I don’t know when you get tired and don’t have the luxury of crawling into bed, but for me it’s about 9 p.m. At that time I’m basically done, yet I’m not done. Not for a few more hours. A good friend turned me on to Shock Coffee. Their products contain 3X the normal amount of caffiene so if you are thinking “wired” - yeah, a little bit.

The coffee drinks are quite tasty and none of that overwhelming bitter hyper-caffeinated flavor you get with some energy drinks. I’ve been drinking one 8 oz. can in the evening and haven’t expereinced jitters or nervousness. I am getting a little pep in my step for the evening wrap-up though. Smooth and creamy latte and triple mocha are both very tasty and they keep me going for a few more hours until it’s time to drop off!

For a busy mom with lots to do and too little energy to do it, this is a nice pick-me-up to get moving again. As a side note, I don’t experience that “post caffeine crash” with this beverage either. I’ve had some drinks that have made me go, go, go…and then I just collapse when it wears off. None of that occurs with Shock Coffee Triple Hits. This very delicious drink would rock my world on the way into the office as well!

by Gidge

Whether it’s summer or winter, my kids have chapped lips. Or at least they did until I discovered Lip Stuff for Crispy Kissers from Stuff for Sprouts. All of the Stuff for Sprouts ingredients are fantastic! There are high concentrations of natural oils and butters, purified water and kid-friendly fragrances. Kids will love the fun flavors of PB&J, Frosting and Chocolate.

More notably, there are not nut butters or oils, mineral oil, spy, parabens, phthalates, chemical fillers, artificial colors or sparkles. They go on smooth, smell great (chocolate…mmmm…) and are the perfect oval shape to cover both lips with one swipe as your child is running by. The big wide tube makes it easy to apply to their lips or cheeks. This has quickly become a must have item in our house for my whole family.

by Nicole

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Enter by leaving a comment HERE. Check out Live Elated for tips and information on how to live a healthy life, then share with us your best tip for “living elated.” The Elations team will select the best tip and the winner will have their tip featured on the Live Elated website. The contest is open until Saturday, June 28, 2008.

You can receive a second entry by blogging about the contest (linking to it) or adding us to your blogroll. Just e-mail us with a live link or let us know you have it posted on your site. You do not need a blog to enter, just leave us your e-mail address so that we may contact you. As always, it is Props & Pans policy NOT to distribute any information you give us (including your e-mail). Thanks for entering!

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I knew I should be taking something, but the first supplement just didn’t seem like the right combination. When the offer came along to try Elations - a new joint supplement beverage with glucosamine, chondroitin, calcium and boron - I was very interested in how the 4-in-1 therapy might help my joints.

Elations comes in 6 packs of 8 oz. bottles and can be found at retailers and pharmacy’s or online. You may think drinking supplements can’t taste good, but they offer two flavors (Cranberry Apple and Raspberry White Grape) which are delicious. You can also find several very good recipes online, including how to make a smoothie!

To put Elations to the true test, I drank one 8 oz. bottle a day every morning for just over 30 days. I’d obviously tried the glucosamine and chondroitin before and I knew what calcium is, but the boron through me for a loop. Apparently boron enhances calcium metabolism and helps build stronger joints and bones, which makes sense. The combination of all four supplements ensures the essential building blocks for healthier joint cartilage.

Over the first two weeks of daily use I didn’t feel much difference. By the third week I was beginning to think it may not be that sufficient of a difference to notice, but by the end of that week I knew something was better. My ankle wasn’t as stiff to move and my knee wasn’t making that same popping noise when it bent, which makes me think the cartlidge may be rebuilding. The difference was significant enough that I’ve continued to use Elations even after my free supply to review ran out.

I’m sure everyone’s experiences would be different, just as everyone’s aches and pains are different. Overall, I give props to Elations for making a healthy drink that is very low in sugar and carbohydrates, plus it tastes great!

by Emily

My doctor told me three years ago that my right knee is degenerating and that at some point I can look forward to knee replacement. So I’ve tried joint supplement beverages in the past at his recommendation. I jumped at the chance to get try Elations because I like a variety whenever possible.

Previous beverages I’ve had were carbonated, more like a fruit juice spritzer. They were actually rather refreshing. Elations doesn’t taste bad, but it’s more like Kool-aid. In other words, Kool-aid your mom didn’t put enough sugar in.

