Dearfoams slippers review and giveaway



All I want for Christmas is..... some nice, warm feet? I usually go around the house in my bare feet, but this winter has been pretty cold, and Alfie is tired of me putting my ice-cold feet on his lap to warm them up! Luckily Dearfoams sent me a pair of their boot slippers, so not only my feet, but also my calves, stay nice and toasty-warm all evening. Check them out:



They're nice and comfy, but you won't ever need to feel the urge to run away in shame when you answer the front door while you're wearing them. I love the outrageous leopard print -- these are definitely not your old granny's slippers!

The Pea loves them too; in fact, I've had to buy her her own pair of Dearfoams slippers so she'll leave mine alone -- her new Velour Clog Booties are on their way!



To celebrate the holidays, Dearfoams is giving away tons of slippers! They're giving away a pair every single week on Facebook, as well as a great Design A Slipper contest in conjunction with the movie Happy Feet 2. You could win Dearfoams slippers prize packs every week, or the grand prize of $1,000! Here's the scoop on these two promos:

Win a pair of Dearfoams weekly on Facebook
Each Monday Dearfoams features a Dearfoams style of the week, along with a chance to win a pair of slippers. To enter, “like” the Dearfoams Facebook page, click on the giveaway tab, and follow the simple directions to enter.

Win $1,000 from Dearfoams
Dearfoams and Happy Feet Two have created a fun contest for a chance to win a $1000 gift card or a Dearfoams and Happy Feet Two Prize Package. Show Dearfoams your happy feet and you could win! To enter, go to the Dearfoams Facebook page by December 2, click on the Design a Slipper contest tab, and start designing your slipper. Six weekly winners (one per week over the course of six weeks) will each receive a pair of Dearfoams slippers, one Dearfoams robe, one Happy Feet Two Soundtrack, and one Happy Feet DVD. One grand prize winner will receive $1,000!

Want more chances to win some nice, comfy slippers? Join my giveaway below.....

Win a pair of Dearfoams slippers on Bonggamom Finds

Two lucky Bonggamom Finds readers will each receive a pair of Dearfoams slippers! The winners can choose from any of these four designs:




Tall pile boot, in black or leopard print





Fuzzy pile scuff, in cheetah or black



Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which style of Dearfoams slippers is your favorite. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.

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

1) Grab my blog button and post it up on your blog (1 entry).

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

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Dearfoams giveaway! http://bit.ly/w40SUZ

4) Write this on the Dearfoams Facebook page (1 entry).
Bonggamom is giving away two pairs of Dearfoams slippers on her blog! Enter by 12/15 at http://bit.ly/w40SUZ

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

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

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

Win a pair of @dearfoams slippers (2 winners) on @bonggafinds http://bit.ly/w40SUZ #giveaways


The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on December 15 2011; I will draw a winner at random on December16 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a pair of Dearfoams slippers to facilitate a future review. I purchased an additional pair for my daughter. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Continue reading...

Introducing Holi-Day Out WithThomas



What true blue Thomas the Tank fan hasn't dreamed of riding the rails on the Island of Sodor? Now little engineers will get their chance, because Thomas is chugging into a train station near you! This December, families can ride on a rail car pulled by a real (okay, a 15-ton replica) Thomas the Tank Engine at the Holi-Day Out With Thomas event.

This August, we had the pleasure of attending Roaring Camp Railroad's Day Out With Thomas, and we had a blast -- so we know this event is going to be a real treat. Families from all over the Bay Area look forward to Day Out With Thomas every summer, and Holi-Day Out With Thomas is going to be even more special! This time, instead of going up Bear Mountain, Thomas will be traveling through Santa Cruz, starting and ending at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. They've got all kind of fun holiday activities planned, and with their Holi-Day Out With Thomas ticket, families even get to experience some of the most popular Boardwalk attractions -- namely, the Looff Carousel and the Boardwalk Arcade!

Here's more information about the event:

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Roaring Camp Railroads are pleased to announce a very special holiday event - Holiday Out With Thomas! This year's Holiday Out With Thomas marks the first time everyone's favorite Number 1 engine rolls into the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

$28.00 per person (ages 2 & up) -- Ticket price includes:
  • A twenty-five minute round-trip Thomas train ride departing from the Boardwalk featuring Santa and his elves, candy canes, holiday carols and a souvenir song book
  • A ride on the historic Boardwalk Carousel
  • Boardwalk attraction ticket good for choice of mini-golf, laser tag, or 12 arcade tokens
  • "Make and take" Thomas ornament
  • Photo opportunities with Sir Topham Hatt & Thomas the Tank Engine
  • Other fun activities including face painting, temporary tattoos, bounce houses, and activity tables

Holi-Day Out With Thomas runs every weekend from December 3-18. I would buy my tickets early if I were you, because you get to choose the train car you ride in, and the early-bird ticket buyers get to reserve seats in the cars nearest to Thomas the Tank engine!



Disclosure: I am receiving complimentary tickets to this event to facilitate a future review. Event information was taken from the event website and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Continue reading...

CoverYourHair.com for winter! (review and giveaway)


Although the long-held belief that body heat escapes faster through the head has been proven to be untrue, wearing a hat does keep you more comfortable in cold weather because the head, face and upper chest are more sensitive to sensations of cold. So I still tell my kids to wear hats when they walk to school, because it's cold and chilly, and they never wear much winter clothing to begin with. Besides, hats are such a great fashion statement!

Check out The Pea's latest winter accessory: a stylish knit cap from CoverYourHair.com. They invited us to check out their line of winter hats, and sent us this Cable Winter Pull-On Chaponne with Visor. The Pea chose to order it in lime green, because green is one of her favorite colors, and she happens to own a lime green pea coat in almost exactly the same shade.



I love the cable knit style, and the jaunty little buttons on either side of the visor that give it a nice accent. I'm kind of regretting giving her the hat, because it's a hat that actually fits me (I have a ginormous head and rarely fit into ladies' size hats) and my ski jacket also happens to have lime green accents. I guess I'll have to go back to CoverYourHair.com and get one of my own!


