Special offer - Purchase The Intention Box and receive a free 10-minute tutorial from Ann.  Ann will personally call you and help you get started.

If you want a gift that will touch the heart of a dear friend, motivate a new graduate to dream big, or inspire newlyweds to grow together, The Intention Box is the perfect choice. We’ll happily extend the offer to them, too.

Restrictions on phone call availability may apply.

In this unique 3-session tele-workshop, I’ll teach you “9 Tips for Clearing Clutter.”  Here’s the fun hitch:  I’m going to add a layer and teach you how to declutter with intention. It’s a technique I learned through my Feng Shui training, and people love it.  I’ve been doing it personally for years and can’t wait to share it with you. To celebrate spring, we’ll focus on intentions for your wellness.

Here are the details:

Boost Your Wellness
Three 45-minute Tele-workshop Sessions with Ann Drew Yu - March 18, April 15, May 13  (7:30 p.m. CST)*
* If there’s enough interest, I’ll add a daytime section.  Reply to this email and let me know your time preferences.

If you have the desire to liberate yourself from clutter, if you’re curious to experience how decluttering can open you to new possibilities, if you’re motivated to focus on your wellness, this class is for you.

(Have questions about the tele-workshop format?  Please see the FAQ section below.)

What you’ll get:
*  9 tried-and-true decluttering tips you’ll practice each month on a very small home project of your choice.  (I want you to experience success.)

*  Guided instruction on focused, do-able wellness intentions

*  Encouraging accountability and support
Mid-month check-ins with Ann via email.
The opportunity to be a “Boost Buddy” with a classmate.  Or, you’re encouraged to sign-up with a friend.

What you’ll need:
*  A quiet place and a phone.
*  A desire to grow.

The Intention Box is a required tool for this class.  You’ll use it to focus and set your intentions. If you don’t already have one, you can contact me directly or order online at www.TheIntentionBox.com.

Class tuition:  $45
Class tuition + Intention Box = $93 (does not include tax and shipping)
Payment must be received by March 16.

To register, email  ann@anndrewyu.com  and say, “I’m in.”
I’ll then give you payment options.

About Ann
Ann Drew  Yu is a writer, teacher, and inspirational speaker on intentional living. She holds a Masters Degree in Literature from Middlebury College; is certified in Feng Shui; founded Good Intentions, a lifestyle consulting firm; and developed The Intention Box, a lifestyle tool that gives you a simple, beautiful way to make a positive change, elevate your thinking, and live into your possibilities.

FAQ
1.  What is a tele-workshop?
Essentially, a tele-workshop is a live conference call, in which you join Ann and your satellite classmates.

2.  I have a conflict with the dates.  Are the tele-workshops recorded?
Yes.  Every tele-workshop will be recorded so you can dial in at your convenience to hear what you missed.

3.  What does it look like to participate?
You’ll need a quiet place and a phone.  Five minutes before the designated time, you dial in and punch in the access code. You’ll hear a ping that announces you’ve joined the call.  You then state your name, sit back, and enjoy.

4.  Do I have to talk?
No. Sometimes I’ll ask for questions or sharing.  At that time, you can talk if you choose to. It’s optional.

5.  When are you starting your next tele-seminar?
Here’s the tentative schedule:
Lifestyle Boost #1:  Wellness (March - May)
Lifestyle Boost #2:  Family (June - August);
Lifestyle Boost #3:  Wealth (September - November).

I hope you’ll join me!  It’s a great way to lift your spirits, inspire your spring cleaning, and boost your wellness.

After many failed attempts, Raymond and I have finally found a date night formula that works.

My criteria is stiff:  recapturing the butterfly feeling I had when we  were first dating. That’s a tall order, sixteen years and two kids later.  But, it was time to put some intention into our relationship.

Here’s the forumula that’s working for us:

Manageable:  Once-a-month

Unpredictable:  The date activity has to be new–something we’ve never done.

Surprise element:  This is my favorite part. We can’t reveal the plans for the date to the other until we’re pulling out of the driveway.

Taboo:  No talking kids or finances allowed. Period.

Dress code:  It’s a date.  Dress like it.  (Raymond set the bar on this one.  On our second date, he rounded the corner looking all snappy in a sports coat and striped shirt. When I saw that, I hightailed it upstairs and spiffed up, too.  What a nice surprise!)

Shared responsibility:  We alternate who’s in charge.  I plan one month, he plans the next.  The person in charge also manages kid coverage. Nice.

