Holiday Gift Guide ⋆ My Sparkling Life

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I will be attending this all expenses paid trip courtesy of Disney, However, all thoughts, experiences, and opinions are 100% my own!
I’m so excited to share that I am off to California again, only this time I’m headed to San Francisco Wednesday, August 2nd through Friday, August 4th to visit the land of the dead Pixar Animation Studios for Disney • Pixar’s COCO. This event is exclusively for 25 of their top Bloggers from across the country. I’ve been so excited for this film and can’t wait to see how Disney & Pixar bring the land of the dead to life.
While in San Francisco, we will get to tour Pixar Animation Studios and attend a reception where we will see some footage from Disney • Pixar’s COCO (opening in theatres on 11/22).
We will also attend press day where we will get to interview:
Director Lee Unkrich
Writer and Co-Director Adrian Molina
Producer Darla K. Anderson
Various Animators
On Friday before we head home we will be heading to the Walt Disney Family Museum!
Find animation, innovation, and inspiration in the remarkable life story of Walt Disney, the man who raised animation to an art, tirelessly pursued innovation, and created a distinctly American legacy that transformed the entertainment world. Located in the scenic Presidio of San Francisco, the museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that features contemporary, interactive galleries with state-of-the-art exhibits narrated in Walt’s own voice alongside early drawings, cartoons, films, music, a spectacular model of Disneyland, and more.
Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history. Directed by Lee Unkrich (“Toy Story 3”), co-directed by Adrian Molina (story artist “Monsters University”) and produced by Darla K. Anderson (“Toy Story 3”), Disney•Pixar’s “Coco” opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22, 2017.
FOLLOW Disney/Pixar’s COCO: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

The decision to send someone you love to a care home is never an easy one. However, for a lot of us it is something that we will have to deal with at some point in our lives, as our parents get older and are unable to look after themselves. In this guide, we will reveal everything that you need to know about choosing a care home, as well as looking into the option of live-in care.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CARE HOME FOR YOUR LOVED ONE
If you think a care home is right for someone you care about, be it a family member or a friend, you need to take the time to choose the nursing home with care. After all, this is always half of the battle. Ensuring someone is comfortable in the care home is imperative. So, let’s take a look at some of the important points you must consider…
Accreditation and qualifications – There is only one place to begin, and this is by making certain that the care home has the necessary accreditation and that they have qualified people working for them. This is especially the case if your loved one has specific medical needs. There is no excuse for not getting the qualifications required today, as courses can be carried out online – just look at this online MSN FNP program. You want to make sure that your friend or family member is in the best possible hands.
Entertainment and activities – If someone is going to be moving to a new place, you want to make sure that they are going to be happy and enjoy their new life. Because of this, it is definitely worth looking into the different entertainment options the home offers, as well as the activities that go on at the care home.
Read reviews – You also need to read reviews that have been left by people who live in the care home as well as their loved ones. This will give you a great insight into what the care home is really like. If you come across negative review after negative review, you know to look elsewhere. Don’t let one comment sway your judgement, though.
Accessibility, cost, and waiting list – Aside from the points that have already been mentioned, you need to look into the waiting list. If it is extensive, no matter how good the care home is, you may be better off looking elsewhere. You also need to find out about the cost so that you can make sure you can afford the care home. Moreover, accessibility is another critical element to think about. After all, you want to make sure that you and other family members are going to be able to visit your loved one.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED LIVE-IN CARE?
Live in care might not mean anything to you; it could be a phrase you’ve never come across before. But that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be of benefit to your loved one. Old age and illness are still taboos in our culture because they are frightening, and delving into the unknown unnerves us, but it is an important question nonetheless. So, let’s take a look at this option in further depth…
Would Care At Home Be Beneficial?
Once the question has been asked, the answer, although potentially unpleasant, will give you an insight into what to do next if you’ve never considered it before. If the answer is that your parent have to leave your own, comfortable home to live in a care home or nursing home, would they be happy to do that? For many people, the answer is no. And this is where private care at home becomes something important to consider. Care at home can be as little as a few hours a week, or it can involve individuals undertaking full time live in care jobs for you; it all depends on what your loved one needs. It is often beneficial for home care to be full time; this negates the need for any additional care, and it means that there is never any danger of a vulnerable person being left alone. Using at home care services means that those who need the care won’t have to leave the home they have worked all their life to maintain and pay for. They can stay where they are comfortable, in familiar surroundings, and still get the care they need, whatever their condition or requirements.
What Does A Live In Carer Do?
If live in care is something that sounds as though it could be the ideal solution for a family member or friend, what do you need to consider before signing up? Live in care for the elderly, or for someone who is unwell or immobile can differ from agency to agency. It is important to find out exactly what the live in carer you are hiring will do, and whether it is right for you, or the individual who will be receiving the care. Generally, carers are there to ensure the safety, comfort, and health (to some degree) of their client. This can be anything from washing and dressing, to cooking, housework, and giving medication as and when it is required. Since a private live in carer works on a strictly one to one basis with their charge, their attention is solely focused on them, and their time is guaranteed to be spent as their client wishes. This includes everything mentioned above, as well as taking the person shopping (or doing the shopping for them), escorting them to other events, helping with exercise, and even accompanying them on holiday. Having this sort of full time care is a wonderful way to keep your independence whilst still being looked after.
How Flexible Are Live In Carers?
Live in care is something that everyone might consider at one point in their lives. The beauty of this kind of exceptional one to one care is that it is as flexible as you need it to be. Live in carers will work to your schedule, giving their client the freedom to choose exactly how and when they are cared for (within the agreed care plan). Many people, for example, are happy and able to carry out this form of care, and looking after an elderly or infirm friend or relative is something they would rather do themselves. But, everyone deserves a break now and then. Everyone needs time off to recharge. Live in home carers can be hired on a short term basis, to give those who usually take on the role the chance to take a holiday, or to just go out for the day. Once a week, once a month, two weeks a year, whatever you need, a hired carer will be able to provide this much needed cover. Full time live in carers are also available at short notice, should the need arise, enabling regular carers time off for whatever reason it is needed.
Is 24-Hour Care At Home Expensive?
Many people feel that the idea of having 24-hour care at home is a wonderful one, enabling them to have freedom to still enjoy the comforts of their home and the flexibility to be as independent as possible. But along with that comes the worry of expense – is it going to cost a large amount of money? Is it going to necessitate selling their home to fund it? Are they going to be left bereft should the money run out? The good – and perhaps surprising – news is that a live in carer can actually cost much less than you may think and is comparable with the cost of moving into a nursing home. If the cost of home care is the only thing that is stopping you from enquiring further, don’t let it. It is always worth asking the question and discovering the cost for yourself rather than imagining what it could be.
As you can see, there is a lot that needs to be considered when it comes to figuring out what is going to be right for your loved one. If you need to send your loved one to a care home, use the advice that has been provided to narrow down your search and find the best solution. However, don’t ignore the option of live-in care, as this may be more beneficial for your situation.

