Meet Isabelle, American Girl of the Year 2014 (book giveaway!)

I received sample product to review

Dancing is The Pea's main afterschool activity.  She goes to dance class four days a week, taking one, two or three classes each day.  Yup, I guess you could say she loves dance!  That's why we were so excited to hear that American Girl's 2014 Girl of The Year, Isabelle Palmer, was a dancer.  The great thing about American Girl dolls is that they always have something a girl can related to:  her looks, her family situation, her hometown, her interests, her challenges.  With Isabelle being a dancer, you can bet The Pea was excited when American Girl sent us an Isabelle doll to review!  Here's a detailed look at Isabelle Palmer, American Girl's 2014 Girl of the Year.....

Here's a close-up shot of her face.  Isn't she pretty?  Her eye color (hazel) and hair color (honey blonde) remind me so much of my daughter's; if Isabelle's hair were just slightly wavier, and if she had freckles, she could be The Pea's Just Like Me doll (that's what My American Girl dolls were called several years ago when The Pea got her first one).  But to tell you the truth, I'm happy her hair is straight, because straight hair on American Girl dolls is easier to comb and stays neat for far longer than wavy, barrel-curled, or curly hair.


Isabelle is the first American Girl doll to come with highlights!


Isabelle's pink-tipped highlights come as a separate hairpiece.  They can be attached to Isabelle's head via a set of clips halfway down her back scalp (none of the other American Girl dolls have this, so only Isabelle can wear the highlights).


Don't worry, the clips don't show at all; they are covered by a lot of hair.  Once you smooth the rest of her hair back down and run a comb through it, only flashes of pink will show, so it looks a lot more like highlights would on a real girl.

If I had to pick one word to describe Isabelle's outfit, it would be glittery.  Everything has a glitter element to it!  Isabelle's coral shirt has a ballet dancer screen printed on the front, with a tulle tutu as well as iridescent pink sequins glued in random swirl patterns. The shirt has an asymmetrical hemline and flutter sleeves, which is perfectly in character with Isabelle's love of fashion design.

Isabelle wears metallic denim cropped pants; the rolled cuffs are made of cotton knit material.


Isabelle's gold glitter dance shoes are definitely performance-worthy, with gold satin ribbon and glitter everywhere!


They stay on nicely thanks to elastic strap at the back.

Win an Isabelle Prize Pack
One lucky winner will receive an Isabelle book, an Isabelle folder, and an American Girl "Fair" charm!

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which item in Isabelle's collection you or your daughter love 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) 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 American Girl Isabelle book giveaway! http://ow.ly/tGq6u  

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)

Enter to win a copy of Isabelle, the 2014 GOTY book fr @american_girl!  Ends  3/7/14 @bonggafinds: http://ow.ly/tGq6u #AmericanGirl

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 March 7, 2014; I will draw a winner at random on March 8 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. Giveaway prize was sent to me by American Girl for my personal use. This giveaway is not an official American Girl giveaway, therefore any questions regarding this giveaway should be sent to bonggamom@yahoo.com rather than to American Girl. 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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How to prepare your child for a Disney on Ice show (Disney on Ice presents Rockin' Ever After)

Are you ready for Disney on Ice presents Rockin Ever After?  The show is coming to the Bay Area this week: they'll be at the SAP Center in San Jose from February 19-23 and Oracle Arena in Oakland from February 26-March 2.  Your kids are going to love watching their favorite Disney princesses like Belle, Arielle, Rapunzel and Merida twirl and glide on the ice!  Watching Disney on Ice is a very exciting and special moment for a young child -- it's pretty much the next best thing you can get to actually visiting a Disney park!  There is a lot you can do to prepare for the event and make the most of it.  

Plan your child's costume
Many little girls and boys like to attend Disney on Ice shows dressed up as their favorite Disney character.  It's not unusual to see lots of little Ariels, Belles, Cinderellas and Auroras taking their seats alongside their parents!

Buy glow sticks
There will be lots of Disney merchandise for sale, including show programs, hats, balloons, stuffed toys, shirts, and light-up toys.  If you're on a budget, you might want to buy some glow sticks at the dollar store.  That way, your child can enjoy the thrill of waving a glow stick when it gets dark, and you'll still have money left for another souvenir!

