UNIQLO opens in the Great Mall of the Bay Area

I remember the first time I saw a UNIQLO store.  It was in San Francisco, about 4 years ago, and I couldn't understand why there was such a long line to get in.  It's not Disneyland, people!  I didn't join the line.  A few months after that, I found myself back in the same place, and this time there was no line to enter the store, so I went in.  And fell in love. NO WONDER there was a long line!  What awesome clothes!  Lots of basics, lots of classics, in a rainbow of colors!  And oh, the prices!  The lines at the checkout stand were crazy, but this time I didn't care.

At the time, UNIQLO San Francisco was the only store in the Bay Area, but I didn't care; it was worth the drive. I'm addicted to their jean-style leggings, which are so stretchy and comfy and easy to wear over a sweater or long tank top or tunic.  When UNIQLO opened at the Valley Fair Mall, I rejoiced..... and rejoiced again when I heard that UNIQLO was opening at one of my favorite malls: the Great Mall of the Bay Area!  I had the good fortune to be invited to the opening party, and I had a great time:

When I got to the Great Mall, partygoers were milling outside the new store entrance, sipping drinks and watching a taiko performance.  The Mayor of Milpitas, the General Manager of UNIQLO, and the General Manager of the Great Mall (as well as some live mannequins, all dressed in the latest UNIQLO wear!) were all in attendance.

After the taiko performance......

.... the store was officially declared open!

The UNIQLO staff was lined up to greet everyone.  I must have been the third or fourth person to step inside the store!

UNIQLO has been garnering rave review ever since it started in Tokyo, and now it's all over the world, including Milpitas!

To celebrate the store opening, select items were on sale at crazy discounts, like these jeans for $3.49.  Yes, you read that right.

Everyone in attendance received a gift card to shop for their favorite UNIQLO fashions (they have mens', womens' and childrens'!) as well as a cute UNIQLO tote bag.  The store opened to the general public the next day, and the first 150 in line to enter also received the tote bags.

UNIQLO is definitely worth checking out, whether you're in Milpitas, in San Francisco, at your local UNIQLO store, or online!


Disclosure: I was invited to the UNIQLO store opening and received a gift card to shop at the store. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Tweet this!

Continue reading...

Microsoft celebrates Fitness Day and the launch of the Microsoft Band

Keeping fit over the holidays is always a challenge.  Not only are there all kinds of holiday treats to tempt you, all those parties and events mean less opportunity to work out, less sleep, and more stress. It's always a good idea to get a workout in before things start to get busy -- and that's why Microsoft chose October 30, the day before Halloween and the start of the holiday season, to host a fitness day celebrating the launch of their latest fitness tracking gadget, the Microsoft Band.  #FitnessDay events were held at Microsoft Retail stores across the country, including Westfield Valley Fair Mall, one of my favorite local malls, so I put on my yoga gear and headed to the Microsoft Store for a few hours of fitness and fun!

Event staff and trainers were on hand all day, offering fitness tests and giving customers the chance to try out some of the fun fitness games on Xbox Kinect.

Stores hosted two free fitness classes: a high energy Zumba class at noon, and a stress relieving yoga class in the evening.

The first 150 customers were given a fun present (their choice of yoga mat, hat, water bottle, gym bag, or jump rope).  They had free jamba juice, Gatorade, water, and energy snacks.  And there were giveaways all day long.

You could pose with a variety of props and your souvenir photo was mailed you on the spot.

 The star of the day was the Microsoft Band, Microsoft's entry in the wearable fitness tracker market.

The Microsoft Band is nice and slim, but it has an elongated touchscreen display, not just a bunch of flashing lights. It's the ultimate in wearable fitness, tracking steps, heart rate, sleep patterns, UV sun exposure, and more.

It also functions as a smart watch, notifying the wearer of incoming texts, phone calls, new emails, Facebook updates, Twitter updates, weather, calendar alerts, and so much more (it syncs with your phone via Bluetooth).  There's even a Starbucks app that lets you pay for your morning capuccino.

The downside? Even in the short time that I tried it on, it feels extremely uncomfortable. It's semi rigid and I felt like it was pressing down on my pulse points.  It's possible that I wasn't given the right size, or I didn't adjust it properly, so don't quote me on that, just be aware of it.  Obviously this isn't an actual review of Microsoft Band since I didn't get to spend an extended period of time testing it! But it certainly seems worth checking out, especially with the holidays coming up.  What better way to be aware of how your day to day activities help your health and fitness goals!

