Lance Whole Grain Sandwich Crackers

It's almost time for school to start once again, and this year I've got three kids in elementary school now! I'm going to have to figure out a way to pack 3 mid-morning snacks and 4 lunches (yes, I pack lunch for my husband as well!) and get 3 kids ready for school in the morning. And I'm going to have to rely on healthy, easy-to-prepare snack foods more than ever -- which is why I was happy to join BlogHer's Lance Snacks review, and try out some of their new healthier snack products.

Click here to find out what we thought of Lance's new line of sandwich crackers!

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Back to School with Mabels Labels

Mabels Labels, you are a mindreader! Remember when I reviewed your Classic Sticky Labels several months ago, and the only thing I could kvetch about regarding Mabels Labels was that we couldn't split an order between 2 names. Et voila, now they've come up with the Mabel's Labels Back to School Combo , which has samples of their best-selling labels in smaller amounts. You don't have to buy each product individually and end up with far too many labels, which means I don't even need to split an order.

Mabels' Labels was kind enough to send me Ultimate Back-to-School Combo pack for each of my 3 kids. Here's what we thought of them:

The Basics
Mabel's Labels Ultimate Back to School Combo Pack consists of:

50 Tag-Mates -- The ultimate in convenience, these are stick-on clothing labels.
40 Skinny-Minis -- These are like the Classic Sticky labels, but smaller, so you can stick them on spoons, pencils, scissors and other school supplies.
16 Shoe Labels -- extra-rugged labels with a protective overlay
2 Teeny Tags -- These are sturdy metal tags, like the Bag Tags, but smaller.

The pack costs $39.99, which is roughly the sum of the pro-rated cost of each of the individual items.

The Bongga
The Ultimate Back-to-School combo pack has just the right amount of everything -- enough for everything we need to label before school starts, with some left over to label the stuff they're sure to get as Christmas and birthday presents, and the stuff I'll be buying halfway through the schoolyear to replace the stuff they're sure to lose or break. All the labels in this pack have the same great quality that I loved in their Classic Labels:

* They're bright, colorful and sturdy;
* They're dishwasher / microwave-safe and UV resistant
* In addition, the clothing labels are laundry safe (BTW, here's a tip: the Tag-mates stay really well on clothing tags, so if the clothing item does have clothing tags, make sure that's where you stick the Tag-mates on).

Also, my kids love the labels! The shoe labels were surprisingly comfy; The Pea made of point of telling me that she couldn't feel them at all when wearing her shoes. They really enjoyed choosing the color schemes, and took ages selecting which icon they wanted on their labels (finally they settled on a sea star, skull and cow). The labels turned out so adorable, the've put my kids into a labelling frenzy. I had to work very hard to convince them that they did not need to put labels on the leather car seats. I swear, if we had a dog they'd probably slap a label on him too.

The Blah
Some of the shoe labels we received were not die-cut all the way through, so I had to cut them out myself with scissors. I assumed this was a fluke or one-off quality problem -- but the important thing is that when I emailed the company about it, they immediately offered to mail out a replacement. So in the end, it is really great to see that they stand by their satisfaction guarantee (a full exchange or refund if you are not satisfied with any part of your order).

Also, the Ultimate Back-to-School combo pack is available only until September 25, boo hoo, so make sure you get 'em while they're here. You can still buy either the Big Combo or Camp/School packs, of course, but in my mind neither of these are as good a deal as the Ultimate Back-to-School combo.

The Bottom Line
Mabels' Labels Ultimate Back-to-School combo pack is all you'll need to make sure everything you send off with your child to school comes safely back home again!

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

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The Intel Classmate PC gets an A+ from me!

The Basics
A couple of weeks ago, I got the chance to try out Intel's new Classmate PC. Actually, to be more precise, I was just the observer. My kids test drove it, which is as it should be, because as the name implies, the Classmate PC is a great classroom learning tool. The Pea, 3Po and Jammy, along with their cousins Angelkins and Belliboo, spent a morning at the California Academy of Sciences courtesy of Intel on a fun scavenger hunt. A docent from the Academy gave them a list of exotic fish, and led them around the Academy looking for the fish. Each child was lent a Classmate PC and to complete a number of tasks, like drawing the fish, taking photos of them and filming them. So we had a lot of time to check out all of the laptop's cool features.

The Bongga
The Intel Classmate PC rocks! There are so many cool features I don't even know where to start! How about the fact that the screen is actually a touch screen, so clumsy little fingers don't need to work the mouse or the keyboard. Or that it comes with a touch pen that slides into a little slot at the front of the computer. I thought I had hit upon a weak spot when I pointed out that my kids would lose that touch pen in five minutes, but they had already thought of that -- you can tether the pen to the laptop with a little cord that loops onto the pen.



I'm impressed with all the other ways they've made the Classmate PC kid-friendly. For one thing, it has a handle, so kids can tote it around like a briefcase instead of like a tray. It's light enough so that even Belliboo was able to tote around the Academy of Sciences without suffering from aching arms. Of course, 3Po had to drop it three times -- Yikes!! -- but instead of reaching into my purse and grabbing my credit card, the Intel folk merely smiled indulgently and said it was ok, because it was rated for falls of up to 50 cm (Fortunately the kids didn't take that as permission to bonk each other on the head with the PCs).



Best of all, the top half of the Classmate PC swivels around and closes back onto the bottom half so that the screen is on top and it becomes a writing tablet. So now kids can use their laptops while standing up (on field trips or nature walks) just like a paper pad. Let me tell you, it's so much easier to use the screen as a touch pad (with the touch pen or their fingers) when it's in tablet mode.



Have I drooled over the Classmate PC enough? Not nearly enough. The laptop has a built in camera that swivels to face the user so kids can easily take photos of themselves while staring at the screen so they know what the shot is going to look like. And it comes bundled with some really cool educational software that the kids started using right away, without much help from the grownups. The Pea and Angelkins were off and vlogging like pros even before the Intel people had reached the front of the room to begin their presentation! All the kids got into it, and we have tons (and I mean, TONS) of photos and video from the California Academy of Sciences. I think we must have photos of every fish they have there.