About CoverYourHair.com:
CoverYourHair.com sells all kinds of Head Accessories including crochet snoods, turbans, pony holders, studded clips, hair clips, bows, bridal hair accessories, wedding hair accessories and more. They come in all colors, designs and patterns! It's such a bright, cheerful website, and I love the variety and selection of products. They also have some great sales and specials.


Get 20% at CoverYourHair.com
Use promo code blog1231 to get 20% off your purchase at CoverYourHair.com! Promo code expires 12/31/11


Win a CoverYourHair.com Prize Pack
Just in time for winter, one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a $25 box of surprise Hair Accessories from CoverYourHair.com.



Required Entry
Visit http://www.CoverYourHair.com, then leave a comment on this post and tell me which of their Headbands or other Head Coverings you would love to have.


Extra Entries
1) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook fan page (1 entry):
I joined the CoverYourHair giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://bit.ly/sd9rp4

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger (1 entry)

3) Subscribe to CoverYourHair on StumbleUpon (1 entry).

4) Subscribe to CoverYourHair on YouTube (1 entry).

5) Follow the Cover Your Hair blog on Networked Blogs (1 entry).

6) Write this on the CoverYourHair Facebook Fan page (1 entry):
I entered your giveaway for a $25 surprise box of hair accessories on Bonggamom Finds! http://bit.ly/sd9rp4

7) Follow CoverYourHair on twitter AND tweet this up to once a day (1 extra entry per day -- leave a comment each time with a link to your tweet):

RT @bonggafinds Win a $25 box of hair accessories from @coveryourhair! http://bit.ly/sd9rp4#giveaway pls RT


The Rules
This giveaway ends at midnight PST on December 20, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on December 21 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US addresses 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. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Continue reading...

Watch The Muppets in Theatres




I grew up on The Muppet Show, but I never really enjoyed any of the Muppet movies that came out in the 80's and 90's. So when I heard last year that they were doing yet another Muppet movie, I was skeptical. Is it going to be really corny? Will they be able to capture the spirit of Kermit and Miss Piggy now that Jim Henson and Frank Oz are no longer doing the voices? Will Miss Piggy be donning another 80's afro hairstyle?

I'm happy to say that my fears were unfounded. The new Muppet Movie is the best of them all (with the possible exception of the original Muppet Movie)!

Here's a brief synopsis:
When Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan, and friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater, they help Kermit reunite the Muppets to stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater.

The movie does a great job taking old fans down memory lane, and it's great fun seeing what the Muppets are up to (Miss Piggy is the Paris Vogue editor, Gonzo is a toilet seat magnate, Animal is in anger therapy). The move does get corny at times, but it's deliberately corny; other times it is truly touching, and I had a hard time holding back a tear or two (while The Pea was sobbing unashamedly beside me).

As with all the Muppet Shows and Muppet Movies, there are tons of fun celebrity cameos; my favorites were Zach Galifianakis as Hobo Joe, Ken Jeong as the "Punch Teacher" Host, Jack Black as himself, Emily Blunt as Miss Piggy's receptionist and Mickey Rooney as a Smalltown USA resident.

The fun starts even before the movie does, with the hilarious Toy Story short, Small Fry (where Buzz Lightyear is kidnapped by a small fast food toy version of Buzz Lightyear), and continues after the movie ends; as the credits roll, moviegoers are treated to more celebrity cameos, set to everyone's favorite muppet song, Mahna Mahna!





Disclosure: I was invited to an advanced screening of The Muppets so I could write this review. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Continue reading...

Family Game Night Giveaway


When I was a kid, I was an avid follower of tv game shows like The Price Is Right, Family Feud and American Gladiators. My kids have no idea what those shows are, but they have their own favorite tv game show, namely Family Game Night. It's a show where families compete in life-sized versions of popular board games like Yahtzee, Bop It or Connect 4. They win fabulous prizes like trips to Disneyland, stereo systems, popcorn makers and more. It's my kids' dream to go on the show to compete and win!

To tell you the truth, I have no idea how to go about applying for the show, much less how to be good enough to actually get picked for the actual show and win prizes, but fortunately we're going to be able to enjoy all the fun of Family Game Night (minus the fabulous prizes) with EA Games' videogame version of the tv game show. They're sending us a copy of their latest version, Family Game Night 4 The Game Show, for the PS3 Move, and we can't wait to try it out!

About the game
Now you’re part of the action! In FAMILY GAME NIGHT 4 The Game Show, you can experience all the fun and excitement of the popular Hub Network TV show right in your own living room! This time you’re playing with larger-than-life pieces in re-imagined versions of your favorite Hasbro games. CONNECT 4 Basketball is more challenging than ever as you shoot hoops to score and YAHTZEE! Bowling puts a whole new spin on the popular dice game. You’ll also find fun new versions of SCRABBLE Flash, SORRY! Sliders, and BOP-IT Boptagon, and win MONOPOLY Crazy Cash, just like the game show! Use the motion-sensing technology of Kinect for Xbox 360 or PlayStation Move to turn your living room into a game board and compete to prove your family is the best!


If you're the kind who likes to try before you buy, you're in luck: EA Games has teamed up with Best Buy to bring a fun event to a store near you! Family Game Day will be held in Best Buy stores across the country. For example, the Best Buy at Santana Row in San Jose is hosting a Family Game Day. There will be a Wii, XBOX Kinect, and Playstation Move set up for people to test out each version of the game. Families will compete against one another in EA Games versions of classic Hasbro games, such as Sorry, Yahtzee, Life, and Scrabble, utilizing a variety of platforms, including console games, DLC games, Pogo, and mobile. The families will compete for prizes, with the possible grand prize being a gaming system. There will even be a balloon sculptor and hot dogs for the whole family!



