Bonggamom Finds: April 2012

Vicks Starry Night Humidifier

In case your family suffers from spring allergies like mine do, I've got a great tip -- get a humidifier. Humidifiers can really help allergy sufferers, especially in dry climates, because dry air can irritate nasal passageways and stimulate mucus production. We have the Vicks Cool Mist Germfree Humidifier in each of our bedrooms and in the living room, and we run them all night. They really help with Alfie's sinus headaches, 3Po's eczema, Jammy's and my runny, itchy eyes and The Pea's runny nose.

A couple of months ago Vicks hosted an blogger event to feature some products to help moms get through the cold and flu season, such as their Behind the Ear thermometer, cool and warm mist humidifiers and inhalers. We're coming out of the cold and flu season now, but their tips on getting the most out of your humidifier is more relevant than ever during allergy season, so I wanted to share them with you:

* Get a humidity monitor for your room so you know how much moisture you should be adding to your air, and you'll be able to adjust your humidifier's settings accordingly.

* Replace your humidifier's filter about once every 6 weeks. This really enhances the humidifier's performance (in fact, you'll notice the water level in your humidifier going down much quicker with a new filter, since so much more water can pass through it).

* Clean out your humidifier once a month with bleach and/or alcohol to get rid of any mold or germs.

* Replace your humidifier once every 2 years.

By the way, Vicks' humidifier lineup is amazing! All the humidifiers in our home are Vicks Cool Mist Germfree Humidifiers, and we couldn't be happier with them. When Vicks heard that we use their humidifiers, they offered to send us another model to try out, so I chose their Starry Night Humidifier. You can tell that a mom designed this product, because not only is it a great humidifier, it's also a nightlight for your kids' room! It has a built-in projector that transforms your ceiling into a starry night that changes colors every few seconds. The kids LOVE the star show, although I do wish it had a dimmer, because it is kind of bright, especially in smaller rooms. I also wish there were a timer function so it could turn itself off after a set number of minutes -- but despite those shortcomings, I would highly recommend it for a young child's room, particularly a child who is just learning to sleep on his own, or moving from a crib to a toddler bed. The lights are soothing and comforting, and since mom and dad are probably in and out of his room, it's not a big deal for them to turn the projector off.

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been 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.

Cuddle Covers Review

My 3 kids are stuffed animal lovers. Every inch of their room is overflowing with stuffies, and every time we go on a trip, they have to take their favorites with them. Obviously that leaves out the larger ones, including those stuffed animal pillows they go crazy for, but what can I do? A backpack/suitcase/carry-on bag/van can only hold so much.

Fortunately I've found a solution: Cuddle Covers. These plush pillow covers have animal heads, limbs and tails attached to them, so they transform any standard sized pillow into a stuffed animal! There's Berry the Bear, Louie the Lion, Kit the Cat, Max the Dog, Don the Dinosaur, and Izzy the Unicorn, all made of ultrasoft, hypoallergenic, and -- get this -- machine washable material. Machine washable, people!

3Po love how gigantic his new friend Kit the Cat is. I love how they pack up small and light -- once you get to grandma's house, just borrow her guest room pillow, and "re-stuff" the Cuddle Cover! Oh, and did I mention they're machine washable?). And since the Cuddle Cover houses a real pillow ,you can use any standard-sized pillow your child likes -- flat, fluffy, goosefeather, hypoallergenic, you name it (you can also purchase the official Cuddle Cover pillow). Thanks to Cuddle Covers, 3Po can play with Kit the Cat and fall asleep with it, without getting a crick in his neck.

Disclosure: I received a Kit the Cat Cuddle Cover and Cuddle Cover Pillow to facilitate my review, but have not been 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'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.

So feel free to leave links to your giveaways, everyone. Also, don't forget to enter my giveaways ending soon:

* Mother's Day prize pack -- ends May 1.

* Parrot MINIKIT+ hands-free car kit -- ends May 4.

And don't forget to get cracking and enter everyone else's, too!

