Meet Bridgit Mendler

bridgit-hello-my-name-isI recently had the absolute pleasure to join in on a HuffPost Live Chat with singer/songwriter and actress, Bridgit Mendler. She’s a total sweetheart. Bridgit stars on the hit Disney series, Good Luck Charlie. However, like many of the young actors and actresses appearing on Disney sitcoms these days, Bridgit is first and foremost a musician. She sings and plays guitar and she’s really good at both talents.

My kids are both right at the age where they watch the same tv programs. We actually watch Good Luck Charlie as a family.

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It reminds me of my younger days when I would watch Growing Pains or The Cosby Show together with my family. I often make the comment that I think Good Luck Charlie should be on network television but I won’t complain too much that it’s a hit Disney channel sitcom. It’s nice to not have to cringe when those Viagra commercials come on network channels. Not really interested in having that conversation with my daughters…yet.

But I digress. Bridgit is a doll. She comes across as a very wholesome, educated young lady and that’s really the kind of person I want my young daughters to consider as a role model. During the HuffPost Live Chat, I had the opportunity to ask Bridgit a bit about her musical talents. You can watch/listen in on our conversation around 20:12, although, feel free to watch the entire segment (you should):

So, if you haven’t given Good Luck Charlie a chance yet, I recommend that you do. The series is well-written and the actors have great chemistry.

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I’m always howling with laughter. Bridgit’s debut album, Hello My Name is, is available for purchase. It’s a fun, pop rock album that the family can enjoy together.

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CD Review: Moona Luna – Vamos, Let’s Go!

Moona_Vamos_cover-300x267
CD:
Vamos, Let’s Go!
Artist: Moona Luna
Audience: Speakers of English. Speakers of Spanish. Don’t understand either? You can listen too!
Sounds like: The best mix of Latin music and kid’s tunes you will hear. (editor’s note: Phil – also check out Lucky Diaz & Ozokidz)
Buy from: Amazon.com, iTunes, CD Baby
Random Thought: There is only one man in the moon, but there are two men in Moona Luna.
Tweet Sized Review: My Spanish is very weak, but it doesn’t matter when a CD like this comes around.

I have been called a music snob by many a person. I take offense to this because I think I like WAY more music than the normal person, but that is a different argument for a different time. Even if I am a music snob, I can’t find anything to not like about this album.

I had never heard Moona Luna before getting my hands on Vamos, Let’s Go!. Since I’ve had a chance to listen to this album over and over again, I can tell you that I’m going to make sure to get the first release from this New York based group.

In my last review I talked about how that group did a great job of mixing styles. I’m not saying that Moona Luna does it better or worse, but they do a fantastic job of making songs sound unique while still sticking to their Latin roots.

I absolutely love the first track, which also happens to be the title track, “Vamos, Let’s Go!”. The first time it started playing I thought I had made a mistake and clicked on a Los Straightjackets or 3rd Wave Ska track. It has such a happy and upbeat “surfer” feel to it. Plus, accordion!

Once the second track hit I thought my iTunes had randomly shuffled to something that would have been heard on the jukebox in a 50’s ice cream shop. After listening I realized it was still Moona Luna! I said to myself, “Well this is a cool track. It’s like something from “Grease” but good and appropriate for children!” I couldn’t wait for the rest of the tracks to play.

Once the third track of this album rolls, Moona Luna really hits their stride. The first two tracks are really good, but I think the remaining are really in their wheelhouse. Not only are they in their wheelhouse, but they knock them out of the park. No swinging and missing here. I’m not going to talk about each and every track (we would be here awhile), but the fifth track, “What Time Is It? (Que Hora Es?)” is a laid back track that I find myself either singing or whistling all the time. I’m pretty sure my coworkers are ready to tell me what time it is.

Track seven, “One of Those Days (Uno De Esos Dias)” not only has very relatable lyrics, but a tango beat that will have you dancing across the room. Track nine, “All The Time (Todo El Tiempo)” made this rude boy flash back to good memories with the upbeat guitar strumming and fun accordion licks (it seems as if our fearless leader has me pegged on what music to review).

The final track, “Beautiful Birthday (Cumpleanos Feliz)” is a very strong end to the album. It is not only a track that is probably going to be played at some point during my daughter’s birthday just based on the title and because I love her, but it is bright, peppy, and just downright fun.

I didn’t even get to the most important part yet. In the constant struggle to find music that is appropriate for the entire family, you don’t want to settle for low hanging fruit. Not only does every song contain both English and Spanish lyrics, but there is repetition in each song. Well, at least from my poor Spanish skills there seems to be. If a word that is repeated throughout the song is said in English, there is a good chance it is said in Spanish as well. Those of us that work with kids know that repetition does work. It works even better when it is presented in a fun format. This album is way more than a fun format.

We know that a child’s best chance to learn a foreign language is start them early. I can’t think of a better way to introduce them to Spanish. If I can learn and remember some basic Spanish just by listening to this album, I have no doubt your child will as well. Do everyone a favor and turn off the Maroon 5 (no seriously, please stop) and play Vamos, Let’s Go! instead.

Don’t believe the review? Listen for yourself.

In the meantime

inthemeantimeHi, it’s me again. The mom blogger. Let’s see, the last time I composed an update I was knee-deep in the job search. Well, not much has changed. I still am.

Job searching does require a bit of focus, patience and time. All of which are hard to come by when there’s a preschooler coming up to you every five minutes to summarize parts of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode she’s watching and that she’d like to share with you pieces of a fabric lei that she so diligently shredded into a hundred pieces just moments before. After you return to your computer from attending that mermaid party in the living room, you find that your session on the hiring company’s website has ended and you have to start the application process all over again for that job opening. Breathe. Focus. Shit. Need to throw a load of laundry into the dryer.

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Oh, it’s lunchtime. Gotta feed the kid and maybe myself. Wait. Did I eat breakfast yet? I don’t even remember eating dinner last night.

You get it, right? The process can be frustrating but you know you’ve got to keep at it. There’s got to be a light at the end of the tunnel. However, it’s not realistic to think that you can sit all day, every day uploading your resume and filling out online applications.

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There has to be time to recharge or you’ll just burn out. So, in the meantime, I’ve been recharging myself by going to the gym and practicing concert photography. I even made the trek up to the northern suburbs to Billy Corgan’s new tea cafe, Madame ZuZu’s. Real tea this time, as opposed to imaginary tea. It’s all in the name of seeking inspiration and a little feeling of zen, folks.

I recently took a Wonderlic Test and a math quiz for a possible job opportunity. Completely aced the Wonderlic Test. Completely bombed the math quiz. I just had an interview for said job and luckily, the hiring manager and I had a good laugh about my math skills or lack-thereof. Anyway, still waiting to hear about that job. I don’t think my bad math skills will be a deal-breaker. Good things come to those who wait, right? In this case, I’ve been waiting so I sure hope it’s a good outcome.

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Otherwise, it’s back to the drawing board.

In the meantime, I’m keeping as busy as I can. Struggling to keep my hopes up about getting a job sooner rather than later. Anyone else ready for Spring? I know I am. It’s March and it feels like January in Chicago. Warmth is just around the corner.

I’ll be back soon chatting about the adorable and talented Ms. Bridgit Mendler, who I was fortunate enough to spend a virtual half an hour with on Huffington Post Live; and big news about my new feline family member.

Cheers!