Bonggamom Finds

British Sterling Men's Cologne review and giveaway

Friday, June 13, 2014

Austin Powers is right to be confident -- women love British men. I should know -- I married one! I have to admit that Alfie's accent was definitely a turn-on :) Not every male can sound like a Brit, but any male can smell like one -- or at least, smell like the perfect British gentleman in every woman's romantic imagination! British Sterling men's cologne, a favorite from the 70's, is making a comeback with the introduction of two new fragrances: H.I.M. Reserve and H.I.M. Private Stock. I received a sample, and I think both fragrances are great!

The Basics
British Sterling H.I.M. ‘Private Stock’ -- which showcases fresh citruses combined with crisp woods, aromatic spices and rich undertones

British Sterling H.I.M. ‘Reserve’ -- a provocative oriental blend of fresh citruses, bold spices and sensual woods

The Bongga
I find the Private Stock to be a bit lighter and fresher than the Reserve, which smells more like a night time cologne. I've given both to Alfie for an early Father' Day present, and I love how both smell on him! I like both, but I think I have to give Reserve the edge -- it's definitely sexier, just the way I like men to smell on a date :)

I also love the bottle itself! It looks sophisticated and elegant -- it's shaped like a liquor flask, with a metal top half and a matte glass bottom half.

The Blah
Sometimes when I remove the metal cap, the inner plastic cap (which is supposed to be securely attached to the outside metal cap lining) doesn't come off

The Bottom line
British Sterling looks and smells like an expensive cologne, but at just $24.99, it makes a great, affordable gift for dads (not to mention granddads, brothers, uncles, friends, and boyfriends!).

Win 2 bottles of British Sterling Men's cologne

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive one bottle of British Sterling HIM Private Stock eau de toilette spray and one bottle of British Sterling HIM Reserve eau de toilette spray.

Required Entry

Leave a comment on this post and tell me who you would like to gift a bottle of British Sterling men's cologne to (or whether you would keep it for yourself!).

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 British Sterling cologne giveaway! Giveaway ends 6/30 at http://ow.ly/y0zAM

6) Tweet this once per day (1 entry per day)

Enter to win a British Sterling men's cologne set! Giveaway on @bonggafinds ends 6/30 http://ow.ly/y0zAM

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for every giveaway you join)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on June 30, 2014; I will draw a winner at random, on July 1 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, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Sphero: the classic ball, evolved

Friday, June 13, 2014

Stumped about what to give the Dad in your life for Father's Day? How about a classic ball to play with? Okay, maybe not just any ball: the ball of the future, Sphero. Sphero is a programmable robot ball that can roll, spin, turn, bounce, dance, even flash like a strobe light -- and you can drive all its actions from your smartphone or tablet! We received a Sphero to review, and I can definitely confirm that it's the perfect toy for all boys, young and old :)

Here's some information about Sphero
• Sphero is the world’s first robotic ball that kids age 8+ can control from their smartphone or tablet. Sphero can drive in any direction, turn on a dime, flip in the air, change colors and more!

• Sphero melds the virtual world with reality, letting kids engage with technology like never before. Sphero provides hands-on, open-ended play for hours of fun and learning.

• Sphero rolls a speedy 7 feet per second and pairs to your mobile device via Bluetooth. Sphero is pet proof, waterproof, and ready for any adventure yourr kids can dream of.

• With over 30 free apps, kids can play independently or with friends and family. Steer Sphero through homemade obstacle courses, turn your living room into a video game with augmented reality, or upgrade family game night with action-packed, multiplayer entertainment.

Accessories included with Sphero 2.0 are the quick start guide, charger, stand, and two ramps. The blue rubber cover -- the Nubby -- is sold separately. I highly recommend getting a Nubby ($14.95 at gosphero.com) to protect your Sphero from scuffs and scratches. The rubber nubs also provide great traction on rough ground and in the water.

Water, did you say? YES! Believe it or not, the Sphero is completely waterproof. You can dunk it in a tub of water and it's not going to short out! Don't believe me? Check out the video we made:

Special Father's Day Deal
Sphero is regularly $129.99 at GoSphero.com, but it's on sale for $99 until June 15 -- which makes Father's Day the perfect occasion to get a Sphero for Dad!

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

Bonggamom's Friday Finds: list your giveaways here

Friday, June 13, 2014

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!

