Pitter patter raindrops

Rains – a poet’s dream, a child’s first love and a parent’s worst nightmare! The first signs of an overcast sky and a mother’s brows wrinkle up in a frown. It is time to get out the kids rain gear. A mother’s anxiety has her looking for wash proof material that will cover her child from head to toe. If it were left up to over protective mothers, all one would see of children during rains, are wet shiny noses peeking from under layers of waterproof material!

While it is natural and justified to be concerned about protecting your children from the rains, it is not necessary to make them run around the most fun time of the year looking like replicas of mini tents. Rains are boring. The sky is gray, everything is dark, and it feels like overnight the world has lost its color. Why make this already dull period even more depressing for your children by draping them in dull, lifeless protective gear?

Rain gear for kids has undergone a dramatic transformation in the past decade. The black, grays and whites have been replaced by an onslaught of color.  Kids walking to school in the rain or scurrying beside their parents to get away from the downpour look like tiny dots of bright cheer in an otherwise dull landscape.

A fun study narrowed down four things which make kids rain gear a thing to look forward to:

1.       Cartoon Raincoats: The market is flooded with everybody; from Spongebob to Ben10, from Spiderman to the Avengers; every character has found a place of honor on color raincoats.  Kids love these raincoats as they get to flaunt their favorite characters. Moms love these raincoats as it means they no longer have to struggle to get their children to wear them before stepping out in the rain. If there was ever a win-win situation- this is it!

2.       Kids Rain Poncho:  These stylized versions of the traditional tent approach to rain gear are an instant favorite with every mother. Not only are they available in a range of colors and prints, but they also last forever.  No more buying new rain gear year after year. A good quality poncho can last a kid for at least a couple of years. It also requires minimum fuss while donning it on.

3.       Pretty Little Umbrellas:  Choose the one which is a snap fit to the kid’s head and watch him strut around like an alien with frogs and strawberries on his umbrella antenna!  These mini umbrellas are ideal for children as it protects their head from the water, while keeping their hands free to carry out the million tasks every kid absolutely has to do. They come in cute animal prints, dotted with fruits and flowers and customized for a girl child or a boy child. Lately pretty pink umbrellas with a frilly lining have been a rage amongst little toddler girls who believe they are princesses from their favorite fairy tale.

4.       Toddler Rain Boots: Available in mouth-watering colors, these ultra comfortable, water proof boots make splashing around so much fun! They are available in various styles and sizes and have lengths which end mid-calf or run right up to the knee. Fashion conscious mothers like to match the rain boots with the rain coats or ponchos to make a style statement out of their kid’s rain gear!

It’s not just the summer’s who are fashion friendly. Trendy, colorful rain gear has turned the rains into a time to flaunt your favorite rain gear! Team up your fashion senses with your child’s favorite cartoon, fruit, animal or flower and add a palette of colors to the most washed out time of the year!

Black Sclera Contacts

Ever since the vampires have wormed the way into young hearts with the likes of Twilight, Vampire Diaries and True Blood, solid color contact lenses have increased in demand.  A vampire, zombie or the favored demon from Supernatural costume is incomplete without the daring touch of pitch Black Sclera contacts.

It is not unheard of to compromise a little comfort in the name of fashion. But the eye is a very delicate organ. And whatever the fashion pinnacle might have to offer, it is not worth risking the well-being of the eyes. Consulting an eye doctor to figure out which kind of contact lenses are best suited for individual use should be a mandatory step before investing in the purchase of contact lenses.

Things to remember before using colored contact lenses

·         Contact lenses cannot be shared between two people even if they belong to the same family. Buying colored contact lenses can be an expensive affair. They especially seem more expensive because they do not form a part of articles in daily use.  Since the use of contact lenses is more aesthetic than correctional, one can get tempted to borrow or lend colored contacts for a special occasion. Doing this is a big no. Using someone else’s contact lenses could transfer microorganisms from one eye to another leading to some serious eye infections

·         Colored contact lenses are not designed for long hours. No matter how raving the Halloween party, remember to remove your lenses and carefully store them away for the night. Sleeping with your black sclera contacts could cause a serious discomfort of the eyes

·         All colored contacts, though used for dramatic effects, are essentially categorized as medical devices. They need to be treated with care and handled only with a valid prescription

It all sounds scary, but in end effect boils down to one basic rule – be careful.

