I’m Geeky Over Greek

August 29, 2011 By 10 Comments

I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour conducted by Clever Girls on behalf of Dannon. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program but my opinions are my own.

For more information and recipe ideas, visit www.oikosyogurt.com or www.Facebook.com/oikos. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

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In our house, we have a favorite breakfast and snack food. Well, Henry and I do. (Jason isn’t too sure about it)

Crunchy yogurt.

Every morning for breakfast, I indulge in a bowl full of deliciousness — a combination of vanilla yogurt and some sort of granola or similar cereal product. (Unfortunately, it’s not Fruity Pebbles. I figure that negates the goodness of the yogurt.)

I have loved yogurt for as long as I can remember. The yogurt is my main source of protein, as I don’t eat a whole lot of meat. No, I’m not a vegetarian, but I could become one easily.

I used to buy just regular ole vanilla yogurt. Normally the lower fat kind, just because I eat so much of it.

And then? Then there was GREEK YOGURT. And my world changed! I’ve purchased a few different types and then heard that Dannon/Stonyfield* had Greek Yogurt and thought, “hmm, I’ll try that one since I like Dannon already.”

I was provided a few cups of Dannon Oikos for the purposes of this post and I have to say, once I had my first bite of Dannon Oikos, I was changed forever. The differences between the “other” Greek yogurt I’d been eating and this were huge.

  • Dannon® Oikos® is created through an authentic Greek straining process which gives it a rich and creamy-thick texture.
  • It still contains active yogurt cultures, which helps promote a healthy digestive tract.
  • Dannon® Oikos® Plain and Fruit on the Bottom contains 0% fat, while the Dannon® Oikos® traditional blended varieties contains only about 3% fat. Both are an excellent source of protein, twice that of most regular lowfat yogurts.
  • Stonyfield Organic Oikos provides the same delicious flavor and texture of Greek Yogurt, only in Organic form.

So now I’m officially a convert to Greek yogurt and since Dannon Oikos and Stonyfield Organic Oikos provide such wonderful flavors like strawberry or blueberry fruit on the bottom, super fruits and honey fig (OMG MY FAVORITE), I can’t imagine going back to only vanilla (or any other brand).

The vanilla will always be my go-to for our crunchy yogurt. But I don’t think I’ll ever again buy “regular” yogurt because I’m all geeked out over Greek now. The thickness and extra protein makes it a very filling snack or breakfast, and in a pinch when the husband is traveling, it’s a great supper, too!

See how geeky I am over Greek yogurt?

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I have partnered with Dannon to help promote the Dannon Oikos Greek Yogurt Series. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program, which includes writing about the promotion and product. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

*Oikos is a registered trademark of Stonyfield Farm., Inc. used under license by the Dannon Company, Inc.

 

 

Filed Under: Food, Sponsored Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Shiny Happy People (on Canvas)

June 15, 2011 By 5 Comments

Ever since we returned from our trip to New York back in the Spring and I loaded the pictures onto my computer, I’ve been dying to have this photo enlarged and put on canvas or a metal of some sort. I couldn’t make up my mind but knew it would be done.

And then, like magic, I was contacted by Megan at Easy Canvas Prints about a review possibility for a canvas of a photo of my choice. And in a 16×20 size.

Canvas Prints

Needless to say, I jumped because it was obviously a perfect fit for me. I’d been pondering getting a canvas of this photo done and VOILA! here’s my chance.

Ordering on the site was super easy. Simply upload your photo, choose your wrap thickness, move it around to fit in the canvas how you want it, choose the border, opt for retouching, preview and order.

Then wait for your package to arrive.

It arrived in a HUGE box. I was secretly hoping they changed it from a 16×20 to like a 30×40 but once I opened it, I realized it was just safely packed.

To say my eyes welled up with tears when I saw this, would be an understatement. Look at that face. And look at the hands… they WRAP around the edge so it looks like he’s holding the picture! Oh, I die!

Unfortunately, we’re still in our cruddy apartment and I didn’t have anywhere fabulous to put it, so I hung it here to show you how gorgeous. The lighting is funky but I have to tell you, his face on the print actually lights up the room!

Once we move, it will be residing on the brick fireplace and will look fantastic!

I turned off the light for another picture. You can really see how bright his face is and how it lights up the area. Of course (toot my own horn) the photo was amazing to begin with, but this really pulled out the detail and beauty of it. It’s so crisp yet it looks like it’s been painted (it has not). It just leaves me kinda speechless.

I am so thrilled that Easy Canvas Prints asked me to review a product for them. I highly recommend them for your canvas needs. The service was impeccable, delivery was VERY timely and the quality is just fabulous.

You can find them on their site or on Facebook.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Easy Canvas Prints for providing me with the 16×20 canvas print. I received it in exchange for this review and an ad space, though all thoughts and opinions are my own and they didn’t tell me what to say. They also have that cute little button over with my advertisers!

 

Filed Under: Henry, Sponsors, Thoughts Tagged With: , ,

Woo Girl, You Better Hold Your Haunches! – Meet The Sponsor

June 6, 2011 By 7 Comments

Oh, people… have I got just the thing that your butt needs. Well, I don’t have it, but my girls over at Hold Your Haunches do.

Hold Your Haunches

A while back, a friend posted on Facebook about these amazing pants that would make your butt look fabulous AND you could wear them outside the house. Well, I had to know more about this company! Lucky for me, we’re from the same area in Middle Georgia, have lots of friends in common and ooh, my Daddy has sold them some jewelry. So I poked around and Erin and I chatted and decided that presenting you, my awesome readers, with their product was the thing to do!

Now, I’m sure you all have fine looking back ends but really, who wouldn’t like for a little extra support back there? I know I would, but then again, I don’t have a fine looking back end. *sigh*

I posed a few questions for Erin and Jenny at Hold Your Haunches. They’re the Head Haunchos and the ones to bow down to when you see how amazing you look in their pants!

These look like the yoga pants I bought at Target that I wear my Spanx under (I don’t do yoga OR wear Spanx, fwiw). What makes them so stinkin’ different?

Well, these are NOT the yoga pants that you bought at Target that you put your Spanx underneath for several reasons.
  • Your Target yoga pants, while lovely we are sure, have a high cotton content therefore losing their color and shape as you wash them-unlike HYH.
  • Spanx are essentially the control top of a control top hose. That level of support may be enough  for 20 year old haunches, or the haunches of a 40 year old professional trainer on The Biggest Loser. Our extensive research (much of it visual) led us to putting medically graded compression in our pants. The people behind us silently thank us every day.
  • Why wouldn’t you buy a high performance article of clothing as opposed to being the girl hiding in the corner putting her Spanx underneath her leggings/yoga pants? BTW, we have both been that girl before.

Here’s a before and after from their site:

from holdyourhaunches.com

I’m a total fashionista (ha) and only buy stuff that celebrities and awesome people buy. I’m sure y’all don’t sell to those people, though, since you’re from Macon, GA. (I throw this in snarkily because when my husband was running a million dollar PR agency out of Macon, nobody took them seriously. Jerks)

You are correct that Rachel Zoe has not come-a-calling at our plant behind the Little League Baseball complex in Macon, but once we get HYH’s on the right rear end, she WILL come and so will her copycats and proteges. We CAN brag that Tracey Jackson (writer: Confessions of a Shopaholic) is one of our biggest fans. She found us on Twitter at @HeadHaunchos!

What if I said I’m already skinny (again, ha) and so I don’t really need these?

To quote Jenny, “Your ass doesn’t have to be fat to be jiggly.”

Well said, Jenny. Well said.

What made you girls decide to do this? I mean, don’t y’all stay busy enough with tennis and book club and school pick-up and stuff?

The dream started when one of us (*cough cough* Erin) could barely make it through an exercise class for worrying about her jiggly behind. Upon discussing  the concern with her close (and skinnier) friend Jenny, it was discovered that she, too, had experienced similar distress. When the leggings craze enveloped the nation, both of us were left feeling like 2 fashion lovers forever sidelined by childbirth, reality tv and margaritas. Once we asked our friends and other women about this, we found we were truly not alone. And this was from women of all shapes and sizes.
Plus, we may be half nuts.

I know my butt has a right to look tight, but I also have a right to bare arms. Do you have plans to figure out how to tame arm flab or any other flab in the near future? Or just sticking to butts? What are the Head Haunchos thinking are the exciting next steps?

Well, we currently offer Pants, capri-length leggings and regular length leggings. All are made with Supplex® fabrics with medical grade compression fabric sewn in. This makes them able to increase circulation, help prevent varicose and spider veins, improve posture and reduce swelling.

