Seventeen Syllables could get you 3 Days at theType-A Parent Conference

MomImpact is giving away a Type-A Parent Conference pass, which is being held June 23-15 in Asheville. Founded by my blogging friend Kim Moldofsky, I've received many great product review opportunities from being a MomImpact member, but winning this pass would be the biggest coup of all! Any MomImpact member can enter, and all you have to do is post a haiku or 6-word story on why you want to enter. I decided to go with the haiku:


Improve my blogging,
I've never been to Asheville,
Get away from kids!



Okay, it doesn't exactly follow all the guidelines for writing a traditional Japanese haiku, but it's got the 5-7-5 syllable thing going, and it expresses exactly why I'd love to go to the Type-A Parent Conference. And why the photo of a frozen lake? Since I don't have a kigo, or season word, in my haiku, I've tacked on the photo to represent winter. It's also how I will feel if I don't win :)

Disclosure: This my entry into the MomImpact giveaway for a Type-A Parent Conference pass. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Skin MD Giveaway

Over a year since I first blogged about it, Skin MD natural shielding lotion continues to be one of my favorite skin lotions. It's so lightweight and absorbing, yet does an amazing job of moisturizing dry skin.

Right now Skin MD is running a great giveaway: one winner will receive a huge natural skin care prize pack worth an estimated $300 and 100 second place winners will receive samples of Skin MD Natural.

Natural skin care prize pack includes – 6 bottles of Skin MD Natural Original, 6 bottles of Skin MD Natural SPF 15, a natural loofah sponge with wood handle, natural lavender epsom salt bath soak, a natural shower massage glove, 2 relaxing scented candles, a soothing gel eye mask, and a sea sponge.

Enter by May 15th at the Skin MD blog.

Disclosure: By blogging about this giveaway I receive extra entries into giveaway. Giveaway 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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Enter the Baby Bunch Facebook Contest: You could win a Birdhouse Pajama Set

Good news! Baby Bunch -- one of my favorite baby gift companies -- isn't just for babies anymore. They're extending their size range to include items for children up to size 3T. Check out these adorable Birdhouse Pajamas:This pj set is made of supersoft, 100% cotton and comes in pink or blue. Like all Baby Bunch products, the packaging is just as adorable as the product -- in this case the pajamas come in a clever little birdhouse box with a resealable magnetic roof, and include a small plush bird toy. They are just too tweet for words!


Enter Baby Bunch's Facebook Contest for a chance to win a Birdhouse Pajama Set
For a chance to win one of these cute gift items, head on over to Baby Bunch's Facebook contest page. To enter, all you need to do is register and tell Baby Bunch all about your favorite childhood toy. Five winners will be chosen by popular vote, so funny/creative/original entries will probably stand the best chance of winning -- of course, telling all your friends to vote for your entry doesn't hurt, either! Entries will be accepted until March 30, so start delving into your childhood memories now.... good luck!

Click here to view contest rules and to enter the Baby Bunch Facebook contest.

Disclosure: Baby Bunch is sending me a set of Birdhouse pajamas as a thank-you for posting this information. Contest 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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City Deals is coming to San Francisco

Don't you just love the deals you get from deal sites nowadays? The only bummer is that most of the deals are limited time offers, so if you don't get around to clicking on the deal of the day, you're out of luck. CityDeals also features daily deals like these, but unlike average deal sites they even offer deals that aren't limited to the one-deal-a-day concept. You can get your deals via print-at-home option or via certificate (great for gifts!), and they even have Request-A-Deal (if the deal you want isn't in stock, they'll try to get it for you!) and referral bonuses. CityDeals.com is already in many cities across the US -- and great news for us deal-seekers living in the SF Bay Area, they are coming to San Francisco in 2011!

To celebrate their San Francisco launch, CityDeals is launching a fun I "heart" San Francisco giveaway, with the chance to win one of four amazing prizes:

* Date Night on the town including dinner, flowers, jewelry and more ($697 value)
* 8GB iPod Touch
* iPad
* San Francisco Giants game package which includes tickets, food and apparel.


Enter by Feb. 6, 2011 to be eligible to win -- and don't forget to refer as many friends as possible to the giveaway, and tell them to enter your name in the "referral" field, because for every friend you refer who enters the giveaway, you will receive an additional entry!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post courtesy of the One2One Network. Contest information is provided by the featured company/product. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Join SoyJoy's Facebook discussion today about new Dietary Guidelines

SoyJoy is holding a live broadcast today, featuring David Grotto, registered dietitian and author of "101 Foods That Will Save Your Life”, who will be talking about the new 2010 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The U.S. government updates them every 5 years, and they are due out next week, so David will be giving everyone a sneak peek at the new guidelines and giving some insights and recommendations.

