Relive the fun of the movie with Wreck It Ralph Storybook Deluxe

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We watched Disney's Wreck It Ralph over Thanksgiving weekend, and even though I don't really play video games (I leave that to my kids!), I thought the movie was excellent.  The kids enjoyed seeing their favorite video game characters on screen and left the theatre wishing there were really a Sugar Rush game.


Good news for the kids:  Disney Publishing's Wreck It Ralph Storybook Deluxe actually does have the Sugar Rush racing game!   You can build your own candy racing kart by selecting a base model, adding wheels and a tail spoiler, then decorating it with icing and sprinkles.


If you choose to save your candy kart creation (BTW once you save the kart I have no idea how to delete it), it becomes a selection option for the Sugar Rush game.      You can also choose to drive the candy karts of Vanellope, Taffyta, Rancis, Candlehead or Adorableeze.  Then choose from a variety of race tracks (Easy, Medium, Difficult) and you're off to the races!


Here I am in Sugar Rush, racing against Vanellope, Taffyta and the rest of the gang in the kart I created.  You tilt the iPad from side to side to guide your kart through obstacles and around bends, tilt it forward to speed up.  You also receive speed boosts when you collect candies.  You can also monitor your position in the race via the little TV icon on the top right of the screen.  Kids who are used to Mario Kart and other sophisticated racing games will find this a bit simple, but just being able to race in Sugar Rush is actually going to be a big rush for your kids after they've seen the movie!


Of course, that's not all you can do in this app: it's also a storybook, so you and your child can relive all the fun of the Wreck It Ralph Story.  You can have a narrator read the story out loud, record your own voice reading the story, or turn off narration and have your child read it on his or her own.  The book using voice clips using the original voice actors from the movie (Sarah Silverman, John C. Reilly, etc..) and visuals are stunning, just as good as the movie -- in fact, the book plays short clips of scenes from the movie as you tap the screen to get the story moving along.


Here's a fun tip: watch out for Vanellope's head hovering around the edges of your iPad.


If you tap on Vanellope's head, she'll pop up on your screen and say something!

This app doesn't have drawing features or mini puzzle games like most of the other Disney Deluxe Storybooks, but the Sugar Rush game makes up for that.  There is a free Fix It Felix app and a premium version for 99 cents, but neither have the Sugar Rush racing game (the 99-cent app has a Sugar Rush game but it's a race to climb peppermint trees).   I love this app and highly recommend it for Wreck It Ralph fans.


Disclosure:  I received a free download of Wreck It Ralph Storybook Deluxe o 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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Giveaway: Five Tips for Getting Your Car Ready For Winter

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Winter is coming, and families who live in snowy areas know how important it is to prepare for months and months of snow.  From weatherproofing the house to getting out the winter gear to preparing vehicles for winter weather, proper preparation will do wonders for your safety and comfort when the world freezes over.

Safety is especially important when you're out driving, because icy roads and poor visibility can easily spell disaster to drivers, passengers and pedestrians. I lived in Boston for two years and learned quickly to make sure my car was safe to drive before going anywhere in the winter.  Even now that I live in sunny California, we still drive up to the mountains to enjoy the snow several times a year, and every time we go, I make sure we're prepared for driving in winter conditions. Here are 3 things I always do:

• If it has been a while since our van's last checkup, I take it in for an oil change and service.  
• I make sure we have our snow chains in the van with us.  
• I make we have a squeegee and ice scraper, and I make sure our wipers are good, so that we'll be able to see clearly out of our windshield in the event of heavy snow or sleet.

Here are 5 more great tips from the International Carwash Association (ICA) for getting your car ready for winter:

1. Wash and wax your car at a professional car wash – It may seem counterintuitive to get your car nice and shiny for what’s often the sloppiest season, but a thorough wash can remove harmful compounds that may cause damage when mixed with sand and road salt. Experts from the International Carwash Association also recommend a coat of wax for an extra layer of protection from the elements.

· Professional car washes can also save up to 20 percent of the amount of water you’d use by washing your car at home. They do this by treating and reusing their water, rather than releasing toxic chemicals and grime into the storm drains, which can often occur with pavement washing. Check out www.washwithwatersavers.com to see how professional car washes save water and help prevent pollution.

2. Check fluids – Check your coolant to make sure you have enough, as you’ll be left without heat if you don’t. Consult your owner’s manual to find the correct blend if you need to add more. It’s never a bad idea to keep extra coolant in your trunk in case of an emergency. Don’t forget about extra wiper fluid, either. It’s not expensive, so stock up!

