The Hip-T -- hip or slip?

I was browsing around blogger Miranda's website, when one of the sponsors of her Blogaversary Party caught my eye: the My hip-T. My eyes lit up when I saw it because I have a long-ish torso and I'm always looking for long-ish tops to cover it up. I went over to their site and discovered that the product is not actually a top, it's a spandex band -- like a strapless tank top -- that you wear around your hips, under your regular tops, and it effectively covers up your plumber's butt, muffin top, and other unsightly sights.

So, what do you think? Should I buy? Shouldn't I? I dunnooooo....... I would have preferred a real top. But then again, if I buy one or two in basic colors, I can wear them with low-cut jeans, under all my shorter tops, and I don't have to buy a whole new wardrobe of long-ish tops. Maybe I'll just join their hip_T giveaway and try to snag a free one for myself!

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Free pancakes at iHop!

Happy Shrove Tuesday! Everyone in England is eating pancakes today, so we're gonna go with the flow and have pancakes for dinner. The thing is, English pancakes are more like crepes, cooked very thin and served rolled up with powdered sugar and lemon juice. I'm too lazy to make regular fluffy American pancakes as it is, let alone figure out how to make the English stuff. So maybe we'll just scrounge off IHOP, who are offering free pancakes today!

Yes, you heard me, everyone gets a free short stack of IHOP pancakes from 7AM till 10PM. Tomorrow is also National Pancake Day and instead of charging for their pancakes, IHOP is hoping you all will donate some money to the Children's Miracle Network. Now that's something to flip over.

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Our New Sun Life clothes

My order from Land's End arrived today with new Sun Life outfits for all 3 kids: Short sleeved solid colored shirts and solid colored shorts for the boys, and a short-sleeved shirt with a cute flower design on it for The Pea. They love their new summer clothes -- the colors are gorgeous (3Po picked a yellow shirt and olive shorts, Jammy got a light blue shirt and navy shorts, and The Pea's shirt is pink) and the fit is great.

I'm stil on the fence about the look and feel of the clothes, though -- too much like swimwear. The kids were quite confused -- the boys kept asking if these were swimming clothes. The fabric is almost identical to the material used for rashguard shirts, and indeed they do look like rashguard shirts. The shorts have very similar material and cut to swim trunks, so when the kids walk around in these clothes inthe summer, I wonder if people will think they're on their way to the pool. Not that it matters given the peace of mind I'm getting with the UPF 50 protection.

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Too Tall Alice

When I first heard of Too Tall Alice by Barbara Worton, I knew immediately that I wanted to review it. This children's book tells the story of Alice, who is ".... tall. Not T-Rex or Empire State Building tall. Just four inches taller than the other girls in her class." And to a young girl, that might just as well be Empire State Building tall. Alice just wants to be as tall as the rest of the girls in her class -- just like I did.

See, I'm tall. In the US, 5' 8" isn't tall, but given that the average height of a Filipino male is 5' 4", and the average height of a Filipino female is 4'11", in the Philippines that makes me tall. I was 5' 6" at 11 years old and I hated it. I was always the tallest in my class; always at the back of the line, at the back row in class photos, and always the girl who had to play Prince Charming in all of our school plays (I went to an all-girls school). Until I entered college, I was as tall or taller than most of the boys I knew. I wondered if boys were intimidated by my height and developed a slouch.

Can you tell I'm emotionally involved in this book?

Too Tall Alice will resonate with children who wish they were like everybody else, whether they feel they are too tall or short or skinny or chubby or quiet or whatever. I love the message of self confidence and empowerment. Even the cartoon illustrations and whimsical text support this theme -- just the right mix of mermaids and athletes, more "girl power" than "girly".

Poor Alice is self-conscious and miserable about her height. She dreams she goes to a land filled with tall people who are successful in their chosen careers, and more importantly, are happy with themselves. In the end, Alice learns to love herself and realizes that her height does not have to stop herself from being anything she wants to be.

There's a happy ending for me as well. I love my height now and love wearing heels. I do constantly have to remind myself to straighten up and stand tall -- old habits die hard -- but I'm happy the way I am, just like Alice.

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Tree Top Trim Giveaway

When I first tasted Tree Top's new adult fitness beverage, a couple of months ago, it was only available in select Northern California markets. Now Trim is available in most markets throughout Northern California and around the Northwestern US! Try Save-Mart, Bashas, Raley's, Food Maxx, Stater Brothers, Lucky's, Scholari's and SSI -- and all Albertsons throughout California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Montana and Colorado. You can find out more about Trim on their Tree Top Trim Facebook page; the page also has registered dieticians available to answer any of your health or diet related questions.

If you live in any of these areas, you're in luck! Not only do you get to try this yummy drink (and don't be all noble and give it to your kids -- save it for yourself!), you also get a chance to try a bottle of Trim for free! Trim is giving away 10 coupons to the first 10 readers who either follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter *OR* become a fan of Trim's Facebook page. So you can actually nab yourself two coupons if you do both things.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling me if you follow me on Twitter (my twitter id is @bonggafinds) or became a fan of Trim on Facebook, or both. If you already follow me or you're already a Trim fan, that counts too. First come, first served, so act quickly!

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Savvy Source giveaway

I'm doing a giveaway today on Being Savvy Silicon Valley, a local parenting and preschool online resource! One reader will win a copy of the book, "A Spiritual Companion to Infertility". You don't have to live in Silicon Valley to enter, so head on over and enter to win!

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You've got to Taste This Picnic Chicken!

When I told the kids we were going to make chicken nuggets for dinner, they didn't believe me. They didn't think anyone could actually make chicken nuggets; as far as they're concerned, chicken nuggets are shaped liked dinosaurs and come from a box (yes, it's a sad testimony to the food I feed my children).

But all 3 were game to try the Italian Picnic Chicken recipe from Taste This!, even when I warned them that it might be "slimy and icky". This recipe is the perfect illustration of why I like this cookbook. The ingredient list is short, you don't really need to follow measurements, and it's so easy that even a child could do it. And that's just what happened: the kids did it all. They had a blast crunching up the cornflakes, dipping the chicken tenders in salad dressing and dredging them in cornflake crumbs. And when they tasted it, The Pea proclaimed, "This tastes exactly like chicken nuggets!". So those Dino nuggets are now banished to the back of the freezer for emergencies.

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You've got to Taste This chicken tinga!

I asked Alfie to choose a dish from Taste This! to try, and this is what he chose. I had never heard of Chicken Tinga before, but since then I've learned that tinga is shredded meat (pork, chicken) cooked with tomatoes and sweet onions. It's Mexican in origin and it's wonderful as a filling for tacos or empanadas. I have a confession to make: I left out a crucial ingredient -- the chipotle pepper that gives it a distinctly smoky flavor. My kids are just not into spicy food; I'm hoping they'll, uh, warm up to it as they grow older. For now, I left out the chipotle and sprinkled some paprika instead. And everyone devoured it anyway.

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Toys R Us weekend sale

I can't resist weekend sales. Especially when they're for stores I like. And I see the words "Save up to 70%". And "Take an EXTRA 50% OFF".

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And the winner of the Girl Scout Cookies is...

... Sonya!! Congratulations, you've won a box of yummy Do-Si-Do's. Thanks to you and everyone who entered and helped Quaker Oats in their quest to end childhood hunger in the US!

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Why I heart Label Daddy

My first thought when I saw Label Daddy's BlogHer '09 contest instructions: Here's a wild idea: I'll definitely get my entry noticed if I post a photo of myself with Label Daddy labels plastered all over my naked self. Two seconds later, I rejected the idea. All you pervs out there, it's not happening, and here's why:

1) My body is, uh, not small, and it would cost a lot of money to buy enough Label Daddy labels to cover it entirely, thereby negating any savings I might enjoy by winning the full sponsorship to BlogHer 09.

2) I've been pregnant with twins. I could balance a plate on top of my gigantic stomach. You can't stretch skin that far and expect to bounce back without a tummy tuck. Or Angelina Jolie's genes. Not pretty, people. And so not the best product placement move for Label Daddy.

3) These Label Daddy labels are meant to last, so they don't come away easily. I don't exactly relish the thought of stripping away each and every label afterwards. Ouch! The alternative, leaving them on, is just as unpalatable. Especially given that upcoming PTA meeting next week.

