Giveaway: Win $25 to DonorsChoose.org plus a Leapfrog Tag

2012 has just begun, and already Leapfrog is hard at work helping thousands of underprivileged children learn to read via the Leapfrog Tag. They have donated more than $1.5 million in Tag Reading Systems and books to the classrooms of more than 20,000 students since 2009, and they're adding to that number with their first initiative of the year: a partnership with DonorsChoose.org, a classroom charity organization, to help teachers who want Tag Readers and books for their classroom.

This isn't the first time they've partnered with DonorsChoose.org. In 2010, their "Tag. Give. Read" program donated $100,000 to DonorsChoose.org, to match donations, dollar-for-dollar, made to teachers who request the Tag learn-to-read system for their classrooms. This year, they are doing the same thing: LeapFrog has donated $50,000 and will match donations dollar for dollar up to $50,000, for a total of $100,000 in Tag Readers and books to classrooms in need.

Donating to a classroom via DonorsChoose.org couldn't be easier. Their database has thousands of worthy projects in need of funding, entered by dedicated public school teachers who have lots of ideas on how to make learning fun and challenging for their kids, but just don't have the funding. Just log on to their site, and you can search by state, by subject or by keyword. You can search to find projects at your child's own school, or even by schools with the highest poverty rates. Requests range from pencils for a poetry writing unit, to violins for a school recital, to microscope slides for a biology class, so there's sure to be a project close to your heart. You don't have to fund the whole project; you can donate any amount you feel comfortable with.

I started using DonorsChoose.org in 2008, and I've found it very easy to use, and extremely fulfilling My own experiences with DonorsChoose have been very fulfilling. Last year I was even able to use DonorsChoose to donate money to a project in my son Jammy's own classroom! His teacher was raising funds for a camera, and even though I couldn't afford to buy it all by myself, I was able to contribute -- and it's so much easier to use DonorsChoose than having to collect money from all the parents!


This year, Leapfrog kindly gave me $25 to donate to a classroom via DonorsChoose.org, and since none of my kids' teachers have put in a request for any projects, I decided to donate to a kindergarten classroom at a nearby school. 75% of their students are from low-income families, and half of the students do not speak English as their first language. The teacher wants to buy some read-along audiobooks to help her students acquire basic reading skills like comprehension and vocabulary. Since that is what Tag readers help kids do, I can't think of a better project to donate to! Thanks, Leapfrog, for helping this teacher -- and thousands more -- help their students learn to read!

Win $25 to DonorsChoose.org and a Leapfrog Tag system
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a $25 gift card to DonorsChoose.org so they can support the school project of their choice, plus a Leapfrog Tag reader and 6 Tag books!

Required Entry
Visit DonorsChoose.org and leave a comment on this post with a link to a project on DonorsChoose.org that you would love to donate to. This entry must be completed before any extra entries will count.

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) Leave a comment on this post and tell me which Leapfrog Tag books you would most love to have for your little readers (1 entry).

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger (1 entry)

3) Blog about this giveaway, making sure you include a link to the giveaway in your blog post (1 entry).

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered Leapfrog's Donors Choose giveaway! http://bit.ly/xtAc0K

5) Write this on the DonorsChoose Facebook page (1 entry):
Want $25 to support a school via DonorsChoose.org? Enter the Leapfrog giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://bit.ly/xtAc0K

6) Write this on the Leapfrog Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered to win a $25 gift card to DonorsChoose.org, a Tag reader and 6 Tag books! Enter by 2/17 at Bonggamom Finds http://bit.ly/xtAc0K

7) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day): Win a $25 giftcard to @donorschoose and a Tag + 6 books for you! Enter by 2/17 at @bonggafinds http://bit.ly/xtAc0K




The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 17, 2012; I will draw a winner at random on February 18 and post his/her name after she/he confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a $25 gift card to donate to the organization/project of my choice on DonorsChoose.org. All prizes are provided by Leapfrog; however, this giveaway is being administered and run by Bonggamom Finds, and all inquiries regarding the giveaway should be directed to Bonggamom Finds. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Win 4 tickets to Disney on Ice presents Disney Pixar's Toy Story 3

Yesterday I put up a post with some great news for skating fans: Disney on Ice's latest production, Toy Story 3, is headed to San Jose on Feb. 22 and to Oakland on Feb. 29. Today, I have even better news for my readers from the San Francisco Bay Area: I'm giving away 4 tickets to the show! That's right, on lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive 4 tickets to the Feb. 22 (in San Jose) or the Feb. 29 (in Oakland) show.

