meal planning made simple

*This post contains affiliate links. I did not receive payment from eMeals or Groupon. I simply want to share my personal experiences and thoughts.*

I am touching base today to begin a progression of posts on digital tools that are helping to simplify our lives.

I love to cook and used to love the process of meal planning. Once our second child arrived, I have found it difficult to make the time that I used to ensuring our meals are filled with the types of food that we love and are made of our favorite ingredients. Even when I did have more time I struggled sometimes to find new ideas and especially different side dishes to match our main courses.

…and then I met eMeals! What attracted me most to this tool is that it generates my meals and shopping list for me (print or app). Also, I can delete the items I already have in my pantry, adding staples and other items to it, as needed. Continue reading

my toddler is kind of like a “walker”

Albeit later than the rest of the human race, I’ve recently become preoccupied with The Walking Dead. I never thought of myself as one who would enjoy a zombie flick, let alone watch one religiously, but yes, you can count me among the 16 million fans. Continue reading

the 100 likes giveaway: enter to win your copy of Daring Greatly, by Brene Brown

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Well folks, the intentionista page now has 100 likes! My heart is happy. Now it’s time for some raffle fun! It is with great appreciation that I am giving away a brand-spanking new copy of Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the way way we live, love, parent and lead, by Brene Brown. Thank you for your readership, enthusiasm and community. We are all certainly on this journey of life together.

Brene Brown says it so perfectly, “Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.”

Click here to enter intentionista’s Rafflecopter giveaway!

mindfulness for the holidays

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As we approached this holiday season, our family decided that we wanted to be more mindful of the true meaning of the holiday spirit and for us that means: Love, laughter, togetherness, gratitude, giving and celebration of life (and those we have lost).

We decided to do a few things differently… Continue reading

does what you control matter? does it matter what you control?

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If you were shown the picture above and asked where it is that you spend the majority of your time, where would you point? Continue reading

pods, luminaries and life is good

While I was not asked to write or paid to write this blog post, it does contain affiliate links. All posts via intentionista will contain honest thoughts on all topics. 

Have you ever thought to your self, “Now that’s the business I would have started if I would have started a business?” Between my husband and I (with thanks to our weekly wine nights), we have at least a hundred of them. When we dream about business ideas, they seem to fall into three categories…first, there’s the business you came up with only to find out someone else already started it… For example, when we first started dating, David got really excited about this idea he had for a portable storage unit. The poor guy was absolutely crushed to see this in front of someone’s house… Continue reading

after all, a watch is just a watch

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I was inspired by something my husband said the other day. Someone at work asked him why he still wears a watch. In the day of smartphones, it seems that watch-wearing is dwindling. His response was that he wanted to stay present for those around him. (Have I mentioned how much I love this man?) There are many things I love about this concept of using a watch to stay present but what struck me most was how the word watch can be used as a noun (wristwatch, stopwatch, pocket-watch) or a verb (to view or observe in order to see or learn something; to view with interest; to contemplate or regard mentally)…

Continue reading

Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living

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“Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” Lao Tzu

Just as we were preparing to embark on a lower-level remodel I came across Tsh Oxenrider’s book, Organized Simplicity. It was yet another book that jumped off the shelf just when I needed it to. It is complete with the concepts, tools and resources that I needed to take a hard look at the “stuff” that filled my house. And not just look at it, but evaluate it with tender discernment and intentionality. Like many, we have spent years acquiring gadgets, toys, books, clothes and household goods. We believed that these items would make our lives easier, simpler, and fuller. Continue reading