Writing Portfolio

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Post-Holiday Conversion – Successfully Creating Year-Round Customers

The holiday shoppers generated the high sales you were expecting, and along with that came the anticipated post-holiday slow down where the sparkle and the excitement have diminished. The eCommerce industry typically views this as a time when they take a hit, but it can be quite the opposite. A better way to look at it would be as an opportunity for post-holiday conversion where you have a chance to make long-term customers of your holiday visitors.

With the right planning, you can inspire customers and drive additional sales after the holidays. There are effective ways to achieve this, such as email marketing, loyalty programs, and incentives that are tailored to make a big impact.

With all that said, let’s get started by going over a few marketing techniques that can give you a high post-holiday conversion rate!

Post-Holiday Email Marketing Can Spark Customer Interest and Keep it!

Now that the hustle and bustle of the season are over, your holiday customers are back to their daily routines, and shopping is not at the forefront of their minds at this point. Fortunately, it’s possible to re-spark your post-holiday shopper’s interest by utilizing an effective email marketing campaign.

With the number of email users growing, 3.7 billion in 2017, and an estimated 4.1 billion by the end of 2021, as shown in a study conducted by the Radicati Group, you can be sure your email marketing efforts will be successful in turning your holiday shoppers into customers.

Here are a few ideas to get your conversion goals on their way:

A Basic Follow-Up Email can Set the Stage for a Successful Conversion

The follow-up email is considered the most basic of emails within a marketing campaign, but don’t let this underestimate its value and effectiveness when it comes to increasing repeat engagement with your post-holiday shoppers. A follow-up email will enable a business to thank a customer or check in to confirm their customer was happy with their purchase, as well as their shopping experience.

The main intent of the follow-up email is not so much to inspire click-through rates, but more to reintroduce your brand to the seasonal shopper, establish a relationship, and create a great customer service experience, and this sets the stage for conversion. Although the click-through is not the main purpose, the underlying goal is still achieving a conversion, so a call-to-action should always be placed within the email.

Image Source: Betaout

A follow-up post-purchase email can cause them to feel appreciated and valued as a customer, which will increase the likelihood of a repeat sale and successful conversion. That said, incorporating a Thank You email is a common practice. When doing so, it’s a smart idea to include coupons. Post-purchase emails that contain coupons are shown to have a successful click, open, and conversion rate compared to emails that do not contain coupons.

Image Source: Remarkety

Leverage New Year’s Resolutions to Create Long-Term Customers

Another idea is to promote a New Year’s sale email campaign to put your business back on the customer’s radar before they are lost. A New Year’s sale focuses on the fact that most customers have New Year’s resolutions in mind. A business can leverage this by providing information on its products and services in a way that pertains to a “new beginning” and a “new you.” This will bring your marketing efforts to a personal level that can create a connection with your post-holiday shoppers. Be sure to seize the opportunity to target resolution-minded post-seasonal shoppers by scheduling your email release soon after the New Year hits. 

Introduce Holiday Shoppers to Your Loyalty Program

Whether it’s during a customer’s holiday transaction or directly after the holidays, your shoppers should be introduced to your loyalty program. If your brand currently does not have a program in place, it’s imperative to implement a loyalty program. In doing so,  you’ll keep your customers engaged and increase the frequency of their store visits, as well as elevate the amount of money spent as they try to reach their reward goals.

If a program revamp or refresh is needed to make your current loyalty program more successful, try adding incentives for customers to join or hold a brainstorming session with your partners to come up with a creative program your post-holiday shoppers can’t resist. The bottom line is that loyalty programs make customers happy; they realize they’re earning rewards as they invest money into your brand; it’s a win-win situation.

Up Your Membership Numbers by Offering an Incentive to Join

Like any marketing program, some thought and smart promoting are essential to be on top of your game. With that said, you have a great chance of increasing your membership numbers by offering your holiday visitors an enticing incentive to join.

Advantages of implementing an incentive into your loyalty program:

  • Sparks customer interest
  • Creates a desire to join
  • Immediate positive emotion toward your brand
  • Stands out from other brand programs that only offer a free membership as an incentive

Image Source: Extended Stay America

While a free incentive can be viewed as taking a hit for some brands, in reality, it’s an investment that will be recouped at a certain point as the program member starts spending more to reap the rewards. In addition to this, your efforts will provide you with the conversion you were hoping for, as well as a loyal and longtime shopper.

Wow Your Post-Seasonal Shoppers With a Creative Loyalty Program

Impress your shoppers with a custom-designed incentive program that is unique to your business. Creating a specialized loyalty program will catch your customer’s attention and can, therefore, increase program sign-up rates. Shoppers are bombarded with loyalty programs over the course of a year, so coming up with a loyalty program that stands out from the crowd is worth the time spent.

