Open Field Concerts Made Fantastic With Korg Synthesizers

Everyone, young and old, appreciate music. Whatever your choice of genre, listening to music gives you all sorts of emotions - happy, nostalgic, relaxed, etc. Going to a concert provides you with a different kind of high.

I am a proud Thomasian. My Alma Mater, the University of Santo Tomas provides its students and alumni a yearly Christmas party called "Paskuhan." There are many activities that students and alumni can participate in, however, the most awaited is the concert and fireworks display.

Students, alumni and artists from the music industry provide performances like no other and it seems to get better and better year after year. You may be wondering how can it be that they can provide such quality performances with clear, crisp sound that even the person in the farthest area of the football field can enjoy. These artists must have the best musical tools available, and one of them is undeniably the musicians friend kaossilator pro in stock. This device that looks like something from the control panel of an aircraft allows anyone to easily create melodies and phrases, even among those without any performing experience! With its intuitive touch pad, simply rub, stroke, or tap it to instantly create complex phrases with a single finger. Horizontal motions control the pitch, while the vertical axis can control tone parameters such as cutoff, feedback, or modulation depth. This makes it easy for anyone to create entirely original sounds and musical phrases. 

So next time you are at a concert and you happen to get close to the stage, you are bound to notice this little wonder of wonders. Isn't it amazing how technology has given us things to improve our craft? I can't wait for the next gadget or tool to be introduced in the market!

It’s Never Too Early to Organise Christmas

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Christmas may have just come to an end, but if you want to ensure that Christmas 2017 is bigger, better and more stress-free than last year’s festivities, it might not be a bad idea to start thinking about the most wonderful time of the year, and your plans for it, now.

“But it’s too early!” I hear you cry. The fact is, it’s never too early to organise Christmas, especially when you’re a busy single mum with a lot on your plate. Here’s why:

Keep Control of Christmas

Christmas might be the most wonderful time of the year, but can also be one of the most stressful if you let it slip out of your control. The beauty of starting early is that you can set firm plans that no one will be able to break once they know how long they’ve been in the pipeline. No more will you be brow-beaten into attending events you’re just not interested in. No longer will you have to visit your annoying distant cousin – you can do things your way!

Reorganise Your Gift Giving Policies

If you have long thought that gift-giving should be relegated to children and the most special people in your lives, don’t leave it too long to tell your wider circle that you want to give up gifting between you and them because they may already have purchased your gifts! Instead, get in early, renegotiate your combined gifting policies and streamline your Christmas Budget.

Spread the Cost

If you start buying your Christmas gifts now, not only will you not be hit with a huge credit card bill come the January after Christmas, but you will not be in a mad dash to find the last of the hottest toys for Christmas, come Christmas Eve.

Buying one gift once a week, or month, in the run-up to Christmas, depending on how many you have to buy, is more than enough to ensure that you are ready and organised come the holidays.

Make Your Own Gifts

If you want to save money this Christmas or you simply want to give more personal presents this year, there is never a better time to start than now. The best handmade gifts are the ones that were planned and executed well in advance, so it is never too early to start making gifts,

From pickles to sweaters, there are so many things that you can handmade for the holidays, and in most cases, you can get the kids involved, so a handmade Christmas is a great way to bond too!

Have a Great Time

Of course, the most important reason to consider organising your Christmas sooner rather than later is that you will be the only one who is not running around like a headless chicken come the festive season. While everyone else is busy frantically shopping on Christmas Eve, cooking and negotiating Christmas plans with their families, you can sit back and relax with an eggnog and have a fantastic time with your family completely stress-free.

5 Ideas to Improve Your Home and Bedroom

If you're looking to spruce up of the look of your home and make your bedroom especially inviting, there are several simple steps you can take that will make a big difference. These tips can help you look forward to spending time in your bedroom and relaxing in your home overall.

Buy Organic Bedding

Organic bedding is not only great for the environment, it can also help you get a better night's sleep. Sheets and bedding made from bamboo is smooth and comfortable, and doesn't contain harsh chemicals, which is beneficial if you have sensitive skin. Organic cottons and silks can also make your bed especially inviting and there are several bedding colors to choose from, so you can find bedding that goes with your decor scheme. Once you find the bedding you like, select a few over-sized pillows or an organic vegan throw pillow to add texture to the bed and make it even more comfortable.

