AcneFree® 2-in-1 Acne Wipes

What do you get when you have kids who are always on the go, constantly going from one athletic activity to another, constantly sweating... and in typical kid fashion, are so indifferent to dirt that they can't be bothered to wash their faces?  That's right, clogged pores, acne and zits.  The boys already get little red bumps on their noses, so I can tell they are going to have major flare-ups once those teenage hormones really start kicking in!   I have to do a better job teaching them to wash their faces properly... but I have to admit, I'm glad there are products like AcneFree Acne Wipes.  It's so easy to tell them to grab a wipe and swipe it across their faces to help keep their pores clear and clean!  The product has Salicylic Acid, which can really dry their young faces, so I limit their use to at most one wipe per day -- but honestly, I love using it for my own face as well :)


About AcneFree Acne Wipes
2-in-1 treatment to cleanse your skin and treat your acne on-the-go

With no need to rinse after use, the 2-in-1 Acne Wipes are perfect for on-the-spot treatment. The oil-free wipes feature 0.5% Salicylic Acid, a dermatologist-recommended acne medication that helps to prevent breakouts and keeps pores open and clear of impurities. Disposable AcneFree 2-in-1 Acne Wipes are available in a convenient, re-sealable plastic pouch.



Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Giveaway: Introducing the new Room on the Broom app

Room on the Broom is one of the sweetest, cutest kids books I've seen in quite a while.  I love the idea of a smiling witch who does nice things for people (and cats, birds, frogs and dogs!), and I think it's a great way to introduce Halloween characters to very young children in a non-scary way.

Families who can't get enough of the witch, her friends and the dragon will be delighted to know that there's a new Room on the Broom app flying into mobile devices, just in time for Halloween.  The app has all of the Room on the Broom characters, interacting with kids in some fun observation and memory games.  I spent some time playing with the app, and it has more than enough activities to delight preschoolers, and more than enough whimsy to delight their parents.  I love how the illustrations in the app look like they flew straight out of the book!

About the app
There’s room on the broom for everyone in this high quality game app for 3–7-year-olds, featuring beautiful design based on Alex Scheffler’s original illustrations. Offering children a safe, entertaining and interactive experience they can enjoy time and time again, Room on the Broom Games provides eight imaginative activities that players can interact and explore within, while practicing early learning skills such as counting, creativity and literacy. Collectively, the games explore the world of Room on the Broom, complementing the experience of reading the book and watching the film. Key characters are featured and players get to help them fly, eat and explore their world. Designed to ensure players and parents feel comfortable and safe in the digital space, there are no in-app purchases.

The new Room on the Broom Games interactive app is available through the iTunes store for iPad, iPad Mini, iPhone and iPod Touch; and on GooglePlay and Amazon for Android devices, priced at $4.99.

Here are some of the games kids can play on the Room on the Broom app:

· Fly the magnificent broom – Whoosh! Join the gang on the magnificent broom and fly through the starry night sky. Take control and steer the broom to collect letters, which spell out a word!

· Dragon loves fries – The Dragon is hungry and is planning to have fries for his dinner! Feed the dragon fries and avoid the other falling objects from the sky!

· Windy day collecting game – It’s a windy day and Cat needs help collecting a few things, will you help? Be careful not to miss them!

· Drawing with stars – Light up your imagination by creating pictures in the night sky. Place the numbered stars where you wish and watch the witch transform it into a dot-to-dot picture.

· Join the stars – Fly through the air and connect all the sparkly stars to find the right image!

· Find the hat – The Witch has lost her hat! Is it behind the tree? Help Dog find the hat in the woods.

· Find the bow – The Witch has lost her bow! Is it in the hay? Help Bird find the bow in the field.

· Find the wand – The Witch has lost her wand! Is it under the lily pad? Help Frog find the wand in the pond.

Win a Room on the Broom Prize Pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a Room on the Broom Prize Pack that includes:

• A copy of the board book from Penguin Group (SRP: $6.99)
• The new Witch plush from Kids Preferred (SRP: $12.95).

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post telling me your child's favorite Halloween character.

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

1) Follow bonggamom on Blogger (1 entry)

2) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (1 entry)

3) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)

4) Pin this giveaway on any of your Pinterest boards(1 entry -- you can use the "Pin It" button at the bottom of this page!).