A few examples of creative program features:

  • Customer of the week that receives bonus points
  • Option to support a charity with earned points
  • Brands selling items such as crafts, fabrics, or meal preparation products can feature high-point earners on social media to showcase their creations

Holiday Returns & Exchanges – An Opportunity to Gain Customers

The holiday season is over, and most shoppers are done with every aspect of it and have moved on. But wait, there’s still that item they are not quite happy with, and they’ll need to return or exchange it. For some shoppers, this is a task they’re not looking forward to. However, this is where you can apply your smart business know-how and turn an expected not-so-fun experience into a pleasant one that will impress your customer. The keys to a successful return are exceptional customer service and the motivation to change a return or exchange into a sale with the potential to build customer loyalty.

The Importance of a Positive Return or Exchange Experience

This is a wonderful opportunity to show a potentially unhappy customer what your brand is made of. Customer service that exceeds their expectations can go a long way and convert your seasonal shopper into a repeat customer. It’s essential to take the steps necessary to convert the customer before the transaction is over; if you’re not successful, you may lose their future business.

Whether the return is in-person or completed online with prewritten messages, these tips can turn the post-holiday transaction into a positive experience for the customer:

  • Have a goal to exceed expectations
  • Listen to the customer’s concerns
  • Show sincere empathy
  • Offer incentives
  • Allow for free shipping on the returned item

Convert Returns into Sales with Limited-Time Offers

Post-holiday returns are inevitable, but as mentioned, there’s an opportunity within every return transaction. To maximize your chances of converting your post-holiday returns into a conversion, offer a limited-time offer on purchases.

Advantages of limited-time offers:

  • Proven to be a powerful marketing tool
  • Changes the focus from returning to purchasing
  • Creates a sense of urgency

Image Source: Omaha Steaks

A test conducted by HubSpot in which A/B testing was performed using two identical pages, with the exception of one stating it was a limited-time offer, showed the page that included the limited-time offer outperformed the non-limited-time offer page by 8%.

A few essentials would be to define your offer date, as well as avoid vague dates such as “While Supplies Last” or “Sale Ends Next Week”; these phrases might not produce strong results or create urgency. However, stating “Today Only” or “Ends This Friday” is clearer and has a better chance of converting a holiday return into a sale.

A Little Creative Thinking will Help You Gain Year-Round Loyal Customers!

The holiday rush not only sends new customers your way, but it also sets the stage to connect and drive conversions. With this, your business can create successful post-holiday conversions that make longtime customers of your holiday shoppers. With that in mind, get started on your email marketing, craft engaging loyalty programs and holiday return opportunities so you’ll create strong customer relationships and repeat purchases!

If you’d like to dive into more strategies designed to boost your business and reach your company goals quicker, then be sure to head over to BigCommerce.

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7 Tips for Creating Barista-Grade Drinks with Your Keurig Brewer

So you have your Keurig Brewer which allows you to enjoy a good cup of coffee while at home, but somehow you still end up at your local coffee shop for your quality frothy drink that you are accustomed to. You feel like you have the best of both worlds, right? Well, your world is about to get even better because we have 7 tips for you that will make it possible to enjoy those same barista-grade drinks that you crave, but they will be made by you, with your handy Keurig Brewer! Not only will you be saving tons of money by avoiding your daily visit to your nearby coffee shop, you will also be able to experiment with different drinks such as a variety of coffees and teas. Are you ready to utilize your Keurig Brewer and K-cups to the fullest? If so, let’s get started!

1. Use Filtered Water

Any serious coffee enthusiast will say filtered water is a must when creating a great cup of coffee. It makes sense since basic coffee typically consists of 98% water. Actually, you will be amazed at the difference a good water filter will make when it comes to the quality of your drinks. Filters make sure that chemicals and contaminants do not become one of the ingredients you put in your beverage, and that only the purest water makes it into your cup! This not only creates a healthier drink, but also eliminates any off flavors that will take away from the great tasting barista-grade beverage you were hoping for.

2. Buy Whole Beans and Grind them Fresh

There is nothing like the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans! This statement says it all and touches on the realization of why buying whole beans and grinding them fresh will make a world of a difference in creating barista-grade coffee. Take it one step further and make sure to buy the freshest coffee beans. This can be accomplished by shopping for your beans at local stores or farms. Once you have the perfect fresh bag of beans, you can grind them and enjoy the aroma! Grinding your beans immediately before brewing will produce rich flavors and a great cup of Joe. If you are wondering why, it’s simple, the coffee bean keeps its precious oils 100 percent fresh and uncontaminated. Once exposed to air, the coffee oils can absorb surrounding odors and become tainted, which will affect the taste of your coffee.

