Bonggamom's Friday Finds: list your giveaways here


Bonggamoms Friday Finds

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!


Pin It

Continue reading...

Giveaway: Don't let the bed bugs bite with Orkin


Some people hate snakes.  Others hate spiders.  Others hate creepy crawlies.  None of that bothers me. What keeps me awake at night is..... bed bugs.  They really bug me!!  I love to travel and there's nothing I enjoy more than sleeping in a new city every night.  The problem is that new cities mean strange hotels, and strange hotels mean beds... and bed bugs!  It doesn't even matter how fancy the hotel is:  any hotel, from five-star resorts to budget motels, can have a bed bug infestation.   I always check for bedbugs when I get into a hotel room, and whenever possible I use my own pillow with its own dust mite/lice/bedbug protective cover.  Yes, I'm probably overly paranoid, but have you seen the photos of people with bed bug bites on the internet?  It's not a pretty sight.

That's why I'm happy to share some tips to spot a bed bug infestation from Orkin.  Bed bugs have come back strong over the last decade, keeping more and more people from sleeping tight. Now is the time to take control with a smart action plan - before the bed bugs bite.

Bed bugs reproduce quickly, so it's critical to detect and treat an infestation early.  Here is a great  info sheet from Orkin with 5 Must-Know Facts and tips on how to spot a potential bed bug problem.




How much do you know about bed bugs and how to protect your home from an infestation? Take the “Don’t Let the Beg Bugs Bite” QUIZ to find out!




If you suspect an infestation, be sure to contact your Orkin professional who will inspect your home thoroughly and design a treatment that’s right for you. Visit Orkin.com or call 877-412-6806 for a free estimate.... and don't let the bed bugs bite!



Win an Orkin prize pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive an Orkin Bed Bug Home Prevention Prize Pack (2 mattress Safe Pillowsafe protectors ($30.00 Value).




Required Entry
Share a tip for keeping your home bed bug free OR take the "Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite" quiz and post your results in the comments below.

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 Orkin Bed Bug prevention giveaway! http://ow.ly/uuHzq #OrkinBedBugs

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)
Enter to win 2 pillowcase protectors fr Orkin! Giveaway ends  3/25/14 on @bonggafinds: http://ow.ly/uuHzq #OrkinBedBugs

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway you've joined)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on March 25, 2014; I will draw a winner at random on March 26 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Each household is only eligible to win Orkin Bed Bug Home Prevention Prize Pack (2 mattress Safe Pillowsafe protectors) via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.



Disclosure: I have not received product or compensation for this post, but the giveaway prize is provided by Orkin. I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Information sheet and quiz were provided by Orkin. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Pin It
Continue reading...

Bonggamom's Friday Finds: list your giveaways here


Bonggamoms Friday Finds

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!


Pin It

Continue reading...

Nuclear Cowboyz is zooming over to the Bay Area


Nuclear Cowboyz motorcycle stunt show

When we took the kids to see Monster Jam a few weeks ago, they saw an ad for another Feld Show, Nuclear Cowboyz.  It looked like a lot of fun -- like a motorcycle stunt show, martial arts demonstration and pyrotechnics spectacular all rolled into one -- and since it involves motorcycles, it was right up the boys' alley.  Imagine our surprise when Feld Entertainment invited us to watch Nuclear Cowboyz when it comes to San Jose on March 29-30!   The kids were so excited, and even though I'm not a motorcycle fan like my kids and husband, watching Monster Jam has taught me to stay open minded and expand my horizons.  I enjoyed Monster Jam, and I think I'm going to enjoy Nuclear Cowboyz even more!  I've since found out a bit more about the show, and it promises to be a pretty amazing spectacle. Here’s the official show description:

About the show
The highly acclaimed 2014 Nuclear Cowboyz® freestyle motocross (FMX) tour is the most explosive choreographed arena-based production in the world featuring the saga of an allied tribe, the Nuclear Cowboyz, whose sole commitment is to defeat an indestructible evil tyrant and her army. Nuclear Cowboyz features a storyline conveyed through more than 1000 gravity-defying freestyle stunts performed by the globe’s most dominant freestyle athletes. The action-packed show is complete with mind-bending performances by world-famous Shaolin Kung Fu Warriors, stunning laser effects, the largest indoor pyrotechnics show and an infectious soundtrack comprised of heavy metal, electronic dubstep and alternative hip hop. 