Using colored contacts is actually fun! They are available under different banners with various lens retailers online and offline. Names like special effects contacts, cosmetic contacts, and novelty contacts can be misleading.  They are all just various labels given to colored contact lenses. The best way to buy colored contact lenses is to go online and order them from a trusted retailer.

Advantages of buying Black Sclera Contacts online

·         It’s convenient: Free from the confines of time and space, like any other online shopping experiences, buying colored contacts can be an anytime –anywhere affair

·         Better deals:   As with anything else, buying online can actually be a more profitable experience. Online retailers often offer exciting deals on the purchase of contact lenses leading to a saving of up to 70%

·         Ease of comparison: Online shopping actually lets one compare between two deals on the same product and choose a deal which works the best

How to find a good online retailer

Once the decision to shop online for black sclera contacts has been made, a quick check of certain basic rules ensures a good shopping experience

·         The online retailer is carrying out transactions from a secure website or web portal. Usually the presence of  a Verisign SSL certificate on the website is a confirmation of the security of the web page

·         Find out what prior customers have to say about the particular online retailer. Most retailers showcase only the good feedback as consumer testimonials. Online forums usually have customers who discuss their experience of an online purchase

Colored contact lenses are trendy and deserve to be worn to adorn a mind-blowing costume. A quick online check and order is all you need to set the ball rolling!

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Top 5 Barbecues which make outdoors fun!

The sun is neither too strong nor too shy, the breeze is behaving itself and the temperatures are inviting enough to take the party outside. Bring out the barbecues and the meat, haul out the beers and get a party going within no time. Barbecues are undoubtedly the most ‘looked forward to’ events of any year. Barbecues require the least amounts of time in a sweaty kitchen. Get the meat and vegetables out and let them cook on the grills over slugs of beer and entertaining conversations with friends! 

The past years have seen a great number of additions to the regular back yard barbecues. Some enthusiastic hosts like to sum up their barbecues with a theme, while yet other like to try out their culinary skills on the grills. Every barbecue party aims at being a topic of conversation long after the music has died down.

Here is a list of top 5 barbecues which will ensure that a barbecue party stays in the memory forever!

5. Kamado Ceramic Barbecue Grill

This beautiful barbecue grill can sit in the backyard and be a topic of discussion amongst art appreciators. The top opens up to reveal a grill and a cooking pit. The Kamado ceramic grill is available in a wide range of tiles and colors. It can be customized to suit the décor of your backyard.

4. Traeger’s Novelty Barbecue Grills

Everybody knows the merit in investing in Traeger’s Barbecue grills. They offer all the benefits of a modern barbecue

-          Autostart

-          EZ drain grease system

-          Variable thermostat system

-          371 square inch cooking space

What makes the Trager’s Novelty Barbecue Grills a must have at your barbecue party, is the unique shapes they are available in! One can choose from either of the two smartly designed models:

·         The Lil Pig: The barbecue grill is shaped like a pig, complete with a snout and long painted eyelashes. It is also painted pink to resemble the coloring of the pig!

·         The Longhorn Steer:  This novelty barbecue grill is designed to look like a cow. It is painted black and has a nose ring through its muzzle.

The Traeger’s novelty barbecue grills add new meaning to grilling pork and beef! There is no way any guest will forget seeing this barbecue grill at a party.

3. David Klose’s Baby Carriage Barbecue Pit

                David Klose was apparently inspired by an abandoned baby carriage crushed and rusting at the side of a road. A lot of thought and even more beers later he was struck by the idea to convert this baby carriage into a barbecue pit! The depth of the carriage was ideal to hold the wood or coal and grill on top of it completed the barbecue. This barbecue pit is as traditional as barbecue gears come. It does not boast of any of the modern benefits of the new age grills. What it does boast of is a convertible top which covers the meat being grilled to give it a mouth-watering smoky texture!