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My favorite sources for used baby things

Having a baby changes your life -- your body, your schedule, your priorities... and don't forget, your finances. Kids cost money! According to a BabyCenter.com survey, 42% of moms expect to spend a whopping $10,00 during their first year alone. Think about it -- you'll be needing diapers, food, clothes, a crib, and a carseat at the bare minimum. You'll probably be buying a stroller, highchair, changing table, dresser, wipes, toys, sippy cups, plates, and other basic gear. Throw in baby music classes, babysitters, formula, possibly a new car or house to make room, and soon you're staring at $10,000! That's why buying discounted or used for many baby things just makes sense. Babies outgrow things so quickly, you'll easily be able to get gently used gear for a great price -- and when you're done with it, you can sell it yourself, lowering your total cost even more. Here are my favorite places for finding discounted or used baby stuff:

Discount sites
You can buy diapers and wipes in bulk at Sam's Club, Costco, Walmart and other big box stores. You can also get great deals on online discounted sites.

Moms club posting boards
One of the best reasons for joining a mom's group is access to their community boards, where moms advertise items they have for sale. They are usually first-come-first-served, not auction-based, so you need to respond ASAP when you see an item you want. You can also post an "item wanted" post in the hopes that someone will respond!

Craigslist

There are also lots of good postings on Craigslist; personally I prefer moms club postings since they're from a closed group, but I have got some amazing Craigslist bargains!

Moms club sales
When moms clubs put on sales, you know for sure you're going to find cheap baby gear: cheap baby mattress, bedding, high chairs, etc.. Always try to get there as early as you can if you are looking for a specific item; if you are just browsing, get their just before closing time, when sellers put their items on deep discounts as they try to get rid of them.

City-wide garage sales
Garage sales are a great place to find cheap dinner napkins, tableware, bikes, skateboards, tables, chairs, you name it -- but you never know what you're going to find. The more garage sales you go to, the better chance you'll have of finding what you're looking for, so hitting a lot of sales in one morning is so much more efficient than going to one every weekend.

Goodwill
Don't forget Goodwill! You can get baby toys, baby clothes, baby dinnerware sets cheap as well as other items, and you're helping out a good cause.

Disclosure: This is a compensated post, courtesy of Become.com. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Get FREE Sprinkles cupcakes!

What's better than a Sprinkles cupcake? How about a FREE Sprinkles cupcake? That's right, Sprinkles will be giving out free cupcakes on May 2, May 13, May 18, June 17, and June 26, to whoever comes in to their stores between 12 and 2pm and says "People Like Us". Sound too good to be true? Check out the People Like Us Facebook page if you don't believe me, or read through the press release below. Yum, yum, the promo starts May 2, so tie that napkin around your neck and head to your nearest Sprinkles!

DREAMWORKS PICTURES’ “PEOPLE LIKE US” AND SPRINKLES CUPCAKES CELEBRATE FAMILY 

Events Launch on Brothers and Sisters Day, May 2nd

BURBANK, CALIF. (April 26, 2012) — DreamWorks Pictures announced today that they are teaming up with Sprinkles Cupcakes to promote their film “People Like Us” with events at the ten Sprinkles Cupcakes stores around the country. The promotion will run from May 2-June 29, 2012, and is centered around five family-themed holidays: Brothers and Sisters Day (May 2), Mother’s Day (May13), Visit Your Relatives Day (May 18), Father’s day (June 17) and National Forgiveness Day (June 26).

On the designated “People Like Us” holidays, Sprinkles Cupcakes in all ten locations will give out a free cupcake to each customer who comes in between the hours of 12 noon and 2 p.m. and says, “People Like Us.” Any customer can vote online for the official “People Like Us” flavor and the winning cupcake will be announced the week of the film’s opening. Customers can also pick up punch cards in Sprinkles Cupcakes stores, redeemable on the selected ‘People Like Us” holidays for a free cupcake. Follow the movie on Facebook.com/PeopleLikeUs for more details.