My only actually complaint with it is not about the drink, but the bottle. It’s filled too full and every time I open one I get red drink all over my hands and whatever else is around. It’s a little annoying to have to open it over the sink every time.

But my knees feel more loose and less stiff when I consume Elations, so clearly despite it’s clothe staining tendency it works. I give the product a prop, but the bottle design is really annoying.

by Gidge

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Snapple Antioxidant Water is a dual purpose beverage. Hydration properties of water are taken to the next level with the addition of antioxidants, vitamins and electrolytes which aim to improve energy, restore the body, and support a healthy immune system. Snapple Antioxidant Water is designed for consumers who like to incorporate healthier behaviors into their everyday routine.

Snapple Antioxidant Water comes seven flavors inspired by nature’s “superfruits,” including pomegranates and acai berries. The antioxidants, vitamins and electrolytes in each flavor provide one of four distinct benefits for the body: The Power to Protect, Defy, Awaken, or Restore.

• The Power to Protect (Tropical Mango and Orange Starfruit flavors) includes Vitamins A and E, electrolytes and a complete dose of Vitamin C help protect the body against free radicals, the harmful elements that we are subjected to on a daily basis through our environment.
• The Power to Defy (Raspberry Acerola and Grape Pomegranate flavors) contains Vitamins A and E, Grape Seed Extract, plus electrolytes to assist in refreshing the body and mind.
• The Power to Awaken (Strawberry Acai and Dragonfruit flavors) consists of Vitamins A, E and B, Caffeine, Guarana, Ginseng and Ribose, plus electrolytes to awaken your senses.
• The Power to Restore (Agave Melon flavors) has Vitamins A and E, plus a double dose of electrolytes to restore the body after any endurance and strength activity. Think a water version of Gatorade.

Trying Snapple Antioxidant Water took me back to the 1990s when their lemonade, ice tea, and kiwi strawberry flavors were all the rage. For a water, the jewel-like tones of the beverage are gorgeous but more unnatural than I would have expected for a water. A quick check on the back revealed that in addition to the vitamins and electrolytes, it also contains juice and sugar. After water, sugar is the second ingredient listed in Snapple Antioxidant Water with fruit and vegetable juices not far behind. The addition of juice accounts for the calories in Snapple Antioxidant Water. With real water containing no calories, Snapple Antioxidant Water has 50 calories per serving and 125 per bottle.

But Snapple Antioxidant Water has flavor. It isn’t as plain as water or as strong as juice, it’s more like the half apple juice/half water combination given to toddlers to prevent them from becoming juice addicts. None of the flavors I tried (Grape Pomegranate, Dragonfruit, Strawberry Acai, or Orange Starfruit) were overly sweet despite the addition of sugar. They actually tasted like the tropical fruit they contained!

Having just tried a bottle of each, I can’t say that I’ve noticed the restorative or defying powers of Snapple Antioxidant Water quite yet. However, my husband consumed almost all of the Dragonfruit and Strawberry Acai and compared the effects of each bottle to the caffeine fix of a can of Diet Coke.

Snapple Antioxidant Water comes in 20-ounce single bottles for $1.39 to $1.59 and is available at major retailers, grocery and convenience stores nationwide.

Written by Leticia, a part time working multitasking mama who loves spending time with her husband and two children, exotic vacations, and cooking great meals. Leticia writes about technology products and technology issues affecting children through her blog, Tech Savvy Mama.

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I discovered the most beautiful, floral, entertaining and dramatic hot tea blossoms. These make traditional tea bags seem boring and wrong. RariTies crafts delicate white tea leaves around a dried floral bouquet that comes to life when hot water is added. After the water is added to your clear glass pot or large glass brewing container, the bulb expands and blooms showcasing the inner flower. This makes for a conversation centerpiece at your table or buffet.

The white tea itself brews to a light, pale amber and has a smooth and simple flavor. The varieties of leaves and blooms provide different aromas and colors. They are soothing, gorgeous and so very girlie.

At such a reasonable price point these make a delightful gift for teachers, moms and special ladies in your life. The teas are offered in sets and have more impact than that silly old Mr. Coffee on your kitchen counter. I encourage you to give them a try.

Written by Helene, who is a “fly by the seat of her pants” mom with 6 kids, well really 7 if you count her husband. She is a die-hard bargain shopper, designer-clad domestic diva who writes reviews to maintain a sense of sanity and unleash her creative side. You can also keep up with their busy family at their blog.

