As Ready As I’ll Ever Be

2 years after we got married, my husband and I were ready to have kids. We had planned for my maternity leave, living arrangements, baby registry, out of town visits from grandparents, names, everything. We were so ready because we knew we had thought of everything. Except we hadn’t. Never in all our planning did we imagine the possibility of having a baby born with life threatening health issues. We never thought of lengthy hospital stays, long work absences and all the expenses and emotional tolls that come with having a very sick baby. We weren’t ready. 

Thankfully my daughter had life saving surgery and is now a happy and healthy 6 year old. Thankfully we live in a country where an extended hospital stay doesn’t equal bankruptcy. Thankfully we survived, thrived and most importantly learned exactly how to be ready when it was time for our second child to come along! We learned that you can’t simply plan for all the things on your neat little checklist, but that you have to have a contingency fund for all of those things you would never dream of putting on the list. 

 

This is #MyDoor that opened up my world to life with 2 girls and the amazing power of sibling love. What is your door? What doors have been an important part of your past? Which ones are you excited about now or are planning for in the future? Share your door and you will be entered to win $2,500 in Manulife’s Share & Win contest!  All you need to do is post a photo on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram of a physical door in your past, present and/or future and tell us why it’s important to you using the hashtags #ManulifeReady and #MyDoor. Manulife will share some of their favourite stories on Facebook and Twitter so don’t forget to connect with Manulife on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and make sure to check back to see if you have been featured. See full contest rules below. 

 

 

Not only are they hosting Manulife is hosting a Twitter party with Shannon (@ShashersLife) from Shashers Life and Jennifer (@HartGalla) from Mom Dad and cuppa Kids  on Tuesday March 24th at 9pm ET. They will be chatting about how we can really be ready for the opportunities that life brings PLUS there will be prizes so you definitely don’t want to miss out!

We can’t anticipate every little thing that life throws our way, but we can make plans so that we’re ready no matter what life brings! 

MANULIFE SHARE AND WIN CONTEST RULES

For Canadian residents only (excluding Quebec)

There is 1 prize available to be won, consisting of 1 (one) $2,500 cash prize

The Contest is organized by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (“Manulife”) and the Contest entry period is March 16, 2015 9:00 AM Eastern Time ‘ET’ to 12:00 AM Eastern time ‘ET’ on March 22, 2015 inclusively (the “Contest Period”).

1. HOW TO ENTER 

In order to enter the Contest you must: (1) Have a Twitter, Facebook or Instagram account, (2) Become a follower of @manulife on Twitter, “Like” the Manulife Facebook page and  follow Manulife on Instagram (3)  Post a photo of a physical door in your past, present and/or future and explain why it is important to you  tag the photo with the hashtag #ManulifeReady (4) Conform, as applicable, to the Twitter restrictions (140 characters including a #), Facebook requirements and Instagram rules and (5) Follow the Twitter Rules found at twitter.com, Facebook terms of use at facebook.com or the Instagram terms of use at instagram.com as applicable.

Contest Photos must meet the following criteria:

1. The photo must be original and taken solely by you, modifying someone else’s work is not considered an original photo for the purposes of this Contest.
2. It must not violate the rights of any third party. For example, your photo must not violate the copyrights of another party, or defame, infringe or violate publicity or privacy rights of any person, living or deceased, or contain disparaging remarks about Manulife or its products.
3. Your photo must not contain trademarks, logos, or trade dress owned by anyone other than Manulife, or advertise or promote any brand or product of any kind.
4. The photo cannot have been published, used commercially, submitted to another competition or contest, or won any other award.
5. Your photo must be in good taste and in keeping with the Manulife’s image as determined by Manulife, in its sole and absolute discretion.

No purchase is required.

Limit: Only one entry per person. Duplicate entries or entries made by one person using multiple social media accounts will be disqualified. Entries including hashtags that are not relevant to the contest or Manulife may be disqualified.

Deadline for entering: Deadline for entry is 12:00 AM Eastern Time March 22, 2015

Only entries reviewed by Manulife will be considered.  Proof of post or tweet transmission shall not constitute proof of receipt.  The sole determinant of time for valid entry in this Contest will be the Contest administrator.  Manulife reserves the right to refuse any entry in its absolute discretion.

2. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The Contest is open to individuals who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents residing in Canada and who have reached nineteen (19) years of age at the time of he/she enters the contest, except for those individuals who (i) reside in Quebec or (ii) are Manulife and/or its affiliates’, suppliers’ or service providers’ directors, officers, or employees, as well as those with whom such individuals are domiciled with.

3. DESCRIPTION OF PRIZE: There is 1 prize available to be won, consisting of 1 (one) $2,500 cash prize

4. SELECTION PROCESS :

A random draw will be made from all of the entries of photos that include the #ManulifeReady hashtag and meet the other stated criteria.  The odds of a participant’s entry being selected for a Prize depend on the number of eligible entries received before 12:00 AM Eastern Time ‘ET’ on March 22, 2015.

5.CLAIMING OF PRIZE

The winner will be notified by direct message on Twitter, Facebook or a comment on Instagram and then emailed with instructions twenty-four (24) hours following the selection and shall claim the Prize according to the provided instructions within forty-eight (48) hours after the email was sent.

To be declared the winner, Manulife may ask you to verify that you meet the eligibility requirements in Section 2 of these Contest Rules, and may require you to provide proof or identification, and you must correctly answer, without assistance of any kind a time limited the mathematical skill-testing question provided by Manulife.