5) "Like Bonggamom Finds" on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry):
I entered the Room on the Broom witch plush giveaway! http://ow.ly/pHWBE

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)
RT @bonggafinds Win a Room on the Broom book and witch plush! Enter by 10/26 at http://ow.ly/pHWBE


The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on October 26 2013; I will draw a winner at random on October 27 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.



Disclosure: Thanks to Three.Sixty Marketing & Communications for providing the giveaway prize pack as well as a second prize pack for me.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Introducing limited time Mike and Ike varieties for Halloween

I received samples for review

Just in time for Halloween, MIKE AND IKE has come up with Halloween versions of their fruity, chewy candy!  Vampire Variety and Mummy's Mix come in fun Halloween-themed boxes and contain a variety of  to-die-for flavors.  We received samples of the new seasonal flavors, and these are definitely the candies to look for when trick-or-treating on Halloween night.

I love the MIKE AND IKE Vampire Variety, which includes Cherry, Raspberry, Grape, Watermelon and Fruit Punch flavors.  The grape flavor is my favorite -- it tastes fantastic, and it gives a nice dark, bloody look to the mix.

If the Vampire Variety makes you too squeamish, try MIKE AND IKE® Mummy’s Mix.  The mix of colors is festive, not gruesome.  The flavors in this mix are Lemon, Orange, Grape, Lime and Raspberry (I'm so happy that grape is in both Halloween varieties!).

Most of us are used to seeing MIKE AND IKE in theater-sized boxes (5 oz), but the Halloween varieties are also available in individually-wrapped snack-sized bags! Each bag contains 8-10 candies, so it's perfect for handing out to little boys and ghouls who come to your door to trick-or-treat!   These treat-sized packs are sold in 45 or 72 count variety bags.

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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Pink Posts: Shari's Berries

Purchase any of the pink flowers or gifts from Shari's Berries' Pink Products collection, and 10% of the sales price will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure (komen.org) in support of its efforts in fighting breast cancer.



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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Giveaway: Change Your Clock, Change Your Batter (and enter to win an Energizer Prize Pack)

It's that time of year again.... time to Change Your Clocks, and Change Your Battery on your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. On November 3 everyone has to "fall back" and move the clocks back one hour -- and it's the perfect time to make sure all your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working.

For the 26th straight year, Energizer is working with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and local fire departments to remind households to get in the habit of putting fresh batteries into smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors every year, so they don't fail on you when you really need them. Want to find out more?  Visit the Energizer Change  Your Clocks, Change Your Battery website for fire safety tips, a home escape plan that you can download and draw your family’s home escape plan, as well as a coloring and activity sheet.

Did you know:

* Thirty-eight percent of fatal fire injuries occur in homes with no smoke alarms
* Twenty-four percent of fatal fire injuries 24 percent occur in homes in which at least one smoke alarm is present but fails to operate, frequently due to dead or missing batteries

This is the fourth straight year I've worked with Energizer to remind people to change their batteries, because I personally use the Fall Back date to change all our smoke alarm batteries and carbon monoxide detectors -- and it's such a great tool!  Before I heard about this program, we would change our batteries only after the low-alarm beep warnings would drive us mad. Now we swap in fresh batteries every year, at the same time each year.

Win a deluxe Family Fire Safety Kit on the Energizer Bunny® Facebook page
From now through November 3, visit the Energizer Bunny® Facebook page and click on the Fire Safety Info Tab.  Energizer will be giving away one deluxe Family Safety Kit per day, valued at more than $167.


Win a Family Fire Safety Kit
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a Family Safety kit from Energizer, complete with a reusable grocery tote containing:

· One 16-pack Energizer® MAX® AA Batteries years
· One 1-pack of Energizer® MAX® 9 volt batteries
· One Energizer® Weatheready® LED Safety Light flashlight – Waterproof flashlight powered by AA, AAA or C cell batteries
· One Kidde Battery-Operated Combination Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post telling me that you have already changed the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors this year, or telling me when you plan to change your batteries. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.

