We are LOVIN' MANDISA'S NEW #OutOfTheDark CD! #FlyBy #Giveaway

Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Mandisa is one of my family's favorite Christian artists and I have loved her since American Idol! And when I heard Overcomer from her new album, Out of the Dark, I played it over and over and my family now sings along every time! We LOVE Mandisa and are so excited to own and play her newest album!

Mandisa wrote her song “Overcomer” in 2013 to encourage her close friend Kisha, who was battling breast cancer. Mandisa really believed and prayed that God was going to heal her, but when Kisha went to be with Jesus in 2014, Mandisa’s foundation was shaken in a way she never expected. She fell into a deep pit of depression for close to 3 years, shutting out her friends, family and the rest of the world. Mandisa believes if she had kept going down that road she was on, she would not be here today… but God stepped in and lifted her out of that pit by using her close friends to communicate their love for her and God’s love for her. This album is Mandisa’s way of letting her fans into her story – it’s called 'Out Of The Dark' because that is exactly where God lifted her out of!

You can watch her talk openly about this on Good Morning America last week here: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/mandisa-opens-overcoming-depression-47020463

I am so glad Mandisa has blessed us with this new album and that God pulled her from her depression so she can bless us with her beautiful gift! Our family LOVES this new album from Mandisa - she is so talented and beautiful and is teaching people all over the world to be overcomers! I love her message and her voice!

Buy It:

You can purchase Mandisa's Out of the Dark CD here

Win It:

(1)MANDISA OUT OF THE DARK CD to a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1)MANDISA OUT OF THE DARK CD
a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.*

World of Christmas by DeDe

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

You all know how much I L-O-V-E Christmas music so I am so excited to share the newest one in my collection: World of Christmas by DeDe! It is an upbeat album and really fun to listen to!

World of Christmas by DeDe (DeDe Wedekind) is sure to become your favorite Holiday album and a Christmas classic! There are 10 great songs all written and arranged by DeDe: a blend of traditional favorites and beautiful new music with world beats.

World of Christmas was produced by Grammy-Winner Jeff Bova (Celine Dion Falling Into You-1996). Fans have been raving about the album’s quality and the top-notch instrumentals. DeDe called on several high-profile musicians for this album like guitar player Tim Pierce who plays for Bruce Springsteen, bass player John Pierce who tours with Huey Lewis and the News, and drummer, Denny Fongheiser who played on Elton John's Lion King sound track.

New! World of Christmas CD (2013)

1. Silent Night
2. Deck The Halls Clip
3. One Child Clip
4. New Auld Lang Syne Clip
5. Ave Maria Medley Clip
6. Rock Those Jingle Bells Clip
7. Song in the Air / Il Est Ne Copyright DeDe- Clip
8. Jolly Old St. Nicholas Clip

Buy It: You can purchase World of Christmas for $12.99 from Amazon.com

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Pacha’s Pajamas & Giveaway

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Award-Winning Children’s Pop Musical

“Pacha’s Pajamas: A Story Written By Nature”

Inspires Children To Change The World Through Storytelling, Song, and Dance

2-CD Set and Digital Download

Features Mos Def, Cheech Marin and Youth Rap Star Bentley Green!

“From start to finish Pacha’s Pajamas

is an amazing collection of stories and music.” Indiemusicdigest.com

Children today face obstacles and challenges unlike any past generations have seen before – and often more difficult. The pressure on them to make the world a better place is high, so providing them with positive role models to emanate, constructive lessons to learn from and valuable tools to utilize is more important than ever. But so is having fun and valuing the joy of music and the power of the imagination. Luckily, Pacha’s Pajamas is here!

The two-CD set Pacha’s Pajamas: A Story Written by Nature Vol. 1 & 2 is inspired by the book by Aaron Ableman and produced by a company called BALANCE. It follows the adventures of Pacha, a little girl whose magical pajamas whisk her away every night to imaginary worlds where she discovers the power to make a difference in the world and within herself.

One night while sleeping Pacha dreams that the animals and plants on her new pajamas come alive. Disguised as a small gorilla, she comes upon an unlikely group of creatures feeling sad about the world. Nature unites to tell its captivating story at a global festival where species have come together to bring balance to the planet. Fun-filled acts include an insect band called The Beetles, a black-eyed pea rapping for a better world and a beaver named Just-in-Time. At the end of the show, Pacha shares an important message for all nature and humanity.

