Category: Brandpoint Lifestyle

2023-01-12T09:01:00

(BPT) – The U.S. Civil Rights Trail, which now celebrates its fifth anniversary, has more than 100 locations across 15 states that follow the battle for civil rights over the years. In Arkansas, most of the locations on the trail can be found within ten minutes of one another in downtown Little Rock. Check out these five Civil Rights Trail destinations within your reach in Little Rock.

1. Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site

In September 1957, Little Rock Central High School became a crucial battleground for desegregation as nine Black students, known as the Little Rock Nine, enrolled at the all-white high school. Governor Orval Faubus ordered the Arkansas National Guard to prevent them from attending. In response, President Dwight Eisenhower federalized the National Guard and sent in federal troops to escort the students to class.

In 2007, to mark the 50th anniversary of the school’s desegregation, a visitor center was opened, making it the only functioning high school in the U.S. to be located within the boundary of a National Historic Site. The permanent exhibits feature interactive displays, interviews with the Little Rock Nine and historical video clips that cover the events of 1957 and the greater civil rights movement.

2. Daisy Bates House

During the Little Rock Integration Crisis, the home of Arkansas NAACP President Daisy Bates became a command post and sanctuary for the Little Rock Nine. The house functioned as the headquarters for military and civilians engaged in racial desegregation at Little Rock Central High School, including Thurgood Marshall, who later became a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

3. Little Rock Nine Memorial

“Testament: The Little Rock Nine Monument” honors the courageous nine Black students who integrated Little Rock Central High School. Located on the grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol, visitors can see bronze sculptures of the Little Rock Nine — Melba Pattillo Beals, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas, Minnijean Brown and Thelma Mothershed — and read comments from each on individual bronze plaques.

4. Mosaic Templars Cultural Center

The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center is located on historic 9th Street in downtown Little Rock. This street was a cultural mecca for the African American community and was home to many vibrant businesses in the early to mid 1900s. Mosaic Templars tells the stories of those African American innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders who fought for racial integration in the state. The Center offers self-guided and guided tours.

5. Clinton Presidential Center

The library at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park features exhibits that chronicle the life and presidency of the nation’s 42nd president. Among those exhibits are pieces of history associated with the integration of Little Rock Central High School in 1957. In 1997, then President Clinton appeared at the school and threw open the front doors inviting the Little Rock Nine inside. A year later in 1998, President Clinton signed legislation establishing Little Rock Central High School as a National Historic Site.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, history buff or curious traveler, visiting the Arkansas leg of the Civil Rights Trail won’t be a trip you’ll soon forget. To learn more about the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, visit https://civilrightstrail.com/destination/little-rock/.

2023-01-10T09:01:00

(BPT) – The new year is a time to reflect and think about how you can live better both for yourself and the world around you. One popular resolution is to eat less sugar, but chocolate lovers struggle to give up their favorite treat. The good news is, now you don’t have to.

If you’re resolving to eat less sugar this year, there are chocolate options that will satisfy your cocoa cravings and keep you on track:

Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate is lower in sugar and full of antioxidants, so stock up on this feel-good treat to help you stick to your New Year’s resolution. A square or two of dark chocolate with your mid-morning cup of coffee or after lunch can satisfy that sweet craving! Check out the more than 40 dark chocolate options from Chocolove that are made with high cocoa content, which means lower sugar content.

Not sure where to start? Try the Strong Dark Chocolate Bar, featuring strong, Belgian dark chocolate with 70% cocoa, and only 30% sugar content. The intense and well-rounded flavors have a pleasant and velvety finish that is indulgent and satisfying. A 77% Extra Strong also is available with extra cocoa butter that adds balance and softness.

Want to go to the extreme with your dark chocolate? Try the Extreme Dark Chocolate Bar with 88% cocoa. High cocoa content of 88% means lower sugar and high polyphenol content.

How does chocolate low in sugar still taste great?

By using only top-quality cocoa beans and taking great care through the roasting and grinding process, Chocolove avoids the need to add excess sugar to dilute bitterness that can come from poor quality beans. This is why even the highest cocoa content bars taste smooth and delicious.

What’s more, you can feel good about enjoying these bars because they are made with traceable cocoa beans and are Rainforest Alliance Certified, meaning the chocolate is sourced using methods that support social, economic and environmental sustainability. They are also Non GMO Project Verified.