Peeps Minis: small size, giant flavor

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

When it comes to candy, I'm a sucker (pun not intended) for gummy candy, fruit chews, and caramels. I love the sweet taste and chewy sensation! You'd think that I'd also be a big fan of Peeps, but to be perfectly honest, Peeps have never been my style. I love marshmallows in smores and rocky road, but I don't really look forward to popping a marshmallow into my mouth.

Until now.

Peeps recently introduced a mini version of their popular marshmallow chicks -- Peeps Minis -- and I'm hooked! When Peeps sent us a sample, my original plan was to let the kids gobble them up and tell me how they liked them. I was fairly certain they would love it, and I was right, but when we opened up the bags (Peeps Minis come in resealable bags, which I really love), the smell that wafted up was so heavenly, I just had to try it. Not until I popped a Peeps mini chick into my mouth did I realize what all the fuss about Peeps is all about. They are great!

I think my previous objections to Peeps have always stemmed from 3 factors: I don't like the squishy texture when I bite into a Peep, I don't like the sugar coating, and I don't really like eating marshmallows by themselves. Peeps Minis takes care of all that. You can pop one straight into your mouth. The sugar coating seems finer than the sugar coating of regular sized Peeps. Best of all, Peeps Minis come in 3 great flavors: Chocolate Creme, Strawberry Creme, and Sour Watermelon!

I like all 3 flavors (I didn't expect to like the Chocolate Creme, but it actually tastes like a creamy chocolate milkshake), but my far-and-away favorite is the Sour Watermelon. It's not too sour, and it has that familiar watermelon candy taste.

I think Peeps Minis are waaay better than regular Peeps, and not just because they taste better. The resealable bag and bite-sized pieces help minimize the sticky mess. And I love how the Peep is lime green on the outside and pink on the inside, just like a watermelon! Due to their small size, they don't always end up looking like mini chicks (a few of the squashed ones end up looking like fat little worms!), but they're still adorable. I'm not sure whether I should bless Peeps or curse them for giving me yet another candy to crave, but they're like kittens on the internet: after one look at these itty bitty bites of sweetness, who wouldn't melt?

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.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 opening in IMAX theaters nationwide on June 13

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

We're so excited that How to Train Your Dragon 2 is opening in theaters this Friday! We loved the first movie and all the books, so we can't wait.

Starting this Friday, June 13th, the second chapter of DreamWorks Animation's beloved How to Train Your Dragon franchise is soaring to all IMAX theatres domestically in select engagements. The IMAX 3D release will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience®, creating a unique environment that will make audiences feel as though they are flying alongside heroic Viking Hiccup and his faithful dragon, Toothless.

Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, T.J. Miller, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Kristen Wiig reprise their respective voice roles, joined this time by Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett, Djimon Honsou and Kit Harington.

For more information about How to Train Your Dragon 2, please visit DreamWorks Animation's official website.

For IMAX Theater locations and local showtimes click here!

Disclosure:Information is provided by IMAX. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Cool down anytime, anywhere with Pillow Cool

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

We just had our first Super-Hot Summer weekend -- that is, a summer weekend with temperatures above 100 degrees! To make matters worse, 3Po and Jammy played THREE soccer games this weekend. It was hard to see them run and play while the temperature gauge went as high as 105. There was a slight breeze, but that actually made it worse because it was like the "breeze" from a hot blow dryer. We slathered them with sunscreen, kept them in the shade whenever they weren't playing, and gave them lots of water to drink -- but that didn't change the fact that we all felt like we were standing in an oven.

Enter a cool new product that really helped the boys cool down: Carex Pillow Cool. Pillow Cool is a self-cooling pillow insert that helps with those hot summer nights -- but they've actually helped us even more during hot summer days.

3Po and Jammy seem to run hot 365 days out of the year (the only time they don't wear shorts is when it's snowing), so they were the ideal test subjects for my Pillow Cool review. You can slip Pillow Cool into your pillowcase, but the boys didn't care for the "swishy" sound the vinyl makes as they move their head from side to side, so they've actually been using their Pillow Cool inserts to cool down after their soccer practices and games! You can almost see their flushed red faces cool down to normal when they stick their Pillow Cool inserts into their shirts. You don't have to refrigerate or freeze Pillow Cool beforehand, which is great because we always forget to return our ice packs to the freezer. It's also great to have at home, because we don't have air conditioning.

The vinyl material that encloses the cooling gel is pretty thick, so I'm hopeful that it won't crack or tear any time soon. Also, Pillow Cool doesn't come with any care instructions, so we've been wiping it clean with a non-toxic cleaning spray and damp sponge.

