Fun Valentine's Facts (and a Walmart giftcard giveaway!)

from The Motherhood, Jennifer and Kitty ONeil


While doing research for my Worst Valentine's Day Gifts post on BlogHer, I came across some interesting V-Day statistics:

* Greeting cards top the list of ways people celebrate Valentine's Day (65% of US households), followed by a date night (44%), candy (38%) and flowers (32%).

* There are 120 single men (i.e., never married, widowed or divorced) in their 20's for every 100 single women of the same age.

* There are 33 single men (i.e., never married, widowed or divorced) age 65 or older for every 100 single women of the same age.

* 2.2 million marriages take place in the United States annually. That's over 6,000 a day!



Here are some more fun Valentine's facts sent to me by The Motherboard, a new digital network where women and moms can share great ideas, information, advice and inspiration:


* A Motherboard poll of moms shows that most, 66%, view Valentine’s Day as a fun excuse to eat chocolate, but don’t get upset if their partner comes home empty-handed. Other moms, 17%, absolutely love the holiday and still others, 17%, think it’s way too commercial.

* Topping mothers’ Valentine’s Day list is jewelry, trips, time alone with their husband, spa/beauty packages and gift cards – and of course, flowers and candy!

* Valentine’s Day is primarily romantic for 40%, but it’s also a fun family day, since 28% of moms think the holiday means doing something special for the kids.

* Chocolate is a welcome Valentine’s Day indulgence and moms have lots of strategies for finding the “good” pieces in the box: 24% take a small bite, but put it back if they don’t like it, 21% break the candies in half, 20% like not knowing, 9% poke a hole in the bottom of the chocolate, and the rest have other techniques like reading the liner or guessing based on shape


The Motherboard also shared with me some of the ways moms are making Valentine’s Day “sweet” this year:

* Bake Valentine-themed cookies or cupcakes together
* Decorate adorable and heartfelt cards for loved ones with the kids
* Prepare a dinner featuring each family member’s most “loved” dish

Of course, if you're at a loss, you can always drop by your local Walmart for inspiration. Walmart even has a special section on their website for Valentine's "treats" of all kinds - from candy and jewelry to digital cameras and unique personalized gifts. Check out Walmart's Valentine's section here.

So how are you celebrating Valentine's Day? Share your story with us, and you could win a $25 Walmart gift card!


Win a $25 Walmart Gift Card

To celebrate Valentine's Day, Walmart is offering a $25 dollar gift card to one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share how you plan to celebrate Valentine's Day (if you are entering this giveaway after Valentine's Day, share what you did on Valentine's Day). This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


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

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

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

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

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Walmart gift card giveaway! http://ow.ly/3TvsT

5) Write on The Motherboard Facebook page --tell them Bonggamom sent you, and share how you plan to celebrate Valentine's Day (1 entry):

6) Follow The Motherboard (@TheMotherboard1) on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
Win a $25 Walmart gift card from @TheMotherboard1 and @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/3TvsT #giveaways

7) Join any of the open giveaways on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway joined)



The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 28, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on March 1 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!
.

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Thanks to The Motherboard, Walmart and Grand Communications for providing the giveaway prize. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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The Popcorn Factory commemorative SuperBowl XLV tin

How about those Packers? We had so much fun last Sunday watching the Superbowl and pigging out on the yummy food I prepared for our Superbowl Sunday party!

Seven-layer dip, served with tortilla chips
Baked spinach-artichoke dip, served with carrots, celery and pita wedges
Pulled pork sandwiches
Coleslaw
Make-your-own brownie sundaes

It was quite a feast, but The Pea did have one complaint: she wanted popcorn on the menu! I told her we could have popcorn next year -- and since The Popcorn Factory kindly offered to send us their limited edition 3 Gallon Green Bay Packers® Commemorative 3-Way Popcorn Tin, we already have somewhere to put it.


Here's more information about this product:
This 3 Gallon Green Bay Packers® Commemorative 3-Way Popcorn Tin* is the perfect way to celebrate the Packers victory in Super Bowl XLV®! Proclaiming their status as Super Bowl XLV® Champions and proudly displaying their team symbol on one side and the player roster on the other side, every Green Bay Packers® fan will want one. Filled with 3 fabulous flavors of popcorn: Cheesey Cheddar, real buttery Butter, and sweet crunchy Caramel, this will surely score big!

I know from experience that The Popcorn Factory's popcorn is awesome, so it will disappear in a flash, but the tin will be yours forever, to store your game day ticket stubs in or whatever you want. The Popcorn Factory even gave me several suggestions for ways to use your tin until your next Superbowl party rolls around:

1. Fill tin with ice and for a roomy ice bucket or beverage cooler
2. Put lid on tin and use as small seats for a “kids table”
3. Stuff your tin with plenty of napkins, paper towels and wet naps for messes created from the standard Super Bowl snacks like buffalo wings and dips.
4. Pick up a colorful bouquet and place in water-filled tin for a sweet center-piece
5. Offer festive tins as a party favor for your guests



The Green Bay Packers® Commemorative Tin will be available to ship the week of Feb. 16. Quantities are limited, so get it while you can!

Disclosure: The Popcorn Factory is sending me a complimentary Superbowl XLV popcorn tin.. Product information was taken from the Popcorn Factory website. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Lights, Camera, Pocoyo -- win a Pocoyo DVD set!

For such an unassuming little fellow, Pocoyo certainly gets around. His award-winning preschool television series is broadcast in the US, UK, Spain, Ireland, Australia and many other countries. He's a social media maven and blogger extraordinaire, with a Facebook page, a Twitter account, a YouTube channel and a blog. And now he's going to Hollywood and he's walking the Red Carpet!

