AFFLUENT RECORDS NEWS

W are sooo excited to have Katlyn Swanson join the AFFLUENT family, we look forward to making beautiful music together, check her out guys, she's a truly talented young lady!

Flutes, Oboes, and Harpsichords, oh my...

I finally received my Little Music Lovers (Universal Music Classical/Decca)package, very exiting! Now down to business;-)

Classical music is often perceived as being out of touch for the common folk, something listened to by stuffy rich people, and therefore does not play a big role in our play list repertoire. However, once we move beyond that antiquated mode of thinking we open ourselves up to quite an adventurous (yes, adventurous), compelling, and enriching experience. And this is precisely why I love the Little Music Lovers CD (Universal Music Classical) series on Decca, there are four cd's in the series, which provide a perfect canvas to start your little one off on his/her lifetime musical adventure. Loving the cover art as well, very whimsical.

The series contains world famous classical pieces by renowned composers such as Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven along with well-know lullabies to soothe your child into heavenly sleep. The CD's are arranged into four categories: Bach-Smart Music For Activity Time, Mozart-Smart Music For Play Time, Beethoven-Smart Music for Story Time, and Lullabies-Smart Music for Bed Time. And as you can infer from the word "Smart" included in the tittle of every cd, it is being strongly marketed as an important part of a child's intellectual development (a big plus). According to some researchers exposing our children to classical music from infancy," can potentially aid in the development of math, reasoning and memory skills, while also giving babies and toddlers a head start on learning language.", this is known as "The Mozart Effect". In my opinion, the intellect factor is a big plus and very important but the emotional impact that making music a part of your child's everyday life can have is equally imperative to their early-childhood socialization. Rocking out to your favorites tunes with your little one is a great way to bond in an organic fashion; my son loves it when I sing to him while making up funny dances, those moments are worth the world to me, I wish I could bottle them.

The complex yet playful, energetic, whimsical, and sweet melodies contained in the Little Music Lovers cd series will set the stage for a lifetime of music appreciation, introducing your children to a wide array of beautiful instruments that contemporary music does not make use of and hopefully inspire them to go on and make their own sweet melodies. No matter what daily activity you and your child are engaging in, there is a Little Music Lovers CD ready to enhance your experience. So don't be shy, go on and pick up the series, let me know what you guys think ;-)

Little Music Lovers is available for sale at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders among other participating retailers. For more information regarding this music release, visit www.littlemusiclovers.com


Peace and Blessings...

I want this wardrobe: Hilary Swank in Amelia:luckymag.com

I want this wardrobe: Hilary Swank in Amelia:luckymag.com

I am slowly but surely regaining my passion for fashion (it's been a rough year or so, with the baby and all) and I am soo craving all things vintage, mixed with rich colors and swirled with a little 80's influence to be exact. I've always loved vintage pieces (clothing, accessories, furniture, books, art, etc.) not just for the aesthetics but for the history each piece embodies; I feel a connection to aged and worn items, don't know why but I just do ;-).

This short piece on Hillary Swank caught my eye, she is also on the cover of the November issue of Marie Claire (a mag I love), so she's been popping up all around me, shout out to you Hillary, lately and most importantly she's been sporting some great numbers both in the mag's shoot and in this upcoming Amelia Earhart movie (which looks good).

I have never really put much thought into articulating my style, I simply like what I like when I like it, but as of recent I have been putting a little more emphasis on defining my style (i'm tired of buying random pieces that I can't seem to pair with anything else plus i'm on a tight budget), my taste, and this quote states it best, "just a great mix of tomboy-ish, slick, feminine and cool...", I would also add sexy, I like to feel and look sexy without looking crass.

I can't wait to get out and score some great finds, i'm in total need of a wardrobe makeover, I will be sharing with any great pieces I come across ;-)

Please, share with me, what is your current fashion craving? how would you articulate your style? I look forward to hearing from you...

