 Fast, Easy and Healthy New Favorites Any Cook Can Make with Organic Garlic Gold® Nuggets Southwest Blend and Herbs de Provence

Head over to Seven Oaks Ranch website and pick up some Southwest Blend and Harbs de Provence Organic Garlic Gold Nuggets and give the 10 healthy meal ideas below a try...

I think it is so very important to my family's health and well being to make sure we have family meals together at the table.  Whether it is a quick morning wrap I make for my girls on a busy school day, some soup for lunch on a Saturday or a healthy dinner as often as I can, I always try to bring my family together at the table.  I  have said it before, but with the hope that I may meet a kindred spirit or two it is worth saying again, as much as I hate to admit it I am not a great cook.  I can bake, but I am just not creative when it comes to cooking.  

I love my friend Lonna who can create meals for her family from whatever she has in her fridge that are always incredibly flavorful and delicious.  No matter what is going on in her family's life, there is always a warm, homey feeling you get from hanging out at her house.  I have watched Lonna and learned a thing or two from her in the last 15 years that have really helped me in the kitchen: I have learned not to be afraid to try new things, to use fresh whole foods and to always make use of natural seasonings.  

Luckily, over the last few years, I have found Organic Garlic Gold Nuggets from Seven Oaks Ranch and they are some of the "must haves" I have added to my homemaking arsenal.  Organic Garlic Gold Nuggets easily makes my cooking taste like I know what I am doing.  Lonna would be proud.

Occupy Wall Street, You Say You Want a Revolution? I Say I am With The Beatles

Occupy Wall Street, You Say You Want a Revolution?  
I Say I am With The Beatles

You say you want a revolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

You tell me that it's evolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

But when you talk about destruction

Don't you know that you can count me out

Don't you know it's gonna be all right

all right, all right

You Deserve This! Green Living Replenishing Spa Giveaway from Environmental Booty and Shaklee Worth Over $200

This Giveaway Is Now Over - Please click our Giveaway tab above for our current giveaway
You Deserve This! Green Living Replenishing Spa Giveaway from Environmental Booty and Shaklee Worth Over $200

Vitalizer™ Women or Men One Month Supply
Shaklee Energy Chews 2 packs /20 Ea
ProSanté® Purifying Shampoo
ProSanté® Replenishing Conditioner
Enfuselle® Moisturizing Shower Gel
Enfuselle® Shower Sponge
Enfuselle® SPF 30
ProSanté® Long-Lasting Finishing Spray

Retail Value - $224.15

I say it is time to stop and give yourself a pat on the back during this season of giving thanks to THANK YOURSELF with a green living replenishing spa set of my favorite Shaklee products worth over $200!  You deserve this spa set I have put together of 7 green living, safe for you and our planet, vitalizing and nourishing personal care and nutritional supplements.  I use all of these products myself and rely on them to keep me looking great and feeling even better in my busy, mommy, wifey, working, volunteering life.

I really cannot say enough great things about the products and the people who work with Shaklee as Distributors, employees and of course their caring CEO Roger Barnett and his gracious and energetic wife Sloan.  By the way, you must follow Sloan on Twitter!!  She is a riot, has tons of great stories to tell and she is an ally on the green front for all consumers. You can also catch her take on green living in her articles on the Huffington Post.

Roger Barnett, CEO Shaklee &  Sloan Barnett, New York Times best-selling author

Although I may sound like a distributor for Shaklee, I am just one of their biggest fans like green star Gwyneth Paltrow.  I have been fortunate enough to do some work for them, and I can tell you, Shaklee has done their green living due diligence.  You never have to worry about using any of their products on yourself, your family or in your home as all of them are free of harmful chemicals and ingredients.

This year I had the true pleasure to meet one of the doctors who is behind creating Shaklee's line.  Let me just tell you, she knows her science and she understands, personally and professionally, the importance of creating safe, non-toxic products for your family.  She really cares about what she is creating.  I guarantee you will feel more energetic and replenished after one month of using these personal care and supplement products I have picked out for this spa package.  I swear by the Vitalizer™ vitamins, Enfuselle® Moisturizing Shower Gel and ProSanté® Long-Lasting Finishing Spray and cannot wait for you to try them.

You will love using these nourishing products from Shaklee in your home just like I do. You deserve it!