The Kia Optima Hybrid: defying the stereotypes

When you think of a hybrid, what comes to mind?  Probably a small, futuristic-looking car that glides to a stop and doesn't make any noise.  The last thing you'd think of is a sleek sports sedan, but that's exactly what showed up at our home the day I was scheduled to start testing the Kia Optima Hybrid.  In fact, when I told the family a couple of weeks ago that I'd be reviewing a Kia Optima Hybrid, they were distinctly unimpressed.  Jammy said he wasn't really interested in any eco-friendly car except the Tesla, and if he had a choice of cars to review, he'd pick a Maclaren.

Ha.  After a week with the Optima, it looks like Jammy is the most devastated at the thought of parting ways with it!  We've really grown to love the Optima; it's definitely not your typical hybrid!  Here's a list of ways the Kia Optiima Hybrid defies the stereotypes:

Hybrids are small
The smaller cars use less fuel, so hybrids are small and cramped, right?  Wrong.  The Optima is extremely roomy, with lots of legroom even for the rear passengers.  The kids had no problem fitting into the back seat, and I'd say even 3 adults wouldn't feel too cramped.  Even the trunk space was huge, despite the fact that the electric battery took up a bit of real estate.

Hybrids are underpowered
The Optima has an Eco-boost setting that you can activate for even more fuel efficiency, but when you're in regular mode, the accelerator packs plenty of punch.

Hybrids look dorky
Even Jammy, my sportscar fanatic, was impressed with the low-slung styling of the Optima Hybrid ("It looks just like a Tesla!" was his first comment) and its sporty wheels.  The Optima Hybrid is sleek and elegant even for a regular midsize sedan, let alone a hybrid.

Hybrids are for cost-conscious consumers
The Optima Hybrid is just as luxurious inside as it is on the outside. The model we tested had leather seats (with heated and ventilated front seats), a panoramic sunroof, voice command navigation and Sirius XM radio.

Hybrids get great gas mileage
Okay, this is one stereotype that is 100% true! The Kia Optima Hybrid gets gets an estimated mileage of 35–36 city / 39–40 hwy. I drove the Optima Hybrid for a week, sticking to my normal driving patterns (soccer carpools, grocery runs, etc..), and couldn't even manage to finish a quarter tank of gas!  Actually, I ended up taking the car to places I'd normally walk to (like school, which is about half a mile away!), and I still used up way, way less gas that I would with my van!

Hybrids are hi-tech
Okay, this is another spot-on stereotype.  We had so much fun exploring the display features of the Optima Hybrid!  We were so fascinated by the graphics showing us how power switched from the gas engine to the battery and vice versa, and every drive became like a video game, with all the kids determined to get the Optima Hybrid's eco-friendly meter up as high as possible!  It really got all of us thinking about how we drive and how we can save gas and reduce our carbon footprint just by modifying driving habits.  So cool!

If you're in the market for a hybrid, check out the Kia Optima Hybrid (starting MSRP $25,900–$31,950).   Come to think of it, check it out if you're in the market for any car!

Disclosure: I was loaned a Kia Optima Hybrid to test drive for a week, courtesy of STI.  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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Help make holidays brighter with CaringBridge

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for CaringBridge. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating

The holidays are a time to celebrate and be happy.  Just think of how many times we say the word "happy" (or versions of it) in the greetings we exchange at this time of the year -- Happy.  Merry.  Bright.  Joy.  Blessed.  Wonderful.  But when someone in the family is sick, it can be much more difficult to find the HoHoHo in Holidays.

In times of trouble, you have to grasp at every little bit of happiness you can find, which is why it is so important to take the time to support your family and friends who are going through rough times.  Even a caring word or a message of encouragement can brighten their day because you're letting them know that you are thinking of them, that they are not alone.

That's why I'm in awe of CaringBridge, a nonprofit that helps families stay connected and supported during trying times. CaringBridge provides free personal websites, giving people a way to show their support for their family and friends who are going through some kind of health journey.  When a friend's daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, I saw first hand how CaringBridge served as a virtual gathering place for their loved ones to leave messages of support and love.  My friend and his wife were able to update everyone on their daughter's condition without having to respond to dozens of emails -- which gave them more time to spend with their daughter.

CaringBridge provides such a wonderful service!  Just watch (and share!) the video below to see how a small word of support can inspire hope and amplify the love:


Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for CaringBridge. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Attention expectant parents: Is cord blood banking right for you?