Filled with pop references and lots of humor (“electric eels went on strike”), storytelling, songs and dance, Pacha’s Pajamas features 28 tracks by 70 artists spanning four generations, and inspires children of all ages to better understand themselves, recognize their natural talents and make a positive impact in the world.

Pacha’s Pajamas Vol. 1 had a limited release last year for award consideration only and won the People’s Choice for Best Children’s Music in the 12th Annual Independent Music Awards and a Parents’ Choice Recommendation.

Bentley Green

Featured celebrity artists on the two-CD set include Mos Def, Cheech Marin, Les Nubians, Talib Kweli, Majora Carter, Lester Chambers, the Agape Youth Choir and Lyrics Born. The album also includes rising kid stars Bentley Green (9 million+ YouTube hits), Lil Jaxe, Ta’kaiya Blaney, Amanda Raya, Felecity, Milo McFly, Jaheem, MC Fireworks and Devyn Tyson. Luminaries Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org; Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith, author and leader of the Agape International Spiritual Center; and 12 year old environmental leader Avalon Theisen, star of the The Autism Channel's new series Nature Tracks with Avalon, are also featured.

Song tracks – which covers a wide range of global social, environmental, health and other issues – include Magical Pajamas (asthma), Into the Dream (plastic pollution), Occupy Pacha Jamma (intergenerational justice), Horses Don’t See Colors (anti-racism), Jungle Work (disaster relief), Frog Talk (amphibian protection), We Are All Connected (oneness), Rock Nation (climate change) and much more.

Pacha's Pajamas is also a part of Imagination Heals, a new program that brings award-winning inspirational music and stories to hospitalized children across the United States and soon in Canada. As part o f the initiative, participating hospitals receive donated Pacha’s Pajamas albums, books, and musical performances for patients. The program recently received its pilot sponsorship through a generous donation from A Forever Recovery and Best Drug Rehabilitation.

Buy It: You can purchase the two-CD set Pacha’s Pajamas: A Story Written by Nature Vol. 1 & 2, for a suggested retail price of $15.87 from Amazon.com, digital download $15.99, and individual songs on iTunes for $1.29

Win It: (1) Pacha’s Pajamas Volume 1 to a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1) Pacha’s Pajamas Volume 1

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

A Boston Pops Christmas - Live From Symphony Hall

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Here's another great Christmas album for you Christmas music lovers: "A Boston Pops Christmas - Live From Symphony Hall"!

This is the orchestra's first Holiday offering since 2004, and is designed to capture the unique charm and magic of a live Holiday Pops concert.

"A Boston Pops Christmas - Live From Symphony Hall," is led by Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart and features the world renowned musicians in the Boston Pops, the celebrated Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and vocal powerhouse Melinda Doolittle, a former American Idol contestant. The tracks were recorded live at Boston's Symphony Hall, widely considered one of the top concert venues in the world.

The album showcases the orchestra's signature Holiday Pops tune, "Sleigh Ride," in its original arrangement composed especially for the Boston Pops by Leroy Anderson in 1948. The album is sure to appeal to all ages, featuring some of the most popular tunes of the Holiday season such as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!," and "Jingle Bells" as part of A Merry Little Sing-Along which leaves listeners filled with the holiday spirit.

Other highlights include 'Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas,' a recent Boston Pops arrangement of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," and a Boston Pops rendition of "Zat You, Santa Claus?"-the orchestra's tribute to the world's greatest celebrity, Santa Claus.

A BOSTON POPS CHRISTMAS - LIVE FROM SYMPHONY HALL - TRACK LISTING:

1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
2. The Twelve Days of Christmas
3. The Christmas Song Prologue from Hodie (This Day)
4. Carol of the Drum
5. Three Christmas Spirituals (My Lord, What a Morning - Rise Up, Shepherd - Glory Hallelujah) - Melinda Doolittle, vocalist
6. Children Go Where I Send Thee - Melinda Doolittle, vocalist
7. How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Will LeBow, narrator, Reid Bruton, vocalist (You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch)
8. Holly Jolly Jingle
9. A Christmas Scherzo
10. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
11. Sleigh Ride
12. Zat You, Santa Claus?
13. Merry Little Sing-Along ("Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" - "Winter Wonderland" - "Jingle Bells")

Buy It: You can purchase A Boston Pops Christmas - Live From Symphony Hall for $7.99 from Amazon.com.

