If there’s one thing in life that should suck hard, it’s your vacuum. The harder the better. Nothing beats a clean carpet or spotless hardwood floors.  Between the pets, kids and allergies – how do you balance maintaining a toxic-free home while keeping the planet happy? With so many models and choices, it’s hard to figure out which ones are worth the investment.

What You Need to Know

Before buying just any vacuum, look for one that’s energy-efficient while helping to maintain healthy air quality – You don’t want a motor machine that’s gong to re-circulate toxins back into your home [Cough]. It’s important that your vacuum has great suction for a deep-down clean (the innuendos are worse than a Seinfeld episode) to limit bacteria and germ growth.  Here are some tips when researching your new sweeper keeper:

Know HEPA from hype.  Avoid “hepa type” filters, which can actually be 55 percent lower in efficiency than a true HEPA filter.  Look for an authentic HEPA filter – they filter out over 99 percent of airborne bacteria and microscopic spores.  In addition to cutting down on allergens, HEPA filters trap flame-retardants, phthalates and toxic pesticides that bind to household dust. HEPA filters can be washed at home and are easily removed from the vacuum unit.

Look for a commitment. Roughly one in five households purchase a new vacuum cleaner each year. That kinda defeats the purpose. Don’t you want your vacuum to live longer than your last relationship? Look for a sturdy machine that comes with a long warranty and has a plan for part replacements. It’s always best to repair a broken vacuum cleaner before investing in a new one so you’re not contributing to the landfills.  You may spend a bit more upfront, but just think of the long-term savings of not having to continuously buy cheap-ass vacuums.

Don’t bag it.  Bagless vacuum cleaners help lighten the landfill load but emptying compartments can disperse dust and allergens back into the air – severe allergy sufferers should opt for cleaners with bags.  In that case, look for eco-friendly bags.

Don’t get sucked into the amp game.  More power does not mean it’s going to clean faster or better.  Try to get a vacuum with a low-amp motor (eight amp is ideal) or at least one that offers a power-saving mode.

Drop the weight.  There’s no need to buy a vacuum that’s going to require a U-haul to move around.  You do enough heavy lifting in life, why make it difficult?

We cleaned up our act to offer you a round-up of healthy or green vacuuming machines:

GREAT INVESTMENT: Dyson DC 25 Ball. While the motor power is not exactly the most favorable (12 amps), Dyson makes up for it with its washable, bagless filter. National Geographic’s Green Guide has awarded the Dyson DC 25 Ball the “Greenest Buy,” while parts and labor are covered for five years giving it a l-o-n-g shelf life. Its claim to fame: Ball technology to make it easy to maneuver around dusty corners, and Root Cyclone technology so the vacuum won’t lose suction power as it cleans up. $499. www.dyson.com.

BETTER AIR QUALITY: Bissell 16N5 “Healthy Home Upright Vacuum.” Specifically designed to filter and improve the home’s air quality, this nifty product has anti-microbial protection to limit the growth of germs and bacteria. They also have an AireTight HEPA filter system that traps 100 percent of dust mites, pollen, ragweed, and mold spores, and 99.9-percent of pet dander. $176.www.amazon.com

SILENT GREEN.  Electrolux UltraSilencer Series EL6984A.  This little bugger delivers on being energy-efficient and quiet!  (Especially great for dogs that freak out every time you do a little voom voom.) In fact, 55- percent of the plastic used in the Ultra Silencer is made from recycled materials.  It also uses 80-percent recycled, unbleached cardboard in the packaging.  It packs a washable HEPA filter, is easy to store, and comes equipped with bags – great for those with allergies, but not so great for landfills so be mindful on the type of bags you buy.  $299, www.ajmadison.com.

Time to clear out the cobwebs.

- Julie C. May

Could your yoga instructor be any cooler?I mean, really. Their voices are angelic, they can carry on intelligent conversations with the trees and mountains, and think the world is all sunshine and rainbows. Yogis just don’t eat from the same bowl of Wheaties, damnit.

Apparently, they don’t drink from the same cup of tea, either. Until now.

Made for Yogis by Yogis (and wannabes), YogaEarth is a nutritional supplement you just pour into your tea, water, beverage or food that is designed to keep you physiologically in balance with the lifestyle and dynamics of yoga. Created by 250 of the nation’s top Yogis, the phytonutrient powder melds elements of both Eastern and Western nutrition to prepare the mind and body both pre- and post- workout.

Just how do they do it? YogaEarth works with your body’s inner chemistry and a set of nutrients – protein, amino acids, vitamin B, organics, herbals and macrominerals – that particularly affect digestion, muscle fatigue and cramping, mental clarity and focus.

YogaEarth’s Nutritional Science Board works with the world’s top ingredient growers and houses in Ayurveda, organics and nutraceuticals to create the holistic supplement. Think steam-cleaned herbal ingredients, certified-organic fruits and veggies, free-form amino acids, ingredients with the highest bioavailability, and no artificial additives or animal-derived products. YogaEarth also produces their FSC-certified packaging in wind-powered facilities with 80-percent minimum post-consumer waste.