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for the Cord Blood Registry. I received promotional item to thank me for my participation

Did you know that the holiday season is the time of the year when most babies are conceived? I guess the cold winter nights make couples want to snuggle, and all the celebrations (not to mention the champagne and eggnog) put people in a joyous mood!  After all, there's nothing better to celebrate than the arrival of a new family member, and with today's pregnancy tests, expectant parents can begin celebrating as soon as they see "positive" on a pregnancy test.

With all that celebrating comes planning -- setting up the nursery, finding a pediatrician, researching baby gear.  Unfortunately, one thing that most parents don't plan for is something that could turn out to be one of the most important decisions they could ever make.  I'm talking about banking their child's umbilical cord blood.  Cord blood is a rich source of stem cells, which are unique because they can develop into many different cell types.  The possibilities for medical science are enormous -- and those stem cells could save your child's life!  Cord blood stem cells have been used in the treatment of more than 80 conditions and are currently being evaluated in FDA-regulated clinical trials for their potential regenerative ability in common health issues including autism, cerebral palsy, pediatric stroke, and traumatic brain injury.

However, because parents are largely unaware of their value, umbilical cord blood containing these pristine cells is frequently discarded. In fact, less than ten percent of parents choose to bank their child’s cord blood today. There are actually two options for banking cord blook: public or private banking.  Public banking lets parents donate their newborn stem cells at no cost -- however, there is no guarantee that your donation will be available to you.  Private banking stores your child's cord blood for your family's exclusive use.  You pay an initial fee for the cord blood banking kit that your OB will use to harvest your child's cord blood right after birth (the kit will be sent to your OB, who will then harvest the cord blood and send it to the lab so you don't have to worry about it).  Every year thereafter, you pay an annual banking fee.

We decided to bank our children's cord blood almost as soon as we knew we were expecting.  Since our kids are mixed race, the odds of finding exact matches for bone marrow from national registries are extremely small.  We figured the same would apply to stem cells -- if they ever had a medical condition that could be alleviated or cured with stem cells, their best bet would be their own stem cells!  We look at cord blood banking as an insurance policy -- but it's a policy that you can only sign up for at one point in your child's life, the moment after their birth.   So we signed up to bank their blood with Cord Blood Registry (CBR), and we've never regretted our decision.  CBR is the first and only newborn stem cell bank to pioneer FDA-regulated clinical trials with leading medical centers to explore the potential benefits of newborn stem cells for many conditions that presently have no cure.

If you think you might want to bank your child's cord blood, talk to your doctor to get all the facts.  Like I said, you only get one shot, you can't change your mind after your baby is born, so it's important to make an informed decision before your due date.  I highly recommend going to Cord Blood Registry's website to see whether cord blood banking is right for you.  For my family, the decision was easy.  If any of my kids ever get sick, I'd do anything to find a cure.  For me, that starts with banking their cord blood with CBR -- so that if ever they need it, it will be there.



Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for the Cord Blood Registry. I received promotional item to thank me for my participation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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NCircle Entertainment's holiday offerings

One of the things I love most about the holidays is reliving the traditions and memories you grew up with and sharing them with your children.  From watching the Nutcracker to trimming the tree to driving around the neighborhood to look at lights to watching holiday specials on tv, I love it all!  The best thing is, there's still lots of room to introduce new things and make your own traditions.

Take holiday tv specials, for instance.  There are some holiday programs we watch year after year, and yet there's so much great holiday programming being introduced that it's impossible not to watch!  To help get kids excited for the holidays, NCircle has introduced several new holiday videos that families will love because they feature some of tv's most beloved characters.  I received three great videos to review -- The Snowman and the Snowdog, Mike the Knight: Mike's Christmas Surprise, and Yo Gabba Gabba: A Very Awesome Christmas Special -- and we enjoyed watching all of them.  My favorite was The Snowman and the Snowdog, because I watched the original movie, The Snowman, way back when it first came out thirty years ago The Snowman and the Snowdog is the sequel to The Snowman, and it is just as enchanting as the first movie.  The kids, on the other hand, loved Yo Gabba Gabba: A Very Awesome Christmas Special, because they loved Yo Gabba Gabba as kids, so watching it gave them the same warm sense of nostalgia that watching The Snowman and the Snowdog gave me.  It just goes to show you that you're never too old to watch holiday animation!  Check out all three titles and share them with your kids -- you just might end up adding them to your own holiday traditions!

