Raisels Review and Giveaway

I like to give my kids little treats in their lunchboxes, but in the interests of good nutrition and dental health I only send candies on special occasions. For the most part I pack them fruit or yogurt or dried fruit or raisins to enjoy once they're done with their lunch. Team Mom recently invited me to try a great new product -- Raisels, "The Fruity Fruit Raisins" -- that is probably the first real fruit-based alternative to candy out there. Read more below to see why:

The Basics
Raisels are a new, healthier alternative to candy from the National Raisin Company. They are rich in antioxidants, fat free, cholesterol free and contain 100% of US RDA for vitamin C. Raisels contain zero sodium, high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners. These fruity flavored golden raisings come in four flavors -- Sour Apple, Sour Orange, Sour Lemon and Sour Peach -- and are available in six-packs of 1.25-oz (25-g) boxes.

The Bongga
Raisels, where have you been all my life? I love these little treats! My kids love these treats! Here's why:

* Even before you remove the plastic wrapping from the six-pack you can smell a heavenly fruity scent.

* Some kids are grossed out by the dark color of raisins, but Raisels are made with golden raisins so they look really nice.

* They really do taste like candy!! My kids are crazy about any kind of sour candy, so Raisels are right up their alley. We all have a different favorite, but they all taste great. My favorite is the Sour Lemon, which tastes exactly like a sour lemon drop. And they have that great chewy texture, so it feels and tastes just like you're eating a sour gummy candy.



After devouring a box each, the kids made me swear I was going to buy more, which I am more than happy to do after all the unopened boxes of raisins that come back home. This is one healthy treat that's destined to become a regular staple in our pantry!

The Blah
Nutrition purists are bound to object to the added sugar in Raisels, but 90% of the sugar in Raisels is actually naturally occurring (remember, grapes do contain fructose, a naturally occurring sugar, which is what makes them sweet!). Here's a comparison of the amount of sugar in Raisels versus similar snacks:

Raisels: 23 g sugar per 35-g serving (.66 grams sugar per gram of product)
Raisins: 20 g sugar per 28-g serving (.71 grams sugar per gram of product)
Yogurt covered raisins: 18 g sugar per 28-g serving (.64 grams sugar per gram of product)
Sweetened dried cranberries: 29.4 g sugar per 42-g serving (0.7 grams sugar per gram of product)
100% all-natural fruit roll-up: 14 g sugar per 21-g serving (0.67 grams sugar per gram of product)

See, Raisels' sugar content is actually the lowest of all of these... and none of the others taste like lemon drops. Yes, Raisels does have a bit of added sugar, but so does most kids' yogurt, and so does chocolate milk. If packing Raisels in my kids lunch boxes gets them to gobble raisins like candy, I'm happy to add Raisels to my list of approved healthy treats (and I was kidding about the gobbling -- everything in moderation, kids, even Raisels and especially candy).


The Bottom Line
Raisels are a great healthy alternative to candies and soft drinks -- they're your kids' best bet when they need to get a sour candy fix!


Win a Raisels Prize Pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a Raisels prize package that includes a variety of Raisels flavors.

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which kind of dried fruit you like best. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.).

1) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates (1 entry).

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (1 entry).

3) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(1 entry).

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Raisels giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

5) Write this on the Raisels Facebook page wall (1 entry):
I entered the Raisels giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

6) Follow Raisels on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
Enter to win a prize pack of @Raisels, the new flavored raisins that taste like candy! @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes #giveaways

7) Join any of the open giveaways on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for every giveaway you've joined).



The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on March 16, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on March 17 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received product samples from Raisels and Team Mom to facilitate this review. I was not paid to review the product or give my opinions.The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- List your Giveaways Here

Welcome to Bonggamom's Friday Finds! I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous today because we're going skiing this weekend. I haven't been skiing in over 15 years, and even then I was just a beginner. I'll need all the luck I can get, so please send me good vibes. On second thought, maybe I'd rather save the luck to help me win some of the great giveaways you guys are posting here. Thanks so much for sharing the links to your giveaways so giveaway addicts like me can find them!

Ralph Lauren Create-Your-Own Polo review and giveaway

Who doesn't love made-to-order clothing? Unfortunately, in this day and age, custom clothing can be prohibitively expensive -- but thanks to Ralph Lauren's Create Your Own collection, you can actually add a personal touch to some of Ralph Lauren's most classic, iconic clothing. As a Ralph Lauren Mombassador (thanks to Mom Central for selecting me!) I had the opportunity to create a unique children's polo shirt for The Pea. Keep reading to find out about my experience (and enter to win a Create Your Own shirt of your own!):

The Basics
The Create Your Own collection offers a wide variety of color combinations, different embroideries, and five unique monograms styles allowing you to customize your favorite Ralph Lauren piece.


The Bongga
Creating a personalized Ralph Lauren piece could not be easier! Just go to RalphLauren.com, click on Men, Women, Children or Baby, then select the Create Your Own category on the left. You'll be presented with an array of styles that you can personalize (depending on which department -- Men/Women/Children/Baby -- you selected), from hats to polo shirts to oxford shirts to dresses to baby onesies to bathrobes.

For our review product, The Pea selected a girl's polo shirt. She was asked to select from two options: our embroidered pony at the chest with matching vintage year at the hem or embroidered monogram at the chest with matching pony at the hem (note: other products have different personalization options; for example the Girls' Pink Pony Stretch Polo shirt lets you have a name embroidered at the back of the shirt).

Then she chose a shirt color, embroidery color and monogram font style. She chose her monogram letters, and that was it! Easy and fun. As The Pea made her selections, the image on the site changed to reflect her selections, so we were able to preview the shirt and see exactly what it would look like.

