Meet Gabriela, American Girl of the Year 2017 (and a giveaway for you!)

Can you believe that American Girl has been releasing a Girl of the Year (GOTY) doll since 2001? 2017 will mark the release of their 15th doll, and I'm so excited that 2017's Girl of the Year, Gabriela McBride, is a person of color! Out of the last 14 dolls, 3 have been girls of color (Marisol is Hispanic, Jess is half Asian, Kanani is Hawaiian American). Gabriela is the 4th girl of color and the first African American. I could not be happier that American Girl recognizes that America is a diverse country and has released a beautiful doll who exemplifies that diversity!  I know that many girls have been waiting and hoping for a Girl of the Year that they can relate to on the inside and the outside.

From American Girl:

American Girl is excited to celebrate the New Year with the debut of its 2017 Girl of the Year - Gabriela McBride! Available January 1, 2017, Gabriela is a true talent who uses her passion for the arts—specifically spoken word poetry—to overcome personal obstacles and create positive change for her community. Gabriela launches with a beautiful 18-inch doll, plus several performance-inspired outfits, accessories, and toys. We're also happy to share that, unlike past Girl of the Year characters, Gabriela will be available throughout 2017 and beyond.

Yes, you read that correctly: Gabriela will be available throughout 2017 and beyond! American Girl has never done this before -- all other GOTY dolls were sold only for 1 year. But girls don't ever have to worry about missing out on Gabriela! They can save up for Gabriela without a time limit. What's more, whatever the next Girl of the Year looks like, they will always be able to get a Girl of the Year that looks like them.

American Girl sent me a Gabriela doll and book to review, and I have to say, Gabriela is just gorgeous! Here are some photos I took of her:

Gabriela has warm brown skin tones, warm brown eyes, and dark brown hair. Her hair is truly her crowning glory. Her hair cascades in a avalanche of natural curls, down past her shoulders. It looks good piled on top of her head as well. The doll comes with a cute double strand pink headband.  Check out these selfies that Gabriela took!

Gabriela wears denim jeggings, a purple sweater, and a teal tank top.

Probably the only thing that disappointed me about Gabriela is that the skin tone of her cloth body does NOT match the skin tone of her arms and face. At all. When she wears the tank top by itself, the color mismatch is clearly visible. It's not so obvious when she wears shirts with a neckline that is not as open.

Gabriela's shoes are adorable. They are high-top sneakers! The purple and teal colors match her tank top and sweater.  

Gabriela is a multifaceted person that kids will really be able to relate to. She's a poet and a dancer. She has a speech impediment (stuttering). She is passionate about the arts and passionate about her local community arts center. She wants to make a difference in her local community. She is a great role model and I hope lots of girls read her story.

Outfits and Accessories

Gabriela outfits include PJs ($24), a rehearsal outfit (pictured below, $28) , tap shoes ($16), and a glitter performance outfit ($32). Her accessories kit (pictured below, $28) is a dance bag with everything she needs for rehearsal: the bag, water bottle, bandages, hair accessories, and food.

The photo below shows Gabriela wearing her Sparkling Sequins Outfit ($32). She's using her Performance Case ($48) to set up her next amazing music and poetry performance. I think the Performance Case is a great deal because it comes with so many items: a wheeled rolling case, a laptop with retractable cord, headphones, microphone, drum pad, drumsticks, and stickers to decorate the case.

Gabriela's Creative Dance Studio ($58)  has so much potential for open ended play! The backdrop is reversible so it can be the inside of a dance studio or the outside of a building. The set also includes a metal dance barre, water bottle, and towel. 

I plan to head over to the American Girl Store to take more photos of Gabriela, her playsets, her accessories, and her outfits, so stay tuned!

