The Peace of Mind Project –

One thing that I really wanted to emphasize with this site is the idea that having peace of mind doesn’t come simply from having a supply of food storage, a 72 hour kit and an emergency plan, there are A LOT of other things that people tend to worry about.  I isn’t until many of those things are actually addressed that we can truly enjoy peace of mind.  One thing that I keep coming back to is finances.  One of my big stresses as of late has been how to sleep my guests comfortably without the space or money to devote to an entire guest room.  I have decided that a futon would be a sensible solution.

Many people,  think of  unattractive black metal frames, when they hear the word “futon,” but to the surprise of many, there are many different styles of futons, and each part has many options, allowing for several amount of combinations, and in turn ensuring there’s a futon that’s a perfect fit for your lifestyle and decor.

For example, the frame, while many futons do have a metal frame, they’re also available in wood. Wooden frames are sturdy and look good in many different settings. Also, wooden frames use slats to support the mattress which results in a more even and therefore a more comfortable, surface to lie on.

As far as the mattress goes, mattress, they’re no longer limited to cotton and polyfil. You can get them with an exterior made of several fabrics, including leather, and numerous fillings. Some have bed springs like traditional mattress, while others are made of space-age memory foam. They come in all levels of firmness from the most soft to the most firm, which means you can find one that suits you.

The last part of the futon is the futon cover. Most people either don’t know these exist. However they are an essential part, as they keep the futon safe and clean. They come in a wide variety of materials and designs.

I know it may not be obvious, but for many people knowing that their property is protected can provide them peace of mind.  One way to protect your vehicles without spending all the money required by an addition of a garage is a carport. 

Carports are everywhere. They easily outnumber garages, and seemt to be the staple of every southern home. However, they got their start further north in Illinois in 1909. Here architect Walter Buckly Griffin used them in his design for the Sloan House in Elmhurst, Illinois. They quickly spread throughout the Midwest. One interesting fact is that they were originally called autospaces, however Frank Lloyd Wright coined the term carport in 1939 when he used it in the design of one of his houses, and the name happened to stick.

Today carports are used in several different ways. Many times they’re attached to permanent structures such as homes.  Often they are built with wood to match the structure. They usually come with built in storage, and are used mainly for the purpose of keeping cars out of the elements.

However, carports are now much more flexible. They come in a variety of materials including wood, metal, and PVC. They have multiple types of roofs: shingles, steel, aluminum, tarps, etc. Best of all, they’re not permanent anymore. Now they come in a wide variety of portable options. They have carports that are so easy to setup and take down that they only need one person to assemble them.

Also, because of their portability they can be setup anywhere they’re needed.  Which means you can offer your vehicle the same protection on a camping trip as it would get parked safely at home.

I just wanted to wish everybody a happy new year.  I love this time of year because it is such a good opportunity to set goals and re-dedicate ourselves.  Perhaps you could consider setting goals to help you and your family become more prepared.  More prepared for anything, unemployment, natural disasters, poor health, or whatever you can think of.  The more prepared we are, the less we have to fear.

The third and final step suggested by ready.gov is to be informed.  It is important to know what the history is in regards to the area in which you live.  For instance, find out if your area is prone to tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, or even mudslides.  Once you find out what you might expect, check into your community’s emergency plan.  As they say on ready.gov, “Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count.”

There is an emergency prepardeness quiz available for you to take on ready.gov.  Once you know how much you know, you will be able to see what you need to learn.

Obviously, knowing that your family  is prepared as possible in the event of an emergency can give you a great sense of peace.  I have been doing some research on how to prepare my family for an emergency, and I thought I would give you some of the suggestions I have found. 

On the government’s preparedness page, they suggest getting prepared by taking 3 steps. 

1. Get a Kit,

2. Make a Plan,

and

3. Stay informed.

They also feature this great article to help you accomplish step number one: Get a Kit.

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You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days. In addition, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days, or even a week or longer.

Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers

Additional Items to Consider Adding to an Emergency Supply Kit:

• Prescription medications and glasses
• Infant formula and diapers
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
• Cash or traveler’s checks and change
• Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
• Fire Extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
• Paper and pencil
• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
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I firmly believe that having a sound peace of mind comes only when we can be thankful for the things that we have, and even the things we may not have.

Is it just me, or does it seem like this year the Christmas decorations began popping up BEFORE Halloween was even over?  The commercialism of the Christmas season seems to be overpowering many beautiful things about the Holidays, including Thanksgiving.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the Christmas season.  It really is, in my opinion, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” but I do get a little saddened when Thanksgiving goes unnoticed.

I believe that celebrating Thanksgiving as a time of reflection and maybe even soul searching about the things we are truly thankful for, is vital.

I am willing to bet that for one reason or another, this year has been  hard for many people.  I know it’s been hard for us at times.  But I have found that it is during the hard times that being thankful is the most important.

Let me pause for a moment to give you an example straight out of the pages of the book of my life.  Right at this very moment, even as I type these words, two of my children are weeping and whaling because they both want to be the one to put a simple bag away.  There is an entire toy room to clean up, but it is thatbag that will define their lives so much so that they have to spend all of their time and energy arguing over it. 

Charming. 

And it is also right at this very moment that I am trying to focus on how thankful I am for my wonderful children.  Sometimes it’s hard.  I am doing my best to remind myself how thankful I am that my house is not quiet.  That my house is not empty.  That my house is a home where some screaming, arguing, hugging, and laughter all take place.  That even with the screaming and yelling, over that blasted bag, I am thankful that those kids are mine and that I get to be here through it all.

I am thankful for having to tighten our belts a bit when it comes to spending.  That has helped me learn the value of hard work, and more importantly, it has shown me what things are really important.  Most of the time the things that are important aren’t things.

I am thankful that my husband has been working long hours to provide for our family.  That has helped me realize how much I love to have him around, and what a great man he is.

Finally, I am thankful that my kids argue, while politeness is a virtue, I am so glad that they are passionate people.  When channeled in the right avenues, I know that will take them far.

So, I would like to encourage youto think about the things that might be making your life difficult, then think about how you can learn to be grateful for them.  It may just change your life.

In these times of uncertainty, natural disasters, and shifting values, peace of mind is harder and harder to come by, yet is more valuable than ever.  In my opinion, there isn’t one thing that would ensure a complete sense of ease.  That’s why the Peace of Mind Project will be so much more.  I hope to have people sharing their expertise on everything from disaster preparation, to financial preparation, but the sky is the limit.  There are many things that cause us to worry, and I hope we will be able to sharelittle tips to help with life’s little quandaries.