Dan Zanes and friends - The Fine Friends Are Here - A Giveaway

Saturday~December 5, 2009

Yes, you're right. This is my second post in one day. I've decided I need cheering up. Would you believe I have both H1N1 AND bronchitis? It's not super fun. But giving something away IS super fun, so that's what I'm going to do for the cheering up.

You know Dan Zanes and friends, right?

When I was contacted about reviewing this 2 disc combo, The Fine Friends Are Here I was more than happy to do so, since I'm already a huge fan. This combo comes with a 16 song DVD and a bonus audio CD with 5 songs. (The bonus 5 song CD is perfect for playing in a child's room at bedtime. It's soft and beautiful, the perfect peaceful night time groove.)

Dan Zanes and friends are such a talented group, I'm not sure there's an instrument they don't play. (I'll also admit that they make me feel like I could dance around in a flowy dress any old way I'd like to dance and still feel cool.)

What I love most about this band and their music is that it's all about expression, being yourself, and having a great time.

There is something so unique and intriguing about the way this DVD was shot, with lighting and colors that capture. You feel like you're right there in front of the stage, dancing in the costume clad crowd. This DVD keeps the attention of even my boys, and I could really use that right now while I cough in bed and they dance around, making me feel all happy.

I love to see my boys enthralled with good music, and that's exactly what they get when they watch this DVD. I love that a band on a stage can deliver such a performance with so much variety, from style of music, to the flow from Spanish to English, to the myriad of instruments used. It's so much fun to watch, a truly eclectic experience filled with inspiration and joy.

So get out your crazy thrift shop costumes and dance along!

I have an extra copy of The Fine Friends Are Here with bonus CD to give to one of you. Just in time for the holidays! All you have to do is leave a comment, any comment.

If you aren't a blogger and don't know how to comment, it's easy and safe. Simply click on 'comments' at the end of this post, then click 'Anonymous' and leave your name and email address so I can contact you if you win.

I will choose a winner on Monday, 9pm (CST) and announce the winner in Tuesday's post.
(This giveaway is not limited to the U.S.)

Good luck!

(I was not paid for this review, but I was sent one copy to review and one to give away at no charge for taking the time to write this review. The End.)


“True children’s music, but executed with such sweet (and un-gooey!) humor, casual multiculturalism and shambling groove that you can call it your own.”
the new york times (taken from the Dan Zanes and friends website)

The Jimmies: Trying Funny Stuff

Tuesday~November 10, 2009

Before I just head off into the wide blue yonder of telling you about something cool, I do want to mention that I did update my last somewhat whiny-bordering-on-complainy post with good news. You know...just so you know.

NOW, moving on to something that'll make you feel all happy (unlike my last post)...

If any band could teach your kids a bit of Spanish and how to cover their cough and sneeze, it's The Jimmies. Really. They're just that cool. Your kids will be saying "a cow with a hat" in Spanish WHILE sneezing into their elbow "wrunkles" in no time.

The best word for this 2 disc DVD/CD combo is fun. If you like to rock out with your kids, The Jimmies are for you. (OK and maybe I was sold the moment I opened the package and found a whoopie cushion, but I'm not saying.)

This band definitely has their own unique kind of sound and silliness, the kind that won't drive the grown-up involved in the listening absolutely crazy, but will possibly bring said adult back to the 80's with it's rockin' guitar riffs.

The DVD is full of truly well done music videos, and the CD has you listening to a live concert with a whole lot of hilarious audience participation. This is the perfect DVD/CD for the tiniest of kids, who will enjoy the silly lyrics. It's also perfect for kids who may be starting to grow out of children's music because the style is definitely cool enough for them. I myself kind of want to be like lead singer, Ashley. She's a funky kind of cool, while still having enough endearing quirkiness for kids to fall in love with her.

You can take a listen and learn more about this ecclectic group by visiting The Jimmies official website. They are truly an original, hilarious, and creative group of people...





