Saturday, July 17, 2010

Beautiful Creatures CD Review and 3 winner Giveaway!


SAP's Story

The benefits of children growing up exposed to different cultures are numerous, and it gives them a wide range of knowledge and tolerance that can't be influenced on them when they are older. That is one reason why when I see a product that is fun, educational, and has a cultural or ethnicity dimension to it, I want to try it!

You can see why I was excited to do this review for the Beautiful Creatures CD: Beautiful Creatures Children’s songs of Africa by Ed Jordan and Alan Glass”!

When I was contacted by Paul from Beautiful Creatures, I listened to the demo song, Imvubu The Happiest Hippo, and I laughed! How did he know I loved hippos?! He didn't of course but it was meant to be! Yes I have a weird love of hippos and this song was a great kids song, and following it were more songs about animals and their well known characteristics! Such songs included Lucus The Lazy Lion and Wallace the Wonderous Warthog, both which were fun to dance and run around to with our daughter!

Besides songs about animals from South Africa, there were also songs about life in general which I liked a lot, and a couple night time lullaby songs.

This CD was only one of seven CD's that The Beautiful Creatures has!

SAP, SAPsDaDa, and I all had a wonderful time dancing around the house before bed and this made me realize that I should do so more often! Just not before bed because she had so much fun it got her rowdy and nighty night ended up being later than usual :)

Beautiful Creatures is also quite modern! For those families out there that don't like buying CD's and would much rather download music for use in your MP3 player etc., check out Beautiful Creatures, available on iTunes!!


Info on The Beautiful Creatures

(Info in italics given courtesy of Beautiful Creatures)

Beautiful Creatures was formed in South Africa in November 2004 by Alan Glass, Ed Jordan, and Paul Choritz who felt there was a need for 'Parent Friendly' children's music. Using the best session musicians, actors and singers in the country, Beautiful Creatures prides itself on being uniquely South African with a positive global message.

The last five years have seen the release of seven Beautiful Creatures albums: Beautiful Creatures, More Beautiful Creatures, and Even More Beautiful Creatures, featuring fun educational songs about African animals. Beautiful Me, an album dealing with emotional development for children, tackling issues such as sibling rivalry, anger management, self-confidence and diversity. Beautiful Bedtime, songs that take your children through the routine of getting ready for bed. Winding down, bathing, brushing teeth, putting your p-jays on and story time. And Beautiful Creatures of The Sea, fun sea creature songs that deal with conservation. 2009 saw the release of Beautiful Lullabies featuring 10 down tempo songs to get your baby to sleep.


SAPsMaMa Review: Pros

  • I loved that it was South African cultural music, exposing my daughter to a different cultural music!

  • I thought the songs were very upbeat and happy and had a lot of energy behind them!

  • I liked that there were a mixture of songs, about animals, life, and lullabies

  • The songs were educational, but not overly educational. Kids like to listen to them!

  • I like that Beautiful Creatures provides "Parent friendly children's music", a must have with children's music as it will be played over and over!

  • I also like that some of their other CDs touch on things besides African animals, such as their Beautiful Creatures of the Sea CD which touches on conservation, and their Beautiful Bedtime CD which teaches bedtime routine and the importance of each step, including such chores as brushing your teeth! Very educational and instills great values in our children!
SAPsMaMa Review: Cons

  • The tunes are so catchy they get stuck in my head! Don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing...!

  • This CD is mostly available via download through itunes etc., I guess I'm old fashioned but I do prefer a hard copy in CD form! I know not very green of me but it's true!

  • I would have prefered more lullabies/night time tunes, the songs were too upbeat to use before bed. However, I do know that Beautiful Creatures does have a CD, Beautiful Lullabies, that is ONLY lullabies, so I won't complain too much about it, I'll just have to buy the other CD!
SAPsDaDa's Two-Cents

Although the company is out of South Africa and the music is upbeat and SAP liked it a lot, it would be nice if the company would incorporate not just an African flair, but more of a world view. It's nice to start off with what you know, but it's also wise to grow!

I'm sure my daughter will listen to this music as much as she can (or as much as we let her since it will get stuck in our heads!) and I'm glad that it teaches her about animals and South Africa and will make her more cultured and not blind to the world around her!

The Green/Non-Toxic/Natural Feature

  • Provides cultured educational music that is parent friendly!

  • Is available via itunes for download, so lessons the production of more products/materials, hence more environmentally friendly!

