Bonggamom Finds

Air Wick introduces the National Parks Collection of fragrances

Saturday, June 08, 2013

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Air Wick. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

I never considered myself an outdoorsy, nature-type person... until I visited Yosemite National Park for the first time. For the first time in my life, I was surrounded by beauty everywhere I turned. The scenery made me want to run, dance, hike till I dropped, snap a million photos, and just sit and drink in all of nature's beauty. Yosemite is truly one of my favorite places on earth, and I'm so grateful to the National Park Service for working so hard to keep Yosemite the way it was (or as close as it can be) and has been throughout history.

I know I'm not the only person in the world inspired by Yosemite National Park and all the other amazing national parks across America. For national park lovers who want to keep their memories of their time in the parks fresh, Air Wick® has come out with a limited edition set of fragrances: the National Park Collection. These are fragrances inspired by six popular national parks, each one representing the unique flowers and scents in each park. They are perfect for people who want to keep the memories of their national parks visit fresh!

(before I go on, how cool is the photo above? The Pea created it for me! She digitally superimposed a photo I took of some Air Wick products I received for review, with photos of her favorite national parks like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. It just goes to show you how inspiring those national parks can be!)

About the National Parks Collection
America’s national parks are a source of inspiration to all of us. That’s why Air Wick® is proud to partner with the National Park Foundation in an effort to preserve and protect the very essence behind our new expertly crafted National Park Collection of fragrances.

The National Parks limited edition collection was crafted by fragrance experts who spend countless hours creating the perfect harmony of fragrance notes representative of the natural elements found in these national parks and pays homage to the brand’s “The Craft of Fragrance” creative platform. This collection brings a sensory park experience into the home.

The Air Wick National Parks Collection is available in scented oils, scented candles, reed diffusers, and a freshmatic spray. There are six fragrances, each inspired by the unique flora and elements of six popular parks: the Grand Canyon National Park, American Samoa National Park, Honokohau National Historic Park in Hawaii, Denali National Park, the Gulf Islands and Virgin Islands National Park. I had the opportunity to sample the first four scents in scented oils, and the American Samoa fragrance in a scented candle. They are all wonderful fragrances that are great to have in any room. I love having them in our guest bathroom or in our entryway!

Here's a list of all the fragrances with a brief note about how the parks inspired them, along with my own thoughts:

o Grand Canyon: Be awestruck by the breathtaking majesty of Grand Canyon National Park and discover the subtle floral notes of delicate cactus blossoms carried in the warm summer breeze.

It's difficult to put into words just how Grand the Grand Canyon is, when describing it to someone who has never been there before. I like how Air Wick didn't even try to capture grandeur and majesty in their Grand Canyon fragrance, and instead went the other way, being inspired by the small cactus flower rather than the gigantic canyon. The fragrance is delicate and sweet and a great reminder to appreciate the small details, not just the big picture.

o American Samoa: Explore the lush paradise of American Samoa National Park to experience the sweet refreshing notes of native coconut and island palms.

I had the opportunity to sample this fragrance in both the scented oil version and scented candle version. It's very very sweet, and you can definitely detect the coconut fragrance -- which reminds me of tall coconut trees and coconut fronds rustling in the breeze... definitely an island paradise.

o Hawai’i: Escape to a tropical island sunset at Honokohau National Historical Park and savor the
unspoiled notes of exotic papaya and hibiscus flower.

When I inhale this fragrance, the mix of floral and papaya scents send my mind traveling back to the first time I visited Hawaii. As Alfie and I entered our hotel lobby, an attendant offered us the most delicious drink -- an orange, guava, pineapple and papaya blend that set the tone for a wonderful vacation.

o Denali: Seek renewal in the sun-drenched valleys of Denali National Park to breathe in the clean notes of pure cotton grass and fresh spring air.

I think Denali is my favorite fragrance in the collection. It smells so crisp and fresh! I've never been to Alaska (that's on my bucket list) but I can definitely understand the inspiration; when I close my eyes and inhale, I think of the cold mountain air up in the Tahoe National Forest.

o Gulf Islands: Bask in the fragrant scents that take you to the Gulf Islands, rich in white sand beaches and seashores that evoke sun-drenched sweet notes of a summertime paradise.

