Features
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Music Monday: Matt Redman – Unbroken Praise {GIVEAWAY!}
Last week I reviewed Matt Redman’s latest offering, Unbroken Praise. I found this album to be mellow on the ear but lyrically “kapow! kapow! kapow!” As part of their Big Christmas Giveaway, Gateway News will be giving away a copy of this top notch singer/songwriters album. Winners anounced next Thursday on their Facebook page. Here is a snippet of the review and instructions on how to enter:>>> “Prolific worship leader and singer-songwriter, Matt Redman, released his 9th studio album, Unbroken Praise, in June 2015, much to the delight of fans. Redman, well known for his contribution to the Passion Conference worship team, is somewhat of a worship maverick, not conforming to any particular sound or genre, but rather forging his own niche from album to album. This latest offering confirms just that. The album is neither here nor there, but is still very in season, with songs that are filled with passion and heart.In an interview, Redman explained that the album came out of his need to do something different than his last few albums. “I’ve recorded a couple of live album’s in a row now…they’ve both been in Atlanta, but we got talking and we thought it would be nice to do something in my homeland, in England. Then we got talking about where, and the No. 1 place on my list was Abbey Road, and I had no clue whether we could make that happen or not,” Redman explained. “There’s just a fantastic orchestral room there, which by the way you can fit 400 people in there. I was wondering if we could actually do that. Through a series of twists and turns it actually happened. It was a real joy to be in one of the world’s most iconic recording studios having church.”I found the album really easy to listen to. Redman has the ability to effortlessly take the listener along with him, as he enters into a sweet time with the Lord…”<<<For your chance to win a copy of this album, check out the entire Gateway News review and scroll to the bottom, for instructions. -
Gift ideas: What to put under the tree this Christmas {featuring yours truely}
I love Christmas! But I don’t love “uhmming” and “ahhhing” about what to get my family and friends for Christmas. So I’ve called in the experts! As a build up to the most wonderful time of the year, a few of my blogging buddies have agreed to share their ideas on amazing Christmas gifts for the whole family. Check out their picks and please, by all means, feel free to choose something special to put under MY Christmas tree too 😉
I’ve been enjoying the different gift ideas my friends, JustEllaBella and Melanie have sent through for my “What to put under the tree this Christmas” series. So I thought, “Oh what the hey! Share your favorite ideas too!” and so now I am. Ta daaa!As you may or may not know, my newly extended family means that I get to think up incredible gifts for 2 more kideos (step son and baby girl), so that means more gift-gifting drama and intrigued in our household. Woohoo!
I love Christmas because December means summertime in good ol South Africa!
I love the feeling of freedom and fun and that there are sooo many exciting things to do.
I also love that everyone is in that “togetherness” spirit – wish we could learn to appreciate each other like that all year around!Here are my favorite Christmas gift picks:
photo: goodtimebanjos.dom For my special someone
My husband is a musician and a music buff. He loves anything that sounds different (think banjos and instruments made out of tin cans). So I think he’d actually appreciate a real banjo as a Christmas gift. If not that then some cool CD’s and DVD’s. Those are always winners! I’v found that Takealot always gives me CD/DVD bundles that are so worth the spend! I also love to Bid or Buy really old/hard to find albums that makes him go “where’d you find THAT?!”. I’ve done this once and he really appreciated it!
For the kids
My little girl is really easy, since she’s all of 1 years old. She has this obsession with books right now. (She even tears out her favorite pages so that she can kiss the characters on them. Not ideal, but okay who am I to curb her affection.) So I’d probably get her some more books and perhaps a doll. Every girl needs a doll. Our boys are 14 and 9. The 14 year old has a passion for fashion (yep, he’s at THAT age), so probably clothing or vouchers. The 9 year old also loves books (sometimes I swear that he’s in fact my biological and the other one is my husbands!). I plan to take him to his first musical this December – I have a feeling it’s going to open some theater doors in his life! Whoop whoop. He also really loves soccer, so maybe a soccer ball or something soccer related. I might also get them a new XBox game (to share).
For me
Here’s the thing, I don’t really get that many Christmas gifts. I know, right? One would think that as the queen of the house, I would be bedecked with presents every year! But I would definitely appreciate small things like new slippers or pretty Essence Gel Look and Sinful Colors nail polish.