“People Like Us”-branded coffee trucks or carts will be at various locations on Brothers and Sisters Day, May 2, to kick off the start of the promotion with free coffee. Visitors to facebook.com/PeopleLikeUs can take the Brothers and Sisters quiz and enter the “Celebrate Family” sweeps to win a trip to visit their family.

“People Like Us” is a drama/comedy about family, inspired by true events, starring Chris Pine (“Star Trek”) as Sam, a twenty-something, fast-talking salesman, whose latest deal collapses on the day he learns that his father has suddenly died. Against his wishes, Sam is called home, where he must put his father's estate in order and reconnect with his estranged family. In the course of fulfilling his father's last wishes, Sam uncovers a startling secret that turns his entire world upside down: He has a 30-year-old sister Frankie whom he never knew about (Elizabeth Banks). As their relationship develops, Sam is forced to rethink everything he thought he knew about this family—and re-examine his own life choices in the process.

The film also stars Olivia Wilde, Michael Hall D’Addario, Philip Baker Hall, Mark Duplass and Michelle Pfeiffer.

A DreamWorks Pictures presentation, “People Like Us” is directed by Alex Kurtzman, produced by Roberto Orci, Bobby Cohen and Clayton Townsend, and written by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & Jody Lambert.

The film releases in U.S. theaters on June 29, 2012, and is rated PG-13.

ABOUT SPRINKLES CUPCAKES
Sprinkles Cupcakes opened “the world’s first cupcake bakery” in Beverly Hills, as reported by the Food Network, and is credited by the Los Angeles Times as “the progenitor of the haute cupcake craze.” Founded by Candace Nelson, judge on Food Network’s hit show “Cupcake Wars,” and husband Charles, Sprinkles has inspired long lines of devoted Hollywood stars and serious epicureans alike. Baked fresh in small batches throughout the day, Sprinkles Cupcakes are handcrafted from the finest ingredients and contain no preservatives, trans fats or artificial flavors. Sprinkles has 10 locations nationwide, a traveling Sprinklesmobile - the world’s first cupcake truck, and sells its cupcake mixes at over 250 Williams-Sonoma stores throughout the US and Canada. In 2012, Sprinkles debuted the world’s first Cupcake ATM and continued its foray into classic American desserts with the launch of Sprinkles Ice Cream. For additional information and a list of future locations, please visit www http://www.sprinkles.com.

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Press release (in italics) was provided by Dreamworks Pictures.The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

I heart Heart PJ's!

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K'nex celebrates 20th Anniversary

Can you believe it, K'nex is 20 years old this year! They're celebrating their 20th anniversary all year, so check out their 20th anniversary page for news of new K'nex sets (including re-releases of their classic sets), contests and sweepstakes.

K'nex has been one of our family's all-time favorite toys; even before I started raving about K'nex online, we had already amassed a gigantic collection of K'nex pieces. We began playing with K'nex about 4 years ago, when the boys were about 4 years old and I was looking for interlocking toys that didn't break apart so easily. K'nex fit the bill perfectly, and their unique system of rods and connectors meant that we could build much more sophisticated shapes and designs. 3Po and Jammy have been playing with K'nex half their life, and they enjoy it as much as they ever did!

The latest additions to our K'nex collection comes courtesy of K'nex, who sent us 2 of their classic sets to commemorate the 20th anniversary:

The K'nex Classics Strike Force Bomber,

and

The K'nex Classics Rally Sport Racer.

Both sets feature the classic chunky rods and connectors that K'nex first came out with in 1992. They are recommended for age 7+, but with a bit of adult guidance I think even a 5 year old could build it.

The set includes instructions for building 3 different types of planes or race cars, so the building fun doesn't stop even after your child has built it once. He can always take it apart and build again!

