Pink is Courage from Forever 21

Why has it taken me so long to discover Forever 21'st Breast Cancer Awareness product line? They have an array of incredibly cute products, from pajamas to umbrellas to dresses -- or should I say, had. Their Pink is Courage Lookbook shows coats, makeup brushes, tees, jeans, even a guy's shirt, but the only things for sale are some beauty products, pajamas and a tshirt in plus size. Darnit! Fortunately, these products will be available until September 2012, so hopefully they'll restock the other items. And don't forget, 10 % of the sales price of products in the Pink is Courage line will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

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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Elmo Loves ABCs iPad app

Many parents nowadays don't let their kids watch any television at all, but I stand firm on my opinion that tv isn't all bad. Hey, I learned my letters and numbers watching Sesame Street! When I was a kid, tv was the only way to have access to Sesame Street, but these days Sesame Street has gone multi-platform. Not only can kids have fun learning with Sesame Street on tv, they can also watch Sesame Street videos, read Sesame Street books, play with Sesame Street toys, and play Sesame Street videogames. They've even joined the mobile age with apps for the iPhone and iPad, like Elmo Loves ABCs for iPad. I think the folks at Sesame have done a GREAT job at keeping the educational focus, no matter what the medium of instruction, and Elmo Loves ABCs is no exception.

Here's more information about the app:

About Elmo Loves ABCs
Explore the alphabet and learn letters with Elmo in this immersive, kid-directed iPad app! The iPad and Elmo are the perfect combination for little letter-learners. In Elmo Loves ABCs, every touch is immediately rewarded with more letter fun—videos, activities and games. And of course, you can sing the alphabet song along with Elmo. Come on! Explore the alphabet with Elmo!


This app is all about Sesame Street doing what it does best -- teaching preschoolers to recognize, pronounce and write the letters of the alphabet. Actually, there's so much for kids to do that it's more like a collection of apps. Kids can color pages and watch Sesame Street video clips (adults who grew up on Sesame Street will love these short trips down memory lane!) and dance to alphabet song music videos. It is very interactive; kids can pop bubbles, rake leaves and push balls around at the touch of a finger. When kids touch the letters, they fill up the screen, and when they trace the letters with their fingertip they unlock more features and fun. Each activity is short enough to last through a young child's attention span, but there are enough things to keep a child busy for a car trip. Like everything Sesame Street does, it's educational and fun!

Elmo Loves ABCs draws on elements of the “Sesame Street” television show – favorite Muppet characters, peppy songs and an active approach to learning. The app offers several features of interest:

• More than 80 classic “Sesame Street” videos, as well as new ones, focused on letters. Videos come in various formats, including live-action, animation (2D, stop motion and CGI), and live-action/animation.
• 78 Sesame Street coloring pages for fingers-on fun.
• Different types of interactive hide-and-seek activities: popping bubbles, pushing balls, wiping a foggy screen, and sweeping away leaves.
• A game mode where children can practice finding the letters they’ve learned, identifying upper- and lower-case letters and their related objects.
• A song mode where children can hear and see several alphabet songs.

Elmo Loves ABCs introduces children to more than the alphabet; learning about letters is simply its main focus. The app also cleverly exposes children to numbers and colors, animals, food and everyday objects. And the design of the app itself encourages fine motor skills and basic computer literacy.

The app’s short videos, approximately 15 – 25 seconds long, hold young attention spaces. Many videos star favorite “Sesame Street" characters, including Grover, Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster and of course Elmo. As with other elements, the videos can be replayed as often as desired.

Disclosure: I received a free download of the app to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review it or give my opinions. Information is provided by the featured company/product and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Fall Fashion Shopping with American Express

What are your top 5 fall fashion finds? Tell us about it, and you get an extra entry into my $250 American Express giveaway! That should go a long way towards paying for those fall finds, so keep reading to find out how....


Now that the weather is getting colder, it's time to get out the fall clothes. I've discovered that some of my stuff is too worn, or too outdated, or just doesn't fit, so I face the "task" of updating my fall wardrobe. Here are five fall fashion items that I absolutely must get for myself before the last leaf falls!