Special mentions
Bath salts and spoils are always a nice treat, if you’d like to get a whole bunch of something and wrap it up for when an unexpected visitor pops in. For guys, try biltong packs. I am also considering taking the 2 hand bags that I’ve never used and filling them up with sanitary goods, treats and special goodies, to bless someone who may not have as much as I do. It IS the season of giving after all. Who says it needs to stop with your family?
What are your favorite gift ideas, this Christmas? -
Music Monday: Wow Hits 2016 {GIVEAWAY!}
I always enjoy reviewing compilation albums because it’s like chucking a box of smarties, jelly tots and sour worms into a carton of popcorn and putting your hand in to see what you will get first! The 2016 collection of songs are a mixture of funk, honky-tonk, deep wells and power ballads. I really enjoyed listening to it!
Gateway News is giving away 2 of those albums in their latest giveaway. More info can be found in the actual review. Here’s a snippet of it:
>>>“Opening track ‘Greater’ by pop-rock band, MercyMe, does a good job as an introduction. It has a folksy, honky-tonk vibe with a great message taken from 1 John 4:4: “Greater is He living in me, than He who is living in the world.”
Third Day teams up with All Sons and Daughters in their hit single, ‘Soul on fire’ – a Gospel praise track that also has elements of folk in it. The vocals on this track is gritty and raw and really does the song justice. It’s this and other distinctive tracks like ‘From this day’ by I Am They or the soulful ‘Brother’ by Needtobreathe that makes this collection refreshing.Other favourites such as Dove Award winner, Lauren Daigles hot debut single, ‘How can it be’ and the always trending Jamie Grace’s ‘Do life big’, were obvious choices for the album along with songs from Kari Jobe (‘I am not alone’) and the Passion Conference team (‘Even so come.’)I really enjoyed being introduced to Francesca Battistelli’s Christian pop song ‘He knows my name’, Casting Crowns ‘Broken together’ and Hillsong United’s ‘Touch the sky’. Other notable additions are tracks from TobyMac (‘Beyond me’), Plumb (‘Lord I’m ready now’) and the thought-provoking ‘Save my life’ by group, Sidewalk Prophets…<<<For your chance to win a copy of this album, check out the entire Gateway News review and scroll to the bottom, for instructions. -
How to pose for pictures: 8 photo hacks!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s also the most photographed time of the year, if you know what I mean. The weather permits us to wear less and festivities encourages us to take more photos, and I’m just over here like “aaack, somebody stand in front of me!” Are you that person? Do you know how to pose for pictures? Or do you mentally cringe when you see a camera and tell yourself to “get ready to suck it all in and smile!”Well, today I come with glad tidings of great joy, my friends! My endless watching of Tyra Banks and America’s Next Top Model has certainly paid off. How, you ask? Well, thanks to Miss Banks, I now know that there are ways to beat the bad photo blues.
Yes, that’s right, you can definitely learn how to pose for pictures in ways that are both flattering and appealing. Well, models have been practicing it for years, isn’t it? And Google is filled with various tuts and videos, instructing us how to do so. And now it’s time for us, normal civilians, to get in on the action too! Here’s what I’ve learnt:
Slimmer torso
Twist your torso so that one shoulder is turned towards the camera and the other away from it. A straight-on body shot will give the appearance of a wider torso. Standing at an angle will give the appearance of a slimmer torso.
Unflab your arms
Placing your hand on your hip will not only slender your arm, but it will also help to give the appearance of a more prominent waist line. If the hand on the hip pose does not work for you, try holding your arms out from your sides, slightly. The trick is to make sure your arm is not pressed against your body.
Pretty posture
Standing and sitting up straight will help to elongate your figure. Pulling your shoulders back will also accentuate your collarbone.
Double chin no more
Elongating your neck, by pushing your face out slightly, will help to create an illusion of no double chin. Keeping your chin up and out and your face at an angle, rather than full on facing the camera, is also more flattering. A few celebrities swear that keeping your tongue on the roof of your mouth will also help with making your face seem slimmer. Go figure!
