Mother's Day Gift Idea: Sony Cybershot camera

My mother loves photos. Her home is plastered with photos of her children and grandchildren and sisters and cousins and aunts and parents, a testament to the love she bears for her extended family. At every family get-together, she's the one with the camera on hand, pleading with people to smile and pose for her camera. Despite all the groans, people do it because they know she's capturing some wonderful memories to share with everyone. My mom is the Go-To-Mom for family photos!

For my mom, making the transition from simple point-and-shoot film camera to a digital one with all the bells and whistles was not easy. She couldn't figure out any of the controls or the modes! If you have a mother like mine, a Sony Cybershot camera is the ideal mother's day present because it takes wonderful photos and is so easy to use!

Here's a description of Sony's Cyber-shot point-and-shoot camera line:
You have one goal when taking pictures: Get the best shot. That's why Cyber-shot® digital cameras combine Sony's legendary optics with the most innovative technologies to let you capture timeless moments with breathtaking results.

And here are some of the Cyber-shot's best features:
Effortless Panoramic Photos: Nothing recreates the mood of a beautiful scene like a panoramic photo.

Intelligent Sweep Panorama mode: goes beyond the norm, capturing up to 281 degrees of landscape. Just press and sweep - the camera does the rest.

Serious HD Video Recording Video quality: this good has never been available on a compact camera. Capture unrivaled AVCHD format video with amazing resolution up to 1920 x 1080 at 60i. To put it simply, it will look gorgeous on your HDTV.

Beautiful low-light shots: For low-light moments, the back-illuminated "Exmor R" CMOS sensor captures the mood and reduces the noise without a flash. 10 photos in one second

Capture tough shots—like the moment the ball hits the bat—with the ability to shoot 10 images in one second at full resolution.



I received a Sony Cybershot DSC-W310 camera to review last December, and I've been using it constantly over the last five months. My phone's camera doesn't take the best photos (no flash and less-than-ideal resolution), and I'm too lazy to drag around our digital SLR camera everywhere I go, so the Cybershot is ideal for tucking into my purse and whipping out whenever I want to take a photo of something. It also takes video, so I don't need to take a separate camera to the kids' soccer matches or dance recitals.

The Cybershot DSC-W310 is super easy to use -- you get great photos just by pointing and shooting -- and with a little bit of research you can fiddle with the setting to take even better photos. There are special settings for food shots, action shots, low light shots, portrait shots, beach shots, even snow shots! I love the face recognition technology that figures out where people are in the frame and focuses on them.

To give you an idea of the quality of photos taken with the Cybershot, here are some photos of a tray of chocolate-covered popcorn that I took with the Cybershot and with my digital SLR:

This is a photo taken with my Canon Digital Digital Rebel XTi (a basic model digital SLR) and a macro lens (aperture setting, F/4).



This photo was taken with my Sony Cybershot on a food setting, no flash. It's darker and the colors are muted, but I could take care of that with any basic photo editor. The important thing to me is that despite the low light, the photo isn't blurred.


Like all point-and-shoot cameras, the built-in flash pointing straight at the subject results in some pretty harsh flash photos, but I've found that in many cases, you can set the camera to shoot without a flash, and the photo still comes out fine, without a hint of blur (thanks to Sony's Steady-Shot technology) -- check out the photo above.

Here's a comparison of flash photos:


This is a photo taken with my digital SLR camera, on auto setting (the flash went off).


This photo was taken with my Sony Cybershot on auto setting (the flash went off).


To my (admittedly untrained) eye, there's hardly a difference. I firmly believe any negative aspects in any of the photos above can be traced back to the lack of talent in the photographer! Anyway, when you have a point-and-shoot camera that can take a photo this gorgeous:



... without any effort or talent whatsoever, why would you look for anything else? The Sony Cybershot is the perfect easy-to-use camera for anyone who loves taking photos but doesn't have the time or the inclination to spend the effort on buying, learning to use and toting around a digital SLR camera. In short, it's perfect for my mom!




Get a discount on your purchase of a Sony T99 Cybershot
Go to The Go-To Mom Blog and watch the video on this post to get a discount code for a Sony T-99 Cybershot! The code is good throughout the month of April so you can get mom a nice camera for Mother's Day :)

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Free Shipping on Yummie Tummie

Have you visited the Yummie Tummie online store lately? They have some great new clothing styles, including the Lucie, Mayumi and Roz tops --all of which I would LOVE to try! -- as well as some great new bottom underthings that smooth you out under your new spring dresses but don't add bulk. Yummie Tummie sent me a Cheekie Brief, which unfortunately is not being sold on their site right now, but the Christina Boyshort is a good alternative (the Cheekie Brief looks just like it but rides a bit lower, on the hipbones instead of just under the bellybutton). It's made of a microfiber fabric that feels amazing against your skin and doesn't cause any pantylines, but gives nice gentle support. If you want something a bit lacier and more romantic (with the same yummie holding powers!), try the Camie Pantie, which I reviewed in February.