Brush up on your Disney trivia
Before you watch the show, refresh yourselves on some of the most memorable moments from the movies!  Challenge your kids to answer the questions below.  They'll probably get a higher score than you will!

Disney•Pixar’s BRAVE
1. What does King Fergus give Merida for her birthday? Answer: A bow and arrow
2. What are the names of Merida’s mischievous triplet brothers? Answer: Harris, Hubert, and Hamish
3. What sport does Merida choose for her suitors to compete in? Answer: Archery
 4. What is the name of the bear that Merida’s father is searching for? Answer: Mor'du
5. What does Merida’s mom eat that turns her into a bear? Answer: A tart from the witch woodcarver

Disney’s The Little Mermaid
6. How many sisters does Ariel have? Answer: Six
7. What is the object that Ariel’s friend Scuttle calls a dinglehopper?Answer: A fork
8. Who tricks Ariel into visiting Ursula to gain human legs? Answer: Flotsam and Jetsam
9. Ursula gives Ariel the ability to walk on land. How long is this ability supposed to last? Answer: 3 days
10.What is the name of Ariel’s best friend? Answer: Flounder

Make sure your child is well rested
Disney on Ice presents Rockin Ever After starts at 7:30PM and lasts a good 2 hours, so it's going to be a late night for the little ones.  They'll be happy, excited... and very tired!  Make sure your toddlers get a good afternoon nap, and make sure older kids get some sleep the night before and the night after.

Bring a camera
There's nothing quite like seeing the joy in your child's face as she sees her favorite Disney characters glide out onto the ice and sees the cast of characters dance to her favorite Disney tunes.  Make sure you have a camera on hand to capture all the moments and the memories!



Disclosure: : I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre‐Show events. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Get $5 off regular priced tickets to Monster Jam at the Oracle Arena, Oakland

Get ready to have a Monster of a time!  Monster Jam, the ultimate monster truck show, is coming to Oakland's Oracle Arena on February 22, 2014.  Alfie took the kids to Monster Jam several years ago, and they all loved the show.  They came back full of superlatives --  cool, amazing, loud, fun, great -- and couldn't wait to watch it again.  This year, they're getting their wish, because Feld Entertainment is sending us to the show!  When Jammy found out, his eyes lit up and his mouth widened into a grin, and he said, "Ooooh, I can't wait to see the car that turns into a robot, mom.  It's the coolest thing ever, just like Transformers, but for real!  You're going to love it, mom!".  With that kind of endorsement, how could I not look forward to Monster Jam?  Keep reading for a description of the show, some Monster Truck trivia, and a discount code good for $5 off show tickets!

About Monster Jam
Monster Jam is the most exciting form of family motorsports entertainment on the planet.  The stars of the show are the biggest performers on four wheels: the Monster Jam trucks! The twelve-feet-tall, ten-thousand-pound machines will bring you to your feet, racing and ripping up a custom-designed track full of obstacles to soar over - OR smash through. The 2014 touring season brings more Monster Jam excitement providing entertainment tailored perfectly for your family's budget, and these colorful, larger-than-life beasts are sure to capture the hearts of both young and old.

Monster Jam® Trucks: Grave Digger® driven by Charlie Pauken, El Diablo℠ driven by JP, Mohawk Warrior® driven by George Balhan, Lucas Oil Crusader® driven by Linsey Weenk, Captain's Curse driven by Alex Blackwell, Metal Mulisha driven by Todd Leduc, New Earth Authority℠ driven by Norm Miller, Shocker driven by Pat Gerber, Captain USA driven by Travis Groth, Double Trouble driven by Tyler Groth, El Toro Loco® driven by Dan Rodoni, Tropical Thunder - driver TBA, Devastator driven by Mark Schroeder, Time Fly's driven by Kelvin Ramer, Detour driven by Garrett Ladelle and Titan driven by Donald Epidendio!! Subject to change without notice.

About Monster Jam trucks
Today’s Monster Jam® trucks use lightweight bodies and tires so more strength and weight can be put into the frame without sacrificing speed, maneuverability, or safety.

1. Body – Made of fiberglass, a Monster Jam truck body is custom designed to create a character or theme for the truck. Custom body trucks can be carved by hand out of styrofoam and wood to create a “plug” which is then used to create a fiberglass body mold or created by computers.

2. Driver Seat – Most Monster Jam trucks have the driver seated in the center of the vehicle so he or she can best see the track for weight distribution. The seats are custom molded to each driver’s body and all drivers use head and neck restraint devices to keep their heads secure during rough landings. As a safety measure, all seatbelts employ a 5 point harness to restrain the driver’s body.

3. Paint – Most Monster Jam trucks feature highly designed, customized airbrushed artwork on their bodies. Airbushing is expensive and time consuming as some trucks require more than 40 hours of paint time. Monster Jam body fabricators are always assured lots of work though, as their custom creations are routinely destroyed during the shows.

4. Engines – Custom-built, supercharged and methanol-injected, a Monster Jam truck engine burns up to 10 liters of methanol per run (approximately 80 meters) and delivers about 1,500 horsepower.

5. Suspension System – In order to allow the drivers to withstand the punishing impacts of jumping and crashing a Monster Jam truck during a performance, each truck is equipped with specially-engineered extra long 76cm shock absorbers filled with oil and nitrogen gas that are installed with each tire.

6. Tires – Each Monster Jam truck tire is custom made. They must be 66 inches high and 43 inches wide. The average Monster Jam truck team will go through 8 tires in one year. Tires are designed differently to satisfy various track conditions and driver preference. Carving just one tire requires over 50 hours of exacting labor.


Save $5 off regular ticket price
Save $5 on normally priced $25 tickets with code MOM. Savings not valid day of show.


Disclosure: I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events. Show information (in italics) is provided by Feld Entertainment  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Pan for gold with the Discovery Channel's Gold Rush Panning Kit

I received a sample kit to review

This year, my 4th graders are going on a very special trip: a three-day field trip to gold rush country, where they will live the life of a gold miner and pan for gold!  This is an annual event for 4th-graders in our school, which complements their studies in California history.  Everyone is really excited about making their own bread, learning how to make fire without a match, hiking through the woods, and of course, panning for gold.  3Po's and Jammy's big sister did the trip when she was in 4th grade, and she told them that finding gold isn't as easy as it sounds.  In fact, not all the students ended up finding gold.

3Po and Jammy know that there's a chance they might not find gold, but I'm sure in their heart of hearts, they're hoping they will, and they'll feel a bit disappointed if they come home without a glimmer of gold.  Fortunately we received an awesome Valentine's Day gift from the Discovery Channel and the Pay Dirt Gold Company:  our very own home Gold Rush Panning Kit!  Each kit contains everything kids need to pan for gold:  a pan, a snuffer bottle for retrieving the gold, a vial for storing the gold, detailed instructions, a certificate of authenticity, and a bag of dirt guaranteed to contain gold!  How exciting is that?  We're just starting a 5-day holiday (Ski Week/President's Day), and we have no vacation plans, so we'll be striking gold sometime in the next few days!  This is an awesome kit.  Not only will they learn a bit of history, they'll be preparing for their Gold Rush field trip, staying entertained during our break.... and they'll get to find some actual gold.  What a gold mine of entertainment!

About the Gold Rush Panning Kit
Normally, when it comes to selecting holiday gifts for a loved one, it is difficult to strike gold. However, Discovery Channel and the Pay Dirt Gold Company have just announced the launch of their Gold Rush Panning Kit, the holy grail of gift ideas for kids, parents, grandparents, and history buffs alike. Just picture your husband, son, grandpa, or daughter panning in the backyard. It only takes a few minutes before they’ll be addicted!

Based on the hit television miniseries, Gold Rush, the new Gold Rush Panning Kit brings the 19th century to the modern world. Inside each Gold Rush Panning Kit is a professional gold pan, a snuffer bottle for retrieving the newfound gold from the dirt, a classic vial to store the gold, and of course, the company’s gold guaranteed “pay dirt.” Some of the bags of “pay dirt” contain up to $500! The kit will even include a certificate of authenticity for the gold!