2.  Q Barbecue

This one can start an instant barbecue almost anywhere. It is a stylish modern barbecue which folds into a briefcase when not in use.  It opens up to form a stand-alone gas powered barbecue grill. The Q Barbecue has also been the recipient of the Bronze Award in 2005 for Industrial Design Excellence!

1. Cook-n-Dine Flameless Cooking Grill

The Cook-n- Dine flameless cooking grill is actually a table! The center of the table acts as a cooking pit and heats up to grill any food you place on the center of the table. It is perfect for a warm barbecue dinner for two; anytime and anywhere.

Of course novelty does come at a price. You might not find these grills to be easy on your pocket. But spend on these and everybody will remember you and your party for days on an end!

Author Section:

The author of this article is a party enthusiast and a column writer for various lifestyle magazines and blogs. The Top 5 Barbecues have been hand-picked by the author because of their unique designs and the flair they add to a regular barbecue party.

Make money from gift cards in Topeka, KS

It is now possible to sell gift cards in Topeka, KS. Find this too good to be true? Just walk into Capitol City Pawn & Jewelry in Topeka, KS with your unwanted and forgotten gift cards and trade it for cash. Though gift cards make for great gifts, receiving a gift card from a store you do not like leaves you with just two options- either forget all about the gift card or force yourself to redeem it for something you don’t like.  Capitol City Pawn & Jewelry gives you a third option – sell gift cards for cash!

They say everything is possible in Topeka, KS and how true that has turned out to be! Who would have ever thought that it would be possible to sell unwanted gift cards? Usually gift cards which do not find favor with its recipients, end up in some forgotten drawer or at the bottom of a least used handbag. Why waste those when you have the opportunity to sell gift cards in Topeka, KS?

At Capitol City Pawn & Jewelry we accept gift cards from most major retailers. So if you are burdened with a gift card you have no intention of using, instead of trashing it or passing it along, look at it as an opportunity to make some cash. Everybody can use some extra cash! Especially during those days when every penny counts, would it not be a delight to find and sell gift cards? Sell gift cards in Topeka, KS whenever you feel that pinch for some extra money.

All you have to do is visit Capitol City Pawn & Jewelry shop in Topeka, KS with your unwanted gift cards. We require you to be personally present to sell gift cards to us. We unfortunately do not accept gift cards via couriers or carry out online payment transactions. But visiting our store personally is hardly a hiccup especially if you get to sell gift cards in Topeka, KS! You walk in with something you would have anyway wasted and walk out with cash instead! Nothing gets better than that!

Healthy secrets about the famous Potato

Potatoes are perhaps the only vegetable loved equally by vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Even those steadfast meat lovers, who wrinkle their nose at anything botanical, give special concession to potatoes. Potato lovers have been the victim of criticism forever. People tend to largely assume that potatoes have no health benefits whatsoever and are just tasty vegetables which add to the weight. In fact, most people switching to a weight loss diet get rid of the potatoes first.

Stop! A potato is not the villain everybody assumes it to be. It does in fact have fascinating health benefits which the common man has been blind to. For example the common myth that potato adds to the calories and hence need to be off the charts while creating a diet plan, is truly a myth. A cooked new potato has only 26 calories and is a treasure trove of nutrients. It is when you disguise this healthy vegetable by layers of mayonnaise, oil and cheese that it becomes the devil of every weight watcher’s nightmare.

Here are some interesting facts which might tempt weight watchers to make space for the innocent potato in their diet plans

Rich source of Vitamins

One never really looks at a potato in the light of a vitamin booster. Potatoes are a rich source of Vitamin B and Vitamin C.  Scurvy, a disease caused by the deficiency of vitamin C can be avoided or cured by the intake of potatoes. Sailors from as early as the 19^th century exploited this benefit of the potato to rid themselves of this painful condition. One potato, which weighs approximately 150gms, actually fulfills half the requirement of your daily intake of vitamin C. Potatoes are tubers which grow underground. They store necessary vitamins, potassium, magnesium and iron so as to be able to grow a new potato plant. Far from being fatty and starchy these nutrients from the potato are actually healthy for the human body.

