Reviews
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Music Monday: Top 25 Christmas Hymns compilation
I love me some Christmas music. And I’m not entirely fussy when it comes to who is doing the singing (or instrument playing), as long as it’s done with excellence. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I do have my favorites. But also, I’m okay with just about any version of ‘Hark the herald angels sing’, yo! Which is why I’m so excited to tell you guys about this week’s Christmas music review, Maranatha Music’s Top 25 Christmas Hymns 2-CD set. What’s better than a Christmas album? A Christmas compilation album, duh!Christian Art Media sent me a bunch of fantastic Christmas albums to tell you guys about, but I think this one right here got me the most excited. I love that there are 25 whole festive-inspired songs for us to put on loop, during the ‘most wonderful time of the year’! At first I was like, huh, are there really that many Christmas-related songs?! Well yes, yes there are. Besides for the usuals, I was introduced to a bunch of treasures (some of them probably older than I am) that you probably won’t find on your latest pop sensations Christmas release.
My favorites are here too though. You know the faves, ‘Joy to the world’, ‘O holy night’, ‘Silent night’ and the classic ‘The first noel’. For the full review check out my article on Gateway News.
Win your own set of Christmas albums!Ahhh, I love Christmas! Do you love Christmas too? Well then, you should totally enter my Christmas music giveaway! Every Monday I review a Christmas album, and I add some of my faves to a special Christmas music hamper, which I will be giving away to one of you!
I’ve changed the entry mechanism, to give everyone more of a chance. Simply complete the rafflecopter below! Giveaway closes on Tuesday, December 19th!
Find the rest of the reviews here:
Lauren Daigle – BeholdMatt Redman – These Christmas lights
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Prepping for 2018 with Priscilla Shirer
With the end of the year quickly approaching, I find myself looking back on the past year… mistakes made, lessons learnt, that sort of thing. I love this aspect of life… that we are always growing and learning. No one year looks like the next. Well, it doesn’t have to, that’s for sure. We were gifted with choice and the ability to change and (most importantly) adapt to that change. So to help me get my house in order, I picked up two insightful reads (sent to me by Christian Art Media) and I really want to give one of them to one of you!
Firstly, do you guys know who Priscilla Shirer is? Well, she is the lead actor in the amazing Christian blockbuster War Room and is an author, motivational speaker, actress and evangelist. Priscilla has inspired me, since watching that movie, and I was super keen to hear what she has to say in her new devotional book called Awaken.The 90-day devotional will have you reading with intention. In fact, the back of the book says that “this kind of reading is not merely for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment. With this kind of book you’re praying for something more – to hear from God, receive His direction, and be refreshed in the depths of your soul.” Uhm, yes please!
Each day has a dedicated message with the sole intention to equip you to better hear God’s voice, empowering you to make sound decisions about the rest of your life. I needed this for 2018!
I was also so excited to get my hands on Chrystal Evans Hurst’s latest book, She’s Still There. Chrystal is actually Priscilla’s sister. Priscilla has highly recommended this read and, in the foreward, says: “each page will take the numbness away from your emotional limbs and spark a flame in your soul to mine the treasure you’ve been given by God. It will shine a spotlight on the clutter in your life that you’ve been too busy or too tired or too disinterested to unpack so that you can get to the good stuff.” In She’s Still There, Chrystal shares the secret to loving and honoring your life… even if your story is messy. She speaks about her teenage pregnancy and struggles with her weight. Man oh man, I can relate with so much of what she has to share!
When I opened the book and saw the title of the first part called “Fight for your life”, I could immediately feel the hairs on my arm stand on edge. Isn’t that what we feel we constantly need to do, ladies? We’re always fighting for our lives… for our happiness… for justice, acceptance, sometimes even for love. This book will equip you to reject the lie and move forward. Expect to be equipped and refreshed!
Giveaway! Can I please give this book to one of you? Consider it a Christmas present! To enter the giveaway, simply make sure you’re following my Facebook page over here and drop a comment on the specially marked post (like the one above) letting me know what you find the most interesting about it.I’ll draw a winner on Monday, November 20th at midday and will do an announcement on my Facebook page.
