Oh, I love it, guys.  I am SO freakin’ happy!

I had a very busy week.  I had meetings for 5-6 hours each day.  I have been lucky enough to be able to jump in and help out with some projects already. 

I have never worked in a company where everyone pretty much gets along.  I sat in a huge meeting with my division’s directors and personnel and felt absolutely NO underlying tension.  There wasn’t any sort of, “My project matters more than yours” feeling at all.  Everyone listened.  Everyone valued the input. 

And we laughed.  A lot.  Especially at the video of one guy falling on his skis, which was on America’s Funniest Home Videos tonight. We watched it a few times and it just became funnier and funnier.

I feel so blessed to be with this company and in this position.  I have enjoyed every minute so far.

I will say that using my brain for the first time in 2 years has really worn me out, LOL.  I slept the entire weekend away.  But I know that I’ll adjust and I’ll be even better for it. 

Thanks again for sticking with me through this journey. 

Hi all,

How are my February Challenge of the Month folks doing?

The challenge this month is to try a new form of exercise.  Even if you just try it once, it counts.   I thought I was going to try Rachel Cosgrove’s workout, but that didn’t happen.  I haven’t even had a chance to open the book.

Then I had planned on doing Pure Barre, as Jessie is teaching there now, too.  But the class times haven’t worked for me yet.

Instead, Bob purchased me a small stair/stepper contraption, that’s totally powered by you.  As soon as I use it for more than 2 minutes, I’ll let you know. 

Stay tuned for the winner of this month’s giveaway as well as the March Challenge of the Month, both of which will be announced next week.

If you’ve been around here for more than two minutes, you know that I have an obsession with a love for handbags.  I can’t believe it took me so long to find a blog devoted entirely to purses.  I also can’t believe I didn’t think of it first.

The Purse Blog

Speaking of handbags, I bought myself two new ones for my new job. 

Both are B. Makowsky. 

I bought it in bone, too.  The price was originally$268/per purse, but I found them at TJ Maxx for $150/each.

Of course, I thought that there just HAVE to be more blogs about purses.  Right?

I found:

1. Purseuing
2. Bag Bliss
3. The Bag Lady

How about you?  Do you know of any blogs devoted to handbags?

Reposted from 2010.

Single folks, I can feel your bitterness from here.

In fact, I used to sit at the Bitter Table with you.

And someday, I may be back there.   Bob’s age practically guarantees it. 

But the point of this post is to say – STOP.  Stop the bitterness.

Why?

Well, for one thing, how about KARMA?

What goes around comes around and if you begrudge others’ happiness, why on earth would you be granted any?  Hmmmm?

How about the Laws of Attraction?

Are you at your most attractive when you are glum about your romantic prospects?  NO.

People are attracted to HAPPY people.

So tomorrow, go be your own Valentine.  Take yourself out for dinner and a movie.  Go to a singles mixer.  Make yourself a dessert that you can someday share with your love.

I used to think, well when THIS happens, my life will start.

Guess what?  Your life started the day you were born. Time marches on.  And it speeds up the older you get.

Take charge of your life.

Don’t expect Mr. or Ms. Right to knock on your door, proclaiming his/her love for you, sight unseen.

I met The Vet through the internet.  A lot of people meet that way.

Do something that interests you, with no other motive but to enjoy yourself.  It’s true that it happens when you least expect it. 

Make yourself happy.  People will be drawn to that.

You know how they say that whatever you are when the clock strikes midnight as the New Year passes is where you will be for the year?   I think it’s true.

And where was I when the clock struck twelve?  I was running behind.  And I have felt that way this entire year so far.  I just can’t seem to get the days to slow down!

There are so many wonderful and amazing things going on in my life right now and this blog is a huge part of that.  I just need to find the balance.

My last day at the temp job was yesterday and then I start at Wendy’s on Monday, so I need to really focus on getting organized.  To that end, I need to take just a teeny, tiny blogging break. 

I promise to be back as soon as I can!

Alright, folks, we have our February Challenge of the Month participants!

1.  Michelle of Rage Your Way Thin

2.  Munchesmom of Four Blessings Academy

3.  Laura of Absolut(ly) Fit

4.  Charlotte of The Great Fitness Experiment

5.  Tyly of One Mile at a Time

6.  Brandi of Oh Flaxy Lady

7. Radioactive Vegan of Radioactive Vegan

Welcome one and all and I can’t wait to hear about your progress!

Thank you to all who entered.  You guys love you some Charlotte Hilton Andersen, and you know  I’m totally on board with that!

Winner #1:  Commenter #30 Write_Stuff!

Winner #2:  Commenter #16 Sarah!

I’ll be in contact with you both so I can get your copies to you. 

Again, thanks to all who entered.  And thanks to Charlotte for writing a wonderful book!

Whew, there is a lot going on here on the PIO site.  Just in case you missed it, here is a recap:

1. We ended our January 2011 Challenge yesterday and our winner is Kim of It’s a Turbo Life.  Kim decided to take the challenge to the very end and asked that all $50 of the prize go to her chosen charity, the Collin College Foundation.  Now, THAT is kind!

2.  I reviewed Charlotte of The Great Fitness Experiment’s book (of the same name) and I am going to giveaway two copies this Friday.  You can enter HERE by commenting and  you may comment as much as your big heart desires to increase your chances of winning.

3.  Today begins our February 2011 Challenge of the Month.  Go HERE for the details and to sign up. DEADLINE TO SIGN UP IS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH.

4. New to Pretty in Orange?  Check out my About page to see what I’m all about!

Lots of fun stuff going on!!

I’m so proud of how all of you did this month with your quest to Be Kind.  I loved reading about your endeavors. 

The winner of January’s challenge is:

Kim of It’s a Turbo Life!

Kim, Congratulations!!  I will email you so that I can set you up with your Amazon gift certificate and also donate some money to your favorite charity!

Thank you to all who participated! On to February!

Hi all,

This is the last week of the Be Kind Challenge. I think that all of the participants are doing SO well!! 

I started off my week as I have been for the entire challenge – paying for the person behind me at Starbucks.  I hope it starts their week off in a good way as well!

I know that this past Thursday was my roughest day of being kind.  We had a major snowstorm roll in.  Many offices dismissed their employees early, including mine.  Usually I work until 6pm, but I left at 4:30 pm. I knew it was going to be a rough ride home, but I didn’t expect it to take 60 minutes to drive the six miles home. 

It was frustrating to me because people took total advantage of the situation and were rude to each other.  And it’s hard to be kind when everyone is grumpy. 

But I decided that I needed to suck it up and be nice.  I let people in a couple of times, even though every car in front of me was one more car away from me getting home.  In the end though, it didn’t matter, as I arrived home safely.

A week from today I will be announcing the winner of this month’s challenge as well as what February’s challenge is (hint: it’s physical!). 

How are you doing on the Be Kind Challenge?