Telling our kids: Don't Fret The Sweat and a $100 Visa gift card giveaway

We have three kids, and they've all played various sports over the years. Combine that with the active school days our kids lead and suffice to say, we can have some smells around here.

Even when we don't always realize our babies are growing up, their bodies may let you know in a big way after a soccer game.

My oldest two are teenagers, and they're usually (hey, one is a teenage boy, if you have one, you'll understand)well on the road to regular deodorant use. But, when they were younger, I can remember wondering if we'd recognize the right time for them to start using deodorant (answer: Oh, yes.).

The body odor and deodorant talk accompanied education about other body changes, and was really the time we realized we had "big kids."

Awareness of the body odor issue appears to come a little earlier with girls than boys, and we bought her some deodorant as soon as she asked for it. I'm not aware of her having had an issue that prompted it, but it was all the rage with her friends, and I think she felt more independent and grown-up as she incorporated it into her routine.

When it was time for our son to use deodorant, we started him early so it would become part of his routine before he really needed it. While he seemed to have a "different" level of awareness of body odor, it was a good time to talk to him about body changes, too.

We have an almost-tween coming up, and after yesterday's soccer game, I think it's his time, now, so I'll go to the store and get my thoughts together and see how he responds.

This time, however, there's a great resource for me, and for him.

Unilever, the leading manufacturer of deodorant and antiperspirants and makers of Degree® Men, Degree® Women, Degree® Girl, Dove® and Suave®, has developed an educational resource --Don't Fret The Sweat, to provide parents with tools and kids with opportunities to build confidence and be inspired in everything they do.

Unilever wants to ensure parents and kids remain cool, calm and confident throughout the day, especially during life’s sweat-inducing moments. They provide expert tips, tools and real-life stories about how parents are communicating and transitioning their tweens into confident and self-reliant teens, at the Don't Fret The Sweat Facebook page.

Check it out!

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The giveaway:

Prize: $100 Visa card and a Don't Fret The Sweat gift pack

How to win:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods between 10/4/11 and 11/4/11:

a) Leave a comment telling us how you stay calm, cool and confident during the day.

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.

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.

Visit the Official Rules

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

I wrote this post while participating in the Univelever/BlogHer program on behalf of the Don't Fret The Sweat campaign. I received monetary compensation for the time to write my post.

I've been moving with Degree motionSENSE™ “Get Into the Move Challenge" and $100 Visa card giveaway



I told you about the Degree motionSENSE™ and their “Get Into the Move Challenge" a while back. If you'll recall, Degree with motionSENSE™ anti-perspirant & deodorant is the ONLY product that's activated by motion rather than moisture, so it starts working before you start sweating, and that can be significant this time of year and has been helpful to me as I've worked on getting more exercise.

I've been enjoying the Degree motionSENSE™ “Get Into the Move Challenge" application. I've found myself doing more things so I can log them and my recent trip to the beach was good for a lot of activity!

I've counted simple things such as walking from the parking garage at work to my office rather than taking the shuttle and cleaning up the yard, as well as more structured activities like walking or swimming laps. I'm working on finding something more structured that I will stick with and I can do year-round. I might have to fire up the Couch to 5K program again, but we'll see.

Whatever gets you in motion counts, and you can redeem your motionMILES earned for instant prizes, weekly prizes, and a grand prize. 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.

It's easy to the Get Into the Move Challenge, 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.

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The giveaway:

Prize: $100 Visa card (that might help y

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 a simple way you get more movement into your day.

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 August 15, 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 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.

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.

Sprite Tabs for Habitat

I have 3 kids who love being outdoors. They've all gone to summer camp, and would live there if they could, and my middle child enjoys backpacking. Each of them is involved in sports as well, and the benefits of these activities go far beyond those of health and exercise.

In addition to cultivating a love and respect for the outdoors, they've also had opportunities for leadership through sports teams and leading younger campers. They've been exposed to different careers from athletics, coaching and youth leadership to outdoor sciences. As a matter of fact, Busy Boy (age 14) is seriously considering a career in Wildlife and Fisheries science that was sparked from his experiences at camp and being outdoors.