Complete with detailed instructions on exactly how to pan the "pay dirt" like the Boston Company, the Gold Rush Panning kit is not only an educational gift, but it is a genuinely rewarding one too.



Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinion. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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How to make Valentine's Day canister with Scotch Color and Pattern Duct Tape (and a giveaway for you!)

 I received product samples to review

Click here to enter to win an assortment of Scotch Duct Tape!

We just started out on a long break (our school's annual Ski Week/President's Day holiday), and since we've got five whole days, no vacation plans, and a rainy forecast, we'll be doing lots of crafts!  Valentine's Day is coming up, so I've got lots of lovely, flowery crafts on my mind.  You don't need to spend loads on craft materials either -- just grab a couple of rolls of duct tape. There are countless Valentine's Day-themed crafts you can make -- and if you use Scotch Color & Pattern duct tape, the possibilities are even greater. They have a ton of patterns and colors that are perfect for V-Day:  solid pink, solid red, solid black, red lips on black, pink leopard print, rainbow hearts, pink cupcakes, even pink Barbie-themed patterns!  I love them all :)

I received a variety of rolls of Scotch Color & Pattern duct tape to make some Valentine's Day crafts with, so we're all set for our long weekend.  To start with, I made some Valentine's Day canisters in a few different designs to hold Valentine's Day cards, pens, paper clips, or whatever you need to store.  Here's how to make your own:

Duct Tape Valentine's Day canister
You'll need:

• a can with a resealable lid
• Scotch Color & Pattern Duct Tape in your favorite Valentine's Day colors and patterns
• Exacto knife

1) Clean out the inside of the can.

2) Cut strips of duct tape.  Each strip should be long enough to circle the can once.  If you are using light-colored duct tape and your can has lots of designs, each strip should be long enough to circle the can twice.  Use an Exacto knife for the cleanest cut.

3) Wrap a strip of duct tape around the can.  Continue wrapping strips of duct tape around the can until the can is completely covered.

4)  Use an Exacto knife to cut a thin strip out of the middle of the plastic resealable lid.

You can turn your can into storage container for your child's Valentines cards!  Or, you can turn it into a coin bank -- just cut a shorter slit in the lid.

Finally, you can do away with the lid altogether and turn your can into a pretty storage for all your child's pens and pencils!

Speaking of pens and pencils, did you notice the pretty flower pen in the photo above?  I made it using Scotch Color & Pattern Duct Tape!  I followed a great step-by-step tutorial for duct tape rose pens on Instructables; you can find similar instructions (for a rosette hairpiece) on the Scotch Duct Tape project site.

Here's a list of more great Valentine's-themed projects you can create with Scotch Duct Tape.  Don't forget to use pink, red, and Valentine's-themed patterns for an extra-romantic touch!

Duct Tape envelopes -- to put Valentine's Day cards in!
Paisely Power Flower -- make a bunch of these along with the duct tape rose, and present a unique bouquet to your sweetheart!
Rosette Ring -- wear this on your special date!
Pop Art frames -- for that special Valentine's Day photo!


Win a Scotch Duct Tape prize pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive an assortment of Scotch Colors & Patterns duct tape

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite duct tape crafts.

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 Scotch Color & Pattern duct tape giveaway! http://ow.ly/tzn5J 

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)

Enter to win an assortment of Scotch Color & Pattern duct tape! Giveaway ends  2/28/14 on @bonggafinds: http://ow.ly/tzn5J 

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 Feb 28 2014; I will draw a winner at random on March 1 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure: I received samples from Scotch to facilitate this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Join Golden Grain's Show Us Your Shorcut contest for a chance to win $500 (and vote for my entry!)