Lowering Blood Pressure

Potatoes can actually prove to be therapeutic to individuals suffering from high blood pressure. Though the decision on the amount of potatoes required to be consumed for this effect is still under discussion, there is no doubt that the potato has been discovered to carry the molecules known as kukoamines which lower the blood pressure. Kukoamines are otherwise found in the Chinese plant Lycium which forms a key component of the soothing Chinese Herbal Tea.

Heart Problems

Potatoes or more specifically potato skins are rich in flavonoids which lower the level of LDL Cholesterol, which is the bad cholesterol and keeps the arteries fat free.  Vitamin B6 found in the potatoes reduces the level of molecules called homocysteine which help to keep the arteries free of any kind of inflammation. Increase in the level of homocysteine in the body increases the risk of a heart attack. The potato skin has been identified to house sixty phytochemicals along with essential vitamins which help maintain a nutritive balance in any diet.

Still contemplating leaving this wonder vegetable out of a diet plan? Think again. This tasty vegetable, when consumed without the trimmings of cheese and without being deep fried, could actually be the key to a healthy life.

Making the right choice: PGDM vs. MBA

Log on to any job portal, scour any classifieds section or get in touch with any HR agency, the pre-requisite for a job with a decent pay package is a MBA degree from a qualified, well-reputed University. In India, the one name which takes the cake for being the most reputed Management Institute is Indian Institute Management or IIM. But IIM does not have a degree in MBA listed amidst the courses it has to offer.

Why, if an IIM does not offer an MBA course, does an IIM degree holder get preference over a MBA holder from a less reputed institute?  Did the job specification not state in clear words that the organization was seeking MBA professionals?

What should a student do in such a situation? Should the hiring of an IIM degree holder be rejected as a one-off incident? Or should the preference really be given to a PGDM course from IIM?

The truth is that the corporate world is on the lookout for Industry-ready PGDM degree holders. An MBA originated in the USA as a management course offered by Universities to train their students in the skill sets required to survive in a corporate atmosphere. Indian Universities adopted this degree and included it amongst the courses on offer. However, with the passage of time, the bureaucratic processes involved in updating a University curriculum or changing it to adapt to an ever changing corporate environment, restricted the pace and efficiency of a University offered MBA degree.

India’s solution to this problem was the emergence of AICTE approved management institutes which offered two year Post Graduate Diplomas in Management studies.  As long as the institute is approved by AICTE the PGDM offered by it is equivalent to an MBA offered by a University. In fact, a PGDM is actually more industry-relevant than an MBA. As PGDMs are offered by autonomous institutes, they are not bound by the processes and rules of the University. Curriculums for PGDMs undergo consistent changes to keep up with the demands of the corporate sector.

While the corporate sector continued to seek PGDM degree holders, the term ‘MBA’ stuck on. When job descriptions demand MBA degrees, what they really seek are industry-ready, aspiring managers.

To clearly understand which is better PGDM or MBA, it helps to take a quick look at the differences between the two:

·         The biggest and most prominent difference is that only Universities can offer an MBA course. All other management institutes, no matter how reputed, offer PGDM courses

·         MBA by structure has a more exam-oriented approach and focuses more on the theoretical aspects of Management Studies. A PGDM course on the other hand is more industry-focuses, and adapts more of a hands-on approach. This is also the reason why certain corporate prefer to hire PGDM degree holders over MBAs

·         Any changes in an MBA curriculum are slow. A PGDM course on the other hand gets upgraded regularly to keep up with the management challenges of an ever expanding corporate scenario

·         The only advantage of an MBA is that it is globally recognized. PGDM holders need to produce AIU certificates validating the management institute which has conferred the degree

If the final goal is to dive into the thick of the corporate world with necessary skill sets and confidence, PGDM is the solution. An MBA degree, while equivalent in its evaluation to a PGDM, does not focus as much as PGDM course on developing industry ready skill sets in the students.