Since this PC is meant for schoolkids, I can't finish off this section without mentioning the security features built into the software. Teachers and parents can configure it so that kids only get access to the internet at certain times, for certain durations, and certain websites. And there's anti-theft software that renders the laptop completely useless if it stays away from the main server for a specified length of time. What more could you ask for?

The Blah
The only problem with the Classmate PC is that it's hard to find. Right now, it's only available from 3 OEM's in the US (there are different OEM's in other countries with local software and local customizations) at 2GoPC, Equus, and MA Technology. And at $350, the Classmate PC is a tad pricier than some of the netbooks out there (although with the swivel screen and touchpad and rugged features, I think you get what you pay for).

The Bottom Line
The Intel Classmate PC looks like it could a wonderful tool in the classroom. I just hope educators -- and politicians -- around the country realize this and somehow get it together to make it happen.

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

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[IN]Place Rolling Case File

The [IN]Place Rolling Case File that OfficeMax gave me to try out has certainly travelled a lot of miles in two weeks! I took to BlogHer two weeks ago, and this week I was back in Chicago again to film the Peter Walsh-OfficeMax Back to School webcast in nearby Naperville. I took the Rolling Case File to show everyone from OfficeMax how I was using it and to give my feedback. And since it is from Peter Walsh's product line, after all, how could I resist asking him to sign my rolling case for me?

Peter, being a lover of pristine, neat surfaces and quite a humble guy to boot, looked understandably doubtful at the thought of desecrating this nice, sleek black case with his signature. But I promised not to sue him for vandalism of private property, so he gamely took my Sharpie and signed it.

The Basics
The Rolling Case File, from Office Max's [IN]Place System, designed by Peter Walsh, exemplifies some of Peter's organizational maxims: having a place for everything, having everything handy, keeping systems flexible. It's a portable file system with multiple compartments, handy organizational pockets, a separate laptop bag that stores in the front pocket, and a bag for power cords and peripherals that stores in one of the side pockets.

The Bongga
The [IN]Place Rolling Case File is sleek and sturdy and oh-so-well made. It rolls over sidewalksl and roads and airports with ease, and I'm not worried about the wheels falling off anytime soon.I love the way the telescoping handle goes up and down with a quiet, metallic whoosh at the push of a button. I used the middle area to pack my clothes and toiletries in, but if you're travelling on business, the attached bars make this the ideal case to carry all your files and folders in. I love all the separate compartments -- you don't have to rummage around in a bottomless pit to find things!

The Blah
The case is 1 inch wider than United Airlines' maximum thickness for carry-on baggage. I took it on board anyway because you can lose the extra inch by removing the laptop bag from the front compartment and squishing it in. I also figured people would cheat by way more than that (and I was right -- some people boarded the plane with what looked like steamer trunks and baby elephant cages). But still, I couldn't wheel it down the airplane aisle, and I had a nervous moment when I thought it wouldn't fit into the overhead compartment. After a couple of desperate shoves, the case managed to fit (this was a plane from San Francisco to Chicago, certainly not the smallest one out there). International flights? No problem. Smaller aircraft? Be prepared to check it in at the gate.

The Bottom Line
The [IN]Place Rolling Case File's separate compartments make it great for organization on-the-go. Just hope that on-the-go doesn't include a tiny propeller airplane! Whether your version has the designer's' signature on it or not, you'll appreciate the clean style and great quality.

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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Is Separating Twins Really the Answer?

Is Separating Twins Really the Answer? @ Yahoo! Video

The Silicon Valley Moms Blog is releasing a series of parenting web videos entitled A Byte Out of Life, starring the SV Moms. Take a look at today's video because I'm in it! Yup, I was one of the lucky SV Moms contributors selected to be featured in the series, which is all about moms chiming in on popular and relevant parenting topics. The series is sponsored by Yahoo! Video and produced by The Go-To Mom, Kimberley Clayton Blaine, who's an SV Mom herself.

The video I'm in is entitled "Is Separating Twins Really the Answer?", a subject I'm well versed in, since I've spent the past five years agonizing about this topic. I used to be so sure that I wanted to keep 3Po and Jammy together in kindergarten, and possibly first grade -- but that was before I realized that anytime they were in the same room, no-one would ever address them by name......

Watch me and my friends Linda and Akemi talk about what works for our twins, and let us know what you think!

I did not receive product samples or monetary compensation for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Back-to-School Sale from Leapfrog

I just saw on the Leapfrog website that they are having a Back-to-School sale with 20% off! This means that Tag books are now $11.19, down from $13.99. I've got my eye on the Leapster Messenger bag and Didj carrying case (both are on sale), because I've gone on an organizational rampage recently and I'd love a place to put the Didj and Leapster, along with some cartridges, for carrying on car trips. But the Back-to-School sale ends today, August 3rd, and I'm not sure I'm ready to commit, so I'll just have to hope they have another sale sometime soon.....


And more Leapfroggy news... their latest Tag version has expanded memory, 32 MB. So now each Tag can hold 10 books instead of just 5, which means you don't have to keep switching out the software in the Tag so your kid can read all of his Tag books. That's huge!

I did not receive a product sample for this post, nor did I receive monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Keeping Kids Learning over the Summer with Summer Bridge Workbooks

Where did the time go? It's the end of July, and school is just around the corner. I'm a bit nervous at the thought of 3Po and Jammy entering kindergarten -- My babies! Will they miss me, being away from home for so long? Will they be ok in separate classrooms? and all that momma bear stuff -- but one thing I'm not worried about is whether they'll be able to keep up with their lessons.

They have been going to a very unstructured, play-based preschool for 2 years and I'll admit I was a bit freaked out when I realized in June that they didn't know the days of the week. But I think we've been pretty good about supplementing their play-based curriculum with more focused learning activities that build kindergarten readiness skills. Alfie has been helping them with their phonics at bedtime, they attended morning summer school for 4 weeks and I've bought some workbooks to keep them busy during the afternoon, and between those Alfie, the teacher and me, I think we've managed to keep their minds engaged and ready for the schoolyear.

