My Energy Drink of Choice - 5-Hour Energy

5-Hour Energy - Pomegranate

Hello friends.
Are you tired, run-down, and listless?
Do you poop out at parties?
The answer to all your problems is in this little bottle...

Sound familiar?
All you "I Love Lucy" fans should recognize that from Lucy's Vitameatavegamin episode.

Seriously though folks, this little energy shot rocks my world.

It's not carbonated.
It's sugar free and not loaded with calories. 
It has just the right amount of caffeine, mixed with the right amount of Vitamin B which makes it lasts longer and you don't get the normal caffeine or sugar crash.

I drink half a bottle in the morning, the other half about the time 2:00 rolls around, and that'll do me.

It kicks in within minutes and I feel more alert and energetic. 
Unlike other caffeine drinks, this one doesn't make me feel jittery.
My flavor of choice is Pomegranate, though the Berry isn't bad either.

Sweet Deals
Amazon has by far the best deal I've found. You can buy a pack of $12 for $20.79 plus a few bucks for shipping. That works out to be about $1.73 + shipping.

They do have a deal where you can subscribe and have it shipped at regular intervals. This option is $17.67 and saves you an additional 15% and free shipping. Price per bottle works out to be about $1.47.

Costco and Sam's Club members can buy it in bulk making the price per bottle below $2.00.
Walmart sells the regular in a 2-pack for about $4.50, so around $2.25 per bottle.

The Extra Strength version, also sold in a 2-pack, runs around $5.20, so around $2.60 per bottle.

Expect to pay $3 or $4 at gas stations or convenience stores. Though if you have to decide between this or a soft drink, go with the 5-Hour Energy. The energy boost lasts a lot longer, so definitely more bang for your buck.

For more information on different flavors, what's all in it, and decaf versions, please check out 5-Hour Energy's website.

Be smart though, people. Moderation in all things.
If you don't react well to caffeine then this isn't for you.
If you are looking for something that will help you be more alert and less tired and are used to drinking caffeine, then I'd say give it a try.

As Lucy might say...So why don't you join all the thousands of happy, peppy, people and get a great big bottle of 5-Hour Energy tomorrow!

The purse I travel with - The Bayliss by Overland Equipment

Overland Equipment - Bayliss bag

This is the best organizer bag. Ever.
 
A few years ago, I was leaving on a trip to Africa and needed a purse or bag that was small, but versatile and durable.  After lots of searching for just the right one, I stumbled upon the Bayliss bag by Overland Equipment that seemed like it would be perfect. It worked out better than I could have hoped for.

It worked great not only for my Africa trip, but for several trips since then. It's the perfect size to hold and organize my point and shoot camera, phone, passport, mp3 player, as well as all the other little things I seem to need.

It's also the bag I take while running around town and shopping. Somebody always seems to stop me and ask where I got it because it is the perfect size.  I love that I can sling it across my body and just go. Mine is about 3 years old and still going strong. 

This little organizer bag has 3 compartments:

Bayliss - Middle section

• The front is a flap-over that is ideal for pens and small pieces of paper.  There's also a small zip pocket which I use for coins. The flap-over has a convenient magnetic closure. 
• The middle section is a double zip closure and opens down the sides. It has credit card slots, and pockets that work well for my phone, mp3 player, and passport.
• The back section is the largest and holds my keys and point and shoot camera. It has a single zip closure.

I'm not into big purses. I don't like to carry that much with me, but I realize that I can't or shouldn't fit everything into my pockets. This bag makes it so I can go wallet-free! For those of you who feel the same, this bag does the trick.

These bags are worth every penny. They are very well made and will last a long time. For more photos and color choices, please check out their website.

Sweet Deals:
Overland Equipment sends out a monthly newsletter with specials on their bags. Sign up for their newsletter on their website or Facebook fan page. They also run fun contests on Facebook where you could win the Bayliss or one of their other wonderful bags. So check them out!

Stuff She Does - Scuba Dive

I love to Scuba Dive!

Here's just a few things to love about it: Breathing underwater, the feeling of weightlessness, and seeing a completely different world that most never get to. Seriously, if you haven't tried it...you need to.

But...getting Scuba Certified can be expensive.
I put it off for a long time because I just couldn't afford it. I then figured out a way to get certified without it costing an arm and a leg.

College Classes
I took it as a class through school.
Turns out schools will contract with local scuba shops to get a consistent flow of students and in turn the students don't have to pay as much as everybody else. So if you're already a college student, go see if your school offers scuba classes.

Holiday Specials
If you're not a student, another way to save money is to get scuba certified around the holidays. Scuba shops will often run 2 for 1 specials around holidays like Christmas, Valentines Day, Father's Day, and Memorial Day. Of course, it depends on the shop, but this is pretty common. So keep your eyes open and see what specials they're running.

Saving on Scuba Gear
It is important that you buy good, reliable gear. Your life depends on it.
But if you're like me, you're always looking to save a few bucks.

Here's a few things I've learned about Scuba shops and the gear:

•  Look for the clearance rack - They may also have stuff in the back that they don't display, so ask to see if they have older stuff they're looking to clear out. 
•  Look for the gently used stuff - Shops will sell off the rental equipment they use for their classes. Sometimes you can find used gear that's still in good shape at a reasonable price.
•  Ask to see what discounts they would offer - Sometimes you just need to ask.

Scuba is a lot of fun. I know it's not for everybody, but if it's something you've wanted to do for a long time, just go for it. Hopefully, these tips will help you get started!