Here's more information:
Hollywood’s big night for celebration is right around the corner--The 83rd Annual Academy Awards® on February 27, 2011! Everyone is excited to watch the movie stars walk the red carpet and receive their awards for great performances! And, Pocoyo, who has himself won many awards around the globe, has a special surprise to share to celebrate the event!

Pocoyo will be starring in his very own advertisements starting this week throughout the month of February on the premiere entertainment channel, E! Entertainment Television! And, if you watch E!’s Pre-Awards Show on the night of February 27th, you will no doubt see Pocoyo doing what he does best, playing and having fun with his friends!


Celebrate the awards with Pocoyo by downloading the awards ballot for the big night to share with family and friends. Don’t forget to tune-in to E! Entertainment Television to see your favorite little boy enjoy the spotlight!


Win a Pocoyo DVD set
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a DVD set consisting of the following titles:



* In “Meet Pocoyo!,” Pocoyo and friends explore the world around them. In seven hilarious stories, Pocoyo enjoys making music, blowing bubbles, solving puzzles and even watching an egg hatch.

* In “Super Pocoyo,” Pocoyo explores, discovers, encounters, laughs, questions and celebrates. Join Pocoyo and his friends Duck, Elly, Loula and Sleepy Bird as they play hide and seek, fly an airplane and go on a camping adventure!

* In “Fun & Dance,” whether he is playing with a beach ball or thumping on the drums, the charming Pocoyo loves to have fu with his pals, Pato, Loul and Sleepy Bird. From skipping rope to building textiles, adorable Pocoyo spends his days discovering new things in seven engaging stories.


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share which nominee you think will win the Oscar award for Best Picture. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


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

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

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

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

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Pocoyo giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

5) Write this on the Pocoyo Facebook page wall (1 entry):
I entered the Pocoyo giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

6) Follow Pocoyo (@pocoyo_us) on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
Win a Pocoyo DVD set from @pocoyo_us and @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes #giveaways

7) Join any of the open giveaways on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway joined)




The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 28, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on March 1 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Target Gift Card giveaway

A couple of weeks ago I came up with a 5-day workout schedule that I think I can stick with for the rest of the year and beyond. The only problem, of course, is that I don't have enough workout gear for all 5 days, so I have to keep the washer and dryer running several times a week to make sure I don't have to reuse any of my sweaty gear. I detest laundry, but ewwwwwww...... So I was really happy when P&G sent me some coupons for Tide Plus Febreze Sport detergent, along with coupons for Febreze Fabric Refresher and C9 by Champion sports apparel! The Tide will be great for all the extra laundry I have to do, the Febreze will be great for spraying my workout bag and shoes, and I just might treat myself to a new workout top from C9 by Champion!

If you're committed to making good on your workout resolutions, Target and P&G can help you save money and keep you smelling sweet:

* From February 6 through March 16, Target guests can find in-store coupons on specially-marked Tide Plus Febreze Freshness Sport, Febreze Extreme SPORT Odor Eliminator and C9 by Champion, Target's exclusive active wear line.

* Target-exclusive coupons for Tide Plus Febreze Freshness Sport and Febreze SPORT Extreme Odor Eliminator will be featured in newspapers nationwide on Sunday, February 13.

* Another coupon available at check-out with purchase, offering $4 off the combined purchase of C9 clothing and Tide Plus Febreze Freshness Sport.

In total, these promos can save you up to $10.75!


Win a Target gift card and Target coupons
To help your fitness routine stay on track, P&G would like to send TWO lucky Bonggamom Finds readers the following prize pack:

* Coupons ($4.50 in total savings) for Tide Plus Febreze Freshness Sport, Febreze SPORT Extreme Odor Eliminator and C9 active wear (redeemable at Target stores nationwide)

* Tide samples

* a $10 Target gift card.


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share your fitness goals for this year. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


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

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

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

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

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Target giftcard giveaway! http://ow.ly/3SEW7

5) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
Win a $10 Target giftcard + Target coupons for Tide, Febreze & C9 on @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/3SEW7 #giveaways 2 Winners!

6) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for each giveaway you join)


The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 27, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on February 28 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: Thanks to P&G for providing the samples, coupons and gift card to me, as well as the samples, coupons and gift cards being offered as a giveaway. No other compensation was received for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Take the 29-Day Eat Right America Challenge!

I started 2011 with quite a few fitness goals. Get back into running. Walk the kids home from school at least twice a week. Improve my flexibility. Take a dance class. I'm proud to say that I haven't slacked off on any of those goals in January, and I don't feel any urge to quit.

However, I do have to admit that better nutrition has been conspicuously absent from my 2011 Resolutions. We do have an ongoing resolution to reduce the amount of meat in our diet, and that is going well, but otherwise I haven't done much to eat better. Maybe it's because I've grown too attached to Sprinkles cupcakes and Cold Stone Creamery. Maybe I'm afraid I'll fail.

And then an invitation from Whole Foods to join the 28-Day Eat Right America Challenge landed on my lap. It's all part of their Health Starts Here™ initiative, which offers products, education, practical tools and wellness resources to promote a healthy lifestyle (I'll share more about Health Starts Here™ in a future post).

