Carpet Cleaning? Use SoCal Steam Clean

SoCal Steam Clean San Diego rocks! One of the best services that I found on Yelp! not to mention, friendly, organized, meticulous, and detail oriented. Check out my full Yelp! review.

Justin has some of the best top-notch equipment in the business. The chemicals that he uses are perfect; environmentally friendly and non-toxic. He mentioned all this to reassure me and my 18th month old that I have crawling all around that it'd be a-okay. I moved a lot of the furniture and trinkets on the floors prior to him coming over and he did the rest. I can't keep mentioning that he was well-organized. He called me the morning of to confirm the appointment and was even a few minutes early to the house.

SoCal Steam Clean

Giveaways, Instagram and OOTD #1

I don't usually win anything when I enter various online giveaways but maybe that's about to change! Last night, I threw my name in the hat because I thought, there's really nothing to lose and low and behold, I won! Easy as regram'ming @cityofgentlemen's post showing off the Microtouch Classic ONE Razor and following him (which I have been now for a while), I was notified early last night that I won. The reviews of the Microtouch are mixed on Amazon and it's the one that you see being marketed by Pawn Stars' Rick Harrison.

Instagram microtouch j coqKO4b7

I'll post a review with my first experience with using a double edge safety razor here as soon as I get the chance to shave with it! Good thing I have my full Art of Shaving Kit to lather me up.

Since our correspondence last night, I told @cityofgentlemen that I've been wanting to post some pictures from time to time of my "looks" / OOTD but I've been hesitating since I'm not that relevant in my opinion. He said just do it so here's the first:

gustin jeans

shirt: Gustin Blue-Hunter Gingham
glasses: Warby Parker Roosevelt Striped Chestnut
belt: Gustin Classic Belt
jeans: Gustin Heavy American
shoes: Allen Edmonds McAllister Wingtip Oxfords

and my staples of my Citizen Eco Drive Blue Angels and Tiffany Atlas Bracelt. If you like any of my Gustin clothing and are into raw denim, please use my referral link and get $5 off too!

Yay for Slice!

If you haven't used the app called Slice (iOS / Android / Web), here's a great write up by my wife Adelle on her recent experience.

Yay for Slice!

by Adelle Nicolas:

Two weeks ago I had purchased a pair of Corso Como 'Famenka' Flat Nude 6.5 M on Nordstrom.com as a gift to myself for my new job. Nordstrom was in the midst of their Half Yearly sale, so I got a pretty amazing deal on the flats and bought them for under $40!

About a week later, I received a notification on my phone from the Slice app (iOS / Android / Web) that alerted me of a $10 price drop in the shoes I had purchased. The Slice Team also sent me an email about my Nordstrom purchase and included a link to the item I purchased with the new adjusted price, my order number, as well as Nordstrom's customer service number so I could inquire about my refund. I used all the information I was given and talked to Jeff in customer service and I was quickly and kindly refunded the $10 on my credit card. I ended up getting a 50% discount on some very comfortable flats thanks to Slice!

Corsocomopamenkaballetflat

If you have any questions about privacy, you can check out their FAQ. Most importantly, the most asked about question, I've posted here for direct reference.

Does Slice store my password to my email account?

Slice uses a secure protocol called OAuth (oauth.net) to allow for authorization to your Gmail, Yahoo! Mail or Outlook.com account. For these accounts, the authentication happens between you and Gmail, Yahoo or Outlook.com, and we never even see the password you enter for your email accounts. OAuth is used by many popular websites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Netflix and of course, Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft.

For mail providers that do not support OAuth, like AOL, iCloud/MobileMe, Comcast and Cox, we will need to store your email passwords to be able to process your receipts. The passwords will be stored and encrypted in a separate, secure database.

Playstation Plus at 40% off!!!

If there's one thing you want to take advantage of this Black Friday, you have to click "Buy Now" on Amazon's amazing deal for Playstation Plus Membership. It's a digital code so that means you get it right away and you can activate the awesome 1-year membership for 40% off!
PlaystationPlus Capitalize on this deal and purchase up to 2 years in advance! Buy now by clicking HERE!

Black Friday Deals: Amazon Video Games

There are many deals to be had tonight and tomorrow all day long. From video games, television and appliances, it's an onslaught of deals leaving your wallet dry and helpless. Check out Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag for $34.99!

assassinscreed blackflag

You also have Bioshock Infinite for $19.99, the award winning Last of Us for $34.99 and Ni No Kuni Wrath of the White Witch Greatest Hits for $14.99!!!

For all the other games on sale, click HERE.

Transfer Cash via Square for Free

I've find myself at dinner on more than one occasion, semi-embarrassed, without cash, out of all places at a cash-only restaurant requiring a temporary loan. I don't know about you but I simply don't carry that much cash on my person these days. Repaying that short-term loan can be awkward when it comes to writing a check and / or finding a far away ATM which always leads to dark alleys plus the extra charges so I try to avoid that as much as possible. I don't know too many friends that have used Wells Fargo or Chase's application to send and receive cash because not too people actually bank at the same place and when it comes to credit unions, forget about it.

squarecash

For all those awkward moments, we now have Square Cash. It's a free service (no hidden charges) that allow individuals to send and receive cash via e-mail. Yup, seriously. Money is transferred via one debit card to another up to increments of $250 on a weekly basis but with a simple verification of identity, you can send up to $2500 a week! No password or account setup is required and the app is available on either iOS or Android. Deposits happen fast within one to two days but Square is promising faster service in the near future.

