Rattles CD Review and Giveaway!!!

September 27, 2010 by 21 Comments

Yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah!
LOL….introducing- “The Rattles!”

This super fun and fabulous band is happy to be releasing their debut CD, Rattle On. So, you know how everyone wants to say “they sound like” such and such a band? OK, they do, but with their own funky-fun twist! I put the CD on in the car on the way to work/school one morning (at 6 am!) and I was like- huh! This sounds like the Beatles! (Pleasantly surprised! And I didn’t even read that that was a goal of theirs until a week later- lol….)
I told this to the hubs, who says- yeah, mmmk. Until he heard it- and he liked it! This is not a man who tolerates kids music and TV well.

The Rattles Band was created by Tony Caio to give parents and their children a non-violent, family friendly musical experience they all can enjoy. Tony Caio is an is an award winning animation director for such well-known licensed characters as “The Sneetches” by Dr. Seuss, “Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory” for Scholastic, and “Hollywood Betty Boop”.
“Friends that play together, stay together!” That’s The Rattles’ motto! And it’s prevalent in their songs. This fun, hip, happy and “dance-y” music will really get you and your little one moving, while pumping out positive messages about caring and sharing- WITHOUT making you want to gag 🙂 YAY, Rattles!

The Rattles come straight from the swamps of Central New Jersey.

(Go Jersey!!!)
The Rattles are four musicians and life-long friends – Gus (the goat), Kitty (the cat), Sal (the snake), and Hal (the hippo) – who describe their upcoming release as “the album we were born to make.” Their manager Benny (a dog) and a bunch of roadies (penguins) all named Elvis help The Rattles take their show on the road.
They play classic sounds, catchy sounds, and will make you want to shake your groove [Read more…]
Filed Under: giveaway, kids, review

Monkey Monkey Music Review

September 17, 2010 by 11 Comments

So, “What Are The Odds” that you will like the same CD that your toddler will? Pretty good, I’d say, if that CD happens to be “Monkey Monkey Music” from Meredith LeVande.

OK, so, you all know I am a Pre-School teacher, right? (as well as momma to a 3 and 6 year old)
So, can I tell you how much kids music I hear? OK, like, A LOT. And I am sure most of you know that most kid’s music is super, super annoying. And has absolutely no value what-so-ever to the child.
However, Meredith LeVande (who was chosen as one of New York’s best affordable children’s performers by Time Out New York Kids) did a fantastic job at creating music that kids will love, and parents (and teachers!) will too. It is also educational music, which is fantastic. I really prefer that the kids listen to songs with a message, that they can learn from, rather then just noise pumping at them.

(On a personal note- I got to exchanging emails with Meredith, and she is a lovely, sweet, compassionate woman. She truly loves children, and her top priority is connecting with the child on his or her level. Because she loves children, she makes sure that her music is not only pleasing to the ear, but also developmentally appropriate for them. That was not part of the music review, per se. That was for you parents and teachers out there, so you know that she is the “real deal”, because I think you should know. The people who [Read more…]

Filed Under: education, kids, review

Yo Gabba Gabba Giveaway!!!

September 7, 2010 by 105 Comments

There’s A Party In My City! (And a contest on my website!) LOL….
Hooray! What a great contest for you guys! I have a “Yo Gabba Gabba” prize pack for one of my lucky readers!

Yo Gabba Gabba is doing a LIVE tour! What?!? You didn’t know? You have no tickets? Well, it’s ok, there is still time!
Head over to their ticket information page, find the city near you- and voila! You can still make it!

How lucky are we, that we get to attend the September 28th show in Providence, RI?!?
We will be attending the show at the Providence Performing Arts Center, located at;
220 Weybosset Street
Providence, RI 02903
401-421-2787
You can still buy tickets, and they even have special Gabba Party Packages! So cool, you need to check it out.

OK, so it’s not the party closest to my city- but hey! Did you see our name? “Have Sippy, Will TRAVEL!”
LOL

Want some more information? Oh, OK! 🙂

Kia Motors America (KMA) caused quite a stir with its first-ever Super Bowl ad, which featured a colorful cast of life-size children’s characters in the 2011 Kia Sorento CUV, including Muno from YO GABBA GABBA!, the award-winning children’s television series and live tour. Building on the momentum and increased brand awareness generated by the 60-second spot, KMA plans to extend its relationship with YO GABBA GABBA!, as the presenting sponsor of the upcoming YO GABBA GABBA! THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! tour.

