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.