I wasn't able to sample this fragrance, nor have I been to the Gulf Islands, but I've been to some pretty beaches, and I would love to be able to escape to white sand and blue surf just by lighting an Air Wick scented candle!

o Virgin Islands: Find yourself in the idyllic paradise of Virgin Islands National Park and uncover the delightful notes of tropical plumeria and sweet honeysuckle.

I was not able to sample this fragrance, but I grew up among tropical flowers like plumeria (Filipinos call it kalachuchi), hibiscus (pictured above) and honeysuckle, so if the Virgin Islands scent has those notes I'm sure I would love it. It would remind me of home!

Disclosure: “I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Air Wick. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating. Product information (in italics) was provided by Air Wick via Mom Central Consulting. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Traveling with the family {WordLock travel lock giveaway}

Friday, June 07, 2013

I received products for review and giveaway

Great news: I'm excited to be joining the WordLock Parenting Council! I'll be joining other bloggers over the summer, sharing our thoughts about various family-friendly topics, and giving away some great WordLock goodies. June brings lots of summer travel, so I'm talking about traveling as a family what we do to make sure everyone has a safe and happy trip.

flying to Flagstaff, AZ

If I had a million dollars, I have no doubt I would blow it all away on travel. I love to travel, to discover new places, to revisit old favorites, to enjoy new cultures, to reconnect with old friends. Whether it's a road trip or a plane trip, a weekend getaway or a 6-week stay, I'm up for it. I'm lucky that my soul mate loves travel as much as I do (well, we wouldn't be soul mates if we both didn't love to travel!).

crossing the English Channel on a train

Honestly, the only thing that stops us from traveling more is money! This summer, for instance, we are staying close to home because we did two big trips in 2012 (England, Wales, Belgium and France in the summer, and all over the Philippines for the holidays), but we are taking a couple of short trips to Tahoe and Monterey to ease our travel itches. We might take the kids for their very first trip to New York in August, and maybe if we live on beans and toast we might be able to save up enough to head to Germany in December!

plane to London Heathrow

I'm pretty sure that Alfie and I have passed our wanderlust down to our children. We have family on opposite ends of the world, so the kids have been traveling since they were infants. They love getting on planes and trains and boats and cars, and they're constantly asking us when we can go to Alaska, Florida, New York, Boston, Mexico, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Japan, Hong Kong and Ethiopia!

Traveling with kids is certainly a challenge, and there are a whole new set of rules for staying safe in transit. Airports, bus depots, boat docks, roadside rest stops, car rental terminals, subway stations and train stations are all crowded, busy places where anyone or anything can get lost in the blink of an eye. With three kids, Alfie and I are always outnumbered, and we have had many frantic moments during our travels, wondering where everyone is! Here are some rules we like to follow so everyone stays safe:

* Stick to a grownup at all times. This is a NON-NEGOTIABLE RULE. I always ask the kids to walk beside me or in front of me, never behind me. When the twins were toddlers and I wasn't traveling with Alfie, I would strap them on toddler leashes. I didn't care how many weird looks I got -- I was traveling with 2 wandering toddlers and a preschooler, enough said!

* Make sure each child has a cell phone number where they can reach you should they get separated. Depending on the child's age, you can write it on a card and stick it in his pocket, or use an ID bracelet, or a shoe sticker, or a safety tattoo. Just make sure not to give too much information, just your cell phone number is fine!

* Agree on an emergency meeting place, just in case you get separated. If you plan to separate, agree on a meeting place and time beforehand, just in case you can't contact each other. Having cell phones is great, but cell phones can get lost or stolen or run out of battery!

* Have your luggage where you can see it or better yet, within touching distance.

* Count and recount the number of items the entire party is carrying -- suitcases, handbags, backpacks, laptop bags, etc... I can't tell you how many times one of the kids got distracted and ran over to look at something at the airport, only to leave his rolling backpack behind!

* Deciding whether to use luggage locks or not is always an interesting question. If you're traveling via car or train or boat. or leaving your bags with the hotel valet, I say definitely lock your bags, but airports are another matter. The classic answer used to be Lock Your Bags because you don't want people smuggling drugs or other packages in your luggage (yes, it does happen!) -- however, with recent TSA regulations many people don't bother, because the TSA will force your locks open anyway. If you do want to lock your bags for plane travel, make sure you use “Travel Sentry® Approved” locks like WordLock.

Exploring the world is one of the most enjoyable and eye-opening experiences a family can have, it just takes a bit of planning and caution to make sure everyone is as safe as possible. Happy travels!

