iFrogz Headphones~ great comfort & sound!

Do you ever want to rock out to music, but you really don't want to annoy someone else with your music? Have you ever sat next to someone and they thought that you couldn't hear their music, but really it was just buzzing away? I recently received a pair of headphones to review, and I was so amazed at the quality and comfort of the iFrogz CS40s. The "CS" stands for Comfort Series, and they are the brand new addition to the EarPollution headphone line by iFrogz. Really, the comfort of these headphones is amazing. My son and I just slide the headphones on, and the ear pieces are like little pillows on our ears. The fit is perfect for both of us, and the ear piece completely covers our ears. I think the design of the iFrogz is great...you really can't hear the music when people are wearing the iFrogz. I love that you can wear these headphone, completely jam out to music and not bother those around you.
Everyone has a certain preference when it comes to what type of earphone or headphone they choose to wear. Some people like the little ear piece that slides into your ear canal, and some like the bigger ones that cover the ears. Personally, I truly do like both, depending on what I am doing when listening to music. However, I do know that the small ear phones tend to slip out, or fall out, of my ears while listening. It can be quite irritating. The iFrogz feel a bit more secure on my head. I like that the head band is adjustable, the ear pads are extremely comfortable, and the cord isn't too long. All around, the iFrogz are perfect for our family.

The quality of the iFrogz CS40s is superb! I think the sound is so rich, and you actually hear the bass and instruments clearly. I think that the iFrogz are the best headphones that I have ever tried out, and I am so happy to have had the opportunity to try them out! We highly recommend these headphones! They work great with our ipod touch and the ipod shuffle. I haven't really tested it on other devices yet.

The CS40s are currently available in five colors - white, black, blue, red and pink - for an MSRP of $39.99. Each pair has an adjustable headband and folds into itself for portability. You can see them here: iFrogz.com

This review was provided from iFrogz.com. They have provided me with CS40s headphones to review and information to share with my readers. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Musicolor offers fun and creativity!! (Review and Giveaway)

Music is such a fun way to express oneself, especially when you get to color your tune! My kids and I just got to review a great product that is very fun and interesting. Musicolor is like an "old style" record player, actually quite like the Fisher Price one I used to play with when I was little, except this one offers so much more creativity!
Musicolor has several "records," or discs made out of paper. Each disc has color-coded letters on it, so kids (of all ages) can know which color that spot should be.

With using the special letter-marked musical markers, kids design their song. Some of the songs included in these pre-designed discs are: Three Blind Mice, Humpty Dumpty, I'm a little Teapot and more. I think it is great that Musicolor introduces colors to children through this product, and they are exposing children to recognition of letters. Caleb loved saying which color and letter he was coloring, and I am excited to use this product with Madelyn and Cole when they get a little older. What a fun and creative way to teach colors and letters.

There are eight different "special" markers that you use when you color the themed records. You also get a few blank records that you can design your own look, which in turn makes your own tune! This was a big hit with Caleb.

When you color the spaces, place the disc onto the record player and hit play, you get to hear the tune of colors. The arm of the music player scans over the colors and music pores out. It can be tricky if you miss a spot, because the record player won't detect it, and you will have a missing piece of the song. Then, you just take it off and find where you missed.

Caleb loved making his own song discs. He loved counting the shapes, saying the color names and talking about the letters on the markers. All in all, we really enjoyed this product and I would recommend this for your pre-schooler, or early elementary age child.

My 11 year old son thought this invention was neat, too. He colored his own music disc, as well.

Musicolor was created by Delta Creative, known around the globe for producing creative products that emphasize self-expression through color. Delta Creative is focused on innovation, quality and service. Last year, Delta Creative launched their “Delta Kids” product collection to include more than 50 new items appealing to creative young consumers, parents and grandparents alike.

Musicolor is available online at target.com, amazon.com and deltacreative.com. Retail price $49.99. Musicolor is for ages 4 and up and comes with 14 pre-printed song discs, 8 music not markers, 5 create-a-song discs and 1 pre-colored song disc. You can purchase additional create-a-song discs for $5.99 (20 count) and Music Note Markers for $5.99 (8 count).

