Review: Adina Natural Highs Coffee Energy Drink

Like most people, I tend to drag a little in the afternoon and although I love coffee, I'm reluctant to grab a calorie-laden frappacino because it just results in a mid-day crash-and-burn. So when the folks at Adina for Life sent me a package of their new all-natural coffee drink, "Natural Highs™", I was admittedly a little skeptical.

Boy was I wrong! Take the caffiene kick from organic fair trade coffee combined with all-natural ingredients to get a refreshing energy boost. Each eight ounce serving is jam-packed with antioxidants on par with four servings of fruit. So it's natural, healthy, and energetic...but is it good?

My husband and I tasted each flavor (Hazelnut Hook Up, Double XXpresso, Vanilla Nut Case, Mocha Madness, and Caramel Kick). The verdict? Thumbs up! These energy drinks are slightly sweet with a light coffee flavor. To borrow from wine tasting, it has a nice "finish". No strange aftertaste thanks to the fact that it contains no artificial ingredients or chemical additives. Plus, you get an energy boost without the sugar crash an hour later.

We love that the company uses fair trade organic coffee, which supports a better life for farming families in Columbia. In fact, we liked Natural Highs so much that we've already gone to Whole Foods twice in the last few weeks to stock up on four-packs.

It looks like the team at Adina have a champ on their hands. And no surprise, as the team is comprised of a winning combination of entreprenuers from Odwalla (all natural juices), SoBe (energy drinks), and Peet's Coffee.

Want to try Adina Natural Highs? Buy it now at your local Whole Foods Market. Or enter to win a free four pack of Mocha Madness (my fave). Just leave a comment and let me know why you want to try Adina Natural Highs. But hurry! This giveaway ends December 15, 2008 at 11:59 PM (PST). One lucky winner will be announced here and notified via email so be sure to leave your email address in your comment. View our contest rules for more info.

Green and Yummy Halloween Treats

I never thought I would say this but, "When I was a kid..." Halloween treats were usually homemade and gobbled up as soon as they were dropped into our Halloween sacks (aka pillowcases). We would bob for apples, snack on popcorn balls, tell scary stories, and play flashlight tag in the dark.

Admittedly, times have since changed and there are some safeguards that we must now take to keep our children safe. But we can still make this a Halloween a little greener with a few easy tips.

Let's face it, kids expect candy but we can deliver on that in a responsible way.

1. Yummy Earth makes truly yummy lollipops that are certified organic. Pomegranate Pucker is my fave. You can find Yummy Earth Lollipops in nearly every grocery store but if you can’t find them near you, they are currently offering free shipping if you buy on their website.

2. Endangered Species Chocolate sells individual milk and dark chocolates wrapped in festive orange and brown wrappers for Halloween. These chocolates are all-natural and ethically traded. Plus, 10% of their net profits are donated to help support species, habitat, and humanity.

3. Panda Licorice is made in Finland with all natural ingredients. We conducted an entirely non-scientific taste test in our home and the former household champion, Twizzler, was beat hands down by Panda Licorice.

4. Newman’s Own Peanut Butter Cups are simply yummy goodness.

5. Don’t want to dispense candy this Halloween? Why not give unexpected goodies like soy crayons, smencils made from recycled newspaper, stickers, or other spooktacular goodies.

Stay tuned for more green Halloween tips over the next few days but in the meantime, let me know what YOUR favorite green Halloween goodies are!

Reverse Trick-or-Treating with FREE Fair Trade Chocolates

Want to surprise your neighbors this Halloween? When you take your kids trick-or-treating, give a treat back to the adults this year with fair trade chocolates. Best of all, it's FREE!

I am a fan of chocolate. I am a big fan of fair trade chocolate. I am a huge fan of FREE fair trade chocolate. Does it get any better than that? I didn't think so.

Global Exchange is running their 2nd annual "Reverse Trick-or-Treating" Campaign in an effort to raise awareness about the poverty and child labor among cocoa farmers. They are providing these reverse trick-or-treating kits for free - you just pay $4.95 for shipping. The kits consist of 20-25 pieces of fair trade chocolate and information cards.

Why is fair trade important? Despite years of promises from major chocolate manufacturers little has been done to tackle the issue of forced child labor on many farms that supply their cocoa. In addition, low cocoa prices have left cocoa farmers in poverty year after year. The Fair Trade certification prohibits the use of abusive child labor and guarantees a fair price paid for cocoa. This raises farmers' incomes and creates hope for a better future for their children. You can read more in their article about child labor in the cocoa industry.

The deadline to order your kit is October 13 but I encourage you to place your order today as supplies are limited. I just ordered my reverse trick-or-treating kit today and can't wait to share the goodies with our neighbors.

Fair trade lamps featured in the Yoga Journal

I am very excited to announce that one of the fair trade lamps that I sell on the Radiant Ideas web store was recently featured in the Yoga Journal! The exposure is great for my site, of course, but I'm thrilled to see that fair trade is getting more and more exposure in the media. It's so important to be environmentally friendly but I think it is just as important to be socially conscious.

These handmade lamps are commissioned by a fair trade organization that ensures the artisans are paid a fair wage & work in a safe environment. Makes you feel good knowing that your purchase is lighting up the lives of others.