Bonggamom Finds

Giveaway: win an American Girl activity prize pack

Monday, November 18, 2013

It was a great weekend for American Girl fans all over the Bay Area! American Girl's 16th store, located at the Stanford Shopping Center, held Grand Opening celebrations on November 16 and 17. You can read my recap of events on Finding Bonggamom and take a peek inside the store on another American Girl San Francisco post I wrote last week. The new store is just a 5 minute drive from my home, so The Pea and I stopped by on both days to join in the festivities. We ended up with quite a few nice little souvenirs, so I've packaged some of them, along with some other AG goodies in my gift closet, into a nice little activity pack that I'm giving away!

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive an American Girl prize pack, consisting of:

American Girl decorate-your-own doll tote craft kit
American Girl stickers
American Girl activity book (Honey's Guide to Puzzle fun)
American Girl doll charm ("Loyal")
American Girl magazine (November/December 2013 issue)

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which American Girl store is nearest you.

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) Visit my American Girl SF store opening post on Bonggamom Finds and leave a comment there (1 entry).

2) Visit my Inside American Girl SF post on Finding Bonggamom and leave a comment there (1 entry).

3) Visit my American Girl SF Opening Weekend recap post on Bonggamom and leave a comment there (1 entry).

4) Follow bonggamom on Blogger (1 entry)

5) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (1 entry)

6) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)

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

8) "Like" Bonggamom Finds on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry):
I entered the American Girl prize pack giveaway! http://ow.ly/qXiFJ #AmericanGirlSF

9) Tweet this (1 entry per day)
Enter to win an American Girl activity prize pack! Giveaway ends 12/5 @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/qXiFJ #AmericanGirlSF

10) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway you've joined)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on December 5, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on December 6 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure: American Girl is not responsible for this giveaway. The Prize Pack consists of items given to me for promotional purposes as well as items purchased by me. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Bonggamom's Friday Finds: list your giveaways here

Friday, November 15, 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!

Giveaway: Free Shutterfly American Girl Photo Book

Friday, November 15, 2013

American Girl photo book by Shutterfly, free with purchase on AmericanGirl.com

A few weeks ago I bought a couple of doll dresses and books at Americangirl.com, and when the items arrived, I got a nice little bonus: a coupon good for a free American Girl Photo Book from Shutterfly! Each order on American Girl through December 31, 2013 will include a promo code for a FREE 8x8 photo book designed exclusively for American Girl. The code is printed on a card insert that will be included in your delivery box. Note that the code does not include taxes, shipping or handling, and must be redeemed by February 15, 2014. To redeem the code, go to Shutterfly.com/americangirl and type in your unique promo code. You will then be prompted to select the type of photo book (select 8x8 hardcover), the number of pages (select 20), and the design (scroll down the list of available designs and select American Girl).

The American Girl theme is so cute. Shutterfly's software can pre-fill your photo book with American Girl-themed layouts, embellishments and font. It can even autofill the book with photos from your computer, Shutterfly account and other online photo accounts like Facebook and Flickr.

You can also design each page yourself. You can choose the number of photos for each page, the size, layout, embellishments, backgrounds, graphics, captions..... if you're the scrapbooking type, you could lose yourself for hours!

Here are a few layouts I created for The Pea's birthday party photo book:

You get only 1 code with each order.... but at yesterday's tour of the new American Girl Store San Francisco, I found out that they were also giving away code cards with purchase, and I was given a few extra codes to give away!

Win a code good for a free American Girl Photo book from Shutterfly
FIVE lucky Bonggamom Finds readers will receive a code good for a free 20 page, 8x8 hardcover photo book from Shutterfly.com. Note, the code includes only the price of the photo book: taxes, shipping and handling fees will apply. Any additional pages or premium layouts will incur additional costs. The code must be redeemed at shutterfly.com/americangirl before February 15, 2014. The code can only be used once. The full set of restrictions are printed on the card that I will mail to the winners.

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which American Girl doll is your favorite.

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) Visit my American Girl SF store opening post on Bonggamom Finds and leave a comment there (1 entry).

2) Visit my Inside American Girl SF post on Finding Bonggamom and leave a comment there (1 entry).

