Many parents want their children to learn a skill or two. One of the great talents that are popular with children is learning to play an instrument. With so many musical instruments in the market, it is not easy to determine which device is best for kids to learn. Apart from deciding the type of device your kid should learn, looking for the best quality instrument in the market is essential. The good news is that Yamaha has solved your problem by having the best quality instruments. Yamaha not only has quality instruments but also has a variety of devices.

Here is a list of the best instruments from Yamaha.

 Yamaha Rusty Rat Guitar

The rusty rat is a beautifully crafted instrument built in Japan. The Yamaha guitar is made of mahogany and has a Maple top. The electric Yamaha guitar has an attractive Steel Wool rub effect finish that makes it stand out from other types of guitars. Not only does the instrument have a classic feature, but it also has an incredible sound. Your child will enjoy learning how to play the Yamaha guitar.

Yamaha Montage 88 Key Music Production Synthesizer

Sometimes it is not very easy to learn how to play a musical instrument correctly. However, Yamaha’s musical production synthesizer brings out the best vocal sound that your child will love. A synthesizer is a musical instrument that generates audio sounds electronically. Learning how to produce audios using the Yamaha synthesizer is easy. The good thing is that your child will enjoy the sweet music that is provided by the synthesizer. The Yamaha synthesizer contains how to use a manual that is easy to follow. Therefore, your children can learn how to play the instrument on their own.

Yamaha 61 Semi-Weighted Key Workstation

The Yamaha semi-weighted work stations are portable keyboards suitable for beginners. The weighted keyboards are easy to carry around, unlike the ordinary pianos. The work stations work in the same way as a piano. They are easy to play hence recommended for beginners. The semi-weighted keys are easy to press and produce quality sounds even when pressed slowly. Your kid’s tender fingers will be pleased to work on the soft keys. The clear sound will cheer your child to learn the keyboard with confidence. 

Yamaha Dxs15 950w 15 Active Subwoofer

Sweet music soothes the ear. The Yamaha subwoofer produces low-pitched bass and sub-bass frequencies. The sub-woofers are never used alone and have to be attached to other instruments. Your child will love mixed music using the sub-woofer to suit their moods.

Whatever the instrument you decide is best for your kid to learn, you can never go wrong with Yamaha. Yamaha instruments are of high quality. The bonus of choosing the Yamaha instruments is that they are sold at affordable prices, and therefore you can pick several of them to give your child more skills.

When you are stuck at home with kids, one of the best ways to keep them active and entertained is by finding home activities they can enjoy. Crafts are an easy way of developing their creativity and keeping them busy. You can find easy crafts for kids that are temporary distractions and require a short time.

Here are five of the best crafts for kids.

Rainbow tie-and-dye project 

This is the perfect idea if you are looking for a colorful craft for your kids. Tie-and-dye will offer your kids entertainment regardless of their age group. It involves mixing colors and creating unique colored dyes that can be applied to their clothes or creations. You can use this project to personalize braided necklaces, beach towels, or even create unique t-shirts and jeans.

You will need a type and dye kit, which is available from the local supermarket. As an introduction to tie-and-dye, you can start by designing basic rainbow colors on t-shirts. They can use duct tape to spell out names on t-shirts before dying the rest of the t-shirt.

Tie-and-dye can be done on headbands, shoes, socks, denim trousers, tote bags, and scarfs, among other garments.

Making a museum 

You can encourage your kids to curate little museums at home. The home museum can be used to showcase family pictures, sculptures, or handmade pottery. You can ask your kids to create collages of their photos and hang them in the museum. All these can be made using materials you find at home, including labels that describe each work of art. Once completed, you can have a museum tour as you celebrate your little artists.

Making paper pinwheels 

This is one of the most versatile crafts that can be done by kids of any age group with little to no supervision needed. The paper pinwheel is the original fidget spinner that can be made with recycled paper. This craft is ideal for kids interested in science as it enables them to explore the relations between breath and air. The faster the kid blows the pinwheel, the faster it rotates. Kids will love playing with the paper pinwheel once they are done making them.

Making glitter glue counting sticks 

If you have kids who are just learning how to count, making counting sticks is an excellent way of motivating them to learn. Glitter glue counting sticks can make counting and numbers more interesting. What’s more, these sticks can easily be made in under ten minutes. You only need popsicle sticks, glitter glue, and a marker. You need to number each craft stick and distinguish it with a color from your glitter glue. Each stick can have circles colored to coincide with the number. Once it dries, you can start your counting game with the kids.

