I’m drinking water. Lots of it.

And I’m doing it for a good cause, Blood:Water 40 Days of Water. Drink water for 40 days and save your extra beverage money. Then donate that money to Blood:Water so they can build wells in Uganda. It’s a win win! Good for you, good for the environment, good for your health, and good for your karma.

The Mamavation community is joining me in these efforts to raise money to bring clean water to communities in Uganda. And you can too. It’s NEVER too late to start. Even if you missed the beginning. No biggie. Start today! AND because I REALLY want to raise money for Blood:Water, I’m hosting a giveaway to help promote the cause.

Anyone who downloads THIS widget and sticks it on your front page to support the cause during the campaign will be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card. Make sure to enter below.

Giveaway:
$100 Visa gift card

How to Enter:
1. Download this widget (mandatory)
2. Share this post on the platform of your choice, preferably twitter, Facebook OR Pinterest (one entry per share)
3. Tweet this message (one entry)

“Help bring communities in Uganda fresh drinking water by drinking water for #40days , http://bit.ly/Xe34Vb #mamavation “

This giveaway will close on March 30th with the campaign. Please comment below for EVERY entry you make. When yo download the widget, please leave your website URL so we can double check. Thanks for all your help!

UNREAL candy is hosting a special thank you for the Mamavation community. You have a chance to win $500 in Target gift card AND another chance at $10,000 to shop at Target. Here are the instructions:

1. SNAP a photo of you and your family with UNREAL candy  - UNREAL candy is available at Target now!

2. SEND this photograph via email or text to unreal@pongr.com with hashtag #mamavation in the subject line. (don’t forget the hashtag!)

3.  This Email or text will enter you to win a $500 Target gift card – This is a thank you from UNREAL for joining us in unjunking 2013! – this $500 is guaranteed for someone in the #Mamavation community AND at the same time you also get an entry in the public grand prize for a $10,000 Target shopping spree.

It’s actually very simple. And then after you text or email that pic, it will prompt you to share on Facebook or Twitter. THAT is the actual entry, so share away! You can enter from January 2nd to January 18th.

With all the communities involved, we are hoping a million moms support UNREAL in Target. The message we are sending is that we want more food with no artificials, hydrogenated oils, corn syrups, preservatives or GMOs. You can also get involved on Pinterest by pinning the graphic below. (Pinterest participation does not enter you in the contest. It just means you are super cool.)

Unreal™ Candy Blogger Sweepstakes

Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Each MMS message, sent or received, may incur a charge as provided in your rate plan.  Message and data rates may apply. If you enter via MMS message, you will receive one (1) response SMS message confirming your entry.  MMS messaging may not be available through all wireless carriers.

1. Eligibility: Unreal™ Candy Blogger Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of entry.  Employees of Unreal Brands, Inc., PONGR, Inc. (“PONGR”), ePrize, Inc., and their parent and affiliate companies as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members of each such employee are not eligible.  The Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited.  Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Sponsor’s and Administrator’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Sweepstakes.  Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.

 2. Sponsor: Unreal Brands, Inc., 729 Boylston St. 2nd floor, Boston, MA, 02116. Administrator: ePrize, Inc., One ePrize Drive, Pleasant Ridge, MI 48069.

3. Timing: The Sweepstakes begins on January 2, 2013 at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends on January 18, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. ET (the “Promotion Period”). PONGR’s computer is the official time-keeping device for the Sweepstakes.

4. How to Enter: During the Promotion Period, take a photo of a package of Unreal™ Candy. The photo should only include the product. Email or MMS the picture to unreal@PONGR.com and include the hashtag provided at the website where you learned of the Sweepstakes. You will automatically receive one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes. Limit: You may enter one (1) time during the Promotion Period. Proof of emailing/MMS messaging does not constitute proof of delivery or entry. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, misdirected, which will be disqualified. Photos may not be indecent, obscene, hateful, tortious, defamatory, or libelous or contain material that violates or infringes another’s rights, or disparage Sponsor, Administrator or any other person or party affiliated with the Sweepstakes, or contain material that is unlawful in any way. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned to entrant. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify an entrant where it finds the photo unlawful, or in violation of these Official Rules, all in its sole discretion.

If you enter by MMS message, you will be charged according to their carriers’ messaging and data rates. Entrants should contact their carriers for pricing details. MMS messaging may not be available through all wireless carriers.