Enter to Win!!

Delta Creative has offered to giveaway a Musicolor to one of my readers. To enter to win, go to the Delta Creative website and find out something that you enjoyed or learned about them. Contest ends January 25th, 2009. Contest open to residents of the United States.
**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday with something else you learned from Delta Creative. Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Delta Creative. They have provided me with a free product to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a giveaway prize to giveaway to my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Music for kids!! (plus a contest)

Music is such a great thing for kids to learn and enjoy! I grew up with music and instruments, and I am eager to have my kids exposed to music, instruments, and learning rhythms. Music for Kids is a great website for finding instruments for kids, of all ages. I was sent the 6 piece Rhythm kit for review, and I want to say that I was highly impressed with the quality and sound of the instruments in this kit! My kids were beyond excited to open up the kit and start in with their music making. We have already invested several hours of play with the 6 Piece Rhythm kit! Included in this kit is a hand-held drum, 2 wooden drum sticks, 2 chick-itas, bells, triangle, and a tone block. This kit is perfect for my pre-schooler and toddler to create their own band, and it came with a backpack for easy storage/clean up. We have a grand time turning on some music, grabbing our instruments and "making a joyful noise!" The 6 Piece Rhythm kit from Music for Kids is a stage 1 through 4 instrument in the Steps 'n Stages program. The SRP for this kit of 6 great instruments is $39.99. I think that it is well worth the investment to your child's musical fun and learning. There are several activities that you can engage with your child and their instruments found on the LP website. I would love to own all of the instruments and have my kids experience the many different types.

LatinPercussion currently boasts the largest collection of percussion instruments and accessories in the world for the last 40 years. Latin Percussion started in 1964, and they are committed to bring the musician the very best percussion instruments available.

CONTEST

Latin Percussion has offered to sponsor a giveaway! This contest is open to the USA, and will end on May 26th. Go to the Music for Kids website and find an instrument that sparks your interest! You will be amazed at how many instruments they have on their site! Come back here and comment about it. I am not going to let you know what you can win, because it is a surprise! You will be able to keep a beat with it. :) You can get extra entries by doing the extra credits, or coming back each day with a comment.

Trebellina DVD: and introduction to music and instruments!

I come from a very musical family, and we were all raised with music composition, piano playing/practicing, and we all love music. I am a big time believer in exposing my children to music, instruments, and rhythm/beats. I was happy to review the Trebellina DVD when I was asked from Parent Reviewers.
Trebellina is a child friendly DVD to introduce your child to music, instruments and musical concepts. I enjoyed watching this DVD with Caleb (almost 4 years old) and Madelyn (2 years old). We had a great time learning about the different instruments, and what they sound like. Trebellina shows you the notes on the piano keyboard, and sings the note. My kids liked singing (matching the note) with Trebellina. My kids liked this DVD and request watching it. I think it is an easy way to introduce the basics at an early age. The graphics aren't high quality, but the lessons and teachings are of great quality.

Here is an excerpt from their site:
Vivacious Trebellina leads the note lessons. Along with Rock Bassey, she teaches your young child how to read the note in the treble clef and identify the corresponding key on the piano. Fun Rhythmo leads your child through a basic rhythm lesson, encouraging movement. Fascinating live action segments introduce percussion instruments from cabasa to cow bell so that your baby will quickly learn their sounds and see how some can be played. Other segments introduce the sound of various instruments in the context of foot-tapping music, coupled with relevant visuals. And, of course, parents will love the music as much as their children!
The engaging music and sound with oral explanation caters to auditory learners. Visual learners will especially appreciate the beautiful pictures and cleverly styled words. The upbeat dance and rhythm scenes encourage kinesthetic learners.
For the preschooler or older toddler, the Trebellina and Friends series is the perfect precursor to formal piano or other instrument lessons.

Trebellina has won many awards and accolades from “noteworthy” organizations, including Dr. Toy, iParenting Media, Aegis, Dove and The National Parenting Center. If you are looking for a program to introduce music, instruments and theory to your child, I would like to recommend Trebellina to you. Trebellina is retailed at $19.95, and you can also purchase other products from the Cristofori Baby website.