Win a Gabriela doll and book

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a Gabriela doll and book! Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below by 11:59PM on February 3, 2017. Good luck!
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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 American Girl. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Make a Better Sandwich with Oroweat® {giveaway}

Who doesn't love a good grilled cheese sandwich? A grilled cheese sandwich is supposed to be a childhood favorite, but I'm pretty sure I'll be enjoying it well into old age. Of course, if I eat nothing but grilled cheese sandwiches, I probably won't live to see old age, but I can still enjoy a grilled cheese sandwich now and then, especially if I swap out some of the cheese for veggies, and if I swap out the white bread for whole grain bread like Oroweat® Whole Grain Sliced Bread. Oroweat® is my favorite sandwich bread brand because it's sturdy enough to pack a lot of sandwich filling in between, and it's so delicious my family will eat it on its own!

Here are 3 ways to jazz up an ordinary grilled cheese sandwich. Just take 2 slices of  Oroweat® Whole Grain Sliced Bread, pile in the fillings listed below, and press in a panini maker. Actually, you don't even have to grill these sandwiches; they taste wonderful even when cold!

• Brie
• Tomatoes
• Baby spinach leaves
• Pesto
• Mayo

• Aged cheddar
• Balsamic-glazed red onions
• Sundried tomatoes
• Mixed greens
• Honey mustard
• Mayo

• Mozarella
• Tomatoes
• Basil leaves
• Fig balsamic vinegar
• Olive oil

What are your favorite ways to jazz up a cheese sandwich -- or any sandwich, for that matter? Oroweat® wants to know! Share your favorite sandwich recipe by August 21, 2016 to win up to $25k in their “2016 America’s Better Sandwich” Contest.

About the 2016 America's Better Sandwich Contest

Oroweat® Bread wants to hear what healthful ingredients their fans use to make the perfect sandwich with their delicious, made with whole grain bread, so Oroweat® Bread is hosting the“2016 America’s Better Sandwich” Contest! To enter, fans can submit their recipes at https://www.oroweat.com/americas-better-sandwich for the opportunity to win a grand prize of $25,000 – now, that’s a lot of dough! Additionally, the sandwich in each of the five categories with the highest overall score will receive a $5,000 Category Prize.

Making sure no grain gets left behind, this year, Oroweat® Bread will donate one (1) loaf of bread to Feeding America for each entry and or vote submitted, with a minimum of 75,000 and up to 100,000 loaves donated!

Win an Oroweat® sandwich prize pack

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive an Oroweat® prize pack which includes:

• Six coupons, each valid for $5.00 off the purchase of any Oroweat® Whole Grain Sliced Bread of choice
• Six coupons, each valid for $4.00 off the purchase of any Oroweat® Sandwich Thins® Rolls of choice
• $25 Visa gift card to use towards ingredients for their favorite sandwiches

Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below by midnight PST on August 1, 2016. Good luck!
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Disclosure: I received product coupons and a gift card from Oroweat to help me create this post. Contest information (in italics) is provided by Oroweat.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Sick Just Got Real

When you've got little ones running and screaming all over the house, sometimes it feels as if there's nothing more you want in the world than for them to stop.... until they get sick, and they actually do stop.  Sickness is probably the only thing that would get your perpetual bundles of motion to stop, and then you're so worried about them, you'll do anything to get them back to their normal, loud, crazy selves.

As part of their new Sick just got real.™ campaign, the pediatric brands of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare asked me to share some of my stories about parenting a sick child. Boy, do I have stories! With three kids, how could I not?  Kid delirious with fever? Check. Kid coughing up blood? Check. Kid vomiting into mom's hands? Check. Kid projectile vomiting like a demon from The Exorcist?  Check.

If you're a parent, I'm sure you've been there and you have similar (or worse) horror stories to share about taking care of a sick child. Instead, I'm going to share a story about a child taking care of a sick parent.

One of my sweetest memories of Jammy's babyhood is the time I came down with strep throat, along with 3Po and The Pea. Alfie was at work, and the three of us were burning up with fever. Jammy was the only one who was well enough to play. Actually, he was the only person who was well enough to get out of bed! He spent the day watching tv and playing quietly at my bedside. I felt terrible, both physically and emotionally; I was wracked with guilt that I couldn't take care of my kids.

