Suddenly Salad Review and Giveaway
By Laurie | August 1, 2010
Tired of boring tossed green salads accompanying your family dinners? Are you and your guests over typical cole slaw and potato salad at backyard barbecues? No problem! Betty Crocker comes to the rescue (again) with Suddenly Salad.
Want to win a “Suddenly Delicious” prize pack (pictured below), which includes a sample of the newest variety, Suddenly Salad Greek, a storage container, a serving bowl and an insulated tote? Read on to find out how you can try it for yourself and win your very own prize pack.
Thanks to Betty Crocker, I was able to try the Limited Edition Suddenly Salad Greek. I have to admit it was a lot easier to prepare than I thought it would be. I simply boiled some water to cook the pasta, and mixed the seasoning packet with the cooked pasta and a little bit of oil and cold water. It was quick and easy, and ready to eat.
You can get a little bit more creative with it too by adding extra ingredients to make it all your own. I added extra black olives to mine, and next time I plan to add tomatoes, cubed cheese and meat, and red onions for a delicious antipasto salad. Perfecto! I would also choose to chill it a little longer before serving, but overall I really enjoyed the taste and it was a welcome addition to our turkey burger and green bean dinner.
Suddenly Salad comes in seven varieties, so there’s certainly one that will appeal to you and your family’s taste buds. You can find a Suddenly Salad coupon on their website, good for 50 cents off your next purchase of two. Don’t forget you can customize them to make your own unique creation too:
* Limited Edition Suddenly Salad Greek
* Suddenly Salad Ceasar
* Suddenly Salad Chipotle Ranch
* Suddenly Salad Classic
* Suddenly Salad Creamy Italian
* Suddenly Salad Creamy Parmesean
* Suddenly Salad Ranch and Bacon
Ready to win the Suddenly Delicious prize pack for your chance to try Suddenly Salad for free? Leave a comment with the variety you’d like to try and anything you’d do to make it your own (mandatory). If you would like to earn extra entries:
1) Follow me @laurie_pooh on Twitter and send the following message:
I entered to win a Suddenly Delicious prize pack from @BettyCrocker and @laurie_pooh: http://tinyurl.com/SuddenlySalad
2) Follow my blog using the Google Connect in my sidebar to the right.
3) Subscribe to my blog in a reader.
Giveway is U.S only, please. The winner(s) will be selected randomly from all valid entries on or around August 10. You must leave a comment letting me know your answer to the question above, as well as additional comments letting me know what else you have done to earn extra entries. Please also use your real first name and leave a valid way for me to contact you should you be selected as the winner. You will have 48 hours to respond. Good Luck!
Disclosure: MyBlogSpark and Betty Crocker provided the prize pack so that I may honestly review Suddenly Salad. I was not monetarily compensated for this review or giveaway.
Topics: Giveaways, Nom Nom Nom | 126 Comments »
A Guide for those NOT going to BlogHer
By Laurie | July 30, 2010
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It’s that time. You know, the time when our Twitter and Facebook streams are over-populated with excited women talking about the biggest blogging conference of the year. Yes, BlogHer. |
It all gets to be a little too much when you (ahem, me) aren’t going. I get it. I do. It is exciting! Free stuff is nice. Going to swanky parties and taking photos with celebs is cool. Meeting people you have become friends with and like, love, admire, and stalk online can (sometimes) be fun too. I’m really happy for you. I pinkie swear! You will have a blast and most everyone not going will be totes jealous. I hear there are even sessions too!
You will find plenty of lists or guides that tell you what you should expect or what so-and-so have recommended you do before, during and after or while shopping, packing, attending parties (and being upset about the ones you were not invited to).
Me? Since I’m also such a giver, my guide/list is going to be about what you– others like me who are not going — can do to make your BlogHer week experience more enjoyable. If you’re going, this Guide is probably not for you:
1. Unplug.
Turn off your iPhone, BlackBerry, Droid, or laptop for the weekend. The only thing worse that watching grown women brag about free alcohol, sponsorships, and junk swag is watching other grown women bitch about those that are getting them from afar. If you don’t like it? Take. A. Break. Don’t sit at home and be a Bitter Betty. You will regret it, and everyone will call you a hater. They will be right.
2. Plan a trip to NYC.
New York City is fabulous. Everything you’ve heard is true. What’s not so fabulous? NYC in August. It is hot and humid. You have to walk everywhere unless you take a cab which is expensive as hell. While attending parties and sessions, most attendees will probably spend the majority of their time there inside a hotel or conference room verses out and about exploring the city. No matter what, these women will be dripping in sweat. Some of them will attempt to wear Spanx or Yummie Tummies and high heels. They will want to die. You will be in the comfort of your air conditioned home and can watch as they complain about it while planning your trip to NYC for next April or May. You know, when the weather will be nice.
| 3. Go shopping. Tired of all the talk of new dresses and shoes? Put all the money you saved by not buying an airline ticket, pricey hotel room, and conference ticket to good use. Go treat yourself! Buy a new outfit and even a pair of shoes (or two) — cute ones! Meet Rose and Hellena (right). These are my new lovelies. Coach makes me happy. Very happy. Perhaps slightly happier than going to New York, even if I don’t get to buy ice cream from a Coach Treat Truck. If it’s still around in August and you get a picture with it, I want to live vicariously through you. Tweet me the photo so I can be jealous. |
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4. Wear your new shoes around the house.
Your friends will be walking around NYC in Crocs, flats, or hopefully something else comfortable (if they are smart). That cute new pair of heels you just splurged on? Wear them around and tweet pictures with the #BlogHer10 hashtag. Everyone will oooh and ahhh at your new purchase and will ask if your feet are in pain. You can honestly answer that no, your feet are just fine. They will all be jealous and in awe. Also? Every single pair of shoes I wore in New York were pretty much filthy and ruined. It took a week for me to finally scrub all the street grime off the soles of my feet/shoes. Yours will still be clean and new. Bonus!
5. Have a girl’s night.
Call all your IRL (in real life) friends and besties and go out on the town. See a movie. Surround yourself with people you love and who love you. You can even wear your new outfit or pair of shoes. You’ll be away from your computer, and will no doubt have a great time laughing and hanging out. There’s no need to spend all weekend shut in and feeling sorry for yourself. There Is Life Outside Your Apartment (or house), but you’ve got to open the door! Create your own hashtag. So what if you’re not Martha. I think #laurieblogger has a nice ring to it.
6. Volunteer.
Do something for someone else. You can organize a Tweet-Up that benefits your favorite charity. You will no doubt meet new people who you can network with, and you could even invite other local bloggers who may not be going to the conference either. It’s a win-win because you will be doing a great thing and have the opportunity to make new friends. You can also (shameless self promotion) donate to my 60 mile breast cancer walk if you’re looking for an easy way to give back or support a fellow blogger. I’d be grateful, but I know whatever cause you hold dear would appreciate your effort too.
| 7. Go out to a fancy dinner. Did you know that some NYC restaurants have Sister locations in your city? My friends and I made reservations at Craft Dallas in August. There is also a Grimaldi’s less than 30 minutes from my house. It will be just like I am there. Almost. Do some research and find your own little piece of New York right at home. |
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8. Plan your post BlogHer blog posts.
Everyone and their sister’s mother’s cousin is going to have a post up about BlogHer (with a zillion pictures of everyone else who was there too) the week after they get home. Believe it or not the chatter doesn’t end after the conference does. It’s not that they are trying to make you jealous (okay, maybe they are). Still, there will be people like you (or me) who will be looking for something else to read. Because honestly? The posts will all start to sound the same after the first few. A post about what you did over the weekend, the charity event you planned, how much weight you lost, cute photos of your niece, nephew or dog will be just as interesting to me and the thousands of others who were not in New York. Please give me something else to read. Please? Also, with that said…
9. Try not to complain (too much).
Your friends are excited. Be happy for them. Read their posts, and maybe even comment on them too. It’s hard. I know. They probably met someone famous, or got some cool swag. You’re jealous. I am too. Be supportive. If you did something super-cool-and-fun you wouldn’t want everyone hating on your good time. Suck. It. Up.
10. Buy a ticket to #BlogHer11.
It is a lot more fun to write a guide about actually going to an event than not. At least I think it is. Besides, then you’ll get to annoy make all your friends who aren’t going jealous. It’s the Circle of Life, baby! Let’s just hope it’s not in New York City. In August.
Topics: Daily Ramble | 10 Comments »
Attend my @KitchenAidUSA Cook for the Cure Event
By Laurie | July 15, 2010
I love love love KitchenAid. I have cooked up many a cupcake for the cure in my Artisan Mixer in the past few years to benefit my Race for the Cure and Breast Cancer 3-Day events.
| This year marks the very first 1,000 Cooks for the Cure, a nationwide event initiated by KitchenAid in conjunction with its Cook for the Cure® program benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. Between July 16-18, cooks all over the United States are joining together to make a difference by sharing their culinary talents with friends and family all for a good cause – to help end breast cancer forever. |  |
I have joined them by signing up to host a party, and you can too. It’s easy to sign up on their site, and they also have included a party guide with tips to help you plan the perfect soiree or simple gathering. You can also print donation forms to pass out to your guests.
I was the 35th cook to sign up, and you can make a donation to my party online on the Susan G. Komen Cook for the Cure website. My Cook ID # is 35.
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Among the Cook for the Cure items on KitchenAid’s website (many on sale right now, by the way), is the Pass the Plate serving dish ($24.99). The purpose of this dish is to make one of your favorite recipes, put it on the plate, and pass it to a friend. KitchenAid will donate $5 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® every time a plate is passed and registered. You can also earn one of these plates for free if you register to host a party and raise $50 by September 30. |
I am looking forward to sharing the details of my party with you here next week. As a thank-you for attending my party both online and in person, anyone who makes a donation will be entered to win this KitchenAid Cook for the Cure® Set of 3 Mixing Bowls.
Would you be willing to Pass the Plate? Let me know, and I just might send it in your direction. Also, if you make a donation, please let me know so that I may enter your name in the drawing. Have a great rest of the week and weekend!
Topics: 3 Day, Nom Nom Nom | 1 Comment »
Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Premiere 2010
By Laurie | July 12, 2010
I know I have mentioned several times before that I am a Hallmark whore lover. For as long as I can remember, I have been crying while watching their commercials, enjoying their movies on Sunday nights with my family, and laying in bed dreaming of the day that I would move to Kansas City to write greeting cards. Yes, seriously.
It is rare (if ever) that you will receive a card from me that is not from Hallmark. Except that one time. I hope they will forgive me for that. To be fair, I sent Hallmark New Years cards a few weeks later.
My very first job when I was in high school was also at Hallmark. My parents probably got tired of me dragging them in there to look at stationary, so they figured I would “get it out of my system” if I had to spend 8 hours (or more) up there. AS. IF. The intent of getting the job there was to save money for living expenses when I moved away to college, but errr… a lot of my paycheck went right back into the store.
It was pretty fabulous. I got to spend all day reading cards (while putting them away), gift wrapping presents, and building displays. One of my very favorite weekends was always the Keepsake Ornament Premiere. Each store had a theme, and all the employees dressed up. We’d have a staff party at the store the night before to set up and get ready. It was like a great big slumber party. Christmas in July is so. much. fun.
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This weekend was the 2010 Premiere, and I have to share my find for all my fellow 3-Day walkers and supporters. I am so glad they did another breast cancer ornament (this is the 11th year Hallmark has done one, by the way). This year’s is just as pretty as the 2009 Komen ornament (which was such a great tribute for us walkers), if not more so. Love. it. I had to snag one for myself, but I have plans on getting it for several friends and family members too. It is $14.95, and $2 from the purchase of each goes to Komen.
Also… I happened to win one of the ahem, Twilight Ornaments from the Hallmark blog. SQUEE. I know a certain BFF (name withheld to protect the innocently obsessed) who will have no problem hanging Edward from her tree or anywhere else she deems appropriate. |
So there you have it. I am sure you will have no problem finding something there to hang on your family’s tree. It has been a tradition in my family since forever, and will be for many, many years.
That job never led to writing greeting cards, but that okay. I did go back to work for them as a second job when I was out of college. Not because I needed the money, but because I loved it that much. Yes, seriously.
Topics: 3 Day, Daily Ramble | No Comments »
Yoplait Go-Gurt Review/Giveaway & 30 free coupons
By Laurie | July 11, 2010
True story: I am not a fan of yogurt. I’ve said it quite a few times right here on this blog. That’s probably because I have done a lot of diets and have gone through my share of yogurt containers. Usually if I have something too often, I get burnt out.
I’m always willing to give new products a try though, so MyBlogSpark sent me a coupon for a complementary package of new Simply… Go-Gurt and a “Simplify Your Life” prize pack that includes a pocket Etch a Sketch, weekly planner and a seat back organizer. You can win the same prize pack, so read on.
I’ve seen Go-Gurt in the yogurt section before, but avoided it because I thought *I* might look a little foolish eating yogurt out of a tube at work. It’s okay for your kid’s school lunches or snacks at home, but would any self-respecting adult slurp (or squeeze) their yogurt out of a tube with Spongebob Squarepants? A few months ago, I’d say no way. Now? Definitely.
Simply… Go-Gurt is made from simple ingredients and contains no high fructose corn syrup or artificial colors or flavors. Plus each convenient portable yogurt tube contains a good source of calcium and vitamin D. It is available in two flavors, Strawberry and Mixed Berry. They taste delicious. I prefer these to the regular version because they are the equivalent to the Light Yoplait which have less calories. Also? No cartoon characters.
I started carrying these everywhere. They make a perfect snack on the go. I even ate one while on break when I was attending Jury Duty. I just throw them in my purse in the morning and go. I have also thrown them in the freezer the night before and packed them in our lunches. They thaw and are ready to eat by lunchtime. You will love them, and your kids will too. I am completely hooked.
Want to give them a try? Want to win the prize pack pictured above? Simply (get it?) leave a comment with your favorite snacking tip (mandatory). If you would like to earn extra entries:
1) Follow me @laurie_pooh on Twitter and send the following message:
I entered to win a Simplify your Life prize pack from @YoplaitYogurt and @laurie_pooh: http://tinyurl.com/SimplyGoGurt
2) Follow my blog using the Google Connect in my sidebar to the right.
3) Subscribe to my blog in a reader.
Also, 30 readers who click on the on the “Free Yogurt” tab on the widget below will receive a coupon for a free package of Simply…Go-Gurt! After the 30 coupons are claimed, the micro site will include a link to a $1.10 off coupon so everyone who visits can share in the savings.
Giveway is U.S only, please. The winner(s) will be selected randomly from all valid entries on or around July 14. You must leave a comment letting me know your answer to the question above, as well as additional comments letting me know what else you have done to earn extra entries. Please also use your real first name and leave a valid way for me to contact you should you be selected as the winner. You will have 48 hours to respond. Good Luck!
Disclosure: MyBlogSpark provided the prize pack and a free product coupon so that I may honestly review Simply… Go-Gurt. I was not monetarily compensated for this review or giveaway.
Topics: Diet, Giveaways, Nom Nom Nom | 57 Comments »
