The Fox and the Angry Lion

Isn't it funny how the best stories always seem to be the ones that didn't come from any book, the ones your dad told you when you were a kid, the ones his dad told him when he was a kid?  It's like survival of the fittest: the best stories are the ones that have been passed down from father to son over generations, and the reason they survive is precisely because they're good stories.  But at some point it's important to write them down, because memory can be fleeting and we don't want a good tale to disappear with the storyteller.

That's why I'm glad that a friend of mine decided to put pen to paper, write a fable based on the stories his grandfather told him as a child, and capture its magic for his own daughters, and children everywhere, to enjoy.  I'm always somewhat skeptical about reviewing self-published books, but I'm happy to report that his book, The Fox and the Angry Lion, has all the elements of a story that deserves to be told and passed down from generation to generation.

The Fox and the Angry Lion is a tale of how a lion terrorizes all the animals in the jungle, using force and fear to rule the land, how the other animals gradually realize something must be done, and how they team up with a wily fox and use their wits to come up with a plan to win back their freedom.

Here's what I liked about the book:

* The story is really captivating; our whole family enjoyed reading it!  It's long enough for parents to read to their kids over the course of 2 or 3 nights, but not long enough for them to start getting bored.

* This book will appeal to kids over a wide range of ages; younger kids will enjoy the story, while older kids will find lots and lots of opportunities to have discussions with parents about oppression, the rich getting richer, and other problems in society. Kids will be able to understand the tension, but it's not too scary for them to handle, and they will love the clever way the bad guy gets his just punishment. My favorite part is when I realized that the lion wasn't expecting the animals to make him toast for dinner, he was actually going to eat one of them (duh!), and the orangutan came up with the idea of racing (the rat race!) so that the sickest and weakest ones would be sacrificed.

* The story includes a wide variety of animals, not just the tried-and-true favorites like elephants and zebras and lions, but also the less common ones like impalas, meerkats, hornbills, and hyenas. I can imagine families enjoying lots of fun "side trips" to other nature books to learn about these other animals! Of course, I doubt that bamboo thickets, jungles, foxes, lions and buffalo actually coexist in the same habitat, but hey, the story has talking animals so I assume realism is taking a back seat to setting an interesting and colorful story scene.

That being said, the self-published books I have reviewed all suffer from one big flaw -- insufficient editing -- and The Fox and the Angry Lion is no exception.  There are a number of typos, grammatical errors and questionable diction.  The Fox and the Angry Lion does have the look and feel of a self-published book -- but as far as kids are concerned, that may not be such a bad thing.  After all, would you rather have factory-baked or home baked chocolate chip cookies?  If you look at it that way, The Fox and the Angry Lion becomes a sweet morsel of a story to savor and enjoy with your kids.


Disclosure: I received a review copy of the book.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Waxelene: a sweet alternative to Petroleum Jelly

What's in a name?  A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, and certainly the fact that petroleum jelly has the word "petroleum" in its name doesn't keep me from using it.  My mom taught me to use petroleum jelly for everything from mosquito bites to rashes to burns to blisters to scars.  We always keep a big jar at home, not just for medicinal purposes but for our skin and beauty regimens.  My 9 year-old son has suffered from eczema all of his life, and on cold, dry winter nights he has to apply petroleum jelly all over his legs to moisturize his skin and soothe the eczema rash.   My 12 year-old daughter even uses it as a base for homemade lip balms and hand creams (she made some for all of her friends as holiday presents!).  But still, when you stop to think about it, using a petroleum-based products does sound kind of..... ick.

So when I heard of an alternative to petroleum jelly, I was curious.  Can any product replace my mom's cure-all, be-all and end-all of creams?  If it's Waxelene petroleum jelly substitute, it might.  I recently received a sample of Waxelene and I'm in love.

About Waxelene
Waxelene is the eco-friendly alternative to petroleum jelly. It has the same protective, waterproofing, moisturizing and soothing properties that doctors love, but contains no petroleum or hydrogenated oils. Waxelene’s ingredients include natural beeswax and oils like vitamin E and organic rosemary which soak in and nurture skin cells. Waxelene’s patent-pending aeration process gives it a silky smooth texture that won’t clog pores. Committed to the environment and healthy living, the makers of Waxelene endeavor to become more sustainable every day. From using natural and organic ingredients, to packaging in recyclable glass jars (no plastic!), to implementing energy-efficient practices, Waxelene is striving to do its part to prepare for a petroleum-free future.

