Making Tasty Treats with the 5-in-1 Tasty Baker

Anyone who cooks for kids knows that the cardinal rule is: Looks are Everything. Kids are far more likely to try new foods if it's presented in a fun, appealing way. Hence the popularity of broccoli "trees", smiley-face pizzas, and mashed potatoes shaped like Spongebob Squarepants.

But what if you're not the creative kind? What if your attempt at a heart-shaped pancake always ends up looking more like a shapeless blob? We recently reviewed an appliance that lets even the most challenged baker turn out baked treats worthy of Martha Stewart: the 5-in-1 Tasty Baker.

The Basics
The 5-in-1 Tasty Baker is a bit like a waffle maker -- except it's not. You can use it to make not just waffles, but also pancakes, muffins, breads, cakes and brownies. Just pour batter onto the nonstick molds, close the lid and let it bake. When it's done, you end up with cute, bite-sized treats in cute, kid-friendly shapes.

The Bongga
Today we made whole-wheat pancakes. The recipe couldn't be simpler:

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup milk
1 egg
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Just dump everything into a bowl and mix. Plug in the Tasty Baker and set it to a 3. When the green light comes on, open it up and pour the batter into the molds. The little batter scoop that comes with the Tasty Baker is perfect because one scoop is just about the right amount you need for each mold. Close the lid, wait for 3 or 4 minutes, then lift the lid. This is what you'll see:


Now use a silicone spoon to lift each little pancake off the molds. The nonstick material is wonderful! I initially sprayed the mold with cooking spray, but I don't think I actually needed to. The recipe above made about 4 batches, and each batch lifted off the molds beautifully (and since nothing really stuck to the surface, clean-up was a breeze).

Aren't they adorable??? Can you imagine the Oooh's and Awwww's at our next playdate or party? Our version has seven shapes -- birthday cake, dog, cat, train, heart, smile face, blocks -- and they're perfectly bite-sized (or two-bite-sized, if you're being polite and trying to refrain from stuffing them into your mouth) and so much fun to eat. My kids loved preparing them with me, and they loved eating them even more!


The Blah
Any pancake recipe will do, but it would have been nice if the instructions had included a couple of recipes, or recipe ideas. Also, I wish the molds could have been interchangeable, so that you could buy extra molds and make 7 of a single design, instead of 7 different designs (for example, for a Valentine's Day party, you're only going to want the heart mold).


The Bottom Line
The 5-in-1 Tasty Baker is easy to use and clean, and kids love the results!

So we've done pancakes, but they don't call this the 5-in-1 for nothing. We've still got cakes, brownies, muffins, breads and waffles to make! Stay tuned for more review posts as the kids and I continue creating all kinds of yummy treats with the 5-in-1 Tasty Baker!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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"It's All Too Much, so Get It Together" Review and Giveaway

There's something about Peter Walsh that inspires me to get organized. Maybe it's his friendly demeanor. Maybe it's his practical advice. Maybe I just really dig his philosophy: that clutter is first and foremost a state of mind, and you first need to visualize what you want your life to be, what you want to use your space for, before you can really get around to getting some order in your life.

Whatever the case, I find that whenever I listen to him, I get shit DONE. After his workspace organization blogcast, I organized the kids' artwork projects. After I joined him as a panelist on his back-to-school organization blogcast, I organized the kids' toy bins, lunchboxes, and school paperwork. Slowly but surely, I'm clearing up my physical clutter, and in the process, streamlining my life. So I have no hesitation whatsoever about reading (and afterwards, recommending) his latest book.

The Basics
Peter Walsh's latest organization-advice book, "It's All Too Much, So Get It Together", is directed towards older kids and teenagers. He offers practical advice on identifying clutter, clearing up clutter and preventing clutter from coming back.

The Bongga
The book is as well-organized as Peter Walsh! He starts the book by giving readers a summary of what they're about to read, so they know what they're gettting into. Afterwards, he finishes with a summary, so readers remember his key points. And since this book is for older kids and teenagers, he writes in a friendly, informal style, with lots of fun quizzes, funny illustrations and easy-to-follow advice.

The best part about this book, in my mind, is that you don't have to memorize the whole book in order to get some use out of it. Whether you read a little or a lot, you'll find some great advice that can work for you. After reading just a couple of chapters, I was inspired to clear up my own clutter. I tackled my little laundry room and made 3 piles, just like he said -- Keep, Throw Away, and Out the Door. In less than an hour I had a huge Throw Away and Out the Door pile! Of course, the laundry room is still messy, but that's because I haven't folded up the clean clothes. I did get rid of a LOT of junk, and at least now everything in the laundry room is stuff that I actually USE.

So, come to think of it, the best part about this book is that the advice Peter Walsh gives actually WORKS.


The Blah
The title is quite a mouthful, which makes it way too difficult for people to remember.

Girlfriend: My kid's room is a pigsty.
Me: I just read this book, "It's All Too Much, So Get it Together". You should buy it for her.
Girlfriend: What's the book's name again?
Me: It's All Too Much, So Get It Together.
Girlfriend: What? Say that again? That title is all too much!


The Bottom Line
This book can be a great tool to help your disorganized, stressed-out teenager regain some control over his stuff. It won't turn their lives around -- they have to do that themselves. But it's filled with practical, doable advice that can certainly inspire them to make a change. And it wouldn't hurt the adults in the house to read it as well!


Win it! One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will be selected to receive a copy of Peter Walsh's new book, "It's All Too Much, So Get It Together". To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and share one tip you have for preventing clutter from taking over your life. If you have no advice to share (which is why you want to win this book, right?!), tell us which part of your home you'd most like to organize!

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

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

2) Fave Finding Bonggamom on Technorati (leave a comment with your Technorati id).

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

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) Blog about this giveaway and include a link to the giveaway on your blog post (leave a comment here with a link to your post).