Dr. Martens 1B60 boot (MSRP $149.95)

I already own a pair of warm boots, but I don't really like them -- and you already know the sad story of how I ended up with boots that don't fit. Everyone needs a pair of comfy, sturdy and stylish boots for the fall, so boots are my first order of business. I spotted these tall lace-up boots on a parent at our school, and I stalked her for a week, trying to read the label on the back, before asking her what they were. These 1B60 boots by Dr. Martens have all the legendary Dr. Martens comfort, but due to the extra-tall boot shaft, don't look as clunky as your typical Dr. Martens boot. Love that biker-chick vibe!


Lucky Charlie skinny cords (MSRP $69.50)
I need some skinny jeans to tuck my new boots into, and these cords by Lucky fit the bill. Or rather, they fit me, along with everyone else. How Lucky manages to make jeans and pants that fit and flatter almost anyone, I will never know. These cords are so soft, they feel like I've worn them forever, and the deep eggplant color is just right for fall.


Lucky Perforated Stud Belt (MSRP $59.50)
To finish off my biker-chick look, I chose this black belt (again, from Lucky Jeans) because I love how it's tough yet feminine. The leather is so soft, and the tiny metal studs really give it an attitude. It looks equally great accenting your waist over a tunic top, or threaded through your favorite pair of jeans.



INC International Concepts Breast Cancer Awareness tee (MSRP $49.95)



When it comes to fall fashion, supporting a great cause is always in style. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, I've resolved to wear something pink every day in October -- but this breast cancer awareness hooded tee by INC is so cute, I'd wear it any day of the year.


Epiphanie Stella bag (MSRP $164.99)
Epiphanie camera bags, with their just-right mix of stylish and practical, are all the rage for photographers and bloggers. I've wanted one for ages, but couldn't make up my mind which style to get -- until the Stella came along. The funky boho tassels, the metal accents and the soft leatherlike material are just right for the fall. Who cares if it's actually a camera bag -- I've found my perfect purse.


Of course, none of these finds would be fabulous if I ended up regretting my purchase and wasn't able to return it, or if I found myself with a bill for a $10,000 hotel stay in Vegas because I used my debit card over an unsecure connection. To help educate shoppers about making smart online shopping choices, I'm joining American Express in an Online Savvy Shopper series of posts. Last week, I shared one of my online shopping mistakes and how I could have avoided it. Today, along with all those fabulous finds, I'm also sharing some tips to make all your online shopping experiences safe and satisfying:


1) Spend within your means
Set yourself a budget and stick with it, so you buy only the items you need, or those you really, really want. Having a budget will help you avoid overbidding for auctions and save you the hassle of returning items you bought in the heat of the moment.

2) Compare prices
This is one of the best things about the internet: it only takes a minute to do a search and make sure you're paying a fair price.

3) Know how much you're going to pay
When you're comparing prices, look at the total cost. Don't forget to factor in sales tax and shipping costs -- sometimes a "sale" item might end up costing more than an regularly priced item with free shipping.

4) Know the return policy
Does the site accept merchandise returns? What are the terms? American Express card even lets cardmembers return items even though the merchant's return policy has expired (up to $300, up to 90 days).

5) Buy from a reputable site or dealer
When you buy auction items, check the seller's rating. Don't buy from any retailer who asks you to send your credit card information by mail -- or worse, your social security number. When in doubt, check the Better Business Bureau, and trust your gut: do you really want to buy from a site with the name cheapestlowwprizes.com?

6) Pay with a credit card
Hackers steal credit and debit card information all the time -- but debit cards don't offer purchase protection. Most credit cards let you dispute fraudulent charges, let you freeze your card when it has been lost or stolen, and notify you when they notice suspicious activity on your credit card (i.e. large international purchases).

7) Use a strong password
Creating an online account with an ecommerce site can be a real timesaver: you only have to enter your information once, you have a record of all your purchases. But if you're going to leave all that information, especially credit card information, you need to protect it with a secure password. And if you use mobile apps to shop on your mobile phone, make sure your phone is password protected as well.

8) Use a secure connection
It's amazing what hackers can do these days, so make sure the internet connection you use is as secure as possible. Never use a public computer (like a library computer) to make online purchases, and avoid using public wifi when making purchases on your laptop. Make sure your wi-fi connection at home is password protected. Most importantly, make sure the site you purchase from is using a secure http connection -- look for the "https" and the lock symbol on the address bar of your browser.