Win a set of WordLock Travel Locks
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win three WordLock travel locks! These are great locks that feature word-based combinations instead of number combinations, so the passwords are easier to remember, even if you haven't traveled in a year. What's more, they’re “Travel Sentry® Approved,” so airport security won’t use the bolt cutters to inspect your bags, and they’re strong enough that you’ll have nothing to worry about while out exploring new places. And they’re also perfect for locking backpacks, office desks, briefcases and instrument cases.

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me where you and your family would like to travel to.

Extra Entries
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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!).

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I entered the WordLock travel lock giveaway! http://ow.ly/lOYWm

6) Tweet this once per day (1 entry per day)
You could win a set of WordLock travel locks! Enter on @bonggafinds by 6/20 at http://ow.ly/lOYWm

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

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on June 20, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on June 21 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure:As a member of the WordLock Parenting Council, I received product samples to review and give away. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- list your giveaways here

Friday, June 07, 2013

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!

Disney•Pixar Monsters University LeapPad Game: review and giveaway

Thursday, June 06, 2013

About Monsters University Game for LeapPad and Leapster Explorer
In Disney•Pixar's Monsters University, winning the Scare Games will take more than a big roar—use your problem-solving skills to help Mike and Sulley! Using clever thinking and stealth maneuvers, make your way through different locations. Are your scare skills up to the challenge?

When you start up the game, a Campus Map helps kids easily navigate between the main game, mini games and extra features.

The main game challenges kids to become the best scarer ever. It has kids navigating their way across campus, through maze-like rooms -- the library, the frat house, the scare simulator, etc... -- in their quest to grab the pennant and collect coins, scare cards and room decor along the way. There are 24 progressively difficult levels, and each level really puts kids' problem-solving skills to the test.

This is no ordinary maze -- you can't just look at a room and expect to make it across once you figure out the path. You have to avoid other monsters (your competitors!), which makes it kind of like a Pac-Man game. Instead of Pac-Man's vitamin pills, kids can utilize a number of strategies to distract or delay their opponents, like spinning globes to blind them or blowing out candles to hide. Kids have to solve logic puzzles and mini-games in order to unlock these shortcuts, so they really have to play and learn from their mistakes in order to progress -- kind of the way real people learn in real life!

There are also a couple of mini-games: a Monster Matching game patterned after the classic memory game that automatically adjusts to your child's skill level, and a Guess Who game that challenges kids' deductive skills to figure out which monster holds the hidden key. Both are easy, fast-paced and fun games that any kid will enjoy.

My favorite feature is the monster-maker, which lets kids mix and match monster body parts and come up with their own monsterrific creations. They can even monsterize (or should I say monsterrorize?) themselves by taking their photo with the LeapPad camera and recording their own monster roars with the LeapPad microphone.

In addition, kids can collect virtual scare cards they can display in a Monsters University Scare Book, as well as virtual t-shirts, pennants and other Monsters U memorabilia they can display in their Fraternity Room!

How cool is that?

The Monsters University game can be purchased as game cartridge or as a downloadable app. The game will work with both the LeapPad and the Leapster Explorer, but the in-game camera and microphone functions won't work with the Leapster Explorer.

Get free shipping on Leapfrog Monsters University products

Until June 30, get free ground shipping on orders that include any Disney•Pixar Monsters University product! Use code MONSTERS (Offer valid through 11:59PM PT 6/30/2013).

Win a Leapfrog Monsters University Prize Pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive Leapfrog's Monsters University book for LeapReader/Tag and Monsters University game for LeapPad/Leapster Explorer!

To enter, read the rules and leave a comment on my Monsters University LeapReader/Tag book post. For an extra entry, leave a comment on this post and tell me which feature in the game your child would enjoy the most! Giveaway ends July 2, 2013.

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Thanks to Leapfrog for providing review samples and prizes for this giveaway. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Disney·Pixar Monsters University LeapReader™ 3D Book: review and giveaway

Thursday, June 06, 2013

The excitement is building for Monsters University! The sequel (or to be more precise, the prequel) to Monsters, Inc. opens in theatres on June 21, and this is one class that everyone wants to sign up for. Unfortunately only monsters are allowed to enroll in Monsters University -- but there's good news for human children. Leapfrog has not one, but two great ways for kids to learn and play with Mike and Sulley: the Monsters University game and book.