So when I was invited to review publisher Carson-Dellosa's Summer Bridge workbook series, I gladly said yes. For one thing, I love their slogan, "School Stops for Summer, Learning Never Should". How true is that? I could so be BFF's with a company with that philosophy! And I'm always ready to try out activities that keep kids busy at home, for parents like me who can't afford summer camps throughout the summer.

The kids received their Summer Bridge activity workbooks about a month ago, and I'm happy to see that they've really been engaged. Like most activity workbooks, they feature grade-level-appropriate math and science activities that get progressively more challenging as the kids work through the book. They have a certificate that kids can write their names in when they complete the workbook. But these workbooks have some features that I've never seen in the other workbooks I've bought at our local Walgreen's or Target. To name a few:

* The workbooks span the whole summer -- they are divided into 3 sections that correspond to each month of summer vacation. Kids can do a little bit each day so they don't get workbook burnout and abandon it after a week. The instructions say to do 1 page a day but your child can take it at their own pace, really. Mine sometimes do 2 or 3 pages a day, leave the workbooks alone, then resume the activities a couple of days later.


* It's not just about academics. The workbooks have a huuuge bonus section with activities related to behavior, fitness, nutrition, manners, and more. Who wouldn't want a workbook that instructs you to rent the movie Toy Story or work on your confidence by cracking eggs?


* They've figured out that kids love writing out lists and checking items off a list. So they've got lists galore: summer reading lists. motivational calendars, activity lists, happiness lists, and skills lists.

* The workbooks feature lots of tips for parents.to help their child get the most out of the workbook, as well as other ways to keep them engaged throughout the summer.

The kids love doing their workbooks every day. They were a lifesaver last week when I went to Chicago and left Alfie with the kids. The only thing I regret about the Summer Bridge Activity workbooks is that we didn't receive them sooner!

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

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How to Have the Perfect Night at BlogHer

Step 1. Have your neckline henna-tattooe'd by the most talented henna artist ever at the Social Luxe Lounge party. Put yourself entirely in her creative hands and allow her to transform your neckline into the only piece of bling you'll ever need to wear.

Step 2. Squeeze into a SlimPerfect little black dress, which squeezes and slims you in (without making you feel like you're being shoved into a whalebone corset) and generally turns you into a hot mama. (If you won the dress in a contest like I did, don't forget to disclose that you did so you don't get in trouble with the FTC).

Thanks @muffintopless for the photo!

Step 3. Paint fingernails and toenails red. Don't be embarrassed about sitting on the floor in your short, short SlimPerfect little black dress because it actually has shorts on underneath, so you won't be pulling a Brittney Spears with this dress.

Thanks @muffintopless for the photo!

Step 4. Get a makeover by Nicole Rogers of Bombshell Artistry and end up looking like a million bucks. While you are being primped and polished by Nicole and her assistant, look out the window and see President Obama's motorcade on its way to the Chicago Hyatt Regency, and feel super-cool knowing that you were at the Hyatt a couple of hours earlier and knew all about his visit.

Thanks @muffintopless for the photo!

Step 5. Warm up for the party circuit by chatting with Carol of Muffintopless, Debba of Girlfriendology, Jerri-Ann Reason of MomECentric, Courtney from AppleOfMyEye, and Krystle from SnarkyKisses. Except this is much, much better since you don't have to shout to make ourselves heard, and instead of standing around in high heels, you can sprawl all over the beds in your bare feet.

Step 6. Get an impromptu photo shoot done by official BlogHer photographer and official awesome makes-any-person-in-a-photo-look fabulous Carla Duharte-Razura.

Thanks @babyjidesign for the photo!

Step 7. Take a sip of your first apple martini, then proceed to gulp down the rest of it, turn to your roomate (who happens to be aforementioned awesome photographer) and ask her, in a very polite, conversational tone, as though we had just been introduced, what conference she was here for.

Step 8. Realize that the apple martini was the most alcohol you've consumed in months and agree to work off the alcohol by visiting Chicago's Wit bar and several others (consuming 4 kamikazes along the way) until ending up at a dance bar and dancing until 3AM.

Now THAT, my friends, is how to have a perfect night.

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The Circus is Coming!

The last time I bought tickets to the circus, I wondered why I was doing it. It's just elephants and clowns, after all, how corny. But afterwards, I was amazed. It's really magical, and it's the kind of show you want to go and see year after year if you have young children. Except our year-after-year turned into 2, then 3, then 4 years. The last time The Pea went to see the circus, she was about 18 months old; 3Po and Jammy have never seen the circus. So we're so excited to have been invited (hey, that rhymes) by Mom Central to the opening night of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey show, Zing Zang Zoom, in Oakland on August 12. It promises to be a great night, and we can't wait!


See the Circus for Less! You can purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 by calling 1-800-745-3000, or by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com and entering the coupon code: MOM (Not valid on VIP, Front Row and Circus Celebrity seats or combinable with other offers). This coupon code is valid in select markets across the country; click here to see whether your city qualifies.

See the Circus for Free! If you live in the San Francisco Bay area, you could win a family 4-pack of tickets to the Zing Zang Zoom show in Oakland on August 12! I'm running a giveaway on Being Savvy Silicon Valley, so head on over and join. It ends next week, so hurry!

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Dive, Olly Dive review and Giveaway

If you read any of my blogs, you'll know that I'm a big PBS Kids fan. I think that when it comes to quality children's programming, PBS Kids really gets it. Kids love their shows because they have fun characters and entertaining storylines, but they're really educational and as a parent, I really feel good about letting my kids watch their shows.

