Living Positively

Three weeks ago I turned thirty-nine. I'm not one of those people who dreads turning forty (that's one good thing about having a husband who's fourteen years your senior -- you never feel old), and though there's a lot I still want to do in life, I don't feel like I missed out on so many things in my youth that I need to make up for it with a midlife crisis. But milestone birthdays are always a great excuse for me to take stock of my life and see what needs changing. So I'm using the advent of the Big Four-Oh to be more proactive about my life and live more positively. Here's what Living Positively means for me:


I will strive to do better, be better.
Many times over the past few years I've felt as though I'm stuck in a rut. I've come to realize that the only reason I feel stuck is because I'm not doing anything about it. To that end, I've made a list of Forty Things I want to do before I'm Forty. Some of the items on that list are frivolous at best (buying heels, getting a navel ring). Others are (volunteering, spending more time with my husband). All of the items are designed in some way to build a healthier, happier, more confident -- in short, better -- me. I may not get to accomplishing everything on the list, but just having this list written down has given me a sense of purpose, and as I begin working on the items on the list, I'm already feeling more proactive and positive.


I use my blog as a force for good.
I'm still in awe of the amazing reach and influence that women bloggers have. I'm even more in awe to think that a part of that reach and influence, however small, belongs to me. It would be crazy not to use my voice in the blogosphere to try and make a difference. That's why I never hesitate to blog about issues and causes I feel are important. Over the years I have blogged about breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, malaria, disaster awareness, support for families, the importance of outdoor play and other causes that matter to me. If even one person reads my blog, becomes more aware of an issue or sees how easy it can be to help, I'm happy.


I will think positive, hope for the best and prepare for the worst
Even as I write this, the concept of Living Positively has taken on a new meaning. I've just gotten back from an appointment with my gynecologist -- and she found a lump on each of my breasts. The teeniest, tiniest lumps, so small that I could only feel one after she showed me exactly where to look, and I still can't feel the other one at all. She says it's no reason to excited about at this point, because there is 1 lump on each breast, and she had difficulty finding one of the lumps a second time, so they may just be lymph nodes (whatever that means). But given my family history of breast cancer, she told me to get a mammogram right away, so I'm scheduled for one this week. Despite her reassurances, I'm a bit freaked out, but I'm trying to stay positive. She's not worried, so I'm going to try not to be. I'm taking a deep breath and hoping for the best. If the worst happens, I'll deal with it.


With so much self-reflection going on, the timing could not have been better to receive an invitation from Coca-Cola and BlogHer to take part in a very special event, Conversations with Coca-Cola. I'll be traveling to Atlanta next week to the Coca-Cola headquarters, where I'll be joining the folks from BlogHer and other bloggers for two days of interesting and insightful discussions about Living Positively -- personally, around the blogosphere and in our community.

On a lighter note, I'm also excited to be going behind the scenes at Coca-Cola and learning more about how they make their beverages, as well as meeting with top Coca-Cola executives. And that reminds me, if you want me to ask them anything on your behalf, please leave a comment on this post, and I'll make sure your voice is heard!



Disclosure: Coke will be paying for my travel, lodging and activities for my upcoming Atlanta trip, and BlogHer is compensating me for writing this post. All views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Staying Well with Walgreens this Winter

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Walgreens.