Tame your eyes
If you tend to blink a lot in photos or you seem to have a squint in your pics, try to close your eyes just before the picture is taken and open them slowly before the snap.
It’s all about the angle
Always try to avoid being photographed from below. A low angle will add on the pounds and make you look heavier than you are. A higher angle – think: above the eye line – will not only be more flattering, but when you turn your face upwards; it will elongate your neck and torso.
How to group selfie
When taking a group pic remember to never stand on the end! Stand in the middle, with your body slightly turned. This rule works especially well when the group poses in semi-circle format because whatever is closest to the camera will appear to be larger.
Sitting pretty
If you have to sit, be sure to cross your legs at your ankles. This not only looks more elegant and prevents excess thigh disclosure, it also makes your thighs and calves look slimmer. By strategically placing your arms in front of you, you can also hide any unsightly bulges.Well there you have it! Thank you for the applause, but please, you must know that the advice is not my own. Instead, find links to their source articles below. My pleasure.
Resources:
http://stylecaster.com/beauty-high/how-to-look-skinny/#ixzz3s1FUYm3v
http://dailymakeover.com/how-to-be-photogenic/#ixzz3s1DLWbBx
http://instyle.com/beauty/10-ways-look-better-pictures
http://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/how-to-look-thinner-in-photos-selfies-instagram-spring-2014/slide13
http://stylecaster.com/beauty-high/how-to-look-skinny/
http://blog.ravenbergphotography.com/?p=258 -
Gift ideas: What to put under the tree this Christmas {featuring Melanie Blignaut}
I love Christmas! But I don’t love “uhmming” and “ahhhing” about what to get my family and friends for Christmas. So I’ve called in the experts! As a build up to the most wonderful time of the year, a few of my blogging buddies have agreed to share their ideas on amazing Christmas gifts for the whole family. Check out their picks and please, by all means, feel free to choose something special to put under MY Christmas tree too 😉
Melanie blogs over at Wind in a Letterbox and I really admire all the crafty things she gets up to with her darling little girls Angie (5) and Emmy (3). She is a homeschooling mom, who loves the Lord, so all their crafty attempts usually have a lesson tied to it – I love that! I cant wait to try some of it out with my Curly one day.
Mel always comes across as really sentimental, much like I am, so I was really eager to see what she has up her sleeve this Christmas.
Here are her favorite Christmas gift list picks:
CDs and DVDs: Always a great gift idea! For my special someone
My husband is a movie buff, so he’s always happy when I buy him the DVD of a movie he really likes and doesn’t already own. I usually put a DVD or CD in his Christmas stocking, and give him something more personal for his actual present. I haven’t yet decided what I’m going to give him this year, but it might be something handmade, like this date night jar I made for his birthday or something the little boy in him would love, like this light saber torch or Darth Vader action figure. If I go with a personalised, handmade gift then I get bonus wife points for the “one of a kind, made especially for you” aspect. Also, I know I’m not buying him something that he might already have (like a CD that he may have on his iTunes account). If I get him something for his inner child, I also get bonus wife points because, well, what little boy hasn’t dreamed of his very own light saber? 🙂
Outdoor equipment for the kids maybe? Photo: livestrong.com For the kids
I’m not going to mention the F-word, because my girls (Angie is 5 and Emmy is 3) have enough Elsa and Anna paraphernalia for a lifetime. I always give some practical things in their stockings (like new toothbrushes and loofahs) as well as fun things (like stickers and hair accessories). For their big gift, I’ve been thinking of getting one of these mini trampolines. Okay, to be honest, this gift is mainly for me. As in, “Go jump away that excess energy before you drive me nuts.”
takealot.com For me
I’ve been thinking that I might like to have a Kindle. (Even though I said I would never, ever, not in a million years get one. Never say never.) I’ve got the app on my laptop because I’ve discovered there are tons of free kindle books on Amazon, but I don’t want to sit reading books on my laptop.If someone were to gift us an all-expenses-paid trip around the world, that would be amazing. 🙂
Photo: Joburg South Special mentions
I like to give homemade cookies to our friends and family at Christmas. Last year, I made gingerbread cookies; the year before, sugar cookies. We usually buy clothing for our nieces (because shopping for little girls is just such fun).What are your favorite gift ideas, this Christmas?
