20% Off Young Scientist Kits on ToysAndGamesOnline.com

A couple of months ago I reviewed (and gave away) a Razor Scooter from ToysAndGamesOnline.com. It's a great source for online toys, with a great choice of high-quality kids' products and lots of deals -- for example, orders over $69 ship free, and right now they're offering and extra $20 off any order over $250 (use promo code TwentyOff).

This holiday season they're featuring another great kids' brand -- The Young Scientists Club -- and they're offering 20% off all Science Kits between November 23 and December 1st! Just enter the code YSC20 at checkout to receive the discount.

Click on this link to see all the science kits available at ToysAndGamesOnline.com. I can't give it a review right now because we haven't tried any of the kits yet, but they look like they'd be so much fun for kids -- kind of like summer camp in a box. ToysAndGamesOnline.com is sending us one of the kits to try, so I'll let you all know how that goes. The only think I'm not looking forward to is picking the kit. They all look so great, but I think I might go with one of the Magic Schoolbus ones. My kids adore Magic Schoolbus, and they'd be delighted to do some experiments with Ms. Frizzle.

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

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Cinemin Swivel

One of the cool products that were showcased at last Sunday's SV Moms holiday party (I know, I know, I haven't gotten around to blogging about it yet. Until I do, check out Kim's post) was a teeny-tiny iPod-compatible projector called the Cinemin Swivel. Party attendees were lucky enough to receive a free Swivel (or at least a free order; the actual product will be shipped in January) but they're also giving everyone else a chance to win one on Twitter. Today and tomorrow, one free Cinemin Swivel pico projector (valued at $300 each) will be awarded to a lucky Twitter user. To enter to win, tweet an answer to the question posted each day on the official Cinemin Twitter account (@cinemin) including the hashtag #cinemin in it. (Click here for the official rules).

Here's more information about the Cinemin Swivel from the manufacturers:
With the iPhone / iPod-compatible Cinemin Swivel multimedia pico projector, now you can pack big screen-ready content in your pocket. From romantic flicks on the bedroom ceiling…to foreign cinema in the backyard to…YouTube on a subway wall… to vacations photos on an airplane tray table – you name it. The Cinemin Swivel allows film, art, games, and photos to be shared with anyone, any time, anywhere and features a unique adjustable 90-degree hinge so you can even watch content on the bedroom ceiling.


I can't review this product right now since I don't have it yet -- I won't be getting mine till January (yup, it's already back ordered). I can't believe I'm saying this, but since the daily Cinemin Swivel giveaways end tomorrow, you may not want to wait for me give my opinion before entering to win.

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

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

As a giveaway blogger, I've found it's a great way to get more traffic to my giveaways. And as a person who loves entering giveaways, I've found it's a great way to find out where all the best giveaways are.

So I've started a weekly giveaway roundup post that hopefully people will find useful. Feel free to leave links to your giveaways, everyone. And don't forget to get cracking and enter all those giveaways!

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Boston Market for the Holidays

Those of you who read my blog know that I didn't grow up in the US; I'm from the Philippines, so I never celebrated Thanksgiving until I was in my mid-twenties. Now we celebrate it every year, but I'm not a stickler for slaving over a hot stove in order to come up with a home-cooked meal. I love prepared holiday feasts like those you can get from Boston Market because you can focus on family and friends, not food.

When I was pregnant with the twins, we bought a Boston Market Heat & Serve Holiday Banquet, and for a couple of years after that we actually took the kids to our local Boston Market restaurant and ate our Thanksgiving dinner there. We've always found the food hot and delicious. I haven't been to Boston Market in a while, but recently I was treated to a free meal at Boston Market by Boston Market and BzzAgent, and the food is just as yummy as I remember it!

The Basics
Boston Market's Heat and Serve Holiday Banquet has everything you need for a delicious Thanksgiving meal -- turkey, sides and dessert. All you have to do is heat and enjoy. Their Catered Banquets come already warmed, and you can order banquets for as little as $10 per person.

The Bongga
I've always liked Boston Market's food -- great comfort food like turkey and chicken with all the sides and trimmings -- and I love the fact that it's hot and ready and very affordable.

The Blah
Well, it's comfort food and fast food, so I wasn't holding my breath in the hopes that this would be too healthy. I almost don't want them to print out the calorie counts on the menu because I want to tuck into all that yummy food without thinking about all that stuff!

The Bottom Line
Boston Market's Heat and Serve meals and Catered Buffets let you spend less time in the kitchen and more with family and friends.

Enter and Save!
Enter the code BZZAGENT when checking out at bostonmarket.com/catering to receive 10% off your ready-to-serve Catered Holiday Buffet order of $100 or more (10% discount applicable to catering orders placed through 12/31/09 only; not valid on Heat & Serve Holiday Banquets).

Win It!
The first three people who leave a comment on this post with their email address will receive a Boston Market coupon for $3 off any restaurant purchase of $6 or more!

I received a coupon for a free meal from Boston Market and BzzAgent in order to review this product, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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My First Lego Fire Fighter Building Set

I don't think I need to go into detail about how great LEGO is. Everybody plays with it -- we have a big tub of LEGO in the playroom (actually we have two big tubs -- one holds regular sized LEGO, and one holds DUPLO bricks), and I don't know of a family or daycare or school that doesn't. It's one of the best toys for building and themed play around, and any holiday list that doesn't include one LEGO set or another is simply crazy.

I do have one beef with LEGOs for kids 3Po and Jammy's age; that is, age 4-6. I know there are geniuses out there who can assemble LEGO Millenium Falcons before they lose their first tooth, but my boys aren't like that, and some of the complicated sets frustrate them. They're too old for DUPLO but too young to assemble the Star Wars or Power Miners or Castle sets. They need a grownup's help to put it together, play with it for a couple of days, then it breaks and the pieces go into the big LEGO bin. All the weird-looking parts get lost, and they can never put the set back together again!