Waxelene comes packaged beautifully, in a thick glass jar, like the high-end product it is.  The ingredients list is short and sweet: organic soy oil, beeswax, natural vitamin E oil, organic rosemary oil, so you know you're not putting any nasty chemicals on your skin.

Waxelene has all the moisturizing abilities of petroleum jelly, but the texture is not as thick or sticky as petroleum jelly.  It glides on nicely, but don't forget that just a little goes a long way -- if you slather it on too thick, you'll be dealing with slick, greasy skin for quite a while.

The best thing about Waxelene?  IT SMELLS SO GOOD.  I hardly ever type in all caps but did I mention IT SMELLS SO GOOD?  The natural beeswax makes Waxelene smell just like honey, and every time I open this jar my mouth waters.  That wonderful sweet honey smell, combined with the rich, thick texture, makes me feel like I should be comparing Waxelene with a decadent body butter instead of plain old petroleum jelly.

Unfortunately, Waxelene is substantially more expensive than petroleum jelly (it costs about$6.99 for 2 oz. and $15.99 for 9 oz.) , so I won't be throwing out our $3 13-oz. tub anytime soon -- but Waxelene is definitely taking over many of the tasks previously reserved for petroleum jelly, like moisturing mama's elbows and hands and feet :)  Welcome to my household, Waxelene, you're here to stay!

Where to buy Waxelene: CVS, Whole Foods, Bed Bath & Beyond and other retail locations.  

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Night Owl Paper Goods Spring 2013 Collection

Spring brings new life: fresh flowers, green leaves, lots of wee baby animals.  That's exactly what you're going to find in Night Owl Paper Goods' latest crop of designs for spring 2013.  I've always been a big fan of  Night Owl's muted colors, their minimalist designs, their unique wooden cards, their sustainable, earth-friendly approach to materials.  They sent me a few samples and I'm almost tempted to keep and frame them, they're so cute.  But this kind of beauty is meant to be shared, and I already know who I'm going to send them to:

For a great teacher:  A clever little thank-you card.  She loves puns, so she otter appreciate this one.

For my husband, on Father's Day: A subtle acknowledgement of the fact that he does all the handiwork around the house.  So mod, so unique, so stylish!

For Mother's Day: a sweet and simple message.  I love this heart-shaped card for Mother's Day.  Just because Valentine's Day is over doesn't mean that you can't shower those you love with hearts, hearts and more hearts.

For a friend's new baby:  a beary nice compliment.  This baby card is delicate and sweet, just like a newborn baby -- but not sickly sweet like so many pastel greeting cards.  It's made from eco-friendly, sustainably-harvested, paper-thin wood, so it literally stands up and out from among any other baby card.

Check out Night Owl Paper Goods' Spring 2013 collection online and stock up while they're fresh!


Disclosure: I received a product samples from Night Owl Paper Goods to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Save on P&G products at CVS for a limited time {Giveaway}

March has arrived, and green is the color of the month.  There's green for the coming of spring, green for St. Patrick's Day... and green for all the money you can save on Procter & Gamble® products at CVS/pharmacy!  This March, CVS/pharmancy is teaming up with Procter & Gamble® for some money-saving offers on select beauty products.  I'm not talking about a couple of cents here and there, these are really substantial savings!  Check them out:

CVS/pharmacy ExtraCare Offers
During the week of March 3, 2013, CVS/pharmacy shoppers can use their CVS/pharmacy ExtraCare Card at ExtraCare Coupon Centers to get great deals on Herbal Essences® and Aussie® products:

• Get 2 Herbal Essences® Hello Hydration Shampoo or Conditioner (10.1oz) for $6
• Get 2 Aussie® Moist Shampoo or Conditioner (13.1oz) for $6
• Plus, get an additional $1 off when you scan your ExtraCare Card!
• That’s almost $3.60 in savings on 2!

Spend $50, Get $15
From now to 4/30/13, CVS shoppers who spend $50 on P&G Beauty products* will receive a $15 VISA gift card via mail-in rebate. To receive your $15 gift card, go to www.BestOfBeautyRebate2013.com and download the rebate form, fill it out, and mail it in with your original dated sales receipt(s). Be sure to circle the P&G beauty items and purchase price(s). P&G will mail you your $15 VISA gift card in 6-8 weeks. It’s that easy!