Tune in live on http://www.facebook.com/soyjoy later today (Thursday, January 27th) at 12:30pm EST to be among the first to see what the newest Dietary Guidelines has to offer! David will be answering questions live during the webcast -- if you submit questions online via facebook, twitter, UStream OR email, you could win a box of SOYJOY bars!

Disclosure: As a thank-you for posting this information, I will be receiving a box of SoyJoy bars. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Win a trip to Greece from Voskos Yogurt

I love Greek yogurt, and I love Voskos Greek yogurt. It's amazingly thick and creamy and tastes oh-so-indulgent (even though it isn't -- Greek yogurt is an excellent source of calcium and is low in fat!). The only thing more authentic than eating Voskos Greek yogurt would be eating Voskos Greek yogurt in Greece. Guess what? Voskos is giving you the chance to do both! They're sponsoring a fabulous sweepstakes for a trip to Greece.


Here's what the Grand Prize Winner will receive:

1. ONE WEEK TRIP FOR TWO (2) TO GREECE. (5 day/4 night to Santorini)
2. 30-day personal consultation with a Registered Nutritionist
3. 24-Hr Fitness two (2) year gym membership
3. Oliver Ifergan Salon products worth up to $50.00 -or- a hair blowout gift card(in the form of 30 free product coupons or actual products.)
4. A copy of the book '75 Ways to Love Your Oatmeal' by Jenny Grothe
5. Voskos 'Wanna Spoon?' T-Shirt
6. 1-month supply of Voskos Greek Yogurt
7. $50 Alo Activewear gift certificate
APPROXIMATE TOTAL VALUE (includes shipping): $4,500.00

Four other winners will receive:
1) 24-hr Fitness 2-yr gym membership
2) Oliver Ifergan Salon products worth up to $50 -or- a $50 hair blow-out gift card
3) A copy of the book "75 Ways to Love Your Oatmeal" by Jenny Grothe
4) A Voskos 'Wanna Spoon?' T-Shirt
5) A one (1) month supply of Voskos Greek Yogurt products (coupons or actual product

How fabulous is that?? The sweepstakes ends March 31, 2011 so enter on the Voskos Facebook page today!

Disclosure: As a thank-you for posting about the sweepstakes, Voskos is sending me a pack of Voskos yogurt samples and other goodies. All sweepstakes and prize information was taken from the Voskos Facebook page. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Help Thomas the Tank Engine win Toy Property of the Year!

Are you a fan of Thomas the Tank Engine? You can help Thomas and Friends win Property of the Year at this year's Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards! The TOTY Awards are like the Oscars of the Toy Industry, and the 2011 winners will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held before the start of American International Toy Fair on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Property of the Year Award will go to the property that has had the greatest success spreading its brand throughout the industry in 2010. Besides Thomas & Friends, the other nominees in this category are Ben 10 Ultimate Alien (Cartoon Network Enterprises), Chuggington (Ludorum), Dinosaur Train (The Jim Henson Company), Monster High (Mattel) and Toy Story 3 (Disney Consumer Products). Finalists in this category and 10 others were selected by Nomination Committees from a record 500+ toys, games and properties submitted for consideration across 11 TOTY categories.

Looking at the nominees, I think all six brands were hot, hot hot in 2010, but in my opinion Chuggington, Monster High, Ben 10 and Dinosaur Train (which I really, really love) don't have the cross-generational appeal that Thomas and Toy Story 3 have. Thomas, while definitely a child's character, has been around since 1945, so even middle aged men have a soft spot for him. Toy Story 3, while not as old as Thomas, is a worldwide phenomenon that people of all ages love. Impressed as I am with the Disney merchandising juggernaut, I think Thomas should win because Thomas is on clothing, shoes, bags, food, books, CDs, DVDs, party goods, and so many other things besides play sets and stuffed animals.

How about you? What do you think? You can vote for your favorite toy at ToyAwards.org, TOTY's consumer voting website. Now through January 14, 2011, families can vote, download a Holiday Gift Guide, and register to win fantastic prizes. So don't delay -- get on board, and vote for everyone's favorite train!

Psst, here's a secret: I'll be running a giveaway for a Thomas the Tank Campaign Party Package, with four fun Thomas toys, very very soon...... and if you vote for Thomas at ToyAwards.org, you'll get an extra entry into the giveaway!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. DKC Public Relations will be sponsoring a future Thomas the Tank giveaway on this site. Contest information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Wet Ones Healthy Hands Zone

Winter break is coming up; isn't that exciting? Your kids will be home from school so you'll be able to spend some time together. Lots and lots of time. Indoors. With them all hyped up with the sugar from the candy canes and cookies. And nothing to do.

Okay, that's not exactly the postcard perfect winter scene. If, like me, that thought is making you fight down feelings of panic, you might want to start lining up some crafts and activities to keep them busy.