About the San Jose event
Hello San Jose Families! To celebrate the launch of the new video game Family Game Night 4: The Game Show, EA and Best Buy are teaming up to present FAMILY GAME DAY! Bring the whole family to the Santana Row Best Buy at 3090 Stevens Creek Boulevard Sunday December 4th from Noon to 4pm, and play video game versions of your favorite HASBRO games like Connect 4 basketball and Scrabble Flash. Enter to win a fun-filled, family vacation or a new iPad 2 loaded with your favorite FAMILY GAME NIGHT games! For more information go to FACEBOOK.COM/EA PLAY. FAMILY GAME DAY, Sunday December 4th, Noon to 4pm at the Santana Row Best Buy.

If you don't live near San Jose, never fear: EA and Best Buy are hosting Family Game Days all around the country. Check EA's Facebook page to see all locations hosting the event.



Win a Family Game Night Gift Pack
To celebrate Family Game Day and the release of Family Game Night 4, EA Games is offering a fantastic gift pack to one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader! The gift pack includes:

* A copy of Family Game Night 4 for Wii, XBox or Playstation Move
* A Hasbro board game
* A deck of playing cards
* A t-shirt
* Silly putty

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me what kinds of games you and your family like to play together.

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

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger/Google Friend Connect (1 entry).

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Family Game Night giveaway! http://bit.ly/uOe7tg


4) Write this on the EA Play Facebook wall (1 entry):

I entered to win a Family Game Night 4 gift pack on Bonggamom Finds: http://bit.ly/uOe7tg

5) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day):

RT @bonggafinds Enter to win a gift pack fr @ea games featuring Family Game Night 4, Hasbro games and more! http://bit.ly/uOe7tg #FGN4

6) Tweet this, up to once per day, until December 3 (1 entry per day, max 4 entries):

RT @bonggafinds It's Family Game Day @ Best Buy on 12/4! Try the new #FGN4 game fr @ea, enjoy games & prizes! Locations: http://ow.ly/7I7zq



The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on December 10, 2011; I will draw 1 winner at random on December 11 and post the winner's name after he/she confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!


Want another chance to win? I'm giving away a second Family Game Night gift pack over on Finding Bonggamom (ends Dec. 17)!


Update: Here's another giveaway for a Family Game Night prize pack! Enter on Silicon Valley Mamas by midnight Dec. 7!



Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate a future product review, but have not been paid for this post or giveaway. Product and event information is provided by EA Games and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Continue reading...

Share the True Spirit of Christmas with the World Vision Gift Catalog (and a giveaway for you!)


"Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”

I have always loved this quote. Contributing to self-sufficiency programs is such a wonderful way of giving because it sets the beneficiaries up for the long term, empowers them to help themselves, and preserves their dignity. But I think there's one part missing: the man's going to need a net, otherwise he's going to come home empty handed. The world is full of bright, hardworking people who just can't get a leg up because they don't have the infrastructure or can't afford a small capital investment to get started.



Making donations in someone else's name as a holiday present is nothing new, but the World Vision Gift Catalog puts a personalized twist to it. You not making a cash donation, you're buying actual items like donkeys or fish. Who would want a stinky old animal? A poor family in Rwanda would -- that's where your gift goes, and that's where the real Christmas spirit lies. Your gift recipient gets a happy, warm feeling, and the physical gift actually benefits people around the world who truly need a holiday gift.

There is such a wide variety of gifts and causes in this catalog to suit anyone's tastes. You can choose a cause that's especially close to your gift recipient's heart. For example, I would really be touched if someone donated a couple of ducks in my name as a present, because they benefit families in the Philippines, where I'm from. Or you can tailor the gift to your recipient's tastes and personality. For example, as a present to someone who loves soccer, you could give soccer balls to poor children in Africa in their name.

Another option is to donate to their Maximum Impact Fund, which enables World Vision to answer specific, urgent needs of children and families that might otherwise go unmet. Donate in honor of a friend or loved one and they will receive a card explaining the impact of the donation -- as well as a meaningful present to enjoy! Depending on the level of your donation, you can choose from dozens of items, from handcrafted jewelry and accessories to toys, cds and books.

World Vision sent me the Artisan Multi-Colored Necklace, which is available with a $100 donation to the Maximum Impact Fund, and it is as pretty as pretty can be. It's a strand of semiprecious stones and glass beads that you can wear as a necklace, a bracelet or a belt -- just wrap it around whatever part of your body you want to accessorize, then tie the ends together in a loose knot.



What a great win-win situation: you can give a meaningful and affordable gift for a loved one, and you can help make a difference in the lives of children and families living in poverty in the U.S. and around the world!


Win an Artisan Necklace from World Vision
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive the Artisan Multi-Colored Necklace from the World Vision Gift Catalog!


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me how you and your family like to spread the true spirit of the holidays, or how you teach your children about the true meaning of the holidays.

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

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger/Google Friend Connect (1 entry).

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the World Vision Catalog giveaway! http://bit.ly/rOU3OU

4) Write this on the True Spirit of Christmas Facebook wall (1 entry):

Help spread The True Spirit of Christmas, and you could win a beautiful artisan necklace from the World Vision Gift Catalog! Enter by 12/15 on Bonggamom Finds: http://bit.ly/rOU3OU

5) Write this on the World Vision Facebook wall (1 entry):

Help spread The True Spirit of Christmas, and you could win a beautiful artisan necklace from the World Vision Gift Catalog! Enter by 12/15 on Bonggamom Finds: http://bit.ly/rOU3OU

6) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day):

RT @bonggafinds Help spread The True Spirit of Christmas & u could win a beautiful artisan necklace fr @WorldVisionUSA http://bit.ly/rOU3OU




The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on December 15, 2011; I will draw 1 winner at random on December 16 and post the winner's name after he/she confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!


Disclosure: I received a sample necklace as a thank-you for posting this information and running the giveaway. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Continue reading...

