GoGreen Beauty Treatment /Adovia Facial Lift and Firm Serum / Personal Review

• Firms and Tightens skin with a visible lift that can be felt immediately
• Highly concentrated serum infuses skin with Dead Sea Minerals, Green Tea, Seaweed, Vitamin C and much more.
• Protects skin from pollutants and weather damage that can clog pores and cause wrinkles and breakouts.
• Feeds skin the nutrients it needs to look youthful and naturally beautiful
• Use as a base under your moisturizer or anti wrinkle cream for maximum anti aging effect or use just the serum.

Imagine taking all the legendary beauty properties of The Dead Sea Minerals and salts and concentrating them all into a highly potent serum. Now imagine adding to that an advanced formula of anti-aging ingredients and vitamins including Bearberry, Green Tea, Seaweed, Vitamin C and more. What you get is our highly concentrated, mineral rich serum designed to effectively smooth and firm the skin.

This deep absorbing, light gel is formulated with natural ingredients to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by increasing your skin's elasticity and firmness. Based on a unique formula of Vitamin C, Evening Primrose Oil and Dead Sea minerals, it instantly moisturizes to improve your skin's texture - giving you a radiant, smooth and even complexion. Amino acids combined with Green Tea extract and Vitamin C help your skin naturally regenerate - creating a firmer, more youthful appearance. Additionally it protects skin from daily pollutants and weather damage that can clog pores and cause wrinkles and breakouts.

All these natural, age-defying ingredients are what make this serum so powerful and effective. A little goes a long way with this highly concentrated product; just a tiny bit every day will make your skin look fantastic and revitalized. This unique, light gel will absorb deep to reduce signs of aging and your skin's elasticity and firmness.

With amino acids, essential vitamins, and Green Tea, it moisturizes and softens skin. Just apply a few drops to the skin on your face and neck; be sure to reach the areas around the eyes and mouth where wrinkles develop. Using the Mineral Anti Age Serum daily will help skin naturally restore its youthful health and appearance.

Directions: Apply a few drops of serum to the face and neck, especially around the eyes and mouth where wrinkles tend to develop. Using Mineral Anti Age Serum on a regular basis will result in skin restored with a smoother texture and a soft supple appearance. This serum is concentrated so just a little bit goes a long way!

INGREDIENTS

Demineralised Water (Aqua) & Dead Sea Water, Butylene Glycol,Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Propylene Glycol & Chamomile (Anthemis Nobilis) Extract & Algae Extract & Papaya (Carica Papaya) Extract & Camellia Oleifera Extract (Green Tea) & Aloe Vera (Barbadensis) Gel, Glycerin, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, C 13-14 Isoparaffin, Polysorbate 20, Polyacrylamide, Urea, Peg-12 Glyceryl Laurate, Peg-36 Castor Oil, Farnesyl Acetate, Silk Amino Acids, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) Farnesol, Ethyl Linoleate, Laureth-7, Phenonip, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Panthenol, Benzophenone-3, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Evening Primrose (Oenothera Biennis) Oil, Magnesium Aspartate, Glycine, Fragrance (Supplement), Sorbitol, Tea-Lactate, Serine, Creatine, Alanine, Orange (Citrus Aurantium Dulcis) Extract, Triethanolamine, Allantoin, Dead Sea Salt, Lauryl Diethylenediaminoglycine, Lauryl Aminopropylglycine, Benzoic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzalkonium Chloride, Hyaluronic Acid.

REVIEW: I love to try new products. I was granted the opportunity to try this product. I choose my mother, who is 74 years old for this product. I took a pic of her Before she started using the product, than another pic 2 weeks After. I ask her a few questions about how the product was working for her. My mother's respond was "I like the product, my face and neck feel softer and her ageing lines appear to be lighter". She hasn't had a "bad" reaction to the product Ingredients either. She continues to use this product daily. So YES, it is working as it claims.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Go Green Your Wardrobe

Transcript:How to Green Your Wardrobe

Green fashion is the newest frontier in sustainable living. There are
amazing, amazing innovative fabrics happening right now that are available
on the market, like fabric made from corn; soy cashmere made from excess
from the food production world, which is just as lux and supple and
traditional cashmere. There is coconut shell fabric; there's bamboo which
is microbal, which helps you sweat. There are organic fibers, there's linen
which is actually flax seed which takes a lot less water to grow; and
microfiber, which is an amazing alternative to leather as well as wax
canvas. It's biodegradable, so it doesn't sit on the earth's surface
forever. It eventually biodegrades and it's also made in a cleaner, greener
way.

