Arctic Ease Twitter Review, Giveaway and Twitter Party

A couple of days ago I blogged about my determination to get back into running this year. It's one of my New Year's Resolutions for 2011. Note, I've tried to fashion a resolution more specific than just "Lose Weight" or "Get Fit", because I know those never last. But running, I can do (and if a bit of weight comes off, then hurray for me). I have the spiffy new running shoes that I bought at the end of 2010. I've signed up for some races to keep me motivated. I think I'm set.

One of the major stumbling blocks I have that keeps me from running as much as I want is my plantaar fascitis, or heel spurs. Two years ago the pain was so bad I had to stop running, but last year it seems to have eased off -- and I've learned how to manage the condition when it does occur. The simple act of applying a cold compress to my heel after a run has been crucial to avoiding pain the morning after. In the past I've used bags of frozen peas because unlike solid blocks of ice, they envelop the heel quite nicely, and unlike bags of crushed ice, they don't leak and soak my couch. The only problem is that peas are food, and resting my stinky foot on a bag of food (even when enclosed in a plastic bag) is, well, gross.

But it's a New Year, and it's time for a new kind of cold therapy. MomImpact sent me a sample box of Arctic Ease, a resusable wrap or pad that cools without needing refrigeration. Technically, Arctic Ease is a Cryotherapy wrap that aims to enhance the treatment of soft tissue injuries, burns and edema, whether induced by pharmalogical therapies, radiation or injury (I got that from their "About" page). In everyday English, that means Arctic Ease is the coolest cold bag ever!

The Basics
Arctic Ease Cryotherapy Wraps and Pads provide instant cold relief for the pain and swelling from bumps, bruises, and other injuries. They don't need refrigeration -- they are cold right out of the bag. The wraps and pads feel like cloth that has been coated with some kind of gel. My understanding is that the gel draws away the heat from the injured area and provides the cooling effect. The gel absorbs the heat, but the heat then evaporates, which means the area is kept cool for an extended period of time. God, I love it when companies apply science to come up with products that make our lives better!

The Bongga
Here's what I love about the Arctic Ease products:

* Instant cooling relief! I love the fact that you don't have to refrigerate it because that means I can leave a pack in the first-aid kit in our van. I was given several sample packs, and even though I waited over a month to open the last pack, it was still ice-cold. Actually, "ice cold" isn't the right term, because while you can really feel the cold, it's not an unbearable cold. It's gentle, even and long-lasting. It's more like "gel-cold", but even then, it's not icky-wet or icky-gooey!


* They conform to the injury and stay in place. They remind me of Saran Wrap! It's It certainly looks a lot cooler (gotta love that pun) than a bag of peas taped to my ankle:



* You can cut the wraps or pads to fit your injury so it's not too bulky. This is also great when you have twin boys who have injured each other and both need cold compresses!

* They are reusable. Just put them back into the resealable pouch when the coldness has worn off, and rehydrate the wrap or pad by adding a tablespoon or two of water into the pouch. After several hours, it will be cold and ready to reuse. See, once again, this is perfect to keep in the car! My understanding is that you can get several uses out of the product before the gel dries out completely and the wrap or pad no longer adheres to the injury. At that point, you'll need to discard it and buy a new one.


The Blah
The gel can feel a bit icky at first, but you'll get used to it. And although it's reusable, you can't wash it -- which means the Arctic Ease wraps for my heel are strictly for my heel only, and I can't ever step on the floor while I'm using the wrap, because I shudder to think how much dust and dirt it would pick up. But since Arctic Ease is pretty inexpensive ($7.99 for a pack of 3 pads, and $10.99 for a 4"x60" wrap), that's a minor inconvenience.

The Bottom Line
Every household needs to keep a pack of Arctic Ease wraps or pads around!


Join Arctic Ease's #CoolWrapsFitness Twitter Party
Arctic Ease is throwing a Twitter Party! It's going to be hosted by the awesome MizFitOnline, and I'll be joining her as a panelist, along with Joyce of Freaking Fitness, Lisa of Lisa Johnson Fitness, and Cara from Arctic Ease. We'll be talking about health and fitness in the New Year -- making health and fitness goals, achieving them, maintaining them. Gulp. These women are fitness goddesses! I guess I'll be there to provide the perspective of the Ordinary Woman. In any case, it's an important topic for me and everyone else, so I'm honored to be joining them and excited to start the party.

