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“I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes.” ~Sara Teasdale

What counts is the accomplishments of today and tomorrow. We can look at what we did yesterday and learn from it, but ultimately the present and plans for the future are what matter most. I think that’s what Sara is referring to in this quote. Also, to appreciate what we have and to let go of the things we no longer possess is important to our growth – possibly the most important thing we can learn to do in our lives.

I came across this collection of sidewalk art from The Huffington Post this morning and thought I would share it so you can be blown away like I was. The art is so realistic that I feel like I’m there in the scene with the artists!

 

Flip through the photos and let me know what you think!

Telling someone they can’t have chocolate is like telling a child that they can’t jump on the furniture; you want to do it even more. I think we’re all rebels by nature and want what we “can’t” have. With that in mind, here are a few ways you CAN enjoy your chocolate without going overboard and piling up lots of empty calories:

-Choose wisely: Even though most chocolate is commercially processed, pick dark chocolate if you can since it tends to retain more healthy flavonoids than other types.

-Buy smaller portions: Individually wrapped treats tend to help you eat less, and you can portion them out throughout the day instead of eating it all in one sitting.

-Count calories: Don’t spend more than 150-250 calories on this sugary snack each day or you may go over on your daily “discretionary” calories.

-Eat mindfully: Stop to truly enjoy the taste rather than eating on the go. Those who do this tend to eat less and feel more satisfied.

-Pair it with a healthier food: This way you can get in your allotment of nutrients while also satisfying your sweet tooth.

More information can be found here.

Photo courtesy of Eszter

“In my experience, there is only one motivation, and that is desire. No reasons or principle contain it or stand against it.”

- Jane Smiley

Who isn’t motivated by the things they want? I certainly am. Nothing can keep my from the things that I desire any more than they can keep me from thinking. In my mind, desires are one of the most important things in the world. Without them, our lives are boring and purposeless.

What is the most unique proposal you have ever heard or seen? Guaranteed you haven’t heard about one like this. A man built a castle made of snow to propose to his girlfriend!

View the video here and let us know how you would react to a proposal like this!

I LOVE chocolate chip cookies, so it is no surprise that I am jumping at the chance to try this recipe. Give it a try yourself and let us know how they turn out!

Ingredients

* 2 cup(s) plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon(s) baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
* 1 1/2 stick(s) (6 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
* 1 cup(s) (packed) light brown sugar
* 1/2 cup(s) granulated sugar
* 2 large eggs, at room temperature
* 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) pure vanilla extract
* 12 ounce(s) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
* 1 cup(s) coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans, lightly toasted (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and position racks in the middle and lower thirds of the oven. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the baking soda and salt.
2. In a large bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter at medium speed until creamy. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth. At low speed, beat in the dry ingredients. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts.
3. Arrange tablespoons of the cookie dough at least 1 1/2 inches apart on 2 large baking sheets and bake for about 11 minutes for soft and chewy cookies, about 13 minutes for chewy cookies or about 16 minutes for crisp cookies. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes before transferring them to wire racks.

Recipe courtesy of Delish.com

If for some reason you find yourself needing to go out of town for a few days, you have the option of forwarding or stopping your mail while you’re away. Don’t forget this option to prevent a pile-up of mail waiting for you when you get back.

The US Postal Service has a website dedicated to holding mail, so make sure to visit it before you go out of town. Mail can be held for three to thirty days. Just make sure you request this service ahead of time to prevent you from receiving mail after you leave.

The good news is that you can request mail service to resume on whatever day you select. So don’t forget about this option and it will make coming home from your trip that much easier!

Did you think that going green only extended to cars, houses, and household items? Well, think again. You can also go green with your fashion accessories!

Here are some tips from Planet Green that show how you can go green with purses and such:

1. Pick a good vintage

Instead of buying brand new products, trade or buy used purses and other items. There are plenty of ways to breathe new life into them and make them your own.

2. Buy products that use recycled materials

Recycled metals are a great option and can be used in anything from belt buckles to engagement and wedding rings.

3. Do repairs

Fix your broken purse straps and, instead of trashing your old necklaces, simply restring them.

For more ideas of how to repurpose your accessories, visit this site.

Have you ever picked up a package of your favorite kind of pasta and assumed that the serving size is in line with how much you eat? According to the FDA, there needs to be a change in this area.

The FDA wants to change serving sizes to be more realistic to match how much they perceive a normal person would eat. I am pretty conscious of what I eat, so I have noticed that a box of pasta, for example, lists a serving size in grams or ounces instead of cups. Do you eat only a cup anyway? Maybe you do, but the average American certainly doesn’t.

With the inflated servings at restaurants, it is no wonder that Americans are confused or misinformed. Here’s hoping the FDA is successful in their mission to make a change so we can all know how many calories we are actually taking in. FDA, you have my support!

What do you think? Would you like to see this change come to pass?

“All men who have achieved great things have been great dreamers.”

Orison Swett Marden

So dream on, everyone!

Source: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_imagination.html

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