I've been a huge fan of Leapfrog's edu-tainment philosophy for years -- I can't tell you what a big help the Tag Reader and all its predecessors were in helping my kids learn to read, and learn to love reading! -- so they sent me a review copy of both the new Monsters University game and book. This post contains my review of the Monsters University LeapReader/Tag book -- and a chance to win both the Leapfrog game and the book! Also, check out my review of the Monsters University LeapPad game -- and a chance to get an extra entry to the giveaway!

Leapfrog also invited me to a special information session so we could chat with some of the developers behind both products and get an inside look on how they were made. It was really interesting to hear how Leapfrog and Disney-Pixar worked hand-in-hand, while the movie was being made, so that kids would get the most authentic, immersive experience. They also tested the book and game out with kids every step of the way.

About the Monsters University 3D Book for LeapReader and Tag
Growing up, Mike and Sulley shared just one dream: to get into the Scaring Program at Monsters University. Join the fun on campus as these two monsters learn to appreciate their differences, develop a lifelong friendship and train to compete in the famous Scare Games! LeapReader brings the story of Monsters University to life with exciting 3D effects and helps build reading comprehension and vocabulary skills! (3D glasses included.)

Leapfrog's Monsters University book lets kids relive the story behind Monsters University and work on their reading skills at the same time. The book works with the new Leapfrog LeapReader (which is coming out this summer -- stay tuned for more info!) as well as the Leapfrog TAG, which means kids can set their readers to read out whole pages, sentences or words, or help them sound out words when they're ready to read on their own.

In addition to the story, the book has fun learning activities that build vocabulary, logic and reasoning skills. For example, kids are asked to "Find a monster with spikes who is in front of someone who has three eyes", or "Find a monster who has a lot of purple hair and is to the right of a monster with tentacles". They're so busy finding the monster, they don't even realize they're learning about colors, numbers and positions.

I love how the vocabulary list is related to the story. Kids will learn all kinds of monsterrific words like "creeping", "roaring" and "arachnophobia" by playing games and taking quizzes. Final exams were never this much fun!

What's new and different about this book is that it comes with a pair of 3D glasses that make the images jump off the page! It literally adds a new dimension to learning, and it makes kids really want to read the book! Unfortunately, Leapfrog does not sell extra pairs of 3D glasses, which makes sharing difficult for multiple siblings.... but fortunately, the book uses proprietary 3D printing technology that keeps the illustrations looking amazing, even when you're not using the 3D glasses! The kids learn to take turns, and no one has to suffer from double vision :) (note: if sharing does become a problem, or if your glasses get lost or torn, I recommend contacting Leapfrog customer service to ask if they'll send you an extra pair).

Get free shipping on Leapfrog Monsters University products

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which feature in Leapfrog's new Monsters University 3D book your child would enjoy the most.

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) Leave comment on my Monsters University game review post telling me which feature in the game your child would enjoy the most (1 entry)

2) Follow bonggamom on Blogger (1 entry)

3) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (1 entry)

4) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)

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

6) "Like Bonggamom Finds" on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry):
I entered the Leapfrog Monsters University giveaway! Enter by July 2 at http://ow.ly/lMKq7

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

@leapfrog is giving away a Monsters University book for LeapReader/Tag + game for LeapPad! Enter by 7/2 @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/lMKq7

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

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on July 2, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on July 3 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Thanks to Leapfrog for providing review samples and prizes for this giveaway. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Boost your WiFi with Diamond Wireless Range Extender

Thursday, June 06, 2013

I received a product sample for review

After years of subpar internet speeds, we finally decided to invest in a lightning-fast internet service. But our 30 Mbps download speed and 5 Mbps upload speed doesn't do us much good because, like Harry Potter, our cable modem and DSL modem live inside our under-the-stairs coat closet. I suppose we really ought to intall both devices in our kitchen to get the most out of our WiFi signal..... but all those lights and wires and boxes are so UGLY, and we just remodeled our kitchen! As a result, we have patchy signal strength in various areas around the house. Oh, the sacrifices we make for beauty.