Case in point: "Dive, Olly, Dive", an Emmy-nominated series that airs on PBS Sprout. We don't get Sprout on our satellite tv subscription, but when I was invited to get a sneak peek at the new "Dive, Olly Dive: Ship Shape Sub" DVD (which contains 5 episodes from the series), I gladly said yes, even though we had never watched any of the episodes. And I wasn't disappointed. Dive, Olly, Dive reminds me of Jay Jay the Jet Plane set underwater. The show follows the adventures of two animated submarines, Olly and Beth. It's set on (or in, or under) a coral reef, which I assume is somewhere in Australia, since their resident grownup-in-charge, Diver Doug, as well as several other characters, have thick Aussie accents. Despite the cool, Beach Boys-inspired music, this is a series geared towards preschoolers. My kids enjoyed it because the coral reef and ocean life play such a prominent part, but I think younger children would love the cute 3D characters and simple storylines even more.

More about the DVD:
“Dive Olly Dive,” is an Emmy-nominated, 3D-animated underwater series that airs on PBS Sprout. Not only will preschoolers have fun under the sea with Olly and Beth, two young submarines-in-training – the DVD also teaches kids fascinating facts about ocean life and some important life lessons, too. The “Dive Olly Dive: Ship Shape Sub” DVD will also be in stores on August 4. Episodes include:

Haunted Ship Prank
Less is More
Navigation Consternation
Follow that Lobster
Don’t Tell Beth


Win it! One lucky winner will receive a copy of Dive Olly Dive: Ship Shape Sub. To enter, leave a comment on this post and tell me your kids' favorite marine animal. Once you have completed this required entry, you can gain additional entries by doing the following:

1) Follow Finding Bonggamom on Blogger (leave a comment with your Blogger profile name).


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

3) 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).

4) Join the Sid the Science Kid giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (leave a comment here telling me 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:

Win a Dive Olly DiveDVD from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/maqmky

This giveaway ends at midnight PST on August 10, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on August 11 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

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

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Sid the Science Kid review and giveaway

While I was at BlogHer last week, I left Alfie working at home with the kids. Given that he had to do a full days' work at home, meetings and all, I really tried to plan ahead and fill their day with activities that didn't require much Daddy intervention. Surprise, surprise, I told the kids they could watch up to two hours of tv a day. Fortunately, we received a couple of Sid the Science Kid DVD's to preview last week, so I felt good knowing that they would be watching quality kids' programming while I was out schmoozing and Daddy was glued to the computer.

Speaking of BlogHer, we first got to know Sid the Science Kid when I picked up a preview DVD at last year's BlogHer conference. My kids loved watching it, and I guess millions of other kids must have, too: it's now an Emmy-nominated hit series on PBS Kids. Five new episodes of Sid the Science Kid will be premiering on PBS this September, and on August 4, two Sid the Science Kid DVDs will be releasing nationwide.

The two DVDs -- "Change Happens" and "The Bug Club" -- each contain 4 episodes from the series, which follows the adventures of Sid, an inquisitive preschooler who wants to learn everything about everything. Like any PBS Kids show, Sid the Science Kid is educational as well as entertaining. I like how each show has a fun science theme like why things freeze, decaying, charting and more. I'll let the kids tell you in their own words why they like the show:







There's a little too much of the breaking out into song-and-dance for my taste (although for obvious reasons I do love that "I love my mom, my mom is cool" rap song that Sid sings in every episode) -- but the kids don't have a problem with it. At $12.99 per DVD, it's well worth the price for two hours of education and entertainment

Win it! One lucky winner will receive both Sid the Science Kid DVD's, "Change Happens" and "The Bug Club". To enter, leave a comment on this post and tell me how you teach kids about science in your everyday life. Once you have completed this required entry, you can gain additional entries by doing the following:

1) Follow Finding Bonggamom on Blogger (leave a comment with your Blogger profile name).


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

3) 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).

4) Join the Dive Olly Dive giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (leave a comment here telling me 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:

Win a Sid the Science Kid DVD from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/l4xban

This giveaway ends at midnight PST on August 10, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on August 11 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

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

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Family Constitution Review and Giveaway

Are the kids getting out of control? Do you feel like you're struggling with the demands of parenting, work and personal life? Do you wish everyone in the family would Just. Get. Along? Maybe you need a Family Constitution!

In his book, "Your Family Constitution", author Scott Gale introduces a great parenting tool to open up family communication and improve family relations. He starts with an honest personal account of a huge family argument that opened his eyes to the need for change, and goes through the steps he and his family took to create their Family Constitution, which, like the US constitution, contains a set of guiding principles to become the kind of family they want to be.



The book contains lots of useful tips and advice, as well as a lot of funny cartoons to remind us parents that we should all look back and have a laugh now and then. Throughout the book he refers to his 3 principles -- Clarity, Consistency and Commitment -- which helped them formulate their constitution, and he shows readers how these principles can work for their family. At the back of the book you'll find the Gale Family Constitution, which I loved reading because it was a concrete example of what Scott was talking about in the rest of the book. I'm glad he shared it with everyone because it's a great starting point to come up with your own family constitution. Scott's website, http://www.yourfamilyconstitution.com/, also offers a wealth of resources.

I received a copy of "Your Family Constitution" to review, and I've been really inspired to take a step back from all the nagging and yelling and punishing that has been going on, and get our own set of goals and rules written down. I think my 5-year-olds might be a bit too young to help decide what sorts of consequences there should be for behavior (good and bad), but I've been talking with The Pea (who's 8) about it, and she has been really reasonable about it. I'm really very hopeful that she'll understand why Alfie and I do the things we do as parents, and even more important, understand that she has to do her part as well to keep the family running. We've got a long way to go, but thanks to this book, we've got some ideas going and we've the conversation started!

Win this book! Scott has generously offered to give away two copies of "Your Family Constitution" to two lucky Bonggamom Finds readers. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me one item you would like to include in your own family's constitution. Don't forget to leave your email address or some way I can contact you.

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

1) For THREE extra entries Register for a free account at the Your Family Constitution website and get started on your own Family Constitution (leave 3 separate comments here with your user name).

2) Leave a comment on any of the blog posts on Scott's Family Constitution blog (leave a comment here with the link to the post that you commented on).

