Pay no attention to the fact I’m posting this at 12:30 a.m. …
Heartbreak is a toddler denied her treat. Hilarity is watching her try to get her contraband treat by gnawing through a cardboard box only to discover it filled with grassy powder. Wait, what, I’m not allowed to laugh? Eight hours of labor says otherwise, I think. This little melodrama played out this past week in the aisles of our grocery store as Jelly Bean watched me load up on one of my fave treats of the season: peppermint herbal tea from Celestial Seasonings. I’d just tossed four boxes into the cart when the whining started. “I want a candy cane!”
“No,” I patiently explained, “I know there are candy canes on the box but there are no candy canes inside it. It’s a drink.” (Side note: What must she have thought when we bought baby food with the happy baby on the front?)
“Dwink? I want a candy cane dwink!” she insisted, trying to open a box.
A little less patiently I answered, “Well the drink’s not actually in the box. And you can’t have any right now.”
Uncharacteristically she calmed down and said okay. I should have known better. Jelly Bean is as stubborn as, well, me. A few minutes later I turned around from spending 7.5 minutes scrutinizing the beef jerky selection (anyone else noticed that all the nitrate-free natural flavors use sugar as a preservative instead?? Can’t win.) to find her with her hands covering her eyes and grass covering her lips. It wasn’t until I saw the chewed-up remnants of the herbal tea box that I realized what she’d done.
“Jelly Bean? Did you gnaw through the box like a naughty mouse and eat the candy cane drink mix?” (Parenting what-not-to-do right here. Never ask a kid if they did something that you know full well they did. It’s like saying “Please lie to my face.”)
“No!” Jelly Bean lied to my face and squished her tiny hands tighter over her eyes. She still thinks that if she can’t see me I can’t see her. And heaven help me I think it’s hilarious. I waited as little tears squeezed out from under her hands. At last, with one hand still covering her eyes, she held out the fistful of herbal tea packets she’d stuffed down her pants. “I not eat these,” she sobbed. “Now can I have REAL candy cane?”
“No! Baby’s First Shoplifting is not something I want to memorialize in your scrapbook. I am not encouraging this.”
“Well,” she spluttered. “I not talking to you! I talking to Gwandma!” Girl has a point. Grandma would totally get her a candy cane. If Grandma were here. Which she isn’t. By process of elimination, I win again!
When I got home, I serendipitously found another box of love from Celestial Seasonings. At first I thought it would be more of their magic herbal tea – seriously I drink gallons of the stuff, I have no less than 9 flavors in my cabinet right now – but it was samples of a new product, their sleep aid called Sleepytime Snooz Shots. While I’m not much into shots, I do love the Sleepytime Vanilla flavor of herbal tea so I got really excited. But first I had to find out what was in it. I learned the hard way never to take supplements without first reading the ingredients…
Here’s what puts the “sleep” in Sleepytime Snooz Shots. (And you also get an introduction to the wide, wonderful world of crazy that is Charlotte reading labels.)
Valerian root – This sounds like Star Trek. Must text husband: Are there Valerians in deep space? Okay, no, it’s an herb and it’s first on the ingredient list so there’s probably a lot of it. According to the gnome who lives in my phone, it’s a plant that’s been in use since the ancient Greeks and is used for insomnia, anxiety, “women’s problems” and – I swear I’m not making this up – warding off elves. My kids are basically elves without magic. I so totally need this.
Relora – The Relorans totally ARE on Star Trek: Voyager! Someone at Celestial Seasonings is messing with me! Also, how geeky is it that I know this? Text husband again: Nevermind, I found the right aliens. It says a lot about our relationship that all he writes back is “Okay.” Focus, Charlotte. Relora is apparently the brand name of a proprietary blend of two plants I’m too lazy to type out that are known for “weight loss” and “decreasing stress and normalizing stress hormones.” Weight loss?? Must check ingredients for caffeine or other stimulants. All clear! Phew. But yes please to less stress.
Chamomile – I know this one, no Wiki needed! It’s a pretty flower! I also buy this flavor of herbal tea even though I think it’s kinda bland because I’ve heard it’s supposed to be good for me. According to Livestrong – and you know they know their drugs! (Too soon for Lance Armstrong jokes?) – it has anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.” It’s the anti-herb! I’m very contrary; I knew I loved it for a reason! Oh, and it’s a centuries-old treatment for insomnia too.
