Singing With the Stars

If you're a fan of Mark Ballas and Derek Hough from "Dancing With the Stars," you'll be pleasantly surprised to find they can sing as well as they can dance. Their group, The Ballas Hough Band, has released a new CD titled BHB.

BHB showcases their talent with sounds ranging from funky ("Do You Love Me") to smooth ("Longing For") and everything in between. And with clean lyrics, you don't have to worry about playing the songs in front of your kids (in fact, they'll probably be singing right along with you).



Thanks to the One2One Network, I was able to review BHB. The wide variety of sound is what appeals to me most. "Birthday" reminds me very much of Prince (whom I love), while "Fall" has an All American Rejects sound. My favorite, "Do You Love Me" will remind you of Maroon 5. In fact, it's hard to put their music into any one category. Pop? Check. Rock? Check. Jazz? Check. BHB really covers it all.

Reality t.v. fans should know that their catchy tune "Do It For You" was co-written by American Idol judge Kara Dioguardi. So you're getting a little bit of American Idol with your Dancing With the Stars when you listen to this CD.

Click here to check out the official Ballas Hough Band website, and here to purchase the BHB CD.

E-Mealz Winner

Congratulations to ky2here whose name was selected at random via Random.org as the winner of a six-month subscription to E-Mealz.com!

Thanks to everyone who entered and to E-Mealz.com for sponsoring this fabulous giveaway. Stay tuned for more great contests and reviews coming soon!

The Birth of a Star

Imagine a little boy, growing up with a love of music, and thriving within a loving, supportive family.

Then imagine that little boy thrust into the midst of the largest, most horrific genocide in modern history that would claim more than 800,000 victims in Rwanda. Including that young boy's parents and family members.

That is the story of Corneille, named one of the "hottest new stars" for 2009 by the New York Daily News. Having sold out arenas in other parts of the world, Corneille is making his debut in America with his new CD, The Birth of Cornelius.



"When I think of America," Corneille said, "the first thing that comes to my mind is the sense that I might feel understood for the first time. It might sound a little odd, but I look at America, and I see so much of who I am."

And you are going to love just who he is! Corneille cites Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and original Motown music as his influences. Motown is what definitely comes to mind when I listen to his CD, and the timing is perfect as it is the 50th anniversary of Motown Records.

So just how does one overcome the adversity that Corneille has had to face and go on to make such incredible music? "Music has been the place where I could go to hide and forget about the world," he said. "I couldn't make sense of a majority of the things that happened to me, so I used music as a shield."

Amazing.



I love playing his CD at night, when I need to unwind and relax. His songs are so soothing and are a wonderful escape from everday stress.

My favorite tracks are "Back to Life" (has a very "groovy" feel to it), "Man of the World" (seductive sound), "Too Much of Everything" (my favorite of all and a good one to dance to with your sweetheart), and "Heaven" (so romantic).

But the most powerful track on the CD, in my opinion, is "I'll Never Call You Home Again." You can tell that this song came from the depths of Corneille's heart and is the result of all the pain he endured in Rwanda.

With lyrics like...

"Last time I saw you, you were stripping me of anyone and anything that was mine. That's how I remember you. That's how I remember you. So please forgive me if I never call you home again."

...you can't help but be moved to your core.

To learn more about Corneille and his CD, The Birth of Cornelius, and/or to purchase the CD, click here.

Thanks to Music Moms and Corneille, TWO lucky readers will each win one copy of The Birth of Cornelius.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post letting me know why you'd love to win. Be sure that there is an email address for you that I can find, or your entry will have to be disqualified.

By entering, you automatically agree to all the rules and disclaimers listed here.

Only one entry per person allowed, but you can receive bonus entries by doing one or all of the following (one bonus entry for each step...if you've already done one of the steps in the past, please still leave a separate comment so that I can count it toward this giveaway):

~Twitter with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with your Twitter link.

~Blog about this contest with a link to this post and to Corneille. Then leave a separate comment here with the link to your post.

~Follow this blog. Simply click on "Follow this blog" found near the top of the sidebar to the right (under "The Blonde"). Then, leave a separate comment letting me know you are following.

~Post the button below on your blog and then leave a separate comment here letting me know it's posted and where. Here's the code for the button:



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~Subscribe to So a Blonde Walks Into a Review's newsletter (found in the sidebar under "subscribe"). Then leave a separate comment here letting me know you've subscribed.

Deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Tuesday, April 7, 2009. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Good luck!

Win a Sleep Number Bed

Listerine Total Care - 6 Benefits in One

I am a stickler when it comes to dental hygiene. I brush and floss regularly and make sure I get in my dental check-ups every six months. But even with all of that, I often overlook one important part of oral health care: mouthwash.

To help me break into the habits of total oral health, and to make me a complete mouthwash convert, Mom Central teamed with Listerine and sent me a bottle of LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE, Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash, to review:



I have to be honest. They had me at purple. It's my favorite color so I was drawn to the bottle right away (and the flavor is mint, which I also love).

But the benefits are what really caught my eye. Consider that LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE, Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash, is the only fluoride mouthwash that contains six benefits in one:

• Helping to prevent cavities
• Restoring enamel
• Strengthening teeth
• Killing bad breath germs
• Freshening breath
• Fighting unsightly plaque above the gum line

I sheepishly admit that I once had an addiction to Jolly Rancher candies. But when I noticed that the enamel on my teeth seemed more rough after eating them...even after brushing my teeth...I put an end to my addiction once and for all. However, those rough areas remained (they weren't cavities fortunately).

I can honestly say that with just a few uses of LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE, Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash, that the enamel on my teeth feels so smooth once again.

Mom Central and Listerine accomplished their goal. I am now a definite convert!

LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE is intended for adults and children ages 12 and older and can be purchased at all food, drug and mass merchandise outlets. Click here to learn more and to save $2 on LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE, Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash. And check out their commercial right here: