Giveaway: Celebrate Black History Month with Dollar General's Every Day Heroes Program

To contact us Click HERE

It has been a whole year since I first blogged about Dollar General's Every Day Heroes, and I'm so happy to see that this program is still going strong.  Everyday heroes make such a big difference in our communities, yet their acts of kindness and courage usually go unsung -- which makes programs like Dollar General's Every Day Heroes all the more important!

This month, in celebration of diversity and coinciding with Black History Month, Dollar General has teamed up once again with Procter & Gamble to honor Every Day Heroes who make sacrifices for their families and make a difference in their communities.   Dollar General has chosen Sabrina Williams as its Every Day Hero for February 2013.

Here's a bit more about Sabrina:
Sabrina is a driving force in the community of North Lawndale, on the west side of Chicago. In addition to raising her own four children in the neighbor she grew up in, she also became a valued community leader and volunteer. She was the Chair of the Parent Committee at her children's elementary school and continued to work with a national after-school literacy organization, America SCORES, as a writing coach for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade boys, even after all of her own children went on to high school.

Sabrina will be featured in a national television program airing on TNT called "Dramatic Differences".  You can find out more about Sabrina and about Dollar General's commitment to literacy at Dollar General's website.  Congratulations Sabrina, and thank you for all that you do to make a difference!


Win a Dollar General Prize Pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a Dollar General / P&G prize pack, which includes:

* Two $10 Dollar General gift cards
* Samples of Dawn® dish soap, Gain® laundry detergent, TIDE® PODS, Downy® Unstoppables and Head and Shoulders® Endurance shampoo.



Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me how you and your family celebrate diversity in the community.

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 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 Dollar General February giveaway!

6) Tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day until giveaway end date)
RT @bonggafinds Enter to win a $20 Dollar General gift card + samples of P&G products! Giveaway ends Feb 18 at http://ow.ly/hl8Gu

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on Feb. 18, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on Feb. 19 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure: I received a prize package similar to the one being given away on this post, courtesy of Dollar General and Procter&Gamble, via Blue Chip Communications.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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KidzGear Headphones: Kid-friendly style and comfort, grown-up performance

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When you have 3 kids who love to listen to music, watch videos and play videogames, you quickly learn that headphones are a must.  The noise levels at home (and the car, when we go on trips) would be unbearable if everyone were to listen to their favorite tunes out loud!

It's not easy to find good earbuds or headphones for kids -- either the products are too big for kids, making them really uncomfortable to wear, or they're sized perfectly but they're "kiddie" headphones, so they don't give out high quality sound.  I recently received a pair kid-sized, adult-quality headphones that don't sacrifice size for quality -- or price, for that matter.  Kidz Gear headphones are made with the same high-quality, high-performance consumer electronics components found in adult headphones, and  they use standard 3.5mm audio jack, so kids can use them with MP3 players, iPads, iPods, handheld videogame consoles, laptops, DVD and CD players.   I received a pair to review, and there's definitely a lot to love:



The sound is great, definitely comparable to "adult" headsets.


They come in cute colors that kids love (no boring black!)


They're much smaller than adult headsets, so kids can wear them without the headsets constantly falling off their heads.  What's more, they're adjustable, so kids as young as 2 or 3 can wear them, and kids as old as 10 or 11 can wear them too.


They have a volume control right on the cord, so kids don't have to fumble with their electronic device to adjust the volume.  The cord clips on to a belt, shirt pocket or collar, so it's easy for kids to reach.  This volume control (proprietary KidzControl Volume Limit Technology) has the added benefit of limiting the volume to about 80% of maximum volume output, so your kids' little ears are safe -- no need to resort to the classic threat of "Turn That Crap Down!".

They even come with a storage bag!

I do wish the plastic they used for the adjustable portion of the headsets were a bit sturdier.  I feel like they will easily snap in the hands of an overeager child.   Also, I wish these headphones had a retractable cord or some kind of cord winder so they can be stored without the cord tangling up!  A frustrated child (or impatient adult) like me could easily tear the cord while trying to untangle it.  Adding both those features would probably increase the lifespan of the headsets, and given the already low price ($19.99), I'd be willing to pay a bit more for it.  But given all the other features, it's still worth getting -- if they do break, it won't break your budget to get a replacement pair.




Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Giveaway: Beat the winter haircare blues with Fantastic Sam's

To contact us Click HERE

It seems like everything in the winter is dry and lifeless:  the trees, the fields, your garden... your mood, your skin, your nails, your hair!  There's not much we can do about Mother Nature except wait (she's pretty good at taking care of herself anyway), but there are a lot of things we can do to take care of ourselves.   Getting exercise, exposure to daylight and a good night's sleep does wonders to beat the winter blues, and treating skin to lots of moisturizers and lots of glasses of water really help keep skin looking and feeling good.  As for your hair, I've got a few tips from Fantasic Sams Hair Salons' Pam Kelly, on how you can keep your hair happy and looking great even amidst the cold:

· The cold and dry winter air can dehydrate hair quickly creating moisture starved hair. Give your hair a weekly treatment by using Fantastic Sams Moisturizing Masque. Your hair will love you for it!