Don't Overclutter

We suggest following the "melon" rule when it comes to decorating your bedroom. If the decorations in your room are smaller than a melon, it can make the space look too cluttered. Select a few large vases and sculptures to adorn the bedroom, and take out the smaller items. You can also follow this decorating rule of thumb for the other areas of your home to reduce clutter.

Paint the Walls

You can paint your walls a soft shade of blue to improve the look of your bedroom and promote a good night's sleep. Blue has a calming effect on the mind, and can also lower your blood pressure and heart rate, as opposed to purple, which stimulates the nervous system and can reduce your sleep time by up to two hours!

Add Art

According to Apartment Therapy, a piece of artwork in your bedroom can really make the space especially lively and add more texture to the bedroom. You can even take a piece of art from another room and put it in the bedroom so you won't have to spend money on new bedroom decor. Using this idea when it comes to lighting can make your bedroom more attractive as well. For instance, if you have a lamp in the hallway that will go well with your decor, move it to the bedroom. Often times, we place the most beautiful furniture in our homes in places where guests will see. However, it's important that we take just as much care to decorate our bedrooms, since it is the most intimate place in our homes and should be beautiful.

Add Curtains and Rugs

Depending on how large your bedroom is, you may want to add an area rug or two to the space. A rug by your bed will keep your feet warm when you get out of bed in the mornings and can compliment the color of your bed or nightstands. A larger area rug in the center of your room gives the bedroom a more polished look. If most of the decor in your room is simple, a patterned rug can serve as a focal piece. Curtains are a great way to spruce up the bedroom as well. Not only will they shield the sun and keep the room from being extremely bright in the mornings, curtains can serve as another way to bring color and pattern into your bedroom decor.

Use Wallpaper

Adding some wallpaper to a few unconventional places in your bedroom can also make the space come alive. You can use patterned wallpaper for the center of your door to make the bedroom especially appealing. Or, you can use wallpaper to line the sides of your drawers for more visual appeal each time you put your clothes away. There are also wallpaper borders that you can apply to the tops of your walls if you don't want the entire wall to be patterned. Wallpaper is also a little easier to change than paint, so you can use this design trick every few months when you want to give your room a different look. These are just some of the innovative and cost-effective ways that you can make your bedroom look its best. Of course, using a combination of these tips can make your bedroom one of the most appealing rooms in your home.

With The Right Gadgets, Fun Times Are Anytime!

The 21st Century is bringing an over-reliance on gadgets. That can be a good thing, or a bad thing.

Earlier we wrote about some of the reasons our kids are not getting enough sleep, the first reason? There’s too much going on! Take a look:

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"It’s so easy to fill your kid’s rooms with items. After all, you feel they need items like a TV and a computer to keep them entertained. But if there are lots of things in your kid’s room, you are going to find they will struggle to get to sleep at night. After all, they are going to want to get up and play with their items. And it can make their brain alert if there are lots of things in the room. Therefore, keep the number of items in the room to a minimum to ensure your child gets enough sleep at night. Devices should stay downstairs to ensure your child isn’t tempted to play with them during the night!"

Computers, iPods, tablets and phones are scattered around the modern household - not to mention the presence of music and media. It’s always going on.

That being said, there are plenty of benefits to these gadgets and now that we have looked a negative side of them, we can focus on the positive. As with anything in the world, moderation is key! Gadgets offer a great way to entertain kids at any time!

If your children love gaming, there are so many options on the market! A new Nintendo console is coming out in the Spring, so you may want to bide your time - but right now you can get the Playstation 4, an Xbox One, the PS Vita or Nintendo 3DS. It depends on what is right for your children - if they are always out and about, a Vita or 3DS might be the best option. If they enjoy staying in, the PS4 or Xbox One could be the answer. Kids really are spoilt for choice when it comes to gaming.

Tablet computers can offer a world of entertainment to our kids - so be sure to take advantage of what they can offer! They can be a great way of listening to music, watching movies, or enjoying a book! If you want to listen to music - turn to Spotify or Deezer for curated playlists and any song you can think of! If you enjoy movies, ShowBox offers a fantastic range of movies for you and the family to enjoy at any time, so visit GetShowBoxApp.com to make the most of it. If you want to read, there are plenty of interactive books you can share with your children to inspire and educate. The options are endless!

