Red Ace Organic Beet Juice Energy Shots

I've never been a big fan of "energy shots" since my experience with them has been limited mainly to the ones you find on the counter at truck stops. I understand that folks are interested in a way to boost their energy pre-workout, on roadtrips, or during the late afternoon zombie hours of cubicle workdays, but too often these gimmicky shots are sugary, overcaffeinated legalized crack that will wake you up, but are pretty likely to leave you with a raging headache and a jittery, lingering sense of remorse.

Unlike other energy boosters, Red Ace Organic Beet Shots are all natural. Each two ounce bottle is filled with 100% organic beet juice, the equivalent of 3 whole beets, densely packed with nutrients and antioxidants to enhance your performance and improve your overall nutritional health.  They're a quick and delicious way to get long lasting, clean energy with no sugar crash or caffeine fallout. 

Beet juice reputedly helps to lower blood pressure and increase oxygen levels, boosting your stamina and overall cardiovascular health. But juicing organic beets at home can be cumbersome, time consuming, and expensive. Red Ace helps you get right to the beet benefits you want, just by twisting the cap of their recyclable glass bottles. No peeling, roasting, juicing, or composting required. And an added bonus: once you peel off the shrink wrap, Red Ace bottles are a great size and shape for storing bulk spices or knick knacks.

Red Ace Performance Shots are available in three varieties: Original Organic Beets - lasting energy, Organic Beets & Turmeric - quick recovery, and Organic Beets & Greens - cleansing and detoxification. I enjoyed them all but the Turmeric is a particular favorite, for its gingery flavor and anti-inflammatory properties. It's not the recommended usage, but adding a Red Ace shot to your favorite Bloody Mary recipe adds some excellent flavor, nutritional value AND hangover-relieving properties…

You can order Red Ace Organic Beet Shots online (use code superdumbsupervillain at checkout for 15% off!) , or look for them at a grocer near you. I found them on an end cap in my local Whole Foods!

Disclosure: In accordance to the FTC Guidelines, I am disclosing that I have received product samples to facilitate this review but all opinions here are decidedly my own.

Stonyfield Frozen Decathlon - Oikos Peach Mango

In true Olympic spirit, today marks the opening day of the Stonyfield Frozen Decathlon with two new flavors of Oikos Frozen Yogurt –Peach Mango and Super Fruits– battling it out for the gold. I am leading the charge for Team Peach Mango in the 100 Meters and I hope you will vote with me! If I get the most votes over the next three days, I will win 50 free Frozen Oikos coupons to share with my readers. Hey, that's YOU! 

You can vote daily for either flavor throughout the whole Decathlon but I would appreciate it if you voted for my team, Peach Mango Frozen Oikos, over the next few days so I can do a big giveaway for y'all!


As an added bonus, the first 5000 voters will each receive a coupon for $1 off a pint of Frozen Oikos. And each daily vote gets you an additional chance at winning the public grand prize: a $500.00 gift certificate to Patagonia and one year of free Stonyfield Oikos Organic Frozen Yogurt. Not too shabby, right? Did I mention you can vote every day?

Vote Peach Mango! 

Leave a comment below and let me know which flavor you're rooting for. Peach Mango?


In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received coupons for Frozen Oikos to facilitate this post and I will be entered to win a gift card and more coupons. No other compensation was provided. I have to admit that SuperFruits is a pretty darned good flavor, too, although I do prefer Peach Mango. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

OrganicaPure - A Natural Indulgence #HGG2011

OrganicaPure is a line of skin care products based on three simple, powerful natural ingredients: cocoa, aloe vera and honey. These gifts from nature have been used in beauty rituals since ancient times, in many different cultures, but OrganicaPure harnesses each ingredient's healing powers and combines them utilizing modern techniques to create products that are as effective as they are indulgent.

Responsible gift-givers can rest assured that OrganicaPure sources their ingredients by sustainably extracting resources from the earth to produce an ecologically friendly product line and spa lovers can just relax and luxuriate in the rich, fragrant bliss. I tried the Aloe Vera & Honey Body Scrub and Cocoa & Honey Body Lotion. I really like the convenient pump dispensers and recyclable plastic bottles. It's such a pain to unscrew lids for jars in the shower or tub, especially with hands that are oily from using a scrub.

Thankfully, OrganicaPure's body scrub is a non-greasy formulation and is very gentle, even on sensitive skin. It's fabulous for use with a body brush or sponge. (I use it with the Clarisonic body brush, and it renders even problem areas like scaly upper arms and ingrown hair bumps baby-smooth. Sorry for that mental image.) The body lotion absorbs quickly, leaving a faint but intoxicating chocolately scent on the skin. I like it but probably need something heavier for the harsh, dry Kansas winter, like the Cocoa & Honey Body Cream or 100% Cocoa Body Butter. I'm dying to try the Aloe Vera & Honey Shampoo, too, and I wish I had a reason to try the 100% Aloe Vera for Sunburn…

The packaging is just right for holiday gift basket, too, don't you think? I like how they hint at the traditional red and green without being so ugly sweater-ish.

Great Deals!

Buy 1 product at OrganicaPure, get 20% off (use code OP20)
Buy 2 or more products, get 40% off (use code OP40) 
Free shipping on orders over $40!

For more deals:

• Like OrganicaPure on Facebook
• Follow OrganicaPure on Twitter

This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received the samples shown to facilitate this review. All opinions are, as usual, strictly my own.

Easy Organic Living- Take the Challenge!

Our family tries to use organics whenever possible, especially in food and cleaning products. Bob is committed to his pesticide-free garden, which he has just started to till, and can talk for way too long about his compost pile! We also choose hormone-free dairy products and meats when we can. I think it's a good idea to read labels and be more aware of where the things you purchase come from. It doesn't seem too hard, even here in Wichita where we are, sadly, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods-less. Our local Dillon's and Walmart are all stocking more organics these days and the prices are often competitive.

Healthy Child Healthy World and BabyCenter.com have joined forces to create Easy Organic Living, a new interactive community sponsored by Stonyfield Yogurt. Its mission is to educate parents about the benefits of adopting an organic lifestyle and give them easier ways of getting there, with helpful tips from other community members and from featured experts including reknowned pediatrician Dr. Bill Sears, Valerie Deneen (Frugal Family Fun Blog), Robyn O'Brien (author and co-founder of the Allergy Kids Foundation), Melinda Hemmelgarn, M.S., R.D. (registered dietitian and “Food Sleuth” columnist) and Catherine McCord (Weelicious).

I'll be one of twenty five bloggers taking on the four weekly Organic Challenges, which will include:

• A money-saving challenge to help parents make organic living affordable.
• A snack invention challenge to inspire parents to think outside the wrapper and create their own healthy snack using at least one organic ingredient.
• A meal preparation challenge encouraging parents to use at least one organic ingredient.
• A simple label-reading challenge to encourage parents to understand what they’re eating.

This week's challenge is "Save a dollar here, Shift a dollar there." Join me in taking this challenge and see how easily you can Shift Your Habit.

For a full week, make a conscientious effort to save money by using some of the tips below. Then shift your savings to organics!

1. Choose some easy ways to save money:

Buy in bulk and save up to $500 a year!

Eat your leftovers. According to the USDA, 14% of all the food that we buy ends up in the trash, adding up to almost $600 thrown away each year.

Opt for water. Instead of grabbing soda or juice, drink what’s freely available from the tap. You could save up to $200 per year or more.

Choose whole chicken. Save up to $600 per year by choosing whole chicken instead of boneless skinless breasts.

Buy fruits and vegetables when they’re in season. You can save up to $130 or more per year by shifting to seasonal produce (i.e., apples in the winter, plums and nectarines during the summer).

Eat less meat. If you were to cut meat out of your diet once a week and replace it with a vegetarian option, you could save about $250 per year for a family of four.

2. After a week, estimate your savings and shift the money to organic food.

The hardest habits for me to break were buying in bulk and buying whole chickens. I'll admit it- I usually buy boneless portions because they're easy, but it's not so hard to cook a whole chicken or to butcher it and freeze parts for later. I just need to get over my hypocritical squeamishness about cooking things with carcasses. (You know, because then you think about it being an animal. I am such a hypocrite, ack!) I don't buy bulk a lot because… well, honestly, I've never really thought about it. So I'll have to give it a try. I'm already totally down with buying seasonal produce, eating meatless meals and choosing water. We do a fairly good job of repurposing leftovers, too. I think I've got a decent headstart on this Challenge.

How did you do? Let me know in the comments below or share your thoughts in the Easy Organic Living community. You can also comment using hashtag #ezorganic on Twitter.




In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I will receive an Easy Organic Living goody bag for myself and one to give away in exchange for my participation in the Easy Organic Living challenges but all opinions are strictly my own.

Steaz Review/Giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 1/12 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, #7 Kathleen W!!!***

her comment...
I love that these are mildly sweetened, which is why I like Republic of Tea teas so much, even though I don't buy them often. I'd like to try the Green Tea with Mint


Steaz Organic Iced Teaz are the world's first fair-trade certified, all-natural, organic ready-to-drink teas. They come in tallboy cans or 64 oz bottles and are widely available at health food stores and Target locations across the country. They are also very easy to drink!



There are six flavors in the Steaz Organic Iced Teaz range, one unsweetened and five lightly sweetened. I got to sample three of the lightly sweetened flavors: Green Tea with Peach, White Tea with Lime and Pomegranate and Green Tea with Blueberry, Pomegranate and Acai. They were all delicious but I think my big favorite was the White Tea with Lime and Pomegranate. It has a crisp, refreshing taste that reminds me of summertime. I'm also dying to try the Lightly Sweetened Green Tea with Mint.

Steaz wants to give one lucky blogger a pass to Blissdom 2010! See entry details on the Steaz Facebook page. You can also click here to print a coupon for a free can of Steaz at Target (through 12/31/09). Don't live near a Target location or can't decide which Steaz Organic Iced Teaz to try first? Click here to print a buy one/get one free coupon to use at any participating retailer. (Click here to find a location near you.)



To enter and win a sampler pack of Steaz Organic Iced Teaz like the one pictured above, please comment on this post with your favorite flavor or something you learned from their website.


Entries will be accepted through January 6th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Greensbury Market Organic Meats

I was vegetarian by association in college. Most of my friends were vegetarians and as the only one who cooked, I was pretty much limited to meat-free fare. These days, I do use meat when cooking for my family, but I also try to choose the healthiest options I can find, which is not as easy as one would expect in the heart of Kansas. I was really pleased to be offered the chance to try some of the premium meats from Greensbury Market, online purveyors of certified organic meat.



Greensbury Market was founded in 2004 by four self-proclaimed "meat guys" with over a decade of experience in gourmet food distribution. It is their mission to make it easy for the average consumer to purchase healthy meat from animals raised in an environmentally-friendly way on self-sustaining and self-sufficient farms without antibiotics, synthetic hormones or pesticides. Greensbury Market offers select premium cuts of organic beef, pork and chicken that are flash-frozen to preserve freshness, flavor, juiciness and natural vitamins and minerals. Unlike other frozen meats, each Greensbury Market chicken breast, pork chop or steak is individually sealed to protect against freezer burn and spoilage. (In fact, Greensbury Market meats are guaranteed to maintain for up to 6 months in your freezer.) The individual packaging also makes it easy to divvy up portions if you are dieting or cooking for one.

Greensbury Market orders are shipped via UPS and arrive in a recyclable Expanded Polystyrene foam container with dry ice (which is a gigantic hit with kindergarten teachers, by the way!). Inside, you’ll find your beef, chicken or pork packaged in boxes that are suitable for gifting. I'm not sure why I didn't take pictures when I opened the box because the packaging itself is very beautiful and recyclable. I think I was distracted by the dry ice! I did take some pictures of the individual packages, though. We received the 100% Organic Grass-fed Beef Strip Steak (NY Strip):



I marinated them in a chimchurri and seared them in a pan before cubing them up for the kids to consume:



We also received the Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts:



I cooked them in a skillet before adding them to an Indian korma sauce and serving over basmati rice.



Plated alongside some palak paneer and chickpea curry, making possibly the least attractive plate in food blog history… I swear it tasted MUCH better than it looks!



