Power a Smile with your Duracell battery purchase

Now that Thanksgiving is over, the holiday season can begin in earnest. No doubt you'll be inundated with holiday catalogs and online gift guides with all the hottest toys, books, tech gadgets, and other gift ideas. When you buy toys for the children in your life, don't forget to purchase batteries to go along with the toys! There's nothing sadder for a child than opening up a shiny new toy and not being able to play with it because it didn't come with any batteries!

The great news is that when you buy eligible Duracell battery packs (Duracell Quantum AA12 pack; Coppertop AA16), Duracell will also donate up to 1 million batteries to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, which collects new toys to distribute to less fortunate children every year. So not only will your child get to play with his or her new toy, another child will also get to play with his or her new toy.  Join Duracel''s Power a Smile program and you'll be helping to make more than one child's holiday wishes come true!



Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information (in italics) is provided by the featured company/product. 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!

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Giveaway: Dreamworks Holiday DVD set and Christmas Classics DVD set

I received product samples for review

Happy Thanksgiving!  Doesn't it feel great to know that the holiday season has well and truly begun?  So, what are you and your family doing over Thanksgiving Weekend!  I'm sure everyone has their dinner plans ready, but what about after you've had your fill of turkey, stuffing and pie?  We like to take a walk to keep ourselves from feeling too sluggish, then settle down on the sofa to watch a tv show or a movie.  We don't usually watch football games (unless it's the soccer kind of football, but the English Premiere League doesn't usually play games on Thursday), so we choose a movie or tv special like the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, or one of the many holiday specials on the networks at this time of the year.  Over the weekend, we'll watch our local lights parade, maybe do a bit of shopping (but probably not on Black Friday-- I tried it once and it knocked the stuffing out of me!).  And sometime over the next three days we're sure to find ourselves back on the couch, watching yet another holiday special!

If you love holiday specials, you'll love the holiday DVD sets I'm giving away today!  In fact, I'm sure you may have seen some of them before, and watching them may even be part of your annual holiday tradition!  I grew up watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer on tv every year, so I was really excited to review the special boxed DVD set of the Original Christmas Classics shows.  It has 7 classic holiday specials that practically every American child knows and loves:

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
• Santa Claus is Comin to Town
• Frosty the Snowman
• Frosty Returns
• Mr. Magoos Christmas Carol
• The Little Drummer Boy
• Cricket on the Hearth

My favorite, of course, is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I get so nostalgic seeing the quaint stop-motion animation and hearing Burl Ives' friendly voice!  My sophisticated 21st century kids got a good laugh out of the low-tech effects, but they loved the story of how Rudolph and his dentist elf friend Herman came to realize that what made them different also made them special.  

Much as they loved watching the Christmas Classics, my kids loved the Dreamworks Holiday Collection DVD even more, and as nostalgic as I am for the classics, I have to admit that the Dreamworks movies are better.  They're technically better, of course, and my kids know and love the characters.  I have a feeling these are going to be the new classics that my kids remember fondly from their youth, and force their kids to watch over Thanksgiving weekend!  Well, I doubt if there's going to be much forcing involved, since each of the four episodes are great:

• Shrek the Halls
• Merry Madagascar
• Kung Fu Panda Holiday
• Gift of the Night Fury

These specials debuted separately, and this is the first time that all four have been presented together in a boxed edition (2 DVDs).  In addition to the episodes themselves, there are a few DVD extras, mostly related to the Madagascar characters. We had a great time watching these, and so will you!

Win a Holiday DVD set
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win both the Christmas Classics DVD set and the Dreamworks Holiday Collection DVD set!

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post telling me which holiday special (on either DVD) you are most excited to watch.

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) Follow bonggamom on Blogger (1 entry)

2) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (1 entry)

3) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)

4) Pin this giveaway on any of your Pinterest boards (1 entry -- you can use the "Pin It" button at the bottom of this page!).

5) "Like" Bonggamom Finds on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry):
I entered the Dreamworks Holiday DVD giveaway! http://ow.ly/rfvNY

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)
RT @bonggafinds Win a Dreamworks Holiday Collection DVD & Christmas Classics DVD set! Enter by 12/10 at http://ow.ly/rfvNY

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway you've joined)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on December 10, 2013; I will draw 1 winner at random on December 11 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

One additional Thanksgiving treat: here's a fun wish list you can print out for your kids to fill out and use to write down all their holiday wishes and dreams!