So I'm glad to see that LEGO is coming up with more playsets for younger kids like the new My First LEGO®. We were given a My First LEGO® Fire Fighter building set to try out; here's what we thought of it:


The Basics
The new My First LEGO® sets have regular sized LEGO bricks in the basic square shapes, with simple instructions that young children can follow. Here's what LEGO has to say about their My First LEGO Sets:

My First LEGO® sets in three classic themes are the perfect way to acquaint young builders with the LEGO build and play experience. Comes in three themes: Fire, Pirates and Castle. Fun and affordable stocking stuffers and travel companions, you can play with each set individually or collect all three for expanded building fun! 117+ pieces. Age 4+. Available for $9.99 at www.LEGO.com.


The Bongga
This LEGO set is the perfect level for my boys! 3Po and Jammy built the fireman's house with zero help from me, which did wonders for their confidence and my workload. Then they took it apart and rebuilt it using the alternate building ideas. It didn't take long, so they got near-instant gratification and we weren't left with a half-finished piece when dinnertime rolled around. The finished result is simple but fun to play with (they thought the mini firefighter was pretty cool). I liked that the set uses mostly plain square bricks, with none of the specialized pieces that are so difficult to find when they're buried in our big LEGO tub. The age range says 4-7 but it's such a simple set that I would downgrade it to 4-6 -- and I think it's absolutely perfect for that age range.





The Blah
I can't really think of anything negative to say about these sets. Even if your 4-6 year old accidentally breaks his model, it's simple enough for him to rebuild it quickly, and the parts are so generic that he can rebuild it easily, substituting parts if necessary.

All I can say is, I hope LEGO brings out more themes to add to the original three -- maybe even a girl-themed one like the LEGO Belleville?


The Bottom Line
My First LEGO® sets are easy enough for beginning builders to assemble on their own, yet cool enough to play with alongside the more complicated LEGO sets. It's a great present for a child who has just graduated from the DUPLO sized bricks!

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

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Bakugan 7-in-1 Maxus Dragonoid

I remember the moment like it was yesterday: sometime last spring, 3Po and Jammy went for a playdate at a friend's house, and when I picked them up they had discovered a new religion: the Church of Bakugan. They have been obsessed with Bakugan since then, and they treasure their small collection of magnetic pop-out action figures like they're the holy grail.

Recently, I, Bonggamom, became their favorite priest when I told them that Spinmaster had sent me their latest toy to review, just in time for the holidays -- the Bakugan 7-in-1 Maxus Dragonoid. Getting to try out this toy was like getting an early Christmas present. If you need a holiday present for a boy anywhere from age 5 through 10, STOP. Look no further than the Bakugan 7-in-1 Maxus Dragonoid! Here's why:


The Basics
Spinmaster have taken their popular Bakugan dragonoids and Bakugan traps and combined them to make the Bakugan 7-in-1 Maxus Dragonoid. Each one can be played with separately, but they also snap together, a la Transformers, to make a totally new action figure. Here's what Spinmaster has to say about their latest and greatest toy:

Bakugan 7 in 1 Maxus Drago Features Maxus Dragonoid is a combination of 7 Bakugan (1 Bakugan and 6 Bakugan Trap) that unite to form the ultimate monster. The 6 Bakugan Trap that make up Maxus Dragonoid are unique to the Maxus Dragonoid monster and cannot be found in any other Bakugan products. Comes with Grakas Hound, Dark Hound, Grafias, Brachium, Spitarm, SpyderFencer & Neo Dragonoid. All the Bakugan that compose Maxus Dragonoid can also be used individually in the game. 1 Bakugan and 7 Bakugan Traps unite into ONE.

The Bongga
Before you read this section, be forewarned that I'm going to use the word cool a lot. I could use the word awesome, but I try to use that word sparingly. The Grand Canyon is awesome. The Maxus Dragonoid doesn't quite compare to the Grand Canyon (my sons would disagree), but when you see it in action, you really cannot help but say, Aww...Cooooooooool. 3Po and Jammy love it, of course, and it's not surprising that Alfie loves it -- but what's surprising, even a girly girl like The Pea loves it. Even I love it. It's Just. So. Cool.



It's cool how they pop open when placed on a magnetic card. Cool that they look like little dogs and crabs and dragons when they're open. Cool how they fold up into such compact objects (how in blazes they managed to design all that detail into such a tiny object is beyond me!). Cool how they fit together to make a single robot/beast/fighter/whatever. Cool, cool, cool. Time To Play.com named the Maxus Dragonoid one of the hottest holiday toys of 2009, and I agree wholeheartedly. You don't even need to watch the Bakugan tv show or know how to play the Bakugan game to want this toy.


The Blah
I was all set to write quite a bit about how difficult this thing was to transform, and how the age rating really ought to be 6 or 7+ instead of 5+. But before I even managed to think of the first sentence, 3Po and Jammy had already put all 7 Bakugan together and transformed them. The instructions? Uesless (to me, at least). Better to watch one of the many videos on YouTube that show you how to do it. I still can't quite figure out some of the twists and turns, but fortunately my sons are one step ahead of me.

The one thing I'd love to see is the ability to buy each of the 7 components separately. Unfortunately Jammy grew a bit too zealous with one of the pieces (the Grafias Bakugan trap), and snapped it in half while he was trying to rotate it (hmmmm.... maybe they should change that age rating after all). Both boys are devastated, and now I have to buy a whole new complete set in order to replace it!

The only other thing I didn't quite like was how firmly each Bakugan was strapped to the plastic packaging. I can easily imagine some of those delicate limbs being torn apart by eager young lads ready to play with their new toy.


The Bottom Line
The Bakugan 7-in-1 Maxus Dragonoid is THE toy to put under your son's or nephew's or grandson's holiday tree this year! He will be the envy of all his friends because the coolness factor of this toy is off the charts!


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

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Win a Jillian Michaels Wii Fit Package!

Win this awesome Wii Fit package! To find out how, keep reading......

I love Jillian Michaels. She totally kicks my butt every time I do one of her Biggest Loser workout DVDs, and I have several friends who swear by her 30-Day Shred program. I'd love to see her live, in action -- and this Thursday some lucky ducks who live in Southern California will get to do just that!

