Jetta and the Jellybeans CD Review and Giveaway

I really wanted to do this review much sooner than this, but with the holidays... you know how it goes, right?

So, without further ado, let me introduce you to the "Fabulous" Ms. Jetta and the Jellybeans!! Jetta and the Jellybeans have entertained kids with their educational songs for over a decade. Their music is silly, fun, educational and just...happy. Seriously. I think the best word to describe Jetta and the Jellybean's music is Happy! Mix in styles like pop, rock and even blues with great sing along lyrics, and you get music that kids are going to love. And for the record, I will admit I now go around the house doing things like washing dishes and picking up stray legos while humming Jetta and the Jellybean songs. I'm telling you there are catchy tunes on this cd, and fantastic messages for kids in every one of them.

We received a copy of Jetta and the Jellybeans new cd, "tell me what you want to be" just before Christmas. As soon as my four year old saw the cover, he wanted to hear it. Me too. It is a cute picture. And when you open the cd cover, there are even cuter pictures to look at.

The first song came on and I can honestly say that myself, my two year old and four year old just started dancing away. The song, "When you're all grown up, tell me what you want to be" is my favorite. Hands down. I loved it from the first beat, and there is no way you (yes...you, not just your kids!)will not be able to dance when you hear it. Kid you not. We were laughing, dancing and jumping around like crazy. But I especially loved the message on the song which is kids can be anything they want to be. Awesome. The fun thing this song and the others on the cd is that the lyrics are easy to hear and sing along with. And of course we all did!


Every single song on the entire CD my kids and I enjoyed. My four year old especially fell in love with the song, "Skat Cat". It is like a rendition of a classic Blues type song--and brings out the "cool cat" in my little man, hehe. Just look at his cool moves, LOL.

There are a total of 12 songs on Jetta and The Jellybeans CD. All of them are fun and teach things like how to wash your hands and how to take care of a pet. There are songs about gravity, outer space, and taking medicine. If you want your kids to burn up some energy, the songs "March Your Feet" and "Wiggle" will do just that. Guaranteed.

We play Jetta and The Jellybeans just about everyday now. I can put it on and instantly stop a raging battle over a toy, quiet a temper tantrum and cheer up bored little boys that have been inside too much this chilly winter we are having. Pretty impressive.

Now for the best part. Jetta and The Jellybeans have offered to give one lucky family a SIGNED copy of their "Tell Me What You Want To Be" cd. I am telling you, it is a great collection of songs and your little ones will love it, especially with a signed message from Ms. Jetta herself inside!

To enter the giveaway,

Visit Jetta and The Jellybeans.com. read about the band, and then listen to their songs (you get a taste for how fun and educational their music is!) on their website
Come back and leave me a message telling me which song is your favorite. (remember, you only get to hear part of each song...but you're going to love them!)

That's it! You're entered.

If you'd like extra chances to win, you must complete the above first, and then any or all of the following (each one will get you an extra entry):

Add Happy Healthy families to your Twitter and Tweet the contest.

Blog about the contest. Add a link to Happy Healthy Families and Jetta and the Jellybeans, and leave a comment for me letting me know.

Add the Happy Healthy Families button to your site. (It's on the right sidebar).

Subscribe to Happy Healthy Families.

Contest ends Sunday Jan.11th, midnight. Winner will be randomly drawn on Monday Jan. 12th.

About Those New Year's Resolutions

Ah...I don't know about all of you, but for me I get funky when it comes to the old goal setting time of year. I actually get wishy washy more than funky, I guess. It always goes the same way...I get all motivated and excited and determined that this will be the best year ever! I have goals literally racing around my head. The delicious feelings of motivation and determination are busting out all over the place. And then...I swing the other way. Maybe I'm just weird. Sigh. But inevitably, the second thoughts, the kind of "ack...I'm so overwhelmed, can't figure out what to do first" feelings start to move in, kicking those cute motivated thoughts aside, and there I am. Not focused enough to write down my goals, and wondering why I ever thought (however fleeting it was) that I could actually make such grand changes this year.
Maybe I am afraid of setting goals, in my head or on paper. Maybe the thought of failing keeps me from making a move. Hmmm...or maybe it's just that I hate the idea of being tied or obligated to structure--even one that I set for myself. But I sit here wondering what stops me from writing down goals and believing in myself enough to accomplish them. Maybe just writing this post will be a catharsis of sorts and will help me recapture those excited determined feelings again, and actually try putting a goal or two on paper.

But as I sit here pondering, typing and watching my two year old destroy yet another Christmas Tree ornament (note to self--take down Christmas Tree asap--poor thing has endured enough torture) I am feeling that writing goals may be a tad over rated. It does add an element of stress and pressure I certainly don't want in my life. And doesn't it kind of set the way for failing if you do not achieve everything on your list? My life is too unpredictable for me to have a "list" of goals and deadlines to meet. And I kind of feel like "..the best laid plans..." saying holds true. For me. Not necessarily for anyone else of course.

I think I will strive to hold close to my heart the hope I have for all things good this year for my family, the hope for all around me (here in my blogospehere world and in my everyday life) to experience a wonderful happy healthy New Year, and to look forward to making each day one to be thankful for. I won't worry about accomplishing a certain number of posts a week, or getting my two year old potty trained by a certain date, or a gorgeous garden growing in my dog and kid infested back yard,or losing a planned amount of weight (who..me? need to lose weight? nah..just saying IF I needed to...but I don't, so...moving on...) or even about cleaning my house more this year. I am going to be more thankful, more accepting and more well...just happy... this year for what I do have, and go from there. I will have those generalish ideas in my head of things I would love to accomplish this year, but I am going to keep those ideas visualized in my thoughts, while I accept, or try to, what each day brings.