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

1)  Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger (1 entry)

2) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (1 entry)

3) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)

4) Pin this giveaway on your Pinterest board (1 entry -- you can use the "Pin It" button at the bottom of this page!).

5) "Like Bonggamom Finds" on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry):I joined the Energizer Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery giveaway! http://ow.ly/pEPGr

6) Share the link to this giveaway (http://ow.ly/pEPGr) on your Facebook wall, with a reminder to your friends to change their smoke alarm batteries when they change their clocks, then leave a comment here telling me you did (1 entry).

7) Tweet this (1 entry):
@bonggafinds and the @energizerbunny are reminding everyone to Change Your Clock Change Your Battery on November 3!  http://ow.ly/pEPGr

8) Tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
RT @bonggafinds: Enter to win an @Energizer Family Safety Kit! Giveaway ends November 3 at  http://ow.ly/pEPGr



Disclosure: Thanks to Energizer for providing the prize pack for this giveaway, as well as a second prize pack for me. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Reading through a road trip

This is a sponsored post courtesy of Grammarly.  I use Grammarly for proofreading cause I'm paranoid enough about traffic cops, I don't want to worry about the grammar police!  

My boys have discovered Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, and as a result they're reading a lot more, not just because their teachers ask them to read 20 minutes day, but because they want to find out what happens and they've discovered the pleasure of immersing oneself into a good book.  And just in time, too!  Last week we drove to LA for the weekend.  It was a seven-hour drive each way, and miracle of miracles, my kids did not watch a single DVD the entire way!  They played with some apps on their phone and goofed around with their stuffed animals for a few hours, but for the most part they sat quietly in their seats and read books.

So what books did they read during the drive?  The Pea is a very fast reader, so she brought quite a few books:

Ender's Game
Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City
The Giver
The Fault in Our Stars
Cinder

I'm not quite sure how many she finished on our trip -- she had brought along her new Monster High doll and spent quite a few hours playing -- but it was at least two or three.

3Po spent the journey glued to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  He has been reading the Harry Potter series at every spare moment ever since we got back from our Universal Studios Orlando vacation in late August.  Visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has had consequences that I could never have imagined!  If visiting theme parks gets my boys reading more books, I guess we'll just have to do it more often :)

Jammy took a different approach: he packed several shorter books and skimmed through them. Three of the books below have origami activities, so after reading each book he gave his eyes a bit of a rest and folded some origami.  Judging from his reading list, he was really looking forward to riding Star Tours, participating in the Jedi Academy Training, and finally getting to build his own lightsaber at Disneyland!

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
Darth Paper Strikes Back
The Secret of the Fortune Wookie
Star Wars Jedi Academy

What books do your kids like to read on road trips?


Disclosure: This is a compensated post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Pink Posts: Sparkling ICE Pink Grapefruit

From October 1-31st Sparkling ICE donates 1¢ per bottle of its Pink Grapefruit Sparkling ICE to help find a cure for Breast Cancer.  Proceeds go directly back to the community where the product was sold: Sparkling ICE will work closely with each community and allow them to select the charity right in their region that they would most like to offer the donations to (i.e. Susan G. Komen Affiliates, Local/Regional Breast Cancer Research Foundations, etc.).

Need something to do with all that Grapefruit Sparkling ICE you're planning to buy?  Sparkling ICE has created a specialty “Sip Pink for the Cure” Cocktail using its Pink Grapefruit Sparkling ICE flavor!

Sparkling ICE Sip Pink for the Cure Cocktail

Ingredients
3 oz. Grapefruit Sparkling ICE
1 ½ oz. vodka
1 oz. lime juice
Lime wedge
Sliced fresh jalapeño
Chili salt for rim of glass (Kosher salt mixed with chili powder)

Directions
Use a lime wedge to rub the entire rim of a chilled martini glass, and dip into chili salt mixture.
Combine vodka and jalapeno slices with ice in a shaker.
Strain and pour into the chilled martini glass.
Top with Grapefruit Sparkling ICE.
Garnish with a few Jalapeno slices.


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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Giveaway: Leapfrog LeapPad2 Power pack

When the LeapPad first came out, I loved it for its innovative touchscreen design and educational apps.... but I always said I wished it came with a rechargeable battery.  My kids played with their LeapPads so much, they burned through a ton of AAs!