Disclosure: I received product samples to review. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Whole Foods for the Holidays

I can't believe Thanksgiving is tomorrow!  If the holidays have caught you napping and you're rushing out for some last-minute meal shopping, head on over to Whole Foods for a complete, ready-to-eat holiday feast menu.  Yes, you can still order a Whole Foods meal -- the deadline is today!  Here's how to order:

1. Online: shop.wholefoodsmarket.com – online ordering is so easy and super convenient!
2. Head to a Whole Foods Market store and order at their in-store holiday tables.

Please place your online orders no later than:
For Thanksgiving 11/26, Hanukkah 12/3, Christmas 12/22

Whole Foods Market has everything you need for the upcoming holidays - Thanksgiving and Hanukkah through New Year’s dinners, parties and events.  This year, all of Whole Foods' organic Diestel Turkeys come with the Non-GMO Project-verified seal, so they're sustainable, GMO-free and yummy!

Also, Whole Foods is baking something truly special this holiday season, with 4 scrumptious holiday pies: Apple, Pumpkin, Blackberry Lime and our Brown Butter Walnut. The pies ($19.99 each) are made with a 100% all butter crust, real fruit (no fruit puree or fake stuff!), and California-grown walnuts.  Whole Foods sent us samples of the Brown Butter Walnut and Pumpkin pies, and they are the perfect way to finish off your holiday meal!  The crust is so tender and buttery and flaky, yum.... My kids loved the pumpkin pies, and although I'm not a fan of nut pies, I have to say the walnuts tasted amazingly fresh, not bitter.  If you love pecan pies, you'll adore the Brown Butter Walnut pie! The pies also come in a reusable/returnable pie tin. Customers can keep and reuse the pie tins or collect ten and return them for a FREE pie.

Happy Holidays!

Disclosure: I received sample pies from Whole Foods Market. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Shop Best Buy for the Holidays

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free

Other people may be dreaming of a White Christmas, but I'm dreaming of a Wired Christmas.  I cracked my iPad screen earlier this year, and in true like-mother-like-daughter fashion, The Pea cracked her phone screen, so even though both our devices still work, I'd love a new iPad and she'd love a new phone.  The boys would love a new electronic piano.  Alfie would love a home sound system.  The kids could use a new Chromebook.  Our oven door doesn't shut properly, so we're even thinking of getting a new range and oven for the kitchen!  The list goes on and on. With so many tech gadgets on our gift list, it looks like we'll be shopping at the Best Buy Gift Center this holiday season. They're truly a one-stop shop for technology and appliance products, and here's why:

They've got variety --  market-leading selection of the hottest tablets, smartphones, gaming consoles and titles, wearable technology, health and fitness gear, mobile accessories and much more, including over 100 products sold only at Best Buy this Holiday Season.

They've got expertise -- Blue Shirts and Geek Squad Agents who are passionate, highly trained, knowledgeable and impartial so they can help ensure you get the perfect gifts for your family and friends…and yourself.

They've got a Low Price Guarantee that ensures you're getting the most competitive price possible.   You'll be able to get all your holiday shopping done in one place!

They've got 1,400 stores nationwide, so you can touch, test, try, and buy the latest technology.  And if you prefer to shop in your pajamas, you can also buy online at bestbuy.com!  The holiday season is so busy, it's great to be able to get your shopping done all in one place!

