Princess Party Giveaways at 3KidsandUs

Hey moms of princesses (that would make us queens, right?): 3 Kids and Us is hosting a great Princess Party Giveaway Bash from February 24 till March 17th. You can win some of the best birthday products on the market for your own little princess’s upcoming birthday party. Prizes include a Wilton Party pack, Popcorn Factory party pack, Betty Crocker party pack, Dilly Giggles lip gloss, Things Remembered water globe, and more.

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

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Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- The Bestest Giveaways Around the Blogosphere

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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Zhu Zhu Pets game for Nintendo DS

I just heard that Zhu Zhu Pets, one of my kids' favorite furry friends, are going to be the stars of their very own Nintendo DS game! They'll be able to care for and play with virtual Zhu Zhu pets -- race them down mazes, collecting carrots, coins and friends. It sounds like something my kids are really going to enjoy.

Even better, the initial game release will come packaged with Baxter, an exclusive Zhu Zhu pet hamster baby. It's going to be a Collector's Edition -- limited quantities, and once it's gone, it's gone. The Zhu Zhu Pets Special Edition game for Nintendo DS will be available at the end of March 2010. Watch out for it!

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

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Win a TCM 31 Days of Oscar Party Pack!

There are only 10 days left until everybody's favorite awards show, the Oscars, and I'm sure all the actors are actresses are busy trying on their gown and subsisting on cigarettes and air so they can fit into them. But more importantly, are you ready? You've got 10 days to join (or create) your office Oscar-winner-picking pool, plan your Oscar-viewing party, and watch some Oscar films!

To celebrate the Oscars, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) has been hosting a month-long "31 Days of Oscar" festival, which features 360 Academy Award-nominated and winning movies. To make things more fun, each movies they're showing is linked to the next movie in the lineup through a shared actor or actress. For example, tonight's 8PM movie is "The Diary of Anne Frank" with Richard Beymer and Shelley Winters, the 11:15PM movies is "Alfie" with Shelley Winters and Denholm Elliott, the 1:15AM movie is "A Room with a View" with Denholm Elliott and Judi Dench, and so on.

Figuring out the links a la "Six Degrees of Separation" (or even better, "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon", since the series starts and ends with a movie starring Kevin Bacon) might just keep you glued to the tv until Oscar night. Best of all, it's all uncut and commercial-free, which means you get to see all the good bits that those corny old censors have decided are too much for your delicate sensibilities, and you don't have to see lame car commercials that last longer than the movie itself.

You can find the complete 31 Days of Oscar schedule on their website. Happy viewing!


Win It!
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a 31 Days of Oscar Party Pack courtesy of TCM. It has everything you need for your very own movie night, including popcorn, candy, a martini shaker, coasters and more!


Required Entry
Visit the TCM 31 Days of Oscar website, then come back here and leave a comment saying which movie in their lineup you would most like to watch.




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

1) Leave a comment on this post and tell me your pick for best picture of 2009 (click here for the nominees!)

2) Become a fan of Bonggamom Finds on Facebook (leave a comment with your FB id).


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


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

Win an Oscar Prize Pack from @bonggafinds and @tcm http://tinyurl.com/yhwn5fg

Maximum of5 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on March 7, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on March 8 and post the winner's name as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclaimer: I will be receiving an Oscar Party Pack courtesy of TCM. I did not receive monetary compensation for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Sushi Socks review and giveaway

Win this adorable baby gift item! Keep reading below for details

Everyone knows that babies' toes are the most kissable things on earth: now here's a bunch of socks that look just as delectable as the baby toes inside them. I was recently sent a box of these yummy "treats" -- a pack of Baby Sushi Socks by AJ Wrappers -- to review. Here's what I thought of them:

The Basics
AJ Wrappers makes personalized candy wrappers, party favors, and gift buckets, as well as a wide variety of gift items for weddings, anniversaries and baby showers. Their Baby Sushi Socks is one of their top selling items. Each gift pack has six pairs of baby socks rolled up to look like pieces of sushi, packed into a takeout sushi box.



According to AJ Wrappers, here are some great reasons to buy their products:
1) Great products -- products can be personalized, with no limits to the design, and you can coordinate matching items
2) Great service -- AJ Wrappers is focused on providing high-quality service and customer satisfaction. They'll even work with you personally on custom orders, just contact Alice@ajwrappers.com
3) Great prices -- affordable, with no hidden photo fees or design fees
4) Great experience -- AJ Wrappers is a successful family-owned business and an approved vendor for Sarasota and Manatee County Schools


The Bongga
I'm not surprised that the Baby Sushi Socks are bestsellers: they are so unique, and you don't have to like sushi to enjoy these delectable little morsels of cuteness. It's really all in the presentation, and these look just like traditional tekka maki. The socks are wrapped in strips of black felt the way sushi is rolled up in strips of nori, and they're topped with tiny squares of red felt to make it look like the tuna in the middle. The accompanying chopsticks are a nice finishing touch, another example of the fine attention to detail.


(By the way, you've got to check out the AJ Wrappers blog for photos of their other products. You get a good overview of all the cuteness they have to offer!)

The Blah

At first I was disappointed that the only sock size offered is 0-6 months, and they are so small (check out how tiny the sock looks in my hand! And no, my hand is not yeti-sized!) I felt the baby would only be able to use them for a month or two. But the owners of AJ Wrappers informed me that you can actually email and request a larger size -- and clients have done so in the past -- so really, the only thing these Baby Sushi Socks need is a side of radish and wasabi!


The Bottom Line
A pack of Baby Sushi Socks is a unique, hip baby gift that's also practical and affordable. Anyone who gives a mom-to-be one of these will be the talk of the baby shower!

Win It!
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a set of Baby Sushi Socks from AJ Wrappers! The winner can choose from a set of socks in boy or girl themed colors. Here's how to enter:


Required Entry
Follow @ajwrappers on Twitter AND tweet out the following:

@ajwrappers I just joined the Sushi Socks giveaway on @bonggafinds -- I want to win a Sushi Socks set for boys! http://tinyurl.com/yazttrr

(substitute the word "girls" for "boys" if you want a girl-themed set!)