So enough about that idea. Let's talk about Label Daddy's Peel-and-Stick, washable labels instead. Here are ten reasons why I heart Label Daddy's labels:


10) Because the kids drive me crazy fighting over their toys.



9)Because Pea is constantly bringing home other people's pencil cases/books/ballet shoes.



8) Because I do NOT like sewing. Or ironing.



7) Because there are some things we CANNOT afford to lose.



6) Because I want my kids to know which sippy cup on the picnic table to sip from.



5) Because I sometimes can't tell my twins apart.




4) Because on bad days I can barely even remember my own name.




3) Because my husband needs a way to let my admirers know I'm taken.




2) Because I don't want to hitchhike my way to BlogHer.

And the number one reason I Heart Label Daddy.....

1) Because Label Daddy Hearts Bloggers too. (cue soundtrack: *awwwwwwwwww*......). Thanks, Label Daddy , for sponsoring this wonderful BlogHer 09 contest and giving bloggers like me something to dream about!

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This book will make you smile

I recently received a review copy of Baron Thinks DOGS Are People Too!, a lively short story about a high-spirited dog who does a good deed and makes a friend. Alfie read the book to the kids last night, and here's what we thought of it.

The Good
Children with lively dogs will enjoy the recounts of Baron's frisky antics, and the busy, colorful illustrations are great for reading out loud to large groups. They'll spend the whole book wondering whether Baron will ever find a best friend, so it's easy to keep them engaged in the story.

The Bad
Characters are introduced and removed so randomly that even my kids felt that the book left way too many questions unanswered.

* Are Billy and Emma children of the doggie's mom and dad?
* Who are they and where did they come from?
* Why did the book say that Emma was on the sled? Emma has yellow hair in the beginning, and none of the girls on the sled have yellow hair!

I also found myself wondering what the dad's deployment with the air force has to do with anything in the story. And the biggest question on everyone's mind was: Why in the world is this book called "Baron Thinks DOGS Are People Too!"?

The Bongga
This book puts smiles on children's faces -- not only on your child's face when you read it to him, but on a child with a cleft palate somewhere around the world. If you buy this book from publisher Big Tent Books, author Laurie Dean will donate $1 to Operation Smile! Which is something that should put a smile on your face as well.

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Create some Jealousy with Gel-les'c!

Keep reading, I've got a great giveaway for you below!

Remember when I posted about my new short haircare regimen a couple of weeks ago? The Pea has finally wised on to the fact that I've been sneaking some of her Curly Q's Moist Curl Moisturizer to tame my mid-day frizzies. "Mamaaaaaaaaa....!" Fortunately, CURLS (the company that makes Curly Q) recently sent me a sample of their latest product, Curl Gel-les'c. It's pronounced "Curl Jealousy" and I'm happy to say that I'm no longer jealous of The Pea's styling products because now I've got some of my own.

Curl Gel-les'c is a styling product -- part gel, part serum -- that tames frizz, creates curls, and imparts shine. I've been scrunching it into my damp hair in the mornings and letting it air dry (I have a pathological aversion to blowdrying, probably because I'm lazy). I like that it's organic and botanical-based, and like all the CURLS products I've tried, smells soooo good. I like that it's not as thick and sticky as regular gel. And let me tell you, it REALLY does hold that curl in. Some days my hair looks like it's been permed!

Want to incite some curly jealousy with Curl Gel-les'c? CURLS is giving away a Curls Gel-les'c Prize Pack to one lucky winner! The gift pack includes:

* A fun, fashionable Curl Gel-les'c tee that says "Are you envious?" on the front, and "..... of my CURLS?" on the back
* An 8-oz. bottle of Curl Gel-les'c, packaged in a Limited Edition bottle

To enter, just leave a comment on this post and tell me about the one haircare product you cannot live without. Don't forget to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following:

1) Follow me on twitter (my twitter id is @bonggafinds). If you already follow me, you still get the extra entry! Leave a separate comment with your twitter user name.
2) Tweet this contest. Leave a separate comment with a link to your tweet.
3) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds via a feed reader or email. Leave a separate comment telling me you've subscribed.
4)Follow this blog. Leave a separate comment telling me you're following.

This giveaway ends at midnight PST on February 23, 2009; I will draw a winner via www.random.org on February 24 and post the winner's name on the same day. Click here for full giveaway rules. Good luck!