L-theanine – I actually have a bottle of this one, thanks to recommendations from some of you back when I was lamenting all my anxiety. Apparently “research shows an effect of wakeful relaxation without drowsiness, a type of stress relief, although the effect is weak when compared with benzodiazepines.” This literally made me laugh out loud in the store. Honestly I don’t know many herbs, or drugs in general, that don’t look weak next to Valium and Xanax! But wakeful relaxation sounds amazing and also kinda like lucid dreaming. I’m in.
Lemon Balm – We grow this in our backyard! It really smells like lemons! And it tastes absolutely nothing like lemons! In fact, it tastes like leaves! But I like leaves! I’m a panda! (Jelly Bean: “I WUV pandas!!” Apparently I think out loud.)
Hops – Wait, do I need to show ID to buy this stuff?
Jujube seed – Never heard of this one before. Oh wait, yes I have, it’s also called the “Chinese date”. This little berry is supposed to be one of the secrets to their longevity! It also apparently helps with anxiety and insomnia (starting to see a pattern here).
Melatonin – This one’s a favorite among mommy friends with inappropriately wakeful toddlers! Because, of course, it’s probably the best-known supplement on the market for regulating sleep cycles and curing insomnia.
AND now you know why Jelly Bean had time to rip open a box with her teeth in the first place! Shopping with me is intense.
Anyhow, after deciding the ingredients list looked solid, I uncapped a shot and took a swig. Then I let Jelly Bean take a sip. We both spit it out at exactly the same time. Despite being labeled “peach flavor” – and we WUV peaches! – it is, shall we say, an acquired taste. Once I was prepared for it to taste nothing like peaches or herbal tea I was able to finish the bottle just fine. It wasn’t delightful but the point really isn’t to be delicious, it’s to help with sleep. So did it work?
For reasons I won’t explain because a) they’re slightly ridiculous and b) this post is already too long, I was particularly anxious and stressed that day. And about 30 minutes after taking the shot, I was “snooz-ing” soundly… on the floor in Jelly Bean’s room. While she played dolls on top of me. Since the package cautions that it’s to be used only in times of need and not as a daily thing, I haven’t repeated the experiment but my husband drank one and he’s now snoring right next to me while I type annoyingly in his ear!
Do you drink anything or take a supplement to help you sleep/relax at night? Any other herbal tea lovers? What’s your fave flavor? Anyone else ever get confused by the picture on a label??
Want to win a Snooz Shots gift pack yourself? Check out Celestial Seasoning’s Facebook page and take the sleepytime quiz. Leave a comment here with your sleep type. Everyone who takes the quiz gets a $1 coupon and one GFE reader will get the gift pack.
See? Star Trek makes everything better!!
Disclaimer: I was sent the Snooz Shots for free and was compensated for this post. The sleepiness is all them but the entertainment and opinions are all mine (and Jelly Bean’s)!
I don’t know what insomnia is, I suffer from severe lack of sleep because of my crazy work hours and I cannot imagine being allowed to go to bed and not falling asleep the next second. So I read this just for fun. And from the whole post the thing that interested me the most was this:
“For reasons I won’t explain because a) they’re slightly ridiculous and b) this post is already too long, I was particularly anxious and stressed that day.”
Intriguing! I understand why you may want to control the length of the post, but the comment segment can surely be as long as you want it, right?
The more stressed and anxious you are, the more humour and wisdom you put into your writing. The suspense is killing me!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAArgh!
(Yes, I’ve had just three hours of sleep and I have to translate three movies today before I can have some three more hours of sleep before getting up tomorrow, doing school runs and getting back to translation once again… Sleeping pills? Duh! I need forever-awake pills!)
I love that story of your girl! I can totally picture it! My mum has some ornaments on her tree that are little milkshakes. My girls keep pulling them down and trying to drink them. Poor jellybean must have been so disappointed!!!
I am definitely the Tossin Turner. I annoy my boyfriend all night long with it!
After being sleep deprived for all of grad school I’m enjoying this whole sleep thing. But then again I’ve never had trouble sleeping. If anything I have trouble NOT sleeping. It’s rather annoying to fall asleep in the middle of things, especially when I have deadlines and things I really want to do. NEedless to say late driving and me are not friends. I will mention these to mu husband tho…he has insomnia fairly regularly and refuses to take medication for it, and doesn’t drink tea (I know. No coffee either. or fizzy drinks… I’m baffled). This might help him some nights.
Good thing you didn’t have a pack of ChapStick’s new Candy Cane flavor lip balm in your cart!
That stuff even tastes good! I picked up a tube this week and am loving it!
Me too lol
Oh, I’m a thinker!
I LOVE all of the Celestial teas that I’ve tried so far, so this sounds interesting..
