Winner of the Cream Perfume Giveaway!

Congratulations to Not Easy Being Green and Danyale for winning the Cream Perfume Giveaway! Your day is starting off on a great note. Thanks to all my readers who entered, and good luck on the other giveaways going on this week!

Birdy Botanicals Review and Giveaway!

I am so thankful to have had the lovely pleasure to work with Sally, the creator of the Birdy Botanicals collection of natural beauty products. Birdy Botanicals are made up of premium, organic skin care products at affordable prices. Here is what Sally says about why she created this line. "I created Birdy Botanicals in order to provide an alternative to mass marketed skin care and body products. I've always believed that nature provides most of what we humans need for healthy skin care if we just know to where to look. I strongly believe Birdy Botanicals products combine the best nature has to offer with sustainable, socially responsible business methods."

I agree with her wholeheartedly, and I want to tell you what I think of the products she sent me to try out.

One thing that sets Birdy Botanicals apart from other organic skin care lines is their 3-in-1 products. I have never seen anything so convenient, so safe for your body, and so wonderfully scented! I tried out the 3-in-1 Antioxidant Lotion, Antioxidant Massage Lotion, Soft Skin Gel Cleanser, and Hydrating Lotion Jelly. The first thing I thought when I used them was, "I feel like I am in an organic spa." With scents like Peppermint and Tea tree, Grapefruit and Lemongrass, White Tea and Lavendar, and Aloe and Cucumber, I felt so refreshed and so pampered!! Not to mention, I knew that the scent did not come from unnatural chemicals, but from natural and organic ingredients. LOVE THAT!!

Now let me explain the cool part about the 3-in-1 products. They each have multiple uses, for example, the 3-in-1 Hydrating Lotion Jelly can be used as a light moisturizer,(which I have loved on these hot hot days we have been having) a soothing face mask, or a soothing lotion for after-shaving or mild burns.

Besides the great 3-in-1 products, she also has Butter Balm, an intense solid lotion, that I enjoyed on my elbows and feet. I also loved the Lip Butters, because they come in such fun flavors: Sarsparilla(like Rootbeer), Honeydew, Gooseberry, and Orange-Vanilla. Yummmm!

You can check out all her other products and options at her website: www.birdybotanicals.com. Birdy Botanicals is also on Twitter and Facebook!

I was really thrilled with all of their products, which says a lot. I cannot find one single thing to complain about. The products are high quality, natural and organic, very affordable, eco-friendly, and they have a great guarantee on all their products. I think it is fair to say I am nearly addicted to them! Ha, ha.

Guess what, my lucky readers? You are going to have a chance to join in the love fest, because one reader is going to win a Complete Moisture Kit!! This awesome kit includes:

- 3-in-1 Antioxidant Lotion with lavender and white tea
- 3-in-1 Hydrating Lotion Jelly with aloe and cucumber
- Butter Balm Intense Solid Lotion
- Lip Butter

A big thank you goes out to Sally at Birdy Botanicals for her great products and this generous giveaway!

Oh, and that is not all! If you sign up the Birdy Botanicals Newsletter at www.birdybotanicals.com, you will get 25% off your next order!! Yay!

To enter the giveaway, make sure you are a follower of this blog, Your World: Healthy and Natural! After completing the mandatory first step of becoming a follower, do as many of the following as you can and leave a separate comment here for each:

Head to www.birdybotanicals.com and tell us which product you would love to try!(1 entry)

Subscribe to this blog and comment about it.(2 entries)

Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.(3 entries)

Follow @carathenatural on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway.(1 entry)

Follow @birdybotanicals on Twitter or become a fan of theirs on Facebook.(1 entry)

The deadline for this giveaway is June 11 at 12 am EST, at which time a winner will be randomely chosen. Make sure that you include your email in your comments because if I can't get a hold of you, you can't win!

Motivation to Get Moving

I am getting ready to launch my Summer Boot Camp class in two weeks, as well as all my other summer fitness classes, and I was thinking how sometimes people fall off the exercising wagon during summer. Oh, they have plenty of good reasons - my child has baseball every night of the week, it is too hot outside, we are on vacation...the list goes on and on. So, I want to give you a little extra motivation to get moving and feel your healthiest yet!

