Blog Posts by Intent.com

By Lissa Coffey, Coffeytalk.com

According to the Ayurvedic calendar, here in the Northern Hemisphere November through February is Vata season, when the weather is typically cold and dry. To balance Vata, it is best to eat warm, cooked foods. Vatas also crave creamy goodness, and it is particularly comforting at this time of year no matter what your dosha is!veganquiche

I'm vegan… well, 99% vegan, I can't pass up a good pastry every now and then! And I love a good quiche. That egg-y texture and cheese-y tang totally satisfies the taste buds and makes for a complete meal. Yet I struggled finding a quiche that that met my criteria of being vegan, and yet still yummy. So I made one up myself! (As you do when you're an Ayurvedic vegan and a Vata to boot.)

Read more: Easy Vegan Recipes To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Quiche is fantastic because it can be for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The leftovers are quickly reheated. Whether you have a crowd to feed, or it's just you, it won't last

By Mallika Chopra, Intent.com

Hmm... I just read this op-ed on CNN by Mike Milhaven entitled "How do I tell my kids about 9/11?"

Quite frankly, I was shocked that his kids are 9 years old, and neither he nor his wife have talked to their kids about that day!

Tara is 9 years old. I was 5 months pregnant on 9/11. My dad, my mom and my brother were on planes when all the news hit. We thought my brother was on a plane. I will never forget my father, hysterical on the phone, while my aunt and I tried to track down my brother. Our family was spared. So many were not. That experience shaped so many of us and our sense of security. It shaped the world my 9 year old has grown up in.

When Tara was about 3, she asked me "Mommy, what's a bomb?" It was just after bombings took place in Europe. My husband and I were watching the news, not realizing that she was paying attention. I clearly remember holding her, and having a conversation with my 3 year old about how sometimes when

Just last month on June 25, I had the opportunity to lead a public group meditation at Union Square in San Francisco. Over 250 people were present, and for ten minutes we sat in silence with our eyes closed amidst the chaos and flow of tourists, shoppers, cable cars and traffic (WATCH VIDEO BELOW).

For the people who couldn't be physically present at the group meditation in San Francisco, we had also invited people from all over the world to meditate at the same time as we were at 12:45PM on Pacific Coast Time. On our online event page, we had people from Egypt, Argentina, Italy, Spain, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and many other places from a diverse list of geographical locations RSVPing to show their commitment to meditate for ten minutes at the exact same time.

RELATED: Learn How To Meditate

Coincidentally, all of us were meditating in San Francisco during the same weekend as the annual SF pride parade, and a mere day after the state of New York ruled in favor of

By Mallika Chopra, Intent.com

In need of some inner peace and enhanced energy in your life? Yoga is a practice that brings together mental clarity, renewed energy, physical challenges, and also a sense of serenity.

There is no doubt that yoga helps with strength, flexibility, breathing, and endurance. But, traditionally, yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice.

Read More: Intent 101: How To Start A Yoga Practice

Yoga poses are intrinsically powerful for their ability to open up your body's energy to a higher level. Next time you are feeling a bit stretched with too many things to do, try to take a few minutes to sink into a yoga pose for relaxation.

World-renowned yoga teacher, Tara Stiles, recommends the following poses for serenity (click on the name of yoga pose to learn more):

Pigeon Pose

Standing forward bend

Seated forward bend

Here's a great video by Tara to help you unwind after a long, stressful day:

By Jamie Wheeler, Intent.com

Everyone looks forward to summertime picnics, beaches, boating, and barbeques. However, summer brings unique health challenges that can affect family fun. Avoid some of the pitfalls of the season by following these helpful tips.

Food Safety

One of the nicest things about summer is sharing homemade food with family and friends. But frequent handling and exposure to heat carries dangers of bacteria-related illnesses and viruses. Here are some ways to lessen your exposure:

· Wash your hands and use clean containers and utensils. Dirty hands, work surfaces, and utensils can all contaminate your food.

· Keep mayonnaise-based foods cold. Bacteria grows very quickly in warm weather when mayonnaise is mixed with food.

· Do not prepare foods more than twenty-four hours in advance. The longer a cooked food sits, the more the danger increases for bacteria growth. Foods that need to be cooked more than 24 hours ahead of time should be

By Jamie Wheeler, Intent.com

Five Fun Flings for Kids:

1. Backyard Campout

Equipped with their imaginations and only a few inexpensive supplies, your kids (and perhaps a friend or two) can go on an adventure. Small tents are inexpensive (many under $50). A couple of flashlights, some comic books, board games, and snacks will make your little ones giggle and feel ever so adventurous!

Read More: 11 Camping Forget-Me-Nots

2. Surprise Jar of Fun!

With your children, come up with a variety of low-cost activities that they want to do this summer. Everyone, ideally, should agree that the choices are plausible and fun! Let each child, and adults, if you wish, take turns choosing a random slip. Here are a few ideas to add to your own:

· Science Museum (most cities have wonderful, interactive, hands-on museums).

· Spa Day! Backrubs, home manicures and pedicures, massages, comfy robes, scented candles.

· Make-your-own pizzas and board games night

Everyone looks forward to summer vacation. But we've all had vacation-related let-downs, whether it be mismanaging time or forgetting a crucial item at home, or feeling unprepared for a day's adventure. Reduce the chances of disappointment by following these tips:

Book Flight and Hotel Together

· Consider using one of the websites pictured above to book your flight and hotel together. Airlines and hotels have many deals together and you get great savings on both.

Consider "All-Inclusive" Vacations

· All-inclusive vacations are wonderful, especially if you are traveling with children. It's a good idea because as travel writer Anna LoBuono says, ""Kids like to try different things, but if you've shelled out $60 to rent snorkeling gear and they suddenly get cold feet, it's wasted money." Typically, all-inclusive packages include meals, snacks, activities and tips.

Read More: Summer Road Trip Tips

Pack Light,

By Mallika Chopra, Intent.com

I learned to meditate when I was 9 years old, and it has proved to be an invaluable technique for dealing with stress and being at peace with who I am.