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Do you have a little princess?

When the Shabby Apple sponsored a giveaway on SV Moms some time ago, I crossed my fingers like never before -- their girls' dresses are sweet and funky, chic and girly all at the same time. I didn't win (rats!) but here's a chance for The Pea to get an entire Shabby Apple spring wardrobe -- they're searching for the next Shabby Baby Girl between ages 0 to eight. And who is cuter than The Pea, I ask you? If you have a little princess between the ages of 0 to 8 who could be any sort of competition for The Pea, then don't visit the Picture Princess Contest page for rules. And don't enter before March 31st, 2009. Because you don't want to win all those gorgeous clothes for your own princess...... do you?

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You've got to Taste This appetizer!

I've begun trying out the recipes in Gina Von Esmarch's cookbook, Taste This! Gina comes from the family who runs Alioto's #8 in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf (the one with the gigantic crab sign) so you know she knows her s*&t. I wanted to try her Red Onions & Red Grapes recipe from the moment I saw it, and it didn't disappoint. Even though the mixture spent a wee too much time in the oven (note the slightly burnt edges of the onions), it was deeevine. The Pea, who supposedly hates onions, loved it: "Mama, the onions taste like grapes!". Well, not exactly, but the combination of the two flavors complements the goat cheese and sesame crackers perfectly.

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You've got to Taste This! candy

This Rock-E-Road candy from the Taste This! cookbook is one of those recipes that are so easy to make (even a five-year-old can melt chocolate and add marshmallows and nuts if a grownup supervises) that you ought to be making it yourself anytime you find yourself craving it. Instead, you go to See's Candies or Russell Stover and buy it for $12 a pound. We used dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate because that's Alfie's favorite. And the result? I think the photos below speak for themselves.

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Celebrate your baby's Firsts with Earth's Best

When my kids were babies, Earth's Best baby foods were kind of a splurge, but I always threw a couple of jars into my grocery cart anyway (especially when they were on sale!). Yes, they cost more, but you get what you pay for -- you're getting high-quality nutrition. Even more important, these taste WAAAY better than the regular baby foods. Their teething biscuits make my mouth water, and I could actually open a jar and eat some of the purees myself. Hey, even now I still occasionally buy jars of pureed sweet potatoes or squash to throw into my kids' macaroni and cheese or other dish to make it healthier.

The PR folks from Earth's Best sent me some information about their new Celebrate the Firsts promo, and I'm sharing it with you because they've got a good product and this sounds like a good deal. Just send in receipts for the Earth's Best baby foods you purchase and they'll send you some neat rewards:

Send in $25 worth of receipts and get $5 in coupons and a bib.
Send in $50 worth of receipts and get $10 in coupons, plus travel size Jason Organic baby body care.
Send in $100 worth of receipt and get s$15 in coupons plus Fisher Price Tubtime Friends.

The promo only lasts till March 31, so you need to start collecting receipts. But $100 in baby foods, teething biscuits and cereal in two months? That's so doable! If my twins were still babies I'd totally be aiming for that tub toy.

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You've got to Taste This!

As soon as I flipped to the first recipe in Gina Von Esmarch's new cookbook Taste This!, I new it was going to be my kind of cookbook. The recipe for the Red Grapes & Red Onions appetizer contains two of my favorite foods, red onions and goat cheese, and the recipe doesn't depend on exact measurements.

It only got better as I flipped through the book. It's filled with simple dishes that, thanks to the ingredient list and photos, make my mouth water. Half of the dishes are ones I already like to make (Pear & Walnut Salad, peas , Cuban Style Picadillo, tomato & white bean stew to name a few), and the other half are dishes I've always wanted to make. This is totally the cookbook I'd write if I wrote a cookbook.

If I had to sum it all up in a single word, it would be Not Intimidating (okay, that's two words but right now I can't think of the opposite to intimidating). I'm itching to try the recipes, all of which have a pretty short ingredient list and simple preparation instructions. They even utilize -- gasp! -- canned food, bottled salad dressing and refrigerated dough! We're going to get started on it right away, so keep a lookout for reviews of her individual dishes. Yum!