Shake Your Groove Thing, Shake Your Groove Thing, yeah yeah...

Music makes my heart sing! We love music (after all it's what pays the bills) in our home and while we do have our favorites we listen to a wide array of genres, except to be honest for heavy punk, heavy metal, and the like. It not only helps the day go by smoother but it also stirs an emotional response in us powerful enough to soothe, calm, excite, or even depress but we won't dwell on the latter. The focus is to fill your home and heart with positive, happy, powerful emotions, feelings, vibes and maintaining that beautiful balance day in and day out. This is important not only for those of us with kids but for all of us, we all deserve to feel happy, safe, and comfortable in our homes, our sanctuaries. Music is key in achieving this balance of course along with making overall healthy lifestyle choices (spirituality, healthy food, exercise, giving back, etc.).

Also, I know that lots of parents are very much convinced that classical music is going to make their kids smarter and while I respect everyone's point of views, I simply ask that you don't deprive your child of all the beautiful and powerful melodies that are out there. Since my baby was born we have made it a point to play all kinds of music, we love all kinds of music ourselves, so why not. And while I prefer happy and positive tunes, I do put on some of my favorite old school rap/hip-hop classics (being careful to choose the clean versions if available or we just come up with our own lyrics). Some of our happiest family moments have been just dancing around the living room like silly rabbit's (plus, my son cracks up when I try to hit high some of those high notes, just so you know i'm a total closet beyonce). So, please open up and explore, let the power of music take over you!

Here are BSB's TOP TEN baby friendly Tunes (we have sooo many it was hard but here goes):

"I just Can't Wait to be King"-The lion King Soundtrack

"Hakuna Matata"-The Lion King Soundtrack

"Bare Necessities"-The Jungle Book Soundtrack

"L.O.V.E."-Nat King Cole or Joss Stone's version

"Fly Me To The Moon"-Frank Sinatra, come lon your kids have to know about old blue eyes

"Cruisin'"-Smokey Robinson

"Twistin The Night Away"-Sam Cooke

"I want You Back"-Jackson 5

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough"-Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye

"Uptight"-Stevie Wonder

and my bonus picks are:

"Knock You Down"-Keri Hilson ft. Kanye & Ne-yo

"Good Life"-Kanye ft. T-pain

"For Once In My Life"-Stevie Wonder


Crank up those happy tunes and clear your mind of the day's troubles and get down on it, honey!

And please share with me your favorite baby friendly jams, until next time, God bless...

We're going to the library...

Thanks to my son I have been re-discovering so many things, it's as if i've been presented a new pair of eyes, although I wish they'd come with 20/20 vision because i'm as blind as a mouse. Mainly it's been a lot of self-assessment and re-evaluating everything about myself, life, etc., you guys get me. And as much as it's been a spiritual journey thus far it's also been about letting go and having fun. Enjoying the things that I thought I wasn't really suppose get excited about anymore, like going down slides and getting on the swings and going as I high as I can ;-), such a phenomenal feeling.

The library is one of those places I stopped attending for leisure many many years ago. It's mainly due to the fact that I have been in school for pretty much my whole life, I'm currently on medical leave for grad school, and going to the library over time became more of a task rather than a choice. When it comes to personal reading I have either been buying used books or borrowing from friends and/or my sister; the library was not even an option because I had not ,until recently, taken out an nyc library card (i'm a proud jersey girl, always will be). However, once my son got a little older I needed to find places we could go where, a)he can crawl around and tire out and b)it's free or very little cost (being a stay at home mommy, I can't afford all these high priced baby activities here in the city, free or affordable is what i'm all about, oh and it has to be fun and safe of course as well), the public library ,which happens to be a street over from us, fit the bill.