No-sugar-added chocolate

Chocolove XO is no-sugar-added chocolate sweetened naturally with inulin from chicory root and isomalt from beets. There are no artificial sweeteners, which helps deliver a smooth, delicious taste. This higher-fiber, keto-friendly option is a great choice for those following a low-sugar diet and for those who want to enjoy high-quality chocolate with fewer calories and less sugar per serving.

If you crave the combo of chocolate and fruit, try the XO Elderberries & Blueberries in 60% Dark Chocolate Bar. It’s a perfect pairing of dried elderberries and freeze-dried blueberries in creamy dark chocolate that offers a sophisticated taste with both floral and fruit notes.

Nuts contain healthy omega-6s, so if you want a touch of healthy crunch, try the XO Almonds & Sea Salt in 60% Dark Chocolate Bar. The dry-roasted, crunchy almonds combine perfectly with sea salt crystals.

If you love mint and how it mingles perfectly with the flavor of dark chocolate, try the XO Mint in 60% Dark Chocolate Bar. The creamy dark chocolate and refreshing peppermint flavors swirl on your palate, ending in a cool mint finish.

Chocolove is sold at major retailers nationwide — including Whole Foods Market, Safeway, Kroger, Walmart and Sprouts — and is available at Chocolove.com and a variety of independent natural retailers. This is chocolate that tastes good and that you can feel good about eating.

2023-01-10T02:01:00

(BPT) – If you love exploring ingredients and new ways to cook old favorites, 2023’s cooking trends will delight and inspire you. GoodCook Culinary Chef Anthony Serrano shares trends he’s seeing in kitchens everywhere, along with helpful tools to help make your culinary adventures more successful.

Discover plant-based pastas

While traditional pasta will never go out of style, plant-based alternatives will be making waves in 2023. Traditional pasta is made from wheat flour (AP flour, semolina or whole wheat), but the world of pastas created from plants are colorful, flavorful and nutritious — and great choices for those with wheat allergies or gluten sensitivity. These include pastas made from edamame (soybeans), black beans, chickpeas or chia. Thanks to the popularity of Korean and Japanese cuisines, other options you could try are kelp noodles, shirataki noodles (created from the konjac yam) and cellophane noodles (made from mung beans, potato or sweet potato starch or tapioca). You can also substitute pasta with zoodles (spiralized zucchini) or spaghetti squash, which naturally shreds after cooking into spaghetti-like fibers that are fun to eat.

Whatever pasta dishes you concoct, you’ll need a great cookware set that can handle anything you throw at it. You can’t go wrong with GoodCook’s ProEase Cookware Set, a 12-piece set with 7″ and 9.5″ fry pans, 1.25-quart and 2-quart covered sauce pans, 4-quart covered Dutch oven, slotted spoon, spoon, slotted turner and pasta fork. This cookware is SupremSafe™ Nonstick, making for healthy, easy cooking and cleaning, and the tempered glass lid included allows you to monitor food as it cooks.

Be up-to-date with dates

Have you noticed dates showing up everywhere? This stone fruit from date palm trees can enhance many dishes and cuisines, with a natural sweetness that’s irresistible in savory or sweet applications. Dates add a burst of flavor to everything from stews and stuffing to salads and more. For dessert, bake them in date nut bars or cakes, or enjoy them on their own.

Whether you’re baking treats or concocting savory delights, a great mixing bowl set is vital. You’ll be able to mix, measure and prep ingredients easily with this GoodCook Assorted Plastic Mixing Bowl Set containing 1.5-quart, 3-quart and 5-quart bowls with non-slip bottoms for stability.

Re-vamped nostalgia

While everyone loves their childhood favorites, today’s trend takes them to the next level, adjusting ingredients and/or cooking methods to add a wellness twist. Lovers of everything from pizza bites to mac and cheese will still get those cozy vibes and flavors while appreciating the healthier spin on these classics. Grilling or steaming are just a few techniques that can make your faves better for you by cooking lighter.

Love pizza? You can get pizza parlor perfection at home using the GoodCook AirPerfect Pizza Pan to create that ideal crispy crust, thanks to perforated construction which allows direct contact between the oven heat and the pizza crust. This lightweight pizza pan also has convenient cutting guides to ensure perfect slices.