So far, we’ve seen a comedy show at Brave New Workshop, had late sushi at Fuji-Ya, viewed a fabulous exhibit at the Russian Museum of Art, and lunched at Blackbird.  We’re having a lot of fun.  After 10 years of focusing on the kids, it’s looooong overdue to invest in us. Side benefit - I’m remembering why I married  him.  I’d do it again. Butterflies!

101 Ways to Live a Better Life

Want to live a better life?  Metro Magazine has you covered.  In this month’s issue, they share 101 fun ideas, ranging from how to butcher a chicken to Feng Shui Your Bedroom.

Below is my section of the feature. (To read the other 100 ideas, click on the link at the end.)

Feng Shui Your Bedroom
1.  Remove anything that doesn’t support rest and intimacy.  This means getting rid of the TV, laptops, stacks of books and magazines, and any other kind of clutter.

2.  Set a tone of equality.  Flank the bed with a pair of nightstands or lamps.  Easy access to the bed on both sides is important. Don’t smush it against the wall.

3.  Surround yourself with symbols that support partnership, whether you’re in a relationship or not.  Happy photos of you and your significant other belong, snapshots of you and the kids do not.

4.   Bring on the pink.  Pink symbolizes love in the Feng Shui philosophy.  You don’t have to saturate your walls with rosy shades, but adding touches like lampshades, an candleholder or drapes will soothe the room’s energy.

Click here to read the complete Metro Magazine article.

The Gift of Warmth - I get cold easily.  That is, until I purchased a Smart Wool micro-weight crew shirt.  It changed my Minnesota-in-the-winter life.  Available locally at Midwest Mountaineering.  Price:  $65.

The Gift of Ideas - One of the more intriguing books I read this year is Made to Stick:  Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die.  It offers fascinating analysis and concrete tips to make your own ideas “stickier.”  I highly recommend it.  Price:  $25.

The Gift of Laughter - Give tickets to a ComedySportz show in Calhoun Village (or your local improv troop).  It’s improvisational comedy played a s sport.  My whole family loves this place.  Price:  $12 adults, $8 kids.

The Gift of Time - In June, my sister-in-law Stacie hosted my sons for four days in Iowa and loved ‘em up.  In July, my sister-in-lawy Julie set aside an entire day to teach them how to cook a 5-course French meal.  Thank you, Stacie and Julie, for giving one of the most precious gifts of all - your time.  Price:  Priceless.

The Gift of Encouragement - Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention The Intention Box.  Obviously, it’s something I believe in.  In 2009, it spurred me to take risks, hug my family more, and stay on track with my life purpose.  Do you know someone who is ready to re-direct her life, launch a dream, or simply take a deep breath?  The Intention Box may be just the nudge she needs.   Price:  $48.

Wishing you a holiday season filled with warmth, laughter, and love.

1.  Clean the door and window.  Say goodbye to summer dirt and grime.

2.  Hang a seasonal wreathe or door decoration.  It’s a simple way to have fun and embrace the change of seasons.

3.  Create a sense of spaciousness.  Delcutter shoes and coats.  Keep only the essentials by the door.  Relocate everything else to secondary storage.

4.  Offer a beautiful focal point.  The first thing seen upon entering your home should be pleasing.  Place or hang something beautiful in this sight line.  Make sure it’s something you love.

Follow these simple steps for every entrance in your home and magnify the effect.

Back-to-school means the return of routine. Here are my personal tips to refresh and simplify life.

1.  Declutter your kids’ closets now. This will reduce laundry clutter during the year and encourage flow.

2.  Simplify one meal a week. In our house, every Wednesday is “Sandwich and Sundaes” night. It’s an easy mid-week break.

3.  Set clear expectations for kid chores and enforce them from Day 1. My morning expectations for my sons are: unload the dishwasher, fold laundry, and clean up breakfast.

4.  Buy yourself something new for the kitchen. Moms spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Might as well enjoy it. I just bought kitchen shears and a steel colander.  Good tools make me happy.

5.  Create a Sunday evening ritual. Our Sunday ritual is an early dinner and a spirited game of Boggle. It’s a wonderful way to center our family for the upcoming week.

How about you? What are your ideas to refresh and simplify for the school year? Please  share by posting.

Thank you for a wonderful evening of good will at The Intention Box Launch Party!  Your enthusiasm and support mean so much to me.   A highlight of the evening was witnessing the  hopes and dreams you launched that night.  May they all be fulfilled.  –Ann

To get you started, just open up to fun - allow it - and see what shows up.

My Freshly Painted Toes

Is there a fun or interesting way you’ve found to use your Intention Box?