.summer.

/top:london.shorts:c&a.bag:lolli./

sommer.
miss you..

..euer hippiegirl♥

Let us sing a new song

not with our lips but with our lives.

~ Saint Augustine

Photo: Stuart, JV soccer coach
2005

3 Positive Steps to discover the purpose of life.

If your life is not as passionate as you would have liked it to be, if you lack the zest and energy for living, it is because of the lack of an underlying principle around which one’s life should be organized.
The process of discovering this underlying principle may be the most powerful thing you will ever do yourself, because it will give your life a direction, a purpose. It will provide you with the clarity and focus, that could awaken the unbelievable forces hidden somewhere deep inside you.

In this article we will discuss the concept of life and its underlying principle. We will be going through a step by step procedure, exploring your feelings and options, and by the end of this article, you should have a fairly solid tool you could immediately employ in your life, to give it a meaningful direction.

There are three steps to the process of discovering the purpose of your life:

Understanding the principle of choice
Creating your underlying principle
Aligning your life with the underlying principle

Understanding the principle of choice

Norman Vincent Peale has this to say about the power of choice. “The greatest power we have is the power of choice. It is an actual fact, that if you have been groping under unhappiness, you can choose to be joyous, instead. And, by effort, lift yourself into joy. If you tend to be fearful, you can overcome that misery by choosing to have courage. The whole trend and the quality of anyone’s life is determined by the choice that are made”.

Choosing is the most important activity of your mind, because by making a choice, you are proclaiming your desires to your subconscious mind. Once the subconscious mind get to know your desires, it is going to do anything to manifest them in your life. The choices you make in your life become your goal. And, if you are sincere in pursuing them, there is no reason why you should not accomplish them.

Indecision, on the other hand, not only creates frustration and anxiety, but can also confuse the subconscious mind about what you want. But it is important that the choices you make are made by you, in accordance with your true desires, purposes and aptitude. A lot us of let others make choices for us, or make our choices according to what we think is ‘correct’, even if that means that we go against our wishes. What is right for someone is may not be right for you, and the way to know this is listening to what your heart says.
So, begin with, make a list of things which interests you; things which you have always enjoyed, which makes you feel better, which inspires you to surge ahead, no matter what obstacles you face. Do you like doing something creative, or something artistic? Do you enjoy nature, do you like the sea? Do you enjoy helping others? Do you get pleasure out of making a difference in other people’s life?

What ever it is that interests you, go ahead and make a list under the following headlines:

Things you love to do:

______________________________________

What is it that you love in this thing and why? How you could do this for money, and make a living out of it?

__________________

__________________


Creating Your Underlying Principle:

The next step is to examine the list you just made and find out if there is any recurring them. Maybe, it is the contribution that keeps coming up, or an effect to seek or give love, or helping your parents cope with old age. Whatever it is try to identify the central them of the things you love to do, and try to put it in a short and precise statement. This will be your ‘Mission Statement’. It may even be a quote by a famous person, or a philosophy that has influenced you. Of course, as you grow up, this statement could evolve, but its soul will remain the same. Now, write down your Mission Statement.

Aligning your LIFE with the Underlying Principle:

The final step in this journey is to map your path to your ultimate purpose. Make the little changes in your lifestyle that would accommodate this principle in your life. LIVE this principle each and every day. It might take a few days, but you will certainly feel the difference in your enthusiasm for life. If you realize that you love being amidst nature, plan out your holiday. Maybe an outing with your children could be enough to recoup with your energy. On the other hand, you might even want to change your job, or start a new business, that is more in line with your mission.

Remember – “Do what you love, and money will follow”.

.heart.

spitze♥

wochenende :)
endlich. die woche war schlimm.
die nächste wird schlimmer.
pause.genießt sie.

süß!
..you are beautiful♥

..euer hippiegirl♥

Stay active

I am convinced our own happiness requires that we should continue to mix with the world, and to keep pace with it… I can speak from experience on the subject. From 1793 to 1797, I remained closely at home, saw none but those who came there, and at length became very sensible of the ill effect it had upon my own mind, and of its direct and irresistible tendency to render me unfit for society, and uneasy when necessarily engaged in it. I felt enough of the effect of withdrawing from the world then to see that it led to an anti-social and misanthropic state of mind, which severely punishes him who gives in to it; and it will be a lesson I shall never forget as to myself.

~A letter from Jefferson to Madison April 1795 after retiring from public life to the seclusion of Monticello~

Spanish Rice

This recipe is dedicated to one of our readers, Beth. :)

I found a recipe for Spanish rice of a recipe site a while ago, but it wasn't quite right. So I tweaked it a bit, and I think it's just as good as any boxed Spanish rice I've ever tried. I'd admittedly never made my own Spanish rice before, and I didn't realize how easy it was!

This recipe would be easy to change up. A few examples would be to throw in some corn, bell pepper or diced green chilies.

Ingredients:
1 cup rice (NOT Minute Rice)
2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, diced
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 can tomato paste
1 can stewed tomatoes, chopped
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
salt and pepper, to taste

Cook rice and onion in butter until rice is nicely browned and onion is soft, about 5-7 minutes. Add remaining ingredients.