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 copy of @Peter_Walsh latest book at @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/ndrfbm

Maximum of 8 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on October 6, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on October 7 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams DVD Review and Giveaway

When I was a little girl, I always wanted more stories about the princesses in the fairytales, but I had to rely on my own imagination, because there was no such thing as sequels or spinoffs. Little girls today are so lucky because not only do they get a bucketful of beautiful Disney princesses to choose from -- from Cinderella to Ariel to Jasmine to my favorite, Sleeping Beauty -- but they also get to delve deeper into each princess's life and learn about more fun adventures they had. Not that imagination is a bad thing, but Disney's beautiful animation, catchy music and funny can certainly help a little girl's imagination take flight! Their latest Princess DVD offering, Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams, is now available in stores. Here's what we thought of it:

The Basics
Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams contains two films, one featuring Princess Aurora (from Disney's Sleeping Beauty) and one featuring Princess Jasmine (from Disney's Aladdin). Here's a description from Disney Home Entertainment:

If you wish with all your heart and imagine the loveliest place you've ever dreamt of, you'll find yourself in a dazzling fairytale castle. Cross the drawbridge, step inside and experience Disney's spectacular Princess adventure!

Accompany Princess Aurora on her first new "Once upon a time..." since the cherished classic SLEEPING BEAUTY. And take a magic carpet ride to Agrabah, where Jasmine and your favorite characters from the Academy Award® winning masterpiece ALADDIN (1992 -- Best Original Score; Best Original Song: "A Whole New World") return for a whole new world of never-before-seen enchantment! Spend some golden moments with Aurora and Jasmine as each discovers what it takes to be a true Princess. With magical storytelling, memorable new songs and "...favorite Disney Princesses, animated in the classic Disney style" (Roger Moore, ORLANDO SENTINEL), this delightful gem celebrates the power of believing in yourself. Join the Disney Princesses as they realize that when you FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS...they just might come true!

The DVD also includes a bonus disc containing a Cinderella music video, a Mulan music video, and an exclusive sneak peek of Disney's upcoming movie, "The Princess and the Frog".

The Bongga
Jasmine and Aurora are as smart and sassy as ever, and I love the positive, girls-can-do-anything attitude that these stories promote. I'm especially happy to find out more about Aurora, since there was so little character development in the original Sleeping Beauty.

The Blah
I'm a big fan of Disney movies, and I find that none of the Disney Princess sequels and spin-offs quite compares to the movies they originally appeared in.

The Bottom Line
What little princess wouldn't want more stories about Disney Princesses! They will love Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams, and before this DVD ends they'll be asking for more.

Win it! Each day from September 11 thru 14, I'll be starting a giveaway for one Disney DVD! Today's giveaway is for a copy of Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me your child's favorite Disney Princess character. This is required for entry and must be completed before any extra entries will count.

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

1) Comment on any of my posts over at Finding Bonggamom (leave a comment here with a link to the post that you commented on).

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

3) Blog about this giveaway and link to this giveaway in your blog post (leave a comment with the link to your blog post).

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 Disney Princess DVD from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/nadd6e

This giveaway ends at midnight PST on Sept. 28, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on Sept. 29 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Little Einsteins: Fire Truck Rocket's Blastoff DVD Review and Giveaway

I've always had a soft spot for Disney's Little Einsteins. I think it's because I keep making the association with Baby Einstein (also a Disney brand), which my kids loved practically from birth. The music was lovely, the images were fun, what's not to like? Little Einsteins continues the tradition of exposing kids to classical music, and adds age-appropriate storylines for toddlers and preschoolers. My kids haven't watched Little Einsteins in a while, but they thoroughly enjoyed previewing Disney's latest offering, Little Einsteins: Fire Truck Rocket's Blastoff, available now on DVD.

The Basics
Little Einsteins: Fire Truck Rocket's Blastoff contains five episodes from the tv series Little Einsteins, including a never-before seen episode, "Fire Truck Rocket", that's set to air on tv on November 23. Here's a description from Disney DVD:

Sound the siren and hold on tight as the world's biggest little heroes embark on their most amazing adventure ever!

Full speed ahead for fun as Rocket transforms into a flying truck! A rumbling volcano on the island of Java is about to blow, and the Team needs to free a monkey stuck in a tree before things get really hot. Can they get there in time? They'll need all of Rocket's special firefighting gadgets - and YOUR help - to save the day! Then, whoosh off to a thrilling car race in Monaco, dash to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and chug superfast up the Andes Mountains when Rocket transforms again - into an ice-cream train! Bursting with music, action and fun, FIRE TRUCK ROCKET'S BLASTOFF is a whirlwind of nonstop adventure!

The Bongga
At first, my kids thought they were too old and sophisticated for this DVD. But they fell in love with the cute little musical creature that Leo befriends in the second episode, "Melody The Music Pet", and when I turned the DVD off after the third episode, they howled in protest. Kids just really like the friendly characters and gentle storylines! As a parent, I also love how Little Einsteins exposes kids to the fine arts. They feature real works of art in all episodes, and they play real classical music on their episodes, not some dumbed-down kid version. Anyone who can get my kids humming Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture while they're drawing pictures of ninjas throwing flameballs deserves a star in my book.

The Bottom Line
Little Einsteins: Fire Truck Rocket's Blastoff is a fun DVD that fans of the tv show will love. It's a great way to make sure that your little one can watch an episode whenever he wants! Hopefully all that classical indoctrination will stick -- maybe one day when we'll be walking through the National Gallery in London and my kids will surprise me by saying, "Look, mama, it's the Sunflowers painting by Van Gogh!"

Win it! Each day from September 11 thru 14, I'll be starting a giveaway for one Disney DVD! Today's giveaway is for a copy of Little Einsteins: Fire Truck Rocket's Blastoff . To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me your child's favorite Little Einstein character. This is required for entry and must be completed before any extra entries will count.

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

1) Comment on any of my posts over on Finding Bonggamom (leave a comment here with a link to the post that you commented on).

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

3) Blog about this giveaway and link to this giveaway in your blog post (leave a comment with the link to your blog post).

