This post brought to you by Wrigley’s Focus 5 Gum. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love mint anything.  Its refreshing yet soothing aroma and taste is quite addicting to say the least.  I like it in my drinks, food (ice cream, chocolate, etc), beauty products and of course, in chewing gum.  Let me introduce you to this new instant pick-me-up!

Wrigley's new Focus 5 Gum in minty flavors… oh boy, talking about some serious mint power! The flavor is perfect… hello fresh breath!  It's one of the stronger mint flavored gums, where it opened up my sinuses… lol.  A similar effect to that of a mouthwash, but with a better taste, and less hassel.  It's the first time I've seen gum that comes in a pouch.  The resealable little bag can be easily carried in your work bag.

What I really love about 5® Focus gum is the feeling it gives my mouth and afterwards… so clean & so fresh!  These gums not only help to give you fresh breath but stimulate your mind to bring the chewers back on target.  I can see why after that awakening mint jolt!  I tried the spearmint and peppermint flavors.  I prefer spearmint slightly more than the peppermint (a stronger taste).

Instead of relying on sugary drinks or expensive coffees, give this gum a try anytime you need to perk up your senses at work or school.  Try 5® Focus™.  The intense mint hit!  It's a wonderful way to beat that midday grogginess and haze.

Disclosure: This post brought to you by Wrigley’s Focus 5 Gum. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hope you are enjoying your Sunday so far!  I want to quickly share my favorite snack (actually more like dessert) that is satisfying but healthy.  I don’t have much of a sweet tooth but I sure do crave certain foods like fruits and dark chocolate.  All it is, non-fat frozen yogurt topped with wild blueberries and chunks of dark chocolate (70% + cocoa content).  There is something so decadent about a ’berries + dark chocolate’ combo.  You can use non-fat Greek yogurt instead of the frozen kind.  Enjoy!

Whether finding a work-life balance or a healthier lifestyle, there are many ways to enrich and enlighten our lives.  As a daily enlightenment, I have a certain routine to help kick start my day before the real “work” begins.  Shortly after a morning coffee, I begin the day with 15 minutes of meditation followed by quick physical exercise (15 to 30 min).  Although repetitive, these activities are truly great for the mind & body.  Now I’m ready to tackle the rest of the day!

And yes, staying hydrated is crucial to perform at my best (especially in the heat of summer) but more importantly for good health.  After a sweaty workout, I replenish the body with electrolyte fluids.  Instead of  those grossly sweet sports drinks, I enjoy a cup of chilled organic green tea or a bottle of resource® Natural Spring Water – with 0 calories, 0 sodium, 0 fat, 0 carbs, and yes 0 sugar.

The best part?  It’s an all-natural drink that is also mindful of the environment –  giving you the “electrolytenment” experience not only to hydrate but nourishing as well.

• 100% naturally sourced spring water
• Natural electrolytes for a crisp taste
• Bottles are made with 50% recycled plastic (excluding label & cap)

I’m glad to see the increase in brands making conscious efforts in terms of making better choices for the earth.  Aren’t you?  If you enjoy bottled water, might as well go – eco – right?  What are some of your experiences for daily enlightenment?  I believe enlightenment is an ongoing process not a goal that needs to be achieved.  From individuals to the group level, we can encourage and inspire each other to enlighten our lives.

No matter what you do, at work or out, stay hydrated!

resource® Natural Spring Water is a holistic bottled water brand that sustains a lifestyle of wellbeing – spring water with naturally occurring electrolytes for taste, a bottle made from 50% recycled plastic [excluding label and cap], and a source for discovery and enlightenment.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by resource® Natural Spring Water via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of resource® Natural Spring Water.

Busy bees.  We all know what that feels like.  Everybody is just crazy busy fulfilling what seems to be a never ending cycle of responsibilities between work and personal lives.  As most of you probably have experienced, a career takes up a huge part of our lives.  By attaining a “work-life balance” it can greatly improve the overall quality of life in numerous ways.

