Earth Day Discounts from Olive Smart

Olive Smart is offering their customers 20% off to commemorate Earth Day. They were a sponsor at last November's Silicon Valley Moms Blog Holiday Party, and their reusable bags are wonderful -- lightweight, packable and strong. Just use coupon code EARTH2010 between now and April 22nd and receive 20% off on your purchase. Happy Earth Day!!

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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It's Week 3 of the 4 Step Sustainable CURLS™ Campaign -- win a CURLS Environista tee!

In honor of Earth Month, CURLS™ is launching The 4 Step Sustainable CURLS™ Campaign to help consumers reduce their carbon footprint without sacrificing style! Just like their “4 Steps to Frizz Free Curls”, they've come up with 4 steps for haircare consumers to achieve a cleaner, greener environment:

1. Awareness
2. Educate
3. Maintain
4. Sustain.

This is week 3, Maintain. Just knowing about the damage we do doesn't help the earth ...we have to act, act now, and keep acting! So how can you get involved? Here are 4 easy ways:

1) Purchase CURLS value-sized 32 oz. product refills instead of the smaller bottles

2) Become a CURLS Environista. When you become a CURLS™ Environista, you are showing their commitment to the three “R’s”: Recycle, Reuse, and Refill. You'll even be rewarded for your efforts by becoming members of the CURLS™ VIP Club, receiving little gifts like plantable postcards, T-Shirts, promotions, discounts, and more! Here's how you can join the program:

a) When you place your next order at www.curls.biz you will be able to select a box at checkout that says “I want to become an Environista!”

or

b)To sign up before your next purchase Go to www.curls.biz and click on Login on the upper right hand corner of the home page. You will need to sign into your account or create a new account. Next select Account from the upper right hand corner of the page and Select Modify Profile. Select the box that says “I want to become and Environista!”


3) Help the CURLS Street team meet their goal of raising $2000.00 to donate to New York Cares. Click Donate Now! Every dollar donated to New York Cares equals $6 in service to the community. Visit www.newyorkcares.org to learn more. Every bit helps!

4) Spread the word-Share this info with 5 of your curly friends.



Win a CURLS Environista tee
CURLS is giving away one of these cute Environista tees to one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader!


Required Entry
To enter, think about what actions you can take, now that you're aware of how your beauty products can impact the environment. Change brings change, and you can make an impact just by changing one thing that you do. What will your One Small Change be? Leave a comment on this post and tell us all about it.

Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following, (you can only do each extra entry once; please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

1) Grab my blog button and post it up on your blog (leave a comment with your blog URL).

2) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds on Facebook (leave a comment with your FB id):

I joined the Curls Environista tee giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://ow.ly/1ARo8

3) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (leave a comment with your FB id).


4) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(leave a comment with your Blogger profile name).

5) Leave a comment on any of my blog posts on Finding Bonggamom (leave a comment here with the link to the post that you commented on).

6) Join any of the other giveaways currently running on Bonggamom Finds (leave a comment here with the name of the other giveaway you joined).

7) Tweet this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your tweet). Here is a sample tweet you can copy and paste:

What can YOU do to save the earth? Tell us and you could win a CURLS Environista tee! Enter at @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/1ARo8

8) Click on this link and enter the CafePress American Idol sweepstakes (leave a comment here telling me you've joined -- this is only valid till April 30, 2010).

Maximum of 9 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on May 3, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on May 4 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive a product sample or monetary compensation for this post. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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DisneyNature OCEANS -- Watch a Movie, Save a Coral Reef

The second of the DisneyNature film trilogy, Oceans, is opening on Earth Day, April 22! Alfie and I took the kids to see their first film, Earth, and we really enjoyed it, so we're planning to see this one as well. I'm sure it's going to be amazing.



What's even more amazing is that Disneynature for every moviegoer who sees Oceans on its opening week, Disneynature will make a donation through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund to The Nature Conservancy and their Adopt-A-Reef Program, to help save coral reefs in the Bahamas. What a great way to celebrate Earth Day -- by watching this movie and making a difference!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Michael Jackson Remembered at Disneyland's Captain EO Tribute

Ah, Michael Jackson. He was my favorite music artist in 1983. I remember saving up with my sister so we could buy a Tiger Beat magazine with an MJ poster in it, and I remember being furious when Annie Lennox's Sweet Dreams nicked Casey Kasem's Billboard 1983 song of the year countdown ahead of Billie Jean. When his Thriller music video debuted, I knew he had changed music videos forever. He was really something, and now that he's gone I like to think of him as was in those days, young and strong and alive and on top of the world.

So when I heard that his 3D Disney film, Captain EO, had reopened (in February 2010) after a 13-year hiatus, for a limited (and unknown) length of time, I knew I had to try and see it when we were at Disneyland over Spring Break. They've improved the sound and the film quality, and it's now called "Captain EO Tribute", but it's basically the same film that wowed audiences in the 80's and 90's.

Captain EO is 17 minutes long and runs continuously at the Tomorrowland theater it originally showed in. While you're waiting for the previous showing to finish and the next one to start, you get to stand around in a waiting room that has video screens showing some "Behind the Scenes" / "The Making Of" footage, which in my opinion is just as interesting as the film itself. You get to see Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas (the director and co-writer) do their thing, and you get to see the dancers rehearsing their parts and getting makeup and costumes put on. The whole thing looked like a scene from Flashdance, complete with the sweatbands and shiny lycra tights and leg warmers. Oh, the memories! I was almost sorry when the doors opened and we were let into the theater.