The two supplements were developed to serve a different purpose - Balance is designed to help you prepare and perform before you step into Cobra’s Pose, while *Vitality restores core nutrients and rebuilds cellular health and energy after your workout. While YogaEarth was created with yoga on the brain, it carries the same positive effects for any sport or practice to boost your game.

Because some of us just need a little extra help in bending our legs behind our head.

Full Month Kit, $59.99; 7-Day Refill or Sampler, $14.99. CLICK HERE to buy one and get one free. Visit www.yogaearth.com to Bend it Like Beckham.

– Carly

* The Vitality  supplement does contain natural bee pollen powder from bee nectar

First, you couldn’t find a thing to wear. Then you just had to check your email one last time before you ran out the door.  But when you jumped into your car, low and behold, you remember that your lovely vehicle is running on fumes. Now you’re running 20 minutes behind and are stuck at a red light behind dueling senior citizens who can barely see over the wheel.

Stress much?

Being late sucks.  Literally.  It sucks the positive energy right out of each of us through anger, worry, fear and anxiety – all of which add up to the dreaded “s-word.”

Physical Effects of Excess Stress
According to medicinenet.com, the effects that elevated stress can have on our poor little selves range from:

• Headaches
• Intestinal problems
• Sleep disorders
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Muscle tension
• Poor diet habits
• Increased use of alcohol, drugs and cigarettes

Sound terrible? You’re catching on, Ms. Smarty Pants. The good news is that you, as the “Stress-ee,” have choices when it comes to managing the many things in your life that cause unnecessary stress.  Cutting tardiness out of your M.O. is a great start.

The Benefits of Punctuality
Take some tips from Diana DeLonzor, author of Never Be Late Again, so you can quit being such a stress machine:

Get to the root of the problem. Figure out the root cause behind why you’re always late – an ABC News report broke the “why” down into four types of people who are always late.  Which one are you?

A.   Rationalizer Type – it’s always someone or something else’s fault

B.   Absent Minded Professor – You’re forgetful, scattered and disorganized

C.   Deadline/Producer Type – You get a psychological zing or adrenaline rush out of having a jam-packed schedule

D.   Rebel Type – you get a self-induced high out of defying authority and you feel important when you know people are waiting for you.

Decide you want to change. Notice the effects on family, friends and colleagues.  Stop making excuses and commit to fixing the problem.

Verbally announce you’re trying to change. It’s kinda like AA, honey. The first step is admitting it. Ask friends and family to help you but be ready for them to be cynical.  Let them have their feelings and show them you’re serious by actually doing it.

Clock yourself and keep a journal. Log how long it really takes to dry your hair or get the kids to school.  Get the facts and embrace the truth so that you can plan realistically and set yourself up for success.

Time tasks. Setting a timer for tasks like laundry, taking a shower and talking on the phone can help keep you on track (not to mention save water and electricity).

Be early … no excuses. If the idea of sitting around with nothing to do makes you crazy, bring something you can read, do or text while you wait. Make a list when you wake up of the quick things you need to do that day like pay a bill over the phone, schedule a date with the plumber or wish Gramps a Happy Birthday.

Schedule a 15-minute time cushion before and after commitments. Cramming too much into one day doesn’t allow for the unexpected.  Spread your commitments out over the week. Your body and mind will thank you for it.

Better never than late.

– Julie H.

Your mama packed applesauce in your tin box while the mean girls traded Ding Dongs and Ho-Hos during recess. Well, if the shoe fits.  So, we get it, you weren’t popular.  Big shit. Today, you’re not only hot stuff – you’re a healthy bitch.  Now it’s your turn to motivate today’s youth to drop the pounds and eat right.

Let’s Move, Little Debbie.

Child obesity has become more prevalent due to unhealthy diets, increased food intake, and inadequate physical activity. According to the CDC, obesity levels among children have tripled over the last 20 years.  Seven percent of 15-year-old children are now considered clinically obese.

But the always lovely First Lady, Michelle Obama, has created the Let’s Move! campaign to generate awareness of child obesity and the negative effects it poses for our future. She has made it her business to not only get children moving, but to also improve the food source in public schools across the nation.  The First Lady has asked everyone to get involved, so pay attention:

Cook Up Some Change. Hundreds of chefs from more than 37 states gathered on the South Lawn with Michelle Obama earlier this month to support the “Chefs Move to Schools” program.  Chefs are encouraged to bond with their local schools to help students learn where food comes from and develop healthy habits.  Rachael Ray has stepped up, and currently, 2,330 chefs and 688 schools have signed up to be a part of the Chef’s Move to School Initiative. Are you a gifted chef or maybe know one you that you think should get involved? Send them here to get cooking.

Do Good.  Let’s Move! and GOOD Magazine are working together to help address the challenge of childhood obesity by raising awareness.  You can start doing some good by entering their contest.  They are looking for an infographic that shows the current state of children’s health, and illustrates some avenue to combat the epidemic.  Submission are due July 6, and the winner gets lots of perks … like White House blog exposure on theLet’s Move! site and much more.