9) Check your statements
These days, it's way too easy to set your credit card account to "autopay", avoid all those late-payment fees and get one more task off your hands. But you should still check your bank and credit card statement at least once a month, so you don't get any nasty surprises.






Get extra entries into last week's $250 American Express giveaway!
American Express is giving one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader $250 worth of gift cards and/or merchandise. Enter by October 24 for a chance to win!

Today I'm offering a way to get up to 2 extra entries into the giveaway!

1) Leave a comment on this post, below, and share your top 5 fall fashion finds (1 entry).
2) Leave a comment on this post, below, and share a tip for savvy online shopping (1 entry).

You don't have to leave any extra comments on the giveaway post -- I will count all the valid comments on this post when I draw the winner -- but please note, you must complete the required entry on the giveaway post in order to be eligible to leave a comment on this post.

Disclosure: This post is part of a compensated series with American Express. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster launches on XBox Kinect

My kids think they're too cool for Sesame Street -- but at last week's blogger launch party for the new Once Upon A Monster game on the Kinect for XBox 360, they were just as excited to join Elmo and Cookie Monster as all the other preschoolers in trying out Sesame Street's latest game! The game did not launch until October 11, so we got a special demo version -- and boy were my kids itching for more.

Here's some information about the new game:

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announces the launch of Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, an innovative, engaging and humorous, new controller-free video game on Kinect™ for Xbox 360®. Players can interact with popular Sesame Street characters as well as make new monster friends in a journey of learning, discovery and fun.

Developed by award-winning Double Fine Productions, Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster is a truly original interactive experience where young players join Cookie Monster, Elmo and other Sesame Street characters as they explore a living storybook titled Once Upon a Monster. In the book, they meet new, loveable monsters from the Once Upon a Monster world, forge friendships and learn key life skills along the way. Parents and children become part of the storybook adventure by getting active together through dancing, jumping, flying and more.


For more information on Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, please visit www.OnceUponAMonsterGame.com.


It was wonderful to revisit the world of Sesame Street, and this time around we were introduced to some special new monster friends. The makers of the Once Upon A Monster Game have created seven new monsters: Marco, Shelby, Tallulah, Ramona, Seamus, Doo-rays and Grrhoof. There's even going to be an eighth new monster available for download later in the year! The game is initially set up to look like a storybook. Kids use their hands to turn pages and "swim" into the story.



My kids have never played with the Kinect for XBox 360 before, and they were amazed that they could control what was happening on the screen with their bare hands! It really beats using a controller, worrying whether you're holding it correctly, worrying about smashing it into the wall, etc..


The XBox does get confused when there are multiple hands fighting for control, so you're going to have to tell your little ones to play nice and take turns!



Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster on Kinect for Xbox 360 is rated “E” and available now at retail stores nationwide at a S.R.P. of $49.99.

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- list your giveaways here

Welcome to Bonggamom's Friday Finds! This happens to be my 99th Friday Finds post... which means that next week will be my 100th! So stay tuned for next week's post, because it includes a giveaway. What's more, make sure you leave a link to a giveaway on the Mr. Linky list below, because if you do, you'll get one extra entry to next week's giveaway!

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JuJuBe gives back to breast cancer

JuJuBe started out as a diaper bag company, but nowadays you don't need to have a baby to enjoy JuJuBe's hip, fashion-forward designs. They have laptop bags, messenger bags, wallets, wristlets, tote bags and more, in addition to the cutest diaper bags ever.

But JuJuBe does more than sell cute bags. In the spring of 2006, they began making donations to breast cancer initiatives for every bag sold, and they continue to do so today. JuJuBe donations have helped fund breast cancer initiatives ranging from cure research to providing mammograms for the underprivileged. It just goes to show you that giving back is always in style.

Disclosure: I have not reviewed this product. I have not been compensated for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Hanes Virtual Comfort Packages

Here's an easy way to earn some money for breast cancer research. Hanes has created a new Facebook app that lets you send a virtual comfort package to your family and friends. For each new Comfort Package you create and send, Hanes will donate $1 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., up to $25,000.
You can send a free virtual Comfort Package from the Pink tab on the Hanes Facebook page. The Comfort Package is fully customizable with photos, videos, recipes, T-shirt designs, music and messages.
 I normally don't send virtual presents to people on Facebook, but I'm making an exception for this one. I sent a care package to my aunt in the Philippines. Some years ago she had a double mastectomy for breast cancer. She probably doesn't want to be reminded of those days, but hey, I haven't said hi to her in a long time, and she's one of my favorite aunts, so I sent the package. It's a fun little way to let your loved ones know you're thinking of them, and an easy way to help out.