Whew. Sorry about the long post. But you know what? It was sort of cathartic. So there's my goals. And I even got them on paper! Sort of. Now, I am off to rescue that poor unsuspecting Christmas ornament.

Wishing everyone a Blessed and Very Happy New Year.

Make Way For Valentine's Day!

Bring on the red hearts as we bid a fond adieu to the twinkling gold and silver lights of Christmas! Hehe. I know I may be rushing things just a tiny bit here, but you know all the stores are frantically piling their shelves with everything hearts and candy as you read this post!
So yes, I admit I have started moving on from Christmas trees and gingerbread men, and am thinking of fun Valentine gifts for the hubbs. We do not do anything expensive on Valentine's Day, but we do like to surprise each other with some fun gift. I am thinking about making a basket with a few different things in it. Kind of a themed idea like a "pamper yourself" basket with some goodies. He needs a wallet, so maybe that with some new pictures of the kiddos in it..did I mention I got a new camera for Christmas?? And a new pair of Holiday frames to interchange with his regular old glasses. I'm thinking of the kind that have sun lenses attached so he can easily switch lenses as he works outside most of his day. Something like these ones . I will probably put in a new CD and a couple of other things.
I just can't believe how quickly holidays keep rolling around. Sigh.

Just a Quickie!

Now all of you that went there, hehe, sorry to mislead you. Really. My bad. I meant a quickie post!

I have not been around much the past week, and I feel like my blog is going to quickly become ghost-townish if I don't kick my derierre into gear here soon. Darn, was that a tumbleweed rolling by??

It is tough to get back into the swing of things I must say. But I am working on it. So please don't mind the cobwebs here and there--they will be swept away asap! In their place will be some new fun giveaways and reviews ready to start off the New Year!

And...I got a spiffy new camera for Christmas so look for pictures (that have so far been a bit, ahem, lacking) here on Happy Healthy Families.

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Dreaming Of Winter Vacation Get Aways!

Merry Christmas!! I hope it was a wonderful day for everyone. We had a great day playing with all the goodies Santa brought! It was tiring, exhausting but such a nice Holiday season overall, and I am sad that it has come and gone once again so quickly.
Now I am cooking up some lasagna while the kids are quietly playing with their loot. And I find myself thinking how nice it would be to pack up and take off for a wonderful family vacation right about now. The Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing in Missouri would work for me! It is located It is in the heart of Historic Downtown Branson across from the Hilton Branson Convention Center hotel and the Branson Convention Center. This place offers kitchens (so convenient with kids!) and LCD Flat Panel Tv's. I think after a day of complete relaxation, it would be nice to take a river walk and enjoy the beautiful scenery, stroll around Town Square and take in the spectacular water fountain light and fire display that is set to music. And of course, some boutique shopping! And with the winter escape package available, staying at the Hilton Promenade or at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel would make a super way to ring in the New Year. I wonder if Santa could muster up one more surprise? HeHe!

Remembering The Old But Looking Forward Too

Today I was out doing some solo Christmas shopping and I found myself looking back on Christmas's past. I told myself to stay focused and not get sentimental and teary-eyed, but it didn't work. Nope. I sighed at the cute girl's toys that my daughter is no longer interested in, and remembered one Christmas when she was just two and literally screamed when she saw a new baby doll and stroller under the Christmas tree. Now, it's all about Jonas Brothers, Twilight and skinny jeans (which I could not find, btw, ack)

Even my little guys are growing up so fast it seems. No little cute baby toys for us this year either. Now it's what one wants, so does the other. Two of everything tools, cars and dinosaurs, Santa, please!

Anyway...I need to focus on the New Year...and to making some new goals and memories. I have some ideas floating around my head of goals, just need to have a few moments to visualize and organize those thoughts. Of course I am going to be blog goaling...hehe)

So I will be as many of you will be over the next few days...shopping, wrapping, cooking, visiting, and hopefully enjoying these last few days before Christmas. Posting will be backburned somewhat (eh...it already has been), while I may be quickly popping in over the next few days (or not!?) I plan to be back in full blogging mode after the holidays.

Hope this Christmas week brings lots of new memories for everyone to hold and cherish.

xoxoxxo!

Holiday Burnout?

No, I am not burned out, yet anyway. But I was thinking today how nice it would be to do all the fun holiday stuff and then pack up and take off for a great family winter vacation! Somewhere new and exciting that we had never been before but had heard about, like Morey's Pier, the largest amusement piers in the world. And it is right on the boardwalk in Wildwood, New Jersey.
How perfect it would be to take off right after the New Years toasts were all done for a Jersey Shore beach vacation. If I could, I think I would plan that as one last Christmas present for our family--what a surprise. I can imagine my kids loving all of the rides. Moreys Piers has more than 100 rides and attractions, and my kids would probably want to try each and every one out! I can just picture all of us walking the boardwalk in the evenings. The more I daydream about it, the more I think that enjoying the Jersey Shore and Wildwood hotels
would be an awesome way to start the New Year. Moreys Piers annual holiday sale is happening now through Jan. 9th, and with deals like 40% off season passes to both the water parks, that would really help with the budget. Sounds good to me. If only I could convince the hubby!