Leapfrog Peek A Shoe Octopus review and giveaway


If you're looking for a holiday present for a child, you can't go wrong with a ball. Kids of any age love balls -- they love throwing them, catching them, rolling them, dropping them, hiding them, doing just about anything with them! A ball is one of the first toys babies learn to play with, and there are so many ways parents can use these wonderful round objects to teach their children colors or number, not to mention more basic skills like motor skills or cause-and-effect.

When my kids were babies, one of their favorite toys was a ball drop where they could drop a ball in a hole and look to see where the ball came out. They had hours of fun with it -- which is why, when Leapfrog asked me to review their Peek-a-Shoe Talking Octopus, I just couldn't resist, even though my kids are no longer babies. I knew parents everywhere would love to hear about this cute little toy (and I just know my 2-year old niece and her new baby sister would enjoy it for the holidays!).

The Peek-A-Shoe Octopus is a brightly-colored, hollow octopus. Babies and toddlers drop colored plastic balls into the octopus' head (or into one of his tentacles), and wait for it to drop into one of the octopus' other five tentacles (the seventh tentacle is for holding the balls, and the eighth is just a plastic appendage at the back of the octopus). The octopus has colored shoes and numbered on these tentacles, and kids have to life the shoe to see whether the ball has rolled into that tentacle or not. The octopus helps them along with audio cues ("Not under the orange shoe!") and cheers them on when they lift the correct shoe ("You found it under the number 3 shoe! Way to go!"). It's such an adorable toy -- and a great way to get the little ones familiar with colors and numbers!




Win a Leapfrog Peek-A-Shoe Talking Octopus
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a Peek-a-Shoe Octopus from LeapFrog -- just in time for the holidays!



Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which LeapFrog toy your child would most like to receive for the holidays. 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) Blog about this giveaway, making sure you include a link to the giveaway in your blog post (1 entry).

2) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Leapfrog Peek-a-Shoe Octopus giveaway! http://bit.ly/u6MfMY

3) Leave a comment on my Peek-a-Shoe video on YouTube (1 entry).

4) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger/Google Friend Connect (1 entry).

5) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day):
RT @bonggamom Win a @LeapFrog Peek-a-Shoe Octopus on @bonggafinds! Enter by 12/15 at http://bit.ly/u6MfMY #giveaways

6) Enter my Leapfrog My Own Story Time Pad giveaway (1 entry)



The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on December 15, 2011; I will draw 1 winner at random on December 11 and post the winner's name after he/she 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.
Continue reading...

Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- list your giveaways here


Bonggamoms Friday Finds

Welcome to the Black Friday edition of Bonggamom's Friday Finds! I'm posting extra-early because I know many of you are up and about and shopping already :) Hopefully you'll spread some of that holiday cheer around the blogosphere by sharing all your great giveaways!

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


Continue reading...

Giveaway- Stay healthy during the holidays with Wet Ones




Cold weather has definitely arrived in the Bay Area, and of wouldn't you know it, the whole family celebrated by catching bad colds last month. We were all pretty miserable, so we're not really looking forward to repeating the experience. Our immune systems are already pretty tired from all the battles they've been through, and combined with the cold weather and the stress of the holidays, we have to be extra vigilant in staying healthy!

That's why eating right, staying warm, staying hydrated, and staying clean are all high priority items for everyone in our family. Fortunately, Wet Ones® sent us a Winter Survival kit filled with wipes for the car, my purse and our home, so we've got a huge ally in our fight against any future colds and flu. As the kids discovered when we did Bill Nye the Science Guy's Wet Ones® Healthy Hands Zone experiments last December, it's all too easy for bacteria to grow and multiply, so they know how important it is for them to wash their hands (or wipe them with antibacterial wipes when they can't get to soap and water). They love the smell of Wet Ones (and the clean feeling their hands get afterwards), so it's not difficult for me to get them to wash or wipe their hands.


To help families stay healthy this season, Wet Ones® has brought Mom Expert Stacy DeBroff and Germ Expert Dr. Tanner together to come up with The Twice as Handy Guide:

Who doesn’t love the holidays? From the parties and presents to the delicious food and the time we get to spend with those we love, there’s a reason it’s called the most wonderful time of the year. But the holidays also bring crowded indoor parties, stressful travel on packed airplanes and increased time spent shopping at germ-infested malls and stores—do you know how many hands have touched those escalator handrails!? On top of all these elements, as the weather becomes colder cold and flu bugs become most active, and in between all the hustle and bustle it’s important to protect yourself and your family so you can spend more time celebrating and less time sick at home.


Happy holidays, and stay healthy!



Win a Winter Survival Kit from Wet Ones
Just in time for the cold weather, one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a Wet Ones Survival Kit consisting of:

* One Wet Ones® Hand Wipes Fresh Scent 40 count canister
* One Wet Ones® Hand Wipes Fresh Scent 24 count singles pack
* One Wet Ones® Hand Wipes Fresh Scent 15 count travel pack



Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share a tip for staying healthy during the cold and flu season. 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 Wet Ones Winter Survival giveaway! http://bit.ly/t0SJ6D

4) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day): @bonggafinds is giving away a Wet Ones Hand Wipes gift pack! Enter by 12/17 at http://bit.ly/t0SJ6D

5) Join any of the open giveaways on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for each giveaway you've joined)



The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on December 17, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on December 18 and post his/her name after she/he confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!


Disclosure: Energizer Personal Care is providing the prize for this promotion at no cost to me. They also sent me a Winter Survival Kit similar to the one being given away; no other form of compensation was received. This promotion is not being administered or sponsored in any way by Energizer Personal Care or its affiliates, but solely by Bonggamom Finds. Any questions or comments regarding this promotion must be sent to me at Bonggamom Finds and not to Energizer Personal Care. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Continue reading...

What to expect when you get a spa treatment (courtesy of the Spa at the Four Seasons Silicon Valley)


The holidays are a busy, stressful time of the year, and Silicon Valley is a busy, frenetic kind of place. Who would have thought there would be a place right in the heart of it that you can escape to and get away from it all? The Four Seasons Hotel at Silicon Valley is located right off the busy, noisy 101 freeway. Right across the highway there's a huge strip mall with retailers like IKEA, Best Buy and the Home Depot. All around the place, people and buses and bikes and cars are hustling and bustling -- but from inside the hotel, you would never know. And once you step inside their Spa, you literally enter an oasis of calm and peace.