Fear not, dear readers, you've come to the right place. Actually, this blog isn't the right place. The right place is the Wet Ones Healthy Hands Zone Germ Lab, an online resource from Wet Ones featuring some fun science experiments designed by Bill Nye the Science Guy™. Like all of Bill's experiments, these are fun and educational at the same time. This set of experiments shows how quickly germs can spread and how important it is to have clean, germ-free hands.

Wet Ones sent us a kit with everything we needed to perform all four experiments on the site, as well as a Flip video camera so we could capture the action. We did the experiments over Thanksgiving break, and we had so much fun that I have no hesitation in recommending the experiments and the site for your winter break. My kids adore Bill Nye (we have many of his Bill Nye the Science Guy™ episodes on DVD, and we actually met him once at a blogger event) so just knowing they were "his" experiments was enough to get them all fired up about trying them.

The experiments can be done by a wide range of ages; some are as simple as pouring glitter on your hands, and shaking hands with a friend:


Others involve cooking up some gelatinous chicken brew and leaving it under your stairs (or some other dark, damp place) to grow all kinds of disgusting-looking stuff on it:



All of them really show the kids how important it is to wash your hands (or wipe them with antibacterial wipes when you can't get to soap and water). Seeing green fuzzy stuff is a gross, but effective way to make the point, especially during this cold and flu season!

You can download the instructions for each experiment at The Germ Lab. Check it out and give your kids something to occupy their mind over the winter break.

Disclosure: I received a kit containing all the materials necessary to conduct the experiments as well as a Flip video camera so we could capture the action. I was not paid to review Wet Ones or the Healthy Hands Zone, or give my opinions. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Deals and Steals at Luggage.com

Our old suitcases have had it, I think, and we need to get some new luggage, stat. The last thing we want is to be forced to stuff our clothes into garbage bags because our cases have split at the airport! If you're traveling over the holiday season make sure your luggage can stand the rigors of travel, and if it needs to be replaced, check out Luggage.com. They've got a great selection of kids backpacks, suitcases, laptop bags, and all sorts of luggage you need to travel! Here are some of my favorites:


I love the Classic Black Samsonite suitcase -- it's the only one of our suitcases that has stood the test of time.



Incredibly, this 5 piece Samsonite luggage set costs less than $200.




How adorable is this rolling lambie backpack? It's perfect if your traveling with a little one!


Luggage.com has great prices, big discounts on many items, hassle-free returns and free shipping on orders over $69, so it's a great option for people who don't want to brave the holiday crowds at the mall. As a CSN Preferred Blogger, I've reviewed several products from their family of online shopping sites, and I've been really pleased with their product selection, quality and lightning-fast delivery. I think we'll be getting a new Samsonite suitcase soon!

Disclaimer: I am a CSN Preferred Blogger, and CSN Stores is compensating me for this post in the form of a CSN store giftcard. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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How would YOU use $100 to Perform some Random Acts of Kindness (and a Giveaway!)

Once upon a time, a woman realized she had forgotten her checkbook and was unable to pay for her groceries. The woman behind her at the checkout line paid her bill; she gave the first woman her address so she could send a payment check. The first woman repaid her, along with a little extra as a thank-you. The second woman decided to donate that thank-you money to a local food bank. When friends found out what she had done, they matched the donation. Their friends matched it too, and before long the 93 Dollar Club was born.

It also inspired a wonderful movement on Yahoo! called How Good Grows. You can use the site to share the good deeds you've done -- and maybe inspire other people to do the same. All you have to do to join in is:

* Do a good deed! It doesn't have to be a Bill-Gates-vaccinating-Africa kind of deed, it can be something as small as paying the bridge toll for the car behind you.

* Update your status on Yahoo! with what you've done at kindness.yahoo.com.

* Share your update on other social networks and see your ripple of kindness grow as others click on your update, "like" the good deed you've done, and share a good deed of their own.



Your good deed doesn't even have to involve donating money -- for instance, the good deed I entered today had to do with helping out a friend in need -- but I'm honored to announce that this holiday season, Yahoo! has given me and other Yahoo! Motherboard members $100 to perform some random acts of kindness and help brighten other people's holiday season! Now this is what I call blogging for good! I am so excited to be a part of this! I can't wait to start -- and I hope you'll join me in performing some random acts of kindness of your own.

The only problem is... I don't know what to do with the money. There are so many great ways to use that $100, and so many people who could use it. Here are some suggestions Yahoo! gave me:

* Pay for a portion of someone's groceries at a local grocery store
* Go to checkout at a toy store and pay for someone's toys
* Go to the Post Office and offer to pay shipping costs for holiday gifts
* Hand out umbrellas on a rainy day
* Go to a local ice cream parlor and pay for ice cream cones
* Pay for people's checked luggage or curbside bag check
* Buy a handful of tickets for the Nutcracker (or some other holiday show) and drop them off at a local Boys and Girls Club
* Check out http://kindness.yahoo.com for more ideas

All I know for sure is that I want to involve my whole family, and I prefer that the recipients of the money don't realize who it came from. So what should I do to spread some kindness this holiday season? I'd love to hear your suggestions.


