Posted by Larimer Associates on 12:13 PM
A small fundraiser for the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra has now become an amazing organization raising funds for art education programs for New Mexico’s children. The 4 day event includes the famous food and wine tasting that you won’t want to miss out on. For more information, head to
ABQ Journal.
What began as a small fundraiser to benefit the now defunct New Mexico Symphony Orchestra has blossomed into a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting art education programs for New Mexico children.
Now in its 24th year, Vintage Albuquerque is hosting its premier food and wine event that spans four days from Wednesday, June 24, through June 27.
Proceeds benefit the ABQ Youth Symphony, National Dance Institute of New Mexico, Art in the School, New Mexico Jazz Workshop children’s programs and Lynx Inc., which has a local chapter that works with underprivileged children.
“The community comes together for great wine and great food,” said Steve Wedeen, who is on the Vintage Albuquerque board of directors. “Everyone who participates in it is really into it. We want to make it great and have fun and enjoy it.”
He said the organizers know how important art and creativity programs are for children. “One little art class or dance concert or music lesson could change a kid’s life.”
The Opening Night Gala will be held Wednesday at Zinc in Nob Hill for $150 per person. A number of wine dinners will be held at various locations in Albuquerque, Los Ranchos and Santa Ana Pueblo on Thursday, June 25. Each dinner is $95 per person. The wrap-up live auction and dinner will be held on June 27 at Los Poblanos for $220 per person.
Those looking for all Vintage Albuquerque 2015 has to offer in one location are encouraged to attend the Grand Tasting at 6 p.m. June 26 at the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum. The event is open to the general public.
There will be about 35 local restaurants and about 35 wine booths, which will be pouring about 100 wines during the tasting event, according to Wedeen. A small beer garden will feature three to four microbreweries. BounceChat, a New Mexico startup social media company, also will be on-hand. Its downloadable app allows event-goers to engage in interactive conversation within the event grounds.
Vintage Albuquerque 2015 events include wine offerings from around the world, as well as wines from around the United States including California, Oregon and Washington, according to Wedeen. New Mexico wines will be represented by Gruet, Casa Rondeña and Milagro.
The event is a tasting only event, but all the wines at the event are available for purchase or can be ordered through local retailers including Jubilation, Wedeen said. For a full schedule, list of participants and other information, visitvintagealbuquerque.org.
Posted by Larimer Associates on 10:30 AM
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there doing their best to be role models for their children. Thanks for everything!
Posted by Larimer Associates on 12:22 PM
Exercising is difficult, no ifs, ands or buts about it. But when it comes down to it, exercising can benefit you in ways you might not have even realized. There are a million reasons why you don’t want to work out but
Care2 has 7 reasons that prove that you should.
Starting a new exercise routine can be daunting, and the long-term benefits can often seem too far off to motivate us to give up an extra hour of sleep in favor of hitting the gym. But luckily, there’s plenty of instant gratification to be had when you work out. Need some motivation? Keep reading for seven ways your workout will benefit you immediately.
It’ll boost creativity.
A thirty-minute aerobic workout can increase your creativity for up to two hours post-exercise, according to one study. Want to supercharge the effects? Take that workout outside—spending time in nature boosts the cognitive benefits.
It’ll improve your mood.
Runner’s high is real—and you don’t need to be fast to experience it. In a study of college students jogging at low, medium, and high intensities, all reported feeling better after exercising, regardless of intensity.
It’ll boost your metabolism.
Whether you lift weights or prefer cardio, exercise boosts your metabolism within minutes—and it keeps going even after you’ve finished your workout, helping you burn more calories long after your cool down.
It’ll improve your skin.
It may take a few weeks of exercise before you start seeing improvements to your abs, but the effects on your skin are immediate. Exercise increases your body temperature, boosting blood flow to your skin and giving you that healthy glow.
It’ll help you at work.
Big meeting? Fit a short workout into your morning. One study found that participants who completed 15 minutes of stationary cycling had faster reaction times on working memory tasks, possibly because intense bursts of cardio make make your attentional and memory resources more efficient.
It’ll boost your productivity.
Another way more time at the gym can improve your time at the office? The boost in productivity—one study found that replaced two and half work hours a week with exercise increased employees’ self-rated productivity and decreased sick days.
It’ll lower your blood pressure.
Just one workout can lower your blood pressure for up to 16 hours. And over time, exercise can be just as effective as some medications for lowering blood pressure.
Posted by Larimer Associates on 11:34 AM
When you feel worn out and run down you need to change your habits. A few easy lifestyle changes are all that’s needed to improve your mental and physical health. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month,
Mashable has compiled 7 simple things you can do to feel better when you’re at your worst.
Here are seven quick ways to improve your overall mental health.
1. Walk outside.
Skip the gym and head for the great outdoors. While exercising in itself is a great boost to your mental health, going for a walk or run outside has even more vital health benefits. Studies show you'll exert more effort, and will have increased signs of "vitality, enthusiasm, pleasure and self-esteem," as compared to staying indoors.
2. Take vitamin B12.
You've always known taking vitamins is important, but do you know about the benefits of B12?
Studies have shown that a severe deficiency of B12 can lead to depression, anxiety, paranoia and more harmful problems. Get your B12 dosage from pill supplements, or by eating foods such as eggs, poultry and dairy products like milk.
3. Write simple goals.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness says setting simple, well-defined goals like, "I will smoke one less cigarette, each day, for the next three weeks," is a great way to actually accomplish something. Set goals for yourself in relation to your mental health (such as, "I will take two minutes each day to focus on breathing"), and be as specific as possible.
Once you've accomplished that goal, reward yourself!