And here's what it looks like:
I am absolutely in love with The Pea's new Create Your Own shirt! It fits beautifully and makes The Pea look so long and lean. The embroidery on the chest and the hem provide just the right subtle touch. I know I'm biased, but I think The Pea looks even more beautiful than ever, just like an All-American Ralph Lauren model :)

The Blah
I usually whine about Ralph Lauren's high prices, but I think it's totally worth it to get a monogrammed Ralph Lauren shirt. The amazing thing is, the Create Your Own line doesn't cost much more than any of the other items for sale at Ralph Lauren! A regular girls' polo shirt is $35, and the Create Your Own polo shirt is just $39.50.

The Bottom Line
Ralph Lauren's Create Your Own line lets you add a personal touch to a Ralph Lauren classic item at an affordable price.


Win a Children's Create Your Own polo shirt




One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a code that can be redeemed for a free Children's Create-Your-Own shirt online at Ralph Lauren. The code also includes free shipping for the shirt.

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which Ralph Lauren Create Your Own boys or Create Your Own girls product, Create Your Own womens' product or Create Your Own men's product you like best. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.).

1) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates (1 entry).

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (1 entry).

3) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(1 entry).

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Ralph Lauren giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

5) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
Enter to win a Ralph Lauren Children's Create-Your-Own polo shirt on @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes #giveaways

6) Join any of the open giveaways on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for every giveaway you've joined).



The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on March 8, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on March 9 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I am a participant in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for Ralph Lauren and received a Ralph Lauren CYO shirt to facilitate my review. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- List your Giveaways Here

Welcome to Bonggamom's Friday Finds! I'm glad so many of you are finding this to be a useful way to get more traffic to your giveaways. And as a person who loves entering giveaways, I have to admit it's a great, easy way to find out where all the best giveaways are.

Speaking of giveaways, a PR agency recently sent me a link to AOL Travel's new weekly feature -- they will be aggregating all current sweepstakes that offer a trip as a grand prize. The site, called Win a Trip, will be refreshed every week. It's kinda like this Friday Finds, for travel giveaways :) (disclosure: I was not compensated in any form for mentioning this, I just think it's a cool site).

Leapfrog announces the arrival of the LeapPad Explorer

Tech-savvy parents, here's something to look forward to: Leapfrog will be selling a kid-friendly tablet starting summer of 2011! Finally, here's something that might actually make your child leave your iPad/Kindle/Nook alone. How cool is this? I haven't even seen this device yet, but already I'm loving the 5-inch color touchscreen, built-in camera/video and the backward compatibility with the entire Leapster Explorer library.

Here's the press release:

EMERYVILLE, Calif.—Feb. 14, 2011—LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:LF), today announced LeapPad Explorer™, a multifunctional learning tablet that ushers in the next generation of learning, digital reading and personal creativity for children ages four and up, available beginning summer 2011 in global English markets. LeapPad Explorer builds off the success of 2011’s Educational Toy of The Year Award winner, Leapster Explorer™, and is designed to change the way kids learn and play.

LeapPad Explorer is just like an adult tablet, but with endless fun experiences for kids, housed in a durable package. The new device combines the latest technology, educational curricula, and entertainment properties.

“LeapFrog created the first interactive learning experience with our original iconic LeapPad® Learning System in 1998. After 10 years of research into the most proficient ways for children to learn, we are doing it again with LeapPad Explorer,” said Craig Hendrickson, senior vice president and chief product officer for LeapFrog. “LeapPad Explorer is a multifunctional learning tablet that can ignite children’s imaginations and learning, but also handle a little rough and tumble play. This will be the must-have gift for all eager learners.”



MSRP is $99.99 (downloadable games will be priced at $7.99 and game cartridges at $24.99). I think it's time to put your kid's old Leapster 2 system up for sale on Craigslist or Ebay and start making room for this baby! Better start saving up .....

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Press release is provided by Leapfrog and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Spreading happiness

Valentine's Day has come and gone, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't keep spreading the love! One of my favorite chocolate companies, The Hershey Company, has just introduced little drops of happiness -- perfect for sharing -- Hershey’s Drops! They are a new bite-size way to enjoy and share the Hershey’s flavors you love. And to help spread the news (and happiness!) they have teamed up with Twitter Moms to ask bloggers like me how we share happiness with the people around.

Last December I participated in the Yahoo! Motherboard's Ripples of Kindness program, which encourages people to do random acts of kindness in the "pay-it-forward" spirit, and it was so amazing how people found ways to do good and spread happiness. It doesn't have to be a huge thing like donating a million dollars to a shelter, it can be something really small, like paying for someone's bridge toll or donating a warm coat to a shelter, or throwing a party at a homeless shelter, or even letting the car beside you on the highway go in front of you when you line up for your exit instead of angrily honking your horn and giving him the finger! We find ourselves so busy and wrapped up in our own lives, so we sometimes forget that making other people happy can make us happy too!

So, what are some of the ways you like to share a little happiness with people in your life? Here's how I do it:

1) Write little love notes and put them in my kids' lunch boxes.
2) Cut their sandwiches in heart shapes.
3) Text my husband with a little smiley face during the day.
4) Do something nice for someone in my family.
5) Make my husband a cup of tea.
6) Offer to babysit for a friend.
7) Give change to a homeless person.
8) Make dinner for a friend who just gave birth.
9) Turn off the computer and take an extra five minutes to read to my kids.
10) Organize a surprise birthday party (shhh, don't tell Alfie!)
11) Call my parents to say hi.
12) Email photos of the kids to my mother-in-law.
13) Tell a friend how great she looks.
14) Comment on someone's blog.
15) Retweet something you find particularly amusing or witty or profound.
16) Share a friend's blog post on Facebook.
17) Listen sympathetically to a friend's woes.
18) Pick up someone else's candy wrapper and throw it in the trash.
19) Plant a tree (hey, even mother nature needs some love!).
20) Put an extra squirt of hot fudge sauce on your child's ice cream sundae!

Here's to spreading love and happiness all around!

