Month: October 2019

2019-10-31T11:01:01

(BPT) – When Stacie Grissom of Garden Cocktails has folks over to her apartment, she makes sure to offer guests something to drink before they can even get through the door. She built her brand on the notion that anyone can make gorgeous and tasty alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks right at home, whether it’s while entertaining or just relaxing. Below, you’ll find some tips and tricks she has curated to help make anyone’s home bartending experience a little more seamless.

1. Educate yourself

Consider a beginner’s course in bartending, read articles online or even watch some YouTube videos. These materials are intended to give you the basic knowledge of various tools, lingo and more to help you find your way around your home bar, as well as equip you with the confidence to serve!

2. Ice really does make a difference

One of the simplest ways to elevate a drink is to use the right ice. Not only do the large, clear ice spheres look beautiful, they melt slowly to help keep drinks chilled longer without diluting — whether it’s iced coffee or scotch. LG’s InstaView is the only refrigerator that automatically makes large slow-melting spherical Craft Ice, measuring two inches in diameter, and can store 25 at a time in the freezer drawer, helping you eliminate the hassle of manually filling and freezing ice molds. Plus, it still has crushed and cubed ice in the door for the ultimate in convenience.

3. Garnish your drinks

Incorporating herbs, edible flowers and fresh produce into your drinks presents the opportunity to incorporate personality and additional smells into the whole experience. Think about using lavender, basil, colorful flowers and more to top off your drink.

4. Master your syrup game

Many classic cocktails and mocktails call for every mixologist’s secret weapon, simple syrup. Rather than go down the store-bought route, consider crafting your own! With a simple mix of water, sugar and a little elbow grease on the stove, you can crank out your own syrups with ease. One way to up your game even more is to add seasonal herbs, spices, veggies or fruits to your syrup. To take the guessing out of measuring, LG’s InstaView Refrigerator features an automatic water dispenser that serves the exact desired amount (4, 8, 15 or 32 ounces) of fresh, filtered water.

5. Presentation is key

Certain types of drinks are meant to be enjoyed from specific forms of glassware. Consider expanding your collection to ensure you’re serving in proper form. For example, a Moscow Mule must be served in a copper mug or a spritzer in a Collins glass. “My favorite drinking vessels are the collection of eclectic tiki mugs that I’ve made in the pottery studio over the years,” Grissom said.

For more information on LG InstaView Refrigerators, visit www.LGCraftIce.com.

2019-10-31T02:01:00

(BPT) – Whatever your small or medium-sized business (SMB), chances are you’re dependent on increasingly advanced technology — or wish to use more sophisticated technology. Recent advances have been numerous and head-spinning, sometimes making it hard to keep up. The truth is, harnessing emerging technologies effectively may be exactly what takes your business to the next level, ensuring success in today’s rapidly evolving, competitive business landscape. If you aren’t using one of these emerging technologies in your business yet, it’s likely that your business would benefit from doing so in the near future.

How can you leverage technological advances to help your SMB be more innovative and competitive? Here are trends affecting small businesses to watch when evaluating what technologies to adopt.

Cloud computing

With cloud computing, small-business owners can implement sophisticated software using software as a service (SaaS) or desktop as a service (DaaS) models. The advantage of these models is that they update and maintain applications, eliminating the need for on-site servers or purchasing multiple copies of software. This can help reduce costs and increase efficiency. The DaaS model also stores, helps secure and backs up user data. Additionally, cloud computing means never having to worry about software updates. According to a survey by Garner, 63% of SMBs already use cloud computing.^[1] To maximize the benefits of cloud computing, you’ll want to have up-to-date PCs and computing devices.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Software that uses AI — or more specifically, machine learning — collects data from tasks, eventually “learning” how to do those tasks more quickly and accurately. AI can thus help your business save time and money by automating certain repetitive, manual tasks that take up too much of your employees’ time. According to a Harris Poll survey conducted for Salesforce, an average of 23% of an SMB team’s day is spent manually inputting data.^[2]