3) 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).

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:

Win a copy of "Your Family Constitution" from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/m4eyry

This giveaway ends at midnight PST on August 8, 2009.; I will draw two winners at random on August 9 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

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You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube!

This summer, The Pea got to attend two summer camps -- a math camp and an engineering camp -- and she's finished both of them already, so she spends her mornings with me while 3Po and Jammy are at summer school. To pass the time, we run errands or go for walks; when we're at home The Pea reads or plays with her dolls. I also ask her to complete some exercises in her summer math workbook. I don't force it, because I don't want to make schoolwork a priority over the summer, but I also don't want her to lose the skills she's learned in 2nd grade.

Enter the Rubik's Cube, that iconic 80's brainteaser. Everyone is fascinated by it -- it's the world's top selling puzzle game and world's best selling toy -- and everyone wants to solve it. The Rubik's Cube is also a great educational tool because it helps with visual spacial skills and logical thinking skills. And if you're one of the lucky few who do get to solve it, boy does it increase your self-esteem and sense of achievement!

With that in mind, the makers of Rubik's Cube are launching a campaign in the USA -- You CAN Do the Cube -- with the goal of teaching 8-18 year olds how to solve the Rubik's Cube. It's a wonderful program because it involves teachers and youth programs working with young people to actively engage and challenge them, and help them develop patience, focus and higher self-esteem. The You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube program website provides all the necessary information a person or group needs, including free downloadable solution guides, an online community where enthusiasts can share their Cubing experiences, free downloadable certificates of achievement, lesson plans using the Rubik's Cube for math teachers The website also sells a complete solution kit for educators and youth organization directors.

We were given a press kit that included a Rubik's Cube, solution guide and solution DVD with step-by-step instructions on solving the puzzle in a group or alone. My kids had never seen a Rubik's Cube before, and they were just fascinated! Alfie set out to solve the cube right away -- but realized it was going to take a bit longer than 10 minutes and shelved the project for later. It seems a bit over The Pea's head; even though she's really good at math, she's only 8, so she's at the lower end of the recommended age range, but Alfie and The Pea are going to tackle it slowly, reading the solution guide bit by bit, and I have every confidence that she can solve it eventually. I can see how it can be a great summer activity for older kids -- it's cheap, challenging, fun, and educational. And whether it takes ten seconds or ten days to solve the Rubik's Cube, the sense of satisfaction kids get is real.

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Rolling off to BlogHer with the [IN]Place Rolling Case File

I'm all set to go to BlogHer! Yesterday I received a nice surprise from Office Max: a Rolling Case File from their Peter Walsh [IN]Place line! They sent it to me so I could use it for an upcoming Office Max event that I'll be attending, so I could try it out and let everyone know what I think of it. I didn't think it would arrive in time for this BlogHer trip, but it did, so I'm using it. I threw all my clothes and toiletries into the section of the case that's normally reserved for hanging files. Everything else I'm packing fits into one or other of the other sections, so I'm good to go. I'll let you all know what I think of it once I get back from my trip.

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Spreading the Leapfrog Love

It is more blessed to give than to receive.... Last week The Pea and I went around distributing the Leapfrog reading kits I received from their Ambassadors of Summer Reading Program. I doubt that what I did puts me on the fast track to heaven, but it sure felt pretty darn good. Kinda like Oprah, but with Tags instead of cars.

First up, we visited a place we know well: The Pea's old preschool, the Children's Creative Learning Center. She attended CCLC from 18 months to 5 years, so it was great that she could see exactly which of her old classrooms the toys were going to. And it was great to see Sonya, the directress, who couldn't believe how tall The Pea was getting.



Next, we headed to East Palo Alto to award the Creative Montessori Learning Center the reading kit from my Savvy Source giveaway. They were the nominated beneficiary of the giveaway winner, Nicole, whose two boys attended the school themselves. The teachers didn't quite know what to make of me (Why is she asking me to pose for a photo? She said she's going to post it on the internet -- am I going to be famous?) but they were more than happy to accept the reading kit for their young charges.


Last but certainly not least, we dropped off a boxful of Tags and Tag Juniors at the East Palo Alto library. Since they received a Library Reading Kit, they got way more books, school-version Tags with more memory, and cool headphones to go along with it (hey, it's a library! shhhhhh!). The librarian said she'll be setting the Tags aside for the library's free literacy-based tutoring program, so I know these are going to be put to good use by 8 and 9 year olds who might be struggling to read.

I loved being able to donate such great educational toys (thanks, Leapfrog!), and I'm even happier that The Pea was there with me (in hindsight, I should have waited to make the rounds until after we had picked 3Po and Jammy up from summer school). This stuff has been sitting in our living room for several weeks now, and I've had to slap my kids' hands more than a few times for trying to open them up (even though they've already got identical products of their own). They really wished they could keep the cool headphones and extra books that came with the Library Reading Kit (they must get it from their swag-loving mother) -- but when push came to shove, The Pea was the one who was eagerly pressing the boxes into the librarian's hands. Afterwards, she asked me, "Don't we have any more to give away? I really enjoyed donating the Leapfrog items, and there are so many more kids who would really like them!". That's my girl.

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Super WHYDVD giveaway

There has been a renewed interest in the PBS Kids show Super WHY in our household ever since I came home from a PBS Kids momblogger presentation with a week's worth of fun activities featuring the Super WHY characters. Super WHY has always been a permanent fixture on my iPod, entertaining my kids on long car trips, plane trips or waits at the airport, but now they're watching it on TV as well.

If your preschoolers haven't gotten into Super WHY yet, it's definitely worth a try. It's entertaining for youngsters because it features four young superheroes -- Alpha Pig, Wonder Red, Princess Presto, and Super Why -- who solve problems by going into fairytale books to search for the answers. It's a very interactive show, much like Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go and Blue's Clues (the creator of Super WHY is also the creator of Blues Clues), and you'll often hear my kids shouting answers back at the tv. And parents will like the strong educational component. It really helps build those preliteracy skills like letter recognition, word recognition, phonics and rhyming.



