Inspiration and Intentional Living from Joanna Gaines

Joanna Gaines inspires me.  After reading one of her magazines, I am reading to clean the house, decorate a room, cook a new recipe, and call my children.  I am super impressed with this fellow Texan and all she has accomplished.

Her most recent edition of her magazine, The Magnolia Journal is dedicated to interntional living.  I try to live with intention, but fail in so many areas.  It seems there is just not enough time in the day to accomplish all I want to with true intention.  But, over the years, I have improved a lot, and hope to improve more.  This topic lead me to set some personal goals in several areas.  I will let you know how I am doing as the year progresses.   She did inspire me to cook more over the weekend.  My husband and I have started a bad habit of eating out alot each weekend.  I know it is mostly my fault…claiming I am too busy to cook.  But, the meals last weekend were very simple and allowed me to test some new products.

I was asked to try this AR’S HOT SOUTHERN HONEY...it is honey with a spicy kick of red chili peppers.  So, I tossed these sweet potatoes in cinnamon and a touch of nutmeg; sprinkled the honey over the pieces I cut up; and then baked at 400 for about thirty minutes.  They were yummy!  I also tried the honey on this baked salmon with pesto sauce.  The two together made for a delicious salmon.  Yep…we really like this honey!

Another product, I was happy to review are the Holmsted Fines Churneys  I do not usually good with Chutney, but was happy to give them a go.  I cooked chicken in the slow cooker covered with the Holmstead Fines Apple and Jalepeno Chutney, and the sprinkled dry onion soup mix on top of it, added a little chicken broth; and some sliced sweet potatoes….yes, we love sweet potatoes!  It was delicious and I am anxious to try the other flavors sent my way.

 

I know many of you will be cooking this holiday weekend for family and friends…perhaps this gave you a little inspiration.

What does it mean to you to live with INTENTION?  Please share….and as always…

KEEP SMILING!!

6 Comments

  1. She inspires me too Pam. I read that magazine and really enjoy it. I am definitely getting this honey! It sounds wonderful on the salmon, and I love hot and spicy foods! Ordering that today! Thank YOU for YOUR inspiration Pam!

  2. I like Joanna Gaines (plus Chip and the kids).
    I love sweet potatoes and not just the fixed as French fries. My husband and I enjoy them chopped up, tossed with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and dried herbs and then roasted. They’re good hot or cold.

  3. In answer to your question about living intentionally, I don’t think I do that. I wish I did, but right now it’s more like flying by the seat of my pants. When I think of living intentionally, it’s more like having a direction or a plan (to me, anyway). Doing what you do with a purpose. Right now in my life I’m finding myself so involved with trying to manage my elderly mom’s life and balance with my own work life, that lots of plans are shot down without warning. Had such a day yesterday. I strive for balance also, and have yet to read this issue of the magazine, so maybe I’ll get some pointers. Please share your journey too! I’ve developed a loose plan for when I’m no longer working full time, but so much depends on my mom too. It’s a tough place to be in life when we are older but still have living and very elderly parents to take care of. It’s a privilege, but I’m the first to admit it can be draining!

  4. Joanna inspires me, too. I have read many articles & books about living intentionally & living in the moment. It is certainly a hard concept to achieve in this day of technology & instant everything. To me, it means enjoying & appreciating each task I do, no matter how small. For example, when I do laundry, I am thankful that we have clothes to wear & for the machines that help me with this task. I notice the fragrance of the laundry products I use & the way the items smell & feel fresh from the dryer. Because I am so accustomed to multi-tasking, it takes an effort to concentrate on one thing at a time. It is a work in progress.

  5. I know it can be draining, Karen and I have such respect for caregivers. You are living with intention when taking care of them…perhaps you may not see it. But I do.

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