Preserve your summer memories with AdoramaPix

A few weeks ago I blogged about a great online site that lets you preserve your family's best memories in a photo book. AdoramaPix lets you create high quality photo prints and photo books, supervised by professionals who watch over every photo. AdoramaPix has been serving the needs of the photographic community for over a decade. and now they have an online site and app for the everyday consumer who wants great quality photo products at reasonable prices.

Prices start at just $15.40 for a small photo book (6x4.5). The base prices for each size include 10 pages, and extra 2-page spreads start at $1.08 for each additional 2 pages. Shipping over $39 is free, so you can combine multiple photo book orders to save money. Their lay-flat design lets you see the whole page, without any gaps or seams to mar your photos.

I was able to try out AdoramaPix's online photo book software to create a few photo books for myself, and now that they've arrived, I'm so happy about the quality that I could do a little dance! The photo books are absolutely gorgeous, and there were so easy to make.

AdoramaPix photo books come in a variety of sizes. My personal favorites are the 8x12 books (perfect for your gorgeous photo spreads) and the 8x8 square books (perfect for your Instagram photos!).

I've reviewed a number of other photo book sites, and I must say that I like the layout options of AdoramaPix best of all. For those of you who aren't into stickers and scrapbooky-type layouts, AdoramaPix has quite a few layouts that have photos only.  This was probably the least amount of time I have ever taken to create a photo book, simply because I found the perfect layout right away.

Of course, you can still customize your layout any way you want, by adding text, stickers (check out the shell stickers in the layout below!), and backgrounds. If you don't like any of the layouts AdoramaPix provides, you can change their layouts or create your own. It helps to be familiar with scrapbooking software, otherwise it might take you a bit of time to become familiar with the process. You can save your work and come back to it at any time, and you can preview your work at any time.

The cover is fully customizable. You can choose from any number of backgrounds, from solid colors to ombre to textures (like the grass mat weave below) and more. You can select from a number of photo layouts (note, this does not apply to leather covers), or you can choose to have no photos at all. You can also add text to the cover and the spine.

You can also customize the outer back cover with photos and text.

Adding a white page "spread" to the inner front and back covers costs an extra $2, but they will waive the charge if you consent to having the AdoramaPix logo printed on the inner back cover of your photo book. Totally worth it, if you ask me -- besides, people who look at your photo books are sure to ask you where you made it, so you can direct them to the inner back cover to see the AdoramaPix logo!

Want to create your own AdoramaPix photo book?  Here's a discount code you can use to save!

Save on AdoramaPix square photo books

25% off! Get 25% off AdoramaPix square photo books (6x6,8x8,10x10,12x12) by using code: pxusfam25 Create a custom photo book and order online at http://www.adoramapix.com/app/home/. Hurry, offer ends 09/30/2015 11:59 pm EST

About AdoramaPix

AdoramaPix helps people turn their digital photographs from abstract computer files into beautiful keepsakes designed to last a lifetime. Their custom photo books display your captured memories in rich color and vibrant detail. Thick, durable, professional grade photo paper resists fading and ensures that your photos will be just as colorful for future generations. The binding is lay-flat, so even panoramic images can splash across two pages without any separation. Your memories deserve to live in a stylish, archival home with AdoramaPix photo books.

You can find all the fun gift ideas HERE: http://www.adoramapix.com/app/home/

Disclosure: I received a credit from AdoramaPix via USFamilyGuide.com so I could experience the AdoramaPix creation process and review the final product. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Maryellen Larkin American Girl doll giveaway

Maryellen Larkin has arrived! American Girl doll fans have been waiting a long time for a 1950's doll, and she is finally here. Maryellen is an optimistic, energetic 9 year-old girl who lives in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1954. Maryellen likes TV and the movies, and she likes to draw. Maryellen's story brings the 50's to life -- not just the iconic sock hops and poodle skirts and diners that everyone knows from West Side Story and Grease, but also the underlying cultural movements that shaped the era, such as conformity versus individuality, the rise of suburbia, the baby boom, and lingering postwar prejudices. I haven't begun reading Maryellen books yet, but I'm really hoping they introduce girls to all these themes and make them think about how the 1950's influenced our lives today.

Here are a few photos I took of Maryellen and her accessories at the American Girl Store at Stanford Shopping Center:

Here's the Seaside Diner playset, which includes the structure, furniture (with real vinyl on the stools and booth!), and diner-style food.

Here's another view of the diner, from the inside. Also in the photo is Maryellen's daschund, Scooter.

Here are a few of Maryellen's outfits.  I adore her black poodle skirt!

Here's Maryellen's Jukebox. It comes with an audio cable so girls can attach their MP3s or phones or tablets and play their own music from the jukebox!

 Here's another view of the diner. It even comes with a sticker sheet so girls can decorate the walls themselves.

Here's Maryellen's mini-doll version. So cute!

I'm super happy because American Girl sent me a Maryellen doll to review, so stay tuned for a few more posts with close-up photos of Maryellen! In addition, I'm giving away a Maryellen doll below!

Win a Maryellen doll

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a Maryellen Larkin doll and book!

Enter via Rafflecopter below. Giveaway ends 11:59 PST on Sept 30, 2015. I will draw a winner after that date and post their name once the winner has been confirmed and verified. Continental US residents only. For more giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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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Win tickets to Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream in Oakland or San Jose!

Disney On Ice is coming back to the Bay Area!!  Nothing can stop a princess from a celebration of royal proportions when Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt skates into to your hometown. Join your hosts Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse for a princess-packed adventure. Laugh along with Disney’s hair-raising escapade, Tangled, as Rapunzel, Flynn and Maximus embark on an uproarious journey that takes adventure to new lengths! Travel to the enchanted forest with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as she escapes from the Evil Queen in her search for her one true love. Dreams become reality as Cinderella meets her Prince Charming, with a glass slipper fit for an unforgettable fantasy come true. Boogie to the beat of the bayou with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, in a magical, musical journey that begins with a fateful kiss. The whole family will delight in the beauty, sparkle and spirit of the ultimate Disney Princess event of a lifetime!

Bay Area Dates and Times

SAP Center at San Jose
October 14-18, 2015

Oracle Arena
October 7-11, 2015

Purchase tickets on Ticketmaster.com, at the venue box office, or by calling 1-800-745-3000. For dates and times in other cities, go to the Disney On Ice website.

Exclusive Savings Offer

Save 25% on tickets to any performance with code MOM.Disclaimers: Savings not valid on VIP or Rinkside seats. No double discounts. Service charges, handling and facility fees may apply

Win 4 tickets to Disney On Ice Presents Dare To Dream

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive 4 tickets to Disney on Ice Presents Dare to Dream! Winner can choose one out of two possible dates:

• October 7, 2015 7PM at Oracle Arena, Oakland
• October 14, 2015 7PM at SAP Center, San Jose

Enter via Rafflecopter below. Giveaway ends 11:59 PST on Sept 18, 2015. I will draw a winner after that date and post their name once the winner has been confirmed and verified. Continental US residents only. For more giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclosure: Giveaway prize provided by Feld Family Entertainment. I am a Feld Family blogger and will be receiving tickets to review the show. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Organize anything and everything for Back To School with Caboodles

Labor Day is this weekend, and soon every kid will be back at school!  Have you taken your kid back to school shopping yet? The only thing more stressful than finding all the supplies on that back-to-school list is organizing everything! 

There are all kinds of organizers and containers available, but when it comes to keeping everything in its place, I'm more than happy to look to a classic from my own school days -- Caboodles organizers. I loved my Caboodles organizer and now my own daughter is discovering for herself how useful (and stylish) Caboodles can be! Here are a few Caboodles products available for Fall 2015:


1) For students who like to sparkle, Caboodles’ Oh La La™ (at Target, MSRP: $9.99) is the ultimate accessory! The acrylic case has:

• Plenty of room to tote pens, pencils and stickers
• Features a bonus pink sequin wristlet for lip-gloss and other creative carry alongs
• Secure latch and carrying handle – perfect for toting treasures

2) The Le Sophistique™ 10-Piece Bag Set (at Walmart, MSRP: $19.97) in pink and grey Chevron is the perfectly portable bathroom companion for dorm living. The set includes:

• Clear outer bag (for larger items like hairdryers brushes or to use as a shower caddy)
• Soft-sided valet (to hold hair accessories, deodorant, makeup, toothbrush, floss, razors)
• Soft-sided pencil bag (to store lip/eyeliners and feminine products)
• Signature fan bag (for cotton balls, q-tips and vitamins)
• Brush valet
• Four travel bottles (for shampoo, conditioner, lotion)
• Bath pouf

3) The Goddess™ train case (at Target, MSRP: $29.99) can carry you from a busy school day to the sorority social in style with:

• Four large, rectangular auto-open trays
• Spacious interior storage for hair and makeup essentials
• Locking latch with keys to ensure everything stays safe and secu

4) The classic On-The-Go-Girl™ (available at Walmart, MSRP: $12.97), featuring:

• Auto open tray for snack storage, Smartphones, calculators, and lip gloss
• Flip lid with mirror
• Removable accessory tray to keep necessities on hand
• Spacious interior storage for pens, journals, art supplies and more
• Portable with secure latch and durable shell (fits perfectly in a locker)
• Available in two cool colors: Fuchsia Pearl Pink and Bright Purple

I'm a big fan of the retro look, size, and multiple compartments of the classic On-The-Go-Girl, so Caboodles sent me one of these organizers to check out. It's just as practical and cute as I remember it. There are so many different ways to use it.  You can store practically anything in it!

The classic: beauty products and make-up (love the mirror!)

Nailed it: everything you need for the perfect mani and pedi

Cutest nerd ever: school supplies, office supplies, or art supplies

You could use it to store tools, crafting supplies, sewing supplies, and more!  There's no end to the kinds of things you could store in your Caboodles!  What would you use it for?


Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Save 20% on Label Daddy peel and stick washable labels

Save 20% on Label Daddy labels! Label Daddy is the number one solution for labeling your belongings! Remember to label all clothing, sports equipment, electronics, and other personal belongings your kids bring to school, camp, sports leagues, day care, vacation, and other places. Label Daddy labels keep them from getting lost or mixed up with others. These labels are great for adults too! -- Put them on your sunglass/eyeglass case, phone, camera, sports equipment, tablet, e-reader, hats, clothing, and more.

These labels are super durable peel-and-stick washable labels -- they're washer/dryer safe, microwave safe, dishwasher safe and UV resistant! Label Daddy labels are also fun and attractive. You design your own labels! Pick from tons of colors, sizes and logos, including Disney and Marvel characters, MLB, NBA, and NHL team logos, other sport and fun logos, and more. Their exclusive laminated coating gives labels an extra layer of protection and is a must for camp! These labels are made in the USA and shipped directly to you worldwide.

Save 20% on your entire Label Daddy order - this is the best discount available anywhere. Use code USFAMILY20 at checkout. http://www.usfamily20.labeldaddy.com

Disclosure: I am receiving a complimentary set of labels to review. Information was provided by Label Daddy via USFamilyGuide.com. 
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Celebrating 40 seasons of fun at California's Great America

The summer holidays may be almost over, but don't stop planning those visits to California's Great America! They are on their 40th season, and the fun is still going strong. I took the family there this weekend to celebrate making it through our first week of school, and it felt like summer had just begun.

If you've never been to California's Great America before, it's not too late to join in the fun, because the park is still open on weekends until November 1.  California's Great America is a great family theme park, with something for everyone. I recommend spending at least 5 hours in the park to be able to experience the most popular rides, and even then you won't be able to do every single ride (there are over 70 rides, shows, and attractions!). That's why a season pass for locals makes so much sense: for the cost of a full-price ticket, you get unlimited entry for the season. If you're just visiting, you can find discounts from AAA as well as the awesome $25 discount at the bottom of this post.

One thing to note: Boomerang Bay is closing on September 20, so make sure you enjoy this awesome water park while the weather is warm! Boomerang Bay has a lazy river, a wave pool, a water play structure, and several amazing water slides. It's our favorite water park in the Bay Area!

Since it's the park's 40th anniversary, don't forget to take a spin on their original rides: Demon, Centrifuge, Celebration Swings, Delta Flyer/Eagle's Flight (gondola), Rue Le Dodge (bumper cars), Barney Oldfield Speedway, and of course the Carousel Columbia, the world's tallest double-decker carousel. These rides are just as awesome and just as popular as they were in 1976!

Of course, it wouldn't be a proper visit without experiencing at least one of their thrill rides. My favorite is the Drop Zone, but Flight Deck is a pretty close second. Both were among the first of their kind when they opened in 1996 and 1993, and I will never forget the feeling when I first rode on them.

But just because a ride isn't a fancy shmancy roller coaster doesn't mean it can't be thrilling or amazing! Great America is chock full of rides like these. It looks like a regular old viking ship, but it actually swings upside down and in a complete loop!  My kids love this ride!

The big addition at the park this year is the expansion of the Planet Snoopy kids area.

The area formerly known as Kidzville has now been integrated into Planet Snoopy, and the entire area (signs, food outlets, attractions) has been rebranded with images of everyone's favorite beagle and his human friends.

They've also added 3 new rides: Joe Cool's Gr8Sk8, Peanuts 500 and Snoopy's Space Buggies. I love the rebrand because it makes everything more cohesive (and who doesn't love Snoopy!).

What's up next

Season pass holders will be really glad they get unlimited entry into the park, because the park is open on weekends through October, so there are still plenty of opportunities to play. The park has several fun special events, including Guest Appreciation Day on Labor Day (featuring $1 hotdogs, soda, and popcorn!), a couple of Halloween -themed events for Girl Scouts, and the 2015 USA Cheerleading and Dance Competition. People are already looking forward to Great America's famous Halloween Haunt, which starts on September 25 and runs every weekend night (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) until November 1.