To enter, all you have to do is send out this tweet:

Disney on Ice is coming to the SF Bay Area, and @bonggafinds is giving away tickets to the show! Enter by 2/14 at http://bit.ly/y45uf8

Then fill out the form below. The giveaway will close at 11:59 PST on February 14th, and I'll draw a winner on Feb. 15. Good luck!




If you can't wait for the the giveaway to end before purchasing your tickets, here's all the information you need, plus a great discount:

Come experience
Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3
HP Pavilion at San Jose – February 22-26
Oracle Arena in Oakland – February 29 – March 4

WEEKDAY SHOWS – Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44
(Not valid for FR/ VIP seating. Only valid on shows Wednesday thru Friday morning)
Redemption Code: MOM

WEEKEND SHOWS – $5 off tickets to all performances
(Not valid for FR/ VIP seating)
Redemption Code: MOM5

Look for the Bay Area shows of Toy Story 6 at http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/m721pg and
be sure to enter one of these redemption codes when purchasing your tickets!

Disclosure: The tickets for this giveaway are being provided by Feld Entertainment. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Gevalia Kaffe giveaway

Ever since Alfie got his new coffee press, he has spent many an evening enjoying a nice, strong hot cup of coffee in the evenings in place of his usual cup of tea. He's quite picky about his coffee, so he was very happy to try out the sample pack of Gevalia Kaffe that we received from Kraft Foods and MyBlogSpark. Even better, we've learned that Gevalia Kaffe is now be available at Safeway, and will soon be on retail shelves nationwide! Previously Gevalia has only been available online, so it's great news that everyone can enjoy this premium brand of coffee without having to go to a specialty store. The French Roast variety is perfect for Alfie because he loves dark blends, and the House Blend is perfect for any occasion because it's an all-around crowd pleaser.

Here's more information about Gevalia Kaffe:
The Swedes know a thing or two about coffee. They know quality coffee should be savored and enjoyed. They also know you deserve a more unique/special coffee experience than what you can pick up on every street corner. In Sweden, where the citizens drink more coffee than almost anywhere else in the world, Gevalia is their preferred brand. In fact, Gevalia enjoys the honor of being an official coffee of the Swedish Royal Court.

Gevalia has been refining the art of luxurious coffee since 1853 and has a deep history of finding and blending the finest Arabica coffee beans from locations around the world. Gevalia is expertly made with carefully selected beans, ground extra fine, to produce a rich coffee experience. Previously available online only, Gevalia is now offering its top-ten varieties in U.S. coffee supermarket aisles nationwide in 10 varieties, including roast and ground, whole bean, flavored and decaffeinated varieties.

Gevalia is a luxurious departure from the everyday, an escape from the routine cup of coffee. Whether it’s a morning ritual made just for you, or the finishing touch at a dinner party, it brings the taste of Swedish-style luxury into your home.



Win a Gevalia Kaffe Prize Pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a Gevalia Kaffe prize pack from MyBlogSpark, containing:

* (1) sample of the House Blend from Gevalia Kaffe
* (1) sample of the French Roast Blend from Gevalia Kaffe
* A Gevalia Kaffe branded coffee mug


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post telling me which variety of Gevalia Kaffe you are most looking forward to picking up at your local Safeway store! This entry must be completed before any extra entries will count.

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

1) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger (1 entry)

2) Blog about this giveaway, making sure you include a link to the giveaway in your blog post (1 entry).

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Gevalia Kaffe giveaway! http://bit.ly/xCIQjg

4) Write this on the Gevalia Kaffe Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered to win a Gevalia Kaffe prize pack on Bonggamom Finds! Giveaway ends Feb. 17 at http://bit.ly/xCIQjg

5) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day): @bonggafinds is giving away a Gevalia Kaffe prize pack! Enter by 2/17 at http://bit.ly/xCIQjg




The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 17, 2012; I will draw a winner at random on February 18 and post his/her name after she/he confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: Kraft Foods has provided sample product to me and is providing the prizes for this program at no cost to me. This program is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by Bonggamom Finds. Product information is provided by Kraft Foods via MyBlogSpark and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Disney on Ice presents Disney Pixar's Toy Story 3!

