More free batteries

Office Depot has 100% back in rewards on AA batteries this week.  You can buy 2 per day.  Batteries are expensive, so this is a great prep deal!

Day 30

Read: “If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear” Ensign, Nov 1995, by Elder L. Tom Perry. As a family, discuss what you need to do next to continue preparing as prophets have counseled.
Take time today to find a binder and plastic sheet protectors and begin a family preparedness resource manual. Add copies of the articles and talks referenced, your inventory, evacuation plan, and any other information you have gathered to your binder.
Being prepared is an attitude and lifestyle, which like any good habit becomes part of who we are and the way we choose to live. Children will want to be part of something they see as exciting and valuable such as being ready for unforeseen emergencies like weather events and civil emergencies. With the recent weather disasters, now is the time to calm your family’s fears by teaching them how to prepare and find the reassurance that no matter what challenge they face, all will be well.

Dilbert lessons part 2-protect yourself!

Here's the second thing to point out from this comic.  You HAVE to be able to protect yourself.  ESPECIALLY if you're a single mom.  Having a cell phone is not good enough.  The bad guy will not politely wait for you to make a call, & as they say "when seconds count, the police are just minutes away".
A couple weeks ago, my ex husband was banging on our front door & wouldn't leave.  We finally had to call the police.  This was in the middle of the day with nothing else going on.  It took 5 min for them to get there.  Now, being inside, where we really didn't feel like we were unsafe, 5 min seemed pretty fast.  But a lot can happen in 5 min if there's someone bad in your house.  Set a timer for 5 min, & then let your imagination go wild with what could happen in that amount of time to you & your children, if you have no way to protect yourself.  I am trying to scare you; but only so you'll do something about it.  The police never prevent crimes, only victims can do that.  An interesting quote is "a person with good intentions & no training is a victim."

My father recently took a class from a man who has a private security company for disasters.  He was there after Katrina.  The man said the first night, there were almost no gun shots.  The second night, there was sporadic gun fire.  The third night it was constant, & sounded like a war zone.

Now there's lots of false media hype that if you own a gun it will somehow jump up & kill you & your children.  Simply not true.  For true info, you might read John Lott's books, or check out his website.  He started studying, expecting to find that places with more guns had more crime.  He was stunned to find just the opposite.  One interesting stat from his book I remember, is that a woman who cooperates with an attacker, is 80% more likely to be seriously injured than a woman who resists with deadly force.  Read that again.  Then think about if you would risk odds like that with your money.  Guns are used A LOT to prevent crimes. They've been used by people in my family multiple times to deter violent crimes against them.  And John Lott says 80% of the time, you only have to brandish the weapon.

I know many women who were afraid of guns, & totally against having one...who now love shooting.  They've found it's a great hobby, one they can enjoy with many people, & a very empowering one.  They are no longer scared women, waiting to become victims.  They are competent, confident women who can protect themselves & their families.  Which would you rather be?

My favorite place to get gun training is Front Sight.  Military & police men even go there for training, to improve on their current skills.  And you don't have to know anything before you go.  It is near Las Vegas.  But obviously that isn't an option for everyone.  Find a competent friend to teach you, find a women's only gun class, find anything you're willing to try.  You may be surprised at how much you enjoy it.  And make this a serious priority in your preparedness.  The peace of mind is priceless.  And it could literally save you & your families lives.


Here's a great article about women & defending yourself with firearms:
http://womenofcaliber.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/if-it-happened-to-you/

Day 29

At breakfast ask for any last contributions to the emergency fund. Count your money and decide what items are most important to purchase with this money. Remember you promised anyone contributing could help decide. If they should decide on brownie mix… that’s important too. Now go spend the money. Come home and place everything on the table where you can all enjoy what you have accomplished. Why not keep the fund going and do the same thing next month?

Day 28

Finish your household inventory and record images of the other rooms in your home. Compile all photos and/or video and place a copy in your adult emergency kits and send a copy to your out of area contact for safe keeping.

Solar Cheesy Garlic Bread

Once you have your solar oven French bread (store bought works great too), you can make this Cheesy Garlic Bread.  It is sooooo good.  One of the best parts is the top crust with the spices on it.  I was worried it wouldn't cook that part as well in the solar oven, but it worked great!  I had it in for about 20 min.  You could probably leave it in much longer & it would be fine.  The photo doesn't do it justice.  Smells wonderful & tastes even better!

1 loaf french bread
1/2 cup butter softened
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp parsley
1/2 cup grated parmesan (parmesan/romano blend is good too)

Cut slices down loaf at 1" intervals without cutting all the way through.  Combing rest of the ingredients in small bowl.  Spread between slices of bread & on top.  Wrap in foil leaving top partially uncovered. Bake at 375 for 15 min, or in solar oven.

You can make the butter up to 3 days in advance.
Variation:  white cheddar instead of parmesan & chives instead of parsley

Walgreens run this week

Here's what I bought at Walgreens this week for my preparedness.  I paid $30, & got back $27 in register rewards to use next time.  Not bad haul for $3!!