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 Little Einsteins DVD from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/mhe6hb


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

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Power Rangers RPM: Race For Corinth DVD Review and Giveaway

3Po and Jammy love Power Rangers. They were Power Rangers two years ago and often take their costumes out to play dress-up. We have a couple of Power Rangers books which they like to read now and then, and their drawings are littered with Power Rangers. Which is kind of strange, considering they've actually watched an episode of Power Rangers -- until now. We were invited to preview the newest Power Rangers DVD (out on September 8). I was a bit worried that it would be a bit scary for them, but they actually loved it! In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they ask to be Power Rangers again this Halloween :)

The Basics
Power Rangers RPM is the seventeenth and current season of the ever-popular Power Rangers TV series, and Power Rangers RPM: Race For Corinth is a DVD compilation of 4 episodes from the series. It's actually the second DVD that Disney has released (Volume 1, Power Rangers RPM: Start Your Engines contains episodes 1 thru 4; Race for Corinth is Volujme 2, and contains episodes 5 thru 8). In Race For Corinth, we get to see how Scott (Ranger Red), Ziggy (Ranger Green), Flynn (Ranger Blue), and Summer (Ranger Yellow) became Power Rangers.

Here's a short clip from the DVD to get you all revv'ed up:


The Bongga
This DVD is a little boys' dream! After it ends, my sons love to relive all the episodes, and I've gotten used to hearing all kinds of strange explosive and/or karate noises coming from their mouths. They loved all the fast karate action and the cool vehicle-to-robot transformations. And since I've got pretty sensitive kids, I'm glad that there's just enough silliness in the plot to overcome their fear of the bad guys and keep the tears (or worse, nightmares) from showing up.

The Blah
I wish they had also included the Black Power Ranger's story on this DVD because all my kids (okay, their mom as well) were left hanging! Oh well, his story is on Volume 1, so I guess we'll just have to buy Volume 1 to find out.

The Bottom Line
Power Rangers fans will love this DVD! Even better, buy it along with Volume 1 so you can get the complete back story of how these Power Rangers and their allies started out.

Win it! Each day from September 11 thru 14, I'll be starting a giveaway for one Disney DVD! Today's giveaway is for a copy of Power Rangers RPM: Race to Corinth. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me your child's favorite Power Ranger. This is required for entry and must be completed before any extra entries will count.

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

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

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

3) Blog about this giveaway and link to this giveaway in your blog post (leave a comment with the link to your blog post).

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 Power Rangers DVD from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/pqarvx


This giveaway ends at midnight PST on Sept. 26, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on Sept. 27 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Bonggamom's Klutz paper fashion creations

I've finally gotten around to posting my Klutz paper fashion creations! My favorite is this witch's gown. Since Halloween is my favorite holiday, I created something I'd want to wear to a spooky Halloween ball.



I also had a lot of fun creating this woodland fairy outfit. Those shoes were so dratted difficult to cut out!

You can see more beautiful designs created by bloggers and crafters at the Klutz Design Challenge website. And don't forget to enter my Klutz Paper Fashions Fantasy giveaway for a chance to win your own Klutz Paper Fashions Fantasy book and create some fantasies of your own. FIVE winners will be selected on September 17th!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Mickey's Adventures in Wonderland DVD Review and Giveaway

Is that Mickey Mouse, or Alice? And who's that playing croquet: the Queen of Hearts or Clarabelle Cow? No, you're not crazy, Mickey Mouse has entered Wonderland in his latest DVD! We were given a sneak peek at the new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse movie, Mickey's Adventures in Wonderland, available on DVD starting September 8.

The Basics:
Mickey's Adventures in Wonderland is a full-length movie (runtime=50 minutes) starring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and all the friends from the popular tv series Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Children can watch the movie in regular mode, or in one of two special interactive modes, where they use the remote control to answer fun, age-appropriate questions about colors, shapes and sizes. The DVD also has a bonus episode of "Goofy Goes Goofy".

Here's a description from Disney DVD: Get ready to join Mickey and friends on their most amazing adventure ever -- a new movie classic inspired by Disney's ALICE IN WONDERLAND! Don't be late for a very important date: Daisy's surprise birthday party! Her present is a magical cuckoo clock, and when the cuckoo bird flies away, Mickey and Donald set off through a fairy tale wonderland to find him. Will they choose the right mouseketools to locate Cuckoo and get home in time? Find out as you set off on a remarkable journey. Meet Tweedle Chip, Tweedle Dale and Goofy Hatter, play croquet with Queen Clarabelle and more! Packed with friendship, laughter and surprises, MICKEY'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND is topsy-turvy fun for everyone.

And here's a trailer:


The Bongga
Young fans of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse will be happy to see all the familiar faces (Mickey, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pegleg Pete, Toodles, etc..) and scenery (the clubhouse) from the tv series. The plot, while based on Alice in Wonderland, also follows the familiar format of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, i.e. the characters interact with the viewer and ask for their help to solve various problems that crop up in the story. Even my kids, who fall just above the target preschool demographic, had lots of fun watching this movie! They loved seeing how the different Mickey Mouse Clubhouse characters showed up as Alice in Wonderland characters (Chip and Dale as TweedleDee and TweedleDum, Goofy as the Mad Hatter, etc..). On a more practical level, I loved the Fast Play option, which gets the DVD playing automatically so I can just pop the DVD in and not worry about fiddling with the controls.

The Blah
Unfortunately, that same Fast Play option also forces kids to watch all the previews and trailers -- I wish it just went straight to the movie!

The Bottom Line
If your child likes Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, he'll like this DVD!

Win it! Each day from September 11 thru 14, I'll be starting a giveaway for one Disney DVD! Today's giveaway is for a copy of Mickey's Adventures in Wonderland. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite Mickey Mouse Clubhouse character. This is required for entry and must be completed before any extra entries will count.

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

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

2) Fave Finding Bonggamom on Technorati (leave a comment with your Technorati id).

3) Blog about this giveaway and link to this giveaway in your blog post (leave a comment here with the link to your blog post).

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 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/q69g4q


This giveaway ends at midnight PST on Sept. 25, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on Sept. 26 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Temple Touch Thermometer Review and Giveaway

Flu season is about to rear its ugly head, and I'm bracing myself for the usual round of sniffles, sore throats and sick days. I was recently invited by Mom Select to review ReliOn's new Temple Touch thermometer. Here's what I thought of it:


The Basics
The ReliOn Temple Touch Thermometer is a non-invasive thermometer that reads temperatures from the temple in approximately 6-8 seconds. It samples heat flowing from the blood vessels to the skin surface and accurately translates it to body temperature. Unlike other forehead-type thermometers, the Temple Touch is unaffected by local ambient conditions, resulting in more accurate readings.