Fortunately there's a way to have our (high-speed) cake and eat it too. Diamond Multimedia offered to send us a wireless range extender to help eliminate the WiFi dead spots around the house! Here's a description of the product:

The WR300NSI--the second generation of the best-selling wireless extender from Diamond Multimedia, extends the wireless range, creates a wireless hotspot and connects to internet ready devices such as Blu Ray Players or gaming consoles. The 3-in1 device will help users eliminate wireless dead-spots anywhere they go, targeting a frustrating and common household issue. Eliminate the hassle of complicated extenders and software because there’s no need for plugging in the extender into your computer or setting it up with a cd -- after plugging it into the wall, opening the browser automatically takes you to the setup page. Don’t worry about anyone stealing your stellar connection as WR300NSI also extends the same security as a personal router.

I had no idea such a device even existed -- but it sounded like the answer to our prayers! I've never seen Alfie so eager to do a product review :) The WR300NSI delivered everything it said it would:

* It was so easy to set up -- Alfie simply plugged the device into a wall outlet, connected it to his laptop, and opened a browser to connect the device to our existing WiFi network. There was no software to install, and it's not tied to his laptop or any PC, so it doesn't matter whether his laptop is turned on or not, it will work to extend our WiFi range for any wireless device connected to our WiFi -- phones, tablets, iPads, laptops, printers, you name it!

* Once Alfie set it up, we went around the house to see whether our WiFi signal had improved... and it had! Areas of our home that had previously had a "Fair" signal now had "Good" or "Excellent" WiFi signal! Seeing full bars on all our wireless devices, anywhere around our home, is such a joy :)

Once the Diamond WR300NSI Wireless Range Extender is up and running, you can use it to connect non-wireless, internet-ready devices to the internet -- HDTVs, Blu-Ray players, gaming consoles, etc.. . Just plug one end of an Ethernet cable into your device and plug the other end into the Ethernet port on the WR300NSI. And if you don't have a WiFi router , you can use the WR300NSI to create a WiFi network by plugging your wired router/cable modem or DSL modem into the same port on the WR300NSI.

I feel like we're finally getting the most out of our WiFi, thanks to the Diamond Wireless Range Extender. What's more, it only costs $50 -- such a small investment to get great WiFi signal all around the home.

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information (in italics) is provided by Diamond Multimedia. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

A First Look at Fantasy Faire

Monday, June 03, 2013

If there's one thing that Disney does really well, it's princesses. Everyone loves a Disney princess, every little girl wants to be a Disney princess, and when they go to the Disneyland Resort, every little girl wants to meet a Disney princess. With so many young princesses wandering around the Disneyland Resort, Imagineers have created a bit more space for them to play. Fantasy Faire, a special place where guests can meet and interact with Disney Princesses, opened at Disneyland Park in early March this year. Last week I visited Fantasy Faire for the first time and had a royal time! Here are some photos I took to give you an idea of what Fantasy Faire is like:

Fantasy Faire is an extension of Fantasyland; the architecture of the buildings blends seamlessly with the rest of Fantasyland, and if you didn't know any better you would think that Fantasy Faire has always been a part of Fantasyland from the beginning.

This is the Royal Hall, where you can meet Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

This is the Royal Theatre, where you can relive the stories of Rapunzel and Belle courtesy of Messrs. Smythe and Jones, two hilarious minstrels. This is such a great addition to Disneyland's entertainment repertoire, it deserves a post of its own.

When you're at the Village Square, you feel like you've stepped right into the middle of a medeival town. It's almost a shame that they don't ask everyone to wear medeival gowns and armor before stepping into Fantasy Faire!

You can stop at Maurice's Treats cart for a bite to eat or a cool drink.

You can purchase some royal souvenirs for your little knight or princess at Fairy Tale Treasures.

No detail has escaped the Disney Imagineers' attention, and there are surprises everywhere you turn.

Someone has slapped a wanted poster of Flynn Rider in a corner -- as usual, they've got his nose all wrong.

I love this beautiful wooden painting decorating a bench just outside the Royal Hall.

Don't miss this little gem, Clopin's Music Box: it's like a medieval DVD player that plays a song-and-dance scene when you turn the crank!

Remember Pinocchio and Gepetto? Their fairy tale is set in a medeival town that looks a lot like Fantasy Faire. Here's a cute animatronic of their cat, Figaro.

I kind of wish I was visiting Fantasy Faire for the first time as a little girl, not as a fuddy-duddy middle-aged woman. This place is every little princess's dream come true!

(okay, maybe it's every big princess's dream come true as well :)

Disclosure: The Disneyland Resort invited me to a press event to preview Fantasy Faire. My travel expenses were covered, but I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.