3) Follow bonggamom on Blogger (1 entry)

4) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (1 entry)

5) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)

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

7) "Like" Bonggamom Finds on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry):
I entered the American Girl photo book giveaway! http://ow.ly/qSkko

8) Tweet this (1 entry per day)
5 winners get a code for a free Shutterfly photo book w/ exclusive American Girl design! Enter by 11/30 @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/qSkko

9) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway you've joined)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on November 30, 2013; I will draw 5 winners at random on December 1 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. This giveaway is not associated with Shutterfly or American Girl. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Give baby sweet dreams with Jammies long johns

Friday, November 15, 2013

Anyone well-versed in the art of gift-giving knows that presentation counts. There's a reason it's called a present! Creative and visually appealing gift packaging shows the recipient that you've spent time and effort to give him or her a treat, from the moment you put it into their hands.

Over the years I've reviewed many baby shower presents in creative packaging: baby onesies or socks or towels or blankets arranged to look like flowers, or cupcakes, or lollipops, or sushi. Here's a sweet new idea: what about a jar or jelly? Jammies by Helene Laure are packagd so creatively, they're sure to stand out at the next baby shower!

Jammies come in a reusable jam jar with a spring lid, just like the jars your grandmother uses for her homemade preserves.

Inside, you'll find a pair of onesie long john-style pajamas rolled up and tied with a ribbon.

The Jammies I received to review came in a whimsical strawberry print with adorable baby animals snoozing alongside the berries. It also has a ruffled button-down front. The boys; version has the same print, minus the ruffles. The cotton is extremely soft and lightweight (note: it's also quite thin, so save these for summer nights) and gentle against baby's skin. They come in sizes 0 through 9 months

The long johns are as adorable as the packaging. What a great gift idea for the holidays or for baby showers at any time of the year!

JAMMIES BY HELENE LAURE-These sweet pajamas are a must-have for baby. Sizing goes from 0 to 9 months and also includes an "Up to 7lbs" size so moms can dress their smallest bundle of joy with well-fitted and attractive pajamas. These super-soft jammies come in an adorable recyclable jam jar tied with a bow. Order in a beautiful gift box for a treasured gift for a friend, daughter, neighbor, or for your baby on the way! Ten percent of profit from Jammies is donated to Postpartum Progress, an organization dedicated to helping mothers and babies who struggle with Postpartum Depression. www.jammiesforbabies.com Starting at $30

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 the featured company/product. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

American Girl Store San Francisco opens November 16

Friday, November 15, 2013

The wait is finally over! Northern California finally has its own American Girl Store. American Girl San Francisco is having a Grand Opening this weekend, November 16 and 17. There's going to be a ribbon cutting, craft activities, a raffle, and a free surprise for each little girl who visits. The opening is going to draw parents and daughters to come from hundreds of miles away -- American Girl expects a crowd of 10,000 over the next two days! I've heard stories of groups camping out the night before, but in recent years American Girl has perfected their crowd control system to minimize waiting and stress. Here are some tips for planning your American Girl weekend:

* To reduce guests waiting and observe fire-safety regulations, a ticket system will be used for American Girl Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto grand-opening weekend.

* Each person (including children) who wishes to enter the store will receive a ticket with an assigned group number.

* Ticket distribution for begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, and at 8 a.m. on Sunday, November 17. Saturday tickets are valid for Saturday only. Sunday tickets are valid for Sunday only.

* Lining up prior to 7 a.m. on Saturday, November 16 and 8 a.m. on Sunday, November 17 will not be permitted. 8 a.m. on Sunday, November 17. Overnight camping is not allowed on property.

* When the store opens each day, groups will be announced in numerical order for admittance through the American Girl entrance adjacent to California Pizza Kitchen.

* You can shop or dine in Stanford Shopping Center until your group number is called, or, should you have a Bistro reservation, you can come directly to the Welcome Table as check-in is allowed two hours prior to your Bistro reservation time,whichever comes first.

* Text Messaging will be available providing updates on current group numbers being admitted; details on text messaging will be available onsite. Also, 22x28 signs will be located throughout Stanford Shopping Center, providing updates on current group numbers being admitted.