The Bongga
The Temple Touch makes taking your child's temperature soooo easy! I've always been nervous about my kids biting through to the mercury in the oral thermometers, and I find it awkward to position it under their tongue. Holding it there and waiting for the darn thing to beep is even more agonizing. No such problems with the Temple Touch -- you just press it to your child's temple, and it's blazingly fast, you don't have to pin her down for very long! You can even use take your child's temperature while she's asleep. It's so easy to use (turn it on, wait for 2 beeps, press to the temple, wait for the next beep, read results) and even if you do forget how it works, the instructions are clearly written on a little sticker that's stuck to the back on the unit. Brilliant!

The Blah

When I tried out the Temple Touch, my temperature read 99.1 F. My temperature with a regular oral thermometer came to 98.7, and when I stuck the oral thermometer under my arm, it read 96.1. The variation of temperatures is so confusing! I don't have much faith in our old oral thermometer, so I'll have to take the Temple Touch with me to our next doctor's visit to check how accurate it is. Also, I wish the thermometer came in a little case to protect it from water and curious little hands!

The Bottom Line
Use the Temple Touch thermometer is easy to use, easy to clean, fast, non-invasive and gentle -- which means hassle-free temperature taking. Which means parents will love it!

Win It!
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a Temple Touch thermometer courtesy of Mom Select. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and share your best remedy for the common cold. (This is required for entry and must be complete before any extra entries count).

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


1) Blog about this giveaway on your blog and link back to this post (leave a comment here with a link to your post).

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

Temple Touch Thermometer giveaway from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/m99toq


This giveaway ends at midnight PST on Sept. 24, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on June 25 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!


I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Zula Patrol DVD Review and Giveaway

This schoolyear, my kids are going to be learning lots of stuff, and I just have to cross my fingers and hope that some of it sticks. So when my kids have some downtime and unwind with a little bit of television, it's always nice to find educational shows they can watch. We recently reviewed 2 DVD's featuring episodes from The Zula Patrol, and I found them to be both entertaining and educational, a perfect combination!

The Basics
“The Zula Patrol” is an animated science-and-astronomy series for kids that airs Saturday mornings nationally on NBC, as part of qubo, as well as weekdays and weekends on public television stations. The main characters are a gang of aliens that patrol the universe, blast off on adventures and keep the peace -- while learning about science and astronomy along the way.



“The Zula Patrol: Animal Adventures in Space” contains 5 episodes from the tv series and 5 bonus sing-a-long Zula songs. Kids who watch this DVD will learn about different animals -- like frogs, bees, butterflies, worms -- and their life cycles.

“The Zula Patrol: Moons Mayhem” contains 6 episodes from the tv series. Kids who watch this DVD will learn about including planets, their moons, phases of the Earth's moon, Venus, and more.

From the creators: “The Zula Patrol” features a gang of lovably wacky alien characters including stalwart Captain Bula, brainiac Professor Multo, feisty hot-doggin' space pilot Zeeter, the amazing space pet Gorga, and twin flying explorers Wizzy & Wigg. They take kids on a roller coaster fun ride across the Universe, helping them discover interesting facts about science and astronomy in the process.

The Bongga
I really love how each episode incorporates a science lesson! The science facts seamlessly woven into the episode's plotline (for example, in one of the episodes on "Animal Adventures in Space", a grasshopper is searching for his worm friend, only to find out that his friend is actually a caterpiller who is changing into a butterfly), then at the end of the lesson one of the characters does a recap of the science facts that the kids have just learned.

Also, each DVD contains a bonus offer for 200 free Zlinkies (worth $10), the official currency of ZulaWorld.com, an new online destination where kids can create their own aliens, play games and explore galaxies. We actually tried out ZulaWorld.com when it was in its beta testing stage, and my kids really enjoyed it! They'll really appreciate the additional 400 Zlinkies (2oo per DVD) to "purchase" spaceships and other stuff for their ZulaWorld.com aliens.

The Blah
There's not much I don't like about this series, or the DVD -- both get high marks from me!

The Bottom Line
These 2 Zula Patrol DVDs are great for helping kids learn about science, and have fun while doing it!

Win it! One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a set of 2 Zula Patrol DVDs: "The Zula Patrol: Moons Mayhem" and "The Zula Patrol: Animal Adventures in Space!". To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me which branch of science you find most interesting. Do you like astronomy? Biology? You tell me!

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

1) 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).

2) Blog about this giveaway, and include a link to the giveaway on your post (leave a comment here with a link to your post).

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

The Zula Patrol teaches kids about science and astronomy! Win 2 Zula Patrol DVD's from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/lexosw


Maximum of 4 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on September 23, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on September 24 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Kids Coats Giveaway

Last week I raved about the beautiful yet practical Corky and Company coats we received from KidsCoats.com. They have the most stylish Winter Coats, Rain Coats, Winter Hats and other Outerwear you can imagine! Check out these photos of my kids in their new coats:

They offer free shipping to the US and up to $50 off when you join their mailing list, so there's no time like the present to get your orders in and make sure your kids brave the cold winter in style.


Win It! Today we've got a great giveaway, courtesy of KidsCoats.com. One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a $150 shopping spree on KidsCoats.com!! To enter, simply visit KidsCoats.com and take a look at their fabulous children's coats. Then add one or more items to your Kaboodle Wishlist (You will need to create a free Kaboodle account to do this). Just scroll down the page of the coat you like until you see the Kaboodle button:


The Kaboodle button is displayed just below each coat. Click on the Kaboodle button to add the coat to your Kaboodle account. This is a required entry and must be completed in order for any extra entries to count!

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

1) Sign up for the Kids Coats mailing list (leave a comment here with the email address you used to sign up).

2) Leave a comment on my Kids Coats review post and tell me the feature you like most about Corky and Company coats -- style, design, washability, variety, you decide!

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


4) Blog about this giveaway and include a link to this giveaway in your blog post (leave a comment with a link to your blog post).

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 $150 KidsCoats.com shopping spree from @bonggafinds! http://tinyurl.com/mwkbnr


Maximum 6 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on September 29, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on September 30 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!


I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow. No, it's Just Sorrow.