Win a $5 Dunkin Donuts gift card
To make things more interesting, I'm performing a random act of kindness and buying one Bonggamom Finds reader a cup of coffee! To put it another way, I've bought a $5 Dunkin Donuts gift card and I'm giving it away to a randomly selected commenter on this post......


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me what you would do if you were given $100 to perform a random act (or acts) of kindness. This entry must be completed for other entries to count.


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


1) Go to http://kindness.yahoo.com/Hjw-u0 (which takes you to the kindness ripple I started) and share your own act of kindness, then come back here and leave a comment with the URL of the kindness ripple you've started-- you will see your own unique URL after you click on the "Share" button (1 entry).

2) Find my (bonggamom's) kindness ripple and click on "like", then come back here and leave a comment telling me you did (1 entry).

3) Share this with your Facebook friends (1 entry):
Visit the Yahoo! How Good Grows site and share an act of kindness you've performed recently (or plan to). You could inspire others to do the same. Start a ripple of #kindness and see How Good Grows! http://ow.ly/3fh2l

4) Tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
RT @bonggamom Visit Yahoo! How Good Grows & share your act of kindness! You could inspire others 2 do the same #kindness http://ow.ly/3fh2l

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

Help @bonggamom figure out how to use $100 to spread kindness and enter to win a $5 Dunkin Donuts card http://www.bonggafinds.com


The Rules
This giveaway ends at midnight PST on December 5, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on December 6. I will post the winner's name in the comments section after he/she confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: As a part of the Yahoo! Mother Board, I'm excited to be taking part in How Good Grows Through Ripples of Kindness . Yahoo! has given me $100 to do random acts of kindness in the hopes of brightening people's holiday season. I hope you'll be inspired to join me. I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. The $5 Dunkin Donuts card giveaway is not affiliated with Yahoo! or the Yahoo! Motherboard; I am providing the prize personally. . The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Navigating the holidays with Pearltrees

Whoever said the holidays are for children was all too sadly correct. Every year I bake cookies, decorate the house, and wrap presents all so I can give my kids an experience they can file under "magical childhood memories". No wonder parents get so stressed. This year I've decided to be a little bit selfish and think of myself for a change. I've been looking around and wondering what to get myself as a little treat, which is not easy to do since I want so many things, and there are so many places to find them. Last month I attended a Pearltrees informational luncheon and invited to create a holiday wishlist using Pearltrees, and it has never been easier to keep track of where to find the stuff I want. I've been having lots of fun dreaming about all the presents I want this holiday season!

What is Pearltrees? It's an online curation tool that helps you organize and share the stuff you like on the web. They're very specific about distinguishing themselves as a "curation" tool, not just a bookmarking tool, because curators not only collect objects, they also manage their collections and decide which objects are the gems that simply must be showcased, using their own knowledge and shared knowledge from other experts in the field. In that sense, Pearltrees is indeed different; yes, you create "pearls" which represent websites you've discovered and want to remember, but you can also organize these pearls (into pearl trees) and share them with your friends. Even better, you can discover other similar sites by looking at other people's related pearls (Pearltrees will find them for you, or you can do your own searches), and you can follow other people so that when they add a new pearl to their pearl trees, you'll know about it. It's Digg meets Bookmarks meets Facebook and Twitter!

Getting started on Pearltrees is easy and free; just create an account on Pearltrees.com and create a pearl by typing a URL into your account. You can also install add-ons for your Firefox or Chrome browsers so you can create a pearl just by clicking on a button. Here's the holiday wishlist I created on Pearltrees:



I love that you can click on any of the pearls in the widget above (go on, try it!) and you get to see the stuff I want for the holidays (and the stuff I want for my kids, and for Alfie) . Click on any of the things I want and you'll see the website I found it on.. Click on the little black pearl, and you'll see related pearls (I think they need to work on this, BTW, because I don't see anything remotely related to a holiday wish list, or to any of the sites on my pearltree) And this all happens without leaving my blog! I also like that it's easy to share -- you can embed your peartree on a blog, like I did, or embed it in an online article, or you can share it via Facebook or Twitter.

Disclosure: I was invited to a lunch sponsored by the Clever Girls Collective and Pearltrees to learn more about the service and what it can do. I was also given a $25 giftcard so I could get a head start on my holiday shopping. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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The Best Small Businesses in my Neighborhood

Thanks to American Express for sponsoring my writing today about small businesses. American Express is presenting Small Business Saturday, a way to honor the local merchants who are the backbone of the economy, this Saturday, November 27. They're offering statement credits to people who shop at small businesses, advertising for small-business owners, and donations to Girls Inc. for "Likes" of the Small Business Saturday page on Facebook. Join the celebration by clicking the "Like" button and then visiting the Facebook page to learn more about the program and read the terms and conditions that apply.


One of the things I love best about our home is location, location, location. Okay, that's three things, but being exactly where we are makes a huge difference in our quality of life. We're on a quiet street with no through traffic. We live within walking distance to the kids' school. And we're a five-minute walk from downtown Palo Alto, where we can enjoy the best boutiques, cafes and restaurants that Palo Alto has to offer.

Of course, in most cases "best" also means "expensive", and with our budget we just can't afford to eat at most of the chi-chi restaurants on University Avenue. Fortunately, there are several small eateries located just off the main drag that serve amazing food at great prices. They also happen to be independently-owned small businesses, so I feel really good about supporting them -- the taxes they pay support Palo Alto's schools and communities, they employ locals and keep the community feeling alive.

After all, it's not just dot-com millionaires, startup lawyers or rich real-estate agents who live here, but also college students, retirees and families who want to give their kids a good life -- people like me. I'm so grateful that restaurants like these exist, because if they didn't, we wouldn't be able to afford to eat out in Palo Alto!

Here are 5 of my favorite restaurants in downtown Palo Alto (where you can get great food under $10):

	Cafe Rennaissance bills itself as a place for Gourmet Persian Platters and Hearty American Sandwiches, but I've never ever eaten an American sandwich here. And who would want to, with so many choices for amazing Persian food? Their daily specials are healthy, inexpensive and out-of-this-world delicious!
	The Prolific Oven makes the best cakes in town; their Chocolate on Chocolate cake is amazing, and their Strawberry Cream Cake (my favorite) is to die for. It's also a great lunch spot, featuring yummy sandwiches with their fresh baked bread, and a slice of cake that comes with every lunch! This place is oozing with community feel, from the community bulletin board filled with local announcements, to the multi-generational clientele, to the big pile of newspapers that everyone helps themselves to.
	Gyros Gyros is the reason I'm crazy about falafel, hummus, tahini sauce and all things Meditteranean. I discovered this place about a year after I arrived in the US and had never tasted Mediterranean food before. Afterwards, I couldn't believe I had been missing such amazing food, but I've been making up for it ever since.
	We discovered Loving Hut on a rainy day when we were headed to eat at a different restaurant but had parked far away and couldn't take the rain and the cold anymore. So we ducked in here, and fell in love with their vegan menu. Loving Hut Restaurants is actually the fastest growing international vegan fast food restaurant in the world, but each one is individually owned, and each one has its own unique menu. This place is living proof that vegan does not mean tasteless; even my meat-loving kids were wolfing down the "chicken" pesto broil, cauliflower and almond soup, shepherd's pie and "bacon"-avocado sandwich. Afterwards, you feel nice and light in so many ways: there's no heavy meat to weigh you down, and you walk away feeling good about doing yourself and the planet a favor.
	Okay, Fraiche is not exactly a restaurant, but they're the best and most popular frozen yogurt place in town. And I've been known to order their plain organic tart frozen yogurt with a drizzle of honey (it's so good, that's all it needs) and call it lunch. See that little white banner on the far left? That's a "Best of 2010" Readers Poll Award from the Palo Alto Weekly.

Like "Small Business Saturday" on Facebook today - for every "Like" they receive, American Express will donate $1, up to $1,000,000!

Disclosure: This is a compensated post. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity , as I do. Small Business Saturday program information is provided by the Clever Girls Collective and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Black Friday Decongesters Sweepstakes

Last year I finally took the bull by the horns and decided to drop by Walmart on Black Friday. I knew it would be crowded, but I wasn't expecting this:

It was like being inside a subway train during rush hour in Tokyo. There was no room to walk, let alone push a cart, but somehow people were jostling and pushing their way around. It was wild and crazy; no wonder savvy Black Friday veterans plan their shopping strategy with all the precision of a military campaign! Needless to say, I chickened out and left without purchasing anything, but braver souls than me can really get some amazing bargains on Black Friday.

For those intrepid spirits, Pfizer has a fun sweepstakes where 100 shoppers will win their very own personal shopping assistants on Black Friday -- people to run errands, stand in line, and carry their shopping bags! How's that for VIP treatment? Five lucky winners will even receive a $1,000 gift card to help with the bills!

Here's more information about the Black Friday "Decongesters" sweepstakes:
To provide relief on the most congested shopping day of the year, Advil® Congestion Relief is unleashing a team of Black Friday "Decongesters" who will help winning shoppers by waiting in long lines for them, running mall errands for them and carrying their heavy shopping bags.

Shoppers at select malls in the Jersey City, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco areas can text for a chance to win a personal Black Friday "Decongester," who will help relieve their congested shopping day. In addition, one grand prize winner in each city will also win a $1,000 gift card, compliments of Advil® Congestion Relief, to help ease the stress on their wallet this holiday season.

