How to Create Your Own Theme in Microsoft PowerPoint 2010

When you are working in Microsoft PowerPoint 2010, there are several themes to choose from when you press the "Design" tab.  However, don't you think it would be fun to create your own unique theme? Well, today I am going to show you how.

Step 1: Open a new PowerPoint Presentation.

Step 2: Click the "View" tab. Then, click "Slide Master."

Step 3: Edit the background.  

- Click on the "Slide Master" tab, then click the "Background Styles" drop down menu. 

- Choose from any of the gradients that appear or create your own background by clicking the "Format Background" button. You now have the option of adding a solid, gradient, picture/texture, or pattern fill to use as a background and have more control over the colors.

Step 4: Choose the fonts. 

- On the "Slide Master" tab, click on the "Fonts" drop down menu. You can choose one of the pre-made font sets, or you can click the "Create New Theme Fonts" to chose the heading and body fonts that you would like to use in your theme.

Step 5: Edit the color scheme.

- Click on the "Colors" drop down menu (it is above the "Fonts" drop down menu on the "Slide Master" tab). You can choose from a variety of built-in color schemes or create your own by clicking the "Create New Theme Colors" button.

Step 6: Save your theme!

- To save your custom theme, click the "View" tab. Then, click the "Normal" option.

- Click the "Design" tab. Then, click on the drop down arrow beside the themes to get more options. At the very bottom, click the "Save Current Theme" button and name your theme. Finally, click "Save."

Your theme should automatically be saved as an Office Theme inside the Templates>Document Themes folder. Next time you open PowerPoint, it should show up with the other themes under the design tab.

Step 7: Show it off!

Won't it feel great to create a PowerPoint using a theme that you created? Next time someone compliments you on how good your PowerPoint looks, you can say: "I designed it myself!"

Here is the theme that I created:

TIP: If you would like your title slide to have a different background than the others like mine, just change the background on the title slide layout without clicking the "Apply to All" button. 

TIP: Play around with Word Art and text effects. I added a dark blue outline to my title and heading text and added a shadow by clicking the "Shadow" button in the "Font" box under the "Home" tab.

American Eagle Project Live Your Life

American Eagle recently launched a contest called Project Live Your Life. It allows people to compete for a chance to become a model for the clothing company.
One of the many contestants for Project Live Your Life is writer, dancer, photographer, and artist Jade P. I got a chance to interview Jade today.

 Why do you want to win American Eagle's Project Live Your Life?
 JADE: "I want to win American Eagle's Project Live Your Life because I love American Eagle clothing, and I love the brand and the lifestyle associated with it, and I love the fact that they are using their customers and their followers to market their clothing. I just think that's really ingenious, and as a marketing enthusiast, I really appreciate that. And I want to win because it would give me tons of exposure and since I want to pursue modeling professionally, this could be a way that I could get noticed and get discovered, not only as a model, but as a singer, or a writer, or any of the other things that I do because it will put me out there for other people to see."

Your profile mentions that you went to a playwrights festival. What was that like?
JADE: "It was AMAZING! It was a week full of work, and bonding, and creativity, and kind of creative brainstorming with other people that I'd never met before, but we all had similar interests. And a lot of them knew more about theater, and more about writing than me, but it was really cool to learn from them, and also just to share my creativity with them, and have our ideas bounce off of each other. And we became so close so quickly  because we're all exposing our hearts through our writing to one another, so pretty much any barriers and walls got broken down the first day."

What do you enjoy most about photography?
JADE: "I don't consider myself a photographer, because I'm not into the whole technical part, I'm really not into a lot of technical things. I don't like to be behind the camera necessarily, I don't like to be the one who has to learn all of the specific technical things that goes along with photography, like lens types, and exposure, and how to handle different settings during different parts of the day, all of that stuff. But, I have always liked photography as like just a fun thing to do with my friends, because my friends in college loved to take pictures, and so I grew in my passion for taking pictures. And we took pictures of EVERYTHING. We took pictures of ourselves doing everything, and so it felt like you know, photography is a way for you to be with your friends and always keep your Facebook status updated with your latest doings, and it's a way to not forget a moment, because you're capturing every moment. And I like photography because I like modeling, so photography is very important to modeling, because it captures the pictures. I love taking pictures of my friends and taking pictures of clothing, especially since I'm a dancer, too. Dancers care a lot about photography and about videography. So, I guess, well as far as photography goes, this contest has really challenged me to become a better photographer because I had to photograph myself as a model. So, I had to learn a little bit more, but I prefer not to be behind the camera."