The Jimmies CD/DVD combo is available HERE and HERE OR NOW EVEN HERE!



The Jimmies Trying Funny Stuff is definitely the perfect gift idea.

We love it here at our house so much that Miles would even like me to tell you that his favorite song is the "crazy hair one." You can see why:

See? Totally rockin' cool. Thanks for checking it out here with me.
Peace out.

(I did receive this CD/DVD for free, but I was not compensated for writing this review. The End.)

Sunday in Kyoto

Tuesday~October 27th, 2009

Do you need some help finding children's music that won't drive you crazy? As many of you may remember, I needed that help too. Thankfully I was given many great suggestions in my comment box, and even some in my actual mailbox, like this one:


The acclaimed publishing company The Secret Mountain has done it again with Sunday in Kyoto. This gorgeously illustrated hardcover book and accompanying CD give a truly beautiful multicultural experience. Canadian singer-songriter Gilles Vigneault delivers with impressive and meaningful lyrics, and illustrator Stephane Jorisch, who has created sets for Le Cirque du Soleil, absolutely blew me away with the illustrations for this book.

This book/CD combo is deserving of all the attention from School Library Journal, AOL kids, Zooglobble, Kiwi Magazine and many more. It is the kind of art I like having around the house (or in the car minivan). Yes, I just called it art, because that's what it is.

Here, see for yourself. I'm betting you'll be moved like I was...

The songs on this album "evoke (Vigneault's) love of nature, culture and travel and are imbued with natural imagery as well as multinational characters and settings." - Sacks and Co.

This book and accompanying CD are just plain lovely. My boys sit enthralled by the music and illustrations and are lulled to rest on road trips with the soft melodic lullabies this album includes. I'm wondering what could be better than that?

The music is peaceful, then sometimes silly, and always capturing. The book is beautiful, truly.

Sunday in Kyoto came out TODAY, so it's available for purchase here. It would make a great gift for your children or the children in your lives.


(Just so you know, I was not compensated for writing this review, but I did receive the book and CD for free, which in this case is excellent compensation.)

Simple Shoes and a Discount for You!

Thursday~ July 9, 2009

When Simple Shoes contacted me, offering to send a pair of their new line of toddler shoes, I didn't even have to think for a millisecond. I sent an email back saying that I will only have something sent to me for review if I'm as certain as possible I will love the product, and then I quickly accepted the offer. (I so rarely accept these offers because this is my blog, and I intend to mean what I say when I rave about something.) Miles has had a pair of Simples in the past that we loved, and I was as certain as I could be that we'd love another pair. I was so right...

Meet The Noodle:

These are the pair of Simples that were sent to Miles (they come in sizes 4-10, so a 10 it was for Miles, since he isn't quite a toddler anymore). Don't you love the name? The Noodle! You should really go check out The Doodle and The Poodle too. There are styles and colors for both boys and girls, and they're so cute, I kind of want to eat them.

One of my favorite things about these shoes (other than their cute-itude) is the fact that they're WASHABLE, have NON-MARKING SOLES, and they're EASY AND FUN FOR MILES TO PUT ON! They're soft, flexible, and oh so comfy. He loves them. These shoes just plain rock.


I love simplifying life in many ways, right down to having easy-to-slip-on shoes for the feet of my busy little Miles...



I've been going on and on about how cute and comfortable these shoes are, but do you want to know what my very most favorite thing is about having these shoes? OK, I'll tell you. Simple Shoes makes their products out of 100% sustainable materials like recycled inner tubes and recycled corks, cotton, recycled car tires, and bamboo. So not only are fashionable and toddler-user-friendly, they're eco-friendly too. You know I love that!

Lastly (and quite possibly most importantly), Simple shoes is offering you a 10% discount off your first order! The discount code is simplemommy and this offer expires on 7/31. So hurry! Get your simple on!

(In the Fourth of July picture above, Miles is not conducting a marching band. However, he is holding up a sparkler. Did you guess?)