The film itself is a combination of short Star Wars film and extended Michael Jackson music video, on steroids. I say "on steroids" because of the 3D effects and the laser lights and smoke, and although it isn't mentioned in the official Disney description of the Captain EO revival , I could swear all the seats in the theater were thumping and vibrating to the music, like a simulator ride.

In the film, Michael Jackson is the captain of a ship of misfits -- they look kind of like a galactic Neverland menagerie of shaggy fraggle-rock-like creatures and robots -- assigned to find the evil Supreme Leader (played by Angelica Huston, but she doesn't look like herself until the very end) and give her a very special gift. She sends her minions to attack, but Captain EO wins over everyone's minds and hearts with his amazing music and dancing. The action sequences really look like Star Wars battle scenes (what else would expect, with George Lucas!) but the music and dancing are Michael Jackson all the way, complete with moonwalking and high-pitched "Eeee-heeee!".

The special effects were almost certainly cutting edge when they debuted in 1986, but they're quite run-of-the-mill nowadays, which is probably why Alfie and The Pea weren't overly impressed. 3Po and Jammy, though, were wide-eyed the whole time, and flinched each time something exploded or a laser light flashed, which says something about the timelessness of Captain EO. My favorite parts were all the dance sequences, and it was wonderful to see Michael Jackson in his element, just the way I want to remember him. When you're at Disneyland for only a day, you have to make choices -- and I'm so glad that we made the choice to see Captain EO.

Disclosure: I received 4 complimentary media passes to Disneyland, but I was not compensated or required to post this review. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Moms Light Up Our Lives -- share your story and win a Root Candles Scent Collection!

Mother's Day is May 9, and there's no better time to give a shout out to the mom in your life! Root Candles knows all about mothers and families -- they've been a family-owned candle company since 1869 and are now in their fifth generation, and to celebrate Mother's Day, they're inviting everyone to share all the ways Moms Light Up Our Lives.

For me, Mother's Day couldn't be coming at a better time: my mother is flying in from the Philippines next week, so for the first time in over a decade my mother is actually going to be with me on Mother's Day! My sister and I both have daughters, so we'll have three generations of Bongga Women on Mother's Day, and my mind is swimming with all the ways we can celebrate Mother's Day together. I'm guessing it will involve her favorite burger joint, In-and-Out Burger and I'm hoping it will also involve a shopping spree at some clothes outlet.

Whatever we do, I'm sure it will be a day filled with photos (my mom is the official Family photographer who never shows up at a family event without her camera) and fun. I just want to give her a big hug and thank her for all the things she has taught me that have made me who I am today. Here are some of them:


She taught me to be practical...
My mother has always been very frugal with money. We hardly ever ate out at restaurants when we were growing up, and we bought new cars only when our old ones collapsed on the road. All those trinkets that kids whine for their parents to get them? Like candy at the grocery checkout line? Souvenirs at the souvenir shop? Not with my mom! And now that I'm an adult, I'm really grateful to her for training me to live within my means, think carefully about my purchases and resist the temptation to spend, spend, spend. She would always tell us to be thankful for what we had, and that you can never tell how much money a person actually has based on his material possessions because he could be up to his ears in debt, or a millionaire who's careful with his spending. It's a lesson that has stood me in good stead, and one that I'm trying hard to pass on to my own kids, especially now that we live in Silicon Valley surrounded by dot-com millionaires.


...but she also taught me that some things are worth spending for.
Even though she's careful with money, my mother doesn't hesitate to spend money on something that matters to her. When she finds a dress or a pair of shoes that flatter her and fit her well, she'll buy one in every color. She encouraged us to aim for the best schools, no matter what the cost, because a good education is always a solid investment. When I got married, she and my dad gave me a strand of Mikimoto pearls because she said they are the best and they will last a lifetime. She happily helps us out with the cost of airfare for our visits to the Philippines, because family is important to her and having her kids and grandkids all together brings her more happiness than a week at a spa.


She taught me to be independent.
My mother was always a working woman, even when her peers were stay-at-home moms who attended luncheons and scheduled weekly hair salon visits. When my friends were being driven around in chauffeured cars, she taught us how to navigate the wild, crazy world of Metro Manila's public transportation system. When my friends were being given weekly allowances, she gave us a monthly allowance so we'd learn how to budget. She always stressed the importance of a good education and good grades so we could get good jobs and stand on our own two feet.


She taught me to be comfortable in my skin.
I was the world's biggest slob and the bane of my mother's existence when it came to good grooming. I was self-conscious about my height, so she was always telling me to straighten up, and she was probably the only parent of a teenager who begged her daughter to put on more makeup instead of less! I still don't use makeup, but I've finally taken her underlying message to heart: being comfortable with who I am and taking pride in my appearance. And my mother does get the last laugh: I now struggle daily to get The Pea to comb out the tangles in her hair and straighten her back. If my mom weren't so ladylike, she'd smirk and say, I told you so.


For all that you've taught me, mommy, you have my thanks and my love! Happy Mother's Day!


Okay, I've shared my story, now you share yours. Here's a little giveaway to inspire you....


Win a Root Candles Scent Collection!
Share your story and you could win! Root Candles and the Clever Girls Collective are providing one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader with a fabulous Root Candles Prize Pack, just in time for Mother's Day. This prize pack contains:


* a Legacy Veriglass Candle
* a Legacy Reed Diffuser
* a Legacy Decorative Fragranced Tassel (in Alabaster)

The winner gets to choose one of three scents: Sun Dried Cotton, English Lavender, or Ginger Patchouli. They sent me those three items in the English Lavender scent, and this prize pack is a true luxury! The essential oils make the room smell heavenly, and the candle is made of beeswax and other premium natural waxes, so it's kinder to the environment when you burn it.