One of the things I'm really excited about is innovative technologies like
Olsen House which just looks like a cool, edgy shoe from a modern designer,
but actually it's made from microfiber and PET which are recycled TV
screens and recycled water or soda bottles, which is just so cool. I love
Beyond Skin. Look at these chic shoes that are made from plant-based fibers
-- how awesome.

Cri de Coeur, another really cool line; Ming shoes out of Los Angeles.
There are so many ways of thinking about sustainability, from buying Fair
Trade ethically mined diamonds to these amazing necklaces and this jewelry
by Adina Mills, which are all found stones. They are imbued with so much
wonderful energy. Or these pieces that are made from recycled plastics. Or
Dirty Librarian chain, a sexy name, right? Buy this designer out of
Brooklyn. All of this is made locally from found dead stock of pieces, so
maybe a jeweler closed down 50 years ago, and there's all this dead stock.
She makes amazing, super couture pieces from it. I'm sure you guys have
seen these on the market. These are fantastic beads, beaded necklaces that
are made in Rwandan cooperatives by women who are learning a skill and
making these amazing, very cool looking beaded necklaces.

There are so many innovations every day happening in vegan fashion. But
really the most exciting innovations in fashion have always come from
vintage inspiration like florals are really hot this season, so I'm excited
to get to wear my grandma's jacket. Some pretty good stuff, right? This
didn't cost me anything, and it's as green as it gets to buy vintage or
wear vintage. So, always start in your mom's closet, like I found this gem
from the 80s, this Norma Kamali piece with these awesome long arms.

My mom's closet -- how awesome. But then there are amazing designers who
are doing really interesting things, like Dalia who's a Los Angeles based
designer who does all vegan gowns. They're all eco friendly vegan gowns, and
she has thousands of options that are just so chic and so innovative. I
also am really excited about Eco Swim which is a plant-based recycled
bottled swimwear line. This is one of their cover ups. They make super sexy
bikinis, just in time for summer.

If you're saying, "I miss my leather, I want to wear leather," well you
know you don't need them now for your shoes, but what about sexy things
like leather skirts or leather pants? There are so many options. Karen Kane
makes great faux leather skirts. This is a faux crocodile print miniskirt
which is sexy for next season. And I'm a big fan of Hatch maternity wear
when I'm pregnant with my boys. These are just sexy, straight leg maternity
leather jeans, vegan leather jeans, which are fantastic.

Of course, the dress that I'm wearing today is Daniel Silverstein's Zero
Waste, which is an innovative style of fashion where there's zero waste in
the production of the design. I love a designer named Mia [inaudible
0:03:30.3] out of New York City, because she makes all of her things here
in New York. They're not made in a factory abroad, so she's really doing
things by hand using really light earth, light fabrics that are not hurting
our planet. They're all cruelty free and they're so chic, and the design is
so fashion forward and linear.

I really love this line Naketano, out of Germany, because he does things
like great men's hoodies with leather vegan hoods. There are no skins used
in his designs whatsoever; no fur, no feathers, no wool, no silk. Cruelty
free fashion does eschew all animal byproducts. But clearly, it doesn't
stop us from looking fabulous. I also really dig Claire Farwell designs.
She's a London designer who uses really progressive fashion forward fabrics
and no animals have to die.

A lot of people buy their clothes on flash sales right now, which are
amazing ways to get insane deals on your favorite designers. But now, you
don't have to just scroll your regular, general flash sale website to find
them. You can look on green flash sale sites, and join them and get down
with a new eco designer every day. And the exciting thing is, you get to
learn so much and explore new, really innovative fabrics, and almost
superior ways of making clothes and making people look fantastic.

Wearing Vintage Clothing is Recycling!

Every time you buy or wear vintage clothing instead of newly manufactured clothing you are recycling. That clothing is getting a second chance and being saved from the landfill every time you wear it. With an average of 11.8 million tons of clothing per year getting thrown away, you can rest easy knowing you won’t be making a 68 pound contribution to that number like theaverage American does.

Vintage Clothing Uses Less Resources

For every new item of clothing that is made, there is a substantial carbon footprint left behind by its manufacturing. There's the fuel used to manufacture materials, fuel to transport materials to factories, fuel to power the factories machines, fuel to ship the finished product; it all adds up to a pretty large amount for something so small. The amount of energy needed to produce vintage clothing is zero. Plus, since most vintage retailers buy wholesale in bulk from rag houses , the cost to transport those items ends up being only a fraction of a cent.