• "Mike the Knight: Mike's Christmas Surprise!"
Mike’s Christmas Surprise! is packed with five stories (including a bonus episode), interactive games, a music video, and more! When a special visitor surprises Mike for Christmas, excitement fills the air. The royal family decides to play a game, but Evie’s magic causes Christmas chaos. Will everything be back to normal in time for the Christmas feast?

• “Yo Gabba Gabba: A Very Awesome Christmas Special"
Two stories are contained on this festive new DVD releasing for the holidays. In “A Very Awesome Christmas Special,” it's a Christmas celebration when DJ Lance places a gingerbread house into Gabba Land! The Gabba gang makes new friends with neighbors, and everyone is excited to exchange gifts – but what can they possibly get for Santa Claus? In the story titled "Christmas,” the Gabba gang learns that even though much of Christmas is about receiving, there’s a lot of joy in giving to others.

• "The Snowman and the Snowdog"
When a young boy and his mother move into a new house, the boy discovers a secret box hidden under the floorboards of his bedroom. In the box, he finds a hat, scarf, some lumps of coal and a shriveled tangerine - it's a snowman-making kit! Later that day, when it starts to snow, the boy builds a Snowman and, with the spare snow left over, a Snowdog. That night, the Snowman and Snowdog come to life and take him on a wonderful adventure. As dawn breaks they fly home, but before the boy returns to bed a magical surprise awaits him!


Need activities to keep the kids busy during the holiday break?  Download and enjoy this adorable “Mike Saves Christmas!” coloring page!

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 NCircle Entertainment. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Is your computer protected?

I've always considered myself pretty savvy when it comes to online security and internet scams.  That was before I got a call from a "Microsoft representative" informing me that my computer was vulnerable to threats and could I please give them my IP address so they could fix it for me.  I believed it for about 10 seconds before my good sense got the better of me... but it just goes to show how vulnerable your computer can be. Thieves and hackers have so much to gain these days, they'll go to any length to infiltrate your computer!  If it's not a call scam like I almost experienced, it's a phishing scheme, or a trojan horse or some other virus that worms its way into your computer when you click on an attachment in some "too good to be true deal" you received in an email.   Their methods get more and more sophisticated every year, and they always seem to have the best hackers working on how to get around the latest software protections.

That's why it's so important to have security software that protects against the latest threats. And that's where McAfee comes in.  Their McAfee Internet Security includes a firewall and parental controls that protect against viruses, spam, phishing and privacy protections.  You'll also get utilities like online backup, vulnerability analysis and system cleanup.  Don't wait until your computer is infiltrated!  Click on the links below and take advantage of some great discounts!

Safeguard your devices with 50% off McAfee Home Products!

Protect your devices with 50% off McAfee All Access!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Dream Big with Konica Minolta's Dream Printer

I participated in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting (#MC) on behalf of Konica Minolta. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Children are our future, and the future can only be as big as they dream it to be!  But somewhere along the way, their "I want to save the world" and "I want to get rid of hunger" dreams turn into "I want to score a goal this Saturday" and "I want to pass my algebra exam".  There's nothing wrong with little dreams, but we want to keep those big dreams alive too!  How else did we get a man on the moon, and how else did we end up with the power of a supercomputer in an itty-bitty phone?

Every child needs a dream and a goal to sustain them through hard times, so it's wonderful to see business tech and printing company Konica Minolta encouraging big dreaming with their “Giving Shape to Ideas” initiative.  As part of the initiative, they created a "Dream Printer", and set it in a park where children were playing.  Kids were prompted to share what they wanted to be when they grew up and drop their papers in a slot.  Unbeknownst to them, an artist was hidden inside the "printer" who read each child's dream and drew a portrait of the child as their future self.

Moments later, each child collected from the printer a customized drawing of themselves in their future profession, from police officers to veterinarians.

How cool is that?  I watched the Dream Printer video, and the happy expressions on the kids' faces were priceless!  Check out the video below, and keep encouraging your own children to dream big!



Disclosure: I participated in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting (#MC) on behalf of Konica Minolta. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Blu-Ray #MovieMagic Giveaway

Blu-ray is the perfect present for your favorite movie lover this holiday season!  Blu-Ray has SIX times the quality of regular DVDs, plus you don't have to wait for videos to stream from the internet to your viewing device.  With a Blu-ray combo pack, you can enjoy your favorite films in high-definition whenever and wherever you want. You can keep the Blu-ray disc in the living room, DVD in the car, and the digital copy on your phone for when you’re on the move!  Blu-ray also offers exclusive special features that put you in the filmmaker’s chair, with a behind-the-scenes access to all of the magic: Special effects, talent interviews, alternative endings, unreleased scenes, bloopers, and more.