The Sports Authority is holding a great event at their Torrance, CA store to celebrate the inauguration of their "We Know Fit. We Know Fun" in-store teamup with Nintendo. Jillian Michaels will be there, leading the world's largest Wii Fit Plus demonstration! They'll also be giving out some sweeeeet prizes, including copies of Jillian's latest Wii game, "Fitness Ultimatum 2010", and Wii Fit boards. This is one event you will not want to miss!


Here are all the deets about this great event:


Event Information:
* Thursday, Nov. 19
* Sports Authority store in Torrance(located at 3610 Torrance Blvd.), CA (just outside of Los Angeles, CA)
* Event starts at 9:30 a.m. and runs until mid-day


Event Highlights:
* Jillian Michaels, from “The Biggest Loser,” will be in attendance.
* There will be the “world’s largest Wii Fit Plus” demonstration featuring 102 people. Jillian will be part of the demonstration, doing what she does best – showing folks how to get in shape!
* Lots of items to be given away, including copies of Jillian Michaels’ new Wii game "Fitness Ultimatum 2010"and Wii Fit Plus boards, as well as other prizes from Sports Authority, Nintendo and Nike.


Why: Sports Authority is teaming up with Nintendo to create a new way to experience fitness gaming. The collaboration will allow Sports Authority to sell Wii gaming consoles, Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus, as well as various accessories and games for the Wii, in its stores. To launch the product and to help customers get to know the Wii better, Sports Authority will create a "We know fit. We know fun." experience at 102 of their stores. Stores will feature a dedicated area with a demo unit and knowledgeable trainers to help customers try the Wii Fit Plus before they buy.This will help moms trade static workouts for ones that involve fun and fitness for the whole family.

For more information: Visit http://www.thewiiauthority.com/



If you don't live near Torrance and aren't lucky enough to be able to attend Thursday's event, never fear. Sports Authority is spreading the giveaway love all over the blogosphere: they've given me a Wii Fit Plus and Jillian Michaels Wii game to give away right here!


Win It!
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a Jillian Michaels Wii Fit package, consisting of:

* Jillian Michaels' new Wii game "Fitness Ultimatum 2010"
* A Wii Fit Plus board

To enter, simply leave a comment here and tell me what you like best about the Wii Fit Plus (hint: you can find out more about the Wii Fit Plus at Sports Authority's Wii Fit Plus Experience website).

Extra Entries
This giveaway is a biggie, so I'm going to give you lots of ways to earn extra entries. You can do any and all of the following: (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

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

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

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

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

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

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

7) Join my Bonggamom Finds Cardstore.com giveaway -- just put your name on the RSVP list and leave a comment on the post! (leave a comment here telling me your RSVP number).

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

Win a Jillian Michaels Wii Fit package from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/y89k8m8

Maximum of 9 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on December 8, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on December 9 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

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

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Style Lab Jewelry Design for Nintendo DS

All 3 of my kids love making necklaces and bracelets. There's just something so calming and therapeutic about stringing beads and charms onto a string, and when you're done you end up with something pretty and unique and personal to wear. They started out when they were very young, sliding huge plastic beads onto pipe cleaners with their chubby 18-month old fingers, then graduated to plastic pony beads.

The beads have gotten smaller and smaller as they grow up (now they can work with seed beads, elastic cord, wire and crimping tools). And now they're delighted to find that one of their favorite craft activites has gone virtual with the introduction of Ubisoft's Style Lab Jewelry Design game for Nintendo DS! It was just released a couple of days ago and we were lucky to receive an advance copy to play with and review.


The Basics
Style Lab: Jewelry Design lets players create their very own pieces of jewelry, try the jewelry on photos of themselves, and upload the jewelry to the web, and order an actual copy of the jewelry for them to wear. Players can choose from game mode (where they pretend to be the owner of a jewelry shop; the goal of the game is to design the perfect piece of jewelry for the customers who come to their shop and earn money so they can buy more beads and charms to use in future jewelry creations), or they can enter a free play mode and design whatever jewelry they want.


The Bongga
The Pea, of course, loves this game; it's her third favorite Nintendo DS game (next to Imagine Salon Stylist and Style Lab Makeover). Even my two boys, 3Po and Jammy, love playing it! They like stringing real beads so it's not a surprise they like this as well. I'm impressed with how Ubisoft really got it right and created so many games that really appeals to girls' interests! It's so much fun to create jewelry, and so much easier to plan it out virtually than to struggle with the real needlenose pliers and crimp beads and such. And since you can actually order your finished creations, you get all the satisfaction of a finished product.

I really love how this game utilizes the best of the DSi's features. You can use the Nintendo DSi camera to take a photo of yourself, then "try on" the jewelry you made in the game. You can use the wireless feature to share designs with friends who also have the DSi and their own Style Lab: Makeover. Best of all, you can even upload your design to the web and order the actual bracelet that you design! Unfortunately we haven't gotten a chance to upload any of our creations to the Style Lab or order them, but you can bet this is one feature that we'll be trying in the future -- and when The Pea's jewelry creations arrive, you can bet I'll be posting photos on this blog!

The Blah
I have to admit I'm a bit daunted at the thought of getting everything set up to be able to order the kids' jewelry creations off the web. I took the first step -- creating an account at www.stylelabgame.com , but it seemed like just another online site for kids, and I couldn't figure out where I could actually order and pay for the jewelry. I wish Ubisoft would include clearer uploading and ordering instructions!

The Bottom Line
Style Lab: Jewelry Design is the perfect combination of virtual gaming and actual shopping. I would definitely recommend this game as a present for an 8-10 year old girl -- along with a gift certificate to the Style Lab shop, so the girl who receives this game can also get a real copy of the jewelry she designs!

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

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Makeover fun with Nintendo DS games from Ubisoft

The Pea is at that age when makeup is just beginning to interest her. And I don't just mean trying it on -- she's been painting her nails and smearing on eyeshadow and lipstick since she was two. Recently she's asked me whether she can wear makeup to school and ballet class! Imagine what the teachers would say if a third grader came to class looking like Ivana Trump. It goes without saying that I nipped that idea in the bud.