Disclosure: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hershey's blogging program, for a gift card worth $25 and some product. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” . The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to The Best Family Destinations

Alfie and I love traveling. Between the two of us we've probably visited over 200 cities in almost 50 countries, and that's still not enough. If we won the lotto, that's what we'd spend our money on (aside from a couple of motorcycles, tummy tucks and designer shoes, of course) -- travel, travel, travel. We've imbued our children with the same wanderlust; all three kids ask us constantly which new country or city we can visit next.

Traveling with kids always presents an extra challenge, because you obviously want everyone to have a good time. We don't want to spend all our vacations at theme parks, but the last thing we want is to drag tired, whining (or worse, video-game-playing) kids around to yet another museum. So travel these days requires a bit of extra planning. You'd think that all the travel information accessible via internet has made travel books obsolete, but we recently received a review copy of The Complete Idiot's Guide to The Best Family Destinations, and we're finding it to be quite a useful (and entertaining) tool in discovering great family destinations and attractions -- it's giving us some great ideas on where we can travel to next!



The Basics
Planning a family vacation is exciting, but finding a destination that will appeal to multiple ages and interests can be a challenge. While the internet has become a primary tool for vacation planning, helping families decide when to go, how much to spend, what to do once they arrive, etc., it falls short in organizing information in one place that helps families decide where to go in the first place.

In The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to the Best Family Destinations experienced travel writer Kyle McCarthy, with the assistance of traveler reviews from one of the top family travel sites, FamilyTravelForum.com, takes readers through five U.S. regions, Canada, and Mexico, uncovering the top 200 destinations for family travelers. Destination categories include:

· Top theme parks, family beaches, and other outdoor adventures
· The best road trips
· Most accessible national parks, eco-adventures, and recreation areas
· Rich cultural spots, including the best museum, event, or folk culture
· Can’t miss historical sites
· Budget-saving tips and fun facts to keep kids engaged


The Bongga
Here's what I like about the book:

* All the top family destinations are already compiled for you, so it's perfect for non-internet savvy families. But even people who spend their lives surfing the internet (uh, that would be me) can find this book useful -- try Googling "family travel" and sorting through the mountain of results, and you'll know what I mean! The true value of this book lies in the fact that it's a wonderful starting point for more in-depth research. You can quickly skim through the book to help you figure out where you want to go, then head to the internet to surf out all the deets. We're already using it to figure out what we want to do when we go to San Diego this August, and we're paying special attention to the attractions in Alaska, our next "dream vacation".

* Based on the recommended family destinations around my part of the world, I think the author is spot on. We've been to a few of the places in Part 6 (San Francisco, Las Vegas, Napa, Kauai, Hoover Dam, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite) and Kyle has really picked out the best of the best. I would heartily second her recommendations for things to do there.

* Best of all, it's in an easy-to-read format that the kids really enjoy. Call me old-fashioned, but I'd much rather give this to my kids to read than let them loose on the internet (can you imagine the results they would get for Las Vegas??). The Pea LOVES reading this book! She knows we probably won't get to see everything she reads about, but that's okay. It's giving her an idea of all there is to do and see around the US, Mexico and Canada, and it's feeding her love of travel even more. I have a feeling she's going to have some strong opinions when we start planning our next vacation -- and Alfie and I couldn't be happier.


The Blah
This may be nit-picky, but I don't like the title of the book. I think it's somewhat misleading -- it should read "The Best Family Destinations in North America", or something that reflects the fact that we're only talking about the US, Canada and Mexico. After all, there is literally a whole world of amazing family destinations around the world! Speaking of which, I'd love an international travel edition of this book.....


The Bottom Line
The Complete Idiot's Guide to The Best Family Destinations is a great resource book for families who are starting to plan their vacations, or just dreaming about one!

Disclosure: I received a review copy of the book in order to facilitate my review. I was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Make a Healthy Start in your Grocery Cart

Okay, Valentine's Day is over, so now that I've pigged out on chocolates and wine and fine restaurant food, I have no more excuse to fill my body with junk! Okay, that's not true: I actually didn't pig out on any of those foods (although I did indulge in some dark-chocolate covered strawberries, we had dinner at home last night and didn't consume any alcohol). But it is true that I'm determined not to fill my body with junk. I've made a commitment to healthier eating, remember? I'm taking the 29-Day Eat Right America Challenge and Whole Foods is helping me get started -- and they want to help *you* get started, too, with free 30-day access to nutritional tools and emails if you sign up by March 31, 2011 (see my previous post for details). It's all part of Whole Foods' Health Starts Here™ initiative, which offers products, education, practical tools and wellness resources to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Health Starts Here is all about four pillars of healthy eating:
1) Whole, unprocessed foods
2) A plant-strong diet
3) Healthy fats
4) Nutrient-dense foods

If you eat foods that meet those four standards, not only will sticking to the 29-Day Challenge be a breeze, you'll be well on your way towards a healthy lifestyle! But seriously, it's intimidating. Which foods meet those standards, and which don't? How in the world does one get started?

To get me started on the path to healthier eating, Whole Foods invited me to take a special grocery tour. The manager of my local Whole Foods store, Perry, took me around and showed me some of the ways that Whole Foods is helping customers learn more about healthy eating and make better food choices.

I never noticed it before, but Health Starts Here signage is all over Whole Foods! It's in the posters, on the signboards, on the shelf labels.




Foods that meet the Health Starts Here standards are clearly labeled throughout the store.




In case you're worried that eating the Health Starts Here way means slaving away for hours in the kitchen, Whole Foods has a section filled with prepared foods that meet Health Starts Here standards.



To help consumers choose the healthiest foods, select items around the store are scored according to the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) scoring system (see the ANDI scores printed on the signs, circled in green?).



Foods in the produce section have their ANDI scores printed on their signs, so customers get an idea of how much nutrition they are getting when they eat that food. The higher the ANDI score, the more nutrient dense (i.e. the more nutrients per calorie).


Here are more ANDI scores. Did you know that kale, watercress and collard greens have the highest ANDI score possible, 1000? They are nutrition powerhouses, and I'm going to have to learn how to make meals with them!




Other foods have information signs about the nutrients they contain and the health benefits you can enjoy when making these foods a part of your diet.