Win a Blu-Ray movie title
Finds readers will receive one of the following titles: chosen at random from the list below) to award one lucky reader!

• The Little Mermaid - Diamond Edition
• The Lone Ranger
• Monsters University
• Angels Rising
• Rise of The Guardians
• Despicable Me 2
• Turbo
• Grown Ups 2
• Wizard of Oz 3D
• The Wolverine
• Star Trek: Into Darkness
• White House Down
• Fast 6
• Pacific Rim
• After Earth
• Man of Steel
• Red 2
• World War Z
• 2 Guns
• Weeds: The Complete Collection
• Predator 3D

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share which Blu-ray would YOU love to get this holiday as a stocking stuffer this year.

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 Blu-Ray #MovieMagic giveaway! http://ow.ly/ryxjU 

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)

Win a Blu-Ray #MovieMagic title on @bonggafinds!  Enter by 12/13 at http://ow.ly/ryxjU 

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 December 13, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on December 14 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. Each household is only eligible to win ONE #MovieMagic Title via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. For additional giveaway rules, click here.



Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. . Giveaway prize provided by Blu-Ray, via PartnersHub. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Prepare your Car for Winter: Tips from the International Car Wash Association (and a giveaway for you!)

Winter here, and families who live in snowy areas know how important it is to prepare for months and months of snow. From weatherproofing the house to getting out the winter gear to preparing vehicles for winter weather, proper preparation will do wonders for your safety and comfort when the world freezes over.

Safety is especially important when you're out driving, because icy roads and poor visibility can easily spell disaster to drivers, passengers and pedestrians. I lived in Boston for two years and learned quickly to make sure my car was safe to drive before going anywhere in the winter. Even now that I live in sunny California, we still drive up to the mountains to enjoy the snow several times a year, and every time we go, I make sure we're prepared for driving in winter conditions. After all, Better Safe than Sorry... or should I say, Better Safe than Snowy!

If you're gearing up to brave the elements this winter, here are five great tips from the International Car Wash Association for getting your car ready for winter ( ICA, through its Wash With Watersavers consumer awareness campaign, is committed to promoting the importance of using eco-friendly carwashes that use less water and return clean water back into the environment):

· Check your tires. Before the roads get slick, check your tires to be sure they aren’t worn and that they are properly inflated. You should be able to find the proper tire pressure on the inside of your driver’s side door. Cold air will cause the air in your tires to compress and may cause your tires to lose pressure, so make a note to check again later in the winter.

· Wash and wax your car at a professional car wash. Putting your car through the car wash during the sloppiest season of the year may seem a strange idea but a thorough wash can remove harmful compounds that may cause damage when mixed with sand and road salt. Experts from the International Carwash Association also recommend a coat of wax for an extra layer of protection from the elements. Besides protecting your car, you’ll also be protecting the environment. Professional car washes can save up to 20 percent of the amount of water you’d use by washing your car at home. They do this by treating and reusing their water, rather than releasing toxic chemicals and grime into the storm drains, which can often occur when you wash your car yourself. You can learn more about the environmental benefits of a professional car wash at washwithwatersavers.com.

· Check your brakes. Your brakes will work harder once the icy conditions of winter set in. Make sure they are up to the task by bringing your vehicle in to your mechanic for a thorough brake inspection.

· Check fluids. In the winter, no fluid is more important than your coolant because, if you’re out of coolant, you’re out of heat. Your owner’s manual will tell you how much coolant you need as well and provide the correct blend. It’s also never a bad idea to keep an additional bottle of coolant in your car for emergencies.

· Winter emergency kit. If you find yourself stranded by the side of the road, a winter survival kit can be very helpful. Include an ice scraper/brush, extra blankets or clothes – including hats and gloves – snacks and bottled water and a first aid kit. A small shovel can come in handy if you get stuck and a bag of cat litter can be used to provide needed traction for your tires.


Win a Cold Weather Survival Kit
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a cold weather survival kit created by WaterSavers, to help you feel prepared for winter. The prize pack includes:

• First aid kit
• flashlight/signal torch
• 2 AA batteries
• 2 emergency candles
• box of safety matches
• 2 hand warmers
• emergency water bag (1 gallon capacity)
• survival compass
• emergency blanket
• cotton gloves
• Carry case for all the above items (heavy-duty, water and puncture resistant, made of 600D polyester)
• WaterSavers Tote bag
• $20 VISA Gift Card

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share a tip for protecting your home or car from the harsh winter weather.