And here's more great news: Yummie Tummie is offering free shipping on all their products, with no minimum purchase! There's no code to enter, the free shipping will show up at check-out. I searched their website and couldn't find an expiration date for this promotion, so hurry and order your Yummies!

Disclosure:I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- List your Giveaways Here

Ack, today I've got exactly one month until my birthday. I don't get many presents for my birthday so I've got to make up the difference by joining lots of giveaways and hoping I win something for myself! Maybe the giveaway gods will team up with the birthday gods and shower me with presents, hmmm? Well, they certainly won't unless I join some giveaways, so I'd better get cracking!

So help this giveaway addict and feel free to leave links to your giveaways, everyone. And don't forget to enter everyone else's, too!

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Bonggamom's Eco-Friendly Product Roundup, 2011

Happy Earth Day! Last year I published my first-ever Eco-Friendly products roundup, and I enjoyed writing it so much I've decided to make it an annual thing. Here are some products I've reviewed over the past year that will make your life easier or more enjoyable -- but have less of an impact on your carbon footprint:

	How cute are these Lucky Puppy Onesies? They come in sophisticated colors that go way beyond pastel pink and blue, and they're made with 100% organic cotton -- Soft on baby, soft on the eye, soft on the earth!
	My daughter loves her new Camelbak Groove reusable water bottle. It has a built-in filter, so she can fill it up at the water fountain at school or at the park, and it doesn't have any nasty tap water taste. It's BPA-free, too, which means no nasty chemicals make their way into her body.
	Green up your child's lunch box with these reusable lunch containers from Bright Bin. It keeps food in separate compartments, bento-box style. It's non-toxic, microwave safe, dishwasher safe and practically kid-proof (The Pea has used this nearly every schoolday for almost five months, and it still looks like new). They even have a little handle, so your child can take it to school without having to put it in a separate bag.
	Green & Black's organic chocolate comes in such wonderfully sophisticated flavors, you'll feel like a chocolate gourmet when indulge in a bar. You'll also feel good knowing that it's fair-trade certified, so no underage kids had to miss school and give up their future so you could enjoy it.
	I use Post-it notes all the time, so it's nice to know that Post-it now has a line of eco-friendly produts: Post-it® Greener Notes, Post-it® Recycled Notes, Post-it® Super Sticky Recycled Notes, and Post-it® Recycled Easel Pads. (check out my Post-It Earth Day giveaway!)
	It has been a while since I sang the praises of the Ionator HOM by ActiveIon, so I'm featuring it on my Earth Day roundup for the second straight year. I cannot say enough about how effectively it cleans with nothing but cold tap water. No chemicals, just water -- and the magic of science! This is one of my favorite finds ever, and we use it every single day.
	I featured Paper Culture in last year's round-up, and I'm featuring it again because of their chic designs and commitment to making environment-consciousness an integral part of their culture. To celebrate Earth Day, they're going one step further: not only do they plant a tree in one of our nation's forests with every Paper Culture order, they will also plant a tree for every new Facebook fan they receive, and for any current fan who makes a free dedication (until April 30).

Disclosure: I have reviewed these products in the past. I received no samples or compensation for including them in this round-up post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Earth Day Giveaway from Post-It Notes

Despite my reliance on computers and the internet, I still find myself writing little notes all the time. I'm so absentminded, it helps to jot down little reminders whenever I need to. And there's hardly a week that passes when Alfie leaves a little Post-it sticky note on our kitchen cabinet, where we're sure to see it, asking me to tape a show or reminding himself to take a chocolate bar to work because he's run out. We do love our Post-it notes! But we love the earth even more, so I was delighted to discover that Post-it has a line of sustainable products that are 100% recyclable, made with 100% recycled paper. Even the adhesive that makes them stick to anything (but not leave a mark) is plant-based. Since today is Earth day, please consider switching to recyclable Post-Its!

	Post-It Greener Notes are 100% recycled, with 30% post-consumer content, and are made with a new plant-based adhesive
	Post-It Recycled Notes are 100% recycled, with 30% post-consumer content, and are made with a new plant-based adhesive.
	Post-It Super-Sticky Recycled Notes are made from 100 percent recycled paper and contains 30 percent postconsumer content.
	Post-It Super-Sticky Recycled Easel Pads feature writing sheets made from a minimum of 30 percent postconsumer content.

In addition, all Post-it® Notes are SFI Chain of Custody Certified: Paper used comes from forests that are well-managed where trees are replanted.



Buy One, Plant Two


Help plant trees with 3M's Buy One Plant One sustainability program! Just purchase specially marked packages of qualifying Post-It or 3M recycled product and enter the promotion code on their Buy One Plant One site. They'll plant one tree for every product you register. Their goal is to plant 100,000 trees, and so far they have planted almost 4,000, so there's still plenty of time to participate. And from April 1 till December 31, 3M will plant two trees for every qualified product!


Win a Prize Pack of Post-It sustainable products
To celebrate Earth Day, Post-It is giving a pack of assorted Post-It sustainable products to one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader!