Making play dough 

This is one of the easiest home crafts for kids. Making playdough only requires three ingredients and a few minutes to get done. This is an easy fix to cure boredom, especially for kids in elementary school. You will need half a cup of corn starch, a cup of baking soda, and ¾ cup water. You can also include food coloring if you want to make different colors to make it more interesting.

All these are exciting ideas for crafts you can do at home with your kids to keep them busy and develop their creativity.

Gardening is great fun and a very satisfying pastime, but can be expensive if you buy everything you need retail. In fact, Investopedia puts the average annual cost of vegetable gardening at $238 per year for most homeowners.

However, that isn’t always necessary. There are many ways to save money on your gardening needs.

The three major expenses for the home gardener are water, tools and plants. With a little ingenuity it is possible to cut these costs substantially.

Reducing Watering Costs for your Home Garden

Water rates are going up all over the country, so here are some ideas for conservation. Most importantly, mulch well. Mulch not only holds water, it also keeps soil moist by keeping direct sunlight off of it. Depending on your own tastes and where you live, here are some cheap mulch ideas. Use old newspapers, grass clippings or shredded leaves (but not from highly acidic trees like pines). Any of these will serve will and cut your water bills.

RELATED: Save more money by learning how to make homemade plant fertilizer. Read the full guide by Fertilizer for Less.

Also, use soaker hoses. A soaker hose is just a length of hose full of small holes that is closed at one end. Lay it out between plants and let it soak the ground thoroughly. You may have to buy this new, but the water savings make it worth the price. You can also save by not watering in hot, direct sunlight. Watering in the early morning cuts down on evaporation.

Saving Money on Garden Tools

Tools are expensive if bought new, but because they are usually so well-made they often outlast their owners’ needs (and often the owners as well). Auctions are a great source. Look for auctions held by older folks who are selling their homes. Often you will find a lifetime’s worth of quality, well-cared for tools at rock bottom prices. Yard sales are another good source. Often people who are moving don’t want to move tools and increasingly suburbanites are using yard services and don’t need their own tools. These techniques take patience, but will let you build up a complete tool collection for pennies on the dollar compared with buying new.

Seed Starting and other Money-Saving Hacks

Of course, plants are where the biggest gardening costs accrue so it is also where you can save the most. The key to avoiding high nursery prices is to grow your own plants from seeds. To cut costs even more, practice seed saving. In the fall, as your plants are dying off, just collect their seeds, dry them between layers of paper towels and then store them in air-tight containers in a cool, dry place. Small, used tupperware containers and jars can often be purchased for pennies at your local GoodWill or thrift shop and work very well. In the early spring, start your seeds on any sunny windowsill. While you are at the GoodWill, pick up some old cake pans. These make excellent and cheap starter trays. Don’t forget to ask friends and relatives if you can collect seeds from their plants. Too.

Growing from Cuttings

If you are in more of a hurry, grow plants from cuttings. This works well with most flowers and vines. Ask your friends and relatives to let you take cuttings from established plants. If you cut about six inches of stem and leaves and stick them in small containers kept well-watered you will have plants much faster than starting from seeds.

Finally, don’t forget native plants that grow wild along roadsides and creek banks. Just pick up a used field guide, carry a trowel in your car and (safely) stop whenever something catches your eye. These plants are well-adapted to your local conditions and therefore need little care. If you have friends with perennials that have grown too large, offer to divide the plants for them if you can have the extras.

These are just a few ways to cut your gardening costs. Once you begin to try them out others will suggest themselves to you. So, put aside your wallet and pick up that shovel! Enjoy a beautiful garden for much less than you thought necessary.

Have you just started your pregnancy journey? If so, you need to be aware of the possible vein problems that you might encounter and learn how to avoid or get rid of it. Check out the infographic below for more information:

Graphic created by USA Vein Clinics, a provider of endovenous laser treatment.

Buying a car, whether it’s a new one or a used model, can be a tricky process. Even if you have put the hard work in and researched the manufacturers and models you like, and perhaps have a dream car in mind, you still have lots to do. For one thing, you need to choose the right car dealership to buy it from. There is likely to be several different dealerships in your local area. How then do you choose between them to find the one that’s right for you?

First and foremost, don’t rush this part of the process. As excited as you likely are to drive off in your new car, the last thing you want to do is just choose the first dealership you come across. To help you avoid the pitfalls, we’ve put together a selection of tips to navigate the different businesses and choose the right one.