To enter for a chance to win, compliments of Advil® Congestion Relief, consumers can text the following to 89800 from Nov. 15 to Nov. 21:

* "Advil1" – NJ (Newport Centre Mall, Jersey City, N.J.)
* "Advil2" – Atlanta (Mall of Georgia, Atlanta, Ga.)
* "Advil3" – Chicago (Orland Square, Orland Park, Ill.)
* "Advil4" – Dallas (Grapevine Mills, Grapevine, Texas)
* "Advil5" – San Francisco (Stoneridge Mall, Pleasanton, Calif.)

Click here for official rules.

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Black Friday Decongester Sweepstakes information is provided by the featured company and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Announcing Advil's Black Friday Decongester Sweepstakes -- plus a Black Friday Survival Kit Giveaway here!

Last year I finally took the bull by the horns and decided to drop by Walmart on Black Friday. I knew it would be crowded, but I wasn't expecting this:

It was like being inside a subway train during rush hour in Tokyo. There was no room to walk, let alone push a cart, but somehow people were jostling and pushing their way around. It was wild and crazy; no wonder savvy Black Friday veterans plan their shopping strategy with all the precision of a military campaign! Needless to say, I chickened out and left without purchasing anything, but braver souls than me can really get some amazing bargains on Black Friday.

For those intrepid spirits, Pfizer has a fun sweepstakes where 100 shoppers will win their very own personal shopping assistants on Black Friday -- people to run errands, stand in line, and carry their shopping bags! How's that for VIP treatment? Five lucky winners will even receive a $1,000 gift card to help with the bills!

Here's more information about the Black Friday "Decongesters" sweepstakes:
To provide relief on the most congested shopping day of the year, Advil® Congestion Relief is unleashing a team of Black Friday "Decongesters" who will help winning shoppers by waiting in long lines for them, running mall errands for them and carrying their heavy shopping bags.

Shoppers at select malls in the Jersey City, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco areas can text for a chance to win a personal Black Friday "Decongester," who will help relieve their congested shopping day. In addition, one grand prize winner in each city will also win a $1,000 gift card, compliments of Advil® Congestion Relief, to help ease the stress on their wallet this holiday season.

To enter for a chance to win, compliments of Advil® Congestion Relief, consumers can text the following to 89800 from Nov. 15 to Nov. 21:

* "Advil1" – NJ (Newport Centre Mall, Jersey City, N.J.)
* "Advil2" – Atlanta (Mall of Georgia, Atlanta, Ga.)
* "Advil3" – Chicago (Orland Square, Orland Park, Ill.)
* "Advil4" – Dallas (Grapevine Mills, Grapevine, Texas)
* "Advil5" – San Francisco (Stoneridge Mall, Pleasanton, Calif.)

Click here for official rules.


Win a Black Friday Survival Kit
I can't offer you a personal shopper, but Pfizer is generously providing a set of Black Friday survival essentials to one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader! The winner will receive a Black Friday Survival Kit containing the following:


· Gift card to Dunkin’ Donuts (you'll need some caffeine to stay focused and alert during the mad rush of shoppers at 5am!

· Granola bars (because who has time to stop to eat with all those sales?)

· Bottle of water (to ensure you’re staying hydrated throughout the day)

· Deck of cards (to keep you entertained while you’re waiting in lines before the stores open)

· Blanket (for warmth while you’re waiting outside in the cold and brisk morning)

· Pocket calculator (for calculating all the fabulous deals and money you will be saving)

· Hand Sanitizer (to prevent germs from slowing you down during the holidays)


The prize kit will be mailed to the winner in time for Black Friday.


Required Entry
Fill up the Black Friday Survival Kit entry form. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify. Please be assured that I will not use or sell this information in any way. In fact, I will delete all information (except the winner's) as soon as the giveaway ends!



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) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):

I entered the Black Friday Survival Kit giveaway! http://ow.ly/3c8Cp

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

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

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

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 Black Friday Survival Kit on @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/3c8Cp Hurry, ends Nov. 21! #giveaways

6) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet any of the following, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):

RT @bonggafinds Enter 2 win a Black Friday shopping assistant at the Newport Centre Mall! Text ADVIL1 to 89800 http://ow.ly/3c8Cp #giveaways

RT @bonggafinds Enter to win a Black Friday shopping assistant at the Mall of Georgia! Text ADVIL2 to 89800 http://ow.ly/3c8Cp #giveaways

RT @bonggafinds Enter to win a Black Friday shopping assistant at Orland Square Mall! Text ADVIL3 to 89800http://ow.ly/3c8Cp #giveaways

RT @bonggafinds Enter to win a Black Friday shopping assistant at Grapevine Mills Mall! Text ADVIL4 to 89800 http://ow.ly/3c8Cp #giveaways

RT @bonggafinds Enter to win a Black Friday shopping assistant at the Stoneridge Mall! Text ADVIL5 to 89800 http://ow.ly/3c8Cp #giveaways


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




The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on November 21 , 2010; I will draw a winner at random on November 22 and post the winner's name. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Black Friday Decongester Sweepstakes information is provided by the featured company and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Clic-It Smart Diaper Bag System review

Things sure have changed in the world of diaper bags since my kids were babies. In the past 7-10 years companies have come up with so many ideas for a diaper bag that will meet parents' needs as they go about their busy lives with their babies. As a product reviewer I've been invited to review quite a few diaper bags -- but since my kids are way past the diaper bag stage, I've never accepted the opportunities. After all, diaper bags aren't really relevant to our lives at this point, so I wouldn't be able to "road-test" any of them properly. I love reviewing products, but not enough to go around with a diaper bag!