Last week the Spa at Four Seasons Silicon Valley invited me to try one of their spa treatments and experience their luxurious service. I'm not a regular spa-goer (although I probably would be if I could afford it!), but I love indulging in a pampering session as a special treat. I've been running myself ragged lately, so in keeping with my newly adopted mantra of Taking Care of Me, I gladly accepted -- and I'm sharing every step of my experience on this post. I know that many of you already know the drill (and some of you may even have a treatment every second Tuesday), but some of you may never have been to a spa and are wondering what the heck goes on in there! You might be hesitant to ask around (for fear of people saying, What? you've never been to a spa??), so this post will give you a general idea.


1) We started with a delicious lunch at the hotel restaurant, Quattro. I'll blog about their superb food in a future post, but for now I'll just say that it was everything a pre-spa lunch should be: nourishing, hydrating, but on the light side. The spa can actually put together a package for you that includes lunch, but if you don't avail of that service, just try to eat light before your treatment.

2) After lunch, we left the restaurant and headed to the spa. Once inside the women's locker room, I was given a spa robe, a pair of slippers, and a locker to put my things in. You are supposed to disrobe for spa body treatments, but if you are extremely uncomfortable about being totally naked, they will give you some disposable underpants to put on. In any case, you're wearing a thick spa robe, so you're not walking around in your birthday suit.

3) Before my treatment, I spent about 10 minutes in the steam room -- this isn't the case for every type of spa treatment, but the spa director suggested it for mine. The steam room is entirely optional, and spa guests can use it before or after their treatments if they wish. If you do use the steam room, just remember to stay well-hydrated (the Spa has a dispenser of iced water right outside the steam room) and watch the clock, because you shouldn't stay inside a steam room for longer than 12-15 minutes. If only there were some sort of clock inside the steam room! I had to keep poking my head outside the door to peek at the clock (maybe they did that on purpose, so people wouldn't stay inside for too long?).

4) Once I got out of the steam room, a spa attendant came to fetch me, and led me to a private spa room where I'd be receiving the treatment. I didn't take my phone into the room (yes, that's how relaxed and unplugged I was!), so I couldn't take a photo of the room, but here's a photo from their website:


Soft instrumental music was playing in the room, and my spa attendant dimmed the lights down even further, so everything was soothing, relaxing and utterly calming. And the treatment hadn't even started!

5) The attendant left the room so I could disrobe and slip underneath the sheets; she returned after about 5 minutes, and started the treatment that I had selected, a Body Sculpting Cellulite and Colon Therapy treatment. Here's a description:

Redefine and smooth your silhouette. A detoxifying fennel and birch peel-off body mask works in combination with specialist massage techniques to deeply cleanse the body’s systems, firm and smooth skin, stimulate circulation and reduce fluid retention. Cleansing of the colon through abdominal massage helps to detoxify the body from the inside out.

Pretty radical, huh? It sounded like quite a technical treatment, not something a first-timer or infrequent spa-goer would try. And abdominal massage? Colon Therapy? Gulp. I've always been a bit nervous about massages, because every time I get a hand or foot massage during a manicure or pedicure, they hurt. I didn't relish the thought of pain coursing through my body, but I decided to be a bit adventurous and put my trust in the Four Seasons.

I'm so glad I did! There was no unspeakable torture, just a wonderfully relaxing experience. The first thing the attendant did was lightly brush my body down with a cactus-bristle brush, in order to exfoliate the skin. Then she lightly massaged my legs, arms and abdomen. It didn't hurt at all; it felt absolutely wonderful! I think it was the first massage I've ever truly enjoyed.

Next up was the body wrap. The attendant slathered a body mask of fennel and birch all over my legs. The body mask was very cool and wet; the attendant warned me that some people find the smell a bit strong, but I had no problem with it.

Once I was covered in goo, she wrapped my legs up in plastic, then moved on to the Colon Therapy. She asked me to inhale slowly, then exhale, and as I exhaled she moved her hands over my abdomen in an upward, sideways, then downward motion, following the path of my intestine. When she first did it, I tensed my ab muscles because she was applying a bit of pressure, but once I got familiar with what she was doing, I relaxed, and it didn't hurt.

Next, she moved on to a head massage. I thought the pressure was a bit too much when she started massaging my temples, but before I could work up the energy to ask her to ease up, she moved on to massaging the nape of my neck, and I immediately dissolved into a contented heap. I drifted in and out of sleep throughout the entire 1-hour treatment, and before I knew it, the attendant was scrubbing the goo off my legs, and it was over.


6) After my treatment, I spent a few minutes relaxing in the spa lounge, sipping a cup of tea. It was a cold, rainy day, otherwise I probably would have spent some time at the pool, which is right outside the spa area. The Four Seasons Silicon Valley pool is amazing (I was there for an event a couple of years ago), and if you go to their spa, you should make sure you leave some time at the end of your treatment to relax.

7) Time to re-enter the real world -- but not without indulging in what I'm going to call their Rainforest Shower. The spa showers have showerheads directly above you and on two sides of the shower stall, as well as a handheld showerhead, so you are literally sprayed with water from all sides. I could have stayed in that shower all day! Here's a photo of it (the spa locker is not far from the showers so I quickly grabbed my phone and snapped this photo):


I left the Spa relaxed, but rejuvenated at the same time. It felt absolutely wonderful to have someone taking care of me for a change, and it's the perfect way to stay sane during the holidays! I highly recommend the Spa at Four Seasons Silicon Valley, and if the spas at the other Four Seasons locations are anything like this one, you should check them out!