Pillow Cool is available at Bed, Bath and Beyond, WalMart, Amazon, and other retailers for about $25.

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information (in italics) is provided by Carex PillowCool. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Celebrate Summer with See's Candies (and a giveaway for you!)

Monday, June 09, 2014

Enter to win a $25 See's gift card!

Living in California has its perks: great weather, laid-back lifestyle, cosmopolitan population, diverse communities, fun attractions... oh, and See's Candies! I've been hooked on See's Candies ever since I was a little girl and my relatives used to bring home cans of See's Toffee-ettes every time they traveled
to the US. Believe me, access to See's Candies was definitely on the "plus" side when I decided to move to California 20 years ago! There are over 200 See's Candies shops around the US, but the biggest concentration is in California, so I can get my See's fix whenever I want. Fun fact: there are five See's Candies shops located within 10 miles of where I live!

I love walking into a See's Candies store. It's such a treat to enter on a hot day and feel that blast of cold air. The black-and-white decor gives off such a clean, wholesome, old-fashioned vibe, and the smell of chocolate is heavenly.

Now that it's summertime, the shelves are filled with all kinds of goodies for Father's Day and 4th of July! They have gift boxes in red, white, and blue that would make the perfect hostess gift for your Independence Day party.

Don't forget, See's isn't just about chocolate! They make wonderful gummies, peppermints, nut brittles, lollipops (my kids LOVE See's Lollypops!), salted nuts, and licorice.

Best of all, the person behind the counter always gives you a chocolate sample when you enter the store!

There's so much yumminess at See's Candies that it can be difficult to choose, but I'm more than happy to make some recommendations! Here are my all-time See's favorites:

Toffee-ettes: This is the chocolate comfort food of my childhood! That combination of chocolate, toffee and almond is my trifecta of chocolate bliss.

Almond Royal: Another childhood favorite, chocolate caramel with an almond in the center. Yum!

California Brittle: Available in Dark or Milk chocolate, it's like Toffee-ettes, without the almond coating.

Walnut Square Bar: I discovered this five years ago, and it has become our family's favorite. Caramel, walnuts, and dark chocolate... what's not to love?

Custom Mix: When it comes to individual and boxed chocolates, I love the Dark and Milk Butterchews, Dark and Light Truffles, Almond Squares, Caramels, Double Caramels and Orange Creams.... but instead of listening to me, why not just pick a box of the chocolates you love? A pound of custom-mix chocolates costs just the same as a box of pre-packed chocolates, but you get to choose your favorites, so you'll never end up with a half-eaten (i.e. wasted!) piece of chocolate in your box.

Win a See's gift card

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a $25 See's Candies gift card!

Required Entry

Check out See's Patriotic Treats collection, Dads & Grads collection, or Warm Weather collection, and leave a comment saying which treat you would buy with a See's gift card.

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 See's Candies giveaway! Giveaway ends 6/30 at http://ow.ly/xNCMR

6) Tweet this once per day (1 entry per day)

Enter to win a $25 See's Candies gift card! Giveaway on @bonggafinds ends 6/30 http://ow.ly/xNCMR

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for every giveaway you join)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on June 30, 2014; I will draw a winner at random, on July 1and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure: Thanks to See's Chocolates for providing a gift card so I could review their latest offerings, as well as a second gift card to give away. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Control Sonos Speakers With Logitech Harmony Remotes (Giveaway)

Monday, June 09, 2014

Enter to win a Logitech Harmony Ultimate!

Is your coffee table piled high with remotes? We have five in the living room (not including the three we stash inside the cabinet because we don't use them often), three in the guest room and four in our bedroom. It's ridiculous! We really ought to replace all of them with a universal remote control, but I'm always nervous that the remote will end up being too complicated, or it will only replace half of the remotes and won't be compatible with the other half.

Enter the Logitech Harmony Ultimate. I'm seriously tempted to try it, because it has a touchscreen display that you can customize to make it easier to use. It can turn your smartphone into a remote control with the Harmony App for Apple or Android.it can control up to 15 devices. Best of all, it has the world's largest A/V control database -- it supports more than 5,000 brands and 225,000 devices!

Actually, make that 5,001 brands and 224,001 devices -- because starting today, you can now use the Logitech Harmony® Ultimate or Logitech Harmony® Smart Control (the lower-end model which controls up to 8 devices) to control your SONOS® wireless HiFi System speakers! Check out Logitech's press release (and don't forget to scroll down to the bottom of this post for a chance to win your own Logitech Harmony Ultimate!)