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post with your own Tribute to Mom -- share with us how a mom in your life (your own mom, your grandma, your best friend's mom, your wife) has brightened your world in heartfelt, funny, or even unexpected ways! You can also post your story in your own blog and leave a comment here with a link to your post.

Extra Entries
Do you really, really want to win? Here are some opportunities for extra entries, in addition to your comment with your Moms Light Up Our Lives story:

1) Become a Root Candles Facebook fan and leave a comment on their page, telling them you've joined the Mother's Day giveaway on Bonggamom Finds.

2) Tweet about this contest using the #rootcandles tag (you can Tweet
daily, up to once per day until April 26 for a total of 9 extra entries) and post the link in the comments below. Here's a tweet you can copy and paste:

Share your tribute to the Mom in your life & you could win a Root Candles prize pack. Enter on @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/1zVzl #rootcandles

3) Blog about why you want to win the My Mom Lights Up My Life with links back to this post, as well as to the Root Candles' homepage (link: http://www.rootcandles.com/) and post the link it in the comments below.


4) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (leave a comment with your FB id).



5) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(leave a comment with your Blogger profile name).


6) Click on this link and enter the CafePress American Idol sweepstakes (leave a comment here telling me you've joined).

Maximum of 7 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on April 26, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on April 27 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a Root Candle Scent Collection prize pack and was compensated for my time in hosting this giveaway. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Rhoost -- stylish, functional, earth-friendly baby proofing

You parents today are so lucky when it comes to baby-proofing products. Check out the padding we had to use to protect our kids from knocking themselves on our coffee table:

Yes, bright grey puffy vinyl doesn't go so well with our Mission-style furniture, but we had no choice. We didn't want to stick anything on the coffee table because those sticky adhesives never come off, and lots of the plastic baby-proofing corners might mark the table; besides, they were just as hard as the table! But you lucky parents have better choices now -- you have Rhoost baby-proofing products. Rhoost sent me one of their table corner protectors and one of their cabinet locks to review; here is what I thought of them:


The Basics
Here is how Rhoost describes their products:
Rhoost makes functional and stylish baby-proofing products while preserving the integrity of our environment. Rhoost is committed to using materials that are BPA, lead and phthalate free and all of our products and packaging are 100% recyclable.



The Rhoost Edge table corner protectors turn sharp edges into furniture fashion statements, keeping your tots safe and your style ntact. Plus, the Edge features a first-of-its-kind strap and lock fastening system.



The Rhoost Sling is a chic and simple way to keep cute and curious hands out of cabinets. Innovative design is easy on parents and big on protection.

The Bongga
The Edge and the Sling are GREAT baby-proofing products, and I wish they had been around when my kids needed them! Installing them on corners and cabinet doors is pretty intuitive and simple, but not so easy that a child could slip them off by himself. I love the matte finish of the rubber; it makes these items much more unintrusive to the eye, and they don't look cheap or tacky.

Thanks to their strap and lock system, you don't need to use adhesive to stick them on, and they don't dent or scratch the furniture. And of course, I love that they are BPA free and lead free, because you just know your baby is going to try and put it in his mouth!

The Blah
I wish the Rhoost Edge didn't have the brand name stamped onto the top; it kind of defeats the "stylish" benefit when you've got the word Rhoost instead of a nice, smooth surface.


The Bottom Line
Discerning parents will love Rhoost baby-proofing products because they are stylish, yet functional, safe for their precious babies and safe for the environment.

Disclosure: I received a product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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HiveMoms Story Contest starts today, ends on Mother's Day -- win $250 cash!

Want some cash to buy a Mother's Day present? Or to help send you off to BlogHer 2010? Or to save or to get a new haircut or whatever? HiveMoms is running a Story Contest starting today, and any parent blogger can enter to win $250 cash!

All you have to do is write a story on your blog that relates to HiveMoms -- it can be about babysitting, babysitting co-ops, homeschooling, or whatever you want. The winning story will be the one that HiveMoms feels best "compels readers to find out more about HiveMoms" -- For more details and instructions on how to enter, go to the HiveMoms Story Contest page. The contest ends on Mothers Day, May 9. Good luck!

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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Disney's California Food and Wine Festival

What's my favorite season? It's not spring, summer, fall or winter -- it's festival season, and it's just about to start! I'm seeing "save-the-date" announcements all over the place for some of my favorite festivals (and some great new festival finds), and I'm looking forward to strolling around festival areas, looking at great arts and crafts displays, tasting yummy food and sipping yummy drinks.

The festival season is kicking off with a splash with one that combines Disney magic with great California food and wine -- Disney's California Food and Wine Festival, which starts today and runs until May 31. There will be cooking demonstrations, tasting booths, arts and crafts stalls, and more. I'm sure Alfie would love sampling all kinds of brews and ales in the Beer Walk, and I would kill to be a part of the Sweet Sundays event, which features the works (and tastes!) of pastry chefs, bakers and chocolatiers.

Unfortunately, we couldn't quite juggle our Spring Break trip to coincide with the festival's opening weekend, so all we could do was stand in front of the event poster and pretend to be one of the lucky festivalgoers who get to eat and drink all the delectable gourmet treats the festival has to offer. So if you're planning a trip to the Disneyland Resort, make sure you stop by the festival -- and save a chocolate-covered strawberry for me!

Disclosure: I received 4 complimentary media passes to Disney's California Adventure. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- The Bestest Giveaways Around the Blogosphere

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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Celebrate Earth Day with Cafe Press -- get a free Eco-tote and enter to win an Eco-vacation

Cafe Press is always a great place to find unique gifts, and now it's also a place where you can enter to win an Eco Vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands! To celebrate Earth Day, they are teaming up with iVillage to sponsor an Earth Day Photo Contest. All you have to do to enter is upload a photo onto their Earth Day Photo Contest site and share how and why you're saving the planet in 120 characters or less. The contest ends on April 30th; for more details and to enter, visit the contest site. Good luck!