Enjoy the savory with the sweet

Combining sweet with savory flavors is another trend gaining steam. For example, if you love baking but tire of eating sweet-on-sweet, add savory seasonings into your recipes, as toppers or in the frosting. Chocolate combined with chipotle or jalapenos can really wake up the taste buds, or try cayenne, chili, Chinese five spice, curry or cumin in your dessert. Too much heat? Simply increase the amount of cinnamon, mace or ginger — or sprinkle a little flake salt or freshly ground pepper — and taste the results. They may surprise you!

Whether baking cookies or roasting veggies, you’ll need a great baking sheet. The GoodCook AirPerfect Nonstick Baking Sheet distributes heat evenly for thorough baking. Its scratch-resistant, dishwasher-safe nonstick coating makes clean-up quick and easy, and the multi-use pan can be used for everything from heating appetizers to baking cookies.

Butter up guests with butter boards

Similar to charcuterie boards, spread a board with various butters, hummus and/or other spreads, adding a variety of herbs and seasonings, exotic flake salt or ground pepper guests can enjoy on crusty bread or crackers. Better yet, create individual butter boards using marble coasters so guests can stand and chat while sampling tasty bites.

Sound intriguing? These growing trends and helpful products should inspire you to create wonderful new flavors in the year to come.

2023-01-09T10:21:00

(BPT) – As we enter a new year during the cold, dark months of winter, it’s easy for anyone to lose their spark. It can be especially challenging to motivate your kids after a long holiday break. By shaking up the routine and infusing some fun and creativity into family activities, you can help beat the winter-time blues.

Here are a few fun, family-friendly ideas to help keep spirits up:

1. Get creative in the kitchen. A great (and tasty!) way to have some fun and teach your kids a thing or two is to get creative in the kitchen. Get them started with an easy recipe they can take the lead in preparing. The Frigo Cheese Heads brand has easy, healthy and creative snacks, like Fruity Cheese Kabobs, which are as fun to assemble as they are to eat.

2. Make a point to get moving. Motivation and movement go hand in hand, and there are lots of ways to get everyone in the family moving, even during the chillier months. Explore your local hiking trails or go bowling. If you’re in a snowy climate, embrace it with sledding, ice skating or snowshoeing adventures. Staying in? Consider starting an exercise challenge and up the excitement by offering prizes that your kids will be motivated to earn.

3. Get a change of scenery. Sometimes a change of scenery is all you need to combat the winter blues. Check out local event sites and plan one day each month for your family to explore a new festival, museum, indoor or outdoor market, park, music show or other unique local offering.

4. Throw a party. Planning a gathering is sometimes just as fun as the party itself. Host a party with your kids and let them be involved in coming up with the theme, menu and guest list. Let them get creative by making up games for a game night that both kids and adults will enjoy. Take it one step further and have them create handmade party decorations and a trophy for the winner to take home.

5. Volunteer together. Brainstorm a few simple but meaningful things to do at home that can benefit the world. Seemingly small things like starting a compost pile, collecting food shelf donations or contributing to a charity event at school are great ways to get involved and make a difference. Or consider signing the entire family up for volunteer and fundraising opportunities, such as working at a food bank, participating in park cleanups or walking or running to raise money for a charity.

Most importantly, infuse some fun and positivity during the short days of winter to help your kids keep their spark and revitalize them for the rest of the school year!

2023-01-09T07:01:00

(BPT) – While preparing to ring in the new year, many Americans make resolutions about their finances. Unfortunately, some are feeling less optimistic about the year ahead, according to Fidelity Investments’ 2023 New Year’s Financial Resolutions Study. Over one-third say they’re in worse financial shape than last year, and only 65% believe they’ll be better off in 2023. The good news? About half say they’re ready to “live sensibly” or “plan ahead,” making practical financial resolutions focusing on balancing short-term and long-term goals. Two-thirds of the survey respondents (66%) are considering a financial resolution for 2023.

What financial resolutions are Americans making?

Of those planning a financial New Year’s resolution, 94% say they’re approaching it differently, given the events of the last couple of years, focusing on practicality — with nearly half (45%) considering more conservative goals for the year ahead.

The top financial resolutions are:

1. Save more money (39%)
2. Pay down debt (32%)
3. Spend less money (28%)

For the first time in the study’s 14-year history, more Americans resolve to save for short-term goals rather than long-term goals. Next generation savers (ages 18-35) are evenly split, with 50% saving for the short-term and 50% taking a longer view. Among those making financial resolutions, the top motivations are “achieving greater peace of mind” and “living a debt-free life.”

Inflation’s impact

Inflation was cited as the top financial setback experienced in 2022, and its impact is expected to continue. In fact, respondents ranked it their top financial concern for 2023.