The tour was a great educational experience and I wish every shopper could get a private tour like mine! Even if you can't, bear in mind, that everyone at Whole Foods has been trained on the Health Starts Here principles, so they (or the store manager) can answer any questions you have about Health Starts Here, ANDI scores, and the like. And you can always start with the Pantry Basics List on the Health Starts Here section of the Whole Foods website.

Speaking of the Pantry Basics List, the final part of my Whole Foods tour was a tour of a shopping cart -- specifically, a the kind of shopping cart that's going to help me meet the 29-Day Eat Right America Challenge. Perry showed me the kinds of foods I should be putting in my grocery cart to make sure I'm following the Health Starts Here principles -- basically all the itmes on that Pantry Basics List, plus a ton of fruits and vegetables thrown in for good measure. Here's what was in the cart:


Fruits & Veggies: carrots, celery, kale, red bell pepper, romaine lettuce, baby spinach, blueberries, limes, tomato, broccoli, bananas (hidden behind the broccoli), lemons, avocado, apples, oranges, grapefruit)


Legumes & Grains (clockwise, from top: pinto beans, black beans, white beans, steel cut oats, whole grain quinoa, whole grain long brown rice, green lentils)



Nuts & Dried Fruit: (clockwise, from top: raisins, almonds, cashews, dates, walnuts, sunflower seeds)

To my surprise and delight, I also found out that a healthy grocery cart can include canned and boxed grocery items! The last thing I want to do is shop for food every day, so it's nice to know I can stock up my pantry with staples like these:

Bottom row, L-R:
Whole wheat pita bread, organic whole wheat penne pasta, organic frozen berries, organic whole wheat spaghetti

Middle row, L-R:
Organic diced tomatoes, garbanzo beans, black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, organic tomato paste, organic dijon mustard, organic almond butter, organic sesame tahini paste

Top row, L-R:
Whole grain cereal flakes, organic flaxseed, organic apple cider vinegar, organic vegetable broth, amino liquid, organic soymilk, gluten-free tamari soy sauce, multigrain bread, organic almond milk



Doesn't all that food look amazing?? And it's not because of my genius for photography; it's just because everything is so fresh and wholesome. There are a ton of foods I have never ever cooked with before: kale, quinoa, tahini paste, and just having them in my kitchen makes me eager and excited to try cooking with them. I only hope the kids and Alfie enjoy the results! Will they? Won't they? Stay with me as I continue this series of healthy eating posts over on Finding Bonggamom -- I'll be cooking, eating and blogging my way through the 29-Day Eat Right America Challenge!

Disclosure: As a thank-you for posting about the Health Starts Here Program and Eat Right Challenge, Whole Foods has generously provided all the groceries you see in the photos above. No other form of compensation was given for this post. Any future posts about these programs are neither reqyested, compensated, or expected by Whole Foods. Program information is provided by Whole Foods and is clearly indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Amira Mor's Belly Dancing Fitness DVDs

If you've been reading my blog these days you'll know that I'm making an effort to incorporate more exercise into my weekly routine, and one strategy for doing that was to do more dancing. I've started taking Zumba classes, and just that one weekly class has gotten my dancing juices rolling. I'm already thinking about other dance classes I'd love to take -- tap, jazz, hip-hop, even belly dancing and pole dancing! Due to time and finance constraints, I probably won't be taking more than one (or at the most, two) dance classes at any point in time.

Fortunately, there's a wealth of dance and fitness DVDs out there that you can buy and try at home. They're so inexpensive compared to signing up for a class, you can work out and learn in your own home, and you can alternate DVDs so you never get bored! If you're a self-motivated kind of person, dance and fitness DVDs are a great option.

I actually received a couple of belly dancing DVDs to review late last year, but I wanted to wait until I was sure that these DVD's would actually be good enough to become a part of my regular fitness routine before I gave them the thumbs-up. It was definitely worth the wait, because I've been working out to one of them fairly regularly (i.e. I'm trying to work out to a fitness DVD 1-2 times per week, and I've been using the Belly Dancing DVD 2-4 times per month), and I think they're great!


The Basics
I received Vol. 2 (Belly Dance for Fitness) and Vol. 4 (Belly Dance for a Total Body Workout) of Amira Mor's Belly Dance DVD series. Amira Mor is a reknowned belly dancer (we actually got one of her Behind the Veil DVDs a couple of years ago because we wanted to show the kids how beautiful belly dancing) who has the #1 belly dancing DVD series on Amazon.

Here are some brief descriptions of the titles I received:

Belly Dance for Fitness
This DVD is the ABC s of belly dance, aimed at using the art of the dance for a well-rounded fitness program. Amira Mor and the Jewels of the Nile bring the energy of a live class into the privacy of your home. Amira breaks down the sensual movements of belly dance to the most basic and easy to understand instructions. You will be guided through step-by-step of body isolations, the fundamental building blocks to the beauty of belly dance. Amira shares with you the tips and secrets that make belly dance the perfect combination of feminine sensuality and fitness. Amira Mor is an internationally renowned belly dancer, choreographer, producer, and certified fitness instructor as well as the director of the Jewels of the Desert Dance Company.


Belly Dance for a Total Body Workout
NO MORE SUFFERING WITH BORING EXERCISE! Amira brings her classroom into your home with 20 students from ages 6 to 66. Amira and her students guide you through her innovative, state of the art, fat burning and body toning workout for every part of your body. This DVD is for you if you want to lose weight, flatten your belly, firm your butt, hips and thighs, sculpt a curvy body, increase your energy level, build stamina, improve muscle strength, balance your emotional stability, look and feel younger. You will definitely have "Mor" fun and success with this total body workout.