This weekend I test-drove a Lincoln MKT, courtesy of the Ford Motor Company. Before this, I thought Lincolns were for airport limos and Fords were for rental cars. But after 3 days with this baby, I can honestly say that it has changed my perception of those two brands.

This car is luxurious and elegant and sophisticated, something I never thought I'd say about Lincoln and Ford. The interior rivals that of any European luxury car. And the technology behind the car is impressive. The kids are crazy about the reverse camera and SYNC features. Alfie doesn't know how anyone could have survived before voice-recognition navigation systems. And once I stopped freaking out myself, I enjoyed freaking other people out when I used the Active Park Assist (Is that chick crazy, parking with no hands?! Keep her away from my car!). When they came to pick the car up, they almost had to pry the keys from my fingers. Dang, one could get used to driving this car.

To be perfectly honest, I don't like the exterior styling, especially those teeny-tiny rear windows and huge front grill. I've got small issues here and there. Most importantly, I can't vouch for how the quality and performance holds up over time -- I only have word-of-mouth and reputation to go on, which, at least in the places I've lived, is not stellar.

Yet.

If Ford keeps making cars like this, and if this car stays as great as it is five, ten years after today, they'll be changing a lot more minds everywhere.

You can read more about what I thought of the Lincoln MKT on Bonggamom Finds:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

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

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Dinosaur Train debuts today

School's back in session, and with it comes a new educational series that's debuting today on PBS Kids. Dinosaur Train is a new animated series from the Jim Henson Company featuring the adventures of Buddy, an adorable preschool-age Tyrannosaurus Rex who is adopted by a Pteranodon family. They live in a cute prehistoric world and use the Dinosaur Train to travel from one place to the next.

My kids and I got to watch a couple of sneak-preview episodes, and we really enjoyed them. How could we not? It has the backing of two companies who I would trust with my kids' eyes and minds, the Jim Henson Company -- can you get any more entertaining than The Muppets? -- and PBS Kids -- can you get any more educational than Sesame Street? So that's already two stars in their favor.

After watching the episodes, I'm happy to say my trust in them is well placed. The characters are really cute, and my kids can relate to the age-appropriate issues in the storyline (being different from other kids, trying new things, helping one another, etc..). I also like that Buddy is adopted; you don't see that in too many kids' shows, and it really ties together with the subtle, underlying theme of accepting one another's differences and living together in harmony.

But what I really liked (and what other parents will like) is the strong educational component. Each Dinosaur Train episode teaches kids about prehistoric animals. In the first show we watched, "Triceratops for Lunch", my kids learned about herbivore dinosaurs and how their bodies are adapted for eating plants. In the second episode, "Tiny Loves Fish", my kids learned about pteranodons and how they hunted for food. At the end of each episode, kids get to watch a short live-action feature, where Dr. Scott the Paleontologist. Dr. Scott teams up with a group of children and uses animation from the show and live footage of real animals to go over what they learned in the episode. I like how he always relates what they learned about prehistoric animals to modern-day animals ("What kinds of herbivores can you think of that are alive today?" "What kinds of animals can you think of that get their food like the pteranodon does?"). And I love his final tagline: "Get outside, get into nature, and make your own discoveries". As great as Dr. Scott's advice is, I'd also encourage families looking for good programs for their young children to get inside and discover Dinosaur Train.

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Driving the Lincoln MKT, Day 3

Today was all about the Lincoln MKT's Active Park Assist. We actually circled the block around our house to find a spot where I could show Alfie the Active Park Assist and film it for this post. I'm not a control freak, but I still can't get used to giving up the steering wheel and watching as the car acts like Kit from Knight Rider. The spot we chose was pretty tight, but the Active Park Assist came to the rescue and we ended up perfectly parallel to the curb!

My last errand of the day in the MKT was a quick trip to Whole Foods for some milk. I found a spot just beside the store that gave me the perfect opportunity to enjoy the MKT's parallel parking skills once again. As I the MKT was in the process of parking, another car came driving up and began parallel parking on the opposite side of the street (it was a one-way street). I felt so weird just sitting there while the car parked itself that I actually pretended to grip the steering wheel -- I didn't want the other driver didn't freak out and think I was about to crash into his car!

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

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Play-Doh Burger Builder

It's Back-to-School for kids, but that doesn't mean parents have to put the Play-Doh away. It makes a great afterschool activity for little kids -- but guess what? My big kids love it too! So far I've reviewed the Play-Doh Magic Swirl Ice Cream Shoppe and the Play-Doh Spaghetti Factory. And with the return of the Play-Doh Burger Builder for Fall 2009, our food court is complete! We were sent a Burger Builder playset to review, and we put it to good use while my sister and her kids stayed with us for a short visit.

The Basics
The Play-Doh Burger Builder set has everything kids need to set up a great pretend hamburger stand! It has 3 mold pressers with interchangeable molds so that kids can make Play-Doh tomatoes, lettuce, buns and more. It also comes with an extruder, a "Twist-a-Chip" tool for cranking out potato chips and pickles, and 5 2-ounce cans of Play-Doh. It's available at a retail price of $14.99 at most major toy retailers nationwide, and online at HasbroToyShop.com.
The Bongga
This Play-Doh set is sooo much fun -- we had an older version of the Burger Builder when I was a kid so I have great memories of making Play-Doh burgers too! This new, updated version goes one better with the addition of the Twist-a-Chip Super Tool. It's like an extruder with a crank handle -- you pop in the Play-Dough, screw in the top, turn the crank handle, and out come Play-Doh potato chips or pickle chips! And after the kids move on to something else, I really appreciate the fact that the set is not too bulky, so it's easy to put into a bin for storage.

By the way, the age recommendation says "Ages 3 & up", which usually means that 2 and 3 year olds like the toy. But not with Play-Doh! You're never too old to play with Play-Doh -- even my nine-year-old nephew loves it! Check it out: six children (one's not in the photo) between the ages of five and nine, completely absorbed in restaurant pretend play. They're all busy molding and rolling and extruding Play-Doh to make enough goodies to feed an army. Do you know what kind of bliss that is for my sister and I??

The Blah
Not much to complain about here -- other than my usual cleaning-up-PlayDoh-bits-stresses-me-out line. But I'm trying to get past that and into a zen place where stuff like that doesn't bother me. Lighten up, bonggamom! It's just a little vacuuming up, right, and I'm grateful that Play-Doh can still occupy my kids for such a long time....ohmmmmmmm...