Buy It!

You can find Beautiful Creatures CDs on iTunes!!

You can also find all of their CDs and are able to order a CD through The Beautiful Creatures website!

Win It!

Not just one, but three lucky SAPsMaMa followers will win the Beautiful Creatures--Childrn's Sons of Africa by Ed Jordan and Alan Glass CD! This CD will be in electronic format, not in hard disc.

Rules!

  • You must be a SAPsMaMa Google Friend Connect follower to enter this giveaway!

  • You must leave your email in each comment/entry! You may leave your email in the " SAPsMaMa at yahoo dot com " format if you would like to deter spam bots, but your email MUST be included for your entry to count!

  • Mandatory entry must be completed before any other entries!

  • Leave a separate comment for each entry in order for all entries to be counted (i.e. if something is worth 2 entries, please leave two comments, and please label #1 and #2, etc.)

  • If you need clarification on how to complete one of the entries, feel free to contact me and I'll be happy to help!

  • I will check each comment entry! So please be fair and only enter for entries you qualify for!
Mandatory Entry! (Must be completed BEFORE any extra entries!)


You must follow SAPsMaMa PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect!
Also...
Head on over to the Beautiful Creatures Website and tell me which CD or Book you would most like to have!

This mandatory entry is worth 2 Entries, and you must do BOTH these things!

Extra Entries!

  • What is your favorite Beautiful Creature? I love Dragons, but since they technically aren't real, my favorite is a horse! (1 Entry)
  • If your blog is Carbon Neutral, you get an extra entry! Please leave your link to your blog! (1 Entry)
  • Like Beautiful Creatures on Facebook! Please leave your Facebook name or at least your first initial and last name for me to verify. (1 Entry)
  • Follow Beautiful Creatures on Twitter! Please leave your twitter handle! (1 Entry)
  • Like SAPsMaMa on Facebook! Please leave your Facebook name or at least your first initial and last name for me to verify. (2 Entries!)
  • Follow @SAPsMaMa on Twitter! Please leave your twitter handle! (1 Entry)
  • Tweet about this giveaway!
    You may use: Win a Beautiful Creatures CD of great Children's Music from @SAPsMaMa blog! http://tinyurl.com/24mf94a!
  • Subscribe to SAPsMaMa via RSS Feedburner! (1 Entry)
  • Change your Facebook status to link to this giveaway! Please leave the URL to your status in your entry! (1 Entry)
  • Enter any of my other CURRENT giveaways! (1 Entry Each!)

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.


Giveaway is open WorldWide. Giveaway will end July 31st @ 11:59 PM (CST). Winner will be chosen using random.org. Winner will have 48 hours to respond after I contact via email. If winner does not respond, a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck and thank you for supporting SAPsMaMa!

47 comments:

Marci said...

I follow via GC Marcella Cook

I would Love to get the "Beautiful Lullabies" so that my Monstar can listen to it at bedtime.

emmerswee at gmail dot com

Marci said...

I follow via GC Marcella Cook

I would love the "Beautiful Lullabies" for Monster

emmerswee at gmail dot com

Marci said...

My favorite creature has always been an Elephant!! (or a skunk Yeah I'm weird like that)

emmerswee at gmail dot com

Marci said...

I "like" Beautiful Creatures on FB Marcella Cook

emmerswee at gmail dot com

Marci said...

I follow @beauticreatures on Twitter

@TheMarciFactor

emmerswee at gmail dot com

Marci said...

I liked SAPsMaMa on FB Marcella Cook

emmerswee at gmail dot com #1

Marci said...

I liked SAPsMaMa on Facebook Marcella Cook

emmerswee at gmail dot com #2

Marci said...

I follow @SAPsMaMa on Twitter

@TheMarciFactor

emmerswee at gmail dot com

Marci said...

I tweeted http://twitter.com/TheMarciFactor/status/18803170926

emmerswee at gmail dot com

kyla g said...

I follow on GFC and I would also like the Beautiful Creatures of the Sea CD!
irshsmil9 @ yahoo.com #1

kyla g said...

I'm a GFC follower and I would also like the BEautiful Creatures of the Sea CD!
irshsmil9 @ yahoo.com #2

kyla g said...

My favorite is the giraffe!
irshsmil9 @ yahoo.com

Angie Bailey said...

I follow via GFC at preciselymine and I'd like to have Mafutha the elephant book. abailey_crace at yahoo dot com

Angie Bailey said...