Here's an overview of how the Eat Right America program works:
The Eat Right America 28-day Challenge encourages participants to take a 28-day pledge to the five cornerstones of healthy eating:

1) A large salad every day
2) At least a half-cup serving of beans/legumes in soup, salad or a dish once daily
3) At least 3 fresh fruits a day
4) At least one ounce of raw nuts and seeds a day
5) At least one large (double-size) serving of steamed green vegetables daily

As an added form of support, Whole Foods Market shoppers are eligible to receive a free online Nutrition Prescription membership, which is an individualized nutritional assessment that offers guidance for a personalized healthy eating plan to achieve optimal health through Eat Right America. The personalized tool includes:

· Nutrient analysis
· Health risk evaluation
· Daily eating plan
· 30-days of step-by-step email support

Challenge participants will receive a daily email for 28 Days with four themes to follow to becoming a Nutritarian (one who eats lots of nutritious foods!):

· Day 1 to Day 7: Start the process of adding health-promoting foods to your way of eating.
· Day 8 to Day 14: Moderate you intake of certain foods (e.g. meat, eggs) and switch to healthier options.
· Day 15 to Day 21: Challenge conventional myths you may have been told such as benefits of milk, olive oil, snacking, meat protein, etc.
· Day 22 to Day 28: Overcome cravings and adopt the eating plan that has been specifically designed for you.





I'm thinking this could be the perfect way to jumpstart my journey to eating healthier food. Of course, I'm nervous -- give up sugar and oil? Even natural sugar like honey, or good oil, like olive oil? Even though they are pretty flexible eaters, I'm not sure I can get my kids or husband completely on board. And I can tell you now, there's no way I'm going to give up dairy products like eggs and cheese. But despite the difficulties, there are some great things about this Challenge that make me believe I might actually be able to complete it:

It has sensible goals
Many of the components of the Eat Right Challenge are things that we as a family are trying to do anyway. For over a year now, we've been replacing the meat in our diet with beans and tofu. My kids already love fruit. Alfie already eats a handful of raw walnuts every single night. We just have to up our game a bit.


You're not restricting portions or calories
The Eat Right America challenge is not a calorie driven program, it's all about eating nutrient-dense foods. They don't care whether you eat a bucketload of kale or a bushel of strawberries (hey, it counts towards those 3 servings of fresh fruit, right?). It's certainly not a conventional diet -- what diet would tell you to eat a handful of nuts every day?


You're focusing on foods you DO want to eat, not on foods you DON'T want to eat
If a diet bans a food altogether, I'm more likely to crave it, and pig out on it when I finally do give in to the cravings. Instead, this program asks you to pledge to do certain things -- and I'm betting that after I've checked off my list of good foods to eat, I won't have space in my stomach for the bad stuff. By the way, calling it a "Challenge" is a stroke of genius because it becomes irresistible to competitive people like me!


It's just 28 days
I like the thought that there's an end in sight. One month, that's all. The time will fly, and you know it. Heck, it takes me one month just to put away my Christmas decor! But the body is an amazing thing, and it can adapt to anything, even in just 28 days. That's 28 days your body is eating right and building its nutrient stores. And I'm hoping that 28 days just might be enough for my body to kick some bad habits and start some new ones, so when it all "ends", I'll find that I can keep going.


The Eat Right America program normally costs $19.95 for 60 days access, but Whole Foods is offering the program FREE for 28 days if you sign up by March 30! You can get a special promo code from your local Whole Foods store, or just go to www.eatrightamericachallenge.com to get a coupon code.


So what do you think? Care to join me?

Disclosure: Whole Foods provided me with the items on their Health Starts Here pantry basics list, as well as an assortment of fruits and vegetables, to get me started with the program. No other form of compensation was given for this post. Any future posts about these programs are neither requested, compensated, nor expected by Whole Foods. Program information is provided by Whole Foods and is clearly indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Playskool Explore n’ Grow Musical Gear Center Giveaway

It has been quite a while since my boys looked like this:
But I still remember how much they loved rolling balls down tracks. The movement, the anticipation, finding the ball, everything about it fascinated them. If only Playskool had come up with their Explore n’ Grow Musical Gear Center a few years sooner! I received this toy from Litzky PR to review, and I'm positive they would have loved the combination of rolling balls, spinning gears and music. Playskool is one of my favorite toy brands for little kids, and I can't think any stage in my kids' lives that did not have a myriad of Playskool toys involved.


The Basics
Here's a brief description of the Playskool Explore n’ Grow Musical Gear Center:
Whirling, twirling, musical fun is on the way with this exciting MUSICAL GEAR CENTER set! Your little one can push this button to activate the music and motion that will keep both his eyes and ears engaged. As he drops the ball onto the track, he'll watch with delight as it falls down the tube and then spins at the bottom. He'll love spinning the gears on the side to turn the friendly face around and around -- and when he gets older, you can remove the gears so he can stack them and take his fun to "new heights"! The active play, twirling fun and happy music just goes on and on! Set includes activity center base, ball arch, two balls, five gears and instructions.


The Bongga
Here's what I like best about this toy:
* The balls and gears that come with the toy fit other EXPLORE N’ GROW Toys, so it's not a catastrophe if you have other toys from the series and lose a ball.

* The parts are chunky enough for little hands, and they don't pose a choking hazard.

* Most important of all, babies really love this toy! I gave it to a friend with an 11-month old, and he starts bouncing up and down whenever the music plays. I swear, if he grows up to become a hip-hop star, I'm taking all the credit.


The Blah
I can't think of anything I don't like -- they even thought of providing a place to nestle the two balls in!

The Bottom Line
Your baby and toddler will love playing with this toy, and you will love watching him!


Win a Playskool Explore n’ Grow Musical Gear Center
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win this adorable activity toy!

