Monday, July 23, 2012

Cattle Deaths Caused By Cyanide Grass Mutation

Y'all have already seen the article on my Facebook a few weeks back, but here is the news report.  This farmer says in this clip that he is NOT feeding his cattle this GM Bermuda (Tifton 85) anymore.. he says he's been feeding it to them for 15 years and all of a sudden it started producing cyanide.  What's going to happen to us in 15 years when the USDA comes out saying that they were terribly wrong and that GM crops and GMO-fed livestock are causing many of our health problems today?

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Akepa's 2!

We have now officially hit the 2's.  And if you're a mom, you know exactly what I'm talking about.  Independence, constant chatter, and of course... the fits!  In an effort to keep her from getting hyped up on sugar (which happened anyway after her cupcake), I decided to make some "healthier" alternatives to candy and cookies.  We went with a pool party since  Pool + Kids = Good Naps!  Akepa loves Strawberry Shortcake so of course we went with that theme.  I did some organic snacks for the kids and even something special for the adults.  Here are some of the things I served.. feel free to steal them :) 

Organic Strawberry Lemonade with Agave   
2 cups organic strawberries (hulled & cut)  
1/3 cup organic agave nectar
Juice of 4-5 lemons
3 1/2 cups cold water

Puree first three ingredients in a blender or food processor.  Pour into a pitcher and add the water.  Chill for at least 1 hour.  Garnish with strawberries and lemon slices.  Stir and serve over ice.  

Organic Berries with Greek Yogurt

1 package organic blueberries
1 package organic raspberries
1 package organic strawberries 
3/4 cup organic plain greek yogurt
2 Tbsp honey
Melting chocolate (if desired) 

Mix honey and greek yogurt in a small bowl and place near the mixed berries so people have a dipping sauce.  The honey adds a touch of sweetness to enhance the flavor of the berries.  Take strawberries and dip in melted chocolate (melt according to package) and place on wax paper to harden.  I used green chocolate because it matched her colors.  (You can find the colored chocolate at Michael's/ Party City/ etc.) 

Strawberry-Lime Sangria

1 1/2 cups strawberry simple syrup
1 bottle of crisp white wine (sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio) 
1 bottle of rose or blush wine 
1 1/2 cups soda/ sparkling water
1 lime, sliced
1 orange, sliced
Strawberries for garnish

Make simple syrup and set aside.  Simple syrup is made with equal parts sugar to water.  Add Strawberries and bring to boil.  As soon as it boils, remove from heat and set aside for 10 minutes.  Remove strawberries with slotted spoon.  In a pitcher, add 2 bottles of wine, sliced limes and oranges, and strawberry simple syrup.  Refrigerate at least 5 hours.  Add soda water and serve in a glass over ice.  Garnish with a strawberry.    

Here is a picture of the cupcakes my sister made as well.  I also served salted and smoked almonds for the adults and organic peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

Friday, July 13, 2012

Greendex: Survey of Sustainable Consumption - National Geographic

Here's a great chart of the highest and lowest ranking green countries in the world from National Geographic's Greendex.  Sadly United States ranked last.  You can do a personal test as well and see where you stand.  Luckily, I was above the average of the US but I still have a lot to improve on.

Greendex: Survey of Sustainable Consumption - National Geographic

Also, here is a list of 27 major cities and how they ranked in the survey of greenest cities of North America:

Green cities span coasts, as eco-efforts intensify - USATODAY.com

Friday, July 6, 2012

Aluminum-Free Deodorant

For almost 2 years, I have been on a crazy mission to find a natural, aluminum-free underarm deodorant that actually works.  I cringe at the thought of smelling like b.o. and let's face it, the natural deodorants can't stand up to this Texas heat.  I have bought about 7 different kinds and every single time, they work consistently for 2 months and then they just "stop".  What the heck!

Can't one of those natural companies come up with one that actually works for more than 30 minutes? 

As green and natural as I am, I decided I would just read the labels of every mainstream deodorant like Dove, Secret, Arm & Hammer, etc.  I managed to choose the one with the least amount of aluminum, but why should I have to sacrifice the risk of breast cancer and the buildup of metals and toxins in my body for B.O.?? Maybe I need to invent one that actually works...

Anyone have any recommendations, please leave comments below and I will give them a try!

Here are some the brands I've tried:

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Benefits of the Great Outdoors

Pictured directly above is a baby frog we found

Last week, we took Akepa on a mini camping trip.  I grew up camping my whole life so I was super excited at the thought of taking her to spend the night outdoors.  Even though we only stayed one night (due to the 100-degree heat and lack of an air mattress), she still got to benefit from the trip in many ways.

I started thinking about a discussion we had in our child psychology class a couple years back about how outdoor play benefits a child's development, so I wanted to share some of those amazing pluses.

  • Exercise and muscle movement- reduces the risk of obesity in children
  • Vitamin D and fresh air- nourish the body and rejuvenate
  • Discovery and science education- new plants, animals, sounds, textures for kids to discover
  • Boosts immune system- contrary to popular belief, dirt is actually good for kids
  • Stress reliever- for kids in higher stress environments, outdoor play helps to relieve stress