Of course, shoppers can also check out all the other cool tech gadgets.  My eye was immediately drawn to the Surface Pro 3.  It's just like my Windows 8 laptop... only it's a touchscreen tablet with a removable keyboard!  I love that you can take the tablet and relax on your sofa with it to read a book or browse the internet or catch up on social media.  Then you can dock it onto the keyboard (additional accessory) to type up an email or work.  Surface is bluetooth compatible, so I can use a Bluetooth mouse (I've never liked track pads, I'm old fashioned that way). The tablet even has a USB port!  I think Alfie would love this for a Christmas present!  Actually, so would I!

This holiday season, get thee to a Microsoft Store to check out the Microsoft Band, the Surface, and other Microsoft products!

Disclosure: This is a compensated post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Tweet this!

Continue reading...

Get Fit for the Holidays at the Microsoft Store

Come into the Microsoft Retail Store and start getting fit before the holidays! On Thursday, October 30th, Microsoft Store is hosting a fun #FitnessDay event before the biggest candy eating holiday of the year! Microsoft wants to help you get a head start on your health and fitness goals by staying active & fit through a yoga or Zumba class, or just have fun trying out the fitness games on Xbox Kinect! Enjoy a fun, high energy workout and a chance to win great prizes throughout the day! Fitness classes (Zumba & yoga) will be held from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Go to http://on.fb.me/1FWCdGd to RSVP and to learn more about prizing and store locations.

Prizes!
The first 150 consumers choose a giveaway (hat, water bottle, yoga mat, gym bag, or jump rope) while they are in-store. Other prizes may be announced during event!
Log in and RSVP on this event page to let us know you're attending!

Schedule of events:
10am: Stores open

10am – 6pm: In-store giveaways to first 150 consumers.

12pm – 1pm: Yoga Class or Store Provided Fitness Activity

1pm - 5pm: In-Store Workout activities continue in Xbox Fitness Area. Optional fitness tests available for consumers. Xbox Fitness workout options to include Tracy Anderson, Gillian Michaels, P90X, and Insanity. Trainers in-store to help consumers with all workouts.

5pm: Evening snacks provided

6pm-6:45pm: Zumba Class or Store Provided Fitness Activity

7pm: Event over


I'll be attending the Santa Clara #FitnessDay event, see you there!!


Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Event information provided by Microsoft. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Tweet this!

Continue reading...

Celebrate National Fit Made Fun Day with LeapFrog

Do you want to meet soccer star Mia Hamm?  Do you want to help break some Guinness World Records?  Do you want to try out LeapFrog's latest hi-tech toy designed to keep kids active?  Do you want to get your family out this weekend for some fitness and fun?  Do you live near Santa Monica, CA?

If you answered yes to all those questions, I've got a fantastic opportunity for you!  LeapFrog, my favorite hi-tech learning brand, is launching the  LeapBand™, a new wearable activity tracker that keeps kids active by combining physical activity with games and challenges.  To celebrate, they are holding a Fit Made Fun Day on September 6, 2014, 1:00pm-4:00pm at Santa Monica beach!  This 3-hour event is packed with fun things for the whole family to do.  Here's what to expect:

• Attendees will attempt to set 3 new Guinness World Records, for "Most children making sand angels on the beach", "Most people hopping on one foot", and "Most people doing a swim dance".  You could be part of a world record!

• Soccer star Mia Hamm will be leading the attempt.

• A DJ will spin KidzBop tunes as kids and parents get active and enjoy healthy snacks.

• Participants will receive a LeapBand activity tracker and goody bag packed with fun extras to take home!

All local families with children ages 5 through 8 are invited to attend -- but space is limited, so you must register to secure your spot.  Hurry, the fun starts in THREE DAYS, so register ASAP!

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

Continue reading...

Chilling out at the ReSPECKed Suite (enter to win a Speck DuraFolio!)

Anyone with kids knows that you need military-grade protection for all your devices.  If you don't surround your phones, tablets and laptops with industrial-strength padding, you're running a real risk of scratching your device's finish, cracking the screen, denting the body, or worse, completely wrecking it.  Unfortunately, in most cases that means living with an ugly, bulky case.

Enter Speck to the rescue!  Speck makes protective cases for phones, tablets, and laptops.  Their cases offer great protection -- many lines claim military-grade protection -- without sacrificing color or style.   Speck offers a literal rainbow of colors and options!  They have cases for many brands and models:  iPhones, iPads, macBooks, Samsung tablets and smartphones, Amazon Fire smartphones, Google Nexus smartphones and tablets, to name just a few.