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me your baby's (or granchild's or godchild's or friend's baby's) favorite toy. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


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

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

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

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):

I entered the Playskool Explore N Grow giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

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

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

6) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):

Win a Playskool Explore n Grow Musical Gear Center on @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes #giveaways


The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 27, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on February 28 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Thanks to Litzky PR for providing the giveaway prize. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Kidz Bop 19

Can you believe it, Kidz Bop is turning 10 this year! Just like The Pea! She'll be tickled pink to know that, because she's a big fan of their music. And it looks like a lot of other kids are, too, because their latest album, Kidz Bop 19, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Children's Chart. Here's a snippet from their press release:

The Billboard Top 200 Album Chart at #2— the 12th KIDZ BOP title to debut in Top 10 since the series launched in 2001. This is the highest charting debut for a KIDZ BOP album since the release of KIDZ BOP 9 in 2006, which also hit #2 on the overall Billboard Chart. Defying current music industry trends, sales of KIDZ BOP albums have grown nearly 40% over the past 24 months, while overall music industry sales are down more than 20%. The brand’s tremendous growth can be attributed to the company’s strategic extension of the franchise beyond traditional music sales, including the launch of its safe social networking site for kids and tweens, KIDZBOP.com, and the KIDZ Star USA Talent Search, America’s biggest national talent search for kids ages 15 and under. 2011 also marks the 10th anniversary of the KIDZ BOP brand, and its latest release kicks off a year-long celebration, which will be supported by the launch of new products, promotions and online initiatives.

KIDZ BOP 19 also debuted at #1 on the Billboard Children’s Chart, where there are currently two other KIDZ BOP albums in the Top 10. The new release follows a chart-topping 2010 where KIDZ BOP 18 was the #1 Kids’ Album of the year (KIDZ BOP 17 was #2) and the KIDZ BOP Kids ranked as the #1 Kids’ Artist of the year, according to Billboard.


We were sent a copy of Kidz Bop 19 to review; here's what we thought of it:

The Basics
Kidz Bop 19 includes 16 of today's biggest chart-topping hits 'sung by kids for kids'. Here's the track list:

1. DJ Got Us Falling In Love
2. Firework
3. Just The Way You Are
4. Dynamite
5. Cooler Than Me
6. Airplanes
7. Club Can't Handle Me
8. Bulletproof
9. Animal
10. Just A Dream
11. Magic
12. Mine
13. Please Don't Go
14. The Time
15. The Only Exception
16. Somebody To Love



The Bongga
Kidz Bop 19 is a bit hit -- my kids are driving me crazy playing it. The Pea dances to it almost every night! When I asked her if she was doing it for exercise, she responded with, "No, mama, I'm doing it for fun." The funny thing is, we already have the original versions of most of the songs on Kidz Bop 19 -- in fact, Firework, Just the Way You Are, Dynamite, Just A Dream and a couple more are some of their favorite songs -- but that doesn't stop them from listening to the Kidz Bop version every chance they get. I think it must be like enjoying different versions of the same song (you know how kids love repetition), so having the original version and the Kidz Bop version seem to complement each other.

The Blah
I've actually grown used to the Kidz Bop kids singing and I don't think it's annoying at all (okay, it's annoying when my kids play the cd four times in a row, but then that applies to any cd!) -- the only Kidz Bop song in #19 I cannot abide is Just The Way You Are. It's not that I'm particularly loyal to Bruno Mars (I actually prefer the Glee cast version), but having a girl sing it is just wrong. I can understand why parents might not like it, but since when did parents and kids ever agree on music?

The Bottom Line
There's a reason why Kidz Bop is the #1 kids music brand in the US -- just buy a copy of Kidz Bop 19 and see your kids' reactions after they listen to it, and you'll find out why.

Disclosure: I received a sample cd to facilitate my review, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Press release was provided by KidzBop and is clearly indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- List your Giveaways Here

Attention, all you lovers! It's the Friday before Valentine's Day Weekend and you've got 10 days till V-Day. If you've got any giveaways ending this week, please leave your links here! That way we've all got a chance to score some Valentine presents for our loved ones :) Spread the giveaway love, people, spread the giveaway love..... Thanks, all!

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Dinosaur Train Valentine Giveaway

Every year my kids exchange Valentine cards with the kids in their class, and every year I'm struck by how different each family's approach to Valentine cards is. Some buy their cards from the store, complete with candy or stickers. Some put together a little Valentine's Day goody bag. Some buy cards and attach their own candies (which is what we do). Some are handmade. All are handwritten, and it always makes me sentimental to see their friends' penmanship improve as they grow older.

If your child likes to make his or her Valentines cards but likes the polished look of store-bought cards, these Dinosaur Train Valentine cards are the perfect Valentines Day craft. You can print them out on cardstock paper and have your child cut them out and decorate the back in her or her special style! You can download the Dinosaur Train Valentines here. Happy Valentines Day!


Win a Dinosaur Train Make A Match game
To celebrate Valentine's Day, one lucky Bonggamom Finds winner will receive a Dinosaur Train Make A Match game!


In the Dinosaur Train Make A Match game, Buddy and his friends sharpen children’s memory skills in this special matching game that features a Buddy figure! To begin play, 48 game cards featuring favorite Dinosaurs from Dinosaur Train are shuffled and laid face down in 6 rows of 8 cards each. Players take turns turning over any two cards—so all players can see them—to find a matching pair. The game features “Take Buddy” cards, “Wild Cards” and “Lose a Pair” cards to add to the excitement. Players count their matching card sets at the end and add extra points for the player holding Buddy to determine who wins. The Dinosaur Train Make A Match Game is for 2 to 4 players, ages 3.



Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me how you and/or your child plan to celebrate Valentine's Day this year. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


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

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

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

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):

I entered the Dinosaur Train Valentine's Day giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

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

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

6) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
Win Dinosaur Train Make a Match game on @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes #giveaways


The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 14, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on February 15 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Enter the 45th Pillsbury Bake-Off (and a giveaway for you!)