Among those experiencing a financial setback in the past year, 44% had to dip into their emergency fund. Millennials led the way in this regard, with more than half (55%) reporting being forced to take this action. Additionally, 4 out of 10 (43%) Baby Boomers say they and their family are in worse shape financially compared to last year, possibly in part due to declining retirement balances.

Positive practices in a season of living sensibly

While 2022 presented challenges, the study also reveals encouraging news: More people express having a positive relationship with money. When asked to describe their expectations for 2023, 29% describe their outlook for next year as “the year of living sensibly.” Encouragingly, nearly half (49%) expect to maintain savings habits developed during the pandemic, and a similar number (46%) plan to get more involved in charitable giving in 2023.

“Even if your focus is on immediate needs, long-term goals and objectives are what keep us going — and planning can help,” said Stacey Watson, senior vice president of Life Event Planning, Fidelity Investments. “Taking charge of your financial situation is a great way to help you feel a sense of control, even when external forces bring challenges. Saving more and paying down debt, even small amounts, can have a tremendous impact on a household’s financial and emotional well-being.”

Sticking with resolutions

How can Americans resolve to build a stronger financial future in the new year? To start, those in better financial shape this year reported saving more, budgeting better and/or working more hours. In fact, over 80% of Americans say having a plan can help them deal with the unexpected. Making resolutions is a great way to start the year on the right foot — and this simple act can have a positive impact on your attitude and your finances.

Get help planning and reaching financial goals

Want to plan and set achievable financial resolutions? Help is just a click away. Fidelity’s online resource, Life Events hub, was created to help anyone, Fidelity customer or not, plan for and manage life’s significant moments. You can find checklists and resources for situations including job changes, caring for loved ones, divorce and navigating the college journey.

No matter what your focus — building emergency savings, paying down debt, managing spending or saving for retirement — Fidelity can help you create a free, flexible plan for whatever matters most to you at Fidelity.com/freeplan. In January during Financial Wellness month, the company offers 31 days of educational events, financial tips and interactive tools to inspire you to kick off the new year with a renewed focus on finances.

Representatives are available at no cost to answer questions 24/7 at 1-800-FIDELITY, or online at Fidelity.com.

2023-01-09T09:01:01

(BPT) – It’s an experience shared by many: You make an ambitious health resolution at the start of the year and a few months — or weeks — later, you lose steam and throw in the towel. This year break the cycle of broken resolutions by focusing on simple, yet effective ways you can impact your wellness long term. The key? Small daily habits.

Nicholas Frye, MS, LCPC, CHES, behavioral counseling manager at OPTAVIA and an expert on psychological factors that influence health, shares how you can create lasting healthy habits, break those unhealthy ones and create positive changes to your wellbeing:

Forming new habits

Habits are a fundamental part of the health and wellbeing program, OPTAVIA. Its approach is built around four key components: a supportive community, an independent coach, a blueprint for learning and mastering healthy habits, and easy nutrition.

“Forming a new, healthy habit involves repeating a health-promoting behavior in response to some trigger that’s already a part of your day, such as a specific location like the kitchen, certain situation like making your morning coffee, or particular person like your significant other, until there is a learned connection between trigger and behavior,” said Frye.

As an example, to develop a new, healthy walking habit, first select a specific health-promoting behavior such as “go for a 10-minute walk.” Then identify a stable cue which occurs daily in your life such as “after breakfast.” Then repeatedly perform the walking behavior in response to the after-breakfast cue which will, over time, result in an automatic habit.

It takes 66 days — on average — to develop a new habit, according to a 2009 study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology. However, the exact timeframe is different for everyone. As the behavior is repeated in response to the cue, the association between them becomes stronger, more efficient, and automatic until the cue alone is enough to trigger the associated behavior without conscious thought.

Breaking old habits

Forming new, healthy habits through behavior and cue association is one part of a long-term approach to wellness, but how do you break an established, negative health habit?

“Breaking an old, unhealthy habit involves overwriting the old habit with a new, competing behavior,” Frye said. “Basically, you substitute the unhealthy habit with a healthy new one.”

For example, to break a habit of drinking sugary sodas while watching television, replace the soft drink with sparkling water every time you sit down to binge your favorite show. Eventually, you’ll associate watching TV with this new, healthier behavior.