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Disney Deals

Going to Disneyland during the off-season is such a no-brainer for me. The crowds are thinner, lines are shorter, hotel rates are lower, and there are always special promotions going on. For example, you can buy 3-day Disneyland Park Hopper tickets for $150, which is essentially the kids' admission price. Other great winter and spring deals include:

* Free Gift Cards for staying at on-site Disneyland Hotels: When you stay at the Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian or Paradise Pier, you'll get a gift card worth $50, $100 or $150 (depending on the length of stay).



* 3-Day Vacation packages starting at $69 per person, per day: This includes a 3-Day Park Hopper ticket, so subtacting the $150 tickets from your $207 means you're only paying $57 per person for a 2-night stay! And you get early entrance to the parks!



* Kids Fly Free -- if you book a Disneyland Resort vacation package flying with United Airlines from San Francisco Airport, kids fly free! That's mind boggling.





Of course, traveling in the off season means that some rides might be closed for repair. And there's always that pesky rain. And by the way, about those deals, I've only listed the cool stuff. For more information and all those restrictions and details, you have to call a travel agent or go to Disneyland.com. But that's all minor stuff compared to the fact that you save your money and sanity by traveling to Disneyland in the off season.

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The Blogging Community -- a review

Bonggamom Finds has been running for almost a year, and in that time I've reviewed lots of great products and services. Today I'm reviewing the Blogging Community. Whatever for?, you ask. Well, first, because I think it would make a cool post. Second, because it's not something you'd expect to find on a review blog, and doing unexpected things makes me all mysterious and cool. And third, it's because at this point in time, I'm eyeing one reward in particular -- the awesome chance to win a trip to the BlogHer '09 conference in Chicago, sponsored by Mabel's Labels. And that would be cool. See, I'm all about being cool today.

To enter, I have to write a kickass essay on the rewards and benefits of being a blogger. So, in my standard good/bad/bongga format, here's what I think about the blogging community:


The Good
* Bloggers listen. As I said in one of my earlier reflections on blogging, blogging has given me an emotional outlet. The blogging community is like having your own interactive diary -- you can pour your heart out and other bloggers are always ready with a kind word. If you ask for an opinion, bloggers will give it (thanks for telling me what you think of my hair, blogosphere).

* Bloggers pat you on the back. Realizing that people thought your post worthy enough to leave a comment. Or a Digg, or a Stumble. Realizing that companies respect your opinion and recognize your influence. It all does wonders for my sense of self worth. There's nothing as satisfying as receiving an email from someone saying he bought a particular toy for his kid because of your review -- and his kid loved it.

* Bloggers share. Good news. Bad news. Freebies. Giveaways. Feeling lucky? Bloggers give out prizes galore. Bored? Bloggers are happy to point you to articles or videos or anything you want. Want to know how to clean your ears? Bloggers can help with that too. Do you have a good cause to promote? Bloggers will join. Take my recent Girl Scout Cookie giveaway as an example -- people are entering in droves. It's just a lousy box of DoSiDo's, for God's sake -- so I'm assuming that everyone's doing it because they want to do their part to help Quaker Oats donate boxes of oatmeal to hungry kids.

* Bloggers influence. Forget speaking softly and carrying a big stick. Bloggers speak loudly, and traded the stick in for a lightning-fast whip. We're a force to be reckoned with. As the Motrin Moms incident proved, online word of mouth can make or break a product. And I like being a part of that.



The Bad
* Bloggers share. Yes, they do -- but it's not always nice. You get all kinds of opinions, many criticisms, from people who don't even know you. In one of my early posts, some nasty troll accused me of treating my kids like fashion accessories. Even though the idea is actually ludicrous (I don't drape 3Po around my neck like a faux fur), but it still hurt.

* Bloggers suck you in. You can get so wrapped up in sharing your life with the blogging community that you miss out on actual life. Like twittering your way through your daughter's dance recital. Of course, that isn't really the blogging community's fault, it's yours. But then again, if those twitters weren't so interesting, you wouldn't be so glued to them, so maybe you can blame the blogging community after all. Not!


The Bongga
* Bloggers connect. Being a stay-at-home parent can be so isolating, and the thing I love most about the blogging community is how I've connected to other people who can relate to my experiences -- other moms, old friends, Filipinas, Filipinas married to Englishmen, ex-dancers, the whole lot. You name it, there's a part of me that has found a kindred spirit around the blogosphere.