Here's a bit more information about the products that Best Buy carries:

• Phones: At Best Buy you can see and try all of the phones, carriers, plans and accessories under one roof with industry-leading trade-in options
• Tablets: Best Buy is the only place in America where customers can see all of the latest and greatest tablets.
• Computing: Best Buy features the best selection, advise, services and support in computing. They help set the market by working with the industry's tech leaders to develop a highly specialized and innovative assortment of laptops, many of which are only available at Best Buy.
• Mobile Accessories: Best Buy has one of the largest selections of accessories and wearables this holiday. Bluetooth speakers, smartwatches, health & fitness gear and headphones will truly rule holiday.
• Home Theater: Best Buy offers the world's newest technology, best assortment and service in home theater.
• Appliances: Best Buy is better positioned than ever to bring the latest small appliances and special deals to you.
• Gaming: Best Buy is THE destination for gaming this holiday. Not only dodo they have the latest Xbox and PlayStation consoles, but the hottest game releases and everything else you need for a great gaming experience.
• Music/Movies/Musical Instruments: Best Buy offers terrific deals on the best entertainment stocking stuffers.
• Digital Imaging: Best Buy features the newest selection of cameras, accessories and advise so you can find the perfect gift or capture your own holiday memories.
• Tech Services: Best Buy is home of the Geek Squad for help installing, repairing, troubleshooting, optimizing and offering all sorts of technical advice from every Best Buy store, in-home, online and by phone

Exclusive Blogger Discounts

To make the holidays even merrier, here are a couple of great offers just for Bonggamom Finds readers!

Get 15% off Speakers, Headphones, Health & Fitness, Mattel and Fisher Price tech toys! This offer will be valid 12/1/13 to 1/15/14. Click on this link to print out the coupon for in-store shopping, or redeem on-line by entering the code bloggers15off at check out.

Get 10% off Headphones & Portable Speakers (excludes beats, bose and Sony)!  This offer will be valid 12/1 to 1/18/14.  Click on this link to print out the coupon for in-store shopping, or redeem on-line by entering the code bloggers10off at check out.

Disclosure: I have been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Ross Season of Giving

With the holidays approaching, we take on a lot of stress, trying to make everything merry and bright for our kids, their teachers, our spouse, our friends, the needy.... but all too often we forget about ourselves.  It's great to think of others, but don't forget to spare a thought for yourself and make sure you stay healthy and happy!  Treating yourself during the holidays isn't such a naughty thing to do if it gives you the energy and sparkle you need to take care of others :)

Here's a great way to treat yourself without too much guilt:  shop at Ross Dress for Less.  They've got presents for everyone, but at 20-60% off department store prices -- so you can shop for everyone on your list, including yourself!  

To make things easier, Ross has designated the period from November 25 to December 20 as the Ross Season of Giving.  During that time, Ross is turning its Facebook page into Gifting Central, featuring a different category of Ross Merchandise each week:

· Week of November 25: Entertaining
· Week of December 2: Gifts for Her
· Week of December 9: Gifts for Him
· Week of December 16: Gifts for Kids

Here's the really good news:  Ross will be giving away a gift package or a gift card every weekday during the Season of Giving!  Gift packages will be themed to the weekly gifting category.  The promo is live on the Ross Facebook page, so enter now, and don't forget to check back each week as a new category of giveaways go live!




Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post.The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Giveaway: Check out the Tiny Prints 2013 Holiday Card Collection and win a $50 Tiny Prints card!

Even though it's Thanksgiving week, I'll bet that even as you're defrosting the turkey and cutting up veggies for the stuffing, you're thinking about the winter holidays.  Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza and New Year's Eve are right around the corner!  Have you picked out your holiday cards yet?  Don't forget to stop by Tiny Prints before you decide on a design!  I've loved Tiny Prints' beautiful designs and superb quality cards for many years now, and this year's collection looks to be more gorgeous than ever.  Here are five of my favorite designs from the Tiny Prints 2013 Holiday Collection:

1) I can quite honestly say that Tiny Prints' Christmas Comic design is the most original holiday card I've seen this season!  It's bright and bold and perfect for the pop culture-loving family!

2) Here's another novel idea: a clear card!  Tiny Prints' new plastic clear cards have beautiful transparent embellishments that let the light shine through (my favorite is Pure Snowflakes).  This is definitely a one-of-a-kind card (again, I haven't seen this anywhere else, just at Tiny Prints) that will take center stage in your friends' holiday card displays.

3) For 2013, Tiny Prints has more trim options than ever.   Many cards let you choose from square, rounded, bracket, ticket, or scallop, like the Vibrant Spirit design below. I'm a big sucker for photo cards with design overlays like the "Love & Cheer" message on the bottom hand corner.  It keeps the photo front and center, which is really what I want my friends and family to notice anyway!