Disney on Ice is coming back to the Bay Area! This year's production features Toy Story 3, which has never played here before, so we're really excited. Here's more information about the show, along with some great ticket discounts:

Have you heard the buzz? The toys are back in town! Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 3! The Academy Award®-winning blockbuster, Toy Story 3, and memorable moments from Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are hitting the ice in this sensational live production coming to your hometown! Catch all the heroic action when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from the rambunctious tots of Sunnyside Daycare and race for home, in their most daring adventure ever! A few new faces join the fun, including Barbie’s groovy bachelor Ken and Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear. It’s the biggest Toy Story experience on ice, jam-packed with fast-paced adventure such as Buzz’s galactic battle with Emperor Zurg and a hoe-down at Woody’s Roundup. Rediscover the humor, friendship and charm of Toy Story when Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 3 takes family fun to infinity and beyond! Playing HP Pavilion at San Jose February 22 – 26 and Oracle Arena in Oakland February 29 – March 4, 2012!

Come experience
Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3
HP Pavilion at San Jose – February 22-26
Oracle Arena in Oakland – February 29 – March 4

WEEKDAY SHOWS – Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44
(Not valid for FR/ VIP seating. Only valid on shows Wednesday thru Friday morning)
Redemption Code: MOM

WEEKEND SHOWS – $5 off tickets to all performances
(Not valid for FR/ VIP seating)
Redemption Code: MOM5

Look for the Bay Area shows of Toy Story 6 at http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/m721pg and
be sure to enter one of these redemption codes when purchasing your tickets!

Coloring Pages
Right-click on the image below and select "Save Image As.." to dowload this fun coloring page!

Disclosure: I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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What's new at Galileo Learning for 2012

It seems way too early to be thinking about summer camps, yet brochures for this program and that have been arriving in the mail. They've obviously been hard at work preparing for summer -- and for Galileo Learning, the people behind the popular Camp Galileo and Galileo Summer Quest, the process of developing a fun and meaningful program is year-round. Last week I got to see just how much work Galileo Learning puts into their summer programs when several bloggers and I were invited to their Oakland headquarters for a lunch, talk and tour.

Yellow walls? Lime green columns? Monsters on filing cabinets? I'm definitely adding this company to my "Places I Want to Work At" list.


Seriously, how can you stop the creative juices from flowing when you've got a two-headed llama beside the break room? And by the way, that llama's fur is made from strips of newspaper, so you know they didn't take the easy way out and buy it on eBay.

Llamas and monsters weren't the only cool things we got to see at Galileo headquarters. We also met Glen Tripp, Galileo's founder and CEO, who gave us an inside look at what drives Galileo and what makes them different (aside from a cool office with two-headed llamas, stuffed monsters and plush Galileo dolls). It would take a whole new blog post to explain it, but Galileo is more than a place where kids do cool projects and have fun -- with every project they complete, campers are learning to be innovators. Camp leaders help kids develop an innovator's mindset, learn a set of knowledge tools and follow an innovator's process (identifying a goal, generating ideas, designing, creating, then going through a cycle of testing, evaluating and redesign). If only all the parents in the Bay Area could have sat in on the presentation, they'd see clearly how Galileo is more than just a summer camp and more than just "Daycare with Legos" (as my friend Robyn from Who's the Boss puts it!).

Even better, we got a rundown of all the cool new things that happening this summer. If you've been to the Galileo Learning website, or if you follow them on Facebook or Twitter, you've probably pieced together, but to find it all you'd have to look in different sections of the their site -- so here's the complete What's New at Galileo scoop, all in one place:


* Extended care has been extended -- it's now available all the way till 6:00 PM, which is a godsend for working parents (morning hours are 8:00-9:00am, and afternoon hours are 3:00-6:00pm)

* Parents will be able to purchase hot lunch for their kids from Choicelunch. Again, another godsend, and not just for working parents! You can use Choicelunch's website or mobile app to view lunch menus and order lunch, and your kid even gets a morning snack, so the only thing you need to send them with is a hat and a water bottle.

* Galileo Summer Quest, their program for 5th-8th graders, has a new 1-week format (last year it was a 2-week format). Kids now choose just a single area of concentration, or major (last year they had to choose a major and 2 minors), so they can really delve into a single area. If you happen to like the 2-week format, as I did, simply sign your child up for 2 1-week sessions! Many major even have "advanced" sessions so your child's second week can build on what he or she learned in the first week.

* There are four new locations for Galileo Summer Quest: Lafayette, Fremont, Sunnyvale and Woodside.