Greensbury Market meats cost a bit more than I usually like to spend (the strip steaks are $12.99 each and the chicken breasts are $15.99/4) but not drastically more than my local organic market and, to be honest, I am not as confident in their freshness. The taste difference was actually noticeable and, surprisingly, the texture of the Greensbury Market meats was different. I am used to chicken breasts being sort of ropy but these were very plump and moist. The steaks were tender and juicy, much more flavorful than our usual fare. Greensbury Market Value Packs would be great to keep in the freezer every day, as well as making a much-appreciated holiday gift. I'm dying to try their Italian Pork Sausages, too. Hint, hint!

You can follow Greensbury Market on Twitter and Facebook.

Disclosure: We received the Greensbury Market meats in order to write this review. I am fairly certain we need to do more product testing because that stuff is really, really tasty. Just joking.

Naked Nure by Royal Ranch

Naked Nure is full of poop. Well, actually it IS poop. Llama poop, to be exact, made into 100% all-natural "teabags" to brew up nutrient-rich compost tea for your garden or indoor plants. There are two varieties available for purchase, both in handmade reuseable cloth bags that are great for gift-giving. The indoor bags are smaller and contain six teabags made of a compostable paper. They will brew about 12-15 gallons of compost tea for your plants.



The outdoor bags are made of heavy-duty burlap with a sturdy denim handle and a zipper closure. This one will make more than 20-25 gallons of tea for your garden. See how "clean" the llama poop looks? It is very low-odor as manure goes.



First you steep the bags in water:




We did a couple of the indoor tea bags in a barrel (above) and the outdoor bag in the trailer bucket (below).



After a couple of days, the tea is rich and dark:




(The floating pellets in the barrel are because we ripped one of the tea bags.)



Bob was really into the reflective quality the Naked Nure developed while it was brewing. I won't tell you how many self portraits he took in it. Dork.



The garden seemed to enjoy Naked Nure! Can't beat a non-chemical fertilizer. Especially one that comes from such adorable creatures.




Naked Nure is made by the fine folks who operate the Royal Ranch and Royal Roost B&B in Bailey, Colorado. Tom and Judy Jeute are the proprietors. Aside from producing Naked Nure, their llamas are also trained rescue animals and lead wilderness hiking expedition with Royal Llama Adventures. The first photo shown is the very handsome Marcel the llama participating in a royal llama wedding! And the one below is Judy with Marcel and Jasper the llamas. (Someday I hope my Jasper will be able to meet his llama counterpart…)



Now is the time to stock up on Naked Nure! Everything is 50% off. Indoor Naked Nure is only $6 and Outdoor Naked Nure is just $11. These would make a surprisingly attractive and unusual gift for your favorite gardener this holiday season!




Disclosure: We received two bags of Naked Nure to sample in order to write this review. I left it to my husband (the green thumb in the family) and it seriously took all summer to coax these pictures out of him. Sorry, Judy! He really likes the product and actually wants to check out the Royal Ranch sometime for a family trip. No joke! And I've always secretly wanted a llama. I think we're zoned for one…

Netto Swag at Bellaziza's Favorites

Bellaziza's Favorite Things has yet another spectacular Super Swag Giveaway going on. The prize is a covetable Netto Collection Organic Cotton and Wool Crib Mattress, plus accessories. The mattress itself is worth $450, and the whole package, which also includes the Organic Wool Mattress Pad and Organic Wool Mattress Protector, as well as the Organic Cotton Crib Sheet, is worth an impressive $700!



Check out Bellaziza's Favorite Things and sign up for an email subscription so you can be in the know about their amazing Swag Giveaways and be entered into special members-only Swag Giveaways like their incredible Phil & Ted's Vibe promotion. I honestly can't decide which prize I would rather receive… the stroller or the crib set. Maybe I'll get super lucky and win both!

Live Nude Mom

My skin has been absolutely crazy since Jasper was born almost a year ago. I've been oily my whole life and suddenly I have dry, scaly patches and puffy eyes. I am starting to actually look my age. Horror! The skincare I'd been using was too heavy but my skin seemed parched. What to do? Apparently, if you're me, you use the free bars of soap and bottles of body wash from the motels on your endless road trip. Not good.

When I got back from our trip, after two days in a car with a four year old and one year old, tons of nasty fast food and sodapop for my diet and motel skincare regime had taken their toll. My skin was ashy and dry. But I had a package from Nude Skincare waiting for me and in four short days of use, I've actually seen a change in my skin. Seriously!