Last week Speck invited me along with other bloggers to their #ReSPECKed Suite in San Jose to check out their latest models and designs.  Bloggers were invited to browse Speck's offerings and pick out some to take home to review or give away.

The suite was chock-full of pretty things that day: pretty Speck cases, dainty sandwiches and desserts, a Stella & Dot table featuring Stella & Dot's latest fashion accessories, and gorgeous :)  bloggers posing for headshots, taken by Tina Case Photography.  Tina is a blogger and a photographer, and she's awesome at doing both.  Just look at the headshot she took of me!  My hair was frizzed up from the heat and I wasn't wearing any makeup, but somehow she managed to take the best photo of me that I've seen in a long time.

As pretty as my headshot turned out, I can't compete with all the Speck cases that were on display.  I loved all the colors and designs!

One of my favorites was the new CandyShell Inked smartphone cases.  They feature hi resolution graphic designs, like the colorful floral one in the photo, on a military grade protective hard shell case. How's that for bold and beautiful?  The CandyShell Inked is currently only available for the iPhone 5s/5 and the Samsung Galaxy 5S, but I'm holding out hope that they'll start making it for other Android devices like the HTC One or Moto X.

Another big winner was the DuraFolio case for the iPad air and iPad mini.  This is great because kids love using iPads and iPad minis, but they're never as careful with the devices as we parents want them to be!  The DuraFolio offers great protection, but doesn't add bulk, so you still get to enjoy that sleek, elegant Apple profile.  As I mentioned in an previous Speck product review, you can actually encase your iPad in the DuraFolio, then throw it on the floor, and it won't crack!

Win a Speck DuraFolio iPad case

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a DuraFolio case from Speck!  The winner gets to choose between a DuraFolio for the iPad Air (MSRP $69.95) or a DuroFolio for the iPad mini (MSRP $59.95)

Required Entry

Leave a comment on this post and tell me which Speck product you or your child would most like to try.

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, using the hashtags #reSPECKed and #giveaway (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 Speck Durafolio giveaway!  Giveaway ends 8/20 at http://ow.ly/zOlCZ #ReSPECKed

6) Tweet this once per day (1 entry per day)

Enter to win a @speckproducts Durafolio iPad case (MSRP $59-$69)! Giveaway on @bonggafinds ends 8/20 http://ow.ly/zOlCZ #ReSPECKed

7) Follow @speckproducts on Twitter  (1 entry)

8) Follow @speckproducts on Instagram (1 entry)

9) Like Speck on Facebook (1 entry)

10) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for every giveaway you join)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on August 20,  2014; I will draw a winner at random, on August 21and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure: Speck invited me to a blogger event and provided samples to review and/or give away. No monetary compensation was received.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Tweet this!

Continue reading...

Bright new colors, styles and features at the Speck Palo Alto store

When we first got The Pea her iPad, I bought her a Speck case to go with it.  The case is made of pink,  military grade plastic, with a fabric cover in a black and white floral print.  Three years later the white parts are almost grey, and the plastic clasp on the cover no longer works -- but the iPad doesn't have a scratch or crack on it!

The Pea loves that Speck case, and despite my repeated offers to buy her a new one, she has refused to give her old one up -- until Speck invited me to check out their Palo Alto retail store, and I found the exact same case in the store!

The Speck Palo Alto store is like a candy store for mobile devices and laptops.  You'll find rows upon rows of bright, cheerful colors and designs for Macbooks, iPods, iPads, and smartphones. The range of options for Android and Windows smartphones is not as broad as the range for Apple devices, but given the wide variety of smartphones, I'm impressed I was actually able to find a case for my first-generation HTC One!  I chose a clear case that protects my phone while still showcasing my beloved Mickey Mouse decal :)

If you're an Apple devotee, the possibilities are almost endless.  Not only do they have solid colors, they also have adorable designs like their floral patterned Candy Shell Inked cases for the iPhone 5s/5. Also new this season is their Candy Shell Amped case, which has grooves on the underside of the case to redirect sound from the iPhone's speakers to your ear, for better sound quality.

Here's another winner I got to take home:  a DuraFolio cover for the iPad mini.  The Pea and her friends love the striking fuschia color and slim fit (hey, it's an iPad mini, the whole point is not to have bulk!).  I love the military grade protection -- you can literally throw your device on the floor and it won't crack (the Speck representatives at the blogger event were doing it but I just can't bring myself to try it!).