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me what you do to reduce your carbon footprint. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


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

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

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

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

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Post-It Earth Day giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/bonggafindsprizes

5) Write this on the Post-It Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Post-It Earth Day giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://tinyurl.com/bonggafindsprizes

6) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
Enter to win an assortment of Post-It sustainable products fr @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/bonggafindsprizes #giveaways

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



The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on May 6, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on May 7 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: Post-It is sending me some samples as a thank-you for hosting this giveaway. Thanks to Post-It for providing the giveaway prize! Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Kymaro Cardi-Wrap Review

Out of all the Kymaro products I've reviewed lately, my hands-down favorite is the Cardi-Wrap, a multifunctional garment that's a cardigan, wrap, scarf, shawl, blouse, dress, tunic and whatever else you can dream of, all in one. Kymaro sent me a Cardi-Wrap to try out, and I love it!


The Basics
Here's a brief description of the Cardi-Wrap:

Available in 7 stunning fashion forward colors and two sizes this multifunctional garment will instantly become the centerpiece of your wardrobe.

Accentuate your best features and hide your imperfections… slim your hips, flatten that pooch, look taller, accentuate your bust, or smooth that pesky muffin top. No matter what your figure flaws the Cardi Wrap hides them all!

The Cardi Wrap does what no other article of clothing has ever done before… you can wear the Cardi Wrap one way in the morning then at night either, twist it, wrap it, toss it, or knot it for a completely different style.

Use the included Cardi Wrap Style Book for style tips or to find the perfect fit for any body type!

Dress it up or dress it down, wear it in the winter as an extra layer, wear it with a summer dress… slip it off the shoulders and you have a shawl with sleeves, there aren’t enough hours in the day, days in the week, or weeks in the month to wear all the fabulous looks you can create with the KYMARO® Cardi Wrap.


The Bongga
Cardi-Wrap, where have you been all my life?! This is the perfect cover-up because it's so fashionable and flattering. I've worn it so many times in the month since I received it, and I've come up with several ways to wear it. At home, or when I drop the kids off at school in the mornings, I just wear it like a loose-fitting long cardigan. When I'm out and about during the day, I put a wide belt over it so it's not so voluminous and people can see I actually have some fashion sense. Recently, for my daughter's ballet recital, I wore it with a belt and added a few knots and twists to make it more interesting. Add some leggings, boots and an oxford cap and you can transform from frumpy housewife into boho-chic chick!



Here's what I like best about the Cardi-Wrap:

* The material is thin and silky, so it's ultra comfortable and drapes beautifully, but it's much easier to care for than silk -- you can machine wash it.

* I love the neutral tan color because it goes with so many outfits (the Cardi-Wrap also comes in black, grey, red, purple, pink and blue).

* I feel really comfortable wearing it for two reasons. First, it's literally comfy; when you put it on it feels like you're snuggling into a bathrobe. The second kind of comfort is mental; it hides problem areas, and because you can wear it so many ways, you can adjust it to flatter the parts of your body you like the most.


The Blah
Here's what I'm not too crazy about:

* It only comes in two sizes, Misses and Plus. I chose the Misses size and I think it fits me quite nicely, but I can't imagine my petite, 5' 2" sister will be able to say the same thing! She would probably swim in it.

* The Cardi-Wrap claims to have over fifty different looks -- but the booklet included only contains instructions for about 25 ways to wear it. The other 25 presumably come from using different accessories as well as whatever other ways you can figure out. But seriously, even if you can find three or four ways to wear it, it's worth it.

* Buyer beware: it's not easy to position the wrap to make it look exactly the way it does on the model. Unless you have that model's figure, it will look different on you!



The Bottom Line
The Kymaro Cardi-Wrap is comfortable, flattering and versatile -- in other words, it's a must-have fashion accessory!

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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It's Lemon Month at Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation!

One of my favorite salad buffet restaurants is Sweet Tomatoes. I used to eat there regularly when I worked near one of their restaurants, but since I stopped working there I haven't gone to Sweet Tomatoes as often as I'd like. So it was such a pleasant surprise when they contacted me and invited me to sample their new April menu featuring the spring-iest of all spring ingredients, lemon. For the whole month of April, Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation restaurants will offer special lemon-infused dishes:



Sweet Tomatoes sent me some coupons so I could sample their menu, so I took the family for a Sweet Tomatoes lunch last weekend, and boy did we have a feast! I took special care to sample all of the lemon menu items (except the lava cake, because it's only served after 4pm), and I was really impressed at how fresh and lemony they were. Here's what I thought of each dish (I've ranked the list below in my order of preference):


Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup -- Oh. My. God. This soup was amazing! It tasted like lemony cream of chicken soup with a hint of lemon. There were lots of chicken chunks and orzo grains in the soup, giving it a nice texture. It was hot, filling, and oh-so-good. Definitely my favorite lemon dish.