What: a #CoolWrapsFitness Twitter Party

When: Thursday, Jan. 13, 2001, 7-8PM CST

Why: to chat about health and fitness in the new year

How: Follow @mizfitonline, @arcticease, @bonggamom, @joycecherrier, @LisaJohnson and tweet with hashtag #CoolWrapsFitness for the duration of the party

And what would a Twitter Party be without prizes? Throughout the event, Arctic Ease will be giving away Arctic Ease prize packs (ArcticEase samples+ gift cards), as well as a grand prize (worth $100+) to end the hour-long chat!

Anyone and everyone is welcome to drop in and join the party, but if you RSVP at MizFitOnline's #CoolWrapsFitness party post, you'll be eligible for a special, high-value ($100+) prize. Hope to see /tweet you at the party next week!



Win an Arctic Ease Prize Pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds winner will receive an Arctic Ease Prize Pack with three Arctic Ease Wraps and a t-shirt!

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me how you would use Arctic Ease wraps. This entry must be completed before other entries will 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) RSVP to Arctic Ease's #CoolWrapsFitness Twitter Party on MizFit Online (1 entry).

2) If (and ONLY IF) you RSVP'd to the #CoolWrapsFitness Twitter Party, write this on the Arctic Ease Facebook wall (1 entry):

I RSVP'd to the #CoolWrapsFitness Twitter Party! I can't wait to join MizFitOnline, Bonggamom and other great panelists on Jan. 13, 7-8PM CST to chat about health and fitness in the New Year. Join us and RSVP at http://ow.ly/3A4tJ for the chance to win great prizes!

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

I entered the Arctic Ease Prize Pack giveaway! http://ow.ly/3A7wV

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

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

6) Follow Arctic Ease on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day until 7PM CST, Jan. 13, 2011 (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):

RT @bonggamom Join me and @mizfitonline @joycecherrier @LisaJohnson for a #CoolWrapsFitness party! 7PM CST, 1/13/11 RSVP http://ow.ly/3A4tJ

7) Follow Arctic Ease 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 an Arctic Ease Prize Pack from @arcticease and @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/3A7wV #giveaway

8) Join any of the other open giveaways on Bonggamom Finds (leave a comment with the name of the giveaway you joined, 1 entry per giveaway you've joined).


The Rules
This giveaway ends at midnight PST on January 24, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on January 25. I will post the winner's name in the comments section after he/she confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. Please note, entering this giveaway does not increase your chances of winning a prize at the Arctic Ease Twitter Party. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a sample of Arctic Ease products to facilitate my review. I have not been compensated for this post but I am being compensated for my participation in next week's Arctic Ease Twitter Party. 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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Junk Ball Hall Stars Review

Our little league soccer season has come to an end, and my boys are devastated. They love their teammates, their coach and soccer, so they're really going miss their twice-weekly practices and weekly games. I'm sure they'll still be playing pickup games during recess and lunch at school, but once the rains come and the field gets muddy they'll have to put away their cleats and store their soccer ball for a while. I'm not looking forward to it, for their sake or mine. Where, oh where can I channel all that pent-up energy?

I was recently invited to review a line of toys that might help out with the indoor blahs during the cold, rainy winter months. Junk Ball sent me two of their Hall Stars toys to see whether they could keep 3Po and Jammy actively entertained indoors......

The Basics

Hall Stars is a line of toys that lets kids play golf, tennis, volleyball, badminton, baseball and hockey indoors. The line includes:

Hall Stars Indoor 2 in 1 Hockey and Baseball Machine
Hall Stars Indoor 3-1 Net Sports
Hall Stars Indoor Disc Golf

We received samples of the first two (2 in 1 Hockey and Baseball Machine, and 3-1 Net Sports).

Here's a description of Junk Ball's Hall Stars toys:
Junk Ball’s new Hall Stars is a line of indoor sports designed for safe indoor play. The sets are sized and scaled for indoor play spaces such as bedrooms, hallways and playrooms. The equipment to play each sport is soft and safe, while the rules are bent to enable hours of indoor active play.




The Bongga
We're pretty careful about letting the kids play with balls around the house: no hard rubber balls, only soft balls, and no kicking/hitting/throwing too hard. So 3Po and Jammy couldn't believe their luck: You mean we're allowed to hit these balls indoors?? Sweet! The concept of playing sports indoors is irresistible to them, and I love giving them an option for indoor play that doesn't involve anything electronic.