Today PBS Kids and Bonggamom Finds are giving away Super WHY DVD to one lucky reader!


Required entry: Leave a comment on this post and tell me your kids' favorite PBS Kids show. Don't forget to leave your email address or other means of contacting you.


Extra entries:
1) Follow PBS Parents on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id).

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id).

3) Leave a comment on any of my Super WHY blog posts on Finding Bonggamom -- just click on any of the links below (leave a comment here with the link to the post that you commented on):
PBS Kids and Super WHY
Super Reader Summer Camp Day 1
Super Reader Summer Camp Day 2
Super Reader Summer Camp Day 3
Super Reader Summer Camp Day 4
Super Reader Summer Camp Day 5

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:

Super WHY DVD giveaway from @bonggafinds and @pbsparents http://www.bonggafinds.com/

This giveaway ends at midnight PST on August 10, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on August 11 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

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Great Giveaways from Litzky PR and TimetoPlayMag.com

In the past year, one of the PR firms I've worked the most with is Litzky PR, a PR firm based outside of New York City. Thanks to Litzky's awesome team of PR reps, I've been able to review such wonderful brands like Play-Doh, Hasbro, Playskool, and more. Another great company I've worked with is TimetoPlayMag.com, whose toy experts often appear on shows such as Regis and Kelly, The Today Show, and Letterman.

Litzky PR and TimetoPlayMag.com are two companies that really get bloggers, and the amazing influence that bloggers can have on consumers. As further proof, I'm happy to announce that they are sponsoring some great giveaways for everyone:

1. Christmas in July on Twitter - tomorrow (Monday, July 29) from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.: Tweet between the hours of 9 and 9 ET tomorrow with the hashtag #LitzkyPR and you are automatically entered to win a prize pack that would make Santa blush. It includes 13 prizes, some valued at over $100!

2. LPR Facebook contest: LitzkyPR is giving away one free month of PR - a $15,000 value. (read that again...it's just. that. good!) To be eligible simply friend "Litzky Public Relations" on Facebook then post on their wall what blog/item/biz you would like to promote with free PR and tell them your favorite 3 p.m. snack.

3. Time to Play BlogHer Contest: Anyone attending BlogHer who finds the Resourceful Mommy, Amy Lupold Bair, and takes a picture of the two of you together can then upload that picture to the Time to Play BlogHer microsite (www.timetoplay.com/blogher) to be eligible to win 1 of 5 $50 Target gift cards. The first 10 people to upload their pic will automatically win a $20 Target gift card.

- Not attending BlogHer? There's still a TimetoPlayMag.com contest for you -- anyone can go to the TimetoPlayMag.com microsite and tell them one place you have visited with your family that you think every kid should experience. If you enter on Friday, July 24, you are entered to win a $25 Target gift card or a Girls Prize Pack with 7 great toys. If you enter Saturday, July 25, you are entered to win a $25 Target gift card or a Boys Prize Pack with 6 great toys. Four winners total.

GOOD LUCK! :)

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Wii Can Be Fit with #KidsWeigh -- Learn and Win

Maintaining a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle is difficult for many parents. Helping their kids do the same can be nearly impossible, but programs such as Dr. Weigh and fun fitness tools like the Wii Fit certainly help!

To Enter:

To enter to win the #KidsWeigh Wii Fit contest, check out client testimonials and fabulous Dr. Weigh success stories then fill out this secure contest form telling us which story was your favorite

Form: http://tinyurl.com/kidsweighcontest

One grand prize winner will receive a Wii Fit. Two runners-up will receive a free one month membership to Dr. Weigh. This contest ends Friday, July 24th at 11:59 a.m. ET. This contest brought to you courtesy of the Momfluence network.

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Share your Conference Call Blooper and Win an iPhone 3G

Have you ever said the wrong thing to a client? Have you ever been caught not paying attention on the line? Have your kids screamed something crazy during a call...

If so - Packetel wants to hear about it!

If not - try out Packetel's Web Conferencing services FREE for 30-days and tell us about your experience!

Packetel Turbo Meeting makes web conferencing simple and easy to do. Here are just a few of their web conferencing features:

- Share screens/desktops with multiple participants
- Assign and acknowledge meeting roles of presenter and controller of keyboard/mouse
- Allow an unlimited number of users to host a web conference
- Schedule meetings and webinars
- Hold ad hoc meetings and webinars and use verbal meeting invitations without resorting to e-mail
- Integrate with Outlook for sending e-mail invitations
- Optimized for different internet connection speeds ranging from broadband to 28KB dial-up
- Annotation over the entire screen/desktop
- Whiteboard and chat functionalities

Win an iPhone for my misdeed on a conference call? Yes! Here's how you can win:
1. Fill out the form below, including your blooper story

OR


2. Try out Packetel's Web Conferencing Service for FREE for 30 days, fill out the form including your experience with the server

Entry form: http://cli.gs/PsvX9W

Bonus Entries! After you've completed 1 or 2 above and filled out the form you can also...

- Blog about Packetel's Online Fax Service and link the text "packetel's web conference service" to: http://www.packetel.com/web-conferencing-turbo-meeting-main.asp

- Become a Fan of Packetel at their Brand New Facebook Fan Page here: http://facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=121265230239#

Contest ends 7/31/09 at 11:59 AM ET. This contest brought to you courtesy of the Momfluence network.

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Win a Laptop from CookiesKids.com

Is your current computer stalling and giving you blue screen nightmares? Would you love to be able to have one that the kids could use (alas, staying off of yours)?

CookiesKids.com feels your pain and has come to your rescue! Sign up to recieve the Cookies Kids Newsletter via e-mail and you're automatically entered to win one of 4 brand new laptops!!

Simply fill out the form below to be entered into the Laptop Giveaway Sweepstakes. Please be sure to read the Giveaway Sweepstakes "Terms and Conditions" before entering your information.