* There are four new Camp Galileo Themes: Galileo Olympics (it's an Olympic year, so this is sure to be a popular one!), Celebrate the Golden Gate (love the local flavor!), Leonardo's Apprentice and Galileo Rocks -- so kids who have been to Camp Galileo in previous years are sure to find something new and exciting to enjoy.

* Galileo Learning has been running San Jose's Tech Museum summer camps for years -- and starting this year, they will be running the summer camps at Chabot Space & Science Center as well.

* There are a ton of discounts that parents can enjoy this year -- Multisession discounts (save $20 off the 2nd week of camp, $40 off the 3rd week and $60 off the 4th week and beyond), Extended care discounts (50% off extended care if you enroll for 2 or more weeks), Refer A Friend discount (you and your referral receive $40 off camp), and Eary Bird Discount ($20 off every session if you sign up before March 1). The good news is, they're not mutually exclusive; you can take advantage of all of them!


We left Galileo headquarters all excited to sign our kids up for camp and see firsthand just what learning adventures await our kids. Signups for camp have started already, and the earlier you sign up, the better, for two reasons: first the Early-Bird discount, and second, to make sure your child gets a spot in his preferred program, at your preferred date and location. Right now most of the are marked as Open, but as March 1 approaches you'll see more programs marked Almost Full (10 spots or less available) or Full. So hurry and sign up ASAP!

Disclosure: This is the first in a series of posts about Camp Galileo and Galileo Summer Quest, for which I am being compensated with a free week of camp for my children. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Dino Dan "Dino Trackers" DVD giveaway

Dinosaur fans will be happy to know that NCircle Entertainment has acquired the distribution rights to a brand new DVD series: Dino Dan, a live action/CGI series on Nick Jr. Dino Dan is a 10-year old boy who wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up. He's obsessed with dinosaurs (like many young boys!), but what grownups don't realize is that dinosaurs are EVERYWHERE, lurking around corners, fueling lots of fun adventures for Dan and his friends. He (and kids watching on TV) learn lots of dinosaur facts, such as:

•a Corythosaurus dinosaur had a large protective plate on top of its head.
•a Spinosaurus had bony rods on its back that held up a “sail” made of skin.
•a T-Rex could eat up to 500 pounds of meat in one bite
•a Brachiosaurus weighed up to 80 tons
•a Brachiosaurus could live up to one hundred years!


About the series
Dinosaurs never lose their appeal to kids of all ages – but what makes the “Dino Dan” series unique is that it was developed under the guidance of paleontologists at Canada's Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta. In fact, your readers may be interested to know that a real-life paleontologist at the museum named Dr. Don Henderson is the inspiration for the “Dino Dan” character!

About the DVD:
The “Dino Dan – Dino Trackers” DVD contains five adventure stories featuring a boy nicknamed Dino Dan (played by Jason Spevack). He’s a curious 10-year-old who imagines there are real dinosaurs living all around him – but only he can see them! The DVD’s interactive bonus content adds to the enjoyment. It is priced at $12.99 suggested retail.



Win the Dino Dan DVD
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a Dino Dan "Dino Trackers" DVD from NCircle Entertainment!

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post telling me your child's favorite dinosaur (or yours!). This entry must be completed before any extra entries will count.

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

1) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger (1 entry)

2) Blog about this giveaway, making sure you include a link to the giveaway in your blog post (1 entry).

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Dino Trackers giveaway! http://bit.ly/wIMOTI

4) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day): @bonggafinds is giving away a Dino Dan "Dino Trackers" DVD! Enter by 2/13 at http://bit.ly/wIMOTI




The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 13, 2012; I will draw a winner at random on February 14 and post his/her name after she/he confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. . 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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Win Valentine's Day Goodies from Buy.com

Valentine's Day is almost here, and what could be sweeter than a Valentine treat that you can eat? Today I've got the sweetest giveaway ever from Buy.com! One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a Valentine's Day heart box filled with some yummy treats:

• A fun Valentine’s Day heart box
• Iced honey vanilla heart cookies
• A complete assortment of Godiva truffles

This fun Valentine's heart box is filled with six buttery honey vanilla heart cookies, made fresh in our California kitchen, hand-iced with all new designs. A complete assortment of Godiva truffles including dark chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate French vanilla is a sweet addition to this fresh- baked Valentine assortment. You won't find a more unique way to wish them a happy Valentine's Day!


