Giveaway: Chicago Girls Night Out Benefitting Go Red For Women

Did you know that my mom has a leaky heart valve? Did you know that my grandmother suffered from a coronary microvalve disease, much of which led to her decline in health and, ultimately, her death? It's genetic. Like as not, this is an issue I'll face, too. I'm not alone, as heart disease is the number one killer of women in America. That comes as a surprise, doesn't it?

I remember the first year I heard this, and mentally I started reeling off diseases that I thought were more prominent, that I heard about more. Well, I may be hearing about them more, but heart disease is what kills us women. February is now National Go Red month that focuses on raising awareness of this oh so frequently silent killer. The American Heart Association is behind the "Go Red for Women" campaign, and there are local events all over the country in support of it.

In Chicago, we have a Girls Night Out at Alhambra Restaurant where all ticket proceeds benefit the "Go Red for Women" campaign. On February 29, you can join Sassy Moms in the City and many others (yours truly included) at an event along with WBBM Newsradio, K-HITS, and B96 from 7-10pm. The $30 ticket price includes red carpet treatment, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, swag bag filled with goodies, mini spa services, a fashion show, and more. Attendees are also encouraged to bring gently used professional shoes and handbags to donate to Dress for Success. Those donations will be accepted from 6-10pm at Alhambra.

I have to say that I attended the event last year, and it was a blast. I can't wait to go this year. And you can join me and Sassy Moms in the City along with WBBM Newsradio, K-HITS and B96 for this fun and charitable event on Wednesday, February 29th. So what do you have to do to win the prize pack? First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

When entering, please be sure you can attend the event on Wednesday February 29 at Alhambra! I don't want this tickets to to go waste.

This contest is open until Thursday February 16 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 24 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner. Winners must be confirmed by February 17.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me: who in your life has been touched by heart disease?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter, then tweeting this contest with the following tweet: "Join @SassyMomChicago at the #GoRed #GNO 2/29 in #chicago. Win tix via #giveaway from @honestandtruly http://bit.ly/zmdWBk #spon" (leave a link to your tweet as your comment and make sure you do all the steps!)
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.
4) Earn one additional entry by liking Honest & Truly! on Facebook. (Yay, it's legal again, so long as you know you have to leave a comment here to enter and that simply liking me isn't the entry, along with acknowledging the fact that Facebook has nothing to do with this giveaway whatsoever.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received two complimentary tickets to attend the event courtesy of Sassy Moms in the City. I was not compensated for this campaign. As always, all opinions expressed remain my own.

Promo: Sassy Moms Night Out - Chicago

There are more charity events out that than I can shake a stick at. If I wanted, I could spend nearly every waking moment at one event or another. And while I do attend my fair share of charity initiatives, I don't have the time or money to attend as many as I'd like.

This one? I'm making time for it on my calendar. WBBM Newsradio 780 and 104.3 JACK FM present Sassy Moms Night Out on February 24th at Alhambra Palace Restaurant in Chicago from 7-10pm. This is in support of the American Heart Association and New Moms, Inc., both charities I greatly admire, but first some quick details on the event itself.

There will be cocktails (Red Martinis by YES Vodka, whoo!) and hors d'oeuvres to sample throughout the evening, plus plenty of pampering. Attendees can experience everything from mini-manicures from Mario Tricoci to Massage Therapy by Access Chiropractic to Hair Consultations by Tony Mondragon. Let's just say that I could use some pampering - and advice.

There's also the opportunity to peruse - and purchase from - the spring collections by Miracle Body Jeans (love love LOVE them!), 1154 LILL Studio (who is also providing a tote to all attendees), NuNu Collection, Jules Artisan Jewelry, and Sabika Jewelry. I fully expect to come home having provided some proceeds to the event that will be passed along to the American Heart Associations Go Red for Women Initiatives.

The red dress and shoes are optional, but it's possible I've purchased four dresses online that will arrive next Tuesday in the hopes that I will have a red dress to wear - that isn't from a 1996 college formal. I'm that excited to be going.

Why?

I love New Moms Inc that aims to take underprivileged adolescent moms and moms to be and helps them craft better lives for themselves and their children. The programs focus on everything from providing stable housing to ensuring children are vaccinated to career programs. It aims to end the cycle of poverty for the participants, and it's doing a great job. Want to help? New Moms Inc is accepting donations of gently used maternity items from 11am-8pm on February 24 at Alhambra.

Want to help? Donate some of those maternity clothes you haven't quite decided what to do with yet - and unfortunately mine are long gone. There are no more babies in my future.

Or hey - come on down to the party on the 24th. There will be lots of awesome women there, including plenty who will be there sans red dress and shoes - so no pressure there. You can RSVP here.

Oh, and did I mention that there's a special guest there, too? She's all part of the fashionable evening filled with mini spa services, shopping and fashion demo/book signing by style expert and author Amy Tara Koch spotlighting how to transform wardrobe basics into of-the-moment looks. And anyone who knows me - or has so much as glimpsed me - knows that I can use the help there.

Every attendee will go home with a signed copy of Bump It Up: Transform Your Pregnancy Into the Ultimate Style. Yes, I certainly could have used that about six years ago. And eight years ago. Oh well! Plus... every attendee will come home with the aforementioned tote from 1154 LILL Studio creation (the "Wendy" reversible tote) filled with more swag.

OH! And a relatively new addition? One lucky attendee will win tickets for 2 to the Toronto Film Festival from Porter Airlines. That's a $3,650 value. Can you imagine how fun that would be? Details on that part here.

So come. Have fun. Hang out with me. And keep up to date on the event by connecting with Sassy Moms in the City on Facebook.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a complimentary ticket to this even for myself and a friend from Sassy Moms in the City. There was no compensation involved. All opinions expressed are my own.