Entry Form: http://cli.gs/6dGhsh


Contest ends 9/30/09 at 11:59 AM ET. This contest brought to you courtesy of the Momfluence network.

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A Date with Ford

I'm really excited to be arriving in Chicago a day early for the BlogHer conference. I've got a date with the Ford Motor Company. All day Thursday I'll be joining a group of bloggers at Ford's What Women Want event, doing fun things like touring the Ford Chicago Assembly Plant, getting behind the wheel of the 2010 Ford Fusion (I have high, if misguided, hopes of putting on a helmet and racing around one of those closed circuit tracks with cones and dummies) , and trying out Ford's Active Park Assist system (ooooohhhh..... parallel parking at the push of a button! Coolness!).

But I have a dirty little secret. I'm not a Ford fan. Not that I'm anti-Ford, it's just that I don't own a Ford, never did. I grew up in the Philippines, where Fords are practically nonexistent, so I just have Ford's general reputation as a Big Three Automaker to go by. Well, the US auto industry has taken quite a beating lately. Patriotism aside, people, you have to step back and look at it objectively and wonder if the reason isn't that these companies are NOT making cars that people want to buy! And my impression of Ford cars, for the most part, is clunky and huge. So it's not the best of beginnings.

Before Ford slaps a huge Model-T (for Traitor) sign on my back and kicks me off the guest list for next Thursday, let me clarify that I'm not going into this event with a closed mind. In fact, I want to be convinced that Ford is truly making innovative, market-driven cars. I'm willing to be converted into a Ford fan. I think it's due to Alfie's influence. He's not a fan of American brand cars, but Ford is the one exception, because apparently Ford is quite a common brand in England and the rest of Europe. What's more, Ford is actually quite highly rated there, and doesn't get the bad rap that American cars get here in America. I don't quite understand why this is the case, but it's true . I've been to England so many times now, and the Fords I've ridden there are cute and zippy little cars, not like the big and clunky Taurus or Explorers or Broncos I see here. It gave me a totally different impression of Ford -- Ford Europe, that is. So I'm wondering if Ford USA could possibly change my impression of them, too.

Anyway, from what I see and hear nowadays, it looks to me like Ford is really trying hard. It says a lot to me that Ford was the lone Big Three automaker that passed on the federal bailout package. And I love that Ford is into hybrids, big time. And with initiatives like the one I'm attending next Thursday, it looks like Ford is really making an effort to find out what consumers want in a car. So they've already scored big points with me. My first impression is already changing, albeit slowly. I'm eager to get on this tour and willing to be wow'ed with all the technology.

Okay Ford, here we go. So far I've haven't had too much contact with you, I just know you by reputation. This is going to be our first date. So impress me, Ford. I can't wait!

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Paper Culture review and giveaway

Win one of 5 $50 gift certificates to Paper Culture! To enter, keep reading

To some people, a card is a card is a card. But many people want their stationery to reflect their personalities, lifestyle and culture. If you're one of those people, good news -- there's a new kid on the cardstock block! Paper Culture is a new premium stationery company focused on modern designs printed on quality, eco-friendly papers and envelopes and time-saving conveniences.

Paper culture sent me a sample pack of cards to try out, and I readily agreed because their cards look so cool. But even more important, they seem like a cool company. I like how they are committed to the environment with their eco-friendly materials. I like how they are committed to their local community via their Paper Culture Cares projects. And I like how they are committed to reaching out through online social media networks; they've got Twitter and Facebook accounts, they're reaching building relationships with bloggers like me, and they're offering giveaways to blog readers like you (Yup, a giveaway! Keep reading for more....)

I'm very impressed with the quality of their cardstock and envelopes. All of Paper Culture's cards are made of recycled paper, but these don't feel like recycled newsprint; they're heavy (130-lb. weight heavy stock paper versus the usual 80-110-lb.) and have a nice matte finish (I hate glossy cards). I love their clean, modern designs; for some reason, I've become fixated with the cards' rounded corners; I haven't seen cards with rounded corners before, and to me it just screams Originality.

Is this cute, or what? 3Po is really into skulls (skells, he calls them) these days, so I think he'd love to send these out on his birthday. Actually he might want to keep all the invitations for himself. You can see more of Paper Culture's designs at www.paperculture.com

Speaking of originality, their personalization features are truly personal. I'm not talking about adding photos or printing a generic message plus your kids' names. With Paper Culture, you can add a personal message to one, some or all of your cards. Making each card a true original. And here's another original feature -- Paper Culture will address and mail all your cards for you -- for only the cost of a stamp, until Jan 1, 2010. How convenient is that? It's like having your own social secretary who deals with holiday cards, invites to your annual summer barbecue, and other social correspondence. Makes me feel like Grace Kelly!

Want to see for yourself how great these cards are? Paper Culture is offering a 20% discount off your order (applied to cards only, before taxes, shipping and postage) until August 30, 2009 -- just use the code BONGGA20 when you check out.

Or you can try your luck here, because Paper Culture has generously offered to give away 5 gift certificates worth $50 each! Yes, five lucky Bonggamom Finds Reader will win a $50 Paper Culture gift certificate.

Required for entry: Go to the Paper Culture website, then come back here and leave a comment telling me which is your favorite design.

Extra entries:

1) Follow Paper Culture on twitter (leave a separate comment here saying you followed, with your twitter id).

2) Become a fan of Paper Culture on Facebook (leave a separate comment here saying you became a fan, with your Facebook user name)

3) Follow Finding Bonggamom 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 separate 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 separate comment here with the name of the other giveaway you joined).

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

Win a $50 gift certificate from @bonggafinds and @paperculture FIVE winners! http://tinyurl.com/mjx55u please RT

This giveaway ends at midnight PST on July 27, 2009.; I will draw the 5 winners at random on July 28 and post the winners' name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

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Going Green at BlogHer

One of the simplest ways a household can reduce their impact on the planet is to switch to environmentally-friendly cleaning products. Simple, right? Except, not really. Three or four years ago, many of the eco-friendly cleaners that started coming out of the woodwork and landing on supermarket shelves didn't actually clean all that well, and they were expensive to boot. So when I first saw Clorox Green Works cleaners last year, I got all excited. Even though I hadn't tried it yet, I figured it must be good, otherwise Clorox wouldn't risk their reputation on the products. And I was right.