Vintage Clothing is Healthier

Vintage clothing is healthier for you and for the planet. The dyes, chemicals, and processes used to produce wrinkle resistant, colorfast, soft, unshrinkable clothing are not what anyone would call eco-friendly. Often the waste from manufacturing clothing like jeans is dumped into the water supply in whatever third world country their manufacturing facility is. Why would you want that chemical weight on your body or on your conscience?

Adovia Mineral Balsam Conditioner

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Adovia Products

• Made in  Israel. 
• Uniquely combines Minerals from the Dead Sea with natural botanical ingredients from the Earth.
• Dead Sea, what exactly is that?  It is a lake with Jordan to its East and Palestine and Israel to its West. It is roughly 9.6 times saltier than the ocean with a salt content of 32%. Ordinary sea water only has 3%.4 This gives the Dead Sea a higher density, thus you can easily float in it. This salinity also makes the Dead Sea a harsh environment so animals cannot thrive in it. Hence, it is called the Dead Sea.

So, now that I know this is a Go Green Product, here is my experience with this hair conditioner.

Mineral Balsam Conditioner

Creamy texture
Smells kind of like "Polo".
Hair is softer after one application.

Husband likes the product too.

Note: I have a saltwater conditioner on my main water supply, so results may be different for others.

FACTS from Product Site: http://www.cleopatraschoice.com/ado-0025.html

• For all hair types.
• Is a hair balm which protects your hair from damaging influences while making it much easier to manage.
• It's made with a specially formulated blend of Dead Sea minerals and natural wild flowers as well as essential oils to protect your hair and add a healthy natural look.
• INGREDIENTS demineralized water and Dead Sea water, cetyl alcohol, cetrimonium chloride 29%, mineral oil, isopropyl myristate, glycerin, lanolin, fragrance, polyquaternium-7, propylene glycol and chamomile extract and algae extract and papaya extract and aloe vera ex.

Awesome Lotion

Hydra IQ Technology

Newest product I received in the mail.

My husband was badly burned 4 yrs ago that required multi-skin grafts. His skin is very tight and painful on his knees and hands. He immediately applied this lotion sample to his knees and hands & within minutes his skin loosen up. We will see if the 48 hr. continue moisture benefits means the claims. We were very impressed with the instance results.

BOOK REVIEW / JUST SOME DOWN TIME

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Moore Green Reading / Chance for Love: Dangerous Romance-3 pack

       


I love to read. I was ever so lucky to be chosen to receive, read and review this 3-pack set of Romance books. I personally like the Nook / ebook option, however, there are many other options for your reading pleasure. I briefly reviewed the book package as a whole and found it's all good. The books are not long and drawn out like some I have experienced.

•  Book #1 Broken Build - Exciting Romantic Suspense/Techno Thriller set in Silicon Valley. 
• Book #2 Hidden Under Her Heart - A heartfelt romance sizzling with controversy.
• Book #3 Knowing Vera - Suspenseful romance, an unsolved murder, and love on the beach. 

Go Green, read more eBooks and safe those trees.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Vitamin C / Beauty Treatment Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Moore Green / Vitamin C Serum by Poppy Austin

This product is great. I am always looking for products that help keep my face younger looking and feeling good, plus "Go Green" features.  I have been using this product for about a week now and I have noticed how much softer and my small wrinkles are actually less noticeable. I wash my face at night and just use the dropper provided to add one drop on my forehead, chin and both cheeks. Lightly rub it in and nothing more. This product doesn't appear to cause any itching or redness. I believe in just one bottle I have about several months of beauty serum.   

Poppy Austin are a leading provider of organic anti-aging cosmetics.

Vitamin C Serum Facts:

• It stimulates the synthesis of collagen ( helps make new skin cells).
• It's antioxidant properties can help improve skin damage caused by the sun (Vitamin C).

Go Green Facts:

• It's organic. (No man-made chemicals).
• It has a nice smell.
• It is packaged in a glass bottle (Recyclable).

So yes, I would recommend that both men and women to give this product a try.  

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Ground Moles

I had one in my yard, now I do not. You know those little creatures that dig up your yard in a long line, leaving behind hills of dirt. Here is some more information about those little rat looking creatures and several GREEN ways that have worked for me in keeping them away without killing them. I believe Moles are here for a reason and part of Nature.