Then come back here and leave a comment with a link to your tweet.

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

1) Purchase an item from AJ Wrappers, then come back here and leave the email address you used to purchase your item. This is worth 5 extra entries!!! If you do this, please leave 5 extra comments in the comments section.

2) Go to AJ Wrappers, then come back here and leave a comment telling me which product (other than the Baby Sushi Socks) you would most like to give or receive.

3) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates by email (leave a comment with your email address).

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

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

6) Become a fan of AJ Wrappers on Facebook (leave a comment with your Facebook user name).


Maximum of 6 entries per person without extra entry #1 (purchase an item from AJWrappers), maximum of 11 entries per person with extra entry #1. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on March 9, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on March 10 and post the winner's name as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclaimer: I received a sample in order to review this product, but no monetary compensation. Unless clearly stated and quoted, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Wicked the Musical

On Wednesday night The Pea and I had a real treat: we went for a Girls Night Out in San Francisco to watch Steven Schwartz's smash hit, the musical Wicked, which is playing in San Francisco's Orpheum Theatre. I knew I would have a marvelous time, but I was a bit nervous about taking The Pea along, since she's at the lower end of the age recommendation for children (ages 8 and up), and she has always been a cryer at movies and plays. But I needn't have worried, she laughed at all the funny parts, cried at all the sad parts and enjoyed it as much as I did.

The Basics
Wicked the Musical is based on author Gregory Maguire's novel, which is sort of a prequel to L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz. It tells of how the witches of Oz, Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West, became who they are. The show features the music and lyrics of Stephen Schwartz and the book fo Winnie Holzman. It has been one of Broadway's higest grossing shows for four years, with shows in New York, London, Chicago, Los Angeles, Japan and Germany (as well as a touring show). Wicked is now back in San Francisco, the city where it made its pre-Broadway world premiere in 2003, for an extended run.

The Bongga
Wow..... what can I say, except... that show was Wicked. I'm not surprised it's such a Blockbuster hit! It was real first class Broadway production, and I loved everything about it -- the music, the scenery, the costumes, the actors.

But most of all, I loved the story, which is funny and touching and eye-opening all at the same time. I'm going to have to read Gregory McGuire's novel now! Who would have thought that Oz's Wicked Witch of the West was not actually wicked -- that she was, in fact, just an animal rights activist who was the victim of a smear campaign! From the very beginning the audience's heart goes out to Alphaba (yes, the Wicked Witch has a name) as she enters school, singled out and made fun of because of her green skin. I quite like this "other side" to the Wicked Witch! And I'm hoping The Pea left the show with some really meaty thoughts of her own: how there are always two sides to a story, how the way history is portrayed is dependent on who's doing the writing, how easily people can be misled, and how important it is to stick to your convictions -- and to your friends.

The Blah
There isn't really anything I disliked about the musical itself, but have a feeling that having 2pm matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays might encourage people to let their younger children watch the show. The age recommendation is 8 and up, and children under 5 are not allowed in the theater, but I would strongly discourage parents from taking their 5 and 6 year olds. Yes, a lot of it is light and funny, but there are so many mature themes (extramarital affairs, racial discrimination, treachery) that are difficult to gloss over because they're presented in such a frank way. There are also scary scenes and characters (the Winged Monkeys, the fire-breathing dragon, the fiery fake talking Oz head) that might be difficult to banish from overactive young imaginations.

The Bottom Line
Wicked is solid entertainment: talented actors, lavish costumes, superb special effects, amazing music and a story that gets you thinking long after the show has ended.


Show information
Wicked at the Orpheum Theatre
1192 Market St. (at 8th St.), San Francisco CA 94102

Tuesdays at 8:00pm
Wednesdays at 2:00pm and 8:00pm
Thursdays at 8:00pm
Fridays at 8:00pm
Saturdays at 2:00pm and 8:00pm
Sundays at 8:00pm

Running time is 2 hours and 30 minutes, with 15 minute intermission.
Recommended age for children is 8 and up.
No children under 5 permitted. No one will be admitted without a ticket.

The show has no end date as of this time; tickets are being sold through March 27.

Disclaimer: I received complimentary tickets to this event, courtesy of Wicked, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Photo Card Creations Giveaway

Online photo cards retailer Photo Card Creations has just launched their new and improved website, with hundreds of new card designs -- and to celebrate, they are offering Bonggamom Finds readers a great discount and a giveaway! I have not tried their site out or seen samples of their work, but from what I can see on their website their card designs look chic and elegant.


Here is an "About Us" description from Photo Card Creations:
Photo Card Creations is a leading online retailer of premium custom photo cards, announcements & invitations. We specialize in wedding, baby & holiday cards. We love paper & we love photos…..and we love creating cards with photos of your special memories! We are passionate about providing exceptional quality products & customer service. Our cards are designed using current trends by talented graphic artists who will work with you to customize your cards to reflect your own personal style. We have hundreds of Card Designs & Paper Types for you to choose from, many of which will be hard to find elsewhere. Our cards are printed on the highest quality paper using leading edge printing technologies. Our new & improved website makes it easy for you to search for your favorite card & our user friendly Ordering System & Fast Turnaround make ordering your cards quick & easy! From Invitations & Announcements to Thank You Cards (and everything in between) let us help make your special occasion even more special!


Get 25 Free Cards!
Photo Card Creations would like to offer Bonggamom Finds readers 25 FREE CARDS when they purchase 75 or more custom photo cards. This promotion is ongoing and can be used more than once. However, it cannot be combined with any other promotions. Enter "25FLINK" in the "Promo Code" field on the Checkout Page to receive your discount.


Win It!
Photo Card Creations is generously providing one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader with a $50 Coupon towards the purchase of ANY of their cards. The coupon can be used once towards the purchase of 75 or more cards & cannot be combined with any other promotions.