3. Properly Store Your Coffee Beans

Most people leave their coffee beans in their original packaging not realizing this will compromise the flavor of their coffee. Taking the time to store them properly can make a big difference in your coffee experience. It’s best to store your coffee beans in an opaque sealed container. Make sure to not keep the container too close to the stove due to the fact that heat can be harmful to the quality of your coffee beans. Get creative and shop for decorative containers that will not only keep your beans safe from the elements, but also add to your kitchen decor.

4. Homemade Froth

Are you one of those people who order extra froth on your beverages, or consider the froth the icing on the cake? We have good news, you can make your own froth right at home! Froth can make or break a drink for some, so we thought it was worthy of making our barista-grade drink tip list.

Firstly, let’s start with what type of milk should be used to create the best possible froth. It would seem that whole milk would produce the creamiest thickest froth, but surprisingly, the less fat the milk contains, the fuller and more barista-grade like your froth will be. So be sure to use 2% or low-fat milk for your froth. The simplest way to create your beverage froth would be to pour half a mug of milk into a mason jar, place the lid on tightly and shake vigorously for about 10 seconds. Next, remove the lid and place the jar in the microwave for 30 seconds, during this time you will see the froth rising to the top of the milk. Spoon the froth out of the jar and onto your drink. It’s that simple! If you would like to get a little more advanced and create even fuller froth, you can warm your milk and then mix it with an electric mixer or blender. Either way, it’s exciting to make homemade froth, wouldn’t you agree? Have fun and enjoy!

Now that you have some of the basics down, let’s move on to actually making some drinks with your Keurig Brewer and reusable K-cups. We thought we would start with some seasonal classics, as well as mix it up a bit by adding a few popular teas to the list!

5. Cozy Chai Tea Latte

If you are a fan of chai tea lattes then you already know what a treat it can be to enjoy one of these spicy yet sweet creamy drinks! The only thing that could possibly make this drink even better would be if you could make one in the comfort of your own home. Today is a great day because by the time you finish reading this, you will be capable of making your very own chai tea latte!

Here is what you will need:
• 1 chai tea bag of your choice
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp. ground allspice
• 1/8 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/2 cup 2% or whole milk
• 1 tablespoon Coffee-mate French Vanilla Creamer
• Whipped cream (Optional)

Create Your Chia Tea Latte
Step 1: Add 1 chai tea bag, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice into a reusable K-cup. Snap lid shut and place in your Keurig Brewer.
Step 2: Using an appropriate size mug, start brewing your tea.
Step 3: In a small saucepan add and stir milk and vanilla creamer until heated thoroughly. Add mixture to your mug of tea.
Step 4: Create froth using the quick mason jar method and spoon onto your chai tea. Add a dash of cinnamon if desired.

For those of you who love to drink tea because of its great taste and health properties, we bring to you this highly creative tea mix that is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and antibacterial properties. We recommend creating a batch of this custom blend and storing for daily use. The following recipe will make half a mason jar of dry mix that can be stored and used one K-cup at a time. Preparing the mix ahead of time will allow you to easily make your tea at a moments notice. This creative fruity tea blend has an amazing aroma that you will just love!

Here is what you will need:
• 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers
• 1/2 cup dried rose hips
• 1/2 cup dried peppermint leaves
• 1/4 cup dried orange peel
• 1/4 cup lemongrass
• 1/4 cup wild cherry bark
• A mason jar for storing remaining dry mix

Create Your Relaxing Cup of Tea
Step 1: Fill your reusable k-cup with the herbal blend, snap the lid shut, and place in your Keurig Brewer.
Step 2: Using an appropriate size teacup, start brewing your tea.
Step 3: Enjoy!

7. Perfect Pumpkin Spice Latte

Whether or not pumpkin season is here, who can resist a good pumpkin spice latte! We provide a great recipe that can be utilized in two different ways. You can make the full latte recipe with the milk mixture, or, skip the milk mixture and you will have a simple yet tasty Pumpkin Spice coffee. Either way, you are going to need a second cup, it’s that good.

Here is what you will need:
• 1 tsp. freshly ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• Freshly ground coffee beans
• 1/2 whole milk
• 1 tbs. pumpkin puree
• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• Whipped Cream (Optional)
• Cinnamon stick (Optional)

Create Your Pumpkin Spice Latte
Step 1: In a small bowl, add enough coffee grounds to fill your K-cup 75 percent of the way. Add the cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Mix well.
Step 2: Add spiced coffee ground mixture to your reusable K-cup. Snap lid shut and place in Keurig Brewer.
Step 3: Using an appropriate size mug, start brewing your spiced coffee.
Step 4: In a small saucepan, warm the milk. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and stir until dissolved. Mix in the pumpkin puree until well blended.
Step 5: Pour milk mixture into mug with brewed coffee.
Step 6: Top-off with whipped cream or froth. Sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, or add a cinnamon stick for decoration!