I rarely suffer from insomnia, but during one of those rare occasions I tried some herbal remedy or other – I think it may have been Valerian root – and I did not like the way I felt the next day, so I’ve not tried any others. I do, however, love Celestial Seasonings Peppermint Tea!
Last year when I was enthusing about Once Upon A Time to my husband, I told him Dr. Rush and Master Bra’tak were in it and he totally knew who I was talking about (Robert Carlyle and Tony Amendola). It’s nice when you both speak geek.
Your daughter is hilarious!
And since post-menopausal hormones have got me staring at the ceiling most nights, I’m seriously gonna check these things out.
Thanks for the heads-up on taste; expectations are crucial. Knowing it’s an herbal medicine, not a tasty drink will make all the difference and I’m sure I’ll gag it down just fine.
I’m definitely the Hibernator.. I can sleep for 12 hours every day if I get the chance. My boyfriend on the other hand tosses and turns and wakes up throughout the night. I wonder if I could get him to try this. Sounds perfect for him.
Cute Jelly Bean story AND “Star Trek” references?!?!?! This may be the best blog post in the history of blogging!!!!!
(And can I just say how much I’m geeking out over the fact that Benedict Cumberbatch is playing the bad guy in the next “Trek” film?)
Back on topic, I take melatonin to help me sleep. Works like, well, a dream. It took a little getting used to at first, but now it’s the best stuff ever. Even better than Advil PM, which is pretty darn good, but not something you want to take on a regular basis.
BTW, my daughter will often try to open a box of cake mix because she thinks there’s a fully-formed cake inside. If only! 🙂
I’ve yet to find any over-the-counter anything for sleep that’s even as effective as a placebo should be. Which seems wrong – I KNOW placebos work, all the science SAYS they work, even a sleep aid made of sugar and air should do something! But they absolutely don’t do a thing for me.
I can’t wait to try some of that – I spend hours (and hours!) wide awake every night!!!
I’ve given up hope on any reasonable sleep aids and accepted that exhaustion is just what adults call “life.” Valerian root, by the way, smells like nine kinds of a**, in case you haven’t noticed. I hate pills, but tried Ambien a handful of times until my wife grew tired of having to drag me by the heels down the hallway when I’d fall asleep in front of the living room TV with a cup of spilled sunflower seeds and cracker crumbs on my chest. Don’t drink anymore, so booze is out. My body laughs off melatonin. The occasional Benedryl helps me fall asleep but not stay asleep.
I’ve come to conclusion that my method of managing stress sucks, so I’m focusing on that.
I don’t really get it, but I think I’m a thinker (hehehe, see what I did there?)
I went to Boulder to visit a friend of mine and I was as excited to tour the Celestial Seasonings factory as I was to do anything else. Some people tour breweries, I tour tea factories. It was AWESOME!
I drink Cnady Cane Lane like it’s going out of style, FYI.
I’m a Thinker; I wake up multiple times a night and can’t get back to sleep until I do something about whatever I was thinking that woke me up.
3 capsules of Vitamin World 5-HTP (HydroxyTryptoPhan) taken about 2 hours before the time you want to fall asleep. Has worked for everyone I’ve ever been able to get to try it, including a kung fu instructor that hadn’t been able to sleep for 6 months. I’ve tried other brands but they don’t work as effectively–apparently because Vitamin World puts some Valerian Root in the mix, which is synergistic. Valerian Root works almost as well, most of the time, though, and at ~$3 a bottle, vs ~$15 for 5-HTP, it’s a no-brainer. I can’t stand herbal tea; why attempt to quaff down 8 oz of bitter water with a pleasant smell, when I can get the same effect by swallowing 3 capsules with a couple ounces of plain water?
I’m really anti-anything that I could possibly become reliant on for regular sleep patterns, as I’ve been down that road before, but I do honestly drink Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime tea every night before bed. HOWEVER, it has to be the kind without Valerian root, as that actually has the opposite effect on my and jacks me sky high. Melatonin also leaves me hungover and drowsy the whole next day, so it’s a delicate balance 😉
OK, so I’m a Tossin Turner AND a thinker. I used to keep a notebook by my bed to write down all the chaotic crap that would begin to attack as soon as I laid my head down. It totally worked for a while. When it stopped, I totally switched to peppermint tea with honey cause #1, it tastes FREAKING AMAZEBALLANDOVARIES, #2 it helps clear your head and your sinuses, #3 it freshens your breath and your perspective. My son gave me a huge box of Keurig K-cups of Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea for Xmas last year and I switched to that and HOLY CRAPATOLLA, ROCK N ROLLA it knocked me out, but in that “wake up like you slept the right way for the first time in 2 years” kinda way, not in that “OMG I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck after taking a heavy duty sedative and I’ll never function properly again” kinda way.