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

A Restless Heart Christmas

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

A RESTLESS HEART CHRISTMAS

HITS SHELVES THIS FALL

Restless Heart to Release First-ever Holiday Album on October 29

It is no secret that I LOVE Christmas music and I honestly start listening to it as soon as it gets cold around September. One of my new favorites is the Restless Heart Christmas album!

This holiday season, country music powerhouse group RESTLESS HEART will deck the halls with a brand new Christmas album.

Restless Heart's John Dittrich notes, "We recorded some of our favorite Christmas standards like 'O Holy Night,' 'Jingle Bell Rock,' and 'Angels We Have Heard On High.' We also included 'Silent Night' which we recorded a cappella with a 'Take 6' style arrangement."

The ten-track album, produced by Restless Heart's very own Greg Jennings, contains eight holiday classics and two previously unreleased songs.

A Restless Heart Christmas is the first-ever holiday album to be released in the band's illustrious 30-year career, which may be surprising to some.

Larry Stewart, John Dittrich, Greg Jennings, Paul Gregg and Dave Innis, the men who make up Restless Heart, have enjoyed one of the most successful careers in Country music history. The band has placed over 25 singles on the charts, with six consecutive #1 hits, four of their albums have been certified Gold by the RIAA, and they have won a wide range of awards from many organizations, including the Academy of Country Music's (ACM) "Top Vocal Group" trophy. 2013 marks Restless Heart's 30th year since originally forming the early 1980's.

For more information on Restless Heart, visit www.restlessheartband.com.

A Restless Heart Christmas Track Listing:

1. Season of Harmony*
2. Tennessee Christmas
3. O Holy Night
4. Old Toy Trains
5. Silent Night
6. Jingle Bell Rock
7. Angels We Have Heard On High
8. Little Drummer Boy
9. The Christmas Song
10. Santa's Prayer*

*Denotes new song

Buy It: You can purchase A Restless Heart Christmas for $9.49 from Amazon.com

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Jazz for Babies

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

One of the things I have always enjoyed while pregnant and while having little babies is having that "calm" part of the day, whether it is in the car or before bed, where I put on my favorite classical CD and rock or soothe my baby to sleep.

However, after listening to the same CD A LOT of times (especially when you have a cranky baby at night and the only thing that calms them down is listening to the CD over and over and over...), the music can get to be a bit too much. That is why I am always searching for new soothing and calming classical albums for calming my children!

I recently found a great set of five soothing albums from Jazz For Babies and now I know I will never get tired of listening to their music because there are FIVE albums to rotate through and I love all the songs and unique instruments used to make the music!

Music is an international language, passed down from generation to generation. Those early sounds heard by baby create a bond that lasts a lifetime. But not everyone's music tastes include Wheels on the Bus or Frere Jacques. In the wee hours of the morning while calming a fussy baby, sleep-deprived moms or dads have been turning to the calming sounds of guitar, grand piano, trumpet, vibraphone and saxophone. In each of the five Jazz For Babies albums, parents may hear a familiar movie tune, the latest pop song or a classic standard -- acoustically -- without lyrics. It not only mellows baby but calms mom or dad so everyone can get back on track.

And others feel the same way! Although the judges of five recent juvenile industry awards may have been lulled to sleep while testing out the five albums from Jazz For Babies, they shook themselves awake enough to pour on the praise for the excellent music before nodding off again.

The five albums launched earlier this summer in England and the U.S. and picky judges are unanimously giving two thumbs’ up to the new music, especially amazing for a new producer in a very tough market.

Here’s what Jazz for Babies has won already!

Parent’s Choice Silver Award - Fall 2013 Audio Awards

National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Honors Award, Music Category

Dr. Toy’s 10 Best Audio/Video/DVD 2013

Creative Child 2013 CD OF THE YEAR AWARD

Tillywig Music & Audio Awards, Fall 2013

Across the pond, American-born, London-based musician, professor and recent father, Michael Janisch, was elated. Janisch is the ringleader of the acoustic music played by world-class musicians, and he’s produced an incredible array of slow and soothing renditions of the world's most beautiful songs as part of five remarkable album-set named under the banner Jazz For Babies, the new children’s music division for his critically-acclaimed Whirlwind Recordings, who are already busy producing four more albums to add to this new 5 album set.

If you would like to hear what each album sounds like, head over to www.JazzForBabies.org, and hear a snippet of each title, a total of 75 songs spread over five albums.