According to your profile, you categorized yourself as a "Denim Jeanius." In your opinion, what is a "Denim Jeanius?"
JADE: "American Eagle's definition of a Denim Jeanuis is someone who knows how to style their jeans for any occasion. And as Americans, I think a lot of us automatically fall into that category, because we wear jeans everyday. We wear jeans with just about everything, it's like our staple article of clothing that we put with everything. Some people wear jeans to work, you have your dressy jeans, you have your casual jeans, you have your work jeans. So, I would say as far as a Denim Jeanius, I love experimenting with different types of jeans and I love wearing jeans with different types of looks, to show how flexible the clothing is."


What advice do you have for other aspiring models?
JADE: "For other aspiring models, I suggest just taking pictures of yourself. I'm learning how to become a better model, and it's just from all the stuff I've looked at online and advice I've gotten from other models. Model for free, I've modeled for hair shows for Aveda, and in a Southern Weddings Magazine shoot, and those were just opportunities to be around professional models and see how they work, and just, you know, being in front of the  camera, but you really have to practice on your own. And you have to practice your expressions, and practice figuring out how to angle your body towards the camera, and that's where you get your creativity, it's just like dancing, you practice on your own and you refine your skills around others, and then you get out there and you perform in front of the camera, and then you're set."



Here are a few fantastic photos from Jade's profile:

Good luck with the contest, Jade!
To show your support and vote for Jade, click here.
She'd really appreciate it!




Pictures courtesy of Jade Palmer

Chevron

I had no idea what a chevron pattern was until my friends told me earlier this year. This summer on Pinterest, chevron clothes, nails, furniture, and more have been popular pins. I repined a picture of a chevron lamp a few days ago, and it already has four likes and 32 repins! I only have six followers on Pinterest, so that is a lot for me. I was amazed by how popular that single picture became.

A screen shot of the picture I repinned on Pinterest that quickly became very popular. According to Pinterest, it was originally pinned from myhabit.com.

Here are a few chevron products that I found on Walmart.com
(click on product names to go to their product pages on Walmart.com)

 
your zone chevron nylon rug, 3' x 4'8"


Kinsley Chevron Futon with Optional Pieces, Gray




Eclipse Kids Chevron Energy-Efficient Blackout Curtain, Bright Multi



Set of 2 Purple & Blue Chevron Corded Outdoor Patio Square Throw Pillows 18.5"


* All product pictures came from www.walmart.com. I do not claim ownership of any of these pictures and I did not create or take them myself. 

Pets and Furniture

My family's dog, a blond American Cocker Spaniel, is the sweetest pet that anyone could ever ask for. However, Chelsea loves to lay on the couch with us, and her fur gets all over the furniture.

At first, my siblings and I didn't see anything wrong with letting Chelsea lay on the couch with us. Then, my parents pointed out how hard her fur is to remove from the cushions. Cleaning the furniture before guests come over is a hassle. We have used lint rollers and brushes designed specifically for pet hair removal, but nothing seems to work on the fabric. 

Many pet owners buy their dogs doggy beds. We've tried this before, but Chelsea just chews on them until the stuffing comes out and the bed is no good. I thought I had found the solution when I noticed that Chelsea had taken a liking to my favorite blanket. Letting her lay on the blanket solves the problem most of the time, but Chelsea still lays on the couch often.

That's when I decided to research what fabrics are good for pet owners. I found a really great article called What is the Best Sofa Fabric for Pets? on eBay. (Just click the link to go straight to the full article.)

Here's a summary of the article:

- On furniture that a pet uses often, lint rollers don't work very well

- Pet owners shouldn't have light-colored carpeting (Like my carpet in the picture above; Oops.)

- The benefits of certain fabrics

•  Leather: Fur and dirt are easily removed, resistant to odor
•  Distressed Leather: Fur and dirt are easily removed, resistant to odor, patterns help hide blemishes
• Synthetic Fibers: Fur and dirt are easily removed, withstands claw holes and scratches, tightly woven to resist damage
•  Crypton: Fur and dirt are easily removed, withstands claw holes and scratches, resistant to odor, tightly woven to resist damage

- Pet owners should not purchase sofas with these fabrics: chenille, velvet, silk, tweed, wool, and linen

* I credit all of these facts to the buying guide titled, "What is the Best Sofa Fabric for Pets?" written by eBay. 

The Parent Search

In August 2012, I published my first full-length chapter book. The Parent Search is a children's book that follows the adventure of three children as they try to locate and rescue their missing parents.

Missing Parents!

Ashley and her siblings Nicole and Doug were thrilled to be spending summer break in Hawaii. However, when a flood causes the kids to become separated from their parents, what they thought was going to be a relaxing vacation turns into the biggest adventure of their lives! Things get even more complicated when they discover that a criminal is behind their parents' disappearance. From a shark in the clear waters of Hawaii to a crash landing in the Amazon Rainforest, the trio is constantly in danger. Will they ever find their parents?

My book (it feels good to be able to say that :) ) is available as a paperback, as well as an eBOOK. 