We hope that after reading our 7 tips that you will start creating awesome barista-grade drinks with your Keurig Brewer and reusable K-cups!

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Favorite Things to do in San Luis Obispo

Whether you live nearby or are planning an out of town getaway, San Luis Obispo is well worth a visit. Named one of the happiest cities in America by National Geographic, this must-see location is positioned between Los Angeles and San Francisco and offers something for everyone. From exciting city life activities, beautiful coastal regions, picturesque nature trails, popular attractions, fine dining, and more, San Luis Obispo is an adventure and a relaxing experience wrapped up in one beautiful location.

With its vast amount of amazing experiences to discover, we have compiled a list of our Favorite Things to do in San Luis Obispo so you will be sure to have an exceptional time visiting the hot spots that capture the essence of this sunny California coastal city. Dive in and have fun planning your San Luis Obispo gateway!

Exceptional Coastal View Hiking

With its perfect weather that California is known for, San Luis Obispo makes for a great hiking destination all year round. It can be wonderful for the outdoor enthusiast that enjoys a casual walk with breathtaking views, or the serious hiker looking for challenging terrain to explore. With that being said, SLO offers something for every level of hiking. For those of you that are determined to make it to the top of your hiking destination, the views are stunning and worth the climb! We have a few recommendations for prime hiking spots that will help you get the most out what San Luis Obispo hiking is known for.

Bob Jones Trail
Whether by bicycle, attached to a dog, or simply an easy walk, Bob Jones Trail provides a roomy path to traverse. We love heading over to the Avila Market for a delicious lunch at Woodside Deli and going for an extended walk to the beach. Plus, it’s always fun to hunt for golf balls lost along the path as you pass through the holes.

Hiking Reservoir Canyon
High School Hill is one of the most strenuous and steep hikes on the central coast, but also offers one of the most complete panoramic views of San Luis Obispo. On a clear day, you can see a number of the “7 sisters” lined up along the coast towards Morro Bay. The “7 sisters” are extinct volcano peaks that have long been know as icons of SLO. This spectacular location is so perfect that couples travel from afar for their marriage proposals. Yes, it’s that nice!

Valencia Peak Trail
This impressive hiking spot is located within Montaña de Oro State Park and offers one of the highest summit climbing experiences in the park. It is on this journey that you will find epic ocean views and scenic terrain. The Valencia Peak Trail will provide you with unforgettable 360-degree views. The peak is a 1,347-feet high and the trek is 4.5 miles round trip, so pack a few snacks for the trip, and be sure to bring plenty of water.

Bluff Trail
The Bluff Trail, also located within San Luis Obispo’s Montana de Oro State Park, features picturesque ocean views and tidepools full of crabs and other crustacean sea life right off the trail. If you have the time, take a trip to this area during different times of the day to see the various tides and surf conditions which all bring about a truly unique scenic experience. Keep your camera handy, you may just spot a seal or two.

Beach and Bay Area State Parks

If you are visiting San Luis Obispo, visit their state parks to enjoy a day of ocean views, energetic hiking, and remarkable sightseeing! This area offers some of the most beautiful state parks in California, and it will prove to be an unforgettable experience.

Montana de Oro State Park
San Luis Obispo is the home of Montana de Oro State Park, a popular vacation destination for nature lovers, as well as sightseeing enthusiasts. With 8,000 acres of land occupied by sandy beaches, beautiful coastal plains, flowing streams, rugged cliffs, coves, and tidepools, you could easily spend a few days exploring. This remarkable park offers its visitors a chance to catch a glimpse at whales swimming by any time of the year, although your chances are better December through early April.

This central coast location is also the home of many dolphins, sea otters, and seals that just might make an appearance. It provides fantastic hiking opportunities, and mountain biking, as well as equestrian trails. Make sure to stop by Corallina Cove before leaving the park to view its magnificent tidepools where you will find sea stars and other marine creatures. If you would like to make it a fun overnight experience, this park offers camping at the Islay Creek Campground.

Pismo Beach State Park
This particular state beach park is 17 miles long and provides opportunities for swimming, surfing, fishing, hiking, and camping. Need to plan an exciting afternoon, ATV rentals are available for you and your family. Additionally, if you are looking to have an exceptionally fun evening, gather with some friends around a bonfire on the beach, roast some marshmallows and enjoy the ocean air. This beautiful state park houses many marine creatures such as sea urchins, crabs, kelp and many others. For those bird watchers out there, you will most likely spot the great blue heron and a few pelicans near the beach’s tree-lined dunes. This beach is most famous for its large and stunning monarch butterfly population. These brilliant butterflies migrate from October through February. There are informative docents who will fill you in on everything there is to know about these amazing butterflies.