Just how popular is AI becoming? Apparently 62% of SMBs are already using technology to automate some processes.^[3] And what kinds of AI are they using? Many use tools like Microsoft’s Cortana or Amazon’s Alexa for scheduling and planning, chatbot to analyze customer questions, RPA Express to automate data entry or Salesforce Einstein to analyze data or identify leads — to name just a few. For SMBs wanting to benefit from these technologies, running them on PCs equipped with powerful processors and memory helps ensure they can handle the increased demands on their computing power, such as modern PCs and computing devices powered by the latest Intel(R) Core(TM) processors.

Internet of Things (IoT)

Devices and objects are increasingly interconnected: phones, HVAC systems, security systems, cars and more. To use multiple apps making all those connections, plus tracking products through the supply chain, you may need to upgrade to computers with more powerful processors or more memory (RAM) to help your company use its software more effectively. Perhaps not surprisingly, 78% of growing small businesses already report using more than one business application, while 30% use more than five.^[4]

Mobility

The ability for employees to work remotely has become essential, not just for employee well-being and productivity, but for connecting at client offices, satellite venues or while traveling. The effective processing power, speed and longer battery life of modern laptops provide employees with flexibility that helps them — and your business — thrive. Today’s notebooks, thin-and-lights and 2-in-1s are available with more powerful processors, more RAM and more solid-state storage than previous generations of computers. And today’s portable technology can handle cloud-based apps, making them more flexible than ever.

Cybersecurity

Because SMBs don’t have the large IT staff and security budgets of bigger companies, they can be tempting targets for cybercriminals. In a 2018 Cyber Risk Report by Hiscox, 44% of SMBs reported suffering a cyberattack in the previous year, and 52% of those businesses had been attacked more than once.^[5] In addition, SMBs still using Windows 7 may be at risk when Microsoft plans to stop providing updates and support for Windows 7.11 after Jan. 14, 2020.

Here are some ways you can help improve the cybersecurity of your business:

• Upgrade to Microsoft’s Windows 10
• Educate employees about cyberthreats, with tips to avoid them
• Enforce use of passwords on business PCs and devices
• Implement 2-factor or biometric authentication
• Set up automatic software updates

Be ready for 2020

Whatever your 2020 goals, it’s a good idea to think strategically about technology that could take your business to the next level. Outdated hardware can affect your SMB’s bottom line, so make updating your PCs part of your technology plan this year.

To learn more about options for updating your technology, visit Intel.com/smallbusiness.

2019-08-08T10:37:00

(BPT) – Whether you’re hitting the gym to get healthy, tone up or improve your overall well-being, seeing results can be one of the most satisfying feelings. Noticing even the smallest change in the way you feel or look is reason enough to lace up your sneakers for another sweat session.

When results seem to plateau or schedules get busy, don’t give up! Keep the below tips in mind to help maximize your fitness routine and stay on track.

1) Find a workout buddy

Instead of flying solo, bring a friend so you can encourage each other during your workouts. Exercising with a buddy can breed healthy competition, but also hold you accountable. To help maximize the impact, try to pick a partner that is on the same fitness level as you and shares similar goals — you will want to be able to increase your intensity level and challenge each other as a team.

2) Fuel up

An active lifestyle requires proper nutrition. When regularly exercising, your body needs fuel for optimal performance and proper recovery. Before a workout, opt for healthy and easily digestible carbohydrates like brown rice, quinoa, whole-grain bread and pasta, fruits and vegetables to give you energy. Afterward, try a protein-packed snack like Emergen-C Protein Fuel and Superfoods. With 15 grams of organic plant-based protein and two full servings of 14 superfoods, the protein and superfood powder blend can help you make the most of your active time by providing the wholesome nourishment you need, along with supporting your natural defenses with a high potency serving of vitamin C.