The Bongga
Here's what I love about the DVDs (note: I'm going to focus on Vol. 4: Belly Dance for a Total Body Workout, because it's the one I regularly do. Vol. 2: Belly Dance for Fitness is also great, but it's more appropriate for people who are having difficulty with the belly dance movements)

* The people in the workout are Real People, not perky, toned models who you know you'll never ever look like, even if you shimmied from here to eternity. Don't worry, you still have the gorgeous body of Amira and some of the younger dancers to inspire you -- but the point is, there are also other women of all shapes and sizes. There's even a little girl of about 8 or 9! Having all these students there makes you feel like the workout is not too out of reach; if they can do it, so can you.

* Both DVDs give you a great workout! You might think belly dancing looks easy -- for the first five minutes. The rest of the time you'll be doing some killer isolations that really work your arms, core muscles and legs. The first time I did the workout, my arms felt like they were going to fall off! And I still can't go down as low as Amira and her students do when they do hip rolls with bent knees. Doing the movements when the tempo speeds up is really challenging, and that's what keeps me interested and engaged. I can definitely feel my muscles toning up, and combined with my Zumba workout I'll soon be ready to rock the dance clubs! Okay, maybe not, but I'm more in tune with my body, and that makes me happy.


The Blah
Here's what I think could be improved:

* The quality of the Vol. 4 DVD leaves a lot to be desired. While Belly Dance for Fitness was filmed on a simple set with beautiful middle eastern-inspired backdrop, with scarves and drapes, Belly Dance for a Total Body Workout is set in a gym classroom. You can even see people sweating it out on the treadmills and stair climbers through the glass windows! It's totally distracting and it looks like they couldn't be bothered to pay for a proper set.

* I personally found the video easy to follow, but I've seen reviews that complain the movements are too advanced. Maybe it's because of my dance background. If you're having trouble , I'd recommend starting with Vol. 2, Belly Dance for Fitness. In that video, Amira takes it much slower and goes into more detail for each movement. Also, if you have a full-length mirror, you might want to set it up beside your TV, so you can see your own body and try to match your movements to Amira's.


The Bottom Line
Amira Mor's Belly Dance DVD's are a fun and effective addition to your DVD workout repertoire!

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review. I was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

PediaCare Cold and Fever products review and giveaway

It's no fun watching your child suffer through a cold or fever. I'm not one of those parents who will keep a child home at the first sign of a sniffle, but when they have a bad cold or the flu, I can't stand to see them wheezing and coughing through the night, or so feverish during the day that they don't even want to play. At times like those I'd cut off my right hand to ease their misery, but fortunately I don't have to -- because I can help them be more comfortable with over-the-counter medications like the PediaCare line of children's products.

The Basics
I was sent samples of PediaCare's Children's Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever and Children's Fever Reducer/Multi Symptom Cold, both with acetaminophen. They are some of the latest products in PediaCare's line of products -- with and without acetaminophen -- for children and infants. They sell for about $6.99 for a 4 oz. bottle, and are available at drugstores, supermarkets and retailers nationwide.

Here's more information about PediaCare:
Statistics show that preschool-aged children have around nine colds per year, kindergartners can have 12 colds per year and adolescents have about seven colds per year (cold season runs from September through March/April).

This could potentially mean a lot of days off from school or missed days from work for mom and dad! We can’t keep the kids home every time they have a runny or stuffy nose with an occasional cough but the question most of us are faced with is what products are safe and effective for our children; helping to keep them comfortable while they fight the cold.



Introducing, the PediaCare® line of products – with and without acetaminophen -- for children and infants – which address most sick-child situations: cough, cold, allergy, flu, congestion, fever and pain. Product offerings, in kid-pleasing flavors, match the formulations of the recent recall of children’s Tylenol products. In particular, PediaCare Infant and Children’s fever and pain reducers are a great solution for moms wanting a branded acetaminophen alternative

The Bongga
I have bought PediaCare cold and fever products with acetaminophen for my daughter ever since she was a baby. I love that PediaCare has so many different formulations, so you can choose the right product for your child's age and symptoms -- even when my daughter was a baby, PediaCare had a product safe for her to use! I'm still on the fence about whether cold medicines actually help reduce the sniffles, but over-the-counter children's medicines for pain and fever definitely do work, and PediaCare Infants and Children's Fever Reducers have certainly done a lot to ease my kid's fevers and pains throughout the years.

If you're unsure about which over the counter medicines to purchase, you can go to the PediaCare website to check your child's symptoms and match them with the right PediaCare product. They even have a free iPhone app you can download to help you choose the best product for your child. It's not a diagnostic tool, but it has lots of information to help you with your decision. And once you've bought the product, it's so helpful to have the dosing instructions clearly labeled according to age and weight.


The Blah
Unfortunately, two of my kids have been advised by our pediatrician to avoid acetaminophen and aspirin due to an inherited condition, so ibuprofen is my pain/fever reliever of choice for them. PediaCare is a brand that I know and trust, so I'd love it if they also have children's cold and fever products with ibuprofen.

The Bottom Line
You can trust PediaCare's line of products to help alleviate most common symptoms thatyour sick kids suffers from -- so he can get back on his feet.


Win a set of cold and fever products from PediaCare
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive:

	* 1 bottle of PediaCare® Children's Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever (cherry or grape flavor; ages 2-11)
	* 1 bottle of PediaCare® Children's Fever Reducer Plus Multi-Symptom Cold (ages 6-11; okay for ages 4 & 5 with dosage directed by pediatrician)

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share a tip on how to keep your child comfortable when he or she is suffering from a bad cold. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.).

1) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates (1 entry).

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (1 entry).

3) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(1 entry).

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the PediaCare giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

5) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
Win a set of PediaCare children's cold & fever products from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes #giveaways

6) Join any of the other open giveaways on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for each giveaway joined).




The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on March 2, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on March 3 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!




Disclosure: I received a product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies Review and Giveaway

Bran muffins, beans and brown rice are hardly the quintessential foods of childhood, but maybe they should be. I was recently informed by Pedia-Lax that research has shown 90% of kids don’t get the recommended about of fiber in their daily diets. In fact, did you know a four-year-old child should consume 25 grams of fiber daily, while an 11-year-old boy needs at least 31 grams? That's a lot of bran muffins!

