Continue reading "Team Mom Music Review: The Birth of Cornelius" »
The kids and I are big American Idol fans -- although, I must confess, I don't usually start watching until the Top 10 Finalists are picked -- and This Full House is proud to be partnering with the EMI Label Group in hosting a "listening party" to help promote Season 5 (my favorite American Idol year) Top 10 Finalist Mandisa's Huntley's sophomore album, Freedom.
We've got Mandisa's music player and an awesome giveaway to help celebrate!
Continue reading "American Idol's Mandisa Freedom Weekend Listening Party and Giveaway!" »
Ah, yes, Yanni...I remember him well...way back in 1997, his music was considered "new age" but, don't ever let him hear you say that (out loud) as he prefers to call his work "contemporary instrumental."
Either way, this Greek-American keyboardist and composer knows how to work the romance and -- though, I must admit, I miss his mustache, a little -- I was excited to learn that Yanni is back and, with the help of 4 fresh new artists, his music sounds better than ever!
Continue reading "Yanni Voices: Live in Concert Tour 2009" »
If you're a fan of Celine Dion or just love great live entertainment, check out Celine’s Taking Chances World Tour. Her North American tour dates have been extended into February ’09 so take a look and see if she’s coming to your town. Celine’s concert tickets may just be the perfect gift for a friend, family member or yourself. See what the show is like here.
FIND IT HERE: http://www.ticketmaster.com/celine
[Celine Dion Widget Campaign made possible by One2OneNetwork]
© 2008 This Full House and This Full House Reviews - All Rights Reserved.
[This giveaway has ended: Thank you SO MUCH for visiting with us - WE HAVE A WINNER - Congratulations, Ilissa!!!]
A few years ago -- way before product reviewers and SEO's surfed the Internets -- I wrote a blog post about a terrific new man group I was listening to at the time and, well, I'd link to it, if I could. But, soon after, I changed blogging platforms and lost about 2 years worth of blog posts.
Because, I roll like that.
After taking a one year hiatus -- I mean, who couldn't use a little time off? -- they're baaaack and Il Divo is sounding and...ahem...looking better than EVUH!
Continue reading "Review and Giveaway: Il Divo - The Promise CD/DVD and Christmas Collection" »
[This giveaway has ended: WE HAVE A WINNER - Congratulations, Melissa!!!]
Winner of the Parents Choice Gold Award
"A Duck in New York City," story and songs by Connie Kaldor and illustrated by Fil & Julie
One of the (many) reasons I love working with p.r. companies (like, my friends at Child's Play) is that it gives my family and me the chance to learn about new products and companies that we would have otherwise, you know, totally missed.
Pretty much why (if, we really, really like it, or I haven't broken it, yet) I choose to tell you (yes, YOU!) about them.
We recently had the privilege of reviewing a collection of beautifully illustrated children's storybooks from The Secret Mountain -- a publisher from waaaaaaay over in Canada and the part where they speak French -- and since we love books in our house, we were excited to receive "A Duck in New York City."
Wanna hear my 7-year-old read a little, for you?
[This giveaway has ended: We have our winners - Congratulations, Bettina and Diane!!!]
Shhhh, don't tell the kids, but there's a lesson in each Groovy Ruby Song!
Stop by our house, on any given day, and chances are my kids are rocking out to Hannah Montana, or the Jonas Brothers.
Nice kids, great teeth, good hair, but...um...lately, our house has gone through some serious sensory overload - did I mention, I'm raising 3 girls and a boy who insists on terrorizing his sisters - so, living with the best of both worlds can get to be a bit much and I am, like, so over High School Musicals, man!
Then, I heard about this really cool new girl band, made up of 5 down-to-earth kids, who were recruited by a school music teacher - literally, from off the soccer field - and thought it was perhaps about time we parents introduced our kids to music that's sounds a little more, you know, real.
Oh, and did I mention that they all happen to be from Jersey!?!?
[This giveaway has ended - THANK YOU! - we have a WINNER!]
The Travel Adventures of Lilly P. Badilly: Embark upon a Musical Journey to the Rainforest of Cost Rica.
My parents were born in Hungary -- they immigrated to New Jersey in 1956 -- and my twin brother and I were very lucky to have traveled and visited with many of our European relatives, growing up.
My children, not so much.