Entering its fifth touring year, Nuclear Cowboyz 2014 is led by an award-winning creative team and features the world’s top freestyle motocross athletes, including multi-time X Games medalists Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg, Taka Higashino, Mike Mason, Matt Buyten, Ronnie Faisst and Colten Moore as well as freestyle heavyweights Derek Garland, Jimmy Fitzpatrick, Nick Dunne, Brody Wilson, James Carter, Marco Picado and more.


Nuclear Cowboyz motorcycle stunt show

Check out the video below to get a sneak peek of the 2014 show. It's out of this world!

Here's some show trivia to give you a better idea of what goes on:

How many combined X Games medals do the Nuclear Cowboyz riders have? 43
How many stunts can be seen in the show? Over 1000
How many total flips are in the show? Over 200
How many total performers are in the 2014 Nuclear Cowboyz show? 29
Which rider won an X Games gold medal in Step Up during his rookie year/X Games debut? Matt Buyten
What age did Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg start riding dirt bikes? Age 2
Which rider is commonly known for introducing The Captain trick? Nick Dunne
How many total North American cities has Nuclear Cowboyz toured since 2010? 31
Which Nuclear Cowboyz rider is from the small town of Templeton, Massachusetts? Brody Wilson
Where is Taka Higashino from? Osaka, Japan
Which Nuclear Cowboyz rider is from Costa Rica? Marco Picado
Who was the first rider to back flip while on fire during the show? Jimmy Fitzpatrick
During his free time, which Nuclear Cowboyz rider pilots a 27ft sailboat“Mayhem”? Derek Garland
Which Nuclear Cowboyz rider introduced the The Shaolin (FMX trick)? Ronnie Faisst

Doesn't it sound like a show that's going to get your heartrate zooming?  We'll see you at the SAP Center in San Jose on March 29-30 for Nuclear Cowboyz!


Save $5 on tickets to Nuclear Cowboyz
Use code MOM to save $5 on tickets to a Nuclear Cowboyz show.  Savings not valid on VIP Fallout Zone or Gold Circle seats. Savings not valid day of show.



Disclosure: I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre‐Show events. Show information (in italics) is provided by Feld Entertainment. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.


Pin It
Continue reading...

Giveaway: Fabric Care with Procter & Gamble Family Dollar


Procter & Gamble and Family Dollar fabric care
Remember those days when your kids were babies, and they would outgrow all their clothes in three months?  Mine are still shooting up, but these days, they're more like to wear out their clothes before growing them out!  They work hard and play hard, and they always seem to come home with rips and tears and stains in their clothes. With all the abuse my kids subject their clothing to, it doesn't take long for their shirts and shorts to become faded and misshapen!  I don't have the time or money to be constantly replacing their clothes, so here are five tips and tricks I use to make my family's clothes last longer:

Follow care instructions
Always check the care label on your clothes before you wash them. If the care label on your new blouse says "wash in cold water", washing it in warm or hot water may cause it to shrink! If the care label on your sweater says "dry flat", throwing it into the dryer could stretch the knit fibers and cause your sweater to pill.

Wash in cold water
Not only does washing in cold water help you save on your energy bill, it's gentler on clothes.  If you have a front-loading washing machine and use a detergent specially formulated for cold water (like Tide + Coldwater Clean), your clothes will come out just as clean.

Keep a separate set of messy-time clothes
We do a lot of DIY projects around the house, so every member of the family has a set of old clothes that we throw on whenever we work in the garden, or paint a room.  Those work clothes are torn, ripped, and stained with paint, but at least our regular clothes are fine!  Even when enjoying smaller craft projects involving hot glue guns or fabric paint or bicycle grease, I would suggest putting on an old shirt or a large apron!

Use high quality detergent that's right for your laundry load
A detergent doesn't have to contain loads of bleach in order to clean clothes!  You just need to make sure it's suited to the specific load of laundry you're doing.  Are you cleaning sheets and towels?  Use Tide + Bleach Alternative.  Are you washing a load of soccer uniforms?  Use Tide + Febreze Sport to get rid of body soils, odors and sweat stains.  Do you have a bunch of blouses with a high percentage of synthetic materials (i.e. lycra, polyester, etc..)?  Use Tide + A Touch of Downy to remove static cling and get clothes nice and soft.