Also though these activities, all three have learned self-reliance that's translated into maturity, particularly in the classroom at school, and we all know that being able to release excess energy outside is an important way to help kids get ready to learn.

We are very lucky to have the resources in our community to make this all possible. There are parks, sports facilities, camps and even back yards ready for play that have provided my kids with skills and memories to last a lifetime.

But, not everyone is as fortunate as we are, so Sprite has started the Spark Parks Project, an ongoing effort to refresh parks, playgrounds and active spaces across the nation.

Here's how you can get involved:



Beginning April 1, 2011, Sprite is partnering with Habitat for Humanity. Look for specially marked Sprite and Sprite Zero cans with green tabs and collect them. For each green tab from Sprite or Sprite Zero received by 6/30/11, Sprite will donate 10¢ per tab up to $500,000 (with a minimum donation of $250,000) to Habitat for Humanity.

We've started collecting them, and since Sprite is big around here, the kids are excited to see how many they can collect! But, hurry, the tabs must be received by June 30, 2011.

Why not do something fun while you're collecting green tabs? It's always nice to have some pictures of your family activities and $100 from Shutterfly would go a long way in documenting your memories. You can even take pictures with your Sprite Tabs for Habitat you've collected!


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The giveaway:

Prize: $100 Shutterfly.com gift 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 plan to keep your family in
motion this summer. Volunteering, community/team sports, or how about summer
camps? Tell us!

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.

e. Upload a photo of your personal green tabs collection on the sweepstakes main page at http://www.blogher.com/sprite-tabs-habitat. Be sure to leave a comment here telling me you did it!

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

4. Contest ends 5:00 p.m. (PST) May 31, 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 Promotions & Prizes page for even more chances to win!

(I have some other giveaways going on, too! Enter to win a $50 gas card and enter to win 1 of 5 full-value Sara Lee dessert coupons).

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

Our Seattle's Best Coffee Level System Results and another $100 Amazon gift card giveaway

This is a sponsored review from BlogHer.

We've had a chance to go through the Seattle's Best Coffee Level System.

In case you're not familiar with it, Seattle's Best Coffee makes finding and enjoying premium packaged coffee easy with a unique level system that helps you find your taste profile. The new Seattle's Best Coffee Level System features coffee blends numbered 1 through 5, rated from lightest to boldest instead of trying to wade through names of various roasts.

Here's our (Busy Dad's and my) results:

Level 1 – "mild, light crisp" - Light, smooth, a bit of an after-taste, but a good one. It might be good for a casual coffee drinker.

Level 2 – "lively easy drinking" - This one is a good "regular" coffee taste, almost sweet.

Level 3 – "balanced, smooth, full-flavored" - As expected, this level was a little stronger, which I prefer. A good "middle of the road" coffee.

Level 4 – "rich, elegant, complex" - This one was my favorite, I liked it best with the way I drink my coffee: half-and-half only. Very smooth, yet strong enough to have a distinct taste.

Level 5 – "bold, dark, intense" - This one was strong, but without the "burnt" taste some bolder coffees have. It's smooth, and for the serious coffee drinker.

I'm a Level 4. I thought I was going to be a Level 5 for sure, but I preferred this one, it tasted a little smoother to me. Busy Dad turned out to be a Level 3 which surprised me a little.

Visit Seattle's Best Facebook page to find your level or try a cup for yourself.

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The giveaway:

Prize: $100 Amazon gift card

How to win: Leave a comment on this post telling us what level of Seattle's Best Coffee you are if you've tried it, or what level you think you might be.

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 level of Seattle's Best Coffee you are or think you might be.

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) April 30, 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 Exclusive Offers section page for even more chances to win!

I wrote this post while participating in the Seattle's Best Coffee/BlogHer program on behalf of Seattle's Best Coffee. I received the product to facilitate my post and monetary compensation for the time to write my post.