Have you or a loved one ever felt unsafe while out and about? 
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Maybe you were shopping, and felt like someone was following you? With human trafficking being a real threat in certain areas, including my own, this is a very valid fear, and women and girls especially must remain proactively vigilant regarding their surroundings. Sadly, these predators often search for vulnerable women or women with their children.

How scary is that?!

​I have personally been followed before, and it certainly leaves one with a panicky, sinking feeling. I remember the feeling of my blood running cold when I realized a strange man was following me while I had my oldest son out for a walk in his stroller. This was about 20 years ago, and before I had a cell phone available to me. Thankfully, I was able to get away from the person on my tail, but I have never forgotten about the feeling of dread and pure helplessness. 

Okay. I admit, that's pretty a frightening way to open. What about other, less nefarious scenarios where you might find yourself needing help? 

Maybe you had an accident or broke down somewhere, and aren't near a phone. Maybe you're having a medical emergency, and need assistance. 
Maybe you found yourself in a fire, or other disaster, and need help right away. 

With Valentine's Day coming up quickly, a lot of us still have their shopping to do. I mean, who doesn't love something sparkly and pretty once in a while? We had one heck of a time during 2020, so why not treat them to something special? I think we all deserve it. Hey, even gift yourself! There's absolutely nothing wrong with some self-care.
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I consider self care essential, even. Absolutely essential. 

Anyone who knows me well knows that there are 2 great loves in my life, outside of my husband.....My kids and music. My children and music both give meaning to my life in ways I can't even describe. 

I guess the best way to put it is that both my kids AND the music community have given me family where there once was none....I'm kind of a Black Sheep, and don't come from a very close family to begin with. I don't really have parents, and the kids don't really have grandparents. They don't have aunts and uncles or cousins, the way most kids do. They do on my husband's side, actually, but everyone is so far away and we don't get to see them as often as we'd like. I'm referring to my side, much of whom are local, but basically strangers. 

Does anyone have a geek on their gift lists this season?

I do! My 11 year old daughter, Sophie, is a major geek who loves everything from retro gaming to comics to cult classic films, like A Christmas Story. She doesn't like guns, though, so she will not be shooting her eye out anytime soon. 

Whether it be for Valentine's Day, birthdays, anniversaries, or really ANY occasion, TVStoreOnline.com is my go-to place to find the best geeky gifts for everyone on your list! 

Here are some of my absolute favorite geeky gift ideas for Valentine's Day:

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​January is the beginning of a new year of resolutions to maintain the health of your family.What better way to start 2021 than keeping your family healthy with the right supplements. Superior Source Vitamins are the originators of The Evolution of Vitamins–inventors of the micro-tablet that dissolves instantly under the tongue for quicker and better absorption–with NO pills to swallow.They’re clean and pure–the way nature intended.

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With so many of us choosing to stay home during the cold, winter months, things can get boring, fast. You can only watch the same TV shows so many times, and even favorite board games get dull when you've played them 4392 times in a week. 

When staying home gets bland and blah, there's always something that can stand to be done: Cleaning the house! 

Yes, I get that this is a daily chore, and something that most people don't consider fun. Hear me out, though. 

For me, being home so much more makes me want to create the best, most relaxing environment possible. After all, doesn't it feel good to be surrounded by nice, clean surroundings? Shining floors and countertops, pristine tiles, and just a nice sense of order? I find it's easier to relax when my house is in order. It doesn't always last long, having 3 kids and pets in the house, but those 10 minutes when everything is perfect? Oh, they're glorious. 

Even though this isn't your typical Holiday season, it's still a good idea to keep with certain traditions. We stayed home for Christmas, and spent it together, just us and the kiddos. Normally, we celebrate by attending a XXMas concert in Cleveland, followed by a trip to an indoor waterpark resort for Christmas Eve and Day.  Obviously, this is 2020. None of that happened. Our traditions were not in the realm of possibility, so we made the most of spending the Holidays at home. 

How is everyone this Christmas Eve? Doing alright? Stressed out? Are you still running around getting shopping done, or are you already in relaxation mode, waiting for Christmas to get here? 

We avoided crowds as best as possible, and ordered most of our gifts online. The only place I have been going lately is to the grocery store, and even then, we're being cautious and trying to maintain social distancing, etc the best that we possibly can. We've also made sure to sanitize our hands thoroughly once we unload the car, since handwashing isn't possible much of the time while running errands. 

Hand Sanitizer can be harsh, though. It can dry the skin out, causing painful cracking and itching. I found the perfect solution to this issue, though.  I've been absolutely loving my Ultra Defense Sani+Smart Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer with Vitamin E.

Yes, I just said MOISTURIZING hand sanitizer, and I did not stutter.

Sounds crazy, right?

​This is a game changer, because it doesn't dry the skin or cause irritation the way a lot of alcohol based sanitizers can. It also smells super nice rather than like some bottom shelf Tequila...Blech....Yes. I have actually encountered some truly vile sanitizer that smells like a bar. I don't drink, so obviously I am not a fan of smelling like a distillery. Thankfully, Ultra Defense Sani+Smart smells pleasant, like your favorite soap or lotion might. No harsh odor, and no one will think you've had too much to drink after using it. 

