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.”

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. 

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)

My Curlysue and I were totally excited when we received a parcel from Oh! Boy kids accessories a couple of weeks ago. Elle from JustEllaBella is a fab WAHM who started this online store after facing the conundrum of not finding cool stuff for her very cool kid, Aidan, to wear. She dreams up, designs and creates every single product by hand and thrives on being as quirky and original as possible – I mean, how cool is it to visit a store and know that you won’t see 50 other kids walking around wearing the exact same thing as yours?

From scarves to potty training friendly velcro belts to peak beanies for tiny heads – this lady thinks of it all.

The latest edition to the store are her busy bags, which she describes as “take-a-long toys to keep kiddies busy.” These bags contain “quiet” games and things for your toddler to do when you need to keep them entertained in instances that need for a quiet child 🙂 I love that she’s included an educational aspect to each bag – so they learn as they play and you get some adult time. Score.

Our package from Oh!Boy contained a really cute sensory dino and a hand painted bandanna bib.

I thought the dino to be pretty darn cool because of the pink taglets attached to the side. My little one loves using her pincher’s to poke and pull at anything and everything she sets her eyes on. Needless to say, she loved the silky taglets and yep, she tried to pull them off. Operation: Destroy the Dino.

Fortunately, these handmade dinos are stitched together beautifully and are durable – much to the dismay of Curly.
The dinos contain dried lentils which are awesome if you’re looking for a fun sensory toy.
They also double as a cold or hot compress and I’ve found that they retain heat/coldness really well (you can stick them in the fridge or pop them in the microwave)

Of course, Curly chose to taste them as well (everything goes to the mouth) so yes, if you’re looking for a teether, this would work too.

What I love the most about Oh!Boys range of bibs is that they are so original and really not “bib looking”, if you know what I mean. Let’s be honest moms, bibs can make or break an outfit 🙂
See pic for the degree of cuteness:

I am so chuffed to announce that Oh! Boy will be giving away an amazing prize consisting of a sensory dino and a ultra funky kiddie lounge pants and a matching bib.

Follow the rafflecopter prompts to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xxxL