Required Entry
Since they’ve just launch their new & improved website with hundreds of new card designs, they’d LOVE your feedback -- so to enter this giveaway, leave a comment on this post and tell us:

* why you'd like to win the certificate
* which Photo Card Creations card style is your favorite (personally, I love their Circles of Fun Designer thank-you card, because it would make a perfect card for the kids to write their thank-you notes on)

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

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

2) Become a fan of Bonggamom Finds on Facebook (leave a comment with your FB id).

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

Win a $50 Photo Card Creations certificate from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/y9xsmqv

Maximum of 4 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on March 5, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on March 6 and post the winner's name as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

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

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Just One More Step....

Hi Bonggamom Finds readers,

I've been getting quite a few spam comments recently, so I've decided to turn on Word Verification for all comments to this blog -- which means you'll need to type in those often hard-to-decipher, and always annoying, groups of random letters before you can post a comment. I realize it's an inconvenient extra step (I have an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering so no one likes wasted motions more than I do) but I'm hoping it will reduce the spam comments that have been popping up like daisies. Thanks for understanding!

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Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- The Bestest Giveaways Around the Blogosphere

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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Miracle in Sumatra: The Story of Gutsy Gus review and giveaway

I love children's books that focus on conservation of the environment, teach global awareness, and teach them about endangered animals. Recently I was sent a review copy of “Miracle in Sumatra: The Story of Gutsy Gus” (Ovation Books, October 2009, 978-0-9814534-6-0); here's what I thought of it:

The Basics
Here's a summary from the publisher:
In “Miracle in Sumatra,” author Jeanne McNaney follows Gus, a young orangutan as he discovers his parents have been trapped by hunters who have come to Sumatra to hunt the orangutan. With the help of his friends, Maya, a little girl, and Gabriella, the guardian of the jungle, Gus sets out to save his parents and teach the trappers about the importance of their natural habitat in Sumatra.

The Bongga
Any book that brings attention to the plight of endangered animals and teaches children about the importance of global conservation is welcome in our home! The gorgeous cover illustration and the fun, colorful comic-book illustrations inside really invite kids to pick this book and open it up. The story is long enough for older children (and there's enough action and suspense to keep them entertained), but the simple language makes it appropriate even for younger readers. Also, I think even young children will be able to relate to the plight of Gus and Maya; my kids certainly did. More importantly, I'm hoping they will find inspiration in Maya's actions and realize they are not too young to speak up and make a difference.

The Blah
I don't mind having angels in the story, especially since Gabriella, the angel, looks more like a Balinese princess than a biblical seraphim, but the constant reference to doing God's Will is sure to turn off parents who are not of the Christian faith -- which is a real pity, because I think eco-responsibility is a moral value that transcends any one religion, and the story would have just as powerful without any religious undertones.

The Bottom Line
If you don't mind the religious references, this is a good book to reinforce the message of global awareness, conservation, and the power of one person to make a difference.


Win It!
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a copy of "Miracle in Sumatra: The Story of Gutsy Gus". To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me which endangered animal is closest to your heart.

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

1) Become a fan of Bonggamom Finds on Facebook (leave a comment with your FB id).

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

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

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

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

Win a copy of "Miracle in Sumatra" from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/ybtngne

Maximum of 6 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on March 4, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on March 5 and post the winner's name as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclaimer: . I received a review copy of the book in order to review it, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Yo-Yo Ma's Songs of Joy and Peace

It's the middle of February -- so why, do you ask, am I reviewing a holiday cd? Three reasons, actually:

1) The review cd that Sony Music sent me arrived while we were on holiday, so I didn't even get to open the package until we got back home in January;

2) Alfie hogged the cd for ages;

3) Neither of us realized it was a holiday album until we had listened to it a couple of times and it dawned on us that the untraditional, jazzy "Joy To the World" rendition by Yo Yo Ma and Dave Brubeck might not be a random holiday track stuck into an eclectic selection of songs.


Even though the winter holidays have come and gone, it's never to late to rave about an album like this one, so here's what I thought of Songs of Joy and Peace:

The Basics
Songs of Joy and Peace features cellist Yo-Yo Ma performing an eclectic collection of songs with guest artists ranging from trumpeteer Chris Botti to clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera to singer Diana Krall.

From Sony Music: Imagine a party, a musical party inspired by the holiday season. A party that celebrates the universal hopes, dreams and joy animating seasonal festivals the world over - Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid al-Adha, Kwanzaa, Yule and New Year's Day. That is what brought Yo-Yo Ma together with a remarkable group of friends - some old, some new - to create SONGS OF JOY & PEACE. It is Yo-Yo's hope that everyone who listens to this album will hear a song familiar, comfortable and beloved to them as well as discover and fall in love with music that is brand new.

The Bongga
This album is great! Yo-Yo Ma really chose his guest artists well, and the songs really showcase their instruments. Throughout each song, Yo-Yo Ma's cello weaves in and out, shifting from melody to harmony and back again, sounding as pure and sweet as a spring breeze (see, it's getting me all poetic). The album also comes with a DVD of several music videos and behind-the-scenes/the-making-of videos. Alfie and I enjoyed watching it and seeing how each track in the album came to life. They looked so relaxed and happy, jamming to the music! I'm really impressed by Yo-Yo's and his guest artists' amazing talent, and inspired by their obvious love for music.

The album contains a mix of jazz, Celtic, classical, rock, Latin, and pop styles. I love all the different arrangements of Donna Nobis Pacem, a chant I know well from my days of singing in a church choir, and hearing My Favorite Things always brings back childhood memories of watching The Sound of Music (and on a completely non-kiddie note, I love listening to the sexy notes of trumpeteer Chris Botti-whose-last-name-should-rhyme-with-Hottie), but I'd have to say my favorite track in the whole album is Yo Yo Ma's duet with James Taylor on the guitar, performing a really unique arrangement of Here Comes The Sun.

The Blah
Nope. Sorry. Can't think of anything to add to this section. The selection of songs is so varied that there is something for every taste. Even people who dislike classical music will have to give it a second chance -- and someone must agree with me because Songs of Joy and Peace won 2 Grammy awards this year, including Best Classical Crossover album!

