Green Binoculars

When I was growing up we were always a camping, hiking, outdoorsy kind of family. We didn’t do big summer vacations, we did camping trips. We have visited every waterfall (and trickle) in the state of Michigan and surrounding areas. We’ve climbed the sand dunes, sang campfire songs and even played checkers with the Black Bears at the dump (Hi Limpy!).

Since I got all of that out of my system before I had my own children, I never did it again. Thankfully, Marisa went camping with Girl Scouts (and Kathy) and Adam went with friends from Baseball.

So now when I think of binoculars I think of going to baseball games and using them to check out the celebrities in the crowd and getting a close up of Andre Eithier (GO DODGERS!). But even if you are not using binoculars for an “outdoorsy” reason doesn’t mean you don’t want to use the best. And when the best is eco friendly as well, then of course, it is a no brainer.

The Nikon Ecobins 10x25 binoculars are designed from top to bottom with the latest eco friendly features while still maintaining the highest level of optics that make Nikon world-famous.

The Ecobins binoculars feature Eco-Glass lead-free and arsenic-free lenses and prisms. Additionally, only non-chloride rubber and no harmful inks or dyes are used during production. The carrying case and the binocular strap that come with the Ecobins binoculars are made from a fully biodegradable Lenzing TENCEL fiber. The TENCEL fiber is derived from wood pulp of sustainable eucalyptus forests and utilizes an innovative manufacturing process with minimal waste. Even the packaging of Nikon Ecobins is environmentally friendly! The product box is constructed from recyclable Fiber Stone paper. This paper is completely Tree-Free and is made from limestone collected as waste material from existing quarries for the building and construction industry. Production of the Fiber Stone “paper” uses no water or bleaching chemicals and releases zero pollution into the air.

Following the Nikon standards, the Ecobins 10x25 binoculars’ compact, rugged, waterproof and fog proof construction provide total confidence in any situation. Other premium optics features include a spherical eyepiece lenses that provide distortion-free viewing, internal blackening to minimize light loss and multi-coated lenses that offer maximum brightness, contrast and true color.

So when you get down to it, why not use the Nikon Green Binoculars when you are trying to catch a glimpse of Manny Ramirez in the outfield, or Alyssa Milano in the stands.

Shopping Trip

My blog has been living in the land of make-believe over the last few days so why not take it one step further. Let’s make believe that money is no object and that I have lost about two hundred pounds. Ok, see now isn’t everything rosy with these glasses on?

We have a new “mall” here in Glendale called the Americana at Brand (they held a contest to name it and a friend of mine won). In this mall are shops that I can not either afford or fit, so now that I am “rich and skinny” LET”S GO SHOPPING!


The Armani Exchange has great denim, and by denim I mean jeans.

These are my 3 favorite pairs:






The Potassium Straight Leg








The AX Pocket Boot Cut







The Embroidered Skinny Flare Fit















Okay maybe I would need to lose more than two hundred pounds for that last one.

I love dark denim and I enjoy a good fitting jean. If it is too tight, you not only can’t breathe but wearing jeans is supposed to be about being comfortable. I think I could be comfortable in these (remember we are in fantasyland here).



The Armani Exchange has denim starting at $98. And every day until July 31st, they are giving away a pair of denim jeans in a contest called text AX - try to win by texting “DENIM2″ to ARMANI (276264). Also if you purchase a pair of jeans between July 7 - July 19 at full price, you’ll get a gift card worth $20 to use on your next purchase of $100 or more (between July 30 - August 15).

iPhone Giveaway!

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Win an iPhone for my misdeed on a conference call? Yes! Here's how you can win:
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Bathroomtopia

This is my bathroom on any given day

Small cramped and full of stuff. The vanity is, if not original to the 1930’s house, then damn close to it. The floor is consistently littered with the kids (and I use that term loosely as they are both adults now) clothes, Caitlyn’s bath toys and the babies tub and various crapola all over the vanity counter.

I often dream of living on my own. One day I will be independently wealthy and will be able to design my own home as it is being built. And when I do, I am designing the biggest bestest bathroom you have ever encountered!

A beautiful bathroom starts with beautiful Bathroom Vanities and I am particularly fond of this Single Vanity.

Of course, I could be swayed with this Double Bathroom Vanity.

But that would give the illusion that I am willing to share it with someone else and I most definitely am NOT.

This website has not only beautiful vanities but they also offer free shipping and the prices from what I can tell are pretty reasonable and discounted.

Of course this is in my fantasy future so, again you are entering my land of delusion (enter at your own risk).

I would have a walk in shower with surround sprays coming at me from all angles, with a bench for sitting and a rain showerhead over top. There would be a HUGE Jacuzzi tub definitely long enough for me to stretch out my legs and wide enough for my large derierre. I would have lush towels that would actually stay in the bathroom and not walk out on their own two feet and land in the depths of some teenagers room never to be seen again. I would be able to keep a washcloth handy without it being left at the bottom of the tub or being worried about what it was last used on before I wash my face with it. And the vanity? Oh the vanity would be clean and clear, my soap, lotion and something cute to decorate it would be the only things on it.

Ah well, back to reality.

This is a sponsored post.

Car Search

I may be looking for a new car soon (I know my posts are all discombobulated lately, but bear with me here). I came across this site called BuyYourCar.com that has used cars, new cars and car leases all in one place.

They have every make, model and type you can think of, ready and waiting for you and me to just click on what we like and make a sale.

Of course I can't even afford Used Cars at this point but it is nice to look around and see what is out there.

This is a UK site, so maybe I would have to fly over and get an actual feel for it, that would make the purchase much more exciting, nevermind that it would add to the expense, we are dreaming here, shut up.