I would LOVE to try this stuff as lately life’s been all “freak out, stress, screech, run, gym, run, screech, stress, “In the name of all that is holy and unholy please let me sleep for more than 2 hours tonight so someone doesn’t die tomorrow and I end up in prison, cause I’m way too pretty and sassy for prison” run, cry.” and I can’t do it much longer. lol
I have NOT been sleeping well lately. And it is driving me cra-zay! So, yes, I would love to try some Snoozy Sleepytime whatever it is.
1 word: Perimenopause. I need this! Night sweats lead to anxiety which leads to not getting back to sleep which leads to anxious, angry, and tired mama/wife/student the next day. Not good for anyone. Advil/Tylenol PM makes me feel horrible the next day. Out of the four choices, I guess I would be the “thinker”, as when I can’t fall back to sleep I “overthink” what my day was and what the next day will bring.
I’m just a bad sleeper, pure and simple. I’ve learned to be satisfied with 4 hours of sleep each night. Not happy or rested, but I can deal with it. About once a month I’ll take a Sonata but even then I’ll awake after 5 hours. I haven’t tried any tea lately so I’ll have to bring out my Candy Cane Lane (I stock up this time of year so I have enough to last until the next winter!).
I’m a Thinker
I am definitely ‘Tossin Turner’.. I move a lot and am restless when I sleep, thinkin’ this might do the trick!
I am the hibenator! I barely move when I am sleeping.
Thinker!!! and boy do I think!
I’m a thinker… I am sure I get more done while sleeping then while I am actually awake. 8o
I’m the Thinker.
THINK THINK THINK
I’m the thinker for sure :p
Tossin Turner – all night every night – nothing I have tried so far helps – maybe these will do the trick : )
I’m a tossin turner, usually because Im a thinker 🙂
I’m the Tossin Turner with a bit of the Thinker. There’s always just so much that needs to be done! But, I do love a great nights sleep 🙂
I am a “thinker”. My mind races at bedtime even though my body is exhausted.
Definitely the thinker.
I’m the Thinker
I’m the tossin-turner as well. As a kid, my family called me “the egg beater” and drew straws to see who had to share a bed with me when we traveled.
I’m the Thinker, that did not surprise me at all
“You have insomnia,” my doctor said.
“No, I don’t, I just can’t sleep!” I said.
“You need to get at least 7 hours of sleep,” she said.
“But I do!” I said.
“In a ROW,” she said.
“Oh….”
Since then (about 15 years ago), I have learned to combat insomnia with behavior and, often, Sleepytime Tea! I can’t wait to try the Snooz!
i have never been able to sleep more than a couple hours .. the other night i literally fell asleep for 4 minutes . woke up and stayed awake for a few hours. thank goodness for NICK AT NITE for i am up watching it all night !!!
I’m a thinker!
Tossin’ and Turnin’ all night long!
I am definitely the hibernator! hahah nothing could describe me better lol!
I am a “thinker” – I hope I win, because I can really use some better soon!
Hilarious! I am a snack attacker!
thinker, but then because of that toss and turn
Tosin turner, all the way!!!
I’m definitely a tosser and turner. I go to sleep in one position and either wake up in another or wake up to get into another, or both. I love Celestial Seasonings teas, my favorite flavor really depends on why I’m drinking it though. If I’ve got a cold or sore throat lemon zinger with honey, if I can’t sleep (which is always) sleepy time, and if I just really want some hot tea no special reason any of the fruit flavors.
Oh, I’m the kind of sleeper who can’t fall asleep unless it’s completely dark and really quiet. Many times I find myself staying awake because I’m too exited for the day to come lol! I’m not a toss and turner, though, I have the so called “soldier” posture 🙂
I am a “I wonder what if THINKER”. I normally wake up every few hours and my mind is thinking about what I need to do and should be doing. I do drink Chamomile and Sleepytime. It does help.
…when I do sleep. Hibernator… Stress tends to ruin that though. Melatonin and tylenol pm just don’t cut it!
…when I do sleep. Hibernator… Stress tends to ruin that though. Melatonin and tylenol pm just don’t cut it!
Wake up around 4 am
I’m definitely a Thinker. I wish I could turn my brain off when I get in bed!
I am the Tosser and Turner!! I am also a thinker. I can be so tired — yet when I get to bed I lay there and my brain just refuses to shut off. So I toss and turn, and roll for hours! Drives me crazy!!!
Definitely a thinker. I am looking forward to trying these products!