My best tip for avoiding the crowds at the new store? Come and shop today!! The store has actually been open for a few days now, but it's a soft opening to get the staff ramped up. No publicity, just foot traffic and word of mouth. The Pea and I were at the store yesterday to receive an exclusive tour, and although there were quite a few shoppers, there were no lines at all. Getting there early gave me a chance to take some photos around the store without shoppers blocking the way. Here are a few photos of the store to give you a general idea of the layout and decor:

The first floor houses the bookstore, Girl of the Year section, Historical Characters section, Bitty Baby and Bitty Twins sections, and American Girl Store San Francisco Merchandise.

Bookstore, ground floor, American Girl San Francisco

The Grand Staircase is unique to the San Francisco store. The large pastel globe lights are so cute! It opens up onto the second floor, which houses the American Girl Bistro, Creativi-Tees Boutique, Doll Hair Salon, My American Girl section, and Holiday merchandise.

The American Girl Bistro was not yet open, but they expect to be fully operational tomorrow. Unlike the American Girl Cafe in Chicago, New York and LA, which serve a set menu, the Bistro menu is a la carte, so you can make reservations for lunch or just an afternoon ice cream sundae. I've heard rumors that the place is booked till March -- but I just looked at the online calendar, and while November is pretty much booked, there are lots of openings in December.

The Pea and her friend had their dolls' hairs done at the Doll Hair Salon.

No lines at the cash registers right now, but we fully expect that to change tomorrow!

I'll be back at the store tomorrow to take photos of the ribbon cutting, the opening and the crowds. Hope to see you there!

For more photos of the new American Girl Store in San Francisco, check out my American Girl Flickr photoset and my AG San Francisco post on Finding Bonggamom! And don't forget to enter my giveaway for a free American Girl custom photo book from Shutterfly!

Disclosure: As an invited guest to a soft opening tour, I received a complimentary doll hairstyle at the Doll Salon and a goody bag. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Giveaway: Pledge FloorCare for hardwood floors

Thursday, November 14, 2013

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Pledge. I received a product samples to facilitate my review and promotional item as a thank you for participating

Pledge is a brand that I have known and trusted since I was a little girl. My mom polished all her wooden furniture with Pledge; I grew up with the scent of lemon around the household, and to this day, I associate it with well cared-for wood!

So when Mom Central Consulting invited me to join the Pledge-to-Pledge Challenge as a Pledge Ambassador, I was only too delighted. I had just discovered Pledge's new product line for hardwood floors: Pledge® FloorCare Wood Concentrated Cleaner, Pledge® FloorCare Wood Squirt & Mop, Pledge® FloorCare Wood Trigger, and Pledge® FloorCare Wood Finish. If any brand knows how to care for wood, it's Pledge!

I've been using these products for a couple of weeks now, and I'm extremely happy with them. Check out the photo above -- you can really see the difference between our kitchen wood floors before and after using Pledge FloorCare products! My favorite is the FloorCare Squirt & Mop, because it's so easy to use. I also love the FloorCare Wood Trigger, because it cleans up spills and messes in a jiffy. Last week my son 3Po had food poisoning: he woke up in the middle of the night and threw up all over the floor! Fortunately, their bedroom (along with 95% of our home) has hardwood floors, so I was able to clean everything up with a bit of water, some towels, and Pledge FloorCare Wood Trigger and Squirt & Mop.

Win a Pledge FloorCare Prize Pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a Pledge FloorCare Prize Pack which includes one of each of the following Pledge FloorCare products: Wood Squirt & Mop, Wood Spray Cleaner, and Wood Concentrate.

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which room in your house would most benefit from the use of Pledge FloorCare wood products.

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 #Pledge FloorCare giveaway! http://ow.ly/qQ2Kx #MC

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)
Win a Pledge FloorCare Prize Pack on @bonggafinds! Enter by 11/19 at http://ow.ly/qQ2Kx #MC #pledge #sponsored

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway you've joined)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on November 19, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on November 20 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure: I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Pledge. I received a product samples to facilitate my review and promotional item as a thank you for participating. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Giveaway: $25 Oriental Trading gift card

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Oriental trading is one of my favorite online party stores! I have used it for years as my source for inexpensive party decorations, goody bag favors, and art supplies. I've bought stickers, tattoos, toy cars, plush toys, craft kits, gift bags, pens, beads, hats.... the list is endless. Their prices are so great, just $25 goes a long way -- which is why I'm teaming up with 3 other bloggers for an Oriental Trading Gift card!

