The Power of the Peanut: Science and Snacking

It's easy to laugh at all of the self-help gurus out there with their incandescent smiles and frighteningly perfect hair. But the sheer number of them suggests we are all looking for… something. Something greater than ourselves. Something great within ourselves. Something to sink our teeth into. Something comforting and nourishing.

Like maybe a PB&J?

Planters is buying into our spiritual hunger with their Power of the Peanut campaign. The iconic Mr. Peanut (voiced by the indomitable Bill Hader) delivers his nuggets of wisdom from the platform of a motivational speaker who encourages the audience to harness the power of the peanut as a means by which to ascend the ladder to snacking success.

Using a spokespeanut as an inspirational life coach figure is inspirational in itself! Mr. Peanut has always been classy and successful. You can tell the latter by the fact that he wears an ascot. Only successful folks do that. 

We've all known Mr. Peanut forever. He's never, ever let his diminutive stature get in his way. Or his poor eyesight, for that matter. Heck, he very well might bring the monocle back into fashion. With his top hat and waistcoat, he could go Downton Abbey or Portlandia hipster. Obviously, peanuts are very versatile… you could make Thai food with them or an Ethiopian stew. Maybe even drop some boiled ones in a bottle of Coke, although that seems pretty sketchy to me.

Seriously, the versatility and endurance of peanuts is remarkable. George Washington Carver invented more than 300 uses for the humble little legume almost a century ago and people are still coming up with ways to use them. Some folks say they're the answer to world hunger. I say they're delicious and that's enough for me right now.

"Lots of guys talk success… but do they actually get up in you with six essential vitamins?"


Everyone is perfectly imperfect, right? Even the humblest of peanuts.

What's your power that needs harnessing?

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a gift card to buy beef for this post. No additional compensation was provided. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own. 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Back to School with Crocs

Thank you to Crocs for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Crocs’ new Back to School line. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I was a little worried when I got the classroom rules for Jasper's class. It strongly recommended you not send your kids to school in Crocs, flip flops or sandals, due to the gravel on the playground. I guess the teachers don't want to spend the entire day emptying tiny toddler shoes of pebbles, which I can definitely sympathize with. Well, they must have heard the collective anguished cries of preschooler parents everywhere, because there is a whole new collection of Back-to-School Crocs that are just as slip-on comfy as the tried and true classics but feature school-approved styling including closed toes and heels. They look like old school sneakers but feel like Crocs… genius! There are 13 new styles to satisfy most kids from K-8. I am particularly fond of these:

Shopping for back to school wasn't much of an issue for us until recently. Roo grew really slowly as a toddler, it seemed like she was wearing a lot of the same stuff from when she was two basically through kindergarten. Jasper is now four and starting all day preschool. He is still wearing a few things from his 2T days but, overall, he is growing faster. Especially his feet. He's 3 1/2 years younger than his sister but only two shoe sizes behind at this point. Quel horreur! I used to pick up cute clothes and shoes for Roo whenever they were on sale because I could reasonably guess the size she would be in any given season. Not so her little brother!

It may be surprising to hear but Jasper is way pickier about what he wears than his big sis. Whereas Roo likes things that fall within certain predictable style parameters (say, "goth" or "sparkly"), Jasper has his own unique fashion rules. For example, even though our temperatures have been above 100º for most of the late summer, he insists on wearing long sleeves or long pants to school every day so he can be "awesome." Similarly, he wanted to wear his Crocs all last winter in the snow and ice. The ones with the holes and no lining. Or socks. Weird kid. He'll probably ask for the purple glitter sneakers, which are both goth and sparkly, by the way.

The "They've Got Summer Inside" video above is interactive- 

Click on the shoes you like in the video to learn more about them on Crocs.com!

Be sure to see if you can find this hidden "easter egg" in the video…

…it will be worth it for you frugal back to school shoppers!

Don't forget to keep Summer alive by entering to win a trip for four to San Diego in the Crocs Sneak Summer into School Sweepstakes!

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that this is a sponsored post and I will receive monetary compensation. Rest assured, however, that all opinions are– as usual– entirely my own.

Samsung SH100 Coast to Coast Photo Post

When Bob and I were first dating, we decided it would be fun to drive to one of his art openings. We lived in Memphis at the time, and the opening was in San Diego. It was a loooong drive but it was also a lot of fun. Sadly, we don't have much evidence of the awesomeness of a trip that included Albuquerque flea markets, Hoover Dam, the nasty old part of Las Vegas, and the overwhelming crush of people in tights that is Comic Con, because we didn't have a digital camera back then. Or social media to broadcast our adventures to the world. Hmm, maybe that's a good thing for some segments of the road trip…

Meet the Samsung SH100, a new compact WiFi-enabled point and shoot camera that lets you share high quality photos with your friends and families easily and instantly, via your favorite social networks. It gets around, just like you!

Samsung is taking the SH100 on a month-long road trip across the US, from LA to NYC, during the month of May to show what a great camera this is for movers and shakers, homebodies and travelers alike. The Coast to Coast Photo Post team is recording all the places they go and people they meet along the way with the SH100, and the best photos and videos will be shared on the Samsung USA Facebook page. Follow Samsung on Twitter to find out when they'll be rolling through your town… if you take the best photo on their road trip, you could win a trip to NYC!



The Samsung SH100 would make a great gift for dads and grads, or anyone planning a trip this summer. You can always un-tag…



Disclosure: I was compensated for this opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

Driving Green with Ford at NAIAS

Because I am one of the luckiest girls in the world– and a member of Clever Girls Collective– I am headed to Detroit next week for a whirlwind two day adventure. I'll be one of a hundred green, tech and lifestyle bloggers from all over the world (ten countries in all) participating in an exclusive Ford World Headquarters Tour, including a special Green Driving Technology Event, and media-only preview of the North American International Auto Show. Exciting, no?

I am excited to learn about Ford's sustainability initiatives and, of course, to test drive some of their new models. I am also anxious to hear Stewart Brand, author of counterculture classic The Whole Earth Catalog and, more recently, Whole Earth Discipline), speak about the importance of environmentalism meshing with technology. It's refreshing to hear about companies taking a forward-looking approach as they consider their impact on the planet as well as their bottom line.

Look for the #FordGreen hashtag on Twitter to keep up with our progress next week.

I was invited to participate in this program by Clever Girls Collective, Inc. in partnership with Ford and Ogilvy PR. Ford Motor Company paid for my travel and accommodations at the 2-day Driving Green Technology event, I was not compensated in any other manner for my time. My opinions posted here are my own.