New Shaklee Sports Nutrition Products!

I am really excited to share some of my favorite products with you today.




As you know, I love Shaklee, and I have been using and recommending their products for almost 4 years. They have changed my health and the health of so many of my clients. I love sharing good deals too, so this is the perfect time to introduce you to their Sports Nutrition Line and the great deals they are offering with it.

For 30 years Shaklee's products have powered some of the most elite athletes in the world, including the Vancouver Games medal-winning U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding.

Did you know 7 of TIME-LIFE BOOKS' 25 Greatest Adventures of All Time have been powered by Shaklee products and 54 Olympic gold medals were won by Shaklee powered world-class athletes?

Shakee has 3 sports nutrition products, one for before, during and after workouts.

SHAKLEE ENERGY

Pure Energy Chews are what you take before you workout. They provide a clean burst of healthy energy to help you get that extra edge when you need it most. Each chew contains a scientific blend of caffeine from natural green tea extract, plus L-tyrosine, L-theanine, B vitamins and vitamin D. And there are no artificial flavors, sweeteners or added preservatives you'll find in other energy products.

When I have to teach 3 or more classes a day, I definitely need a little energy boost by the last one. I love the refreshing lime/lemon taste of these chews, and they definitely give me the focus and energy I need to keep up with my children, my home and all my fitness clients.

These are an awesome alternative to unhealthy energy drinks. I see people drinking energy drinks a lot, and I wonder if they know how much sugar and artificial ingredients are in them!

 

SHAKLEE PERFORMANCE

Shaklee Performance (during workout drink) is clinically proven to hydrate better than water. Plus, Performance has more electrolytes and provides more energy than the leading hydration drink. Our proprietary OPTI-LYTE electrolyte blend plus our unique mix of carbohydrates delivers instant and sustained energy and supports optimal hydration.

Clinically Proven

• Minimizes fluid loss for enhanced hydration

• Maintains blood-glucose levels to sustain intense energy output and to increase stamina

• Increases endurance for better athletic performance

No artificial flavors, sweeteners or added preservatives.
This drink is not only great to power you through long hard workouts. It is great to give your body nutrients and hydration when anyone in your family is hit with the stomach flu. It is easy to make too! We just add the powder to a cup or water bottle filled with water. It comes in orange and lemon/lime. Yummm!

SHAKLEE PHYSIQUE
Shaklee Physique (after workout drink) is a pure, natural, high-octane fuel for rapid muscle recovery, endurance, and strength. The intelligent-release protein blend and unique protein-to-carb ratio:

• Allow your body to absorb a full spectrum of amino acids over time

• Help build firm, lean muscles

• Help restore muscle energy

• Support muscle repair

Physique contains the right amount of protein and carbohydrates to help you recover faster and optimize muscle rebuilding.

No artificial flavors, sweeteners or added preservatives.

Clinically Proven

Physique with BIO-BUILD, a unique blend of protein and carbohydrate sources, has been clinically proven to naturally activate and enhance the body's recovery process after exercise.
Recover faster! Recover more completely! Physique restores energy to your muscles when taken immediately after working out and again two hours later. I am always telling my fitness clients that no matter who you are, everyone needs a recovery protein shake after a workout. Your muscles need that protein to rebuild. Otherwise, all that hard work you just did is for nothing, and we certainly don't want that. I also recommend the Shaklee Cinch protein shake for after workouts, because it will also help you build muscle and burn fat for weight loss. I drink my Cinch every day, sometimes twice a day. I have never had anyone give me anything but positive feedback on the Cinch shakes. Love them!!

Earlier I mentioned saving money on these products, and I am excited to let you all know about the current NEW MEMBER SPECIAL!

Right now, if you join Shaklee as a Member with a $70 product order, you will receive ALL THREE OF THESE PRODUCTS FREE!!!!!

Please click here for more details. You will also get additional specials when you join!

If you are already a member and want to order these sports nutrition products, go here!

Have a great day!

Cara

Dandelion Earth-Friendly Baby Toys

Yay! Another awesome company to help you go green and surround your family with safer, healthier options! Today that company is Dandelion - bringing you eco-friendly and organic products for your baby or grandbaby.

For those of you with small children, you know all about the recalls on children's products, the unknown chemicals that may be sprayed or painted on children's toys and teethers, and the enormous amount of wasted packaging surrounding these toys.

That is why Dandelion is such a breath of fresh air. They have all kinds of wonderful toys, teethers, and tableware that is safer for your baby and safer for the environment. I love their huge selection and their honest to goodness, high quality, safe products. Plus, I love that they have found a way to reduce packaging waste and cut out the plastics for good! They use just 100% recycled paper and vegetable inks in their packaging. Hooray for that!

Now let me share with you two things I received and love!! The Dandelion classic sorter is my favorite! This cloth sorter is made of organic cotton fibers, filled with soft corn fibers, and it is still machine washable. (For all that baby drool and spit up) There are four shapes that squeak, rattle and crinkle, and it will help your baby learn valuable skills as they work to stick the shapes into the sorter. This whole set is so soft and easy to use, you will love it!

The other product I received was this darling organic toddler doll.  My daughter loves this doll, and I love how safe it is for her to chew on, snuggle with, and carry everywhere.  This doll is made entirely of natural and organic materials, which is something you just don't find every day. Again, I love that you can easily machine wash this doll, and she comes out just as cute!

They also have a first doll that is a bit smaller and for babies who are a bit younger.

Head on over their website and check out all they offer. From stuffed animals to teethers, natural tableware to blankets, everything is earth-friendly and safe for your little ones. I guarantee you will love their products and be inspired by their mission. I know I am!

You can buy any of these products online or you can check out their store locator for shopping near you. Let's give our support to this wonderful company making a difference in our world! Happy shopping!

*Dandelion provided me product to review, and I was under no obligation to review if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.*

Health Benefits of Gardening

Yes, I know! Besides the obvious healthy benefits of getting great produce right from your own backyard, you are also helping your body in other ways to be healthier through gardening. How awesome is that?



Here are five great reasons to get gardening:

• Working out in your garden burns over 100 calories per half hour.
• Gardening boosts bone density, since the more strenuous work has a similar effect to weight training.
• It may even make you smarter! A bacteria in soil stimulates the release of a neurotransmitter involved in learning.
• A Texas A&M study shows gardeners have a greater zest for life!
• Being out in the beautiful sunshine will give you a dose of Vitamin D, which we all need.

Get out and garden!

VOS Flips Review

Shoes - we all love them and we all need them. But, if you think about it, how eco-friendly are the hundreds of shoes in your home?  How do we change our footwear to be more eco-friendly? That is where my new favorite shoe company comes in - VOS.