The Haunchos are up for continuing to design items that make everything on us look high and tight. Send suggestions — we like free creative consultation.

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So the Head Haunchos sent me a pair of HYH Pants to review and holy moly, girls… these are amazing!

The pants are very long and upon getting them I realized I needed to have them hemmed. They are double layer so only the outside layer was long. The lady had to take FOUR inches off! But that’s ok. Now they fit.

The bottom layer is the compression layer. It’s snug. But uh, it’s what keeps you tight.

The outer layer is the Supplex® layer and looks to be just like a regular yoga-type pant.

The best part? Remember when you said you would NEVER wear those maternity pants that came way up over your belly? But when you did you thought you’d surely won the lottery because it held everything up? Yeah, that. These pants have about a 4″ extension from the top to control (bells ringing) your muffin top! The angels sang Hallelujah when I put mine on.

The worst part? If you don’t know, I live in Georgia. I mean, Hell. And these pants have two layers of fabric. Erin said they have not found the fix for hot as hell temperatures yet so that’s just a warning. I do plan to wear these this summer, but with very light tops and when I will be inside more than out. In the winter, they will be ALL I wear, probably. I haven’t tried the capris but feel like they’re probably a bit cooler, just because they’re not long.

I took one for the team and took pictures (gasp) of my back end to show you the difference. If you want to stop reading now to keep from being permanently scarred, do so. You’ve been warned.

 

Before = Target Yoga Pants, After = HYH

But it gets better. My mom was at my house when I took the pictures and she put her 63 year old haunches in my pants. She and I ARE made differently. She’s thicker above the hips than I am. I hold my weight at and below my hips. But she gave me permission to show you all how amazing they look even on a “senior citizen” butt. (I may have just gotten myself marked off the Christmas List).

My mama’s 63 year old booty, supported by HYH

So there you have it. Hold Your Haunches!

There are many ways to find them. Click on the ad over in the sidebar >>> , follow them on Twitter, Like them on Facebook or just go order yourself a pair! Tell your friends. Tell your family.

They’ll change how people see you, from behind. And they’ll probably thank you for it!

Filed Under: Sponsors Tagged With: , , ,

Meet The Sponsors: TSMoore Photography Edition

November 8, 2010 By 4 Comments

Aah… My first sponsor! I feel so hip and cool. Tracy Moore was the first to respond to my call for sponsors and I am so excited to introduce you all to her! Enjoy the interview and photos!

Hey Tracy! I’m so glad you’re here to answer a few questions for my readers and myself. How did you get started and how long have you been doing this fabulous photography? I picked up my first camera after the birth of my daughter….17 yrs ago. I wanted to record every part of her life. But soon after I started snapping off pictures, I realized how fascinated I was by the whole process. Not just the process of film and how a picture is created, but the process of freezing a moment in time. It was that process and the ability to capture her essence that I became so addicted to. I was blessed with three wonderful children and they all love to have their picture taken! Shortly after my second child was born we moved back to my hometown of Valdosta, Georgia. It was there that I actually started working on my photography. After taking several rolls of film to be developed, I was asked to join a local photographer in shooting weddings. It was a great learning experience. When it came time to move to Savannah, it was this mentor that encouraged me to start shooting on my own! But in 2005 we moved here to Warner Robins, Georgia and I had to take a bit of a hiatus from shooting. I had to undergo a couple of surgeries that would have me off of my feet (literally) for 7  months the first time and 3 months the second time. I knew I could not pursue it full time yet. But, I did not quit shooting. I actually did some shoots on crutches! I think my doctor would have died had he seen me! But, while I was off my feet, I decided to go in a different direction with my passion for photography. I decided to teach. I began teaching Beginners and Advanced Digital Photography as well as Photoshop classes at Robins AFB. I actually love teaching and still do several classes throughout the year. WIth so much affordable technology, everyone has a camera and everyone wants to be a photographer. But, most people leave their camera on that “little green square” (the auto button) and never learn how to shoot. I believe in shooting manually and I love unleashing that power for others! I get to ignite the creativity in others and that’s a great feeling. I continued to shoot over the last several years for clients and myself. But, it was not until a few months ago that I decided to go full force with my photography. Living each day doing what you are passionate about is transforming and empowering!