The only caveat is that you have to trust Square to handle your transaction. So if anything, make sure your e-mail account password is a tad bit more secure when using the service but either than that, Square has had an awesome track record with their merchant business in detecting fraud through strong security measures and close human and machine monitoring. Start e-mailing cash today!

Square Cash is the quickest, simplest method I’ve seen for sending money from one person to another.

via Walt Mossberg for Wall Street Journal

Paying for Eggs

When it comes to buying your eggs at Vons or Ralphs or at any local grocer, which way do you lean? Are you paying the extra $1 a crate or $0.25 an egg for the free range or organic dozen?

Did you vote yes on Proposition 2 back in 2008 stating that farmers must increase cage sizes for chickens, veal calves and pigs by 2015.  If you did, you'd be helping a great deal by off setting this cost by spending the extra dollars.  In theory, everything proves to be a great idea, but with an economy such as ours, counting every nickel becomes priority.  

But when people vote one way, then vote a different way with their fork, they unintentionally undermine the very agricultural changes they’re rooting for.

Because of the dichotomy between what voters say they want, versus the reality of how they shop, the California egg industry faces ruin. The situation was recognized as being so serious, in fact, that state legislators passed another law, AB1437, requiring that all eggs sold in California must comply with bigger cage standards.

via Modern Farmer: Voting One Way, Eating Another

Friend's Take Time To Give Advice

When I asked a couple of friends through Facebook or Twitter on their opinions on a specific camera choice, I got an overwhelmingly response. They all gave great insights coupled with personal experiences and I just wanted to post my experience and my gratitude. First the twitter story.

Olympus OM-D 5E Conversion

After months of reading, waiting and asking around, I finally made my decision.

Storified by Elijah Nicolas · Fri, Jul 20 2012 23:10:50

I post the initial question out on twitter and facebook.  
Clock is ticking! I need a new setup for my little girl that's going to be crawling around the house! Olympus OM-D, Mark III or NEX? #cameraElijah Nicolas
@jaythreepio replies first
@eejay i'd say nex just because it's more portable/compact but still has the interchangeable lensesJames
@jaythreepio check out all the reviews on http://dpreview.com and then tell me what you think. // http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusem5Elijah Nicolas
@eejay based on the reviews, i'd say Canon. I do like Nex cuz of its compact design, but I've had bad experiences w/Sony in the pastJames
@jaythreepio did you read the one on the OM-D? It’s still a third of the price of the Mark III and formidable.Elijah Nicolas
@eejay oh, i didn't look at the price. haha i only compared the features/ratings. between the olympus & the nex... tough.James
@eejay how much video/moving pics are you going to take? because the NEX wins out on that compared to the OM-DJames
@eejay man, both are very solid. a real toss-upJames
A great conversation with @b737officeview
@eejay bottomline? nothing will compare 2 a true DSLR & people photos w/indoor light is where the 5Dmk3 specializes. 4/3rd is a compromise.b737officeview
@eejay BUT college is expensive and a lower end DSLR is STILL better than 4/3rd. look at TS4i, 60D, 7D too.b737officeview
@eejay I use DSLR for the forever jaw dropping photos of my kids, and my iPhone for on the fly.b737officeview
@b737officeview I like the distinction between the two. What DSLR do you use? I like the 7D but it’s a little “old” now.Elijah Nicolas
@eejay a 50D w/17-55, 10-22, and 70-200 lens options. I would DREAM to get the 5Dmk3. Nothing produces bokeh and DOF in portraits like DSLR.b737officeview
@eejay the way u get amazing kid photos is natural light and firing away with a high speed shutter… again the domain of the DSLR.b737officeview
@eejay if u are new to DSLR glass always is more important than body. Don’t blow the cash on a 5D only to put a kit lens on.b737officeview
@eejay buy a lower end body, get a 50mm 1.4 prime and a 17-55 (or 25-70 full frame) and upgrade the body later.b737officeview
@b737officeview I definitely appreciate all the input! I’ll be reading a TON!Elijah Nicolas
All the while, I read @stevehuffphotos review of the OM-D 5E
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Digital Camera Review. Micro 4/3 finally matures...for real. By Steve Huff | STEVE HUFF PHOTOSThe Olympus OM-D E-M5 Digital Camera Review by Steve Huff Micro 4/3 finally matures..for real. Well here we are in May of 2012 and Olympu...
@stevehuffphotos after reading all about the OM-D 5E, I’m about 80%. I need a cam before Aug 15th for my baby arriving & thinking Sony?Elijah Nicolas
he's busy so no reply.
of course, I read about the lenses he likes
The Panasonic - Leica 25 1.4 Summilux Lens Review for Micro 4/3 | STEVE HUFF PHOTOSThe Panasonic - Leica 25 1.4 Summilux Lens Review for Micro 4/3 Finally! The lens I waited months for finally arrived! The Panasonic/Leic...
IT'S IN STOCK!
Panasonic 25 1.4 for Micro 4/3 is IN STOCK now! | STEVE HUFF PHOTOSThe much sought after Panasonic 25 1.4 for Micro 4/3 is IN STOCK now at B&H Photo! Normal price, not the jacked up price some have sold i...
My dumb butt waits four hours until I wake up and it's gone. I use his link and buy it through Amazon through J&R.  I still haven't heard about when it's going to ship 4 days later. 
@stevehuffphotos sold out but five left on Amazon for only $538.88! Well, four now since I just bought one & don’t even have a cam yet!Elijah Nicolas
I've been interacting with Gage through DM for the last few days.  
@GageCaudell bought the Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 Leica DG Summilux Aspherical Micro 4/3 Lens for the OM-D! Haven’t bought the cam yet :PElijah Nicolas
@eejay I've had the Panasonic 25mm f1.4 for a week now and really like it. You will love the OM-D. Let me know when you get it.Gage Caudell
@GageCaudell so are you using your OM-D a lot?Elijah Nicolas
@eejay I use it a lot for work and use when wanting to catch my little girl in action. Still use my Leica lot more.Gage Caudell
Trying to find the iOS app that gives me the proper / ideal settings for each camera lens. Can anyone point me the direction? #camera #DSLRElijah Nicolas
@eejay did you buy one? #DSLRGage Caudell
@GageCaudell no, not yet. I’m set on the OM-D 5E but can’t find a place that can ship one now =( I’m just going w/ B&H //cc @stevehuffphotosElijah Nicolas
@GageCaudell Although, now that Canon has shown off their M, I’m wondering what to do. We’ll see next week w/ the official announcementElijah Nicolas
@eejay I have a feeling it will be worth passing up the canon for now but could be wrong. B&H or Amazon is best.Gage Caudell