Of course, you’re going to be using a lot of energy having so much fun with the family, so make sure the devices are charged up and ready to go at all times! Gadgets these days run out of battery faster than ever, so keep the cables close and the batteries full to ensure all these new gadgets are giving your family the fun times, all the time! Remember that moderation is important here - keep the gadgets on, but only when needed.

Smart Organizing With TrackR atlas

Everyone of us dreams of keeping out homes and belongings organized. We work at installing wall hooks to hang our keys on; we invest in safe storage boxes; we purchase file folders for our documents. However, there are times when we just simply forget where we placed our things.

It is frustrating to lose precious time looking for something that you need immediately. Stuff like your cellphone, car keys, house keys, your card holder, or important documents like passports, check books and bank books. I have to look for my cellphone almost everyday! We all go through this ordeal at some point in time, don't we?

Well, here's a bit of good news. Today, we no longer have to go through the hassle of finding the stuff we need when we need it. Thanks to a new technology called TrackR atlas.

This works by simply plugging a TrackR atlas device into a wall socket in each room in the house, and attaching a Bluetooth tracking device to each your favorite items. Using your cellphone, download the TrackR app. When you need to find something, use the app and say, "Where is my ________?" The app will tell you exactly where to find it. Cool! No more hassle! No more stress!

The TrackR atlas will detect any belonging that has a Bluetooth tracker attached to it. It can also monitor and send alerts to your cellphone when your things move around the house or even leave the house. Now, we can even track where our dog or cat is!

Go ahead and make your life a little easier. Let TrackR atlas help you create a smart home. Above anything else, it is the peace of mind and security that is the best benefit we can get from this amazing device. 

What Does Thailand Have to Offer First-Time Visitors?

Thailand is an incredible country, and the wealth of things on offer for visitors can overwhelm you. If you’re heading there for the first time, you’ll have to accept that you’re not going to see everything. There is simply too much. But you can see some of the best things the country has to offer. Then, if you enjoy your time in Thailand, you can come back again and see some other sides to the country. Here’s an overview of some of the most interesting things you can do there.

Explore the Floating Markets

The floating markets are famous in Thailand, and the name explains it all. The markets sell all kinds of food items. You can eat things that are being cooked or buy ingredients to take with you and make something with later. But the real attraction here is the water-based nature of the market. They are all on boats, and to get around and buy from these markets, you have to use a boat too. It’s a shopping experience like no other, and one that you probably won’t have experienced ever before. It’s something that you should definitely do when you have a spare afternoon.

Do Some Volunteer Work

If you’re a conscientious traveler and you want to give something back to the country, why not do a bit of volunteering while you’re in Thailand? There are many ways to do this. There are nature and wildlife reserves you can lend a hand to. Or you could volunteer with the charities that offer help to children who live on the streets. Many people from the West teach English to Thai children when they’re in the country. If you find that you love the country and want to help out, volunteer in Thailand and make a real difference to the lives of the country’s people.

See the Elephant Population

The elephant is one of the national symbols of Thailand. They hold a very special place in the hearts of Thai people, and that’s why so much work is done to look after the local elephant population. Many of them have been rescued and are now kept in sanctuaries where they are safe. The benefit of this is that you can go and visit them when you go to Thailand. There are all chances to ride elephants if you want to get even closer. Whatever you do, you can’t really go to Thailand without seeing the elephants that mean so much to the country.

Visit the Smaller Islands

There are many small islands that are off the coast of the Thai mainland. You should do some island hopping if you want to explore these. They all offer something different to what you will find in the rural and city locations of the mainland. The coasts are often stunning and tranquil. You can get a guided tour of some of the islands if you want to get the most out of your trip. It offers you the chance to see a less known side of the country.

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Common Reasons Why Your Child Isn't Getting Enough Sleep (And What To Do About It!)

It’s so important that your child gets enough sleep at night. For one thing, it is so vital for their health. After all, without enough sleep, your child is more at risk of catching a bug. And not only this but they will lose concentration easier at school. Without proper rest, they might end up making silly errors too. And that’s without the mood swings that can occur if your child is feeling tired. Therefore, you need to try and ensure they get enough sleep at night. If you find your child can’t drift off, here are some common reasons why your kid isn’t getting enough sleep and what to do about it.