VOS is the sandal company that developed from the passion and commitment of founder, Jose Alejandro Flores.  I am inspired by Jose, and I am excited to share with you all what he is doing with his company to change the world! I love this interview with Jose that explains his passion for helping others and how he does that with VOS. So inspiring!

These are the amazing things that set VOS apart from other sandal companies -

• Their flip flops are made of natural rubber! These shoes are biodegradeable. Yay for that!
• You can recycle your natural rubber flip flops at any of their recycling stations or by mailing them back in.
• For every pair sold, they give a pair to someone in need! Love that!
• They also provide healthcare and education to rubber producing communities in need.

Now, what about the style and comfortability of these flip flops? I received the Midnight flips, and I love them! They fit unlike most of my other sandals in a good way.  Most of my other sandals give me nice big blisters, which causes pain with each step. That is not the case with VOS sandals. They are comfy, don't give me blisters and look cute too.  They come in six different colors, so you can buy as many as you want! Plus, I love wearing them in my garden, because I can just rinse them off with water and they are as good as new.

With each pair of $19.95 VOS sandals you buy, you know someone else in need is receiving a pair, and you are helping give education and healthcare to those who need it. Plus, you are making an eco-friendly choice, and each small thing you do makes a difference in our world!

I encourage you all to head on over to their website and buy new sandals for you and your loved ones, because at a price like $19.95, you can't go wrong!

*VOS provided me product to review, and I was under no obligation to review if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.*

Gripstic Review

Do you have the problem where you open up a bag of spinach salad or chips and then you try to roll it up to keep it fresh only to come back 4 days later, and it is already looking and tasting stale or rotten?

My husband loves his Newman's Organics cookies, and his excuse for eating them all in like 2 days is that if he doesn't, they will get stale. Yeah, right! Now, he has no excuses, because we now have the Gripstic, which is a genius way to keep your food fresh.

The Gripstic is a one-piece product that slides onto almost any bag and seals your chips, snacks, coffee, cereal, salad, and anything else you can think of. It provides a nice tight seal to keep your food fresher longer. Plus, the Gripstic saves space in the kitchen, cabinet, refrigerator or desk - unlike bulky chip clips.

I don't know about you, but I don't really think chip clips are that effective. The air still gets in. I have always used them, because I never had anything better. Now I do! With the Gripstic, I don't see how any air can get in. Plus, Gripstic is super easy to put on your bags. You just crease the bag over, put the yellow guide under
the fold and slide it across the bag. It is so easy your hubby can even figure it out! Ha, ha! Sorry, guys.

You can find the Gripstic in packs of two, three, or four for $3.99. You can also get them in different sizes. You will probably want to pick up several bags, because you are going to love them! You can find them at major chain retailers including: Albertson's, Bed Bath and Beyond, Kroger, Safeway, Publix and Winn Dixie.

Thank you, Gripstic, for taking one more frustration out of our lives!

*Gripstic provided me product to review, and I was under no obligation to review if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.*

The Little Rose Book Review and Giveaway

Now that your children are getting excited about gardening with you, I have the perfect book to make the connection from gardening to reading - The Little Rose.

 

The Little Rose by Sheri Fink is a heartwarming story about a little rose who grows up in a weedbed and, because it's all she's ever known, believes that she's the weed. After feeling quite down, she is discovered and replanted amongst other roses who treat her as the beautiful flower she is.

I loved the story, as did my two children. I love the message that the story brings out - that children should embrace who they really are despite their current environments and truly believe in themselves. I really appreciate what the author, Sheri Fink, says about this book, "My mission is to inspire children and adults to live their best lives. I want children to know how precious they are and to love themselves no matter what is going on in their lives and no matter what anyone else says. I'm delighted to be able to use my experiences to bring positivity to the lives of others, especially children."

I also have to give props to the illustrator, Mary Erikson Washam, because the illustrations in the book are beautiful!

The book is written for children, ages 5-10, but my three year old son loved this book, and I think he really go the message. I recommend it for any age of child, because this is a message every child should hear.

You can find the book on Amazon or right on the website. Your children or grandchildren will love this beautiful story!

And for (1) reader, we are giving away (1) of these beautiful books!!

Here is how to enter this fun giveaway:

**Become a public follower of Your World: Healthy and Natural on my right sidebar and tell me you did so in a comment.

For more entries:

Like Sheri Fink on Facebook. (1 entry)

Like Sheri Fink on Twitter. (1 entry)

Post on your Facebook about this giveaway. Share the link in your entry.(1 entry)

Subscribe to Your World: Healthy and Natural and comment about it. (1 entry)

Vote for Your World: Healthy and Natural on Top Mommy Blogs or We're on the Fence. (1 entry per vote)

Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.(2 entries)

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

Like Your World: Healthy and Natural on Facebook.(2 entries)

Comment on any of my posts about healthy and natural living that you have not commented on before. I love to hear your thoughts!! (1 entry)

The deadline for this giveaway is July 11th at 11:59 pm 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.

 * Sheri Fink provided me with this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.*

Ancestry.com Review and Giveaway

You know that saying, "You can't know where you are going until you know where you came from." I have always personally felt that my ancestors have beautiful stories to tell, and I have a deep desire to learn about them and learn from them.

For several years, I have been working on piecing together information I have received about my relatives and putting it together in a huge family history paper and binder. I love each new thing I learn about my family, and it just makes me appreciate them all the more!

There have been several setbacks on my journey through my family history, such as not knowing who my grandma's father is, which I know has had a huge impact on her life also. I had been close to giving up on finding him until Ancestry.com helped!!



Ancestry.com is my favorite resource for finding information about your own family history. They've spent more than a decade building the world's largest online family history resource - including historical records, photos, stories, family trees and a collaborative community of millions.

Ancestry.com makes it so easy to find the information you are looking for. You just start searching by name, estimated birth year, spouse, a place they might have lived, or a family member. They will search through census, birth, marriage, death records and more to help you find the information you have been searching.

I feel like Ancestry.com has given me some of the most precious gifts I could ever want. I have been able to trace one line of my family tree back to the 1700s, when previous to searching Ancestry.com, I had only traced it back to the 1900s. Remember the mysterious father of my grandma...I found him too! How precious is that for my grandma to now know who her father is!!

Each day I get to open up Ancestry.com and spend some time on there has been pure delight and leaves me feeling so excited! Thank you a million times, Ancestry.com!!