Take it Old School.  Are you a proud parent, stand-up citizen or just want to add something else to your busy plate? Help your local school get healthy by joining the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Healthy Schools Program Network. Here you’ll get free access to a wide-range of tools and resources that will pave the way for you. Click here for more.  You can always pass out a signed petition among parents and students to get the attention of higher school officials and board members to make changes to that dated menu.  Cheesy fries are so yesterday.

Let’s Move! People. Join Michelle Obama, community leaders, teachers, doctors, nurses, and parents in a nationwide campaign to tackle the challenge of childhood obesity. To learn more about Let’s Move! and how you can make a difference,  click here.

Summer is the best time to take action before the bell rings.

- Annalisa

As the biggest environmental catastrophe in U.S. history continues to spill 60,000 barrels of oil into the ocean each day, the big question remains: When’s it gonna stop? Scientists are working around the clock to come up with solutions, and BP just signed a deal with Kevin Costner’s company, Ocean Therapy Solutions, for 32 units of the “dream machine” that is capable of separating water from oil. The verdict is, nevertheless, still out.

In the midst of the irreparable damage this has done to our oceans and the thousands of people who have lost their livelihood, our marine life off the Gulf of Mexico is in a serious struggle for survival.

Coastal Louisiana’s wetlands account for 40-percent of wetlands in the U.S., while more than 400 fish and wildlife species rely on this habitat for food, shelter and breeding. (Species, not fish) Vast amounts of methane trapped in crude oil are creating “dead zones” that are depleting oxygen and suffocating sea animals. Marshes that are home to sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins and birds are being set aflame, AKA “the burn box,” to prevent oil lying on the surface from making it to the shore. And gulls, pelicans and other birds that land on the water are experiencing deadly hypothermia as the oil destroys the insulating quality of their feathers.

But, we have a choice here: Remain helpless and continue to point fingers at BP, let Obama decide who to chew out or  … Do something.

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is on the frontlines doing just that, and they need a little helping hand. 

Here are a few things you can do to help:

Volunteer. NWF, its five Gulf state affiliates and local and national non-profits are putting together Gulf Coast Surveillance Teams to support wildlife rescue and rehab efforts, restore damaged coastal ecosystems and track and report on the damage. If you are skilled in wildlife observation, or knowledgeable about the Gulf Coast, its waters, or any of the species of birds, fishes, turtles or marine mammals that are at risk, click here to answer a few questions and sign up.

If you lack the experience or knowledge but still want to help, you can sign up for the Coalition’s Volunteer Gulf Response effort. They need volunteers for everything from rescue and caring for injured wildlife to shoreline clean-up to food preparation and distribution. 

Emerald CoastKeeper and Greenpeace U.S.A. are also looking for volunteer crews to help with clean-up efforts.

Donate. We get it, times are tough. But think about it: Skip one glass of wine at dinner and you’ll be helping save an animal from the oil catastrophe. You can donate in any increment here or text “WILDLIFE” to 20222 and donate $10 to support Gulf wildlife. (Participating carriers include AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, Virgin, Cricket, AllTel and U.S. Cellular) Your donation will just appear on a future phone bill and go to support on-the-ground efforts and long-term mammal recovery.  

Be Loud. If we get one thing out of this whole mess, it’s that it’s time to fend ourselves off our oil dependency and get America cleaner. Send a message to our leaders and U.S. senators to pass clean energy legislation today. It’s easy. All you have to do is enter your name, address and phone number and click send. The letter is pre-prepared for your convenience, but you can personalize the message, too. Click here to send your letter.

Other Opportunities For Our Fellow Big Mouths

Hands Across the Sand is a grassroots international movement that encourages people to go to their local beach on June 26 at 11AM, form lines in the sand and join hands at noon to say NO to Offshore Oil Drilling, YES to Clean Energy. Visit www.handsacrossthesand.com for more info.

Join Global Green U.S.A., FUEL and LEAN on June 29 in New Orleans, Louisiana for the March for Clean Energy. Hundreds of people will dress in black trash bags and march through the French Quarter, then lie down in Jackson Square to depict a human oil spill. Gathering kicks off at 3PM on the steps next to Café Du Monde near Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral.

Join and Recruit. Join the NWF’s “Help Wildlife Impacted by the BP Oil Spill” Facebook page, recruit your friends and even ask that friends donate funds to Gulf Coast wildlife in your honor in lieu of birthday gifts. Update your blogs and Web sites with the latest news.  Become a friend onNWF’s Twitter and tweet about how others can help. 

Join HBD in spreading the word with a few of these sample tweets:

 
#healthbdaily Think jobs are the only thing BP is killing … how about our wildlife? Learn more about how the BP Oil Spill is hurting animals and what you can do http://nwf.org/oilspill  

#healthbdaily Sick of sitting around and watching oil spill into our oceans? Do something. Volunteer with the National Wildlife Federation’s Gulf Coast Surveillance Teams by visiting http://www.nwf.org/oilspill 

#healthybdaily Nobody cares what you ate for breakfast. Instead use your status update to spread the word about wildlife impacted by the BP Oil Spill. Join their Facebook cause at www.causes.com/oilspill

For more information on how you can help and what people are doing, visit www.nwf.org