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You may have noticed a new juice line from Minute Maid in your grocery. They are enhanced juices and drinks that strive to provide some of the antioxidants and vitamins we should all be consuming each day, but sometimes overlook. Minute Maid has developed some interesting flavors with pomegranate including mixing it with lemonade, tea and blueberry juices. I’ve only tried the lemonade, but the taste was refreshing and not as tart as I expected. Our 5 year old loves it as well, but I water down his a little bit. The blueberry version offers Omega-3/DHA which is known to nourish our brains and bodies.

Minute Maid has also taken the orange juice line that they are most known for and enhanced it with nutrients we all need. I recently started drinking their “active” version with 750 mg of Glucosamine HCI to help protect my joints (which need all the help they can get). Their is also a “heart wise” version that claims to help reduce cholesterol and might strengthen your heart.

You get a fairly good dose of vitamins in an 8 oz. glass and many of the juices would be great for pregnant or nursing women who need extra nutrients in their diet. The bottles are well-designed and features a side with grips, that allows even young children to pour easily. These juices have become a must-have in our refrigerator.

by Emily

Do you know what the dust pan line is? If you have used a broom and a pan to sweep up the floor, then you can probably relate to the issue of having a line of dirt that just will not sweep up over the lip of your dust pan. No matter what you do. You can keep trying to back up and sweep it again or push the broom a bit harder, but nothing works. That was before I discovered the ReadiVac Powerpan Cordless Dustpan.

At first I was skeptical, because the most I’ve ever paid for a dustpan was maybe $2. This one is bit more heavy-duty and obviously requires 3 AA batteries to operate, but would it be worth the asking price of $15? It earned it’s expensive plastic price tag. The handle is easy to hold and the pan is very wide for sweeping. It has an on/off switch and a clip on the back for storage.

I’m not telling you to get your mother a dustpan for Mother’s Day, but this one may just make her smile. After all it will reduce the amount of work she does and make her life easier. But you should definitely throw in some flowers and a card.

by Terry

It is spring break and oh how I wish I were vacationing somewhere tropical. I remember the high school days when you could show off your post vacation suntan by wearing a white blouse on your first day back to class. All the classmates would swap stories about going to destinations glamorous and sunny. Let me officially kiss those days goodbye now that I am, (gasp!) almost 40 years old. Being hyper-sunscreen conscious and fearing actual sun damage that tanning can do to my skin, I needed an alternative to baking in the UV rays.

So how do I pretend to get that fresh from the islands suntan without the hassle of travel and trauma of skin cancer? I found Jergens Natural Glow tan moisturizers and they provide the look of sun without the side effects. I slathered on the Natural Glow after exfoliating in the shower. The subtle layering of the product over freshly scrubbed skin gave me a nice color in a few days time. I was cautious not to get too dark too quickly, and I was equally careful to let the product absorb before getting dressed.

Having tried self-tanning crèmes in the past, I was skeptical that the Jergens Natural Glow would be truly natural looking on my winterly white, pale skin. I admit I look slightly sunned in an even all-over glow that is not oompa loompa orange or fake and bake sun bed brown. The Natural Glow is aptly named and is worth the drug store price. Now I need to decide whether to fess up to the use of the product or concoct a story about my whereabouts during Spring break.

by Helene

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Our family has had the nutritional benefit of drinking Bolthouse Farms beverages. The bottles are filled with all natural, flash pasteurized, gluten free, kosher, vegetarian ingredients and a delicious blend of healthy fruits, vegetables and vitamins. These are a bit thicker than most juices because they are made with blended fruit, so we compensate for that by serving them watered down a bit and over ice.

I can’t even imagine getting my family to ingest all the ingredients contained in a bottle, but if it is in their cup they are all too happy to drink it and beg for more. Have you ever tried to serve a bowl of odorless garlic, wheat grass, spirulina, spinach and blue-green algae? Bolthouse farms mixes these key ingredients and adds apples, kiwis, mangos, bananas, pineapples and dragon fruit to create our family favorite, Green Goddess. I think my kids love it because it is an odd color of green, which they find amusing in a sea of otherwise clear liquids. This concoction is a lively combination of 8 fruits and 14 powerful nutrients that makes a drink packed with phytonutrients and rich in vitamins A, C, B12 and zinc. It is a natural source of potassium, maganese, thiamin and riboflavin. Plus it is naturally fat and cholesterol free.