I do try to give my kids lots of high-fiber foods like whole-wheat bread, oatmeal, fruits and veggies, as well as yogurt with active cultures to keep them regular, but constipation seems to run in the family so it's always a challenge. We have a children's laxative powder from our pediatrician but I think fiber from natural foods is best, so we haven't really used it too often. Still, I think that taking a fiber supplement to fill in the gaps is not a bad idea, especially when it's as easy to give to my kids as Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies. Keep reading to see what we thought of the sample that Pedia-Lax gave us (and to enter to win a bottle of your own!):



The Basics
Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies are a chewable fiber supplement for kids ages 2-11. They are sugar, calorie and gluten free, and can be taken daily. They cost about $7.99 for a bottle of 60 gummies and are available online, at Walmart, CVS, Target and Walgreens, and other supermarkets and retailers nationwide.

Here's more information about Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies:
While food options are the best, Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies, a tasty, daily fiber supplement that helps kids ages 2-11 stay regular and maintain better digestive health*, are a great way to supplement the fiber found in fruits, vegetables and other fiber-rich foods. A recent recipient of the PTPA Seal of Approval, the dentist-approved, sugar, calorie and gluten-free fiber gummies are a great way to help bridge the gap between the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations and the actual amount of fiber a child consumes each day. One daily serving of three Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies provides 6 grams of fiber, the amount of fiber equivalent to 21 spears of asparagus!


The Bongga
Here's why I like Fiber Gummies: they have as much fiber as 21 spears of asparagus, 2 boiled potatoes with skins on, or a cup of corn. I can barely get 21 spears of asparagus into my own body, let alone my kids' bodies! So it's nice to know that even if they don't get enough fiber in the foods they eat, their daily dose of Fiber Gummies will make up the difference.

Here's why my kids like Fiber Gummies: They look, chew and taste great. Period. So I have less than zero problems getting them to take this fiber supplement (which is more than I could say if it had come in the form of, say, some disgusting powder that you mix into their juice. As far as they are concerned, these are like candy. They look like candy (Fiber Gummies score big, big originality points for coming in cute penguin shapes and unusal colors like pink and purple), they have that satisfying gummy chew, and they taste like candy. They ask for one every day, and I'm sure they'd gobble the whole bottle down if it didn't have that crucial child-safe top.


The Blah
I wish the gummies also had some other nutrients in it so my kids wouldn't have to take a separate multivitamin. They don't care, of course: the more gummies they get, the happier they are, but it would be a lot more convenient to give them fiber, vitamins and minerals in a single chew!

The Bottom Line
Pedi-Lax Fiber Gummies are a great way to ensure kids get all the fiber they need.



Join the Keep Kids Moving Sweepstakes


Now through March 27, 2011, you can visit www.fibergummies.com to enter the Pedia-Lax® Fiber Gummies “Keep Kids Moving” sweepstakes for a chance to win one of four prize packages, including a grand prize that includes the Endless Fun 11-in-1 Inflatable Bounce House and Waterslide and Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle or Playstation Move Bundle and a $100 Walmart gift card to buy age appropriate games. You can find more details and official rules at the Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies Web site.



Win a bottle of Fiber Gummies
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a bottle of Fiber Gummies daily kids' fiber supplement from Pedia-Lax.


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share a tip on how to get more fiber into your kids' diet. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.).

1) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates (1 entry).

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (1 entry).

3) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(1 entry).

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Fiber Gummies giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

5) Write this on the Fiber Gummies Facebook page wall (1 entry):
I entered the Fiber Gummies giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

6) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
Win a bottle of Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies from @fibergummies @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes #giveaways

7) Follow Fiber Gummies on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
RT @bonggafinds Join the @fibergummies Keep Kids Moving sweepstakes! Enter by 3/27/11 www.fibergummies.com

8) Join any of the other open giveaways on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for each giveaway joined).




The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on March 2, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on March 3 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Be Yummie for Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to all you lovers out there! I knew this Valentine's Day was shaping up to be a good one when I was invited to try out Yummie Tummie's Sexy Camie Tank and Pantie set. It was such a nice V-Day surprise, both for me and for Alfie!

I own several Yummie Tummie tops, and this camie has that same shaping, slimming, hold-me-in effect -- so it's great to wear underneath your little black dress to smooth out all the lumps and bumps. And should the dress happen to slip off sometime later, you don't have to go through any of the "What if I look fat / Gotta suck my tummy in / Is this too skanky?" agony. If you're self-conscious or shy, this is the set for you. It's sexy and romantic without being too revealing; in fact it's modest enough that I think posting the photos below won't strip my blog of its family-friendly rating!



It may be shapewear, but this certainly isn't your grandma's girdle! There's lace at the top and bottom of the camisole, and all over the matching pantie, so when you wear the set together, it almost looks like a one-piece teddie. The deep red color is beautiful, and wearing it makes me want to sing that song from West Side Story: I Feel Pretty! And I love how it makes my So-Not-A-Supermodel-Body look halfway decent:



I think I would have preferred the pantie to be cut a little bit lower in the hips -- but then it would lose its tummy-tucking powers, so that's a tradeoff that has to be made. Just make sure you wear it with the Yummie Tummie Camie Tank, or if your partner is into pinup girls, go for a merlot-colored vintage cone bra :) In any case, it's a beautiful lingerie set that would make any woman feel special. If you're not wearing one for Valentine's Day, you can still order it online and get free shipping today with the code FREESHIPFEB14 -- think of it as a last-minute present that will make every day Valentine's Day.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone -- no matter what your shape or size, have a Yummie Day!



Here's more information about Yummie Tummie's Camie Tank:
Make your move in our sexy and slimming Camie Tank that you can wear all day long and into your night. Perfect under a summer blouse, especially if it peeks out! Shapewear has never been so sexy and you won’t be able to wait to Show if Off! Chest & Sweep stretch lace 84% nylon and 16% estaine with 3/8" satin adjustable straps. Midsection panel 82% polyester and 18% spandex and regular length.