Facts:

•  Moles are small cylindrical (rounded) mammals adapted to a subterranean (under-ground) lifestyle. They have velvety fur; tiny or invisible ears and eyes, reduced hind limbs; and short, powerful forelimbs with large paws positioned for digging & a long nose.
• Moles can tolerate higher levels of carbon dioxide than other mammals. Moles are able to reuse the oxygen inhaled when above ground, and as a result, are able to survive in low-oxygen environments such as underground burrows.
• Moles have an extra thumb next to other thumb.
• Moles diets consists of earthworms and other small invertebrates found in the soil, and a variety of nuts.
• Moles breeding season depends on species but is generally February through May.
• Moles are solitary creatures, coming together only to mate. So all those hills in your yard are from one Mole.

 SOLUTION

• Cats, yes, cats! We have several cats on our small rural farm home. Our cats tend to kill them & bring them to the front door. That was a no go!
• Mole & Gopher Sonic Spike. Go Green / Solar powered! Now this product is great! Has been in our front yard for 2 months now & no Mole holes. Save, non-tonic to anything. No killing. It just puts off a Sonic sound that keeps the Moles away. Doesn't affect pets or people.

Sweeney's Mole and Gopher Solar Spike 

Go Green / Save the Earth one product at a Time 

Go Green in the Kitchen

Go Green in the Kitchen
Save energy & money with simple changes to your kitchen routine.

Drink cleaner water: Filter contaminants from your tap water with a water-filtering pitcher or a faucet-mounted filter system. This will save money over buying bottled water, and the pollution created to produce, ship, and dispose of all those plastic containers. These are some good brands; Brita, PUR and the Shaklee pitchers. Faucet-mounted filters are easy to install; they simply screw onto the faucet, and a valve lets you choose to bypass the filter (for example, when washing dishes).

Go Green Your Detergent: Automatic dishwashing detergents and dish soaps can contain phosphates that cause algae growth when released into local waterways, that in turn threatens marine life. Many detergents can also release chlorine into the dishwasher's steam and indoor air. Two known brands without these ingredients are Ecover Ecological Automatic Dishwasher Powder and Shaklee Dish Wash.

Recycle Food Scraps: Guilty I am of throwing food into the trash. This is a waste of valuable resources. You can turn coffee grounds, banana peels, and eggshells into a rich soil conditioner/fertilizer for your houseplants, lawn, and garden by composting them. Keep a small bucket with lid near your prep area to collect waste, then add the contents to a backyard compost bin. 

Pantry-Buy in Bulk: When shopping, avoid overly packaged and single-serving products and select large packages instead. Believe it or not it is cheaper. Skip plastic wrap and aluminum foil in favor of washable containers with lids for dividing bulk items.

Get with Renewable Resource Containers: Use Old-fashioned glass, ceramic, or stainless-steel for cooking, eating & storing food.  Many types of plastic can be recycled, however, they're all made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource. 

So get busy, see what you can do to Go Green in your Kitchen.

• 
  
• Throwing food into the trash wastes a valuable resource. Turn your coffee grounds, banana peels, and eggshells into a rich soil conditioner for houseplants, lawn, and garden by composting them. Keep a small bucket or crock (white-enamel retro trash can, World Market, $14.99) near your prep area to collect waste, then add the contents to a backyard compost bin. If you're a serious gardener, compost indoors with an odor-free system, such as the NatureMill Automatic Composter (naturemill.com, $400). To learn more, visit epa.gov/compost.

• Throwing food into the trash wastes a valuable resource. Turn your coffee grounds, banana peels, and eggshells into a rich soil conditioner for houseplants, lawn, and garden by composting them. Keep a small bucket or crock (white-enamel retro trash can, World Market, $14.99) near your prep area to collect waste, then add the contents to a backyard compost bin. If you're a serious gardener, compost indoors with an odor-free system, such as the NatureMill Automatic Composter (naturemill.com, $400). To learn more, visit epa.gov/compost.

• Green Your Detergent

  Automatic dishwashing detergents and dish soaps can contain phosphates that, when released into local waterways, cause algae growth that threatens marine life. Many detergents also release chlorine into the dishwasher's steam and indoor air. Two brands without these ingredients are Ecover Ecological Automatic Dishwasher Powder (drugstore.com, $5.89) andShaklee Dish Wash (shown here, shaklee.com, $8.10).

• Green Your Detergent

  Automatic dishwashing detergents and dish soaps can contain phosphates that, when released into local waterways, cause algae growth that threatens marine life. Many detergents also release chlorine into the dishwasher's steam and indoor air. Two brands without these ingredients are Ecover Ecological Automatic Dishwasher Powder (drugstore.com, $5.89) andShaklee Dish Wash (shown here, shaklee.com, $8.10).