Of course, half the fun of K'nex is playing with it after you've built it up, so it doesn't look like Jammy will be starting on the second version for a while (although we have so many K'nex pieces already, he'll probably be able to make all 3 versions separately!). Fortunately, K'nex piece snap together so sturdily, the built-up model can withstand quite a lot of active play without breaking into itty-bitty pieces.

These Classic K'nex sets are called classic for good reason -- boys have been enjoying them for the past 20 years, and they'll continue to do so for the next 20 years and beyond! Happy 20th, K'nex!

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been 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.

Dole Real Fruit Bites review and giveaway

Here's a great healthy snack idea for your kids lunches! Dole Real Fruit Bites are made with real dried fruit (in fact, you can find them in the dried fruit aisle), coated with yogurt and sprinkled with toasted whole grain oats. They're just 80 calories per serving, so if you want to steal some for yourself, you're not totally blowing away your diet :)

Dole sent me samples of each of their 3 flavors -- apple, pineapple and mango -- and they are like little nuggets of sunshine. They remind me of the mochi bites in the toppings bar at YogurtLand, Pinkberry and other frozen yogurt places, just a bit nuttier and sweeter.

Be forewarned, if your child is used to fruit snacks, fruit roll ups and even fruit leather, these will not taste as sweet and they can take some getting used to. But my kids have grown to love the pineapple flavor as much as I do. What a great way to wean your kids from overly sweet snacks!

Win a 1-month supply of Dole Real Fruit Bites

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a one month supply (6 bags) of Dole Real Fruit Bites

Required Entry

Leave a comment on this post and tell me which flavor of Dole Real Fruit Bites you would most like to try.

Extra Entries
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6) Tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):

RT @bonggafinds: Win a 1-month supply of Dole Real Fruit Bites! Enter by 5/10 at http://bit.ly/IoOemX

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on May 10, 2012; I will draw a winner at random on May 11 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been 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.

"An American Girl: McKenna" the movie to be released June 3

The new American Girl MkKenna movie will be here this summer! Here's the trailer:

And here's the press release!

AN AMERICAN GIRL: MCKENNA SHOOTS FOR THE STARS™

July 3, 2012: Available on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack – Featuring DVD, Digital Copy & UltraViolet™ – and DVD, old Exclusively at Wal-Mart, American Girl Stores and americangirl.com

Scheduled to Air on Saturday July 14, 2012 at 8/7c on NBC

Universal City,Calif. (April 25, 2012) – A talented young gymnast turns trials into triumphs in the inspiring new feature-length movie, An American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars™, coming to Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD, and Digital Download on July 3, 2012, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Inspired by the beloved American Girl® line of dolls and featuring the celebrated 2012 Girl of the Year®, the film stars Oscar® nominee Nia Vardalos (My Life In Ruins, My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Jade Pettyjohn (“The United States of Tara”) as McKenna™, Ian Ziering (“Beverly Hills 90210”), Kerris Dorsey (Moneyball, “Brothers & Sisters”) and former Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby (Broadway’s “Peter Pan”).

A modern and heartwarming original story about a young girl whose dream to compete as a world class gymnast is jeopardized when she begins to have trouble in school, An American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars™ helps girls learn to believe not only in their family and friends but also themselves. With more than 139 million books and 21 million dolls sold, American Girl® has earned the loyalty of millions of girls and the praise and trust of parents and educators. Just in time for the Summer Games, this fun family film on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD is available only at Wal-Mart, American Girl® retail stores and americangirl.com. A must-own addition for American Girl® fans, the film can also be purchased via Digital Download through a variety of online retailers.

The An American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars™ Blu-ray™ Combo Pack delivers the film in perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound. The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack also includes UltraViolet™, a DVD, and a Digital Copy of the film – so consumers can truly enjoy the movie anytime, anywhere, on the device of their choice! UltraViolet™ is the revolutionary new way for consumers to collect movies and TV shows and put them in the cloud. From there, they can download and stream instantly to computers, tablets and smartphones. In addition, consumers can redeem a Digital Copy of the film from a variety of retail partners, who offer many viewing options including iTunes®, iPad®, iPhone®, iPod™ touch, Android, connected televisions, Blu-ray player apps and more!