One of my favorite consumer companies, Procter & Gamble, has brands like Gain, Downy and Tide that feature new and convenient fabric care options that offer extra benefits – like the best stain removal and great, new scents – and at great value pricing.  They are all available at Family Dollar stores, so you can get all the fabric care options you need to help make your clothes look better and last longer, at an affordable price.  Check out some of Procter & Gamble's latest fabric care offerings:

· Gain Flings
An easier way to use Gain. These three-in-one single-use flings include 50% more scent, an oxi boost and the freshness of Febreze, for long-lasting freshness and cleaning power.

· Tide Simply Clean & Fresh
Offers a dependable clean and superior mal-odor removal

· Tide Plus Collection
Tide + Coldwater Clean
Coldwater cleaning with whitening ingredients

Tide + Febreze Freshness
Provides long lasting freshness with an upgraded scent

Tide + A Touch of Downy
Makes clothes feel soft & fresh with an upgraded scent

Tide + Bleach Alternative
Removes dinginess and gets whites whiter

Tide + Febreze Sport
Removes body soils, odor and sweat stains

Tide + Ultra Stain Release
New Tide Ultra Stain Release will help remove 99% of everyday stains. Ultra Stain Release is specially formulated with stain removal ingredients that work at the fiber level and has a new pre-treat stain Zap! Cap that lets you use Tide as both a detergent and a pre-treater on tough stains


Win a Family Dollar Prize Pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a special prize pack that includes:
· $25 Family Dollar Gift Card
· Downy Unstoppables
· Gain Flings
· Samples from the Tide Plus Collection
Family Dollar Fabric Care prize pack giveaway

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share a tip for caring for your family's clothes.

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 Family Dollar Fabric Care giveaway! http://ow.ly/uknH8

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)
Enter to win a $25 Family Dollar gift card + samples of P&G laundry products! Giveaway ends  3/21/14 on @bonggafinds: http://ow.ly/uknH8

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway you've joined)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on March 21, 2014; I will draw a winner at random on March 22 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.


Disclosure:  I received a product sample to facilitate my review, courtesy of P&G and Family Dollar via Blue Chip Communications, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information (in italics) was provided by Blue Chip Communications on behalf of P&G. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Pin It
Continue reading...

Stay heart-healthy with Campbell's


This post is sponsored by Campbell's Soup Company

Alfie's oldest aunt passed away recently; she would have been 103 in August.  She was healthy and lucid until her last days, and she is our inspiration to try and make it to triple digits ourselves!  One of the best ways to live a long and healthy live is to take care of your heart; here are three ways my family and I try to stay heart-healthy:

1)  Get exercise -- We do our share of lying on the couch, but the boys play soccer three times a week, and The Pea does dance four days a week.  Alfie and I run three times a week!

2)  Eat less red meat -- We try to limit our red meat consumption to once a week.  At least half of our dinners now feature lentils, beans, eggs, tofu or some kind of veggie as a protein.

3)  Eat more good fats -- We love olive oil, avocados, walnuts, and salmon!  All of those are rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fats.

I find that its easier to focus on heart-healthy foods and control what goes into our bodies when we cook and eat our meals at home.  Many times, restaurant and fast food meals have huge portions, and are filled with fat and sodium!  Since cooking and eating right can be a challenge in these busy times, Campbell’s Soup is helping families “Address Your Heart” with Heart Healthy Tips, recipes and more!  Visit AddressYourHeart.com to get heart-healthy tips, including 21 Campbell’s recipes that are certified by the AHA and product coupons. Here are some of the recipes you'll find on the site:

Broccoli Cheddar Rice

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Stuffed Winter Squash

Tilapia & Vegetable Casserole

Turkey Meatloaf


In addition, you can visit Facebook.com/campbellskitchen for the latest Campbell’s recipes and offers. Finally, take advantage of the great coupons and special offers at the Campbell's Kitchen website!  Here's to a life as long and fulfilling as Alfie's Aunty Ivy!!




Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Pin It
Continue reading...

JORD Wooden Watches review and giveaway


I received a product sample to facilitate my review

These days, when you ask people what time it is, they no longer automatically look at their wrists: they reach for their pocket or purse and take out their phone!  That doesn't mean watches are anywhere near obsolete, however; in fact, it just firmly consolidates a watch as a fashion accessory that people wear not just for practicality but for looks.  A watch is definitely a statement of who you are and what you value!

A few weeks ago I received the opportunity to review a truly unique kind of watch:  a wooden watch from JORD.  JORD handcrafts their watches from a variety of woods from all over the world, and since every tree is different, every watch is different.  JORD sent me their Fieldcrest model in Natural color, and I'm not kidding when I say this is like no other wrist candy I've ever worn before.

Check out the entire JORD line here:


My new wooden watch arrived in an elegant box, with the JORD logo on the cover and a smooth, scratch-proof interior. It was wrapped around a small pillow to cushion it from bumps and shocks, so it makes a great storage box.  Don't throw the box away!
JORD wooden watches


The Fieldcrest (and I assume all the other models as well) comes in a band size large enough to fit quite a large wrist.  If your wrist is smaller, simply go to a watchmaker or a watch service counter at Target, Sears, Walmart, etc... and ask them to remove a few extra links to size it down to your wrist.
JORD wooden watches


The face of the Fieldcrest is 30mm in diameter.  Technically it's classified as a unisex watch -- but I find it to be quite large.  For a female, I think my wrist is on the large size (about 7 inches around?) and the Fieldcrest does look quite large.  I actually think it's a great hipster look for a female, but if you want a smaller, more elegant, more feminine look, you'll want to go with their Ely series.
JORD wooden watches

Because it's wood, the watch is very light -- and because it's wood, I'm very protective of it!  The website says the watch is splash-proof but not submerge-proof, so I'm going to be very careful when washing my hands.  Long term, I'm fairly sure that the watch parts will stand up to the test of time -- JORD uses Citizen watch parts -- but I don't know whether the wood will warp or fade.  Fortunately, the JORD line is fairly inexpensive for a designer watch ($120-$249), so you can collect a few and switch them around depending on what outfit you're wearing, and save it from some wear and tear!

This watch is really a far cry from the usual metal, rubber or plastic watch.  It's a work of art!  It's simple and elegant.  The wood grain shows through in the face and in the links of the strap, and just like your hardwood floor or table or salad bowl, each piece is unique.  Wear a JORD watch and you're sure to get more than your share of comments and compliments, because it's definitely a conversation piece.

Win a JORD watch
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive their very own JORD Fieldcrest watch in Natural Green!

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me the model of JORD watch that you would most like to own.

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 to win a JORD Fieldcrest watch! http://ow.ly/uhJQB #jordwatch

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)
Enter to win a handcrafted wooden watch fr @woodwatches_com! Giveaway ends 3/20/14 on @bonggafinds: http://ow.ly/uhJQB #jordwatch

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway you've joined)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on March 20, 2014; I will draw a winner at random on March 21 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.


Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review (and JORD is providing a second as a giveaway prize) but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Pin It
Continue reading...

Papa Murphy's introduces new Pan Pizza



This post is part of a sponsored campaign with Papa Murphy's and MomSelect

Having 3 kids with after school activities means that dinner is usually a rush affair.  Wednesday nights are particularly challenging because The Pea's dance classes end pretty late, so pretty much every Wednesday night is pizza night. We get $5 takeout pizza which is okay, I guess, but it always cools down to a lukewarm temperature by the time we get home.  That's why I like Papa Murphy's Take 'N Bake Pizza.  You know it's been made fresh instead of sitting in a freezer, and you bake it in your own oven, so everyone can enjoy it piping hot.  Papa Murphy's used to have a location just about halfway between our home and The Pea's dance studio, which made things super convenient, but sadly that location closed down, and now our nearest Papa Murphy's is about 10 miles away.