Required Entry
Visit Buy.com's Valentine's Day Gift Center and leave a comment on this post with a link to the Buy.com product that you would most like to receive on Valentine's Day. This entry must be completed before any extra entries will count.

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

1) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger (1 entry)

2) Blog about this giveaway, making sure you include a link to the giveaway in your blog post (1 entry).

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Buy.com Valentine giveaway! http://bit.ly/AylDBj

4) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day): @bonggafinds is giving away a Valentine's Day goodie basket from Buy.com! Enter by 2/5 at http://bit.ly/AylDBj




The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 5, 2012; I will draw a winner at random on February 6 and post his/her name after she/he confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Thanks to Buy.com for providing the giveaway prize. 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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My Valentine's Day Gift Guide

Gentlemen, start your engines -- Valentine's Day is coming up, and you know what that means: you've got to act NOW and snag that dinner reservation, otherwise you're taking your date out to a fast food restaurant on the 14th! You've also got to think long and hard about the all-important present for your wife or girlfriend. You want something sweet to show your romantic side, but nothing too corny or sappy. You want something a bit spicy with a dash of naughty, to show her that the spark is still burning bright and that she's the babe for you -- but you don't want to degrade or insult her with anything too tawdry. Sound like a tall order? Not at all! Here are my favorite Valentine's Day gift ideas from EdenFantasys that fit the bill:




This heart sleep set is comfy, yet flirty. The satin material and little pink hearts make it the perfect romantic present for "shy guys" -- and it's a great first step towards naughtier lingerie!




This Lace back corset and thong set is classic vamp. I would totally pair the corset with a black jacket and jeans and wear it to a restaurant or nightclub -- or strip down to it afterwards for some one-on-one Valentine's night fun!


This Hugs N Kisses Coupon Book is simple, almost corny, but if you get into the spirit of things, it can be a wonderful way to spend some quality time together and become closer as a couple. It's not all sexy stuff; there are also coupons for taking a quiet walk together, grant me a wish, 2 hours with the remote control, and the like.

Forget your ordinary box of chocolates, try this Sweet Heart Strawberry box ! It includes a strawberry body body souffle, white chocolate body paint and strawberry honey dust beautifully packaged in a heart shaped box, for a night of delicious fun (If chocolate is more your thing, try the Sweet Heart Chocolate box).


I couldn't resist adding another edible present: these Tastee Tattoos are a great way to release your inner child. What kid doesn't love temporary tattoos? They come in assorted (and G-rated!) shapes like hearts, arrows, palm trees and stars, but unlike the regular temporary tattoos, you can lick and nibble these off your partner. Talk about fun!


Disclaimer: EdenFantasys, an online retailer of sex toys, lingerie and other adult products, is providing me with a gift card in exchange for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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How to add a personal touch to valentine cards (without going the homemade route!)

Valentine's Day might seem like a long way out, and you might think you have plenty of time to prepare. For the most part, I'd agree -- unless either of these situations apply to you:

1) You want to go out on Valentine's Day
2) Your kid wants to make all his own Valentine cards.

The first situation is something every male over 18 knows. If you don't make restaurant reservations and order flowers at least 2 weeks beforehand, chances are you'll be taking your date out to a fast food restaurant and getting her carnations. Actually, it might already be too late -- maybe the cutoff date was January 2. Since I'm not a male over 18, I'm not quite sure.

The second situation is something every mom with kids over 4 knows. Practically every preschool and elementary school these days asks that if your child sends one card to classmate, he has to send a card to all his classmates. So if he wants to make his own Valentine cards, you're looking at anywhere from 20-30 homemade cards if he's in elementary school, or 10-20 cards for preschool. Folding a piece of red paper in half, drawing a red heart and scribbling a message might not sound like a big deal, but when you have to do 20 of them, it gets pretty old. Add to that all the fancy lace and hearts and popup features he wants to add (not to mention that if your child is a preschooler, it will take him hours just to write a single Happy Valentine's Day), and all of a sudden Valentine's Day is just around the corner!

I'll be the first person to say that you can't beat a homemade card. It keeps the holiday simple and sweet, and it really gives your child's cards a personal touch. But let's face it, time is of the essence, and your kid's classmates won't care. So I like to find a happy medium -- save the handmade cards for grandma, and resort to store-bought cards for classmates, but add a personal touch that elevates it beyond the usual generic scrap of paper with the latest cartoon character printed on the front. Here are some ideas your child can use to make his classroom valentines personal and unique:

* Write or draw a personal message. Just because it's a store bought card doesn't mean you can't make it personal. Have your child write a special message for each child, or if your child is preschooler, have her draw a heart or a rainbow.