Update: Congratulations Carren Brandt!
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Three ingredient meal cooked to perfection in my LG NeoChef Microwave Oven
When it comes to cooking, I’m not exactly the next master chef. I mean, I take the easy way out versus serving up intricate gourmet inspired meals, any day! And hey, the less time needed for preparation, the better! Which is why I was super impressed with the very pretty LG NeoChef Microwave Convection Oven. Yeah, I know, how can I call a microwave “pretty”. Well, it’s that good looking, yo! With a sleek design and stainless steel and matte black accents, this is probably the best looking appliance that I have in my kitchen at the moment.
The other day I decided to give it a go, using a very simple three ingredient recipe, passed on to me by a very clever mom of three who always has the best supper ideas for her family. Yep, you heard me. Three ingredients! Guys, check how easy this is:
I mixed a packet of brown onion soup with some water, to make a quick stir in sauce. You can spice this up, if you want. It can be quite unadventurous without some pepper and/or chillie.
I then lined my chicken pieces up in an oven-friendly dish, poured my soup sauce over it and popped it in the oven for about 10 minutes. I added my veggies (mixed it in nicely) and returned it to the microwave oven for another 5 to 10 minutes, and ta da! My chicken and veggies were cooked to perfection! I read the words “preserves nutrients and locks in flavour” in the LG NeoChef press release, and didn’t truly get it. But now I do!
So in a nutshell, the NeoChef is more than just a microwave. It has new, very clever smart inverter technology, making it a convection oven as well. Basically, a microwave convection oven can cook food evenly and quickly, as opposed to a normal microwave which simply uses hot, circulated air, to heat something up.This baby can roast, bake and even air-fry, your food to perfection!I guess the reason why it cooks super fast is because it heats up to 1200 watts. According to Hubstopher, that’s pretty impressive. It can do a bunch of other really legit things too, like dry fruit, make yoghurt and even bake a cake. I mean, really! What more do you want?!
This dish took me probably half the time it would in my normal oven and I didn’t have to keep checking it. (I mean, not that I even had the brain capacity to do that, with Jo and Kari literally climbing all over me).
I was also curious to learn more about the Anti-Bactieral Easy Clean Coating, that I read about. So I learned that there is a special layer of protection, on your NeoChef, that eliminates 99.99% of harmful bacteria, making it difficult for contaminants to stick around.I can’t wait to try out a few more recipes with my LG NeoChef. Keep an eye out for more next week! Oh and if you’d like to find out more on the LG NeoChef Microwave Convection Oven do check out their website or do a google search (NeoChef) to see what others are saying about it!
Disclaimer: The LG NeoChef Microwave Convection Oven was sent to me. But the review is totally honest and my own opinion, I promise.
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Music Monday: Crowder – Oh For Joy
Christmas is officially six weeks away and I’m over here, getting my Christmas music on. Legally, I mean. Mid November is a good time to start a-caroling, right? Well, whether you carry the same sentiment or not, Crowder’s All For Joy is the type of Christmas album that would get even the scroogiest cynic tra-la-la-ing.Look, I’m not exactly the worlds biggest rock music fan. (Mariah Carey, anyone?) but there’s something about the retro Crowder that makes “edgey” seem totally and utterly suave. I love his rock meets folk vibe and that he doesn’t get too serious on this album, creating Christmas music that is totally chilled and funky.
Let’s be honest, friends, come Christmas time, one expects to hear your typical Michael Buble smooth or Whitney Houston soul filled Christmas anthems. And those are amazing, I agree. But there’s something about hearing carols produced and sung in a totally unique way, that makes me sit up and listen. Sometimes we just want to rock out. And that’s okay too.
So if you’re looking for a funky Christmas album, that tells the tale of Jesus, without making you feel as if you’re at an RnB concert, then this one is for you. For the full review, check out my detailed article over at Gateway News.