Morro Bay State Park
Have a fun afternoon kayaking, sailing, or fishing in Morro Bay where you may spot a dolphin, sea lion, or sea otter! This state park supports a very large bird population that also provides a world-class bird watching experience. Along with this, you can visit the park’s museum to learn more about Morro Bay’s oceanography, geology, and history. If you enjoy activities out in the ocean air, make a stop over to the park’s public golf course! Before leaving, try to catch a glimpse of the two volcanic peaks that are within viewing distance. Have fun and make sure not to get caught in the mud!

Live Entertainment

If you are looking forward to enjoying some live theater or music during your stay in San Luis Obispo, you are in luck! SLO offers fantastic live performances all year round. From sandy beach musical concerts to engaging live theater, SLO has got you covered. Take a look at the local listings and see what’s going on at the time of your visit, you might just find a must-see ballet or a comedy show to get the night started! We found that their are two live performance venues that get rave reviews and are certainly worth a visit.

The Great American Melodrama & Vaudeville
While you are in the SLO area, you really should see at least one live theater performance, and the Great American Melodrama & Vaudeville is the place to see it! This intimate theater has been going strong since 1975 with standing ovation performances that keep it going all year round. Its fun performances are suitable for adults and children alike. Nightly shows offer two-act plays so you are essentially getting two shows for the price of one. Their entertaining shows are filled with music, comedy, dancing, and more. In addition to this, the theater offers an in-house pub where you can enjoy snacks, beer, and wine

The Historic Pozo Saloon Concert Venue

For those lovers of fine music and historic landmarks, we recommend the Pozo Saloon. This well-kept icon of San Luis Obispo has been around since 1858. You will get a glimpse into the old West while seeing your favorite musicians. The Pozo Saloon is considered a premier concert venue that has had the pleasure of presenting famous musicians such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Willie Nelson, The Black Crows, Dwight Yoakam, and so many others. The saloon offers dining and an old-style jukebox. You may even see a celebrity or two while you are enjoying your dinner. They offer reasonably priced tickets, so check out their website to see who will be performing next!

Family Fun Attractions

If you are ready to have some extra fun and see more of what SLO has to offer, than let’s take a look at three very popular tourist attractions. This would include taking a trip to an amazing Aquarium, visiting and learning about the areas extraordinary elephant seals, along with having a seat while catching a movie at a solar-powered movie theater!

Central Coast Aquarium


Located off Avila Beach of the San Luis Obispo Bay, this exciting aquarium, formally called the Sea Life Center, is an adventure in itself. The Central Coast Aquarium offers fun touch labs where you can get up close and personal with marine life such as purple sea urchins, sea stars, hermit crabs and more. You will have a chance to temporarily become a marine biologist while on their floating lab! They offer many exhibits that provide close views of red octopus, rockfish, and other unique creatures. If you feel you are brave enough, visit the shark touch tank. After all, it’s not very often that you are given the opportunity to actually touch a shark! Friendly trained staff and volunteers love to answer questions, so get ready to learn more about the San Luis Obispo ocean life.

Visit the Elephant Seals in San Simeon
Everyone should visit the elephant seals in San Simeon, it’s a San Luis Obispo County favorite! An area called Piedras Blancas is the best place to view these incredible marine mammals. The northern elephant seal openly play, as well as rest, it’s a definitely a sight to see. December through March is the peak-viewing season, so be sure to mark your calendar. Stop by the Friends of the Elephant Seal visitor center and gift shop, it’s just 8 miles south of the viewing area, and worth the short drive.

Catch a Movie at the Palm Theater
SLO’s oldest and only independent movie theater is a fun and affordable setting to see the best independent films. The Palm Theater has the charm of a small town theater with inexpensive popcorn and friendly staff. Plus, it’s run exclusively by solar power! It was actually the very first movie theater in the United States to become fully solar-powered. So take a seat and enjoy the show!

Experience the Art of SLO

Are you a lover of all things creative, if so, then you will want to visit some of San Luis Obispo’s favorite art hot spots! SLO has a thriving art community that offers a variety of mediums and subjects. Most visitors adore the local coastal art since it enables them to bring home a little reminder of the relaxing coastal life environment. We recommend stopping by the areas most talked about art event and museum, they are visited by thousands of people every year.

SLO Museum of Art
The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art offers many intriguing exhibits that include paintings, photography, fine art, sculpture and more. You will even be given an orientation tour so you can get the most out of your visit. In addition to this, the SLO Museum of Art also presents lectures, films, and classes to its visitors. Check out their website for current exhibit information and hours.