There is too much going on in the room

It’s so easy to fill your kid’s rooms with items. After all, you feel they need items like a TV and a computer to keep them entertained. But if there are lots of things in your kid’s room, you are going to find they will struggle to get to sleep at night. After all, they are going to want to get up and play with their items. And it can make their brain alert if there are lots of things in the room. Therefore, keep the number of items in the room to a minimum to ensure your child gets enough sleep at night. Devices should stay downstairs to ensure your child isn’t tempted to play with them during the night!

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They aren’t in a comfortable bed 

Your child might also not be getting much sleep as they aren’t comfortable in bed. It could be causing them to move around in the night. Therefore, work out what about the bed is causing them to feel uncomfortable. It might be that the mattress needs to be replaced. After all, if it’s not supporting your child properly, they could end up waking up in the night. Or it might be the actual bed frame which is not providing them much comfort when they are trying to sleep. If you need to get them a new bed, you can find kids beds from Cuckooland and other brands online that might be suitable. And remember to check their duvet and pillows to ensure they are providing them with comfort in the night. That way, you can ensure their bed doesn’t cause them to have a lack of sleep!

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There is too much light in the room

You might not realize that the light in the room can make our brain think it’s morning. And then we struggle to get back to sleep once our brain is alert. Therefore, to stop this happening to your kid, you need to make sure the bedroom is dark enough at night. Invest in good curtains which will stop light getting into your child’s room. And if they can’t sleep without any light, you should just get a night light which you can put in the corner of the room. Therefore, it will give your child some reassurance without there being too much light in the room.

And remember to make sure your little one isn’t eating and drinking much before going to bed. Otherwise, your child will struggle to get any shut eye, and you will have a grumpy kid the next day!

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My Word For The Year: BE

This is the first time I have tried having a Word for the Year. I have seen a lot of people doing it and after spending several days pondering on the most appropriate word for me, I found the perfect word.

BE.

A word of only two letters. It is a verb, an action word, defined in many ways, such as, "exist," "occur," "to have a state, quality, identity, nature or role."

Powerful, raw, intriguing.

This is how my year will start and end.

I will BE.

A Worthy Investment: Akai's Professional Electronic Interface Expander

Here's another great device for sound engineers and musicians who are thinking of staying on top of their game - the akai eie pro at Guitar Center.

This electronic interface expander is designed for plug and play convenience. It has 4 audio outputs and 4 audio inputs plus 3 USB ports allowing the user to record at 24 bit audio resolution into any recording or performance software.

Guaranteed to deliver all features as promised and comes with a good price. Definitely worth the investment.

Do the "S.S.S." This Holiday Season with Groupon

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine.

The holidays are fast approaching and I am sure most of you have started shopping for gifts. As we all know, it is difficult to keep within budget, and even more difficult to find deals on the items you wish to purchase. Thankfully, Groupon Coupons provides us amazing deals for most of our needs, and from well known retailers. 

There is always someone in the family who will be thrilled to get a smartphone or a tablet, or maybe you need a new one yourself. Did you know that Groupon Coupons can help you to cover that need? Check out their deals on Verizon Wireless for deals on new devices. You will be amazed at how much you can save! 

If getting a new device is not exactly in your shopping list this year, that's okay. You can still avail of great discounts on their service plans. Calling friends and relatives on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's can rack up your minutes, right? This is an offer that would be hard to refuse!

Not a Verizon Wireless customer? No problem. Check out Groupon Coupons' Exclusive deals for new customers! 

Some of us may be doing a lot of traveling over the holidays. Air fare and hotel accommodations are heavy on the budget, and we all know that. OneTravel can help us find best rates for flights, hotels, transfers and vacation destinations. In addition to OneTravel's very competitive offers, you may also apply Groupon Coupons for additional discounts! Traveling and going on vacation need not burn a hole in your pocket! So go ahead, book that flight, and reserve that hotel room. Everyone deserves a vacation and that includes you! 

Make things a little different this holiday season. 

Do the "S.S.S." - Search, Shop, Save. 

It is that easy with Groupon!