4) Tiny Prints' holiday card ornaments are always a favorite.  This Crystal Sequins design has bright, shiny snowflake prints on the back that glitter and sparkle, but there's no glitter on the card to fall and mess up the floor.  I still have dreams of decorating our Christmas tree entirely with Tiny Prints card ornaments!

5) In the end, the best holiday card design is the one that's right for you -- and that's what makes Tiny Prints so great.  They have so many great designs, you're sure to find that perfect design! Their 2013 Holiday collection includes Contemporary, Classic, Vintage, Full bleed photos, All That Glitters, Bold Expressions, Simply Chic, Woodland Wonder & The New Tradition styles.  Despite all the great design innovations, my top choice is the Vintage Christmas design, because it complements my holiday photos perfectly.  This year, I took photos of the kids holding up chalkboard signs to spell out J-O-Y -- and what better way to frame the photos than with simple, striking black with beautiful white embellishments?

For each holiday card design, Tiny Prints lets you order matching matching address labels and envelope liners, as well as photo stickers, notebooks, and other photo gifts in matching or complementary designs.

Aren't these gorgeous cards? Which card design would you choose?  Share your favorite, and you could win a $50 Tiny Prints gift card plus free shipping!  

Win $50 to spend on Shutterfly
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a code good for $50 off total order (plus free shipping) code at Tiny Prints.

Required Entry
Visit the Tiny Prints Holiday Cards page and leave a comment on this post telling me which card design is your favorite.

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) Follow bonggamom on Blogger (1 entry)

2) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (1 entry)

3) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)

4) Pin this giveaway on any of your Pinterest boards (1 entry -- you can use the "Pin It" button at the bottom of this page!).

5) "Like" Bonggamom Finds on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry):
I entered the Tiny Prints holiday giveaway! http://ow.ly/rb5HY

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)
RT @bonggafinds Win a $50 @tinyprints gift card plus free shipping! Enter by 11/29 at http://ow.ly/rb5HY 

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway you've joined)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on November 29, 2013; I will draw 1 winner at random on November 30 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure: Thanks to Tiny Prints for providing a gift card to give away and a second gift card for my personal use.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Stay healthy this flu season

I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for MedImmune Specialty Care. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating

Cold and flu season is coming, and we've been giving our kids extra reminders about washing their hands and other flu prevention tactics.  Some things we do:

• Cough into elbows or sleeves, not into hands.
• Wash hands often.
• Remember the 2-minute rule when washing your hands (sing "Happy Birthday" twice).
• Avoid touching restroom door handles after you've washed your hands.
• Disinfect commonly used surfaces.
• Stay well hydrated and rested to make sure your immune system is in tip-top shape.

I've also made appointments at our family clinic to get our flu shots.  Many people don't think it's worth getting vaccinated against the flu, but I've had the flu way too many times to share their opinion.  Until you've suffered from the flu, you don't really know what you're up against -- and it always seems like the season I don't get vaccinated is the season I catch the flu.

When you have kids, getting vaccinated is even more important because their immune systems aren't as developed as adults'.  As an adult, you may not succumb to the flu, but you might infect your kids, so consider getting vaccinated, if not for your sake, then for your kids' sakes.  I remember one particularly bad year, when everyone in the family except Jammy was so sick, we couldn't even get out of bed.  Jammy must have been 3 or 4 at the time, and somehow he managed to pour bowls of cereal for all of us and get everything upstairs without spilling (no milk, though; there's only so much you can ask a toddler to do).  

Here's a great infographic, prepared by Dr. Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution, that sums up the best ways to protect yourself and your family against the flu:

Elizabeth also has an easy-to-read ebooklet, "A Parent's Guide to Flu Season" for even more great tips.  The ebooklet not only has tips on how to keep your family from catching the flu (hint: the CDC says that getting the flu vaccine is the single best way to protect against the flu), it also has information about how the virus spreads, the difference between the cold and the flu, list of flu symptoms, vaccine options, and more.  Flu prevention starts with knowledge, so make sure you check out the booklet as soon as you can.

