Have you ever been on a trip and found yourself in a scary situation? When I was growing up, my family went on vacation and was traveling at night when it started raining really hard. Before we knew it , our car stalled in the water on the highway. Another car passed us and we could see that it drove out of the water a little further on. Finally, our car started and we drove out of the water. The car that had passed us was waiting for us. A man got out of the car and came up to our car to see if we were OK, only it turned out he wanted to rob us. Our dog, who had been sleeping, could sense the man’s tone of voice changed when he said he wanted our money. Our dog jumped up and scared the man who took off running. I don’t know what we would have done if our dog hadn’t been there. In situations like that, it helps to have self defense products. You never know what might happen.

If you have a “toolman” in your life, then you might want to check out E-Tool Now’s selection of air tools, power tools, cordless tools and more. They carry an assortment of Ingersoll Rand air tools. I think of the TV show, Home Improvement, and how “Tim the toolman” would have loved all of these power tools. I can hear him revving up his voice as he talked about power tools. So for your “toolman,” check out these power tools.

Here are some good tips I’ve read or heard about:

• Go ahead and have small servings of things you like that are fattening…just eat in moderation!
• Eat slowly and chew your food well.
• Drink water with your meals (or tea) – I’ve heard to drink a glass of water before the meal.
  
• Try to choose some items off fresh fruit and vegetable platters.
• Try to choose something with fiber which will make you full faster (whole grain breads, whole grain crackers, fresh fruits and vegetables)
• Sit farther away from a buffet table so it’s less convenient to get seconds.
• Visit with people so you have something to take your mind off of eating.
• At home, keep cookies, candy, and treats out of sight in a place that’s not easy to reach.
• Go for a brisk walk – It not only helps your metabolism, but it also helps relieve stress.
• In parking lots, park away from the store so you get in some extra walking time. (A few minutes here and there adds up.)
• Whenever you have the chance, take the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Get enough sleep – people have a tendency to eat more when they’re tired and stressed.

Insurance is something we have used many times. Several years ago, a bad storm caused two of our huge trees to fall on top of our house. Damage was done to one corner of our house which resulted in being able to walk into our daughter’s walk-in closet and see the sky. We were thankful to have insurance that took care of repairing our roof. You may have had a time when you needed home insurance and can relate to our experience. Insurance is great when you need it! Most people have had experiences where they have used their car insurance. When my father passed away, my mother was so glad that he had life insurance! Again, insurance is great when you need it. You never know when something might happen!

Reeves International Inc. has recalled 36,000 ornaments due to excessive amounts of lead in the surface paint, amounts that exceed the federal lead paint standards. These ornaments were manufactured in China and have been sold at retailers across the country, including the JC Penney catalog and Web site, from July 2006 through October 2007 for between $15 and $18. Below is a description of the ornaments:

• 2006 Snow Princess Stirrup Ornament is a stirrup-shaped ornament with a white prancing horse and blue ribbons. “2006” is stamped on the rim of the ornament.
• The 2007 Wintersong Stirrup Ornament is a stirrup-shaped ornament with a grey horse with saddle bags with a horn and a violin. “2007” is stamped on the rim of the ornament.
• The 2007 Photo Frame Horse Shoe Ornament is a horse shoe shaped ornament with a brown horse with rider jumping over a gate. “Happy Holiday 2007” is printed on the back of the ornament.

If you have purchased one of these ornaments, just return it to the store where purchased for a full refund, or you can contact Reeves International Inc. at (800) 444-4775 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit their Web site at www.breyerhorses.com to receive instructions for returning the ornaments.

I am especially concerned with lead amounts in paints now that we have a new grandbaby who will soon be putting everything in his mouth, and I’m so glad that people are being made aware of products that don’t meet safety standards.

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Old Navy has recalled over 17,000 boys’ fleece-lined, hooded jackets. The drawstring at the waist creates a potential entrapment hazard. The jackets come in blue or black, have the number 507907 on a white label in the seam of the jacket, and sold for around $30 from August-November 2007.

Customers can return the jacket to the store for a full refund plus a $5 appreciation card if they return the jacket before March 2008, or they can remove the drawstring if they choose to keep the jacket. Go to Old Navy’s website for instructions on how to remove the drawstring. Also, if you need more information, you can go to the website or contact Old Navy at (866) 580-9930 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, Saturday between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET, and Sunday between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Well, it’s that time of year when there are so many occasions where people have a tendency to eat too much. It starts with Thanksgiving dinner, then all the Christmas parties at work, with friends, and with family. Then there’s Christmas dinner and finally a New Years Eve get-together. All of those occasions add up to a lot of extra calories for most people. I try to eat in moderation and go for walks when I can.  Some people choose to diet or watch what they eat, some to exercise more, and some choose diet pills. Whatever people choose, they need to consult with their doctor and make sure they make the right choice for them.

OpticsPlanet.com is the leading Internet retailer in optics with 200 quality brand names to choose from. They have the biggest selection of optical products including Ray Ban sunglasses, binoculars, telescopes, microscopes, flashlights, golf range finders, and riflescopes, just to name a few. These items make great gifts for relatives. I know my mother-in-law really likes binoculars so she can bird watch, which she does every single day. My husband is interested in telescopes because it’s so awesome looking at the night sky, which we enjoy doing on our back deck from time to time. The great thing about Optics Planet is that they offer free ground shipping on orders of $29.95 or more and back all of their products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.