If you live near the Four Seasons Silicon Valley, here are some great spa specials you can take advantage of (check your local Four Seasons property for spa rates, treatments and specials):

Happy Hour
Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, the Spa celebrates its happy hour with 15% off any Spa service – just mention happy hour pricing when you book your treatment.

Spa Escape with American Express

Spa Escape ... exclusively when you book and pay with any American Express® Card
Reserve and pay for a 75-minute massage or facial, Monday thru Friday, with any American Express® Card -- and you'll get it for the price of 60 minutes when you mention the Spa Escape promotion at time of reservation (ends 3/15/2012).

Holiday Open House
How's this for a discount -- a free mini spa facial! The Spa is hosting a Holiday Open House on Thursday, December 1, 2011, from 12:00 to 5:00 pm. They'll have nibbles to nosh and spa holiday gifts and stocking stuffers to browse and buy. RSVP and reserve your free mini spa facial session at 1 (650) 470-2865.

Disclosure: The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley treated me to a complimentary lunch and spa treatment . The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Continue reading...

Thanksgiving craft: color-it-yourself cards from Company Kids



The kids are off from school for Thanksgiving break starting tomorrow, so my thoughts are taking a slight detour from turkey and trimmings to crafts and activities to keep them occupied. Here's a nice downloadable craft, courtesy of Company Kids. Their free downloadable Thanksgiving cards are a great activity for kids at your Thanksgiving feast; they can color the pictures and write out their words of thanks for grandparents, parents and relatives as they wait for the turkey to cook.





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

Holiday Gift Ideas from Eden Fantasys


This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.
Continue reading...

Yummie Tummie Thanksgiving Sale




I'm so glad that online shoppers also get the chance to snag some holiday bargains during Cyber Monday -- I've done the Black Friday thing, and I must say I prefer to be sitting in my jammies on the sofa, in front of my laptop, credit card in hand, rather than fighting the crowds in the cold, dark morning.

This year, my favorite shapewear company Yummie (formerly known as Yummie Tummie)has gotten into the game with a sale that lasts all the way from Black Friday to Cyber Monday. During that time, you'll get 30% off everything on YummieLife.com! Here are some of the bargains you'll find:



Thomson Briefie, $44 $29.80
Shortie, $46 $32.20
Thong, $42 $28.40

Lo Dress, $158 $110.60
Ines Dress, $178 $124.60

Knit Shapewear Legging, $78 $54.60
Raquel Knit Pant $128 $89.60
Milan Cotton Legging $76 $53.20



Check out these bargains and more on YummieLife.com between November 25 and November 28. Trust me, these are just what you need to help smooth out those post-Thanksgiving bulges!

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

Holiday Help from Safeway



You could win a $100 Safeway gift card! Keep reading to find out how...
The holidays are supposed to be fun, but slaving away in the kitchen or waiting in line at 5 different checkout counters to buy presents is anything but fun. We all know it's going to be worth it in the end, but there are lots of ways to make the process of getting to the end -- I mean the family and friends and fun part a lot easier. This season, shoppers everywhere are looking to Safeway to reduce some of the stress that comes with holiday planning. Here are some ways that Safeway helps me during the holidays: One Stop Shopping You don't have a lot of time to be driving from store to store, collecting the items you need for your holiday dinner. Safeway has it all in one place, from the ingredients you'll need for the meal, to the pans and tools you'll need to cook it, to the flowers for the centerpiece, to the things you'll need to clean up afterwards... to the TUMS and Zantac that people might need to take the next day! Home Delivery I've always been a big fan (and frequent user) of Safeway's Home Delivery service. It's so convenient to get grocery items delivered straight to your door, especially when you're stocking up on bulky or heavy items like water, canned goods, rice....... and a 20-lb frozen turkey! Why bother lugging it from the store to your car to your fridge, when you can have a Safeway delivery guy do all the heavy lifting? When you're preparing the Thanksgiving meal, your time is precious and Safeway is happy to help! Great Deals You can't put a price on family traditions and making memories.... except when you have to. Holiday entertaining can be expensive, so don't forget to take full advantage of all the great Safeway Club Card specials! Free Turkey Speaking of home delivery and great deals, today is the LAST DAY to take advantage of Safeway's Free Turkey deal. Just shop online for your Thanksgiving groceries and receive a FREE Turkey with an order of just $200! Or get FREE delivery with your $150 order. Delivery Code: THANKS46 Turkey Promo Code: FREETURKEY Gift Cards I love the gift card display at Safeway! They have gift cards from dozens of retailers, including Starbucks, Best Buy, iTunes, Macy's, GAP and more (Gift Card Blogger has a comprehensive list), so you can buy gift cards for everyone on your holiday list, from a single place.
Here are some other ways that Safeway can help you with your holiday: It’s that time of year again and Safeway is here to help you shine during the holidays whether you’re planning at home or shopping in store! Safeway has created inspirational ideas, recipes, saving tips and tools to make the holidays easier for you. From the comfort of your home, visit Safeway.com/Holiday to review recipes, entertaining ideas, wine pairings and other helpful tips. Then build your list of favorites and come back to see what other inspirations you want to create for your family. While you’re on the go, use your phone to visit safeway.com and dive into the Holiday Hints that dole out servings of inspiration to make Thanksgiving special, or make the most of your Thanksgiving leftovers with the array of Leftover Makeover recipes. For iPhone users, download the Safeway Chef Assistant app featuring the Safeway exclusive 2-Hour Turkey Recipe™. The app guides you through step-by-step instructions on how to prep a simply delicious turkey in 2 hours or less. You can also use the app while shopping for your ingredients and cooking tools or as a timer to remind you of important time and temp checks. And finally, don’t forget to play the Facebook LOL Turkey Game. Make the turkey laugh to be entered for a chance to win a $100 Safeway gift card! Win a $100 Safeway Gift Card Just in time for the holidays, one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a $100 Safeway gift card! Required entry: Leave a comment on this post and tell me how Safeway can help you this holiday season. This entry must be completed before any extra entries will count. Don't forget to include your email address so I can contact you.