Don't get me wrong, I'm totally fine with The Pea experimenting with hair and makeup. In fact, she's got her own little kit with lip gloss and nail polish and eyeshadow and a hairbrush and mirror. I just don't want her going out like that! Fortunately Ubisoft recently sent us two games that let The Pea indulge in her current makeover obsession on the Nintendo DS: Imagine: Salon Stylist and Style Lab: Makeover.

The Basics
Imagine: Salon Stylist is a Nintendo DS game that lets players run their own beauty salon. In the game's background story, you are a salon owner; the goal is to get clients to keep coming back and attract new, celebrity clients -- all of whom give you "money". You please clients by giving them the hairstyles and makeovers and treatments they want, greeting and treating them nicely. Successful makeovers earn you money that you can spend on salon decor and use to unlock new hairstyles and accessories that will make you even more successful.

Style Lab: Makeover lets players create avatars of themselves and their friends, and experiment with different makeup and hair styles. You use the Nintendo DS's camera to snap a photo of yourself so that you can match it as closely as possible to the available face shapes, skin tones, hairstyles, and facial features. You can complete makeover challenges to earn points that can be used to unlock more makeup colors, tools and styles. Unlike the Imagine series, Style Lab: Makeover does not have a story game component (there's another game for that: Imagine: Makeup Artist).

The Bongga
These two games are The Pea's current favorite! The story component of Imagine: Salon Stylist is secondary to the enjoyment she gets out of playing with the hair and makeup tools. She loves putting makeup on her virtual face and her friend's virtual face, and she loves experimenting with all the different hairstyles. And she loves styling The funny thing is that 3Po and Jammy also like playing with these games! I think they like using the stylus to do things like cut and straighten hair, or trace the outline of a virtual model's lip in order to apply lip liner.

The Blah
Both games are harmless fun, so I really don't see anything wrong with either of them. If I had a complaint, it would be that Style Lab: Makeover doesn't let girls take a photo of themselves and make over their actual face. They just use the photos to help create an avatar that resembles them.

The Bottom Line
Imagine: Salon Stylist and Style Lab: Makeover are two great games for young girls that let them indulge in all the hair and beauty makeovers they can think of. Parents will like it because there's no mess -- no need to buy gallons of makeup remover, and no need for that quick trip to the hairdressers to fix an unauthorized haircut that has gone tragically wrong!

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

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Sleepyheads pajamas Review and Giveaway

Want to win your very own set of cute, comfy pj's? Keep reading to find out how!

I'm a sucker for matching outfits. Call me corny, call me tacky, but I think it's cute and it shows family togetherness. Fortunately, I already have the perfect venue to indulge my matching-outfit -- I've got identical twins. So I sometimes get to dress 3Po and Jammy in identical, or at least matching outfits, but I try not to do it too often since they're individuals, after all, not TweedleDum and TweedleDee. Once, I even got to dress the whole family in matching Hawaiian outfits, and we actually went out to lunch dressed that way (it was Father's Day, so Alfie relented).

Looking back, I still think it looks cute, but I'll admit it might not look as cute in public when the kids are twelve and fifteen. But now I've found the perfect solution for me to indulge my taste for matching outfits without coming off as the Von Trapp family or Jon & Kate plus Eight -- wear matching pajamas at home! Online retailer Sleepyheads.com has a great selection of matching family pajamas. They generously sent me their Sleepyhead Lips White Shortsleeve Lounger Pajama to review, and here's what I thought of it:




The Basics

Sleepyheads.com carries pajamas for the entire family in every style and size you can think of. They carry brands like Life is Good, Betsey Johnson, Bedhead and Jose by Natori, as well as their very own line of Sleepyheads brand pajamas. Among the wide variety of styles available are silk and satin nighties, cartoon-themed pajamas, holiday-themed pajamas, and family matching robes and sleepwear. As Sleepyheads puts it, Lounging around with the family has never been so much fun!



The Bongga
What can I say -- the Sleepyhead pajamas are great. The cotton material is soft and doesn't pill in the wash. It's going to last a long time! The lips pattern is cute and fun and flirty, just like all of their other patterns.

I also adore their family matching sets -- I've seen many other sites with family sets for the holidays, but Sleepyheads.com has family matching sets with everyday patterns, so we can have home movie nights or family pillow fights any day of the year! And I really like the fact that the matching sets aren't carbon copies of each other. Rather, they complement each other so that each family member can look like an individual but still match with the rest of the family. Alfie, look out -- we might be taking this year's holiday photo in matching pajamas!


The Blah
There isn't any sizing information -- or if there is any, I couldn't find it, which is just as disappointing. Different brands fit differently, so it would have been nice to have some measurements to go with each size instead of picking a size and hoping for the best.


The Bottom Line
Sleepyheads.com sleepwear is adorable and affordable. It's a great way to show your family spirit during the holidays and any time of the year!

Win It!
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a Sleepyheads Brand pajama set -- any size, any pattern, any style -- for their very own! To enter, simply head over to Sleepyheads.com and check out their Sleepyheads Brand pajamas. Then come back here and leave a comment telling me which style, pattern and size you would choose if you win (you MUST enter this information to enter the giveaway, and this entry must be completed 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) Tell a friend about Sleepyheads.com! Go to Sleepyheads' Friend Referral page:

http://www.sleepyheads.com/Static/Refer.aspx

Enter your email and your friend's email and send. Then come back here and leave a comment telling me that you did (Be nice -- Santa's watching you, and I will check!)

2) Grab my button -- it's on the left hand sidebar, or click here to get it -- and post it on your blog! (leave a comment here with a link to your site).