If you want to learn more about where you came from, find a long lost relative, or start your family tree, head on over Ancestry.com and begin today! Also, a gift membership to Ancestry.com would be an awesome gift for anyone you love or know who loves history.

For one very lucky reader, we are giving away a One Year World Deluxe Membership valued at $299!! Trust me, you want to win this giveaway!

Here is how to enter this awesome giveaway:

**Become a public follower of Your World: Healthy and Natural on my right sidebar and tell me you did so in a comment.

For more entries:

Tell me what you would like to learn about from your family history. (1 entry)
Head over to Ancestry.com and tell me something you learned about how you can search their database.(1 entry)
Post on your Facebook about this giveaway. Share the link in your entry.(1 entry)
Subscribe to Your World: Healthy and Natural and comment about it. (1 entry)

Vote for Your World: Healthy and Natural on Top Mommy Blogs or We're on the Fence. (1 entry per vote)

Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.(2 entries)

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

Like Your World: Healthy and Natural on Facebook.(2 entries)

Comment on any of my posts about healthy and natural living that you have not commented on before. I love to hear your thoughts!! (1 entry)

The deadline for this giveaway is July 9th at 11:59 pm 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.

 * Ancestry.com provided me with this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.*

Exercise Outside!

Do you have a problem staying committed to an exercise plan, fitness class or personal fitness goal? I just started my summer session of classes, and I am always trying to motivate my groups because I know how hard it can be to stay committed.

Here is some good news that may help you.

Did you know that exercising in nature can help you stay more motivated to stick with it? Yes!! People who get outdoors for even part of their fitness regimen report greater enjoyment of physical activity.  Plus, a recent report in Environmental Science and Technology found that exercising in natural settings melts away tension, depression and anger better than staying indoors all the time.

So, recommit yourself, head outside, and enjoy the beautiful day! (And for all my fitness clients reading this, now you can thank me when I tell you we are heading outside. Ha, ha!)

Little Tikes Garden Toys Review

Did you all enjoy the article I posted last week about gardening as a family? I know from the comments that some of you really understand the benefits of gardening with your children. I know my son loves gardening wth us. He wants to be really hands on, but sometimes I run out of ideas for how he can "help." With the help of Little Tikes and Imperial Toys, I now have quite a few ways to keep him occupied and excited about gardening.



Imperial Toys has just come out this Spring with new gardening toys from Little Tikes that I just know you will love too!


The Garden Grow Watering Can is my favorite! In fact, I can't decide who likes it more - me or my son. It has sturdy grip handles, a large water spout opening, and turn nozzle which changes the water control to multi-stream, shower, or single stream. My son is always begging me to use it to water the peas or the basil. (I guess those are his favorite plants) And I love it to water plants in the house.

 We are also enjoying the Garden Tool Set which features a toddler sized shovel and rake each with easy grip handles. The Garden Hand Tool Set features a safe and durable miniature shovel and sifter with easy grip handles for kids to really dig in and appreciate the goodness of the earth from a young age. My son used to beg me to use our grown-up versions of these tools, but I always hesitated because they are so sharp and he can't maneuver them very well anyways. Now he is in heaven, because these are just the perfect size for his little hands.

Here, you can see him digging in my basil that we keep indoors. Now, if I could only get him to keep the dirt in the pot. :-)

I love how durable these toys are. I also love that through them, my son is learning how to grow healthy food! The whole Spring line of garden toys from Little Tikes are available at Toys “R” Us stores nationwide. They are so affordable at right around $5.00, you just have to make your child's day by getting them the whole set!

*Imperial Toy provided me product to review, and I was under no obligation to review if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.*

Soap Hope Review

I love it when I find a company that is so in line with my passions, goals and mission. It makes me do a little happy dance, and I am so glad to have found that in Soap Hope.


Why are they so awesome? Soap Hope offers healthful products online, delivers them in the eco-friendly "Ugly Box," and then invests every dollar of profit into programs that lift women from poverty around the world.  Not just a portion of proceeds, or a matching product - every single dollar of profit that their customers generate goes to lift women from poverty!!! Now you can see why I love them so much.

They carry so many different products and companies, and I had such a hard time choosing what I wanted. I received the Acure Energizing Body Lotion in Mandarin and Mango. This lotion is made of lovely organic ingredients, such as acai, blackberry, calendula, mango, aloe vera, and more. I love, love, love that they use only the purest, fair-trade organic ingredients. There are NO parabens, sulfates, or synthetic fragrances. This lotion is cruelty, gluten free and vegan.

I love what it says on the back of the bottle in the directions, "Apply to skin as needed then ask yourself how you ever lived without this lotion." That is exactly what I thought when I used it the first time. I love the smell. I love the non-greasy feeling. I love how soft it makes my hands. I love that my skin is only absorbing nontoxic, safe and healthful ingredients, and I love that by purchasing this lotion, I just helped women in poverty. You just can't get much better than that, can you?

You would probably think that Soap Hope's products are quite expensive due to their high quality. Actually they are not! This awesome Acure Organic Energizing Body Lotion is only $8.99. That is just a great deal, plain and simple.

Soap Hope doesn't just offer lotion either. They have makeup, soap, home, baby, and pet products and so much more. Plus, I just love this - you get to pick out 5 samples of their great products for FREE with each order you make!

I know you are dying to get over to Soap Hope and check it all out, so I won't keep you here any longer. Go find your favorites, give your body what it deserves, and support women in need!

*Soap Hope provided me product to review, and I was under no obligation to review if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.*

Awesome Way To Save Money - Couponchief.com

I know many of you are major bargain shoppers, coupon users, and would love to have a little extra money in your purse. I am really excited to share a great site that will help you with all of those things!

Couponchief.com is one of the fastest growing coupon code sites with one of the largest databases of online coupons on the internet! Sound good, right?

I think so! They have over 50,000 coupons from over 15,000 stores, so whatever you are thinking about buying, check out couponchief.com first!

When I checked them out I found some great deals. Here are two of my favorites - 20% off Kohl's and $5 off of a $25 purchase at Barnes and Noble. They make it so easy at couponchief.com too. You just click the code button to copy and open the site to where you can use it. Plus, you can search their database for whatever store you are looking for.

Think this sounds great? Guess what? There is more! They also have a Pays 2 Share section, where you can make money by sharing coupons you find! So not only can you save money, but you can earn money! This is a site you are going to want to share with your friends and family to show them what a frugal chica or chico you are!

Happy shopping and saving!

This post was brought to you by Couponchief. com.

Teatulia Review and Giveaway

Do you love tea? I know I sure do. If you think you don't like tea, keep trying it and keep an open mind, because I think certain teas are an acquired taste. You want to try to make drinking tea a daily habit, because the health benefits are just fabulous!