The Bottom Line
The Play-Doh Burger Builder is a classic toy that has stood the test of time!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Driving the Lincoln MKT, Day 2

We stayed home most of the day, but we turned an errand to pick up Alfie's shoes into a major family outing, just so we could get back into the Lincoln MKT. Usually even the slightest whiff of eau de errand is enough to send my kids into whining fits, but when I asked them if they wanted to ride in the new car, they quickly put down their drawing pens and scrambled to put their shoes on!

The Bongga
Alfie was impressed with the responsiveness of the car; he couldn't believe it when I told him the MKT has a 350 horsepower engine. And once again, the rear parking camera was a hit. We have front and rear sensors on our minivan to help with backing up and maneuvering, but this is the first time we've tried out the rear parking camera. Thank goodness for the rear camera, because with 2 carseats in the 3rd row, the rear window is almost completely blocked, and there is no way you'd be able to see a kid walking -- acting silly -- behind the MKT. Then again, if the camera weren't there, my kids wouldn't have been posing and acting silly in the first place!






The Blah
I never thought I'd say this, but there aren't enough cupholders in this car. Geez, I've got to get out of the suburbs. You know you've really gotten domesticated when you complain that two cupholders per row aren't enough! But seriously, other than for macho bragging, does anyone ever really need a 350 hp engine?

Two days down, two more to go, and I still haven't gotten to use the Active Park Assist!

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

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Check Out Our Fantasy Fashions

We've really been enjoying the Klutz Paper Fashions Fantasy book that we reviewed last week! The kids -- yes, even 3Po and Jammy! -- have churned out fashion after fashion, tracing and cutting and gluing and decorating almost every day after school. The Pea is using the paper and embellishments not only for the paper dresses, but also for other crafts that she's making, like notecards and little books for her dolls. Not to be outdone, the boys have also joined in. I don't mind at all -- I think all that detailed tracing and cutting is great for developing their fine motor skills, their pencil grip and their scissor grip. And I love seeing them express their artistic side.

3Po made lots of mermaid outfits. For some reason, he really liked doing mermaids. I thought this one was cute because the top part looks like a bathing suit, even though there's no way a mermaid could put it on. Hey, it's supposed to be fantasy, so what do I know?


Jammy, on the other hand, liked fairies. Fairies with long gowns. This one looks like a 70's-era Woodstock fairy. I wonder what kinds of magic mushrooms this fairy was handing out!


When I saw this creation from The Pea, I complimented her on the use of the gauzy ribbon for sleeves. Her response: "Mama, those aren't sleeves! That ribbon is supposed to be a shawl". Forgive my fashion faux pax, Pea, that shawl is beautiful.

Stay tuned for more Paper Fantasies from the Bonggamom Fashion House! And if you want a chance to join in the fun, click here to enter my Klutz Paper Fashions Fantasy giveaway. I'll be selecting five -- yes, FIVE -- winners on September 17!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Driving the Lincoln MKT, Day 1

3Po and Jammy must have thought I was crazy when I led them to a strange, silver car after I picked them up from school.

3Po: Mama, that's not our car! (And all the while, his face was asking me: Are you stealing a car, mama? I thought it was bad to steal?).
Me: Yes, honeys, it is our car, at least for the next four days. We're test driving this car over Labor Day weekend!
Jammy: Ooooooohhhhhh......

I have to say that Ooooohhhhh.... is pretty much how I felt when they dropped off the Lincoln MKT in our driveway this morning. It's not every day that you get to try out a luxury car, and that new car smell is just intoxicating. I think we're going to have fun with this car over the next few days!

I'm still a bit too paranoid about the thought of crashing the car while I'm fiddling with all the gadgetry, so for now I'm just driving it around and getting a feel for it. And rather than do a huge novel-length review of the car at the end of the four days, I'd rather just list down the stuff that impressed or annoyed me about the car as I encounter them. For example:

The Bongga: Airconditioned seats......ahhhhhh! Pure bliss on a day when you've parked in direct sunlight and enter the car wearing short shorts! WHY more automakers don't do this is a total mystery. As for the boys, their Coolest Feature vote is a 3-way tie between the dual sunroof, reversing camera and pushbutton start. For now, anyway (we haven't gotten to the Active Park Assist yet!).

The Blah: No beeping sensors at the front of the car...... arrrrgh! The MKT is a big car with a humongo hood; if you've got sensors at the back, why not have them in the front?

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

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The Wat-aah! Challenge

The human body is 70% water, and it's a fact of life that we all need to stay hydrated. So Alfie and I make a big effort to get our kids to drink more water. No, we don't waterboard them, we just ask them to drink water throughout the day. They're not too fond of plain old boring water, so we try to vary it a bit for them by alternating between 100% juice and milk and water. But I'm always mindful of the AAP's recommendation of 6 oz. of juice daily for toddlers, and 2 6-oz. servings of juice for older children, so I look for ways to "wean" them off the sweet stuff, like watering down their juice or giving them flavored water. So when we were invited to take the Wat-aah! Challenge, I glady said yes.

The Basics
Wat-aah! is a premium bottled water for kids. We received a sample of 1 bottle each of the following varieties:

* Wat-aah! Bones, the first premium water with calcium to help bone growth
* Wat-aah! Brain, the first premium water with added electrolytes to encourage faster absorption, hydration and cooling down
* Wat-aah! Energy, the first premium water with electrolytes and oxygen for increased metabolic function and energy
* Wat-aah! Body, the foundation for the brand with simple and super clean water, absolutely free of sugar

You can purchase Wat-aah! on Amazon, or click here to find a location that sells Wat-aah!.

The Bongga
From the first moment they saw our sample Wat-aah! bottles, the kids were fighting to drink them. With those bright colors and bold designs, the bottles are certainly eye-candy for kids! Mine thought the cartoon of the kid with his mouth open was absolutely hilarious. So it's not surprising that even though the fridge was stocked with juice and chocolate milk, they all asked for the Wat-aah! All the flavors are nice and refreshing, especially when they're ice-cold, and my kids especially loved the taste of Wat-aah! Bones (the orange bottle).