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) Blog about this giveaway, making sure you include a link to the giveaway in your blog post (1 entry). 2) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry): I entered the Safeway Holiday giveaway! http://bit.ly/sNu1G9

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) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day):

Win a $100 Safeway gift card on @bonggafinds! Enter by 12/10 at http://bit.ly/sNu1G9 #giveaways

The Rules This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on December 10, 2011; I will draw 1 winner at random on December 11 and post the winner's name after he/she confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I am being compensated for this post via a Safeway gift card, and Safeway is providing the giftcard for the giveaway. Images are from Safeway's Holiday Inspirations website. Safeway holiday tips are written in italics; all other words, views and opinions are my own.
Continue reading...

Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- list your giveaways here


Bonggamoms Friday Finds

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!


Continue reading...

Whole Foods Vegan Holiday Menu



When most people think of Thanksgiving dinner, turkey and all the trimmings are what come to mind. But for vegetarians and vegans, the only visions of turkeys are the live birds running around the fields. Thanksgiving dinners looks quite different: since turkey drippings usually flavor the gravy and the stuffing (if not, it's sausage!), butter flavors the mashed potatoes (not to mention the crust for the pumpkin pie) and the biscuits, a traditional Thanksgiving dinner is not something vegetarians and vegans will want to eat.

But that doesn't mean they can't have an absolutely delicious feast. Fall brings a bounty of deep-flavored root vegetables; paired with beans and grains, you can come up with some really delicious vegetarian and vegan courses. Whole Foods has some great vegan holiday options, from whole meal packages down to individual dishes. Here's a run-down of what Whole Foods has to offer:

Vegan Holiday Dinner: $79.99, serves 4

Anyone who thinks they’re missing out on holiday feasting by sticking to plant foods hasn’t tried our vegan dinner. This meal is healthy and full of great, seasonal flavor. If you’re sharing the holidays with omnivores or hosting vegan loved ones this meal makes it easy to take care of everyone’s needs.

Includes:
  • Field Roast Stuffed en Croûte – rich grain meat seasoned with toasted hazelnuts and rosemary stuffed with a sausage style mixture of field roast, cranberries, apples and crystallized ginger wrapped en croûte with a vegan puff pastry. 2 lbs
  • Stuffed Acorn Squash, 2 (Health Starts Here item)
  • Olive Oil Smashed Potatoes, 2 lbs
  • Mushroom Gravy, 1 pt
  • Classic Cranberry Relish, 1pt
  • Dinner Rolls, 6
  • Baked Apples, 4 (Health Starts Here item)

You can also purchase the field roast en croute on its own, without the side dishes, for $25. Other vegan options on the Whole Foods Holiday Menu include:

  • Butternut Collard Pozole
  • Brussels Sprouts with Shallots & Pecans
  • No Salt, No Oil Mashed Potatoes
  • Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
  • Roasted Root Vegetables
  • Field Greens Salad
  • Applesauce
  • Vegan Pumpkin Pie
  • Vegan Pecan Pie
Last week, Whole Foods sent us a selection of dishes from their 2011 Holiday Menu, so we had the opportunity to taste the Butternut Collard Pozole and the Field Roast Stuffed En Croute. They were absolutely delicious!

Alfie and I went absolutely wild about the Field Roast Stuffed En Croute, and I will definitely purchase that dish again. We're not vegan or vegetarian, but we've limited our meat consumption to once or twice per week -- and we don't miss eating meat at ALL with this dish. It has a very satisfying, meaty taste, kind of like a vegan meatloaf, but the concoction of cranberries and apples in the center give it a wonderfully sweet burst of flavor! Just one tip: when you heat this dish in the oven, make sure you line your pan with parchment paper or foil -- and drizzle the bottom with a bit of oil, otherwise the puff pastry will stick to your pan/paper/foil.

The Butternut Collard Pozole is a thick, hearty soup with butternut squash, hominy, and collard greens. The deep orange squash and dark green collards give this soup a beautiful, appetizing color, and it has a healthy, fresh taste. If you're not watching your sodium, I would recommend sprinkling a dash of salt or paprika into your soup bowl to give it a bit of a boost (it's cooked in a low-sodium broth).

You can see the full Whole Foods Holiday Menu here (or pick up a menu at your local Whole Foods). To place an order, go online at wholefoods.com/shop (by November 22 to get it in time for Thanksgiving, and December 22 to get it in time for Christmas), or at in-store Holiday Tables (48 hours notice).


Win a turkey dinner from Whole Foods
Northern California residents, follow @WFMNorCal on Twitter and tag #WholeForTheHolidays for a chance to win a turkey dinner! For more information, along with recipes, tips and guidelines, visit holidayworthsharing.com.


Disclosure: I received assprted samples from the Whole Foods Holiday Menu to facilitate my review. Menu descriptions, in italics, were provided by Whole Foods. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Continue reading...

Get a free movie rental with Energizer (giveaway)



I've just finished putting up a post about my favorite battery-powered toys of the season. The toys on the list cover a wide range of ages, from infant up to pre-teen; there are toys for boys and toys for girls, toys for learning and toys for pure entertainment. But they have one thing in common: they all need batteries! It's always a good idea to add a pack of batteries with your holiday toy gift, so that the recipient can start playing with the toy right away (and his poor parents don't need to turn the house upside down looking for a spare battery). It's an even better idea to include Energizer batteries, because they've got a new promo that gives you a free online movie rental when you purchased specially marked packages of Energizer batteries. Just think -- the child will be able to play, and his frazzled parents get to watch a movie and relax. If the child in question happens to be yours, even better!

Here's more information about Energizer's holiday promo:

Energizer has just the solution to help you get a jump start on the holidays -- batteries for the gifts and a free online movie on demand rental to help with the relaxation. Simply purchase a package of specially-marked Energizer® Ultimate Lithium, Energizer® Advanced Lithium or Energizer® Recharge AA batteries and you will receive a free online movie on demand rental reward that can be redeemed at Blockbuster.com, Amazon.com, iTunes.com, or the YouTube store.