3) Blog about this giveaway and include a link to the giveaway post (leave a comment here with a link to your 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 Sleepyheads pajama set from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/yzbcf6d


Maximum of 5 entries per person. Winner may select their prize from available Sleepyheads Brand pajamas only; other brands available on Sleepyheads.com are not eligible for the prize. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on November 23, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on November 24 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

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

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Steaz Teaz review and giveaway

When Steaz Teaz first contacted me about trying out a new tea beverage, I felt no confident about subjecting it to a rigorous testing, because I have a secret weapon -- my English husband Alfie, who drinks about 10 cups of tea a day. Little did I know that I would fall in love with Steaz Teaz so much that he never got to try any of the teas! I finished them all before he had a chance (okay, I have a couple of cans left, but I'm hiding them for myself). Read my review below and enter for a chance to win some Steaz Teaz for yourself!


The Basics
Steaz Teaz is a new line of organic, fair trade iced tea beverages. They are available at Whole Foods, and now they're available at Target as well! I was sent several samples of their lightly sweetened organic teas -- Green Tea with Peach, White Tea with Lime and Pomegranate, and Green Tea with Blueberry Pomegranate Acai -- which was perfect for me, because I have a sweet tooth, but they have many other kinds of iced teas, including sparkling teas and tea-based energy drinks (see their whole product line at www.steaz.com).

The Bongga
Steaz is tea-rrific! I love, love, love the taste of these teas. They've got a light, delicate taste that's really refreshing. I'm not a fan of the White Tea with Lime and Pomegranate -- it's too tart for my taste -- but hey, to each his own, and fortunately Steaz has lots of other flavors to chose fromTheir sweetened teas are sweet, but not so cloyingly sweet that it overpowers the taste of the tea and fruit. That's great for the taste, and also for my waistline --there are just 10 grams of sugar and 40 calories per serving! And since they're organic, there are no nasty chemicals or pesticides.

By the way, I'm also happy that Steaz is not just a good drink, it's a good company with a triple-bottom line focus. That is, they focus on not just profits -- they also consider people (Steaz is fair trade certified) and the planet (Steaz uses only organic ingredients -- when considering their actions as a company.


The Blah
I don't really have anything bad to say about the Steaz drinks I tried, so I'll reserve my negative comments for the Steaz website, which is pretty and all, but so loaded with images and moving doodads that it takes a long time to get past the pretty stuff and on to the good stuff, i.e. all the information about Steaz and the Steaz products!

The Bottom Line
Iced tea lovers, look no further! Everybody wins with Steaz Teaz: your tastebuds, your health, your pocketbook and the earth.

Win It!
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will be selected to win a Steaz gift pack consisting of 6 cans of yummy Steaz Teaz and a $10 Target giftcard. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me which Steaz Teaz flavor you'd like to try. Don't forget to leave your email address so we can contact you if you win.



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

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

2) Follow Steaz on twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id).

3) Subscribe to the Bonggamom Finds feed (leave a comment saying you subscribe).

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

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 Steaz giftpack from @bonggafinds and @steaz http://tinyurl.com/ya7ax3d

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

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

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Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey game for Nintendo DS

My kids love elephants. One of their favorite stuffed toys is a stuffed elephant named Horton Chouchie (he's named after the elephant in Dr. Seuss's Horton Hears a Who). When we watched the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: Zing Zang Zoom circus performance last August, they were immediately drawn to the elephants. The wrinklier and baggier the elephant was, the more they loved it! Honestly, I think they'd love to have an elephant as a pet. Fortunately for my back yard, we have Horton Chouchie the stuffed elephant, and now each of my kids has a virtual elephant to care for and have fun with -- we recently received a copy of the just released Nintendo DS game, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: Circus Friends Asian Elephants, to try. Here' what we thought of it:


The Basics
Here's what the makers have to say about this game:
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: Circus Friends Asian Elephantsfor Nintendo DS, gives pachyderm enthusiasts the ability to care for their very own Asian elephant. Gamers must ensure their playful pal eats well, stays clean and healthy, and gets daily exercise. Once the proper training program has been implemented, their circus friend can star and show off in The Greatest Show on Earth™! This game was developed by 2K’s Cat Daddy Games studio, the developers of the multi-million seller Carnival Games, and is rated E for everyone by the ESRB. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: Circus Friends Asian Elephants for Nintendo DS is available for $29.99 at major retailers across North America .

For more information, go to www.Ringlingbrosgame.com.


The Bongga
When we received this game, I knew it would appeal to my kids because they like elephants and they can identify with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. But I didn't think that caring for a virtual elephant would be so engaging! They love playing the simple games to get points that they can use to buy clothes and home decorations for their elephants. They even like doing gross stuff like picking dirt off the elephant's teeth and trimming its toenails and shoveling out the dirty straw from the elephant's bed. Certainly no one can accuse Natalie, 3Po or Jammy of treating their circus elephants badly!

As a parent with young children, I like the fact that the game is really simple. I like that you can save your game and come back to it later, so I can enforce gaming time limits without feeling guilty that they're losing everything they worked so hard to earn. I like that it appeals to both girls and boys (okay, mostly girls, but could boys like my sons really like it!). And I really love how many of the instructions are spoken in addition to appearing on the screen; that way, 3Po and Jammy don't need someone to help them read the instructions. They can figure out what to do on their own, which increases their independence and confidence.

The Blah
With the circus theme and cartoonish atmosphere, this game is obviously meant to appeal to the younger set, so I wish all the instructions were spoken as well as written.

The Bottom Line
It has just the right mix of challenge and simplicity to suit the youngest Nintendo DS gamers. I'd highly recommend this as a first-DS-game present!

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

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You're Invited to a Cardstore.com Holiday Twitter Party!

The holidays are coming, and with all the parties, presents and people comes a lot of work, stress and hassle. We could all use a sympathetic ear and a friendly word of advice on how to get through this holiday season without losing our sanity. Where to start? Well, how about a party? Yup, what would the holidays be without a party?! Next week I'm co-hosting a Twitter Party with Cardstore.com, and you're all invited to join us as we share tips to get you through the season, ways to deal with holiday stress, and ideas for making your holidays memorable.