Get a free Cafe Press Eco-Tote
The Earth Day celebration doesn't stop there. Visit the contest page and you can also get a FREE special edition eco-tote, designed by Studio Number One (founded by Shepard Fairey), no purchase necessary. The bag is made from three plastic bottles spun into 100% polyester -- neat, huh? There is only a $1.25 shipping fee for each eco-bag.

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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Find out what we've been doing with our Juicy Rewards points -- and enter to win a $50 Visa giftcard!

My first $50 Visa gift card giveaway has ended, but don't worry: I've got another one! Keep reading to find out how you can win a $50 Visa gift card.....

Juicy Rewards is a great new program from Tropicana that helps you save on the stuff your family loves to do, just by buying stuff your family already loves -- orange juice. Each specially marked carton of Tropicana Pure Premium or Trop50 has a special code that you enter online to get Juicy Reward Points. You can redeem Juicy Reward Points for discounts on fun activities and gear (for more information, check out the Juicy Rewards official site). As a BlogHer Juicy Insider, I get to try out some of the activities that you can redeem discounts for, and tell you all about it.

Tropicana and BlogHer generously deposited 12 Juicy Rewards Points in my Juicy Rewards account to get me started, but racking up those points is as easy as drinking a glass of juice -- in just over a month, I was able to enter 38 points just by buying Tropicana juice and typing in the codes printed on the cartons.

So what have we been doing with all those points? Check it out all the Juicy Fun we've been having:

Singing, I mean Golfing in the Rain
One afternoon, when The Pea was off gallivanting with friends, the boys were feeling sad since they don't get invited to a bazillion parties like The Pea does. So I decided to take them out for an afternoon of fun at the Malibu Grand Prix mini-golf course. I used 3 Juicy Rewards Points to redeem a coupon for a buy-one-get-one free golf session, so the whole afternoon cost less than a trip to our local coffee place for muffins and hot chocolate!



Click here to see how my family has been using Tropicana Juicy Rewards points to save on some family fun -- and enter to win a $50 Visa gift card....

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It's Week 2 of the 4 Step Sustainable CURLS™ Campaign -- donate to New York Cares and receive a discount on Curls products

In honor of Earth Month, CURLS™ is launching The 4 Step Sustainable CURLS™ Campaign to help consumers reduce their carbon footprint without sacrificing style! Just like their “4 Steps to Frizz Free Curls”, they've come up with 4 steps for haircare consumers to achieve a cleaner, greener environment:

1. Awareness
2. Educate
3. Maintain
4. Sustain.

This is week 2, Educate. We all know that knowledge is power, so let's share the wealth and empower everyone to save the earth! Did you know...

* Recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions by significantly saving the amount of energy needed to manufacture the products that we buy, build and use

· Recycled materials account for 40% of the world’s raw materials and is critical to our future sustainability

· While plastics decompose, they can release potentially harmful substances into the surrounding ground water and soil, affecting future generations

· Letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours

· Every year, an estimated 706 million gallons of oil enter our planet's oceans: By far the greatest source of spilled oil is households. Used Motor Oil - accounts for 363 million gallons in our oceans! 50% of Americans change their own motor oil, but only 1/3 of that oil is collected and recycled. 2/3 are dumped down drains or spilled on driveways and onto streets. One typical 5 quart oil change improperly dumped can contaminate millions of gallons of freshwater.


Donate to New York Cares and receive a CURLS discount code!
Now that you know all about the effects that shampoo bottles have on the earth, here's an easy way to help offset the damage we do. Our CURLS Environista team is trying to raise $2000.00 for the charity New York Cares. For every dollar donated, $6.00 in services is provided. Here is the link to donate. Anyone who makes a donation will receive a promo code for a CURLS product discount!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post.T he views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Mrs. Prindables Apples -- Big in Size and Taste

There are some things in life that are just meant to go together. Think of Bonnie and Clyde, thunder and lightning, death and taxes. I can think of just as many when it comes to food, like bread and butter, strawberries and chocolate -- and one of my favorites, caramel and apples. Add some chocolate, and it becomes the ultimate menage a trois! I couldn't believe my luck when I was invited to review a Mrs. Prindables gourmet caramel apple; I was already certain I'd love it, but I was quite unprepared for the Mrs. Prindables experience!

The Basics
Mrs. Prindables makes gourmet confections like caramel apples, chocolate-dipped pretzels and other handmade treats. You can purchase Mrs. Prindables products on their website, through their catalog, and during the holidays at high-end department stores like Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Saks 5th Avenue and Lord & Taylor.

Here's how Mrs. Prindables describes their products:
Unique gifts are hard to find. Mrs. Prindables Gourmet Caramel Apples are a delightful treat and make a perfect gift for any occasion. From holiday gifts to corporate gift baskets, our apples make people feel special. The sheer size and amazing taste of our caramel apples make a Mrs. Prindable's apple perfect for anniversary gifts, holiday gifts, and our apples are kosher certified, too. We use the best ingredients, the best apples, and prepare them by hand to make your gift perfect…and that’s a promise.


The Bongga
You know you're in for something special as soon as you open the mailing carton. The presentation is fantastic! Your Mrs. Prindables apple comes in an elegant purple box with a gold ribbon (hint: royal treat coming up). And once you see the apple, you're going to do a double take.