Then Team Mom invited me to review the Clit-It Smart Diaper Bag System.


The Basics
The Clic-It diaper bag has a series of clips on its side (inside and out) that allow you to attach different accessories, depending on the age and stage your baby is in. It comes with a zip-off messenger bag flap, a shoulder strap and a diaper pad. Accessories are sold separately, and include:

* Bottle Holder
* Insulated Tote
* Pacifier Holder
* Diapers & Wipes Case
* Organizer Pouch
Gadget Case
Key Ring


Here's more information about Clic-It:
Clic-It is The Smart Diaper Bag System that easily changes to meet all your needs. It is designed to make it easier for you to care for your baby on the go. Personalize the system to meet your daily needs – take only the accessories you need with you, and hang them in easy-access, convenient positions on your diaper bag. The Clic-It quick release clip system (All you need is one hand to quickly attach or detach your baby's travel accessories with one simple "click") gives you the flexibility to design the diaper bag that works for you.

The Bongga
So why, you ask, have I decided to review a diaper bag? Because I think this is one diaper bag that I actually think parents can use long after their baby is out of diapers! I could see that from the moment I opened the Team Mom email and saw the photo of the bag itself:

It doesn't even look like a diaper bag! It could be any messenger bag that any girl or guy could be toting around. I love the lime-green messenger flap; it gives the bag a splash of stylish color that goes way beyond boring black (not that there's anything wrong with boring black -- you can actually zip the flap off if that's your thing). I knew I would totally use such a cute bag, so I accepted the review opportunity -- and I haven't been disappointed. The bag is really well made, with an easy-wipe interior and sturdy zippered pockets.

I'm a big fan of compartments, so I don't have to go rummaging in black holes. And I like that the accessories attach to the bag -- so you don't end up with a bunch of smaller bags in one big, black hole of a bag. The accessory system would have been a godsend when my kids were in diapers. As it is, I can think of more than a few ways we'll can use the Clic-It Diaper Bag and Accessories, even now:

* Laptop bag: The flat, thin messenger bag shape is perfect for carrying a laptop around! You can put peripherals like cables and USB sticks in the Gadget Case accessory, where you can access them easily from the side of the bag. And speaking of messenger bag.....

* Messenger bag: The Clic-It bag makes a great messenger bag! You can carry files and folders in it just as easily as you can carry wipes and teddies :)

* School bag: Right now the kids use backpacks, but I can easily imagine The Pea wanting to use a bag as stylish and practical as this when she gets to middle school. The organizer pouch is great for storing pens, rulers and erasers, and the Insulated Tote makes the perfect lunch box!


Honestly, I wish this had been around when my kids were babies. Oh well, the great thing about this diaper bag is that I can still use it, even now!

The Blah
The clip that attaches the accessories to the main diaper bag is large and chunky, and I wish it was removable so that I could use the accessories on their own.

The Bottom Line
The Clic-It Smart Diaper Bag System is stylish and smart. With the convenient, versatile clip-on accessory system, you can tailor it to meet your baby's changing needs as he grows. It's a great investment that you'll be using even after your baby has grown up and out of diapers!


Win a Clic-It!
Clic-It is kicking off the “Gearing Up for Baby” contest from November 15 – December 24. Log onto www.clicitbag.com for details on how to enter for a chance to win a prize pack including a new Clic-It diaper bag and accessory assortment (retail value: $117.00).

Disclosure: I received a product sample courtesy of Team Mom. 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.

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Enter CSN Stores' Battle Your Blah Backyard Contest

Who wants a brand new backyard as a holiday present? You could win $15,000 towards a new back yard from CSN Stores! Fifteen grand goes a long way when you're shopping at a CSN store: they've got 200+ websites selling over a million products, from a barstool for your outdoor bar or a gas grill or teak furniture for outdoor entertaining. Their Battle Your Blah Backyard contest ends December 1, 2010, so there's still plenty of time to enter.

To enter, go to the contest webpage and tell CSN Stores why you want to banish your blah backyard for good, and why a brand new outdoor retreat from CSN Stores and TV Landscape Designer Justin Cave would help you de-stress and relax in style. If you're selected as the person with the backyard most in need of a makeover, you'll win a brand new backyard from CSN Stores’ Room Rescue Crew and Justin Cave that includes $15,000 worth of landscaping, furniture, fire pits, grill goods, lighting, accessories and more.