The Bottom Line
Songs of Joy and Peace by master cellist Yo-Yo Ma and friends is a holiday cd that can be enjoyed any time of the year -- and boy, are we enjoying it!


Disclaimer: I received a cd in order to review this product, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Great Gift Ideas from PrintArtKids

If your kids are anything like mine, they come home with tons and tons of artwork -- and each one is their Special Favorite. Woe betide you should they catch you secretly putting some of it in the recycling bin! Thanks to the wonders of digital photography we've been able to capture their best works forever -- but what's the use of that if it's buried away forever on our hard drive?

Mom and entrepreneur Abbe Lunger has come up with a great solution: use your kids' artwork in note cards, note pads, and other gift items. She sent me a sample pack of PrintArtKids products to look at; here's what I thought of it:

The Basics
PrintArtKids.com turns your child's work of art into gift items that can be enjoyed over and over. Just upload a photo of your child's art, and use it to create a variety of products like notebooks, holiday cards, note pads, postcards, gift labels, return address labels and note cards.



The Bongga
Isn't this a great gift idea? Everybody hands out photo gift items but no one thinks of using their kids artwork; this is the first site I've seen that focuses on this specific niche. My favorite products were the note cards and postcards that had artwork on the front and a personalized message inside (or on the text area of the postcard) -- some even had a small photo of the young artists so that grandma and grandpa have a memento of what the kids looked like when they created their masterpieces.

Other great things: I like the fact that they use recycled paper and other earth-friendly materials, and I like how the images look on the products themselves -- although I was sent stock samples, not samples with photos of my own kids artwork, so I don't know whether the artwork on the products came from a photo that was taken by a professional photographer or by a mom with a point-and-shoot idiot camera (like mine). In any case, Abbe assures me that every order is personally inspected and you'll be contacted if there are any issues with image quality. She even help with correcting images (major rework will incur a small fee). Since this is a small business, you'll definitely receive personalized service!

Update: I've since learned that the owner of PrintArtKids, Abbe, photographed the majority of the artwork in the samples sent to me, using a Nikon D40 (a digital SLR) for the artwork and a Nikon Coolpix (a digital point-and-shoot) for the kids' photos. The rest of the artwork and photographs were uploaded by clients.

The Blah
I loved the note cards, postcards and notebooks -- they were printed nicely on thick, matte paper -- but unfortunately, I can't say the same about the quality of some of their other products. The return address labels and gift labels look like something I could have printed out on my own computer, using Avery labels purchased from my local office supply store. Also, if people already have an account on other photo sites like Shutterfly, Snapfish or Costco, they may be more inclined to upload the photo of their kids' artwork to that site and order from there -- which is why we need to give a shout out to this mom-owned, eco-friendly business!

The Bottom Line
I love PrintArtKids.com's unique focus on products made from kids' artwork. Their eco-friendly materials and personalized service set them apart from the usual photo sites!

Disclaimer: I received a stock sample in order to review this product, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Baby Bunch Review and Giveaway

When I find out that a friend is expecting, I usually like to give practical baby shower presents that she can use again and again. From my own experience, I know you can never have too many baby onesies, so I usually pick up a pack from Carter's or Gymboree and stick them into a gift bag. A bit bland, I know, but at least I know the new parents will get lots of use out of them.

I was recently invited by baby gift company The Baby Bunch to view their line of products, and as soon as I logged on to their website I could see just what my baby shower gifts were missing: Style and Oomph. I fell in love with their products just from visiting their website, but The Baby Bunch also kindly sent me a medium Baby Bunch so I could see for myself the unique presentation and quality of the clothes.


The Basics
The Baby Bunch sells baby gifts that are both practical and beautiful: soft, 100% cotton baby clothes arranged to look like a bunch of flowers or cupcakes or crayons or eggs. There are also organic cotton gift packages and gift packages for moms.


The Bongga
There are a bunch of reasons I've fallen in love with The Baby Bunch. For one thing, the onesies in the sample bouquet they sent me are so soft, and the shade of yellow is just perfect for a baby girl or boy. And the presentation is just amazing (in fact, The Baby Bunch has been featured on the Martha Stewart Show -- and you know, if it's good enough for Martha's Show you can bet it's a product that oozes style, cuteness and chic). I love all their products, but I think there's a special place in my heart for the Cupcake Onesies and Crayon Rompers -- they are absolutely adorable! Oh Baby Bunch, where were you when my own kids were babies?


The Blah
The price of the medium Baby Bunch is $59.95, which is honestly out of my budget -- but they are so dang cute, I still have to recommend it to people who can afford it! Besides, I really can't complain that they are too expensive, because The Baby Bunch has a bunch of options in the more affordable price range: there are delicious Lollipop Rompers for $9.95, yummy Cupcake Onesies or Cupcake PJ sets for $19.95, and delicate Nest Eggs for $19.95.


The Bottom Line
Practical presents combined with exquisite, unique packaging makes any Baby Bunch product a standout baby shower present!


Save!
Use code BUNCHGW10 to get a 15% discount on any Baby Bunch product, excluding the cost of shipping. Code will remain active until the end of March.



Also, enter code TWINS to get free shipping on two large bucket bunches (I knew there had to be some benefits to having twins!).


Win It!

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a free medium Baby Bunch gift box (valued at $59.95) in their choice of color (pink, blue or yellow). To enter, check out the other products on The Baby Bunch, then come back here and tell me which one you would love to receive as a baby shower present (or would love to gift to a new parent).


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

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

2) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates by email (leave a comment with your email address).

3) Become a fan of Bonggamom Finds on Facebook (leave a comment with your FB id).

4) Follow The Baby Bunch on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id).