MicroHabits

Resolutions have become overly complicated, which is why Frye recommends instead of committing to a big, audacious goal in the new year, try incorporating small daily habits into one’s life. This allows you one step closer to optimal health and wellbeing every day. These small behaviors are called microHabits and they can compound to have big results.

Some microHabit examples are parking at the back of a parking lot to get your steps in or taking a sip of water as soon as you wake up rather than hitting the snooze button.

“By developing these habits, one small step at a time, we can overcome the intention-behavior gap — in other words, when what you do doesn’t live up to your previous intentions — and it is all the less daunting,” said Frye. “This sets one up for success as opposed to overly ambitious resolutions that don’t guide you from point A to point B.”

Learn more at OPTAVIA.com.

2023-01-05T09:01:00

(BPT) – Do you remember the feeling of getting your driver’s license? Excited? Nervous? Eager to get on the road and drive? All of those? Now, it’s your teen’s turn to get a driver’s license. To help you start your teen on the right foot, we offer you six tips to prepare him or her for responsible driving that will also give you peace of mind. You can find more detailed information at AutoInsurance.com/Teens.

1) Top of the list: a parent-teen driving contract

Drawn up between parents and teens, a parent-teen driving contract outlines state laws and safe driving habits that teens will agree to adhere to. Include safety requirements in the contract such as curfew (most accidents happen at night), speed, number of passengers, no electronic device or phone use while driving, seat belt use, and distracted driving rules. Have your teen take a defensive driving course, as well, to further ingrain safe driving habits.

2) Technology to ensure safe driving

Double down on your contract with safe driving technology for teens. Many cars today have safety features, unheard of several years ago. But, today, parents have more control over teens’ driving with safe driver technology. Using the smart technology in the car and your mobile device, you can keep an eye on your teen’s speed, curfew, and miles driven. You’ll also find features that improve safety from stability control, to backup monitors, and more.

3) Drive home the rules of the road

A learner’s permit is the first step to a driver’s license. Beyond quizzing your teen about driving rules, it’s important that teens understand that there are limitations for inexperienced drivers. These restrictions include curfews, supervision, number and age of passengers, among others. In addition, penalties tend to be harsher for traffic violations and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Help them understand the rules and why they matter.

4) School your teen on distracted driving

Inexperience coupled with distractions are accidents waiting to happen. Help your teens understand that attention to the road is more important than their phone, the radio, the passenger in the back seat, and the beverage in the cup holder. Let them know the importance of keeping eyes and minds on the road, and hands on the wheel at all times. Accidents can happen in a split second.

5) Find good teen driver insurance

Insurance costs for new drivers run higher than costs for experienced drivers with good driving records. You may be able to lower the cost of car insurance for teens if you add them to your policy. Having a safe technology car and giving your teen defensive driving lessons can also ease the financial burden. Plus, get buy-in from your teen to help with car maintenance and insurance costs. Discuss the costs of driving and maintaining a car, and teach them budgeting to help split the costs, which, in turn, will make them feel more responsible.

6) Model good driving behaviors

It’s important to model good driving as an experienced driver. Combine that with a parent-teen contract, making teens aware of the financial requirements of driving and the costs of distracted driving, and you’ll know you’ve done your best to prepare them to be responsible drivers.

2023-01-05T08:01:00

(BPT) – Ready to kick off 2023 with new resolutions that will help improve and simplify your routine?

If you’ve made it your mission to cook more cost-friendly meals that delight everyone, it can be challenging to find new flavor inspiration. While at-home cooking is one of the top ways to help you keep to your household budget, it’s not easy to make delicious, creative meals without stocking a full pantry of herbs and spices — or spending hours in the kitchen building layers of flavor.

Fortunately, a new, versatile solution can help turn ordinary meals into much more flavorful experiences without sacrificing your budget — or taking hours from your busy schedule. Your trusted name in soup, Campbell’s^®, is introducing your next favorite secret ingredient: Campbell’s^® FlavorUp! Cooking Concentrate.

Campbell’s FlavorUp! comes in three flavor combinations that were inspired by the most popular spice pairings and usually require significant prep and cook time to develop: Rich Garlic & Herb, Caramelized Onion & Burgundy Wine, and Savory Mushroom & Herb. With just a tablespoon or two, you can marinate or mix in to enhance any protein, grain or vegetable dish.

To get a jumpstart on recipe inspiration, try this delicious option below and visit CampbellsFlavorUp.com for a portfolio of ideas.