I can’t turn my “thinker” off! Help!
The thinker! Sign of the times! 🙂
the thinker!s
Tosser/turner & thinker.
Tossin Turner, but wish there was a “3 out of 4” option, as snack cravings and racing thoughts are definitely issues too.
Thinker… If I don’t get better sleep I will be the zombie in the zombie attack!
thinker… toss &turn
I am the Tossin Turner! I have fibromyalgia, and its so painful and i cant sleep.I toss n turn all night long.I have other issues too.I cant fall asleep and if i do i wake up every 10mins to 1hr.There are nights i dont sleep at all.I never sleep more then 3hrs a night.I cant nap at all i just walk around tired all day.I wish and hope if i win this works to help me sleep. Thank you
I am the Tossin Turner . I’m always up in the wee hours of the night. It would be wonderful to sleep the whole night through
I’m a Thinker, but that makes me a Tossin Turner as well. 😛
Haha! Love that you ended up sleeping on the floor under a toddler playing dolls.
This happens more often than you’d think. Sadly. I tell myself that I’m still “keeping an eye” on her…
I’m a thinker and that makes me a toss and turner
I’m a Tossin Turner. Love when i flip the cold side of my pillow and toss and turn until i find the next best spot. Sleep tight
Tossin Turner. Side by side.
The Thinker! LOL
Yay!!! Another tea lover 🙂 I have to say, I am totally a celestial seasons fanatic – my fave probably being their Honey Vanilla Chamomile (the smell! Oh goodness!), or their Raspberry Zinger (like Raspberry Lemonade!), or their Country Peach (again, the smell! also, I have quite a few faves 😉 ) or their Candy Cane Lane (only available during the holiday season, I buy at least seven or eight boxes at the end of December to last me a few months. True story!)
I’d have to say I’m definitely a ‘Thinker’ sleep type, especially with finals right around the corner! I could certainly use some help getting to sleep and actually staying asleep, rather than waking up in the middle of the night and just thinking about all the things I have to do the next day!
Finally, oh my goodness Jelly Bean! What a cutie! I can just picture this scenario going down in my head – mostly because my 3yo has tried to eat a tea bag before too! Perhaps those pictures on the boxes are just a little too appetizing?
Haha – so glad my kid isn’t the only one that would do something like this! And I agree, I love Celestial Seasonings. Peach is my summertime fave:)
I’m definitely a thinker!
The Thinker indeed!
Definitely a thinker! Your A.D.D picture up there definitely nails it right on the head! Non-stop, 24/7 thinker it feels like somedays.
I am Tossin Turner 🙂
I’m most definitely the tossin-turner… lately i’ve been having a hard time staying asleep because I keep waking up to change my position and get comfortable. I think I could seriously use those shots.
I am enjoying a cup of Sleepytime Extra tea right now. It is tea of choice at bedtime for me every night.
I’m a thinker
What on earth is seven hours of interrupted sleep .. Would love that experience! I toss & turn .. Or Kay there with my eyes wide open until I get exasperated and get up 🙁 .. I drink sleepy time and tension tamer tea but they don’t help with sleeping .. Would love to try this stuff in the bottle I don’t care what it tastes like if it helped in getting some sleep I’m in!
Your daughter! Adorablee!!!! I wonder what the cashier was thinking, hah.
I always feel a little odd about drinking my supplements (ugh. taste?) but I decided to try Relora in pill form after reading your post because I randomly do that thing where I freak out and hyperventillate for no reason (or because I’m a grad student. Take your pick.) and your post mentioned something about stress relief.
Anyways, it’s been 2 nights of taking the supp, and I’ve somehow managed to sleep without waking up both nights? I usually wake up every few hours because I hear weird sounds* or because I have to pee**. This may be placebo effect, and it’s too early to tell what it’s doing to my anxiety, but I guess this means I’m gonna take the rest of the bottle to see what’s up!
*I have a cat. Cats are nocturnal. I’m a light sleeper. Ugh.
**I hope this doesn’t mean that I’m ignoring pee signals. Wouldn’t be good to pee my pants. Though my husband would probably laugh.
I, too, am a Thinker.
I am a Tossin’ Turnin-Thinker. Every time I roll, a new dream starts. I am one of those people who have crazy, realistic dreams, so it’s like I’m awake all the time.
I have always loved Sleepytime, it helps me go right to sleep. I rarely have sleep problems, I work all day with horses, vets and kids. But it is a great relaxer after a full day of hard work.
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I don’t agree:
http://www.chowhound.com/post/herbal-tea-kosher-world-862078