Disclosure: I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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First Alert Smoke Alarm Giveaway

October is full of fun activites -- pumpkin carving, apple picking, trick or treating -- but amidst all the festivities it's important to remember that October is also National Fire Prevention Month. A big part of prevention is education, so safety company First Alert is conducting a consumer education campaign to help Americans develop a family escape plan in case of a fire or other emergency. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends planning an emergency escape route and practicing it twice annually, but according to a survey conducted by First Alert, more than half (51 percent) of Americans with escape plans have never practiced it.

Here are some tips from First Alert and the NFPA for developing an effective fire escape plan:

* Involve everyone in your household in developing a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes. Identify two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Make sure everyone in the home understands the plan.

* Install smoke alarms throughout the home and test them monthly. Change batteries every six months to ensure proper function.

* Choose an outside meeting place (i.e. neighbor's house, a light post, mailbox, or stop sign) a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet after they've escaped.

* Have everyone memorize the emergency phone number of the fire department. That way any member of the household can call from a neighbor's home or a cellular phone once safely outside.

* Once you're out, stay out! Under no circumstances should you ever go back into a burning building. If someone is missing, inform the fire department dispatcher when you call. Firefighters have the skills and equipment to perform rescues.

You should aim to practice your home fire escape plan at least twice a year, making drills as realistic as possible. Once your kids are familiar with the routine, you might even want to practice the drill at night.

A key factor in these drills is figuring out whether you and your kids can easily wake up to the sound of smoke alarms. If someone does fail to wake up, make sure that someone is assigned to wake them up. Another option is switching to voice-enabled alarms such as the new Child Awakening Alarm from First Alert. Studies have shown that children ages six to 10 are awakened more readily by voice smoke alarm than a standard beeping alarm -- and from our experience, that's absolutely true. Our smoke alarm has gone off in the night several times, and my kids have never woken up! So we were really glad when First Alert sent us a voice smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. It has voice technology that actually tells you the type and location of danger!


Win a First Alert Voice Combination Alarm
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a Voice Combination Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm from First Alert.

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share a fire prevention tip or a tip for helping your family develop an emergency escape plan.

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

1) Add the Bonggamom Finds blog button to your sidebar (1 entry).

2) Blog about this giveaway, making sure you include a link to the giveaway in your blog post (1 entry).

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the First Alert giveaway! http://bonggafinds.com

4) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day):
@bonggafinds is giving away a First Alert Voice Smoke & Carbon Monoxide alarm! http://bonggafinds.com #giveaways

5) Join any of the open giveaways on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for each giveaway you've joined)



The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on October 28, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on October 29 and post their name after confirming acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm from First Alert as a thank-you for providing these tips and hosting the giveaway. Product information and tips are provided by First Alert and are indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Yummie Tummie for Breast Cancer

Breast cancer awareness doesn't always have to come in the color pink. This month, my favorite shapewear brand Yummie Tummie is donating 30% of October sales of their flesh-colored Lavonne Bustless Slip to the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer (FTBC) initiative. Proceeds from worldwide FTBC campaigns helps fun programs that provide access to reliable resources, breast health education, innovative information, and health care. Thirty percent of sales is a humongous amount compared to the 5, 10 and 20% I've seen from other products, so if you're
thinking about buying a Lavonne slip, buy it in October.

Disclosure: I am a Yummie Tummie Ambassador, but 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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Redakai Starter Pack review

Over the course of the schoolyear, my boys get invited to a fair amount of birthday parties. This year, all their little friends will be getting the same present: a Redakai starter pack. I admit, my motives are rather selfish. After I brought a pack of Redakai cards back from BlogHer, 3Po and Jammy loved it so much that they spent some of their own money to go out and buy themselves their own Redakai starter pack. And now 3Po and Jammy want their friends to own Redakai cards so they can do battle with all of them!