First I wanted to share this new study that came out from the U of Alabama about visceral fat.(That is the fat that is sitting deep in your midsection. It is also some of the most dangerous fat!) The study showed that exercise beats out dieting in controlling this ab flab. The researchers checked in on a group of women who had previously lost weight through a combo of diet and 80 minutes of weekly exercise. The motivating part is that only those who stayed with exercising kept off this bad visceral fat. And that was with only 80 minutes a week. That is only 20 minutes for 4 days/week. You can do that!

Want more motivation? Okey dokey.

How about all the studies that have shown that regular workouts can help curb depressions symptoms in the short and long term! I am a personal testimony of this one. Exercise has been a blessing to me in this way.

Check this out too. A recent study found that just a measly 10 minute bike ride can put a stop to smokers' cigarette cravings. That is what I call killing two birds with one stone - get fit and kick the dangerous smoking habit!

Who cares about staying healthier as you grow older? I know I do. I used to save my "fat pants" because I just knew I would gain weight as I got older. I have since learned that is not true. In fact, I think I am in the best shape of my life. Granted I am not that old, but still, I am in better shape than I was in highschool.
Well, get this: Seniors who are lifelong exercisers spend 44 fewer days in a nursing home than sedentary folks. Bonus!

I hope this has helped motivate you to make a little more effort to stick a tad more exercise into your summer days! You can do it!

Ringley Teething Toy Review

Many of you already know that we are expecting another baby in December, so I was so excited when I received a Ringley Natural Teething Toy to review!

With my last son, I was always thinking about whether his plastic toys and teethers were safe, and I am sure they probably weren't. It gave me the willies, but I hadn't seen anything like this Ringley teether before. Boy, am I thankful for a company like this who is bringing safer toys and teethers to the market for our children.

Let me tell you a little more about Ringley. Their teethers are made with 100% certified organic cotton and natural untreated maple wood. LOVE THAT! Maple wood just so happens to be one of the strongest, safest types of wood for children to have in their mouths because it will not splinter. Thank goodness!

They are also made free of dyes and without harmful chemicals - no BPA, Phthalates, PVC, or Parabens. You can use them wet or dry, and you can easily wash them.

Sounds pretty great, right? Well, it really is! When I touched the organic cotton part of the teether, it was so soft and just looked like something a little one would want to play with or chew on. I am giving this teether 2 big thumbs up!

Parents, you will love this. If you are not a parent, I think this would be a perfect baby shower gift topper.

You can find them at www.ringley.ca

New Blog Button

Good morning, Everyone!

Yes, you did see it right. I actually have a blog button now. And isn't it cute? You can thank my sister for it. She is the one who helped me get a button and join all the cool bloggers. :-) Ha, ha.

Feel free to share my button with others or post it on your blog to show your support. I am really hoping to finally get 100 followers this week, so thank you to all of you who have already shown your support!

Have a great day, and enjoy this beautiful weather!

Cara

Follow Me Back Tuesday!

Welcome to Your World: Healthy and Natural!

My site is here to help you all live your best life and share my journey with you. I share tips about everything from nutrition and exercise to my favorite healthy and natural products! I hope you enjoy it, and please let me know your thoughts. We can all learn from each other.

This week I have two awesome giveaways of Organic Baby and Toddler food from HappyBaby and YoBaby, plus another great giveaway of organic lotions and perfumes from Cream Perfume Company.There are low entries on almost all of my giveaways, so you have a great chance!

Feel free to look around, follow me on Google Friend Connect or Subscribe to get all the latest posts and giveaways. Please leave a comment if you would like me to check out your blog also.

Thanks for coming to visit!

Cara

YoBaby Review and Giveaway!