3. Winter emergency kit – In addition to stocking your car with a scraper and brush, it’s a good idea to include a few provisions in case you get stranded in snowy and cold conditions. Pack extra blankets, hats and gloves, high-energy snacks like granola bars, drinking water and a first-aid kit.

4. Test your battery – The next time you have the car in for an oil change, ask the mechanic to test your battery to make sure it can provide enough starting power once the temperature plummets.

5. Check your wipers – When sloppy weather hits, you’ll want to make sure you have strong wiper blades to see through the elements. Checking your wiper blades for wear and replacing them if needed can prevent huge visibility headaches once snow and sleet arrive.


It really pays to be prepared. Driving through a winter storm is scary enough, and if your vehicle isn't all set to weather the storm, it can get much, much scarier!  Stay safe!

Win a Winter Emergency Kit
One lucky Bonggamom Finds Reader will receive an exclusive Winter Emergency Kit courtesy of the ICA to help them prepare for winter.  The prize pack includes:

· 32 oz. WaterSavers branded water bottle
· Carabiner key chain
· Medium flashlight
· 2 heavy duty AA batteries
· 19-piece first aid kit
· Survival tool
· Pocket knife
· Emergency poncho
· Emergency blanket
· 2 tea light candles
· Safety matches
· Survival instruction card
· Mesh sack

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share a tip for preparing your car or home for the winter.

Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following (note the bonus entries for following me on Instagram!!). 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 (5 entries)

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 entered the Winter Emergency Kit giveaway!

6) Follow @Water_Savers on Twitter (1 entry)

7) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this (1 entry ):
RT @bonggafinds Win a Winter Emergency Kit for your car from @Water_Savers ! Enter by 12/20 at http://bonggafinds.com #giveaways

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on December 20, 2012; I will draw a winner at random on December 21 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US  residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.



Disclosure: The International Carwash Association provided the giveaway prize pack as well as a second prize pack for me. Winter tips (in italics) were provided by the International Carwash Association via Blue Chip Communications. ICA, through its Wash With WaterSavers consumer awareness campaign, is committed to promoting the importance of using eco-friendly carwashes that use less fresh water and return clean water back into the environment.The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Keep track of your gift list with eBay's Holiday Gift Shop

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Our holiday break starts in exactly 2 weeks, and I'm starting to freak out about toy shopping.  Once the kids are out of school there won't be any opportunity for me to shop for their presents, so it has to be done, like, YESTERDAY.  I don't have the time to bother with guessing what it is they want, so I've asked them to give me a list of options that I can choose from.


To help organize my holiday shopping, eBay invited me to check out their new Facebook app, the Holiday Gift Shop.  Not only can my kids create their own toy lists, I can also create my own lists of everyone I'm buying presents for, with possible gifts for each of them.  I asked each of my kids to create a Toy List, and they had a lot of fun browsing through the suggestions and dragging each item onto their list!

Your child can choose from a variety of toys, categorized to make things easy to find (WARNING:  For some reason only The Pea's toy list had the categories; any subsequent toy lists we created only listed All Toys, so it was really inconvenient to have to search through so many toys.  I have not yet been able to figure out how to switch from an All Toys view to a Category view -- bear this in mind if you have more than one child!!).  Once they find a toy they like, they simply drag it onto their toy list.


Once they click "Send to North Pole", it creates "Letter to Santa" that you can share with friends and family on Facebobok (you can edit which Facebook groups or friends receive the list, or you can specify individual recipients).  They'll receive a shareable list with links to purchase the item on eBay.


You'll also get 2 emails sent to your Facebook email:

* one email is addressed to your child, from the North Pole, confirming the items on his wish list.

* one email contains your child's wish list, with links to buy the items on eBay, that you can forward via email to family and friends (this is great if you don't want to do it through Facebook, or if grandma has an email address but not a Facebook account).

A few more facts about eBay's Holiday Gift Shop app:
1) No one you create gift lists for can see what you've created. These are lists you are making for yourself.
2) You get great recommendations from eBay experts.
3) It's super convenient - It ties right into the eBay site and the eBay mobile app so you can shop anywhere, any time!

The best reason to use this app: when you use it, you'll be entered into a holiday sweepstakes! Every day an item from someone's gift list will be given to them!

