Canciones de las Princesas (Songs of the Princesses) Giveaway

I have a four year old little girl and without fail she is a princess fan.  She is not too hardcore.  We don’t have to leave the house wearing tutus or tiaras but she loves her Disney princesses.  This little gal is also bilingual and one of my favorite learning tools with her is watching the Disney movies in Spanish with her so when I was approached about the release of Canciones de las Princesas (Songs of the Princesses) I was over the moon.  Could I really have the best of both worlds?  Yes!!!

Yesterday when I got home the CD was waiting for me and we proceeded to pop it in and listen.  She sang along and danced to every song.  TWICE!!!  Some she recognized others she didn’t but still stammered the words trying to learn them.  The timing is also spectacular because tomorrow we will be attending the Disney Princesses on Ice show and then in a week or so we’ll invite 4 or 5 of her friends and their mommies to attend Una Fiesta de Princesas (A Princess Party) where we will listen to the CD, eat cookies, do some crafts, play some games and learn (or practice) a little Spanish.   Stay tuned for the party post but in the meantime please enter to win your very own copy of the CD.  Lots of favorites and good variety in songs included.

On sale now at local retail stores, Amazon and iTunes  

Tengo mi propia princesa de cuatro años y como es de esperarse le encanta el mundo de Disney y todas sus princesas.  No es extremado su gusto pero no deja de ver las películas y aprenderse las canciones así que cuando llegue a casa ayer me dio mucho gusto ver que ya había llegado el CD de Canciones de las Princesas que me pidieron que escuchara para escribir una critica.  Mi hija por supuesto también es bilingüe… tratamos de ensenarle español y ver películas de Disney y escuchar canciones en español con ella es una de mis maneras favoritas de practicar su segundo idioma.  Que material tan perfecto… el mundo de Disney y las canciones de sus princesas justo para mi princesa.  Canciones de las Princesas se centra en las heroínas más queridas de Disney, con versiones en español de canciones clásicas provenientes de películas mágicas, tales como Enredados, La Princesa y el Sapo, La Bella y La Bestia, La Sirenita y muchas más. Esta encantadora colección presenta diversos éxitos interpretados por talento mexicano, entre ellos "Cuándo Empezaré a Vivir," por la cantante/actriz Danna Paola ("When Will My Life Begin" de “Enredados”); "Un Mundo Ideal," por Analy y Demian Bichir, recientemente nominado al Oscar® como Mejor Actor ("A Whole New World," de “Aladdin”); y "Colores en el Viento," por Susana Zavaleta ("Colors of the Wind," de “Pocahontas”).

Tan pronto abrí el CD lo pusimos a tocar y lo escucho todo bailando y cantando con todas las canciones DOS veces.  Algunas canciones ya se las sabia y otras fueron nuevas para ella porque todavía no vemos esas películas pero todas le encantaron y trato de cantar hasta las que no se sabía. Adicionalmente, este proyecto llega justo a tiempo ya que mañana vamos a ver Las Princesas Sobre Hielo.  Después dentro una semana vamos a invitar a 4 o 5 de sus amigitas y a sus mamis para que vengan a una Fiesta de de Princesa a escuchar el CD, comer galletas, jugar y practicar su español.  No se pierdan la próxima entrada del blog ya que pondre las fotos y les platicare como nos fue.  Por mientras por favor participen en el concurso para ganarse su propia copia.  Y si no pueden esperar ya esta a la venta en tiendas locales,  iTunes  y Amazon.

Travel, Kids, and the Best Photos You’ve Taken

Summer is approaching and many of us are starting to think about (or actually plan) travel with our families. With that in mind I will be featuring an “expert” travel series on this blog. A new topic and expert will be posted every Tuesday for the next 5 or 6 weeks. From making food part of your child’s travel experience to how to use music as a travel & language prep tool we’ll cover topics that will enrich and enhance your travel experience. I’ll be featuring experts & parents sharing their best tips and advice with you. Please come back every week and if you like the info share it on your social media and with friends. Happy Travels!

Social media, contrary to popular belief, does not alienate us but instead unites us. Recently a friend on Facebook introduced me to Lauren Aycock a fabulous area photographer who specializes in children's portraits. You have to visit her site and see for yourself. She also does high school senior portraits visit her Facebook page for more detail. I liked Lauren's work so much that I contacted her about sharing her expertise on this blog and was happy to find a new friend through social media.