Here's how we set up the 3 in 1 Net Sports set up in our kitchen. This set comes with an adjustable height net, 2 plastic "tennis" raqcuets, a foam "tennis" ball, a plastic badminton shuttlecock and an inflatable "volleyball". The net is adjustable to a low (for tennis and badminton) and high (for volleyball) position, but the kids didn't really care; they just swatted all the balls at each other and had fun doing it. Maybe when they're older they'll be more of a stickler for the rules (i.e. kneeling down, use the paddles, etc..) but for now they just love hitting the ball across the net to the other player and keeping the ball in play.



Our kitchen opens up into our back entrance and stairwell, so when we play with the Baseball and Hockey set, we set up the pitching machine at the far end of the kitchen, and the player stations himself at the far end of the back entrance. The set comes with a 2-speed pitching machine that you can tilt up (for "baseball") or down (for "hockey"): just plunk the 5 small soft balls into the feeding tube and it will release a ball every 5 seconds to your eager little sportster. Even Alfie and I couldn't resist trying our luck and joining in the fun.


The Blah
I love the concept of scaling down and modifying sports apparatus for indoor play, but I think the Hall Stars sets are best suited to larger indoor spaces like a large playroom or basement. We have a small house, so it's difficult for 3Po and Jammy to play with abandon like they would outdoors. The small baseball/hockey balls may be soft, but the way my kids hit them, they're not exactly safe -- at those speeds, they turn into mini bullets, and they could easily topple a vase or hit someone in the eye! And if the balls don't, it's highly possible that a flailing baseball bat or hockey stick might! So while the weather is still nice, we've actually been playing with the Hall Stars toys outdoors -- and when the time comes to bring them indoors, we've got to set some ground rules about taking turns, pitching at low speeds and making sure no-one is in the range of fire.


The Bottom Line
Junk Ball's Hall Stars line of indoor sports toys are a great way to get kids active and entertained when they can't get outside -- just make sure to be mindful of space and safety! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this for people who have a large indoor space, because it's a great alternative to tv, computers and videogames, and it gets kids moving.

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

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World Cup 2010 Gift Guide

Finally! After 4 years, the world's biggest sports event is beginning today! The 2010 World Cup football tournament (yes, I said football, not soccer because it's only soccer in the US, it's football everywhere else, and this is a World Cup) starts today in South Africa, and I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of people calling in sick to work in the next 4 weeks.

I've always liked football, but I never truly got into it until I married Alfie, who was born in a country where people live and die with every kick and save. My kids have no choice in the matter: they've grown up with their dad watching 2 or more matches every week! But during the World Cup, football fever truly grips the world, and everyone gets on that wild, wonderful ride! It's so much fun, even when you're halfway around the world, and if you want to get in on the fun there are so many ways to do it, from watching matches on TV to reading books to your kids to kicking a ball around in the park.

Here are some great products that will help you and your family enjoy and appreciate the Beautiful Game and fuel your World Cup Craze:


This new children's picture book from Candlewick Press is a wonderful story to read to your children. The story is about a poor young South African and his friends, playing in the dirt with their most prized possession: a brand-new, federation-size soccer ball. They fantasize about being football champions, but they need to become real-life heroes when a group of bullies comes to steal their ball. It's a wonderful book that clearly shows the passion that people all over the world have for the Beautiful Game, but it's also a heartwarming tale of courage and friendship.




This is a book for the very youngest football fans! Goal! It's a simple and funny story about Biggie Bear, who has never played football in his life and finds being cajoled into joining a team because they need someone big and strong to win the game. Once they're out on the field, Biggie realizes it takes more than size to win a football game. 3Po and Jammy loved this book because it's easy enough for them to read all by themselves, and they giggled all the way to the surprising and amusing (but happy) ending. As the publisher says, Kids of all sizes (and soccer abilities) will get a kick out of this humorous tale of high expectations -- and the rewards of being yourself.

The World Cup isn't just about football; it's about sports and competition and doing your best and teamwork and working hard to achieve your goals. Even if your child hates football, or is already passionate about another sport, they can be inspired by the teams and players fighting to win the World Cup. Winning Words by author/illustrator Charles R. Smith Jr. is a book that can inspire kids in any sport to keep trying and do their best. It's a collection of sports stories about kids with challenges to overcome -- from saving a disastrous football season to sharing the glory on the girls’ soccer field, from a solo punch in karate to thrilling teamwork on the basketball court. I loved the stories because they're told from the point of view of a child playing the sport (which makes it more interesting and real to kids reading the book) these riveting stories and inspirational quotes capture a striving for personal best -- and the exhilaration of mastering your fears.
With their fast-paced narration and dynamic, dramatic photos, these stories are guaranteed to pump up confidence, no matter your sport of choice.


Cheer your favorite team on with a World-Cup themed tshirt! Cafe Press has so many World Cup themed shirts that you won't have much trouble picking out a favorite. They have shirts for every country competing in the world cup, and almost as many designs as there are football fans in the world. Okay, not almost as many, but they have tons, from flags to logos to cartoons to mascots to slogans. If you don't like any of the designs you see, you can create your own! The shirts come in so many colors and designs, and you can order other products with your favorite design -- hats, mugs, water bottles, and more. Because when your team does win the World Cup, you gotta be prepared to rush out into the streets in full regalia!

As Alfie will tell you, it's never too early to turn your child into the next Diego Maradona, David Beckham or Ronaldo! Your baby may not be able to walk yet, but he can kick, can't he? Even the youngest children love playing with balls, and they're a great way to develop both fine motor and gross motor skills. This Flexi Ball by Bright Starts makes a great first ball for a baby because it's colorful, it's makes fun noises, and it's easy to grip. And if your baby would rather throw or chew on the ball than kick it? Not to worry, there's plenty of time to infect him with the football bug.

Disclosure: I received a product samples of various items on this gift guide, but was not paid to feature them on this special gift guide. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Razor Scooter Review and Giveaway

When it comes to scooters, our family has always had a bit of a math problem. Specifically, we have 3 kids and 2 scooters. One is an original A-series Razor, and one is a Razor knockoff. Both were purchased from neighbors whose teenage daughters had outgrown them after years of use. They are great scooters, but since we only have 2, the kids always fight over them have to take turns. Now that all 3 attend the neighborhood school, they want to scooter to school like all their friends.

S we were absolutely delighted to receive an A2 Razor scooter to review from CSN Stores (more specifically, their online toy store, ToysAndGamesOnline.com). CSN has over 200 online retail sites selling just about anything under the sun, from wall sconces to water bottles. Every CSN store that I checked out offered really high-quality products, not junky, cheapy stuff. What's more, all stores have competitive prices (with lots of discounts !), easy ordering, and free shipping for orders over $69.

As for the Razor itself, what can I say that hasn't already been said? Razor created the modern scooter craze in the USA almost single handedly (or should I say single brandedly), and they're one of the most popular scooters in the country. And with good reason:

* Our Razor is lightweight and foldable, so it's easy to carry around and store.

* Anyone from age 4 to 84 can learn to ride one.

* The quality is second to none. My kids are not brand conscious at all, they don't know the difference between Razor and any other brand, but all of them preferred our old Razor over our old Razor knockoff. It just gives a better ride!

* They're a bit like the Energizer Bunny -- they last and last. Our old A series Razor is about 10 years old. The foam handgrips are torn from constant use, and it doesn't fold so well anymore, but other than that it's still going strong, and I expect our new Razor to last just as long.

Here's what Razor has to say: Producing some of the most popular and visually recognizable scooters in the country, Razor has been credited with the recreation of the scooter craze in the USA. Starting with the original kick scooter, Razor has used its distinctive patented single lever folding system and rear fender brake through the evolution of their kick scooters.

Each scooter is constructed of Aircraft-grade aluminum to provide maximum durability without weighing the rider down. Features such as the foam grip handlebars and durable grip tape are engineered to achieve a system that allows riders to utilize every inch of their scooters. In 2000, the ever popular A Series Kick Scooter won the coveted Toy of the Year award.

Win It! CSN Stores is giving away an A Kick Scooter by Razor to one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader!

Required Entry:
Go to the list of CSN Stores, then leave a comment here with the name of one CSN Store. Easy? Here's the catch -- no duplicates allowed! If another commenter with an early timestamp has already mentioned a store in his/her comment, you have to pick another CSN Store. It shouldn't be too hard -- after all, there are over 200 CSN stores!

Extra Entries:
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

1) Go to the list of CSN Stores, then leave a comment here telling me which online store you would be most likely to shop at. Unlike the required entry, it's ok to mention a store that another commenter has already mentioned -- it will be interesting to see which stores are the most popular!

2) Grab my blog button and post it up on your blog (leave a comment here with your blog URL).

3) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(leave a comment with your Blogger profile name).

4) Tweet this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your tweet). Here is a sample tweet you can copy and paste:

Win a Razor scooter from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/ydlzkrs

Maximum of 5 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on October 15, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on October 16 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Little Einsteins: Fire Truck Rocket's Blastoff DVD Review and Giveaway

I've always had a soft spot for Disney's Little Einsteins. I think it's because I keep making the association with Baby Einstein (also a Disney brand), which my kids loved practically from birth. The music was lovely, the images were fun, what's not to like? Little Einsteins continues the tradition of exposing kids to classical music, and adds age-appropriate storylines for toddlers and preschoolers. My kids haven't watched Little Einsteins in a while, but they thoroughly enjoyed previewing Disney's latest offering, Little Einsteins: Fire Truck Rocket's Blastoff, available now on DVD.

The Basics
Little Einsteins: Fire Truck Rocket's Blastoff contains five episodes from the tv series Little Einsteins, including a never-before seen episode, "Fire Truck Rocket", that's set to air on tv on November 23. Here's a description from Disney DVD:

Sound the siren and hold on tight as the world's biggest little heroes embark on their most amazing adventure ever!

Full speed ahead for fun as Rocket transforms into a flying truck! A rumbling volcano on the island of Java is about to blow, and the Team needs to free a monkey stuck in a tree before things get really hot. Can they get there in time? They'll need all of Rocket's special firefighting gadgets - and YOUR help - to save the day! Then, whoosh off to a thrilling car race in Monaco, dash to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and chug superfast up the Andes Mountains when Rocket transforms again - into an ice-cream train! Bursting with music, action and fun, FIRE TRUCK ROCKET'S BLASTOFF is a whirlwind of nonstop adventure!

The Bongga
At first, my kids thought they were too old and sophisticated for this DVD. But they fell in love with the cute little musical creature that Leo befriends in the second episode, "Melody The Music Pet", and when I turned the DVD off after the third episode, they howled in protest. Kids just really like the friendly characters and gentle storylines! As a parent, I also love how Little Einsteins exposes kids to the fine arts. They feature real works of art in all episodes, and they play real classical music on their episodes, not some dumbed-down kid version. Anyone who can get my kids humming Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture while they're drawing pictures of ninjas throwing flameballs deserves a star in my book.

The Bottom Line
Little Einsteins: Fire Truck Rocket's Blastoff is a fun DVD that fans of the tv show will love. It's a great way to make sure that your little one can watch an episode whenever he wants! Hopefully all that classical indoctrination will stick -- maybe one day when we'll be walking through the National Gallery in London and my kids will surprise me by saying, "Look, mama, it's the Sunflowers painting by Van Gogh!"

Win it! Each day from September 11 thru 14, I'll be starting a giveaway for one Disney DVD! Today's giveaway is for a copy of Little Einsteins: Fire Truck Rocket's Blastoff . To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me your child's favorite Little Einstein character. This is required for entry and must be completed before any extra entries will count.

For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

1) Comment on any of my posts over on Finding Bonggamom (leave a comment here with a link to the post that you commented on).

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(leave a comment with your Blogger profile name).

3) Blog about this giveaway and link to this giveaway in your blog post (leave a comment with the link to your blog post).

4) Tweet this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your tweet). Here is a sample tweet you can copy and paste:

Win a Little Einsteins DVD from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/mhe6hb


This giveaway ends at midnight PST on Sept. 27, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on Sept. 28 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Anyone can Shred Sled!

Win this badass, totally fun Shred Sled! Just click here to get to my giveaway post and enter. Even if you don't have kids, you'll have fun with the Shred Sled. How do I know? Because I've tried it! See the videos below...


We've all been enjoying the Shred Sled that was sent to us for review. And when I say "we", I really do mean "we". Everyone in the family can Shred Sled now! And it really didn't take very long; I mean, it's not as if we've been practicing night and day (for one thing, we've only got one Shred Sled between the five of us). All it takes is someone to help you balance for the first five or ten minutes.

If you know how to snowboard or windsurf, you'll probably get the motion really easily. Alfie was able to figure it out all on his own. See, the Shred Sled isn't just for young boys, even old fossils like Alfie can do it:


Most older people will probably be a bit nervous at the thought of balancing on the Shred Sled. Heck, when I first stepped on it, I was convinced there was no way I could do it. But when I saw all 3 boys enjoying themselves, my competitive hackles rose. I knew I had to try it. Alfie didn't think it was a good idea because he has a pretty low opinion of my balancing skills. Which only got me even more determined to succeed. Sure, I do swerve around wildly every time I look over my shoulder to pass when riding a bicycle -- but I'm not a klutz, I'm not! I certainly didn't want my kids thinking I'm a decrepit old fuddy-duddy. So I went for it. I asked Alfie to help me balance the way we helped 3Po and Jammy balance. And what do you know, even I can do it. See?


When The Pea saw that I could Shred Sled, she decided to give it another go. I think I might have to patent our Learn-2-Shred method, because it has worked for 3Po, Jammy, The Pea and I. Here's a video of The Pea learning to balance on the Shred Sled:



And here are my foolproof Learn-2-Shred tips:
1) Just like a bike, it's almost impossible to balance on the Shred Sled while it's stationary. You need to get it moving first.

2) Don't worry about getting on the board all by yourself. For now, use a chair or a friend to help you get up on the board. Position your feet on the board and pull yourself up before pushing off.

3) Make sure you always put the same foot on the front board (the front board is rounded, sort like the head of a fish, and the rear board looks like a fishtail).

4) Focus on making the front board move from side to side (I tell my kids to make the head of the "fish" wiggle from side to side). You can twist your hips or flex and point your feet to accomplish this.

5) Ask someone for help to steady you while you're moving along. It's like riding a bike, you need someone to hold the seat of the bike for balance, then gradually let go as you begin to find your own balance.

Okay, maybe they're not foolproof, but they worked for me and my kids. And I'm not saying you won't fall once or twice or ten times, but I think these tips will make the process easier. Just remember to wear the right safety gear, know your kids' abilities and know your own. Neither I nor Shred Sled can be held responsible if you end up on your ass!

If all these videos have gotten you juiced up and ready to Shred Sled on your own, click here to join my Shred Sled giveaway -- hurry, it ends September 9!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Shred Sled Review and Giveaway

Today I'm reviewing the Shred Sled, but I'm not going to follow my usual review template (The Basics/The Bongga/The Blah/The Bottom Line). Instead, I'm going to tell you a story.

I've been fascinated with caster boards ever since I first saw them. A skateboard that doesn't require you to push off from the ground! Just wiggle around, and the thing moves by itself! That kid looks like he's snowboarding! I'll bet it's a lot of fun! I've got to get one for the boys!

Then I actually stepped on one. And promptly fell off. Okay, it's harder than I thought. And the boys are only 5. They're definitely too young for this.

Then I was asked to review the Shred Sled, the next generation caster board with 4 wheels and a dual-deck board. All my optimism surged forth -- okay, maybe I can't do it, but I know The Pea would love it! And once the boys can use it in a couple of years, I know they'll love it too.

The Shred Sled arrived, The Pea tried it, and after 5 minutes she gave up. Alfie got on it and decided it was too dangerous for his old bones. We both thought it would end up gathering dust in the garage.

But, surprise, surprise. 3Po fell in love with the Shred Sled and insisted he try it. Poor kid -- at first he could barely even position his feet. He's only 5, and his legs are so short that to get his feet in the proper position, he has to spread his legs so wide, almost like a half split, that we thought he would have zero control. But he kept trying. He stayed on for a second or two. Then four or five. Then it turned into ten or twelve seconds.

Alfie saw 3Po trying, and his competitive juices bubbled up. He got on the Shred Sled, and his long-dormant windsurfing skills came to the fore. Alfie did it! Which only served to inspire 3Po even more. I held his hand and walked with him as he wiggled around, the way a parent would help steady a child on a bike. Jammy got in on the action. And over the next 2 or 3 days, they both learned to ride the Shred Sled.



Now he and his brother Jammy are carving up the sidewalks! They are having SO much fun, now all 3 boys (Jammy, 3Po and Alfie) are fighting for Shred Sled time. Two days ago I tried it with Alfie holding my hands, and I think I've got the hang of it -- sort of. The Pea tried it again yesterday and I'm happy to say that in another day or so I think she'll be almost as good as her brothers.



So our Shred Sled story has a happy ending. It's a wonderful product that gets everyone out and about, and we can't wait to go and get more Shred Sleds!

I'm planning to do another post on the Shred Sled with some tips on how parents can help their kids learn to use the Shred Sled (and how nervous adults can join in the fun!). But for now, I'll leave you with this short safety video:

And don't forget, the recommended age range for the Shred Sled is 8 and above. Yes, my boys are only 5, -- but they took the training wheels of their 2-wheelers at age 3, and managed to get the basics of snowboarding after their first try, so we let them try it out. We know their physical capabilities, just as you should know your own child's abilities. So don't take this as an endorsement to go out and get one for your 5-year old -- neither Shred Sled nor I can be held responsible for any injuries that occur!

Giveaway time! One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win their very own Shred Sled! To enter, leave a comment on this post with your family's favorite outdoor activity. This is required for entry and must be completed before any extra entries are considered. For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

1) Fave Bonggamom Finds on Technorati (leave a comment with your Technorati id).

2) Fave Finding Bonggamom on Technorati (leave a comment with your Technorati id).

3) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(leave a comment with your Blogger profile name).

4) Leave a comment on any of my blog posts on Finding Bonggamom (leave a comment here with the link to the post that you commented on).

5) Join any of the other giveaways currently running on Bonggamom Finds (leave a comment here with the name of the other giveaway you joined).

6) Tweet this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your tweet). Here is a sample tweet you can copy and paste:

Win a Shred Sled from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/mn5xrm

This giveaway ends at midnight PST on September 9, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on September 10 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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The Sportys baseball DVD -- it's a hit!

Let's get one thing straight up front -- I know next to nothing about baseball. And Alfie knows less than nothing. Neither of us grew up here, so baseball has never been on our radar, and our kids have spent their early years not knowing anything about America's Pastime. But now they're starting to show some interest in the sport. They've got friends in Little League and cousins who love to Play Ball, and they're feeling a bit left out since they barely know how to hold a bat, let along hit a ball with it. So when I was given the opportunity to preview The Sportys, a brand new baseball DVD for kids, I gladly said yes because I thought it would be a great way to introduce my kids to baseball.

The Basics
The Sportys DVD has a 22-minute animated segment that tells the story of a ragtag bunch of baseball newbies who are introduced to the fundamentals of the game by a baseball named "Stitch" (voiced by Michael Clarke Duncan of The Green Mile fame). The team (along with ) learn about fouls and strikes, bunts and walks, and everything from first base to home plate. They end up playing a game against some baseball bullies, and learn about teamwork, positive thinking and good sportsmanship.

For parents and kids who want to take it one step further, the DVD also has several live-action "skills and drills" segments featuring Yankees Hitting Coach Kevin Long and some bat-toting youngsters. Mr. Long offers tips on stretching, hitting, fielding, pitching, and base running for kids who want to improve their baseball skills at home (and for parents who want to help them).

The Bongga
My kids loved the story so much that they asked to watch it again right after the show ended! And I know the DVD has been successful in introducing them to baseball, because right this minute I can hear them incorporating baseball terms and situations into their pretend play.

What I like best of all are the "skills and drills" segments just for parents, where Kevin Long offers tips on setting expectations (kids' and parents'!), teamwork and sportsmanship. With all the stories I hear about parents yelling at their kids and coaches and each other, it's so great that this DVD emphasizes the importance of good values and having fun.

The Blah
There isn't really much I didn't like about the DVD. The Pea thought it was weird that the animated kids all seemed to move around in slow motion, and I did think the animation looked rather flat, but the characters were kind of cute (they reminded me of the characters in the Puffs tissues commercials.

The Bottom Line
Whether my boys end up in Little League or stick to playing pickup bat-and-ball games with their cousins, The Sportys DVD has given them some great entertainment, practical baseball instruction and valuable life lessons. I can't wait for The Sportys to come up with more DVDs for other sports!

Win it! One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a copy of The Sportys DVD and a signed collectible poster signed by Evan Longoria, 2008 Rookie of the Year!

Required entry: Leave a comment on this post and tell me your child's favorite baseball team (If he doesn't know any teams, tell me your child's favorite sport. Don't forget to leave your email address or other means of contacting you.

Extra entries:
1) Fave Bonggamom Finds on Technorati (leave a comment with your Technorati id).

2) Fave Finding Bonggamom on Technorati (leave a comment with your Technorati id).

4) Join any of the other giveaways currently running on Bonggamom Finds (leave a comment here with the name of the other giveaway you joined).

5) Tweet this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your tweet). Here is a sample tweet you can copy and paste:

The Sportys baseball DVD giveaway from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/n82ps7


This giveaway ends at midnight PST on August 17, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on August 18 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

I received a product sample for this review, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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