Disclosure: This is a compensated post:  I was hired by Splash Creative Media to write this post on behalf of eBay. App facts (in italics) are provided Splash Creative Media.. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Minted Gift Tags: Give your holiday presents an extra special touch with Minted Gift Tags

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You know how babies and kids sometimes end up loving the big cardboard box that their present came in more than the present itself? It's not so different with grown-ups -- a beautifully wrapped present can generate as many oohs and ahhs as the present itself.   Bright wrapping paper, a cascade of curling ribbons, a luxurious bow, a teeny gift charm or an original gift tag -- all of those little extra special touches can go a long way towards showing your gift recipient that he or she is special to you.

For me, personalization is key. I love personalized gift tags as much as I love personalized holiday cards; not only are they ultra-convenient, they look so finished and classy-- as long as they're printed by the right company, of course.


That's why I was so delighted to discover Minted's collection of personalized holiday gift tags.  They're hanging gift tags, with a hole on one end so you can thread a ribbon through and tie it to a gift bag handle or a ribbon on a boxed present.  These are the first hanging gift tags I've seen from ANY stationery company!  I've seen (and ordered) personalized sticker gift tags as well as personalized card gift tags (with envelopes), but these hanging gift tags are so much cuter.  

Minted invited me to personalize and order any of their stationery products, and since the holidays are just around the corner, I ordered gift tags in a variety of designs.  


Honestly, the hardest part was choosing a design.  I blame Minted's community of thousands of designers; as with all of Minted's stationery products, the design options for the gift tags are unparalleled.   They run the whole range of styles, from rustic to whimsical to funny to vintage to classic and more.



The level of personalization is impressive.  These gift tags really let your personality shine!  All designs come in 2 or more color schemes.  All designs let you add your name.  Some designs let you alter some or all of the text: a holiday message, the year, etc...  Some let you upload photos. Some are square. Some are rectangular.  Hopefully they'll add circular tags soon.



You can also choose from a variety of options for the back of the gift tag.  You can opt for a patterned back (which varies by design), a solid color, plain white, or you can upload a photo or logo.  It all adds up to a gift tag that's as special and unique as you are.

My gift tags have just arrived, and I couldn't be more pleased.  Everything from the paper to the printing is superb.


Just 2 things I'm bummed about: first, ribbons are not included so you have to get your own, and second, practically all the gift tags are holiday themed.   I need more non-holiday designs. -- do you know how many birthday parties my 3 kids attend each year? That's a LOT of presents to wrap and tag! Oh well -- at least I can rest easy knowing that I'll have the cutest gift cards and most eye-catching presents this holiday season.


Disclosure: Minted supplied  me with a gift card to review the holiday stationery product of my choosing.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Responsible (and safe) holiday shopping for kids with Virtual Piggy

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During the holiday season, when everyone seems to be spending with abandon, it can be challenging for parents to teach kids about responsible financial behavior, especially when the urge to spend -- on presents, decor, lavish parties, rich food -- is so tempting for us as well.  You want to buy everything for your child, but you don't want to give in to (or show your child that you condone) unrestrained spending or being overly materialistic.  You want to teach your child financial responsibility but you're reluctant to give them too much financial freedom.

Enter Virtual Piggy, a new service that can help parents give kids a safe, easy way to save, spend and give online.   It's perfect for today's ecommerce world; parents do so much of their shopping and spending online, so why should kids be any different?  And why shouldn't their allowances be managed online as well?

With Virtual Piggy, parents can create a parent account and set up preferred shipping and payment methods (credit cards or even PayPal).  Kids don't have access to any payment information, and nothing is charged or deducted unless your child actually makes a purchase.

After parents create a parent account, they establish accounts for each child.  They can specify controls for each child's account:  allowance amounts, spending limits, monthly saving accounts, approved merchants, parental notifications.  You control how much money your child can spend, when and where he spends it.

Kids can use the balance in their Virtual Piggy accounts to shop at online sites with a special Virtual Piggy payment button.  Over 80 online sites have signed up, and Virtual Piggy is working hard to get the Virtual Piggy payment button up and running on all of them (head to Virtual Piggy's website to see their list of merchants).  Current sites that support the Virtual Piggy payment button are K'nex, O'Neill, Super Sprowts, MusicSkins and Blee Inara.   Kids can also use the balance in their Virtual Piggy accounts to purchase gift cards to popular retailers or sites, such as Barnes & Noble, Sephora, Zappos, American Eagle Outfitters, even Domino's or Papa John's Pizza. (hey, how else will they be able to treat the gang to lunch?).  If the purchase meets parental guidelines, it's approved.    What a great way to give kids the freedom to spend money online, within parent-approved limits, while protecting them from unsafe online transactions!


