5-hour ENERGY® shots – The Secret Ingredient in my Busy Mom Summer Survival Kit

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ThisIsMySecret #CollectiveBias

We’re only two-thirds of the way through June and this summer has already been insanely busy!  But I think that’s always the way it goes – summer is billed as this time filled with lazy days and extra time, only for it to hit and – BAM – your bombarded with graduations, swim parties, summer camp, company get togethers, and family vacations.  Sure, there’re all fun events, but wow, they can take a lot out of you and leave you looking for an energy shot at the end of your day.  Which is why I’ve put together what I like to call, “The Busy Mom Summer Survival Kit”.  Unlike so many other things that I create, this isn’t for the kids…this kit is to get me through the summer.

So what goes in The Busy Mom Summer Survival Kit?  So glad you asked!  Mine is full of all the summer necessities.  Take a look:

Sunscreen & Lip Balm

First and foremost protect yourself from the sun.  I know, I know, I sound like a broken record, but the last thing you want to do is find yourself out and about and realize that you left your sunscreen back at home.  Especially considering that sunscreen can be one of those items that can get very costly to replace on the road.  So the next time you’re out at CVS, pick up a small trial size of sunscreen.  It doesn’t matter if it’s kids or adults, but try to get something that’s a SPF 15 or higher (the higher the better).  Trust me, those trial size tubes are deceiving and will actually cover much more than you’d ever think.  The last time we went to Disney, I actually covered myself and my 3 kids with one travel sized tube, with sunscreen to spare.

And while you’re on a sun protecting note, don’t forget to protect your lips – the summer sun can be tough on them too!  Lip balm will protect and moisturize while you’re on the go.  Plus, lip balm can give your lips that little extra shine if you forget to apply lipstick or gloss before leaving the house.

Anti-Bacterial

It may not be cold and flu season anymore, but germs don’t take a vacation over the summer.  Make sure to pick up one of those travel size antibacterial gel containers the next time your in the check out line at your drug store.  Antibacterial wipes are actually a better option (no risk of spills) if you can find them.

5-hour ENERGY® shots

In law school, I started taking energy supplements.  I was working and studying so much that I needed an extra boost.  While the energy supplements gave me the extra boost that I needed, they came with a terrible crash.  I could actually feel the supplement wearing off and then needed to sleep for what felt like days to recover.  Which is why years later I started taking 5-hour ENERGY® shots.  5-hour ENERGY® shots contain a blend of B-vitamins, amino acids, and essential nutrients, without the sugar, carbs, or herbal stimulants of other energy supplements.  They’re only 4 calories and the amount of caffeine is comparable to a cup of coffee.  Even better, you can control the amount of energy you need – half a shot gives me the boost that I need most of the time, but but for bigger, busier days, I take a full shot.  And the flavors are pretty delicious – I’m a big fan of the grape myself (but the pomegranate is a close second).  The best part?  No crash.  No feeling it wear off.  No sleeping for what feels like days to recover.  It’s energy when you need it and how you need it.

I typically buy my 5-hour ENERGY® shots at CVS because I love the variety of flavors that they always have on the shelf and the great deals (who wouldn’t love buy one get one half off?).  You should be able to find them nestled in between the nutritional drinks and weight loss products.

Protein Bar

I don’t know about you, but my summer days are go-go-go.  So stopping for a meal or snack often isn’t an option.  Protein bars can be a great meal replacement or serve as the perfect snack between meals, making them the perfect addition to the Busy Mom Summer Survival Kit.   While I always find the chocolate flavors of protein bars the most appealing (seriously, I’m practically in love with the chocolate chip cookie dough protein bars at my local CVS), this is one of those times to skip the chocolate.  The summer sun can quickly melt a chocolate protein bar.  Instead, stick with fruit or nut varieties that will stand up to the heat and the summer sun’s intense rays.

Pain Relievers

Pain can stop your busy day right in it’s tracks.  Since I don’t have time to stop, I carry two different kinds of pain reliever on me – one for headaches and one for body aches – both travel size, of course.  I will not be stopping for pain this summer!

Bug Spray

I suppose this one is going to depend on where you live, but the bugs are bigger than some birds here in South Florida, so travel size bug spray is a must.  Okay, that bug/bird comparison was a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much…  I actually found some great mosquito repelling bracelets the last time I was at CVS, which made a great addition to my kit.  I’ll try anything that will keep bugs away!

Once you’ve gathered all your items, throw them in a make up case that’s small enough to fit in your purse, diaper bag, or whatever bag you carry regularly and you’re ready to go have some summer fun!  Mine goes everywhere with me!

So what do you think?  Did I miss anything?  What would go in your Busy Mom Summer Survival Kit?

Oh, and don’t forget to enter the 5-hour ENERGY® shots sweepstakes!  Two very lucky people will win a 6 month supply of 5-hour ENERGY® shots just by sharing how they use 5-hour ENERGY® shots to keep up with busy summer days!a Rafflecopter giveaway

No Purchase Necessary. The How Do You Use 5-Hour ENERGY® Products To Keep Up With Your Busy Summer Days Sweepstakes begins on 6/15/14 at 12:00 A.M. ET and ends on 7/31/14 at 11:59:59 PM ET. Legal residents of the 50 US/DC only. Void where prohibited. By participating you agree to the Official Rules.