Corneille~ new artist

“Music has been the place where I could go to hide and forget about the world. I couldn’t make sense of a majority of the things that happened to me, so I used music as a shield. But over time, music has become a vehicle to channel out everything that I’ve been keeping from myself for all these years. And the new album is definitely the most honest, real assessment of everything that’s happened in my life, because I’m not trying to hide as much.”—Corneille
Corneille, is a major new artist on Motown Records. Corneille Nyungura was born in Fribourg, Germany, where his parents were students. At the age of six, his family returned to Rwanda, their country of origin. “When I went to Rwanda for the first time, there was a sense of going to the place where I belonged,” he says. “But because my parents were very much Westernized, I still felt like I didn’t fit in.”
With his Dad's encouragement over his singing, Corneille realized that his desire to make a career with his singing was possible! At age 16 he made his first recording. Sadly, his parents and family was massacred in the largest genocide due to the assassination of Rwanda’s President, Habyarimana . Corneille escaped the genocide in Rwanda, and he used music as a place where he could go and forget about the world- even if it was just for a little bit. His music is jazzy, and reminds me of something you may hear in a coffee shop or martini lounge. His music is band music, R&B pop, and soul singing. His music is relaxing, and good music to calm you down after a long day. Knowing his history, the songs come to life because the songs define his past and present for the world to know who he is. His music is bits and pieces of the story of his life.
Thanks to Music Moms I was able to review Corneille's new cd: The Birth of Cornelius.

Piano for Preschoolers

I took piano lessons for over 14 years, and I can honestly say that practicing wasn't something I looked forward to or enjoyed. When I first started out, there was so much to learn and so much that seemed so hard! It is a challenge to learn to read music, especially for the younger children. I was impressed when I took out the materials from Piano for Preschoolers (basic coarse). There is a song music book with 17 songs in it that accompanies a 17-track CD. Plus, there is a lesson book for the parent/teacher that has 19 lessons in it. To help preschoolers learn how to play, they use the two keyboard color strip guides. You just place the color guides onto your keys, and kids can learn from color rather than notes on a staff. What is nice about the color strips included in the kit, one fits a piano, and one fits a mini keyboard. That is a special bonus, because you can get your child practicing piano while on the road. They don't even know they are practicing that way!
Piano for Preschoolers costs $39.95 for the Basic Course, and I think this is a valuable price to get your preschooler interested in piano playing. The Basic coarse is designed for ages 3-8. Piano is a great instrument because it teaches math skills with counting. I really like the Piano for Preschoolers approach with teaching young ones, by color. Not only are they learning their colors, they are putting it to music. The kids get exposed to the keys, and can start to get comfortable where the notes are. There are a few lessons in the back of the book that actually teach the notes on the staff (spaces and lines) so that your child is ready to move on to reading piano music. I am excited to be doing this program with my child, and it is so much fun seeing him get excited about learning how to play piano!
Piano for preschoolers offer other products for purchase too, like songbooks, mini keyboards, and a few different gift packages.

Plain Tales new releases

PlainTales series, which offers classic stories on CDs that can be played on any player, any time (goodbye, long, boring trips this spring break!). The series is now expanding with the release of new collections, PlainTales First Tales and PlainTales Explorers, available on CD March 10, 2009.