SYNOPSIS
Meet McKenna Brooks™, a determined and confident young gymnast, in this all-new modern-day adventure. McKenna™ is on track to make the regional competitive gymnastics team but off-track in school, where she’s suddenly struggling to keep up. When her teacher suggests a tutor, she’s embarrassed and desperate to keep it a secret from her friends. Then a bad fall at the gym sidetracks her from her favorite sport. Will she recover in time to make the team? Can she succeed in school, too? McKenna™ needs to focus on her strengths to overcome her challenges – and, with the help of family and friends, find a way to believe in herself again.

CAST AND FILMMAKERS:

Cast: Nia Vardalos, Ian Ziering, Cathy Rigby, Kerris Dorsey, Jade Pettyjohn
Directed By: Vince Marcello
Based on the “McKenna” stories by: Mary Casanova
Teleplay By: Jessica O’Toole, Amy Rardin
Executive Producers: Steven Brown, Gaylyn Fraiche
Producers: Debra Martin Chase, Ellen L.Brothers
Co-Producers: Erin Falligant, Ellen Rutter, Kim Todd
Director of Photography: Jon Joffin
Edited By: Paul Millspaugh
Production Designer: Craig Sandells
Costume Designer: Mary Partridge

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY™:
Street Date: July3, 2012
Copyright:2012 Universal Studios
Selection Number: 63120909
Running Time: 1 Hour, 34 Minutes
Layers: BD-50
Picture Format: Widescreen
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Rating: N/R
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish DTS Digital Surround 5.1

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:
Street Date: July 3, 2012
Copyright:2012 Universal Studios
Selection Number: 63120882
Running Time: 1 Hour, 34 Minutes
Layers: Dual
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Rating: N/R
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Sound: English and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, English Dolby Digital 2.0

About Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stationsgroup and world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.

About American Girl
American Girl Brands is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel (NASDAQ:MAT) (www.mattel.com), the world’s leading toy company. Since American Girl’s inception in 1986, the company has devoted its entire business to celebrating the potential of girls ages 3 to 12. American Girl encourages girls to dream, to grow, to aspire, to create, and to imagine through a wide range of engaging and insightful books, age-appropriate and educational products, and unforgettable experiences. In meeting its missionwith a vigilant eye toward quality and service, American Girl has earned theloyal following of millions of girls and the praise and trust of parents and educators. To learn more about American Girl or to request a free catalogue, call 1-800-845-0005, or visit www.americangirl.com.

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Information was provided by Universal Studios Home Entertainment via Click Communications, and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

The old becomes new: VTech "rotary dial" phone

Remember when phones looked like this? Alfie and I were just talking the other day about how we have to stop saying "Dial a number", because we're totally dating ourselves! It's incredible to think that our kids have NO idea what rotary phones are (actually, they have no idea what a "corded" phone is since all the phones they've seen are cordless!). So when VTech phones told me about their retro (sort of) cordless phone, I had to feature it here. Okay, the design is kind of space age, and you punch in rather than dial the numbers, but it still brings back memories of busy signals and party lines.

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

28 days to health: looking back on the Walkabout Challenge

How time flies! I cannot believe it has been 28 days since the Orthaheel & Weil Integrative Footwear Walkabout Challenge began. I'm happy and proud to have met the challenge: with some upbeat music streaming through my earphones and my new Balance Lace-up Walkers cradling my feet, I managed to walk every day, for 30 minutes or more, on all 28 days. Yes!

Sticking to that daily walk has not been easy, but the benefits made it sooo worth the effort. Last week I came up with 28 benefits I've enjoyed as a result of joining the Walkabout Challenge and walking every day -- but on this last day of the Challenge, I wanted to add two more:

1) Every time I walked, I got to discover new and beautiful things along the way -- flowers, trees, stones, sky. These are things I usually take for granted, things I don't usually take the time to notice and appreciate. I made it a point to take a photo on almost all of my 28 walks, and I've ended up with a really lovely set of photographs. Here are some of my favorites:

A majestic redwood

The blue, blue sky

Tulips (my favorite flower) in full bloom!