This is a compensated post

I love to cook, but I hate spending more time than absolutely necessary in the kitchen. There's so much going on in my life, the less time I can spend preparing food, the better!  That's why I love kitchen shortcuts that help me save time and effort.  I'm not talking about shortcuts in taste or quality, I'm talking about little tips and tricks that result in a dish that's just as good, or better.  I'm talking about ways to keep a kitchen clean.  I'm talking about tips like:

1) Get your water for pasta boiling faster by boiling most of it an electric pot (boil a little bit in the pot at the same time so you're not pouring boiling water into a cold pot).

2) Cook double batches of dishes and freeze the leftovers.

3) Line baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil to save your oven fries/chicken strips/baked anything from sticking to the pan and causing a cleanup headache.

Recently I learned about a GREAT kitchen shortcut from Golden Grain Pasta.  Wait for it, wait for it...... the next time you're making spaghetti , use new Golden Grain Pot-Sized Pasta, the only spaghetti noodles that come in a length that fits into your pot!  Cue the trumpets and rainbows!  How awesome is that?  I've always found it annoying to stick a bunch of spaghetti into a pot of boiling water and not having it fit.  If you break the spaghetti in half beforehand, you end up with a shower of broken pasta everywhere.  If you wait till the bottom part softens, then push the whole length of the spaghetti noodles into the pot, chances are you'll burn your hands when boiling water splashes on you or when you accidentally touch the pot.  This is one of those products that you wonder why no one has come up with it before (see: sliced bread, squeezable ketchup, bottled water).  It's such an easy way to make your life simpler without sacrificing taste!

To celebrate the launch of Pot-Sized Pasta, Golden Grain is running a "Share Your Shortcut" Promotion on Facebook, inviting fans everywhere to share the little tips and tricks that make their lives easier. The entry who receives the most votes will win a $500 gift card!  I could sure use $500, so I joined the contest with this life-changing shortcut:

Yup, it's that simple.  Instead of cooking your rice in a pot on the stove, microwave it.  Use the same proportion of rice and water that you usually do, but instead of putting it into a pot, put it into a microwaveable container.  Then cook it in the microwave for 20-22 minutes on high (you'll probably have to adjust the cooking time based on your microwave and on how much rice you're cooking).  You'll end up with perfect, fluffy rice without having to watch your pot for scorching.  Even if you have a rice cooker, you'll want to switch to microwave cooking, because it will be one less pot to wash!  You can cook, serve and store the rice all from the same microwaveable container.  We have a rice cooker, but after I discovered this tip, I no longer make rice any other way.  We eat rice almost every day, so this tip makes my life so much easier!

Is that a cool tip or what?  If you agree with me, I'd love a vote for my entry on Facebook!  Here's the link to my entry:

http://bit.ly/1ekIkCx

You can vote up to once per day.  Just by voting, you'll be entered to win one of six weekly drawings for $100 -- so it's a win-win situation for everyone!  Thanks in advance for your help!

Disclosure:I received a gift card as compensation for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Fall in love with Bargains at Grocery Outlet (and win a $25 Grocery Outlet gift card!)

I'm playing Bargain Cupid today, giving away a $25 Grocery Outlet gift card!  Scroll to the bottom of this post to enter.

Love is in the air, and it's time to celebrate!  I love spending time with my family, and I love a good meal.  Do you know what else I love?  A good bargain.  That's why I shop at Grocery Outlet every chance I get.  And when Grocery Outlet Bargain Market challenged me to shop for a Valentine's Day meal at one of their stores for just $25, I accepted with pleasure, knowing that if anyone could help me meet that limit, it would be Grocery Outlet.  I decided to give myself an additional challenge:  instead of a couple's meal, I shopped for all five of us!   I shopped at Grocery Outlet this morning, and here's what I came up with:

A fancy dinner calls for steak and potatoes.  I found a family-size pack of New York sirloin steak for just $8.57 (1.43 lbs at $5.99 per lb, this can easily cost $12 per lb!).

Did you know that asparagus is considered an aphrodisiac?  Hopefully eating steamed asparagus ($1.99 per bunch at Grocery Outlet, MSRP $3.99 per bunch) will inspire my kids to give me an extra big kiss!