As the saying goes – life is what you make it.  Isn’t that the truth!  We all have duties and deadlines to fulfill of course, but how much effort goes into enhancing our personal lives to ultimately lead to a fuller and richer life?  First and foremost, ask yourself – what do I really want? Is it a family?  Spiritual growth?  Helping others?  Health?  You must set aside time out of your everyday schedule to focus your priorities and wants on things that have true meaning to you as a person.

There are 24 hrs in a day.  Even if it’s 30 minutes a day, cut down on watching TV or cruising the internet to find more time for what matters to you the most.  Here are a few tips that helped me out tremendously in regards to achieving a better balance both mentally and physically.

• Find a hobby.  Or engaging in activities that you are passionate about.  One of my latest ventures of is learning the saxophone. I’ve always wanted to learn an instrument and finally took the initiative to get started.
• Meditation.  I strongly recommend it.  Start with just 5 minutes a day.  Nothing is quite like meditation to rejuvenate and heal the mind and body.
• Get out.  Out of the house.  There is something about being out in nature, surrounded by plants and wildlife that make you forget about the monotony of daily life.
• Exercise.  This is a no brainer.  Give yourself more energy leading to a healthier life.  Staying fit has a compound impact over time and the more in tune you become with your body the more likely you are to stay healthy.

Last but not least, life well lived is focusing on each present moment, genuinely enjoying it right at this moment… because tomorrow never comes.

In today’s busy world, don’t let your period slow you down. At the end of the day, Always Infinity is the pad that’s still going strong. It’s made from a revolutionary material called Infincel, so it’s super flexible and totally molds to your shape. Plus, it absorbs up to 55% more.* So spend more time with your friends and family, and less time worrying about leaks. Try Always Infinity today. Share your tips to achieve a better balance: Facebook.com/always.
*versus the leading Regular Ultra pad with wings.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Always via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Always.

There is no reason that femininity and professionalism have to be mutually exclusive.  We’ve devoted hundreds of pages on this website to proving that fact.  There are lots of things that you can do to look beautiful, confident and professional at the same time.

You know that a properly maintained wardrobe is one of the keys to ensuring the impact of your look.  It’s important to know, though, that the clothing you put on your body isn’t the only element to the overall look and impression you are trying to create.  It is just as much about your accessories and accoutrements as it is about the clothes themselves.

But wait… aren’t all office products created basically the same?  Sure there are pretty pens out there, but really – most of it is utilitarian in nature.  How do you supply yourself professionally and still look good when everybody is using pretty much the same stuff?  It’s all about the personal touches.  You don’t have to go full on Elle Woods to add some femininity to your professional accessories, but inserting some of yourself is always a good plan.

So how do you do that?  Here’s a quick gameplan:

~ Don’t allow your writing utensils to float freely in your bag or briefcase. Carry them in a small case.

~ Use stationery that color coordinates with the outfit you’re wearing.  This is easy enough to do – simply have notepads and cards printed up with your initial (and work information) in a variety of colors and choose the one that best complements your color scheme (or completely clashes – contradictory colors make statements too).

~ Keep a jewelry box and a makeup kit at your office.  The makeup kit you definitely want out of sight, while the jewelry box can remain close to your desk.  Keep a number of different gemstones, necklaces, and other pieces of jewelry on hand for different occasions.  For maximum professionalism, you might even personalize a jewelry box to match the style and color of your desk or office decor.

~ Make sure that all of your accessories – fashion and professional – are very well made.  For instance, you don’t want to wear a plastic watch to a meeting.  You want something with sturdy leather or metal band and a classic face.  You don’t want to use a plastic ball point pen that you can buy by the hundreds.  You want something with a well made barrel that is refillable (to help save money and to show eco-consciousness).

How you carry your work materials says a lot about you.  Tossing everything into a backpack or messenger bag might work if you’re employed at an indie graphics shop or retail outlet, but in a professional environment, a high quality bag or briefcase is essential.  It does not have to be leather (particularly if you are or represent vegan clients).  It does need to be well made.  The stitching needs to be top notch and the clasps should be metal, not plastic.  Whether or not it has a strap is completely up to you.

photos via style, naingirl