Review and Giveaway: The Mama Doni Band "Chanukah Fever" CD

Fun and silly, funky and happy are the best words to describe the music on Mama Doni's latest album, "Chanuka Fever: 12 Macca Beats for The Whole Family."

Mama Doni, aka Doni Zasloff Thomas, is a talented and hip mother of two young children, who has been immersed in Jewish life and music since she was a little girl. Sharing her passion with her preschool music students inspired Doni to start writing and recording her own songs, and in 2008 Mama Doni released her first album, "I Love Herring."

Winners of the Simcha Award at the 2008 International Jewish Music Festival, Amsterdam, The Mama Doni Band serves up happy joyful music in a wide variety of styles from reggae to rock with blends of Klezmer and even disco along with a few other genres mixed in.

My "review panel" (aka, my munchkin boys) and I were quite excited to listen to this cd. After all, who can resist some "good toe-tapping, hand clapping, all-out jumping and wiggling, goofy smiles ear to ear," music?? And that is exactly what Mama Doni has created, in my humble opinion (and my review panel's opinions!)

We had fun, sang along, giggled and grooved. That's what I love about this music....it makes my kids "happy in their tummies." And those words makes this mommy happy in her heart.

You can buy the Mama Doni's "Chanuks Fever" CD online  and put some smiles and "happy" in your families "tummies" too!

Or, WIN A COPY HERE!!

To Enter:
Visit the MamaDoni Website, and listen to the song selections from the Chanuka Fever CD. Leave me a comment telling me which is your favorite. (Ours, by unanimous agreement, was "Latke Man")


Extra Entries:

1. Join The Mama Doni Band Group Page on FaceBook (3 entries)

2. Tweet this contest and leave me a comment with url. ( get an extra entry for each day you tweet.)

3. Follow me on Twitter. (3 entries)

4. Become a fan of  Happy Healthy Families on FaceBook. (3 entries)

5. Follow my blog (widget  on left sidebar)


6. Paste the Happy Healthy Families Button on Your Sidebar or Add to Your Blog Roll.

7. Favorite Happy Healthy Families on Technorati.

8. Blog about this giveaway and leave me the url. (3 entries)

The Details:
Open to US addresses.
Contest ends December 9th at 11:59 est.
Winner will be drawn by Random.org, and notified by email.
Winner will have 3 days to confirm or new winner will be drawn.
Please leave valid email address or active blog link w/ valid email address.

I received a copy of the Mama Doni "Chanuka Fever CD" to review. I received no monetary compensation and all opinions expressed here are completely my own and my munchkin boys.

Giveaway and Review : Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Aerosmith

"Rockabye Baby! transforms timeless rock songs into beautiful instrumental lullabies. Guitars and drums are traded for soothing mellotrons, vibraphones and bells, and the volume is turned down from an eleven to a two. Rockabye Baby! is the perfect way to share the music you love with the littlest rocker in your life."

Oh my! I have a new favorite album, and it is the awesome Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Aerosmith!

Brilliant. That is how I would describe Rockabye Baby's beautiful interpretation of Aerosmith's music. The instruments that are used are amazingly melodic and soulful. And the album features liner notes by Steven Tyler himself ! I could easily sit and listen to this music all by myself (I know it is intended to help soothe babies to sleep...I'm just saying....), except for the fact that while listening to this CD, I could not just sit. No way. I had (I mean seriously..had) to get up and dance around.

My two year old danced with me right away, and soon my five year old did as well. After a bit, we sat back down on the couch to continue listening ( the hubby had joined us by this time as well....after all, who can resist Aerosmith??). I can honestly report that my two year old went to sleep right there on the couch as we continued listening, totally enraptured. To me that was all I needed to agree that this lullabye collection is indeed unique, brilliant, soothing, and wonderful. The instrumental quality of the album touches your soul and brightens your spirit as soon as the music starts. Any new mom and dad will be thrilled with this CD.

There are more fabulous collections from Rockabye Baby, such as their Rockabye Baby: lullaby renditions of Queen...which I intend to get next. I listened to the Bohemian Rhapsody rendition, and decided on the spot my kids and I need this album too. I also want the Rockabye Baby: Cold Play lullabye renditions. I'm telling you, being on the Rockabye Baby website is something akin to being a kid in a candy store! There is a Beatles version, Pixies, U2, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, The Beach Boys, Bob Marley and more! You really need to check out the website and listen to some of these truly beautiful collections!

