Archive for January 13th, 2010

Diving into Dreamland – Underwater Theme Bedrooms

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
If your child has fantasies of living “under the sea” you can transform their bedroom into an underwater themed wonderland that will have them swimming through dreamland and sleeping deep in the oceanic depths.

The Ocean Bed

No underwater themed bedroom would be complete without an underwater themed bed as its centerpiece. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Some suggestions include:
a plush oyster shell bed a sunken pirate ship bed a starfish bed an Atlantian castle bed a submarine bed

Painting Ideas for Completing the Underwater Fantasy

It probably seems obvious that you would start off decorating your walls with a blue base. But you can also experiment with different shades of blue to add texture and depth to the watery wall décor.

From there, you can paint, stencil, or hang pictures of starfish, sea turtles, dolphins, whales, sea urchins, and other water-dwelling animals. Beyond that, you can also expand on the magical aspect of this fantasy theme room by painting, stenciling, or hanging pictures of mermaids, sunken ships, buried treasure and other fantastic underwater elements.

Alternatively you can start off painting your child’s underwater themed bedroom with an initial layer of magnetic paint. Then, after you paint the blue ocean over it, you can then decorating the walls with fish magnets and other underwater themed magnets, the benefit of this being that your child can then move them around and change the appearance of their underwater scene at will.

The Accessory that Adds Life to an Underwater Themed Bedroom

The singular accessory that adds the most life to any underwater themed bedroom is an aquarium. Real fish, coral, and underwater plant-life add that splash of authenticity that makes your child really feel like they’re living in their own private Atlantis. Not only that, but as your child grows up, caring for the fish in an aquarium will teach them a sense of responsibility.

Fun on the Ocean Floor

For the floor of your underwater themed childs bedroom you can purchase several bath mats in the shape of fish and scatter them about. Not only does this extend the underwater fantasy theme to the very ocean floor of your child’s underwater themed bedroom, but it’s also an excellent safety measure, providing skid resistant protection to your active child’s bedroom floor.

Completing the Underwater Scene

Finally, a few tips for making the underwater fantasy complete:

use lots of subdued lighting fixtures rather than just one or two bright ones, complimenting the subdued and soothing tones of the oceanic depths decorate furniture with paints and fabrics that add to the effect, making them look like coral, seaweed, or ocean friends like whales and dolphins put a few leafy green plants in the room to add an extra touch of ocean life

Follow the suggestions above and your child will spend every day and night submerged in his or her own underwater adventure.

Your Guide to 5-Reel Penny Slot Machines from Microgaming (Part 1)

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

5-reel penny slot machines are ideal for low rollers or slot beginners because they may be played with as little as 1¢ per spin. Microgaming, one of the leading software providers for the online gambling industry, has launched over 150 5-reel penny slot machines over the past five years. This article, the first in a series of three, discusses Microgaming’s 5-reel penny slot machines.

- Age of Discovery is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot with an exploration theme.
- Alley Cats is a Microgaming penny slot machine about five cats that enjoy bowling.
- Avalon is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot about the Middle Ages.
- Bars & Stripes is a Microgaming penny slot machine with a classic American theme.
- Beach Babes is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot with a summer beach theme.
- Bearly Fishing is a Microgaming penny slot machine about two bears fishing for food.
- Big Break is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot about a monkey’s summer holiday.
- Big Kahuna Snakes & Ladders is a Microgaming penny slot machine with a jungle and treasure theme.
- Bob’s Bowling Bonanza is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot with a bowling theme.
- Bomber Girls is a Microgaming penny slot machine with a World War II theme.
- Boogie Monsters is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot that has a Halloween theme.
- Break da Bank Again is a Microgaming penny slot machine about money and banking.
- Burning Desire is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot about love and romance.
- Bush Telegraph is a Microgaming penny slot machine that has a game park theme.
- Cabin Fever is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot about winter.
- Cashanova is a Microgaming penny slot machine that has a rooster and hen theme.
- Cashapillar is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot with about a caterpillar’s 100th birthday.
- Cashville is a Microgaming penny slot machine about wealth and success.
- Celtic Crown is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot about romance.
- Curry in a Hurry is a Microgaming penny slot machine with a comic Indian restaurant theme.
- Days of the Tsar is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot with a Russian history theme.
- Dino Might is a Microgaming penny slot machine with a dinosaur theme.
- Dog Father is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot about the doggie underworld.
- Dolphin Tale is a Microgaming penny slot machine with an oceanic theme.
- Double O’Cash is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot that has a James Bond theme.
- Elementals is a Microgaming penny slot machine about fire, earth, water, and air.
- Fighting Fish is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot with an undersea theme.
- First Pass the Post is a Microgaming penny slot machine with a horse racing theme.
- Flying Circus is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot about the Big Top.
- Franken Cash is a Microgaming penny slot machine about a mad scientist.
- Gift Rap is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot with a traditional Christmas theme.
- Gladiator is a Microgaming penny slot machine about ancient Rome.
- Glory of Rome is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot about ancient Rome.
- Golden Goose Crazy Chameleon is a Microgaming penny slot machine that has a summer beach theme.
- Golden Goose Genie’s Gems is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot about potions and jewels.
- Golden Goose Totem Treasure is a Microgaming penny slot machine about Red Indians and squaws.
- Golden Goose Winning Wizards is a 5-reel Microgaming penny slot about wizards and potions.