I love cooking contests; Food Network Challenge, Iron Chef and Cupcake Wars are some of my favorite television shows. I'm just in awe of how the contestants perform under pressure, and of course I enjoy looking at their amazing creations. All the Food Network contestants seem to be professionals, but there even amateur cooks can win big at the original original cooking challenge, the Pillsbury Bake-Off. They contest is now on its 45th Bake-Off, and they are now accepting recipe submissions! Just think, that red velvet cake you made for your kids' birthday could win you a million dollars. This is one cooking contest I sure hope will be televised, because I can't wait to watch it and try out all the winning recipes! Here's more information about the 45th Pillsbury Bake-Off: Calling all home cooks! Do you have a million dollar recipe idea? The 45th Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest is open for entries and one simple recipe idea could help you take home the dough! Pillsbury is looking for original recipes that taste and look delicious, are easy to prepare and that families across America will love to eat. Consumers can submit recipes in one of four recipe categories: * Breakfast & Brunches * Entertaining Appetizers * Dinner Made Easy(TM) * Sweet Treats Entries are being accepted online between now and April 18, 2011, at www.bakeoff.com. One hundred lucky finalists will compete for a chance at the grand prize during the contest finals, which take place March 25-27, 2012 at the Peabody Orlando Hotel in Florida. You´ll also find contest details, including eligible products, prizes and the official rules, on the web site. Win a Pillsbury Bake-Off prize pack One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a Pillsbury Bake-Off® gift pack that includes a Pillsbury Bake-Off® apron, recipe book and pen. Required Entry Leave a comment on this post and share your favorite Pillsbury Bake-Off® recipe , or which Pillsbury Bake-Off® recipe you'd most like to try. This entry must be completed before any extra entries will count. Extra Entries For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.). 1) Grab my blog button and post it up on your blog (1 entry). 2) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates (1 entry). 3) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (1 entry). 4) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(1 entry). 5) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet): Enter to win a Pillsbury bake-off prize pack on @bonggafinds http://www.bonggafinds.com #giveaways #myblogspark 6) Join any of the giveaways currently running on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for each giveaway you've joined). The Rules This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 15 , 2011; I will draw a winner at random on February 16 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a prize pack identical to the one being offered as a giveaway. Thanks to MyBlogSpark and Pillsbury for providing both prize packs! Contest information is provided by the Pillsbury and is clearly indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Progresso Soup review and giveaway

I love soup. It's delicious, it's filling, it's nutritious, it's easy to make -- what's not to love? I could eat it every day! My de facto lunch is a can of ready-to-eat soup, which I love because I can have it ready in less than 5 minutes and I can have a different variety of soup every day. I was recently invited by My Blog Spark to review Progresso® soups, here's what I think of them:


The Basics
Here's some information about Progresso® soups:
Progresso® New World Recipes™ – Inspired by Mexican recipes, explore one of the fastest growing ethnic cuisines by giving the Progresso New World Recipes line a try. Made with authentic Mexican ingredients and seasonings, four new Progresso soups will be hitting grocery shelves near you - Chicken Tortilla, Meatball & Rice, Black Bean Jalapeno and Chicken & Vegetable.

Progresso Light - America’s number one Light soup just got better, as all 13 existing Progresso Light varieties are now packed with bigger pieces of white meat chicken, more tender pieces of beef or added vegetables. Need even more to talk about? Progresso Light New England Clam Chowder is the first creamy Light ready-to-serve soup that holds true to the Progresso Light name with just 1 Weight Watchers® POINTS® value per serving!

Progresso Reduced Sodium – With 49 percent of shoppers concerned about high cholesterol1, Progresso understands the importance of soluble fiber and reduced sodium diets. New Reduced Sodium Tomato Parmesan soup is one more tasty option that has a delicious blend of flavors and carries the “May Help Lower Cholesterol”2 benefit. In addition, five additional Reduced Sodium soups also carry the “May Help Lower Cholesterol”2 benefit.

Progresso High Fiber – With 9 out of 10 Americans not getting the recommended Daily Value of fiber, Progresso High Fiber line of soups are packed with 7 grams per serving. Giving you one more thing to talk about, Progresso brand’s first Chili Soup just joined the High Fiber family!


The Bongga
Progresso® is one of my favorite soup brands because they make soups that I would make from scratch but just don't have the time to make it, or I only want a single serving. Besides, I like variety and I want a different soup each time. Their soups taste great -- my favorites are the Progresso Light Beef and Barley soup (just 1 Weight Watchers point!) and their Chicken Tortilla soup -- so being asked to review Progresso was a no-brainer for me. In fact, the soups they sent me -- Chicken Tortilla soup and Clam Chowder -- are actually 2 staples in our pantry already!


The Blah
Not much to complain about -- I even love that they have easy-open cans!


The Bottom Line
I highly recommend Progresso® soups!


Win a Progresso Soup Prize Pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a Progresso Soup prize pack that includes

* VIP coupons for two cans of Progresso soup
* a spoon rest
* a soup can rack
* a soup mug with matching spoon



Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite Progresso Soup variety. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


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

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

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

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):

I entered the Progresso Soup giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

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

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

6) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):

Win a Progresso Soup prize pack on @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes #giveaways #myblogspark

7) Join any of my open giveaways (1 entry for each giveaway you've joined, leave a separate comment for each)


The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 8, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on February 9 and post the name after he;/she confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a prize pack similar to the one being offered as a giveaway. Thanks to Progresso and My Blog Spark for sending it to me, as well as providing the giveaway prize. I was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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City Deals is coming to San Francisco

Don't you just love the deals you get from deal sites nowadays? The only bummer is that most of the deals are limited time offers, so if you don't get around to clicking on the deal of the day, you're out of luck. CityDeals also features daily deals like these, but unlike average deal sites they even offer deals that aren't limited to the one-deal-a-day concept. You can get your deals via print-at-home option or via certificate (great for gifts!), and they even have Request-A-Deal (if the deal you want isn't in stock, they'll try to get it for you!) and referral bonuses. CityDeals.com is already in many cities across the US -- and great news for us deal-seekers living in the SF Bay Area, they are coming to San Francisco in 2011!