That's right, just in time for the holidays, one lucky Bonggamom Finds/Diana Rambles/unOriginal Mom/2 Crochet Hooks reader will receive a $25 Oriental Trading gift card. You can enter using the form below, but hurry, because the entries will be accepted only until November 20! Good luck!

This giveaway is brought to you by the following bloggers~

Entry -Form

Disclosure: All expenses incurred in this giveaway, including the giveaway prize, were incurred by the sponsoring bloggers: Diana Rambles, Bonggamom Finds, unOriginal Mom, 2 Crochet Hooks. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Give your child a personalized holiday book from Put Me In The Story

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

I received a sample to review

Kids these days have seen every kind of toy there is, so when the holidays come around, what do you get for the child who has everything? How about a book that's made just for them, a book that makes them the star of the story!

At PutMeInTheStory.com, not only can you add your child's name and photo to a dedication page, your child's name actually appears in the text of the story! For their holiday book, your child's name even appears in the title: Santa is Coming to "Jessica's" House. It's all about how Santa and his reindeer overcome all kinds of obstacles to deliver presents to your child's house.

This is the kind of storybook that's guaranteed to entertain and delight. Every page is filled with colorful, cheerful illustrations. Even the text is visually interesting: it's set in a mixture of fonts and sizes, and often you'll find lines of text tilting and waving and swirling around the page.

What a great gift idea -- a book as special and unique as your child!

About the book
In Santa is Coming to My House, kids will star alongside Santa as he navigates his way from the North Pole all the way to your house. Santa’s ready to deliver his presents but the trip isn’t going as planned! With a failing navigation system and a huge snowstorm, Santa and his reindeer will have to pull together (and expertly avoid some really tall buildings!) to get the gifts delivered in time. It’s the perfect way to celebrate Santa’s journey as he travels from north to east and all over the globe to land at your house.

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 the featured company/product. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Big thing, little package: SanDisk Cruzer USB Flash Drives

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

I received samples for review

We all know that size isn't everything. Here's more proof: SanDisk's latest set of USB drives. The Cruzer Fit and Cruzer Orbit are some of the smallest USB flash drives I've ever seen, yet they hold a whopping 64 gigabytes of data! The Cruzer Force is sturdy and secure, with no moving parts to snap off or break. The Cruzer Fit is even more impressive; when you plug it into a USB port, you barely know it's there. It's perfect for USB-enabled TVs or DVRs, as well as car audio receivers. I like it because my laptop has 2 USB ports side by side, and often when I plug in one USB flash drive, it blocks the second port. It's the perfect stocking stuffer: so useful, and small enough to fit into a stocking! Big things do come in small packages :)

More information about SanDisk's Cruzer line:
64GB Cruzer Fit: With a low-profile design that is barely larger than the USB connector itself, the Cruzer Fit offers a perfect solution for portable storage where full-size flash drives are too big. The Fit is ideal for use with devices such as USB-enabled TVs and car audio receivers, or as a way to expand a laptop’s available storage without getting in the way.

64GB Cruzer Force: Constructed with a durable metal casing, the Cruzer Force is a secure, reliable flash drive that can store even large files, including high-resolution images and HD video. As with all SanDisk flash drives, the Cruzer Force comes with SanDisk SecureAccess software, which makes it easy to create an encrypted, password-protected folder.

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 SanDisk. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Staying Organized with the Fellowes Shredder

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Fellowes. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating

We are a family of five, and we don't live in a McMansion. We love our 1700 square foot home, but it gets messy pretty quickly, so it's important to stay organized. Here are some tried-and-tested tips that help me:

Have a place for everything
Storage bins and organizers are a small home's best friend! Whenever I buy something new for myself and the kids, one of the first things we do is decide where to store it. Use bookshelves, bins, filing cabinets, organizers, whatever works best for you.

Put everything in its place
Bins and organizers are useless if there's nothing inside them. I know, it's a pain to put everything away, but it's the only way to get rid of mess. Sometimes I let the kids keep half-finished projects out, but if it lasts longer than a few days, it needs to be put away. It's a habit I still have to work on!