Teatulia is a great company to go to for all of your tea needs. There are several things that make them stand out to me as an awesome choice for purchasing teas.

First of all, they are certified organic with no fancy flavors or additives. I appreciate knowing I am getting pure, natural, healthful teas! They are actually the only tea garden in Bangladesh to be USDA certified organic.

They also have a commitment to sustainability, which I also love! Their packaging is very eco-friendly. They use compostable tubes, labels made from post-consumer paper, water-based inks and dyes and biodegradeable silken pyramid tea bags. Great ideas!


So what kinds of teas do they have? They have many varieties, including black tea, green tea, white tea, bengal breakfast tea, lemongrass herbal infusion, ginger herbal infusion and more!

I received their Peppermint Herbal Infusion and Bengal Breakfast teas. The Peppermint Herbal is a caffeine free tea, which is great for pregnant or nursing mothers like me. It has a lovely scent and it is so refreshing. I love to have it after dinner, since it helps you to have fresh breath and aides in digestion.  The Bengal Breakfast is a breakfast type of tea that you might like to have with sugar and milk. It is a black tea, so it has about 1/2 the caffeine of a cup of coffee. I had never had this tea before, and I think it is one that will be an acquired taste for me.

You can buy Teatulia teas online or check out their store locator. If you do choose to order online, you can get free shipping with orders made in the US of over $65. I love that!! And if you sign up for their newsletter, you get 20% off!

And guess what? We are giving away (1) canister of both of the teas I mentioned today to (1) lucky winner - Teatulia Peppermint Herbal and Teatulia Bengal Breakfast.

Here is how to enter to win this amazing giveaway:

**Become a public follower of Your World: Healthy and Natural on my right sidebar and tell me you did so in a comment.

For more entries:

Tell me one new thing you learned about Teatulia teas from their website. (1 entry)

Sign up for their newsletter (and save 20%). (1 entry)

Like Teatulia on Facebook. (1 entry)

Post on your Facebook about this giveaway. Share the link in your entry.(1 entry)

Follow Teatulia on Twitter. (1 entry)

Subscribe to Your World: Healthy and Natural and comment about it. (1 entry)

Vote for Your World: Healthy and Natural on Top Mommy Blogs or We're on the Fence. (1 entry per vote)

Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.(2 entries)

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

Like Your World: Healthy and Natural on Facebook.(2 entries)

Comment on any of my posts about healthy and natural living that you have not commented on before. I love to hear your thoughts!! (1 entry)

The deadline for this giveaway is July 6th at 11:59 pm 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.

 * Teatulia provided me with this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.*

Loads of Winners!

We have a lot of winners from the giveaways that ended while I was gone. Here they are!!

Winner of the Baltic Amber Teething Necklace - #168 - Almost Crazy Coupon Lady

Winners of the Happy Couple Handbook -

#116 - Deanna
#40 - Jolene
#128 - Kristin
#94 - Amanda
#124 - Raggedy Baby
#76 - Baby Mama
#73 - Dana West
#50 - Jackie
#64 - Alicia C.
#12 - Robin

Winner of the FeelFitWear.com GC -

#148 - Kristin

Congratulations to all my winners!!

Stay tuned for more review and giveaways!

Back From Vacation!

I am home from vacation, and I am ready to get going again with some great product review, giveaways and healthy living articles. I hope you enjoyed the ones I posted while I was away.

My vacation went well. I don't know if it was much of a vacation, more of an experience. The positives were climbing Harney Peak (the highest point between the Rocky mtns and the Alps) with my two children in only 3 hours, surprising my husband with a renewal of our vows, a hot air balloon ride, and seeing my family.

The negatives were driving probably close to 60 hours in the car with my two young children, my husband losing his wedding ring on our anniversary before the renewal of vows, and not getting much sleep due to my children waking up at crazy hours of the night because they were completely off their schedule.

Overall, I am glad for the beautiful memories we created, but I am also glad to be home! :-) 

Happy Wednesday!
Cara

Mythic Paint Review

Did you know that the EPA says that indoor air quality can be 10 times worse than outdoor air quality? Much of this pollution comes from the products that we use to decorate our homes or clean them with.

One of the major culprits of the toxic air that is in our homes is from the paint on our walls and on our furniture. It is best to use zero VOC paint, which will not be adding dangerous toxins to the air you breathe for years to come. 

Mythic paint is a zero voc, zero toxin high performance paint that is created in a zero emission paint facility.  This paint is an ultra low odor paint that provides the durability and coverage you expect from a premium paint without the off-gassing VOC's and cancer-causing toxins that emit for years after drying.

In my opinion, this is one of the best, safest paints I have found yet. They are so confident in their high quality products that they have a performance guarantee.

I received their Interior Latex Eggshell Enamel paint in the Blue Ridge Mountain color. It is low odor, spatter resistant, and comes in over 1000 colors. Seriously, you will be able to find any color you dream up. I love that it dries quickly, in only about 2 hours, and it is easy to clean up with just soap and water.

I know many of you are parents of young children, and it is important to keep their little bodies safe from dangerous chemicals, like those in regular paint.  Many parents love getting a baby nursery ready for their newborn or love re-doing their children's room. That is great, as long as you use safe products, like these Mythic paints. I completely trust this paint, and I love that I don't have to worry about my children breathing in any bad fumes from it.

Besides paint, Mythic offers you everything else you may need for your painting project. If you head over to their website, you will have a blast picking out which type of paint meets your needs, browsing colors, and purchasing all the tools you will need. Plus, you will feel great, knowing you have done the best for you and your family's health!

*Mythic Paint provided me products to review, and I was under no obligation to review if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.*

How To Get Your Child Involved In Gardening

Garden-Share, an interactive social network for recreational and professional gardeners, said that 37.7 percent of gardeners began gardening before age 10. This is according to Garden-Share’s recent gardening trends survey of its 27,688 members. Garden-Share also provides top seven tips for gardening with kids.


“Gardening is a great way to spend quality time with your kids,” says John Mitchell, founder of Garden-Share. “These tips can be useful to parents who are looking for other ways on getting your family outside and making them aware of the benefits, enjoyment and overall satisfaction of gardening.”
Garden-Share offers the following seven tips to engage kids with gardening:

• Toddlers naturally want to be with their parents outside and join in on activities. Give them their own-sized tools and they will enjoy it even more. Kids and gardening are a natural combination. Gardens offer kids bright colors, unusual smells, different textures, and dirt to play with.

• Surround your garden with backyard toys or a playscape. Having a garden in your child’s play area gives them the opportunity to continuously interact with it, creating a natural interest for gardening.