The Blah
Yes, the kids did choose Wat-aah!, but I'm wondering whether it was because they were new and interesting, and those ultra-cool bottles are hard to resist. It's a step up from water as far as my kids are concerned, but unfortunately, the drink isn't sweet enough to trump their preference for juice. Also, I'd love to be able to buy Wat-aah! in smaller sized bottles.

The Bottom Line
Wat-aah is a great way to get your kids drinking more water. It's healthy and refreshing..... and kids find it hard to resist that ultra-cool bottle design. Don't let your kids choose-- just pack a bottle of Wat-aah! into their lunchboxes instead of juice!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Why Would I Test Drive a Lincoln MKT?

2010 Lincoln MKT with Ecoboost, originally uploaded by Ford Motor Company.

You know those car commercials where they invite you to contact your local dealer for a test drive? Frankly, I've never ever done that, and I don't know anyone who does, either. You'd either have to be true auto enthusiast or a masochist to actually go to a dealer and ask for a test drive. Sure, they'll let you test drive it -- for all of 10 minutes -- but is it worth the sales pitch that you have to go through?

Tomorrow I'm going to test drive a car -- but it's going to be a test drive like all test drives ought to be done. The Ford Motor Company has graciously lent me the use of a Lincoln MKT for all of Labor Day Weekend. Without any pressure to buy anything, other than a request to try it out and let them know what I think.

Hang on.... Ford? Lincoln?? Aren't Lincolns those huge town cars that you ride to the airport with? Why would I want to test drive that??

So why did I agree to test drive the Lincoln MKT? First of all, I'm glad I looked the car up on the internet beforepolitely turning them down. The Lincoln MKT is actually a luxury 7-seater crossover with enough space for my three kids, all their stuff, and even a playmate or two. People are not going to mistake me for a limo driver.

When I saw the car on the web, I realized that I've actually even driven one, at last month's What Women Want event in Chicago. Okay, I didn't really drive it, but I did get to park one, with the aid of the vehicle's super-cool, almost freaky Active Park Assist. I was so entranced that I almost bumped into the vehicle in front of me (note to self: Active Park Assist only steers. You do the braking). We learned about all the cool things that go into the Lincoln MKT, such as

* EcoBoost Engine
* Voice activated, hands-free SYNC phone/MP3 system
* Blind Spot Information Mirror (BLIS®) with cross traffic alert
* Intelligent Access and PushButton Start
* Did I mention the Active Park Assist?

So I'm actually more curious than ever to take the MKT out for a spin. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Ford was so extremely nice and gracious during the whole What Women Want event -- showing us their latest technologies, giving us a plant tour. Best of all, they listened.

I have to admit that I did not experience the same rush of emotion and pride that some bloggers did (read Citymama's touching and heartfelt post about the whole experience). But I will say one thing: The event is certainly changing my perception of Ford. I know now that Ford is not a company where all the decisions are made by old men in suits. I know that what goes into Ford cars aren't determined by people who sit in the backs of limos and tell consumers, This Is What You Want. I know that Ford takes real input from real people and use it to build Ford cars. And I know that's true because Citymama and I and fifty other bloggers saw them do it. They listened to us. To What Women Want.

And that's why I agreed to test drive the Lincoln MKT. Because I know they will listen to what I have to say.

I did not receive a product sample or monetary compensation for this post. Heck, I haven't even received the car loaner yet. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Corky and Company Kids Coats from KidsCoats.com

It feels strange to be thinking about winter coats when the kids are in tank tops and it's 90 degrees in the shade, but cold weather will be here before you know it, and it's time to find some Kids Outerwear! I've always coveted Corky & Company coats, so I was very happy to get the opportunity to review some samples for each of my kids from online retailer KidsCoats.com. Here's what I thought of them:

The Basics
Kids Coats carries the web's largest selection of children's coats from award-winning manufacturer Corky & Company . They sent each of my kids one of the coats in their Fall 09 line:

The Pea chose this Brown and Turquoise Polka Daisy Wrap Swing Girls Coat. It's fun and flirty and soft and cuddly and stylish and sweet all at the same time. She loves the dots and flower design, and the fur-lined hood with its fun, poufy tassel. I love how the sleeves roll up for now, so she can wear it all through this winter and maybe even into next winter.


KidsCoats.com also has a great selection of Boys Jackets and Boys Coats. 3Po received this olive nylon coat with fleece sherpa lining. It has a removable hood and it looks as rugged and tough as 3Po. Actually, when I say he received it, I actually meant that he and Jammy fought like tigers for it, and somehow 3Po ended up with it. Maybe it's the aviator-jacket-vibe that made both boys reeeelly want this coat! I never dress them alike, but I do kind of like to have them in the same or matching outerwear, so I might just end up buying another of these coats.

Not that Jammy ended up with the dregs or anything. The third coat was a beautiful brown zip-up corduroy coat, with fleece sherpa lining and toggle closures. Alfie actually likes this one the best out of all 3 that we received; it's definitely more stylish and hip than 3Po's olive nylon hoodie.


The Bongga
The photos speak for themselves. Actually, I'm a terrible photographer, and the photos don't do the coats justice. Oh. My. God. They are beautiful. They are the kinds of coats that make strangers approach you and ask where you got them. I am going to feel like a bag lady next to these kids -- I'd better go out and look for a grown-up coat that's as chic as theirs. Plus, they are soooo soft, The Pea says it's like being enveloped in a warm, snuggly blanket.

Best of all, I love, love, love that all their coats are machine-washable! Hurrah, no dry cleaning! No need to grit my teeth when I see stains on their beautiful coats but force myself to wait until the coats are so grubby they can practically walk by themselves, then spend almost as much at the dry cleaners as the cost of the coat itself.



The Blah
There isn't much to complain about these coats -- they're great quality at a decent price. Sure, you can buy coats for less money, but you don't get the sturdiness, softness, or style. These are hand-me-down quality coats! Also, Kids Coats offers free shipping on all coats to the US, and up to $50 off when you join their mailing list. And don't you worry -- Bonggamom Finds will be coming out with a KidsCoats.com giveaway soon, so one lucky winner will get to win a fabulous Corky & Company coat!

The Bottom Line
Parents and kids alike will love the coats sold at Kids Coats. Their Corky & Company coats are a super- stylish investment!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Anyone can Shred Sled!

Win this badass, totally fun Shred Sled! Just click here to get to my giveaway post and enter. Even if you don't have kids, you'll have fun with the Shred Sled. How do I know? Because I've tried it! See the videos below...


We've all been enjoying the Shred Sled that was sent to us for review. And when I say "we", I really do mean "we". Everyone in the family can Shred Sled now! And it really didn't take very long; I mean, it's not as if we've been practicing night and day (for one thing, we've only got one Shred Sled between the five of us). All it takes is someone to help you balance for the first five or ten minutes.

If you know how to snowboard or windsurf, you'll probably get the motion really easily. Alfie was able to figure it out all on his own. See, the Shred Sled isn't just for young boys, even old fossils like Alfie can do it:


Most older people will probably be a bit nervous at the thought of balancing on the Shred Sled. Heck, when I first stepped on it, I was convinced there was no way I could do it. But when I saw all 3 boys enjoying themselves, my competitive hackles rose. I knew I had to try it. Alfie didn't think it was a good idea because he has a pretty low opinion of my balancing skills. Which only got me even more determined to succeed. Sure, I do swerve around wildly every time I look over my shoulder to pass when riding a bicycle -- but I'm not a klutz, I'm not! I certainly didn't want my kids thinking I'm a decrepit old fuddy-duddy. So I went for it. I asked Alfie to help me balance the way we helped 3Po and Jammy balance. And what do you know, even I can do it. See?


When The Pea saw that I could Shred Sled, she decided to give it another go. I think I might have to patent our Learn-2-Shred method, because it has worked for 3Po, Jammy, The Pea and I. Here's a video of The Pea learning to balance on the Shred Sled:



And here are my foolproof Learn-2-Shred tips:
1) Just like a bike, it's almost impossible to balance on the Shred Sled while it's stationary. You need to get it moving first.

2) Don't worry about getting on the board all by yourself. For now, use a chair or a friend to help you get up on the board. Position your feet on the board and pull yourself up before pushing off.

3) Make sure you always put the same foot on the front board (the front board is rounded, sort like the head of a fish, and the rear board looks like a fishtail).

4) Focus on making the front board move from side to side (I tell my kids to make the head of the "fish" wiggle from side to side). You can twist your hips or flex and point your feet to accomplish this.

5) Ask someone for help to steady you while you're moving along. It's like riding a bike, you need someone to hold the seat of the bike for balance, then gradually let go as you begin to find your own balance.

Okay, maybe they're not foolproof, but they worked for me and my kids. And I'm not saying you won't fall once or twice or ten times, but I think these tips will make the process easier. Just remember to wear the right safety gear, know your kids' abilities and know your own. Neither I nor Shred Sled can be held responsible if you end up on your ass!

If all these videos have gotten you juiced up and ready to Shred Sled on your own, click here to join my Shred Sled giveaway -- hurry, it ends September 9!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Moxie Girlz

When I attended the BowlHer'09 party in Chicago last month, one of the hot items being passed out as swag was a new fashion doll called Moxie Girlz. I saw women walking out of the party with more than 1 big Moxie Girlz box, so it wasn't surprising that they had run out of Moxie Girlz by the time I got up to the swag table. I wasn't too disappointed, because I thought they looked a bit like Bratz dolls -- and I hate dislike Bratz dolls.

Bratz. Ugh. The name just rubs me raw -- brats are spoiled, selfish, kids. Bratz dolls are all about hair and fashion, which is fine, but their slutty clothing is not something I'd want my daughter wearing. And when I found out that Moxie Girlz is actually created by the company that originally created Bratz, I thought, there's no way I'm going to like these Moxie Girlz!

The Pea isn't interested in Bratz dolls either -- she says they look mean and unfriendly. So when I got back from BlogHer, I was really surprised to see her pick up the Moxie Girl contact card that I had picked up at the party and ask whether I would be reviewing the Moxie Girl doll. I said, probably not, because they looked like Bratz dolls to me. But she insisted it wasn't the same as a Bratz doll -- "Mama, she looks so pretty and nice! I don't like Bratz dolls either, but I like this one!" I was more intrigued at The Pea's attitude than anything else, so I emailed the name on the card and said I was interested in doing a Moxie Girlz review.

Welllll.....whadddayaknow -- Moxie Girlz aren't as bad as I thought! In fact, they're not bad at all! We received Sasha, and The Pea totally loves her. I'm totally reversing my initial snap judgement, and declaring for the record that the Moxie Girlz are welcome in our household. Here's why:


The Basics
Moxie Girlz is a new doll line that encourages girls ages 6-10 to be confident, creative and, as their motto goes, to "Be True! Be You! (TM)". The four core characters -- Lexa, Avery, Sasha and Sophina each have her own style and story. Each doll comes in a basic package, as well as in three themed packages:

Art-itude - the doll comes with markers and a bike that girls can decorate and personalize
Jammaz - the doll comes with music accessories so girls can pretend their doll is a rock star
Magic Hair - the doll comes with fun hair styling products that girls can use on their doll's hair and their own.

The Bongga
Wow. The Pea sure called it right. I have no idea how she made that judgement based on one small illustration, but I'm glad she did. Moxie Girlz are not Bratz. I'm relieved to see that they are much, much more appropriate for young girls! Their fashions are trendy, not skanky. They've got the big, doe-shaped eyes, but their expressions are dreamy, not sulky.

But what I really like is the message that Moxie Girlz sends to girls. Their tagline -- Be True! Be You! -- says it all, and it really resonates with my Girl-Power-conscious Pea. Yes, they're fashion dolls, but they are less about materialistic fashion and more about setting your own style. A Moxie Girl is more than just a pretty face!

The Blah
There isn't much The Pea doesn't like about this doll -- except her feet. Moxie Girlz have not feet; the shoes are the feet. They just snap onto the doll's legs at about mid-calf (our doll Sasha, came with boots). I guess it just takes some getting used to -- but since the doll came with an extra outfit, it would have been nice if an extra pair of shoes/feet/whatever were included.

The Bottom Line
Moxie Girlz dolls aren't just about primping and high fashion. I like the Moxie attitude!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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