At one point during the day, The Pea began crying weakly for something to eat. I could barely lift my head, let alone crawl downstairs to prepare anything.  Wouldn't you know it, Jammy took it upon himself to go downstairs and get some cereal for his big sister. He couldn't have been more than two or three years old, and there he was, taking care of us. He carried a box of cereal and a plastic bowl upstairs (he wasn't old enough to open the fridge and pour milk). My heart swelled up with love and pride for my little trooper. He was the best little nursemaid ever!

Is your child coming down with something? Is your heart breaking to see them suffer?  You are not alone! Visit the Sick just got real.™ website to check out virus outbreaks in your location, get tips for dealing with sickness, and learn which of Pfizer's products -- Infants’ and Children’s Advil®, Children’s Robitussin®, and Children’s Dimetapp®. -- can give your child some relief from their symptoms.

Gift Card Giveaway

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a $25 gift card! Share a story about parenting when your child is sick for a chance to win. Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below by April 30, 2016. Good luck!
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Disclosure: I received a gift card from Pfizer Consumer Healthcare for my participation in this campaign. The giftcard for the giveaway was also provided by Pfizer. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Introducing newly reformulated Oroweat® Whole Grains 100% Whole Wheat Bread

I pack sandwiches in Alfie's and the kids' lunch boxes almost every week day; I'd say 3-4 out of 5 of their lunches are sandwiches because they are easy to make and easy to eat! We always buy Oroweat® because the bread is large and sturdy enough to hold a ton of fillings, and the bread itself is delicious! I discovered the brand over 20 years ago and I've loved it ever since! How crazy is it that my relationship with Oroweat® has gone on longer than my relationship with my husband and kids?!!

Our favorites are Oroweat® Buttermilk Bread and Oroweat® Whole Grains 100% Whole Wheat Bread. The Buttermilk bread is our "indulgence", and the Whole Grains bread is our staple, every day bread. It has been newly reformulated and is made with 100% whole grains so it contains 21 grams of whole grain per slice! It's just 90 calories per slice, so you get a lot of whole grain for less calories.

We love Oroweat® toasted, grilled, or straight out of the cupboard. Here are just a few of our favorite sandwich fillings on Oroweat® Whole Grains 100% Whole Wheat Bread:

• Ham and cheese
• Bacon and cheese
• Chicken salad
• Egg salad
• Nutella and banana
• Turkey, pesto, and tomato
• Breaded chicken patties, shredded lettuce, and mayo
• Cream cheese and cucumber
• Turkey, brie, and cranberry jelly
• Black beans and guacamole (check out my recipe here!)

 What do you like to put between your favorite Oroweat® bread? Share your answer and you could win coupons for free Oroweat® bread!

Win free Oroweat bread!

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive  three (3) coupons, each valid for $5.00 off the
purchase of any Oroweat® Whole Grain 100% Whole Wheat Bread. To enter, just leave a comment on this post (1 entry per person, please) telling me your favorite kind of sandwich. Don't forget to leave your email address or a way to contact you! I'll draw a random winner on March 11, 2016.

Disclosure: The coupons for product redemption, information, and gift card have been provided by Oroweat® Bread. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Giveaway: Too Sweet Boutique doll pouch for American Girl

You could win an adorable doll supply pouch from Too Sweet Boutique! Keep reading to find out how to enter

American Girl is making waves in the diabetes community with the release of their new diabetes care kit. The kit comes with the supplies needed to manage diabetes, including an insulin pump, insulin injection pen, glucose tablets, blood sugar monitor, food log, and more. What a great way to include girls with diabetes in creative play! They can now play with American Girl dolls that look just like them and go through the same things that they do.

