Whether you are wearing a formal floor length gown or your funniest ugly sweater, these tips will bring your look together to become polished and complete.

Bling Up with Jewelry

Jewelry can add perfect flare to any look. I love that even when I am casually dressed, I can become instantly more put-together if I am wearing a little jewelry (and with such little effort too).

Finish your outfit with the right jewelry for your night out! Bring together your formal look with a large statement piece. Look elegant and refined with delicate diamonds or light slender necklaces. The Birthstone Capsule is a great way to show personality and charm – showing off the month that means the most to you. Wearing birthstones is a unique way to personalize – and glam up your look at the same time.

One of my favorite jewelry items, is the Obelisk Pendant (which I wear all the time) from AU-Rate, a fine jewelry company that believes in offering high quality, sustainable jewelry made with ethical gold and diamonds. I wear this necklace casually and VERY regularly. The great thing about this necklace is it looks dressy for when I am dressing up!

Hair Care & Hair Flair

Eye-catching hair styles aren’t always complicated. Some of my favorite resources for party hairstyles are from YouTube and Pinterest. Thank goodness for the YouTubers like (Alex Gaboury and Abby Smith ) that make it easy for me to follow and get the look myself!

Top Holiday Party Hair Styles Include:

• Big curls.
• Holiday Glam Sexy Waves.
• Side-swept double braid.
• Sleek High Pony.
• Fishtail Ponytail.
• Fishtail Braid Half Updo.
• Twisted Bun.

If you want to keep it quick, you don’t have to sit around watching tutorials, just style yourself and add some bling – play around with adding sparkly barrettes or classic vintage pins. A few statement hair pieces will add stunning details to your up-do or basic locks.

My go-to hairstyle that has never let me down and keeps me looking polished is a low ponytail with a statement clip. Sometimes I settle for a simple flat iron straightened look with glossing conditioner or Moroccan oil to make it sleek and shiny.

Focus on your Face First

So often we neglect our face – even though that is what people are looking at the most! The good news is, your face can be forgiving if you focus on it and give it some love. My best tip to shape up your face fast is give it some moisturizer.

Your tighter, bright and more moisturized face will thank you if you invest in some high quality Vitamin C Serum. Vitamin C is a powerhouse when it comes to reducing inflammation, irregular skin pigmentation and collagen production. It will brighten your skin and make you look refreshed.

I recommend these awesome moisturizers with Vitamin C: Volition Strawberry-C Serum, Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum and Neogen Real Vita C Powder Lemon

Freshening your winter skin is so important and you can do this by finding a good moisturizer. Use this ever day after you wash your face and you will notice a difference in a short few days. It is such a simple thing but will make all the difference and give you instant bright and glorious skin-care gratification. Some of my favorite moisturizers for the face are: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream, Aveeno Ultra-Calming Nourishing Night Cream and SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

Best of all, when you use the right facial products like Vitamin C and moisturizer you will reduce wrinkles and fine lines into the future.

Spice It Up with the Right Shoes

High heels can make a bold statement to your party outfit. There are so many unique shoe options these days, it is amazing! I am all about comfort and style, so you won’t see me in 3+ inch heels… but they sure can add the right amount of drama to an otherwise boring outfit!

Heels, wedges, pumps, stilettos, slingbacks, platforms… Oh my! I’ve got some great holiday party heels for sale on my Poshmark @WithOurBest – like these Sam Edelman Ankle Strap Pumps.

Overall, it is not hard to add some pzazz with these simple tips – that make a big difference for your holiday style. Although the outfit is often considered the biggest feature, when you focus on the little things like jewelry, shoes and caring for your skin and hair you’ll know doubt feel powerful and make a statement this holiday season!

Disclosure: This post is in partnership with Nakturnal. This post contains affiliate links, thank you for supporting my blog!

The post Holiday Party Style Made Easy {My Simple Tips} appeared first on With Our Best - Denver Lifestyle Blog.

Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product. @LGUSAMobile @BestBuy #ad

My husband is in the Tech Field. So you better believe he uses and stocks our house with the latest and greatest tech. He was one of the early adopters when it comes to smartwatches and he has used a variety of smart watches over the past few years. My oh my, smart watches have steadily improved since the original versions… the most recent being the OS by Google LG – Watch W7 Smartwatch 44.5mm Stainless Steel.

This watch really takes the cake when it comes to snazzy features. You’ll notice it does not look like the average smartwatch, and it is not your average smart watch! First off, it works for both Apple iOS 9.3 or later and Android 4.4 or later!