* Attach a piece of candy to the valentine card. Buy a pack of heart-shaped lollipops or Hershey's kisses or heart-shaped chocolate from the drugstore, then tape or tie a piece to each valentine card.

* Give home-baked goods. This year The Pea wants to give cake pops to all her classmates. We'll probably do red velvet cake pops, dipped in white or red candy melts, with pink or white sprinkles on top. We'll wrap up the cake pops in cellophane, tie a red ribbon to seal it up, and attach a tiny valentine card to the ribbon. You can also bake cookies or brownies, and package them individually. Cute and sweet, what else do you need?



* Order personalized valentine's cards. This year I've seen an explosion of online stationary companies offering personalized kids' valentines -- but I'm sticking to my favorite, Tiny Prints. They have some really adorable designs, and I can't understate the convenience of personalizing them with your child's name, especially if your child is in preschool and can't write his name very well yet, let alone write it 30 times. In any case, I think most of the designs work best for kids aged 7 and under anyway, and I'd probably save the valentine cards with photos for grandparents -- but there are a few designs that I know my 10 year-old daughter would love, particularly Love and Peace, Hogs and Kisses (pigs are her favorite!) and Etch a Heart (great to give to the boys in her class because it's not girly and it doesn't have a mushy message).

Disclaimer: I will be receiving free Valentine cards courtesy of Tiny Prints as a thank-you for writing this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.



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All you need to know about eyeglasses from Zeiss

People ask why I don't get contact lenses, and for the most part I tell them that I can't be bothered with cleaning them, sticking them in my eye, worrying about getting them in the right position and all that. I've tried contacts, and they just don't work for me. Actually, I have been meaning to get myself some disposable contact lenses for occasional use, but I still intend to use glasses most of the time. I've worn glasses since I was eighteen, and worn them full time since I was twenty-eight; glasses are part of my face!

As I said, wearing glasses -- and consequently, picking them, getting tested for them and understanding all my options -- is almost second nature to me. But if you are just starting to realize you need glasses, or if your child's pediatrician has told you that he or she probably needs glasses, the process and the choices can be overwhelming. Fortunately there are resources you can utilize to learn more, such as the Zeiss Better Vision educational site. Here are some things you can learn using their educational tools:

* Learn about vision and vision problems
* Learn tips for finding the right eye doctor
* Find an eye doctor in your local area
* Learn what to expect at your eye care appointment, and what to ask your doctor
* Learn about different types of lenses and frames
* Learn about eyeglasses for children

It's a great resource, and it's free, check it out!

Disclosure: Thanks to Zeiss (via MomSelect) for providing a gift card and lens cleaning kit as a thank-you for posting this information. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Introducing Tea's Bali collection

Like a fresh breath of spring air, Tea Collection's new Bali line for boys and girls has arrived! The new collection is full of bold designs and bright colors that make me feel like I'm back home in the Philippines. Here are some of my favorites:

Green is 3Po's favorite color, so this alligator shirt is a no-brainer. He lives the winter out in short sleeves, so this shirt works year-round.

Sturdy blue jeans go with anything!

When gale-force winds blow, 3Po finally does get chilled -- but he won't wear a heavy jacket (the kid has lava for blood!), so he can put this cute lime shirt on top of the alligator tee and still look cool.

For girls, I'm loving this Lotus Batik Knot Dress, with the stylish cross-wrap front that Tea Collection is famous for, but Tea has given it a small (and literal!) twist at the waistband. The batik print looks so feminine, yet sassy!

Don't forget leggings to go underneath. Your girl can wear these capri-length leggings with some high boots so she stays warm during the winter months, then wear them with sandals in the spring and summer.

A beautiful magenta colored hoodie finishes the outfit off to perfection.

Hang on, why do I need to put together my own Tea outfits when they can do it for you? This Magnolia Batik 6-piece set has everything your daughter needs to mix and match for spring!

Check out the new Batik collection at Tea's online store -- and if you don't find the size you want, be patient, because they are gradually adding sizes for every product! They'll be fully stocked up by tomorrow, so you can order to your heart's content.