We love our library (110th between lex. and 3rd, if you are ever in our neighborhood) it's old and rather small but it's great, especially if you are looking for a fuss free space to let your baby crawl around and explore. The kids floor, in this location it's the second floor, has a baby book section with a big colorful rug so that the kids can sit and read or crawl around in our case. Also, the librarians are great, very friendly and they let us crawl around as much as we want (yes, I said "us", I crawl right behind my little j sometimes, picking up after him or just chasing him so that he can crack-up as he tries to speed up).

I absolutely encourage you guys to get out to the library and support our civic institutions, we all benefit from them. For a lot of kids, from what I have witnessed in my neighborhood, the library serves as a safe haven especially for those whose parents cannot pick them up from school and cannot afford babysitting. Bu that's a topic that merits it's own piece. Plus, instead of spending money on books and videos for you and your kids just get them from the library or put them on reserve if they are not readily available. Let me tell you, this whole reserve thing was very exciting to me. I mean all I had to do was give the lady the tittles of the books i've been coveting and if they are not at that library they will reserve them and call me when they arrive, that's great, who has money to go spend on new books all the time. If you are like me, more than likely you will find me reading two books at a time, this is a fabulous option.

My main objective is to share with you guys what works for my family and hopefully inspire you to try them out or find your own special places. For us one of those places is our neighborhood library, visit yours!


Current Library Picks:

For Baby>>The Eentsy, Weentsy Spider-Fingerplays and Action Rhymes
We love this book because the rhymes are fun, easy, and help teach babies about their bodies, directions, and coordination.

Harry Houdini for Kids-His Life and Adventures with 21 Magic Tricks and Illusions
I looove this book! Houdini was a truly talented individual with a very interesting tale to be told but it's also very fun to learn basic tricks and illusions, at least I think so. I must be honest on this one, my son recently turned one so he's not really understanding what i'm reading but I still read out loud to him and do it in an animated manner so that at least I get a laugh, at the end of the day that's all I need ;-)

Scholastic Video Collection's>The Wheels on the Bus...and more sing-along favorites
I am so happy we came across this video, my son loves it and so do we. There's five classics in the video (The Wheels on The Bus, Dem Bones, Over In The Meadow, I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly, and a bonus song tittled "I want a Dog"), the animations vary from song to song and are fantastic. I can't say enough good things about this video, it's a must have for kids. Our favorite is Dem Bones, it's jazz inspired, we dance and sing-along like a couple of crazy chickens.


For Parent's>> 1491-New revelations of the Americas Before Columbus (Charles C. Mann)
I'm a big nerd (as my fiance lovingly puts it) and this book totally appeals to that side of me. The recent Columbus Day holiday inspired me to go out and read up on what really went down, plus I really enjoy learning about past times and people's. If you have any interest in anthropology and the sorts or to be specific, Pre-Columbian America, than this book is for you. I haven't finished it yet but so far so good.

Sorrow's Kitchen-The life and Folklore of Zora Neale Hurston (Mary E. Lyons)
Zora Neal Hurston is one of my favorite authors, she wrote "Their Eyes were Watching God", a very touching human story. She led a colorful life, died poor and sick but left a powerful legacy especially for women writers and African-American folklore. This book is written for kids and that is why I like it, it's an interesting quick read.



Until next time friends, I will be sharing with you my favorite library picks from time to time, be on the look-out. And please share with me your fave. picks, books or videos, I look forward to hearing from you...



Sweet dreams...

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The Spirit of Love...

Love is all around us. To me, the ultimate love is the one I know God has for me, for all of us. It is embodied in every sunrise, in every smiling face I see known or unknown (especially in my baby boy), in every embrace I receive from friends or family, in every blue sky we are blessed enough to look up at, in every home cooked meal my mama or grandma make for me(I don't get this often anymore, now that I a mother myself I pass that on to my baby, but when I do- that first bite tastes heavenly no matter what they made), in every moonlight that brightens our path so we can get home at night, in every breeze that whispers to us as it passes through, and in so many more subtle everyday things that we take for granted a lot of the time.