Logitech Harmony Introduces New Features Including Sonos Integration and Speech-to-Text Search

NEWARK, Calif. — June 9, 2014 — Today Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) announced that beginning today you can now use your Logitech Harmony® Ultimate or Logitech Harmony® Smart Control to control additional devices including your SONOS® wireless HiFi System speakers, no matter where they are in the home. In addition to controlling playback and volume directly from your remote, you can access your Sonos Favorites playlists from the color touch-screen of the Harmony Ultimate or through your tablet or smartphone using the free Harmony App.

“With these added integrations we’re creating an even more robust Harmony ecosystem that makes it easier for you to create the optimum home-entertainment experience, including listening to your favorite playlists on Sonos wireless speakers, and setting your Philips Hue lights to the perfect brightness and color for watching a movie,” said Chad Thompson, senior director of marketing and product management for Logitech’s digital home business group. “Harmony’s heritage lies in control of your home-theater devices, and with this update you can easily create the ideal entertainment experience, for the living room and beyond.”

With the speech-to-text capabilities available today through the free Harmony App, searching for content on your streaming device, including the newly compatible Amazon Fire TV, is even faster. Through the Harmony App, you can now bring up the search field in the streaming media app, and use the mobile device’s keyboard to enter text or dictate the desired search terms. The voice recognition is enabled by Siri® voice recognition software or Google Voice Search™, depending on your operating system.

This software update also enhances the Harmony remote setup process for any products that come with the Harmony Hub. During setup, Harmony now automatically detects your Philips Hue lights, Roku, Sonos speakers and other devices on your network, making configuration easier.

Pricing and Availability
The free software update is expected to be available on June 9, 2014. For more information on the Logitech line of Harmony remote controls, and to set up your Sonos wireless speakers please visit www.myharmony.com or our blog.

About Logitech
Logitech is a world leader in products that connect people to the digital experiences they care about. Spanning multiple computing, communication and entertainment platforms, Logitech’s combined hardware and software enable or enhance digital navigation, music and video entertainment, gaming, social networking, audio and video communication over the Internet, video security and home-entertainment control. Founded in 1981, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI).
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Win a Logitech Harmony Ultimate

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a Logitech Harmony Ultimate universal remote, worth $350!

Required Entry

Leave a comment on this post and tell me three device remotes you would replace with a Logitech Harmony Ultimate.

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 Logitech Harmony Ultimate giveaway! Giveaway ends 6/26 at http://ow.ly/xNfLc

6) Tweet this once per day (1 entry per day)

Enter to win a @Logitech Harmony Ultimate universal remote (MSRP $350)! Giveaway on @bonggafinds ends 6/25 http://ow.ly/xNfLc

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for every giveaway you join)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on June 25, 2014; I will draw a winner at random, on June 26 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Thanks to Logitech for providing the giveaway prize. Product information (in italics) is provided by Logitech The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Bonggamom's Friday Finds: list your giveaways here

Friday, June 06, 2014

Logitech introduces 6th annual Color Collection for the wireless mouse (and a Giveaway for you!)

Wednesday, June 04, 2014

Logitech wireless mouse Color Collection 2014

Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post for a Logitech wireless mouse giveaway!

I've been following Logitech's Color Collection for several years now. I just love the idea of making a wireless mouse in all kinds of bright colors and designs. Boring black is so 20th century -- after all, you like to dress up your phones and tablets in all kinds of colors, so why not your wireless mouse?

Today, Logitech unveiled their 6th annual design collection, the 2014 Logitech Color Collection. Logitech's M17 and M325 models are available in a variety of bright colors and cool patterns. I swear, they seem to come up with cooler patterns every year!

This year, I'm even more excited than ever, because Logitech is also introducing a collection that's absolutely perfect for us FIFA World Cup fans! The Global Fan collection features the wireless M317 in designs inspired by flags from 13 countries! The available designs will vary by region. How cool is that! I just have to get my hands on an England mouse for Alfie and Alfie's dad!!

Here's the press release. Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post for a Logitech Color Collection giveaway!

Express Yourself in Style with the 2014 Logitech Color Collection
Logitech Color Collection Offers Most Popular Mice in Eye-Catching Designs

NEWARK, Calif. — June 4, 2014 — Today Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI), the worldwide market leader in mice, unveiled its sixth-annual design collection, releasing three of its most popular mice in new eye-catching patterns and contemporary colors. This bright, vibrant collection puts a wide range of fashionable looks in the palm of your hand.