Summer Lemon w/ Spiced Pecans Tossed Salad -- My runner-up for best lemon dish, it has everything I like in a salad: dark leafy greens, a tangy fruit (cranberries), a creamy cheese (not sure whether it was feta or blue or chevre, but it went really well with everything else), toasted nuts (loved the hint of sweetness in the pecans), and a great dressing (with a lemony flavor). Yum!

Tangy Lemon Muffins -- These tasted like a healthier lemon pound cake! They were so good, I couldn't resist sneaking one (okay, two) into my purse to take home. Fortunately the muffins are nice and small, so it's easy to control my portions.

Lemon Linguini Deli Salad with Toasted Pine Nuts -- Permit me to wax poetic and compare eating this with eating sunshine. It's difficult to explain; it just felt so light and refreshing! Even though it's a cold salad, the linguini didn't feel slimy at all, and it had just enough chopped tomatoes and pine nuts to keep it from getting boring.

Lemon Cream Hot Pasta with Capers -- I loved the mix of lemon juice and capers in the cream sauce, it brought a nice tang that balanced out the heaviness of the cream. I would recommend topping it with some steamed buttered vegetables to add some nutrition and variety to the dish.
Sugar-Free Lemon Cream Mousse -- I love chocolate mousse, but this lemon mousse seemed too bland to have as a dessert by itself, and more like a topping for some other dessert (like lemon-flavored whipped cream).

Make sure you get to a Sweet Tomatoes or Souplantation restaurant before the end of April so you can try all these yummy lemon dishes for yourself! But don't worry, if you don't get to go in April they'll have a new set of special menu items for May (and for each month of the year). You'll have a great experience whenever you go, because the rest of the Sweet Tomatoes/Souplantation menu is just as good. Here are the three things I like best about Sweet Tomatoes food in general:

* They have a wide variety of soups (my family is unanimous in saying Sweet Tomatoes soups are the best of any of the salad buffets we've tried).

* They serve their breads/muffins/pizzas in small portions, and they have the teeniest tiniest little cones for ice cream, which makes it easier to control portions for kids and adults, and results in less waste.

* Their chocolate soft-serve yogurt actually tastes like it has chocolate in it (it's Dreyer's soft-serve dark chocolate yogurt).

The whole family loved eating at Sweet Tomatoes; in fact, the only thing wrong with Sweet Tomatoes is that they don't have a restaurant nearer to where I live!

Disclosure: In order to facilitate my review, I received three vouchers for a free meal at Sweet Tomatoes and a catering-sized lemon salad to take home. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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

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


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



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

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

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Help Energizer Preserve America's National Parks

Aren't you glad the powers that be averted a government shutdown two Fridays ago? Had the White House and congressional leaders not been able to agree on a deal to fund the government through September, many government employees would have been furloughed and quite a few services would have been suspended, such as passport processing, tax refund processing, small business loan approval -- and our national parks would have had to close.

Fortunately the shutdown was averted, and families can still visit national parks and monuments just in time for spring break! My family and I have enjoyed many happy times in the various national parks we've visited, and I've always said that I think Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park is the most beautiful place I've been in the world.



I applaud any organization who supports national parks, which is why I'm happy to blog about Energizer's efforts, along with the National Park Foundation, to power and preserve America’s national parks. Helping to launch the program is outdoor enthusiast, Peter Facinelli of The Twilight Saga and Nurse Jackie. The program brings awareness to the importance of preserving our country’s greatest natural resources and gives people a number of ways to get involved.

Here's how you can help:


Collect Energizer codes and redeem for a $10 gift card or donation to the National Park Foundation


Right now in stores specially-marked Energizer products contain a special code so when someone buys three participating products, he or she can go online to www.nowthatspositivenergy.com/blogs and redeem the codes for a $10 reward toward a national park adventure or elect for Energizer to donate the reward directly to the National Park Foundation.


Join a Live Facebook Chat with Peter Facinelli
Peter Facinelli fans can chat with the actor and outdoor enthusiast on Wednesday, April 20 at 1 p.m. EST. To participate in the chat, visit the Parks tab on the Energizer Bunny Facebook page. Click here to RSVP to the event:



Help Energizer donate $400,000 during National Park Week
From April 16 through April 24, the country celebrates National Park Week. Not only can everyone receive free admission to all national parks this week, but people can also text BUNNY to 27722 to trigger a $1 donation from Energizer to the National Park Foundation, up to $50,000. Energizer’s goal is to donate $400,000 to the National Park Foundation this spring, and the public can help them get there.




Join a National Park Volunteer Event
People who prefer to get more hands-on can RSVP to join a now that’s positivenergy™ national park volunteer event by visiting www.nowthatspositivenergy.com/blogs or facebook.com/energizerbunny and clicking on the Parks tab.



Vote to decide which National Park to clean up
Go to facebook.com/energizerbunny and help select one of the park recipients through an online vote, which runs from Monday, April 18, through Friday, May 13. Each park hosting an event will receive a grant from Energizer and a donation of responsible power solutions including solar panels, chargers, batteries, solar lights and other lighting products.


Visit www.nowthatspositivenergy.com/blogs or facebook.com/energizerbunny to see how they can get involved in helping to preserve America’s national parks.