Periodically declutter
When drawers and storage bins start filling up, it's time to go through them and get rid of things you no longer need. I figure that if our toys and clothes and books and other stuff can no longer fit in their allotted spaces, then we have too much stuff! If you tell your kids they're not getting any new toys unless they make room for it, they'll help out pretty quickly, especially during holidays and birthdays!

Decluttering applies to toys, sporting goods, clothes, supplies, old decor, electronics, books, paperwork, anything and everything that accumulates! Sort your old items into "throw", "donate" and "sell" piles, and you should be set. Paperwork such as old utility bills, bank statements, health insurance notifications, insurance policies, and the like requires an extra step. Identity theft is no joke, so it's not enough dump your old documents into the recycling bin. Consider a paper shredder like the Fellowes 63Cb to shred your documents safely and securely.

Fellowes sent me one to review, and I'm impressed at how easy it is to shred, discard and declutter. Some features which really help busy parents:

* Fellowes’ Jam Blocker™ technology that prevents overfeeding and stops jams in their tracks.
An easy-to-use pull out bin and an 8-minute run time, which is longer than most shredders in its range.

* Cross-Cut blades that destroy a single sheet of paper into 302 particles and easily shred credit cards, paper clips and staples.

* SafeSense® technology that automatically disables the shredder when hands touch the paper opening (perfect for curious fingers and paws)!

* Energy Savings technology helps keep utility bills down.

Check out this handy infographic to help you find the perfect shredder to keep you organized!

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

Peter and the Starcatcher

Monday, November 11, 2013

I was provided with complimentary tickets to the show

We all know the story of how Peter Pan cut off Captain Hook's hand and fed it to the crocodile
Peter Pan is one of the most beloved children's stories of all time. It's hard to find a child in the US who doesn't know of how Wendy and her brothers flew to Never Never Land and fought Captain Hook with Peter Pan -- but what happened before that? We all know how Peter Pan cut off Captain Hook's hand and fed it to the crocodile, but how did Peter Pan and Captain Hook get to Never Never Land in the first place? Look to the Broadway play Peter and the Starcatcher for all the answers! We received tickets to opening night, and we left with quite a bit of pixie dust in our eyes.

Peter and the Starcatcher is based on Peter and the Starcatchers, a novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson that acts as the prequel to J.M. Barrie's Peter and Wendy. You'll meet a nameless London orphan who eventually becomes Peter Pan, a dastardly pirate who eventually loses his hand (although not in the way everyone assumes) and becomes Captain Hook, and a bright, inquisitive girl who does not eventually become Wendy but is connected to Wendy in a way that unfolds as the play ends. You'll meet characters who end up in Peter Pan story everyone knows and loves (Smee, the crocodile), and characters who don't (Alf, Mrs. Bumbrake, Lord Astor). You'll learn the backstory of Peter Pan and how he became the Boy Who Never Grew Up.

Peter and the Starcatchers is classic pantomime at its best, with over-the-top characters, men in drag (our favorite scene was the drag mermaid chorus line!) and lots of humor (not to mention fart jokes), but with a contemporary twist (lots of modern cultural references like TTFN). Pan fans will be happy for the chance to delve more into Peter's story. I have to admit, the plot is so fast paced that it's difficult to keep track of what's going on. The Pea was hopelessly confused for a good portion of Act I, so if you take anyone under age 12, be prepared to do a lot of explaining during half time.

photo credit: SHN website

For me, where Peter and the Starcatcher really soars is in the production. I'm amazed at the creativity displayed by the cast and crew! The stage at the Curran Theater is really small, but they were able to make dozens of scenes come to life: the docks, the ship's deck, the dungeon, a battle at sea, a mermaid grotto and a jungle, to name a few. They used minimal props in imaginative ways. Ropes became waves, human bodies became walls, rubber gloves became birds, white pennant flags became crocodile's teeth. And did I mention that the entire cast of characters was played by just 12 actors? The whole production is living proof of the magic that awaits you if you let your imagination take flight!

Peter and the Starcatcher is playing at the Curran Theater in San Francisco from November 5 till December 1. Tickets can be purchased at the SHN website.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary tickets to the show. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.