• Container gardening is a good place to start with kids because it’s simple, controlled and can be enjoyed year-round no matter where you live. All you need is a container, a few stones, soil, a plant or seeds and some sunshine.

• Find out their favorite subjects in school and tie them into gardening. Gardening can teach kids about climate, weather, biology, soil, and bugs. It could also provide them with an appreciation of nature. Hopefully, too, it teaches them patience while waiting on the final outcome.

• Plant a rainbow in your garden. Ask kids to select flowers in the six different rainbow colors and plant them in curving rows. When they bloom, you will have a rainbow.

• Share children’s books and media that incorporate gardening. These include “The Apple-Pip Princess,” “Johnny Appleseed,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots” and “The Curious Garden.” Garden-Share provides videos on garden instruction and photos of end results that can help get kids interested in gardening.

• Kids love playing in water and most parents can confirm that on laundry day. Get them engaged by letting them water plants with their favorite water gun/toy. Show them that water and gardening can be fun together.

“Summer is almost here and gardening is a great way to keep your kids’ minds active and absorbing new things while away from their classrooms,” says Mitchell. “Start planning and sharing your gardening ideas with them soon. Their responses can help point you in the right direction when purchasing items for your new garden.”

Wallie Exercises Book Review

I have talked about the childhood obesity epidemic before, and it is a serious problem. Did you know childhood obesity has more than tripled in the last 30 years? How about this - obese children and especially those in the teenage years have a 70% chance of being obese as adults. What is worse is that percentage increases to 80% if either one or both of the parents are obese as well.

I think you can understand why I am bringing this topic up again. These are the future generations and they are already unhealthy. Think about the health problems that come with obesity. There are plenty.

That is why it is so important that we help our children develop a love of healthy food, exercise and teach them how to take care of their bodies. After all, this is the only body that we get.

Wallie Exercises by Steve Ettinger, author and fitness trainer, is a colorful story about a lazy dog who learns about getting in shape from an exercising elephant.  Back content of the book includes original exercises from the story and fitness information for parents to discuss with their children.  Wallie Exercises was recently awarded a Mom's Choice Award, Living Now Book Award, and Parent to Parent Life Buzz Award.

I love that the book introduces us to a lovable pup named Wallie who needs a few lesssons on how to take care of himself better.  He joins his helpful and kind friends for some exercising, and he ends up finding out just how fun exercising can be!

In the back of the book are definitions of some of the words in the book, such as warm-ups and hydration. He has also listed exercises that your child can do with fun names such as Wallie Wiggle Wag Walks and Relay Race. Now when you child has friends over they can play some of these active games, instead of video games.

I recommend this book to children as young as 3 years old, because my son loves it! You can purchase it here for only $15.95.

*Active Spud Press provided me products to review, and I was under no obligation to review if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.*

Vacation!

I am VERY happy to be going on vacation this week! I will be joining my family in some cabins in the Black Hills of South Dakota and also celebrating my 5 year wedding anniversary with my husband!

I have been looking forward to a vacation away for awhile, so this should be great! Now, I don't know how 20 hours in the car with my two children will go....but that will give me more patience, I suppose.

There will still be some great reviews and articles on gardening, so enjoy them and I will be picking winners for the current giveaways when I return. Good luck and enter some of those great giveaways we have going on!

Have a great week!

Cara

RevAbs Winner!!!

The lucky, lucky winner of RevAbs and Shakeology is........

#178 - Rebekah Mercier

Congratulations!!!

Thank you to all of you who entered. I am sure we will have more great fitness programs up for giveaway, so stay tuned....

Have a great weekend, everyone! I am off to vacation next week, but there will be some great reviews and articles on gardening. Enjoy!

Cara

Aqueduck Review

I am so excited about this review, because honestly, this product is genius!!

I used to be a preschool and elementary school teacher and now am a mother of two, so I know how important it is for children to wash their germy hands. I also know what an event it is. My son is now 3 years old, but he is not tall enough to reach the faucet handles himself. So, I have to pick him up and hold him while I wash his hands. This is a major pain in the butt. He is usually screaming, because the vanity edge is sticking in his stomach, and I can feel my stress level start rising...not fun.

Aqueduck is the perfect solution for this stressful situation! What is this fabulous invention, you ask? It is a faucet extender that allows kids to be able to wash their own hands.

Genius, right? I think so! You can tell it was invented by a loving mother. I jumped for joy when I got mine in the mail. It is really easy to use too. You just squeeze the sides of the blue part while pushing inward on the lower flap. It takes about 2 seconds. I love how easy and quick it is to put on, so I can take it with me when I travel.

I also love that Aqueduck does not contain BPA, PVC or phthalates. And it is easy to clean. It is everything you want in a great product!

You don't have to worry about taking it on and off for adult use either, because everyone can use it. You can even use it to wash hair. Now, if you are trying to wash something icky out of your little one's hair, you don't have to yank their head all the way under the faucet.

An added bonus is that my son now loves washing his hands and brushing his teeth, because he thinks this is the coolest thing around!

Get your own Aqueduck for only $12.99 on their website, on Amazon.com, or find a store near you that carries them.

This post was written for Family Review Network and Aqueduck who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

Epsom Salt - The Unknown Gardening Friend

Who knew that Epsom salt was such a miracle worker when it comes to gardening? I sure didn't. Enjoy this article about how you can use Epsom salt in your own garden.

Epsom salt – actually magnesium sulfate – helps seeds germinate, makes plants grow bushier, produces more flowers, increases chlorophyll production and deters pests, such as slugs and voles. It also provides vital nutrients to supplement your regular fertilizer.

Cornell University Assistant Professor Neil Mattson says plants will show visual cues if they are starved for a particular nutrient. If a plant’s leaves turn yellow all over the plant, it can be a sign they need more sulfate. If lower leaves turn yellow between the veins (that is the veins stay green), they may need more magnesium. Some nutrient disorders can look alike so growers can contact their county extension agents either before they plant to test a soil sample or, if they notice a problem, they can bring in a plant for diagnosis.

“Plants need those building blocks,” says Mattson. “Magnesium and sulfur are essential nutrients.”

Although magnesium and sulfur occur naturally in soil, they can be depleted by various conditions, including heavy agricultural use. But unlike most commercial fertilizers, which build up in the soil over time, Epsom Salt is not persistent so you can't overuse it.

Mattson – who adds Epsom salt to his fertilizer for plants such as roses, pansies, petunias and impatiens – says gardeners can proactively mix Epsom salt with fertilizer and add it to their soil monthly or they can mix one tablespoon with a gallon of water and spray leaves directly every two weeks.