Help spread the word and enter to win a $10 Target gift card
Energizer is providing a $10 Target gift card to one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader!



Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite national park. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


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

1) Visit the Energizer Bunny Facebook page and vote for a national park to clean up, then leave a comment here telling me which park you voted for (1 entry).

2) Share the link to www.nowthatspositivenergy.com with your Facebook friends, along with the message below (1 entry):
You've got the power to help preserve America's national parks! Join Energizer, Peter Facinelli, and volunteers nationwide to see what *you* can do.

3) Share the link to this giveaway (http://ow.ly/4CVlG ) with your Facebook friends, then leave a comment here telling me you did (1 entry).


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

RT @bonggafinds Text BUNNY to 27722 and Energizer will donate $1 to the National Park Foundation, up to $50k http://ow.ly/4CVlG

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

Enter to win a $10 Target gift card on @bonggafinds and help find the next Energizer Hall of Famer! http://ow.ly/4CVlG

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

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

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


The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on May 12, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on May 13 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: Thanks to Energizer for providing the $10 Target gift card for giveaway as well as an additional $10 Target gift card to me as a thank-you for posting about the program. Program information is provided by Energizer and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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How I would use 75,000 American Express Membership Rewards points

Thank you for all your suggestions! You've found some amazing rewards for 75,000 points! Then again, with so many way to redeem points, I guess everyone is bound to find something they love.

1) Go up, up and awayyyyyy.. Did I hear culture? Sophistication? Croissants? That's right, Europe is calling! For 65,000 you can score an economy class ticket on Swiss Air from LAX or SFO to Europe. Everyone needs to visit Europe at least once in their lifetime, and Membership Rewards points makes it easier to make that dream a reality.

2) Get fit -- Wii Fit. I have wanted a Wii Fit ever since I first tried it out, and so do my kids. This Nintendo Wii bundle (Wii console plus Wii Fit starter kit plus Wii Fit Plus board) for 71,000 points sounds like the perfect way to get in the game (and if you're more of a Microsoft kind of family, there's also the Xbox Kinect with Kinect Sports bundle for 68,300 points). I can see many hours of family togetherness, looking like idiots in front of a tv screen (but having some great active indoor fun!) ahead.

3) Keep the house clean. Miele makes the best vacuum cleaners out there. Period. They are a bit of an investment, but they are worth every penny. But if you use Membership Rewards points to get one, you won't have to spend a dime! Our Miele is on its last legs, so I'm looking for a replacement -- and I'm itching for this Miele Carina Canister Vacuum set with car clean kit (74,300 points).

4) Feed the family in style. Many of the commenters over the last 3 posts have suggested Le Creuset cookware as a great way to redeem points, and I couldn't agree more. The Membership Rewards catalog offers a Le Creuset 6-piece cast iron set for 75,000 points -- but why not get the Le Creuset 6-piece cast iron set with bonus 6-qt. stockpot for the same number of points? Never let it be said that bonggamom turned down a bargain!

5) Get outdoors. The spring weather is making me antsy to get outside, and a great way to use Membership Rewards points would be for things that would get us outdoors. If I had the space, I'd love this Kidcraft Outdoor Playhouse (68,800 points) -- the kids would love it, and Alfie and I love that the playhouse's design complements rather than clashes with our own house, unlike those cheap plastic playhouses! If your kids are bigger, the Membership Rewards catalog has a number of nice bikes, starting at 66,500 points, and for the biggest kid of all -- my husband -- I would get a portable GPS so he doesn't have to rely on his abysmal sense of direction when he goes off on his new motorcycle. There's a great portable model by Garmin for 72,000 points, but they actually have one that's specially made for motorcycles. It's 136,300 points, though, which violates my self-imposed 75k limit -- but hey, it's my fantasy, so I can dream, can't I?


I know, I know, at 75k we're really getting into splurge territory, but there are ways to score some wonderful Membership Rewards for less points, if you know where to look. Here are a couple of tips that will help you get the most out of your Membership rewards points:

1) Take advantage of Membership Rewards specials
The Membership Rewards program has a sale section! At membershiprewards.com/specials, you can save points with great deals on select rewards like electronics, travel, entertainment, home accessories and more. New items are added regularly so check the page often.

2) "Like" American Express on Facebook
The American Express Facebook page has begun posting a weekly redemption deal: 50% off redemption on their featured item when you use Membership Rewards points! Last week's deal was a Microsoft Xbox 4GB with Kinect Sensor for only 31,300 points, and the week before that it was a Flip UltraHD camera, also 50% off points. They'll be featuring new items for the next 8 weeks, so check back often.



It takes a little bit of saving up, but the wonderful experiences you can enjoy when you redeem the points are worth it.



Announcing the winner of the $100 American Express Gift Card!
Ah, the moment you've all been waiting for. Without further ado, the winner of the $100 American Express gift card is....
.... commenter #248 from Amex post #1, cmacaran! Congratulations, cmacaran, and thanks to everyone else for joining! I've thoroughly enjoyed writing these posts and fantasizing about redeeming all these great rewards from the American Express Membership Rewards program. Okay, time to start racking up those points......




