Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Pirate Birthday Party Ideas

By Cheryl Pierce

Pirates & treasure hunts have fascinated children for all ages. And a pirate birthday party especially when you include a treasure hunt can be one of the most successful parties you will ever have, especially if you spend some time looking for some really great pirate birthday party ideas.

There are some special items you will need to plan your party, and a few organization skills will really help a lot when it comes to the big day. Of course any time that you're working with kids you need to remember to plan for the unexpected. If follow these rules, you'll find that a pirates life really can be for you.

Get the party started with the right invitations. A great invitation should start with a pirate's map. You can let "x" mark the spot for the party. Give the date and the time and make sure to let everyone know they should dress in their best pirate outfit. Knowing the pirate theme well ahead of time gives everyone a chance to pick out their best pirate garb. A neat rhyme can finish off the invitation something like "ho hum, a bottle of rum, Tim turns nine and we'll have a fine time".

Theme decorations can be easy for a pirate birthday party. You'll want to make the area look as much like a pirate ship or lair as possible. A pirate party is easiest when held outdoors. This way you can find some great places to bury the pirate treasure for your hunt. If you can't do your party outdoors, you'll just have to be a little more creative indoors.

There are all kinds of games for pirate parties. The best game, of course, is the treasure hunt. You can start by handing out clues explaining that there is a treasure map that you have divided into 4 pieces. Your first clue should point to the first piece, and that will have a clue to the next piece and so on. While the kids are doing the treasure hunt, you'll have time to put together your refreshments.

Once the all the kids have the pieces to the map, they can start the actual treasure hunt to find the buried treasure. This can be done as an individual treasure hunt or you can divide the kids into teams. Make sure not to forget pin the peg-leg on the pirate and "walk the plank" for the younger kids, of course, assuming you have a swimming pool and the kids can swim.

These are just a few pirate theme party ideas. Just take some time to think about it and you'll think of loads more. Just make sure your little "pirate" has a day to remember.

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Pressurized Walls Are a Must When Living With Roommates

By Marcelo Oleas

Living in New York City often goes in hand in hand with living with a roommate. Rent in the city that never sleeps is incredibly high and sometimes sharing an apartment with a friend or roommate is the only way to survive financially. The only problem is that it is not always easy sharing your living space with someone else. Common issues roommates deal with are differences in personality, differences in manners, late night visitors, dealing with different work and sleep schedules... the list goes on and on. Luckily pressurized walls exist and are often like a godsend.

Finding an apartment in NYC that is affordable, spacious, and in a neighborhood you like is sometimes like playing the lotto. Unless you are financially well off, most people are not able to afford an apartment that meet their exact criterion. This is where living with roommates comes in.

Temporary walls are the perfect way of dividing large living spaces into smaller and private areas. This allows for some roommates to live in peace without getting in anybody's way and therefore living stress free.

Many buildings and landlords allow the installation of pressurized walls, but always make sure to double check just in case. Once your lease is over and you decide to move, these walls are easily removed without causing any damage to your floors, walls, and ceilings... this is why most landlords don't mind them.

Think about the convenience that pressurized walls provide. Normally you would have to contact your landlord and spend a lot of money for the construction and remodeling of your apartment. Most landlords would not even agree to such thing because this would cause permanent changes to the apartment. With the use of temporary walls, you get the same look and feel of real walls, but don't have to worry about the headaches of permanent construction.

Being that we all have pet peeves, it is not always easy to find a roommate that can cater to your likes and dislikes. Sometimes these things seem very small, but when constantly confronted with them on a daily basis they can turn into monsters that are impossible to live with.

The use of pressurized walls can really save your sanity. One habit that a lot of roommates have is that they will want to bring people home. Just because you get along with your roommate doesn't mean that you'll get along with their friends or significant others, and this is where using temporary walls can make sure that your contact stays limited.

Use pressurized walls to create the ideal living environment that you have always wanted. There is no need to sacrifice your sanity and privacy when sharing your living space with a roommate.

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President Obama might be looking for an alternative to smoking

By Jason Jagoda

What's the toughest task facing the new Obama administration? It's not possible conflict in the Gaza Strip or a sputtering economy; it's finding a place for the president to grab a cigarette to cut the stress of dealing with these important issues. The White House ban on smoking imposed by Hillary Clinton hasn't been a problem for W. - he doesn't smoke. Obama, on the other hand, admitted to the occasional cigarette during his campaign for the Oval Office. With that in mind, a healthier smoking alternative might be the solution when he needs a quick way to ease some tension.

There are many products available to help smokers quit their habit. People often accept the side effects commonly associated with these products - headaches, insomnia, nausea, stiffness and muscle aches, indigestion, and even flatulence - in their attempt to avoid the stigma of being a cigarette smoker. People hoping to quit go to these lengths out of the slew of health concerns associated with smoking tobacco products. Ordinary people are not shunned as social pariahs when they chew a piece of nicotine-laced gum. It's the act of smoking that is cause for widespread concern. A socially acceptable, healthier smoking alternative would alleviate much of this problem.

From a medical standpoint, the health risks for smoking tobacco far outweigh those for nicotine. What most people fail to realize is that nicotine is simply a stimulant - much like caffeine, which a majority of Americans consume daily - and the health concerns associated with tobacco consumption are because of the method of delivery rather than the stimulant itself. If nicotine could be consumed safely as one can the caffeine in a cup of coffee, people could enjoy the benefits of this stimulant without risk of becoming a social outcast.

Luckily for smokers, advanced technology has led to the development of safer alternative smoking devices. Of minimal environmental impact and pollution free, these "healthy cigarettes" offer a way for smokers to enjoy their favorite habit without many of the negative health concerns and social stigma. Puffing away on one of these devices can be as safe and satisfying as a steaming cup of coffee while discussing current events around the water cooler.

Now there is a safer way to enjoy that nicotine, thanks to HealthyCigarettes.Org. These new healthy cigarettes are a 21st century marvel that are going to revolutionize the way people smoke. These electronic cigarettes are non-flammable and smoke free. The devices work by atomizing a synthetic nicotine and delivering it to the user in a safer and healthier way. Smoking one of these devices is better for the smoker, and for the environment. The water vapor emitted from these cigarettes lacks any of the deadly carcinogenics found in tobacco cigarettes. Therefore, there is no harmful second hand smoke or pollution causing chemicals added to the air. These cigarettes are truly a healthier way for smokers to get their nicotine.

It is easy to see that the benefits from these healthy cigarettes are many. One such benefit is the ability of smokers to now enjoy their nicotine in places that currently ban tobacco use. Because these cigarettes do not contain tobacco and are smokeless, the bans that prohibit smoking in public places don't apply to these devices. No harmful chemicals, no tar, and no carcinogenics allows one to smoke these cigarettes anywhere and everywhere. Another benefit is the ability of the smoker to pull out one of these cigarettes from his or her pocket, take a quick drag, and then put it back away. No more need to head off to the designated smoking area and smoke an enire cigarette when one just wants to take a quick puff. Needless to say, many smokers are excited about these cigarette alternatives and how they can benefit.

With all the problems facing the new president, taking a bit of solace in a cigarette shouldn't be one of them. Life in the Oval Office is stressful and the occasional stimulant break might be the best way to keep our government running smoothly. Fortunately, safer smoking alternatives are available so Obama can abide by the White House ban on tobacco smoking and avoid the need to sneak into the Rose Garden for a cigarette.

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