• Green Your Detergent

  Automatic dishwashing detergents and dish soaps can contain phosphates that, when released into local waterways, cause algae growth that threatens marine life. Many detergents also release chlorine into the dishwasher's steam and indoor air. Two brands without these ingredients are Ecover Ecological Automatic Dishwasher Powder (drugstore.com, $5.89) andShaklee Dish Wash (shown here, shaklee.com, $8.10).

• Work Your Dishwasher

  No need to feel guilty about running yourdishwasher; it actually uses less water than doing dishes by hand. Run it only when full and use the most efficient setting -- light rather than heavy wash and air dry instead of heat. Don't bother to pre-rinse before loading. Tests by the Consumers Union show that rinsing is unnecessary and wastes up to 20 gallons of water per load.

What you do comes back to you!

karma cleanse
*be grateful
*act with (and from) love
*check your motives!

Straw wrapped House

I'am always looking for Inspiration for Recycling Projects and this one is on the Top of the List.

It is amazing how how this person has used his mind to Create a Budget Home with the materials compatible with his environment. 

He has detailed everything so you can follow his "How I Did It". Although I do not need to do this, I just wanted to share this project with you. Very interesting !

http://www.naturallifemagazine.com/0910/i_wrapped_my_house_in_straw.htm?utm_source=GraphicMail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=NewsletterLink&utm_campaign=Life+Media+E-Letter+Apr+5+2014+%2A+%2A&utm_content=

Recycle Information

20 Things You Didn't
Know You Can Recycle

Garbage.  Americans produce more and more of it every year, when we need to be producing less.  Even the most waste-conscious among us can feel overwhelmed by the amount of household waste that goes beyond what municipal recyclers and compost bins can handle. Get serious about the three R’s – reducing, reusing, and recycling — and divert more waste away from landfills.

I checked each one of these to be sure ALL were still active.

1.  Appliances: Goodwill accepts working appliances, www.goodwill.org/‎ or you can contact the Steel Recycling Institute to recycle them. 800/YES-1-CAN, www.recycle-steel.org.

2.  Batteries: Rechargeables and single-use: Battery Solutions, 734/467-9110,www.batteryrecycling.com.

3.  Cardboard boxes: Contact local nonprofits and women’s shelters to see if they can use them. Or, offer up used cardboard boxes at your local Freecycle.org or on Craigslist.org for others who may need them for moving or storage. If your workplace collects at least 100 boxes or more each month, UsedCardboardBoxes.com accepts them for resale.

4. CDs/DVDs/Game Disks: www.cdrecyclingcenter.com/‎

5.  Clothes: Wearable clothes can go to your local Goodwill outlet or shelter. Donate wearable women’s business clothing to Dress for Success, which gives them to low-income women as they search for jobs, 212/532-1922, www.dressforsuccess.org. Offer unwearable clothes and towels to local animal boarding and shelter facilities, which often use them as pet bedding. Consider holding a clothes swap at your office, school, faith congregation or community center. Swap clothes with friends and colleagues, and save money on a new fall wardrobe and back-to-school clothes.

6.  Compact fluorescent bulbs:   Take them to your local IKEA store for recycling: www.ikea.com.  

7.  Compostable bio-plastics: You probably won’t be able to compost these in your home compost bin or pile. Find a municipal composter to take them to at www.findacomposter.com.

8.  Computers and electronics: Find the most responsible recyclers, local and national, at www.ban.org/pledge/Locations.html.

9.  Exercise videos: Swap them with others at www.videofitness.com.

10.   Eyeglasses: Your local Lion’s Club or eye care chain may collect these. Lenses are reground and given to people in need.

11.  Foam packing: Your local pack-and-ship store will likely accept foam peanuts for reuse. Or, call the Plastic Loose Fill Producers Council to find a drop-off site: 800/828-2214. For places to drop off foam blocks for recycling, contact the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers, 410/451-8340, www.epspackaging.org/info.html

12. Ink/toner cartridges: Recycleplace.com pays $1/each. 

13. Miscellaneous: Get your unwanted items into the hands of people who can use them. Offer them up on your local Freecycle.org or Craigslist.org or giving or selling them at iReuse.com.  

14. Oil:  googlemaps. Just type in your town & state adding recycle oil locations.

15.  Phones: Donate cell phones:  Recycle single-line phones: Reclamere, 814/386-2927, www.reclamere.com.

16. Sports equipment: Resell or trade it at your local Play It Again Sports outlet, 800/476-9249, www.playitagainsports.com.

