PinkPeppers Org

Why do I have a variety of friends who are all different in character? Some of them can even be considered marginal? How do I get on with them all? I think that each one helps to bring out a “different” part of me….

With one of them, I am a polite, good person. I joke with another. I sit down and talk about serious matters with one of them. With another I giggle at every silly thing. I have my wine with another and dance with still another. I listen to one friend’s problems and give them advice. Then I listen to another advising me. They are all like pieces of a jigsaw. When completed they form a treasure box. A treasure of friends! They are my friends who understand me better than I understand myself, who support me through good days and bad days. They are like colorful anti-depressants that I take on different days.

Real Age doctors tell us that friends are good for our health. Dr.Oz calls them Vitamin F (Friends) and counts the benefits of friends to our well being. Research shows that people in strong social circles have less risk of depression and terminal strokes. If you take Vitamin F constantly, you can be up to 30 years younger than your real age. The warmth of friendship reduces stress and even in your tenser  moments, decreases the chance of a cardiac arrest or stroke by 50 %. I am so happy that I have a stock of Vitamin F!

In summary, may we value our friends and stay in touch with them. May we capture and share the funny side of life and laugh together, never once forgetting the life force of vitamin F!!!!

—-Author Unknown

… Thank you for being one of my vital F vitamins!

This has been an incredible week of new memberships in the Pink Peppers Organization.  Over 1500 women have signed up in the past five days which tells me that there are lots of us looking for the same thing:

• New friendships

• Women to travel with

• Support in life’s transitions

I, myself, have been divorced for eight years but am now going through the empty-nest syndrome.  I corresponded with a new member earlier this week and we both realized that our emotional experiences were the same…whether going through separation & divorce – or – empty-nest. Life had changed and we need to figure out how we were going to react to that change.

That’s what the Peppers is all about….providing a positive environment where major life-altering changes can happen through friendships and getting together!

During 2011-2012, we are planning:

• A short 4-day all-inclusive getaway over Memorial Day weekend to kick off the summer
• A Best Friends Forever all-inclusive holiday in Turks & Caicos
• An adventure to self-discovery in Costa Rica

Watch for future postings….details will be forthcoming shortly.

For today, get onto the website, www.pinkpeppers.org, and get your profile updated so that others can find you. Check out the latest posts on the forum, too….I always find someone with whom I can relate!

Thanks!

Laugh, Dance, Move On,

Terri

1. I think part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don’t want to have to restart my collection…again.

13. I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

17. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

18. How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?

19. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

20. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

21. Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch three consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

22. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey – but I’d bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.

23. The first testicular guard, the “Cup,” was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

They’ve extended their $300 air credit to the Bahamas!

Classic has another great deal to share! They have extended their $300 air credit to the Bahamas! This is an offer you do not want to miss!

More than three-fourths of the Bahamas lies underwater, making the islands ideal for an array of water sports and even swimming with dolphins. The Bahamas offers landlubbers golf and tennis, while nature lovers can hike in the national parks. Energetic Nassau/Paradise Island offers the largest variety of activities, while exclusive Exuma and Harbour Island lure privacy-seekers to secluded beaches.

From ocean excursions to cultural tours, there are many activities to enjoy on your Bahamas vacation. Adventure seekers can swim with dolphins or cruise to a private island and snorkel over coral reefs. Nature enthusiasts can encounter wildlife at the Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Center while visitors seeking culture can tour Old Nassau and visit historic attractions.

And with the $300 air credit, now is the time to plan your Bahamas Vacation with Peppers Travel .  Check out the details:  Classic Vacations

By Kellie D’Andrea

Working from home is a dream come true for most.  Thoughts of simpler times and easier work – life balance, conference calls in your pajamas and uninterrupted focus on your work.  Well, think again.  Before you know it the lines between work and life begin to get blurred as you start to be pulled in multiple directions and are faced with choices such as “should I put in a load of laundry before I start this proposal”, or “Should I plan dinner before inputting my business expenses”.  These are real world examples of what happens in home based businesses and before you know it, there are unforeseen distractions, lack of balanced time and sometimes, a lost identity since many relate who they are with want they do.  But don’t give up just yet; her e are 10 tips to keep you on track and to be more productive in your home business.

1. Declare a specific work space

Maintain a separate and dedicated workspace that you can use when you are in “work mode”.  This is a place that you condition yourself that when you are in, you are to be 100% focused on work activities.

2.  Set a work schedule

Make sure to structure your day so you are not pulled in different directions.   Try to schedule your day and isolate a specific work schedule that works for you and your lifestyle.  If you want to go to the gym everyday for an 11 o’clock yoga class, then work that into your schedule.  Perhaps your workday starts at noon.  One of the benefits of working from home is that you get to set your own schedule, just make sure you set a firm schedule and keep to it.