· Don’t forget regularly scheduled trims! Cold winter temperatures can dry-out hair, creating split ends and a dull finish. Regular trims can prevent excessive damage, and make styling easier. To add immediate luster, use fantasticfinish™ Spray Shine.

· For all guys wearing their hair in the new longer-style trend, fantasticformen™ Simple Style Matte Wax will control your hair while adding texture without the stiffness that gels usually provide.

· To create perfect waves in your hair, try holding your curling iron horizontally rather than vertically and wrap the hair on the outside of the barrel. This will create mermaid waves that rock! Don’t forget to use fantasticstyle™ thermal guard to protect your hair from the hot curling iron.

You can find more hair and style tips -- along with a coupon for $10 off haircut and color! (expires 2/28/13) -- at Fantastic Sams' Facebook page.  Check them out!


Win $25 to spend at Fantastic Sams
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a $25 Fantastic Sams gift card!  You can use the gift card towards a hair cut or any other service at a Fantastic Sams near you, or towards any of their Fantastic Hair products.


By the way, Fantastic Sams sent me some of their Fantastic Repair Moisturing Masque and Fantastic Finish Spray Shine, and I think they're great!  Now that my hair is short, I can't bundle it up into a ponytail every morning -- I need to actually spend a bit of time making my hair look decent. A weekly Moisturizing Mask treatment in the shower (so much easier than a hot oil treatment!) keeps the dryness and split ends at bay, and just a quick spritz of the Spray Shine every morning gives my hair a finished look.  Plus, they smell Fantastic!

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which Fantastic Sams haircare product you would like to try.

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 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 Fantastic Sam's giveaway! bit.ly/UjlLeL

6) Write this on the Fantastic Sams Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered to win a $25 Fantastic Sams gift card on Bonggamom Finds!

6) Tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day until giveaway end date)
RT @bonggafinds Enter to win a $25 Fantastic Sams gift card!  Giveaway ends Feb 20 at bit.ly/UjlLeL

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on Feb. 20, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on Feb. 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, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Haircare tips (in italics) were provided by Fantastic Sam's Salons. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Giveaway: Cat in the Hat: Safari So Good DVD

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Calling everyone who has ever read a Dr. Seuss book to their kids -- which means, calling everyone! Dr. Seuss' birthday is March 2, and what better way to build up to the celebration than by reading lots and lots of Dr. Seuss books?
Answer: Reading lots and lots of Dr. Seuss books while wearing Cat in the Hat top hats!

I'm a big Dr. Seuss fan -- my mom read it to me when I was a toddler, and I read it to myself as a kid. I had the first 6 pages of One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish memorized even before I had kids!  I've passed that love on to my kids, and even now that they are 9, 9 and 11, they will occasionally pick up a copy of How The Grinch Stole Christmas or The Lorax for some nostalgic reading.  Every year I go through our library to see which books to donate so we can make space for new books, but I just can't bear to part with our Dr. Seuss books.  They'll probably stay in that library until my grandchildren come along.

I wish Mr. Geissel (Dr. Seuss' real name) was alive today to see just how many generations of families have learned to love reading through his books!  Fortunately his legacy lives on, not just with the books he wrote, but with the new DVDs and books and apps that PBS Kids have created to keep Dr. Seuss' mission going.  the Cat in the Hat Learning Library book series and The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That DVD series teaches kids cool science facts in a fun, Dr.Seuss-inspired setting, with everyone's favorite feline, the Cat in the Hat.

Their latest titles will take kids to Africa to explore and discover African wildlife, the jungle, predators vs. prey and more.  Here's more information about both:




The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That:  Safari, So Good DVD

• It's time for safari, so come and explore with the Cat and his friends on adventures galore. We will reach for the treetops and swing through the trees, When we walk like giraffes and swing like monkeys!
• SRP: $10.99
• Available at NCircleEntertainment.com or a retailer near you, including Target, Wal-Mart, and Toys R Us!