But guys, guess what, remember I said that it’s Christmas and I want to give you stuff because I’m cool like that? Well, this Crowder album will go into my super special Christmas music hamper! I’ll be adding to the hamper over the next few weeks, which gives you a ton of opportunity to enter the giveaway. I know, genius papa.I’ve changed the entry mechanism, to give everyone more of a chance. Simply complete the rafflecopter below! Giveaway closes on Tuesday, December 19th!
Find the rest of the reviews here:
Lauren Daigle – BeholdMatt Redman – These Christmas Lights
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What my kids are playing with: Transformers, Fantastic Gymnastics and Yo-kai
It’s almost the most wonderful time of the year and if you’re anything like me, you have your Christmas gifts list covered. Spreadsheet brain, remember? Christmas shopping for my kids is usually a mild affair anyways since they are all so very predictable. Kyle wants electronics. Seth loves to learn new things, and Karis… well, she’s a princess. If your kids are not as predictable as mine are, then this post is for you. My friends over at Hasbro is keeping us in the know, with all things toy-related, and sent me some information for moms and dads who leave toy stores with a “huh” expression on their faces. Some of my favorite picks, from Hasbro, for this year’s Christmas stockings, are: Transformers, Fantastic Gymnastics and Yo-kai.
Transformers
If you didn’t know (who evens are you), Transformers are human-like robots with the unique ability to turn into vehicles or beasts. I’m sure you knew that though. Right? With the newly released Transformers: The Last Knight movie, Hasbro has released a bunch of updated Transformer toys and regalia that is sure to make your little one squeal with delight on Christmas morning. Karis had a ball of a time transforming Optimus Prime (head honcho over at Transformers headquarters) from standing mode into truck. Considering the fact that the movie did really well in South Africa – ranking number 1 at the Box-office in South Africa during opening week – these toys are still pretty popular. Kids are also encouraged to #pledgeYourAllegiance and join #teamautobot to help Optimus Prime save the world by defeating the Decepticons or join #teamdecepticon and help Megatron take over the world. Choose your faction on www.morethanmeetstheeye.co.za
Fantastic Gymnastics
If you have a big family and are looking for fun group games, Fantastic Gymnastics is the perfect game for you! So basically the game requires players to flip the gymnast figure around the high bar, hitting release at the right moment to let him fly and try to stick the perfect landing. It’s super fun! You can play solo, head-to-head or challenge friends to a tournament. Get into the swing of things with this compelling and fun game, ideal for ages eight and up.
Yo-kai
If you’re down with having your kids stretch their imagination, then you should totally allow them to experience the world of Yo-kai with the Yo-kai Watch and Medals. Yep, I know that you know what a Yo-kai is because kids are going nuts over this children’s anime series based on the video game of the same name. So anyways, with the Yo-kai watch toy, children can imagine summoning Yo-kai characters, and when used with the medals, the Yo-kai watch plays sounds, music, and phrases. Insert one of the collectible medals displaying a Yo-kai into the watch to hear the character’s name, tribe song and more sounds.The latest board games and toys from Hasbro are available from Toys R Us, ToyZone, Toy Kingdom, Hamleys, Lilliputs and other major retailers. You can also shop online at Takealot.com
Disclaimer: All product mentioned above was sent to me by Hasbro, but the opinion in the post is entirely my own, I promise.
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Music Monday: Lauren Daigle – Behold
Family and work colleagues know that November brings with it my most favorite selection of Christmas anthems. I love Christmas music, yo! It’s who I am! Love me for me! I will be reviewing some of the latest Christmas albums every ‘Music Monday’ from now until Christmas and, thanks to Christian Art Media, we will also be giving away a hamper of Christmas albums to one lucky reader! Today we check out Lauren Daigles Christmas offering titled ‘Behold‘.Lauren Daigle is a popular (newly discovered) Christian music singer/worship leader. Her voice has an amazing husky undertone and she has a really cool swagger about her. Now if you’re like me, and you love Christmas, then you would know that I aint playing when I say that Lauren Daigle knows what she is doing! Looking at her Christmas album’s track list, I thought that this would be a normal “tra la laaaa” Christmas album. But nay! The quirky New Orleans songstress has taken all our favorite Christmas classics and made them – no jokes – better!