Multiple entrants are not permitted to share the same email address.  Any attempt by any entrant to obtain more than one (1) entry by using multiple/different email addresses, mobile phone numbers, identities, or any other methods will void that entrant’s entries and that entrant may be disqualified.  Use of any automated system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification.  In the event of a dispute as to any registration, the authorized account holder of the email address or mobile phone number used to register will be deemed to be the entrant. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned an email address by an Internet access provider or a mobile number by a carrier, online service provider or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address. Each potential winner may be required to show proof of being an authorized account holder.

5. Drawings: Administrator is an independent judging organization whose decisions as to the administration and operation of the Sweepstakes and the selection of the potential winners are final and binding in all matters related to the Sweepstakes.  Administrator will randomly select the potential Sweepstakes winner from all eligible entries received during the Promotion Period, on or around January 28, 2013. The potential winners will be notified by email, or phone (depending on the mode of entry). Except where prohibited, the potential winner will be required to provide a valid mailing address (no P. O. Boxes) for prize fulfillment purposes which must be received by Administrator, within ten (10) days of the date notice or attempted notice is sent, in order to claim the prize. If the potential winner cannot be contacted, fails to provide address information as requested within the required time period, or the prize is returned as undeliverable, the potential winner forfeits the prize.  Receiving a prize is contingent upon compliance with these Official Rules. In the event that a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor will award the applicable prize to an alternate winner by random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries.  Only three (3) alternate drawings will be held, after which the prize will remain un-awarded.  Prizes will be fulfilled approximately 8-10 weeks after the conclusion of the Sweepstakes.

6. Prizes: ONE (1) GRAND PRIZE: $500 Target gift card (terms and conditions of gift card apply). Prize is non-transferable and no substitution will be made except as provided herein at the Sponsor’s sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute the prize for one of equal or greater value if the designated prize should become unavailable for any reason.  Winners are responsible for all taxes and fees associated with prize receipt and/or use.  Odds of winning a prize depend on the number of eligible entries received during the Promotion Period.

7. Release: By receipt of any prize, winners agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor, PONGR, Target Brands, Inc., Administrator, and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, distributors, advertising/promotion agencies, and prize suppliers, and each of their respective parent companies and each such company’s officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any claim or cause of action, including, but not limited to, personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property, arising out of participation in the Sweepstakes or receipt or useor misuse of any prize.

8. Publicity: Except where prohibited, participation in the Sweepstakes constitutes each winner’s consent to Sponsor’s and its agents’ use of winner’s name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions and/or hometown and state for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration.

9. General Conditions: Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Sweepstakes, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures, human error or any other factor impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Sweepstakes, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.  In such event, Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may elect to hold a random drawing from among all eligible entries received up to the date of discontinuance for any or all of the prizes offered herein.  Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes or to be acting in violation of the Official Rules of this or any other promotion or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner.  Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law.  Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

10. Limitations of Liability: The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes; (2) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Sweepstakes; (4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Sweepstakes or the processing of entries; (5) late, lost, undeliverable, damaged or stolen mail; or (6) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Sweepstakes or receipt or useor misuse of any prize.  If for any reason an entrant’s entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, entrant’s sole remedy is another entry in the Sweepstakes, if it is possible. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded.  In the event that production, technical, seeding, programming or any other reasons cause more than the stated number of prizes as set forth in these Official Rules to be available and/or claimed, Sponsor reserves the right to award only the stated number of prizes by a random drawing among all legitimate, un-awarded, eligible prize claims.

11. Disputes: Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (Southern Division) or the appropriate Michigan State Court located in Oakland County, Michigan; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Sweepstakes, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (3) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased.  All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Michigan without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of Michigan or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Michigan.

12. Entrant’s Personal Information: Information collected from entrants is subject to Administrator’s Privacy Policy http://www.eprize.com/privacy-policy and Sponsor’s Privacy Policy http://getunreal.com/privacy-policy/.

13.  Winner List: For a winner list, visit http://bit.ly/VhKj2b.  The winner list will be posted after winner confirmation is complete.

© 2013 ePrize, Inc.  All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: Bookieboo LLC was compensated to run this sweepstakes.

Sleep.

We could all use more.

I’m always touting the importance of sleep in Mamavation because it’s how your body reboots itself. It important. In fact, when you don’t sleep your organs become tired as well. In fact, about seventeen hours of sustained wakefulness leads to a decrease in performance equivalent to a blood alcohold level of 0.05%. . And if you get interrupted sleep for several nights in a row, it’s possible for your body to go into a pre-diabetic state. Yikes!