American Girl is not the first company to make toy accessories for kids with diabetes. Too Sweet Boutique is a company that makes pouches that hold kids' insulin pumps, and they also make matching doll pouches. Too Sweet Boutique sent me samples of the doll pouches ($18), and they are adorable!

The doll pouch has a working zipper so kids can put in their doll's diabetes supplies (note: the supplies in the photo above are from American Girl's diabetes care kit, they are not included with the pouch). It has an elastic belt that easily slips around the American Girl doll's waist.

They come in a variety of cute prints, as well as solid colors. These pouches can be ordered along with the child-sized diabetes pump pouch in matching colors, so the girl can match with her American Girl doll.

By the way, the pouch isn't limited to holding diabetes supplies -- it looks just like a regular fanny pack. It can hold a toy doll phone, notebook, camera, water bottle, snack, or other toy accessory for American Girl doll. I personally think that these make adorable on-the-go packs for any American Girl doll!

Many of the prints on Too Sweet Boutique's website are "boyish" prints, with cars, trucks, Star Wars characters, and more, so even girls who don't like "girly" prints as well as boys can order these toy pouches! By the way, the pouches are not limited to use on 18-inch dolls -- they will fit on similar sized stuffies, such as our Build A Bear teddy bear.

Win a Too Sweet Boutique Doll Pouch

Diabetes nonprofit Carb DM is giving away a doll pouch (ARV: $18) from Too Sweet Boutique!  To enter, leave a comment on Carb DM's Facebook post, or enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!

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Disclosure: Thanks to Too Sweet Boutique for providing review/product giveaway samples and to Carb DM/Too Sweet Boutique for runing the giveaway. Carb DM is a client but this is not a sponsored post; I'm just sharing the giveaway because I love American Girl. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Giveaway: Tickets to Monster Jam in Oakland on Feb 20!

Attention, Bay Area families! Monster Jam is coming back for a death-defying, adrenaline-pumping, rip-roaring show! Last year it was held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, and this year it's returning to its 2014 venue, Oakland's Oracle Arena.  It's part stunt show, part racing competition, part freestyle competition, and all fun. I'm not into cars and trucks but I've watched Monster Jam for 2 years runningand loved it immensely.  I felt lightheaded with all the gasping I did as each truck threatened to crash and burn, and I yelled myself hoarse as they completed their crazy stunts. It's hard to describe the spectacle of gigantic trucks with 60+ inch wheels, jumping over a hundred feet and flipping in the air, you just have to see it yourself!

About Monster Jam

Monster Jam ® brings high-octane, motorsports entertainment to fans around the world. The action-packed live events feature the most recognizable trucks including Grave Digger ® , Max-D ® and many more, performing jaw-dropping displays of gravity-defying feats. Fans can also experience the non-stop racing excitement year-round on FS1.

Here's the list of trucks scheduled to appear on Feb 20:

• Destroyer driven by Roger Stidell
• FS1 Cleatus driven by Frank Krmel
• Devastator driven by Mark Schroeder
• El Diablo driven by Lupe Soza
• ]El Toro Loco driven by Chuck Werner
• Grave Digger driven by Dennis Anderson
• Gas Monkey Garage driven by BJ Johnson
• Max-D driven by Neil Elliott
• Metal Mulisha driven by Todd Leduc
• Playin for Keeps driven by Tony Canedo
• Obsessed driven by Rick Swanson
• Obsession driven by Eric Swanson
• Titan driven by Donald Epidendio
• Time Flys driven by Kelvin Ramer
• Wild Flower driven by Rosalee Ramer

Monster Jam Discount Tickets

Get your Monster Jam tickets ASAP because the best seats are sure to sell out quickly! Don't forget, the show will only be in the Bay Area for one day!  If you don't live in the Bay Area, check out the Monster Jam schedule to see when they'll be performing at an arena near you.

Here's a great discount: Save $5 on adult tickets with code LOCAL. Kids tickets are always 50% off (no qualifier needed). Savings valid on regularly priced $30, $25, and $15 seats. Savings not valid day of show. No double discounts.