I just posted the other day about pesticides and how dangerous they can be for all of us. Babies, toddlers, and kids are even more vulnerable than adults to pesticide exposure. Young digestive tracts absorb toxins more readily than adult digestive tracts, and young kidneys don’t detoxify as efficiently as adult kidneys. As a result, toxins circulate longer in babies’ bodies, boosting exposure to four times that of adults. But research shows that you can immediately and dramatically reduce the pesticide content in your child’s body by switching to organic foods. That is just one of the reasons that I am excited to share with you a healthier alternative to conventional yogurts - YoBaby yogurt!!

YoBaby yogurt is certified organic. Because YoBaby is organic, you know it’s made without the use of persistent pesticides. YoBaby is also made without the use of synthetic growth hormones or antibiotics.

Another thing I love about YoBaby is that it helps support brain development AND your baby's immune system. They make YoBaby from whole milk, which helps support healthy brain development. Pediatricians recommend whole milk for babies and toddlers up to two years. Also, one serving of YoBaby provides 25% of your baby’s daily need for zinc, the mineral that helps support a healthy immune system.

I give YoBaby a big two thumbs up for being so healthy and safe for our little babies and toddlers.

But, what about taste? I think this little story says it all. I gave my 23 month old son a container of the peach YoBaby the other day. After literally devouring it in a couple bites and getting it on his eyelash, forehead and hair, I got him out of his chair to wash up. He had other plans. He started chanting "YoBaby, YoBaby, YoBaby!" When I told him that he had eaten it all, he started crying...So, I decided to give him his practically empty container of YoBaby and he sat there for almost a half hour scraping out every last drop of it with his little slimy paws. A Kodak moment!

YoBaby wants to share their fabulous yogurt with you, and they are giving one of my lucky readers:
2 free coupons for YoBaby 4-packs
1 Eric Carle Growth Chart

Here is how to enter:

Make sure you are a follower of this blog, Your World: Healthy and Natural! Do as many of the following as you can and leave a separate comment here for each:

Subscribe to this blog and comment about it.

Visit YoBaby at http://www.stonyfield.com/yobaby/index.jsp and tell me which type of Yobaby yogurt looks yummiest to you!

Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.

Follow @carathenatural on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway.

Use other forms of social networking to spread the word about this giveaway.(2 entries)

Comment on any other post in my blog. I love hearing your thoughts!

The deadline for this giveaway is May 31 at 12 am EST, at which time a winner will be randomely chosen. Make sure that you include your email in your comments because if I can't get a hold of you, you can't win! Please also note, this giveaway can only be shipped to those living in the Continental United States.

What Are the Dangers of Pesticides?

I am sure the word pesticide doesn't really give you the warm fuzzies, but do you really know what they are doing to you and your family's health? I have been thinking about it lately as people are planting gardens and farmers are spraying their fields, especially since we have a farm field 50 feet away from my window.

Well, for starters, let's talk about what they are. Pesticides are potent chemicals used inside buildings, on lawns, gardens and used to treat products in your home like carpet, furniture, and other household items. They kill plants, insects, rodents, and other pests. The thing is, they KILL them. If they can kill smaller creatures, what do they do to the human body?

These chemicals are entering into our bloodstream and those of our children and pets through inhalation or through contact with treated surfaces like I mentioned above. A recent study showed more than 1.3 million children - whose developing bodies are most at risk from exposure - younger than age 12 have been poisoned or exposed.

What harm can these pesticides cause?
- Increases in cancer, asthma, and other diseases
- Birth defects and developmental delays
- Damage to the nervous system, liver and kidneys
- Vision and memory problems
- Irritation to the eyes, nose and throat
- Disruption to hormonal systems

In our little children, pesticide exposure is linked to cancer, hyperactivity, developmental delays, behavior problems including ADHD, and physical limitations.

Exposure during pregnancy can lead to birth defects, miscarriage, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Certain pesticides may damage the babies' reproductive system. Pregnant mommies, pay attentiont to this: The greatest risk of exposure may be during the first 3 to 8 weeks when the neural tube development is occurring.

Now, my point is not to make you feel guilty, it is to help you become aware so you can make more informed decisions now and help others do the same. So, feel empowered! You can help make a difference!