The Stanford University campus

A cool tree.

An even cooler bike.

Active seniors -- such an inspiration!

Beautiful cherry blossoms

My gorgeous occasional walking partner.

2) Every time I participate in a blogging program, I end up discovering a of kickass bloggers, and the Walkabout Challenge was no exception. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to share the joys of the last 28 days with the other Walkabout Ambassadors (there are 50 of us!). We've walked on trails and on sidewalks, at the park and on the beach. We've walked in the snow and in the rain, in the sun and in the shade. We've walked with girlfriends and boyfriends and husbands and children and dogs and all by ourselves. From their tweets and their blog posts, I've been able to walk with them and share their stories of inspiration and success. I love expanding my circle of friends on the interwebz, and I can't have found a nicer group of people!

After I finish today's walk, the Walkabout Challenge will be over -- but I don't intend to stop walking. Heck, no! I've got the Bay to Breakers footrace coming up, so I need to walk (and run) more than ever. This summer we'll be walking all over England, Wales and Belgium. Looking ahead to the long term, I'm determined to start my 40's fitter and healthier than I started my 30's, and walking is going to play a big part in that. I may not end up walking every single day, but I definitely want to walk more often than I did before starting the Walkabout Challenge. Thanks, Orthaheel and Weil Integrative Footwear, for getting started on the path to a healthier lifestyle!

Disclosure: As an ambassador for the 28-day Walkabout Challenge for Orthaheel USA and Weil Integrative Footwear, I received a package containing a pair of Dr. Weil footwear and other promotional items. I will not be receiving any other form of compensation for my participation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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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.

So feel free to leave links to your giveaways, everyone. And don't forget to get cracking and enter everyone else's, too!

Design your own shirt or doll dress parties at FashionPlaytes

The Pea just turned 11, and she hosted a fun birthday sleepover for her friends to celebrate, but if I had known about Fashion Playtes new birthday party packs, I have a feeling that her Movie Night would have turned into Fashion Designer night. She has quite a few outfits from FashionPlaytes, so the thought of letting her friends design their own outfits would just be too much fun to be true. The Doll Design party is a great budget-friendly option -- although it doesn't include any custom graphics, just a doll dress, so girls would need to embellish it themselves with iron-ons or fabric paint.

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. I The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Earth-friendly wooden toys for Earth Day

Earth Day is Sunday, April 22, and for the past few years I've enjoyed sharing a few of the eco-friendly products that I've reviewed and loved. Several weeks ago I received some wooden toys from Blue Orange Games to review, and we've been enjoying them so much that I've decided to give this year's Earth Day roundup a theme: eco-friendly toys and games.

Despite all the videogames, remote-control cars, laser guns and plastic ponies my kids play with, there's a special place in my heart for wooden toys. They look great, they last forever, they don't need batteries, and they don't come with annoying chirps, beeps, wails or endless renditions of Justin Bieber's Baby! They're the ultimate in eco-friendly, and despite their simplicity, they can entertain for hours on end.

Over the years, we've discovered and enjoyed a variety of wooden toys, for all ages and stages. Here are some of my favorites:

For babies: Wooden bead maze
This was a mealtime must at our household. I love the suction cups that let you stick this maze onto high chair trays, coffee tables, even stroller bars, so it doesn't get knocked over by baby's zealous efforts to grab the brightly colored beads and push them along.

For toddlers: Plan Toys solid wooden drum
We bought this for 3Po and Jammy when it became clear that our pots, pans and coffee table were in danger from our babies' insane desire to make noise by hitting something. This drum sounds wonderful, and it gave us many, many years of music-making pleasure.