The ABC of Bail Bonds Utah

The reason why anybody needs to look up Bail Bonds, Utah, is because they have loved ones facing trial and bail bonds are the only way in which they can get their life back on track with.  Before you start looking for an agent who will help you get a bail bond for a loved one, it is necessary to understand what exactly a bail bond is.

When a person is in the custody of the court and not yet sentenced, he can be temporarily freed basis a document. This document is a guarantee to the court that for a certain fee known as the bail, the defendant will appear before the court when summoned. The document presented to the court is known as the bail bond.

The process and working of Bail Bonds, Utah

Here is how a typical bail bond, Utah process works:

·         The accused is taken into custody

·         The local court or jurisdiction sets a bail for the accused for a particular amount. The amount of the bail varied depending on the nature of the crime and the financial equivalence of the individuals associated with the crime

·         Either the defendant, or someone close to the defendant(a friend or a family member) gets in touch with a bail bond agent. The person getting in touch with the bail bond agent is known as the indemnitor

·         Every bail bond agent needs the indemnitor to fill out paperwork

·         The indemnitor has to pay the bail bond agent a premium for presenting a bail bond in court. This premium is usually a percentage amount of the total bail. The percentages vary from agent to agent. Generally the bail bond agents charge 10-20% of the total bail amount as premium. However, recently certain bail bong agents have a fixed amount (around $100-$500) as a premium for posting a bail bond

·         By signing the paperwork, the indemnitor also bears the brunt of responsibility of paying the full amount of the bail bond, if the defendant fails to put in an appearance in court

·         Bail bond agents have a practice of taking collaterals from the indemnitor as surety that, should an occasion arise, the full amount of the bail bond can be paid by the indemnitor

·         The collateral can be in the form of cash, property papers, jewelry or any such thing which the bail bond agents holds of value

·         If the defendant appears before the court and the case is successfully resolved the bail bond agent returns the collateral to the indemnitor

This might sound like a long and tedious process and might make you wonder what happens to your loved one while you complete this process.  All paperwork required by a bail bond agent usually takes less than an hour. The major chunk of your time will be consumed in finding a reliable and efficient bail bond agent.  Once the paperwork is completed, the release of the accused is entirely at the discretion of the jail. Some jails release the accused within thirty minutes of receiving the paperwork, while some other can take up to forty eight hours to sanction the release.

The courts hold the bail bond agent presenting the bail bond to the court responsible for the defendant. Should the defendant fail to put in an appearance in the court on the day of the trial, the bail bond agent has to pay the court the full amount of the bail bond. In such a situation, however, the court declares the defendant as a fugitive and authorizes the bail bond agent to arrest the fugitive.

Most bail bond agents Utah employ the services of a bounty hunter to bring back the fugitive. For a fixed sum known as the fee or reward, the bounty hunter takes the responsibility of hunting down the defendant. Bounty hunters of late have also been given adages like Bail Bond Enforcement Agents and Fugitive Recover Agents. It is not uncommon for bail bond agents to include the fee of a bounty hunter while charging a premium to the indemnitor for the bail bond.

Many bail bond agents in Utah have signed up with defense lawyers. It is a common belief that is not the bail bond agent but the defense lawyer who will finally help free the loved one. Usually families of friends of the accused think it is a waste of time hunting for a bail bonds agent and get in touch with a defense lawyer directly. Any defense lawyer, who accepts a case, has a lot of work to besides freeing the accused on bail. For this purpose, defense lawyers have started employing the services of bail bond agents to free their clients.

This association of defense lawyers and bail bond agents is gaining rapid popularity as it reduces the stress levels faced by the accused and his or her friends and family. They do not have to conduct two individual searches in order to help the arrested. Just one stop at the office of the defense lawyer assures them that they have employed the services of a competitive lawyer and that their loved one will be set free on bail within a matter of some hours. Defense lawyers pay the bail bonds agent a percentage commission of the total fee they charge their clients,  above the premium charged by the bail bond agent.