It is hard to pin point my top features of this W7 watch… but I am going to say My Top 3 LG SmartWatch Features Are:

• Stainless steel, natural style and classic look
• Google Assistant and optimized AI
• Price point – only $249.99 at Best Buy!

The W7 Smartwatch Look

It is a masculine and classy style. With a Swiss-made gearbox and actual hand moving tickers – this watch is not your average looking watch screen. It combines mechanical hands and fully functional touchscreen! The touchscreen display is 1.2″ from edge to edge. When it comes to luxury timepieces, replica watches offer an excellent alternative for those who adore high-end designs without the exorbitant price tag. Many enthusiasts opt for replica watches because they allow them to enjoy the aesthetics and craftsmanship of luxury brands without straining their finances. For instance, when browsing online, you can find a variety of styles and brands at sites like replicafactory.is, which specializes in high-quality replicas that closely resemble their authentic counterparts.

From the face to the watch band, this smartwatch is high quality. Made with premium stainless steel which is resistant to corrosion and scratches – this watch will endure the test of time (time, get it?).

The W7 Smartwatch Functionality

The LG Watch W7 smartwatch is powered by Wear OS and offers many features. It has Google Assistant, fitness tracking, timer, compass and more. Or if you want to stop all those fancy features and use in watch-only mode, the W7 will last for 100 days without another re-charge! Impressive, no?

There has been a lot of thought that went into the functionality – like the side keys and time-tested way to scroll. The touchscreen is great, but it is very handy to naviagate a phone call or driving directions with the simple flick of the wrist. It is efficient and smart so you can be efficient and smart too

The post Gift Giving Idea: Wear OS by Google + LG Watch appeared first on With Our Best - Denver Lifestyle Blog.

Hey Everyone! I hope you had a great week! Oh how the time flies. I feel like yesterday I was wearing flip flops and summer dresses. I am not sure how it is now almost Christmas! The holidays are blurring by me in an instant. I thought I better share with you a few products I love recently – before 2019 shows up! Here are my Friday Favorites!

Kirk’s Hand Wash

Kirk’s, one of the largest natural soap brands in America, has just introduced a new Odor Neutralizing Hand Wash that uses a unique, natural vegetable fermentation technology (similar to some natural deodorants) to completely eradicate – not just mask – bad smells from your hands after cooking.

I tested it after chopping up some very pungent odors – garlic and onion – while making butternut squash soup! I gave my hands a rinse while scrubbing with this soap, and sure enough – my hands were left soft and smell free!

Daily Goodie Box

I have shared before about my love for The Daily Goodie Box before. They are a great sampling program. This time around, I got to try a number of products including: Herb Guru – Herbal Tea , Herbal Zap – Immune Support Herbal Supplement, Essence of Vali – Sleep Mini Vials,  NeuroGum – EnlightenMint Nootropic Focus Gum, Sir Kensington’s – Chipotle Mayonnaise, Organic India – Wellness Infusion Teas, Bubba’s Fine Foods – Blazing Buffalo ‘Nana Chips, Minute Mixology – Cocktail Mixers Margarita, Fire & Flavor – Seafood Rub Spice Blend and Procosmet – MTJ Most Rich Mascara Black. 

You never know what new products you’re going to try out and LOVE!

Tex-Mex Diabetes Cooking Cookbook by Kelley Cleary Coffeen, PhD

Tex–Mex is a frequently cooked supper in my household. The ingredients are simple, easy to come by and the results are always delicious. Usually, enchiladas, tacos, burritos, and rellenos, fall squarely in the “comfort food” category. However, Kelley Coffeen’s new TEX–MEX DIABETES COOKING: More than 140 Authentic Southwestern Favorites is the game changer.

Some delicious recipes to looks forward to inside this book are: 

• Smoked Cheddar Cheese and Green Chile Tamales
• Pork and Pepper Burritos
• Stacked Saucy Enchiladas with Fresh Greens

Buy this go-to cookbook for home cooks looking for easy, family-friendly, satisfying, and healthy Southwestern dishes to feed their family on Amazon!

