Degree motionSENSE™ “Get Into the Move Challenge" and $100 Visa card giveaway

It's no great secret that I need (and want) to be more active than I am. I've been sidelined off and on by various orthopedic maladies, but it's time to get serious about exercising.

Now that summer's here, there are lots of opportunities to get out and do active things, and I've made up my mind to take advantage of them. I've already been swimming with the kids and am trying to incorporate more things like walking from the parking garage at work rather than taking the shuttle.

But, with the temperatures in the upper 90s here, more activity means more (let's face it) sweat and that calls for a deodorant/antiperspirant that can handle heat and activity.

The good folks at Degree have just introduced Degree with motionSENSE. It's the only antiperspirant activated by motion first, not moisture, so women can stay ahead of perspiration.

I received a sample for review, and so far it's been up to the job, even with my increased activity and the hot weather. Some deodorants have obviously failed by the end of the day, but, so far I've noticed that it's still working even after an active day.

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In celebration of the launch of Degree with motionSENSE, Degree has launched the Degree Get into the Move Facebook app and sweepstakes. It's easy to start earning motionMILES for your activities and redeem them for the chance to win great prizes!

I've already got 25 motionMILES, but I'd bet I'd have a ton more if breaking up kid arguments was an activity.

It's easy to join, just register for the Degree Get into the Move Facebook app or on mobile devices (m.degreewomen.com), and start earning motionMILES, virtual currency redeemable towards chances to win thousands of prizes.

It's easy to earn motionMILES, all you have to do is log your activities ("activities" are any way you already move: exercise, running after kids, rushing to a meeting across the building)on the Facebook app.

Be sure to look for special codes that will give you even more motionMILES. You can also earn motionMILES by answering daily trivia questions on the Facebook application, inviting friends to “Get into the Move,” and even logging in daily.

Once earned, you can use motionMILES for a shot at winning instant prizes by spinning the prize wheel or by entering weekly and grand prize sweepstakes.

Prizes include a surfing trip in Hawaii, designer shoes, gift certificates for Zumba classes and much more. You can also choose to donate motionMILES in a dollar amount to one of two charities: The Challenged Athletes Foundation and Girls in The Game.

So, what are you waiting for?

Get Into the Move with Degree with motionSENSE!

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The giveaway:

Prize: $100 Visa card

How to win:

1. No duplicate comments.

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

a) Leave a comment telling us how you life an active lifestyle.

b) Tweet about this promotion (I'm @busymom) 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.

3. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older

4. Contest ends 5:00 p.m.(PST) July 18, 2011.

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

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

7. Visit the Official Rules

Don't forget to visit the Prizes and Promotions section for even more chances to win!


I wrote this post while participating in the Degree with motionSENSE/BlogHer program on behalf of Degree with motionSENSE. I received the product to facilitate my post and monetary compensation for the time to write my post.

Living Positively and Conversations with Coca-Cola



In a couple of days, I'll be headed to Atlanta, GA where I'll be attending the Conversations with Coca-Cola blogger event, and one topic we'll be discussing is what it means to "live positively".

I'm from the south, so I grew up with Coca-Cola. "Have a Coke" is synonymous with "sit down, relax and spend time with friends" which is something I need to do a lot more of, so for me, part of "living positively" means relaxing and not worrying so much about "stuff".

As a matter of fact, my efforts yielded a night out with friends just a couple of nights ago. Even though it was a weeknight and things were busy at home, I said "yes" to an invitation I might have otherwise declined, and I'm so glad I did.

Another way I try to "live positively" is to reign in my natural tendency to be a pessimist. I find it helpful if I focus a little less on me, and a little more on the people around me, but some days are a struggle, so I'm a work in progress!

While I'm there, I'll get to talk with with top Coca-Cola leadership, so please feel free to leave any questions you might have, and I'll be sure to pass them along and get answers!

So, stay tuned, and I look forward to sharing what I've learned!

Disclosure: Coke will be paying for my travel, lodging and activities while in Atlanta, and BlogHer is compensating me for my time for writing this post.

Samsung Powerfoam Technology $100 Best Buy gift card giveaway



Ah, laundry.

It's just a few clothes run through a couple of machines, right? How much time could that take? After all, the machines do all the work, and we just move the clothes from one spot to another.

Yeah, right.

Laundry is a never ending task around our house. We generate a lot of dirty laundry, and most, (but not all) is legitimate. You know what I'm talking about, the pair of pants that your kid looked at and decided to put in the hamper instead of back in the closet? I don't call that "legitimately dirty".

Our kids are in several different sports and not only do they generate a lot of dirty clothes, more often than not, there are tough stains involved. Combine that with yard work clothes, play clothes and just general daily living clothes (not to mention the towels...oh, the towels, and here we are on the verge of what I call "towel consumption season"...), you get a lot of loads of laundry.

We could do laundry every day and never be caught up. Busy Dad does a lot of the laundry, and he comes from the school of, "Wash 2-3 items at a time" (I come from the school of, "If it fits in there, you can wash it")because he's concerned that things might not get properly clean, so, we're pretty much doing laundry all the time.

If there were something sturdy (we are hard on washers and dryers, y'all)that could enable me to spend less time on laundry and still get things clean, I'd certainly be all over that.

Samsung front-load washer with Exclusive PowerFoam technology looks like it might be a contender. It's a large washer (holds 28 bath towels, my kinda machine!)so that means you'll do fewer loads and save water and electricity, too.

But, when you have such a large load, getting things thoroughly clean is a concern, and that's where the PowerFoam comes in. It makes a powerful (but safe) foam using your regular detergent that penetrates fabric more deeply and quickly, allowing you to wash large or bulky loads in less time.

Less time on laundry? OK by me!

What would I do with that extra time? I should say it would free me up to take care of the rest of the house or make homemade crafts or something. But, I think I'd probably get everyone to bed earlier, since we tend to do laundry at night and the evening schedule can get derailed. Everyone's days would probably run much more smoothly if we had more time in the evening to relax and prepare for the next day.

Now, if Samsung would just come up with something that would make the kids put their clothes away instead of sending them straight back to the laundry when they don't want to deal with them, I'd be the most well-rested person ever.

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The giveaway:

Prize: $100 Best Buy card

How to win:

1. No duplicate comments.

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

a) Leave a comment telling us what you'd do with more time.

b) Tweet about this promotion (I'm @busymom) 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.

3. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older

4. Contest ends on June 30, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. (PST)

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

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

7. Visit the Official Rules

Don't forget to visit the Promotions and Prizes section for even more chances to win!

Also, be sure to come visit me at Busy Mom Blog, it's always open!

I wrote this post while participating in the Samsung/BlogHer program on behalf of Samsung. I received monetary compensation for the time to write my post.