Epsom Salt is recommended by Master Gardeners and used regularly by commercial growers around the world. Tests by the National Gardening Association confirm that roses fertilized with Epsom Salt grow bushier and produce more flowers, and it also makes pepper plants grow larger than those treated only with commercial fertilizer.

Here are some other tips for using Epson salt in the garden:

· Houseplants: 2 tablespoons per gallon of water; feed plants monthly.

· Roses: 1 tablespoon per foot of plant height per plant; apply every two weeks. Also scratch 1/2 cup into soil at base to encourage flowering canes and healthy new basal cane growth. Soak unplanted bushes in 1 cup of Epsom Salt per gallon of water to help roots recover. Add a tablespoon of Epsom Salt to each hole at planting time. Spray with Epsom Salt solution weekly to discourage pests.

· Shrubs (evergreens, azaleas, rhododendron): 1 tablespoon per 9 square feet. Apply over root zone every 2-4 weeks.

· Lawns: Apply 3 pounds for every 1,250 square feet with a spreader, or dilute in water and apply with a sprayer.

· Trees: Apply 2 tablespoons per 9 square feet. Apply over the root zone 3 times annually.

· Garden Startup: Sprinkle 1 cup per 100 square feet. Mix into soil before planting.


 To learn more, please visit the Epsom Salt Council's website.

RevAbs Update - Day 31

I have been working my butt off for the last 30 days, doing RevAbs 6 days a week and loving it!!!

Now I am into a new phase of the series. My workouts are all new, and I think they are even better than the last ones! Brett is still up to all his funny antics like random cartweels and being the back sweat police. Ha, ha!! He knows how to motivate you, make you laugh and keep you wanting more. I think that is a talent that not every trainer possesses, so thank you, Brett!

I will say that when I saw I would be doing the same workout for 30 days, I thought I was going to be bored out of my mind. But, I wasn't. I found that by the end I had learned more and more about how to perfect my form and I had come up with new ways to make the moves even harder and more effective for myself.

Now, what about results? Well, technically, I don't have to take my measurements, weight, etc for about 15 more days, but I just had to take a quick check to see the changes I have been making in my body. Here are the few sneak peaks I checked:

My waist measurement (which is what I really cared about, since having my 2nd baby) - I lost 1 inch!!!

My weight - I lost 3 pounds!!

My body fat percentage - I lost 4%!!

Now, that may not sound like much to you, but for someone like me who started out at a normal weight and ideal body fat percentage, it makes a huge difference!

This is obviously a program that works, and as a trainer myself, I love it!

Now for the best part, you all have the chance to win your own RevAbs program and a week of Shakeology shakes!! But, you better hurry over to the giveaway and enter, because it ends tomorrow on June 10th, 2011!!!

* Beachbody provided me with this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.*

Flower Gardening Tips

If you love beautiful flowers in your home or garden, you are going to want to read this article by Dawn Bryan, Founder of Qualipedia. Qualipedia educates consumers on their choices, helping them achieve independence from product hype, providing transparency about everyday items and gives people the information they can use to determine quality for themselves, enhancing their lifestyles in a way that works for them. Thanks, Dawn!

How to Select Flowers: Whether you are cutting/picking them yourself or purchasing them,
1. Look for firm stems, healthy leaves, and plump flowers with erect petals.


2. Select buds which show the most color and are not drooping.

3. Pick or purchase flowers which are just opening so that the recipient can enjoy them for a few days. When picking/purchasing tulips, always select those with a closed head.

4. If possible, include flowers with a lovely spring fragrance.

5. When selecting from a florist, be sure that the water flowers are standing in is clear and fresh smelling, and that the container is clean.

How to Care for Cut Flowers:
--Because they require a healthy environment, be sure that your container is free from the bacteria that can clog the stem, preventing circulation of water and nutrients. Scrub or rinse containers with mild solution of chlorox bleach before or after each use. Also give your flowers clean well-ventilated air, as smoke and other pollutants will shorten their lives.
--Flowers respond to the temperature of the water they are placed into. Warm water encourages them to open/grow; and cool water slows their development, adding longevity.
--Always cut stems on an angle while under running water, exposing a larger surface. Use a sharp knife, as snipping stems with a scissors can pinch off the channels through which the water is conducted. When cutting tulips, removing all white portion of the stem will allow better fluid intake.
--Remove all foliage from stems which will be under water, as this will discourage bacteria from forming.
--Flower preservatives can prolong the life of your flowers. Most of them contain ingredients which keep the flowers' energy level high (sugar), inhibit the growth of bacteria, and lower the Ph factor, enhancing water/nutrient uptake. Follow the instructions carefully.
--Many flower arrangers have their own "tried-and-true" methods of preserving flowers. These range from bleach, sugar, crushed aspirin, pinch of salt and baking powder, soda, and copper pennies to various combinations. Some claim that using hairspray on the blooms will extend their attractive lives.
--Take care when combining daffodils in a bouquet, as they exude a sap that clogs the stems of other flowers, especially tulips, that can cause the other flowers to wilt. If you do include them, first soak them in warm water with a teaspoon of sugar for at least 12 hours to leach the harmful sap out of the stems.
--Keep flowers away from direct sunlight, drafts and heating/air conditioning vents; don't set on top of TV; don't place close to burning candles. They will enjoy being spray misted.
--Every 2 or 3 days give flower stems a fresh cut, clean out the container, and replace the water/solution to increase hydration. --Remove flowers that wilt early from an arrangement because they give off ethylene gas (used in commercial ripening) which will cause the remainder of the flowers to wilt sooner.
--Mist full strength lemon juice on gardenias to prevent them from browning.
--When using tulips in an arrangement, dip tulips which have reached the openness you desire into beaten egg whites to prevent their opening any further.Wholistic:
 
There ARE health benefits to working with flowers! The presence of flowers improves emotional health and helps to relieve stress. A team of researchers at Rutgers University explored the link between flowers and life satisfaction. The recently-published study showed that
1. Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness--a universal reaction;
2. Flowers have a long-term positive effect on moods;
3. Flowers make intimate connections, their presence increasing contact with family and friends. The study also concluded that flowers are a symbol for sharing, especially the sharing of space.
 