That said, I'm sure all of the boys' friends will love Redakai as much as as 3Po and Jammy. You can actually play the Redakai basic card game with just a single pack of cards (check out my previous Redakai post for all you need to know about playing Redakai!), but having the Starter Pack makes it so much more fun!

The Starter Pack comes with an X-Reader, which is a little card case for storing and displaying the Redakai cards. The top of the X-Reader lifts up so you can slide a character card inside and display it:



When you are playing the game, you are supposed to lay cards (either attack cards or monster cards) on top of your character cards. The X-Reader keeps them all nicely stacked up; all you have to do is slide a card into the frame, like so:



You store your Redakai cards in the bottom compartment of the X-Reader, which makes it great for taking into the car for a long trip, or to a friend's house. It holds quite a few cards, so kids can have a good game wherever they are. The lid can be difficult to snap shut and to open, and I'm always afraid that it will break if one of the boys is a bit overexcited. Just remind them not to force it open so it will last a long time.


Aside from the X-Reader, the Starter Pack comes with two packs of Redakai cards, 11 per pack, for a total of 22 cards. It's really all you need to get started with Redakai, and it's quite inexpensive, so it makes the perfect birthday present for both the parent and the birthday boy!

Disclosure: I purchased this product with my own money (or rather, my sons did). The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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EdenFantasys for Halloween

I've been looking forward to this year's Exotic Erotic ball ever since I chickened out of attending it last year -- but it looks like this year's Exotic Erotic ball has been cancelled. I'm pretty disappointed that it's not going to happen, and I'm even more disappointed that I never got around to going. It would have been a lot of fun, especially now that I've discovered the EdenFantasys online store. They have tons of sexy Halloween costumes that would have been perfect for the Exotic Erotic ball!

Of course, the nice thing about EdenFantasys is that they don't do pornographic, they do erotic. Which means they also have sexy costumes that women can feel sexy in, but also wear outside of the bedroom. Here are two of my favorites from the EdenFantasys website, the Racy Red Riding Hood and Flapper costumes:



Sure, the models are bombshells, but I can actually see myself wearing these. In fact, the flapper costume would have been perfect for the Roaring 20's fundraising party that our PTA held last year. They also have a cute saloon girl costume and a catsuit that play havoc with the imagination but don't show too much skin.

Of course, if you do want to add a Frisky Kitty outfit to your order along with (or instead of) the catsuit, that's totally between EdenFantasys, your mate, and you :)


Disclosure: I will be receiving a gift card to Eden Fantasys as a thank-you for writing this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Dress up your Halloween table with Pottery Barn Kids

Setting a Halloween ambiance in your home is as easy as setting your table. A Halloween-themed table really makes things festive and fun, and it all starts with the tablecloth. If you have a beautiful Halloween tablecloth, you can skip the fancy (and expensive) Halloween-decorated plates and glasses, and just go with basic black or orange.

When it comes to Halloween tablecloths, I think Pottery Barn Kids sets the gold (or should I say, orange) standard. Their designs are so classic and cute, and this year's Halloween tablecloth continues the tradition.

It's a beautiful tablecloth, with an orange background, white stars and moon, and black Halloween silhouettes around the border: a girl on a broomstick, a grinning skeleton, a treehouse, a hooting owl. So classic, so whimsical, so cute... so Pottery Barn Kids.




In the first week of October alone, I used this tablecloth three times: once during snacktime to celebrate the beginning of October (you can actually see the tablecloth in one of the photos on my review of the Pottery Barn Kids Halloween countdown calendar!), and twice to serve snacks to 3Po's and Jammy's soccer team.


All the parents on the boys' soccer team commented on what a great idea it was to spread a tablecloth out on the picnic table where they had their snack: the eating area was nice and clean, and everything looked so cute. That tablecloth turned our simple after-game snack into a fun fall party!

Our new Pottery Barn Kids Halloween tablecloth will definitely get a lot of use this October. I'm planning a Halloween party at home later this month, and each of my kids will be having a class Halloween party on the 31st. Hopefully they won't all be at the same time!

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Savvy Online Shopping with American Express

Have you made an online purchase that you regret? Tell us about it, and you could win $250 worth of merchandise and gift cards from American Express! That should go a long way towards making up for your mistake, so keep reading to find out how to enter.....