I was more than happy, however, to make the 10 mile drive to sample Papa Murphy's latest pizza offering: their new Take 'N Bake Pan Pizza.  I love pan pizza, and I've never really thought the frozen pan pizzas have matched up to pan pizza from a pizza joint -- so I was definitely ready to try it out.  Their Pan Pizza is made with Papa Murphy's yummy sauce and cheese and toppings, but has a thick, buttery crust that is so good, you can eat it all by itself!  Right now their Pan Pizza comes in large size only, with just 1 topping for $9.99.  I didn't bother calling ahead, so I was able to see the guy make my 2 pizzas from scratch:
Papa Murphy's pan pizza


The pizza is placed in a disposable tin, wrapped in plastic wrap and sealed with cooking instructions.  The guy reminded me to keep the pizza level at all times because the crust had a lot of butter and it might spill out of the pan.
Papa Murphy's pan pizza


Since only 1-topping pan pizzas were available, I added extra toppings (mushrooms and peppers to go with the sausage).  The pizza baked up perfect and golden and yummy and delicious!  One large pizza slices up into 6 huge portions, so it's perfect for our family of five.  I love knowing it's made fresh, without any preservatives or extra sodium (speaking of sodium, Alfie thought our sausage pizza was way too salty, but thought our pineapple pizza was just perfect -- so if you're watching your sodium intake, skip the sausage!).  Alfie loves having a piping hot pizza straight out of the oven.  The kids love the thick crust and fight like animals for that 6th slice!
Papa Murphy's pan pizza

This tastes sooo much better than the Ready-To-Go pizza we pick up every Wednesday. I swear, if our old Papa Murphy's was still in its old location, I'd dump our current pizza place in an instant and every Wednesday would be Pan Pizza Night with Papa Murphy's!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Pin It
Continue reading...

Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Fruit & Oat Harvest bars


Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Fruit & Oat Harvest bars
I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central for Nutri-Grain. I received product samples and promotional item to thank me for participating.

Mornings are always a mad rush in our home. I get up at 7:20 and scramble to get everyone packed and ready by 8:00! I insist that the kids eat a good breakfast before they go off to school, but unfortunately I don't always practice what I preach. With so little time, the person that gets the least attention is me! I usually end up grabbing a spoonful of cereal or a bite or fruit or a sip of juice before we run out the door.  Cereal bars like Kellogg's Nutri-Grain are my lifesaver, but delicious as they are, I must confess that I'm not the biggest fan of their soft texture.  That's why I was excited to try Kellogg's new Nutri-Grain Fruit & Oat Harvest bars -- something new and different!

About Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Fruit & Oat Harvest bars
Nutri-Grain offers the cereal bar that satisfies. Available in two fun flavors, Country Strawberry and Blueberry Bliss, Nutri-Grain Fruit & Oat Harvest cereal bars include a hearty combination of protein, real fruit, and whole grains to help us thrive, not just survive the whole morning.

Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Fruit & Oat Harvest bars

These bars are sooooo good -- I definitely like them better than the regular Nutri-Grain cereal bars.  The Blueberry Bliss flavor tastes like a blueberry tart made with real blueberries!  The Country Strawberry flavor has a more "strawberry jam" taste than a "fresh strawberry" taste, but it's still really good.  The fruit filling is surrounded by yummy oats, and spread over a crispy, crunchy crust.  It's so delicious, the whole family had a bar for dessert!  Fortunately, each bar is nutritious enough to eat for breakfast -- each bar has protein, whole grains and fruit.  It's easy enough for me to grab a bar and munch it while I'm walking the boys to school.  Now I have no excuse to fuel up my morning... and thanks to Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Fruit & Oat Harvest, I don't need one.  These bars are definitely a keeper, and I can't wait to go back to the grocery store to stock up.

Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Fruit & Oat Harvest bars


Disclosure: I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central for Nutri-Grain. I received product samples and promotional item to thank me for participating. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Pin It
Continue reading...

Giveaway: Single Moms Club releases in theaters March 14 (and a giveaway for you!)


Single Moms Club movie
I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting(#MC) for Lionsgate. I received promotional item and a prize pack as a thank you for my participation

Whether you're a working mom or a stay-at-home mom or a part-time-working mom, one thing that every mom can agree on is that motherhood is a tough job.  It's the best job, but it's tough.  And having a partner does make it easier.  That's why I think single moms deserve an extra halo -- and I don't think anyone would disagree!  When single moms have a bad day, they can't lie on the sofa and let someone else plan dinner.  When their child has a nightmare or wakes up and throws up all over the sheets, a single mom can't roll over and pretend to be asleep so someone else can take care of it.  When their child misbehaves, a single mom has to be the bad cop and the one their child hates.

