Intentional Lifestyle Archives - Page 2 of 3

January 21, 2021January 10, 2021

The Best Things In Life Are Free

In a world where materialism is brandished and praised, we remind ourselves continuously to stay grounded in our beliefs- the best things in life are free. People and experiences are where true happiness lies. We like the occasional shiny new thing like anyone else but we are intentional to keep things in perspective.

It’s easy to lose sight sometimes because our society has an obsession with items of gratification. Commercials that promote brand new cars with 0% down, unsolicited credit cards in the mail with our names on them, and holidays that persuasively encourage us to spend again and again.

We try to remember the things that bring us joy. Those things often don’t cost a thing. For me, it’s our big family group hug, our dance parties in the family room, or yard work. FREE! As each day passes, I want my kids to know their childhood was filled with love, laughter, and fun. And for me and Simone, these are the things that sustain us and gives us purpose.

January 18, 2021January 7, 2021

How to Conquer Fear: Don’t Let Self-Doubt Lead To Self-Sabotage

Fear is a powerful thing. It’s so powerful that it can change a life for better or worse in an instant. In order to live a life of intention, we must learn how to conquer fear and not let it be self-limiting.

Of course, there is good fear. The fear that tells you not to touch a hot stove or jump into traffic. Those fears protect you. Your intuition also provides good fear. Listen to it.

I’m talking about the fear that makes your star shine a little less bright than it’s destined. The fear that tells you to say no when deep down you know you should be saying yes.

Our Intentional Farm is part of my self-exploration. It’s a place where I can express myself, unapologetically. A place where I can tap into my creativity. But, I struggle.

January 11, 2021January 7, 2021

Everyday Distractions And The Subconscious Ways We Delay Progress

I’m a very goal-driven person. The act of setting a goal and then working toward it, making incremental progress is so motivating to me. Getting to that feeling of accomplishment keeps me going when the journey gets inevitably difficult. But still, I often let myself succumb to everyday distractions.

Unintentionally or intentionally, I find myself from time to time letting distractions take me off course.

December 31, 2020January 7, 2021

2020: A Reflective Look At The Year And Where We Are Headed

As 2020 comes to an end, we take a reflective look at our journey. I don’t think that there is anyone who can say 2020 wasn’t a wild rollercoaster ride of emotions. For us the year started out joyful, we were looking forward to so much. New baby, an energetic toddler, and planning for wonderful adventures ahead. Then COVID-19 turned the world upside down and life as we knew it was put on pause.

December 21, 2020December 20, 2020

We’re Having a Frugal And Intentional Christmas This Year

It’s almost Christmas! And we’re having a frugal and intentional Christmas this year. Honestly, we have a frugal Christmas every year, but this year even more so. Both intentionally and unintentionally we’ve scaled back this holiday season.

As a couple, we’ve usually focused on experiences rather than stuff. I don’t need new clothing, and Sean doesn’t even wear watches so what’s the use? But the memories we have created together and as a family are invaluable.

This year, we can’t travel. So we are spending this Christmas dreaming about all of the things we want to do in the future and also taking some time to intentionally express gratitude for every blessing.

We’re having a frugal and intentional Christmas, but even if you’re not on the frugal tip, you can still incorporate some of these activities into your celebration.

November 30, 2020December 10, 2020

The Intentional Decisions We Made With Our Midcentury Home Renovation

The first time I stepped into a midcentury home I was a teenager. It was my aunt’s house in Pasadena, California. I loved the simplicity of it. It felt cozy but spacious, a great place for entertaining. But I always thought that I would never be able to afford something like it. It seemed unattainable. At the time I didn’t even know that it was midcentury. But I came to know and love that era of design and when Simone and I met, I found out that we had that in common.

In 2006 when I was house hunting, a midcentury home wasn’t even on the wish list. I guess my teenage assumptions spilled into adulthood and I didn’t bother revisiting that old dream. Though a midcentury home wasn’t one of my intentional decisions at the time, it was my intention to purchase an older home, a home with character.

Turns out my realtor and friend lived in a neighborhood founded in 1912, filled with beautiful midcentury homes. And as the universe would have it, the home just a few doors from his went on the market. Dare I say it was meant to be.

November 26, 2020December 10, 2020

Connecting the Past and Present With My Love of Vintage

Connecting the past and the present isn’t always a good thing. At times, the past is better left there. But other times, an intentional act to make that connection creates lasting memories that bridge different phases of life.

From as early as I can remember, I’ve had a love of vintage things. The credit really goes to my dad who owns a verdoro green, 1969 GTO. This means nothing to most people, but if you know anything about classic muscle cars, you know that this car has a roaring 400 horsepower engine, stick shift, racing seat belts, and leather seats.

Ok ok, back to the topic before you daydream your way out of this post.

November 19, 2020December 10, 2020

3 Intentional and Easy Lifestyle Changes for Healthy Weight Gain

Committing to intentional lifestyle changes for healthy weight gain has been a slow and not always steady process. It’s funny how we can confess to wanting something so badly but our actions don’t reflect our confessions. And implementing anything, even if it is easy, is difficult without commitment.

A few years ago we cut animal protein from our diets. Ever since my weight has dropped significantly. I then had to cut back on my sugar intake and my weight dropped again. One of my favorite hobbies is running. But whenever I ran, I felt like I was only contributing more to the weight loss. So I switched to primarily lifting weights – inconsistently. Before I knew it, I was the smallest I had been since childhood and feeling less than comfortable in my own skin.

Over the course of three years, I lost about 30 pounds.

November 16, 2020December 10, 2020

Minimalism Is a Journey, It’s Not All or Nothing

I confess I have failed. Haven’t we all failed at something in life? Minimalism has intrigued me for many years but somehow the practical application continued to evade me. That’s because I was thinking about it all wrong. I had to remind myself that minimalism is a journey, it’s not all or nothing.

Minimalism is a journey that takes you through a path of self-discovery. A place of intimate awareness of oneself and intentionality that helps to focus your energies on what truly matters to you… to me.

All of this time, I was focused on purging to get rid of as much stuff as possible. Only to get frustrated when I seemed to always end up right where I started – with a bunch of stuff still hanging around. I never got to a place where I considered myself a minimalist.

November 9, 2020December 10, 2020

Resolutions Don’t Have to Wait for the New Year, Start Today!

As the year wraps up, the New Year resolution pins and posts are going to ramp up. Our screens and sound waves will be inundated with challenges and gadgets claiming to help us conquer them. We all tend to like firsts – the first of the month, the first of the year. They mark the beginning and seem like the perfect time to get a fresh start on our goals. But there is no perfect time. Resolutions don’t have to wait for the new year, start today!