Disclosure: I am being compensated for my participation in American Express' Membership Rewards Program via complimentary Membership Rewards Points. Thanks to American Express for providing the $100 American Express Gift Card giveaway prize. Information about the Membership Rewards Program has been provided by American Express and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Vote for America's Best School Music Mash-Up (and enter to win a month's supply of juice!)

Remember the Best School Music Mash-Ups contest I blogged about in January? Many entered, but few have been chosen, and now they need your votes! The second annual Fruitables Search for The Best School Music Mash-Ups in America has reached its final round, and we have six finalists.

Here's more information on the contest:

The entries are in; the finalists have been chosen; and now it’s time for America to vote for the winners. Glee’s Cory Monteith, and judges from VH1’s Save The Music Campaign and AOL’s PopEater have chosen six talented student vocal groups from across the nation, as finalists in the second annual Fruitables Search for The Best School Music Mash-Ups in America.

This year’s finalists from California, New York, Michigan, Kansas, Massachusetts and Texas are all possible winners of the $10k but they need your help! Now it’s America’s turn to weigh-in and decide which two vocal groups – one elementary school and one middle school – are most deserving of the title and $10k prize. Starting now, Americans can view the six finalists’ performances and cast their vote at www.Facebook.com/AppleandEve. The winning schools will be announced during National Music Week, the week of May 2, 2011.


I've watched the videos of all six finalists, and I have to say it's difficult to choose a winner! I think the Pearl Rucker Elementary School choir is absolutely adorable, and I must say I have a soft spot for Crittenden Middle School because they're from California, but I really love Traverse City West's garbage can drum introduction! Who do you think should win? Make your voice heard and vote!


Win a month's supply of Apple & Eve Fruitables
To celebrate the search for the second annual search for the Best School Music Mash-Ups in America, Apple & Eve is giving away a month's supply of yummy Apple & Eve Fruitables fruit and vegetable juice! One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a 32 pack flat of a variety of juices from Apple & Eve.


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which finalist (Pearl Rucker Elementary, Warren-Prescott School, Anthony Elementary, Traverse City West Middle School, Crittenden Middle School, Union Endicott School) is your favorite. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


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

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

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

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

4) Write this on the Apple & Eve Facebook page wall (1 entry):
I entered the Apple & Eve Fruitables giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

5) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
Win a month's supply of Apple & Eve Fruitables juice on @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes #giveaways

6) Tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
RT @bonggafinds Vote for The Best School Music Mash-Ups in America! http://ow.ly/3JBiW

7) Share the link to Apple & Eve's Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/appleandeve) with your Facebook friends, along with this message (1 entry):
Vote for The Best School Music Mash-Ups in America!



The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on May 2, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on May 3 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. US addresses only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!


Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Thanks to Apple & Eve and Hunter Public Relations for providing the prize for this giveaway. Contest information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Green & Black Organic Fair Trade Certified Chocolate -- perfect for Earth Day

With Earth Day coming up on April 22, people are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprints and help support the environment. Here are three easy and effective tips from chocolatier Green & Black’s:


* Save Water: Skip pre-washing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher – which could save up to 12.5 gallons of water a week. Skip the head-dry cycle and air-dry dishes.

* Reduce Waste: Opt for a faucet or pitcher water filter rather than buying bottled water – which could keep thousands of water bottles out of landfills and save $600 a year per household.

* Save Energy: Wash laundry in cold water – which could save up to 80% of the energy used per load. Skip the dryer and opt to hang-drying laundry.


Another great way to celebrate Earth Day is by popping a square of Green & Black's Organic Fair Trade Certified Chocolate into your mouth! They use organic ingredients and are fair trade certified, so you can indulge in their treats knowing that they've been good to the earth and to mankind.

Here's more information about Green & Black’s Organic Fair Trade Certified Chocolate:

* Green & Black’s, using only the finest organically-grown cocoa beans, believes that every step from bean to bar is equally important and strives to ensure that all ingredients are grown in ways that are consciously respectful of the planet – including maintaining a sustainable relationship working directly with cocoa farmers.

* Green & Black's is a Fair Trade Certified brand dedicated to empowering its cocoa growing partners to establish sustainable livelihoods and communities. Farmers receive a guaranteed minimum for their ingredients, along with an additional premium to invest in the social, environmental and economic development of their countries.



Green & Black was kind enough to send us some samples of their wonderful chocolate. We received a bar of their milk chocolate with almond, dark (70%) and white chocolate. The almond bar was easily the best one, with a smooth chocolate taste that wasn't too milky. Being a dark chocolate family, you'd think we'd have preferred the 70% bar -- but while the taste was excellent, we all thought the texture was too brittle and not as creamy as our regular 75% dark chocolate bar.

The big surprise was the white chocolate -- we don't usually like white "chocolate" , but it disappeared just as fast as the first two bars! I loved seeing the little dark flecks of vanilla bean scattered throughout; it made it seem less like a bar of milk, sugar and butter, and more like a confection worth the calories.