First of all, it's gorgeous: with the stripes of white, milk and dark chocolate running down the side, it's a feast for the eyes and it's almost too pretty to eat. Almost. But what really makes your jaw drop is the size. This apple is literally as big as a newborn baby's head. Seriously. The Pea tried her best to sink her teeth into the side of the apple, but unless you're part reptilian and can dislocate your jaw, you're probably going to have to cut it up.



When you cut the apple in half, you can see the yummy gooey layers of caramel and chocolate. Yeah, The Pea is still in shock.


And the taste... oh, the taste! I'm amazed at how crisp and juicy the apples are, and they go perfectly with the caramel and chocolate (which, by the way, is excellent). Everything tastes really fresh, not at all like it has been sitting for months in some storeroom (actually Mrs. Prindables doesn't even make your gourmet apple until you order it). Alfie appreciated how the caramel doesn't stick to his teeth, and The Pea says the white chocolate is the best she's ever tasted! The whole thing is really a decadent experience and a mouthwatering treat.

The Blah
I found the apple a bit too tart when I bit into it all by itself, without any caramel or chocolate. Also, I'd really like to know a bit more about this apple -- it's so big, The Pea and I couldn't help wondering whether it had been pumped full of chemicals or genetically modified to reach this size. Other people might be wondering the same thing, so it would be great to see more information about the apples on the Mrs. Prindables website.


The Bottom Line
A Mrs. Prindables Apple is a one-of-a-kind treat and a wonderful gift for someone special. Yes, you are special too, so it's perfectly okay to give it to yourself!


Win a Mrs. Prindables Apple!
Mrs. Prindables holds giveaways for their scrumptious gourmet apples on their Facebook page! Become a Mrs. Prindables Facebook fan so you can enter. You'll also get the latest scoop on all their giveaways, promotions and new products.

Disclosure: I received a product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Meet one of my BlogHer Sponsors -- Twisted Orchid

I'm so excited to announce that Twisted Orchid has become an in-kind sponsor for BlogHer 2010! They sent me this gorgeous animal-friendly leather tote in dark eggplant, which I'll be taking along to the conference. I can't wait! In fact, I'm not waiting -- I've got some family events coming up, and this bag is the perfect way to hold all of the stuff I need to take when I have my kids with me (wipes, books and several hundred-odd tiny toys to amuse them) and look stylish at the same time.




Here's a brief description of Twisted Orchid from their website:
Twisted Orchid is a premium shopping destination for stylishly chic purses and handbags. From the pages of People Style Watch to Lucky, Elle and Oprah, trendspotters and fashion provocateurs alike are buzzing about our incredible selection...

And with our secure online shopping, guaranteed delivery, and 30-day hassle free returns, buying from Twisted Orchid is convenient and absolutely risk free!




I'll be posting a review of this bag soon -- watch out for it, because there will be a giveaway too....

Disclosure: I received a product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Hey Dude Skincare Giveaway

Calling all Real Men -- think all this earth-friendly business is sissy stuff? Get with the times! Real Men reduce their carbon footprint too, and with Hey Dude organic skincare products, they can look and smell and feel good while doing it. Just ask my metrosexual mate, Alfie, who's as male as they come, yet still spends more time cleansing and moisturizing his face than I do.

Today's earth-friendly giveaway comes to you courtesy of Hey Dude Skin Care. Here's how they describe their products:

Supplying today’s men with the products they need to look and feel great is new male grooming company, Hey Dude Skin Care. The company offers a premium line of products that are designed to give the modern man the essential tools to combat the natural effects of aging and external conditions affecting his skin. Made from high quality organic ingredients like hyaluronic acid and essential nutrients, Hey Dude Skin Care products perform the most vital of functions to help a man protect, repair, and maintain his skin.


Win some Hey Dude Aftershave!
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a 4-oz. bottle of Hey Dude Aftershave, a post-shave liquid containing seaweed extracts to calm and moisturize, reduce skin redness and razor burn. (Price: $ 25).

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which product in the Hey Dude skincare line you or your significant other would like to try.


Extra entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following, (you can only do each extra entry once; please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

1) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(leave a comment with your Blogger profile name).

2) Leave a comment on any of my blog posts on Finding Bonggamom (leave a comment here with the link to the post that you commented on).

3) Join any of the other giveaways currently running on Bonggamom Finds (leave a comment here with the name of the other giveaway you joined).

4) Tweet this (leave a comment with a link to your tweet):

Win a bottle of Hey Dude organic aftershave from @bonggafinds and @heydudeskincare http://tinyurl.com/y2e7po6 #giveaway


5) Click on this link and enter the CafePress American Idol sweepstakes (leave a comment here telling me you've joined).

Maximum of 6 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on April 29, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on April 30 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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You're Invited to an Ebates Twitter Party

Woo-hoo, I'm co-hosting another Twitter party next week, and it's a bongga one, combining two of my favorite things -- shopping and saving! Ebates, an online cashback shopping site, will be sponsoring a Twitter party to celebrate spring and fashion and all the great spring deals. We'll be talking about the latest spring trends, sharing great ways to save, and giving away some fabulous prizes.

Ebates is an online shopping portal that’s a one stop shop offering coupon codes directly from retailers and up to 26% cash back on purchases made through the site’s 1,300+ retailers, like Gap, Target, Macy’s and Nordstrom. There are no points to redeem, no forms to mail in, and no fees. So how does it work? Stores pay Ebates a sales commission for sending shoppers their way, and Ebates uses the commission to pay you cash back. To date, over $50 million in shopper cash back has been earned.