Ugly Christmas Sweater

‘Tis the season for your ugliest holiday sweater! Oh, you don’t have one? You best head over to UglyChristmasSweater.com. They’ve got ugly Christmas sweaters galore! They are one of the largest online retailers today of ugly Christmas sweaters (featured on The Today Show, Live with Kelly and Ryan, Good Morning America, and the Ellen Show.) And of course, now featured on me for my company ugly Christmas sweater Day and all the ugly sweater parties this season! (I am in the green light up reindeer nose sweater)! It is such a fun sweater – big and baggy for comfort too!Type A Deodorant

I have tried dozens. Not kidding. DOZENS of natural deodorants. Only a few do I actually recommend. This natural deodorant raised the bar by making safe + high-performance deodorant, one that actually works! Yes, type:A is on a mission to help people lead healthier lives without sacrifice. It is aluminum-free, sweat-activated and comes in the most interesting tube swipe stick thingy. If you like natural deodorant, you might just like type:A too!

Applied Beauty Works

I am AMAZED with Applied Beauty products – a company I had never even heard of before recently! That’s because it is relatively new! Both the Dead Sea Mud Mask and the Retinol Moisturizer are quality products, cruelty free, with ingredients that work. They are not some cheapy beauty product either! Both are manufactured in the USA at a licensed GMP facility.

The crazy part is they are so so so so so much more affordable than other similar products on the market. I am talking economical prices like $9.99 each on their website –  www.AppliedBeautyProducts.com.  Get these now. Stock up. I am not kidding.

What cool new products peak your interest lately?

The post Friday Favorites {Kirk’s, Ugly Christmas Sweater, Tex Mex Cookbook & More!} appeared first on With Our Best - Denver Lifestyle Blog.

Happy Friday! I have been looking forward to this weekend for weeks! Why? Because my mom is coming into town (from Washington state) and we are going on a mom-daughter adventure! It was a little spur of the moment trip and it should be a blast. I will be posting about my trip in an upcoming blog post — As for now, I’ve found some awesome new brands and I’d like to tell you about them –>

Booty Shawl

That’s right, this fabulous booty wrap is a great solution to cover up your bits and pieces. This fashion accessory goes great over workout clothing and leggings. Just like a scarf for your neck, Booty Shawl is a cover for your bum!

There are a few styles that each offer different fabrics, colors, and sizes. The Booty Shawl is ideal for covering up – wear it over skinny jeans, keep it casual over yoga pants, rock them at the gym over leggings, or wear it as a swimsuit cover-up. If you are like me and don’t want everything hanging out – grab this booty wrap to add a layer of material to any outfit. I especially like the extra booty layer at the gym!

Bubba’s Fine Foods

This company is headquartered just up the highway from me! It is a brand that adds to the many awesome Colorado natural and organic products from the state. Bubba’s Fine Foods is a pioneering paleo snack brand whose flavor-laden creations are convincing consumers there can be life after grains.

I have been enjoying snacking on a few of the gluten-free, grain-free, and paleo snacks from Bubba’s Fine Food. From the snack mixes, ‘nan chips and ungranolas – they are all so satisfying. The flavors are unique – especially the spices on the banana chips – flavors like Blazing Buffalo, Grand Garlic Parm, and Macho Nacho – these are not your average banana chips!  The Ungranola is my favorite new snack – I can eat it by the handfuls!
 
Purchase online at www.bubbasfoods.com,  Amazon, and retailers Natural Grocers, Sprouts, Whole Foods, The Fresh Market, and King Soopers.

The Craft Kingdom by Eli Maor

If you need a good craft book for the whole family this summer – here you go! This book is filled with easy beginner DIY crafts.  It contains more than 90 crafts and projects, organized by subjects like: paints, nature-inspired, stamps, washi tape, soap making, candle making, recycling art, re-purposing, beauty accessories, fabric and textile projects, buttons, paper and even paper napkins. 

I love how the DIY projects are so simple and many of the crafts up-cycle items that would get thrown in the trash. The colorful pictures and simple instructions makes this a great book for anyone. The craft projects are easy to follow and complete. Find the quick and quirky projects from The Craft Kingdom on Amazon. 

Zen Chi Black Goji Berries

This is an interesting little tiny jar of magical berries. All you do is simply drop 15 or so black goji berries in water and sit back and watch! The micro nutrients release into the water turning it purplish blue streaks. You can squeeze in lemon to see a bright transformation! ZenChi’s Black Goji Berries make it easy to enjoy the anti-inflammatory, glowing benefits of this powerful superfood.

Are you intrigued? Go ahead and try them yourself at drinkzenchi.com – to find your zen, balance your chi!