We've just come back from a 3-day ski trip at Tahoe, and it's amazing how much stuff you need to pack just for 3 days. Part of it, of course is all the extra gear and paraphernalia you need when you go out in the snow, and another part of it is traveling with a fussy Englishman who refuses to give up his endless daily cups of tea. But there's the stuff you can't really avoid, like clothes and shoes and toiletries and medicines -- and given the wintry season, we need more of those than ever to stay happy and healthy! I was recently chosen by Walgreen's and BlogHer to review the Walgreens' Brand Health and Wellness products of my choice, and the invitation could not have come at a better time, since I was stocking up for our trip, and we buy Walgreens' brand products all the time anyway. Here are three Walgreens' Brand Health and Wellness products that we rely on for our winter getaways: Suncare When it's cold and dull and grey, the last thing you're thinking of is sunscreen, but actually the sun's rays are just as strong; even though your body is bundled up, your face and hands need sun protection just as much as they do in the summer. And when you're in the snow, protecting your face is more important than ever! That's why we pack sunscreen sticks whenever we go up to Tahoe.
I love Walgreen's Oil-Free Sunscreen Sticks -- they're so easy to apply. You don't even have to get your hands all sticky because you hold the plastic tube and apply it, like lipstick all over your face. The Sunscreen Stick for babies is white, which I don't particularly care for, since you do have to use your hands to blend it in, but Alfie really likes it because you can easily see which areas you've already applied.
Pain/fever/cold relief Whenever we go to the snow, it always seems like one of the kids comes down with some kind of virus while we're up there. So we always take a small stash of junior-strength ibuprofen to keep them comfortable and fever-free, just in case. It has to be ibuprofen, not acetaminophen, because my twins have some kind of protein deficiency that could result in chronic anemia when they take in certain foods or chemicals -- and acetaminophen is one of them. For some reason, chewable junior-strength ibuprofen is really quite difficult to find. I've really only been able to find them at Walgreen's, so when they're in stock I really stock up.
Junior-strength ibuprofen in liquid form is pretty readily available (and the Walgreen's brand has that too), but it's so much more convenient to have it in chewable form when traveling. Allergies All of us are allergic to something or other, and it's not a seasonal thing either. 3Po's eczema bothers him year-round, Alfie's hay fever has turned into a year-round malady and the rest of us get the dreaded puffy/watery/itchy eye from time to time.
Once again, it's Walgreen's Children's Allergy Relief to the rescue. Their chewables work just as well as the name brand antihistamine that I've been using my entire life -- until I discovered that the Walgreen's brand works just as well, and costs less. Alfie and I find that the children's version works fine for us (if my symptoms are particularly strong, I just take a double kids' dose) and the kids. We have a box of these permanently in our van, and we make sure we pack a second box in our toiletry bag whenever we travel anywhere. If you compare the ingredients in Walgreens Brand products versus name-brand products, there's really no difference! They have the same ingredients, and they work just as well. The only difference is the price! I've even discovered another great reason to purchase Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products: a portion of every purchase of these products supports the Walgreens Way to Well Fund™, which brings preventative wellness services to local communities. There's no reason not to try Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness products! Visit the site for more information and check it out. Plus, if you enter my giveaway below, you might even win a $100 Walgreens gift card to try out the products yourself! Win a $100 Walgreens Gift Card One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a $100 Walgreens gift card, courtesy of BlogHer. Required Entry Leave a comment on this post and tell me which Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Product(s) you need this winter season. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify. Extra Entry For an extra entry, you can do ONE of the following (for a total of 2 entries). Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry. 1) Tweet this: Enter to win a $100 Walgreen's gift card on @bonggafinds #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/bonggagiveaways .... and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post 2) Blog about this promotion (please make sure your blog post has a link to this post) and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post 3) For those with no Twitter or blog, visit the Official Rules to learn about an alternate form of entry. More Giveaways More BlogHer reviewers are writing about their experiences with Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products, and they've all got giveaways! Visit the Exclusive Offers section for even more chances to win a $100 Walgreen's gift card. The Rules This giveaway starts at 9:00AM PST on March 14 and ends at 11:59PM PST on April 13, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on April 14 and post the winner's name after he/she confirm acceptance. Winner must confirm within 72 hrs of my email, otherwise a new winner will be selected. US residents only, 18 or older. No duplicate comments, please. Visit the Official Rules. Good Luck! Disclosure: This is a compensated post. Giveaway prize has been provided by BlogHer. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Tom's of Maine Silly Strawberry Toothpaste review and giveaway - win a $100 Visa giftcard!

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Tom's of Maine.

When I was a kid, getting ready for bed was boring. We used whatever the grownups used to wash our hair, scrub our bodies and brush our teeth. No fun flavors or yummy scents, no cartoon characters on the bottles. No wonder I hated going to bed. Things are so much better in today's world of personal care products for kids! I know, I know, it's the usual You've-got-it-easy-in-my-day-I-had-to-walk-five-miles-to-milk-the-cow story, but as a parent I'm nothing but happy at the way kid-friendly products turn bathing and brushing teeth into a fun, pleasant activity. It goes without saying that the ingredients in a kids' product should be gentle, not harmful. BlogHer Reviews recently sent us a tube of Tom's of Maine Silly Strawberry toothpaste for kids, which I was more than happy to try because I know Tom's of Maine has a reputation for safe, natural and effective. But is Tom's kid-friendly? The Basics Tom's of Maine Natural Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste for kids is flavored with real fruit flavor oils, not artificial sweeteners. It uses naturally-sourced fluoride to help prevent cavities, and uses calcium and silica to clean. The toothpaste comes in two flavors, Silly Strawberry and Outrageous Orange-Mango. Here's what Tom's has to say about this product: Only one natural oral care company carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance for a children’s toothpaste, Tom’s of Maine Anticavity Children’s Silly Strawberry with Fluoride. And because we care as much as you do, we’ve never tested it on animals or added artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. It’s flavored with natural oils for a great strawberry taste they’ll love. (Check out the Tom's official site) The Bongga The verdict is in: Tom's is definitely kid-friendly. Even the name, Silly Strawberry, and the friendly little parrot on the toothpaste tube got my kids smiling. I asked 3Po if he felt like doing a silly dance while brushing his teeth with the Silly Stawberry toothpaste, and since my kids have been shoved in front of cameras since birth, 3Po was more than happy to comply. So without further ado, here's a video of 3Po brushing himself silly: The Pea got into the act as well: Best of all, this toothpaste is as natural as my kids' smiles! I love the fact that there are no artifical ingredients. No saccharin, or sparkles, just calcium and silica and fluoride. And at about $3 per 4-oz tube, it's reasonably priced! The Blah The Pea gave this toothpaste a very balanced review; she liked the flavor but thought it was too mild: I myself have no problem with the flavor; I quite like the subtle strawberry taste, and I think it smells divine. My problem with the toothpaste is the vintage-y metal tube it comes in. I just find it hard to squeeze and unsightly. Why bother with this kind of 70's era packaging anyway? Can it be recycled? Update 12/18/09: Tom's of Maine has contacted me with an answer to my question above: yes, they do use environmentally sustainable packaging! Two thumbs up to Tom's for their eco-awareness and quick customer response :) The Bottom Line Tomt's of Maine Silly Strawberry toothpaste gets your kids' teeth clean and healthy without artificial ingredients. And it still manages to look, smell and taste like a kids' toothpaste, which means kids are happy to brush with it. Win It! One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a $100 Visa giftcard, courtesy of BlogHer reviews and Tom's of Maine. Required entry: Leave a comment on this post and tell me what you do to get your kids to brush their teeth. Extra entries: You can do any or all of the following, (you can only do each entra entry once; please leave a separate comment for each extra entry): 1) Become a fan of Bonggamom Finds on Facebook (leave a comment with your FB id). 2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(leave a comment with your Blogger profile name). 3) Blog about this giveaway, making sure you have a link to the giveaway in your blog post (leave a comment with a link to your blog post). 4) Tweet this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your tweet). Here is a sample tweet you can copy and paste: Win a $100 Visa giftcard from @bonggafinds and Tom's of Maine http://tinyurl.com/yc3gqm2 Maximum of 5 entries per person. This giveaway begins at 9:00AM on December 15, 2009, and ends at midnight PST on January 15, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on January 16 and post the winner's name as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. Winner has 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. For official BlogHer giveaway rules, click here. And don't forget to check out more reviews of Tom's Silly Strawberry toothpaste; each reviewer is giving away a $100 giftcard so you'll have a total of 8 chances to win. Good luck! Disclaimer: this is a compensated review. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Ragu Pasta Sauce -- It's RaGooood! (Review and Giveaway)

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Ragu. Keep reading to find out how to win a $100 Visa Card!