3) Head to the weights

If your fitness goals include improving body composition and losing weight, you may want to introduce strength training into your regimen. While exercises such as walking, running and cycling can do wonders for your cardiovascular health and help burn calories, strength training with weights can elevate your metabolism for a longer period — meaning your body will continue burning calories even after a workout. Plus, strength training can target and tone hard-to-reach muscles, improve balance and help protect your bones.

4) Switch it up

After a while, bodies can grow accustomed to the same exercise routine, often leading to stalled results. If you find yourself breezing through a workout, it’s time to switch it up and push your limits. Varying your exercises can challenge your mind and body, help burn more calories and prevent boredom. If you like to run long distances, try implementing sprint intervals. At the gym? Try out new equipment or vary your reps. Challenge your body and you may be surprised by the results.

5) Take a break

The last way to maximize your fitness routine has nothing to do with the gym at all. In fact, it requires you to skip the gym. Exercise provides many health benefits, but too many high-intensity workouts can backfire, potentially causing injury from overuse and hindering your results. Allow your body enough time to heal before hitting the gym again and try to work active rest days into your schedule, such as going for a light walk or bike ride.

Keeping these tips in mind can help you make the most of your fitness routine and magnify your efforts in the gym, on the track, in the pool or wherever you choose to exercise. Above all, don’t hesitate to ask fellow gym-goers for help or to make modifications when something feels off.

For more information, visit www.emergenc.com.

2019-10-30T13:01:00

(BPT) – Sponsored by Crest

If you’ve ever noticed sharp pain in your teeth when enjoying ice cream or a cold or hot beverage, you probably experience some degree of tooth sensitivity. When the temperature gets colder outside, even just breathing in frosty air can trigger that pain. According to research, 1 in every 2 adult Americans suffers from some kind of tooth sensitivity.

What are the most common causes of tooth sensitivity, and how can you help protect your teeth from discomfort?

Gum recession

There are several factors that can lead to gum recession — with one of the contributors being gingivitis. This can lead to gingival recession which, along with the loss of cementum, leads to exposure of dentin — which leads to dental sensitivity.

Products like Crest Gum and Sensitivity Toothpaste can also help treat gingivitis, which can ultimately lead to gum recession. Often when people experience tooth sensitivity they reduce or stop brushing their teeth regularly, which can just make the problem worse. Continue to practice good oral care and consult your dentist if pain around the gum line persists, since that could mean additional treatment for your gums is warranted.

Crest and Oral-B Smile Council member Kareen Wilson, RDH, says, “Even as a dental professional I have teeth sensitivity, so Crest Gum and Sensitivity is the product I use and recommend for fast and effective relief.

Enamel wear

The outer covering or shield of the tooth, known as enamel, can wear down over time as well as from acidic food and drinks. Weakened enamel and dentin can also mean exposing the microscopic tubules that lead to dental nerves, so that anything touching that area causes pain.

Many people who experience tooth sensitivity find themselves avoiding foods and drinks that trigger their pain, like acidic citrus fruits and juices or ice cold soda and hot coffee. People shouldn’t have to avoid their favorite foods and drinks in fear of the tooth sensitivity that can come with them.

You can help to safeguard your teeth from sensitivity by using a product like new Crest Gum and Sensitivity Toothpaste, which wraps teeth in a shield of protection, blocking tubules to provide all day protection. Most people notice a difference within three days, with twice daily brushing, and are able to get back to enjoying their favorite treats — with reduced sensitivity pain.

Tooth decay

If you are experiencing tooth decay, or cavities, those areas can be overly sensitive. Sometimes the areas around old fillings can accumulate bacteria, which leads to further tooth problems and sensitivity.

If tooth pain persists for more than a couple of days, especially when you are not eating or drinking hot or cold items, you should visit your dentist to be sure that you don’t have a cavity that needs attention, or an old filling that might need to be replaced. Or you may even have a cracked tooth that needs to be seen by a dentist.

Dental procedures

For anyone who has undergone a recent dental procedure, whether a simple filling, crown placement or something more involved like a root canal, your teeth may experience sensitivity for some time afterward.