Here are a few simple steps to reduce exposure:

1. Avoid using pesticides in your home, lawn and garden. Dandelions never hurt anyone, did they?

2. Use non-toxic treatments to get rid of pests. There are some great organic options out there. I use Shaklee's nontoxic natural cleaner, Basic H2, on all my garden plants and to keep the moles away. It works like a charm.

3. If pesticides are applied near your home, close windows adn turn off the air conditioning so residue isn't drawn into the house.

4. Wipe shoes well, or better yet, make your home a shoe-free zone to prevent pesticides from being tracked all over your home.

5. Buy local, organically grown fruits and veggies whenever possible. If you are buying conventional produce, wash it well. Just a drop of Basic H will clean your produce completely.

I wish you lots of blessings on your journey to safer living and great health!

Wednesday Social Parade!

Welcome to Your World: Healthy and Natural!

My site is here to help you all live your best life and share my journey with you. I share tips about everything from nutrition and exercise to my favorite healthy and natural products! I hope you enjoy it, and please let me know your thoughts. We can all learn from each other.

This week I have an awesome giveaway of Organic Baby and Toddler food from HappyBaby. I am also going to post a giveaway for Organic Lotions and Perfumes today. There are low entries on almost all of my giveaways, so you have a great chance!

Feel free to look around, follow me on Google Friend Connect or Subscribe to get all the latest posts and giveaways. Please leave a comment if you would like me to check out your blog also.

Thanks for coming to visit!

Cara

A Weight Loss Story To Inspire!

I want to share this healthy story of weight loss with all of you to help inspire and get everyone excited to live healthier! I am starting a new fitness session with all my fitness clients this month called Bootcamp. We are going to work hard at getting in even better shape, keeping food journals, learning more about nutrition and supplementation, and easing stress and sleeping more. Sounds like a lot, but it is a recipe for great health! I hope this story of Bernie inspires you and my fitness classes!



"I was wearing a size 16 jeans, now I'm a size 8!" says Bernie, a nurse who knows the importance of health, a total of 24 inches and 30 pounds healthier.
Losing weight had always been difficult for Bernie, and became even more difficult as the years passed. She also had a serious sweet tooth to conquer. But when she heard about the lineup of Cinch products and success stories from a friend, she knew she had to give it a try.

"I thought, that's the ticket," says Bernie. "So I got the Starter Kit and was excited to get on the plan." Fortunately, Bernie already had healthy eating habits in place. "I love salad, fresh vegetables and fruit," says Bernie. "Plus fish--especially salmon--and chicken were often on our table."

As a hospice nurse, Bernie spends a lot of time in her car. No fast food snacks for her, though. She keeps a cooler stocked with fresh veggies and fruits. And since she has been on the Cinch plan, her sweet tooth no longer tempts her. "At our nurses meetings, there are usually all kinds of cookies and candy, but nowadays I just tell people no thanks--that's not my food."

Exercise is an all-important part of Bernie's day, and she's been walking an hour four mornings a week with her neighbor for quite a few years. Now with her newfound energy, the walks are even more rewarding. Bernie wears her pedometer faithfully and pushes herself to make the 10,000 steps a day goal. "If I haven't reached 10,000 steps by bedtime, I step in place by the bed until I get there," laughs Bernie. "And I take my son's dog Ace for regular walks now. Ace is an English Setter who likes lots of exercise."

Helping other people is important to Bernie, so she feels good about sharing her plan and her success tips with others. "The Cinch plan is fun and easy to follow. I love to help others discover it. I encourage them to just follow the plan, do the 10,000 steps a day, and get a buddy to do the program with them. It's such a great feeling to help other people--I love it," says Bernie.

Bernie's success has been filled with rewards on many levels. "Wow, I do get lots of compliments," she says. "I'm so happy to get into my size 8 clothes!" And the fashion timing is perfect, as Bernie will be spending two weeks in Rome with her daughter, who is studying architecture there.

Congratulations to you, Bernie!

If you want more information on the Cinch program, check out www.cinchplan.com/caranitz.

Exciting News!

Good Morning Everyone!!