For starters, from the get go, you pick up a jazzy/bluesy element to the whole album. I love that she has stuck to her New Orleans roots, which means lots of horns, lots of jazz piano and lots of husky, soulful vocal. Guys, Jingle Bells will never be the same again. She’s added a special jive to it, complete with horns and attitude.
If you love the American classics (you know, where they sing about snow and “Santa”) then you’ll love her version of White Christmas and Christmas Time Is Here. Yoh, the girl can sang! I love her rich vocal. She also does justice to the more popular Christmas carols, such as Oh Holy Night and Silent Night. I found them to be a sweet reminder of why we celebrate Christmas and baby Jesus. Both are kept sweet and simple, with an array of instruments beautifully complementing her voice as she drifts in and out of the familiar melodies that we have grown accustomed to hearing over this special time of the year.
Fans of Norah Jones and Michael Buble, you’ll love Lauren Daigle. In fact, dare I be so bold as to say that Daigle’s vocal has a lot more character than Bubles?! Gasp! But yes, it’s the truth. Looking for an easy listen this Christmas album? This one’s for you! You can read my full review on Gateway News.
I haven’t gotten Christmas Crazy at home yet, but give me a week or two to get my ish together. This year we plan to make our own decorations and I definitely want to do a tree decorating party/ceremony. I mean, what’s the point in having a small army of children, if you can’t make them do embarassingly mushy Christmas related activity?! What do you have planned for tree decor this year?
Win a collection of Christmas albums!Guys, guess what, I’m giving away a special Christmas music hamper to one of you special Christmas crazy readers!
I’ve changed the entry mechanism, to give everyone more of a chance. Simply complete the rafflecopter below! Giveaway closes on Tuesday, December 19th!
Find the rest of the reviews here:
Crowder – Oh For JoyTop 25 Christmas Hymns compilation
Matt Redman – These Christmas Lights
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Loving your rebellious child {Giveaway!}
I was a rebellious child. Well, I was mildly rebellious. But I often wonder what on earth my parents were thinking when I fell pregnant at 19. Or when I went through my “party till I die“ phase. Granted, I was pretty much a good girl, but I’ve had my moments of basically throwing my parents hard work and sacrifice right back into their faces. Fortunately, that soon ended… we all made it out alive, with our original teeth intact. But it got me thinking: what would I do if one of my kids started rebelling? Well, the other day, I picked up a brilliant book titled ‘Loving your rebellious child‘ by H. Normal Wright, that deals with this tough subject! -
Review: Goodsky vacuums your blackheads!
If you’re a blackhead fiend, then you’ll be interested to know that the Goodsky Blackhead Blemish and Acne Pore Vacuum Extraction Tool is now available in South Africa. You never have to pop a pimple again! Well, you shouldn’t be popping your pimples anyways, yo. It is damaging to your skin and can leave permanent scarring and blemishes. -
Sweaty hands? Iontoderma to the rescue!
Who’s ready for summer? That many of you, eh? Well, I concur! I love those long summer days in the sun, dips in the pool and friendly get togethers filled with ice lollies, watermelon and oh wait… sweating. (And the crowd goes “boo”.) Okay, calm down everyone. Yep, warm weather usually brings on excessive sweating. But if you’re one of those people who suffer from excessive perspiring there is an affordable solution for you. -
What my kids are playing with: Play-doh and Busy Box toy review
So my little miss has been giving me all the love because I brought home a couple of ultra cool toys from some of our blog friends. Hands in the air if you’re okay with being the cool parent. I know I am. I’ll take my cool points wherever I can get ’em from, thank you very much. Anyways, so you know how I love to give kids educational toys as gifts? Well, the toys I’m going to chat about today tick all the right boxes AND they encourage imaginative play, which is always a winner in my books!