For preschoolers: IKEA Lillabo wooden train setWhat child doesn't love a wooden train set? Unfortunately, the famous Thomas the Tank wooden train sets don't come cheap, so they're out of the price range of many families. This 12-piece set from IKEA, at just $9.99, is an affordable starter set, or a great add-on set for those who want to splurge on the Thomas trains, but not the Thomas tracks.

For kinders: Fastrack
It's like a low-tech (but high-fun) pinball machine! Kids use the elastic bands to send their wooden disks flying through a small hole in the center bar, into their opponent's side. The person to get all 10 disks onto their opponent's side wins! It's a lot more challenging -- and addictive -- than it looks, and even though the starting age range is 5, this is a game that the whole family will get into.

For elementary schoolers: Gobblet! strategy game
The goal of the game is to line up 4 pieces in a row, but this is so much more than tic-tac-toe. Game pieces nest into each other like Babushka dolls, and you are allowed to "gobble" up your opponent's pieces to block their progress. Even when all the pieces are on the board, you can keep going (by gobbling pieces), so it turns out to be quite a challenging game. I love this game because kids can play it with adults -- and kids can win!

For middle schoolers: Beads Pagoda Starter Puzzle
Rotate the sections of the tower to get all the wooden beads of the same color line up on the same floor. Just like a Rubik's cube, but cuter! This is the easiest in a series of 3 pagoda puzzles, so once your child figures it out, he can move on to the more complex versions.

For high schoolers and beyond: Packing Challenge Wooden Puzzle
I'm great at cramming things into a suitcase, but this getting these 11 pieces to fit into the wooden box is beyond me. Fortunately, the puzzle comes with a solution, so neat freaks who can't complete the puzzle can still pack everything neatly away.

What are some of your favorite wooden toys? Happy Earth Day!

Disclosure: I received Gobblet! and Fast Track from Blue Orange Games to facilitate my review. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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KIDZ BOP Ultimate Hits releases May 8

Last year I wrote out a list of forty things I'd like to do before I turn forty. The big date is coming up in May, and I've still got quite a few items left unchecked, but completing item #34 -- add 10 or more new songs to my running playlist -- turned out to be a breeze. Thanks to Alfie's subscription to Rolling Stone magazine, to Glee and to The Pea's newfound interest in pop music, I'm discovering great new songs all the time.

On May 8, KIDZ BOP is releasing their Ultimate Hits collection cd, and they sent me an advance copy to review. Needless to say, my kids love it; they don't call it Ultimate Hits for nothing! What's more surprising is that I do, too. I love all the songs, and remarkably, I didn't find any of the vocals annoying. The songs sound like good covers of the originals, not like a recording of your neighbor's high-pitched child singing at a recital or block party. I would definitely listen to these songs again-- see, my running playlist is growing and growing!

Here's the complete track listing:
1. Tik Tok
2. Dynamite
3. California Gurls
4. I Gotta Feeling
5. Billionaire
6. Party In The USA
7. Break Your Heart
8. Hey Soul Sister
9. DJ Got Us Falling In Love
10. Fire Burning
11. You Belong With Me
12. Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
13. Fireflies

How's that for a Dynamite song list? Everyone knows and loves these songs, so I Gotta Feeling your kids will be want to get their hands on it! It's sure to get everyone's Fire Burning and make everyone want to Party in the USA. Best of all, you don't need to be a Billionaire to afford it, since it costs only $13.98. Tik Tok, Tik Tok, the countdown clock is ticking to May 8! (now, how's that for the longest pun ever?)

Disclosure: I received an advanced copy of the cd to facilitate my review, but have not been 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.

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Parrot Minikit Review and Giveaway

For decades, one of Alfie's and my pet peeves has been distracted drivers. Eating, drinking, reading the newspaper, playing with the dog, shaving, putting on eye makeup (that's for the experienced bad drivers only, okay people?).... there's no end to the crazy things you see people doing behind the wheel.