To get your free online movie rental:

1. Simply purchase a package of specially-marked Energizer® Ultimate Lithium, Energizer® Advanced Lithium or Energizer® Recharge AA batteries.

2. Visit www.energizer.com/movies

3. Follow the instructions to input your battery pack codes. ***Please note: this promotion is limited to one (1) REWARD CERTIFICATE PER PERSON/HOUSEHOLD/E-MAIL ADDRESS.
3. The last day to redeem codes is 4/30/12 at 11:59 p.m. ET

4. Your Reward Certificate does expire and must be redeemed for your online movie rental within 2 months from the date of issuance. Redemption of the Reward Certificate is subject to all terms and conditions and policies imposed by Hollywood Movie Money On-Demand Rewards. This promotion is limited to one (1) REWARD CERTIFICATE PER PERSON/HOUSEHOLD/E-MAIL ADDRESS.


Win a specially marked package of Energizer Batteries

To give everyone a holiday jump start, Energizer is offering one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader their choice of a specially-marked package of either Energizer® Ultimate Lithium AA and Energizer® Advanced Lithium AA batteries or Energizer or Energizer® Recharge AA batteries. These batteries will have special codes printed on the packaging; the winner can redeem the codes using the instructions above for a free online movie rental.



Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post telling me what battery-operated toy or gadget you plan to gift to someone this holiday season. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


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


1) Grab my blog button and post it up on your blog (1 entry).

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

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Energizer holiday giveaway! http://bit.ly/sXHqhw

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

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

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

@bonggafinds and @energizerbunny are giving away specially marked battery packs you can redeem for a free online movie rental! http://bit.ly/sXHqhw

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on December 7, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on December 8 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. US addresses only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I will be receiving a pack of Energizer batteries as a thank-you for writing this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Continue reading...

Top Electronic Toys for the Holidays


We all know that kids love to play with cardboard boxes, and sometimes the simplest toys are the best (there's a reason that rag dolls have survived from ancient times until today), but I for one am glad we're living in the 21st century, able to take advantage of all the technological advancements of our times and apply it to everything from the way we travel to the way we learn to the way we play. And that includes children's toys! I'm not talking about annoying toys that do nothing but flash and beep, I'm talking about electronic toys that use technology to really enhance a child's play experience, and in many cases, enhance their learning experiences as well. No doubt your child will be discovering lots of battery-operated toys under the tree next month -- let's hope his stash includes at least one of these:



LeapPad Explorer
Leapfrog's LeapPad has got to be the hottest electronic holiday toy of 2011. It's a great learning tablet for kids with rich graphics, touchscreen technology, lots of learning apps, a camera, a video, and so much more. Buy this, and your child might actually leave your tablet alone! Be sure to check out my LeapPad post for a more detailed review (and a giveaway for a LeapPad!)



Leapfrog Peek-a-Shoe Octopus
Toddlers can drop balls into the Peek-a-Shoe Octopus and guess which shoe the ball has landed under. As they lift each colored and numbered shoe, the octopus actually tells them which color or number shoe they are lifting! I'll be doing a more detailed review of this delightful toy (and giving one away) very soon, so keep your eyes peeled and stay tuned!



Cookie Monster's MP3 Player
When they were toddlers, my kids absolutely loved their electronic Elmo cellphone. But I doubt if any baby would recognize that clamshell phone design today -- so until toy makers can come up with a play touchscreen phone for babies, parents will have to let their 1-year-olds play on their iPods or MP3 players-- or give them Cookie Monster's MP3 Player. So cute!



Tonka Chuck & Friends Flip the Bounce Back Vehicle
A few years ago we reviewed this toy's predecessor, the Tonka Bounce Back Racer, so I can vouch for its entertainment value. The boys absolutely loved being able to race this car and flip it over! Just like the Bounce Back Racer, Flip the Bounce Back Vehicle is chunky and sturdy and able to withstand anything your little boys can dish out.


Nerf N-Strike Barricade RV10
We reviewed the Nerf N-Strike Barricade RV10 over the summer, and my boys love the way this Nerf blaster can shoot a continuous stream of darts with a single pull of the trigger. If you're uncomfortable with the bullet shape of the darts, try the Vortex Nitron Blaster, from Nerf's new Vortex line, which uses foam disks (much like the clay pigeons).


Mechatars
Mechatars are so much more than remote-controlled robots! It's an interactive toy that you can connect to your computer to download missions from Mechatar.com, so now you're not just making your robot go round and round, you're playing treasure hunt, with the Mechatar telling how how "hot" or "cold" you are from finding your target. You can play games online at Mechatar.com, and playing games earns you credits that you can use to download more complex missions to your Mechatar. This toy is so cool, and so much fun.


My Little Pony Pinkie Pie's RC Car
Who says boys have to have all the fun when it comes to remote-controlled cars? Hasbro's Pinkie Pie's RC Car has a heart-shaped control unit, and the antenna on the pink car is topped with -- guess what? -- a pink heart. If your girl isn't into My Little Pony, check out the Speedy Tails RC Vehicle for Littlest Pet Shop fans.



Lite Sprites
Lite Sprites glow with light and color when you wave the Lite Wand on them; youcan also use the Lite Wand to pick up any color from any flat surface, and transfer that color to the Lite Sprite! With all the pastels and fairies, this is obviously aimed towards girls, but even my boys enjoyed playing with the Lite Wand when we reviewed this toy.



Hope this helps you find that perfect electronic toy for the holidays -- and don't forget the batteries!


Disclosure: I have reviewed some of the products on this list in the past, but I did not receive any samples or monetary compensation for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
Continue reading...

Search This Blog

Bongga Posts

Bongga Tweets

I'm Going!

Blog Archive

 

Bonggamom Finds Copyright © 2009 Cosmetic Girl Designed by Ipietoon | In Collaboration with FIFA
Girl Illustration Copyrighted to Dapino Colada