Ask your dentist what an expected time frame might be to expect sensitivity after a procedure, and what to watch for if that sensitivity doesn’t go away. Persistent pain after a dental procedure could be a sign of infection.

Tooth grinding

Your dentist can examine your teeth for signs that you may be grinding them, as it can happen while you are asleep or otherwise unaware of what you’re doing.

A mouth guard or other strategy may help resolve this issue.

Brushing too hard

Sometimes using a hard-bristled brush, or simply using too much force while brushing, can contribute to worn enamel, making tooth sensitivity worse.

It’s best to continue to brush your teeth regularly, but consider using a soft-bristled toothbrush or electric toothbrush, and/or simply brush a little more gently. Your dentist may be able to recommend a better toothbrush for you to use.

While there can be many causes for your tooth sensitivity, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy cold or hot foods and beverages without those twinges of pain. With proper oral care practices, you should be able to reduce or resolve tooth sensitivity for good.

To see a short video with Wilson’s recommendations about tooth sensitivity, visit lifeminute.tv/health/video/tooth-sensitivity-solutions.

2019-10-30T09:01:00

(BPT) – As the seasons change, entertainment opportunities ramp up. Between boisterous game day parties and festive holiday celebrations, calendars through the end of the year will be full of special events and occasions. But there’s no need to stress — with a little creativity and a few fresh ingredients, you can make use of everyday pantry ingredients to feed your hungry guests in style.

The good news is, what you serve at your game day or holiday parties with friends and family can be nutritious, too. Highlight plant-based ingredients as much as you can to bring both nutrition and flavor to a whole new level.

Here are some recipe ideas to make your celebrations stress-free, fun and tasty.

1. Canned tomatoes in your cupboard?

Throw together a quick one-pot pasta puttanesca. While traditional pasta puttanesca includes ingredients like olives, anchovies, capers and hot peppers, you can add more or substitute any of those ingredients with your favorite proteins or veggies, and season to taste. Any type of pasta from your pantry will do, not just spaghetti. The key is to cook the pasta right in the pot, along with the canned tomatoes and all the other ingredients, which not only saves a ton of time, but infuses the pasta with flavor. Add water as needed. Use good quality olive oil, lots of garlic, plus extra fresh herbs like parsley, oregano and basil to bring out the best flavors in your dish, then serve it family-style.

2. Lighten up your beans.

Create a fresh, sweet and savory dish with this recipe for Beans and Apple Salad with Maple-Glazed Walnuts that’s perfect for starting off a special dinner party. You could also serve it as one half of a tasty soup-and-salad lunch. The deliciously sweet maple-glazed nuts and fresh crisp apples provide a great flavor contrast to the richness of S&W Jacob’s Cattle Beans, which is part of the new limited-edition Heirloom Series from S&W Beans.

3. Turn a salad into an entree.

With this Pasta and Shrimp Scampi Salad, you can use any shape of pasta from your pantry, and be sure to make enough to feed your entire crowd. Brighten up the salad with fresh-squeezed lemon juice, multi-colored bell peppers and summer squash, then garnish with plenty of fresh basil leaves. The flavorful shrimp and the mild S&W European Soldier Beans offer lots of protein to make this salad into a satisfying main dish your guests will really savor. Your can serve bread sticks, garlic bread, bruschetta or crostini along with the salad. For truly stress-free entertaining, you can make the salad ahead of time and refrigerate to serve chilled the next day.

4. Creative uses for canned fish.

Whether you have canned tuna or canned salmon in your pantry, you can use it to make patties to serve on a bun, offering any pescatarian members of your crew a great alternative when cooking burgers for your game day feast. These Healthy Zucchini Tuna Cakes are as tasty as they are quick and easy to make. Use up the breadcrumbs in your cupboard, and feel free to substitute other fresh grated or shredded veggies if you’re short on zucchini. Add some extra zing by whipping up the recommended sriracha aioli to go with it, or your own favorite hot sauce. If you’ve got time, provide a few different sauces that your friends can try.