17. “Technotrash”: Project KOPEG offers an e-waste recycling program that can help you raise funds for your organization. Use Project KOPEG to recycle iPods, MP3 players, cell phones and chargers, digital cameras, PDAs, palm pilots, and more. Also, easily recycle all of your CDs, jewel cases, DVDs, audio and video tapes, pagers, rechargeable and single-use batteries, PDAs, and ink/toner cartridges with GreenDisk’s Technotrash program. For $30, GreenDisk will send you a cardboard box in which you can ship them up to 70 pounds of any of the above. Your fee covers the box as well as shipping and recycling fees. 800/305-GREENDISK, www.greendisk.com.

18.  Tennis shoes: One World Running will send still-wearable shoes to athletes in need in Africa, Latin America, and Haiti.www.oneworldrunning.com.

19.  Toothbrushes and razors:  Buy a recycled plastic toothbrush or razor fromRecycline, and the company will take it back to be recycled again into plastic lumber.  Recycline products are made from used Stonyfield Farms’ yogurt cups.  888/354-7296, www.recycline.com.

20.  Stuff you just can’t recycle:  When practical, send such items back to the manufacturer and tell them they need to manufacture products that close the waste loop responsibly.

State of Mind

Going green doesn’t start with doing green acts — it starts with a shift in consciousness. This shift allows you to recognize that with every choice you make, you are voting either for or against the kind of world you wish to see. When you assume this as a way of being, your choices become easier. Using a reusable water bottle, recycling and making conscious daily consumer choices are just a few…” 
― Ian Somerhalder

Recycling: Can It Be Wrong, When It Feels So Right?

CREDITS: By Marianela Toledo | Florida Watchdog

MIAMI —Recycling is a noble cause. Except when it’s not.

COLONY1: A South Florida “green” house meant to raise awareness about the environment and sustainability.

Ernando Jaramillo has made recycling his life. In 2008, at the height of the Great Recession, he bought an old school bus and turned it into an eccentric home. Instead of using gasoline, he converted the bus to run on vegetable oil thrown out by restaurants.

Jaramillo, married with two children, also reuses discarded items from his place of work.

“The fences you see around here were made from old discarded pallets,” he said.

It doesn’t stop there. Every morsel of food the family eats is home grown.

The serial recycler now wants to get others to come around to his way of thinking, so he founded a project called Colony1. It’s not about making money, he said. It’s all about raising awareness about the environment and making recycling a core philosophy.

Ironically, his mission could hurt the environment, according to one recycling critic.

Michael C. Munger, professor of political science, public policy and economics at North Carolina’s Duke University, has studied recycling for years and might be Colony1′s worst nightmare.

“Recycling is a big net waste of resources and money,” Munger told Watchdog.org.

“Recycling, including the costs of collecting the waste in tiny, mixed amounts, transporting the waste to a handling facility, sorting it, cleaning it, repackaging it, and then transporting it again, often for great distances, to a market that will buy the commodity for some actual use, is almost always more expensive than land filling that same waste in a local facility,” Munger said.

Once you add in the pollution generated by large trucks traveling far and wide to pick up and deliver recyclables, it starts to look less like a “save the planet” program and more like a “feel good” program, Munger said.

In an article called “Recycling: Can It Be Wrong, When It Feels So Right?,” the economist uses glass bottles to illustrate his point.

“The commodity that glass can be ground into just isn’t very valuable,” he writes.

“In effect, citizens are paying the city extra to throw away glass bottles, so that they can pretend it’s being recycled.”

But that’s not likely to deter Jaramillo or his sustainable community set to be built on public land.

Jarmillo says he’s about solutions. He acknowledges that businesses don’t like to use recyclable materials because they’re expensive, but by imposing fines, he says compliance is attainable.

Jaramillo also said Colony1 could will make a great educational facility.

“The money issue shouldn’t be a reason to contribute to environmental degradation,” Jaramillo said.

ECOTOOLS

ECOTOOLS / BEAUTY PRODUCTS

My birthday was a few days ago and I met up with one of daughters for lunch. She presented me with several wonderful gifts. ECOTOOLS are beauty products that use recycled materials. AWESOME!

Gift #1 / Smoothing Detangler Hair Brush 

• Unique bristle design 
• Cushioned paddle
• Ultra comfort
• Lightweight 
• Frizz and static-fighting
• Ideal for ALL hair types
• Crafted with bamboo handle, re-purposed aluminum, recycled and recyclable paper packaging.

Oh my gosh, brushing my hair was a real treat. No pulling my hair and best of all, no hair loss. I don't know what it cost but a little research where I would purchase this product.