The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library: Safari, So Good! All About African Wildlife book

• The Cat takes Sally and Nick to Africa--where they learn how animals are either predators or prey, that elephants tend to favor one tusk over the other, how to tell the difference between a white and black rhino (both of which are gray!), and much, much more!
• · SRP: $12.99
• · Available at seussville.com, Wal-Mart, and Barnes & Noble

Older Dr. Seuss fans will be able to tell that the book was not written by Dr. Seuss.  Even though all the words rhyme, they don't flow like they do in a real Dr. Seuss book -- but then again, Dr. Seuss is a tough act to follow, and no one else has his genius for creating new words and rhyming existing ones.  Also, the book was written with the very specific purpose of teaching young kids about African wildlife -- so at least it's good to know that the authors do try to stick to the spirit of the original Dr. Seuss  books.  With that in mind, the books are really quite good!


Most of the drawings don't quite replicate Dr. Seuss' wacky style, but they are definitely inspired by him, and Horton the Elephant would fit right into the herd of elephants in the page below:


The DVD is like the book come to life, and the young kids will definitely be engaged by the Cat in the Hat (voiced by Martin Short) as he asks viewers to help him find the missing stripes for his hat.  You'll see all the creatures from the book, so the two go very nicely together.

Win a Dr. Seuss DVD!
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a copy of the Dr. Seuss DVD, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That: Safari, So Good!

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me how you and your family celebrate diversity in the community.

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

5) Like NCircle Entertainment on Facebook (1 entry).

6) "Like Bonggamom Finds" on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry):
I entered the Dr. Seuss Birthday DVD giveaway!

7) Tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day until giveaway end date)
RT @bonggafinds Enter to win a Cat in the Hat: Safari So Good DVD! Giveaway ends March 2 at bonggafinds.com

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on March 2, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on March 3 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

..Disclosure: I received a review copy of the book and DVD courtesy of NCircle Entertainment, who also provided the giveaway prize.  Product information (in italics) is provided by NCircle Entertainment. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Relive (or redo) your favorite NFL moments with Madden NFL 13

To contact us Click HERE

Superbowl 47 is over, and the Baltimore Ravens snatched victory from the San Francisco 49ers in a thrilling cliffhanger of a game.  I'm in mourning for the 49ers, along with the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area.  They played a terrible first half, and at one point were losing 28-6, but they clawed their way back to 31-29,  With about 4 minutes to go, the 49ers were literally inches away from a touchdown and victory, but the Ravens them held off to win 34-31.

If only 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree had caught that final pass.... if only the pass interference on Crabtree had been called... if only quarterback Colin Kaepernick had been able to find someone open... if only the whole team had played better in the first half!  So many "what if's"....  Fortunately heartbroken 49ers fans will be able to replay Superbowl 47 the way they want it -- and gleeful Ravens fans will be able to relive their victory again and again -- with the Madden NFL 13 videogame for the PS3 and the PS Vita.


About Madden NFL 13 for PS Vita
Madden NFL 13 debuts on the PlayStation Vita, delivering the ultimate NFL experience on a handheld. Become an NFL Superstar or build the league's next Dynasty utilizing the Vita's touch screens that provide unprecedented control, unlocking new layers of gameplay and feature depth. Experience Sundays like never before with all-new commentary from Jim Nantz and Phil Simms as you battle friends online and climb the leaderboard with each victory, or use the motion sensor function to control direction when kicking field goals. Madden NFL 13 for Vita lets NFL fans dominate at home or while on the road.


As a PlayStation Family blogger, I received a copy of Madden NFL 13 for the PS Vita, and my boys spent all of last week playing with it, pitting teams against each other, getting familiar with how football is played and getting psyched about the Big Game.  Even though they're not big football fans, it turns out they really enjoy this videogame!  They definitely enjoy playing Madden NFL 13 more than they enjoy watching football on TV, because they get to decide which teams play against each other and they get to control the players' moves on the field.  They can even create their own NFL player, get him drafted and help him succeed all the way into the NFL Hall of Fame.


Learning all the movement controls can take a bit of time, but the PS Vita's front and rear touch screens make it a lot easier, and once players get used to it, they can really make those football players go.  Sometimes they like to make the players do really goofy moves, like make players run in the wrong direction or aim a field goal at a player's head, just for the fun of it!  The sound effects are a lot of fun, from the stadium music to the roar of the crowd to the commentators calling out the plays (they use the voices of the real TV commentators).  I'm so impressed at how much detail they can pack into a portable game, from the amazing graphics to the complex moves to the number of features.   It's a must-have for NFL fans, especially those who like to play on the go -- and as my kids have proven, it's a lot of fun for any kid who likes to play videogames.



The 49ers may have lost Superbowl 47, but they're always a winner in my book.  Thanks to Madden NFL 13, it's still possible to escape from reality and pit the Ravens against the 49ers one more time and come out with a happier ending!