The other Bolthouse farms smoothies and juices are equally delicious and nutritious. Strawberry-Banana, C-boost and Passion have been popular at my house. You can buy them at whole foods, most natural groceries and in a two pack at Costco. On days when I wonder if my kids ate healthy, I make sure they get a serving of a Bolthouse Farm beverage just in case.

Written by Helene, who is a “fly by the seat of her pants” mom with 6 kids, well really 7 if you count her husband. She is a die-hard bargain shopper, designer-clad domestic diva who writes reviews to maintain a sense of sanity and unleash her creative side. You can also keep up with their busy family at their blog.

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About two weeks ago he brought home, yet again, another vitamin enhanced water and I decided to try this one because the children actually liked it. To my surprise SoBe Life Water is quite good. Let’s see if I can remember all of the flavors: Strawberry Kiwi, Pomegranate Cherry (I liked a lot), Orange Tangerine, Citrus and Black Cherry Grape (another favorite). There may be others, but this is what we found at our local grocery store.

The Strawberry Kiwi contains 100 calories per bottle; a serving size is 8 ounces. Per bottle sodium is 90mg (2 percent), carbs at 25 grams (24 of these grams are sugar, no other carbs are listed), Vitamin C at 250 percent and Vitamin E at 50 percent. Niacin, B6, B12 and Pantothetic Acid are all at 25 percent.

While all these vitamins are included, as you can see, the sugar content is about that of a glass of Simply Orange (not from concentrate) orange juice. You do need to watch this, but otherwise Life Water by SoBe is quite good for you and your family. All the ingredients are natural and the taste is quite good.

I was pleasantly surprised, because I cannot stand drinking vitamin or energy drinks that give you that horrible aftertaste. Thankfully, I have not experienced that problem with Life Water. The children like it, I like it and my husband likes it. I think that Life Water is a great alternative to sugary drinks and sodas. Give it a try, you may be as pleasantly surprised as me!

Written by Laura, chauffeur to five beautiful children ages 9-18, freelance writer, amateur photographer, wife of 14 years and so not politically correct. Come visit her at Work At Home Mom to Five.

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Let me just say that I am glad it is a limited edition flavor. If I see it at the grocery store again I might dry heave at the thought of it. I guess I was expecting a diet soda with a mild chocolate cherry undertone on top of the regular Dr. Pepper flavorings. The overwhelming scent of artificial chocolate and fake cherry reminded me of a chocolate cherry Bonnie Bell Lipsmacker I had in 4th grade. That was great in 4th grade as a lip balm, but very bad in 2008 as an adult beverage.

Here is what this diet soda does not have: calories, carbs or a palatable taste. If you are looking for something to quench your craving for chocolate, look somewhere else. If you are hoping for a diet soda that reminds you of an old fashioned, drug store soda fountain concoction you will be disappointed.

Written by Helene, who is a “fly by the seat of her pants” mom with 6 kids, well really 7 if you count her husband. She is a die-hard bargain shopper, designer-clad domestic diva who writes reviews to maintain a sense of sanity and unleash her creative side. You can also keep up with their busy family at their blog.

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“No, try that one,” she insisted.

“It’s weird. You’ll like it.”

“Okay,” I said and took her weird beer for a test drive.

It’s distinctive flavor comes from being aged in Bourbon Barrel Cask Staves and apparently they age it with natural vanilla bean. You can taste the vanilla but it’s a very smooth aftertaste. It’s the bourbon I sensed. It has a warmth to it that is surprising and the flavor is really distinct. Winter’s Bourbon reminds me of drinking a heavier European ale with their fruity tones, that are almost buried under the heavy hops.

The Anheuser Busch website recommends you pair it with full flavored foods, such as corn chowder, triple cream cheese or pork roast. I think that it’s because the flavor of this beer will overpower anything else you are eating, so you can’t eat delicate or light food with it. It is only available seasonally from November through January.

I like it though and highly recommend it. Enough that I picked up a six pack of it this year.

Written by Gidge, who is a mother of a 5 year old boy and 3 year old twin boys. A transplanted Hoosier, die-hard Colts fan and professional call center manager, she likes long walks on the beach, penguins and playing ping-pong. Her turn-ons include sleep and silence. Read all about her life here.

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