The PlainTales First Tales collection includes:
“The Gingerbread Boy and Other First Tales” – Enthrall in the stories of the naughty Gingerbread Boy, the clever Billy Goats Gruff, the enchanted Frog Prince, the stalwart Little Red Hen and the courageous Bremen Town Musicians. Perfect for the littlest listener.
“Paul Bunyan and Other American Tall Tales” – Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill and Davy Crockett are some of the roughest, toughest characters ever to blaze the frontier. Clever as the crack of a whip and strong as a wildcat, these tall-tale heroes each left a legacy of larger-than-life deeds that have captured the American imagination for over a century. Three rib-tickling tracks tell the whole story.
The PlainTales Explorers collection includes:
“Animal Tales: Raccoon, Bear and Coyote” – Finally on his own, a young raccoon named Lotor needs to finds a new home before a predator finds him. Osa the brown bear builds a perfect winter den – with less-than-perfect results. And to survive a bleak winter, Hazard the coyote must find food for his pack, even if it puts him in grave danger. These stories about fictional friends are rich with detail about real animal behaviors.
“Johnny Appleseed and Other American Legends” – What makes an American legend? Find out in these fascinating stories of national treasures, including Johnny Appleseed, whose apple trees bore the fruit that fed a nation of pioneers; Sacagawea, the Native American woman who bravely guided Lewis and Clark on their westward journey; and John Muir, a valiant protector of the West’s natural wonders and founder of the Sierra Club.
PlainTales, created by writer, entrepreneur and father Brian Keairns, was started with the mission of providing great audio stories for children and their parents, believing that hearing the world’s best stories read aloud is a great way for youngsters to develop language and thinking skills, all while being thoroughly entertained. Fables, fairy tales and original stories inspire, educate and encourage creative thinking, and the ones featured in the PlainTales series are chosen for their rich language, cultural significance and pure enjoyment, allowing families to share something special, together.
PlainTales storytelling CDs are recommended for ages 5-10 and are available for $14.95 each.

Baby Einstein celebrates 10 years!

Baby Einstein has products that cover a wide range of developmentally appropriate products for babies and toddlers. Baby Einstein products are created from a baby's point-of-view. The videos use real world objects, music, art, language, poetry and nature, providing you an opportunity to introduce your baby to the world around them in playful and enriching ways. The DVD are great to watch with your child to talk about what is being shown.
Mom Central is working with Baby Einstein to promote the celebration of their 10 year Anniversary! I was sent the 10th Anniversary Special Edition Baby Mozart DVD, Touch and Feel Farm Animals board book, and the Lullaby Classics CD for review. I love the classical music in the DVD and CD.
The Lullaby Classics CD has 17 classical music selections and you get 35 minutes of great music to share with your baby. The board book, Touch and Feel Farm Animals, was a hit with my kids. They loved talking about the animals, and feeling the sensory pictures. Our family loves books, and Baby Einstein's was loved. The Baby Mozart (10th Anniversary) DVD was another fun watch for my kids. We talked about all the shapes, and colors in the DVD. I think my kids liked the puppets best. The puppets are entertaining and engaging with the kids.
We think that Baby Einstein's products are fun! A great way to build communication with you and your baby. It is also a great way to spark questions and imagination with your tots!

The Secret Mountain books/music review

We love reading books at our house, and it is great being introduced to new books! Team Mom sent me a few books to review from The Secret Mountain . I was happy to review the three fun books: Down at the Sea Hotel, Dream Songs Night Songs from Belgium to Brazil, and A Duck in New York City. The Secret Mountain creates fun and engaging children's books. The illustrations are fun, colorful and look painted. My kids really enjoy the pictures. Each book is accompanied by a music CD featuring original songs. The best part is that the book also includes lyrics to these songs so that everyone can sing-along. We especially liked A Duck in New York City, because no matter what others think, the duck keeps following his dream to perform his ducky dance on Broadway. He encounters skeptics, bad weather, & traffic along the way but his heart keeps telling him, “Yes, I can!” I thought this book did a super job at teaching the lesson of endurance and stamina. My kids thought he was fun to read about. I think these make fun children's books, and if your child loves music, the Cd's will be a big hit, too! Be ready for some giggles, because the lyrics are very creative and funny!

Professor Pocket: Our Silly Farm Adventure CD~ Review and Giveaway

Contest is now closed. Congratulations to Karen! Thanks to all who entered!
I recently had the privilege of reviewing Professor Pocket! Professor Pocket is a family-owned company created to help children develop a lifelong passion for learning languages. The company produces entertaining and engaging bilingual products that children and adults can enjoy together, whether new to the Spanish language or completely fluent.
Paula and Nathalie (two sister-in-laws) designed all their products based on first hand experiences growing up and raising children in multicultural and bilingual homes.