YO GABBA GABBA! ANNOUNCES 60 CITY NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
AND SOLIDIFIES YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY!
PARTNERSHIP WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

$1 From Every Ticket Sold To Benefit Habitat for Humanity Local Affiliate In Each Tour City
Look, a company with a heart! I love when companies give back to the community. Good for you, Kia and Yo Gabba Gabba!

Want to hear more???
Fresh off a triumphant sold-out tour debut, a headlining performance at The White
House, a critically-acclaimed, chart-topping album, and an appearance at Coachella that garnered rave reviews from
spectators and media alike, DJ Lance Rock and the cast of YO GABBA GABBA! are heading back on the road with YO
GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! to play to enthusiastic fans on a 60-city tour across North America.
Today’s hottest live show for families will make stops at top theaters, arenas and amphitheaters throughout North
America, starting August 27 in Bethel, NY and ending in Dallas, TX on December 12. YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S
A PARTY IN MY CITY! is produced by S2BN Entertainment in association with Wildbrain Entertainment and The [Read more…]

Filed Under: giveaway, kids

WHAT A DAY!!!

August 27, 2010 by 5 Comments

What a day, friends!

Kamikaze lost her 2nd front tooth, so now she eats like a cow, lol….it’s really funny and she looks adorable

AND……Little Man FINALLY made #2 on the potty!  (how awful am I that I am sharing that???  LOL)
He’s been going #1 forever, but this has remained elusive until today!
GO LITTLE!

Filed Under: kids

PROFESSOR BARRISTER’S DINOSAUR MYSTERIES

August 24, 2010 by 4 Comments

Hey guys! PROFESSOR BARRISTER’S DINOSAUR MYSTERIES are soon to release book number 3!
Mystery #3: The Case of the Enormous Eoraptor

Join Prof. Barrister, Nate and Emily on another exciting dinosaur adventure, this time to the Dawn of the Dinosaurs!

Not only that, but you can purchace signed copies of Stephen Penner’s first two books of the [Read more…]

Filed Under: book review, kids

Cheesequake State Park

August 19, 2010 by 2 Comments
This weekend, we went to Cheesequake State Park in NJ. It is part of the NJ Coastal Heritage Trail. The kids had a blast- the weather was great, the beach was super, super clean, and the water was calm. The weird thing is, with state parks- no trash cans. You have to take all your trash out with [Read more…]
Filed Under: family, kids, travel

Kids Book Review

August 18, 2010 by Leave a Comment

I was sent “Professor Barrister’s Dinosaur Mysteries #2: The Case of the Armored Allosaurus” by Stephan Penner to review. This is the second book in a children’s series, where again Professor Barrister enlists the aid of Nate and Emily to solve a mystery related to dinosaurs. (First of series was “The Case of the Truncated Troodon”.) Does Allosaurus really have armor or not? This is the mystery, and the main characters get to travel back in time! How fun is that? I read this to Kamikaze and Little Man, 6 and 3, and they enjoyed it. Little man didn’t make it through the whole thing, but that’s OK. He left and started smashing his dinosaurs together 🙂 So [Read more…]

Filed Under: education, kids, review

My Little Man’s Birthday!!!

August 17, 2010 by Leave a Comment

My Little Man just turned 3- and we had to celebrate!  He is currently really into “Yo Gabba Gabba!”, so mama made him a Brobee cake.  It only took about 2 hours.  (Did I mention I am not an artist?  Haha, I tried!)  It was 2 rectangle cakes, 1 is whole, 1 is cut into pieces.  There are stripes, coconut with green food coloring and green sugar crystals for the stripes, as well as green colored vanilla icing.  The horns are brownies with strawberry frosting, and his smile and eyes are melted chocolate.
We did a party at our school, and one with family at home.  
My Little Man had so much fun.  I can’t believe he is three….where did the time go?  What happened to my little newborn?

Filed Under: baking, cooking, family, kids