A Million Dollars in Change by Alessandra Cavalluzzi

This book is about how to engage employees, attract talent and make the world an overall better place. Currently, I am working in human resources, so any kind of employee engagement manuals get my attention. I love the easy step-by-step resource for how to create, pitch, implement and scale CSR programs at any company. Since my company is very adamant about CSR already, this only encouraged it more! Awesome for improving business culutre and mission!

Get A Million Dollars in Change on Amazon!

Pereg Mixed Spices

Pereg Natural Foods, manufacturers all-natural spices, gluten free foods and ancient grains. When they asked me to try the all natural and exotic sounding spice, ZAHTAR, I was intrigued. 

ZAHTAR has been a staple of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine for centuries. Base ingredients usually include hyssop, sesame seeds, oregano, marjoram, and salt. It is versatile, good for you and tastes so unique – but works in many dishes like stews, soups, marinades and more! Pereg ZAHTAR is a blend of 100% pure hyssop, parsley, sesame seeds, ground chickpeas, coriander, salt, and olive oil. All ingredients are fresh, natural, gluten-free, vegan, and OU kosher-certified.

Now that you know all about this trendy “magic dust,” it’s time to give it a try!

What are some of your favorite products currently?

The post Friday Favorites {Booty Shawl, Bubba’s Fine Foods, Black Gogi Berries, More} appeared first on With Our Best - Denver Lifestyle Blog.

It came as no surprise that when Chevrolet invited me on a road trip to Glenwood Springs, I immediately said “Count me in!” Glenwood Springs is one of my favorite Colorado destinations and I recently heard about the awesome features of the Chevrolet crossover vehicles – so I was pumped to try them out!

As soon as I got the invite from Chevy, I called my mom up to see if she would join me for a mother/daughter trip! She rearranged her schedule and booked a flight out to Colorado! She was excited join me on this blogging adventure.

Chevy Family Event and Family Focused Features

Our weekend started with a kick-off event hosted by Chevy’s marketing team. There were food trucks, activity stations and demonstrations. We spent a couple of hours learning lots about the Chevy crossovers – Trax, Equinox and Traverse. 

One of the demonstrations showed how much cargo space is in the Chevy Traverse. Mom and I timed ourselves as we tested our car-packing skills. We loaded up all of this (above) into the back of a Chevy Traverse in less than 5 minutes! We were amazed that the Chevrolet Traverse could fit all of these items in the rear cargo area which is 98.2 cubic feet!

What surprised us even more was the material in the vehicles. Normally, spilling cola on fabric never sounds like fun due to the mess it will make, but this time it was! We learned the upholstery is liquid-repelling and doesn’t soak in. It wiped right up with a paper towel – no staining. That’s a feature that I can get behind. Especially with a dog that is always tracking in mud!

Next, mom and I tested the virtual reality simulation! (Mom’s first time using VR goggles!) 

From there we enjoyed a lunch of street tacos and satisfied our sweet tooth with salted caramel ice cream. Like mother, like daughter. At that point, were fully charged and ready to hit the road!

Side note: It was over 100 degrees outside and we were so thankful that one of the Chevy representatives had our car ready for us when it was time to go. He pulled the car around, had the windows rolled down, blasted the air conditioning and air conditioned seats. Yes, I said air conditioned seats!! What a nice gesture in the 100 degree heat.

Driving Chevy Equinox

…And we were off! First thing first, we clicked our seat belts on and headed out of town. Navigating the city streets was a breeze thanks to the color touch screen navigation. The many safety features like onstar, lane change alert and rear cross traffic alert gave us peace of mind. Although we did seem to have our fair share of hiccups on the drive. An itinerary that should have taken us 3 hours took over 6 hours!

As luck would have it, we got stuck in Denver’s rush hour traffic, held up in a few accidents on the tight mountain roads and then just as we were getting close — there was a fire that shut down the highway!

Although it was a beautiful mountain drive, after about 5 hours of bumper to bumper we finally gave up and pulled over to take a break and explore a small mountain town. It was the distraction we needed from the long rocky mountain drive.

Thank goodness for my mom’s positivity and Chevy’s navigation for letting us know about traffic accidents and the highway fire! We were able to avoid them safely and got really lucky that we weren’t involved first hand!

Side note: My mom wants to add that her bottom was never sore during the whole 6 hour drive! HA! She says the comfy seats might be the selling point for her! Chevy gets bonus points on the spacious interior and comfortable seat cushions from my mom!