Choose a Dealership That Publishes its Opening Hours, Address and Telephone

Although this is probably going to seem like common sense to a lot of people, it is still worth highlighting. After all, if a dealership you are interested in is as good and reputable as they say, then they will make it relatively easy to contact them. If they post their opening hours, address and a landline telephone number, then they are likely to be a legitimate business that can be trusted.

However, if all you can find is an address or even just a Zip Code, you should be very suspicious. Not only do you need a phone number if you want to contact them to arrange test drives and an appointment, but you want to know that you will be able to contact them after you’ve bought a car. The bottom line is, beware of any business that doesn’t provide various phone numbers for different departments and full opening hours along with their address.

Think About How You Are Going to Finance Your Car

One aspect of choosing a dealership you need to consider is how you are going to raise the funds to buy a car. You need to think about whether you have access to the money, are going to get a traditional loan from a bank or through the dealership itself. You will be able to see what dealerships offer.

Look At Their Inventory

It is very easy these days to find, research and choose the car models that tick all your boxes online. Most reputable dealerships will have comprehensive websites that detail all their current stock. This obviously gives you the chance to look at the inventory and check they have the car model or models you are interested in.

Make sure you phone them before you decide to go down and visit the dealership to make sure they still have that car is still in stock.

Read Customer Testimonials and Reviews

The best way to determine if a dealership is trustworthy and good to do business with is by reading reviews by customers who’ve used them in the past. Reviews can be found on the dealership website and third-party sites too. Don’t just focus on the positives. Look also at the negative reviews so you can get a fuller picture of what doing business with the dealership is like.,

Are you in the market for a new vehicle in your life? Are you looking to invest in a used car rather than paying out for a brand-new model? We are not surprised if you are feeling a little overwhelmed, then. As buying a used car can be quite a tricky affair. If you are not careful and don’t put the necessary research and homework into the process, you could end up making a very expensive mistake.

How, then, do you go about buying a used car, without getting ripped off? Keep in mind the following tips, that’s what.

Calculate Your Budget and Stick to It

Don’t even start looking at cars and falling in love with models that may be out of your league financially before you have calculated the budget you have to spend on a used car. As well as the actual price tag on a car, you need to consider other financial aspects such as the running costs like fuel and any potential repairs and maintenance it may require.

When budgeting you need to consider if you are going to part-exchange/trade in your current automobile or you will require financing to help you secure that vehicle you want.

Find Trustworthy Car Dealerships

There is a lot of stigma attached to the concept of a used car lot. When people hear those words, they often envision shady characters just looking to offload rust buckets to the next fool that comes onto their forecourt. However, while it is true that there are used car dealers like that, they are not all like that.

You need to be careful when choosing the used car dealer, you go to, if you want to avoid the unsavory types. One of the best ways to do this is by checking out impartial online reviews and testimonials. This will give you an idea of what other people thought of a dealership who have used them in the past.

Think About the Car You Want Before You Visit

If you visited used car dealerships without a clue what kind of car you were interested in, you may find it a little intimidating and confusing. It’s much better to sit in the comfort of your own home and look at models on the internet first. Figure out the style, size, make and models you are interested in. Look at reviews of those models and look for any that are available in your local area.

Then, when you head to the local dealership you will have a firmer idea of what you want and will be able to navigate around the lot quickly and more efficiently rather than waiting lots of time.

Always Get a Test Drive

This is something that may be rather obvious to a lot reading this post. However, you’d be surprised at just how many people do not try before they buy a used car. As well as assessing how comfortable and suited it is to your own preferences, this is the best way to check its roadworthiness and whether it is in as good condition as the salesperson suggests.

When you have kids, you want to make sure even more than without that you have money saved for emergencies and some of the bigger expenses and investments in life. Knowing where to put your savings can be quite tricky to work out as there are so many different banks and other institutions offering similar sounding accounts and solutions. To help you cut through the noise a little and find the best savings solution for you, take note of the following features all good savings accounts should have.

Very Low Minimum Balance or Deposit Requirement (Or No Minimum At All)

It can be hard enough to save money without a banking institute docking your account with a fee for not keeping to the minimum balance requirement. Therefore, look for a bank of financial institution that offers a savings account without a minimum balance requirement/deposit or at the very least, one that is very low. Therefore, you won’t lose money even on the months when you can’t put anything into your savings account.