Monster Jam Ticket Giveaway

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive 4 tickets to Monster Jam at the Oracle Arena on Feb 20, 2016! To enter, just leave a comment on this post and tell me the name of your favorite Monster Jam monster truck. Giveaway ends 11:59 PST on January 24, 2016. Open only to residents of the SF Bay Area. Good luck!


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.
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Meet Lea (doll giveaway!)

It's time to meet Lea Clark, American Girl's 2016 Girl of the Year! Lea is a photographer and an animal lover who likes to travel and explore. In Lea's 2-book series, girls can read about Lea's adventures when she goes to visit her older brother Zac in the Amazon rainforest. I went to the American Girl Store in Palo Alto to get a closer look at Lea and take some photos to share with you! Keep reading to find out more about Lea and her collection -- and enter for the chance to win a Lea doll of your own!

I think Lea is one of the prettiest Girls of the Year. She has hazel eyes and long, wavy, light-brown hair. It could be the store lighting, but it looks to me like Lea's skin tone is slightly tanned, which would make sense given that she's in Brazil. I love the way her hair curls at the bottom!


Lea's dress is so cute, and I can totally see her wearing it to any tropical place.


I was pleasantly surprised to find that Lea comes with a compass necklace and a messenger bag ( not part of her Accessory set, they both just come with the basic doll!).


Lea's sandals are so adorable!


Let's take a look at some of Lea's outfits and accessories, starting with the grandest of them all, Lea's Rainforest House! This gigantic playset comes with a ton of accessories -- and for $395, it had better! Her house has a thatched roof, lantern, hammock, and so much more.


The loft bed has bamboo railings plus bedding in bright colors. Decorations include shelves, a flower vase, a framed poster, and post cards. Lea is so close to nature, there are even tiny animals -- a blue butterfly, a parrot, and a tiny green frog -- and flit in and out of her house.


I love, love, love this outdoor shower with mosaic tile backing! Also check out the soap-on-a-rope, seashell chimes and mosquito netting. Detail, detail, detail.



The table and chair look like they are made with rattan, bamboo, and wood. There are a ton of native foods as well as utensils, a plate, a rice bowl, and a fruit drink. Lea can also use the table to work on her tablet and keyboard.


A less extravagant, more practical playset is Lea's Fruit Stand, which is a relative "bargain" at $150. It includes lots and lots of pretend fruit, food, plates, utensils, a blender, baskets, counter tops, a working window, and more! (BTW check out Lea's Bahia outfit, $28 -- I would totally wear that printed top).



Here's a closer look at the fruit stand.


Like the Rainforest House, the outside of the Fruit Stand has great detail, so girls can play from all sides. The side in the photo has a toucan perch, toucan, menu holder, and outdoor table. Girls can put decorative stickers on the side walls.




Lea gets to explore the ocean in a clear-bottomed kayak with removable sail.  The Ocean Kayak set ($85) includes a life vest but Lea's 2 piece swimsuit is sold separately (it's part of her Mix and Match Swim Set). The sea turtle is also a separate item.


Here's the other half of Lea's Mix and Match Swim Set ($34). Everything else in the photo is part of her Beach Accessories set.



Lea's collection comes with not one, not two, but three plush animals! Because she's in the rainforest, the animals are also rainforest animals -- a Three Toed Sloth ($20), a Margay Cat ($20), and a Sea Turtle($18). And because no GOTY collection is complete without a worthy cause, American Girl will donate $1 to the World Wildlife Fund for each animal purchased, up to $100,000. Way to go, American Girl!


Here's Lea with her new Brazilian friends. She's wearing her Rainforest Pajamas ($24).

Win a Lea Doll and Book

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a Lea doll and book! Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below by 1/26/2016. Good luck!
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Disclosure: Giveaway doll provided by American Girl via Weber Shandwick. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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