All traffic hassles aside, our drive through the city streets into the high altitude mountains – was a success. The Equinox did great through it all. 

Chevrolet Technology

Once upon a time, I bought cars based on how it looked from the outside. Was it eye catching? That’s really all that mattered to me. That’s also when choices like automatic or manual windows were the extent of the technology. Fast forward to today and you will find that technology offered in vehicles changes quickly! I am in awe at all the cool features you can choose from in a car today.

We were amazed at some of the technology features – like the Chevy Marketplace where you can pre-order gas and food from your car! The wifi in the car made us feel spoiled and our phones never lost charge –  thanks to the numerous USB ports in the car. I think at one point we had 4 gadgets plugged in!

Potentially our favorite tech feature were the numerous cameras. Not only did the vehicles have the backup camera but it also had a surround vision technology, which showed the whole vehicle and immediate surroundings. We tested the cameras out as we drove backwards through a coned path!

Tourists in Glenwood Springs

Eventually we made it to Glenwood Springs just as most restaurants were closing up, so we ordered take out and hit the sack. That didn’t keep us from seeing the sights the next morning! Mom and I hit some of the big tourist spots without any shame.

We shopped downtown, hiked around and really enjoyed the soothing hot springs. 

There is so much to do in Glenwood Springs. My favorite activities are hiking (the hanging lake hike is a must), rafting or stand up paddle boarding on the Colorado river, shopping downtown and visiting the many hot springs (there are paid and free hot springs).

If you like amusement parks with some thrilling rides – check out the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Resort. The Iron Mountain Tram takes you up to the park on top of the hill. It is quite the experience – you’d never know the roller coasters, mine drop or cliff swing was even up there!

Additionally, something else not to miss are the Glenwood Caverns. The stunning caves that were discovered in the 1800’s. They are a thing of beauty. It’s unbelievable but they are still discovering more underground tunnels! It’s incredible!

Mom also got her turn driving around the Chevrolet Equinox. She even had to do a U turn in the street when I gave her the wrong directions. Chevy turning radius for the win!

Final Thoughts on Chevy Equinox

Personally, it is hard to choose what my favorite part about driving the Chevy Equinox was. The birds-eye-view camera feature, the navigation, the Bose 7 speaker system, the wifi…the panoramic sunroof? How can I choose when this vehicle has features galore?

Having been without them since returning to my everyday driver really makes me miss them! Now mom is saying she’s going to get the Chevrolet Traverse – so maybe I can drive hers!

So to sum it up, I enjoyed the trip and my time with the Chevy. Everything from the fancy tech options, the comfortable seats and the large capacity trunk. What a wonderful experience we had — a mom/daughter trip to remember!

Thank you Chevrolet for inviting us to test the Chevy Equinox on an epic road trip to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Vehicle, lodging and gift cards for food/entertainment were provided.

The post Road Trip with Chevy Equinox + Mom to Glenwood Springs #FindNewRoads appeared first on With Our Best - Denver Lifestyle Blog.

Disclosure: Sprouts provided a gift card for attending this event with Birch Benders. All opinions are my own.

If you like to eat breakfast for dinner like me, you’ll appreciate the ease of the latest product from Birch Benders. Birch Benders pancake mix has always been a favorite of mine [specifically: paleo, gluten free]. Well now, they’ve added waffles to the line-up! Hooray!

That’s right find Birch Benders Homestyle, Buttermilk, Protein and Paleo waffles in the frozen food aisle! (Although, in my local Sprouts they only have the Homestyle and Protein.) I am going to request the Paleo waffles, because they are my fav!

{ Me in Birch Bender pancake mix heaven }

In order to check out the latest products from Birch Benders, we went straight to the source! A few of us local Denver bloggers were lucky enough to taste them for ourselves at a hands on event at the Birch Benders headquarters. We had a blast doing it too!

The evening started out with the Birch Benders marketing team talking to us about the BB name (named after a childhood tree experience), the products and the ingredients. We got a quick Birch Benders history – and I learned that they have a Pumpkin Spice Paleo pancake mix… um where have you been in the last few years that I have been loyal to Birch Benders?!

After the introductions, we snacked on some adorable pancake skewered appetizers. 

Aren’t these mini flapjacks just too cute to eat? Well, they were too cute too eat. And then we ate them… because duh, delicious baby pancakes with berries.