Failure to comply with one of the conditions mentioned in these Contest Rules or to accept the Prize will cause the selected participant to be disqualified. In such a case, Manulife may, at its sole discretion, hold a new draw or make a new selection based on all other eligible entries until a participant is selected and declared a winner, or cancel the Contest.  In the event that no participant has been declared a winner after three attempts, Manulife may, at its sole discretion, cancel the Contest, in whole or in part.

No other substitutions are permitted except at the discretion of Manulife who reserves the right to substitute a rewards/prize of comparable or greater value if the Prize are unavailable or cannot be awarded as described for any reason.  The winner of the Contest must accept the Prize as awarded to him/her. Any and all taxes (including any federal or provincial sales taxes), costs, fees, expenses, or any other charges on the Prize are the sole responsibility of the winners of the Contest.

6. PERSONAL INFORMATION

When winning the Contest, certain personal information may be required to collect the Prize (e.g. last name, first name, e-mail address, address, and phone number). Such required personal information will be used to verify the winner’s identity. Such personal information may also be used to provide Manulife with information on customer needs, product design, market demand, etc. (Collectively, referred herein as “Purpose”) Personal information will not be used for any other purpose other than the Purpose.

All personal information collected from participants will be handled in accordance with the terms and conditions of Manulife’s privacy policy, which can be found here: http://www.manulife.com/public/article/index/0,,lang=en&catId=670002,00.html

By entering into the Contest and providing Manulife with the personal information required, you consent to the collection and use by Manulife of such information for the Purpose.

 7. GENERAL CONDITIONS

Agreement. By submitting an entry, you agree to these Contest Rules.

Applicable laws. Subject to all applicable laws, these Contest Rules govern all aspects of the Contest and bind all participants.

Participant identification. The participant is the person whose name appears on the social media account, and it is to this person to whom the Prize will be awarded if he/she is selected and declared a winner in accordance with Section 5 of these Contest Rules. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of a participant, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the established holder of the social media account associated with the entry.

Verification. Entries are subject to verification and will be declared invalid if they are submitted late or they are otherwise noncompliant. Manulife shall have the right at any time to require proof of identity and eligibility to enter the Contest.  Failure to provide such proof may result in disqualification.

Disqualification. Manulife reserves the right to disqualify a person or to cancel one or several entries of a person who participates or tries to participate in the Contest by using methods that do not comply with these Contest Rules or that are unfair to the other participants (e.g. entry exceeding the authorized limit). Such a person may be reported to the appropriate legal authorities.  Entries that are late or otherwise irregular or that do not conform with or satisfy any or all of these Contest rules will be void. Manulife reserves the right, in its sole discretion; to disqualify any entrant should such entrant at any stage supply untruthful, incomplete, inaccurate or misleading personal details or information.

No Liability: conduct of the Contest. Manulife, its affiliates and its respective directors, officers, employees, agents, independent contractors, supplier or service providers (collectively, “Manulife and its Representatives”) will not be liable for any computer system, software or phone line malfunctions; any loss or absence of network server connections; or any defective, incomplete, jumbled or scrambled computer transmissions or transmission failure by any computer or network that might restrict or prevent participation in the Contest. Manulife and its Representatives will be not liable for any damage or loss caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by the downloading of any software or form or by the transmission of any information in connection with the Contest

Release of Liability: use of the prize. By accepting a Contest prize, the winner: confirms compliance with these rules; acknowledges that the prize is not transferable (except as provided herein) and must be accepted as awarded; consents to the use of his/her name, city of residence, entry, voice, statements, photographs and/or likenesses for publicity, advertising or informational purposes in any medium in any format carried out by Manulife, affiliates or its advertising and promotional agencies, or suppliers; releases Manulife and its Representatives from all liability for damages the winners may suffer following acceptance and use of the Prize, and agrees to sign, if necessary, before taking possession of the Prize, a release to that effect.

By entering this contest you acknowledge that this Contest is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by or associated with Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and any questions, comments or complaints regarding the Contest should be directed to Manulife and not to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.  By participating in this Contest you completely release Twitter, Facebook and Instagram of all liability in relation to injury, damage, or loss that may occur, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from your participation. Any references to Manulife Financial’ s products, services, or offerings, if any, are not to be construed as endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof by any third party.

Contest modification. Manulife reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, modify, suspend or terminate the Contest, in whole or in part, in the event of a virus, computer bug, unauthorized human action, or any other cause beyond its control that could corrupt or jeopardize the administration, security, impartiality or normal course of conduct of the Contest.

Termination of participation in the Contest. In the event that participation in the Contest must be terminated in whole or in part before the end date provided in these Contest Rules (“Early End Date”), Manulife may, at its sole discretion, proceed with the selection among the entries duly received up to and including the Early End Date.

Prize limit. In no event shall Manulife be required to award more prizes than indicated in these Contest Rules or to award a prize otherwise than in compliance with these Contest Rules.

Authorization. Any participant selected for the Prize grants Manulife and their representatives rights to use, if required, their name, image (photo, voice or video) for publicity purposes, without any form of compensation.

Communication with participants. No communication or correspondence related to the Contest shall be exchanged with participants except as provided for in these Contest Rules or at Manulife’s initiative.

Final decision. Any decision by Manulife or its representatives regarding the Contest is final and binding without appeal.

Severability. If a section of the Contest Rules is declared or deemed illegal, unenforceable or invalid by a competent court, that section shall be considered invalid, but all unaffected sections will be applied within the limits of the law.

 This post is sponsored by 360ACCESS on behalf of Manulife Financial. The opinions are my own.