To learn more about my book, please visit the official website or the official Facebook page. 

The eBOOK version of The Parent Search is available on for the NOOK, as well as Apple devices. To purchase the paperback version, click here. 

Monsters University

I am a huge fan of Disney Pixar movies, and Monsters, Inc. was one of my favorites. When I heard that Mike and Sully would be returning to the big screen, I was excited. The prequel, Monsters University, was released in U.S. movie theaters on June 21, 2013.

Here is the plot description of Monsters University, as released by Disney:

Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn't always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn't stand each other. "Monster's University" unlocks the door to how Mike and Sully overcame their differences and became the best of friends. -- (C) Walt Disney 

I will admit, I was a little disappointed that the adorable Boo, the little girl who befriended Mike and Sulley in the first movie, wasn't making a return. However, don't let that discourage you from seeing this movie. The film still has a lot of heart and plenty of funny moments. I don't want to give too much away, but here are some of my favorite morals that the movie taught:

• There's more than one way to achieve your dream. Mike and Sulley don't become "Scarers" the conventional way, but they still end up with the career of their dreams that led them to Monsters University in the first place.
• Know what you're good at, and use it to your advantage. Mike comes to Monsters University thinking that he's going to be the best "Scarer" on campus because of how hard he's been studying. He proves that he's smart, but there's just one problem: no one thinks he's scary. At first, Mike is crushed. He later  realizes that his book smarts make him great at planning the perfect scare. Sulley, with his powerful roar, is just the person to execute Mike's plans. Together, they make a great team. 
• Don't let what others think of you discourage you. Oozma Kappa, Mike and Sulley's fraternity, is considered to be a joke with no chance of being successful when they enter the Scare Games. However, they still try their best to be the winning team.

Monsters University is rated G. To learn more about the movie, visit the official site.

A Bookworm's Point of View gets a makeover!

Hey everyone!
I changed my blog's theme today. I hope you like the new layout!

Nilla Wafer Cupcakes

    My dad bought a jumbo pack of Vanilla Wafers the other day, and my family ate half the pack in about two days. Let's face it: Nilla Wafers are delicious.
    So, I decided to use the Nilla Wafers (well, what was left of them) to make dessert for my family as a surprise. I Googled 'Nilla Wafer desserts' and found a recipe for Nilla Wafer bundt cake that had very good reviews. I loved the idea of a cake made with Nilla Wafers, but I felt like making cupcakes that night. Also, I didn't want to make a lot of cupcakes. So, I cut the recipe in half and poured the batter into muffin tins.
    One of my family's favorite desserts is the banana pudding that my mom makes using Nilla Wafers. I wanted to find a way to incorporate banana into the cupcakes. I thought about adding banana to the batter, but decided against it. Finally I came up with the idea to put banana topping on the cupcakes. My family loved the idea and my Dad even said that they reminded him of banana pudding. Below is the recipe for the cake batter, as well as my recipe for banana topping.

Vanilla Wafer Cake IV
(I found this recipe here)
Original recipe makes 1 10-inch Bundt pan.
1 (8 ounce) package flaked coconut
1 cup ground pecans
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
6 eggs
1 (12 ounce) package vanilla wafers, crushed very fine
1/2 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch fluted tube pan such as a  Bundt®. Mix together the coconut and ground pecans; set aside.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in the crushed wafers alternately with the milk. Mix in the coconut and ground pecans. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3.Bake in a preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.


* I cut the recipe in half to make my cupcakes, but I used 2 eggs instead of 3 and the batter still turned out fine. Also, I did not add the coconut and pecans because of my family's preferences, and the cake still had plenty of flavor. I changed the baking temperature for 350 degrees Fahrenheit. I recommend baking the cupcakes for 18 minutes at that temperature, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean. DON"T FORGET TO GREASE THE MUFFIN PAN BEFORE ADDING THE BATTER!

My Banana Topping
1 large banana
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

In a small bowl, mash the banana with a fork. Add the 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and 1/4 cup of milk and microwave for ten seconds at a time, stirring in between, until the mixture forms a glaze-like texture. Let the cupcakes cool for a few minutes, then add banana topping.

ENJOY!

Duolingo!

Everyone in my family can speak Spanish...except for me. I am taking Spanish 1 this upcoming school year, and I'm VERY excited. 

Yesterday, my sister stumbled upon an app called Duolingo. It is the perfect tool to help me prepare for Spanish 1, and it makes learning a new language fun.  From taping pictures, to speaking sentences, I feel like I am playing a game, rather than learning. Duolingo offers lessons on many different languages: Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and English. 

Oh, and did I mention that this app is FREE?

If you are looking for a fun and easy way to learn a new language, or to continue practicing one that you have already learned, I highly recommend downloading Duolingo!