This morning I have given myself the go ahead to make my exciting news public on my blog!

I AM PREGNANT!! This is my 2nd little darling baby, and I feel so blessed and cannot wait to hold my new little baby in my arms.

I am at 11 weeks right now, due December 3rd, and I gotta tell you - I am feeling pretty sick and pretty much like a lump on a log. I am usually very active and always on the go, but since about week 7 or so, I have to drag myself to go teach all my fitness classes, tie a bandana around my nose to make dinner, and take little breaks while I am vacuuming. I feel sick as a dog for half of the day, and I have to pop several ginger candies into my mouth while grocery shopping so I don't puke.

My midwife says eat lots of protein often and take an extra B complex. Some days I think it helps, others I am not so sure.

So, if anyone has any tips for me on the nausea, I am willing to try pretty much anything at this point. Thank you in advance!

There will be several more baby and children's products that I will be reviewing and giving away in the future, as well as others, so stay tuned all you parents and grandparents!

This picture here at the end is a reminder of my former energetic self. RIP! He, he.

Wednesday Social Parade!

Welcome to Your World: Healthy and Natural!

My site is here to help you all live your best life and share my journey with you. I share tips about everything from nutrition and exercise to my favorite healthy and natural products! I hope you enjoy it, and please let me know your thoughts. We can all learn from each other.

Feel free to look around, follow me on Google Friend Connect or Subscribe to get all the latest posts and giveaways. Please leave a comment if you would like me to check out your blog also.

Thanks for coming to visit!

Cara

Review of Aminals Huggable-Soft Dolls

I have been looking for a safer, more eco-friendly alternative for our son's stuffed animals for awhile, and low and behold, this fun, bright and organic Liun dropped right outside my door the other day. Needless to say, I couldn't tell who was more excited - me or my 2 year old son.

I think there are three really big things about this Liun Aminal(and yes, I did spell that right)that set it apart from other stuffed animals.

The first thing is that it looks like a kid'd drawing. It has all the cute squiggly lines and cute facial expressions that children make when they are expressing their imagination. It is refreshing and definitely makes you smile every time you look at it.

The second thing that sets these aminals apart is that they are safer for our children. They are made from 100% organic cotton, inside and out, which I just love, love, love! Aminals Dolls say "Not only is organic farming healthier and safer for our farmers, our fieldworkers, and our communities, organic cotton is free from synthetic poisons that are absorbed into our bloodstream through skin contact. Products manufactured from certified organic ingredients are the safest for your kids."

The last thing I love about Aminals are that they are designed with the intent to make a fully recyclable product that can disappear naturally, without contributing toxic chemicals that poison our soil, air, and water, or add to the huge amount of waste in our landfills. Believe it or not, Aminals are so eco-friendly, they can actually nourish your garden. What is not to love about that?

You can find the Liun Aminal and his friends: Eflant, Dinasor, Wayul, Ceeta, Smal Bayer and more at their website www.aminaldolls.com.

Thank you, Aminals, for the joy and safety you bring to our children and for your gentleness and care of our Earth that we share!

Safer Furniture Can Make a Difference!

So, I have been on the journey to switch out our regular furniture for safer organic or naturally made alternatives. Let me go into why I think this is so important for families who are trying to live safer, healthier and more natural lives.

Let me tell you a little bit about regular furniture. Your couch may look harmless, but unless you know exactly how it was manufactured, there’s a good chance that it’s off-gassing (emitting substances into the air) harmful chemicals into your home. The most common off-gassed substances are VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, which actually sound as scary as they are — they’ve been connected to cancer and birth defects — and can be found in substances like formaldehyde, flame retardants, finishes, adhesives and foam cushions. Your couch is not the only thing that contains these harmful VOCs. We are talking about everything from your mattress to your carpet to your drapes to any furniture with particle board in it. Here’s a mini summary of what to look out for: avoid PVC, other plastics, high-emitting particleboard, polyurethane foam and synthethic fibers for upholstery, toxic finishes and glues. It is a long list...But don't get overwhelmed.