*Participating Brands: COVERGIRL®, Pantene®, Secret®, Venus®, Ivory®, Herbal Essences®, Aussie®, Clairol®, Safeguard, Olay®, Crest 3D White®, Head & Shoulders®, Puffs®, Vidal Sassoon®

We always go to CVS/pharmacy because we are ExtraCare program members, and we get such great savings. We get so many ExtraCare dollars and coupons for as much as 25% off our purchase, Alfie won't let me shop at any other pharmacy.  I love not having to clip coupons; all the discounts are automatically taken off when we show our ExtraCare card, and if we forget which coupons we need to take advantage of, we can always scan our card at a CVS/pharmacy ExtraCare In-Store Coupon Centers and check.  I'm a loyal Pantene® shampoo and conditioner user, so I'm definitely going to take advantage of the $15 Visa gift card deal.  Talk about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!


Win a beauty prize package
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a special beauty prize pack from P&G that includes full-sized samples of Aussie and Herbal Essences products, as well as a $50 CVS gift card!  Here's what the winner gets:

· Aussie® Moist Shampoo
· Aussie® Moist Conditioner
· Herbal Essences® Hello Hydration Shampoo
· Herbal Essences® Hello Hydration Conditioner
· $50 CVS Gift Card (so you can take advantage of the spend $50, get $15 offer)

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite Procter & Gamble haircare product.

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

1) Follow bonggamom on Blogger (1 entry)

2) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (1 entry)

3) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)

4) Pin this giveaway on any of your Pinterest boards (1 entry -- you can use the "Pin It" button at the bottom of this page!).

5) "Like Bonggamom Finds" on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry):
I entered the P&G / CVS giveaway! http://ow.ly/ibdeH

6) Tweet this once per day (1 entry per day)
RT @bonggafinds You could win a $50 CVS giftcard + Aussie & Herbal Essences haircare products! Enter by March 21 at http://ow.ly/ibdeH

7) Tweet this, up to 5 times before midnight PST on March 9, 2013 (max 5 extra entries by March 9):
RT @bonggafinds Use your CVS ExtraCare Card March 3-9, get great savings on select Herbal Essences & Aussie products! http://ow.ly/ibdeH

8) Tweet this, up to 5 times (max 5 extra entries):
RT @bonggafinds Spend $50 on qualifying P&G products at CVS to receive a $15 Visa gift card via mail-in rebate! Ends 4/30 http://ow.ly/ibdeH

9) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for every giveaway you join)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on March 21, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on March 22 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure: Procter & Gamble provided a prize package for this giveaway, as well as a second prize package for me.  Promo information (in italics) is provided by Procter & Gamble via Blue Chip Marketing. 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! I'm glad so many of you are finding this to be a useful way to get more traffic to your giveaways. And as a person who loves entering giveaways, I have to admit it's a great, easy way to find out where all the best giveaways are.

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

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Introducing Wallaby Organic Greek Yogurt {Giveaway}

Ever since I discovered Greek yogurt a couple of years ago, I've pretty much abandoned any other kind of yogurt -- with one exception.  I still love runny, European style yogurt, but it's really difficult to find yogurt with the right texture in the US.  The only kind I could find with a nice runny texture and great taste is Wallaby yogurt.  I could eat their Vanilla Bean Nonfat or Lowfat Organic Yogurt all day!

So when I attended the FoodBuzz Festival in October last year and discovered that Wallaby had come up with their own Greek yogurt, I knew I had to try it.  My favorite kind of yogurt and my favorite yogurt brand, finally coming together!  I knew I would love it, and I was not disappointed.

Wallaby's new Organic Greek yogurt line have the thick texture of authentic strained Greek yogurt, and taste so creamy, it's hard to believe they're either low fat or nonfat.  They come in Plain Nonfat or Plain Low Fat varieties, so you can use them as a substitute for sour cream or cream in lots of recipes like enchiladas, curries, soups and sauces.  I like to sweeten them with honey or fruit for a sweet taste without having to add white sugar!

For the photo above, I mixed Wallaby Plain Nonfat Organic Greek Yogurt with crushed pineapples, then topped the mixture with more crushed pineapples, a drizzle of honey and a sprinkling of granola.  It tasted sooo goood.....

For this photo, I topped Wallaby Plain Low Fat Organic Greek Yogurt with blueberries and granola.  Again, amazing.

For on-the-go yumminess, Wallaby also makes individual packs of Organic Greek Nonfat Yogurt with fruit toppings.  These come in a two-part cup: the yogurt and toppings are separate so you can control how much of the fruit you want to add to your yogurt.  There are quite a few varieties of toppings including honey, raspberry, mixed berry and my current favorite, orange.  I've never tried this flavor before and I love the citrusy taste!