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

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

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

Win a Baby Bunch Bouquet from @bonggafinds and @babybunch http://tinyurl.com/yj4mryb

Maximum of 8 entries per person. US mailing addresses only. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on March 3, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on March 4 and post the winner's name as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclaimer: I received a sample in order to review this product, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Celebrating love, friendship, athleticism.... and great pens

I love planning and hosting parties. I try to make each party special, but I'm not Martha Stewart; my gatherings are simple, with more emphasis on friends than fuss. But with all the day-to-day things that need to get done, most of my great party ideas are just that: ideas. Sometimes I need an extra little nudge -- and on Friday, MomSelect and PaperMate kindly provided it by inviting me to host a PaperMate Moms party to celebrate their new television commercial. It debuted during the Vancouver 2010 opening ceremony, and featured three of their latest products: the Gel Pen, the Designer Pen, and the Biodegradable Pen. For those of you who weren't able to watch the opening ceremonies or the PaperMate commercial, here it is:



I love the way they incorporated the winter sports into the commercial!


PaperMate also provided some great goody bags for me and my guests, featuring two of their new pens, the Gel Pen and the Biodegradable Pen, other PaperMate pens, a notepad, some recipe cards, and red paper hearts galore! All my friends loved the way the Gel Pens glided smoothly over the paper (one mom declared, "This is one pen I'm not lending to my kids because I don't want to lose it!") , and agreed it was high time someone came up with an eco-friendly pen.


We put those PaperMate Gel Pens to use write right away, copying down the recipe I found for the chocolate shortbread hearts I served during the party. The hearts theme fit perfectly for this party, since it's Valentine's Day weekend, and I love these girlfriends like my sisters. Besides, there are two red hearts in the PaperMate logo! It was such a fun way to celebrate our friendship: laughing and chatting with friends, eating chocolate, and leaving with a fun goody bag. Thanks, PaperMate and MomSelect -- and Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

Disclaimer: Thanks to PaperMate and MomSelect, I received sample products for goody bags, decorations and party ideas to aid in throwing this party. I did not receive monetary compensation for the party or post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Rethink What Matters and Win Bare Escentuals products!

Mineral makeup brand Bare Escentuals has launched a fun new campaign called Rethink What Matters, designed to get women to look beyond the skin deep, redefine beauty and get some honest conversations going on topics like going bare in public and what freedom really is.

Sound interesting? Stop by RethinkWhatMatters.com every Friday for a new discussion topic, answer a quiz, share with friends and have the chance to win free products. At the end of March, one lucky Grand Prize winner will win a trip of a lifetime to places like Paris, Costa Rica, Italy or Asia!

Win It!

This week's topic is Rethink the Need to Find Yourself, and to help get the conversation going, Bare Escentuals has generously offered to give away a RareMinerals Active Triple Treatment Eye Cream to one lucky reader! It's one of the latest products in the Bare Escentuals line, and it's infused with RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex to help diminish lines and wrinkles around the eyes. You can read more about The RareMinerals Eye Cream here.

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share what place or activity makes you feel most like you.

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

1) Take this week's quiz at RethinkWhatMatters.com and email me (bonggamom@yahoo.com) your results! Then leave a comment here telling me to watch out for your email.

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

3) Become a fan of Bonggamom Finds on Facebook (leave a comment with your FB id).

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

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

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

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

Win a Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Eye Cream from @bonggafinds and @bareescentuals http://tinyurl.com/ydtpwu3/ #rethinking

Maximum of 8 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on February 27; I will draw a winner at random on February 28 and post the winner's name as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

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

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Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- The Bestest Giveaways Around the Blogosphere

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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Buy your tickets now for Disney On Ice: Worlds of Fantasy

Hooray, Bay Area, Disney On Ice is back! We thoroughly enjoyed their Princess Classics ice show last October, and this February and March Disney on Ice will present another ice show, Worlds of Fantasy, at the HP Pavilion and Oracle Arena. We've been invited to attend opening night, and I'm really excited! I'm sure we can expect amazing skating, dazzling special effects and an extravagant production, just like the last show we watched. But unlike Princess Classics, Worlds of Fantasy has more of a gender-neutral mix of Disney characters -- Lightning McQueen and Mater from CARS, and Simba from the Lion King, as well as Ariel from The Little Mermaid and the fairies from Pixie Hollow -- so I suspect 3Po and Jammy won't be complaining about going to a "girly" show this time (even though they loved the Princess Classics show anyway!).


Save with a Special Offer!
Feld Entertainment is offering discounts for select tickets to Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy:

1) Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 for weekday shows (excluding Friday evening, VIP, FR)

*or*

2) Receive $4 off weekend tickets (excludes VIP/ FR)

To avail of this discount, phone 1-800-298-4200 or log onto http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/7qk2w7 and use the coupon code: MOM. The discount does not apply to front row or VIP seats, and facility charges, service fees and handling fees still apply.


Buy tickets now!
Opening night is still a couple of weeks away, but I wanted to post about the show early so everyone knows you can already buy tickets. Details for the Bay Area shows are below; if you don't live around here, go to www.disneyonice.com to check out the shows near you. I'm sure it will be great, but if you're still not sure, I'll be posting a review of the Worlds of Fantasy show after we see it on Feb. 24 -- so don't forget to check it out!

San Jose (HP Pavilion) Show Dates:
Wednesday, Feb. 24: 7:30pm
Thursday, Feb. 25: 7:30pm
Friday, Feb. 26: 10:30am, 7:30pm
Saturday, Feb 27: 11am, 3pm, 7pm
Sunday, Feb 28: 11am, 3pm, 7pm

Oakland (ORACLE Arena) Show Dates:
Wednesday, March 3: 7:30pm
Thursday, March 4: 7:30pm
Friday, March 5: 10:30am, 7:30pm
Saturday, March 6: 11am, 3pm, 7pm
Sunday, March 7: 11am, 3pm, 7pm

Disclaimer: I will be receiving complimentary tickets to attend the show on opening night. I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Jewelry by LuShae

Valentine's Day is getting closer, so it's that time of year when a woman's thoughts turn to.... jewelry. Yes, we love the dinners and the flowers and the candy and the cards, but there's nothing like the thrill of receiving a beautiful piece of jewelry to wear from the man you love. After all, the dinner and the candy end up on the hips, the flowers wilt and the cards get recycled -- but you can enjoy jewelry year after year! The people behind online jewelry retailer LuShae Jewelry recently invited me to choose an item from their collection to review -- what girl wouldn't say yes?! Here's what I thought of the pendant, and of their site:


The Basics
LuShae Jewelry specializes in authentic sterling silver jewelry with a wide range of precious and semi precious gemstones. They have a wide selection of earrings, pendants and rings in a variety of styles. Prices range from about $60 (sale prices) to $150.