Remember, every little step you take is safer for you and your family, not to mention our world!

Let me tell you about my journey so far. I started with our mattresses and sheets. I researched long and hard to find the best ones for the least amount of money. Because, I am definitely not a person with unlimited means. So, I have to be thrifty too.

I found our son's crib mattress at organicgrace.com, which is a fabulous site for all things nontoxic and safe for your family. Talia Rose, the owner, is a beautiful woman and mother, and you will love her site! I bought an organic wool and cotton mattress, because wool is a natural flame retardent and is free of all things that are dangerous for your little ones.

A few months later, (because I had to save up a little dough) I bought an organic Savvy Rest organic cotton, organic wool and natural latex mattress for my husband and my queen size bed. Latex is anti-microbial and anti-bacterial, and dust mites cannot live in it. It will hold up for 10—20 years. I bought this one from thenaturalsleepstore.com. I must say, I didn't really appreciate the smell of this mattress(it was like milk), but it went away quite quickly, and I thought that was a small price to pay for a great safe mattress.

My next purchase was organic mattress covers and organic sheets. I believe I ordered those from different companies on Ebay. You can find lots of great quality organic products on Ebay, as well.

My latest and biggest purchase of just two days ago was my organic couch, which I am so excited to have purchased!! I have been researching this one for almost a year. First, I was going to go with a futon with an organic futon mattress, but that was getting really tricky and really complicated. Then, I was going to give up and just get a more natural, less toxic couch from IKEA, but I just wanted better. So, the other day I finally found one that we could afford on Ebay. It was from an Amish company A Natural Home that makes organic furniture. A Natural Home is a small family run company with a core of families that do custom work, as well as stock items. They use organic materials, sustainable wood, and bench crafted creations.

My next step is to hopefully rip out a lot of the carpet in our home and install wood, bamboo, or cork flooring. Remember, you can take little steps, because each step you take will still make a big difference!

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments about this topic, because it can take a little work to find good deals and make it work for you, but it pays off! It is another way to invest in your health!

Safe Baby Skincare

When I was pregnant with my last son, I was very appreciative of the baby showers that were thrown for us. But when I was looking at all the baby skin care products, I grew more and more scared. I had previously thought that "Johnson's" and other name brands were safe, since that is what they claim, but as I looked at the ingredients, very dangerous toxins jumped out at me from everywhere!! And baby’s skin is five times thinner and more permeable than an adult’s, making babies more susceptible to toxins. Yikes! Needless to say, I ended up researching safe baby skin care, and I fell in love with the ShakleeBaby line.

There may be other baby products out there, but the Shaklee Difference is what sets these products far apart in safety, health and value. When it comes to keeping our babies safe and healthy, everything counts—from what you put on their skin to what you put in their bodies. With delicate skin and developing bodies that are more vulnerable to external factors than an adult's, babies look to you to provide exactly what they need and with Shakleebaby, it’s only the best.

Why? Shakleebaby Skincare is:

Always Safe:
No 1,4-dioxane, sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, formaldehyde, or phthalates
No synthetic fragrances or artificial colors
Packaging is free of bisphenol-A, phthalates, and toxic inks
Always Gentle - A baby’s skin is five times thinner and more permeable than an adult’s, making babies more susceptible to toxins, so our Shakleebaby products are:
99% natural ingredients
76%–99% organic ingredients
Hypoallergenic
PH balanced
Clinically Tested – Of the parents who used Shakleebaby Personal Care products on their infants/toddlers in a clinical study:

98% agreed the Gentle Wash lathered well and rinsed completely
98% agreed the Soothing Lotion applied easily to the skin and 91% agreed product was nongreasy
92% agreed the Diaper Rash Cream reduced skin irritation and 91% agreed product helped prevent diaper rash
100% agreed the Massage Oil applied easily to the skin

And, Shakleebaby skincare is not just for babies - It’s great for adults with sensitive skin too!