I love online shopping. You just can't beat the variety, the prices and the convenience. As recently as twenty years ago, who would have thought that you could enter the world's largest department store just by turning on your computer, then buy anything and have it delivered straight to your home with a mere click of a button!

Of course, it's important to remember that as simple as it is to shop online, you're still spending your real, hard-earned money. And just like you would guard your wallet in a department store, you need to be safe and savvy when you shop online.

To help educate shoppers about making smart online shopping choices, I'm joining American Express in an Online Savvy Shopper series of posts. For starters, I'm sharing one of my online shopping mistakes below, and reflecting on what I could have done to avoid it:


Be familiar with the site's return policy
Last summer I bought a pair of sheepskin boots online. Since the weather had not yet grown cooler when they arrived, I tried them on once and stashed them in my closet. Once fall had arrived, I started wearing them -- but it only took a couple of uses for me to realize that I should have ordered a size up, because every time I wore them, the boots rubbed my heels raw. Unfortunately, the return period had already expired, so I was stuck with them. Now I have to wear them with socks. I should have made sure they fit properly before the return period was up -- or paid for them with an American Express card, which lets cardmembers return items even though the merchant's return policy has expired (up to $300, up to 90 days).



Buy from a site you know and trust
In hindsight, I should have bought those boots from Zappos or one of my regular online shoe sites with free shipping and returns and a 365-day return policy. I was drawn in by the lower price -- so instead of spending $20 more from an online store with a good reputation, I've wasted $120 on boots that don't fit!

Use a credit card, not a debit card, when making purchases online.
The worst kind of online shopping mistake is the kind you didn't even make. Hackers steal credit and debit card information all the time -- but debit cards don't offer purchase protection. Fortunately I've never had to learn this lesson the hard way, since I always use a credit card when shopping online. I've had to report fraudulent online charges several times -- for a subscription to a "How to Make Money From Home" website, for domain name registration, even for online gaming! -- but since the hackers used my credit card, I was able to get the purchases taken off my bill.




Next week I'll be posting about my Top 5 Fall Must-Haves, and sharing more savvy online shopping tips so that my fall shopping experiences stay fab and fun, not frightful. The week after, I'll be posting about my readers' top online shopping mistakes -- so please leave a comment below with your own mistakes! Don't be shy, we've all made them. Need an extra incentive to share yours stories of shame? How about the chance to win $250 from American Express?


Win $250 in merchandise and gift cards from American Express
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win $250 in merchandise or gift cards through American Express's Membership Rewards program! The winner can choose any combination of the following gift cards and merchandise, totalling $250:

* Saks Fifth Avenue gift card (denominations: $50, $100, $250)

* Zappos.com gift card (denominations: $50, $100, $250)

* Neiman Marcus gift card (denominations: $50, $100, $250)

* North Face Denali Jacket (retail $165)

* Michael Kors Hamilton Medium Messenger Bag (Retail $248)

* Dooney and Bourke Dillen II Satchel (Retail $248)

* TUMI Ducati Tank Medium Backpack (Retail $245)






Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share your biggest online shopping mistake. This entry must be completed before other entries apply.

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

1) Add the Bonggamom Finds blog button to your sidebar (1 entry).

2) Blog about this giveaway, making sure you include a link to the giveaway in your blog post (1 entry).

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the American Express Savvy Shopper giveaway! http://ow.ly/6SSyk

4) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day):
RT @bonggafinds Share your biggest online shopping mistake for a chance to win $250 from @americanexpress! http://ow.ly/6SSyk #giveaways

5) Join any of the open giveaways on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for each giveaway you've joined)

6) Leave a comment on my October 17 American Express post (Fall Fashion Shopping with American Express) with your top 5 fall fashion finds (1 entry).

7) Leave a comment on my October 17 American Express post (Fall Fashion Shopping with American Express) with your top tip for savvy online shopping (1 entry).


The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on October 24, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on October 25 -- the winner must reply on or before midnight PST on October 27. I will post the winner's name on my American Express post, scheduled for October 28. Winner does not need to be an American Express card holder. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: This post is part of a compensated series with American Express. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Halloween DVDs from NCircle Entertainment

Watching Halloween specials on tv is a great way to get into the Halloween spirit, and they're a great way to celebrate Halloween without all the sugary treats. Here are two DVDs from NCircle Entertainment that your child will enjoy:

Kooky Spooky Halloween

The WordFriends get their share of scares the night before Halloween, when Pig sleep walks and everyone thinks he's a ghost! Then, Sheep is making herself a super special fairy costume to wear for the big Halloween party. But what will she do when her WordFriends need pieces of her costume for their own use?