I was inspired to write this because the more I fall in love with my son, the more sensitive I am to the pain and sadness of this world. And further motivated by reading an article titled "Diary of an Escaped Sex Slave" in November's Marie Claire, a truly heartbreaking story about the reality that million's of people face daily, if you can take a few minutes to read it(link-) I notice now, more than ever, how hurt and broken some souls are.

Living in NYC the subway is where I get to really observe people, most of us do, and i've been witness to very hurtful and demeaning behavior especially from parents to children. That really hurts my heart, I look at my son and could never think of treating him with such lack of love and respect for his feelings and needs. It is clearly visible, to me, that we as a people (by that I mean worldwide) need to start healing and helping others heal. It may sound idealistic or corny to some but the power of love is the strongest force there is, if we have genuine love for ourselves and one another we can truly change the state of humanity as it stands. Remember, you do not need to know someone to love them, we are all sharing the same human experience just different journey's.

I encourage all of you reading this to embrace the spirit love and everything that comes along with it-kindness, forgiveness, joy, peace, and patience. Love is the answer!


Share with me, if you will, what does love mean to you?



PEACE & BLESSINGS...

Funny Baby Videos...

Who doesn't love a dancing baby? (actually i do know a few who couldn't care less) However, most of us do, well at least I do, hence my post.
Today the Huffington Post featured "The 11 best dancing-baby Videos YouTube has to offer", after a long day (just put my baby down to sleep) they served for a good laugh, and we all need a good laugh at least once a day ;-...

My favorites are the baby with the diaper facing the tv, the kids dancing to "apple bottom jeans" (I want that little boy at my next house party, he's got great moves), and the break dancing baby (although the whole time I was worried he was going to break or fracture something, that's the mom in me).

Check out the link:
this!


Which are your fave's?


Wishing everyone a safe and restful evening...

Kitchen Beauty...

I love feeling beautiful, who doesn't, but I don't have the funds for all the "conventional" ways of going about it. However, I do have (most of the time) a kitchen full of healthy and fresh food options. As some of you might know, I volunteer at one of the food co-ops in the city and as a bonus I receive 20% off everything I purchase. I decide to volunteer mainly so I can feed my family healthy food and so that I can have some time to myself (even if it means lifting heavy loads of rolled oats,never thought i'd say that ;-)) You stay-at-home moms know where i'm coming from. Well, I never thought the secret to my beauty (wink, wink) would be born out of this endeavor as well, but it has. And this is coming from a girl who once bought a $100 jar of some ineffective european clay mask, little did I know I could have made it all by myself...

This is soo easy, saves money, eco-friendly, and taste yummy. Here are two of my favorite at home beauty treatments: *I strongly recommend using organic ingredients all around if possible, if not make do with you have, no worries.


Avocado Mask (as a superfood it will not only nourish you internally but externally as well)

1/2 an avocado
1 tablespoon of honey (raw unfiltered if available) , eyeball the honey if it feels to gooey then use less

Add the honey to the avocado (I usually use one of my son's snack containers, double duty) and mash away. Apply to face in circular upward strokes (except for eyes) and leave for 15 to 20 minutes. If you have any leftover apply it your hair, this works as a great hair mask as well.



Sugar Scrub-(delicious!) If you have sensitive skin try an oatmeal scrub instead.

2 Tablespoons of sugar (I use evaporated cane juice- very minimally processed form of sugar)
2 Teaspoons of whole milk (raw unpasteurized if available)

Mix and scrub your face in gentle circular strokes. If you want to scrub your whole body just mix a larger batch, eyeball it.



Also, I really recommend taking the time, if you can, to moist and soften up your skin and pores by applying a hot towel on your face or steam, this will help get a deeper cleanse with the scrub.

I will be posting kitchen beauty tips regularly, keep stopping by for more ;-)...

For more info.,check out these links:

this!

this!


Sweet dreams...