Disclosure: I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for MedImmune Specialty Care. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Shop OshKosh B'gosh for the holidays

I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for OshKosh B’gosh. I received a gift card to facilitate my shopping trip and to thank me for participating

OshKosh B'gosh is one of those brands that I indelibly associate with childhood.  With sturdy, cute kid's clothing.  I wore OshKosh overalls.  My brothers wore OshKosh overalls.  All 3 of my kids wore OshKosh overalls.  A couple of the overalls my boys wore were hand-me-downs from my sister.  The overalls I bought for my kids held up so well that once they were outgrown, I gave them to my sister-in-law, along with the hand-me-downs my sister gave me.  Now those OshKosh overalls have a second (and third) life in a whole new generation of kids!

As you can tell, OshKosh is kind of a tradition with my family.  So when OshKosh offered to send me a $100 gift card to see what it would buy, I was delighted.  OshKosh is much more than overalls, so I was excited to see what other clothing they have for the holidays! Check out the photos below to see what I ended up buying:

First off, I bought 3Po and Jammy some Oxford shirts.  They need them for holiday outings, band concerts, and if they don't outgrow them, next year's 5th grade graduation.  They only cost $15 each, and they are such a classic.  I have no doubt these shirts will be outgrown long before they fade or tear.  Don't my boys look handsome in their OshKosh shirts?!

Total so far: $30

Any time I walk into an OshKosh store I just cannot resist the girl's section!  The clothes are girly without being overly frilly.  Sadly, The Pea has outgrown OshKosh sizes, but fortunately I have two young nieces who will be in OshKosh clothing for years to come.  They're pretty much set for OshKosh overalls, so I focused on other kinds of clothing.  I decided on some sweet pink dotted leggings for $10, and a hot pink tunic.  My nieces live in the Philippines, so most of the long-sleeved tunics sold in stores right now won't work, but I was lucky to find a short-sleeved one.  Even better, it was on sale for just $9.99!  I got my nieces matching outfits because they love to dress alike.

Total so far: $70

Finally, I bought a baby shower present for a dear friend who had just given birth to her third daughter.  Since their oldest daughter is 3Po's classmate, he picked the outfit out himself (everyone at the baby shower thought it was adorable that a 9 year-old boy had picked the baby's outfit!).  He chose this 3-piece Sherpa Hoodie Set with my full approval, because it was so soft and cozy, and because it cost just $16.  Sixteen dollars, I can hardly believe it!!  I added an embroidered shirt which I found in the clearance bin for $6, and a pair of pink socks for $2, and we had the perfect baby shower present.

Grand total: $96

I was so happy: I got eleven items of clothing for under $100!!  BUT WAIT!  I lied, I actually spent even less, because I used a special 25% off coupon that I'm sharing with you!  It gets you 25% off your entire purchase of $30 or more!  You can download it and print it out to shop in OshKosh stores, or use it to shop online at OshKosh.com (enter code OKBG11).

Disclosure: I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for OshKosh B’gosh. I received a gift card to facilitate my shopping trip and to thank me for participating. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Giveaway: win a $25 NAPA AutoCare cash card

The Holiday season is rapidly approaching, and for a lot of us that means it’s ROAD TRIP time! Long trips can be taxing on your vehicle, which makes it even more important that it’s kept in tip top shape before you start your journey.

The question is... do you know what it takes to keep up with your vehicles needs? How “car competent” are you?  NAPA AutoCare has created a quiz to test your knowledge on basic auto care maintenance.  Take NAPA's quiz to see how car competent you are!


If your auto smarts aren't running quite at full throttle, don't worry.  NAPA AutoCare's ASE Certified Technicians have come up with 6 simple, effictive tips to help you protect your car.


Win a $25 NAPA Cash Card
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive $25 to spend at their neighbohood NAPA AutoCare Center!

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share a tip for keeping your car in tip top shape.

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) Follow bonggamom on Blogger (1 entry)

2) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (1 entry)

3) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)

4) Pin this giveaway on any of your Pinterest boards (1 entry -- you can use the "Pin It" button at the bottom of this page!).