In a world where every. single. person. uses a hand sanitizer multiple times a day, it causes a global shortage – as we all witnessed. Companies from other industries had to step in to fill the void and follow a recipe from the CDC in order to fulfill the tremendous amount of requests – alcohol distilleries, perfumeries, color cosmetic brands, and contract manufacturers are now producing sanitizing products. When the FDA continues to issue recalls for the inclusion of potentially toxic ingredients, we all need a hand sanitizer that is safe, effective and pleasant to use.
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Introducing Ultra Defense Sani + Smart... a completely safe line of sanitizing solutions that feature best in class formulas to kill 99.99% of germs and leave hands feeling soft. When the pandemic hit, the team at Ultra Defense answered the call and immediately ramped up production on their top-of-the-line sanitizing solutions. With so many toxic sanitizers being pulled from retail shelves, you can safely trust Ultra Defense to get the job done. 

We've been loving this product line, and I consider it to be a must have for outings, trips to the store, or any time you don't have easy access to soap and water for handwashing. It leaves my hands clean, soft, and there's no residue or irritation to be found. This is definitely a quality product, and one I feel good about using for my family. 

You can learn more about Ultra Defense Sani+Smart Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer on their website. 

You can also follow on Facebook, on twitter, and on Instagram to stay on top of their latest news, products, and promotions. ​

This Christmas is obviously....Well....It's different. 

Instead of huge gatherings and celebrations, people are (hopefully) altering their plans to help do their part to stop the spread of this nasty virus that's turned life upside-down for the past year. 

We're kind of the Black Sheep, so to speak, so we don't really get invited to family gatherings. Not traditional ones, anyway. We have, over the past few years, adopted a HUGE "chosen family", and one of our family reunions happens in Cleveland, right before Christmas. We're part of a community called EST (Everyone Stands Together), and we attend Machine Gun Kelly's XXMas concert as if we were going to church for Midnight Mass. For many, my family included, that IS our Christmas. This IS where we get to see our "family" and celebrate the season. People fly in for the weekend from all over, and it's kind of a huge deal. 

This year, understandably, it's not happening. I have to admit, this made us all very sad. This year, the fancy Holiday depression has hit hard, and we've been trying to find ways to still experience some kind of magic, even though we're missing our loved ones so much. 

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Now, perhaps more than ever, taking the right supplements to support the body's immune system is a truly smart idea. Combined with things like using proper PPE, washing hands often and thoroughly, having a healthy diet and sleep cycle, immune supplements can make all the difference in the world when it comes to overall wellness for the whole family. 

Thankfully, one brand of Vitamins, Superior Source, has exactly what I need for my whole family.....Even the ones who hate taking their supplements and have a hard time swallowing pills. 

Now it’s FUN to take vitamins with NO PILLS to SWALLOW! With over 180 vitamins,there are vitamins for everyone, young old and every need. Best of all, Superior Source Vitamins are MicroLingual® with “Under the Tongue Technology”that works fast,and are quickly absorbed into the body, dissolving in seconds. Did you know that... by swallowing supplements, as much as 50% of the potency is lost in the high acid environment of the stomach? With Superior Source, this is never an issue. 

As a homeowner, you're probably all too familiar with finding ways to improve the look and style of your property. But did you know that one of the biggest changes you can make to your home, is with a simple change to your window dressings?
It's true! Shutters are proving to be incredibly popular in Australian homes with more people than ever before having them installed on their properties. This timeless style has been around for centuries, and it seems to be enjoying a little bit of a renaissance – and it's easy to see why!

If you've been toying with the idea of installing shutters on your windows, then read on to discover why you should go ahead with your investment, with the top benefits of plantation shutters, revealed!

They're probably cheaper than you think
If it's the cost of plantation shutters available online that concerns you the most, then you may find yourself pleasantly surprised. When you choose The Shutters Dept to create your dream window dressings, you'll get the benefit of functionality, style and amazing prices straight from the manufacturer. No hard sales pitches, no pressure, just the stunning, plantation shutters you want at a price you can afford. With no compromises on quality – you even get a ten-year warranty for total peace of mind.
If cost is something you're concerned about then you may be surprised at how budget-friendly these window dressings can be!

They add value to your home
Stunning plantation shutters turn heads for all the right reasons, and if you're planning on selling your home either now, or in the future then you can expect plenty of interest and value-added to your home. You can expect instant kerb appeal when you install plantation shutters.

Ideal for allergy sufferers
Is there someone in your home who struggles with allergies? Traditional window dressings such as fabric curtains and blinds attract dust, pet hair and even pollen, creating a toxic atmosphere for people who struggle with allergens. With a quick swipe, you can instantly remove any allergens and help everyone in your home to breathe a little easier.

Temperature regulation
In Australia, being able to get some relief from the blistering sun is crucial. Plantation shutters make keeping your home a little cooler in the summer months a little more realistic. They're also great at blocking all those cold draughts in the winter months.

Privacy
Privacy in your own home is important to everyone and unlike curtains that can blow open, or blinds that don't close properly when you install plantation shutters you can get complete privacy from the world outside. You can adjust the position of your shutters so you can view as much or as little as you wish.

And finally, they're safer
Traditional curtains can pose a fire risk to unsuspecting homeowners, while traditional blinds come with dangerously long cords that children can easily become tangled in, causing injury or even death. Curtains can also be heavy and blinds are difficult to manoeuvre especially for the elderly. With plantation shutters, you get safety, functionality and style in one installation.