I get a taste of single motherhood now and then when Alfie has to work late or work on the weekends.  Some of my married friends get a taste of single motherhood when their spouses have to travel for weeks on end.  But in our cases, the situation is temporary.  We know it has an end.  Single moms don't get that.  They don't get a break. They don't get a backup.

Yes, single moms deserve a shout out and a pat on the back.  Single moms deserve friends and family to take a bit of the load now and then.  At the very least, they deserve a shout out and a pat on the back -- and I'm very glad that the Single Moms Club, Tyler Perry's new movie, is coming out soon so people can see the challenges that single moms face,  in a funny, cheeky, yet touching way.  If you have a friend who's a single mom, gather a group of friends to chip in for a babysitter, then take her out for a girl's night out to see the movie!  There's no better way to let her know you care and want to ease her load, even for a little while.

Single Moms Club movie

About the movie
This spring, grab your girlfriends, find a sitter, and prepare for a ladies night out for a break from kids and responsibilities. On March 14th, Lionsgate releases The Single Moms Club, a story of five struggling single Moms who put aside their differences in the midst of a school dilemma with their kids to form a support group. Throughout their journey, the five women find inspiration and laughter in their new sisterhood and help each other overcome the obstacles that stand in their way.

This feel-good movie, directed by and starring Tyler Perry as well as Amy Smart, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Zulay Henao, Cocoa Brown, and Nia Long, reminds us of the incredible bond women form in friendships and promises to leave us smiling after it ends. 

Check out the movie trailer below:

Win a Single Moms Club prize pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a movie prize pack that includes:

1 Vino2Go cup
1 Grocery Tote
1 Nail File with a back mirror
1 Chocolate Bar
1 Hand Wipe Pack
1 Film poster.

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share the most characteristic you look for in a friend.

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 Single Moms Club giveaway! http://ow.ly/u8XMd #MC #SingleMomsClub

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)
Enter to win a #SingleMomsClub movie gift pack! Giveaway ends 3/10/14 on @bonggafinds: http://ow.ly/u8XMd #MC #sponsored

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway you've joined)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on March 10, 2014; I will draw a winner at random on March 11 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.



Disclosure: I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting(#MC) for Lionsgate. I received promotional item and a prize pack as a thank you for my participationThe views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Pin It
Continue reading...

How the American Dream is changing: MassMutual's State of the American Family Study


The American Dream: owning your own home
I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for MassMutual. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating.

My husband and I came to the US from different countries, and together we've built a great life for ourselves and our family. We are financially independent and own our own house, and we do believe that this would have been almost impossible if we lived anywhere else! We strongly believe in the American Dream -- the concept of being financially independent and being able to improve your life, no matter where you started.  We believe in the promise of opportunity for everyone -- but we know it takes hard work and planning. As good as we have it, there is still one thing that we want -- to give our kids a better life than we had. Our kids will be entering college in less than a decade, and those high tuitions are looming in front of us, so we need to keep working and planning.  If we can get our kids into college while keeping a roof over our heads, as far as I'm concerned, we'll be living the American Dream.

What does the American Dream mean to you?  Do you think the American Dream is still achievable MassMutual, a leading mutual life insurance company, conducted its third biennial State of the American Family Study, which offers a broad snapshot of American families’ financial views. The study found that while confidence in the American Dream may be declining, Americans’ financial satisfaction is on the rise. In fact, nearly three in ten (27 percent) American families are satisfied with their current financial situation, up from 18 percent in 2009.

Here are a few key pieces of information from the study that really resonated with me:
American families hold four core values when it comes to their finances:

1. Putting family first;
2. Being actively involved in household financial decisions;
3. Educating children about money; and
4. Making sure that children aren't burdened by parents' care as they age.

These core values emerged regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.

See, we really are more alike than we realize!  Red state, blue state, liberal, conservative, white, black, whatever, we all care about our families and want to do what's best for them.