5) "Like" Bonggamom Finds on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry):
I entered the #NAPAAutoCare giveaway! http://ow.ly/r6Mr6

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)

You could win a $25 Napa AutoCare gift card!  Enter by November 30 on @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/r6Mr6 #NAPAAutoCare

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway you've joined)

8) Take the Are You Car Competent Quiz and leave a comment on this post sharing your results (1 entry)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on November 30, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on December 1 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. 

Each household is only eligible to win ONE $25 Napa AutoCare Gift Card via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
The prize will be sent via FedEx or USPS. No P.O. Boxes please. US addresses only.

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. NAPA AutoCare has provided the prize for this giveaway.. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Bloggers Unite to help Philippines Typhoon Haiyan Victims

Bloggers Unite: A Fundraising Giveaway Event

Organized and hosted by:

Life’s Cheap Thrills, Diva Fabulosa, My Charmed Mom, Bay Area Mommy, Hot Fun Stuffs

Co-hosted by:

Two Little Cavaliers, Bunny's Review, Jenn’s Blah Blah Blog, A.k.a. Chymecindy

As if a 7.2 magnitude earthquake last October wasn’t enough, the central region of the Philippines was hit by another disaster, a 295 kph typhoon on November 8, 2013. Supertyphoon Yolanda (International name: Haiyan), one of the most powerful storms ever recorded, smashed the central part of the Philippines and left hundreds of millions of destroyed of properties, death toll at around 4000, and over 650,000 displaced survivors desperate for food and shelter among others.

As bloggers, we thought we could help these people by throwing this huge fundraising giveaway -- a way we are all very familiar with. We have already raised $515 from this event and continuing to receive more donations through GoGetFunding.com. There will be a turnover of funds to a legitimate organizations that buys, repacks, and hands out relief goods directly to the victims. You can visit one of the host blogs for updates on the fund transfer in about a week or two.

Fundraising with GoGetFunding

If you wish to donate, you may do so by clicking this link.

Eight (8) winners will receive any of the prizes below worth over $860 in total! Special thanks to the amazing sponsors of this event: Newman’s Own Organics, Staples Canada, Guylian Chocolates, SmartSilk, Aroma Delights, FragranceNet, UNILAB Philippines, Oloves, Conceived by Nature, and all participating bloggers.

Foodie Prize Pack (Open to US)

• $75 worth of organic snacks from Newman’s Own Organics
• A package from Guylian Chocolates
• 30 mixed bags of Oloves snacks

Home Improvement Prize Pack (Open to US)

• Two standard size pillows from SmartSilk
• Oil Warmer package from Aroma Delights

Fashion & Beauty Prize Pack (Open to US)

• $50 FragranceNet Gift Certificate
• $50 Romwe voucher
• 4 sets of hair care products from Conceived by Nature

$100 Paypal Cash (Open Worldwide)

$50 Amazon Gift Card (Open Worldwide)

$25 Amazon Gift Card (Open Worldwide)

Apple TV (Open to Canada)

1500php worth of products from UNILAB Philippines (Open to the Philippines)



This giveaway is open Worldwide (see which prize above could be sent to your location), 18+, void where prohibited by law. It will run from November 21st at 12:01am EST to December 5th at 11:59pm EST. Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This blog was not compensated for this post. The prizes will be fulfilled and shipped to the winners by the sponsors. For questions regarding this giveaway, you may contact Life’s Cheap Thrills.



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Ruum Kids November newsletter

Just in time for the holidays, RUUM American Kid's Wear has launched their November newsletter on their blog!  The newsletter is full of useful information for parents gearing up for the busy holiday season.  Here are some of the things you'll find in the newsletter:

• Learn how you could have your child featured in a #Ruum4Kids social media video!
• Learn how Brianne Manz, founder of the kids' fashion blog "Stroller in the City", celebrates the holidays with her family
• Learn how to make winter bird feeders
• Check out Ruum's 2013 Holiday Collection and Holiday Gift Guide

The RUUM November newsletter is on the RUUM Kids blog.  Check it out!


Disclosure: I am receiving a promotional item as a thank you for sharing this information.. 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!

