I just finished the series on Preparing for Disaster. One thing I should have expanded upon is the importance of tarps in any emergency.

I will never forget standing at the door to my home, watching hail smash all the windows and skylights in my travel trailer. We ran around trying to find something to keep the water from coming into the trailer. Finally, we put opened umbrellas in the skylights and cardboard in the windows. A good tarp would have made the job so much easier and efficient.

I had the same problem when my roof started leaking, I had nothing to put on the roof to keep the rain out. In fact, I tried to put plastic on the inside of the roof and wound up falling through the ceiling into my bedroom. Lesson learned.

I have learned that a good tarp can save your roof, travel trailer, car, motorcycle, and riding lawnmower. You can use tarps for covering pools, lumber stacks, hay bales, open construction sites and even to provide a fire-resistant barrier for your tent when camping.

Roofs Covered Before Hurricane

Think of tarps as problem solvers. I had no idea there were fire-resistant tarps, snow-fence tarps, gym floor-covering tarps, sports field-covering tarps or lightweight backpacking tarps.  If you have always purchased your tarps at your local hardware store, you may want to take a look at what you are missing.

Tarp Surfing

While looking at tarps, I discovered a new sport!  Tarp surfing is the ultimate answer to the “I’m bored”  litany that children always sing when the parents are all set to put their feet up and relax. All you need is the tarp, a level surface, a slight breeze and a skate board. Set it up and prepare to be the most popular parents on the block.

Recently, I lost a nosepiece off my eyeglasses. I purchased a kit with the tiny screwdriver, screws, nosepiece pad and cleaning cloth. It was not very expensive, but when I got home, I could not use it because my eyes are too bad to see anything without my glasses.

I started thinking about the last time I had purchased a new pair of glasses. It was at least five years ago. I remembered after my last eye exam, there was not enough change in my vision to warrant a new pair of eyeglasses. What is worse is the sunglasses I have are distance vision only and they are so old I cannot even drive in them.

Usually my glasses cost close to $200 because I have astigmatism, am nearsighted and need the progressive lenses. Usually I want the anti-scratch and UV coating. Cha-ching goes the cash register as I pull out my checkbook and choke as I fill it out.

However, I found a place on the web that has very reasonably priced prescription eye glasses.  ZenniOptical is an online eyeglasses store that has a great assortment of frames, with entire eyeglasses starting at $6.95 or $29.95 for progressives.  Anti-scratch coating, full UV coating, protective case and cleaning cloth are included free.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Victorinox Swiss Army. All opinions are 100% mine.

My first Swiss Army Knife had a tiny pair of scissors, a toothpick, a nail file and a blade. I kept that knife in my car for emergency repairs and used it for years. Unfortunately, as soon as my sons saw it, it disappeared. Recently, I received a Dual Pro X, which is modeled after the Victorinox Swiss Army Soldier Knife. You better believe I am hiding this one from my sons and husband!

The Dual Pro X is advanced when compared to my old knife. The Dual Pro X has two one-hand locking blades (one serrated), a Phillips screwdriver, a small screwdriver, a large locking screwdriver, a can opener, a bottle opener, a wire stripper and a small curved knife blade. Keep your Dual Pro X close by using the attached key chain.

My Dual Pro X has already been a great help to me.  A few weeks ago, my car would not start, so I used the screwdriver to loosen the battery terminals.  I used the knife blade to clean the corrosion off the battery terminals.  What I really like is the large one-handed locking blade.  It is so easy to open and it stays opened, making the knife much safer.

Visit the Facebook fan page for Victorinox Swiss Army and participate in Share the Adventure.  You could win Victorinox Swiss Army products or a $25,000 Ultimate Adventure!

Do you have a person for whom it is hard to buy gifts? Visit the Victorinox Swiss Army site and pick out a truly unique, quality tool that you can give with pride.