Saturday Share: Staying Safe

This was not my original plan for re-introducing the Saturday Share series, but in light of recent life-events, it seemed fitting. For your weekend reading pleasure, I've compiled some great resources to help you stay safe and protect your belongings.

Avoid car break-ins - via NY Daily News

Tips on car break-ins direct from a police officer - via Business Know-How

My favorite tip: a disguise for if you must store your stuff inside your car - via Wisebread

Don't make stealing the car itself too easy - via Wisebread

But if it does... Rely on Taxi Drivers to Find your Stolen Car - via Lifehacker

Prevent identity theft using these quick-tips - via Business Insider 
And with 10 more great tips!

Secure your digital accounts - via Life.YourWay

I recommend keeping a list of all your accounts (in a secure place, like a fireproof lock-box). That way, when a card is stolen, you are able to immediately provide the full credit card number to authorities and to any places that need it for follow up. I was able to get the video of the man at Wal-mart because I had the full credit card number for the manager to locate the transaction. Some advisors say to keep copies of the front and back of your ID's and major credit cards as well. I know having my full license number would have made the restoration process much easier. 

Make sure you keep these documents in a secure place (not online or in a file cabinet) but keep them accessible. You may find this method handy even if theft does not occur.

Be safe and have a wonderful weekend!

Fashion Friday: Casual weekend layers

Colorado has been unseasonably warm this winter. For the last two weeks, temps have been mid-50's by lunch-time, accompanied by a wonderful winter sun. Last weekend, Al and I walked around a home & garden show at a local event center and then went out for a couple beers and low-key hangout. I wanted an outfit that was cozy but still looked pulled together - I think this wintery, layered look accomplished that!

Tank - Kohls / Tunic sweater - Target / Denim jacket - thrifted

Zebra scarf - Heartbreakers / Leggings - Old Navy / OTK Boots - Rampage via Herbergers

Lips: "Bare it All" Wet n' Wild / Baby Lips "Peach Parfait" / Nails: Ulta

10-minute project: My business card organizer

Last weekend, I had a few minutes while I was waiting for a few computer updates, so I decided to tackle one of my little organization projects I had lying around. For the longest time, I've carried this pink leather business card holder, overflowing with cards I'd collected for over 6 years, in addition to a stack of my own. A month ago, it got so full that I couldn't even snap it shut. I knew a new system was in order. 

I just so happened to have an old coupon book sitting unused and decided that would be the perfect organizer for the business cards. First, I separated my cards from the other business cards and placed mine back in the pink holder. It makes sense that those cards will remain in my purse since you never know when you need to give someone a card. 

The remaining cards were divided into categories: 

1) House: my realtor, mortgage broker, plumber, and other necessary cards I need for home maintenance. 

2) Personal: my hair stylist, nail salon, and other cards that are personal to my interests. 

3) Business: my branch manager, colleagues, and important business contacts. 

4) Volunteer: my many Army contacts and other organizations. 

5) Family & Friends: for all those people you love that you want to help promote! 

I made quick labels and into the sections they went. The file has so much room to grow and allows me to easily find a contact when I need to make a call or schedule an appointment. It also accounts for all the odd-shaped or differently sized cards that people produce these days. Finally, it leaves my smaller holder free to hold all my personal business cards for on-the-go use. 

Linked up...

I took 10-minutes and on-hand supplies and remedied a disorganized mess. These are my favorite projects: a quick and simple solution that makes daily life just a little easier!

Safety Measures and Trusting your Gut

Last year, I wrote a post about safety measures to take to avoid an assault or mugging. Those tips included ways to be aware of your surroundings and some self-defense tips. Check out the original post for more information.

I have always adhered to those safety measures in my own life, operating on high-alert and paying attention to my surroundings. And yet, On Monday night I experienced something I never thought would happen to me. My car window was smashed in and my purse stolen, including my wallet, tablet, and a few other personal items. 

Here's the story: 

I pulled into the parking lot at the gym where I coach a few nights per week. As I drove to my spot, I noticed a truck that was out of place. It seemed suspicious, but also looked as though the guy had pulled into the lot to look under the hood of his truck. I parked in my spot and as I started walking into the building, he had driven out of the lot (the wrong direction) and started driving down the road.

Less than 25 minutes later, another coach came into the building and asked who drove the silver car because the window had been smashed in. I ran out to my car to find the passenger window completely shattered and my car ransacked. 