Check out this clever combination of banana paleo mini pancakes with strawberry, almond butter and sliced almonds. Great combination. I couldn’t stop myself from eating a few of these. I barely stopped myself from eating ALL of these. It was hard to share.

After some snacks, we got to make our own waffle dessert (or in my case, dinner). The folks at Birch Benders had a Pinterest-worthy set up for us to dig into. There were various dairy free and full dairy ice cream options. Tons of toppings like fruit, sprinkles, chocolate chips and nuts. Then top the whole thing off with drizzles like almond butter, caramel and chocolate. It was amazing.

I mean do you see this spread of waffle toppings we got to work with?

We all had a blast designing our dessert waffles. What a creative group of blogging ladies – and one fella {hi, Dave!}. Since I skipped dinner that night on accident (too much socializing – not enough eating), this ice cream waffle sandwich was my main meal that evening. No regrets.

Yes, it was as good as it looks.

Find the new Birch Benders frozen waffles and all the amazing blends of Birch Benders pancake mix at my favorite grocery store, Sprouts! Of course you can find it other places too, but Sprouts is the coolest of them all. So there’s that.

The post Birch Benders Event with Sprouts appeared first on With Our Best - Denver Lifestyle Blog.

Author: My Dad

Delta Shower Surround Review

The last item on the agenda was the Delta shower head. Karissa had a perfect shower head sent from Delta. The Monitor® 17 Series H2Okinetic® Shower Trim Cassidy was the finishing touch to the bathroom and shower renovation. 

The post Bathroom Renovation: Delta UPstile Shower Install {My Dad’s Point of View} appeared first on With Our Best - Denver Lifestyle Blog.

There are many factors that impact how you work. Small changes to your office space can do wonders for your state of mind and productivity. Whether you are in a home office or a large company environment there are many ways to improve your desk space and overall workplace design.

10 Ways to Improve Your Workspace

1. Get ergonomic

It’s easy to be ergonomic in the workplace. First, make sure your body is front and center of your monitor and keyboard. Sit up straight with your shoulders back. No hunching! Adjust your office chair so your feet are on the floor and your knees are level with your hips. You can also use a headset rather than cradling your phone between your head and neck. Make sure your monitor screen is slightly below eye level and about arms lengths away. These all all simple and free improvements!

 

2. Walk at work

Americans have an obesity epidemic – not only do we eat poorly but we also don’t exercise enough. Consider taking at least one short walk a day during work. Studies have proven that walk and talk meetings are some of the most efficient and productive meetings in a workplace. Encourage your team to take these!

 

3. Add a plant

Bringing nature into your workspace can improve concentration and boost well-being. Plants also can remove contaminants and toxins from the air. It’s one of the simpliest things to do to improve your workspace.

 

4. Clear the clutter

Take time each morning and each evening to file papers away and put things in their place. Tidying up will help you focus, be better organized and remove distractions.

 

5. Take a micro break

Micro breaks are when you move around about every 20 minutes. It can be a short stretch or a walk down the hallway. It is shown to reduce back problems and discomfort. A quick break gives you energy and makes you more productive when you return to your desk.

 

 

6. Buy a stand up desk

If you work at a desk all day you have probably wondered about getting a stand-up desk. Standing desks are very trendy, but they are also really beneficial. Studies have shown that standup desks increase productivity and are healthier for you when you rotate from sitting to standing for short periods. Sitting at a desk for too long has shown to lead to long-term health problems. It is no secret that sitting at a desk can cause back pain inflammation and less blood flow. So invest in a stand up desk like the one from Flexispot and your body and mind will thank you!

 

7. Increase light

Ideally you get natural light in your office space. However this might not be something you have control over. There are only so many windows in the office. However, you can easily invest in a lamp that imitates natural light. These lamps can reduce fatigue, improve mood, encourage positivity and even reduce seasonal depression.

 

8. Test out scents

Studies have shown that smells can impact to our mood and mindset. They can increase focus and liven you up when you are working.  Some good scents to keep you focused: pine, cinnamon, citrus and peppermint.

 

9. Reach for refreshments

Our brains need nourishment to run efficiently. Pack healthy snacks and avoid the office junk food. Make sure to stay hydrated with plenty of water. Drink at least one glass of water per cup of coffee or tea to avoid dehydration.

 

10. Tweak the temperature

according to over 24 studies on office temperature the optimal temperature in a business work space is 71 degrees Fahrenheit. If the average space in your office is dramatically different you may want to adjust your thermostat.