3.  Outsource what you can

Streamline your business and outsource what you can.  Hire a virtual assistant who can handle the administrative tasks which will allow you to focus on building your business.  If you try to do everything yourself, you will soon realize that you are working long hours.

4.  Stay focused

When you are at your workspace, stay focused.  Make sure other members of the household know that you are in the “zone” and that you are not to be interrupted.  Keep all of your personal stuff away from your workspace and stay 100% committed to getting your work done for the day.

5.  Beware of the “needy” people

When people hear you are working from home, they often envision that you are lying around on the couch eating snacks and will begin to ask favors of you since they are stuck in their office.  Don’t fall into the trap of the needy people.   During your work hours, you are working and be firm when your friends ask you to check on their pets, or wait for the cable guy or run errands for them.  Treat your  business as though you also have a job and set those boundaries up in the beginning.

6.  Break for people

One of the benefits of working in an office is that you are around people.  Don’t isolate yourself from others.  Take moments to join your friends for lunch or participate in classes.  Surround yourself with others when you can so you can stay motivated, connected and engaged.

7.  Group errands and tasks

Try to minimize your “out of office” time but grouping your errands together.  Rather than a bunch of in and out of the house, set out to complete all of your errands in one complete swoop.  This way, you will manage your time better.

8.  Use technology

Be sure to use technology in your business.  This will give the impression that you are bigger than you are and cut down expenses.  Nowadays, you can have virtual meetings, send documents electronically and collaborate with others in an online environment.  Just remember to have separate lines for yourself and your business.

9.  Manage your administrative time

Checking emails, social media, returning phone calls, putting together reports and checking blackberry can be time wasters.  Be sure to manage your time.  Select three times a day that you check email s and that is the only time you check them.  If you fall victim to checking emails as soon as they come in, before you know it, the day is gone.

10.  Set your own pace to your own moods

This is your dream.  Be sure to live it.  Create a business that works for you and what you want just be sure to treat it as a business and stay focused and disciplined.

By: Gap Adventures

What is the most photographed place on earth? The question is of course impossible to answer and one can only muster a guess. Countless places lay claim to being the most photographed place in the world, including Paris, The Taj Mahal, Walt Disney World, Niagara Falls, Angkor Wat, the Acropolis to name just a small handful.

The only thing that is widely accepted, is that the Sun is the most photographed object (sunsets and sunrises seem to be universally irresistible). But sticking to “planet earth”, let’s take a look at some of the most photographed subjects around the world. Judge for yourself if you consider them “photogenic”.

Here is a checklist of sorts, for people, places and things to photograph on your travels. Some of them are famous, while others may seem a little odd. Either way, whether it’s a bridge or a toilet, some places get all the photographic glory! (Please keep in mind there is no way to verify the following claims.)

by Alisse Camazine, Attorney, Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C

After the pain is gone, and you have sworn you will never date you now find yourself getting married. So what do you do if your new life takes you to another state and your ex husband and the father of your children lives here.

This is a difficult dilemma. Obtaining the right to move is not always easy. Here are things to think about. After you have thought about these areas, make sure you see an attorney before you talk to your ex or the children!

1. Have you considered where your children will go to school? Can the schools in the new state provide for any special needs your children might have?
2. Have you thought about how and when they will see their father?
3. Have you considered who will pay the transportation costs? If you are going to move and you are doing this voluntarily, be prepared to pay to leave. The court will also generally provide the Father with significant periods of time with the children over holidays and summers. You need to be prepared to give up quality time so that you can move.
4. Have you considered how the move will change your life? Will you be able to stay home with your children when you have been working? Will the move provide the children with things that they do not have now?
5. Do the children get along with your new spouse? 6. Have you given your ex proper notice under the law?
7. Has your spouse objected to the move?
8. Would the move be in your children’s best interest?
9. Have you considered the possibility of your new spouse to be moving to St Louis? Is there work available here that he could obtain that will avoid the necessity of your move?
10. If you are going to work, have you considered whether you will be able to get a job in the new state?

by Anne McIntyre

It’s a fact:  Most Americans do not have a passport. The number of Americans who have a passport, according to the State Department, is 68 million, or around 22% of the population.  That means that as of this year, 78% of US citizens cannot see the Eiffel Tower or Machu Picchu or the Great Wall of China.  Heck, they can’t even visit their grandma in Canada!

There are so many reasons to own a US passport.  Freedom. Adventure. Exploration. Education.  I could go on and on.  One of the best reasons I’ve heard is from Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler, who says, “It’s through travel, first and foremost, that we meet and understand the outside world. We can read all about other countries in papers and magazines or see them on television, but it’s remarkable how different places turn out to be when you actually visit them.”