The Bongga
There were several pieces that caught my eye, but I finally chose the Circle Journey Pendant to review, for a number of reasons:

* the five circles remind me of each of the five members of my family;
* it's a perfect match for my wedding and engagement rings, both of which are diamonds set in platinum bands;
* I had a feeling the long teardrop shape would look incredibly sexy dangling by the throat.

Online ordering was easy as pie, and to my delight, my pendant arrived less than a week after I ordered it! It arrived in a beautiful blue and white box that screamed -- no, whispered -- elegance. The pendant feels nice and solid, with a lovely silver shine that's not too bright, not too dull -- much, much more beautiful than I could have guessed from the online photo! Each of the five circles has a cubic zirconia set into it, which sparkles nicely against the sterling silver. Oh, and I was right; the pendant is the perfect way to draw attention to that feminine hollow between my collarbones. I'm so happy with this piece of jewelry and will be wearing it with pride for many, many years.


The Blah
The website does not match the quality of the jewelry, and its lack of polish and flair might turn some people off from ordering. It feels like it was designed and developed by amateurs: there's not much visual appeal, the photos don't do the real thing justice (at least that's what I thought in the case of my Circle Journey pendant, it was so much nicer than I was expecting!), there is no product search feature, and there isn't even a link to the home page! Also, I have to admit that I'm a bit confused about the branding: if the brand and site are called LuShae Designs, then why is the website URL www.jewelryart.designs.com, and why does is the "About" section headed "About Jewelry Art Designs"?

The Bottom Line
You can't tell from the website, but if the rest of the jewelry is anything like the Circle Journey pendant I received, LuShae Jewelry is definitely something any woman would want to receive for Valentine's Day, or any day.

Disclaimer: I received a sample product to review, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Bonggamom's Family Travel Tips

One of the social networks I belong to, TwitterMoms, is partnering with Alamo and launching a brand-new travel channel, featuring the best kind of travel experts there are -- real parents like you and me. To help get the content rolling, they're asking parents to share their "top ten" checklist full of tips for a fun, distraction-free family vacation. We had a great time vacationing over the holidays, so I thought I'd share some things Alfie, the kids and I did to have a good time:

1) Plan ahead. Planning is everything when you have kids, because they thrive on routine and familiarity.

2) Get input from everyone, even the kids. They'll feel more involved and excited if you ask them what they want to do (just make sure they know you get the final say!).

3) Prepare your kids. Let them know where you're going and what to expect. If you can get books or videos about the place you're going, even better.

4) Work some downtime into your schedule. After a morning filled with fun activities, everyone needs to rest and recharge, otherwise we'd end up with cranky kids and grownups. My kids love spending time in hotels, just chilling and watching tv, so it's the perfect time for Alfie and me to sneak in a nap!

5) Take snacks and drinks everywhere you go. Why? Because starving kids plus expensive restaurants equals no fun for parents. And starving kids plus no restaurants equals no fun for anyone.

6) Take books or puzzles or something to occupy children during the inevitable waiting times -- waiting at the airport, waiting in line, waiting at the restaurant, whatever.

7) If you have young children, don't forget to take along their favorite stuffed toy or blanket. Hotels can be cold, unfriendly places, and having something from home can help them get more comfortable at night.

8) Safety first -- keep reminding your kids that you're in a strange place, so they need to stick with you at all times. Make sure they all know your cell phone numbers (or if your kids are very young, use one of those safety bracelets or tattos with your cell phone number printed on them), and make sure they know what to do if they find themselves lost or separated from you.

9) Take lots of photos and pick up a souvenir or two so that your kids' memories will last way beyond the vacation. Souvenirs don't have to be too expensive -- my son's favorite souvenir of our beach vacation was a small shell that he picked up on the beach (he carries it every day to school in his lunchbox).

10) Try as much as possible to stick to your regular mealtime and bedtime schedules -- but don't get bent out of shape if it doesn't work out that way! Just relax and have fun, knowing that it's not important if you don't get to see every single sight in the guidebook or ride on every single ride at the amusement park. What's important is spending time together and enjoying being with each other!



Want to submit some travel tips of your own? Click here (you need to be a member of TwitterMoms) -- you might even win a $100 gas card!


Travel Tips for Moms & FamiliesReserve Now | Quicksilver | Online Check-in | Pre-pay & Save | Self-Service Kiosk

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

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CURLS Valentine's Giveaway

Hey, curly-haired cuties! Valentine's Day is coming up, and CURLS has some great Valentine's Day promo hair kits to help you look your best for V-Day and beyond:


Hugs, Kisses and CURLS Kit
This kit includes all four steps of the CURLS product line. Designed to keep your hair healthy and frizz free:
* Step 1-Cleanse with Curlicious Curls Cleansing Cream
* Step 2-Condition with Coconut Sublime Moisturizing Conditioner
* Step 3-Moisturize with Quenched Curls Moisturizer and
* Step 4-Style with Curls Milkshake



Pure Ecstasy and Champagne Curl Kit
Pamper your curls and send them into pure ecstasy:
* Start off with Pure Curls Clarifying Shampoo
* Turn up the heat with Ecstasy Hair Tea Conditioner
* Add the final touch with Champagne and Caviar Curl Elixir


Win It!
To celebrate Valentine's Day and the launch of their Valentine's Day promo kits, CURLS has generously offered to provide one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader with a bottle of Champagne & Caviar Curl Elixir, CURLS' latest finishing product.


If it's anything like their other products, it should be great! The Pea and I have tried and reviewed their Curly Q's girls hair care set and Curl Gel-les'c hair serum, and we love the fruity smells, the natural ingredients, and the way these products tame our frizzies. We have nothing but good things to say about CURLS products for curly, kinky and wavy hair.

Required Entry
Visit the CURLS website, then come back here and leave a comment telling me which CURLS product you'd like to try.