Another great product for the iPad mini is Speck's ShowFolio case for the iPad mini.  It has hooks that clip on to your car's front seat headrest, so the kids can watch movies on road trips.  The hooks swivel back into the case, so when you're not in the car, it functions as a normal case that flips to prop up your iPad mini.  How I wish Speck made these for regular-sized iPads!

We're insanely lucky to have the Speck store literally a 10-minute walk from home, but fortunately for everyone else, you can find all of Speck's products online.  With so many cute options, the only thing harder than choosing a case for your device is the material the case is made of!


Disclosure: I was invited by Speck to attend a blogging event and received product samples to review.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Tweet this!

Continue reading...

American Girl Store San Francisco opens November 16

The wait is finally over!  Northern California finally has its own American Girl Store.  American Girl San Francisco is having a Grand Opening this weekend, November 16 and 17.  There's going to be a ribbon cutting, craft activities, a raffle, and a free surprise for each little girl who visits.   The opening is going to draw parents and daughters to come from hundreds of miles away -- American Girl expects a crowd of 10,000 over the next two days!   I've heard stories of groups camping out the night before, but in recent years American Girl has perfected their crowd control system to minimize waiting and stress.  Here are some tips for planning your American Girl weekend:

* To reduce guests waiting and observe fire-safety regulations, a ticket system will be used for American Girl Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto grand-opening weekend.

* Each person (including children) who wishes to enter the store will receive a ticket with an assigned group number.

* Ticket distribution for begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, and at 8 a.m. on Sunday, November 17.  Saturday tickets are valid for Saturday only. Sunday tickets are valid for Sunday only.

* Lining up prior to 7 a.m. on Saturday, November 16 and 8 a.m. on Sunday, November 17 will not be permitted.  8 a.m. on Sunday, November 17. Overnight camping is not allowed on property.

* When the store opens each day, groups will be announced in numerical order for admittance through the American Girl entrance adjacent to California Pizza Kitchen.

* You can shop or dine in Stanford Shopping Center until your group number is called, or, should you have a Bistro reservation, you can come directly to the Welcome Table as check-in is allowed two hours prior to your Bistro reservation time,whichever comes first.

* Text Messaging will be available providing updates on current group numbers being admitted; details on text messaging will be available onsite.  Also, 22x28 signs will be located throughout Stanford Shopping Center, providing updates on current group numbers being admitted.


My best tip for avoiding the crowds at the new store?  Come and shop today!!   The store has actually been open for a few days now, but it's a soft opening to get the staff ramped up.  No publicity, just foot traffic and word of mouth.  The Pea and I were at the store yesterday to receive an exclusive tour, and although there were quite a few shoppers, there were no lines at all.   Getting there early gave me a chance to take some photos around the store without shoppers blocking the way.  Here are a few photos of the store to give you a general idea of the layout and decor:

The first floor houses the bookstore, Girl of the Year section, Historical Characters section, Bitty Baby and Bitty Twins sections, and American Girl Store San Francisco Merchandise.


The Grand Staircase is unique to the San Francisco store.  The large pastel globe lights are so cute!  It opens up onto the second floor, which houses the American Girl Bistro, Creativi-Tees Boutique, Doll Hair Salon, My American Girl section, and Holiday merchandise.


The American Girl Bistro was not yet open, but they expect to be fully operational tomorrow.  Unlike the American Girl Cafe in Chicago, New York and LA, which serve a set menu, the Bistro menu is a la carte, so you can make reservations for lunch or just an afternoon ice cream sundae.  I've heard rumors that the place is booked till March -- but I just looked at the online calendar, and while November is pretty much booked, there are lots of openings in December.



The Pea and her friend had their dolls' hairs done at the Doll Hair Salon.


No lines at the cash registers right now, but we fully expect that to change tomorrow!


I'll be back at the store tomorrow to take photos of the ribbon cutting, the opening and the crowds.  Hope to see you there!

For more photos of the new American Girl Store in San Francisco, check out my American Girl Flickr photoset and my AG San Francisco post on Finding Bonggamom! And don't forget to enter my giveaway for a free American Girl custom photo book from Shutterfly!

Disclosure: As an invited guest to a soft opening tour, I received a complimentary doll hairstyle at the Doll Salon and a goody bag. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Tweet this!

Continue reading...