Art After Dark in SLO
If you want to take a walk and experience art after hours, you won’t want to miss Art After Dark in SLO. From 6 pm to 9 pm, the first Friday of every month, a vast amount of art is displayed in the galleries and non-traditional exhibit spaces in downtown San Luis Obispo. This event showcases local artist as well as renowned artist from around the world. Complimentary refreshments are often offered, and many casual and fine dining opportunities are available if you want to stop for a bite to eat. This event will provide you with hours of enjoyable entertainment!

Stop by a Winery or Brewery – Always a Good Time

Experience the central coast’s well-known breweries and wineries that will allow you to enjoy good company and well-crafted drinks while you’re in the area. If fine beer is your specialty, then you will have plenty of options since SLO boasts dozens of quality breweries. If a glass of wine is your forte, you’re in for an unforgettable experience. Oceanfront wineries are what make this wine country so favored and you will want to visit one or two for the experience of it! We have a few crowd favorites that are highly recommended. So stop on by, have a drink, and say hello to the locals.

A Few Great Breweries
Our personal favorites are Central Coast Brewing and the Tap It Brewing Company; both offer beer equal in quality and taste. Central Coast Brewing is located in the bustling downtown area of San Luis Obispo and is known for being one of the area’s premier brewing companies. This famous brewery offers outstanding varieties of handcrafted specialty ales and lagers. They always have something interesting going on, from holiday parties to great bands, so you are guaranteed to have a great time. Just as fun is the Tap It Brewing Company, a laid-back brewery that offers traditional and creative beers. They showcase their famous draft beer in the Tap Room, a social room where you can experience beer the way it was meant to be. This brewery often has live entertainment that kicks the fun up a notch.

SLO Wine Country Favorites
Edna Valley, located on California central coast, is home to many wineries that host visitors from all over the world. This picturesque area of San Luis Obispo is where all fun happens. The wineries in this coastal area provide great live entertainment and events, so be sure to check their calendars when planning your visit so you won’t miss out. Let’s start with the Edna Valley Winery, which offers breathtaking views and fine wines. Visit their tasting room to enjoy one of their award-winning wines. They specialize in crafting Chardonnay wines, but also offer a variety of other types.

Nearby is Saucelito Canyon Winery, maker of outstanding Zinfandels. This winery’s tasting room is situated in the middle of beautiful rolling hills and endless vineyards. Also worth mentioning is Kynsi Winery, a family operated vineyard that is a local favorite. Here you will experience ocean breezes, blue skies, and spectacular scenery as you sip your wine among friends and family. They often present limited-edition wines in their renowned tasting room. While you are on the Edna Valley wine trail, stop by Wolff Winery to visit their fun tasting room, complete with picnic benches. They offer several great wines and a fabulous panoramic view!

San Luis Obispo is a world-famous vacation spot and provides everything you would need for an ideal getaway! We hope our list of Favorite Things to do in San Luis Obispo has you excited about all the possibilities this exceptional area has to offer. Start making your plans and we will see you there!

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Why Are People Eating Clean When Dirty Seems Just Fine?

You may have noticed that “clean eating” is among the more prominent buzz phrases still being used in the nutrition, beauty, and fashion industry these days. Well-known actors, fashion models, and the like, are utilizing this nutritional and beneficial way of eating to ensure they look and feel their best. It has caught the attention of people from all walks of life that want to better themselves and feel good about what they eat on a daily basis.

If you’re not familiar with clean eating, you may be wondering, “Why should I eat clean when dirty (traditional eating) seems just fine?” That’s a great question and worth looking into. Let’s dive in and take a closer look at clean eating and why it’s a good idea to incorporate it into your daily meals.

What Exactly is Clean Eating?

Simply put, clean eating is consuming food the way nature intended you to. This means avoiding processed foods and leaning towards foods that are in their natural state, or as close as possible to it. For example, instead of eating a blueberry almond muffin for your mid-morning snack, you would instead have a side of blueberries and almonds. Or, to break it down even further, avoid buying a bag of pre-chopped walnuts that have gone through a chopping facility, and instead go for the walnuts that are still in their shell waiting to be opened. This way, you are avoiding the “processed” aspect and going straight for the nutrient-packed whole elements. Now that you have a general understanding of clean eating, let’s break it down a bit.

The Steps Your Food Goes Through can Determine its Cleanness

When considering foods to add to a clean daily meal plan, think about how the food was produced, or what path it took to get to your local grocery store. The more steps, the less clean. A bag of pre-cut carrots that started out on a farm, are then placed on a truck and driven to a manufacturing plant, ran through a cutting and sorting facility, and then bagged and thrown back on a truck. By the time these carrots are within your reach, they have lost many nutrients along the way. Your best bet would be to obtain your food from your local farmer’s market, which would most likely be directly from the farm.