I don't have any babies at the moment in my house, but my children are VERY active children and when it is quiet reading time in our house, I pop in one of the Jazz for Babies CDs and they instantly read and play quieter! I LOVE it! Right now our favorite is the Trumpets Album. I wasn't sure at first that a Trumpet album would be soothing because when I think of trumpets, I think LOUD. But they truly use this instrument (and piano and Bass) in a soothing way playing some of my favorite songs!

And I love listening to the CDs with them too! I love when I recognize a song that I can hum along to or even sing the words to my children. Typically, baby calming music features computer-produced, synthetic sounds, etc, but not Jazz for Babies! Adults and children alike instantly notice the difference and love Jazz for Babies for its acoustic instruments, a rarity in calming baby music.

So, if you are looking for a calming way to soothe your baby or children but like variety and uniqueness, check out the FIVE albums from Jazz for Babies! The music will feel new every time you listen because you can rotate through the five albums and your children will love the acoustic instruments and soothing songs!

Buy It: You can purchase the physical Jazz for Babies CDs from Amazon.com

* Thank you to Jazz for Babies for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

NEW "Merry Christmas To You" CD from Sidewalk Prophets

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

SIDEWALK PROPHETS RELEASED

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ON SEPTEMBER 24!

Ok, I am sure many of you will hate me for this but....I have been listening to Christmas music since the beginning of September!!!! I just LOVE Christmas music and I am always searching for new, beautiful Christmas music to listen to soothe my soul, give me happy, holiday spirit, and give me some great music to sing and dance to with my children!

Lately, my family and I have been listening to the new Christmas album from one of our favorite Christian bands, Sidewalk Prophets! I love this album - it is fun and upbeat but also features some of the classic Christmas favorites!

 The 41st Annual Dove Awards’ “New Artist of the Year,” Sidewalk Prophets, will release Merry Christmas To You on September 24. The 12-track album is comprised of both classics and some newly-penned tunes. In addition to releasing their first Christmas album, the band will join Matthew West and Jason Castro on West’s “Into The Light Tour” which kicks off on September 26 in Carlsbad, NM. The tour runs through November 17 and is scheduled to visit over 30 cities throughout the U.S. Included in Sidewalk Prophets’ set will be their No. 1 hit single, “Live Like That,” their last single, “Help Me Find It,” which climbed to No. 2 and their new single, “Keep Making Me,” which goes for adds at radio on September 27. On October 15, the band will also make an appearance at the 44th Dove Awards in Nashville, TN, as “Live Like That” is nominated for “Song of the Year.”

Merry Christmas To You, produced by Jonathan Smith, Casey Brown and Ian Eskelin, includes such classics as “White Christmas” (feat. Francesca Battistelli), “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “What Child Is This” and “Silent Night.” In addition, the iTunes version will offer two bonus tracks “Don’t Forget the Star” and “O Holy Night.”

Merry Christmas To You Track Listing:

1. What A Glorious Night

2. White Christmas (featuring Francesca Battistelli)

3. Give Me Christmas

4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

5. Hey Moon

6. Merry Christmas To You

7. Holly Jolly Christmas

8. What Child Is This

9. That Spirit Of Christmas

10. Silent Night

11. Hope Was Born This Night (Bonus)

12. Because It's Christmas (Bonus)

13. Don't Forget The Star (iTunes bonus song)

14. O Holy Night (iTunes bonus song)

In 2012, Sidewalk Prophets released their sophomore effort, Live Like That, on Fervent Records. The band first rode to popularity with their debut release, These Simple Truths, which spawned the hit single, “The Words I Would Say,” and led to the Dove Award for “New Artist of the Year” and a nomination for “Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year” in 2010. Live Like That is produced by fellow Dove Award winner Ian Eskelin and features the #1 song “Live Like That.” Sidewalk Prophets have toured with on the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular with TobyMac and Red and the Rock and Worship Roadshow alongside MercyMe and Francesca Battistelli. In addition to their Dove Award nominations for their debut release, they were also nominated for the Dove Awards in 2011 for “Group of the Year” and in 2013 for “Song of the Year” for their No. 1 smash hit “Live Like That.” For more information and a complete listing of tour dates please visit www.sidewalkprophets.com

Buy It: You can purchase the Merry Christmas to You CD for only $9.99 from the Sidewalk Prophets online store.

* Thank you to Sidewalk Prophets for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*