Save $25 off Great America Tickets

Great news! Bonggamom Finds readers can Save $25 off Tickets at California's Great America Theme Park! Just use code: BLOG4CGA when purchasing tickets at http://cagreatamerica.com

Disclosure: I received free day passes to California's Great America. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Keep mosquitoes away with Stinger Mosquito Repellent Lantern

You may think that summer is almost over, but for us here in California, Indian Summer has just begun! We've actually been experiencing the hottest days yet. Facing 100+ degree temperatures in a house with no airconditioning is a challenge, to say the least. Fortunately, our house is naturally cool, and it's only in the evening when the house really bakes up -- just in time to let in the cool evening air.

Unfortunately, the evening hours bring another challenge -- mosquitoes!  You want to open up all the doors to let in the cool air, but you're also letting in the mosquitoes.  So, do you sweat or do you itch?  Fortunately, since reviewing the Stinger Mosquito Repellent Lantern, we no longer have to choose!

1) It looks nice. It's not some huge, plastic monstrosity! The lantern works with pretty much any outdoor decor scheme, and it emits a soft blue light that looks really nice in the fading daylight.

2) It smells nice. The citronella scent isn't too overwhelming,

3) It works!  We left our back door open yesterday to let the cool air in and placed a Stinger Mosquito Repellent Lantern by the doorstep, and we didn't see a single mosquito indoors.

The area covered is supposed to be 15 square feet, so don't expect it to drive mosquitoes away from your entire back yard, but it was the perfect size for guarding our back door.  If you have a larger area you want to protect, get a few more lanterns!


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.
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IHOP introduces limited-time Double-Dipped French Toast

I'm not very good at making French toast, and let's face it, it's kind of a bother to have to soak the bread and griddle it... so messy!  I've got the art of making waffles and pancakes down, but when I'm craving French toast I like to eat out -- which makes IHOP's new dish just perfect for me!

IHOP's latest special, limited edition dish, Double-Dipped French Toast, looks and tastes as good as it sounds. It comes in 2 yummy flavors; I've tried the Strawberry Lemon and I can't wait to go back and try the Cinnamon Sugar.

Today I took the boys to IHOP and ordered the Lemon Strawberry Double-Dipped French Toast. Here's a closer look:

The tartness of the lemon cream goes perfectly with the sweetness of the strawberries. The vanilla batter coating keeps it moist and chewy on the inside, just the way French toast should be, while  the cornflake/oatmeal coating makes the French toast crispy on the outside, and gives it a yummy crunch.  There's probably more strawberry sauce on the plate than I would prefer, but fortunately it's on the plate, not on top of the French toast, so it doesn't make everything soggy. You can also request to have the sauce served on the side!

The Double-Dipped French Toast is served as part of a combo meal. You get 2 slices of French Toast, then choose your combo meal. The most basic consists of 2 eggs (cooked however you want them), 2 slices of sausage or bacon, and hash browns (I chose 4 slices of sausage because YUM).  Prices start at $7.99!

Trust me when I say you will LOVE this dish.  Combined with the plate of eggs, hashbrowns, and sausages, it was a LOT of food, so consider sharing or setting some aside to take home -- or giving your leftovers to your hungry kids who couldn't get enough of the lemon-strawberry goodness! 3Po ordered crepes, which were yummy, but he conceded that they couldn't compete with the Double-Dipped French Toast.  I have a feeling we'll be back at IHOP soon....

Double-Dipped French Toast is only available until September 20, so make sure you get to IHOP to try it before then!

More about Double-Dipped French Toast

The end of summer just got a little sweeter with new Double-Dipped French Toast from IHOP® Restaurants. This twist on the breakfast classic features soft brioche bread first dipped in vanilla batter, then dipped a second time in a coating of corn flakes and oatmeal and griddled perfectly to a crispy golden-brown. 

Guests can choose one of two flavor combinations to top off this hand-crafted treat:

· Cinnamon Sugar Double-Dipped French Toast – Soft brioche bread is first dipped in vanilla batter, then dipped a second time in crispy corn flakes and oatmeal, griddled, and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and whipped topping.

· Lemon Strawberry Double-Dipped French Toast – Soft brioche bread is first dipped in vanilla batter, then dipped a second time in crispy corn flakes and oatmeal, griddled, then topped with cool lemonade cream and glazed strawberries.



Disclosure: I received an IHOP gift card so I could try and review IHOP's Double-Dipped French Toast.  Product information (in italics) was provided by IHOP via Wills Communications. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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