Disclosure: As a PlayStation Family member, I received a review copy of Madden NFL 13. Game information (in italics) was provided by Sony PlayStation.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Day 3 Twelve Days of Giveaways

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On the third day of Christmas, Bonggamom gives to thee... a Nerf Firevision Hyper Bounce Ball!  We are big Nerf fans -- my sons' room is overflowing with Nerf shooters, and whenever their friends come over to play, the Nerf bin always comes out, without fail.  We also have a few Nerf balls,and I love how much more "indoor-friendly" these balls are compared to regular sports equipment.  Plus, you can't beat that soft squooshy feel that Nerf is known for!

Once again, Nerf got it right with the Hyper Bounce Ball.  They took the timeless fun of a simple bouncing ball and gave it a twist -- or should I say, a bounce -- by giving it a cool glow that lets kids see their ball in the dark!  It's about the size of a baseball, so it's perfect for bouncing off a wall or playing catch with a friend.

Nerf sure knows what kids love!  


Here's how to enter today's giveaway:

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this page telling me your child's favorite Nerf toy.

Bonus Entries

1) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (5 entries)

2) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)

3) Follow bonggamom on Facebook (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) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered to win a Nerf Firevision Sports ball  in Day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas giveaway!

6) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this (1 entry per day):
Enter Day 3 of @bonggafinds 12 Days of Giveaways: a Nerf Firevision sports ball!  Giveaway ends Jan. 7 at http://tinyurl.com/bnjcwyr

7) Add the Bonggamom Finds Twelve Days of Giveaways button on your blog sidebar -- get the code here (1 entry)

8) Join any of the open giveaways in the Twelve Days of Giveaways series (see full list at the end of this post, 1 entry per giveaway you've joined).


The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on January 7, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on Jan. 8  and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.



Join all of Bonggamom Finds' Twelve Days of Giveaways!  Here are the holiday giveaways that are live....
Day 1, December 25: Leapfrog LeapPad 2 bundle
Day 2, December 26: $25 Visa gift card from C&H Light

.... and here are the giveaways that are coming your way....
Day 4, December 28: My Little Pony
Day 5, December 29: Littlest Pet Shop Fairies
Day 6, December 30: Wreck It Ralph iPad apps
Day 7, December 31: $50 EdenFantasys gift card
Day 8, January 1: $50 Levenger gift card
Day 9, January 2:  Spot It! game from Blue OrangeDay 10, January 3: $50 gift certificate to 1800Lighting.com
Day 11, January 4: Yo Gabba Gabba! Music is Awesome CDDay 12, January 5: Little Big Planet Game for PS Vita(note: each giveaway link will go live on the specified day)



Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Meet Saige, American Girl's 2013 Girl of the Year

To contact us Click HERE

It's my pleasure to introduce American Girl's 2013 Girl of the Year, Saige Copeland!  Saige is a high-spirited girl from New Mexico who loves to ride horses and paint.  When budget cuts take away her school's art class funding, Saige uses her creativity and imagination to mobilize others and inspire change.  Here are a few facts about Saige:

Where she lives
Albuquerque, New Mexico, the hot air ballooning capital of the world

Favorite activities
Being at her grandma Mimi's ranch, painting in the studio or riding Picasso the horse

What changes her life
Entering the fourth-grade school year with no art classes

What she discovers
You can use your imagination to create artwork and inspire change

Saige will launch on January 1 with two books that tell her story, as well as a new American Girl activity book that encourages girls to express themselves through art:

• Saige
• Saige Paints the Sky
• Express  Yourself: Use Art to Explores the Emotions Inside You!

Saige's character will come to life with an 18-inch, auburn-haired Saige doll, with a variety of outfits and accessories, such as:

• Saige's horse Picasso
• Saige's dog Sam
• Hot air balloon
• Various outfits including a riding outfit, dressy outfit and painting outfit

What's more, Saige's story will be captured on a DVD movie from Universal Studios Home Entertainment in 2013.

As in previous years, the 2013 Girl of the Year will be tied to a community initiative that girls can rally around.  Since Saige is passionate about preserving arts programs in schools, this year American Girl is introducing a number of Saige-related initiatives, such as:

• American Girl's "Shine On Now" charitable initiative will be supporting the Arts Education Program run by Americans for the Arts.

• American Girl will be launching an Elevate the Arts School Grant Contest on January 1.  Elementary art school teachers will be able to enter to win one of thirteen grants totalling $45,000 for their school's art programs.

• American Girl will be launching a Soar with Saige Sweepstakes, where girls can enter to win one of ten prize packages.

• American Girl will be partnering with Americans for the Arts to launch Saige's Learning Guide, a free downloadable curriculum with fun art activities.

Are you excited about Saige's arrival?  We sure are!


Disclosure: I received an advanced media kit from American Girl containing press releases and review copies of the new"Sage" and "Express Yourself" books.. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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