“The Orlando Sentinel” published a great article in Sunday’s edition about things women can do to stay safe. Here are some of the ideas reporter Amy L. Edwards shares that I think are unique:

Shopping:

If your child is with you, load your groceries first so if someone wants your car, your child is not in it.

In the elevator:
When the doors open, see who is inside before you step in. If you see someone who makes your (sic) uncomfortable, wait for the next elevator.

In parking lots:
Rethink using auto-locking remote devices that unlock all four doors at once.In the car:Wen you arrive at your destination, look at th earea before you get out of the car — even if it’s your house.”

Read her full article here.

Related:

• Read why it’s important to report personal theft.
• Learn about a free car unlocking service. Find one in your city.
• Read all safety posts from Balancing Motherhood.

Can you believe it’s here already? You either love February 14 or hate it. I really don’t think there’s much of an in between.

However you feel about Valentine’s Day, I’m sure we’d agree that it comes with pressure. When you’re single, it’s the pressure to have a date on or around the 14th. When you’re a couple it’s the pressure of a gift, the card (funny or serious?), and what to do today (dinner out or dinner in?). It’s enough to drive you crazy.

If you want to guarantee a great Valentine’s Day, however, you have to do something for yourself. The one thing I don’t like about Valentine’s day (besides the pressure) is the fact that we are waiting for someone to do something for us. Don’t wait, do something you love today. Something for you. Get a pedicure on your lunch break. Buy yourself one long stem red rose and display it in a place of honor. Buy a new piece of art for your bedroom or sacred space, something that will remind you to always be who you are on the inside. Order that magazine subscription that you’ve been eyeing, and enjoy the benefits for an entire year.

Above all, remember Valentine’s Day is about love. Loving yourself. Loving your spouse or partner. Loving your children. Loving others. It’s a day to be reminded of who we care about, which should always start with ourselves.

FREE BOOK — TODAY ONLY

If you do only one thing today, do this: download Suze Orman’s newest book about women and finances, “Women & Money.” It’s a FREE, yes FREE, download from Oprah.com. The deal is only good until 5:00 p.m. today so do it now. Orman’s publisher agreed to give it away online for free as part of Orpah’s recent show about how a mother of 5 is left with zero money and a truckload of debt after her husband commits suicide. Suze develops a plan for the woman to get her life on track. Do yourself a favor today and get this book so you don’t fall into a situation like this woman is in.

Related:

• Read my post “10 Reasons Suze Orman Rocks”

Balancing motherhood is a craft that is developed over time. Every woman has her own struggles. No mother is immune to trying to strike the correct balance for her or her family. And, that balance isn’t always the same year to year, month to month or even day to day. It’s a constant reevaluation of priorities.

Last night I read a short, to the point, article about balancing motherhood that includes some great insights. I love one quote from Madeleine Albright:

Women’s careers don’t go in straight lines. They zigzag all over the place.”

Women have so many careers, working moms and stay-at-home moms. There is always a job to be done. No matter if all our jobs are paid, they are important and valued. Take a moment today to be happy with your choices. If you aren’t, see what you can do to alter the course you are headed so that you can find some happiness where you are now.

I’ve been wanting to write a post about bubble baths and tell all the moms out there to be sure to take one this month. I think this form of relaxation is empowering — and deserving. But, now we have more reason to take a bath — Yahoo Finance did an article about how to save money and taking bubble baths is number one on its list!

Take bubble baths. If soaking in hot water doesn’t cheer you up, find out what does, because it could stop you from wasteful splurges after a bad day. “Especially in times like these, it’s very important for people…to find other ways [than shopping] to make themselves feel better, whether it’s tantric methods, meditation, Chinese balls, or bubble baths—just do what will not break the bank,” says Ken McDonnell, program director at the American Savings Education Council.

Oprah announced yesterday that she is offering a free 10-week online class starting in March, based on her new book club selection, “A New Earth.” When I went to the site last night, I got this message:

Due to high traffic demands, this Oprah.com feature is temporarily unavailable.”

Yep, offer something for free and everyone comes in droves. Oprah offers something for free and everyone and her mother comes in droves.

It’s exciting that so many people are interested in discussing a book and learning more, so much so that it crashed the server.

I love learning and jump at the chance for any type of training so I am sure I will join in on this weekly class. She’s said to be teaching it along with the author, Eckhart Tolle. Each week will be based on a chapter in the book. And, there are discussion boars and interactive features for users to upload his/her thoughts — I’m assuming good or bad.

Online education is a new realm for some and I’m glad that Oprah is embracing a new technology in a way that will surely include more people than she ever imagined. I have reservations about if I will like the book, but I’m good about taking new age topics and altering them to my own belief system so I’ll give it a shot. It’s the book’s subtitle that has my interest: “Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose.”

And, since it’s Oprah, the time is right: 9:00 p.m. once a week. Many women are home at that hour and most of the kids are tucked in bed by 9:00 (let’s hope so anyway) so there’s no excuse to join in if you are interested.

Related:

• Buy “A New Earth”
• Sign up to take Oprah’s free class
• Another book by Tolle, “The Power of Now”
• Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life”