And here's more information about the Camie Pantie:
The Camie Pantie is a sexy power panty! This All over lace, brief style bottom has an inside layer of power mesh that will slim and smooth you…yet is as comfortable as it is sexy! Lace 84% nylon and 16% spandex, lining 77% nylon and 23% spandex, crotch lining 100% cotton

Disclosure: I received a product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- List your Giveaways Here

This is it, dear readers, Valentine's Day Weekend! I hope you have a great pink, puffy, chocolate-laden weekend with your loved ones. And thanks for sparing a moment to stop by Bonggamom's Friday Finds to leave links to your giveaways. Don't forget to get cracking and enter everyone else's, too!

The Bar Method Pregnancy DVD giveaway

I think ballet dancers have some of the most beautiful bodies in the world -- they are lean and strong, graceful and elegant. And there's nothing quite like a ballet-based workout, which is why I think The Bar Method gets such rave reviews, from Hollywood celebrities to PTA moms. This body-sculpting workout utilizes a ballet bar fitness technique and draws from the principles of isometrics, dance conditioning, interval training, and physical therapy.

I haven't tried any of their classes, but after doing a bit of research, I'm intrigued. They have a studio near my home so I might try a class out! If The Bar Method doesn't have a studio near you, don't worry -- they also sell exercise DVDs, including one for expectant moms. It sounds like a great way to keep fit during pregnancy and get back into shape afterwards!


Win a copy of The Bar Method Pregnancy DVD and a Bar Method Onesie
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a copy of their new Pregnancy Workout DVD and a Bar Method white cotton baby onesie.
Master teacher Lee Potter in her third trimester with twins adds her own special wit and playfulness to the Bar Method’s pre-natal workout, a long-standing and popular class at its flagship studio in San Francisco. Lee leads you through this 45-minute long series of gentle, safe and challenging moves, including free-weight work, thigh exercises, standing seat-work, and abdominal strengthening exercises performed while propped up on pillows. Lee’s fellow performers are Hannah Blue, co-owner of the Downtown San Francisco studio and Lauren Dunning, a teacher at the Downtown San Francisco studio, both appearing in this DVD in their second trimester. As Lee puts it, this DVD “will help you feel strong during your pregnancy, will assist you in delivering your baby, and will snap you right back into shape.” Retail: $20.00


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share how you kept fit and healthy during your pregnancy, or how you plan to, if you're pregnant. If you've never been pregnant and want to win it for a friend, tell me why you think The Bar Method would be a great way to keep fit during pregnancy. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.).

1) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates (1 entry).

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (1 entry).

3) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(1 entry).

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Bar Method giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

5) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
Win a Bar Method pregnancy DVD + Bar Method onesie on @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes #giveaways

6) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for each giveaway you join)


The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 28, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on March 1 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Thanks to KMRPR and The Bar Method for providing the giveaway prize. Product information is provided by KMRPR and is clearly indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Gnomeo & Juliet opens Feb. 11

I've been blogging quite a bit about Valentine's Day recently: what to get, what not to get, what to do, what to eat. Here's another suggestion -- celebrate the holiday by watching the greatest love story of all time, Romeo & Juliet.

No, not the Shakespeare play. Or should I say Gnome, not the Shakespeare play. I'm talking about Disney's latest animated 3D flick, Gnomeo and Juliet. It has all the romantic tension and heartache of the original, with none of the tragedy and 100% more laughs, plus cute porcelain bunnies thrown in for good measure. Yes, I know the tragic ending is what makes Romeo & Juliet such a powerful love story, but come on, this is a family movie -- seeing garden gnomes smashed to bits is all the tragedy that most 4-year-olds need to see. In short, it's just like a chocolate-coated marshmallow heart -- sweet and light and yummy fun for all ages -- but with none of the calories (unless you splurge on an extra-large popcorn).

How do I gnome know this? Because last weekend I had the opportunity to attend an advanced screening of Gnomeo & Juliet. I took my favorite girlfriend, The Pea, with me, and judging by the amount of sobs, giggles and guffaws, the movie had the perfect mix of hilarious and touching moments for kids. I myself confess to more than a few lumps in my throat -- I even caught myself clasping my hands together and thinking Awwwwwww.... during the scene where Gnomeo and Juliet meet and fall in love. I'm sure I had an idiotic grin on my face; I just hope the official-looking movie critic beside me (complete with pad and pencil, furiously scribbling away) didn't notice.


I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The animation is amazing -- they captured all the smudges, stains, chips and scratches you'd see on any lawn ornament. The characters even made little clinking sounds when they moved! The movie is sprinkled with lots of clever gnome, lawn and gardening puns ("Let's kick some grass!"), references to the original Shakespeare play ("What's in a gnome?"), references to other Shakespeare plays ("Out, damned spot!"), even Disney references ("In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room...") -- watching out for them will keep you entertained throughout. And if you're a fan of British cinema you'll be delighted to hear the voices of these famous actors:

* James McAvoy (Atonement) as Gnomeo

* Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada) as Juliet

* Jason Statham (from Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and Transpotter) as Tybalt

* Maggie Smith (from A Room With a View, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Harry Potter and oh-my-god-a-lifetime-of-amazing-performances) as Lady Bluebury

* Michael Caine (from Alfie, The Cider House Rules, and ditto-what-I-said-for-Maggie-Smith) as Lord Redbrick

* Patrick Stewart (from Star Trek, X-Men and pretty much everything to do with the Royal Shakespeare Company) as William Shakespeare

* Ashley Jensen (from Extras and Ugly Betty) as Nanette

* Matt Lucas (from Little Britain) as Benny (Based on original character Benvolio)

* Stephen Merchant (from Extras and The Ricky Gervais show) as Paris

* Ozzy Osbourne (no starring movie roles that I know of, but you may have heard of him) as Fawn


(Funny thing about Ozzy Osbourne and Michael Caine, it didn't matter that you saw a fawn and a garden gnome onscreen, you knew they were Ozzy and Michael right away!)