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Music Monday: Tasha Cobbs – One Place Live {GIVEAWAY!}
Last week I reviewed the breathtaking new offering from Gospel sensation, Tasha Cobbs, on behalf of Gateway News. Besides for being a chart topping recording artist, she is also a Grammy Award winner and walked away with the auspicious Artist of the Year Award at the 2015 GMA Dove Awards, earlier this year.
Gateway News will be giving away a copy of Cobbs latest album, One Thing Live.
Here is a snippet of the review and a link for the competition.
It is a worthy addition to any album collection!>>> On listening to ‘One Place Live’ this week, I was immediately struck by the authority she carries, as she ministers one word-based song after the other. It’s clear to see that Tasha Cobbs is not here to play around and up her “fame-game”. The album shows an uncaged, dynamic worshipper, crooning and roaring and she leads others into unadulterated worship and admiration for King Jesus. She has shared that the songs on the album stem from a multitude of moments in her personal worship experience. “They are what we call songs of the Lord,” she explained. “I can be leading worship or getting dressed for worship and a song will simply fall on me.”
The album’s first single, ‘Jesus Saves’, is one of the many that God had deposited in her, when she was in a time of need, struggling to overcome depression. “God spoke to me and gave me peace. Not just spiritual salvation; He saved me from the rejection and depression I used to feel,” Cobbs explained. “Jesus can save you from whatever it is you’re being overtaken by. That’s what this song is about.”
I loved the opening track, ‘Immediately,’ which is a Gospel praise song that would do well in a choral setting. This up tempo track speaks about praising Him in the midst of the battle! She so passionately sings: “I lifted my hands/And opened my mouth/Immediately/God worked it out!” I see this song as a war cry – a reminder to praise Him before I see the victory because He has already conquered.
If you’re looking for a taste of Cobb’s ferocity and passion, then have a listen to ‘Jesus did it’. This song literally made me say ‘Ha!’ a few times! It is a testimony track, where she belts and prophesies about what God is busy doing, has done and is going to do! She ends each stanza off by roaring “Jesus did it!/Oh yes He did!” You can’t help but to get excited and expectant!
I am enjoying the honest lyric found in this collection of songs. Title track ‘One place’ (featuring Pastor Bertha Cobbs), is prime example, where she sings “I’m here because I wanna be/I’m here because I choose to be/I’m here because I love to be/In Your presence.” Yes! Nail on the head! It is a sincere, beautifully delivered worship ballad that I am sure will resonate in many hearts. It’s so evident that Miss Cobbs has shared of herself and her personal relationship with the Lord in each song…”<<<For your chance to win a copy of this album, check out the entire Gateway News review and scroll to the bottom, for instructions.
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Gift ideas: What to put under the tree this Christmas {featuring JustEllaBella}
I love Christmas! But I don’t love “uhmming” and “ahhhing” about what to get my family and friends for Christmas. So I’ve called in the experts! As a build up to the most wonderful time of the year, a few of my blogging buddies have agreed to share their ideas on amazing Christmas gifts for the whole family. Check out their picks and please, by all means, feel free to choose something special to put under MY Christmas tree too 😉
Elle, blogs over at JustEllaBella. She is mom to Aidan (a very opinionated 2 year old curly kid) and wife to Robin. She also runs online kids boutique, Oh!Boy, and can pretty much make anything out of anything. Literally. Anything. Out of anything.
Here are her favorite Christmas gift list picks:
Ooh! Box For my special someone
My hubby is a total foodie so I think something like the Ooh!Box – R559. (Each box has 4 Wines, One “Hot” Drink, One Condiment, One Sweet Treat and One Gourmet Treat) You don’t have to fully subscribe so getting a box just for Christmas is very possible. He loves trying new things so this is a bit of everything and it takes us away from all the darn Xbox giftsFor the kids
My baba is 2 and a half but will argue tooth and nail that he is 6. I looove the Kids Book Club subscription which basically means that for R145 a month he gets two books (plus two magazines for mom) and a bag delivered every month which is awesome. After the Chrismas excitement wears off the book club keeps on giving, I like that he gets something every month, also I don’t have to pay for the whole year in one go, I don’t have money like that.