To celebrate their San Francisco launch, CityDeals is launching a fun I "heart" San Francisco giveaway, with the chance to win one of four amazing prizes:

* Date Night on the town including dinner, flowers, jewelry and more ($697 value)
* 8GB iPod Touch
* iPad
* San Francisco Giants game package which includes tickets, food and apparel.


Enter by Feb. 6, 2011 to be eligible to win -- and don't forget to refer as many friends as possible to the giveaway, and tell them to enter your name in the "referral" field, because for every friend you refer who enters the giveaway, you will receive an additional entry!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post courtesy of the One2One Network. Contest information is provided by the featured company/product. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Managing Family Finances

Thank you to TurboTax for sponsoring my writing about household finances.Learn more about how TurboTax can help you find every tax deduction you deserve. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.


I am one of the most absentminded people I know. I can never find my keys or my phone. I perenially miss play dates, birthday parties, school volunteer hours and after school pickups. I'm also messy Not exactly a winning resume for the family CFO, yet I'm stuck with the job.

Yet Alfie has entrusted me with CFO responsibility and somehow we've managed to make all our house payments and keep our kids in shoes without running into loan sharks named Guido. Here are six strategies I use to manage our family finances and make sure we stay in the black:


Auto Pay is my friend
If it weren't for the modern-day miracle of Auto Payments, I would either be paying a fortune in late fees, or be a walking nervous wreck. All fixed monthly payments, such as mortgage payments, life insurance payments, the kids' college fund contributions, ballet school tuition, etc.. get debited directly from our bank account. Also, I put most variable payments like phone bills, utility bills, insurance bills (i.e. the premiums change from year to year) on my credit card so I can review them all together on my credit card bill.


We never let our bank account balance get too big
I know, that sounds counterintuitive -- of course you should be saving lots! -- but what I mean is, we've set ourselves a "working capital balance" in our checking account, we add a buffer, then we periodically reroute any extra cash to a high-yield savings account or cd, or invest it in the stock market. We indulge ourselves with little treats only if we have enough money in our checking account; we don't have easy access to the money in our other accounts, so we're not tempted to blow it all on a weekend in Vegas.

We maintain a home equity line of credit (HELOC)
If we ever do need to get our hands on a significant amount of money for some emergency, we maintain a HELOC that we can draw upon at any time, at a far lower rate of interest than credit card debt. We've never used it and I hope we never have to, but I'm glad it's there.

We (try to) stay organized
I keep a filing cabinet with folders for bank statements, bills, and anything we'd ever need to reference. With the advent of e-statements, my files have grown considerably thinner, but I still keep paper copies of things that don't have electronic copies. For example, I every year I compile a tax folder with W-9 forms, INT-99 and other forms sent by banks, brokers, etc.. , mortgage forms, charitable donation receipts, vehicle registration forms and a ledger of my blogging expenses, so on the off chance that I get audited, I'll be ready.


A tax software program
Speaking of taxes, if your tax situation is simple then there's absolutely no reason to do your taxes by hand, given the ease of the software programs out there. I've used TurboTax every year since 1996, with the exception of 1999, when I was at business school and wanted a tax professional to give me advice on whether I could deduct the cost of my laptop as a business expense (in hindsight, I probably could have figured that out using TurboTax, but hey, I was up to my ears in case studies), and I've been very happy with it.


We treat credit cards like debit cards
This is probably the most significant way we keep our finances in control: we only spend what we can afford. Yes, we do use credit cards, but only for the convenience and the perks (i.e. cashback, miles, etc..). We pay our credit card bills in full each month (okay, I admit I've procrastinated or forgotten to pay -- usually when I'm on vacation -- and I've ended up paying a late fee plus a couple of dollars for a couple of days' worth of interest, but that's only happened a couple of times in my life). The only time we'd make an exception to that would be if we needed a new car or if we had a medical emergency.

Disclosure: This is a compensated post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Gnomeo and Juliet Giveaway

When I first heard Disney was coming out with a movie called "Gnomeo and Juliet", I knew we'd be watching it. I think garden gnomes are hideous and tacky, and the thought of using them as the main characters of Shakespeare's classic love story is absolutely brilliant. Disney always does the cleverest animated movies, with bits of humor for grownups as well as kids, so I'm sure we're going to enjoy it. They're even using voices of some of my favorite British actors -- James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Maggie Smith, Jason Statham, Patrick Stewart, Stephen Merchant, Matt Lucas, Julie Walters, Ozzy Osbourne (okay, Ozzy is not exactly an actor, but he's a such a character, and I'm dying to see how Disney depicts him as a gnome) -- for that authentic Shakespearean quality :)

Here's the synopsis:
The greatest love story ever told, starring...garden gnomes? In the upcoming “Gnomeo & Juliet,” Shakespeare's revered tale gets a comical, off-the-wall makeover. Directed by Kelly Asbury (“Shrek 2”) and showcasing both classic and original songs by Elton John, the film features the voices of James McAvoy and Emily Blunt as Gnomeo and Juliet, who have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors. But with plastic pink flamingos and thrilling lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find lasting happiness?

Here's the movie trailer:


Here's a movie poster:


Here's another:


See you at the movie theatres on Feb. 11!