“The 2014 Logitech Color Collection was designed to reflect the open expression of individuality in today’s society,” said Charlotte Johs, global vice president of brand development for PC accessories at Logitech. “Colors and patterns can influence your mood and reflect your style. With our new collection’s bold designs and vibrant colors, you can show the world how unique you are.”

From two-tone classics to eye-catching prints, the 2014 Logitech Color Collection adds fashionable designs to some of Logitech’s most popular mice. Colors, patterns, and models included in the collection vary by region, and all deliver compelling style with the comfort, precision, and reliability Logitech mice are known for.

Pricing and Availability

The 2014 Logitech Color Collection mice are expected to be available in June 2014 and range in price from $19.99 to $29.99. For more information on the collection please visit our blog. To learn more about the Color Collection mice available in your area visit http://www.logitech.com/news/colorcollection.

About Logitech
Logitech is a world leader in products that connect people to the digital experiences they care about. Spanning multiple computing, communication and entertainment platforms, Logitech’s combined hardware and software enable or enhance digital navigation, music and video entertainment, gaming, social networking, audio and video communication over the Internet, video security and home-entertainment control. Founded in 1981, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI).
# # #

Logitech, the Logitech logo, and other Logitech marks are registered in Switzerland and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information about Logitech and its products, visit the company’s website at www.logitech.com.

Win a Logitech Color Collection wireless mouse

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a wireless mouse from Logitech's Color Collection!

Required Entry

Leave a comment on this post and tell me which design from Logitech's 2014 Color Collection is your favorite -- OR tell me which country's flag you would love to have on your Logitech wireless mouse!

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 Logitech Color Collection giveaway! Giveaway ends 6/20 at http://ow.ly/xCPeM

6) Tweet this once per day (1 entry per day)

Enter to win a wireless mouse from the new @Logitech Color Collection ! Giveaway on @bonggafinds ends 6/20 http://ow.ly/xCPeM

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for every giveaway you join)

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

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Thanks to Logitech for providing the giveaway prizes. Product information (in italics) is provided by Logitech. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Get smart about sun safety with SmartShield's Rehydrating Face Cream with SPF 15

Wednesday, June 04, 2014

It's our first week of summer vacation, and we're enjoying every minute of it! Already we've gone sailing, played in the park, ridden roller coasters at an amusement park, and splashed around in a water park. With all the time we spend outdoors, proper sun protection is essential. Last week The Pea went to Raging Waters with her 7th grade class, and forgot to reapply sun lotion -- so she came home with a bad sunburn. She has had one other bad sunburn before, but this was the first time she actually felt pain, and this was the first time she actually started to peel. Fortunately, she didn't blister -- studies have shown that suffering one or more blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person’s chances of developing potentially-deadly melanoma later in life -- but it isn't an experience she's eager to repeat.

If there's one good thing about this sunburn, it's that it has made The Pea a lot more vigilant about applying sunscreen every day. We encourage her to do it in the morning, after she has brushed her teeth, so that it become part of her daily routine. Having sunscreen that's easy to apply -- especially facial sunscreen -- really helps, because if the sunscreen isn't sticky or icky, she's more likely to apply it, apply it often, and apply more of it. That's why products like SmartShield's new Rehydrating Face Cream are so great. I recently received a sample to review, and I think it's a great product for everyday use!

SmartShield makes a lot of sun products for outdoorsy activities, so you know they know all about UVA/UVB protection and sweat resistance. This Rehydrating Face Cream is their first premium skincare product, and I'm happy to report that they've come up with a great product for people who trek to the grocery store as well as people who trek up mountains! SmartShield's Rehydrating Face Cream is thicker than regular face creams, but not as thick as most sunscreens, and it absorbs into the skin relatively easily. It doesn't feel greasy and it doesn't leave you with a shiny face. Unlike most cosmetic face creams with SPF, this one has quite a high SPF factor: SPF 45 instead of SPF 15 or 30. I could definitely get used to putting this stuff on every day.

About Rehydrating Face Cream
SmartShield's Rehydrating Face Cream w/ SPF 45 is a luxury face cream with a unique formula for sports enthusiasts and professionals. Its moisturizing formula gives protection to your skin with a SPF 45 lotion non-migrating formula. Our new face cream is sweat resistant, and provides UVA/UVB Protection. Clean, Oil Free, great for use under your make-up. Regular use of this product may help to prevent cancer, wrinkles, and premature skin aging.