Little Black Bag For me
Okay mine is a subscription box too, I’m not sure why I am all subscriptiony this year…I want the Little Black Bag at R249 you get a ton of spoils honestly it’s like 6 designer products ALL FOR ME!!! I never spend money on myself really so this would be great, once off spoil.
Oh! Boy Special mentions
I love hand made gifts, so I make a lot of things for my loved ones, I also own a little kids accessories business, Oh!Boy, so this year I get to make on behalf of others which is incredibly special to me What are your favorite gift ideas, this Christmas?
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Music Monday: Martin Smith – Back To The Start {GIVEAWAY!}
Photo: Jesus Freak Hideout I really enjoyed reviewing Martin Smiths latest album for Gateway News last week.
Martin Smith has written for giants such as Jesus Culture and the Passion Conference collective. He is the real deal!
Gateway News will be giving away his latest offering as well as a collection of other albums. Such a legit giveaway.Re-emerging as a solo singer, this album shows another side to Smith’s worship, with heartfelt anthems and dancey praise songs that really gets you going. The album poignantly opens with ‘Back to the start’ – a moving ballad that just messed me up when he sang “I’m coming home/Back to the start/Where you found me/I give you my heart again.” I love that it speaks about our first love and that it helps us to reach a place where we can say, “okay God, it’s me and you again.”
The second track on the album, ‘Emmanuel’, was the first radio single from this new collection and was co-written with Matt Redman and Nick Herbert. The song is based on the scripture in Joshua 3:10 which says “The living God is among you.” It is a beautiful worship anthem that is lyrically striking with a sound that has been described as “modern worship.” This sound is what Smith has become known for if you can remember other more mod sounding worship tributes that he has penned such as ‘Song of Solomon’ (which also happens to feature on this album). You will also find another oldie, ‘Fire never sleeps’, on this album. It is a groovy mid-tempo track that speaks about the fire of God, inviting it to “Burn O my soul/Set me on fire!”
Smith and Redman do a sort of a mod-worship revamp to the old hymn, ‘Great is Thy faithfulness.’ The song, which has the same message and foundation as the classic, has a warm melody with rich lyrics. One of my favorite lines says “When shadows fall/You never change/From age to age/You never change.” I love singing about the faithfulness of our unchanging God!… (more)
Visit the original Gateway News article to read the rest of this post and stand a chance to win an amazing collection of Worship albums!This music review was originally written for and published in Gateway News.
Thank you for taking the time to leave your comments!I read and appreciate each one of them! -
Music Monday: Planetshakers – Outback Worship Sessions {GIVEAWAY!}
I remember being introduced to Planetshakers for the first time. I found their sound to be big, electrifying and full of life! I was fortunate enough to enter the “Planetshakers loop” when they dropped their 2008 album, “All for love”, so my first taste of their music was with megahit ‘The Anthem’, which so famously sings “Hallelujah! You have won the victory!”Boy, what an introduction!If you are not familiar with the Australian based band, Planetshakers is a young adult youth movement, affiliated with the Planetshakers Church in Melbourne. The church is pastored by Russell and Sam Evans and has over 10 000 members. The Planetshakers band is the church’s worship band and is the central part of their events. Their albums are known for a more electronic rock sound, with deep, hard core worship sets and praise anthems that are full of energy and zest. So with that said, I was both pleased and surprised when I heard their latest offering, ‘Outback Worship Sessions’. True to its title, the album, which was recorded with multi Dove Award winner, Ed Cash, has a more homegrown, organic vibe to it. You can definitely hear the band’s Australian roots coming through on this compilation of songs, which happens to be their 31st release. How crazy is that!The album opener, ‘Like a fire’, sets the scene for the rest of the album with a retake of the classic that debuted on their 2009 album, ‘One’. The track is acoustic guitar and keys driven, which is a bit of a nice change from their usual array of synths and the likes.I am totally smitten with the “outback” sound of the hymn cum lullaby that is ‘My soul longs for Jesus’. If you did not know what the team meant by “outback worship sessions” then have a listen to this one first! It is so beautifully ministered by Sam Evans and is a ballad suitable for corporate worship and, in my case, even more perfect to sing your baby to sleep with! It speaks right to my heart….. (more)Visit the original Gateway News article to read the rest of this post and stand a chance to win an amazing collection of Worship albums!This music review was originally written for and published in Gateway News. -