Here's a little peek into my cleaning closet. It's stuffed to the brim, but when I come to think of it, I could probably throw away half the stuff in there. Usually the cleaning products I use are the ones nearest the front. And no, I did not rearrange it so that the Green Works products are strategically placed in front. I actually use them!

I don't know how Green Works was able to see what's in my closet (Is there a camera in there? Did the Bush wiretapping scheme go a little too far?) but they must have known that I'm a big fan -- why else was I was invited to their Natural Networking Lunch, next Friday at BlogHer? I'm excited because it's going to be a great opportunity to meet other eco-conscious bloggers, to network with the Green Works people, and get a sneak peek at some exciting new products they'll be launching at BlogHer.



Oh what the hell. I might as well spill the beans, because it's on the Green Works site anyway. The latest addition to the Green Works product line is the Green Works Laundry Detergent and Green Works Stain Remover. These babies are green in so many ways:

* they're plant-based
* they're formulated using biodegradable ingredients
* they're concentrated, so it uses less packaging
* they're not tested on animals
* they use recyclable packaging
* they're great for standard and HE (high efficiency washers)

Green Works sent me a sample of the liquid detergent and stain remover to try. I can't vouch for the stain remover just yet (no stains, tough or otherwise to remove recently), but the detergent is great. The Pea likes the original scent they sent (nice pun there) but I must confess I wish they had sent me the lavender scent (lavender is my fave!). It works just fine in our front-loading washer on a cold cycle, and since it's concentrated I don't need to use as much detergent (and this forgetful mom doesn't need to remember to buy more detergent). I'm looking forward to meeting some of the Green Works people at next Friday's lunch to compliment them on their new laundry products -- and ask them when they're coming up with an automatic dishwasher liquid that actually cleans my dishes.

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Fruit2O Essentials -- a summer essential

It's hot, hot, hot! And it's not the humid heat that I'm used to from growing up in the Philippines. No, Cali's heat is the dry, desert kind that sears your skin and hurts your head. Alfie is constantly nagging reminding me to keep the kids well hydrated in this weather. I agree 100 percent, and I want to do the right thing -- but it's always a challenge for me to get enough water into them (and myself). I could serve them juice or soda or milk, but I'm sure their waistlines and their teeth would suffer. So we resort to flavored water, which has no sugar or calories but tastes great, so it's easy to keep chugging down bottle after bottle. In fact, we've stopped buying bottled spring water to cut down on our plastic consumption, but flavored water is still a staple in our household, our healthy treat that gets the whole family drinking more water. So when I was offered samples of the new Fruit2O Essentials to review, I gratefully said yes. 

 A little about Fruit2O: Fruit2O was the first fruit-flavored water to hit the market and has led the way in the impressive growth of the flavored water category. Their original Fruit2O drinks come in 8 fruit flavors, all with zero calories, carbs and sugar. Their new product, Fruit2O Essentials, takes it one step further by providing the vitamins, minerals, and fiber equal to two servings of fruit. This zero-calorie fortified water comes in six flavors, each containing the nutrients specific to the two fruits found on the label. We received all 6 flavors to try -- Strawberry Kiwi, Cranberry Raspberry, Citrus, Peach Mango, Blueberry Pomegranate and Cherry Acai. I had a hard time stopping the kids from guzzling it all down, but I managed to keep them away long enough to chill all 6 bottles and pour them into cups for our own little tasting Par2O. I've never been a fan of the strawberry-kiwi flavor combo, but I loved all the others, especially the Peach Mango and the Cherry Acai, which really tastes like you've dunked cherries in a pitcher of water and left it in the fridge for a couple of hours. They have a nice, subtle flavor that's not too sweet or acidic. I like the fact that Fruit2O is made with natural fruit essence, so you get all the natural flavor of the fruit without the fruit particles or juice -- or the calories. And since it's fortified with the fruit's nutrients, it's like you're eating a piece of fruit and drinking some water! What a healthy, yummy way for the whole family to stay hydrated this summer!

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When I grow up, I'm going to have green skin and wear a cowboy hat

Here's a fun quiz on the Leapfrog site that parents can take: just answer a few questions about your child's likes and dislikes, and they'll predict what your child might be when he or she grows up. I answered for 3Po and got a Cowboy. Isn't the photo of the Leapfrog Tag dressed in a cowboy outfit so cute? Of course, according to 3Po, when he grows up, he's going to be a champion soccer player or motorcycle racer or sailor or champion whatever-he's-playing-with-at-the-moment. And according to me, he's going to be a mathematician or quant in an investment bank. So it's all in fun, totally bogus, of course, but fun. But who knows? Come back here 30 years from now (or whatever the internet morphs into by 2039) and we'll see who's right.

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Pantene Pro-V Moisture Renewal

It's always nice when I get sent products to review that I already use and love. I recently got a sample of shampoo and conditioner from Pantene Pro-V's Moisture Renewal collection and I have no qualms recommending it. I've always been a fan of Pantene, ever since it was first introduced to the Philippines about 25 years ago (in fact, one summer in college I worked at Proctor & Gamble's manufacturing plant in the Philippines, which I thought you should know because that might make me an insider or something like that. Or because I want you to think I'm cool, having worked at a manufacturing plant).

Pantene just seems to work really well with my wavy, frizzy hair. I do kinda wish they had sent me the Moisture Renewal 2-in-1 shampoo+conditioner because that's the kind I always use, because I'm lazy and don't want to go through the extra step of using a conditioner, but I'm not complaining. Even though I sort of did complain. No, really, I'm not: the shampoo leaves my hair feeling clean, and the conditioner does a great job of smoothing out the tangles and frizzes. And who can complain about that?

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