& blogathon '13 is a wrap!

Another Blogathon has come to a close! 24 hours down!

Before I go to SLEEP, I just wanted to thank everyone for their support. We managed to raise $980 to provide nebulizers to those in need -- and that is AMAZING! THANK YOU so much to everyone who donated to make this possible, as well as all of the sponsors who supplied these amazing prizes we were able to raffle off and everyone who helped me stay up to chat in the wee hours of the night or who helped blog about this Blogathon!

Everyone who won a prize will receive an e-mail on Monday or Tuesday with instructions on how to redeem their prizes. I don't personally know a couple of the lucky winners, so I'll be receiving a final e-mail list from Firstgiving with the e-mails everyone used to sign up to donate! Anyone who donated a minimum of $10 will also receive an e-mail with how to receive their free Digital Scrapbooking software! Be on the lookout for some e-mails from me over the next few days -- but for now, totally sleep time. *yawn*

Here's a final list of everyone who won a prize this year:

Blendtec blender - Dorothy F.
Breathe Yoga Mats - Melanie P. and Lee S.
Fizzbutter bath bombs - Shameka J.
Yogi Tea - George P.
KidFresh 5 free meals - Silvia K.
Truly Sanctuary - Meghan H. and Deborah B.
Klean Kanteen - Deborah B.
Naturebox - Ed K.
Erin Condren gift cards - Silvia K. & Alea S.
SkinnySkinny - Jennifer C.
Rishi Tea - Melanie K.
Little Bee Baby Boutique - Symantha G.
Chewbeads - Jaime A.

Thank you SO much again for your help in making this year's Blogathon another wonderful success!

blendtec giveaway

Blendtec is a name synonymous with quality! From their website: "Whether you are a culinary novice or a seasoned chef, Blendtec makes your life in the kitchen easier and your life outside healthier. From hearty soups and whole grain breads to green drinks and frozen treats. The possibilities are endless."

Blendtec was amazing enough to offer one of my donors the chance to win one of their All-in-One blenders. I've gotten a lot of e-mails, texts and inquiries about when I'm drawing this prize...and so without further ado, the winner is:

#29 - Dorothy F.

7:30 a.m.

It's 7:30 a.m.! Everyone around here is waking up and I'm counting down -- ONE MORE HOUR until I get to go to bed! There's one more prize to be given away in a half an hour -- the Blendtec all-in-one that everyone seems to be pretty excited for! I'm excited to choose a winner, and to have raised so much for Global Links this year! Hard to believe the 2013 Blogathon is almost at an end! One more hour to go...

it's 7!

It's 7 o'clock!

...and it's BRIGHT OUTSIDE!

6:30 a.m.!

Two more hours to go! One and a half hours to go until the last raffle! About fifteen minutes until the predicted sunrise here in South Florida!

I'm hanging in there -- buuuut definitely, definitely looking forward to collapsing in bed at 8:30. ;)

breathe yoga mats giveaway

Breathe Yoga Mats are the result of thousands of Bikram yoga classes and years of knowledge combined. Quite simply, it is the best yoga mat available today.

The Breathe® bikram yoga mat is comprised of three layers: a cotton terry top, middle absorbent cushioning fibers and a coated, brushed bottom that grips carpet and rubber floors. Together, these layers comprise an anti-slip, waterproof yoga mat that fully eliminates the need for a bulky sticky mat and slippery towel.

Yoga mats need to be long and thick enough to provide a comfortable surface to allow you to reach your potential. Our premium yoga mats provide a sanitary layer of protection between your body and floor of the yoga studio; yet it is compact enough to fold or roll up to take home from class and toss in the washer/dryer with ease.

All of our premium yoga mats are super convenient and extremely durable. The Breathe yoga mat is the ideal mat for Bikram or Hot yoga at your local studio, or as a travel yoga mat. Its high quality materials and hand-made design make it the bestcotton yoga mat for any hot yoga enthusiast.

Available as a regular or long yoga mat, each yoga mat comes with a stitched grid for precise foot and hand alignment and doesn’t bunch up. The Breathe hot yoga mat allows you to focus on your practice, not on your mat.

Breathe Mats have graciously offered TWO of my donors to win one of their yoga mats!

Without further ado, the winners are:

#31 - Lee S. & #166 - Melanie P.