Bail bond agents Utah, believe that every arrested person deserves a chance at a trial and that no individual is a criminal unless declared so by the court of justice. To this end, they accept the responsibility of the accused with the court of law. The presence of the accused at the trial becomes the responsibility of the bail bond agent. Bail bond agents accept this responsibility in return for a premium. It is because of the presence of bail bond agents willing to put faith in the accused that it is possible for loved ones of the arrested to spend time with them even before the trial.

Most bail bond agents have a strong online presence. A quick internet search can give you a list of bail bond agents in Utah. A survey of testimonials from prior clients can ease your search of reliable and efficent bail bond agents. 

The Best Mens Luxury Watches

If all the watch has ever meant is a display of time; evolution has a long way to go. Watches are more than timepieces. They are a definition of personality. They are statement of style. Mens luxury watches go beyond ordinary living to bring class, sophistication, refinement and style to every ticking moment.

After endless research on mens luxury watches, after hours and hours of blissful comparison of efficiency, style and design emerges a strong list of 10 best luxury watches for men in 2012. These watches are shortlisted not because they look great, but because they make the man feel special in a way only watches can.

Top 10 Mens Luxury Watches in 2012

10. Breitling Navitimer

This classic watch, originally designed for pilots, still manages to find its way to the top ten lists. A dash of the red central hand adds style to the chic, metallic dual time zone watch. Coveted by intelligence, courted by romantics, this watch tingles the sense of adventure masquerading beneath the masks of silent elegance.

9. Omega Seamaster

The Omega Seamaster is by far the most secure contender in the category of high end watches for men. Sported by James Bond in his earlier movies, this cool, trendy and ultra modern watch is the epitome of style and class.

8.  Graham Mercedes GP Track Master

Fast cars and sexy watches have the goosebumps rising on any man’s arms! Launched at the British Grand Prix to seal the partnership between Graham and the Mercedes Petrona GP Formula1 team, this watch is a part of every gentleman’s dreams. Sporting a chunky rubber tyre watch strap, this watch sports a mechanism designed by some of the oldest and most experienced English watchmakers

7. Breitling for Bentley

Of course the Bentley is worth flaunting! But one cannot drive a Bentley inside the club card room or the restaurant. It is impolite to flaunt the key on the dining table. So how does one show off his Bentley then? The Breitling watch created for Bentley is as cool and sophisticated as the car brand. Sporting this watch on your wrist gives you an instant air of authority and elegance.

6. Diagono Chrono Watch

The world never got more stylish than the Italians.  Amalgamating the precision of swiss engineering with the finesse of careless styling which defines the Italians, the Diagono Chrono Watch redefines the world of luxury watches for men.  The roman numerical inspired dial and the poise of the classically designer metallic strap make this watch ideal for any black tie event

5.  Graham Swordfish Booster

The Graham Swordfish Booster introduces casual luxury to the world of high end watches for men.  Going beyond board rooms and black tie events, this watch is luxury to be carried out to the sea or in the mountains on a favorite vacation.

4. Oris Bob Dylan Limited Edition

The mere fact that there are only 3000 pieces of this timeless creation, increases its demand. This watch is a tribute by Oris to the soulful music of Bob Dylan. Style and class never got this meaningful

3. BMW Automatic Watch

The name takes the cake. This watch is strengthened by German engineering and designed to reflect the elegant lines and the sturdy sophistication which makes BMW such a favored brand. Sporting a dial which will make heads turn, individually designed hands and the smart BMW logo, this watch is must-have for a gentleman

2. Porsche Design P’6530

While the topic still revolves around cars, how can one forget the Porsche? It is a reflection of power carefully reigned in. It is a statement which says you own your world.  And of course it is a luxury affordable only by few. There are only 911 pieces of this timepiece.

1.       Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Manufacture Squelette Limited Edition

When it comes to high end watches for men the Swiss luxury watches remain the winners. The sapphire crystallized skeleton dial, displays in fine detail the intricate working of the inner mechanism of this wrist watch. It is smooth and stylish. The crocodile leather straps add a touch of sophistication to the elegance of this limited edition timepiece. Only 250 pieces of this masterpiece have been manufactured.