There is a terrific book edited by Sara Benson titled “Don’t Let The World Pass You By! 52 Reasons to Have a Passport”.  I believe in each and every one.  Here are a few of my favorites:

#2 Find Out Who You Really Are
Flipping through your passport is like reading your diary. A passport makes grand adventures possible, and also preserves them like photos in an album. Where go go in the world says something about you. – what you’re interested in, how adventurous you are, what kind of activities you like…who you really are.

#6 C’mon, Live a Little
In the words of Auntie Mame – You’ve Got to Live, Live, Live! There is so much life in you and plenty of energy to connect to out in the world.  But you have to get out there to experience it.

#7 It’s Not Such Risky Business
The world is not a dangerous place if you choose your destinations carefully; the book lists the 10 Safest Countries. By the way, the U.S. ranks 27th, right after Armenia.

#15 Ship Out and Shape Up
True Fact:  I lose weight every time I take a trip – even when I indulge. It’s all that moving around and carrying luggage.  The fact that I am not cooking for myself, have no cupboard to peruse when I am bored and hungry and am walking a ton more than I do at home helps, too.

#22 Feel the Thrill of the (Un) Familiar

Has your life become routine?  Is it time to try something new?  Your passport is the key to that new door that can lead you on adventures all over the world.  Beaching it in Cancun?  Riding camels in Egypt?  Helping at a school in Costa Rica?  These all make you feel more alive – and I think, happier.

#33 Activate Your Life
Travel moves you – literally!  Whether it be swimming in a crystal blue ocean, hiking an ancient trail or biking through vineyards, travel is an active pursuit.  It’s the perfect way for you to re-ignite a joy for life AND burn calories at the same time.

And here is my own Oprah moment of travel: You can be your own best self when you travel.  You can re-invent yourself every day.  You can talk to new people or spend the day within yourself.  If you are open to the experience, you will learn more in one day of travel than most other pursuits.  Martha Gellhorn – war reporter, novelist, travel writer (and Hemingway’s 3rd  wife) – said it best “Now I am alive again.  Ponce de León was a nut case:  the fountain of youth is not a little spurt of water but travel.  I forget everything I know; otherwise I would have left much sooner. . . I have only to go to a different country, sky, language, scenery, to feel it is worth living.”

Martha?  Mame?  The message is the same.

Want the book?  It’s available from Amazon.com:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1740595785?ie=UTF8&tag=divorcesupp04-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1740595785

Posted by Linda Smith

Reclaiming your life after divorce is a lifelong process from that point.  I know because I’m still doing it.  And I know it’s possible and worth the efforts…all the efforts.  Divorce has visited my life more than one time.  I’m at an age now where I can look back and see that my life is a pieced-together quilt – because divorce fractures your life, the blocks of my quilt are of differing fabrics and textures but all are sewn into the blanket that keeps me warm.

There are many branches to the tree of reclaiming your life – not to bring too many metaphors into this conversation.  One branch for me is that I did find a new life companion…something I never dreamed would happen.  We’ve been married seven years this year and are best friends.  This branch is strong and growing.

Another branch is my career and work life.  I don’t know about other women, but divorce not only fractured my personal life, but my work life as well.  I’ve had to rebuild and actually decide upon a direction.  I discovered that this was a scary area.  Hesitation kept me at bay for awhile and kept me from following my dreams of being a working artist and a writer.  Divorce can scar your psyche as well as your emotions.

However, the miraculous thing I discovered is that the first step towards reclaiming your life is taking the first step. Just take it and you’ll find you are already on the path towards somewhere exciting.

Last month I published my first book.  This was a another of those scary undertakings because the scar tissue of divorce can often be thick and difficult to bend.  Reclaiming self-confidence is a long road…but ultimately one worthy of travel.  My book is a little booklet, a guide really, for home-based business owners.  It’s titled, “Beginners Guide for Home-Based Business Owners-Establishing an Initial Presence on the Internet,” and is available at Amazon.com.  My brother was amazed that I wrote and published this book.  He asked ‘Wow! When did you do this?  How did you do this?’  He knows that stepping into a new realm is always hard for me.  I told him that I just decided to do it.  I took the first step and just kept walking.

Divorce for some can be devastating.  It was for me.  However it doesn’t have to mean that your life remains devastated.  Human beings are remarkable creatures.  We have the ability to adapt and bounce back.  And I’ve learned that women in particular are very strong people.

If you have a dream, a goal you’d like to accomplish, I invite you to consider for a moment this question: what would happen if you took the first step towards it?  How would that feel?  Taking that first step will be the first step on the road to achieving your dream.

‘One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, ‘Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!’ This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, ‘The Law of the Garbage Truck.’

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks.. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’ll dump it on you. Don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. ”

–Author Unknown

Have a garbage free day!