Although, I truly DO believe it would be a wonderful adventure, traveling abroad with 4 children isn't very cost efficient for our family at the moment. For now, I'm thankful for television shows like Rick Steves' Europe, or Globe Trekker and the new children's book, "The Travel Adventures of Lilly P. Badilly," that we recently had the privilege of reviewing.
They allow us to visit exotic new places in the comfort of our own living room and we didn't even need a passport!
Continue reading "This Full House Giveaway #15: Travel Adventures of Lilly P. Badilly" »
In Greek mythology, Pandora's box was a prolific source of troubles for the supposed first woman on earth to have wreaked havoc with her sense of curiosity. In cyberspace, however, the name lends itself to a new sort of online radio station that only plays the music you (yes, YOU!) like - did I mention, it's free?
Continue reading "This Full House Reviews: Pandora.com - Music that soothes a tired mom!" »
As children of the 80's - okay, so I was a teenager, allrightalready - my twin brother and went clubbing together and rocked out in our tres trendy baggie pants, sporting bi-level haircuts and blindingly white high top sneakers; the most humorous characteristics of the decade, really.
My children find that, and thought of their mother ever being hip, laughable.
Unlike their momma, they can dance.
No, really, my husband and I don't have any idea where they get their rhythm from and you won't believe what I caught them doing on the couch, yesterday!?!?
Continue reading "Hip Hop Harry: Got a good beat and it's easy to dance, too!" »
My kids love American Idol, but - as I was explaining to a family friend - getting through the
auditions, for me, is sort of like...well...watching a horror movie.
[covering ears and with one eye shut]
How are parents supposed to influence confidence and be supportive of their children's dreams, and yet be unsympathetic to their propensity for delusions of grandeur?
By singing along with them, of course - but, is nurturing an interest in music really all that important, for a child?
Baby Einstein launched its new website on February 15, 2008 with a brand new campaign that allows parents to reach out and touch someone, sharing stories and brag about babies' first moments, virtually.
Continue reading "Baby Einstein: New Launch of A "Real Moms" Show-n-Tell!" »
I have four children - I know, that you know, but my husband some times STILL needs to be reminded - and we probably own ten times the amount of music tapes and discs.
I'd give you an accurate count, if I could, but they're ALL in my car and scattered throughout the house.
Last week, I received a package from the nice people at School Time Music.
"Oh, look, ANOTHER children's CD!"
For those of you who do NOT know, Thing Two had a terrible case of colic and did NOT sleep for the first 8 months after she was born.
[shiver]
Seriously, I was at my wit's end - nothing funny about a colicky kid - until, I figured out that strapping her into the car seat and driving her around town, while listening to [GULP] a freaky-looking dinosaur with the totally annoying voice WAS the only thing that would soothe the child!
Me?
[gag]
After listening to about two tracks, I wanted to shoot myself.
"Let's play it, Momma!"
Mini-me (she's 6) is my youngest and probably spent a large portion of her preschool years in the minivan, too.
"Go ahead and pop it in, then."
Because, I am a DORK and - you know, sort of break things - besides, kids are so far advanced these days, yes?
Listen up everybody this day is live!
Before we get into the mix
Let's get our bodies moving,
And sing along, for kicks!
Hey, wait a minute and what the...
"Momma, are you playing rap music!?!?"
I'm a little bit classical and Thing Two (formerly known as the colicky one) is totally hip hop.
"Boy, you go Miss Thang, that's DEF!"
If she means good, then yes - and I'd be lost without my Urban Dictionary - but, Alphabet Rockers is definitely a children's CD that even a parent (like me) can listen to.
This is the first of a series of cool children's CDs Former 4 Non Blondes drummer Dawn Richardson and Kaitlin McGaw, a Harvard graduate who also sings for Suite Love Express, partnered to write and produce.
My opinion - the concept of giving parents (and teachers) a fresh new way to introduce children to letters, words and numbers, combined with rhythm and rhyme - this cd is nothing less than BRILLIANT!
The downside - besides the fact that a 14-song CD just doesn't seem enough, NONE.
"The CD has a vibe of Salt n' Pepa, Run DMC and the Beastie Boys all rolled into fun for the classroom."
With that said, not only did these two artists create a fun new way of getting children interested in learning - heaven knows, The Boy could have used this - Dawn and Kaitlin ARE commanding educators' attention, worldwide and on the web, and HAVE sparked my interest in, you know, cool music!
For that, my children thank you ;o)
Alphabet Rockers is available at Amazon.com for $14.99.
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