Disclosure: I did not receive samples or monetary compensation for this post. 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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Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks review and giveaway

We ate out a lot in December, and we're still feeling the effects on our waistline and our wallets, so for the month of January Alfie and I have resolved to eat at home -- no restaurants, no takeouts -- for the entire month of February. For me, that also includes packing the kids' lunches every single day, no getting lazy and sending them money for cafeteria food! Thank goodness for single-serve snack packs that I can put in their lunchboxes for a sweet treat. New to the snack world is Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks, and my kids are loving them, thanks to the samples that Ocean Spray sent us through MyBlogSpark. Keep reading to find out more about Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks (and enter to win some for yourself!)

The Basics
So you want a snack your kids will love and that you can feel good about? With new Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks, you need not look any further! Available in two delicious varieties, Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks provide kids with the great tasting snacks they crave and parents with the confidence that they come from a good place. Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks are Made with real fruit juice and natural colors and flavors. 80 calories, gluten free and contain 100% of the Daily Value of Vitamin C. Available with year round Double Box Tops.




For more information, go to
Ocean Spray’s® Website: http://bit.ly/OceanSprayFS
Ocean Spray’s® Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/OceanSprayFBFS

The Bongga
Here's what I love about Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks
* They taste great!

* They're individually packed so it's easy to throw them into lunchboxes or take them on car trips.

* The serving size is not too big -- about 8 pieces and 80 calories -- so you can control the portions you give to your kids

* They're gluten free so even kids who require a gluten-free diet can enjoy it.


The Blah
While I applaud the real fruit juice they use to flavor these snacks (apple, pear, and cranberry juice concentrate), corn syrup and sugar and corn starch are also used. I think they are great, but they should be classified as a treat and should be given to children as such.

The Bottom Line
Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks are a convenient, yummy on-the-go treat for on-the-go families.


Save $1.10 on two boxes of Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks
Click here to download a coupon for $1.10 off any two boxes of Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks, any variety.



Win a case of Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks
Four lucky Bonggamom Finds readers will each win a case of Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks! That's 6 boxes (3 of each variety) for each winner!


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which variety of new Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks is your family most excited to try? -OR- tell me which of your favorite fruit flavors would you like to see Ocean Spray® Fruit Snacks come out with next?

This entry must be completed before any extra entries will count.


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

1) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger (1 entry)

2) Blog about this giveaway, making sure you include a link to the giveaway in your blog post (1 entry).

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Ocean Spray giveaway! http://bit.ly/ztxbCq

4) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day): @bonggafinds is giving away Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks -- 4 winners, 6 boxes each! Enter by 1/27 at http://bit.ly/ztxbCq #MyBlogSpark



The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on January 27, 2012; I will draw a winner at random on January 28 and post his/her name after she/he confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!


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.

Disclosure: Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks, information (indicated in italics), and giveaway have been provided by Ocean Spray® through MyBlogSpark. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Ana's Doll Clothes

Now that The Pea has a new American Girl doll (McKenna, GOTY 2012), she wants new doll clothes. She especially wants nighttime wear so her dolls can have a sleepover. I'm loving the nighttime wear from online 18" doll clothes retailer Ana's Doll Clothes, and not just because of the name :) There are some really cute doll clothes here! Check out these Brown Cupcake PJs:


and these Pink Scotty Dog PJs:



So adorable! I also like the beautiful beds, furniture and accessories on Ana's website; they are an affordable option to American Girl furniture and accessories. Check out her website at anasdollclothes.com and use the code bonggamom to get 15% off your order of $25 or more! This code expires January 20, 2012 so use it quickly.

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. The coupon code was provided to me by Ana's Doll Clothes and I am not responsible for the validity of the coupon or associated discount. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Veggie Tales DVD giveaway

When it comes to veggies, nothing but the freshest will do -- and that includes Veggie Tales! These funny, silly vegetables with hearts of gold (and artichoke!) are greeting 2012 with some fun new titles, including God Loves You Very Much, which was released last week, and If I Sang a Silly Song, which debuts on Feb 7, 2012. Here's a synopsis of both titles:



VeggieTales: God Loves You Very Much
"Does He Love Me?” is the question the Veggie Kids ask Larry and the answer is found through a fun trip of song and rhyme that gives the answer -- God loves you very much! Join Larry, Bob, Junior, Laura and their pals as they recount all the ways that God shows kids he loves them even when "they forget to blow their nose, or dirty up their clothes!" This new compilation features stories that show uniquely how God cares for us in all kinds of situations! With the classic VeggieTales episodes, kids also learn valuable lessons around love, including Gideon: Tuba Warrior (Trust), The Ballad of Little Joe (Facing Hardship) and Rack, Shack & Benny (Peer Pressure).




