One of the great things about living in California is I’m so close to entertainment at pretty much anytime. This last weekend I was in Hollywood taking a stroll down the walk of fame looking at all the people, and there are a lot of people to look at. Aside from the normal character actors like Johnny Depp look a likes or Batman walking around there are your good ol’ fashioned masses of unwashed locals. I’ve met spacemen from the future warning about the end, Marilyn Monroe’s ghost and some people that aren’t just celebrity impersonators, but people that actual believe they’re said celebrity. It is very entertaining, but very weird at the same time. After an hour or so I have to take solace in the many many stores, who’s merchandise is often as entertaining as the people outside.

While looking around the Harvey Davidson store, I came across one of our products being used in such a simple way, I can’t believe I haven’t thought of it before. In the display cases, the store was using one of our textured SoftFloor tiles as a display surface. So simple and kinda cool looking. The soft floor tiles didn’t look out of place or like a cheap alternative to something, it actually fit in well. The shelves they had were glass, so the colored interlocking tiles gave some depth to the case and made the product pop. Most of the products in that store are black, so they used a contrasting gray tile. Ant the interlocking teeth just sitting exposed gave It a cool off beat look that I liked. The softfloor tiles are often used as trade show flooring or as playroom flooring, but hey sure found a good way to use too!

Once again, one of our many products has yet another use. So whether it’s at a craft fair or trade show, our soft floor tiles can add a different look and be a simple way to highlight your products. There’s a wide variety of colors and styles which makes it easy to change up color combinations to match the product or season. I wish I would have had this idea for the fourth of July. I can already envision a white rectangular table with red and blue tiles as the surfaces for appetizers!

Hello, thine loyal subjects! Welcome to the fair empire of Mat-tropolis. Where the wine and low prices flow freely to all; young and old alike. As you can see by my little art project, SoftFloor tiles are not just for practical use. I know that almost all of us out there constructed lovingly “couch forts” in our childhood. Adorning them with blankets; creating bridges out of the cushions and if one was brave enough, even attempting to cross it before it gave way.

Now just think of what you could have done then and even do now with the right amount of foam tiles to construct and furnish the royal living room sanctuary. I have three words for you…foam tile throne! Turn a mere fort into a true vessel for a king or queen to survey their kingdom. Next words…draw bridge! No castle is truly a castle, nor a fort truly a fort till you have your draw bridge or gate. Soft tiles make that dream a literal reality.

Think of the possibilities, you could make a full castle complex with enough soft foam tiles. Even better you can use the grey and dark grey tiles for the stone walls of the castle and then get really detailed and use the softwood tiles for the gates and draw bridge. I can’t be the only one that is excited about this idea. I have to admit that I am finding myself getting jazzed about this as I write. I say that we should all remember and whenever possible re-live that kind of fun that we had as a child, and if you have a little king of queen at home; let’s build those little people a castle!

So, you want to set up a home exercise area.  One of the first things you should do is decide what type of exercise regimen you will follow.  Aerobics, Yoga, weight machines, free weights, martial arts, Pilates, Zumba.  All of these programs require specific flooring needs.  As an example, let’s look at the difference between the flooring needs of free weights versus aerobics.

With free weights, consider these important factors.

Sub floor protection.  Weights are . . . well . . . weighty, and are generally not made of feathers or fluff. If you don’t believe me, just drop one on your toe.  You need a durable, high density, wear resistant surface with great noise absorption properties. Dependent on the amount of weight being used and the type of apparatus, my suggestion would be a recycled rubber flooring. One of the thicker rolled rubbers or maybe one of the Tuff n Easy interlocking tiles. Rubber flooring tiles are ideal for weight lifting because not only do they provide great floor protection but they also provide perfect footing, focusing on stability while incorporating anti-fatigue properties. Since the product is made from rubber, its wear and durability characteristics are assured. Besides, when lifting a bar, it feels cool when you put the bar down to have it bounce a little, proving how heavy it was.

Now consider the different criteria for an aerobic surface. Rather than being stationary, aerobics involve bouncing about like a rabid wombat in heat. (I looked it up in the Australian Wikipedia) Traction, energy return, anti-fatigue and comfort, tops the list of preferred properties.  I would look closely at either the premium SoftFloor tiles or maybe even a carpeted crosslink rolls.  The objective is to provide a springy floor with a lot of “energy return” rather than energy absorption.  Traction is a major factor when utilizing more robust movement and softness is desirable for when you plop to the ground in an endorphin induced coma.

When looking for flooring, it pays to inform your sales representative as to the purpose you plan to put the floor to. “I want to set up an exercise area”, means different things to different people and we here at MatsMatsMats.com can be your consultative resource to find you the perfect floor for your needs.

A baby’s environment can greatly enhance his development, even at infancy, according to pediatrician Dr. William Sears. Each of the five senses can promote learning, including sight. In fact, visual stimulation may pose the most significant influence on a baby’s developing nervous system. So it is important that parents choose colors and patterns that encourage growth and create the right blend of comfort and stimulation.

Black-and-White Stripes

• Unlike an adult, a baby’s retinas are not fully developed at birth. Pastel or muted colors are therefore likely to blur until the retina is matured. It is still important, however, for parents to provide babies with visual stimulation that supports brain cell health, vision and learning. Contrasting colors deliver the strongest visual signals to a baby’s brain, helping the brain and eyes to develop more quickly. Those colors that appear most boldly to a baby are black and white, and striped patterns provide the greatest contrast. Blankets, bed sheets and toys that feature black-and-white stripes are ideal for a baby’s bedroom. Books, toys and children’s play mats in contrasting colors of light and dark can also be used for added stimulation.

Bold Colors

• In addition to accessories in black and white, parents should also use bold colors to stimulate a baby’s brain development. Orange is reportedly a color that promotes feelings of optimism, while yellow is believed to stimulate thinking. Similarly, red can evoke enthusiasm, and toys (kids play mat) in these bright hues will help draw a baby’s attention. While bold colors are not recommended for bedroom walls, they can be incorporated into a decorating scheme with accents. Playrooms can also feature bright colors, and one option for parents is to paint one wall in a bold shade of red while keeping the other three more neutral.

Pastels and Neutrals

• Over-stimulation can occur with babies who are excessively exposed to stripes and bright colors. Because rest is necessary for optimal development, bedrooms should provide the right mixture of stimulation and comfort. Pastel wall colors with bright accents can help parents achieve this delicate combination. Blue and green pastels, for example, are often associated with feelings of calm and tranquility. Neutral colors like cream and beige can be used for walls, kids play rugs and carpeting. These colors can then be emboldened with red, yellow and orange border or furniture pieces to provide stimulation when baby is awake.

Preferred Colors

• Dave Munger, a writer for “Cognition Daily,” reports that babies have preferences for certain colors. Although infants cannot distinguish between colors, babies at 2 months of age can normally differentiate between most colors. As such, Munger indicates that blues and purples are usually babies’ favorites, with greens, yellows and reds being less preferred. This may be important when parents select nursery decorating schemes, as preferred colors will draw a baby’s eye, while others may cause a baby to become fussy or cranky.

Our SoftFloor tiles are a great way to protect and stimulate you child in a fun colorful way. We have over 19 different colors and combinations so you can mix and match colors.

Read more: Colors That Stimulate Babies | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8231934_colors-stimulate-babies.html#ixzz2SFw42eDm