With that being said, think about how many more nutrients are lost in foods that are heavily processed such a frozen meal that has gone through a cooking and freezing process in a large facility. This type of meal contains many additives and preservatives that taint the food you feed your body. This also applies to food that is prepared at home, the more steps you put your food through; the further it will be from its natural healthy state. So what it boils down to is that clean eating emphasizes whole, unprocessed or minimally processed, healthy food that has not had anything added to it, along with nothing being taken away. This leaves you with nutrient-rich foods that will greatly benefit your health.

Clean Eating Quick Tips:
• Strive to eat foods in their natural state
• Eliminate or dramatically cut-down on processed foods
• Choose organic foods to avoid pesticides
• Consume unrefined whole grains such as brown rice not white
• Replace white sugar with a clean alternative such as honey
• Meats should be free-range and grass-fed – no hormones or antibiotics
• Add clean proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates for a well-rounded diet

Is Cooked Food Considered Clean
Yes, it is! Eating your food in its unaltered, uncooked state would be best, but lightly cooking your meals is perfectly fine also. Although cooking does alter your food and some nutrients are lost, it is also true that other nutrients are actually elevated during the cooking process. A study conducted by the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry concluded that cooked tomatoes have a 35% increased level of lycopene. This nutrient fights off skin-damaging free radicals. So as you can see, minimally cooked food is actually beneficial in some cases. Furthermore, some food requires cooking, such as meats or rice.

Clean Eating – Sample Meal Plan

To give you an even better idea of clean eating, we thought it would be helpful to provide an example of a typical clean meal plan. Meal plans like this can give you more energy, keep you healthy and looking your best, as well as give you a piece of mind knowing you are taking care of yourself.

Breakfast
• No-cook overnight oatmeal with fresh blueberries
• Small glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice

Lunch
• Southwestern quinoa salad with black beans and farm stand veggies

Dinner
• Grilled wild salmon with mango-kiwi relish
• Lightly steamed green beans with lemon
• Garlic herbed brown rice with parsley

The Average American Diet – A Comparison

Now that you have a better understanding of what clean eating entails, let’s take a step back and evaluate the average American diet. Since people cook a variety of foods in their homes, a fair way to examine an unclean diet would be to layout a typical American restaurant meal since everyone is offered the same choices. Most people love to eat out because it’s convenient and there are no meal preparation or dishes to clean. Unfortunately, if you are not putting effort into your meals, it can sometimes translates into not enough effort being directed towards your health.

Typical Restaurant Lunch
• Gourmet BBQ burger with apple smoked bacon
• White sesame seed bun
• Seasoned french fries
• Large soda with free refills

As you can see, this meal is filled with heavily processed unhealthy foods that are lacking in nutrients. It’s loaded with carbohydrates, sugars, trans fats, sodium, has little or no fiber, and mostly consists of empty calories. This type of consumption, on a regular basis, can damage your health and give you an unhealthy poor appearance. It can lead to heart disease, cancer, and a variety of illnesses. In contrast, a clean eating lifestyle can have the opposite effect which will significantly improve your health.

Getting Specific – Cosmetic Benefits of Eating Clean

They say you are what you eat, and they are correct. If you are eating a typical unclean diet then your appearance will reflect that. Eating clean healthy foods that retain their maximum nutrient levels will have your body thanking you. Our bodies were meant to take in whole nutrient-packed foods that nourish our every cell. When we don’t receive it, the effects can start to show up in multiple ways, such as our appearance. This is when you realize that beauty comes from within and everything you place into your body will affect how you look and feel. It can be the difference between looking young and vibrant to older than your age and rundown.

How Big is the Link Between Nutritional Intake and Your Appearance
Cosmetically speaking, your nutritional intake plays a huge role in how you look as well as how you age. An eating clean nutrient-packed meal plan can keep your skin tighter and blemish free, your eyes whiter, bones stronger, teeth and gums healthier, hair softer, and your weight down. In an abstract presented by Dermato Endocrinology, it was shown that there is a proven link between nutrition and skin aging. It makes sense, your body needs certain nutrients to stay on top of its game, if it is deprived, your outward appearance will suffer.

What Should be Avoided to Eliminate Cosmetic Concerns
It goes without saying that to maximize your cosmetic and physical wellbeing you would need to minimize your unclean eating habits. Avoid as much as possible, refined foods such as white flour, foods high in saturated fats, pesticides, sodium, empty calories, sugars, carbohydrates, preservatives, hormones, facility processed fruits and vegetables, and processed foods in general. If consuming these elements regularly, your body will most likely let you know it does not like what you are feeding it by a decline in health and appearance. When eliminating these foods from your diet, you can easily replace them with delicious, healthy, unprocessed foods that will have you looking and feeling your best.