What: an Ebates Twitter Party
Why: To share ideas about style, tips on finding great deals -- and win great prizes!
When: Wednesday, April 21^th 7:00-8:00pm EST (4:00-5:00pm PST)
Where: on Twitter (You will need to have a twitter account, it is extremely simple to sign up!)
How: Follow the #ebatestyle hashtag (You can use services like TweetChat or TweetGrid to follow the conversation) -- and don't forget to follow your hosts, @bonggafinds and @Ebates, on Twitter throughout the party for contest details, updates, and prize information.



Here's a list of all the great prizes you could win at the #ebatestyle Twitter Party:
2 winners will each receive a $40 gift certificate from Macy's, and 1 winner will receive a $20 gift certificate!





2 winners will each receive a $40 gift certificate from Bloomingdales, and 1 winner will receive a $20 gift certificate!




5 winners will each receive a necklace worth $24 from Dog Eared Jewells!




2 Grand Prize Winners will each receive an iPod Nano!!





That's almost $600 in prizes! But that's not all.......


Enter to Win an iPod Nano!
We've got a pre-party prize up for grabs: Ebates is giving away an iPod Nano to one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader! To enter this giveaway, you must do all of the following:

1) Follow @Ebates on Twitter
2) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter
3) Add your twitter name to the RSVP list at the bottom of this post.


And since this is such a great prize, we're giving you lots of extra ways to enter:

1) For 1 extra entry, write this on the Ebates Fan Page Wall :

I entered your giveaway for an iPod Nano on Bonggamom Finds, and I can't wait to join the #ebatestyle Twitter Party on April 21, 7-8PM EST! http://tinyurl.com/y53k6xc


2) For 1 extra entry write this on the Bonggamom Finds Fan Page Wall:

I entered the Ebates giveaway for an iPod Nano, and I'll see you at the #ebatestyle Twitter Party on April 21, 7-8PM EST! http://tinyurl.com/y53k6xc

3) For up to 10 extra entries, tweet this (up to once per day between April 12 and 6:59PM EST on April 21):


I RSVP'd to #ebatestyle Twitter Party on Apr 21, 7-8PM EST & entered to win an iPod from @Ebates on @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/y53k6xc

4) For up to 10 extra entries, tweet this (up to once per day between April 12 and 6:59PM EST on April 21):

Win $40 GCs to Macys & Bloomingdales, 2 iPod Nanos @ #ebatestyle Twitter Party! Apr 21 7-8PM EST RSVP here http://tinyurl.com/y53k6xc pls RT

5) Click on this link and enter the CafePress American Idol sweepstakes (leave a comment here telling me you've joined).

For each extra entry you complete, please leave one comment in the comments section of this post with some way that I can verify the extra entry (either a link to your tweet or your Facebook name). That's up to 17 extra entries per person!


This giveaway ends at 3:59 PST (6:59 EST) on April 21, 2010; I will draw a winner at random from the pool of valid entries in the comments section of this post and the twitter party RSVP list, and announce the winner's name on Twitter at the end of the Twitter Party. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prizes before the start of the Twitter party. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my tweets and/or emails. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck, and see you at the Ebates Twitter Party!



RSVP and enter to win the pre-party prize (an iPod nano) here:

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my participation in this Twitter party. I did not receive product samples for this post or the party. All prizes are being provided to winners courtesy of Ebates.com. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Hellman's Real Food Project

Hellman's and Best Foods Mayonnnaise is following last holiday's Real Holiday Helpings Program with a great new site that features real meals and real food: The Real Food Project. Once again, Bobby Flay is providing how-to videos and great recipes.

If you find yourself tempted to break open that packet of ramen noodles because it's dinnertime and you're too tired to cook, STOP! Go visit the Real Food Project for simple but delicious recipes. I've tried making the Italian-Style Baked Crispy Chicken Breasts that I found in the recipes section, and they are so yummy -- and so easy to make! Next up on my list: Hellman's Dijon Pepper Tuna Cakes. There are even coupons you can print and prizes you could win.



Here's a description of the site:
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay and actress/mom Lori Loughlin have teamed up with Hellmann's® and Best Foods® Mayonnaise to unveil the Real Food Project on Hellmanns.com, a comprehensive online resource offering tips and ideas on how to create real meals made with Real Food.

Because videos are great for multi-tasking moms, The Real Food Project features a series of entertaining how-to tutorials, hosted by Bobby Flay, to give us tools and techniques to prepare great-tasting, at-home meals for our families. Just by visiting www.Hellmanns.com, you can access a wide range of recipes, including sandwiches, entrees and side dishes, all designed to please picky palates. There are even chances to win great prizes like a kitchen essentials bundle, Bobby Flay Grill It and Hellmann's® and Best Foods® products by playing the "Wheel of Real" instant win game and entering the Real Food Sweepstakes.

Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Hellmann's® prize package in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Cafe Press SIGG Personalized Bottle -- Review and Giveaway

Win a personalized SIGG bottle from CafePress! To find out how, keep reading....

One of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint and live a greener lifestyle is to stop buying water in disposable plastic bottles and use a refillable water bottle instead. We used to buy bottled water by the case, but a couple of years ago we could no longer ignore the damage we were doing to the environment. So we decided to take the plunge and break the plastic habit.

It wasn't easy, of course, but one of the things that helped was my decision to invest in some good quality reusable water bottles -- namely, SIGG water bottles. I really like them for a number of reasons: they're lightweight, they don't absorb the color or flavor of the liquid you put in it, cold water stays nice and cold in it, they're BPA-free, and they come in so many fun colors and designs. I love all our SIGG bottles and am fiercely protective of them; the kids know the easiest way to put me in a bad mood is to come home from school and tell me they've lost their SIGG bottle.