Preparing the next generation for financial success is a key priority: 
Families recognize the importance of teaching their children about money and finances at an early age. Close to three in four (72 percent) respondents feel that it is important to educate children on finances to ensure a strong economy in the future, and half (49 percent) of families are actively involved in educating their children about money management.

We try to teach our children to manage money responsibly through chores and allowances, but also by example.  We never spend more than we can afford and we save for a rainy day.

The definition of the American Dream itself appears to be in flux. 
While older respondents hold close to its traditional definitions—78 percent of older Boomers consider home ownership a key component and 80 percent consider financial independence an equally important element—younger respondents show notably less engagement with these historic benchmarks for financial achievement, instead focusing on developing a monthly budget, suggesting views around financial satisfaction are undergoing fundamental shifts

These and other findings are available on MassMutual's State of the American Family survey.

MassMutual

In my opinion, the best news coming from this study is that American families have become more involved in their finances.  I think it's great that families are identifying their priorities and taking steps to achieve them.  The American Dream may mean different things for each family and each generation, but everyone is still working hard to achieve it -- and that's where MassMutual can help.  They're not just the company that commissioned the study, they're also a company that can help families take control of their future and achieve their American Dream.  They offer a variety of products and services to help you do the following:

Protect Your Family
Save for Retirement
Saving for College
Educate Your Children about Money

Check out MassMutual's Family Finances page for more information.  It's never to early to start planning and preparing for your future!


Disclosure: I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for MassMutual. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Pin It
Continue reading...

Bonggamom's Friday Finds: list your giveaways here


Bonggamoms Friday Finds

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!


Pin It

Continue reading...

Our DisneySide @Home Celebration


Show your  Disney Side at your very own #DisneySide @Home celebration
Did you host a DisneySide party?  Leave a link to your party post below!
Weren't able to host or attend a DisneySide party? Join my giveaway for a DisneySide goody bag below!

It doesn't take much for my Disney Side to come out and play, so when MomSelect and Disney Parks invited me to host a #DisneySide @Home Celebration (and sent me some neat party supplies and other goodies in the process!), I put on my thinking cap -- aka Mickey Ears -- and got to work.  Fortunately, planning a Disney-themed party is easy and fun!  There are dozens of ways to show your Disney Side, from a princess playdate to a Toy Story party, to a Tiki Room luau, to a Minnie craft session to a Jake and the Neverland Pirates scavenger hunt to a Disney movie marathon.... the list is endless. Here's how 3Po, Jammy, The Pea, 7 of their friends and I chose to celebrate our love of all things Disney:

Making decorations for our DisneySide party couldn't be easier.  All I did was trace out Mickey ear shapes onto black construction paper.  You can find Mickey ear templates on the web, or use a Mickey cookie cutter like I did.  I also printed out a few Mickey drawings and stuck them on the wall along with the Mickey ears.  A red tablecloth and Mickey-themed partyware added the final festive touch.
DisneySide @Home party decor

First party activity: our DisneySide photo booth!  I gathered all the Disney-themed props I could find -- Mickey ears, Minnie headbands, the Toy Story alien hat that The Pea made last Halloween, some fake glasses, a boa, Alfie's Jack Sparrow hat,  Mad Hatter hat, and top hat.  I made a few more photo booth props from cardboard and paint sticks -- a fake mustache, a Cheshire cat grin, and some signs.  I made a background by gluing Mickey ears onto large sheets of paper, and tacked it onto our message board.  Then I let our guests choose their props and ham it up for the camera!
#DisneySide @Home celebration: Mickey photo booth

Our second party activity was t-shirt decorating.  Hanes sent us white t-shirts in our DisneySide @Home celebration kit, so each guest got to make their very own Disney shirt.  I made some freezer paper stencils before the party, and each guest chose a design.  I ironed the freezer paper onto the shirts, so all the kids had to do was dab paint onto the stencil.  Once the paint dried, they peeled off the freezer paper and ended up with a design that looked like it had been silk-screened onto the shirt.
DisneySide @Home celebration activity: Mickey t-shirt painting with freezer paper stencils