This summer, Leapfrog answered the pleas of many parents like me and introduced the LeapPad2 Power, an updated version of their LeapPad2 learning tablet with a rechargeable battery and AC adapter. It has all the features of the LeapPad2 -- front and back camera/video, 4GB of storage, large touch screen, and the ability to download and play over 800 educational apps.  In addition, the charger allows kids to play for up to nine hours!  What a lifesaving feature for long plane and car trips!  With the LeapPad Ultra out, the LeapPad2 offers a more affordable, yet feature-rich, alternative to Leapfrog's latest and greatest.  Check it out!

Win a LeapPad2 Power Prize Pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a LeapPad gift pack worth $170!  Included in the gift pack are:

• One LeapPad2 Power
• 2 games
• $20 app card ($20)

(photos are representative only, and may not constitute the actual prize)

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post telling me which feature your child would love the most in the LeapPad2 Power learning tablet.

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

1) Follow bonggamom on Blogger (1 entry)

2) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (1 entry)

3) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)

4) Pin this giveaway on any of your Pinterest boards (1 entry -- you can use the "Pin It" button at the bottom of this page!).

5) "Like" Bonggamom Finds on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry):
I entered the Leapfrog LeapPad2 Power giveaway! http://ow.ly/poewA

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)
RT @bonggafinds Win a @Leapfrog LeapPad2 Power, 2 games + $20 app card! Enter by 10/28 at http://ow.ly/poewA


The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on October 28, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on October 29 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.



Disclosure: Thank you to Leapfrog for providing the giveaway prize. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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What to Expect at Mickey's Halloween Party

The Happiest Place on Earth has gotten a bit spookier!  The Disneyland Resort is in full Halloween mode, with its beautiful fall decor, scrumptious fall treats, fun seasonal attractions (Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy)... and most of all, Mickey's Halloween Party.

I've wanted to attend Mickey's Halloween Party for years, and this year I finally got my chance, and it was better than I had ever imagined.   I thought I pretty much knew what to expect at the party, but no matter how much you read about it, there's nothing like being able to experience the magic for yourself! The brief descriptions on the Disney Parks page don't do the actual party justice.   So I've decided to take those Disney Parks descriptions and expand them a bit to give you more information about what actually goes on.  Here's my personal take on the best parts of Mickey's Halloween Party:


Disney Parks says:
Special trick-or-treat stations with candy and healthy goodies.

Bonggamom says:

What's a Halloween party without trick-or-treating?  There are trick-or-treat trails set up all around the park, and each trail has multiple stations, with cast members handing out candy at each station.  They hand out pretty decent candy:  chocolates like M&Ms, Reese's Pieces, Snickers, Twix, Peeps, as well as apple slices, carrots and Craisins.  The lines are long at the beginning of the party, but they move fairly quickly, and they do get shorter as the night goes on.  The kind of candy doesn't seem to differ with each trail, so if candy isn't important to you, it's not necessary to hit each and every trick-or-treat trail in the park. 

photo courtesy of Disneyland Park

Disney Parks says:
New in 2013! Monsters U Dance Party at Tomorrowland Terrace featuring Mike & Sulley in a spirited Monster Scare-Off.

Bonggamom says:
There's something so infectious about dancing to lively music in the company of fun characters who aren't afraid to let go and act a bit silly.  When we got to the Tomorrowland Terrace, Mike and Sulley had not appeared yet, but there were about 6-8 dancers dressed as monster cheerleaders from Monsters University leading the kids around the dance floor. Parents were dancing with their kids, and everyone was having so much fun!

Disney Parks says: 
Mickey's Costume Party Cavalcade, a Halloween parade presented for Party Guests.

Bonggamom says:
I was planning to spend no more than 5 minutes at the parade to take photos, but once we got there, the kids didn't want to leave!  You get to see Disney characters dressed in Halloween costumes, tall pumpkin-headed people on stilts, and giant jack-o-lanterns being wheeled down Main Street.  It's so festive and fun, we ended staying for the entire parade.  I like that this parade is shorter than their regular afternoon parade, and you don't have to sit on Main Street for an hour to get a good spot -- we arrived just 5 minutes before the parade started and we still got a great view.

photo courtesy of Disneyland Park

Disney Parks says:
Disney Villains encounters as they prowl the grounds.
Photo ops with popular Disney and Pixar Pals, and Disney Villains.