5. Seafood celebration.

As long as you have beans, chicken stock, flour and milk, you can create a memorable Lobster and Bean Chowder by adding cooked, fresh or frozen lobster to the pot. This hearty cold-weather favorite will really delight your crowd, as it’s rich and full of flavor. The addition of fresh tarragon and thyme takes the chowder up a notch, and the slightly nutty flavor and creamy texture of the S&W Yellow Eye Beans will wow your guests at any holiday celebration.

Entertaining can be fun and relaxing no matter the occasion, as long as you let your pantry be your guide. Adding a few fresh ingredients like veggies and herbs will enhance the meal and please your crowd, so you can be sure to enjoy the party as much as your guests.

2019-10-30T09:45:00

(BPT) – The holiday season is the year’s busiest time for retail and e-commerce sales worldwide. Year-end holiday sales surpass one-fourth of all sales for the year, for the majority of businesses around the world. As these businesses gear up for this year’s peak selling season, they grapple with more challenges — and opportunities — than ever before. According to a new Visa Global Merchant eCommerce Study (GME Study), more than half of the e-commerce executives or business owners surveyed (52%) considered increased competition from other retailers to be their biggest hurdle in achieving their revenue goals during the peak holiday season.

What’s the solution? According to the study, a vast majority of e-business leaders (87%) believe that expanding their online sales into new revenue streams — such as the global marketplace — is one of their biggest growth opportunities both in the near- and long-term future. Today, two-thirds of online businesses already take advantage of cross-border sales, which make up 31% of their revenue. However, over half of e-business leaders that are already reaping the benefits of international sales doubt their companies’ ability to maximize those opportunities, once more proving the space to be a fickle yet fruitful destination.

End of year holidays mean sales worldwide

The fourth quarter of the year determines whether the year has been a success or not for many businesses. Almost all (99%) of the e-commerce companies surveyed have made sales in Q4 of 2018. The majority of those (86%) made more than a quarter of their annual revenues from Q4 sales, demonstrating that holiday time is critical for e-commerce businesses.

And beyond mastering these challenges, making the most of international e-commerce opportunities depends on one primary factor for businesses — keeping their customers happy, no matter where they’re located. Consumers today have higher standards. Even if they are ordering products online from across the globe, they expect their experience to be the same. Survey participants reported that consumers demand a seamless experience, which they determined to mean:

• Easy online checkout (cited by 41%)
• Convenient payment methods (41%)
• Quick delivery (44%)

While some retailers are slower to adopt these processes for global market expansion, two out of three businesses that do not currently sell cross-border plan to do so soon (and 90% are considering doing so in the next three years). However as many as 87% of those who haven’t expanded into international sales have not yet pursued the opportunity.

Similarly, despite cross-border sales’ ability to generate significant revenue, more than half (51 percent) of e-business leaders of companies that already sell to international customers need help optimizing their foreign online sales and creating a solution that sticks.

What’s stopping them? Perhaps they see those hurdles, such as having to process foreign transactions and dealing with international shipping, as barriers that are too difficult to overcome.

But more than 85% of executives surveyed said that expanding their business to include global online sales is the top priority for their company in achieving growth in the future.

Solutions to expanded cross-border sales

So how can businesses increase their capability to expand into the international e-commerce market and find new cross-border customers?

Companies within the payments industry can help provide businesses with streamlined, secure and effective payments solutions, giving retailers of all sizes the ability to capitalize on untapped markets. Available programs and services these innovators can provide go way beyond helping companies cope with the perceived barrier of handling foreign transactions, and can include analytics and targeted data tools, comprehensive in-market insights and localized spending behaviors.

“The data is clear — cross-border is a major growth opportunity. But it’s not easy,” said Suzan Kereere, global head of merchant sales and acquiring, Visa. “As a global platform that sees millions of transactions daily, Visa helps merchants find new customers, verify their customers’ digital identities, and create secure, seamless experiences.”