* Bloggers can cure cancer. Okay, that last part wasn't true. But if ever someone does cure cancer, you can bet the blogging community will be the first to know -- will make darn sure that everyone on earth benefits from it.

So what's my final verdict on the blogging community? Cue the violin music and get out the 5 shiny paper stars -- we rock.


Thanks again to Mabel's Labels for sponsoring this contest and giving bloggers like me the chance to attend BlogHer '09. Click here for the complete rules and regulations. The contest ends on Feb. 9; good luck to everyone -- but truthfully, I hope I win!

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Win a scholarship to BlogHer 09

BlogHer 09... it's where every female blogger (and most male bloggers) wants to be. I know lots of bloggers who really want to go but may not make it due to the harsh realities of today's economy (myself included!). Fortunately, some companies realize the amazing influence and reach that bloggers have, and they are offering sponsorships to a select few bloggers to attend BlogHer09. One such company is Label Daddy, a made-in-the-USA label company. They're offering a partial BlogHer scholarship (they'll pay for the $200 conference pass) to two lucky readers of MomDot. Click here to go to their Label Daddy BlogHer 09 Sponsorship post for more information. Thanks to both MomDot and Label Daddy, and good luck to all who enter (especially me!).

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Free breakfast at Ikea this weekend

IKEA has lots of promotions going on this weekend! I'm not in the market for mattresses or pillows, so the only one I'm interested in is the Free Breakfast. Sure, I'm only saving 99 cents, and I'll probably buy $30 worth of IKEA junk stuff to make up for it, but I'm not complaining, free's free.

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Congratulations... it's a Tag!

I recently heard that Leapfrog is coming up with a Tag reader for the toddler set! Set for ages 2-4 years, the Tag Jr. will feature a chunky, easy-to-hold reader and board books that play stories, sounds and music. How cool is that? I have a feeling that this Tag. Jr. is going to do to baby board books what Baby Einstein did for baby videos. Watch for it this coming summer!

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Win a box of Girl Scout Cookies!

This month, along with twenty-four other bloggers, I'm joining Quaker Oats in promoting Start With Substance, a campaign to donate a million bowls of oatmeal to feed hungry children in the US -- and I'm giving away one of the yummiest things you can make from oatmeal, namely some oatmeal peanut butter cookies -- in particular, Girl Scout DoSiDo cookies. Why DoSiDo's?

* Because everybody loves Girl Scout Cookies. Okay, they're not as healthy as a bowl of oatmeal, but at least they're trans-fat free, and the peanut butter in them is safe to eat.

* Because The Pea wants to sell 150 boxes of Girl Scout cookies -- good luck with that, my darling -- and this is a great reason to add one more box to her order list.

With that said, here's how you can win a box of mouth-watering Girl Scout DoSiDo cookies:


1) Go to Quaker's Facebook page and enter the UPC code from your favorite Quaker Oats product. Actually, you don't even need to have bought a Quaker Oats product. Just type in 030000013809 (that's five zeros between the 3 and the 1, in case you don't want to count). Then come back here and leave a comment to say you've done it. There's no way I can check, so I'm taking your word for it.



2) For FIVE extra entries, go to Quaker's Facebook page, download a photo of the Quaker Man, and have your photo taken with it. Then upload it to the Quaker Facebook page. Then go to my Quaker Oats post and leave a comment with the link to your photo. Then come back here and leave 5 comments, telling me you've done it. OK, that was kind of complicated but I have faith in your ability to follow my convoluted instructions. Just remember to leave a comment on my Quaker Oats post as well as this post!

3) You get an extra entry each for: blogging about this contest *or* twittering about this contest *or* following me on Twitter. Leave a separate comment for each extra entry you qualify for (and please leave the link as well).

4) This contest is only open to continental US addresses.

5) This contest will end at midnight EST on February 10, 2009. I will draw a winner from the eligible comments and post the winner's name on February 11.

Only one person can win the cookies, but think of all those hungry children who end up winners if you join!


This giveaway is part of the Bloggy Giveaways January Carnival; head on over for more great giveaways!

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Disney Photo Calendar

Our Disney Photopass calendar has just arrived, and we couldn't be more excited! What a great way for our kids to remember their first Disneyland vacation, all throughout 2009.