Sausage, Broccoli Rabe and Orecchiette

Dinner in a hurry doesn’t get any easier (or tastier) than this Sausage, Broccoli Rabe and Orecchiette. The entire meal, including the pasta, cooks in a single skillet — how’s that for a time- and dish-saver? While you can use any other type of pasta, the small curved orecchiette are perfectly shaped to hold bits of sausage and greens, ensuring that every bite is flavor-filled. The rich sausage and sweet Caramelized Onion & Burgundy Wine Cooking Concentrate balances the broccoli rabe’s bitter notes, and red pepper flakes add some heat. Since it’s ready in 20 minutes and only uses six ingredients, this is the perfect no-fuss meal for busy families.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons Caramelized Onion & Burgundy Wine Cooking Concentrate
12 ounces mild Italian pork sausage
8 ounces uncooked orecchiette pasta (about 2 cups)
3 cups water
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 bunch broccoli rabe, cut in 1-inch pieces (about 6 cups)

Directions

Heat 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook until well browned, stirring often to separate meat. Pour off any fat. Stir in uncooked orecchiette, water, concentrate and red pepper. Cover and heat to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 10 minutes or until orecchiette is tender. Stir in broccoli rabe. Cover and cook for 3 minutes or until broccoli rabe is tender-crisp. Season with black pepper (no need to add salt). Serve with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

With a little help from these new cooking concentrates, you can ensure your new year will be full of flavor, no matter what’s cooking in the kitchen. You can find FlavorUp! in the dry seasoning aisle at leading retailers nationwide, such as Kroger, or at FlavorUp.com.

2023-01-04T08:21:00

(BPT) – After the indulgence of the holiday season, many New Year’s resolutions revolve around healthier choices from creating a gym schedule to cutting back on alcohol consumption. Over the last several years, thousands of people worldwide have cut their alcohol consumption by participating in Dry January — a resolution to abstain from alcohol for the month of January.

Dry January has grown in popularity, even becoming a national movement in the UK in 2013. This year, nearly one in five adults say they plan to give their livers a break from booze and participate in Dry January.

Not drinking alcohol, even for just a month, can make a noticeable difference in your health. Within a month of going dry, you may find yourself feeling happier, less anxious and more clear-headed. People who participated in a study on the topic reported better sleep, more energy and even weight loss.

Just because you abstain from alcohol doesn’t mean you can’t partake in some delicious non-alcoholic drinks. In fact, experts say it’s fine to reach for a substitute if you crave a cocktail.

Milo’s Famous Tea has turned some of your favorite cocktails into mocktails to help you re-center and recharge throughout January.

Known for its iconic sweet tea, Milo’s Tea also brews fresh, all-natural lemonade that tastes just like homemade. With simple, all-natural ingredients, Milo’s has been a trusted name in the beverage space for over 76 years.

These recipes are so good, you won’t even miss the alcohol!

Milo’s Hot Toddy

Warm up your winter night with a yummy Hot Toddy. Wrap yourself in a blanket and say bottoms up to this twist on an old favorite.

Ingredients:

8 oz. Milo’s Famous Unsweet Tea

Juice of half a lemon

1 tbs. of honey

Dash of aromatic bitters

Directions:

Add Milo’s Famous Unsweet Tea, lemon and honey to a pot or microwaveable container, heat until warm. Transfer to a mug with a slice of lemon and add bitters to taste.

Milo’s Old Fashioned

Milo’s sweet tea makes a surprisingly great substitute for bourbon in this classic drink that will wet your whistle in a whole new way.

Ingredients:

4 oz. Milo’s Famous Sweet Tea

¼ tsp. orange bitters

1 cocktail cherry

Orange rind

Directions:

Mix Milo’s Famous Sweet Tea and orange bitters together in a measuring cup. Serve over ice and cherry. Garnish with a twist of orange rind.

Milo’s New Year Spritz

Celebrate your sober start to the new year with a fizzy, citrusy concoction that will tickle your tastebuds. You may even make this your go-to drink all year long!

Ingredients:

1 oz. Milo’s Lemonade

1 oz. grapefruit juice

½ oz. orange juice

½ oz. pomegranate juice

3 dashes orange bitters

Tonic or sparkling water

2 sprigs fresh rosemary

1 sprig fresh thyme

Lemon zest

Directions:

In a cocktail shaker, muddle 1 sprig of rosemary, thyme, lemon zest, and bitters. Add ice, lemonade, and fruit juices. Shake. Strain into a glass and top with tonic or sparkling water. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and enjoy!