Cardstore.com combines beautiful artwork, personalized greetings and professional printing to create premium, one-of-a-kind greeting cards, invitations, announcements. Their collection of gorgeous holiday cards -- for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah and the New Year -- are the perfect way for you to greet family and friends in a stylish, memorable way, and they've got some great time-saving services to make sending holiday cards easy and convenient.


What: a Cardstore.com Holiday Twitter Party
Why: To share ideas about making the holidays less stressful and more memorable, and to win great prizes!
When: Wednesday, November 18^th 4-5pm PST
Where: on Twitter (You will need to have a twitter account, it is extremely simple to sign up!)
How: Follow the #CSParty hashtag (You can use services like TweetChat or TweetGrid to follow the conversation)


Here's a list of all the great prizes you can win:

(A) GRAND PRIZE: One lucky winner will receive a $100 Cardstore.com gift certificate! The winner gets to spend it on any of Cardstore.com's beautiful personalized products!




(B) Two lucky winners will each receive a set of 10 Personalized Thank You Cards, valued at $19 each. The card shown here, Pink Lime Mums, is one of my favorites, but the winners get to choose any design (and personalize it!) from Cardstore.com's Thank You Card collection.




(C) Two lucky winners will each receive a Holiday Thank You Card Pack (Set of 10, $19 value). I think this Pale Blue Snow design is adorable, but the winners can select their own designs and customizations from Cardstore.com's Holiday Thank You Card collection.






(D) Two lucky winners will each receive a 12 Card Personalized Stationery Boxed Set (Retail Value: $21). The cards can be customized with your photos and personalized messages. This is a brand-new product and you're going to be one of the first to enjoy it!



(E) Three lucky winners will each receive an All-Occasion Gift Card Pack from Cardstore.com. Each gift pack contains 10 cards with an assortment of occasions, including Birthday, Get Well, Happy Anniversary and Thank You (Retail Value: $24)



That's ten chances to win, and hundreds of dollars in prizes! So be sure to join the party, and be sure to follow me, @bonggamom and @cardstyle throughout the party for contest details, updates, prize information.


Win a Prize from Cardstore.com, Right Here on Bonggamom Finds!
Cardstore.com will be giving away ten fabulous prizes during the Twitter party..... but for now, let's start with a giveaway right here! One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a set of Personalized Thank You Cards (prize B), and one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a set of Personalized Holiday Thank You Cards (prize C) from Cardstore.com.

To enter, all you need to do is RSVP by leaving your Twitter id on the Mr. Linky list below.

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

1) Become a fan of Cardstyle on Facebook and leave a comment here with your Facebook account name.

2) Follow Cardstyle on Twitter and leave a comment here with your Twitter id.

3) Follow bonggamom on Twitter and leave a comment here with your Twitter id.

4) Visit Cardstore.com, then come back here and leave a comment telling me your favorite card design.

5) Tweet out the details of this party, including the #CSParty hashtag in your tweet, anytime between now until 4:00PM PST on November 18. Then come back and leave a comment here with a link to your tweet. Here is a sample tweet you can copy and paste:

Join @cardstyle @bonggamom for a holiday Twitter party! Nov 18, 4-5PM PST. RSVP http://tinyurl.com/ylk57z4 2 win some great prizes! #CSParty


This giveaway ends at 4PM PST on November 18. I will draw a winner via Random.org and announce the winner at the #CSParty Twitter event. Good luck, and see you at the Twitter party!


RSVP here: (Note: You do not need to RSVP to join the party, but you must RSVP in order to enter the giveaway above, and you must participate in the Twitter party on Nov. 18 in order to be eligible to win the prizes offered during the party)


Disclosure: I did not receive any product samples in association with this event. I am being compensated for this post and future posts associated with the event. The views and opinions expressed here an in any future posts associated with the event are my own.

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

As a giveaway blogger, I've found it's a great way to get more traffic to my giveaways. And as a person who loves entering giveaways, I've found it's a great way to find out where all the best giveaways are.

So I've started a weekly giveaway roundup post that hopefully people will find useful. Feel free to leave links to your giveaways, everyone. And don't forget to get cracking and enter all those giveaways!

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Friends Forever Girls discount

Earlier in the year I won a Friends Forever Girls doll in a blog giveaway. We decided to give the doll to my niece Belliboo for her 5th birthday, and I'm so happy we did because she really loves her Natalie! I think they're great dolls because they're well made, they come with lots of accessories, they promote great values like friendship, diversity, community -- and at $59, they're much more affordable than American Girl dolls, making them accessible to many more little girls.

With that said, here's a great coupon code I thought I'd share with you: $3 off any doll outfit! Doll outfits make great holiday presents, and every dollar saved helps. Just enter the code 3outfit, and enjoy savings until 11/20/09.

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

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Astroboy Action Figures

Last week the kids and I watched the Astroboy movie, and boy, did we have a blast (read my short movie synopsis and review here). My kids found the emotional scenes a bit too heartwrenching (as in, they were crying their eyes out in the movie theater, bless their soft little hearts) but they adored all of the action scenes, and they can't talk about Astroboy these days without the accompanying arm movements and Zzzzzzooom sounds and blaster sounds that I can't really spell out into a proper word.

This kind of movie was just made for toy licensing, because action figures based on the movie and the perfect way for little boys to reenact what they enjoyed in the movie and keep the memories alive. A couple of days before we saw Astroboy we received a 6" Astroboy figure from Jazwares, which was great timing because now they love playing with it so much!

The Basics
The 6" Astroboy action figure depicts Astroboy as he appears in all the classic manga, complete with spiky hair, bare chest and red boots. Press his belt buckle and his chest lights up with his blue core light! Other Astroboy figures include the Peacekeeper whose chest lights up in search of Astro Boy, the Samurai with light up eyes, and Metro City Astroboy, all dressed up with light-up rocket boots.


The Bongga
I know Astroboy is supposed to be this awesome fighting machine, and my boys certainly treat the action figure that way, but I think he is just so cute! And this action figure captures his cuteness perfectly. The light-up blue core is a nice touch , but what I love best about this figure is its simplicity. It doesn't have any complicated doodads, which is just fine because Astroboy's real power doesn't lie in his blue core, it lies in the imaginations of the little boys who play with him. We can't wait to get the rest of the figures so Astroboy can have someone to play and/or battle with!

The Blah
Astroboy's joints are a little bit stiff, which makes it difficult to move and pose him.

The Bottom Line
Jazwares' 6" Astroboy figures are a fun way for any little boy to recreate all of Astroboy's adventures. They'd make a great present for Astroboy fans!

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

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Label Daddy pre-Holiday Deals

Here's a great holiday gift idea -- labels make a great present for a busy parent who needs to keep track of her kids' stuff! And through November 18, you can get 20% off plus free shipping on all LabelDaddy orders. Just use the code HOLIDAY to take advantage of this great offer. Who's your daddy? Label Daddy!

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

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Winter's Tail game for Nintendo DS giveaway

I have to say, for a marine mammal, Winter sure is getting around quickly. She's got a book deal and essay contest -- and now she's the star of her very own Nintendo DS game! Winter's Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again will be out on Nintendo DS on November 24th.

Here's a little more information about the game from the makers:
Take an exciting journey on your Nintendo DS and learn about the real-life story of Winter, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin who overcame incredible odds. Including fun mini-games and a fully interactive storybook based on the Scholastic Book Winter's Tail, read by the authors Juliana, Isabella and Craig Hatkoff. The release date is set for November 24th. Rated E for Everyone!

And here's a video with some sneak peeks from the game:


We just got a Nintendo DS recently so I can't wait to try this game out!

Win It!
Two lucky Bonggamom Finds readers will receive a copy of the Winter's Tail Nintendo DS game (valued at $29.99 each). To enter, leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite marine mammal. Don't forget to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.

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

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

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

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

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

Win a Winters Tail Nintendo DS game from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/yf73rt2

Maximum of 5 entries per person. US mailing addresses only. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on November 25, 2009.; I will draw 2 winners at random on November 26 and post the winners' names on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

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

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Ragu $100 giveaway ends tomorrow!

Just a reminder, my $100 Visa giftcard giveaway (courtesy of Ragu pasta sauce) is ending tomorrow. So if you haven't entered yet, click here to continue reading and to enter....... Good luck!

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Game on!

After the fun afternoon we spent at Ubisoft's San Francisco office a couple of weeks ago, I knew that a Nintendo DS would be at the top -- and possibly the only item -- on my kids' holiday wish lists. Last week the kids received an early Christmas present -- Ubisoft, aka Santa, sent us our very own Nintendo DSi so we could try out all of their great Nintendo DSi games!


Naturally, they are absolutely delighted, and they're off and running with games like Battle of Giants: Dragons, Battle of Giants: Dinosaurs, Petz: Dolphinz Encounter, and Imagine: Boutique Owner. 3Po and Jammy picked up right where they left off, with The Pea not far behind. Since she can read all the instructions that come up on the screen, The Pea she was able to get the hang of the controls even more quickly than 3Po and Jammy did.

I have to say, I'm happy to see The Pea enjoying the DSi as much as her brothers. She has wanted a DSi for the past year or two, but I never really considered getting her one because I thought it was just a peer pressure thing, and she'd quickly get bored with the games. I didn't realize that there was such a wealth of games developed especially with girls in mind, such as Ubisoft's Imagine series of games. And I'm even happier to see that my message of moderation seems to have sunk into my kids' heads. They don't complain (too much) when their 20 minute timer goes off and they have to hand the DS over to their brother or sister. I still make sure they play outside or with their other toys or do some reading or drawing so there's a good balance in their free time. It does mean that they don't get to play as much of the DS games as they'd like, but it also means that the games will retain their interest for a longer period of time!

The views and opinions expressed here are my own. We received a complimentary Nintendo DSi (thanks, Ubisoft!), but no monetary compensation, to aid us in reviewing Ubisoft games. Watch out for more reviews of Ubisoft's holiday lineup of games for the Nintendo DS!

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Free Cookies!

What's better than six yummy cookies? How about six free yummy cookies!? Cheryl and Co. is offering customers a gift box of 6 cookies plus a $10 Reward Card for free (customer pays shipping fee of $6.95), through November 20. If only the cookies were zero calories too.

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

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Bella Sara Trading Cards Review and Giveaway

What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice, and everything nice. They should also say starlight trails and unicorns' tails, because judging from the drawings and toys and books that my daughter and her friends love to indulge in, magical, fantasy horses seem to be a standard fixture in every little girl's imagination. We recently received some trading cards from Bella Sara to try out, and here's what we thought of them:

The Basics
Here's what Bella Sara has to say about the Bella Sara world:
Bella Sara is a safe, fun-filled magical world of horses & other characters for kids ages 5-11. Much more than just a toy, Bella Sara inspires pro-social dialogue & inspirational thought with positive messages.

Brand new in time for the holidays are the “Bella Sara Royalty Trading Cards,” each with inspirational messages and a secret code. By entering these secret codes at BellaSara.com, children can enhance their online experiences by redeeming horseshoes to play games and care for their magical horses as they begin to explore the magical land of North of North. The more secret codes, the more adventures you can unlock when playing Bella Sara Adventures.

Just under $5, these cards make for the perfect stocking stuffer this holiday season!


The Bongga
These trading cards are so pretty! And the online world of BellaSara.com is just as picturesque -- it looks like it came straight out of a fairy-tale book. She was able to create an account for free (anyone can), and with the account she got to choose a little foal to care and feed. The trading cards come with codes that can be redeemed online for points that are used to "purchase" clothes and toys and decorations for the foal's home. The Pea loves how she can stroke and feed her little horse with a click and a roll of the mouse!



The Blah
I find the website slow and a bit confusing to navigate, so it can be difficult to get the background story from BellaSara.com. As a result, the Pea was pretty much in the dark about who the main characters are, what the story is, and what kinds of cards she can collect. So I would purchase the DVD or the book before purchasing the trading cards (or along with the trading cards) so your daughter knows the story and the characters.