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


1) Become a fan of Bonggamom Finds on Facebook (leave a comment with your FB id).

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

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

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

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

Win a bottle of "Champagne and Caviar Curl Elixir" from CURLS and @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/yjbmql5

Maximum of 6 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on February 28, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on March 1 and post the winner's name as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

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

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Safeway / Fiber One Review and Giveaway

When I think of getting fiber in my diet, foods like brown rice, wheat bread, broccoli and beans come to mind. Oh, and cardboard. Thanks to MyBlogSpark, I recently received a coupon good for a free 4-pack of Fiber One Yogurt to try, as well as a $50 Safeway giftcard so I could stock up on Fiber One yogurt and other everyday values at Safeway (my favorite grocery store, so yay!) -- and let me tell you, this high-fiber yogurt does not taste like cardboard. Here's what I thought of it:

The Basics
Here's a description of the product from Yoplait, the maker of Fiber One Yogurt:
Fiber One is the only leading nonfat yogurt with 50 calories and 5 grams of fiber (20 percent of the Recommended Daily Value). It is also a good source of calcium and vitamins A and D, making this a guilt-free and all-around great choice for dieters and those watching their weights. Each cup includes the creamy, delicious taste you expect from Yoplait, and you don’t have to feel guilty about enjoying it. Fiber One is available in a variety of flavors including, Strawberry, Peach, Vanilla and Key Lime Pie


The Bongga
This yogurt is totally delicious! I love the Vanilla and Key Lime Pie flavors, which have just the right hint of sweetness. I'm impressed by how much fiber is in one of those little yogurt cups -- I could totally scarf 5 of these babies down and be done with my fiber for the day! And with just 50 calories and 0 grams of fat, it's a yummy snack or dessert that I can indulge in without feeling guilty.


The Blah
While I like the taste, I can't say the same for the texture. I'll admit this is a personal preference, since my tastes run towards the thick, creamy Greek yogurts or the thin, runny European yogurts, not the pudding-like consistency of most US yogurts that's somewhere between the other two.


The Bottom Line
Fiber One yogurt is a delicious way to get some fiber into your diet without packing in the calories and fat!


Save at Safeway!
From January 13th through February 9th, the Safeway family of stores has a special deal where you can purchase two 4-packs of Fiber One yogurt for only $4! Don't forget to visit your local Safeway (or Dominick’s, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Vons, or Genuardi’s) in the next couple of days to stock up on Fiber One and take advantage of the savings.


Win It!
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a $50 Safeway gift card courtesy of Safeway and Fiber One, via MyBlogSpark. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me how you get fiber in your daily diet.

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

1) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates by email (leave a comment with your email address).

2) Become a fan of Bonggamom Finds on Facebook (leave a comment with your FB id).

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

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

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

Win a $50 Safeway giftcard from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/yc88rzv

Maximum of 6 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on February 26, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on February 27 and post the winner's name as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclaimer: I received a VIP Fiber One coupon for a free pack of Fiber One yogurt, and a Safeway giftcard for my participation in this review program, as well as a Safeway giftcard to give away, courtesy of Safeway, Fiber One and MyBlogSpark. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Happy 75, Elvis!

It's hard to believe Elvis Presley would have been 75 years old had he been alive today. To me he'll always been the epitomy of youth, energy and charm (I prefer to think of Elvis during his hunky Jailhouse Rock Days, not the bloated caricature he eventually became) -- thank goodness his legacy lives on in his songs. When we came home from vacation last month we were delighted to find a review copy of Legacy Recordings' Elvis 75 - Good Rockin' Tonight, a 4-cd, 100-song collection of Elvis famous and not-so-famous recordings throughout his long and illustrious career.

From Legacy Recordings: Elvis 75 - Good Rockin' Tonight presents 100 songs, a broad collection of hit singles, deep album tracks, live performances, and rarities. The tracks appear in strict chronological order of recording dates over the course of Disc 1 (1953-1957), Disc 2 (1958-1962), Disc 3 (1963-1969), and Disc 4 (1970-1977). They range from the first demo acetate that Elvis made at the Memphis Recording Service of Sun Records as a gift for his mother in 1953 ("My Happiness"), to a sampling of Sun Records sides produced by Sam Phillips in 1954-55 ("That's All Right," "Blue Moon Of Kentucky," "Good Rockin' Tonight," and more), through 21 and a half years of RCA tracks, from 1956 to 1977

The sheer number of great songs that Elvis recorded is mind-boggling, and Elvis 75 is the perfect reminder of that. It includes not just his most famous songs, like Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, Love Me Tender, Are You Lonesome Tonight and other number one hits -- it also contains some of his lesser known songs like My Happiness or Polk Salad Annie (Alfie was so happy to see the collection included this song, because despite his extensive Elvis collection, he hasn't owned a recording of Polk Salad Annie since recordings were done on cassette tapes). I really am impressed by the wide range of styles he can sing in. If you've never heard Elvis sing gospel before, you're in for a treat. His renditions of Crying in the Chapel and How Great Thou Art send shivers down my spine! Of course, I was also happy to see my favorite Elvis songs -- Burning Love, Viva Las Vegas, Suspicious Minds and In the Ghetto -- had a place in the collection. My kids love listening to the cd's and I suspect we are breeding a whole new generation of Elvis fans here.


I won't bother with my usual Basics/Bongga/Blah format for this review, mainly because Alfie would disown me if I dared say anything negative about any Elvis songs. Not that I have anything against Elvis; on the contrary, I think he deserves his place in rock and roll history, and he's probably one of the most the talented musicians and performers of the 20th century. There really isn't anything bad to say about this collection -- it's beautifully boxed, the recording is great, and it would make a perfect present to celebrate The King's 75th year. And speaking of celebrations, 2010 is going to be one long party to celebrate Elvis' life and music -- the release of Elvis 75 is only the start! Check out www.elvis.com to see where the party's at!