Take a Milo’s Moment this January to unwind with a mocktail, re-center, and raise a glass to your mental and physical health.

These recipes and more can be found at https://drinkmilos.com/recipes.

2023-01-04T02:01:00

(BPT) – The new year is a time of new beginnings. In our personal lives, we implement resolutions to optimize our life to be more productive, healthier and happier. The new year is also a time to reset priorities. In our work lives we revisit our priorities and revise strategy in business. And with economic uncertainty, 2023 will be very important for businesses to reassess their promotional strategy. Kick off 2023 with a fresh ad strategy for your small to medium-sized business (SMB).

Tasked with a new ad campaign, SMB advertisers face innumerable questions: When do you launch a digital campaign? What platform do you advertise on? How do you reach your target audience and track ROI? These questions, along with economic uncertainties, are forcing brands to implement new marketing strategies. Although the digital marketing space can feel overwhelming, the new year is the perfect moment for marketers to implement advertising strategies to help them forge deeper relationships with people and amplify their brand. Read on to learn three digital advertising strategies businesses can implement to work smarter, not harder, in 2023.

1. Automate your efforts

The constant demand for new and revised marketing campaigns tailored to your audience can feel overwhelming. It can take a lot of time to strategize, envision, write, design, update and optimize a successful digital marketing campaign. This constant demand for content tests an SMB’s ability to fully execute the planned marketing vision. Plus, the list of tasks for a campaign is extensive — from determining the budget to developing and distributing content, to analyzing and optimizing efforts … and everything in between. Marketers have much to do, but little time or resources to get the work done. The result? Mixing varying resources produces varying results.

Automation can help with many of these challenges including ad copy suggestions, finding images and audience targeting. Consider tools that can remove the complexity of day-to-day operations and that can simplify content creation and identify audiences that may be valuable to your business. These tools that are embedded in the platform you’re using often work within a certain set of parameters that you define (vs. tools that are outside the platform) to create faster and better outcomes. They use various signals and machine learning capabilities to not only optimize your creative but to make adjustments in real-time and give your ad the best chances of showing to the right person at the right time in the right place. Tools that use automation take the complexity out of daily advertising campaign management to allow you to focus on other business priorities like quality, customer satisfaction and retention.

2. Understand your customers’ evolving behaviors and their New Year’s resolutions

What does 2023 look like for your customers? What behaviors are they looking to change? What new habits are they hoping to implement? With user behavior changing since the pandemic, more people are working from home or hybrid, fusing their work and life. This means they are moving between personal tasks such as online shopping and work during the day and going from mobile to PC. As you review your ad strategy, think about your customer as the center of the plan instead of the product features or pricing. Learn more about your customers this year through surveys, emails, in-person conversations and review what your website traffic tells you about your customer.

Understanding what is meaningful to your customer will help you create a campaign that resonates with them and target them on the channels and sites they’re most likely to be on. Staying connected and engaged with your customers is also crucial. Ensure you’re reaching them across all devices as they use search to research throughout the day and leverage social media channels to not only learn about your customers, but to take their feedback into consideration and forge deeper relationships with them.

3. Use tools to better articulate ROI/ROAS

How many platforms do you currently use to create, post and analyze your ad campaigns? The stress of platform fragmentation is another shared SMB hurdle; the many campaign and reporting tools, each with unique algorithms and ad formats, can cause marketer overwhelm. Marketers are often tasked with understanding reporting on each platform and then having to optimize those campaigns within and across each platform. They also must piece together multiple reports from different platforms to paint a clear picture of a campaign’s tangible return on investment (ROI) and return on ad spend (ROAS). Plus, because these platforms and tools are continuously evolving, with updates to features within each tool, marketers experience pressure to help keep up with ever-changing updates.

Opt for using just one solution like Microsoft Advertising’s Smart Campaigns with Multi-platform to manage, revise and report the results from multiple platforms in one dashboard. SMBs can expand their reach and maximize their investment by using one ad tool to connect with customers across many platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Instagram and Microsoft Advertising. Instead of creating ads on fragmented platforms to launch and monitor a campaign, SMBs can save time by running ads on multiple platforms in a matter of minutes. You can also use the Multi-platform feature to stay connected and engaged with your customers by managing your social media across channels in one place.

As you step into 2023 with new campaign plans and target ROIs, use these three digital advertising strategies to empower your team in the right direction this new year.