Realistically, great (I mean truly great) pictures come not just from someone with technical knowledge but also with artistic talent. It takes a special eye and a little je ne sais quoi to frame the world through the camera lens not much different than that needed to frame it in a canvas. However, for the rest of us mortals who can't invent talent having a little technical knowledge can drastically improve our images. Read Lauren's tips and incorporate her suggestions next time you're on vacation or simply in the back yard with the kids.

"Photograph Your Child Like a Pro"

By Lauren Aycock

Do you want your vacation as well as everyday life photos of your children to be memories to last a lifetime? There are many tips that will help in that endeavor. Here are some of the most common questions put forth to me by inquiring parent photographers:

How do I avoid a fake, cheesy smile from my child?

Sit them down and amuse them. Ask questions, blow bubbles, or simply have another person entertain them while you snap away. Distractions from the photography process helps in creating an unforgettable look.

What about portrait angles?

A side angle combined with children's natural personalities makes for great photos. Let them play and just be themselves! Get up close and snap away while they're looking up at you. Whether far away or close try putting them in the first or last third of the frame; it makes a much more interesting picture.

What about that all important lighting?

It's always best to shoot in full shade. Keep the light behind and slightly off to the side of you. If you're lucky enough to have a second adult along as an entertainer, keep the sun behind them so that your child is facing the light. Use a flash to soften the blur of moving children.

How can I capture a landscape along with the subject?

This can be quite tricky. I recommend taking this type of portrait as early or as late in the day as possible when lighting is best. If the sun is behind the view with your child in the forefront make sure your flash is set to "on" instead of "auto". This ensures proper lighting on their face.

What if I only have a simple point and shoot camera?

These can be difficult to use with playing, running children because of the delay. You may want to take the big step of investing in camera equipment that guarantees better results. Invest in a digital SLR, such as a Canon Rebel, that lessens the delay. In order to allow you to follow your child with the lens instead of moving around with your child I recommend at least a 50 mm lens with a zoom up to 200mm. Purchase from a good camera shop with pro salesmen who are willing to answer any and all questions and give one-on-one instruction on the camera's use.

Now you're ready to capture your growing children both at home and on vacation. Act like a pro, and get great results! Have fun with your camera, creating memories that will be priceless heirlooms for you and your children. Most importantly just enjoy the process!

Lauren Aycock is the owner of Lauren Portrait Art based in Austin, Corpus Christi, and San Antonio, Texas. She specializes in whimsical and custom children's portraiture. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin in Studio Art, her photography has been published in multiple national magazines. You can find Lauren at www.laurenportraitart.com, 512-436-9200, and Lauren Portrait Art on Facebook.

Raising a Bilingual Child

Have you ever stumbled upon a great resource and felt the need to share it with the world? I just did and I’m about to share. Some of you may know that my husband and I are raising a bilingual / bicultural child. She is only 22 months old so we are well aware we have a long road ahead of us regarding her language skills therefore I am always on the look-out for good resources and Google is my favorite way to find them.
Our story in brief:

I grew up speaking, reading and writing Spanish at home because my parents were both natives of Mexico and Spanish was their preferred language. They are both educated and made it a point to work hard to maintain the use of the minority language at home with both my brother and I. That said, we were born, raised and educated in the US so our constant daily influence was English. I am fully bilingual and these skills have served me well throughout school and work but I recognize that it was through my parent’s constant effort that I acquired this very useful tool and want to give my daughter the same gift they gave me. My husband understands Spanish well enough but his skill level is much more conversational. He is fully supportive but both he and I speak predominately English to each other. This worries me. It worries me because I don’t feel that we expose her enough to the “minority” language and therefore I wonder if we will succeed in raising her bilingually.

For this reason I have been researching online. I’m looking for support and tools and just last week I came across a GREAT resource: Multilingual Living Magazine. It is an online magazine that needs our support! The writers are passionate volunteers and the content is excellent. They can be found on the biculturalfamily.org website. The site is also very useful and full of great information, tips, links to blogs etc. Our lives are enriched by information and I hope you find this site as valuable as we do. May it contribute to your journeys.
All the best,

Lilli, Jb, & Gaby