My family loves tomatoes, and there's nothing like a simple, fresh red sauce on pasta al dente. But I don't always have the time or energy to make it all from scratch. So one pantry staple I cannot live without is jarred pasta sauce. I recently participated in a BlogHer review of Ragu pasta sauces, and I have to say it's great to know that I don't have to sacrifice convenience to feed my family well. According to their website, half a cup of Ragu's red sauces contain a full serving of vegetables. And unlike many jarred foods, these sauces have no additives or preservatives. All those delicious, healthy tomatoes already peeled, seeded, sauteed and simmered for you -- what's not to love? The Basics We were sent several varieties of Ragu pasta sauce -- Ragu Old World Style Sweet Tomato Basil, Ragu Old World Style Margherita, Ragu Alfredo, and Ragu Pizza Sauce-- and invited to try some of the recipes on Ragu.com. The Bongga The combination of nutrition, taste, cost and convenience makes Ragu sauces hard to beat. When I'm out of time/inspiration/money, I just pour them on hot pasta, and they taste great all by themselves. They also make a great base sauce for more labor-intensive recipes! And speaking of recipes, I definitely recommend the ones we tried from Ragu.com. Here are three recipes that we really enjoyed:
Upside Down Deep Dish Pizza When I opened the oven and the kids saw this dish, they howled in disappointment. This is NOT pizza, it's a yucky casserole! But I'm not called Mom for nothing -- our rule is that everyone has to try everything once. I know what they like, and I was right. I am not gracious in victory: I thoroughly enjoy telling my kids, "I told you so". Even if I hadn't forced them to admit how yummy it was, I could tell they loved it by the way they were wolfing it down. When I confessed that there was spinach mixed in with the beef, they merely shrugged and kept on eating. The spinach really does go well with the ground beef and Ragu sauce (I did add a bit more cheese than the recipe called for, but the taste of beef and spinach still came out loud and clear). And the next day, we all fought over the leftovers. This is definitely a keeper!
Pasta Margherita This must be one of the highest ROI -- return on investment -- recipes ever. In plain English, I get a delicious pasta dish that my kids will devour for practically zero effort! This is pretty much our We-just-got-home-from-soccer-practice-and-Good-Grief-is-that-the-time-I-need-to-make-dinner! staple. It is beyond easy to prepare . No penne pasta in the cupboard? No problem. We substituted cheese tortellini. Kids hate pepperoni? Use sausages instead! The one must-have, in my opinion, is the basil. Forget the "optional" note in the recipe -- this is what really makes the dish. You only need a few leaves to enhance the basil that's already in the Ragu Margherita sauce. And if you use fresh basil leaves, fresh mozarella and high-quality pepperoni, I swear the result is as good as any you get from your local pasta joint. Double opped Mushroom Pizza This is another high-ROI recipe, especially since you don't make the pizza dough yourself (Although you could if you really wanted to. As for me, I consider yeast a live animal and don't particularly want to work with it, so I was happy to use a prebaked crust). This is another time-crunch standby in our household. Olives are Jammy's favorite vegetable, and we all love mushrooms, so this recipe is right up our alley . But I've never used green onions to top a homemade pizza before, and I have to say they were a surprisingly delicious touch! And I'm proud to say that none of my kids felt it necessary to pick out ANY of the toppings before they shoved the pizza into their mouths. You can find all three recipes online at Ragu.com. And be sure to visit Ragu.com for even more kid-friendly recipes, healthy tips and more. The Blah This is one of those rare reviews where I have nothing to write in the Blah section. Unless.... hmmmm..... it sucks that I ate way more than I should have? The Bottom Line Ragu pasta sauce -- delicious, nutritious, budget-friendly and oh-so-easy! Like I need any more reasons to make it a pantry staple in our household? Win it! One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will be selected to win a $100 Visa gift card! To enter, head on over to the Ragu recipe page and select the recipe that you'd most love to try. Leave me a comment below and tell me which recipe you chose. Make sure that the e-mail address you leave is correct. For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry): 1) Grab my button -- it's on the left hand sidebar, or click here to get it -- and post it on your blog! (leave a comment here with a link to your site). 2) Blog about this giveaway and link to this giveaway on your blog post (leave a comment with a link to your blog post). 3) Tweet this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your tweet). Here is a sample tweet you can copy and paste: Win a $100 Visa giftcard from @bonggafinds and Ragu http://tinyurl.com/yc7xp3x The Rules: * The contest will begin at 10/1/2009 and will end 11/11/2009. * No duplicate comments. Maximum of 4 entries per person. * This giveaway is open to US-residents, aged 18 and over. * Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail. * You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. Don't forget to check out the rest of the BlogHer Reviewers' Ragu meals - you have 10 chance to win a $100 Visa gift card. Good luck!  I received a product sample and monetary compensation for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Back to School with Lance Crackers

 This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Lance Snacks.

It's almost time for school to start once again, and this year I've got three kids in elementary school now! I'm going to have to figure out a way to pack 3 mid-morning snacks and 4 lunches (yes, I pack lunch for my husband as well!) and get 3 kids ready for school in the morning. And I'm going to have to rely on healthy, easy-to-prepare snack foods more than ever -- which is why I was happy to join BlogHer's Lance Snacks review, and try out some of their new healthier snack products. The Basics We tried several Lance Varities: Their new Whole Grain Sandwich Crackers line, with three varieties -- Real Peanut Butter on Whole Grain, Real Cheddar Cheese on Whole Grain, and Real Sharp Cheddar Cheese on Whole Grain, all with 3 grams of fiber per serving, and their new 100 Calorie line, also with three varieties -- Toast Chee (peanut butter on cheese crackers), Toasty (peanut butter on butter crackers) and NipChee (cheddar cheese on cheese crackers), all in serving sizes of 100 calories each. As with all Lance Snacks, these new varieties use real peanut butter and real cheese, and contain zero trans fat and zero high-fructose corn syrup. The Bongga The Lance Whole Grain Sandwich Crackers rock! I already buy sandwich snack crackers to tuck into the kids' lunch boxes now and then, but they're always made with white flour, so I wondered how they would like the taste of the Lance Whole Grain Sandwich Crackers. I needn't have worried; they didn't even notice the difference! The nutty taste of the whole grain crackers pairs perfectly with the Real Sharp Cheddar Cheese spread; in fact, it was my kids' hands-down favorite. When the sandwich crackers first arrived, I let my kids each have a pack of 6 sandwich crackers for their mid-morning snack, which they quickly wolfed down. Since whole grains are more filling, those 6 crackers would be more than adequate for a kids' snack, but it was getting close to noontime, and they were still hungry, so opened up a couple more packs, brought out a bowl of sweet, organic cherry tomatoes, poured them each a glass of milk, and we turned it into an early lunch. Yum! I got to thinking of some other ways I'd serve these sandwich crackers: * Real Peanut Butter on Whole Grain with apple slices on the side and honey for dipping (dipping apples, crackers or both, that is) * Real Peanut Button on Whole Grain with Nutella spread on top * Chicken salad spread on Real Sharp Cheddar Cheese on Whole Grain, topped with a grape and a walnut. * Tomato soup with Real Sharp Cheddar Cheese on Whole Grain on the side (or dunked into the soup!) The best thing about the ideas above (well, the second-best thing, actually; the best thing about them is how yummy they are) is that they're all totally portable, so I can easily pack these into my kids' school lunchboxes once school starts. It's a delicious, easy way for them to increase their consumption of whole grains! The Blah Having been raised on genuine sharp English cheddar and the stinkiest cheeses available, I'm not surprised that my kids didn't care much for the Real Cheddar Cheese on Whole Grain or the 100 Calorie Nip Chee sandwich crackers (they found both varieties tasteless), but I can see how many kids might like the mild cheesy taste. And because my kids are always on the go, the 100 Calorie snack packs didn't really fill them up; they ended up eating two packets anyway. For 190 calories, I think 1 pack of the Whole Grain variety, with 3 grams of fiber, is more filling and nutritious than 2 of the 100 Calorie packs. The Bottom Line We're big fans of Lance's new Whole Grain line of sandwich crackers! They've got the nutrition of whole grain, taste great and fill you up, which makes them a great option to pack into my kids' lunchboxes. And the 100 Calorie packs are a great way for calorie counters to control their portion size -- but not their appetites. Here's what Lance Crackers has to say about their new snack lines: Snack to School with Lance… The end of summer is a busy time for moms getting kids excited and ready to go back to school. There’s shopping for clothes, shoes and school supplies plus the challenge of finding sensible snack and lunch options that moms can feel good about packing…and the entire family will actually eat! With no preservatives, no trans fat and no high fructose corn syrup, Lance Sandwich Crackers can be part of your back to school plan. Every Lance sandwich cracker is baked fresh with real peanut butter or real cheese filling. New this school year are three whole grain varieties and three 100 calorie options. Based on growing consumer interest in whole grain products, Lance replaced its wheat crackers with the launch of whole grain in the following varieties: • Real peanut butter on whole grain crackers • Real sharp cheddar cheese on whole grain crackers • Real cheddar cheese on whole grain crackers For consumers looking for a portion-controlled snacking alternative that still fills them up, Lance unveiled 100 calorie sizes of its three most popular varieties. • ToastChee® Peanut Butter 100% Lance-made creamy peanut butter layered on mini-baked cheese crackers • Toasty™ Peanut Butter 100% Lance-made creamy peanut butter layered on mini-baked, butter-flavored crackers • NipChee™ Cheddar Cheese Real cheddar cheese layered on mini-baked, cheese-flavored crackers Best of all is the fact that kids like the way it tastes! With more than 16 varieties, Lance Sandwich Crackers can help keep snack time fresh and satisfy even the loudest of growling tummies. Learn more about the new 100-calorie snacks and whole grain snacks at Lance's official site. And don't forget to check out what the rest of the BlogHer Reviewers have to say about Lance snacks! I was compensated for this BlogHer Review by Lance Snacks. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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