Learn how to get what you need to grow your business by visiting visa.com and selecting “Run Your Business.”

2019-10-30T10:01:00

(BPT) – Back in the day, most people learned how to manage their money through the school of hard knocks. That’s still true. But today’s young people face much larger, higher-stakes financial decisions at a younger age than their elders.

For example, in 2018, the average college graduate faced $29,200 in student loan debt — the highest it’s ever been — according to a new report by the Institute for College Access & Success. And recent data from TransUnion shows that more than half of people ages 18 to 24 who have a credit card are carrying a balance on it.

It’s clear teens need help making sound money decisions. One financial literacy program pairs teens with volunteer mentors to create hands-on financial learning. Money Matters: Make It Count was created in collaboration between Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Charles Schwab Foundation and is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Young people have gone through the program a million times since it started.

Tamara Johnson served as a former Money Matters ambassador in Santa Fe. Johnson, who earned college scholarships and now practices family law, credits the program for giving her the foundation she needed to take on the responsibilities of adulthood. As a result, she’s debt free!

“While I was an ambassador, so many adults told me how they wished they had started as early as I did in getting the money thing right,” said Johnson. “I would tell any teenager if they have the opportunity to take part in Money Matters or any other financial literacy program, take it. You’ll learn simple steps for saving, and your future self will thank you!”

To help and inspire other teens to take steps to master financial literacy, Johnson offers her top five tips.

1. Respect the power of credit: You know how teachers, parents and other adults are always saying a bad decision can haunt you for years? That’s definitely true with credit. Bad money habits, like maxing out your credit card or making late payments, will show on your credit report almost right away. Then, it takes seven years before that disappears from your credit history. That can mean paying higher interest rates, being turned down for a loan, or not getting hired for a job you want. The good news is, being smart with money helps you avoid the credit trap. These remaining tips will show you how.

2. Be a saver — it’s never too early to start: What’s the best way to avoid using credit cards? Build a savings cushion, so when unexpected costs come up, there will be no need for a credit card. Starting now, any time money comes in — your paycheck, babysitting money, birthday cash from grandma — the very first thing you should do is pay yourself. Tuck some of it away, and watch those dollars add up. Someday, that money will be there for you when it’s time to buy a car, go to college or rent an apartment. The pride you’ll feel from watching your savings grow is priceless!

3. Never start the month without a plan: There’s no substitute for planning. At the start of the month, sit down and list everything you will need to pay for in the coming weeks. Think about how much you have, what your paycheck will be, and then, do the math to make sure you have enough to cover it. This doesn’t have to be complicated, just a simple list you keep on your phone so it’s always with you. Then, check in with your monthly plan once every week or so, and make sure everything’s on track.

4. Sort out needs vs. wants: Here’s the tough part. Your favorite band is coming to town, and all your friends want to catch the show. But your phone needs a new battery, your car has a flat tire and insurance is due. It’s so tempting to cave and raid your savings account so you can do it all. These choices are never fun, and this won’t be the last time it happens. But remember, your spending plan will be meaningless if you don’t stick to it. So yes, there will be times when you’ll need the conviction to say no. That said, make room in your budget for the fun things, so you can feel great about times like these when you want to say yes.

5. Stretch your dollars: You work hard for your money. Let it work hard for you! Before you buy, shop around. Compare prices online, wait for a sale or download a digital coupon. Or if you’re grabbing lunch, skip the beverage and ask for ice water; then put that money into savings. Smart money moves like these can leave you with a little extra and make it easier to keep it all in balance: your needs, wants and savings. When you stay in control of your spending, it’s that much easier to avoid debt.

Creating good financial habits early in life can help you achieve your goals. Follow these tips, and you’ll be well on your way. Parents or teens who’d like to learn more about the program should check with their local Boys & Girls Club, or visit the Money Matters page on BGCA.org and take advantage of this resource.