The people at Sleep Number noticed that I wasn’t getting any sleep with a brand new baby, so they got a hold of me and offered to send me their brand new M9 mattress in exchange for this post. They wanted an honest opinion of what I thought about their bed. And I was VERY willing to give it to them because our mattress was exactly 10 years old. YUCK! I can only imagine the microscopic things that are living in there.

So after sleeping in the bed for about two weeks, I have several things to say about this mattress. Good and bad. Mostly good. It’s an honest critique because you are all very important to me.

Pros:

It’s nicer to my back and neck. I suffer from a bad back because I was a softball catcher for 9 years and had several collisions at the plate. (Yes, this IS also one of the reasons why I’m so badass…I’m like a female line backer.)  I’ve also been in several car accidents that made my back even worse over the years. My spine is as straight as an arrow. It has no curvature whatsoever. I have some disc issues and need to modify exercises, so an uncomfortable bed can create a bad day for me very easily. The Select Number allows my back and butt to sink into the cushion a bit more. The first night I slept in it, I dreamed I was in a hammock.

Bed goes up...Bed goes down...

I can readjust it based on my mood that day. My sleep number is 30. But some days I want a 25. Those are the days I’m calling myself “a softie.” Mark on the other hand likes his bed harder. Soooo, you can imagine how nice it is for both of us to have our way. Choices are good.

It may be squishy, but it’s not sweat inducing. They put something in the memory foam that acts as a cooling agent. I’m sure it’s killing me slowly with chemicals, BUT I’m choosing zen here. This is really important to Mr. Bookieboo who sweats very easily. In fact, as a child in Chicago he was always in short sleeved shirts even in the winter time because he would get so hot all the time. No complaints with the new Select Number. I’ve heard other memory foam mattresses get really hot.

It’s not just a bed. It’s a very complicated machine on the inside. When you are purchasing it, think of it as a bed from the future. When the Sleep Number guys come to put it together, it takes about an hour. And the inside kinda looks a little “space suity.” (Is that even a word?)

The kids CAN jump on it, but I wouldn’t recommend for you to do that.

This is a specialty quality mattress. There is really nothing like it.

Cons:

It took me about four days to get used to it. It is a very different feeling than a conventional mattress, so I had an adjustment period. That isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s different. Some people don’t like different. I’m okay with it.

If you want to move it, you need to call the guys to come out and do it for you because you could break part of the bed very easily. So make sure you really like the bed skirt underneath the bed.

Don’t make the mistake of jumping on the bed when it’s at a 10. I kept flying. You do need to reflate it weekly. It’s only the touch of a button. But if you forget, I’ve heard it gets misshapen. BUT perfection is then only a click away. So you need to fill it up to a 10 and then take it back down to your sleep number weekly. Just don’t jump on the bed when it’s a 10. Oh, well go ahead and try it if you want to be a rebel.

We co-sleep and the baby does not like the bed. This is a mixed bag. Right now it’s annoying, BUT in about a month he won’t be there anymore. So imagine me sticking my tongue out right now to the baby because that’s what I feel like doing.

So in my honest opinion it’s pretty darn cool. Other than the extra kicks in the middle of the night by angry baby, I’m more comfortable. Ask me this question again in a month and I’m sure, minus the baby in my bed, I’ll be sleeping like one.

…..

And because I didn’t want to just be a show off, I’ve planned something for you.  I’m digging into my own pocket to make up for it. I’m calling it an asshole tax. I get something. You don’t. I’m the asshole because I’m talking about it. So I’m taxing myself. Thank you for reading about my experience and for being a loyal friend of the site.

Giveaway:

(1) Paypal payout for $100 (one winner)

(2) Paypal payout for $50 (three winners)

To Enter (please comment for EVERY entry & put your twitter name):

1. Tweet this message (1 entry, max 20 tweets)

What is @Bookieboo’s Sleep Number? Read about her new bed and $250 giveaway w/ @Sleepnumbersara, http://bit.ly/Qvl62S

2. Share this post on Facebook (3 entries)

3. Like Sleep Number on Facebook (1 entry)

4. Follow @SleepnumberSara on Twitter (1 entry)

5. Join the Mamavation Forums and post 10 times (10 entries, new members only)

6. Share this on Google+ (2 entries)

7. Join the Bookieboo Blogging Network (2 entries, new members only)

8. Watch the Mamavation Video and share it with friends (1 entry)

9. Subscribe to Bookieboo’s YouTube Channel (1 entry)

This giveaway ends October 31st  and a winner will be selected at random via random.org. Please leave your twitter name or I’ll have to draw another name. I’m not tracking you down all over the internet.

I’m a busy mom.