Would you like to receive coupons for free or discounted Wallaby Organic Greek yogurt?  Just leave a comment on this post with your favorite yogurt flavor, and I'll pick one winner on March 15 to send the coupons to.  Good luck!

Disclosure: I received coupons for free and discounted samples of Wallaby Greek Yogurt to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Wallaby will be providing the coupons for the giveaway. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.


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Why we love Galileo Learning summer camps

This year we're not doing much traveling over the summer, so it's up to me to plan ahead and make sure my kids stay busy over the summer -- and that means more than just renting the latest movies and buying extra batteries for the handheld videogames.  I'm always on the lookout for engaging, entertaining summer camps, and I look to my fellow parents around school for recommendations for camps that their kids love.  The one name that keeps coming back year after year is the one I always recommend to anyone who asks:  Galileo Learning camps.  Here's why:

It's Fun
Camp Galileo (for pre-K to 5th grade) and Galileo Summer Quest (for 5th to 8th grade) have the best themes I've ever seen in any day camp!  The curriculum development staff know exactly what interests and inspires kids.  Camp Galileo themes and Galileo Summer Quest (GSQ) majors (or areas of focus that campers choose) change every week, so kids can attend multiple weeks at camp without getting bored. All activities, from arts and crafts to science experiments to games on the field, are designed to fit the week's theme or major, so kids get to explore their chosen subject matter in depth.

It's Educational
Everything a camper does at a Galileo camp is designed to teach kids how to experiment and innovate.  Last year at Camp Galileo, 3Po and Jammy learned about bridges and basic principles of engineering as they worked to build their own wooden suspension bridges. Even more important, they learned how to plan ahead, predict outcomes, experiment with different variables, and adjust their plans based on preliminary results.  They were probably having too much fun to know or care that they were actually learning, but they were learning just the same!

It's Convenient
Galileo Learning 38 camp locations all over the Bay Area, from Tiburon to San Jose, which means you won't have to drive far to find one near you. Every camp session has optional extended care from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. so working parents can fit camps into their own schedules.  They even offer an optional lunch program, featuring hot, healthy meals!

A word about affordability: Camp Galileo and GSQ are not cheap, but you get what pay for.  They have a full-time staff that works year-round to develop the curricula for each theme and activity.  Everyone, from counselors to instructors to interns, are the cream of the crop; many are professional educators and many have been with Galileo for years.  You won't find any pimply teenagers more interested in texting their friends than interacting with the kids -- every single person on staff that I've met has been enthusiastic and involved.  The tuition rates are higher than city-run summer day camps, but on par -- and actually on the lower end of the price range -- with specialty summer day camps.  And if you enroll before Feb. 28 you'll get the Early Bird discount of $20 per session, on top of any refer-a-friend discount or multiple session discount.  Yes, that's two days from now, so hop to it!

It has been seven years since The Pea first attended Camp Galileo as a tiny Nebula (pre-K), and we've gone back almost every year.  Each time my kids have attended camp they have had a wonderful time.  I can't recommend it highly enough!

Disclosure:This is the first in a series of posts about Camp Galileo and Galileo Summer Quest, for which I am receiving a free week of camp for each of my children. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Oz The Great and Powerful opens March 8

Only two weeks till Disney's latest movie, Oz the Great and Powerful, opens in theatres!  That's right, on March 8 viewers will get to see how the two-bit magician Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs (at least that was his name in the books), ended up as the Wizard of Oz.  I was a great fan of the Oz series (I read all 14 books sometime between 4th and 6th grade), so I'm really excited to see the kind of world director Sam Raimi and screenplay writers Mitchell Kapner and David Linsday-Abaire have dreamed up.  I hope it lives up to L Frank Baum's legacy!

About the movie:
Disney’s fantastical adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved wizard character. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well.


What I want to know is, when is the Oz Balloon Ride opening at Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort?  :)


Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Movie synopsis (in italics) was provided by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. 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! I'm glad so many of you are finding this to be a useful way to get more traffic to your giveaways. And as a person who loves entering giveaways, I have to admit it's a great, easy way to find out where all the best giveaways are.

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

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Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday

Dr. Seuss' birthday is exactly one week away from today, and my kids are excited to celebrate!  Okay, they're actually quite a bit older than they were in the Cat-In-The-Hat-photo above, but they still love Dr. Seuss. They watched The Lorax twice on the plane from Manila to San Francisco, and shhh... don't tell them I'm writing this, but they still ask me to read The Lorax out loud to them at bedtime!