5:30 a.m.

5:30 a.m. is here! Three more hours to go!

The first bits of activity are starting to trickle in online. I'm guessing Ethan will be up in a couple of hours. Three more hours to go over here!

5:00 a.m.!

It's officially morning. As in, it won't be long before it starts looking a little light outside. Everyone in this house is still fast asleep. I'm just sitting here with a glass of water (I can't handle anymore caffeine from any source right now -- I was craaaaaaaaashing!) and a DVR filled with Roseanne episodes. There are two giveaways left (one at 6, one at 8). 3 1/2 hours to go!

My observations of the internet at 5 a.m. would be that no one has updated Instagram, Twitter or Facebook in far, far too long. I'm running out of social media accounts to linger on as the time ticks on and on. I suppose the world will be waking up shortly!

fizzbutter giveaway

From Fizzbutter's website:

"We focus on moisturizing bath bombs with unrefined Shea Butter as the star. To get the maximum healing benefits of shea butter you want to use products like FizzButter bath bombs that feature unrefined shea butter vs. the more common refined shea.

If you love unrefined Shea Butter like we do, you'll especially enjoy how soft your skin feels as warm bathwater & warm skin give the Shea the perfect opportunity for maximum absorption.

Our bath fizzies are sulfate free and all of our fragrances are phthalate free."

Fizzbutter's bath bombs are not only made with unrefined shea butter, but also contain natural ingredients like grapeseed oil and cocoa butter to ensure your skin stays moisturized and soft! Fizzbutter's bath bombs are also made with amazing fragrance oils -- my personal favorite being the Meditation Bomb...or the Lullaby Bomb. It's too hard to choose just one favorite!

Which is why Fizzbutter are offering one of my donors the chance to win a set of the 12 BEST SELLING BATH BOMBS -- a $45 value!

To do some shopping or browsing of Fizzbutter's bath bombs and other amazing bath products, visit Fizzbutter's website! Be sure to check them out on Facebook, too!

Without further ado...the winner is...

#84 - Shameka J.

four o'clock

It's four, which means four and a half more hours to go. My brain feels a little turned off and incoherent, so suffice to say I'm running out of insightful things to say as the hours tick on. Still, I have to admit that I'm actually feeling a lot better this year than last year. Or so I remember. I recall last year being even harder, probably because Ethan still wasn't sleeping through the night and we were exhausted around here. Staying positive -- exhaustion can wait for tomorrow!

it's 3:30 a.m.!

When Ethan does his nebulizer treatments, he likes to watch certain music videos. We don't really do TV at home, so these are always special treats for Ethan. With the endless possibilities out there, Ethan's favorite breathing treatment video to watch? That would be anything by Hanson.

MMMBop. Where's The Love. Weird.

These Hanson videos during nebulizer time totally started Ethan's love for music videos. These days, it's an even mix between Hanson and New Found Glory videos.

And, of course, there's always time for:

George. :)

because it can't be 3 a.m. without it

Hello, 3 a.m.

Good to see you.

2:30 a.m.!

It's 2:30 a.m.!

Only six more hours to go until this year's Blogathon comes to a close. I'm slightly curious if poor Ethan will be up for the morning before I even finish and what he will think of his crazy mama, still parked on the couch where he left me when he went to sleep. Since it's late and I'm all sentimental and delirious, can we talk about what a big boy he is now? He's mostly shed his naps entirely, give or take if we have a super busy and active day where he just crashes in the afternoon for a little while. Bedtime is easier than it's been for most of his life now that he's a big boy in his big boy bed, and it's adorable when he wakes up in the morning toting his Scout doggie under one arm and his beloved "baby boy" (as he calls him) under the other arm. His first words each morning are usually pointing out the presence of his toy friends and wanting us to congratulate them on sleeping through the night in a big boy bed. Always his dog and baby boy first, himself second. He is such a sweet little boy -- no longer a baby, though when I call him a big boy he's quick to point out he'll always be mommy's baby. If there's something I want him to always know, it's that.

And how while one person can't save the world, they can help make a difference -- in someone's life, like all of YOU GUYS have done during this Blogathon. I'm so elated over how well this year is going -- all thanks to YOU, and my sweet little dude snoozing soundly in his big boy bed.

yogi tea giveaway

Yogi Teas combine over 100 botanicals and spices from around the globe to create 60 delicious varieties of green, black and herbal teas. All Yogi teas are made with natural ingredients, many of which are certified organic.