Green & Black also makes several other varieties; all of them look wonderfully indulgent, with such sophisticated flavors (Ginger or Dark Chocolate Cherry, anyone?) and packaging that merely holding a bar in your hand makes you look like a discerning chocolate connoisseur. I've tried their Milk Chocolate Toffee, and it's as yummy as it sounds! I would also love to try their Mint and Maya Gold flavors. What a sweet way to save the earth!

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Kymaro Body Shaper and Bottom Shaper Review

Over the past year I have hosted several giveaways for Kymaro products, but I have not had the opportunity to review any of their products until recently -- so I'm very happy to actually be able to try them out at last! A few days ago I posted my first Kymaro review, and today I'm posting my second -- for the Kymaro Body Shaper and Bottom Body Shaper. If you're frantically working out at the gym because you're afraid you won't be able to get rid of that last bit of winter jiggles before you start to put on those flirty spring dresses, these products will give you a bit of a breather (literally -- they'll hold you in so you won't have to keep holding your breath all the time!).



Here's a brief description of the Body Shaper:
The Kymaro® New Body Shaper is the fastest and safest way to take off inches in all the important places where we can’t seem to lose the weight. Plus, these amazing undergarments smooth out the rolls and bulges, giving the simple look of a sleek and slender body. Everyone will be asking you how you lost the weight! No other shaper out there compares to this!

Here's why I like the Kymaro Body Shaper:
1) It holds your wiggles and jiggles in, but the material is pretty thin, so you can wear it underneath a fitted tee without adding bulk.

2) The bottom doesn't "roll up" or "ride up" my hips, so I'm not constantly having to tug it back down.

3) The garment fits underneath your boobs, so you can still wear a bra. For fuller figures, I imagine this would be a relief, and for flat-chested women like me, it's nice because we can wear a padded bra and get some cleavage to go with that nicely flattened torso.

4) For some strange reason, when I put it on I'm much more aware of my posture. I tend to keep my back straighter, which of course naturally pulls in the stomach, which probably makes me look even better!

I do wish the straps were a bit thinner (although they do have a Cami Body Shaper with clear plastic straps so you can wear it under tank tops), but this is definitely something I would wear underneath a little black dress or some other figure-skimming clothing!

The Body Shaper also comes with a Bottom Body Shaper (you do have to add $9.99 S/H, though), which looks a bit like a girdle, but is made of much lighter, stretchy material (which means it's easier to put on and more comfortable than a girdle). It reminds me more of a pair of control-top pantyhose cut off at the thighs, and the "anti-jiggle" capabilities of this garment is also less like a girdle and more like extra-control pantyhose. I'm less impressed by the Bottom Shaper than I am by the Body Shaper, but wearing it does eliminate unsightly panty lines.



About the Bottom Shaper:
Kymaro's New Bottom Shaper is the fastest way to get your figure back. This seamless shaper hugs everything in place, leaving you with smooth lines and sexy curves.


You can purchase both of these products at UBuyEZ.com.

Disclosure:I received product samples to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- List your Giveaways Here

Welcome to Bonggamom's Friday Finds! I'm glad so many of you are finding this to be a useful way to get more traffic to your giveaways. And as a person who loves entering giveaways, I have to admit it's a great, easy way to find out where all the best giveaways are.

So feel free to leave links to your giveaways, everyone. And don't forget to get cracking and enter everyone else's, too!

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Seneca Farms Oatmeal & Fruit Review

I'm the kind of person who stays in bed as late as possible, then rush to get ready, so every second counts on a school morning. When the kids were smaller, they knew that even asking me for oatmeal on a school morning was enough to send me into a bad mood. We all adore oatmeal, but the stress and rush wasn't worth the extra 10 minutes (2 minutes per bowl, 5 bowls)! Now that they're older, the kids can microwave their own oatmeal, but more often than not I have to deal with cleaning up the boiled-over oatmeal and milk from the inside of the microwave. Ugh.

Given my rushed lazy busy morning style, I was delighted to be invited to sample Seneca Farms Oatmeal & Fruit, ready-to-eat oatmeal cups with real oatmeal and fruit. I tried their Apple Cinnamon and Vanilla Peach varieties, and I'm raring for more!


The Basics
Seneca Farms Oatmeal & Fruit ready-to-eat oatmeal comes in packs of 4 6-oz. microwaveable cups. No water, milk, or other liquids are needed -- simply heat in the microwave for 45 minutes. Oatmeal & Fruit comes in 2 flavors, Apple Cinnamon and Vanilla Peach, with 2 more (Cranberry Apple and Maple & Brown Sugar) to be introduced in the future (click here for places you can purchase this product).



Here's more information about the product:
Seneca Farms Oatmeal & Fruit - launching on April 4 - is the perfect choice for anyone who has trouble finding time for breakfast in the morning. In less time than it takes to make a cup of coffee, heat the six-ounce microwaveable cup - no milk or water necessary - in the microwave for 45 seconds. Seneca's Oatmeal & Fruit has no trans fats or cholesterol,
and is a great source of Vitamin C. Two initial flavors are being introduced - Apple Cinnamon and Vanilla Peach. More flavors and retailers will be added in the coming months.