Account is Quick and Easy to Open

Most banks that offer savings accounts these days then to make it relatively quick and simple to open one of their accounts. With many you can even avoid the need for attending their actual physical bank and can carry out the application completely online.

Offers Ability To Transfer Funds Online From One Account to Another

With online banking solutions you have greater control over your finances and money, and it makes it much more direct and easier to access savings. As part of online banking, though, you should check whether you can easily transfer from one account to another using the bank’s online portal.

Look for a Bank That Doesn’t Charge Monthly Service Fees

Just as minimum balance charges can put a dent in your savings, so too can monthly and regular service or maintenance fees. So, if you want to ensure that your savings stays put and does not reduce, then look for banks that offer savings accounts, but without the fees.

Always Make Sure The Bank is Insured with FDIC

It is crucial that you only do business and keep your money with a bank with full Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance. This means you will be covered for your savings if anything happens with the bank or it loses money.

Banks that Offer Automatic Savings Transfers or Direct Deposits

It is recommended, particularly by various experts in the sector, that you choose a bank that allows you to setup an automatic savings account transfer from your checking account. This means your paycheck will either completely or partially be moved to your savings account. Which in turn helps to reduce the chance or likelihood of you spending it, because it is not directly accessible, something it most certainly would be if it all remained in your checking account.

We hope the above does not put you off from searching for a high-quality savings account. To give you further help, why not check out this link regarding Guaranty Bank’s offering at https://www.gnty.com/locations/location-detail/austin-downtown.

A food craving, also known as selective hunger, is defined as “an intense desire to consume a specific food”. Food cravings are considered different from normal hunger as they can be triggered by a myriad of factors, one of which stems from being pregnant.

Pregnancy cravings are a common occurrence for expectant women and studies show that 50% to 90% of pregnant women will either crave a specific dish or food or be completely turned off by a food(s) they normally enjoy.

For the average pregnant woman, cravings usually start in the first trimester, peak during the second trimester and decline by the third trimester; though residual cravings may still linger after delivery.

Pregnancy cravings differ depending on the woman but for example, in the United States, reported common cravings for expectant women include confectionery such as ice-cream and chocolate, fast food such as Chinese takeout and pizza, and starchy carbohydrates such as pasta and rice. In the United Kingdom, a recent survey carried out by Pregnacare revealed that common pregnancy cravings among women included chocolate, fruit and ice pops.

So what exactly is the cause of pregnancy cravings? Multiple theories abound, one of which revolves around pregnancy hormones. In the early stages of pregnancy, a woman’s body is flooded with hormones, which may exacerbate certain cravings – for example, if you tend to crave chocolate before your period, the craving may be heightened during pregnancy.

A second possibility may be due to how a woman’s senses are heightened and/or dulled during pregnancy. As a result, women may crave certain foods with bolder flavors and textures to compensate for their dulled taste receptors or may suddenly develop an aversion to certain foods, flavors and textures because their taste buds are suddenly hyper-attuned to the taste of certain dishes.

A third theory revolves around the idea that your body craves something because it needs a certain nutrient or vitamin or is suddenly repulsed by a certain something because it is not good for you and the baby. However, due to the excess of processed foods and reliance on foods far removed from our ancestors’ diet, sometimes pregnancy cravings may be a result of crossed nutrition signals resulting in strange food combinations, which have become a staple pregnancy joke – i.e. pregnant women love pickles with ice-cream.

Lastly, pregnancy cravings may be a result of something as simple as a need for comfort food. Some expectant women crave foods and dishes they associate with their childhood or culture – for example, a study showed that pregnant Japanese women had multiple cravings for rice. The need for comfort food may be more psychological than anything else but it can also serve as a means to bond with the unborn child while tending to the pregnant woman’s wants, needs and comforts.

In conclusion, cravings during pregnancy are a real and common side effect for expectant women. Some may develop cravings for a certain food, dish or odd combination of flavors and textures while others may discover that foods that once enjoyed suddenly test their gag reflex. Although there are no concrete theories as to why pregnancy cravings exist, some possibilities for its existence may include pregnancy hormones, heightened or dulled senses, a body’s instinctive need for nutrients or even just the psychological need to seek comfort through childhood and cultural foods.

At an early age, we learned that the touch of a hand can ease the pain. Remember that time when you fell down on the ground and got bruised? You instinctively rubbed the sore and painful spot didn’t you? And now, whenever you experience stiff shoulders, you most probably tend to knead them.