This DVD has two episodes, A Kooky Spooky Halloween and Sheep's Halloween Costume. My kids love how the WordFriends' bodies spell out their names -- the Halloween pumpkins were especially cute!

Tricks and Treats Synopsis

A new spooky adventure this DVD brings, with The Cat, Nick and Sally, Fish and the Things. Meet the eeriest critters you have ever seen, arrived just in time for this Halloween! There'll be lots of tricks and, of course lots of treats, to share with the animal friends you will meet! There's a coconut crab, spider monkeys and bats, and plenty more fun with The Cat in the Hat!
This DVD contains several mini episodes, including Batty for Bats, Aye Aye! and of course Trick or Treat. I like that kids get to learn a few science facts, and the kids love seeing the Cat getting up to his old tricks.


I like that the DVDs are only 30 minutes each, so I can control the amount of tv the kids watch. They're a lot of fun, at at just $6.99 each, they're super affordable. Kooky Spooky and Tricks and Treats will make a great addition to any DVD collection -- so treat your kids to these fun DVDs and get ready to howl with delight!

Kooky Spooky and Tricks & Treats can be found at local retailers or online, including at www.NcircleEntertainment.com. Other Halloween DVDs from NCircle Entertainment include Archie, Richard Scarry's Huckle the Cat and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.


Win it!
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a copy of Kooky Spooky and Tricks & Treats.


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite Halloween activity.

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

1) Add the Bonggamom Finds blog button to your sidebar (1 entry).

2) Blog about this giveaway, making sure you include a link to the giveaway in your blog post (1 entry).

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I entered the NCircle Halloween DVD giveaway! http://ow.ly/6SaoO

4) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day):
@bonggafinds is giving away 2 Halloween DVDs fr NCircle: Kooky Spooky and Tricks & Treats! http://ow.ly/6SaoO #giveaways

5) Join any of the open giveaways on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for each giveaway you've joined)



The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on October 23, 2011; I will draw two winners at random on October 24 and post their names after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received product samples to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. DVD information is provided by NCircle Entertainment and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Halloween Costumes from Pottery Barn Teen

Alfie has dressed up as a pirate for Halloween for about four years straight, so it was high time to give him a new look this year. The problem is, Alfie is not really into Halloween. He only dresses us for the kids and for me. To earn his approval, a Halloween costume has to be cool enough to be worth the bother of dressing up into, or easy enough to whip on and off so it doesn't really matter.

Fortunately, Pottery Barn Teen's Halloween costumes are both. I love Pottery Barn Kids' Halloween costumes, but I didn't even realize that Pottery Barn Teen had costumes for teens until they offered to send us one to review. Well, they do, and just like the kids' line, the teens costumes all have a whimsical, nostalgic, high-quality look about them. Teens can be a doughnut, hotdog, mad scientist, gnome and more. Finally, a line of costumes for teens that don't focus on the scary or slutty! What's more, all of them are easy to take off and put on, so teens can take them off easily, once they're done with dress-up and want to be teens again. My favorite was the werewolf costume, so we ordered it, and just like that, Alfie has found his costume for Halloween!

The costume is simple, just a headpiece and gloves, but it's really all you need. Werewolves do wear human clothing, after all! The fur is nice and lush, but since the hat and gloves are lined, they don't itch at all. Alfie can keep his costume on for the photos, then take it off anytime he wants (or keep it on to stay warm while we're trick or treating). Easy on, easy off -- check!

We all love Alfie's new werewolf costume (cool costume -- double check!), so we all got a turn pretending to be werewolves:

The werewolf paws slip on like fingerless gloves, so you can still use your hands with them on, instead of having to take them off for every little task.


It's a one-size-fits-all costume, so even though it's Pottery Barn Teen, people of all ages can wear it.

I love this photo -- I think Jammy looks like a fierce little bear. The ears are a bit long, so it's easy to mistake the werewolf costume for a bear costume, so Alfie is going to wear a plaid shirt, puffy vest and jeans so he looks like Michael J. Fox's Teenage Werewolf. This is the closest he's ever going to get to looking like a teenager again, so he'd better enjoy it while it lasts!


Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Meet Marie-Grace

Last week I introduced you to The Pea's new American Girl doll, Cecile. This week, meet her "partner in crime", Marie-Grace Gardner.

Marie-Grace Gardner has just arrived in New Orleans, and she hopes she never has to move again. The lively city is unlike any other place Marie-Grace has lived. When she meets Mademoiselle Océane, a talented opera singer, Marie-Grace longs to take lessons. She loves to sing, and she would like to get to know Cécile Rey, the confident girl who is Mademoiselle's student. But Marie-Grace is shy, and starting school reminds her how hard it is to make friends and fit in. Can an unexpected adventure help her feel as if she belongs in New Orleans? Includes an illustrated "Looking Back" essay about the history of New Orleans. Author: Sarah Masters Buckey. Paperback. 120 pages.

First in a series of six books filled with inspiring lessons of compassion, courage, and friendship. Marie-Grace's and Cécile's stories, which are woven together in one six-book series and written by two different authors, include Meet Marie-Grace, Meet Cécile, Marie-Grace and the Orphans, Troubles for Cécile, Marie-Grace Makes a Difference, and Cécile's Gift.




Cecile and Marie-Grace are unique among American Girl dolls because they share a book series, unlike the other American Girl dolls who each star in their own book series and sometimes have a best friend with a book or two of her own. I like having them share the series, because to me it reinforces one of the series' underlying themes of equality amid diversity of culture, color and class.

I really like Marie-Grace's character: she's shy and quiet, yet independent and caring. Her story and Cecile's story are a great inspiration and example for The Pea and other real-life American Girls!

Here are some close-up photos of the Marie-Grace doll:



Last week I blogged that I preferred the Cecile doll's face to Cecile's face in the books; with Marie-Grace, the opposite is true. Maybe it's because of her hairstyle. I don't think this hairstyle flatters Marie-Grace (or any girl) at all. The front is slicked down way too tightly, of the curls on the side of her head that hang down like sideburns on a mullet. I'm hoping The Pea changes Marie-Grace's hairstyle, because she really does have a small, sweet face.



I do, however, really like the way her hair is half-braided, with the two braids tied together at the back. And I like her long, thick hair.

Her pantalettes are also really pretty, with their triangular, rick-rack trim, and her two-tone boots remind me of Mary Poppins.


Marie-Grace's dress wears a serviceable pink plaid cotton frock, much less luxurious than Cecile's dress, which is consistent with the girls' economic situations in the story. There are slight differences between the doll dress and the dress in the book illustrations. In the book, Marie-Grace appears to be wearing some kind of ruched pink vest (or gathered pink trim), while the Marie-Grace doll has a flat pink trim running down both sides of her dress, with white lace detailing. I love the flowing pink ribbons on Marie-Grace's hat, but it doesn't come with the doll (you need to purchase Marie Grace's accessories to get the hat).





Disclosure: American Girl sent me a Cecile and Marie-Grace doll. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Pink Ribbon UGGs

I don't own a pair of UGGs; they're expensive enough that I can find a number of excuses not to buy them: they'd make my feet sweat, they'll look awful on my huge feet, they might be so comfy that I'll end up wearing them all winter and forgo all fashion sense.

But these new Pink Ribbon UGGs might be enough to make me open up my pocketbook and splurge on a pair. The chestnut ones have a small pink ribbon on one side, as do the pink ones. I'm not so keen on the pink boots, but I'd consider buying the Ainsley slippers.

The Pink Ribbon UGGs are available exclusively through The Walking Shop, which also has exclusive Pink Ribbon items from Dansko, ECCO, Aetrex and ABEO. Sales of these products will support national and local charities in the fight against breast cancer and other women’s cancers through their Walking For Hope program.

Disclosure:I did not review this product. I received no samples or compensation for this post . The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Bonggamom's Friday Finds -- list your giveaways here

Welcome to Bonggamom's Friday Finds! I'm glad so many of you are finding this to be a useful way to get more traffic to your giveaways. And as a person who loves entering giveaways, I have to admit it's a great, easy way to find out where all the best giveaways are.

So feel free to leave links to your giveaways, everyone. And don't forget to get cracking and enter everyone else's, too!

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