—

 

My stand up desk recommendation:

This adjustable-height workstation is easy to maneuver. You can order this standup desk on Amazon and it comes right to your door. It takes less than 5 minutes to set up. And you’re ready to go!

 

I have been using the Flexispot stand-up desk and I feel more awake and less stiff. I feel generally happy that I have an option to either sit or stand while I’m doing calendar invites, responding to emails, writing reports and more. Even though I am at the computer all day – I feel more flexible with the option change positions every so often.

 

I found my sweet spot for standing is about every hour. I switch standing and then back to sitting throughout the day. It gives my legs and feet some rest about every hour when I sit and then re-adjusts my focus when I go to stand.

 

Special Discount: Right now get the standing desk converter at a special price. This deal starts July 16th 3 pm ET:  30% off  $224.99 (was $329.99) – If you’ve been wanting a standing desk, don’t miss out!

 

What changes do you want to make to your business office?

The post 10 Ways to Improve Your Workspace appeared first on With Our Best - Denver Lifestyle Blog.

After a few hours with the registered dietitian and plant based expert, Suzanne Farrell – I have a lot more knowledge about a plant based diet! I joined a bunch of Colorado bloggers as she leads us around the Sprouts grocery store. We toured the store as she pointed out plant based brands and products. She educated us on reasons to consider adopting a plant based lifestyle.

If you are starting out on plant based, it can be overwhelming. You might have a lot of questions about the plant based diet spinning around in your head.  Well, I have gathered some of the top plant-based diet questions and have you’re answers right below! 

Frequently Asked Questions for Plant Based Beginners

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Question 1: What is a plant based diet?

A plant-based diet is not processed food, meat, dairy, eggs or added oils. A plant based food plan focuses on whole, real foods like fruits, vegetables, seeds, whole-grains, and beans.

Question 2: Am I going to break my budget?

Eating plant-based doesn’t have to be expensive. Lots of plant based foods are very affordable – i.e. beans! You’ll save money not buying pricey cheese or meats. Buy fruit and vegetables in season, purchase in bulk, go to the farmers market, and visit Sprouts on double ad Wednesdays! These are all ways you can keep plant-based eating affordable!

Question 3: How will I get enough calcium if I eat plant based?

When people hear calcium they typically think of dairy. When in fact the most healthful calcium comes from green leafy vegetables and legumes. Get your calcium from a variety of vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts, collards, kale, mustard greens, and swiss chard. These greens are loaded with highly absorbable calcium. 

Question 4: How will I get enough protein if I eat plant based?

There are many plants that are packed with protein. High protein plant-based foods include black beans, quinoa, peas, artichokes, hemp seeds, and whole grains. Eat a variety of plant based protein-filled foods and you will easily get your protein intake (meat eaters usually eat much more protein than the body needs).

Question 5: How can I eat at restaurants?

Do a little research – there are a lot of great whole food restaurants. If you are at a typical american restaurant, rely on your servers. Waitstaff can be really helpful in determining whether foods fit your specific dietary needs. They are used to knowing ingredients and answer questions about allergies and specific diets.

Question 6: What are some of the benefits of a plant based diet?

A plant based diet can protect against – and in some cases cure health problems. People have gone plant based to help with diabetes, headaches, allergies, autoimmune disease, etc. It can lead to lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, regulation of blood sugar levels, and more!

Question 7: What should I stock in my refrigerator and pantry for a plant based kitchen?

Dried beans (pinto, black, chickpeas, lentils), non dairy milks (coconut, almond, cashew), quinoa, chia seeds, whole grain flour, oats, nuts, seeds, seasonings, fresh & frozen fruits (berries, bananas, mangoes), fresh & frozen veggies (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, stir fry peppers), sweet potatoes, onion, garlic, ginger… These are some basics. There are so many possibilities – just go to your produce aisle! 

Question 8: How do I shop for a plant based diet?

Avoid the middle shelves in the grocery store. If you stay on the outer loop you will find fresh foods and avoid the processed foods. If you do buy shelf stable items, avoid anything with more than 5 ingredients. This will keep you away from highly processed items. 

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These are just a few beginner questions about the plant based diet. If you are changing to a plant-based diet, take your time and give yourself a chance to fail and get back up again. It isn’t ever easy going into something 100% at first. Good luck!

Do you eat a plant based diet? What questions do you have about a plant based diet?

The post Frequently Asked Questions for Plant Based Beginners appeared first on With Our Best - Denver Lifestyle Blog.