I received the cleansing facial wash and intense moisture mask and they are both remarkable. The facial wash is a clear gel that has a scent that reminds me of rose water and is very cleansing without stripping your skin. It leaves mine dewy and soft. For real. I was skeptical about the intense moisture mask, since I thought it might weigh too heavily on my skin, but it is very light and emollient. You are supposed to wipe it off but I leave it as a moisturizer and it has completely eliminated my problematic dry patches. And I'm still not particularly greasy looking.




Nude was created by Bryan Meehan, who runs a successful chain of organic food stores in the UK and Ali Hewson, activist and designer of Edun an organic/fair trade clothing company (and Mrs. Bono). The line is committed to providing natural ingredients that actually work, in packaging that is environmentally responsible. Nude features biodegradable sleeves, packaging that’s 50% post industrial recycled polypropylene and is completely recyclable. From their website:

What makes nude products unique.
nude is biocompatible, using high performance bioavailable ingredients to deliver results.
The range works with the skin’s own amazing biology and uses ingredients the body can recognise to deliver incredible results.

Pre and probiotics strengthen the skin’s natural biology to reduce premature ageing, inflammation and dehydration.

Peptides, phytoactives and bioactives target the causes and signs of ageing to firm and smooth the skin whilst potent antioxidants protect the skin against environmental damage.

Beautiful ingredients such as cupuacu, manketti, baobab and avellana provide essential fatty acids, nutrition and hydration for soft, supple skin.

Internal supplements complete the range. Probiotic cultures and supercritical herb extracts optimise bioavailability, absorption and potency.

The result is naturally beautiful skin.

I don't know much about Pre or Probiotics but I do know that the products seem to make my skin look and feel great and the bottles look super on my bathroom counter. The colors of the packaging even look great with Bob's painting we have hanging over the tub (one of my all-time favorites!):




Nude Skincare is now available in the US at Sephora.

Natural Mat Loves Your Baby

***WINNER PICKED 6/12 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, Sara DMS!!!***

her comment...
My daughter would have such a great time with the Sunshine Kids Noah's Ark Musical Pullstring!



Natural Mat is a line of natural, organic crib mattresses handmade in the UK with no chemicals, no plastics and no PVC. They believe that natural fibers allow for better ventilation and stronger support, with the added benefits of being non-allergenic and anti-dust mite. All of their mattresses have a removable organic cotton outer cover that can be washed, adding further hygienic allergy protection.

There are three standard Natural Mat styles: The Coco Mat, which features a coconut husk coir wrapped in lambswool bathed in extracts of lavender, lemon and eucalyptus:



The Latex Mat, their most allergy safe and supportive model, with all the same features as The Coco Mat but an additional natural rubber latex springy core:



Natural Mat's most luxurious offering is The Mohair Mat, which boasts a horsetail hair (the longest and most durable natural fibre in the world, who knew?!) inner core, surrounded by the coconut husk coir and silky mohair fleece to act as a thermal regulator:



It should come as no surprise that such a thoughtfully engineered, handmade product does not come cheap. The mattresses sell for $375, $525 and $625 respectively at Bare Babies, online retailer of Natural Mat products in the US. I think they would make a fabulous shower gift, or a very thoughtful gift from grandparents who want to make a lasting investment in their grandchildren's future good health. (If they could entice Jasper to sleep in his own crib for once, it would definitely be well worth it… I am getting sick of having a ten month old tyrant in my bed. He kicks and flails all night long. Perhaps he knows something we don't about the invisible toxins in his hand-me-down crib mattress?)

A less costly introduction to the line would be one of Natural Mat's gorgeous organic cotton crib sheets, available in crisp percale for warmer zones and soft flannelette for cooler zones. They are unbleached and undyed and can be machine washed and dried.



Superdumb Supervillain Bonus!

Get a 10% discount on Natural Mat products at Bare Babies:
Enter code sds10offnm at checkout.

To enter and win a Natural Mat organic cotton crib sheet, please comment on this post with your favorite items from Bare Babies, online retailer of Natural Mat.

Entries will be accepted through June 11th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US/Canada readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.

Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! Or, you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a new site that compiles winners in one convenient place: