It’s no secret that I’ve had a lot of stress and anxiety in my life lately. In fact, I’ve tried to write about it pretty openly in hopes that, if nothing else, my story might help someone else who may be suffering from something similar.
I decided several weeks ago, despite my anxiety at the time, that I was going to sign up to attend the annual BlogHer conference this year for my very first time. Of course I have been and still am anxious about a lot of it – traveling by myself, leaving my kids for three nights (for the first time ever since Ava was born), being unsure about what to wear (are cute shoes a must?), and meeting so many women for the very first time. But there is a lot I am excited about too like rooming with Annie from PhD in Parenting, as well as the opportunity to learn a lot, have a great time, and meet so many women who I currently only know virtually. (Yes, I’m both super nervous and totally excited about meeting everyone.)
Another thing I thankfully don’t have to stress about is how I’m going to pay for my trip. When I signed up to attend BlogHer I had considered looking for a sponsor or two to help me fund my trip, but then with everything I’ve had going on I never found the time to actively look for one.
Of course, for me the decision to take on a sponsorship means it would have to be from a company I could morally and ethically support. As with the ads I accept on my blog, I need to feel like I can honestly endorse the company without any conflicts of interest.
Luckily for me, fate stepped in and I was contacted by a PR person representing Stonyfield Farm who said they were looking for bloggers to sponsor to BlogHer! You can imagine my excitement that a) a company reached out to me and b) that the company is one I know and love, is organic and cares about the environment!
Stonyfield is a company founded on the belief that business must be part of the solution to our environmental problems. Some of the ways Stonyfield is involved in the environment that I feel are particularly noteworthy are:
- All of their yogurts are organic.
- In 1997, Stonyfield became the first company in the country to offset 100 percent of its CO2 emissions from its facility energy use, and has been carbon neutral since.
- Stonyfield works hard to reduce amount of packaging they use, and use #5 plastic since it’s the most lightweight.
- They’ve also partnered with Preserve, which takes their excess plastic cups, and the one’s their consumers return to them to create toothbrushes and razorblade handles.
- Stonyfield Farm donates 10 percent of its profits to efforts that protect and restore the Earth. Since the program’s inception in 1993, the company has contributed $7 million to environmental efforts around the corner and across the globe.
Stonyfield recently started making Greek yogurt called Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt. I wasn’t familiar with Greek yogurt until recently, but basically its thicker, creamier yogurt with more protein than regular yogurt. One of the really nice things about finding a thicker yogurt when you have a yogurt-loving toddler in the house is that thicker means doesn’t fall off the spoon and make a huge mess the way regular yogurt does. Nice! The kids and I tried it the other day and thought it was delicious (and Julian didn’t turn into a yogurt-covered mess after eating it!).
Oikos is the only organic Greek yogurt among the three leading Greek yogurt brands, and is available in plain, vanilla, honey, blueberry and strawberry flavors.
FREE OIKOS YOGURT! If you’d like a coupon to try a free 5.3 oz. container of Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt, please leave me a comment telling me which flavor you’d like to try. I’ll randomly (using Random.org) draw three names on Friday, May 22. Be sure to include a valid email address so that I can contact you.
Thank you, Stonyfield Farm. :)
**In the interest of covering all of my BlogHer expenses, I am still seeking other sponsorships. If you are interested in discussing a possible sponsorship with me, please send me an email.**
Stumble it!
Stephanie Terrell says:
I’d love to try the strawberry!
May 17th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Gaye says:
I love Greek yogurt! I’d like to try them all, but if I had to pick, I’d probably go with vanilla. :-)
May 17th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
M says:
I’d like the try to honey flavor!
May 17th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
kendra says:
I would love to try the plain!
May 18th, 2009 at 2:40 am
paganista says:
Strawberry is my favorite yogurt flavor…but is this offer valid for Canadians? Either way, I love me some Stonyfield, and the Greek sounds great:)
May 18th, 2009 at 2:49 am
Jumbleberry Jam says:
Congratulations on the sponsorship and trip!! :-) Rock on, Mama!
May 18th, 2009 at 6:28 am
nina says:
I also just love Stonyfield Farms Products…but hands down the Faye Greek Yogurt tastes the best….it is also organic….and as a Greek married to a Greek….Faye Greek Yogurt brings back so many wonderful memories….
May 18th, 2009 at 6:39 am
Lynn from Organicmania.com says:
Hi Amy,
I was so happy to find this post! I knew Stonyfield had invited you because I asked who the other sponsored bloggers would be and was happy to see your name among them but then wondered when I didn’t see a post. so yea! I’m so glad you decided to make the trip and I’m really looking forward to meeting you (and your roomie!)
I also think you are incredibly brave for talking about your struggles with depression. Hats off to you!
Lynn
May 18th, 2009 at 7:13 am
Niecey says:
Greek yogurt is the best ever. I’m so in love with it. Especially with some honey stirred through. I also enjoy it with ginger and vanilla, to dip strawberries in. Mmmm
May 18th, 2009 at 7:16 am
Adventures In Babywearing says:
This is AWESOME! I can’t wait to finally meet you! What a great partnership for you and Stonyfield, too!
Steph
May 18th, 2009 at 7:27 am
Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting says:
Awesome Amy! Stonyfield is an amazing company!!!
May 18th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Shannon says:
Hi!! Sounds like a great company! I’d def. like to try the vanilla to mix in with fresh fruit.
May 18th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Hannah says:
The honey sounds good! I’m so glad that you have a sponsor for your trip- what a blessing!
May 18th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Lisa says:
Congrats!! I wish I was going. Hopefully next year.
Hope you have tons of fun.
May 18th, 2009 at 10:14 am
green LA girl says:
Hey Amy & Lynn — I too am a Stonyfield sponsoree! Looking forward to seeing you both there — Do you know how many sponsorees there are total?
May 18th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Michelle says:
Hi Amy,
Congratulations – I predict that you will return from your trip a new and energized woman! We love Greek Yogurt in our house! My daughter loves the honey flavor the best.
Have fun,
Michelle
May 18th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Courtney from mommie blogs says:
Congrats on your sponsorship Stonyfield Farm is the only yogurt my family eats. And its been that way for a long time. I just recently started eating the greek yogurt. YUMMY!!!
May 18th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Dare from GiveThemRoots says:
Congrats on getting an awesome sponsorship Amy!!!! Hope you have fun at BlogHer’s conference! I would love to go! (I need to get on BlogHer first!!!! grrr)
May 18th, 2009 at 11:10 am
phyllis says:
how cool that they came to you!
i loooove plain greek yogurt (add a little honey and i’m good to go) so i hope i win:-)
i’m still up in the air about going to blogher. things have come up that weekend and even tho i’ve got an email that there’s a waitlist ticket for me, i think i can’t do it. i might come down on friday to see if i can mingle in….
May 18th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Green Me Alison says:
Awesome awesome awesome. I already know that our family is fully in love with their yogurt (so you can leave me out of the contest), but it reminds me that I’ve been wondering how we in CO return yogurt containers to them back East? Maybe if you’ve got a good contact (or they are reading your blog) we can get an answer?
May 18th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Barb says:
Congratulations and how exciting!! I also love the company, and I’m so glad they reached out to you. :) I think one day I’d like to go to BlogHer – it sounds like great fun! I look forward to reading all about your adventures. :D
Never having tried Greek yogurt (I’ve heard it’s different [better ;) ] in Greece), we’d love to try some of the strawberry.
May 18th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Naomi says:
Congratulations on being sponsored by a company you can be proud to represent! I became addicted to Stonyfield when I was pregnant with Roo…
I haven’t found the Oikos locally yet but I’ve been looking for it.
May 18th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Natalie Ryan says:
I’ve been meaning to try Greek yogurt for the kids. I can’t have any, but any way to get more protein into my vegetarian boy is a surefire win with me.
May 18th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
ScrapperMom says:
That’s great! Good job.
I love all the stonyfield products especially the new Greek yogurt. I haven’t tried the honey. Sounds yummy!
May 18th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Donna ~Blessed Nest says:
They are amazing. I won’t enter because they sent us free coupons but wanted to say congratulations!! You deserve it!
May 18th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Liz Jenkins says:
How wonderful to get the sponsorship – fabulous for you – and them!
I would love to try the honey – usually I eat vanilla Greek yoghurt with honey on it – so it’s probably just as yummy with it in it.
Haven’t seen it around here yet but will keep an eye out – Stonyfield is the only brand of yoghurt we eat so I’ll look for the Greek version.
May 18th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Michelle says:
I would like the plain. I like to add other fruits and granola to it.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Blend says:
Amazing, Ami, fantastic site……..
May 19th, 2009 at 4:27 am
tami lewis says:
i’d like the strawberry please :)
May 19th, 2009 at 8:08 am
KiwiLog says:
Great to see you’ll be sponsored by a company with such a high level of awareness and responsibility! Have fun at BlogHer!
May 19th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Shawnee says:
I’d love to try the strawberry :D
May 19th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
suzannah says:
congrats on the sponsorship–what a blessing:)
i’d go with the plain. yum…i love greek yogurt!
May 19th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Whitney says:
I just recently found your blog and I am LOVING it! You’re a very inspirational woman, so thank you! :o) I also struggle with anxiety, so I am right there with you.
As far as the yogurt, I’d love to try the vanilla!
May 19th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Heather says:
I would love to try the honey flavored!
May 20th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Karin says:
I love the organic greek yogurt by Stonyfield. I would love to try the honey flavor as I have not experienced that one yet. :-)
May 20th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Meleah says:
My twins are crazy for vanilla yogurt, of course we always give them the Stonyfield baby yogurt. We would love to try the Vanilla Greek Yogurt.
May 20th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Leslie says:
My son has sort of fallen off the Yogurt train, but I love it and its great frozen too, like a pudding pop. Any flavor, especially strawberry would be great!
Thanks , Leslie
May 26th, 2009 at 7:13 am