Walmart $10.97 and the product site (www.eco-tools.com) $10.99 as of today. So, being that both were just a few cents apart, the ECOTOOLS site has awesome promotion going on. I didn't purchase this online so I could not enter.

Gift #2 / ECOPOUF EXFOLIATING SPONGE (PURPLE)

• Softer texture than the nylon 
• 100% recycled netting

This product too was excellent, I didn't feel like I was removing several layers of skin and it rinsed really well. Walmart didn't have a price online, however, as of today (www.eco-tools.com) has them for $2.49.

Go Green Eating on the Prasouda "Mediterranean" healthy diet & Lose weight too!

I have been researching countries who have much Healthier way of Eating to lose weight & promote wellness. Keep reading, this has been around for awhile and it's not a instant drop 10 pounds in a week diet. It's a Natural Foods way of living without all the food additives or fried stuff.

I have a section just for Go Green Mediterranean Style with my recipes and my Weekly Menu Plan and progress.

What is the Mediterranean Diet?

The Mediterranean diet is not a “diet” per se. It is a mix of the traditional eating habits of people living in Spain, Italy, France, Greece and the Middle East.

How to Start the Mediterranean Diet?

• Eat natural, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts.
• Make olive oil your primary source of dietary fat
• Reduce the consumption of red meat (Monthly)
• Eat low to moderate amounts of fish (Weekly)
• Drink a moderate amount of wine or red grape juice (up to one to two glasses per day for men and up to one glass per day for women)

Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet

 New studies appear regularly on leading scientific journals, supporting the healthfulness of the Mediterranean Diet.

These are some examples of studies confirming its health benefits:

• Heart Disease and Stroke: Diet alone can reverse heart disease
• High Cholesterol: Recent studies confirmed that diet can lower cholesterol without medications
• High Blood Pressure: Eating a low sodium diet will help people suffering of hypertension
• Weight Loss: People following a Mediterranean style diet have more long term benefits and lose weight safely
• Type 2 Diabetes: Mediterranean diet can stave off need for diabetes drugs and help prevent Diabetes
• Cancer: A lot of studies confirm that some foods may modify estrogens level. Consuming dairy foods may increase the risk of prostate cancer as well.
• Osteoporosis: People from the Mediterranean countries have lower rates of hip fractures.
• Alzheimer’s: Antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables play an important role in cognitive capacity
• More and more: This diet will help to alleviate constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and blindness

Foods to Eat

This is a sample food list:

Fresh fruit. Have 3 or 4 pieces of fruit every day. Make one of these fruits an orange (HALO's); they are very high in antioxidants and phytochemicals, substances that protect us against diseases. Berries (such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries) are also a must in this diet because of their antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential in the fight against heart disease and cancer. If you want to follow a Mediterranean diet, eat some fruit for dessert. That is how Mediterraneans eat their fruit most of the times.

Veggies. Have a salad in your main meals. Use olive oil and lemon for dressing; This is a powerful antioxidant combination. Tomatoes and tomato products are a staple food in the Mediterranean diet; they contain lycopene. Cut a whole tomato and spread it with olive oil and some basil as part of your side dish or include them in your salads. Sauté green beans with olive oil and garlic to have a complete Mediterranean side dish. Zucchini are also a delightful complement; sauté them with olive oil.

Whole Grains. Have a piece of whole wheat or whole grain bread with your main meals (except with pasta). Have whole wheat pasta 2 or 3 times a week. It is low in calories, and the fiber enhances the feeling of fullness.

Legumes. Eat dried beans, lentils, or garbanzo beans 2 or 3 times a week. Nutrition experts at the Michigan State University tell us that eating 2 to 4 cups of cooked legumes every week can protect us against heart disease. Dry beans have fiber that eliminates cholesterol from the body. Eat legumes and a piece of whole grain bread to have the perfect protein. Vegetable protein does not put a load on kidneys as animal protein does.

Nuts. Have a handful of nuts as a snack in your morning break. Nuts are also a staple food in Mediterranean countries and are high in monounsaturated fat, the one that does not get stuck in the arteries. Read the food label and be aware of portions because nuts are high in calories. Scientific studies have found that almonds and walnuts are the healthiest choices.

Olive oil. Use olive oil in your meals both to cook and as a condiment in your salads. Olive oil is the main source of fat in Mediterranean countries and is the “cause” of the low incidence of heart disease in those countries. Use olive oil and lemon as a dip in your salads.

Fish and sea food. Have fish and sea food two or three times a week. Salmon and sardines are excellent choices because they provide omega-3 oils, oils that the body needs but cannot create in enough quantities.

