Daisy, JD (Just Daisy)

Greek Dip!

Daisy — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:05:46 +0000

I’ve never been shy about my love for Greek yogurt as a breakfast food (with lemon curd!) so when I was asked to try out Marzetti Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip I said yes- after all I make my own veggie dip with Greek yogurt, so why not skip straight to the good stuff?

And good stuff it was! I bought Cucumber Dill and the Ranch flavors for a get together my husband was having when I wasn’t home. I left him with assorted “dippers” (chopped veggies & lots of crackers) and showed him where I’d stashed the containers in the fridge. The full report from the men-folk was that it was delicious – they had no idea it was made with Greek Yogurt instead of a different dairy base, and I was sad that there was so little left for me to try when I got home. So..I went out and got some more dip so I could have some all to myself. I was however impressed that a bunch of sailors drinking bourbon totally demolished veggies and greek yogurt dip though- which is a testament to how good they all thought it was.

I work from home 2 days a week and I’m always looking for an afternoon snack that doesn’t kill me calorie wise but tastes good (i.e. please, no rice cakes). The dip is creamy and the flavors are from real ingredients not “dill flavoring” or something equally suspect – the ranch flavor is filled with rosemary, thyme, basil and marjoram – all tasty. I liked it best with sliced cucumbers, but B said the sliced bell pepper strips were a hit during his party. This dip will definitely be back for our next get together and whenever I’m shopping for a good afternoon snack. At only 60 calories a serving (for the ranch) it gives hummus a run for its money in the “healthy dipping snack” category. I also loved how thick it was, which meant you got a lot of flavor in every bite. I can’t wait to try out some of the new flavors- salsa cilantro anyone? I think this would make an awesome addition to our next taco party or fiesta night…even if it is just the two of us!

I give the dip an A+ for using great, real ingredients and coming up with both the usual flavor suspects- ranch, cucumber and dill- but also branching outside the box for some really unique and tasty flavor profiles. The thickness of the dip made it seem homemade (in a good way) and I liked how you could actually SEE the ingredients that were mixed in.

I was one of the bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company and Clever Girls Collective to host a Marzetti Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip review. They provided me with product to test myself and compensation for my time. However, my opinions are entirely my own. I am not paid to publish positive comments.

The One {Sponsored}

Daisy — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:00:22 +0000

We all have that photo – the one that makes us smile whenever we see it. It isn’t necessarily perfect, smiles can be crooked and the focus can be just a little bit off…but every time you see it, it brings back a flurry of emotions, of smiles and smells.

Two days after my wedding it was raining in Napa Valley but my husband and I, giddy with excitement- MR AND MRS- headed out to a winery bright and early anyway. I have a silly smirk on my face, the pure joy of our newlywed status mingling with feeling a wee bit naughty about drinking wine at such an early hour when I was well out of college, knowing I was damp from running in the rain amid the grape vines and yet…so happy.

It isn’t award winning photography but with our brand new point and shoot camera – purchased in Napa Valley when we realized we’d left ours at home- it brings the smell of grapevines and rain, of red wine and pure happiness rushing back whenever I glance at it. I remember my husband almost toppling off his barstool (not from drinking, I promise) trying to snap it, and the winery asking if we’d like another taste, since it was our honeymoon. I remember being so blissfully happy even though my pants were damp and I was jet lagged beyond belief. With one image, it all comes back, as though it was yesterday.

Of course, like many people in today’s high-tech world, I glance at the photo on my laptop, on my screen saver and when I’m scrolling through the photo gallery on my iPhone. It is high time I printed a few of these photos (and maybe put together a wedding album….) and luckily for me (and for all your photos that are still sitting on a hard drive….please say you have some too…) Kodak is making it easy to score hard copies of your favorite photos:

All you have to do is “Like” the KODAK Facebook page from October 17-23 and you’ll receive a coupon for 20 free prints at a local KODAK Picture Kiosk. To find one near you, click HERE. National retailers include Target and CVS/Pharmacy. (Oh hey, maybe I could print out a few Christmas card contenders while I’m at at….) Better yet, if your favorite photo happens to be on Facebook you can access and print images from your friend’s Facebook albums (in compliance with all the privacy rules) as well as your own directly from the KODAK picture kiosk. Pretty nifty, eh? If you are social media savvy (and who isn’t?) you can follow KODAK on Twitter and follow along with the hashtag #KodakPrintsFacebook

You can also win a Kodak prize package by submitting photos to My Parents Were Awesome Facebook Page or Tumblr throughout Free Prints Week.

I have partnered with KODAK to help promote KODAK Free Print Week. I have been compensated for my time, which includes writing about this post. However my opinions have been and always will be entirely my own and I am not paid to publish positive comments.

Breakfast of Champions {Sponsored}

Daisy — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:37:40 +0000

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.

I was recently given the opportunity to sample a new Greek yogurt out on the market by Dannon. Not one to turn down a free ~~meal~~ snack I said yes. I have tried every other Greek style yogurt out there and I figured should add the newest one to my repertoire.

I bought vanilla flavored because it makes a perfect base for my favorite breakfast, yogurt and fruit. I thought the yogurt was smooth and creamy, although not as thick as other brands – but still considerably thicker than traditional American style yogurt. (Greek yogurt is strained a few extra times to remove more whey, the clear liquid that is produced in the yogurt making process). Greek yogurt & fruit is my go-to breakfast choice because it contains a high amount of protein which helps keep me satisfied long after my bowl runs out (typically twice as much as American style yogurt). With 0% fat and only 120 calories it is a sweet “splurge” that I don’t mind making.

Yum. The vanilla flavor was just right, not overly sweet but still detectable, and it didn’t taste fake – it was the perfect base to my fruit. Dannon Oikos 0% cups have anywhere from 80 calories to 130 calories, depending on the flavor you choose. Next time I’m going to drizzle honey from the farmer’s market into a cup of plain yogurt – delicious.

And did I mention that plain unsweetened Greek yogurt in small quantities is Rhett Butler’s favorite (vet recommended) treat? He gave Dannon Oikos two paws up:

In fact, he’d like some more.

* * *

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

A Few of My Favorite…Blogs

Daisy — Wed, 25 May 2011 11:00:43 +0000

Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous!

The truth of the matter is…I read a lot of blogs. And while I enjoy all the blogs I read- obviously- there are always some truly fabulous writers and story tellers that stand out to me. So I’m here to tell you about five of the most fabulous places on the internet, all for different (awesome) reasons. So without further adiu…..

1. Hyperbole & Half….I know, I know cliche perhaps. I’m pretty sure millions of people read Allie, but OH MY GOODNESS. I find myself snorting every time I read her posts because I’m laughing so hard. Also, I’m pretty sure Simple Dog is related to my dog, so that helps.

2. Young House Love…another gimme! But the truth is this couple (and their super cute daughter Clara) make me feel like I can do anything when it comes to my house. They also make me wish I had some outdoor space because, well, I’d like to landscape something too. But I keep going back to see their latest renovation or project and I always leave a little bit more inspired.

3. The Namby Pamby…true, TNP is a friend of mine. Ok fine, he is the third wheel to me and B and we have way too much fun hanging out. Sometimes TNP makes me wish I’d stayed in litigation, if only for the amazing phone calls that happen on a fairly regular basis (my favorite is from people who want to sue the police after being shot while fleeing the scene of the crime) but he also reminds me that I’m very, very happy in corporate America. However, in the realm of his blog it is pretty much litigation for the win.

4. Moosh In Indy….Casey is also someone I consider a friend, and her blog is no exception to the rule that all of my blogging friends have fabulous blogs. Casey’s writing style – about being a Mom in Indiana with two adorable little girls- just keeps me checking in to see what she is talking about these days. She isn’t all-Mom all the time, but when she is your heart just melts. And when she isn’t? She probably has you crying or thinking pretty deeply about life.

5. The Fitnessista- Gina’s girly girl approach to fitness and nutrition might be sugary for some, but for me it just makes a sometimes difficult topic fun. She reminds me all the time to cook outside my comfort zone and is constantly introducing me to new ingredients in the kitchen. Her life as the wife of a military pilot is also a slice of my childhood as she blogs about her husbands deployments and squadron shenanigans.

Don’t forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

Slim-Fast Gift Package!

Daisy — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:59:55 +0000

This is a sponsored review from BlogHer and Slim·Fast.

This week I recieved a stunning, elegant wedding invitation in the mail. One of my best friends and college roommates is tying the knot in April, an event that will be nothing short of spectacular. Two words ya’ll: Ritz Carlton. Or if you prefer: destination wedding.

The best part is, all of my close friends from college will be there.

The worst part is, all of my close friends from college will be there.

They haven’t seen me since my wedding, which for me was the prettiest day of my life. I’d prefer not to tarnish that image by looking like the heavier, schlumpier version of me that I’ve slowly turned into. Newlywed cooking – homemade biscuits, dessert here and there, an extra glass of wine. It has all added up.

Lucikly for me I have time and a plan. My gym and I have become reacquainted, even if I did have to buy a new lock for my locker becuase I forgot the combo to the old one. And, true, my gym shoes did yell out “STRANGER STRANGER” when I reached for them, but I’m sure that after a few weeks we will be old friends again. I’ve been stocking the produce drawer with lots of veggies with vibrant colors and I’m itching to put my deposit down on a Community Sustained Agriculture (CSA) program that will begin a weekly organic fruit & veggie drop at my door. I’m packing healthy snacks in my briefcase and I’m remembering to take my vitamins and eat breakfast every day, no matter how painful that 5 a.m. alarm clock is. After all this dress has to look great, and that is motivation enough:

Sometimes though you need a little help, and Slim-Fast has a great 3-2-1 plan that lets you plan out your days and snack without guilt- they even have some nifty smartphone and smartdevice applications to help you track your noshes, your water consumption & your work outs (Visit the Official site). Slim-Fast has flexibile eating plans so you can have the help of structure with the variety you need to make it work with your life. Even more exciting, Slim-Fast & BlogHer are giving away a gift pack (valued at $100) with all sorts of Slim-Fast goodies. Tell me what your favorite part of a wedding is- for me I love the dancing and the cake - and leave a comment below to enter to win.

I can’t wait to hop aboard that plane in April knowing I will look and feel my best – and that when the afterparty starts (2 am!) I’ll have the energy to keep on dancing with my husband, just like I did at my wedding.

Rules Shmules:

No duplicate comments.

The giveaway runs from 3/28 to 4/20

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry

methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment

on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on

this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about

an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be

selected.

The BlogHer round up page: Visit the Promotions & Prizes section

The official rules: Visit the Official Rules

So Fresh & So Clean

Daisy — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:03:28 +0000

Thanks to the makers of Pine-Sol® for sponsoring my writing. Share your “scent story” here for the chance to win a trip to a Scentsational Destination sponsored by Pine-Sol®. One grand prize winner will receive a choice of four amazing trips. To learn more about the Scent Away Sweeptakes, visit here.

So, everyone knows that I’m a liiiitttttle bit OCD about my house. I scrub baseboards on a weekly basis, (they get dusty) I use my vaccum to clean the lint trap in the dryer (every little speck!) and I’ve been known to bust out cotton swabs to get into nooks and crannies. I just don’t like dirt or mess (I’m working on the clutter that currently resides in a few of our closets and drawers) but today I’m here to generously loan out some of my favorite tips of the trade on how to get your house sparkling without spending a million hours doing it….

Toss a fizzing antacid tablet the toilet bowl for a quick bathroom clean up- drop it in and let it fizz while you wipe down counter tops or mirrors. Flush and the bowl is sparkling clean and smells fresh. Perfect for those “Oh man, so and so is going to be here in five minutes and I wasn’t expecting company” moments.

4 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp vanilla, 1/2 cup of water and 1 tsp of cinnamon in a small pan on the stove- turn on low and let it simmer. It will get any cooking (onions and garlic anyone?) or otherwise musty odors out of the house and make it smell like you’ve been baking all day- no one needs to know the truth.

If you feel like dishwasher smells odd or isn’t getting things just as sparkly as you would like, try adding 2 tbsp of vinegar to your next three wash cycles. It will help rinse out any soap residue and helps your glasses dry without spots. It also works in the washing machine – if you think your clothes look a little dingy, try running a hot cycle or two with white vinegar. Voila!

Dryer sheets are a miracle worker- a few tucked in sock drawers, linen cupboards or coat closets keep bugs away and keep items smelling freshly washed instead of stored away.

Lemon, lime or orange peels dropped down the garbage disposal help clean the blades and release that fresh citrus scent into your kitchen. I always save them as I cook and then drop them down at the end of the day so my kitchen smells fresh the next morning.

With two adults and a dog who sheds, these little tricks keep me from losing my mind when I’m trying to keep the house looking and smelling fresh – it doesn’t take much to make me smile when I walk in the door after a long day at work and these are my favorite ways to ensure that the first breath when I walk in helps me forget the city smog and mess outside and focus on the good stuff on the inside

Don’t forget to enter Pine-Sol®’s Scent Away Sweepstakes for the chance to win a trip to a Scentsational Destination. I was selected for this Pine-Sol® sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

All Is Merry & Bright

Daisy — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:09:03 +0000

Much to my dismay, no matter how many times I open and close my calendar really quickly, it is still November. Not even November 1, no we hurtled right past that and it is already the 3rd. The audacity. According to my calculations this means that I’m going to blink a few times and suddenly I’ll be brining a turkey and making a lot of pie, and then I’ll sneeze once or twice and my Christmas tree will be up, the holiday cards will start coming in and I’ll be frantically wrapping gifts on December 24th. (Dear Dad: I’m not coming home this year, so you need to find a nice neighbor kid and pay them to wrap Mom’s presents. You are welcome. Mom keeps the wrapping paper in downstairs living room, FYI.) Which means that now, before the blinking and sneezing (oh my!) I need to finalize my Christmas cards. Luckily for me, I’d already settled on a card from Shutterfly when they offered me some cards in exchange for a quick rundown on their fantastic card selection. (Dear FTC and concerned readers: this would mean that I’m reviewing something, in exchange for some cards so if this isn’t your thing, you can stop reading now.)

Last year we didn’t send Christmas cards because I was still churning out thank you notes from our wedding & it seemed rude to mail a batch of Christmas cards before I’d finished thanking our family & friends for their kind generosity. This year I’m really looking forward to sending cards, even though it led to an epic showdown between myself an B, as he wants to send regular (plain, boring) cards with just our signature inside, and I come from a family that at least sends a photo, if not perhaps maybe a small little paragraph with updates on where everyone is living (we move a lot!) and any new additions to the family. B and I have compromised on a photo card (marriage, FTW) and I then spent the next three days calling B into our office and asking him “what about this one?” while he shrugged, noncommittally. I gravitate towards single photo cards, on thick paper with a simple message and Christmas design, but if New Year’s cards or other holiday’s are more your style, Shutterfly has you covered. A few of my favorites this year:

This card is just begging for a gorgeous black and white photo and I love its simple message:

I have always loved square cards, even if they do cost a little more to send:

I love the message on this one, it encompasses what the holidays are about for me:

This one caught my eye over and over:

But, ultimately at the end of the day, I think we are going to send this card out, complete with a photo yet to be taken of our little family somewhere in Chicago!

So tell me…do you send out holiday cards? Do you send photos? Letters? Long winded poems that you’ve written from the point of view of your two year old? Or maybe you are like a family friend of ours who sends us pages upon pages declaring their love for their spouse, child, life, flowers, house, car and everything in between. When that card comes it requires a library chair and a highlighter and sticky tabs to properly digest and analyze. Whew.

Lucky Number 10

Daisy — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:00:23 +0000

Random.Org gave me number 10

Congrats Amie:

Spanx is freaking amazing. My favorite use for it is under this one emerald green dress I have – it has an empire waist, and then is really billowy and flowy from the empire down. As we all know, empire waists tend to exaggerate any tiny hint of a gut and result in accusations of pregnancy – and since I tend to wear this dress to weddings where I tend to have a glass of wine (or two?) in my hand, it’s better to avoid such accusations. And the flowy material also shows off any and all pantylines. Spanx fixes BOTH problems in one fell swoop- no lines, no gut, perfection.

Thanks everyone for entering…more give aways to come!!!

Show Me Your ASSETS!

Daisy — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:00:20 +0000

The first time I ever wore a Spanx product was on my wedding day. Cliche perhaps, but they made the perfect slip to wear under my dress that stayed in place, allowed me to move comfortably and let me eat more than two bites without feeling like my wedding dress wasn’t looking so hot any more. So when the Spanx people were at BlogHer showing off their new line, ASSETS, & letting everyone take pair of these home with them I was more than happy to try them out. All I can say is: they didn’t disappoint. Now I’m just figuring out what I should get next- the fact that they make leggings is making me consider taking a foray into the land of tunics that I’d otherwise been holding off on (read: my bum is bigger than I would really like it to be…) If you would like you can follow them on Twitter: @SPANXInc!

The best part is of all this is that the fun people at Spanx want you to know about their new line ASSETS (being sold at Target & Loft, among other local retailers) so they put together a prize package for one lucky Daisy reader consisting of:

Fabulous Firming Cami

Unbelievable Underwear Super Control (For dresses & skirts!)

Fabulous Footless Tights (Perfect for under pants!)

Rules: Enter now through Tuesday, August 31, 10:00 pm CST.

For one entry:

Tell us about why you like Spanx or ASSETS products in the comments (or why you’d like to try them!)

For another (second) entry:

Tell us what your favorite ASSETS or Spanx item is or the one you’d like to pick up soon (you can peruse their offerings here).

Winner will be chosen Wednesday, September 1 by Random Generator.

DISCLAIMER: I recieved one free pair of Unbelieveable Underwear Super Control skivvies & nothing else for this post. The prize is generously provided by the makers of Spanx/Assets. This post contains my real, true feelings regarding Spanx products, for those wondering.

Lucky Number Seven

Daisy — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:02:13 +0000

Thank you to everyone who entered- Random.Org selected number seven which was a comment from j’lynn’s world!

Congratulations! I hope you use it for something fun.

Another review & giveaway coming soon…..