Stranger Danger

I HATE STRANGERS.  

No, seriously.  If I don't know you, and I see you at the mall or at the coffee shop, or in class... I immediately do NOT like you.  I'm sorry, but it's true.  

Mama Can't Be Wrong was kind of a paranoid Mama.  Nothing wrong with that, I say.  But she was.  And her fears definitely were passed along to me.  

Some irrational... Some rational.  Do you remember her "Bridge" story?  I'm totally afraid of bridges (and tunnels) and I think it's because of that!  She was also convinced that someone was always trying to kidnap us when we were little.  We actually had a "Safe Word" where, if for example, someone else were to pick us up from school and it was a random change of plans that we didn't know about, we were supposed to ask for the Safe Word, first.  

She once read a book about the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping.  I think that's where all of this came from.

swoon. 

So anyway, after reading DSS' post about Stranger Danger I felt like I must weigh in on this one. 

I'm sure there are plenty of nice strangers out there.  And maybe I, too, watch too much Criminal Minds.  But whatever, I love those guys.  Agent Spencer Reid... Marry me, please!! Matthew Gray Gubler can be Mr. Can't Be Wrong anyday.  How did I forget him for my Freebie List!!! But who gets bumped?  Can I have six? But I want to MARRY him, not just have him on my Freebie List! Anywayyyyy.... 

Ladies, get yourself some Pepper Spray.  Stat Immediately.  Right now.  Click these links/images... there are so many options available.   And many of them are pink.

Which, when it comes down to it, we all know that pink is super important (as Eloise said... "Think Pink, a better way of life").  Of course.  But if I'm going to carry something like Pepper Spray, it MUST be pink.  (Except for my current one is black, but that will soon be fixed!!).  

I know it sounds crazy... but seriously, how often have you been walking in a parking garage, out for a run, or driving through a sketch neighborhood and just prayed that there was a police officer around?  I'm not saying we should all be carrying hand guns (although the Mace Gun is a great option)... But I do think that women should take precautions to ensure they are not in vulnerable situations.  

I'm almost off of my Soap Box.  One more thing...

Read this book: The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence.  I've read it.  Little Miss Dirty Martini has read it.  It's sitting on my bookshelf right now.  

It is a great book, written by Gavin de Becker about various situations and survival skills that assist in these situations. 

Amazon.com reviewer Joan Price writes; "Each hour, 75 women are raped in the United States, and every few seconds, a woman is beaten. Each day, 400 Americans suffer shooting injuries, and another 1,100 face criminals armed with guns. Author Gavin de Becker says victims of violent behavior usually feel a sense of fear before any threat or violence takes place. They may distrust the fear, or it may impel them to some action that saves their lives. A leading expert on predicting violent behavior, de Becker believes we can all learn to recognize these signals of the "universal code of violence," and use them as tools to help us survive. The book teaches how to identify the warning signals of a potential attacker and recommends strategies for dealing with the problem before it becomes life threatening." 

Am I paranoid?  Maybe.  But I do believe that as a woman it is my responsibility to know how to protect myself!


And now on to the happy happy part of today's post... Only 95 days 'til Christmas!! Don't forget to enter my Christmas Giveaway!It is a fabulous partnership with Kelsey of Poofy Cheeks Boutique.

So, how do you enter??? As always, there are so many ways to enter! You must head back to this post and do the following:

Basic and Mandatory Entries:
1.  You MUST be a follower of "how i met your father" through Google Friend Connect (mandatory).  Let me know if you're a new follower or a long-time follower!
2.  You MUST comment on this post (mandatory) with your favorite item from either Kelsey's etsy.com shop!

Additional Entries (one each):
1.  Follow "Poofy Cheeks Boutqiue" through Google Friend Connect.  Please be sure to let Kelsey know you're a new follower through the Giveaway

2.  Like "How I Met Your Father Blog" on Facebook!  

3.  Like "Poofy Cheeks Boutique" on Facebook!

4.  Follow me on Twitter (or let me know you already do)!  Username: himyf.  Make sure to let me know you're a new follower!
5.  Blog about this Giveaway! Be sure to leave the link to your blogpost on your comment!
6.  Tweet about this Giveaway!  Be sure to leave your twitter name on your comment!  Tweet about this Giveaway each day for one new entry each day! (Be sure to mention @himyf in your Tweet!). 
7.  Post about this mini Giveaway on your sidebar! Be sure to leave a link to your blog!
8.  Everytime someone lets me know you've referred them, YOU get an extra entry!!
9.  An additional entry for any comments you leave on future blog posts (so if you comment on tomorrow's blog post you get yet another entry!).  This counts for each day of the Giveaway!  

10.  Suggest a NEW item for Kelsey that you would love to see as part of the Poofy Cheeks Boutique.  

11.  Add Poofy Cheeks Boutique to your "favorites" on etsy.  Be sure to leave your etsy seller name so that I can confirm!

So there are basically endlessss entries!! 

Be sure to leave ONE comment for EACH entry.  I'm math challenged, and this helps me.  A lot!!

Any questions?  Email me at how.i.met.your.father.blog[at]gmail.com!


And some blog fun...