Tips:
--When working with gardenias or stephanotis, you can prevent browning by first wetting your hands so that the oil from your skin will not touch the petals.
--If you plan to eventually dry your flowers/arrangement, look for plants that are interesting in shape, texture, or color once dried. Choose plants that will retain their shape and not fall apart or disintegrate.
--If you have no commercial preservative, make your own by placing 1 teaspoon sugar and a few drops of chlorine bleach into the water.
--To straighten bent tulips, wrap the stems tightly in damp newspaper, secure with a rubber band, and stand in lukewarm water with light directly above them for a couple of hours.
--Because tulips continue to grow even after being cut, it is best to change water and cut stems daily.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to the winner of the Herbasway products - #91 - Jessica!!!

I know you will love them as much as I do!

Also, I am excited to have reached a goal for myself of getting 1000 followers!! Thank you to all of you for your support and thoughts. You are helping to make my blog successful and full of great giveaways!

Happy Wednesday!

Cara

It's Gardening Time!

The best way to get the most nutrients and vitamins from your food is to eat it fresh. Well, that is nearly impossible these days, because food is picked early, held in warehouses, and shipped half way around the world before it gets to your nearest store. Then, it sits on the shelves a few days, sits in your fridge a few days, and before you know it, there are very few nutrients left in it.

That is why I love having a garden!! I know it is a lot of work, but there is something really awesome about getting dirty and putting love into your own food. When you can just run outside and pick whatever you want to eat, that is a great feeling! Plus, it is a great thing for children to learn that food grows from the ground and a lot of hard work. I remember when I was a teacher, most of my children thought food just miraculously showed up in the grocery stores.

Like I said before, I know gardening takes hard work. You have to deal with bad soil, pests, critters trying to help themselves, watering, weeding and more. So, I want to help. This month, I am going to be posting some really helpful articles and great products for you about gardening. Enjoy!

And if you have any questions, this would be a great forum to discuss our gardening woes... :-) I'll start it off by asking if anyone else has annoying moles or voles ruining their yards and gardens? What do you do?

FeelFitWear.com Review and Giveaway

Since I practically live in workout clothing, I love getting new fitness wear to add to my wardrobe. One of my new favorite places to shop is FeelFitWear.com.

FeelFitWear's mission is to provide high quality fitness clothing that combines attitude and comfort. At FeelFitWear they believe every woman is beautiful regardless of shape or size. Their high tech fabrics will accentuate and improve your body shape to make you feel even more gorgeous. If you want to learn more about their awesome high tech fabrics and what makes them special, check out this information.

One of my favorite pieces from their women's activewear is the Blast Exercise Capri. These capris are not only stylish, but they are comfortable. You can tell they are made with really high quality material. I love that the fabric helps wick away moisture to keep you cool. It almost feels as if you are exercising in just your own skin.

I work out pretty hard and teach a lot of fitness classes, so I am pretty picky about what I wear when I want to perform my best. These capris do not hinder my work in any way, and they make my legs feel strong and capable, which I love!

Besides these capris, FeelFitWear also offers more pants and capris, exercise tank tops, yoga pants, sports bras, athletic jackets, and more!!

Another thing that I love about FeelFitWear.com is that they offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders from the US. Don't you love that? You will love shopping at FeelFitWear.com for that reason and because they work to make your shopping experience easy and worry-free. Reward yourself for all your hard work and health goals you have achieved by getting some really cute workout clothes. You will be even more motivated to keep working hard!

And......Guess what?

We are giving away (1) FeelFitWear item of your choice to (1) lucky winner!! (valued up to $100)

Here is how to enter to win this amazing giveaway:

**Head over to FeelFitWear.com and tell me what you would choose if you won the giveaway.
**Become a public follower of Your World: Healthy and Natural on my right sidebar and tell me you did so in a comment.

For more entries:

Sing up for FeelFitWear's newsletter. (1 entry)

Like FeelFitWear on Facebook. (1 entry)

Post on your Facebook about this giveaway. Share the link in your entry.(1 entry)

Follow FeelFitWear on Twitter. (1 entry)
Subscribe to Your World: Healthy and Natural and comment about it. (1 entry)

Vote for Your World: Healthy and Natural on Top Mommy Blogs or We're on the Fence. (1 entry per vote)

Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.(2 entries)

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

Like Your World: Healthy and Natural on Facebook.(2 entries)

Comment on any of my posts about healthy and natural living that you have not commented on before. I love to hear your thoughts!! (1 entry)

The deadline for this giveaway is June 21st at 11:59 pm EST, at which time a winner will be randomely chosen. This giveaway is open to US residents only. If you are from a different country, you may enter also, but you will pay for shipping for your prize. Make sure that you include your email in your comments because if I can't get a hold of you, you can't win.

 * FeelFitWear provided me with this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.*

What You Can Do About RF

If you haven't read my first post about RF and the dangers it poses for your health, check it out.

When I first learned about RF, I started taking immediate changes. Obviously, I didn't ditch all technology and go to live on the moon. But, I have stopped using my cell phone unless I need to make a call. I turn it off unless I have to call or check messages. I took out our cordless phone and put in a landline. Here is how you can start taking control of this danger in your life.

Cell Phones -

• Keep your phone off when driving unless you absolutely need it (especially if your signal is low). While you are in your car, your entire body is exposed to the radiation.
• Try to avoid holding the phone to your ear. (The Interphone study I mentioned in my last post showed gliomas were more prevalent on the side of the head people continuously pressed phones to) Try to keep it at least 6 inches or more away from your body.
• Don't use your cell phone as a bedside alarm clock without first disabling the wireless mode.

Cordless Phones - These are almost as strong as cell phones. The phone base is like a mini cell tower.

• Get a corded phone with an extra long cord so you can still walk around. This will significantly cut the RF levels down in your home.

Wireless Routers - this includes at-home routers and wireless USB cards

• Ditch your wireless router and plug your computer into a cable modem.
• If you just can't give up your wireless router, (like me) then make sure you sit as far away from it as possible and turn it off when you are not online. Ours is downstairs, so we get our exercise running up and down turning it on and off.

Laptops -

• Do not hold your laptop on your lap. I don't think you want to radiate your pelvis. In fact, early studies point to a higher risk of testicular cancer for men who keep RF-emitting devices close to their belts.
• Try to use a desktop computer at home.
• Good news - laptops are only an RF danger when the wireless is on, so turn it off if you want to watch DVDs or play with photos.

Baby Monitors - They release more RF than cell phones!!

• Just don't use one.
• If you absolutely must, place it as far from your baby's crib as you can - at least 10-15 feet away.

Those are the main RF emitters. But, please, also think twice before using microwaves and compact fluorescent bulbs. They both emit this unfriendly radiation.

Now, please do yourself a favor, and make at least one change from this list. You will be doing your family and yourself a great favor!