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until rice is tender.

.green.

peace again.
schal:vero moda.pullover,uggs:h&m.hemd:dad.
gürtel:secondhand.jeans:only.

ich bin jeden tag aufs neue überrascht, wieviele lieben menschen meinen blog lesen bzw. angucken ;) danke dafür!
thank you.

der heutige tag ist an mir vorbeigezogen.
was war los?

..euer hippiegirl♥

live your life

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.
Live the life you have imagined.

~ Henry David Thoreau

Photo: Helena, 2006
Take note of how she chose to wear her candy necklace

.blackandwhite.

peace.

outfit.black and white.

freak.

..euer hippiegirl♥

The Gift of Solitude

Certain springs are tapped only when we are alone. The artist knows he must be alone to create; the writer, to work out his thoughts; the musician, to compose; the saint, to pray. We need solitude in order to find again the fine essence of ourselves: that firm strand which will be the indispensible center of a whole web of human relationships.

~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Statue: St. Francis of Assissi

Honey Mustard Chicken

I created this recipe last night, using a few different elements from other recipes I liked as well as adding my own twist to it. It turned out really, really delicious! It's a quick cooking meal that has very few ingredients and really has lots of flavor to it. My kids gobbled it up and were asking for seconds before I'd even taken one bite (not even kidding)!

Ingredients:
3 chicken breasts, pounded thin
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup Italian dressing
3 tablespoons dijon mustard
3 tablespoons honey
2-3 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup milk

Cook chicken in butter in a large pan for about 2-3 minutes per side. While chicken is cooking, combine dressing, mustard and honey in a bowl. Pour over chicken and cook about 10 more minutes, turning chicken over and basting with sauce. When chicken is done, remove from pan. Break cream cheese up into cubes and add to pan. Whisk until cream cheese is melted and combined with sauce. Add milk to thin out sauce, if needed. Serve sauce over chicken.

Happy Veteran's Day

The Military Oath
I do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegience to the United States of America;
that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies whomsoever;
and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me,
according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SERVE

.rain.

man nehme ein flanellhemd aus der männerabteilung.
man gebe einen breiten taillengürtel hinzu und runde dies mit einer röhrenjeans und schönen schuhen ab.
man erhält ein tolles carokleid-outfit :)

mein hemd ist von p&c,
der gürtel von c&a.
das letzte bild zeigt die rückseite des gürtels :)

da ich dermaßen nass geworden bin,
(regen+fahrrad=... nicht schön)
muss ich mich jetzt erstmal umziehen und dann gehts nachher wieder in die schule.

danke für euren vielen lieben kommentare.
ich freue mich riesig über jeden♥

..euer hippiegirl.

Cheese and Potato Enchiladas

I dubbed April the Queen of Cheap Cooking a long time ago. Her grocery budget puts mine to shame, and I have no idea how she does it. This recipe is one that she gave me, and it proves that cheap doesn't have to equal tasteless. It's so yummy and easy. She gave me this recipe one day when I was telling her how I was on the lookout for new meatless meal ideas, and this one is perfect! And the leftovers are just as good, which is always a huge bonus for me.

One quick word about the shredded potatoes. If you can find some with onions and peppers already in there, use those. This recipe will still taste really yummy with plain shredded potatoes, but the ones with the onions and peppers really gives it something extra and makes it even more yummy.

Ingredients:
3 cups frozen shredded potatoes
4 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
14 ounces tomato sauce
1/4 cup chili powder
1/2 cup water
flour tortillas

Combine potatoes and half of cheese in a large bowl. Set aside.

In a medium sauce pan, combine tomato sauce, water and chili powder. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Spoon some potato mixture into each tortilla. Roll up and place seam side down in a 9x13 baking dish. Top with sauce and remaining cheese.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. I like to serve mine with a dollop of sour cream on top.

Do you regularly make meatless meals?
Post your favorite, and we'll try it and post it!

Instructions for Living a Life

Instructions for living a life:

Pay attention.

Be astonished.

Tell about it.

~ Mary Oliver, Sometimes

.violet.

/shirt.kleid:h&m dazu weiße röhre und..

/shoes♥.. deichmann/

sitting.waiting.wishing.
hate this.



♥

..euer hippiegirl

Your Thoughts Count

The thought manifests as the word. The word manifests as the deed. The deed develops into habit. And the habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care. And let it spring from love, born out of concern for all beings.

~~Buddha

Happy 18th Birthday, Angela!!!!!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Angela!
Happy Birthday to you!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANGELA!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

.sunday.

familienbesuche können auch etwas gutes haben.
zwei neue armreifen.20 jahre alt.
absolut vintage.
♥ them.

..euer hippiegirl♥

The Wooden Bowl

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson.The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess "We must do something about father," said the son.

"I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor."

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?"

Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.

For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that when it comes to how we treat our family and loved ones, we should never treat a friend, neighbor, client or customer better than we would treat those we "love".

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life.."

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands …You need to be able to throw something back

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you.

But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I've learned that you should pass this on to everyone you care about as I just did.

Love, Jan