IK Multimedia, the leader in mobile music creation technology, is pleased to announce that its iRig® Keys range of highly regarded mobile keyboard controllers is going universal. Both the ultra-portable iRig Keys and mobile full-size keyboard iRig Keys PRO controllers will now come with a Micro-USB to OTG cable for Android devices in addition to their Lightning and USB cables. Now, for the exact same affordable price, players can plug in and jam out on a compact and fully functional keyboard with an even wider array of their favorite mobile devices than ever before – iRig Keys and iRig Keys PRO are now ready to go with Lightning-compatible iOS devices and Android devices as well as Mac/PC right out of the box.
Portable performance
The iRig Keys line has established itself as a firm favorite of keyboard players across the world. iRig Keys (previously named iRig Keys with Lightning) is an ultra-slim and extremely portable MIDI keyboard controller with 37 mini-keys. iRig Keys PRO is a similarly slim keyboard that gives players the luxury of 37 full-sized keys in a controller that can be easily carried in a gig bag or backpack. Both deliver a full 3 octave range (plus one note) and come equipped with all the extras that keyboard players love: mod and pitch bend wheels, a Volume/Data knob, a SET button for storage and recall of up to 4 different custom setups, input for a sustain or expression pedal and more. With compact size and advanced features, the iRig Keys line offers keyboard players a portable playing experience like no other.
Complete compatibility
With the arrival of this announcement, both iRig Keys and iRig Keys PRO are compatible with more devices than ever before. Each now comes boxed with Lightning, Micro-USB to OTG and USB cables. This means that they can be immediately used with Lightning-compatible iOS devices, Android devices and Mac/PC right out of the box. In addition, an optional 30-pin cable can also be purchased for use with 30-pin iOS devices. And no matter what device is used, both iRig Keys and iRig Keys PRO deliver a seamless plug-and-play experience thanks to built-in Core MIDI compatibility for iOS and USB class compliance.
Killer apps and software
Creativity starts immediately with iRig Keys and iRig Keys PRO thanks to their extensive suite of included apps for iOS and Android, plus software for Mac/PC. These apps are powerful IK Multimedia fan favorites and they all come with extra material for registered iRig Keys and iRig Keys PRO users.
iRig Keys and iRig Keys PRO are also fully compatible with Apple’s GarageBand and Logic Pro X, and compatible with a wide variety of third party apps and software, like Samsung Soundcamp, Cubasis, MultiTrack DAW and more.
Pricing and availability
iRig Keys and iRig Keys PRO are available now from music and electronics retailers worldwide, and from the IK online store, for $/€129.99 and $/€149.99 respectively (excluding taxes).
Users who purchase an iRig Keys with Lightning or iRig Keys PRO starting October 1, 2015 are eligible to receive Micro-USB to OTG cable at no cost, if one is not included. Contact IK Support to request the cable. Eligible users must register the product and provide proof of purchase.