SmartShields oil-free, "dry" forumla means the sunscreen is absorbed instantly. It does not wear on top of skin; it actually bonds to the skin. Our sunscreen formula has no noticeable "sunscreen feel", even after multiple applications.

SmartShield is hypoallergenic, safe for all skin types and dermatologist-approved.

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information (in italics) is provided by the featured company/product. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Bender's Rye Whiskey -- special Father's Day Deal

Tuesday, June 03, 2014

Can't figure out what to get Dad for Father's Day? Why not go with a classic that every father is sure to love, like wine or spirits. Just because it's a tried-and-tested present doesn't mean it has to be boring! Go with high-quality, artisanal blends or look for up-and-coming trends like small batch bourbon, flavored whiskey, and Asian spirits.

One kind of brown spirit rising in popularity is rye whiskey. I didn't even know what rye whisky was, or how good it tasted, until I received a bottle of Bender's Rye to review. I normally hate whiskey, I can barely even let it touch my lips without feeling nauseated, but Bender's Rye whiskey is so smooth and sweet, it really goes down easily, leaving just a nice fiery warmth! Alfie loves it -- he's already made lots of hot toddies and Irish whiskey to savor and enjoy on the couch after the kids go to bed! What a great gift idea for Father's Day!

About Bender's Rye
Raise your glass for the dads in your life with a 7 years-aged spirit that boasts exclusivity and character. Bender's Rye was aged in American White Oak Barrels and produced at The Treasure Island Distillery in San Francisco and only 3,348 bottles made.

Bender's Rye is a true hipster's drink -- trendy, small-batch, impeccable packaging, whimsical and unpretentious labeling, and of course, the highest quality. Since Bender's Rye is brewed in San Francisco (lucky us!), Bender's Rye can be found in wine and spirit stores across the Bay Area. You can also purchase Bender's Rye online from Bounty Hunter -- and they have a great deal running for Father's Day! Their special pricing for Father's Day includes free shipping and 10% off a purchase of 3 bottles or more, a savings of $25. Don't miss this chance to show Dad that you've inherited his good taste!

Disclosure: I received a sample for review. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

House of Botori Diaper Bags - review and giveaway

Sunday, June 01, 2014

New moms are so lucky these days! When my kids were babies, the only diaper bags available were boring black bags or quilted baby-printed totes, both of which screamed to the world that your life as an independent, stylish woman were over. Fortunately, the fashion industry rose to the occasion, and now there are more great options for diaper bags than ever.

The House of Botori, makers of contemporary diaper bags and accessories, sent me one of their chic totes, and it almost makes me want to have another baby just so I can parade around with it on my arm! Almost. Who wouldn't want to pack baby's essentials in the Ginika Tote? It comes in a bright, cheerful Tangerine Twirl print inspired by the rich art and cultures of Africa. It's bold and fashion-forward and it definitely tells the world that you're a modern mom.

The bag is as practical as it is pretty. It's lightweight (you've got enough baby gear to carry without the added weight of a heavy bag!) and roomy, with lots of zippers and pockets so you can organize everything the way you want.

The bag even comes with a changing pad, two drawstring bags for clean or dirty clothes, and two zippered mini-totes for bottles, snack cups, pacifiers, or anything else you need to keep separate. What's more, everything is made with eco-friendly and PVC-free materials. They've thought of everything!

This bag is so cute, moms can use it even after baby outgrows the diaper bag. No one would ever know it was a diaper bag. It's the perfect size for overnight trips, airplane carry-on bags, or road trips! I'm totally using this bag on my next overseas trip!

And don't forget Father's Day for new dads -- some of the House of Botori styles are totally bro-friendly, especially the messenger bags!

Win an Eneehi Nursing Clutch

The House of Botori will send one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader an Eneehi nursing clutch in a randomly selected color! The Eneehi nursing clutch lets mamas nurse discretely and fashionably, with fun patterned fabrics and adjustable neck straps. When baby is done, it all zips up into a handy zippered clutch!

Required Entry

Leave a comment on this post and tell me which House of Botori diaper bag style is your favorite.

Extra Entries
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I entered the House of Botori giveaway! Giveaway ends 6/15 at http://ow.ly/xuXEH

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The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on June 15, 2014; I will draw a winner at random, on June 16 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure: Thanks to the House of Botori for providing a review sample and giveaway prize. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.