Veggie Tales: If I Sang a Silly Song
VeggieTales Silly Songs! Larry the Cucumber hosts “The Silly Song Telethon” and counts down the top favorite silly songs of all-time... voted for by the fans!! The fun continues with a surprise introduction of a never-before-seen, new Silly Song chosen by Larry the Cucumber from thousands of fan submissions!

Win a Veggie Tales DVD set
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a copy of VeggieTales: God Loves You Very Much and VeggieTales: If I Sang A Silly Song!


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share your favorite Veggie Tales character. This entry must be completed before any extra entries will count.

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

1) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger (1 entry)

2) Blog about this giveaway, making sure you include a link to the giveaway in your blog post (1 entry).

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Veggie Tales giveaway! http://bit.ly/ztxbCq

4) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day): @bonggafinds is giving away a set of Veggie Tales DVDs! Enter by 1/21 at http://bit.ly/ztxbCq




The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on January 21, 2012; I will draw a winner at random on January 22 and post his/her name after she/he confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

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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Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- list your giveaways here

Ooooh, Friday the 13th. Better avoid those ladders and black cats today. But there's no reason to avoid entering giveaways. As long as you don't have to buy anything to enter the giveaway, what have you got to lose? You know what they say about the number 13 at the Bingo halls: Unlucky for some....

Today might be your lucky day, but you'll never know unless you enter a giveaway. So use the list below and get cracking!

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Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- list your giveaways here

Bonggamom's Friday Finds is back for 2012! It's such a wonderful feeling to have 52 whole weeks of giveaways stretched out in front of us. I'm sure many of you have already hit the New Year running, with some awesome giveaways for your readers -- so please feel free to leave your links here in the hopes that even more people will find your giveaways and your blog. The more, the merrier, right? And if you love joining giveaways, 2012 might be your lucky year -- with so many giveaways, it's bound to be! Just click on the links below to enter.

Once again, Happy New Year, and may 2012 be filled with even more of the Bestest Giveaways Around the Blogosphere!

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Meet McKenna, American Girl of the Year 2012

What a great way to start the New Year -- with a post (my first for 2012!) about American Girl's 2012 Girl of the Year, McKenna! Last week I blogged about McKenna's inspiring story, and today I'm blogging about the McKenna herself. Here are some photos of the McKenna doll that American Girl sent us to review:

Here she is, the Girl of the Year. Isn't she pretty?

In this closeup photo, McKenna's hair looks brown, but it's actually a dark blonde / caramel color. It falls straight down to her waist (which I really like because it's easy for girls to style, and it doesn't get too messy). Her eyes are an intense blue, almost turquoise. The Pea thinks she looks like Marie-Grace, the historical American Girl doll that was introduced last year. Marie-Grace has brown hair and eyes but I guess they used the same face mold.


McKenna comes in a teal, grey and lavender outfit. I love her striped tunic, and would love to get one for The Pea, but I'm not a fan of how the stripes don't match up, so I think I'll pass. I think the swirly ribbon logos on McKenna's leggings and underwear -- it's such a small touch, but it makes everything unique and special.


The Pea's favorite part of McKenna's outfit is her shoes. They are lavender patent leather Mary Janes with teal satin elastic bands. They even have textured gripping soles! I think they suit McKenna's personality perfectly -- very active and athletic, but sweet and girly at the same time.

We don't have any of McKenna's other outfits or accessories (yet), but if anyone is eager for more photos of McKenna, just leave a comment on this post, and I'll be happy to take them!

Disclosure: I received a McKenna doll for review purposes. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- list your giveaways here

Welcome to the final edition of Bonggamom's Friday Finds for 2011. It has been a pleasure hosting this linky and seeing the traffic to your giveaways grow. Man, you all have such awesome prizes, you make it so easy for me and everyone else to find giveaways to enter! I hope you'll keep coming back here every Friday, both to leave links and to use links.

Today also happens to be my sons' birthday -- 3Po and Jammy are now eight years old! I hope you'll join me in celebrating their birthday by leaving a link to a giveaway, or clicking on a giveaway link. They're celebrating the birthday, but you get the prize!

Happy New Year, and may 2012 be filled with even more of the Bestest Giveaways Around the Blogosphere!

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