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 Auto Winter Survival Tips giveaway! http://ow.ly/ryxjU 

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)

Win a cold weather auto survival kit + $25 Visa gc!  Enter by 12/20 on @bonggafinds: http://ow.ly/ryxjU 

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 December 20, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on December 21 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.


Disclosure: Thanks to the International Car Wash Association (ICA) for providing a gift pack to give away, as well as a second gift pack for my personal use.  Winter tips (in italics) were provided by the ICA. 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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Ten Reasons you should watch FROZEN

Walt Disney Animation's latest feature, Frozen, is now out in theaters, and I'm sure many parents are wondering whether they should take their kids to see the movie or wait till it comes out on DVD.  Despite all the Disney movies I've already seen this year (Oz, Monsters U, Planes, Thor), I say WATCH IT in theaters.  It's a must-see!  I've already seen it several times and I've already decided to buy the DVD!  Frozen is an adorable movie, and here are ten reasons you should see it this holiday season:

10) There's no better movie to watch during the holidays than one set in a land of ice and snow!

9) Speaking of ice and snow, the snow and ice animation is amazing.  I could stare at the details in Elsa's ice palace for hours, and I was mesmerized by the snowflakes that swirled around the screen throughout the closing credits (tip: I watched both the 3D and the regular version of Frozen, and the snowflakes look WAAY BETTER in 3D!)

8) I've never been a big fan of the original Snow Queen story, and I love how Disney has taken the characters from Han Christian Andersen's fairy tale and woven their own story.

7) You will never guess how the movie ends!  I had to revise my predictions constantly throughout the movie, and I still got it wrong.  When a kids' movie can surprise all the jaded, sophisticated grownups in the theater, you know it's a good one.

6) You'll get a kick out of hearing Anna -- a princess in a far-away, fairytale land -- use contemporary expressions like "For the first time in forever" and "Awkwaaaaard!".

5) The fun begins even before the movie starts, with a cute black-and-white Mickey cartoon that ends in glorious color.  And just when you think the movie is over, you get to enjoy a disclaimer and short clip that will make you laugh -- so make sure you stay through all the credits!

4) I thought Disney's golden age of animated musicals (Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin) was over and gone, but I've found myself humming the songs from Frozen almost every day since I watched the movie!

3) Of course, Idina Menzel (voice of Elsa; she's the original Elphaba in Wicked) could sing the phone book, and everyone would be enthralled.  Her duets with Kristen Bell (voice of Anna, I had no idea she could sing!) are amazing. I can totally see Frozen being turned into a Broadway musical!

2) I'm a sucker for a movie where princesses take the reins and save the day instead of leaving things up to the men.

1) I'm a sucker for a movie where love conquers all.




Disclosure: I received complimentary admission to an advanced screening of Frozen.  All subsequent viewings of the movie (and there have already been several!) are at my own expense. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Get a cell phone for your child (and peace of mind for you) with Zact Mobile

I participated in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Zact. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Given that phones are practically extensions of parents' arms these days, it's no wonder that kids are asking for their own cell phone at a younger and younger age. My boys have their own phones, but they don't have phone plans, so the phones merely function as wifi devices.   But their 12 year old sister already has her own cell phone (I think most middle schoolers these days do!), and lately they've been wanting access to the internet on the go -- and I don't think I'm going to be able to put it off for much longer.

But just because they're old enough to want a cell phone doesn't mean they're old enough to use a phone responsibly.  Besides the obvious risks of losing or damaging their phones, there's also overuse (sneaking a peek at their phones at school or during soccer practice), excessive texting, running up huge bills, identity theft, online bullying, texting while driving or biking, and so many other issues.  There are so many things that could go wrong, it's scary!

For me, just talking about these issues is not enough: I want a phone plan for my kids that lets me set controls and limits based on my kids age the level of responsibility they're ready for. So when I finally do get my boys started on a cell phone plan, it's going to be one with robust parental controls like those of Zact Mobile.  They were recently awarded the National Parenting Center seal of approval, and recently praised on USA Today as providing "... the most robust controls".  Zact gives parents the ability to customize their child's phone plan and set up parental controls, like the ability to set restrictions on who children can contact or be contacted by, the amount of time spent texting, plus time spent browsing the internet. The plan also allows parents to set curfews and limitations on when the smartphone can and cannot be used, such as at homework, meal or bed times. What's more, Zact's no-contract plan features a money back credit that applies automatically to the next month’s service if overestimated.