And this is another important thing...Did you know?
Not all organic products are created equal. In addition to being 99% natural, our Shakleebaby products contain certified organic ingredients that pass the strict testing standards of Shaklee. Printed on the label you’ll find the organic content of each product—ranging from 76% to 99%. Some companies use the “organic” term loosely and fail to indicate the actual organic content on the label, which could lead consumers to believe the product contains more organic ingredients than it really does. Know what you are buying; simply having “organic” in the name doesn’t guarantee a high level of organic content.

Babies have a greater ratio of skin surface to body weight, meaning they absorb and lose water quickly, which can result in dry skin. Moisturize their delicate skin with a hypoallergenic lotion that does not contain any artificial color or fragrance and has been pediatrician tested. My favorite is Shakleebaby Soothing Lotion.

Infant massage is a great way to bond with your baby. Studies have found that infant massage can help calm a baby, help digestion, and improve sleep patterns. My fav is Shakleebaby Massage Oil.

And of course for cleaning your baby I recommend the Shakleebaby Gentle Wash. And the Diaper Rash Cream is very safe and works wonderfully!! You wouldn't believe what is in the diaper rash cream you get at the store. I wouldn't even put that on my own skin.

Besides being safe and effective, Shakleebaby Gentle Wash and Soothing Lotion have a great deal on them right now. If you join Shaklee as a member with a one-time fee of $19.95, you will get 15% off all your purchases forever and you will be able to buy One Gentle Wash at the 15% member price and get One Soothing Lotion for only $5!! That will save you $14.20!
But this offer only goes until May 31st, so go and check it out today.
Just head on over to http://caranitz.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=89104

Give your little one an extra hug and kiss today and keep their little bodies safe and healthy!

Review + Giveaway - Glee Gum

I first heard about Glee Gum on a show on Food Network about how different food products are made. I was so wowed by how natural and different Glee Gum was, and I wanted some! So, I ran to my co-op and any natural foods stores I could find, but no one carried it. Sadly, that was the end of my search...until...I heard about them from a fellow blogger and then connected with Molly from Glee Gum!

You know that I only share with my readers products that I feel are as natural and eco-friendly as they can be. I am happy to say Glee Gum is a perfect fit! Let me share with you some of the things I love about Glee Gum.

First of all, you are not going to find any other gum like Glee Gum. Glee Gum is all-natural, gluten-free chewing gum with no artificial coloring, flavoring, sweeteners nor preservatives. Glee Gum is the only gum in North America made the old-fashioned way, with chicle! Chicle is a natural tree sap harvested sustainably from the rainforests of Central America. Once all chewing gum was made with chicle, but today most gum is made entirely from synthetic stuff. Not Glee Gum! Glee Gum uses chicle because it is an eco-friendly way to help conserve the rainforest. Chicle is also what gives the gum such great, long-lasting chewing texture! Glee Gum is a “green” gum right down to the packaging, which is made from biodegradable, recycled cardboard. What is not to love about that, right?

I also love that their gum comes in so many different flavors. My favorite is either the Triple Berry or Tangerine. They also have regular Bubblegum, Banana, Peppermint, Cinnamon, and Spearmint.

In addition to their gum, Glee Gum also has Glee Kits, which I thought would make a fun rainy day activity or a great birthday party idea. Available in Make Your Own Chocolate, Make Your Own Chewing Gum, and Make Your Own Gummies, these activity kits are all-natural, educational, and eco-friendly. With pre-packaged ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, everyone aged 8 and up gets a real kick out of making candy from scratch. I think it is so neat that not only do you get to make something fun and yummy to eat, but you also are learning about the history and origin behind the treat.

I want to make sure everyone knows where they can get their hands on Glee Gum and Glee Kits, so you don't run into the same problem I had several months ago. Here is a link to their website and store locator: http://www.gleegum.com/retail-stores-locator.htm. While you are there, you can also check out an interesting photographic slide show on the process from tree to Glee.

So, Glee Gum has generously decided to share the Glee with several of you! Woohoo! Three lucky winners will receive 3 packs of Glee Gum (18 pieces per pack) & a money saving coupon. You will have your own chance to try out this one-of-a-kind natural way to chew gum!