Disclaimer: I received a sample in order to review this product, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Cirque du Soleil OVO

I remember well the first time I heard of Cirque du Soleil, about 15 years ago when my sister went to a performance and gushed, You've GOT to see it! A couple of years ago I finally got the chance, when Alfie and I watched Zumanity at New York New York, but the kids have never seen the show. A couple of nights ago we had the incredible opportunity to attend the opening night performance of Cirque du Soleil's OVO in San Jose, and I had the pleasure of seeing my kids' eyes light up for a couple of hours as Cirque du Soleil worked its magic.


The Basics
OVO is Cirque du Soleil's latest big top touring show, set in an insect-themed world. Here's a description of the show from Cirque du Soleil:

OVO is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. The insects’ home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion.

When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives.

It’s love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual.

OVO is overflowing with contrasts. The hidden, secret world at our feet is revealed as tender and torrid, noisy and quiet, peaceful and chaotic. And as the sun rises on a bright new day the vibrant cycle of insect life begins anew.

We weren't allowed to take photos or video during the performance, but you can catch a video preview of the performance by clicking on the link below:
http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/ovo/tickets/san-jose.aspx?icid=dropdown/ovo/San Jose


The Bongga
OVO features many circus acts that we've seen before, like foot jugglers, contortionists, trapeeze artists, acrobats, balancing acts. We've been suitably impressed and enjoyed those performances immensely. But Cirque du Soleil must get the best of the best, because the performers in OVO really took their acts one step further. The degree of difficulty was the highest I've seen, with more things to juggle, more somersaults, more twirls and whirls -- and more resulting gasps and ahhhhhhs. The talent is amaaaazing!

But as anyone who has watched a Cirque du Soleil show before can tell you, it isn't just about the circus acts. You don't just see a bunch of separate acts parading in to do their thing. Everything has been integrated into the insect theme, so instead of circus acts you get a single show: ants juggling bits of food, crickets climbing up a wall, a firefly playing with spools of light, a dragonfly balancing on a spinning leaf, spiders balancing on a web. A group of dancing insects help move the show from one act to the next, and the music ties everything together (by the way, I see now why they sell cd's of the performance music; I'm itching to buy the OVO music myself!) I'm so impressed by their attention to detail -- from the ushers with green lights that they shine like fireflies in the dark, to the juggling props painted to look like bits of food, down to the live band dressed like cockroaches, everything is designed to make the audience feel like they've been immersed in the world of insects. The whole thing was amazing, and I am sooooo glad that OVO got to be my kids' first Cirque du Soleil experience!


The Blah
I can't really find anything negative to say about the show, so I'll save my criticism for the high ticket prices, which keep Cirque du Soleil inaccessible to a great number of people. I can't really argue with what they charge, because it must take a lot of money to put up a show of this high quality, and you get what you pay for. Fortunately they do have some rare special offers, like the BOGO offer I'm describing below, which makes a performance of this caliber affordable to so many more people. Thanks so much for such a great discount, Cirque!


The Bottom Line
OVO is Cirque du Soleil at its best, combining catchy music, spectacular scenery, beautiful costumes and amazing acts for one showstopping performance.


Buy One Get One Free!
Cirque du Soleil has a sweet deal going until Valentine's Day: buy one ticket to select performances and get the second ticket free! Considering Cirque du Soleil shows run upwards of $100 per ticket, this is an incredible deal, so make sure you take advantage by going to

www.cirquedusoleil.com/valentines-Silicon


Win It!
The Silicon Valley Moms Blog is giving away two tickets to Cirque du Soleil's OVO performance on Valentine's Day in San Jose! If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, head on over to the SV Moms Blog giveaway post to enter -- and hurry, because the giveaway closes on Feb. 8!

Disclaimer: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post. I received complimentary tickets to the show courtesy of the Silicon Valley Moms Blog and Cirque du Soleil. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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"I'm Up in a Tree" book review and giveaway

Call me corny, but one of the things I look for in a children's book is a sound moral message. I don't necessarily mean that every children's book needs a happy ending or a "good little boys and girls get rewarded" message, just some kind of idea that kids can take away with them, some kind of reinforcement , however subliminal, that can build up their value system. I was recently sent a copy of Mark Alden Johnson's “I’m Up in a Tree” to review, and I think this is a book that definitely passes that test. Here's what I thought about the book:

The Basics
Here's what the publishers have to say about the book:
Told in a lyrical rhyming style, Mark Alden Johnson’s “I’m Up in a Tree” (Bridgeway Books, January 2010) follows a little boy who climbs a tree for fun, only to realize he is scared to get down. As he sits high in the branches, various creatures that live in the tree approach him and advise him on how to get his feet back on the ground. Birds tell him to fly out of the tree, bees suggest he jump from the branch and a cat proposes he climb down. It is up to the little boy to decide if he should heed their advice, or trust his instincts and wait for his dad to help him. “I’m Up in a Tree” is a fun way to teach kids early to resist peer pressure and make their own choices.

The Bongga
I wasn't too excited to open up this book (and the next section of my review explains why), but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed reading this story. Not being about to get down from a tree is a situation that any kid can imagine finding himself in, so it really held their interest. My kids enjoyed listening to the book, and since the rhyming patterns were so simple, we were able to make a game out of guessing the last word in every verse. The talking animals provided some nice fantasy, but also illustrated an important concept: that bad advice doesn't necessarily come from evil people, it could also come from well-meaning but misguided friends.

The Blah
Although the story was fabulous, the cartoonish, 2-D illustrations left me, well, flat. First impressions are everything, and although the book has a nice, hardbound feel, the cover illustration looks amateurish. With a good illustrator, I think the visual appeal could be improved tremendously!

The Bottom Line
"I'm Up in a Tree" is an easy read with an exciting story and a great message: that even young kids can be faced with situations where they need to make good choices.

Win It!
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a copy of "I'm up in a Tree". To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and share one tip you have for teaching financial responsibility to kids.

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


1) Become a fan of Bonggamom Finds on Facebook (leave a comment with your FB id).

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

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

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

Win a copy of "I'm Up in a Tree" from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/ydppzsr

Maximum of 5 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on February 23, 2009; I will draw a winner at random on February 24 and post the winner's name as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book to review, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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