I'll probably have all my attention on the steak, so this pack of Potatoes O'Brien are an easy, no-fuss side dish ($1.99 per bag at Grocery Outlet, MSRP $3.49)

For dessert, another Valentine's classic:  ripe, juicy, red strawberries, just $1.99 for a basket at Grocery Outlet, compared to $4.99 elsewhere!

You can't have berries without whipped cream ($2.99 per can at Grocery Outlet, MSRP $5.49)......

..... or dipping chocolate! ($2.99 per can at Grocery Outlet, MSRP $5.99)

Grand total so far for our family Valentine's dinner: $20.54.  It's so far under our $25 budget that I have enough left over for some Valentine's Day candy!  These heart-shaped boxes of Twix (Alfie's favorite) are just $2.99 (MSRP $4.50). I could even splurge on a big box for $5!  And there you have it, a wonderful Valentine's Day meal for just $25!  The amazing this is, if you have bought everything at MSRP instead of at Grocery Outlet, you would have spent as much as $45!  I'm definitely feeling the love......

Of course, I didn't stop there.  Grocery Outlet has so many bargains, and you never know when they are going to run out of any item, I just had to stock up!  I ended up getting about $200 worth of groceries for $100, for a savings of about $100..... which Alfie and I can use towards our own Valentine's Day date!

Grocery Outlet Bargain Cupid Giveaway
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a $25 Grocery Outlet gift card.

Required Entry

Leave a comment on this post and tell me what you would buy with $25 at Grocery Outlet.

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 Bargain Cupid giveaway for a $25 Grocery Outlet gift card! http://ow.ly/tutmj 

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)

Enter to win a $25 Grocery Outlet gift card!  Giveaway ends  3/1/14 on @bonggafinds: http://ow.ly/tutmj  #bargaincupid

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 Feb 28, 2014; I will draw a winner at random on March 1 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure: Thanks to Grocery Outlet for providing a gift card for me to shop for bargains at Grocery Outlet, as well as a second gift card to give away. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Style is Looking Up sweepstakes with Armstrong Residential Ceilings

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

We've been doing our own home remodels for years now: kitchen, daughter's bedroom, sons' bedroom, and most recently, the guest room! .  It has certainly been a challenge, but thanks to Alfie's experience and insistence on preparation (90% of a good paint job is really in the preparation!), everything looks great.  We've only tackled the walls because we've been too intimidated to do the ceiling, but the ceilings are starting to show cracks, so ceilings might just be our next DIY project! It's amazing how much a nice ceiling can change the atmosphere of the room: open it up, give it light, give it character.  Ceilings aren't just plain white any more!  I recently learned about Armstrong Residential Ceilings, and they look like a stylish, easy-to-install option.  Their selection of affordable, decorative ceiling styles fit a range of budgets and decors.  If you're just starting to "look up" like we are, check out Armstrong ceilings!


Enter Armstrong Residential Ceiling's Style is Looking Up Giveaway
From February 4th through March 15th, enter for a chance to win a $2,500 room makeover grand prize (including an Armstrong ceiling, installation credit, and a $1,000 Lowe’s gift card) in Armstrong Residential Ceilings’ “Style Is Looking Up” Giveaway.

Additionally, each week through March 15th, Armstrong Residential Ceilings will select a winner to receive a $50 Lowe’s gift card. Enter for a chance to win by visiting the Armstrong Residential Ceilings Facebook page starting February 4th.


Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Armstrong Residential Ceilings. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating. 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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Shop Kohl's for Valentine's Day

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

Valentine's Day is traditionally celebrated by couples, but it has become a whole family affair.  After all, any parent knows that the love of a parent for their child is the strongest love you can feel!  Let's not forget sibling love, love for grandparents, and love for the friends who stand by you through thick and thin.  I love surprising my loved ones on Valentine's Day -- not just my husband but my kids and parents and sister too! -- but I don't like going over budget either.  Here are a few things I do to make Valentine's day special on a budget!

Craft some homemade Valentine cards together
I used to buy Valentine cards all the time, but last year Pinterest sucked me in -- but I'm so glad it did, because the kids and I had a blast making Valentines for their class parties!  These Yoda Valentines were a big hit with all the Star Wars fans -- click here for the downloadable template.