For those of you who love Dr. Seuss (and who doesn't!), here are some fun ways to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday:

Have some Green Eggs & Ham!  If that grosses you out, top regular scrambled eggs with broccoli -- or do away with the eggs and ham entirely, and bake a Green Eggs & Ham cake.

Source: images.search.yahoo.com via Melody on Pinterest

One Fish, Two Fish Math (I think Rainbow Goldfish Crackers must have been invented by Dr. Seuss!).

Source: classroomfreebies.com via maggie on Pinterest

Dr. Seuss Word Scramble

Source: minds-in-bloom.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Watch PBS KIDS!  They are debuting new episodes of The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That ("Rumbly Tumbly / Planet Name Game” and  “Top of the Sky / Jiggle Bones"), as well as a new online game commemorating Dr. Seuss' birthday week.



Join my Dr. Seuss giveaway!  You could win a DVD copy of The Cat in the Hat: Safari, So Good.  The giveaway ends March 3, so hurry and enter!


Disclosure: 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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Nukotoys trading cards giveaway

As a Nukotoys Parents@Play Ambassador, I'm so happy to see their innovative, interactive iPad games get so much great reviews around the blogosphere.  ToysBulletin.com, TIME for Kids,  Parenting.com,   FastCompany and other noted publications have raved about the way Monsterology and Animal Planet Wildlands have successfully combined physical toys with virtual play.  Nukotoys was even awarded a "Best in Play" award by Parenting Magazine at the 2012 Toy Fair.

In case you don't know what all the fuss is about yet, Animal Planet Wildlands and Monsterology are two iPad apps that you can download for free.  In Animal Planet Wildlands, kids navigate through the African savannah, taking on the role of different animals as they learn fun facts, race other animals, solve puzzles, complete quests.  In Monsterology, kids battle each other in a mythical world based on the popular Monsterology books, using mythical monsters in a turn-based strategy game.  Both games come with a "starter set" of characters (animals or monsters) to play with -- but kids can purchase physical trading cards to expand their character set.

That's where the magic happens: kids can "tap in" their physical trading card by touching it to their iPad  screen... and the character represented in the physical card comes to life in the app!  It's really quite amazing, and kids have so much fun with it.  Not only do they get the pleasure of seeing their physical cards come to life as characters in the virtual world, they also get all the fun of collecting, trading and playing with cards.  (You can read more about the technology behind Nukotoys' cards and check out more photos in the rave review that I posted last year).  Or better yet, buy a set of cards for your child and check it out for yourself!  Or better still, enter my giveaway below -- I've got some extra trading cards to give away!


Win a set of Nukotoys trading cards
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win 8 packs of Nukotoys trading cards -- 5 Animal Planet Wildlands packs, and 3 Monsterology packs, with 3 cards per pack.   I'm trying out Rafflecopter to manage this giveaway, so please use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.  Giveaway ends midnight PST on March 5; good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Items featured in the giveaway prize were given to me for previous work as a Nukotoys Parent Ambassador. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Giveaway: Cooking with Hidden Valley Ranch {Giveaway}

When people think of pantry staples, they usually think of bread, pasta, ketchup, flour, sugar, coffee, spices, peanut butter, mayo.    Here's one more item your pantry should never be without:  Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing.  I always have a bottle on hand!  Everyone in our family loves it, and not just as a salad dressing.  We dip everything into it:  french fries, veggies, breadsticks, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, even pizza crusts!  We top chili with it, we spread it on sandwiches instead of mayo, we pour it on baked potatoes.  There's just something about that tangy creaminess that's irresistible!  Why, just this morning I used Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing to add some zing to my kids' lunch wraps:

Roast Beef Ranch Wrap
1 large spinach tortilla
1/4 cup American salad mix (iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, carrots)
2 Tablespoons Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Dressing
3 Tablespoons grated sharp cheddar cheese
3 deli-thin slices roast beef
1 Tablespoon whipped cream cheese

Lay the salad mix in the center of the tortilla.  Spread the dressing on top of the salad, then sprinkle the cheese over the dressing.  Lay the roast beef slices on top of the cheese.

Spread cream cheese around the edges of the tortilla.  Roll up the filling inside the tortilla, burrito-style. The cream cheese will help seal the edges.  Cut in half and serve.


Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing also makes a great flavor base for sauces and other recipes.   You can use it in gourmet recipes like Chef Russell Jackson whipped up for an amazing blogger lunch I attended last year, or you can use it recipes so simple that even my husband can tackle.  Here's a recipe that we tried recently (from the Hidden Valley Ranch website)

Original Ranch Ravioli
Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:
½ cup roasted red and yellow peppers, rinsed and drained and cut into thin strips
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Dressing
1 package (9 ounces) fresh meat or cheese ravioli

Instructions:
Cook the pasta according to the package instructions and drain.
In a large skillet, over a medium heat, combine the pasta, peppers, and dressing and stir until well blended and heated through. Serve garnished with the cheese.


We used mushroom ravioli, with a fresh porcini mushroom filling, and the dish was amazing.  You wouldn't believe how much difference that dressing makes!  It combines with the tangy sweetness of the peppers, and it really works.  I never would have thought of using Hidden Valley Ranch as a pasta sauce -- it's just one more reason why I never like to run out of it!



Win a Hidden Valley Ranch Prize Pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win an assortment of Hidden Valley Ranch products!  The price pack includes:


* 3 bottles Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing
* 3 bottles Hidden Valley Light Dressing
* 6 packets of Hidden Valley Dry Seasoning Mix
* A cute blue apron so you can get cooking!

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell how you enjoy Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing

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

1) Follow bonggamom on Blogger (1 entry)

2) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (1 entry)

3) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)

4) Pin this giveaway on any of your Pinterest boards (1 entry -- you can use the "Pin It" button at the bottom of this page!).

5) "Like Bonggamom Finds" on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry):
I entered the Hidden Valley Ranch giveaway! http://ow.ly/iSgzQ

6) Tweet this once per day (1 entry per day)

RT @bonggafinds You could win an assortment of Hidden Valley Ranch products! Enter by March 13 at http://ow.ly/iSgzQ

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on March 14, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on March 13 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.


Disclosure: I received product samples to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Prize pack was provided by Hidden Valley Ranch. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Sweet Andy's Cookies giveaway

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about my latest food obsession, Sweet Andy's Cookies.  Shopping mall cookies, bakery cookies, even my homemade cookies have ceased to tempt me since I tasted Sweet Andy's moist, chewy bites of heaven.  These cookies are so good, they earned 3Po's highest level of praise:

Mom, I love these cookies so much, I'm willing to use my own allowance to buy some for myself!


Given that he only earns $3 per month, even a single bag of Sweet Andy's Cookies would be a huge investment for him.  Yes, I'm cheap, but I'm not mean.  I wasn't planning to make poor 3Po save his hard-earned money to get more Sweet Andy's Cookies, so I bought some myself.  Right now, Sweet Andy's is offering free shipping on 6 bags of cookies, so I took advantage and ordered some for the family.  6 bags might sound like a lot, but there always seems to be a teacher or teacher's aide celebrating a birthday, and a bag makes a great present!  Also, the cookies freeze really well -- we froze 2 bags, then a week after we took the cookies out of the bag, put them on a plate and warmed them in the microwave.  They were just perfect!

The Mint Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Chip varieties were big hits, and Alfie adores the Oatmeal Raisin, so I ordered those, but this time I just had to try their Lemon Cookie.  If you like sugar cookies you'll love Sweet Andy's Lemon Cookie -- it has the taste (sweet but not too sweet) and texture (soft and chewy) of their Sugar Cookie, but with a hint of lemon.  I kind of wish that hint of lemon had been stronger, but it's still a great cookie, especially paired with a glass of milk :)

I've still got five varieties left that I haven't tasted:  Pumpkin, Cinnamon Sugar, Peanut Butter Chip, Chocolate with Peanut Butter, and White Chocolate Macadamia but I think I need to give my waistline some time to recover.   I can't wait to order my next box of Sweet Andy's Cookies!


Win a box of Sweet Andy's Cookies
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a box of Sweet Andy's Cookies, featuring 6 bags of cookies with 5 cookies in each bag, in assorted flavors!

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which flavor of Sweet Andy's Cookies you would most like to try.


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

1) Follow bonggamom on Blogger (1 entry)

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I entered the Sweet Andy's giveaway! http://ow.ly/hRsjX

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I entered to win a box of Sweet Andy's Cookies on Bonggamom Finds! http://ow.ly/hRsjX

7) Tweet this once per day (1 entry per day)
RT @bonggafinds You could win a box of scrumptious cookies from @SweetAndyCookie ! Enter by March 12 at http://ow.ly/hRsjX

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on March 12, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on March 13 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.



Disclosure: I purchased the cookies reviewed on this post with my own money.  Thanks to Sweet Andy's cookies for providing the giveaway prize.. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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