Disclosure: May contain affiliate links. I have been provided some samples.

It’s Friday! Yassssss! Raise your hand if you are so excited that it’s the weekend, baby! Oh, how I’ve been looking forward to you my favorite darlings, Saturday and Sunday!

This week has been a wild one. It was my last day of my current job, before starting a new one next week! I had a couple days off for “funemployment” before starting my new gig. It has been refreshing and revitalizing! It is just what I needed to get pumped up for my new adventure! 

I gathered a few things that I have been enjoying lately. Here are my favorite picks!

Hungry For Love By Maya Sacher

Looking for a summer read? This book is an entertaining love story of sorts. Its not quite your typical love triangle romantic novel. It has enough twists and turns to keep in interesting. It has fun moments and deep moments. Elizabeth was a great character and stirred my emotions – even when I was super irritated with the main character. Get the Kindle or Paperback version on Amazon!

DooDoo Juice

Have you seen these toilet spray life savers? A couple of quick sprays in the toilet before you go and no one will ever know. DooDoo Juice is truly magical! It’s blend of natural, essential oils and is guaranteed to neutralize even the worst bathroom odors. It is a handy to have at home, work, vacation, or where ever! Anyone who goes after you, will appreciate it! Plus, fifty cents from the sale of each bottle will be donated to ‘doo good’ in the community! 

Dr. Ginger’s Toothpaste and More!

Oh boy! I have a new favorite brand for toothpaste and other mouth-related items (floss, mouthwash, etc.) The Dr. Ginger’s Toothpaste is amazing! They are free of fluoride, sugar, alcohol or artificial ingredients. They are derived from coconut which has been used to maintain oral health for over 3,000 years! I cannot wait to try their charcoal toothpaste soon (I have used charcoal toothpaste in the past and have loved it!) See more about the natural mouth products at Dr. Ginger’s.

Gem Gem Ginger Candy

Having a sensitive stomach is something I have lived with most of my adult life. I am super aware of when it starts to feel ‘weird’. That’s when I reach for ginger. It is a great way to calm nausea and upset stomach! I just love Gem Gem Ginger Candy. They have a variety of flavors, gluten-free, non-GMO and vegan. They work great for on-the-go and summer road trips! Check out all the yummy flavors of real Indonesian ginger candies from Gem Gem!

Dr. Loos Patches

This year my allergies took me by surprise. The cottonwood floating around in the air was particularly heavy and I was a sneezing, sniffling, coughing mess! It lasted about two weeks, but by the end of it… I was exhausted! One product that I can recommend for allergies are these Harmony Patches from Dr. Loos. You place them on your chest and upper back and they naturally help with breathing and coughing. Read more about Dr. Loos Natural Remedies here.

Ful Travel Luggage

We have been doing a bunch of travel lately. We are so reliant on our ful luggage. Ful has been our go-to bag since we were first married! It was our first “real” adult luggage and hasn’t let us down. (See my first ful luggage review from 9 years ago!) They make stinkin’ good products.

Recently we added to our collection with the Streamline 30in Soft Split Level Rolling Duffel. We can pack together in this bag. There is plenty of space for all of our clothing and accessories for a long weekend trip. It is rugged and can handle some tossing around. The fabric is resistant to punctures, tears and abrasions. We can attest to that! Traveling wouldn’t be the same without our ful bags. See the full line of ful bags!

Dona Bela Shreds 

These shredded, up-cycled fabric pieces are multi-functional fashion items! These unique fashion pieces can be used as bracelets, headbands, necklaces… how cool it that? Dona Bela Shreds are brightly colored with fun patterns and has a positive impact on the environment. BelaBANDS are handmade in Des Moines, Iowa and can be found for $8 on DonaBelaShreds.com.

BFree Gluten Free Breads

BFree Foods is a line of wheat and allergen-free bread loaves, rolls, wraps, bagels and pitas. See my detailed review of the BFree products. Recently, BFree teamed up with health and yoga guru Julie Montagu to develop some easy and healthy summer recipes designed to promote a healthier you! Check out this recipe using the BFree quinoa and chia seed wrap (they best gluten free wrap out there – it doesn’t break easily!) For additional information, visit BFreeFoods.com or find the brand on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

The post Friday Favorites {Dona Bela Shreds, Ful Luggage, Gem Gems…} appeared first on With Our Best - Denver Lifestyle Blog.