The Bongga
Oh. My. Gosh. I have to get to Wal-Mart, stat! This stuff is Great with a Capital Gee. Here are the main reasons why:

* They are soooo quick and easy to prepare; 45 seconds is just enough time to warm everything through (by the way, they taste wonderful cold as well, the only kind of oatmeal I've ever said that about!). My kids could easily prepare this by themselves in the morning (assuming I haven't eaten it all myself) in the same amount of time it takes for them to get their cereal and milk!

* Unlike other instant or ready-to-eat oatmeal products out there, this product has real fruit: gooey stewed apples and sweet golden peach bits. You can see and taste the chunks of fruit, and it really makes the whole thing a treat.

* It tastes amazing. Great (with a Capital G, remember?). So Great, in fact, that after trying the first one I decided not to share any with the kids. Yup, I hid all 4 cups from them and ate them all by myself.



The Blah
Some people might find this a bit too sweet, but not for me! My only real problem with this product was the packaging: I was nervous about putting the little cups of oatmeal into my microwave because it looked like each plastic bowl was rimmed by a strip of metal. Alfie convinced me that it was fine, and indeed it was; the microwave didn't arc or spark so I guess it wasn't metal after all. But I'm willing to bet that other people might think the same thing -- and more importantly, kids might look at it and think that it's okay to put any shiny silvery object into the microwave since this one was fine.


The Bottom Line
Seneca Farms Oatmeal & Fruit is a delicious, easy way to get a hearty, healthy breakfast or snack.



Save on Seneca Farms Oatmeal & Fruit
Click on the image below to get a discount coupon for Seneca Farms Oatmeal & Fruit:

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Skin MD Giveaway

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

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

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

Enter by May 15th at the Skin MD blog.

Disclosure: By blogging about this giveaway I receive extra entries into giveaway. Giveaway information is provided by the featured company/product and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Cooking and Eating with Coca Cola

Coca-Cola has been a family favorite for ages. My mother is fiercely loyal to Coke; it has always been her soft drink of choice, and she won't drink anything else, not even Diet Coke. As a small child, I was never allowed to drink Coke because my parents didn't want the caffeine in it to keep me awake. I remember the happiness and pride I felt when they finally allowed me to start drinking it (around the age of 8 or 9); I was all grown up, I could drink Coke! We didn't have it every single day, but Coke was always a part of our family celebrations, especially at my grandmother's house. We'd eat lunch there every Saturday and on most holidays, and Coca Cola was a big part of that tradition. Filipino-Spanish food tends to be pretty rich, so Coke is the perfect drink; we always said it was the best to wash away all that grease!

Here is a family recipe that would always be on my grandmother's table. It doesn't have Coke in it, but there's no better accompanying drink than a nice, tall, ice-cold glass of Coca Cola.


Nelly's Fettuccini
1/2 kilo chicken breast, boiled and finely chopped
1 can Spam, mashed with fork
1 pack Fettuccini noodles, boiled
1 can tomato sauce
1/2 bar Anchor butter
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup shredded queso de bola (Edam cheese)
2 cups fresh milk
pepper, onion, garlic

Saute onions and garlic, add chicken, spam, tomato paste. Season with pepper only (I think this is white pepper so as not to dot the food with black). Cool the mixture. Brush inside of pyrex with white sauce so that the mixture do not stick to the pyrex. Mix cooled chicken mixture with white sauce and noodles, put in pyrex. Top with white sauce then sprinkle with shredded queso de bola. Bake (heat should be on top only) just to brown the queso de bola. (Mozzarella cheese maybe better instead of queso de bola if you want melted cheese. Queso de bola hardly melts but maybe tastes better).

White Sauce
2 cans Campbells Cream of Mushroom soup
1/2 olive oil
2 cups fresh milk
1/2 queso de bola, shredded
Boil cream of mushroom soup, olive oil, milk until thick. Put off fire and mix shredded queso de bola. Taste and set aside.

Brush inside of pyrex with white sauce to prevent the mixture from sticking to the pyrex. Set aside a portion of the white sauce for topping. Mix the rest with other ingredients.



And what better dessert to have with such a rich main dish than a decadent Coke float? I always hated drinking milk, but I loved the creamy taste of the vanilla ice cream mixed in with the caramelly zing and sparkling, bubbly "bite" of the Coke. Every time I have this dessert it brings back wonderful childhood memories of Saturday lunches at my grandmother's house.

Coke Float
1 cup Classic Coca Cola
1 cup vanilla ice cream

Scoop vanilla ice cream into a tall glass. Pour Coca Cola over the ice cream. Sip from a straw and enjoy!

Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Coca-Cola® blogging program. If I am one of the first 100 blogs received by SocialsMoms, I will receive a $25 gift card. For more information on the program, click here. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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