From looking at your photos, you can feel the passion you have for it. What are some of your favorite ages to photograph? My favorite ages to photograph are newborns and teens! Photographing a newborn requires patience, which is why I have my sidekick Leah! She’s my dose of patience. She gets everything all ready for me to shoot! Whether it’s holding that sweet little angel for an hour to make sure she’s asleep or sacrificing her shirt for a diaper, she’s there! Then the magic can begin. A newborn is like clay, you can mold them into most any position. And on the other end of the spectrum is the “teen”. Although I consider myself a portrait photographer, I am a storytelling photographer. By that I mean, I like to set the scene for an image. I like to use every inch of an image to tell the story. Teenagers make that process easy for me.

Do you prefer to shoot indoors or outdoors? I’m definitely a natural light photographer who prefers to be outdoors!


Where will you go to do sessions? How far away from your home base of Warner Robins? Right now I travel all over Georgia and Florida shooting people. I can spend hours riding around looking for new and eclectic places. Warner Robins is not the most photogenic place, but if you look hard enough, there’s always something new out there. Whether it’s an old abandoned house or building or street with a great backdrop, there are always new places to shoot!
Where do you find your inspiration? I can spend hours in the bookstore combing through books, as long as I have coffee. There are so many great artists out there and I never get tired of looking at new work in a book or on the web. But my true inspiration comes from the location that I shoot. For me, I tend to “see” all of my images in my head before I ever press the shutter on my camera. Once I see a place, my mind goes crazy with possibilities.
What if you had a super power? What would you wish it to be? Oh that’s a good question… I’d love the power to see into someone’s soul. Not just their mind, but their soul. To see what they really feel and think with out the pretenses and walls that so many of us put up.

I took the liberty of asking a mutual friend about their experience with Tracy and here’s what Angie E. had to say: Well I have a lot of great things to say about Tracy. Just a few months ago she took family pictures of us while I was pregnant. I had an image in mind of me with the 3 crosses in the background of our church and she captured it perfectly! It was a very emotional picture because we just lost Scott’s mom & dad. She was very patient with me. She also came to my house after Annaleigh was born and took several hours getting her newborn shots. She also has a great assistant, Leah Whatley. I have recommended her to several of my friends. She just made me feel very at ease, like I had known her forever.

Here is Angie’s beautiful Annaleigh…


Take a few minutes and go check out her site and go join her on Facebook. Book a session and get those family photos done before Christmas!

Welcome to the family Tracy!

Filed Under: Sponsors Tagged With: , ,

The Good, The Bad and The …

November 4, 2010 By 9 Comments

This is going to be a Thursday post because tomorrow I am posting my EPIC post with a friend… Get excited!

The Good

  • It’s finally cold! I can’t tell y’all how excited I am that it’s FINALLY getting colder. We’re headed to Athens on Saturday to watch Georgia play (like elementary students) football. I can’t wait to break out the jackets and sweaters and cute clothes!
  • Henry is six! You know, in case y’all didn’t know that already! I’ve only told you 300 times this week!
  • Election Day is OVER! We won’t discuss politics because I don’t do that on here, but I drove to Fort Valley on Tuesday to cast my ballot. It was worth it to me! I got to see the parents and eat at Tapatios. I checked on the house and all is well there. But the best news is that political ads will cease, the calls will cease and maybe people will shut the hell up for a few weeks at least. But probably not.
  • This Blog Post from A Whole Lot of Nothing: We bloggers LOVE your comments. We thrive on them. We know you read and sometimes you comment on Facebook or by email, but we LOVE comments On. The. Blog. If you want to comment here, the button is up at the top by the title of the post! I want to hear from you!
  • My New Sponsor: Check her out! I’ve got a big intro post coming for you all next week. but go look at the precious pictures she takes, especially the baby ones! Click on her cute little button to the right >>>

The Bad

  • My Dad: Just send a few extra prayers for him. He’s had some testing the last few weeks and is waiting for the final verdict, but as some of y’all already know, he had thyroid cancer about 10 years ago, and we are afraid the cancer is back. Waiting for more answers and then I’ll let y’all know what the word is.
  • Hmm…Honestly, I can’t come up with anything else bad this week. That’s awesome!

The *please-cross-your-fingers-for-us*

We may have a buyer for our house. Going to work through some stuff today but it’s looking good. That, I’ll keep you posted on, too!

Filed Under: Thoughts Tagged With: , , , , ,
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