This holiday season, families can also use Virtual Piggy to manage their kids' holiday wishlists.  Kids with a Virtual Piggy account can create a Wishlist and add the products they want to either save up for, or receive as gifts.  Parents can view their kids' Wishlists and share it with extended family and friends.  Virtual Piggy even has discounts with their online partners, exclusively for Virtual Piggy account holders, just for the holidays (All discounts will end by January 15th).  You can see the list of merchants and the holiday discounts on the  Virtual Piggy Member Value Program page -- but you won't see the promo codes unless you've logged into your Virtual Piggy account!


Here's another great reason to create a Wishlist with Virtual Piggy:  Virtual Piggy will be selecting ten lucky children to win the contents of their Wishlist, up to a value of $500!  Their Win Your Wishlist contest is open till December 7, so hurry up and create that Virtual Piggy account and Wishlist ASAP.

Happy holidays, and happy spending and saving!



Disclosure: I received compensation from Virtual Piggy (via Splash Creative Media) to try the service and write this post.The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Watch: Clip From The Legend of Mor'du

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Disney UK may suck at releasing films in decent time, but their YouTube channel is top notch. Today, Walt Disney Studios UK brings us the above clip of the new short film that's on the Brave DVD and Blu Ray, The Legend of Mor'du.

We got our first look at the feature-based short a couple of weeks ago, and you can really see the distinctively different visual style mentioned then in this clip. The short, which is directed by long-time Pixar storyboard artist Brian Larsen, (Ratatouille, Brave) is narrated by Julie Walters' Witch and follows the story of demon bear Mor'du more closely. It looks great and I can't wait to check it out with the fantastic Brave very soon!

The Legend of Mor'du arrives in the UK on DVD and Blu Ray with Brave this coming Monday - and is already out in the US. You can pre-order below.

2014 MY Nissan GT-R Bows at LA Auto Show, Goes on Sale in January [w/Video]

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After the major upgrade it received for the 2013 model year, it would be logical to assume that Nissan’s GT-R would remain mostly unchanged this year.

Nissan’s dedicated Team GT-R, though, led by Kazutoshi Mizuno, has a philosophy of constant improvement. Therefore, the 2014MY GT-R, which will make its world debut today at the LA Auto Show, may look identical to the previous model but it features a number of significant changes dictated by the data Team GT-R collected after entering a stock car in this year’s 24 Hours of Nürburgring endurance race.

"With the entry into an actual 24-hour racing competition, GT-R's unique development process not only took an incredible step into a new dimension, it did so under the eyes of 100,000-plus spectators", said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager of Nissan North America.

"The development of a super high performance vehicle demands testing your own limits as well as the vehicle's, as was the case at Nürburgring, and will certainly pay off in our GT-R customers' enhanced driving enjoyment," he added.

Power and torque output remains the same, at 545HP and 463 lb-ft respectively, but new fuel injectors allow for enhanced torque between 4,500-6,000 rpm and improved throttle response in mid and high revs while a baffle in the oil pan stabilizes oil behavior and pressure and new relief valves for the turbochargers’ bypass helps sustain instant throttle response.

Moreover, Nissan decided to add an aluminum nameplate with the name of the specially trained engineered who, as has been the case since the current GT-R’s inception, single-handedly assembled that unit.

In the chassis department, the 2014 GT-R features reinforcements to the dash panel bar and instrument panel member in order to improve rigidity. Additionally, the front suspension has been thoroughly revised with changes to the dampers, springs and anti-roll bar lowering the center of gravity and improving stability when cornering.

All those changes enabled Nissan’s revamped supercar to post a 7’18’’6 lap time at the Nürburgring, improving upon the 2013MY car’s 7’21’’.

The new GT-R will be available in the U.S. from January in two versions: the GT-R Premium, which will feature a navigation system, a custom-designed Bose audio system with 11 speakers, premium near-black finish wheels and heated front seats, and the GT-R Black Edition that adds black Rays forged alloys, a two-tone interior in red and black with Recaro leather seats and a dark headliner and a dry carbon fiber rear wing.

Customers will be able to choose between Deep Blue Pearl, Jet Black, Solid Red, Gun Metallic, Pearl White and a limited production 4-stage metallic Super Silver paint, and two optional packages.

The Cold Weather package includes Dunlop all-season tires and a unique coolant/water ratio and the Premium Interior package sports semi-aniline leather, hand-stitching on the front seates and red accents on the steering wheel, gear lever and instruments and door panels.

You can watch Road & Track’s preview of the 2014 Nissan GT-R in the video that follows right after the break.

By Andrew Tsaousis

PHOTO GALLERY

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