No, I mean really busy. I’ve got 3 kids, one of which is an 12 week old baby, a consulting business, a community, and a blog….oh, not to mention the husband and some volunteer work. Some things have gone by the way side…like cleaning…I’ve contracted that out. And sometimes dinners get cooked by my husband. But most of the time, I’m in charge.

And even though people don’t see me as lazy, I am. I’m all about delegating, downsizing, and making things as simple as possible for me so I can get it all done. If you ever offer to do something for me, chances are I’ll let you because I believe in sanity. (Yes, my cleaning lady washes my underwear but not Mark’s…he does his own laundry.)

Basically, I love internet shopping to get the things I need because I have very little time to go shopping…and I’m very open to getting shoes via the internet. ( I consult for several shoe companies…and I like NOT having to pay tax on my goods.)

What do I have to say about Etnies? Etnies contacted me and wanted to give me some shoes for my boys…effectively making it so that I didn’t have to go to Famous Footwear and purchase them shoes before school started. So I agreed. SEND ME SHOES because I’d like to take one less shopping trip while I’m nursing.

The shoes arrived at different times. They were stylish. The kids liked them. The only thing I’m not jiving with is the shoe laces, BUT it’s teaching my oldest some new skills, so that’s a positive thing. The youngest has stretchy laces, so we don’t even tie them. He just slips the shoes on and off himself.

We got two pairs and here is one of them.

This specific shoe from Etnies is affiliated with Autism Speaks. Essentially purchasing these shoes at only $25, on sale, will make you a champion for Autism because they give part of the proceeds to Autism Speaks. And since I’m a special needs mom with a son who has Aspergers, I’m all for that.

Today I’m giving away two pair of the Jameson 2 Eco and they look like this:

To Enter (please comment for EVERY entry & put your twitter name):

1. Tweet this message (1 entry, max 20 tweets)

Back to School: Win a pair of @Etnies shoes for kids from @Bookieboo. Ends 9/30. http://bit.ly/NFMONT #mamavation

2. Share this post on Facebook (3 entries)

3. Like Etnies on Facebook (1 entry)

4. Follow @Etnies on Twitter (1 entry)

5. Join the Mamavation Forums and post 10 times (10 entries, new members only)

6. Share this on Google+ (2 entries)

7. Join the Bookieboo Blogging Network (2 entries, new members only)

8. Watch the Mamavation Video and share it with friends (1 entry)

This giveaway ends September 30th and a winner will be selected at random via random.org. Please leave

I love nature. Yes, I admit it, I’m a tree hugger. I literally hug trees. Don’t make fun of me. I also sit underneath them and bask in their glory. They are beautiful. They are majestic. They are God’s creation.

Sometimes getting to the most amazing trees takes some work. What I mean is, you have to walk there. And when you are walking places that are magical, you usually need to be wearing special shoes to take you there safely.

Fast forward to Ahnu hiking boots. I got the red ones because it fits my personality.

The Montara Ahnu Hiking Boots are comfortable, sturdy feeling, and are made of quality materials. I can tell. Working as a consultant for  footwear companies gives me a good understanding of quality vs. shite. (Yes, it’s spelled that way on purpose.)

I encourage you all to get out there and hike. It’s an amazing way to get activity, burn calories, but NOT feel like you are exercising because it’s so beautiful. Be adventurous. Find some new places. Take the kids. Make a day out of it. I promise you that the kids will LOVE it. Let them get dirty and explore new places. Let them create memories. The most vivid memories I had as a child were ones that involved my parents taking me to nature.

And get some good hiking boots YO! These are great ones. AND I’m giving away two pairs of boots to two different winners here!

Giveaway:

Two Pairs of the Montara hiking boot from Ahnu (2 winners)

To Enter (please comment for EVERY entry & put your twitter name):

1. Tweet this message (1 entry, max 20 tweets)

Win a pair of Montara hiking boots from @Ahnufootwear from @Bookieboo. Ends 8/31. http://bit.ly/NUw14z

2. Share this post on Facebook (3 entries)

3. Like Ahnu on Facebook (1 entry)

4. Follow Ahnu on Twitter (1 entry)

5. Join the Mamavation Forums and post 10 times (10 entries, new members only)

6. Share this on Google+ (2 entries)

7. Join the Bookieboo Blogging Network (2 entries, new members only)

8. Watch the Mamavation Video and share it with friends (1 entry)

This giveaway ends August 31st and a winner will be selected at random via random.org. Please leave your twitter name in the comment section so I can get a hold of you if you win. If there is no email or twitter name, I’ll have to redraw.