I made the mistake of leaving my purse on the passenger floor. It had my tablet, wallet, a book and some important papers. It also had a small toiletry bag with perfume and few other valuables inside. Luckily, my keys and my cell phone were with me inside.

But now he had not only caused damage to my vehicle and stolen from me, but he had my address, the location of my job, what my car looked like, and other personal information about me. I was devastated and terrified. 

The sheriff arrived and took my statement and we filled out a request for additional patrol at our home in case he tried to go there. We cancelled our cards, listed them all as stolen, and we were able to catch him using one card at Walmart. Hopefully the information from the transaction, the video at Walmart and my description will help find the man who did this. 

I don't expect to get my stuff back. And I don't even care about the damage to my car. It's all horribly inconvenient and going to cost us some money out-of-pocket (high deductible) to fix. What's more important to me is that our home is protected and I am safe at home and work. 

I am sharing this story, not for pity or even for advice, but to provide yet another learning tool for how to be safe in your daily life. Things might have turned out different if I had listened to my gut - at the very least it would have told me to bring my purse inside with me. The guy in the truck was suspicious and I gave him an easy target and ample time to commit the crime. 

Of course, I don't know that it was the truck guy (although it seems to match the description of the man who used my card at Walmart.) I don't even know that it's a guy at all. What I do know is that I had never seen him or his vehicle before and my gut told me something was wrong. I didn't listen. I didn't trust my own feelings and that cost me my possessions, my safety, and my emotional security. 

I was aware enough to notice the behavior and make a mental note of his suspicious activity. I was aware enough to remember his truck and his appearance and even the fact that he drove out of the parking lot the wrong direction, indicating he didn't belong there. I did the first important steps and paid attention to my surroundings. But I failed to act on them. 

Next time, I will head back to the vehicle and secure my belongings inside. I will jot down notes on what I saw and pass that along to the gym owners so we can be on the lookout for suspicious people. 90% of the time, these steps will be fruitless and unnecessary - and 90% of the time people are just out of place and not committing a crime. But the other 10% of the time, I'll be glad I have a paper trail and that I listened to my gut instincts.

Please, my friends, learn from my mistake:

Be alert, pay attention, and act. And never make it too easy by leaving your possessions in plain sight. Those simple steps might prevent something similar from happening to you!

Two Years

Two years.

We have been through so much in two years: being separated by many miles, law school, graduation, the bar exam, moving across the country, starting a whole new career, and buying our first home. And while so much has happened, very little has changed. 

You still make smart-ass remarks at the worst times and think fart jokes are funny. You always forget to put your laundry away and refuse to throw out your dirty, holey socks. You delete my shows off the DVR and can't find something sitting on a shelf in front of you. You never make the bed.

But you know what else...

You are a great cook (and happy to have that responsibility) and rarely leave a mess. You make me laugh so hard I pee and can make the most mundane tasks seem like fun. You can fix or build just about anything and serve as the the heater to my frozen toes. 

You are crazy-smart. You know so much about history, science, and how the world works. You are a wonderfully loyal friend. You are hard-working and punctual (even when no one else is) and you always come prepared.

You are my biggest supporter and you rally when even I can't. You are my rock when I forget reality and my inspiration when I need to relax. You make me feel beautiful every second of the day and you are constantly pushing me out of my comfort zone.

You are my best friend and a royal pain in my ass. You are my right-now and my forever.

Thank you, baby, for an amazing two years. 

Here's to 50 more years of love, memories, and fart jokes.

Happy Anniversary!

2013 Goals: A trackable list

After compiling my goals for 2013, I decided I needed a way to keep myself on track. I wanted something compact enough to slip into my planner, but clear enough for a quick-glance when I need a reminder. 

Over my Saturday morning coffee, I created the following document. It took less than an hour to make and fits on half of an 8x11 piece of paper so I can clip it into my planner. I like that I can flip to it and remind myself what the goals are - with a checklist when I've accomplished them each month!

Do you track your goals daily? Weekly? Monthly? How do you keep yourself accountable? 