Our Silly Farm Adventure CD is a Spanish-filled CD visiting the unique farm where Chico the Chicken was born. Professor Pocket and Desi the Dinosaur join Chico on the adventure of pigs driving tractors, cows make chocolate milk (wouldn't that be something?) and horses fly at this farm, where nothing is what it seems! I think this is a great CD to help kids let their imagination go wild, all the while being exposed to Spanish and learning fun songs. A silly bilingual storyline, 5 original songs and a remake of the popular Latin American folk song, “Los Pollitos." For kids of all ages! A Dr. Toy Best Products award winner. I my oldest son wishes he knew what they were saying in the songs, and it isn't very explanatory, but I think kids can catch on. We are still listening to our CD trying to pick up the language. I know that it is best to introduce other languages to kids at an early age, because they can pick it up easier. We found this to be true with learning Sign Language. This CD is fun, too, because it stretches me to learn Spanish. Then, my kids ask me what different words mean, and I need to pay more attention to the song, or look it up! My kids like the fun, and active songs. We like dancing to the music.
Check out the Professor Pocket website for fun coloring sheets, dot-to-dot, matching games, puzzles, bingo memory, counting sheets, and mazes! Professor Pocket also has other great items in their shop to check out. Would you like to win something from the Professor Pocket? They have generously offered a giveaway for my lucky readers! This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. Just go to the Professor Pocket website and look at all their products they offer. Come back and comment on something you would like to have in your home. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win. Contest will end on August 25th, at 7:00 PM CST. Thank you Professor Pocket for bringing Spanish into our home in such a fun and musical way!

Disney music Block Party!

Disney Music is launching a block party, and has released new CD music for family enjoyment. My kids love the music on the CD's. We got 5 CD's from Disney to review:
Imagination Movers: Juice Box Heroes
This CD is a great collection of fun tunes to help motivate kids and has songs about life time things. I like the songs Please and Thank you, and The Medicine Song.
The Mighty Giants: Here comes the 123's
This CD has some great songs about numbers. Kids learn while grooving' to the music. This CD comes with a DVD
Ralph's World: Rhyming Circus
I think this CD is great to introduce rhyming to kids. Ralph's World has fun tunes and fun ways to hear rhyming. I think the song Rhyming Circus is a fun tune.
Choo-Choo Soul
Caleb loves this CD, and the music from Choo-Choo Soul. The song ABC Gospel is a great tune. This CD comes with a fun music video, too.
Disney music Block Party (I have to say this is my favorite out of the five)~
Songs on this CD are Disney Movie Classics sung from the Disney Artists. It is fun to see my son, Caleb, try to guess who is singing the song. My kids and I really dance when the song The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room comes on.

Music is great for kids (and adults). We love music, singing and dancing in our home. I am glad to have these great Disney CD's to play. Music is great for so many reasons, mainly to help get kids moving and learning. Thanks DISNEY~

Last night~ and Caleb is funny!

Last night, we went to a great concert at a church. A wonderfully musical, and very talented family was there using their God-given gifts to minister to us, and bless us! The family is called Simple Grace! They were very entertaining to watch, and I was amazed at the love they displayed. They have 8 children, and 8 in heaven! WOW~ and the mom, Kathy, is a very dedicated home schooling mom! They travel on the road 33 weeks a year doing ministry. I really enjoyed seeing them use their amazing talents to glorify God! They play so many instruments: banjo, guitar, bass guitar, key board, penny whistle, mandolin, cello, fiddles, harmonicas and more! It was a fun evening! My parents, my aunt and uncle, and my other aunt and uncle (here visiting from CO) were there, so it was fun to see relatives, too.

Anyway...Caleb and Nathaniel were running around in the gym afterward during the fellowship time (sweets and coffee break). They were having a blast having races. When we were getting in the van, Caleb had this conversation with Terry:
Caleb: I am tired!
Dad: Yes, it is late, did you have fun?
Caleb: Yes, it was fun running with Nathaniel. Dad, Nathaniel is a fast runner! He was chasing me!
Dad: Yes, he is fast.
Caleb: I need training lessons, so I can run as fast as Nathaniel.

**Isn't that a hoot? Hee hee...