Music Monday: Passion – Even so come
Photo: Jesus Freak Hideout I have grown to love and anticipate the annual Passion Conference albums and as always I am not disappointed by their latest offering, Even so come.Perhaps it’s the thousands who gather along with the Passion worship team, to worship God together. Perhaps it’s the team itself, all musically diverse and spiritual giants, with a real gift for penning songs that laud God and create a space for the Holy Spirit to move. Or maybe it’s the fact that the tracks are usually very catchy and easy to get pulled into. Whichever way, I always feel a sense of expectancy when worshiping along to one of the albums.In case you didn’t know, the Passion Conference is an annual event, founded by Louie Giglio in 1997. The Passion gatherings are aimed at young adults, more specifically college students, with the intention of fostering a spiritual awakening among them. The gatherings usually host passionate speakers, like previous speakers Francis Chan and Lecrae, and also feature intimate worship lead by the Passion band. Because of the success of the initial conferences and the growing popularity of the worship sessions, Sexsteprecords was formed to represent the core group of artists performing at the Passion gatherings. Those artists include Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill and the Passion band. The conference has birthed 17 albums to date, with ‘Even So Come’ being it’s 6th album to peak at number 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart.The opening track of the album happens to be the title track and is a fitting album opener, co-written and lead by Chris Tomlin. The song speaks about us the church, as the bride waiting on her groom with eager anticipation. In true Tomlin style, the song has a soaring chorus and bridge, that has clearly been written with the congregation in mind, and rightly so. Tomlin also helped to pen the other 2 tracks that he features in on this album: ‘The cross of Christ’ and ‘The saving One’ which is a melodious mid tempo anthem with a chorus that is quick to catch and easy to sing along to.I quite enjoyed newbie, Melodie Malone’s version of ‘Forever’ – the Easter anthem recently made popular by Kari Jobe. Malone’s version is pretty much the same as Jobe’s and I like that she kept it simple, climbing as the song did and not adding on too many special effects or vocal acrobatics. This track’s message is powerful enough as is!If there is one track on this album that I would encourage you to listen to, it would be ‘Lift your head weary sinner (Chains)’ by Crowder. The song is a combination of country, rock and soul and is a refreshing, unexpected addition. I am most impressed by it and love the message of the song: a call to sinners to “let the chains fall” and come and find their rest in the Lord. My first impression of the song was that it sounds like something Jake Hamilton would sing. I really like!Another track that caught my attention was Brett Younker’s ‘The way’, a cool dance song that features a more electronic, synth sound. Younker is another new addition to the Passion lineup and he definitely does this track justice. It made me think back to the Passion 2014 dance favorite, ‘God’s great dance floor’, since it has the same feel and energy.Passion regular, Kristian Stanfill, features on 3 tracks: ‘Shout Hosanna’, which is a typical Passion praise song, with a catchy hook and lyrics that are easy to learn; beautiful worship song‘Draw near’ and ‘You found me’ which he co-wrote with Jason Ingram. The latter is definitely a heart song for me and I especially love the chorus that says: “Now I have/A song to sing/I was lost/And Jesus you found me!” I love that!Legends, Mat Redman and Christy Nockels, only feature once on the album. Redman with worship song ‘The awesome God you are’ and Nockels with ‘My Anchor’ – a song which can also be found on her latest release, “Let it be Jesus”. ‘My Anchor’ is delivered in a way that Nockels is known for: heartfelt and emotive, with big and powerful moments in all the right places.All in all, I really enjoyed the album. My only disappointment is that I did not get my hands on a Deluxe Edition, since it features unplugged versions of a few really powerful classics such as ‘How He loves us’ and ‘Heart of worship.’I appreciate that Even So Come features some of this generation’s most acclaimed worship leader’s and that it boasts a diverse song selection. As with all Passion releases, this offering captures the heart of a generation hungry after the presence of God and that translates into what we, the listeners, receive when we listen to it. I give it 2 thumbs up!This review was originally written for and published in Gateway News
