Blog Posts by Intent.com

By Jamie Wheeler, Intent.com

Summer time is the perfect time for a moveable feast. Less face it: most of us spend far too much time basking in the glow of a computer screen instead of basking in the glow of the sun. We can forget how pleasant is to be unplugged. Make it a point this summer to pack up your pic-a-nic basket, grab a blanket, grab your sweetie and leave all of your electronics at home. Yes, ALL of them (or at least leave them in the car). The following tips will help make your outing delicious, rejuvenating, and memorable.

First, let's talk food. A great picnic need not take a lot of effort, but since this is an adult picnic, it can be more adventuresome than what you'd pack if the kids were along. So leave the Cheetos and chocolate chip cookies at home, and consider some of the following goodies instead:

· A loaf of French bread. Slice it up, butter the slices, and put the loaf back together again. Put the buttered loaf in a paper bag.

· An assortment

Read More »from A Romantic Summer Picnic For Two

By Jamie Wheeler, Intent.com

Supermodel Cindy Crawford once said, "They were doing a full back shot of me in a swimsuit and I thought, Oh my God, I have to be so brave. See, every woman hates herself from behind."

Just think of it… if a woman near perfection has doubts about her body, what hope is there for us, mere mortals?

Well, while most of us are not supermodels, there are ways to pick the most flattering suit for your body type and feel more secure by accentuating the positives and diminishing the negatives. Here are some tips for choosing the right swimsuit.

Read More: 5 Sexy Summer Vacation Ideas

Large Busts

If you are well-endowed in the chest, follow these guidelines:

· Choose bright colors or prints. Dark colors can look frumpy.

· Choose a top that lifts and separates.

· Look for a top with an underwire to maintain and lift your breasts.

· Try horizontal stripes on the bottom half to detract from the upper.

· Tankinis

Read More »from How To Find The Perfect Swimsuit

By Jamie Wheeler, Intent.com


The American Road Trip: it's a staple of summer, celebrated in story and song. You probably have memories of family road trips: playing Old Maid with your sister in the backseat of the station wagon, stopping at Stuckey's for a "Pecan Log" or an "All-Day Sucker," and waiting anxiously for the sight your hotel and the promise of a swimming pool. Even though gas prices are high, a road trip is still the most cost-effective vacation you can have. Make it easier, more affordable, and more enjoyable with these helpful tips:

Tires
- Check Your tire pressure, Including the spare. Your Owner's Manual will tell you the proper amount of pressure. - Check the tread depth. Insert a penny with Lincoln's head down. If the tread covers his head halfway, you're good to go
- Check the walls of the tires for any cracks or bulges.

Read More: 8 Tips To Enjoy Traveling As A Romantic Couple


Check Hoses, Fluids, Brakes and Air Conditioning
- Look under the hood and

Read More »from 7 Summer Road Trip Tips

By Jamie Wheeler, Intent.com

"Grilling takes the formality out of entertaining. Everyone wants to get involved." ~ Bobby Flay

There are few things in life more pleasant than a summertime barbeque, whether it is in the backyard or the beach. There is a leisurely quality to grilling that serves to make the food seem even more delicious. This summer, in addition to the usual fare, why not try one of these great recipes and bask in the glow of your friends' praise…well, when they stop eating long enough to do so!

Read More: 8 Must-Have Summer BBQ Accessories

Appetizers

Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Figs with Bleu Cheese and Pecans

Replace the chips and queso with this innovative combination of the sharpness of bleu cheese, the sweetness of figs, and the saltiness of prosciutto. Make quite a few. They disappear quickly!

Grilled Portobello Mushroom Bruschetta

A tasty treat to begin your feast! Portobello mushrooms taste fabulous on the grill and

Read More »from Ten Sizzling Summer Grilling Recipes

By Jamie Wheeler, Intent.com

One of the most wonderful things about summertime is its dual nature. Summer seems to invite both relaxation and adventure. It's a time to lay by the pool or stick your toes in the sand, luxuriate in the sun and try new things. A beautiful summer cocktail can be pleasing to the eye, delightful to the palate, and refreshing to the spirit. The next time you are headed to a pool party or entertaining on the patio, surprise your friends with one or more of these fabulous summer cocktails.

Bolshoi-Basil Cocktail

Beautiful in a tall glass, basil provides a hint of sweetness to the vodka and smells heavenly.

4 parts Russian Standard Vodka
3 parts fresh lime juice
3 fresh basil sprigs
2 tsp. sugar

What a pretty drink for the Fourth of July! A maraschino cherry is just the pop you need in this slightly sweet, slightly sour drink while awaiting the fireworks, hopefully on a private veranda with a great group of

Read More »from 7 Fresh, Swanky Summer Cocktail Recipes

Stressed out? Feeling stretched with too much to do? Want to just escape from your life for a bit to a far away island for some peace and serenity?

I have learned from years of meditation that some simple techniques help anchor us through difficult times and make the good times more enriching.

Here are some tips I have used to find serenity in my life:

1. "I AM" Breathing Exercise. You can do this any time, any place (even when you are stuck in traffic). Its a simple breathing exercise: every time you inhale, mentally say the word "I"; and every time you exhale, mentally say the word "AM." Pay attention to how the breath flows in and out of your body, and visualize the breath spreading from your lungs through your chest, down your arms and legs. The "I AM" breathing exercise is meant to remind you that your true self is empowered, in control and creative - you not bound by your job title, your income, your age, your appearance or anything else.

2. Watch a video.

Read More »from 5 Tips To Find Serenity In Your Busy Life

Did you know there is only one "The Oprah Winfrey Show" left?! It's hard to believe, but the queen of daytime TV will soon be leaving her throne, sending young women, mothers and housewives everywhere into a sheer panic.

If you find yourself to be one of these women (or men!) wondering if there really is life after "Oprah," don't fret. With the parody song "Scared About Life Without Oprah," Maxine Lapiduss proves you are not alone.

Watch for a cameo by "Glee" star Jane Lynch and listen to Lapiduss lament about her upcoming life without a daily does of "O" in song.

By Gotham Chopra and Mallika Chopra

We have never met Shane Bauer or Josh Fattal - 2 young men who have been imprisoned for almost 2 years deep in the black hole that is Iran's notorious Evin prison. We haven't met Shane's fiancé, Sarah Shourd, who arrived home from her captivity last year, nor have we met their families and friends who have been suffering unbearably all along.

And yet, we feel connected to them - because, this nightmare that they are living in could be happening to us, to our family. These are two young men who found themselves in the wrong place by accident and are being used as pawns in an international chess game.

We do not know them, yet we feel connected because injustice anywhere, against anyone - be it in a third world nation, a first world nation (believe us, it's happening here in the US), or a rogue nation - is an affront against all of humanity.

Today, at this very moment hundreds of thousands - probably millions - of human beings are being Read More »from A Mother's Worst Nightmare: Waiting For Your Son To Come Home From Captivity In Iran