The Pea and her friends decided to draw their designs on their shirt using the fabric markers provided in our party kit.  They looked up Olaf pictures online, then copied them onto the shirt, drawing freehand.  I was amazed at how well their shirts turned out -- those girls are so artistic!
#DisneySide @Home celebration: Frozen's Olaf t-shirts


Because the kids took such care with their designs, the t-shirt decorating activity took up much more time than I expected.  Before we knew it, it was time to eat!  For dinner, the kids had corn dogs (a favorite Disneyland food) and cherry tomatoes.
#DisneySide @Home celebration

For dessert, I went a bit overboard with Disney treats!  I recreated some of my favorite Disneyland treats:  Dole Pineapple Whip, Mickey ice cream sandwiches, Mickey rice krispy treats, and Mickey cupcakes.  They were so much fun to make, and tasted pretty darn close to the real thing.
Mickey party treats and desserts


3Po's and Jammy's guests went home soon after, but the girls stayed for a sleepover, and began yet another activity: the Disney Movie Marathon!  3Po and Jammy joined them, and they stayed up late into the night watching Mulan and The Lion King.
#DisneySide @Home celebration: Disney movie marathon


And what would a Disney Movie Marathon be without one of my favorite Disneyland snacks, popcorn?!  Of course, we served it in special popcorn buckets with Mickey ears that I cut out and glued.


I had planned to play some Disney-themed party games (Disney Trivia and Disney Taboo), but we ran out of time, so the next morning, while waiting for their parents to pick them up, the girls amused themselves by reading out Disney Taboo cards I made, as well as the Disney trivia cards included in our party kit.
#DisneySide @Home celebration: Disney Taboo game


Check out our goody bag:  a red paper bag decorated with Mickey ears, filled with runDisney bracelets, a Muppet Movie calendar, tattoos, and stickers that came in our party kit, along with some Mickey-themed pinata filler candy that I bought at our local party store and a mini Mickey rice krispy treat.  The girls also got a cute Mickey & Minnie poster (I offered the posters to the boys but they weren't interested!).
DisneySide @Home Celebration goody bag

Finally, I printed out the photo booth photos on the HP photo cards that came in our party pack, so that each guest could have a fun keepsake of the party. You can find the DisneySide overlays that I used in the HP Photo Creations app, along with other fun designs.
printed DisneySide photo cards from HP


I was sad to see our DisneySide @Home celebration end.  I have had so much fun planning and documenting all our preparations this past month, and it was a great way to share our love of Disney with my kids' friends.  Thanks to Disney Parks, Mom Select, American Tourister, Hanes, HP, Ocean Spray for all the fun party goods and supplies!

To celebrate their love of all things Disney, families across the country are hosting #DisneySide parties and letting their Disney Side shine. Follow the fun with the #DisneySide hashtag on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, and get inspiration to host your own DisneySide celebration with recipes, activity kits and tips on www.disneysidecelebrations.com/. How will you celebrate your DisneySide this year?

If you've hosted a DisneySide @Home Celebration, leave the link to your party post below! I'd love to visit your blog, check out your party recap, and ooh-and-ahhh over all the wonderful ways you celebrated your Disney Side!



Win a DisneySide goody bag
Two lucky Bonggamom Finds readers will receive an 11'x14" Minnie & Mickey poster, a runDisney sticker, a Muppet Movie calendar, a runDisney chEAR card (sorry I had to fold a portion of the card because it wouldn't fit in the mailing envelope!), Disney temporary tattoos and Disney stickers.
DisneySide @Home goody bag giveaway

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me how you show your Disney Side.

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 DisneySide @Home celebration giveaway! http://ow.ly/ui4uV #DisneySide

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day)
Enter to win a Mickey & Minnie poster -- 2 winners!  Giveaway ends  3/17/14 on @bonggafinds: http://ow.ly/ui4uV #DisneySide

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway you've joined)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on March 17, 2014; I will draw a winner at random on March 18 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure: I received free party supplies, goody bag fillers and other products to host a #DisneySide @Home Celebration. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Pin It
Continue reading...

Search This Blog

Bongga Posts

Bongga Tweets

I'm Going!

Blog Archive

 

Bonggamom Finds Copyright © 2009 Cosmetic Girl Designed by Ipietoon | In Collaboration with FIFA
Girl Illustration Copyrighted to Dapino Colada