The purposefully chosen herbs and botanicals in Yogi teas can help you greet each day feeling more focused and alive. Yogi's philosophy is rooted in Ayurveda, which combines natural therapies with a balanced approach to overall health and well-being.

Browse Yogi Tea's amazing collection of natural teas on their website and visit them on Facebook, too!

Yogi Tea have graciously offered one of my donors the opportunity to win a case of assorted Yogi teas!

And the winner is...

#156 - George P.

1:30 a.m.

It's 1:30 a.m.! Ten years ago, this would just be the time to be getting home. Not so much now. It's funny how times change. Tonight I'm patting myself on the back for still being awake and conscious at 1:30 a.m.

Wins all around.

1:00 a.m.!

Everyone around me is SLEEPING and I'm just sitting here, guzzling caffeine. (There will likely be a day when Ethan will question my NO SODA IN THE HOUSE rule. Today is not that day. Let's forget this ever happened after tomorrow, okay? ;)) My cats are snoring. I'm watching Ethan sleep on the baby monitor. My husband retreated to bed after I threatened his life if he kept falling asleep on the couch next to me.

BUT I'M STILL GOING!

kidfresh giveaway!

KidFresh meals are one of the most popular selections at our local health food store. Each time we're there, there's always some parent (with or without a child present!) stocking their cart with KidFresh meals. If you're unfamiliar, each KidFresh meal is all-natural, socially responsible and even packaged in BPA-free and green packaging. Bonus: they taste delicious! (Trust me. I've tried them all.) There's also another hidden bonus in each KidFresh meal:

Yep, hidden veggies in each meal -- and nothing artificial. At all. If you take a look at the Totally Twisted Pasta with Meatballs, you'll see it contains absolutely no transfats or artificial ingredients and, instead, contains tomatoes, carrots and sweet potatoes blended in the natural marinara sauce. Each meal has it's own healthy ingredient and hidden vegetable list -- with nothing artificial ever added.

the Muy Cheesy Quesadillas are Ethan's favorite!

To learn more about KidFresh, visit their website and keep up with them on Twitter or Facebook, too!

KidFresh have generously offered one of my donors the chance to win FIVE FREE MEAL coupons for your little ones -- which means a week off of cooking for you. (Cue my jealousy over here!) Without further ado...the winner is...

#182 - Silvia K.

It's SUNDAY!

Happy Sunday! It's officially Sunday. Success!

I just have to make it until 8:30 a.m.! These are always the trickiest hours for me. What can I say? I'm not as young as I used to be. We still have FIVE more giveaways to go coming up, too!

Thank you for the support -- and if you find yourself awake in the middle of the night, don't be afraid to stop by and say hello. My brain needs to stay busy!

11:30 p.m.!

Well, it says coffee...

Oh man, this is the last post before it's midnight and thus officially SUNDAY! Everyone else is finally asleep, even the cats, but I'm not letting anything get me down!

Actually, this Blogathon has made me very productive. In the hours I've been sitting at the computer, I've already managed to plan Ethan's entire letter L tot school curriculum. (Sweet!) Let's see how far ahead I can get.

Anyone else still awake out there?!

truly sanctuary giveaway

So, it's likely no secret I'm totally crazy about Truly Sanctuary. I'd admit how frequently I browse and bookmark things I love in their boutique but then I'd look a little crazy. (Not that I don't already -- you know, staying up all night and all.) Let's just let Ethan looking beyond adorable in his Truly Sanctuary "I'm Into Zen" tee do the talking:

(The shirt! The shoes! The skinnies! The I can't believe my big boy was that little once!) Anyway, Truly Sanctuary is amazing apparel store on Etsy that carries amazing clothing for infants up to adults. Each item in their store is cooler than the next.

Do yourself a favor (you'll thank me later) and browse their shop on Etsy. You'll fall in love. I do. Regularly! TrulySanctuary are on Facebook, too!

In honor of the Blogathon, TrulySanctuary have generously offered TWO of my donors the opportunity to win any item of their choosing from their shop! (Beyond amazing, right?!)

Without further ado, the winners are...

#10 - Deborah B. & #86 - Meghan H.