Oh, and if you have somewhere to rush off to after the movie ends, you don't have to worry that you'll miss one of those funny epilogue scenes that sometimes appear after the last credit rolls -- because you won't. We stayed till the lights came back on and I have to say we were a bit disappointed, although the swirling 3D graphics did keep us mesmerized till the end. So if you're wondering: To See, or Gnot to See? The answer is simple: Take everyone you gnome to Gnomeo & Juliet!


To whet your appetite even more, here's a video with some little-gnome, I mean little known gnome facts:

Disclosure: I was invited to an advance screening of the movie by Disney. No compensation was received for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Fun Valentine's Facts (and a Walmart giftcard giveaway!)

from The Motherhood, Jennifer and Kitty ONeil


While doing research for my Worst Valentine's Day Gifts post on BlogHer, I came across some interesting V-Day statistics:

* Greeting cards top the list of ways people celebrate Valentine's Day (65% of US households), followed by a date night (44%), candy (38%) and flowers (32%).

* There are 120 single men (i.e., never married, widowed or divorced) in their 20's for every 100 single women of the same age.

* There are 33 single men (i.e., never married, widowed or divorced) age 65 or older for every 100 single women of the same age.

* 2.2 million marriages take place in the United States annually. That's over 6,000 a day!



Here are some more fun Valentine's facts sent to me by The Motherboard, a new digital network where women and moms can share great ideas, information, advice and inspiration:


* A Motherboard poll of moms shows that most, 66%, view Valentine’s Day as a fun excuse to eat chocolate, but don’t get upset if their partner comes home empty-handed. Other moms, 17%, absolutely love the holiday and still others, 17%, think it’s way too commercial.

* Topping mothers’ Valentine’s Day list is jewelry, trips, time alone with their husband, spa/beauty packages and gift cards – and of course, flowers and candy!

* Valentine’s Day is primarily romantic for 40%, but it’s also a fun family day, since 28% of moms think the holiday means doing something special for the kids.

* Chocolate is a welcome Valentine’s Day indulgence and moms have lots of strategies for finding the “good” pieces in the box: 24% take a small bite, but put it back if they don’t like it, 21% break the candies in half, 20% like not knowing, 9% poke a hole in the bottom of the chocolate, and the rest have other techniques like reading the liner or guessing based on shape


The Motherboard also shared with me some of the ways moms are making Valentine’s Day “sweet” this year:

* Bake Valentine-themed cookies or cupcakes together
* Decorate adorable and heartfelt cards for loved ones with the kids
* Prepare a dinner featuring each family member’s most “loved” dish

Of course, if you're at a loss, you can always drop by your local Walmart for inspiration. Walmart even has a special section on their website for Valentine's "treats" of all kinds - from candy and jewelry to digital cameras and unique personalized gifts. Check out Walmart's Valentine's section here.

So how are you celebrating Valentine's Day? Share your story with us, and you could win a $25 Walmart gift card!


Win a $25 Walmart Gift Card

To celebrate Valentine's Day, Walmart is offering a $25 dollar gift card to one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share how you plan to celebrate Valentine's Day (if you are entering this giveaway after Valentine's Day, share what you did on Valentine's Day). This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.).

1) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates (1 entry).

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (1 entry).

3) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(1 entry).

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Walmart gift card giveaway! http://ow.ly/3TvsT

5) Write on The Motherboard Facebook page --tell them Bonggamom sent you, and share how you plan to celebrate Valentine's Day (1 entry):

6) Follow The Motherboard (@TheMotherboard1) on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
Win a $25 Walmart gift card from @TheMotherboard1 and @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/3TvsT #giveaways

7) Join any of the open giveaways on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway joined)



The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 28, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on March 1 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!
.

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Thanks to The Motherboard, Walmart and Grand Communications for providing the giveaway prize. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

The Popcorn Factory commemorative SuperBowl XLV tin

How about those Packers? We had so much fun last Sunday watching the Superbowl and pigging out on the yummy food I prepared for our Superbowl Sunday party!

Seven-layer dip, served with tortilla chips
Baked spinach-artichoke dip, served with carrots, celery and pita wedges
Pulled pork sandwiches
Coleslaw
Make-your-own brownie sundaes

It was quite a feast, but The Pea did have one complaint: she wanted popcorn on the menu! I told her we could have popcorn next year -- and since The Popcorn Factory kindly offered to send us their limited edition 3 Gallon Green Bay Packers® Commemorative 3-Way Popcorn Tin, we already have somewhere to put it.


Here's more information about this product:
This 3 Gallon Green Bay Packers® Commemorative 3-Way Popcorn Tin* is the perfect way to celebrate the Packers victory in Super Bowl XLV®! Proclaiming their status as Super Bowl XLV® Champions and proudly displaying their team symbol on one side and the player roster on the other side, every Green Bay Packers® fan will want one. Filled with 3 fabulous flavors of popcorn: Cheesey Cheddar, real buttery Butter, and sweet crunchy Caramel, this will surely score big!

I know from experience that The Popcorn Factory's popcorn is awesome, so it will disappear in a flash, but the tin will be yours forever, to store your game day ticket stubs in or whatever you want. The Popcorn Factory even gave me several suggestions for ways to use your tin until your next Superbowl party rolls around:

1. Fill tin with ice and for a roomy ice bucket or beverage cooler
2. Put lid on tin and use as small seats for a “kids table”
3. Stuff your tin with plenty of napkins, paper towels and wet naps for messes created from the standard Super Bowl snacks like buffalo wings and dips.
4. Pick up a colorful bouquet and place in water-filled tin for a sweet center-piece
5. Offer festive tins as a party favor for your guests



The Green Bay Packers® Commemorative Tin will be available to ship the week of Feb. 16. Quantities are limited, so get it while you can!

Disclosure: The Popcorn Factory is sending me a complimentary Superbowl XLV popcorn tin.. Product information was taken from the Popcorn Factory website. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.