Speaking of designs, did you know that you can buy personalized SIGG water bottles on Cafe Press? I only discovered this last month when I was browsing around Cafe Press looking for a design to put on my Cafe Press organic tshirt, and I was so excited when I found out. It's truly the perfect present, because every family I know owns a SIGG bottle, and it's one of those things that you can never have too many of. Every time I'm at the kids' school I see kids with SIGG bottles, and they all have the same designs -- so I can't think of anyone who wouldn't want a personalized SIGG water bottle! And when Cafe Press invited me to try out their SIGG bottle designer -- and give away a second bottle here -- I knew it would make the perfect review and giveaway for Earth Day.


The Basics
Cafe Press is the place for personalized items. You can find millions of personalized gifts at CafePress – for any topic, interest, or brand! They offer a multitude of styles, colors, sizes and designs for a multitude of products -- mugs, bumper stickers, bags, hats, umbrellas, baby onesies, hoodies, shirts -- and yes, even SIGG water bottles!

The Bongga
I'm so excited to have discovered the Cafe Press SIGG bottle designer! We all love to put a personal stamp on our belongings, and having a personalized SIGG bottle is so cool!! I love how you can use a Cafe Press SIGG bottle to express your personality -- there are so many designs you can choose.

Do you crochet? Cafe Press has a SIGG bottle for you. Do you knit/dance/barbecue/brew your own beer? Do you love monster trucks/calculus/Jackson Pollock/weed? Cafe Press has a SIGG bottle for you, too.



Come on, Twitter fans, I know you want this design. You know you want this design. If not this one, then one of the other 370 Twitter-related designs you can put on a SIGG bottle. If I made more money I'd probably end up ordering all 370 designs, but I decided to create my own custom SIGG bottle using the SIGG designer. It's so easy to use! Here's a rundown on how it works:


1) Go to the Cafe Press SIGG designer, choose your bottle size (0.6L or 1 L), and choose your design.

2) Add a custom message -- just type your text into the "Edit Message" box.

3) Some of the designs even allow you to add your own photo or jpeg image. You upload it from your computer, then use their editing tool to resize or move the photo.

4) That's it! Check the preview to make sure your design is just the way you want it, then add it to your cart. Cafe Press will make your SIGG water bottle exactly as you've specified!



Check out the SIGG bottle I created:
Cool, huh? What other design would you expect from Bonggamom? :) It has now taken its place of honor among all our other SIGG bottles -- but this one is MINE, and it's not ending up lost in some schoolyard lunch table!


The Blah
If you're going to upload your own photo, make sure your photo has a high enough resolution -- except I'm not really sure what that resolution is, because the Cafe Press SIGG bottle designer doesn't specify.

The Bottom Line
You can help save the earth by drinking from SIGG water bottles instead of plastic bottles -- even better, you can help save the earth in style with a customized SIGG bottle from Cafe Press!


Win Your Own Customized SIGG Bottle from Cafe Press!
One Lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win their very own 0.6-liter SIGG water bottle that they can customize with text and photos at Cafe Press!

Required Entry
To enter, simply go to CafePress, then leave a comment on this post and tell me which Sigg bottle design catches your fancy.

Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following, (you can only do each extra entry once; please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

1) Write on the Cafe Press Facebook Wall, saying you've entered the Sigg bottle giveaway on Bonggamom Finds, and include a link to this giveaway (leave a comment here with your Facebook name).

2) Write on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook Wall, saying you've entered the Sigg bottle giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (leave a comment here with your Facebook name).

3) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (leave a comment here with your Facebook name).

4) Tweet this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your tweet):

Win a customized SIGG water bottle from @cafepress! Enter at @bonggafinds review blog: http://tinyurl.com/y3nzmjp #giveaway

5) Click on this link and enter the CafePress American Idol sweepstakes (leave a comment here telling me you've joined).

Rules
Maximum of 6 entries per person. This giveaway ends -- when else? -- on April 22, 2010, Earth Day (midnight PST); I will draw a winner at random on April 23 and post the winner's name as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular

I can't believe the day we had at Disney's California Adventure today! We spent over 9 hours at the park, enjoying amazing rides like Soaring over California, the Tower of Terror (my knees are still shaking), Toy Story Mania and Mulholland Madness. We're all tired, and I think we'd be absolutely wrecked if we didn't have all the shows to provide a welcome change of pace. We watched A Bug's Life, Muppets in 3D, Talk Time with Crush and Aladdin: a Musical Spectacular, and I must say they were just as fun as the rides.

The Aladdin musical deserves a special mention because it was such a great show. It's aptly billed as a Musical Spectacular, and it's really like a Broadway musical, with all the lighting, costumes, music and special effects -- the only difference is that it's a bit shorter (40 minutes, which is perfect for families with kids) and probably has less people in the cast.

You can get a sense of how big this production is even before you enter the theater; all you have to do is see the big crowds gathering outside. The show runs several times per day (you'll need to check the California Adventure show schedules for the day to see the exact times), and as early as 1 hour before, people start streaming into the waiting area. The theater has 3 levels -- orchestra, mezzanine and balcony -- that the staff fills up in that order (so the earliest to arrive get the best seats). Even though the theater seats 2,000 (yes, that many!!) it can fill up 15 to 20 minutes before showtime.

We arrived at the theater around 30 minutes before showtime and got balcony seats, which gave us a view like this:

They're honestly not bad seats; you do see a lot of the tops of the actor's heads and you do miss a bit of the action (at one point, Aladdin enters the theater on a huge elephant and rides around the orchestra, so the people in the mezzanine and balcony can't see a lot of it), but you do get a great view of the magic carpet when it flies around, and the seats are so steeply laid out that it doesn't matter if your kid sits behind a tall adult. It certainly didn't detract too much from enjoying the show!