Garlic and aromatic herbs. Use garlic and aromatic herbs as condiment. Garlic is the leading contributor to the low incidence of high blood pressure in Mediterranean countries because it dilates the blood vessels walls.

Sample Mediterranean Diet Menu

A 28 day diet plan would introduce changes gradually. Studies have shown that small changes over time are an effective way to make lifelong habits. Start with the elimination of processed foods and increase fruit and vegetable. Continue by adding more beans and switch from other oils (or butter) to extra virgin olive oil. Limit seafood, poultry and eggs to a few times per week each and reduce red meat to no more than a portion a month. And finally focus on dairy products and avoid milk, cream and butter.

It is difficult to choose just one menu, but here’s what a day’s worth of meals might look like:

• Breakfast: Greek yogurt topped with berries and walnuts; Coffee or tea
• Lunch: Lentil soup with swish chard topped with taziki sauce; Hummus and pita
• Snack: Whole grain crackers and cheese
• Dinner: Roasted cod paired with a wheat berry salad consisting of olive oil vinaigrette, feta, parsley, and tomatoes and a glass of red wine
• Dessert: Fresh fruit drizzled with honey

How to Lose Weight While on the Mediterranean Diet?

Eat a minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Choose foods rich in fiber, vitamins and phytonutrients. Eat legumes at least 8 times a week. Legumes are a low fat, fiber filled and a good source of protein. Limit refined grains and choose whole grains. Lower fat dairy options should replace full fat dairy products. Olive oil would be limited to a tablespoon per day. The human body requires dietary fat, and plant based olive oil is a heart healthy choice.

Fish, eggs and poultry should be limited to no more than two servings each, per week. These are good sources of protein but contain more calories than legumes. Wine should be limited to one glass per day. A four ounce glass of red wine is full of antioxidants but contains 100 to 120 calories.

Eat fruit for dessert. Consume no more than 2 eggs a week. Replace butter with olive oil for cooking. Use honey to sweeten (no sugar). Eat red meats once a month. Put in 30 min. of moderate physical activity each day.

Sample Menus

Sample 1200 Calorie Diet: 

NOTE: Going below a 1,000 calories a day isn't good. You stay hungry & your blood sugar drops, making you feel tired and grumpy.  

A nice breakfast idea would include a 1/2 cup serving of oats with fruit or granola with milk. Greek style yogurt with fruit and nuts is a great choice for yogurt as it contains more protein than regular yogurt. An even higher protein choice might include a vegetable filled egg white omelet with whole grain toast.

Lunch would account for 350 to 400 calories. As always, emphasize fresh and minimally processed foods. Lunches would be made up of bean based soups, salads with beans and an olive oil dressing, light seafood or poultry dishes and whole grains. Hummus and vegetables in a whole wheat pita is an example of a plant based sandwich that would make a tasty lunch option. Ideally lunch should include at least three fruit or vegetable servings.

Dinner would be in the 400 calorie range. Dinner options are virtually identical to lunch, with an emphasis on fresh vegetables, legumes and whole grains. For variety, grains like Quinoa, though not traditionally Mediterranean, can be used in salads or as a side dish. Again, dinner should include at least three fruit and vegetable servings. Grilled fish and vegetables make a delicious dinner choice.

A 50 to 100 calorie snack of a few nuts, vegetables or fresh fruit would complete the daily calorie intake.

Sample 1500 Calorie Diet:

Some delicious breakfast options would be a high protein Greek style yogurt with granola and fruit topping, a spinach and tomato omelet made with a combination of whole egg and egg whites accompanied by fresh fruit. Steel cut oats or other whole grain hot cereal with fruit is also an excellent choice.

Lunch would be approximately 500 calories and focus on fresh foods and legumes or lean protein. An example of a lunch that would fit the Mediterranean diet is a grilled vegetable medley served over polenta, accompanied by a side salad with feta. Both lunch and dinner should include a minimum of three vegetable servings. Dinner leftovers make an easy lunch the next day.

Dinner options are the same as lunch, with the focus on nutritious, unprocessed foods and at least three vegetable servings. Fish or chicken with rice, vegetables and a salad makes an easy but elegant dinner. For busy nights, bean soups could be prepared ahead and easily reheated. Serve the soup with salad and whole grain bread for a quick comforting meal. A single glass of red wine can accompany dinner.

The rest of the calories would be made up by two 100 calorie snacks. Yogurt, whole grain crackers or fruit make healthy snack choices.

Because of the varied growing seasons