Clean eating is not the latest fad that will be replaced with the next one, it has been around for years, and for good reason. People around the world have incorporated this way of eating into their daily meals, and it is more of a lifestyle rather than a diet. We hope the information provided in this article has given you a clear insight into why eating clean is important to your health and your wellbeing.

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Easy Pear Grape High-Protein Smoothie

Whether you are looking for a quick and healthy breakfast, a creative snack, or an occasional meal replacement, this Pear Grape High-Protein Smoothie recipe has got you covered! With its delicious taste, high nutrient content, and vibrant color, you really can’t go wrong.

This easy smoothie concoction features a blend of pear, grape, banana, and spinach, making it a fun way to take care of those required fruit and veggie servings you are always reading about. Also, the specific ingredients chosen for this green smoothie make it a protein-packed drink; you can thank the yogurt, almond, and soy milk for that. Additionally, smoothies are quick and easy to make; throw everything in the blender, mix, and you have yourself a healthy drink you can feel good about.

The Power of Protein

It’s essential to incorporate protein into your daily meal plan. Proteins play a major role in the development and proper function of our bodies. As a result, it can affect hormones, muscles, tissues, bones, the heart, and even our mood, just to name a few.

Let’s break it down a bit. Some of these important functions include keeping blood sugar on track, enabling the absorption of key nutrients, and allowing for a boost in muscle mass. In addition to this, protein can assist in managing weight, plays a big role in the creation and maintenance of strong bones, and it can allow for the proper upkeep of collagen for healthy skin. An adequate amount of daily protein keeps us on the path to great health, just another reason to incorporate a high-protein smoothie into your daily regimen.

Smoothie Ingredients that Make a Difference

This high-protein smoothie does more than just provide a high dose of protein; it also delivers a generous serving of many other health-promoting elements. Each ingredient provides a multitude of benefits, but we will discuss just a few for each key ingredient so you can gain a general understanding of how healthy this fruit and veggie smoothie really is.

Soy Milk: A great alternative for lactose intolerant individuals. This traditional milk replacement contains essential vitamins such as E, D, K, B12, and B6. Soy milk offers a complete plant-based protein, along with calcium and iron.

Yogurt: This popular food is a great source of high protein, vitamins, and minerals, as well as beneficial probiotics that support the digestive tract. Additionally, yogurt contains a significant amount of potassium, as well as calcium for bone health, and can assist in weight management.

Pears: This sweet delicious fruit is packed with specific antioxidants that play a role in sweeping up free radicals from our bodies. With this being said, pears protect our cells and keep our skin looking young. They also boasts beneficial vitamins, fiber, and protein.

Grapes: Studies show that the phytonutrients found in grapes protect skin cells from the damaging effects of ultraviolet light radiation. Equally as important is the fact that grapes are also known as an anti-inflammatory food that help shield our body from the damage of inflammation. This little snack contains a good source of vitamins A, C, and K.

Bananas: This super fruit is loaded with potassium, which is said to lower your risk of heart disease. Bananas are a good source of calcium, magnesium, fiber, vitamin C and B6. This yellow fruit may also play a role in protecting your body from free radicals, as well as chronic diseases.

Spinach: A leafy green vegetable that is loaded with healthy items such as iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, copper, vitamins C, A, K, E, B2, and B6. Spinach also provides omega-3 fats, protein, and polyphenols that assist in enhancing the immune system.

Almonds: Protein-packed, vitamin-rich food that adds fiber to your diet, as well as unsaturated fatty acids. Almonds play a role in assisting in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, inflammation reduction, blood sugar control, and can improve the health of your skin. Furthermore, almonds are a wonderful source of calcium, fiber, and potassium, along with vitamins A, D, B.

Pear Grape High-Protein Smoothie

What You Will Need:
1 cup soy milk
1/3 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt
1 tbs. almond meal
1 ripe pear – stem and seeds removed
10-15 green seedless grapes
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup chopped spinach – tightly packed in measuring cup
1/2 cup ice cubes
(Makes 2 servings)

Create Your Smoothie:
Step 1: Place all ingredients in the blender
Step 1: Mix on high until fruits and veggies are well pureed
Step 3: Serve immediately and enjoy

Smoothie Creation Tips:
Tip 1: Freezing your grapes and a peeled banana will allow you to skip the ice
Tip 2: If you prefer not to use soy milk, simply replace it with almond or rice milk
Tip 3: If your blender is capable of crushing almonds, create your own almond meal
Tip 4: Freeze your smoothie in individual to-go cups and grab one for breakfast

This fun smoothie recipe will provide you with the protein you need, as well as give you a boost in energy. We hope you enjoy this high-protein nutritional drink. Cheers!