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Be a Change Agent this holiday season with Each Mind Matters

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for the California Mental Health Services Authority.  I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

The holidays are almost here, and this year we have a special reason to be thankful: Alfie's parents are coming to visit!  We haven't spent Christmas with his mum and dad since the twins were born, almost 10 years ago.  It's going to be such a special time, and we already have so many things planned.  We're doing some new things, like visiting the Dickens Fair, taking my mother-in-law to see the Nutcracker, and going on a trip to Reno to show them our favorite hotel resort.  Of course, we're also looking forward to sharing some of their (and now our) most cherished traditions, like popping Christmas crackers on Christmas morning and lounging around on Boxing Day (December 26) to watch a ton of English Premier League soccer matches!

I just know their holiday visit is going to be great, and since Alfie's parents are getting on in years, we are going to cherish every moment.  Like many families, we look at the holidays as a time for sharing memories, stories, hardships and triumphs.   One thing I love about Alfie's parents is that we can talk about anything with them, the good and the bad.  They speak just as frankly about their trials and tribulations as they do their triumphs.

That openness and willingness to share is a culture that Alfie and I want to pass on to our own children.  No matter how troubling or shameful they think their problems are -- whether it's drinking, drug abuse, suicidal thoughts, or whatever -- I want them to know that we are always willing to listen to them, and find ways to help them and get through it together. For example, I have friends whose family members have suffered from mental illness, and only after talking through it did they seek some much-needed help.  I don't want there to be any stigma in my family about talking through any problem, and that's why I'm honored to be chosen as a participant in the Each Mind Matters Ambassador Program.  For the next few months, I'll be blogging to highlight awareness for Mental Illness and Mental Health Challenges surrounding the holiday season, and beyond.  Stay tuned for more posts about debunking the stigmas and myths surrounding mental illnesses, as well as tips on how to talk to kids about mental illnesses and challenges!


Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for the California Mental Health Services Authority.  I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Giveaway: Happy Birthday Energizer Bunny!

We all know the slogan.... the Energizer Bunny keeps going, and going, and going.... and he's been going and going and going for 25 years!  Energizer's beloved pink bunny first drummed his way into our hearts in 1989, and has appeared in over 100 television commercials since then.  Here are just some of the famous faces he has co-starred with:

Darth Vader!

Dracula!

King Kong!

Wile E. Coyote!

Everyone loves the Energizer Bunny, and not just because he's the spokesperson for a great brand.  He's the symbol not just for long-lasting batteries, but for determination and perseverance.  Congratulations, Energizer Bunny, for 25 great years!  We know you'll keep going, going, going for even longer...

Here's how you can celebrate with the Energizer Bunny on his 25th birthday:

Collect Bunny Bucks 

Buy specially marked packages of Energizer batteries to get Bunny Bucks codes that can be redeemed for cash (via a check or deposit to your PayPal account).

Save with Energizer coupons

The Energizer Bunny will also dole out party favors in the way of coupons throughout the year.

Enter the Energizer Bunny Birthday Sweepstakes

Stop by Facebook to wish the Energizer Bunny a “Happy Birthday” on his Facebook wall and get the chance to enter a special Energizer Bunny Birthday Sweepstakes. Through December 5, 2013, one winner a day will receive a birthday prize package, worth approximately $75, filled with Energizer batteries, portable lighting solutions, and a gift card.

Win a set of Bunny Bucks Energizer Batteries
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive two (2) specially marked packages of Energizer Max batteries with Bunny Bucks codes – winner gets to choose between AA or AAA.

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me whether you would like to receive AA or AAA Energizer batteries should you win this giveaway.

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) Follow bonggamom on Blogger (1 entry)

2) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (1 entry)

3) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)

4) Pin this giveaway on any of your Pinterest boards (1 entry -- you can use the "Pin It" button at the bottom of this page!).

5) "Like" Bonggamom Finds on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry):
I entered the Energizer Bunny Birthday Bucks giveaway! http://ow.ly/qZbFq 

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)

Happy 25th Bday @EnergizerBunny ! Join @bonggafinds giveaway for Energizer batteries w/ Bunny Bucks codes! Ends 12/5 http://ow.ly/qZbFq 

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway you've joined)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on December 5, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on December 6 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.


Disclosure: Thank you to Energizer for providing me with a gift pack to give away, as well as a second gift pack for my personal use.. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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