A well-placed and trained hand can do so much in terms of pain management. The healing power of it is so apparent that almost every culture in history has been using massage as a way to relieve pain. However, with the introduction of modern medicine, massage somehow faded into the background. But then again, an increasing number of people are going back to this type of pain reliever. Statistics say that about 25% of adults have had a massage at least once in the past 12 months. Moreover, 50% used massage therapy for health-related reasons such as relief for pain or stiffness.

Despite being well-known as an “alternative medicine”, massage is now gaining respect from the medical community. As a matter of fact, more than 70% of doctors confirm that they refer patients to massage therapists and surveys show that ⅔ of Americans want massage therapy to be covered by their health insurance. So if you’re suffering from pain, whether brief or chronic, you may want to give massage a try. However, it is still strongly recommended that if you’re suffering from persistent and acute pain that you have a doctor evaluate your condition to identify the real cause of the pain.

How can massage alleviate pain?

It has been observed that a good massage can ease the pain in several ways as follows:

1. It can warm sore, stiff joints, and muscles by increasing the blood flow thus improving your body’s overall blood circulation.
2. It triggers the release of opioids, which are our body’s natural painkillers.
3. It speeds up the flow of oxytocin. A hormone that relaxes muscles as well as encourages the feeling of calmness and contentment.
4. The short and sharp sensations of a good massage can temporarily make the brain forget about other aches.

Is massage safe?

Massage is generally safe, especially if it is performed by an experienced and licensed massage therapist. However, in some who has health problems, it is strongly advised that they check with a medical practitioner first before getting a massage session because is not entirely risk-free.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a massage is not recommended for anyone who has any type of skin condition, deep vein thrombosis, burns, skin infections, eczema, open wounds, broken bones, or advanced osteoporosis. Cancer patients also need to consult their oncologist to ensure a massage is safe for them as it can have adverse effects such as internal hemorrhage or the dislodging of blood clots.

One important thing to note during a massage is that it shouldn’t cause you any pain. If you feel pain during a session, tell your therapist immediately.

If you’re experiencing chronic pain and confirmed with your doctor that a massage is fine for you though, don’t hesitate to visit a massage therapy center near you.

Understandably, you will want the best for your baby when you select your newborn photographer. To help you choose your Los Angeles newborn photographer or a newborn photographer anywhere, we have written this article to give you information on what you need to consider.

Experience and Qualification

You will need to do some research in choosing your newborn photographer. If you just choose the cheapest option or the one with the best-looking website, you could end up with a photographer who has no idea how to handle a baby. Instead, ask them how long they have been working? How many babies have they handled? Have they received any training? There are safety training certifications out there, including the American Association of Newborn Photography Association. We have all read horror stories about things going wrong during these photography sessions, so be careful and research thoroughly before you choose your newborn photographer.

Styling

You can find a vast multitude of different types of newborn photography, including posed newborn style, lifestyle sessions or baby led posing. Posed newborn style involves your baby being guided into different poses, gently led by an experienced professional. Your newborn baby must be safe, relaxed and comfortable during this type of photoshoot, and should not be forced into any situations that make your baby feel distressed in any way. If the newborn photographer is experienced and professional, they will be able to tell you how they will gently and carefully make beautiful and complex baby poses, perhaps through means such as combining multiple photos to make a composite photograph.

Lifestyle photography sessions are primarily focused on the connections between the family members and the newborn baby. Baby-led posing is when you place your baby in a comfortable environment and they can move as they please, snuggling into blankets, going into relaxed positions and do things that you will want to remember them doing so when your child is older you can look back at those photographs and remember when they were only a mere newborn.

Budget

As we said before, you should not just choose the cheapest Los Angeles newborn baby photographer. In fact, those who cut prices are usually the ones who cut corners on important things such as the safety of your baby. As well as taking all the above into consideration, you should make sure that you have established a budget based on what you have and how much you are willing to pay, and then you should stick to it.

Prices vary from photographer to photographer, and some things that are taken into consideration by the business when pricing their services are the time it takes for the photograph, the experience of the photographer, the level of training of the photographer, the cost of the equipment and the location of the photo shoot.

Conclusion

This article has discussed a few of the things that you must consider. The most important thing will always be your baby’s safety but make you sure that you are happy with how the photographs will look and that the cost of your Los Angeles newborn photographer fits in your budget.