Win a Gnomeo & Juliet Prize Pack
To celebrate the release of Gnomeo & Juliet, TWO lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a Gnomeo & Juliet prize pack, consisting of:

* 1 Gnomeo & Juliet t-shirt in winner's choice of size and color (youth sizes of S, M, L, XL and colors of red or blue
* 1 Gnomeo & Juliet one-size fits all beanies in colors of red or blue
* 1 Gnomeo & Juliet mini-notebook shaped like a Gnome hat (front cover is red, back cover is blue)







Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite Shakespeare love story. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


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

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

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

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):

I entered the Gnomeo & Juliet giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

4) Write this on the Gnomeo & Juliet Facebook page (1 entry):

I entered the Gnomeo & Juliet giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

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

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

7) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):

Win a Gnomeo & Juliet prize pack from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes #giveaways

8) Join any of my open giveaways (1 entry for each giveaway you've joined, leave a separate comment for each)


The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 8, 2011; I will draw 2 winners at random on February 9 and post the winners names after they confirm acceptance. While every effort will be made to accommodate the winner's choice of tshirt color and size, I cannot guarantee that the choice will be available. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Thanks to Disney for providing the giveaway prizes. Movie information is provided by Disney and is clearly indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- List your Giveaways Here

Welcome to Bonggamom's Friday Finds, your one-stop shop (okay, post) for finding the bestest giveaways around the blogosphere. Thank you to everyone for leaving your giveaway links and comments, I really appreciate the support!

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

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Love according to Kids

A couple of years ago I did a Valentine's Day post on Finding Bonggamom featuring The Pea's and Jammy's thoughts on love. Unfortunately 3Po refused to cooperate, so I never got to know what 5-year 3Po thought about love. Valentine's Day is coming up again, and to celebrate the occasion Tiny Prints recently invited me to post about what my kids think of love. I asked each of my kids the question, "What is love?", and this time 3Po was willing to share his wisdom, as were Jammy and The Pea:

Here's what Jammy said: Love is when you hug, kiss and play with someone, and you like each other.

Here's what The Pea said: Love is when you strongly like each other. It's a bonding between 2 people, and it brings happiness. It's the strongest force in the world!

I asked her to explain that last thought, and she responded with: Love makes people kill themselves.

3Po's answer: Don't you know?

Wouldn't that be a perfect message for a Valentine's Day card?

After a bit more persuasion (in the form of a chocolate-chip cookie), I was able to get 3Po to elaborate: Love is weddings. It's when you like someone so much that you want to kiss them and hug them and snuggle with them and live with them for the rest of your life.

Another Valentine's Day message that would rival any greeting card you get in a store -- and with Tiny Prints personalized greeting cards, you actually can put that message (or any other message you want) on a Valentine's Day card. If your taste runs to more traditional messages of love, Tiny prints has that too, along with Valentine's Day stickers, gift tags, kids' cards and other ways to let your loved ones know what love means to you. Click here to see everything that Tiny Prints has for Valentine's Day!

Stay tuned for my Valentine's Day post on Finding Bonggamom with more thoughts on love from 3Po, Jammy and The Pea!

Disclaimer: Compensation for this post is provided in the form of a Tiny Prints gift card, courtesy of Tiny Prints and Global Influence.The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Celebrate National Oatmeal Month with a Better Oats Giveaway

Did you know that January is National Oatmeal Month? Apparently more oatmeal is consumed in January than any other month. Maybe it has something to do with the weather, or maybe it's because January is the time when people resolve to eat better. Personally, I don't care what month it is; we eat oatmeal year-round! It's delicious and filling, and comes with a host of health benefits:

* Oats contain soluble fiber, which soaks up cholesterol in the intestines, where they eventually get carried out of the body); as a result, the body replaces the cholesterol in the intestines with cholesterol in the bloodstream -- which lowers the amount of cholesterol in the blood! What could be better for your heart? (coincidentally, February is American Heart Month!)

* Oats are a great source of protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.

* Since oatmeal is high in fiber, eating it helps keep you full longer, which helps with weight management.

* The whole grains in oatmeal help control blood glucose levels and give you a steady source of energy.

* Oatmeal is wonderful for dry, itchy skin; the natural, lubricating fats in oats allow oatmeal to be a great moisturizer and can leave a thin layer of protection on the skin.


The only problem with oatmeal is how long it takes to cook; instant oatmeal takes only minutes in the microwave, but the flavored varieties are quite high in sugar. But ever since I reviewed Better Oats oatmeal last year, it has become my oatmeal of choice. Their varieties are generally lower in sugar than other instant oatmeal brands, they use 100% whole grain oats, and they add flax seed for extra nutrition. I'm addicted to the taste of their Oat Heads Berry Blast, and not a week goes by when I don't heat up a bowl or two for breakfast. I have it down to a science -- tear packet, pour into bowl, fill packet with water up to fill line, pour water into bowl, microwave uncovered on high for 1 minute, 20 seconds -- so even though my mornings are a huge rush, I can still enjoy a hot bowl of Better Oats oatmeal.

Whether you’re a once-in-a-while oatmeal eater or the everyday sort, January is a great time to celebrate oatmeal! Here are several ways to celebrate this delicious, healthy food:

* Try this easy recipe using instant oatmeal:

No Bake Cookies from Thrifty Fun (note: These come out more like energy bars than cookies; they are pretty moist, with a nice peanut-butter-chocolate flavor, and my kids love them! This recipe can be halved if you want a smaller yield)

2 C. Sugar (note, I used only 2/3 c sugar since I used flavored instant oatmeal)
2 Tblsp. Cocoa
1/2 C. Butter
1/2 C. Milk
1/2 C. Peanut Butter
1 Tsp. Vanilla
5 C. Instant Oatmeal (note: I used Better Oats' Oat Revolution Maple & Brown Sugar instant oatmeal, 12 individual packets)

Combine sugar, cocoa, butter, milk and peanut butter and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla and oats. Stir until combined. Drop by tsp. on wax paper or spead in a pan, cool and cut in squares.