The Bottom Line
Sara Bella trading cards are a nice, inexpensive stocking stuffer for any little girl who loves horses. They're also a great way to introduce your little girl into the world of trading cards!

Save Now!
Here are three great deals that you can take advantage of when you purchase Bella Sara products:

1) When you shop at bellasara.com, enter Promo Code JIXXQ4KS at checkout to receive 20% off purchase of $5 or more! Expires 12.31.09

2) When you shop at bellasara.com, enter Promo Code FRSHIP4U at checkout to receive free shipping on orders over $25! Limited time only!

3) Print this coupon to save 15% on Bella’s Ball Card Pack, Single Blister, or Double Blister, at all Target stores! Bring printed coupon—one per transaction. Valid beginning November 6, expires December 7.


Win It!
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a Bella’s Ball card pack and one velvety mini horse! To enter, head on over to the Bella Sara holiday gift guide , then come back and leave a comment saying which gift your daughter or niece or granddaughter would love to find in her holiday stocking.

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

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

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

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

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

Win a Bella Sara prize pack from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/y9nc2kh

This giveaway ends at midnight PST on November 20, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on November 21 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

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

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DJ's Sing-a-Long Keyboard

Now that the holidays are approaching, those of us with young kids (or have young kids on our gift lists) have to start thinking about toys, toys, toys. Electronic toys -- you know, the ones with batteries and lights and sounds -- usually get a bad rap because there are some that you just turn them on and the child just watches the toy like it's a television, but trust me, Virginia, there are toys that beep and light up that can actually educate and engage as well as entertain. Case in point: DJ's Sing-a-Long Keyboard from Baby Genius. Baby Genius sent me one of these keyboards to review; here's what we thought of it:

The Basics
DJ's Sing-a-Long Keyboard is an electronic keyboard for toddlers. It's part of the series of Baby Genius toys that uses music to stimulate a young child's development. The keyboard enhances auditory skills, develops fine motor skills, and cultivates hand-eye coordination.

Here's what the makers of DJ's Sing-a-Long Keyboard have to say about their toy:
The show never stops with DJ's Sing-A-Long Keyboard! Hear 7 different Baby Genius sing-a-long songs or play along to 22 different tunes. Your child will be able to play 4 instruments andhear the different sounds: flute, whistle, guitar or saxophone. Press all the keys and hear DJ's hilarious giggly laugh! Make sure to record your masterpiece so you can play it back and hear it again and again.


The Bongga
This little keyboard is so cute! It doesn't require any instruction; just turn it on and your toddler can start banging away. I love how there are so many ways to play this keyboard -- you can chose which instrument to play, and which beat to play to. You can also play prerecorded songs to play the piano along with, or sing along to. You can even record and play back your own songs. It's difficult to imagine a young child getting bored with this toy!



The biggest surprise for me was how much my kids, at the advanced ages of 5,5 and 8, enjoy this toy! DJ's keyboard is rated for ages 2+, so I thought my kids would press a few keys and be happy to pass the toy on to their new baby cousin. At the very least, I thought they'd say the alligator-shaped keyboard was lame. Not so. They begged me to let them keep this keyboard forever and ever, and they've been having the time of their lives making up tunes with it. Understandably, the prerecorded kids' songs don't really interest them, but they always break out into laughter when they speed up the tempo and listen to the songs sung at full speed, like DJ the Dinosaur is high on helium. Hey, whatever entertains them. If their interest in music ever turns more serious, I suppose eventually they'll clamor for an actual electronic keyboard, but for now, DJ's Sing-a-Long keyboard is a fun, inexpensive introduction.


The Blah
The recording mode only records the keyboard; it can't record a mixture of the keyboard notes and beats. And I know I'm being nitpicky, but I wish it didn't sound so tinny!


The Bottom Line
If you have to buy your toddler an electronic toy, let it be this one. DJ's Sing-a-Long Keyboard isn't just a whole lot of irritating beeps and noise -- it's a great way to introduce your child to tone and rhythm. He'll have lots of fun experimenting and playing and he won't even realize he's learning all about music!

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

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See a movie tonight, free!

There's nothing like a family night at the movies, and thanks to General Mills cereal I was able to take the kids to see Astro Boy last night. My kids don't usually do well at the movies because they scare easily, and The Pea is a little soggy cream puff when it comes to sad and emotional scenes, but they were excited at the thought of a night out with hotdogs and popcorn and all the trimmings! There was a lively debate over what to watch -- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, A Christmas Carol, or Astro Boy -- but in the end, Astro Boy won.

Astro Boy tells the story of a boy robot made in the image of his creator's dead son. He's so lifelike that no one can tell he's a robot, which causes all kinds of conflicts in this futuristic world where robots are basically enslaved by humans. Astro Boy has some cool, but not scary, action scenes that my kids loved. There were some emotional scenes where my kids began crying, and The Pea was sobbing all throughout the end like she usually does at the movies, but they really enjoyed the movie, and they can't wait for our next movie night.

Make your own Movie Moments!
Here's a great deal: starting in November, General Mills' Cereals is going to help you and your family create your own Movie Moments! You can receive a free movie ticket when you purchase two specially marked packages of General Mills’ Cereals. After purchasing two cereals, visit generalmills.com/moviecash to enter the code found inside each box of cereal and print your free movie certificate good for admission to any movie.

Participating brands include select sizes of: Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Trix and Reese’s Peanut Butter Puffs.

To find a participating theater near you, log onto
http://emoviecash.com/dis_locator/.


Win It!
Don't forget, my Movie Moments giveaway ends on November 14! One lucky winner will get a coupon for 4 free tickets and a box of General Mills cereal. Click here to enter, and good luck!

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

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

As a giveaway blogger, I've found it's a great way to get more traffic to my giveaways. And as a person who loves entering giveaways, I've found it's a great way to find out where all the best giveaways are.

So I've started a weekly giveaway roundup post that hopefully people will find useful. Feel free to leave links to your giveaways, everyone. And don't forget to get cracking and enter all those giveaways!

Continue reading...