If, like my kids, your kids have visions of smartphones dancing in their heads along with the sugarplums, be sure to check out Zact Mobile!  Peace of mind... it's what every parent wants this holiday season!


Parental Controls with Zact from Zact Mobile on Vimeo.

Disclosure: I participated in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Zact. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Give the Gift of a Great Future this holiday season with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Boys and Girls Clubs of America. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating

Despite everything we say about thankfulness and spending time together as a family, let's face it: as far as the kids are concerned, presents make up a HUGE part of the holidays.  To make matters worse, 3Po and Jammy's birthday is in December, so it's a double whammy of presents for our family.  That's why I always make a special effort to remind the kids that not everyone can celebrate the way we do.  Every holiday season we participate in the One Warm Coat drive, the Toys for Tots drive, and the Family Giving Tree drive.   For the past couple of years we've also volunteered at the Family Giving Tree warehouse, sorting and labeling donated toys to be distributed to various community agencies.  It's one of the highlights of our holiday season, and it makes me so happy to see my kids so excited about helping others.

Every parent I know wants to foster a spirit of community and giving in their kids, but sometimes it's difficult to know where to start.  Many organizations require volunteers to be at least 14, 15, 16 years old -- but you want your kids to start young and make volunteerism a habit.  No age is too young for children to start learning the importance of giving back, especially during the holiday season!

That's why I'm so glad to see that the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) has created a website to help parents teach kids the value of giving back.  BGCA's Give the Gift of a Great Future website features resources to help parents with ideas on how to give back with their children, printable gift tags, and an interactive Giving Game.  There's a great section where you can view photos and read about ways BGCA kids are serving their communities. You can even vote on your favorite photo, and in the process, enter to win $2,000! The Kids Give Back photo contest ends December 12, so cast your vote today.  What a great way to inspire your kids to make a difference in your community!


Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Boys and Girls Clubs of America. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Be impressed with photo holiday cards from SimplyToImpress

If you haven't ordered your holiday photo cards yet, TODAY IS THE DAY -- and SimplyToImpress.com is the place!  They have a great Cyber Monday deal offering 20% off plus free shipping with promo code BESTDEAL2013.  And if you have any doubt whatsoever that you're not getting the best deal, just check out how the cards I ordered from them turned out:

THEY ARE GORGEOUS!  I'm so happy with them!  The cardstock was nice and thick, and the layout and printing were exquisite.  It's no accident these cards turned out so nicely:  a few days after I placed my order, SimplyToImpress emailed me with a proof of my cards, and suggested that I change one of the photos because the resolution was too low and it might not print out as nicely as they would like.  They also offered the option to change all the photos in the layout, so I completely redid the photo layout -- and it turned out to be far nicer than my original design!  I really appreciate all the effort they went through, because I ended up with a beautiful holiday card that I'm proud to send to my friends and family.

What's more, soon after I received my cards, I received a second box of cards, exactly like the first.  I was completely puzzled because I hadn't ordered more -- until I read the note inside.  A few customers had seen white spots on their cards, and they traced it to a malfunctioning printer.  Rather than just replace the cards for those customers, SimplyToImpress decided to replace cards for all the customers whose cards had been printed in that batch!  They wanted to make absolutely sure that all their customers were satisfied.  I am sooo impressed with SimplyToImpress -- their designs, their quality, and most of all, their customer service.  I truly believe that if there's anything at all about your cards that doesn't meet your expectations, they will work round the clock to fix it!  Great job, SimplyToImpress!



Disclosure: I received complimentary cards to review.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Cyber Monday deals at AmericanGirl.com

If you've been stalking the American Girl website for as many years as I have, you'll know that although they have a sale section, deep discounts are few and far between.  Your best chance of scoring a great deal, by far, is their Cyber Monday sale.  No dolls are on sale, but they do have lots of doll clothes, accessories, mini dolls and books on sale at 50% off!  

So which items are the best deals?  I think the best deals are the deals on the items you most want to buy!  Here are my favorites:

I couldn't resist: I got the Real Me Outfit, Holiday Accessories and Doll Tees book. Take note, their pre-Thanksgiving free shipping offer has expired, but with these discounts, even when you add the shipping costs you're still saving money!

The American Girl Cyber Monday sale has just started (since midnight CST, so it has been on for almost an hour now) and it will go on all day until December 2, 2013, midnight CST.  Here's the thing -- supplies are limited, and these deals are going to go pretty quickly, so if you're looking for some stocking stuffers or holiday presents for your little girl, get on over ASAP.  Happy Shopping!


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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