Here are a couple of other recipes that use instant oatmeal:
Brown Sugar Instant Muffins
Instant Oatmeal Cookie


* This eHow article has lots of fun ways to celebrate National Oatmeal Month

* Last but not least, celebrate by joining my giveaway below! We're picking TEN winners so lots of people get a prize!


Win a month's supply of Better Oats oatmeal
To celebrate National Oatmeal Month, Better Oats is giving away TEN cases of Better Oats oatmeal to TEN lucky Bonggamom Finds readers! That's right, ten of you will get a month's supply of a variety of yummy Better Oats.

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share your favorite way to enjoy oatmeal. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.

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

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

2) Write this on the Better Oats Facebook Page wall (1 entry):

I joined the Better Oats National Oatmeal Month giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! Ten lucky winners will receive a month's worth of Better Oats and you could be one of them! Enter by Feb. 14 at www.tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):

I entered the Better Oats giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

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

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

6) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):

TEN winners will receive a month's supply of oatmeal (10 winners)! Enter the Better Oats giveaway on @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes #giveaways


The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 14, 2011 (since oatmeal is good for the heart, and February is American Heart Month, and you know what the symbol of Valentine's Day is!). I will draw 10 winners at random on February 15 and post the winners' names after they confirm acceptance. US addresses only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Thanks to Better Oats for providing the prizes for this giveaway. Product information was taken from the Better Oats website and is clearly indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Join SoyJoy's Facebook discussion today about new Dietary Guidelines

SoyJoy is holding a live broadcast today, featuring David Grotto, registered dietitian and author of "101 Foods That Will Save Your Life”, who will be talking about the new 2010 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The U.S. government updates them every 5 years, and they are due out next week, so David will be giving everyone a sneak peek at the new guidelines and giving some insights and recommendations.

Tune in live on http://www.facebook.com/soyjoy later today (Thursday, January 27th) at 12:30pm EST to be among the first to see what the newest Dietary Guidelines has to offer! David will be answering questions live during the webcast -- if you submit questions online via facebook, twitter, UStream OR email, you could win a box of SOYJOY bars!

Disclosure: As a thank-you for posting this information, I will be receiving a box of SoyJoy bars. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Announcing Fruitables' School Music Mash-Up Search (and a giveaway for you!)

Glee is one of my favorite TV shows. I've watched all the episodes (My favorite: Furt. It's still on our DVR, and woe betide anyone who erases it), I have the cast music on my iPod, and I consider myself a total Gleek. Alfie is mystified as to how anyone can enjoy a campy dramedy where people spontaneously burst into song, but I've always loved musicals, and I enjoy pretty much everything about Glee: the story, the characters, the actors, and of course, the music.

If you're a fellow Gleek, you also know that the actors on Glee are as awesome in real life as their characters are onscreen. The cast is helping American Express raise awareness for their Members Project, and now Cory Monteith, who plays Finn Hudson on Glee, has also teamed up with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation and Apple & Eve Fruitables to for the second annual search for the Best School Music Mash-Ups in America. He'll be judging the entries and selecting the final schools; from there, two school vocal groups (one elementary and one middle school) will each be awarded $10,000 toward their respective music programs.


Here's more information about the contest:

This spring, as a means of encouraging creativity and fostering arts education for young students, Apple & Eve® Fruitables™ is searching for the best school music mash-up in America. The winning school chorus, choir, glee club, or vocal group will be awarded $10,000 and the title “Best School Music Mash-Up in America.”

Like Fruitables, a mash-up of fruit and vegetable juice, a music mash-up is the medley of two or more songs. Most recently made popular by primetime television, Fruitables is looking to spotlight school choruses across the country that have also mastered the newly popular art form.

Elementary and middle school choruses, grades K-8, are eligible to enter by submitting a video of their mash-up performance via the Fruitables Facebook fan page, along with a 100-word essay describing their school’s need for music program funding. Entries must be received no later than April 30, 2010 and can be submitted via Facebook at www.Facebook.com/AppleandEve.

Beginning May 3, 2010, America will have the opportunity to view all of the finalists’ performances, chosen by an independent panel of judges, and vote for their
favorite. The winning school will then be announced the week of May 17th.



"Like" Apple & Eve on Facebook and help support the arts
This contest is just one part of Fruitables' "Seeding the Arts" program, which aims to support underfunded music and arts programs across America. As part of the program, they have donated $30,000 to the VH1 Save the Music Foundation; in addition, Apple & Eve will make an additional $1 donation to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation for each new Apple & Eve Facebook® Fan between February 15, 2010 and August 31, 2010 up to a maximum donation of $20,000, for a total donation of $50,000.



Win a month's supply of Apple & Eve Fruitables
To celebrate the search for the second annual search for the Best School Music Mash-Ups in America, Apple & Eve is giving away a month's supply of yummy Apple & Eve Fruitables fruit and vegetable juice to one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader!
Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share your favorite Glee episode. If you don't watch Glee, share which Apple & Eve juice product you would most like to try. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


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

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

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

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

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Apple & Eve Fruitables giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

5) Write this on the Apple & Eve Facebook page wall (1 entry):
I entered the Apple & Eve Fruitables giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

6) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
Win a month's supply of Apple & Eve Fruitables juice on @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes #giveaways

7) Tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
RT @bonggafinds "Like" Apple & Eve on FB! For every new fan, $1 is donated to VH1's SavetheMusic (max $20k, till 8/31/11) http://ow.ly/3JBiW

8) Share the link to Apple & Eve's Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/appleandeve) with your Facebook friends, along with this message (1 entry):
Like Apple & Eve's Facebook page by August 31, 2011: for every new fan, they're donating $1 to VH1's Save the Music Foundation, up to $20,000!



The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on February 16, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on February 17 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. US addresses only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Thanks to Apple & Eve and Hunter Public Relations for providing the prize for this giveaway. Contest information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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