So there you have it, a collection of 5-reel penny slot machines from Microgaming. Whether you play slots online or at a land-based casino, remember to gamble only with the money you can afford to lose. Decide beforehand how much you wish to spend, and don’t exceed your spending limit should you lose. Finally, have fun and quit while you are ahead.

Setting Goals, Intentions and Themes for the New Year

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
I woke up on New Year’s Day with a happy, optimistic heart and a mind focused on the future. What kind of year will I make 2007? I love the rollover from one year to the next because it is as if the slate is wiped clean and I can begin anew to build the year that I want.

Join me now in adopting the working proposition that you are completely responsible for the quality of your own experience in the year ahead. Revel in the idea that you get to make it up and build it out. At times, you may have felt at the mercy of circumstances outside of your control in 2006; however, you always get to choose how you respond. If you want to feel powerful, take time now to identify your intentions and goals, as well as your theme for 2007.

So let’s explore each of these techniques and how they work:

Intentions

Your intentions could be defined as “what you intend to create this year”. For example, this year my family is building a second home in Granada, Nicaragua. We intend to build a colonial-style home with modern amenities that will be ready for us to visit in August on vacation. Here are some other examples of intentions:

A well-functioning team or department that regularly achieves its goals
A new job in a new industry that comes with a good paycheck and high satisfaction
An advanced degree in my field that increases my credibility with customers
A new program or book that is published by a reputable publisher

Goals

The goals you set are the targets you must meet to fulfill your intentions. Goals should specify clearly what measurable results you plan to reach. When setting goals, use the STAR model:
Specific
Time-bound
Assessable
Results-based (not activity-based)A specific goal clearly describes the target so there is no room for interpretation or disagreement at the end of the year. A time-bound goal clearly describes the end-date or frequency required. An assessable goal provides the necessary measurements to gauge what success looks like. A results-based goal focuses more on outcomes than activities. Let’s look at some examples of STAR goals:
To ensure produce/service errors are reduced by 25% by the end of second quarter
To identify and research 40 prospective companies, resulting in 8 job interviews and 2 job offers before year end
To complete my master’s degree in Organization Development by July 2008
To write a solid, well-research first draft of the first five chapters of my new book by May 2007

Theme

The theme you set for the year is defined as “what you would like to experience or feel” on the road to accomplishing your goals and fulfilling your intentions. If you’re saying to yourself, “I don’t need a theme—how hokey,” let me suggest that you have probably lived out your theme without conscious awareness. Reflect on your past year: Was it full of struggle and disappointment? Or was it full of unexpected and welcome surprises? Did you find yourself in love with your life? Or did you find yourself longing for change? Did you tell yourself that whatever you accomplished, it just wasn’t good enough? Or did you feel grateful appreciation for the support you received from others? As you can see, there are many possible themes in a life.

The truth is your family, friends, and co-workers can probably tell you what your theme was because they’ve heard you talk about your experience all year! If you doubt the reality of that statement, list four colleagues on the left-hand side of piece of paper, and see if you can identify their themes on the right-hand side. See what I mean?

So, what is the quality of experience that you would like to have in 2007? I set my theme this year as A Grateful Heart. I want to experience gratitude daily. I want to spend my time appreciating every good act taken by others on my behalf. I want to notice everything that is working well in my business, my family and my life. Here are more examples of themes:

Productive and Joyous
Enthusiastically Taking Action
Ease and Grace Defines Me
Always Expanding and Growing
Grateful and Appreciative
Delightfully Surprised All Year

Guess what? I didn’t accomplish every goal I set for 2006. However, my theme for the year defined my experience and I had a great year! I invite you to create a great 2007 using these techniques. Write it all down and revisit your Theme, Intentions, and Goals during the year. You’ll be amazed at the power you have to create the life and work you want.