Bonggamom says:
Meeting, greeting and photographing characters is one of the most popular activities at Mickey's Halloween Party.  The lines are a mile long, and I didn't see them getting any shorter, no matter how late it got.  But these are once-in-a-blue-moon opportunities -- it's worth the wait, because when else will you get the chance to pose with Jack Skellington, the Disney Villains, Star Wars Stormtroopers, or Mickey and Minnie in their Halloween costumes, all with themed backgrounds?

Disney Parks says:
Access to nearly all attractions, including all the Halloween-themed attractions such as Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday.

Bonggamom says:
This is the perfect time to go on your favorite rides!  Even though tickets to Mickey's Halloween Party were sold out, the lines were extremely manageable. As the night wore on, the lines got even shorter, and we never had to wait more than 10 minutes to go on any ride.

photo courtesy of Disneyland Park

Disney Parks says: 
Halloween Screams, a boo-tiful fireworks spectacular —exclusive viewing for Mickey’s Halloween Party Guests.

Bonggamom says:
It's tempting to say that once you've seen one fireworks show, you've seen them all -- but not with this one.  Disney's fireworks shows are always amazing, with beautiful displays perfectly set to music.  This Halloween version is special even by Disney's standards:  usually guests see Tinkerbell flying around Sleeping Beauty's castle, but here you'll see Jack Skellington's ghost dog Zero!  Also, the music is themed to Disney villains (Poor Unfortunate Souls, Big Bad Wolf, etc...) so it's refreshingly different (but not at all scary).

Disney Parks says:
Dance parties with lively music, creepy crafts and activities for the whole family, and the chance to eat, drink and be (not so) scary throughout the park.

Bonggamom says:
Every corner of Disneyland Park seemed to have some kind of special thing going on, from the Cadaver Dans quartet music show on the Rivers of America to the Disney Villains congregating at the Main Street train station for a musical show.  There is definitely a party atmosphere that runs throughout the entire park during Mickey's Halloween party, and I enjoyed every minute.  I'm sure I saw an extra sparkle in everyone's eyes -- it must be the extra pixie dust sprinkled around the park just for the party :)

Mickey's Halloween Party takes place at Disneyland Park, on 13 special dates: September 27, October 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30, and of course, October 31, Halloween night. This is a separately ticketed event; tickets may be purchased online or at the gate.  Ticket price to Mickey's Halloween Party includes:

*Admission to the Disneyland Park up to 3 hours prior to the event's start time.
*All special activities, entertainment and attractions open during Mickey's Halloween Party
*Complimentary parking for one vehicle. Larger vehicles may require an additional fee.


Disclosure: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post.  Disney Parks provided accommodations and tickets to Mickey's Halloween Party.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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What Every Parent Needs to Know About Choosing Educational Apps and e-Games for Kids

I took my first computer class when I was nine or ten years old.  How times have changed! Technology is a part of everyday life, and children today are exposed to technology earlier and earlier.  What's more, they are utilizing it earlier and earlier too.   Most kids today are practically born knowing how to double-click a mouse and how to work a touchscreen.  Toddlers these days can unlock their parents' smartphones and pull up their favorite apps in seconds!

With so many mobile games and apps available, parents have to be as thorough in researching and selecting games and apps as they are in selecting any kind of toy or activity for their child.  They need to ask the same kinds of questions they would for a physical toy:  Is it age appropriate?  Is it entertaining?  Does it have educational value?  Does it develop any analytical or social or other skills?

I recently had the opportunity to interview child development and learning expert Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos, a UC Berkeley scholar specializing in mathematical and cognitive development and the math and science development expert of LeapFrog’s Learning Team (as well as parent to two boys). Dr. LeVos shared some great tips on what parents should look for when purchasing or downloading e-games and apps for their children. Check out our conversation below:


I've summarized some key points our conversation:

 What should parents be looking for to make sure an app is age-appropriate and educational for their children? 
* Look for games and apps that have been designed and/or approved by an educational expert.
* Find content that is fun and interactive. Kids learn best when they are playing, having fun and engaging with the app.
* Look for age-appropriateness. Games that are too advanced can be frustrating, and games that are too easy can be boring.
* Look for games that go beyond assessing or quizzing your child, and are actually teaching them something new.
* Look for games and apps that offer an element of personalization. Kids are unique and learn at their own rate, curriculum automatically levels up if child is doing well, and levels down if child needs a bit more support.