This is a sponsored post.

Name That Firefly!

Bah dah da da bah da da da da! (put gameshow music in your head)

Kroger-owned food stores are holding a contest that can help fund your child’s college education. Help Comforts store brand baby formula name its Firefly mascot and win a $10,000 college scholarship. It’s really easy actually, just go to the Comforts for Baby website and enter in 25 characters or less what you would name their adorable little firefly. There is a caveat to the entry though, you must have a child under the age of 2. But if I could enter I would name him Bumble since he looks a little bumblebeeish. (is too a word!) The contest runs until July 31, 2009 and the winner will be announced in September.

Most brand name formulas are fortified with iron and contain all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients required for a healthy baby's first year. They also contain the lipids DHA and ARA, which are associated with infant mental and visual development. They also provide nutrients found naturally in mother's milk that help develop the immune system. And most of all they also COST A FORTUNE! By going generic with the Kroger brand of Comfort you know you are getting all of the above but at a price more economical to a new parent.

It amazes me nowadays how new parents can afford anything. Formula is a gotcha if you choose not to or are unable to breastfeed (personally, I don’t lactate. Tmi? Too bad). Diapers are another outrageous expense and it doesn’t matter whether you go cloth or disposable they both cost a lot. Generic just makes sense. And who couldn’t use an extra $10,000 for their college fund?

If you have a child under 2, go enter the contest now.

Proposition 1c

LOTTERY MODERNIZATION ACT

• 
  Allows the state lottery to be modernized to improve its performance with increased payouts, improved marketing, and effective management.
  
• Requires the state to maintain ownership of the lottery and authorizes additional accountability measures.
  
• Protects funding levels for schools currently provided by lottery revenues.
  
• Increased lottery revenues will be used to address current budget deficit and reduce the need for additional tax increases and cuts to state programs.

Sounds good again right? Of course the state should maintain ownership, of course you want the lottery revenues to increase, of course you want to protect funding, no brainer. What? Oh there's more?

• 
  Impact on 2009–10 State Budget: Allows $5 billion of borrowing from future lottery profits to help balance the 2009–10 state budget.
  
• Impact on Future State Budgets: Debt-service payments on the lottery borrowing and higher payments to education would likely make it more difficult to balance future state budgets. This impact would be lessened by potentially higher lottery profits. Additional lottery borrowing would be allowed.

What? You wanna BORROW from the lottery fund? Wait how will that increase the payouts to the education fund? And you are admitting it will make it MORE difficult to balance a budget that the legislature of this state already cant balance in a timely manner? WTF?

Cubist

I consider myself to be a firm believer and executer of the Democratic Way. I not only look at things from both sides (I can't help it even if I don't want to, I HAVE to), but sometimes I end up looking at them from as many sides as a 3 dimensional cube. It is amazing to see that quite a few things that so many things people think are very clear and even "black and white" are really in so many various shades of grey and have multiple sides, versions, outcomes that just get pushed by the wayside when you only think 1 dimensionally.



But right now I am having a hard time trying to understand the reasoning behind why I had to sit for 2.5 hours in a hard metal chair in a room that didn't have air conditioning and listen to something I have heard over and over again.



You see, our lovely Governator has called for a "Special Election". this would be the lovely Governator, who when he ran after Gray Davis was recalled, ran on one major platform (yes this is a direct quote) "I will NEVER raise taxes on Californians, PERIOD." He was supposed to reign in the overspending and get us back on our feet WITHOUT having to raise taxes. Instead what he has done is make more cuts to education and other social issues and AND AND he raised taxes this year! Car tax is one of the Hated things that Gray Davis wanted to raise and was one of the main reasons for the recall election that was his demise. Guess what? The Governator DOUBLED the car tax last month. SMall businesses all over California are hurting even more than they have been because if they have a fleet of trucks or business vehicles, their costs have just doubled for this fiscal year.

So, after the taxes have been raised and the cuts have been made, what is his next brilliant move? (btw he has already stated he is not running again, so he pretty much is a lame duck at this point) This is where we get to why I sat in a metal folding chair for 2.5 hours. Our loverly Governator called a Special Election. there are 6 Propositions on the Ballot and each one is more confusing than the other and some depend on another to pass in order for it to even matter.

This is why it is important to look at things from all sides. Don't say I am a Republican so I vote NO on all taxes! Or I am a Democrat we need more taxes for blah blah and blah. You have to actually read between all the lines. You have to do your research, you have to know that you are not only exercising your right to vote, but that you are making an informed decision and that you are making it to the best of your ability.

And here I am coming at it from another angle. In that same measure there is no wrong or right vote on these measures. You may disagree with someone elses vote but that doesn't make either one of you wrong, or as my sister likes to call me when she and I disagree on a ballot "stupid". It just means that you disagree.

I will try my best over the next week (ish) to post about each of the 6 propositions and give you information and not opinion (well maybe a little opinion at the end, this is afterall MY blog). But (whoo hoo) I am working a temp job this week and next so don't hold your breath. If you live in California, read your sample ballot, go to the Secretary of State's web site and research the propositions for yourself. that way if/when I post you can gice your opinion too.

Free Stuff

During the month of May if you buy a Kraft product listed below and send your original cash register receipt and a 3x5 card with your name and address on it to Rachel Ray Magazine, they will send you a reusable grocery tote.



Kraft Products: Capri Sun, CHips Ahoy!, General Foods International COffee, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh, Ritz.



Send receipt and 3x5 card to :

Everyday With Rachel Ray

16 East 34th street

14th floor

New York, NY. 10016

Attn: Kraft Foods Promotion

THIS IS NOT A SPONSORED POST, I JUST LIKE FREE STUFF!