Disclaimer: I am a CSN Preferred Blogger, and CSN Stores is compensating me for this post in the form of a CSN store giftcard. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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What Are You Thankful For? Voskos Greek Yogurt Contest

Halloween is over, welcome to the Holiday Season! As if Halloween weren't hectic enough, I have a feeling these next 2 months are going to be full of activity, celebrations -- and stress. I'm bound to get caught up in the all the chaos, so I will definitely need to step back once in a while and remind myself about what's actually important and what's not. Amidst all the materialism and overindulgence, I need to remind myself that it's not the season for buying and partying -- well, it is, a little bit, but it's not really what the holidays are about -- it's about getting together with family and friends, and being thankful for what we already have.

Since it's the season for giving thanks, Voskos Yogurt is running a contest to ask their Facebook Fans what they are thankful for. Just become a fan of Voskos Yogurt on Facebook and leave a comment on their contest post telling them what you are thankful for, and you could win an awesome Voskos prize pack! Not one, but FIVE lucky winners will receive:

* a 1-month supply of Voskos Greek Yogurt, in the form of 30 coupons
* a Voskos travel mug
* a Voskos “Wanna Spoon?” T-shirt
* a Voskos reusable grocery tote
* a Voskos baseball cap
* a Voskos beanie
* a “Skinny Chicks Don’t Eat Salads” book by celebrity nutritionist Christine Avanti.

You can even get extra entries by including a photo in your submission (either link to a Flickr photo in your comment, or emailing a photo to social AT voskos DOT com).

I've tried Voskos yogurt, and belive me, this is one prize you want to win. Reminding yourself what you're thankful for and entering to win some yummy yogurt? There's no better way to start the holiday season right!

Disclosure: As a thank-you for blogging about this contest, I will be receiving a prize pack similar to the ones being given away. Contest information is provided by Voskos and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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More Ways to Help Teachers

I hope you've all joined my Office Max A Day Made Better Giveaway! Here are 2 more opportunities from fellow Office Max Moms to nominate your favorite teacher to win $100 from Office Max:

* Scraps of my Geek Life 's giveaway ends October 11.

* Sugar Jones' giveaway ends October 10.



By the way, Bing is also sponsoring a program and giveaway to benefit teachers. To raise awareness of their Our School Needs program (where you can win up to $100,000 for your child's school), they are hosting a giveaway at MomCentral for $50 at DonorsChoose.org. Just go to MomCentral, login and post a comment on their "Our School Needs" post for the chance to win one of five $50 donation codes to use at DonorsChoose.org to support your child's classroom or another classroom in need.

Disclosure: I am an Office Max Mom. I did not receive monetary compensation to write this post or promote the giveaways. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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KitchenAid Rescue My Appliances Sweepstakes

When I think of quality kitchen appliances, Kitchen Aid is the first brand that comes to mind. My mom had a Kitchen Aid mixer that we used throughout my childhood to bake brownies, cookies, cakes, bread, and a million other things. That yellow Kitchen Aid mixer is an indelible part of my childhood baking memories!

Now Kitchen Aid is giving one lucky family the chance to make some memories around Kitchen Aid. From today through November 2, you can enter the KitchenAid Rescue My Appliances Sweepstakes for the chance to win a kitchen remodel including consultation with a kitchen design expert and $7,000 worth of KitchenAid appliances!

All you need to do to enter is upload a photograph of your kitchen, and along with a brief explanation describing why your your appliances need to be replaced. The public will be able to vote for their favorite entries between 11/3/2010 and on 11/17/2010, and the top ten entries with the most votes will advance to the final round. A judging panel will select the Contest Grand Prize winner.

Here's more information about the sweepstakes:
Submit a photo of your old kitchen appliances and you could win a new suite of appliances from KitchenAid® (worth $7,000), Service Live Credits toward remodeling (worth $1,000), and a phone consultation with Susan Serra, our kitchen design expert (worth $200)! Entries are submitted from 10/5/10 - 11/2/10.

Head on over to the contest page to enter, and good luck!


Disclosure: This is a sponsored post courtesy of the Mom Bloggers Club. Sweepstakes information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Take the Lands' End Holiday Survey and enter to win a Lands' End Gift Card

Here's a great chance to win some extra cash for the holiday season -- and who doesn't need extra shopping money? Take the Lands' End/Every Day with Rachael Ray 2010 Holiday Survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/landsendrachaelrayholiday2010 .Participants who complete the survey by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, October 5th will be entered into a drawing for one of ten $50 Lands' End gift cards and the Rachael Ray cookbook, "Rachael Ray's Book of 10".

Winners will be selected at random and will be notified on or around the week of October 25, 2010.

Disclosure: By posting this information I get an extra entry into the Lands' End gift card drawing. Information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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