These "You Rock" Valentines are great for boys and girls -- click here for the downloadable template!

Pack some love into their lunchbox

Making Valentine's Day special for kids can be as easy as making a Valentine's themed lunch.  I packed red foods (strawberries, cherry tomatoes, red fruit leather, strawberry cream cheese) and cut their sandwich into a heart shape.

Go on, bake up some treats!

Hey, the winter holidays (and all those goodies) are ancient history, and you got through January without being too naughty, so why not let go? Baked goods are the perfect inexpensive Valentine's gift for friends and family, especially when they have chocolate!  Try chocolate covered popcorn, Nutella pound cake, brownies, chocolate cupcakes, or chocolate shortbread cookies.

You don't have to spend a lot to mean a lot
If you do like buying presents for friends and family on Valentine's Day, bear in mind the old adage: it's the thought that counts.  You don't have to spend big bucks to make a big impact!  Check out Kohl's Valentine's Day Gift Shop, where you'll find gifts for the whole family, kitchenware for baking, and décor for your home, all at great prices. Remember what I said about chocolate?  Well, Kohl's has a Ghirardelli Intense Dark Gift Box for just $18!  This is a great present, especially if you don't have the time to bake (and by the way I love dark chocolate, hint, hint...).  Or how about heart-print pajamas for the family, beautiful bracelets, and heavenly fragrances (and by the way, I'm looking for my next new signature scent, second hint, hint...).  It's a one-stop Valentine's Day shop!

Remember, as long as you make an effort to get them something they will enjoy or need, it shows how much you know them, and how much you love them.  Isn't that what Valentine's Day is about, after all?



Join the #LoveKohls Twitter Party
Kohls will be hosting #LoveKohls Twitter Party Thursday, February 13th from 1:00-2:00PM EST. Follow the @Kohls handle and join in the fun on 2/13. See you there!


Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Kohl’s. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Join Babara's Cereal LEGO Movie sweepstakes (and enter to win a year's supply of Barbara's cereal!)

I received complimentary product samples

We first heard about The LEGO® Movie last summer, and since then the boys have been patiently waiting for it to show in theaters.  The big day -- February 7 -- is almost here, and the Jammy will be taking 3Po and a few of his friends to see it on February 8 as part of his birthday celebration!  3Po and Jammy love LEGO®, and so do their friends, so everyone is excited.

As for me, I'm more excited about the promo that Barbara's cereals is currently running in conjunction with the release of The LEGO® Movie:  just buy specially marked boxes of Barbara's cereals and look for the special code inside.  Enter the code at www.barbarasgiveaway.com, and you'll receive one of two cool discounts:  $1 off any Barbara's product..... or $5 off one ticket to see The LEGO® Movie!  Since I'll be buying 10 movie tickets this weekend, you can guess which discount I'm after!  Barbara's sent me a couple of boxes of cereal (Peanut Butter & Chocolate Puffins, and Cinnamon Crunch Snackimals), but unfortunately the codes for both boxes were for the $1 discount, not the $5 movie ticket discount :(  Oh well, good thing we like Barbara's because I'll be trying my luck again as soon as I can get my hands on another box!

In addition to the instant win contest, Barbara's fans can also enter a sweepstakes to win great prizes, such as:

· LEGOLAND® tickets
· Movie prize packs
· Free Barbara’s products
· Grand Prize: Trip for four to the LEGOLAND® resort in California or Florida, and much more!

To enter, go online at BarbarasGiveaway.com. You can also get extra entries for liking Barbara’s on Facebook, following on Twitter or signing up for its e-newsletter.


Win a year's supply of cereal
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive vouchers good for a year's supply of Barbara's cereal!

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which variety of Barbara's cereal is your favorite (or which one you'd most like to try).

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

1) Follow bonggamom on Blogger (1 entry)

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 Barbara's cereal giveaway! http://ow.ly/ti1ss  

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)

Enter to win a year's supply of Barbara's cereal!  Giveaway ends  2/26/14 on @bonggafinds: http://ow.ly/ti1ss 

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 Feb 26, 2014; I will draw a winner at random on Feb 27 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.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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