Now a post from a great friend from High School.

I'm actually shooting with an Olympus Pen EP-3 (with misc panasonic/ oly/ third party Micro-Four Thirds lenses)

The NEX-7 is a nice camera, but Sony's native lens selection is kind of lacking. It's worthy of praise because you can use old manual lenses that benefit from Sony's focus peaking. Also, due to the large APS-C sensor size and flang mount in relation to a streamlined body, the NEX lenses are designed to be inherently big. It feels like handling a smart-phone with a soda-can attached. Kind of defeats the purpose of a smaller form factor when there's little to no native compact pancake lenses available. Plus, they try to bury every feature in the menu screen, requiring a proprietary learning curve... if only it worked like an apple product.

The OM-D EM-5 is pretty much an evolution of the EP-3. A compact Micro-four thirds camera with some "raise-the-bar" type features like the 5-axis stabilization, weatherproofing, fast rate viewfinder etc... The stabilization provided some extra stops for low-light hand-held shots. (Great for non-flash shots when your child is an infant, and better hand-held when the little one takes off running) In the flesh, this thing is pretty small. It's about the same size as my EP-3 sans the view-finder hump. I'd say MFT cameras had a lot of catching up to do in the last couple of years, but the current generation MFT cameras are the shit.

As for the full-frame 5D's: No one will argue against the Mark III as the current industry standard. (And some confess: most of the time it's just to appease the clients). As a matter of fact, I was introduced to the smaller MFT cameras from a bunch of guys who have to lug around 5D's for a living. From a practical standpoint, the Mark III is a big investment on just a body when most of us don't get paid to do this. Not to mention, once you get the essential full-frame lenses you'll be lugging around a lot of equipment, averaging the cost of a Hyundai under the baby stroller. Try to chase your toddler around with all that.

To conclude, you should base your decision on what you like to shoot and the overall system. The body is pretty much dated in a year or two since the consumer camera industry is as, if not more fickle than the computer industry.

^Being a gear-head, I'm sure you already know all this but I figured I'd share my thoughts anyway. Good luck with the camera shopping man, there's a lot great choices. Just make sure you do it soon so you'll have a handle on the hardware before the baby starts to grow up quick.

Let me know what you go with and if u have any questions on the MFT side of things. And read up...we're all biased in some way.

BTW- Congrats to you and Adelle.

Friends rock! Thanks everyone!

Another Giveaway Entry for DCRainmaker

What another awesome excuse for a post. If you haven't entered before or even seen a post here on elijahnicolas.com in regards to DCRainmaker's blog giveaway, check it out again. More specifically, check out the post here or just click on the picture of the Garmin 310XT below.  Ending tonight at 11:59pm Eastern, Ray Maker is giving away another Garmin 310XT. What makes his giveaways awesome is that he is actually purchases these gifts for his followers. If I start rolling into that kind of dough, I'm PROMISE, I will start doing the same. Granted his blog is amazing in terms of reviews and just overall content so I have a lot to learn. Here's to making three entries for the latest and greatest!