Living Life Intentionally

You've heard before that if you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up someplace else.  I'm at an age where I ask myself, "How did I get here?  Is this what I want to be doing?  What else do I want out of life?"

I've always been one to live life intentionally.  There have been lapses from time to time, but for the most part, I've forged my own way rather than allowing the tides of life to sweep me away.  Along the way, I put myself through college, adopted four children, built my own house in the country (with lots of help), and started my own business.

Part of it is because I'm pretty stubborn.  Part is because I've always been very critical of what our culture says we must do; I don't just accept everything as fact.  And part is because I've always been aware of who I am and what is important to me.

It's never too late to start living life very intentionally - or to get back on track if you've wandered aimlessly for a while.  But how do you get started?

Stephen Covey suggests that we think about the end of our lives.  What will we want to have accomplished?  How will we want people to sum up our lives?  Take a few moments to imagine your obituary.  Are you pleased with what it would say?

Now think about what is really important to you.  Do you want to see the world - or our country?  Do you want to have time to volunteer to help others?  Do you want to get out of the rat race - or into it?  Do you want to do your part to keep our environment clean or spend more time being a good influence on your grandchildren?

The first step is to decide on what is important to you.  You can write goals or mission statements - or even draw a picture to convey what it is you want.  The next step for many people is to make the time and money needed available. 

One exercise my husband and I enjoyed was writing a list of what we valued.  Then we wrote down where our money was going.  We were able to note where we were spending too much on things that really didn't matter much to us while spending little or nothing on things we said we valued.

While the economy is in a crunch, it is even more crucial that we take the time to think about what really matters to us.  Whether your own resources are limited or those of people you know and love have been affected, it's an important time to make sure that money is spent on things with real value. 

Stop and make an appointment with yourself if you need to.  Evaluate your life and make the decisions that will lead to a fulfilling life, lead intentionally.

For more information:

• Hot Tips For Living Intentionally
• Ellen's Eight Counter-Intuitive Steps

Special Offer:  Special Pricing on Dogwood Pitcher and Tumbler Sets

Now is the time to purchase the beautiful Dogwood pitcher with tumblers at a special low price.  We've never before offered our pitchers and tumblers together. 

The pitcher and tumblers are hand-crafted in the USA by LE Smith Glass Co.  LE Smith Glass Co. recently celebrated its first 100 years in business.  LE Smith glass is highly collectible and heirloom quality.

Purchase the pitcher and four (4) tumblers for $79.99 (regularly $91.95), the pitcher and eight (8) tumblers for $109.00 (regularly $135.91 - plus free shipping), or the pitcher and twelve (12) tumblers for $139.00 (regularly $179.87 - plus free shipping).  This offer ends August 31, 2009.


Craft:   Silk Flower Corsage

 

When my daughter got married this summer, my mother and I divided the silk flower duties.  I made the bouquets and flower arrangement for the church, and she made the corsages and pew bows.  Besides saving a lot of money, it was so nice to add a very personal touch to her wedding.

Supplies:

"silk" flowers such as rosebuds
"silk" greenery
small flowers such as baby's breath or "berries" or other small decorations
floral tape
ribbon bow tied with wire
corsage pin
wire cutters

Make your bow from 5/8" ribbon such as chiffon.  Avoid ribbons with a papery feeling.  View this video for instructions on making a corsage ribbon bow.

Experiment with your flowers and greenery to make the arrangement of the bouquet.  Try a main flower with a side flower and some baby's breath.  Or use just a main flower with some "berries" under it.  Then add greenery behind the main flower.  Hold them together and snip the stem approximately 2 inches below the main bloom.  (Alternately, leave the stems a little longer if they are flexible - later you can curl the bottom of the stem.)

Add the bow, aligning the excess wire with the rest of the stems.

Use floral tape to wrap the stems, gently stretching and using the warmth of your fingers as you go.  If you find it difficult to wrap all of the stems at once, simply start with the first stem and add the next, wrapping lightly with floral tape.  Continue until all of the stems are wrapped into one stem.  This method will often make a thicker stem unsuitable for curling.

Add the corsage pin.  Store in an inflated zipper plastic bag until ready to use.





Product Spotlight:  Cobalt Blue Glass Platter in the Elizabeth Pattern

Recipe 1:  Chewy Chocolate Cookies

I would like to say that this cookie is one of my kids' favorites - and it is - but it's really one of my own favorite cookies.

1 1/4 cups butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream the sugar and butter.  Add the eggs and vanilla extract. 

In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients together.  Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture.

Drop by teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 9 minutes.

Cook one minute before removing from the cookie sheet to the cooling rack.

Makes 48.





Recipe 2:  Banana Pancakes

I first made these pancakes with Splenda instead of sugar and they turned out great.  Use a very ripe banana, cook slowly, and be careful of overcooking - they can become deep brown very easily.  Frequently spray your pan and spatula with non-stick cooking spray because the pancakes are stickier than usual.   

Recipe 3:  Shepherd's Pie

This dish is comfort food for me.  I always feel like I've had a delicious, square meal every time we have it.  It's great warmed up the second day, too.