My Natural Baby Boutique Review and Discount Code

How many of you take note when you are shopping and the shop owner is friendly, helpful and goes above and beyond to make your shopping experience pleasant and easy? I know I do. Customer service is a big deal to me. I choose where I shop based on that and on the quality of products, and today I am excited to introduce you to My Natural Baby Boutique, which is an awesome one-stop shop for all your natural and organic baby needs with great customer service!

At My Natural Baby Boutique, they offer everything you will need to raise a happy, healthy and safe baby, including: BPA-free products, organic clothing, organic toys, natural and organic personal care products, and so much more. They only select organic and natural products that are manufactured in socially and ecologically responsible ways.  All the products are made from natural materials including organic cotton and bamboo. I love that!!

I had so much fun browsing around their shop. I think I could buy out the whole store if I had enough money. I received the Glass Baby Food Containers. I love them because they are BPA, PVC, Phthalate, and Plasticizer free. I love that you can store, heat and freeze these containers, because I am making my own baby food, and I like to freeze large batches. I also really like the smart clips that lock into place really easily and seal nicely. These are just great!

Aren't those fabulous colors?

I also received the Fruit Cutting Playset. I gave this to my 3 year old son for his birthday yesterday, and he has been playing with them ever since! He loves to help me in the kitchen, and he wants to be a chef someday. He has his own kitchen set, but up until now he didn't have any non-toxic food to play with in it. He is in heaven!

I love that this set is made from all natural earth friendly Rubberwood. It is 17 pieces of fun, fun, fun! The fruit has velcroe stickies that come apart when you apply a little pressure from the wooden knife, so kids can chop it apart and stick it back together and do that over and over and over again.

You will love My Natural Baby Boutique, so head on over and check out all that they offer. You can stock up for yourself or as gifts for others you care about. They offer gift registries and will also gift wrap your orders. And there is free shipping on orders over $100. Plus, you can get 15% off with the code ywn15!!

Save yourself time, headaches and frustration by shopping at one store with great customer service for all your natural baby needs. You will love it!

*My Natural Baby Boutique provided me products to review, and I was under no obligation to review if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.*

Friday Winners!

Our lucky winners from the past couple days are.....


Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Greens - #46 - Mel

Wool Dryer Balls - #35 - Attila and Tamara

Congratulations, you guys! I hope you enjoy these wonderful products!

Happy Birthday!

Today is my son's three year old birthday!! Happy Birthday, sweety! I love you!

From 3 days old to 3 years old...

My how the days of his life have flown by...I am blessed to be his mother, and I thank God for each precious day I have with him.

New Health Danger - RF

Have you heard of nonthermal radio frequency radiation (RF)? I know it is a mouthful, but RF is actually quite simple. RF is the invisible energy waves that connect cell phones to cell towers, and power numerous other everyday items that you are probably using.

Here is the problem - people think things like cell phones, cordless phones, wireless internet, laptops and baby monitors are safe because the National Cancer Institute says they are, BUT a growing number of independent researchers are finding otherwise. I think we should all take another look at this health danger, and so I want to break down what I have found out for you.

First of all, there is a lot of evidence that is finding that RF can damage our immune systems and alter our cellular makeup, even at intensities considered safe by the FCC. Not good....especially for all of us using cell phones, wireless routers, laptops and more.

Here is what really concerns me, "The problem is that RF can transfer energy waves into your body and disrupt its normal functioning," explains Cindy Sage, an environmental consultant in Santa Barbara, California, who has studied radiation for 28 years. "Here's why that's crucial: Overwhelming evidence shows that RF can cause DNA damage, and DNA damage is a necessary precursor to cancer."

And get this - The 2010 Interphone study, the largest to date on RF exposure from mobile phones, found that people who chatted via cell for just 30 minutes a day for 10 years saw their risk of glioma (the type of brain tumor that killed Ted Kennedy) rise 40 percent. Yikes!!

Now think for a second how often you are exposed to RF. You wake up to your cell phone alarm, which has been sending RF to your body all night. You go to check your email that gets internet from your wireless router, which sends RF through your house all day and night. You head to work, the coffee shop, and more places, where there is also wireless internet. My point is, we are being exposed to RF almost constantly, and this is the first time in our country's history that this is the case. How do we even know the extent of what RF is doing to our bodies?

On Saturday, I am going to break down what gadgets you need to worry about, why, and what steps to take to lower your RF exposure. Stay tuned...

Happy Couple Handbook Super Giveaway

How many of you parents have experienced a major change in your relationship with your spouse since having children? I know I certainly have. Each day is work, but a great relationship with my husband is well worth the effort. One of the books that has helped us the most is the Happy Couple Handbook by Dr. Carol Lundquist.

I received and reviewed this book in February, just a few weeks after my second child was born. You can imagine how our relationship had been in a bit of a slump, and this book helped tremendously. Today, we are still doing some of the things we learned in this book. You can see my full review here.

Now, I am giving you the chance to win your own copy of this book. I am so excited about all the marriages that are going to be helped through this giveaway and through this book, because we are giving away 10 copies of the Happy Couple Handbook!!! Yay!

These books are perfect for your own marriage or for a friend or relative with children. They would also make a great baby shower gift! In the future, if you want to find this book, it has been renamed, Happily Married With Kids: It's Not a Fairy Tale.  In early advance release, they found that The Happy Couple Hanbook just didn't resonate well with their market, and the subtitle "Marriage: How to Survive Parenting" was perceived as too negative. After testing several other possibilities, they decided that a slight variation of the title would be best. It is the same book, just with a new title.

So who wants to win a copy of the Happy Couple Handbook? Remember, we are giving away 10 readers their own copy of this awesome book!

Here's how to enter this great giveaway:



Mandatory Entry: Become a public follower of Your World: Healthy and Natural on my right sidebar and tell me you did so in a comment.
For more entries:

Head over to Dr. Carol's website and tell me something you learned. (1 entry)

Tell me a special thing you and your spouse do to keep your marriage strong.(1 entry)

Subscribe to Your World: Healthy and Natural and comment about it. (1 entry)

Vote for Your World: Healthy and Natural on Top Mommy Blogs or We're on the Fence. (1 entry per vote)

Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.(2 entries)

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

Like Your World: Healthy and Natural on Facebook.(2 entries)

Add the Your World: Healthy and Natural blog button to your website or blog. (2 entries)

Comment on any of my posts about healthy and natural living that you have not commented on before. I love to hear your thoughts!! (1 entry)

The deadline for this giveaway is June 16th at 11:59 pm 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.

*Thank you to Dr. Carol for this giveaway! Disclosure - This book was given for my review. No other compensation was given.*