To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is be a follower of this blog, Your World: Healthy and Natural! The deadline for this giveaway is May 10 at 12 am EST, at which time a winner will be randomely chosen. Make sure that you include your email in your comments because if I can't get a hold of you, you can't win! Do as many of the following as you can and leave a separate comment here for each:

Follow the "Glee Guy" on Facebook and Twitter and comment about it.

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Healthy Food = Beautiful Face

I always wondered, "is it true that you are what you eat?" Well, this may be good news for some of you and bad news for the rest, but yes, it is true. When we are talking about your skin and your face in particular, if you want a beautiful complexion and healthy skin, you need to include fruits and vegetables, protein, good fats and whole grains in your daily diet.

Let's start by talking about fruits and vegetables, which are going to be in great abundance since we are nearing summer. You want to get three or more servings of fruit and five or more servings of veggies every day! (preferably organic and fresh produce for the most nutrients) Why? They are loaded with skin-protective antioxidants as well as water, which helps keep your skin hydrated. That may sound nearly impossible, but let me break it down for you.

Breakfast: oatmeal with 1 cup berries (one serving of fruit down)
Lunch: 2 cups of greens in your salad with 1/2 cup of cucumbers and some added protein (that is three servings of veggies!)
Snack: 1/2 cup of carrots with hummus, an apple(another serving of veggies + fruit)
Supper: pasta with veggie tomato sauce, an orange and a little dessert (you did it!)

Now, let's tackle the whole grains. You will want to get about 4-8 servings. One serving equals a slice of bread or half a cup or cereal or grains. But, this doesn't mean just any bread or grain. Look for 100% whole grains on the label. Also try quinoa, brown rice, or millet. These all contain nutrients in their shell that help the body produce glycosaminoglycans.(whoa, big big word!)Those glycosaminoglycans assist in building firming collagen and elastin fibers. You definitely want that!

Ok, this one is a biggie - PROTEIN! Not only is protein essential for every single cell in your body, it also helps the production of collagen and elastin in your skin. Please get your protein from good sources low in saturated fat. My favorite way to get the majority of my protein needs is my Cinch shake that I take every morning for breakfast. It is fast, easy, and a great way to get 24 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, and 21 vitamins and minerals. The Cinch shakes are powered by Leucine, which helps your body keep muscle and burn fat! Major bonus! You can get your own Cinch shakes here: www.caranitz.myshaklee.com

It is hard to give a generic number for how much protein you need, since each body is different, so here is a good way to calculate your protein needs:

1. Weight in pounds divided by 2.2 = weight in kg
2. Weight in kg x 0.8-1.8 gm/kg = protein gm.

Use a lower number if you are in good health and are sedentary (i.e., 0.8). Use a higher number (between 1 and 1.8) if you are under stress, are pregnant, are recovering from an illness, or if you are involved in consistent and intense weight or endurance training.

Example: 154 lb male who is a regular exerciser and lifts weights
154 lbs/2.2 = 70kg
70kg x 1.5 = 105 gm protein/day

Now, let's talk about good fats. Yes, there are good fats, and they are so vital for your body, so don't skimp on good fats! You need 3-4 servings/day. One serving equals 1 tsp of a good oil like canola or olive oil, 1 tbsp of flaxseed or a handful of nuts. They help keep your skin soft and supple.

I know that you are not going to follow this perfectly, because no one is perfect. Our diets fall short sometimes. That is why taking supplements ensures that your body gets what it needs. In this case, we are especially talking about your skin.
My favorite supplements for skin health are Vita-Lea, Cinch shakes, and OmegaGuard. Vita-Lea is a multivitamin/multimineral that everyone needs to make sure they are getting all their nutrients each day. The Cinch shakes are full of protein, like we talked about earlier. OmegaGuard is the World's finest fish oil, ultra-pure omega 3 fatty acids and free of harmful compounds such as mercury and lead that are found in many types of fish and omega supplements.
All of these can be found at www.caranitz.myshaklee.com under the Healthy Nutrition section.

Eat well and you will look your best! Have a great day, everyone!