Of course, the most common thing behind-the-wheel pastime (second to driving, of course, but it certainly seems to be a close second) these days is talking and texting on the phone. Sadly, only 37 states, DC and Guam prohibit texting while driving, and only 10 states, DC, Guam and the Virgin Islands prohibit handheld cellphone use for all drivers! Fortunately California is one of those state that ban texting and handheld calling, but we still see drivers on the road paying absolutely no attention to these laws. What's even sadder is that it is sooo easy to follow the law and stay safe -- just get yourself a hands-free phone kit! It only takes a second to set them up, and they're so easy to use, there's just no reason not to use them.

To show us how easy it is to set up and use a hands-free mobile phone kit, wireless device manufacturer Parrot invited me to review their Parrot MINIKIT+. Two years ago I reviewed (and loved) a Parrot hands-free device before, so I was eager to see the new and improved version.

Like the Parrot Minikit Chic I reviewed 2 years ago, the Minikit+ has complete hands-free call management capability. Once you pair up your phone with the Minikit+ (and it's a super-easy process), it will act like a wireless speakerphone whenever both devices are turned on and within range. The Minikit+ clips to your car's sunvisor, so you don't have to hold your phone to your ear when you're making or receiving calls. You don't even have to turn the Minikit+ on; it has a vibration sensor so it can turn itself on when you open your car door!

To make a call, just press the green button on the right. The Minikit+ will ask you who you want to call (in a cultured French voice, no less). Speak the first name of a contact in your phone book slowly and clearly, and the Minikit+ will confirm the contact name. I did have some problems with voice recognition, even with my simple name (Eva? Una? No, it's ANA!!) so be warned: expect some frustration if your contact has a long or unusual name. If the Minikit+ does have the correct contact name, say "Yes", and it will dial your contact. To end the call, just press the red button on the left:

Accepting calls is even easier. When someone calls your mobile phone, the Minikit+ will ring along with your phone; if the person calling is in your phone's contact list, it will identify the caller and ask whether you want to take the call. If you say "Accept", the Minikit+ will connect you; if you say "Reject", it will end the call. To end the call, just press the red button on the left.

Since 2 years is an eternity in technology, the new and improved processors in the Minikit+ have made it more powerful and less energy-consuming than the Parrot Minikit Chic I reviewed 2 years ago. What's more, it's got some great new functionality:

Simultaneous management of two mobile phones
Thanks to Parrot "Dual Mode" multipoint technology, the Minikit+ can be used with 2 phones, so both Alfie and I can use it when we're in the same car without having to reset the Bluetooth connections on our phones. So convenient!

Vocal Service for SMS and emails management

The Minikit+ not only gives you hands-free call management, it also lets you manage emails and SMS text messages through voice commands. With their new TextFriendly™ service, you can say the action you want to take -- listen to or write emails or text messages -- while keeping your hands on the steering wheel. This is a separate paid subscription service (they do offer a free 6-month trial), so I didn't try it out, and I'm not altogether sure I want to.

More than a hands-free kit

The Minikit+ is truly like a wireless speaker -- it's not just for phone calls. It has an integrated loudspeaker, so you can listen to driving directions from your smartphone's GPS, and even listen to music on your smartphone! Our van is 8 years old, and it doesn't have the capability to plug our iPods or smartphones into our car's speakers, so we're really loving this functionality. The sound quality is nice and crisp, and when a phone call comes in, the music stops for the duration of the call so we're not all bombarded with too much noise pollution.

These extra features make the Minikit+ a great choice; they're useful enough to be a deciding factor when choosing the Minikit+ over another model. Like the Minikit Chic, the Minikit+ is better for taking calls than for making calls -- but when you're driving, that's all you should be doing anyway. If your vehicle is not equipped with a built-in voice-activated phone system, the Minikit+ is a must -- isn't driving with kids enough of a distraction!?

Win a Parrot MINIKIT+

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a Parrot MINIKIT+!

Required Entry

Leave a comment on this post and share a tip for avoiding distracted driving.

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The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on May 4, 2012; I will draw a winner at random on May 5 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

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