 How can we make sure our kids have a balanced "e-diet" of games that are entertaining and games that are educational? 
 Kids want to learn, and kids have fun learning. The best games and most successful games are ones that are compelling to kids, ones they want to play, and also happen to be educational. They don't have to be overtly educational like spelling or math flash cards. Games can teach skills like managing resources, building, spacial awareness. Also, when kids develop relationships with characters, like Elmo from Sesame Street they actually learn better from those characters.

Where can parents find more information?
A great online resource to help find the best apps is CommonSenseMedia.org.  The site has experts review the games and give ratings. Also, Leapfrog.com apps are developed with experts, and by year's end will have over 800 apps available.

What is the difference between free apps and their paid versions?
Sometimes you really do get what you pay for. Free apps are sometimes "shallow" learning experiences, and do not offer the depth of curriculum that you get in a paid app. Also, there can be hidden costs -- you may get one free level, then have to pay for additional levels, or there may be in-app purchases that parents may not know about until they receive their credit card statements listing purchases for virtual pet treats!


Thank  you to Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos for sharing those useful insights!

 Disclosure: I received a gift pack courtesy of Leapfrog as a thank-you for participating in the interview. The views and opinions expressed here are my own. Tweet this!

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New options for Dragonfly Designs jewelry parties

School has been in session for over a month now, and the long, lazy days of summer seem so far away!  Spring seems even farther back in time now, but every so often I see The Pea wearing a bracelet or earring that reminds me of the wonderful Dragonfly Designs jewelry crafting party she enjoyed with her friends for her birthday.  Everyone enjoyed that party so much! The professionals from Dragonfly Designs brought everything we needed to design and create a variety of beautiful beaded jewelry, and they helped the party guests throughout, so I didn't have to stress out.

Dragonfly Designs has a variety of party plans to fit your party size, age and budget.  Every party package includes at least 1 party planner who comes to your home with an assortment of top quality beads, crystals, clasps and charms.  Larger or longer parties get 1 or 2 assistants in addition to the party planner, so every guest can get help when he or she needs it.

At one-hour parties, guests get to create 1 piece of jewelry each. They can choose from earrings, necklaces, bracelets, hair jewelry, bookmarks, key chains and more.  At two-hour parties,  guests get to create 3 pieces of jewelry each.  Dragonfly Designs has also added a nice bonus to their 2-hour parties:  hair feather extensions!

The Deluxe two-hour package is the ultimate in beading fun.  Guests enjoy everything in the regular two-hour package, plus a special surprise!  You can choose from 2 options:

(1) Each guest gets a handmade personalized necklace, bracelet or earrings for the birthday child and each participant, created by Dragonfly Designs.  The birthday celebrant can decide what she wants to give her friends, she can decide on the colors, styles, whatever you or she wants. You design it, they create it!

(or)

(2) The birthday celebrant gets an extra-special present just for her:  a fabulous Jewelry Making Kit with beads, tools and findings!

Every guest gets to keep the jewelry they make as a party favor, and gets a beautiful party favor pouch to store their jewelry in!

Dragonfly Designs also has a Birthday Party Kit that you can purchase and take home if you want to host your own jewelry making party.  The kit has all the supplies you'll need for 15 kids to make about 3 projects each -- but trust me, after seeing Stacee and her assistants rushing back and forth between the girls, you'll want to give yourself a treat and leave this to the experts!  You'll get a much better assortment of beads, and the jewelry will turn out a lot nicer because they know all kinds of tricks to correct or hide the little mistakes the kids might make.  If you have a crafty kid between the ages of 5 and 15 -- or if you're a grownup who wants to get some friends together for a crafty night out -- I can't recommend a Dragonfly Designs party highly enough!