I follow you on Twitter @theladya abailey_crace at yahoo dot com

Angie Bailey said...

Tweeted. http://twitter.com/theladya/status/19250065718 abailey_crace at yahoo dot com

Angie Bailey said...

I follow @beauticreatures on Twitter @theladya. abailey_crace at yahoo dot com

Yanick said...

I follow SAPsMaMa Publicly via Google Friend Connect. The book I would like is Mafutha the elephant!

yanickm(at)gmail(dot)com

entery #1

Yanick said...

I follow SAPsMaMa Publicly via Google Friend Connect. The book I would like is Mafutha the elephant!

yanickm(at)gmail(dot)com

entery #2

Yanick said...

What is your favorite Beautiful Creature? My fav beautiful creature is dolphin. Beautiful smart creatures. I would like to ride one someday.

Tim, Allyson, and kids said...

follow you
I'd love Beautiful Bedtime
a_heart4home at yahoo
#1

Tim, Allyson, and kids said...

follow you
I'd love Beautiful Bedtime
a_heart4home at yahoo
#2

Tim, Allyson, and kids said...

I love cows! An odd choice, I know but I have very fond memories of visiting my grandparents and aunts and uncles on their dairy farms.
a_heart4home at yahoo

Tim, Allyson, and kids said...

sub to rss feed
a_heart4home at yahoo

Tim, Allyson, and kids said...

we're carbon neutral
a_heart4home at yahoo

Tim, Allyson, and kids said...

follow on twitter @heart4home
a_heart4home at yahoo

Tim, Allyson, and kids said...

tweet http://twitter.com/heart4home/status/19258957246
a_heart4home at yahoo

jellybelly82158 said...

Follow Publicly via Google Friends Connect - jellybelly82158

jellybelly82158 said...

Like beautiful Creatures on Facebook

jellybelly82158 said...

Sorry, I forgot to put what I liked the best on Beautiful Creatures site - I liked the Beautiful Me CD

jellybelly82158 said...

Like SAPsMaMa on Facebook

jellybelly82158 said...

Follow on Twitter @jellybelly82158

jellybelly82158 said...

Tweeted - http://twitter.com/jellybelly82158/status/19264395351

jellybelly82158 said...

Subscribe with RSS - Google Reader

J Rodney said...

I would love to have the Beautiful Me cd.

I am a google friend follower.

Smartmomj[@]gmail[.]com
Frugality Is Free

J Rodney said...

I would love the beautiful me cd entry #2

Smartmomj[@]gmail[.]com
Frugality Is Free

J Rodney said...

I like Beautiful Creatures on facebook.


Smartmomj[@]gmail[.]com
Frugality Is Free

J Rodney said...

I follow Beautiful Creatures on Facebook.


Smartmomj[@]gmail[.]com
Frugality Is Free

J Rodney said...

My favorite beautiful creature is the dolphin.


Smartmomj[@]gmail[.]com
Frugality Is Free

J Rodney said...

I follow you on facebook.

JRfrugalmom


Smartmomj[@]gmail[.]com
Frugality Is Free

Hilary said...

I follow publicly on Google Friend Connect!!

xprettyxnxpunkx AT gmail DOT com

Hilary said...

My favorite beautiful creature is a cat... is that one of them? :P I just love cats. Always have, they don't need much attention but when they want it they're all over you. :P

Hilary said...

I like the Beautiful Creatures on Facebook!

(Hilary St. Laurent)

xprettyxnxpunkx AT gmail DOT com

(I left my e-mail off the last one... :/ Sorry!)

Hilary said...

I follow the beatuiful creatures on twitter!

(twitter.com/hilarystlaurent)

xprettyxnxpunkx AT gmail DOT com

Hilary said...

Oh! I also forgot to say that I would love to have the Beautiful Bedtime CD, who doesn't want to play music while they're sleeping? Plus, I'm always looking for new ways to relax!

xprettyxnxpunkx AT gmail DOT com

Hilary said...

I follow @SAPsMaMa on Twitter! :D

(twitter.com/hilarystlaurent)

xprettyxnxpunkx AT gmail DOT com

Hilary said...

I tweeted about this giveaway!!

(twitter.com/hilarystlaurent)


xprettyxnxpunkx AT gmail DOT com

Hilary said...

I have entered the Nursing Cami giveaway!!

xprettyxnxpunkx AT gmail DOT com