A little more About Rockabye Baby! from their website :

" Rockabye Baby! is staffed by music lovers from all corners of the world. Headquartered in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Silver Lake, the label was born of the need to make children's music cool--not only for babies but for their parents too. We turned to our record collections for inspiration: punk, metal, classic rock. The resulting albums are revolutionary yet reverential. In other words, the perfect gift for a newborn, new parents, or yourself."


BUY IT!

Rockabye Baby: Lullaby Renditions of Aerosmith will be available starting September 15th here ($16.98)

WIN IT!!

One lucky reader can win their own copy of Rockabye Baby: Lullaby Renditions of Aerosmith!

To Enter: (mandatory entry requirement)

Visit rockabyebaby and listen to the songs from the Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Aerosmith CD. Then come back and leave me a comment letting me know what is your favorite song. Mine is "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)."

(Please leave a valid email address with your comment if you are not an active blogger)


Extra Entries:

1. Visit the Rockabye Baby Website and listen to another CD collection (other than Aerosmith). Leave me a comment telling me your favorite CD (other than Aerosmith), and a song from it. Three extra entries.

2. Follow me on Twitter.

3. Tweet this giveaway and leave me a comment with url. Get an extra entry for each daily tweet.

4. Favor Happy Healthy Families on Technorati. Three extra entries.

5. Blog about this giveaway and link to Rockabye Baby and this post. Three extra entries.

6. Add Happy Healthy Families to Your Blog roll or paste a Happy Healthy Button on your sidebar.

7. Follow this blog. (Right sidebar)

8. Become a subscriber of my blog.

Contest will end October 5th. Winner will be drawn randomly and notified by email. Winner will have 36 hours to confirm or new winner will be drawn. Open to U.S. addresses only.

The Dreyer Family Band Giveaway: "Family Photograph" CD

This is an amazing and unique CD in that the songs are beautifully written and sung by a wonderful family of twin brothers, their wives and kids. I was contacted by Annie Dreyer to review the collection of songs that her family lovingly created together. I fell in love with the songs, and I am so excited that a reader will also receive a free copy of this awesome collection of songs! Parents and Grandparents alike, I kid you not, this CD will touch your heart and grab your soul.

Let me tell you a bit more about the Dreyers: Matt and Annie are the "West Coasters," and have three children, Mac, Emmet and Silas. Then there is Craig (Matt's twin brother) and Cami, the "East Coasters" who have a daughter, Finley. Every song on the CD is about a very real experience with the Dreyer kids. Recorded in 11 days over two family vacation trips, this is a collection of songs coming straight from the hearts of these parents.

This is a family project every step of the way. Everyone sings, even the babies (well....as the family puts it, maybe they cried and laughed more than sang, but were every bit involved in this work of love!). Even the art for the cover and the illustrations for the lyric book were created by family members...in crayon, of course! Long time friends and musical geniuses of the Dreyer family also lent their expertise to make this a truly unique and beautiful music collection.

This CD instantly became a favorite of mine, and I love to listen to it in the car most of all. The music is a wonderful mix of jazz, funky, and blue grass. I guarantee it will touch your heart, make you laugh, smile and probably cry a bit too.

Buy it!

You can buy the Dreyer Family Band Cd, "Family Photograph," at Amazon (starting $19.02, and also available as MP3 Download) or .....

Better Yet, Win a Copy!

The Dreyer Family Band would love to give a copy of their CD to one reader of Happy Healthy Families to enjoy as well!

Visit dreyerfamilyband.com, and listen to some of their heartwarming music (you'll fall in love...I'm telling you!). Then come back here and leave me a comment letting me know which song you loved the most.


For More Entries:

1. Tweet about the Dreyer Family Band and this Giveaway, and leave e a comment with the tweet url. You can tweet each day for extra entries as well.

2. Follow me on Twitter.

3. Blog about this giveaway, linking to dreyerfamilyband.com, and to this post directly.

4. Favorite Happy Healthy Families on Technorati. Leave me acomment with your Technorati name.

5. Follow Happy Healthy Families Blog.

6. Subscribe to Happy Healthy Families, or let me know if you are a subscriber already.

7. Put a Happy Healthy Families Button on your blog. Leave me a seperate comment letting me know.

Bits and Pieces:
Open to US Addresses.
Contest will End August 20th, 11:59 EST
Winner will be drawn by Random.org and notified by email. Winner needs to confirm within 36 hours or new winner will be drawn.
Must have valid email address in comments or in blogger profile.