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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Test-driving the Kia Sorento on our Disneyland Road Trip

 We were loaned a Kia Sorento to test drive for a week

Last weekend, I drove my kids down to Anaheim to spend the weekend at the Disneyland Resort.... without my husband.  He was busy last weekend, but hey, it's Disneyland, so I'm not about to let 400 miles get between me and the Happiest Place on Earth!   It's a 6-7 hour drive from where we live; we left Friday morning and got back home on Sunday evening, so that was a lot of driving in a 3-day period, even with a driving partner.  I had never done it before, and to tell you the truth, I was a bit nervous about the whole thing.... but I did have a trusty partner throughout the whole trip: a Kia Sorento, which we test-drove for our road trip.

The fact that I'm writing this means I've survived and lived to tell the tale.  It was a pretty exhausting weekend, especially since I had zero chance of resting once we reached our destination (hey, it's Disneyland!).  Having the Kia Sorento to drive was an absolute lifesaver!  It made a huge difference to our comfort level and to my peace of mind.  It turned what could have been into a nightmare journey into a comfortable trip.

Everyone in my family loved the Kia Sorento (including Alfie, who didn't accompany us on our trip, but got to drive it before and after).  I asked my 3 kids to "explore" the Kia Sorento while we were driving take photos about the features they liked the best.    Here's a photo montage of what's cool about the Kia Sorento, according to my kids:

The Pea was supposed to be my navigator, but she's terrible at directions  and she was stressed about leading us the wrong way, so she loved the in-dash GPS with all its navigation features.  The GPS gave great directions, with voice commands supplying helpful instructions at all the right times, so she didn't have to do a thing.  For my part, I didn't have to stress about having to hold my phone between my knees to check a map, while trying to drive at the same time.  Finally, The Pea loved the built-in mirror in the passenger's sunshade!

Jammy loved how roomy the back seat was.  He had plenty of space to stretch his legs and shift around during the long drive.  The pull-up sun shades were great when the sun began shining on his side of the car and he couldn't see the book he was reading!  Finally, Jammy's favorite color is blue, so he loved the deep blue shade our Kia came in.

3Po got to sit up front with me for a portion of the drive because The Pea wanted to spend some time in the back seat playing with Jammy.   We thought it was pretty cool to see the automatic front passenger airbag sensor -- the airbag is turned off unless the passenger is a certain minimum weight. He also loved the sun/moon roof that extended all the way to the back of the car.  He loved the way the side mirrors automatically extend and retract when the car engine is turned on and off.  And he loved having a buit-in USB charger to keep his mobile device powered throughout the whole trip!

For my part, it's hard to say which feature of the Kia Sorento I loved the most.  It's such a great vehicle for a road trip!  Here are some of the features that really go a long way towards making any family's road trips safe and comfortable:

V6 engine -- I appreciated having lots of power to climb those hills and accelerate past slower vehicles on the road!

Seamless Bluetooth pairing -- it was so easy to hook my phone (as well as any other Bluetooth-enabled device) up to the car's speaker systems!  I was able to use my phone hands-free to check in with my husband every 2-3 hours and to answer incoming calls.  We also used the playlists on my phone to entertain us throughout the drive.

Comfy leather seats with built-in heating and cooling functions -- I could almost imagine that I was seated in a luxury airline seat for the whole road trip!

Drop-down center armrest -- if you only have 2 in the back seat, the middle seat turns into an armrest with cupholders.  This was a great way to separate the 2 kids in the back and give each one his own space -- no more encroaching or "Mom, he's in my space!", just peace and quiet :)

Lots of trunk space -- There was plenty of room for suitcases, extra pillows, Halloween costumes, and bags full of Halloween candy and Disneyland souvenirs!

Trip computers and feature-rich dashboard -- All the information relevant to our trip was on hand and accessible at a glance, even while driving.

If you're in the market for a new family car, definitely check out the Kia Sorento. I had never really had the Kia on my radar before our road trip, but it's such a smooth, luxurious ride for the price (MSRP starts at about $24,000 and higher end models with upgrades can reach upwards of $40,000) that it has won the whole family over.

Disclosure: I was loaned a Kia Sorento for a week to test drive and review.  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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