In progress: My coffee bar

I have been plugging away at this for a couple of days now and it's still not done. I might be trying too hard to "style" the shelves like a pro and incorporate decorative elements, but I'm not willing to admit that quite yet. I still have a few things to add/try before I am calling this project complete. Currently, the coffee bar is in this state: 

And over the weekend, I am going to work on this sign for the top shelf: 

Source: cherishscountrystore.com via Mel on Pinterest

I was lucky enough to find some canvasses on clearance at Michaels the other day ($5.99 for 2) so I snatched them up. Canvas is expensive, so I'll hang on to the other one until I have a new project. 

Once the project is complete, I'll share the details (what it looked like before, paint color, etc...) and maybe a DIY on the sign.

Any ideas on the coffee bar are welcome (and happily encouraged)!

Review: NEOChalk Chalk Pen

After painting my file cabinet in a lovely chalkboard paint, I purchased a cheapie pack of chalk to doodle and label the drawers. After less than 10 minutes of use, I decided that not only was my handwriting and artistic capabilities severely limited by the use of standard chalk, I didn't like the mess. So, I jumped on Amazon and purchase a NEOchalk chalk pen.

The original standard chalk

Doodles with the NEOchalk pen

As you can see, the doodles were brighter and had cleaner lines than regular chalk. I was very pleased with the results. But, when it came time to clean off the cabinet so I could organize better, I found myself in a pickle. The NEOchalk drawing did not come off!

It faded quite a bit, but it is still there. Luckily, I had only drawn the one doodle before I marked up the whole cabinet, but I was still disappointed that the drawing did not erase easily like regular chalk did. Further, the pen itself did not come with special removal instructions. I used a damp rag at first and then a light soap solution the second time around. Still no luck!

The pen instructions indicate the pen can be used on "glass, windows, board and all non-porous surfaces," which I presumed the cabinet to be. After all, it is metal with two-coats of chalkboard paint on top. 

I hope with time and a few more runs with a rag and cleaner, that I can get the design off. If not, I will have to move on with a slightly-faded doodle of a butterfly on the top corner of the cabinet. Either way, I will not use the pen for this purpose again - perhaps I will try a few other surfaces and see if those work better. For now, I would avoid using this pen on chalkboard surfaces, unless you have a scrap piece to do a trial run first!

**I was not compensated for this review. I purchased the item from my own funds and chose to review the product on my own accord. The views are honest and my own.

A Few Quick Things

I just wanted to stop in (amid a whirlwind catch-up after spending my Sunday hovered over my toilet with a serious stomach bug) and remind you a few big things going on in the blog-world.

Today is the day for first-round voting for Military Spouse of the Year! This is first time I've participated in voting (for no particular reason) and there are so many amazing ladies nominated. You can only vote once per email address and the voting is only open today - so take 5 minutes of your lunch break/kiddo's nap/down time and head over to check it out! 

My personal favorites: 

Lori Volkman, long time mil-spouse and MSJDN board member who is a fierce advocate for military spouse's wishing to pursue higher education and professional careers. Check out her FB profile.

Jacqueline Goodrich, wounded warrior spouse whose support for wounded warrior families is unsurpassable! She was a personal inspiration early in my blogging career, encouraging my to continue the path! Check out here FB profile here.

(My honorable mention, since I only have two email addresses with which to vote) Angela Caban, Founder of Homefront United Network and avid mil-spouse advocate and all-around sweet lady! Her FB profile is here.

Second, today is the only day for Jantastic Swagbucks opportunities. 

Check out my original post for details!

If you do not already follow me on Facebook, I have one especially good reason why you should - every couple of weeks I post a note with a list of giveaways I find around the web. Some I enter, some I don't - but all of them are great opportunities for you to find new blogs to read and win free stuff!

Finally, stay tuned this week for a couple great posts: a review of NEOChalk Chalk Pens; a peek at my new coffee bar; and another look at my 2013 goals.

Happy Tuesday-that-feels-like-a-Monday to y'all!

Many ways to win Swagbucks in January!

During the month of January, Swagbucks is offerings many new swagcodes that allow you to buckoo-bucks! (Beau-coup is the proper spelling, I believe, but buckoo just sounds more fun!)

Click the picture above and you will arrive at the info page for the Swagbucks' "Jantastic Extravaganza!" (Hey, I don't come up with these names, I just help promote the programs...) The extravaganza runs all day on January 22 (Tuesday!) and includes a total of 65 possible swagbucks all with a January theme.

Head over on Tuesday and watch for the codes and redeem them for your swagbucks. Then, tell me what you're spending your bucks on!