The Good

These calendars are super easy to create. You choose which photos to include (from your own uploads, your Disney PhotoPass photos or Disney's collection of stock photos). You can choose from several layouts. You can choose which month you start your calendar. You can even input personal holidays. All of this takes time, so in case some inconvenient task pops up (like feeding your kids dinner or helping with homework), you can save your project and come back to it later.




The Bad

This is actually a replacement calendar: somehow they screwed up the first one they sent us. Someone else's order got mixed in with ours -- instead of a March calendar page, we got a photo of a green lizard lady, and the other side, which was supposed to our April photo, was blank.

Maybe that just a fluke, but surely even Disney knows that people like a wider variety of layouts (only 1 background design per month, and the 2-photo layouts only take portrait photos, not landscape). I also hate having no full-screen preview of the calendar. Does anyone else hate having to scroll up and down to see your calendar, or is it just me?


The Bongga

Their customer service is first rate, just like it is at the Disneyland parks. When I emailed them about the defective calendar they sent, I received a response within a day. They immediately reprinted the calendar and mailed it out, no questions asked. They didn't even ask me to return the defective calendar, or ask me to send a photo of the defective page to prove I wasn't scamming them for a free calendar. For those not so trusting, see Lizard Lady below:
I didn't even have to return the defective calendar. So thanks to Disney's generous customer service, I now have 2 calendars, 1 for us and 1 for the grandparents. I just have to give it to them after April so they don't wonder what Lizard Lady is doing there.

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Create some curl jealousy with CURLS Gel-les'c

Hey, all you curly-haired cuties! CURLS haircare products has just introduced a new product, Curl Gel-les'c (pronounced Curl Jealousy), a styling product that tames frizz, creates curls and imparts shine. It's organic like the other CURLS products it's make everyone as green with envy as the botanicals it's based on.

Want to try some for yourself? Send a photo of your best curls to pr@curls.biz. Three winners with the most enviable curls will win a free bottle of Curl Gel-les'c and a matching t-shirt. Or keep a lookout right here -- I'll be hosting a Curl Gel-les'c giveaway soon!

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Win $5,000 for college from Leapfrog

There are only ten days left to vote for your favorite entry on Leapfrog's See the Learning Photo and Video Contest ; the contest ends January 1-31, 2009. Vote and help your favorite Leapfrog family get a family trip to Hollywood and behind-the-scenes studio tour!


Don't worry, there's something in it for you, too: when you cast a vote for your favorite entry, you'll automatically be entered for a chance to win $5,000 for college from Upromise. You can vote once a day!

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Lands End's new UPF clothing line

Here comes the sun.... Land's End has come up with a new sun-protective clothing line called Sun.Life. Sun protection is a big deal in our family, so Hooray! With ratings of UPF 30-50, it's the perfect option for parents who want to ensure sun protection for their kids and themselves. The most exciting thing about it is the price -- starting at $12.50 for kids tees, and $15 for women's tees. Stylish, affordable and sun-friendly, what more can you ask for?

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Hair styling for lazy moms

Now that I've cut my hair, it has really sprung to life. Now that it isn't weighed down by its length, the natural wave and body in my hair has returned in full force. Every morning I send The Pea into hysterics with my crazy, puffed-up morning hair.

I'm still working on a hairstyle regimen, but right now what works for me for the crazy morning rush is a quick douse of tap water and a couple of squirts of Aveda's Smooth Infusion style-prep smoother to work through my damp hair. I run a comb through my hair and fluff up the ends, and that's it.


I've found that Curly Q's Moist Curls Moisturizer (which actually belongs to The Pea -- shh, don't let her know). helps tame the mid-day dry frizziness. And the Radiant Ringlets Curl Gloss (again, owned by The Pea) gives a nice shine for evening styling.

Note, not once have I mentioned the words "blow dry". I'm hoping I can still get by without it. Thanks to these products, I think my hair looks (and smells) deeevine.

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Our Day 12 (Ralphina the Roly Poly) winner is....

.... MJ. Congratulations! You've won a copy of Ralphina the Roly Poly.

Thanks to everyone who entered, and I hope you keep coming back to Bonggamom Finds all throughout 2009, for honest product reviews and fun giveaways!

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