And enjoy it we did; I've always loved the Aladdin songs, and the musical numbers were great. The only number I didn't care for was Jasmine's solo (this song wasn't in the animated movie, it was written just for this musical show), and the rest were really entertaining. The genie was an absolute standout (Alfie has never watched the movie, and when it ended he told me, "That genie sounded a lot like Jack Nicholson, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robin Williams!"). He had some hilarious lines, and we all had a lot of guffaw-out-loud moments. Even though the show has been running for a long time, I really love how they've updated the script to be relevant and fresh (there were references to twitter, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Jenny Craig and Hannah Montana). The whole family loved it!

Aladdin: a Musical Spectacular ends its run on August 15th, so if you are planning to visit Disney's California Adventure before then, I highly recommend seeing it!

Disclosure: I received 4 complimentary media passes to Disney's California Adventure but did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Meet one of my BlogHer Sponsors -- Jizo and Chibi

I've made two new friends, and they're coming along to BlogHer 2010 with me! Jizo and Chibi are the stars of designer Valerie Johns' latest collection of wholistic jewelry. Each of them represents a concept that, as a parent, is close to my heart:

Jizo, one of the most beloved and revered Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism, is the protector and guide of women, children, and travelers. Jizo is particularly special to women often giving great strength to pregnant women.

Chibi, the Japanese word for small child – or little one – when worn as jewelry creates a sense of calm. Chibi is soothing, playful, and can be mischievous – as one’s own child or our own inner child.

The Jizo and Chibi collections feature these two cute little characters in jewelry (pendants, necklaces, earrings), art and children's books. As one of my BlogHer 2010 in-kind sponsors, I'll be wearing a couple of pieces from the collection to BlogHer, so don't be surprised if you see me at the conference, wearing a delicate piece of silver jewelry and looking particularly calm and zen-like:


Stay tuned for more photos and a review of the Jizo and Chibi samples I received, here on Bonggamom Finds!

Disclosure: I received a product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Win a $50 Visa gift card from BlogHer

Who doesn't want cold, hard cash? I just wanted to remind everyone about the $50 Visa gift card giveaway from BlogHer that's running on Bonggamom Finds. As a Tropicana Rewards Juicy Insider, I'll be posting twice a month about the Juicy Rewards program -- and each post will have a giveaway for a $50 Visa gift card!


Click here to go to my first Juicy Rewards post -- and enter to win a $50 Visa giftcard! This giveaway ends on April 14 and there aren't many entries right now, so your chances of winning are great!!


Disclosure: I am being compensated for my participation in the BlogHer Juicy Insiders program. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Pop-Tarts Oatmeal: a Winning Recipe (you could win $100!)

Read more to find out how you could win a $100 Visa gift card!

Last week I rhapsodized about the pleasures of Pop-Tarts served cold, and even tried out a Sprinkly Ice Cream Bites recipe with the new Frosted Strawberry Milkshake flavor. Now, I realize there are some die-hard warmed-up Pop-Tarts fans (my husband included) who might be feeling left out, so in the interest of reconciliation (hey, we all love Pop-Tarts, don't we?) I'm sharing my very own Pop-Tarts recipe -- and it's a hot dish.


Click here to see my recipe for Pop-Tarts oatmeal and enter to win a $100 Visa gift card!

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Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- The Bestest Giveaways Around the Blogosphere

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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A Must-Do List for Our Spring Break Disney Trip

I can't believe we're going to be driving down to Southern California in just two days! The kids' Spring Break starts as soon as the school bell rings tomorrow afternoon, then we've got a whole week of fun in the sun. First stop, the Disneyland Resort! We'll be at the Happiest Place on Earth for two golden days, then we'll see a little bit of LA, then head back up north.

Since we only have a little time at the Disneyland Resort, we really need to prioritize what we want to see and do. Goodness knows, we could spend a week here without running out of things to do, but. Here are some items that I really want to get to during this trip:

Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular
This show will be closing August 15th of this year, so we really have to see it. It sounds like a fantastic experience, with dance numbers, beautiful costumes and sets, and of course, the beautiful songs and music. 3Po and Jammy have never seen a big musical production so I can't wait to see their faces light up when they see the magic carpet soaring across the stage!

Captain EO
I never got to see this attraction when I was a kid, so I'm glad it has been brought back to Disneyland -- if only for a limited time, which makes it more urgent that we make time to see it. I'm sure I'll feel a small pang of nostalgia when I see Michael Jackson up there, the way he was in his glory days.

Nighttime Fun

Disney's new nighttime show spectacular, World of Color, will debut this summer at Disney's California Adventure. I hear it's going to be amazing, with fountains and laser and fire and fog, but since we won't be there to see it I think I'd love to take the kids to see the Electrical Parade -- an oldie but goodie that I remember fondly from my childhood trips to Disneyland.

Rides we missed: Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones Adventure, Matterhorn.

In retrospect, it probably wasn't the smartest idea in the world to drag a 4-year old onto Space Mountain. Jammy was absolutely traumatized by his terror ride in complete darkness, so much so that this is the closest he would get to the Matterhorn (3Po and I were the only ones who rode it last time). This time everyone wants to try the Matterhorn, along with the Haunted Mansion and the Indiana Jones ride (the boys didn't meet the height requirement last time). But I think we might just skip Space Mountain, and we'll leave the Tower of Terror for our next visit.

Nah. We've got to do those, too. Alfie and I will just do the parent switcheroo thingy so one of us can watch whichever child is too scared to ride. We can't miss those two rides!


How about you? Which Disneyland Resort attractions can you take-it-or-leave it? Which ones are your Must-See's?

Disclosure: I received media passes to the Disneyland Resort for this trip, but was not paid to write this or any Disney-related post. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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