4. Listen to slow, calming music.
Plenty of studies have shown that performing tasks while listening to classical tracks such as Pachelbel's "Canon in D Major" soothes your mind and reduces anxiety. If you're not one for classical music, opt for other tracks that are slow and simple.
5. Use lavender oil.
Put a bit of lavender oil on your pillow. Studies show that the essential oil canimprove your sleep quality and help battle insomnia. If you don't want it on your pillow, try drinking a bit of lavender tea before bed to soak up its healthful benefits.
6. Spend money on someone else.
You know that victorious feeling you get when you find the perfect gift for someone? That's your happiness levels skyrocketing. Studies have shown that people who buy something for someone else feel happier throughout day. And you don't have to break the bank every time -- spending $5 for someone else is perfectly effective.
7. Meditate.
We know this is constantly touted as the mind-clearing fix-all, but it's for good reason. Mindful meditation can increase the brain's emotional regulator, and can help combat depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia and more. Start slowly by meditating for three to five minutes per day in order to get comfortable with silence.
Posted by Larimer Associates on 9:09 AM
Have you spoken with your landlord since you moved in? Living in an apartment isn’t always a walk in the park. It could benefit you tremendously if you establish a positive relationship with your landlord. Follow these tips from Lifehacker to get the most out of your apartment living.
http://lifehacker.com/top-10-tricks-for-better-apartment-living-1441257482Apartment hunting can be stressful, and living in an apartment isn't always a picnic either. From noisy neighbors to horrible landlords and tight spaces, things can get dicey. But with the right tricks up your sleeve, living in an apartment can be awesome. Here are ten ways to make that happen.
10. Find the Perfect Pad
The first step to better apartment living is, obviously to find a good apartment to begin with. It takes a little research, but with a bit of patience you should be able to find a nice apartment in the neighborhood you want. Check our five favorite apartment search tools to get started, and be sure to bring this checklist with you toask the most important questions while you hunt.
9. Cultivate a Good Relationship with Your Landlord
When you're looking for an apartment, don't just look at the unit—pay close attention to the landlord too. Avoid future problems by getting everything in writing, documenting the condition of the apartment, and knowing your rights. Hopefully you won't have too many problems, but if something ever does go wrong, make sure you hold your landlord accountable.
8. Save on Rent (and Moving Costs)
Many landlords are willing to negotiate on price, as long as you aren't competing with a bunch of other tenants. Try negotiating on things like pet fees or parking spaces rather than the actual rent cost, which can be tricky. The easiest way to save money on rent, though? Move in the winter, rather than the summer, when there's less competition. In fact, data shows that mornings at the beginning or end of November is the best time to search. Photo remixed from originals by The Noun Project, Maurizio Pedrazzoli, and Bev Sykes.
7. Upgrade It (Temporarily)
One of the major downsides of apartment living is that you can't upgrade a lot of things that are older or not as nice as you'd like. You may not be able to redo the entire kitchen, but you can perform a lot of temporary upgrades (old school or high-tech) that will make things look a little nicer and work a little better. Plus, if you want to put in the work, try talking to your landlord—they might be okay with you making a bigger upgrade, especially it if ends up saving (or making) them money in the long run.
6. Ease Roommate Tension
If you're living with roommates, you have a whole new set of things to deal with. For example, you have to divide up all your expenses, and share a close quarters living space. The former can be easily managed with a service like Splitwise, and almost everything else just means you should have a conversation and set ground rules early on. Of course, if you just get stuck with a horrible roommate, there are ways to "evict" them, too.
5. Deal with Noisy Neighbors
When you live in a house, your neighbors are separated by...well, another house. When you live in an apartment, your neighbors are separated by what always appears to be paper-thin "walls." If your neighbor is prone to loud music, lovemaking, or dance dance revolution binges at 1am, you have options. Obviously you can have a conversation with them, but depending on the circumstances, it may pay to go to the management or send them more subtle messages. Of course, you could just fill out this complaint form and slip it under their door too. And if you don't have any noisy neighbors...make sure you're not the noisy neighbor. Image remixed from YuriArcurs.
4. Avoid the Dreaded Rent Increase
Just because you got a good deal on rent at the beginning doesn't mean you're in the clear. Landlords increase rent all the time, and if you aren't prepared, you'll end up paying more next year than you did this year. Luckily, it may be avoidable. First, make sure it's even legal for them to do so, and see if you can negotiate them down(much like you did with the initial rent). This form letter may help you out, too.
3. Save on Energy Costs
Like upgrading your fixtures, some energy-saving measures are more difficult to pull off in an apartment, but you can still do a lot. For example, you can still install window shades, install a programmable thermostat, use energy efficient light bulbs, and more. In fact, most of our best energy-saving tips should be applicable to apartment living—just make sure you check with your landlord before you start tearing anything apart or sealing up doors and windows.
2. Make It Feel Like Home
You may not be able to repaint your apartment, install new carpet, or make any other permanent changes, you can still customize it and make it feel like home. Use photos and frames creatively to keep the walls from looking too bare, and add a large rug or other floor covering to switch things up. Stick to good design principles and a little can go a long way, at least until it's time to buy your own place.
1. Use Your Space Wisely
You hear it all the time, but the most useful apartment tips we encounter always have to do with saving space. It makes sense, since apartments can be pretty tight fits—especially if you're renting in a big city. You can save a lot of space with cheap household products, though—like command hooks, bed risers, and over-the-door storage racks. Just remember: use your vertical space when you don't have horizontal space, especially where it's easily out of sight.
Posted by Larimer Associates on 9:24 AM
Happy Mother’s Day to
all of the moms out there. Have a beautiful weekend!
Posted by Larimer Associates on 1:12 PM
Tossing and turning at night is frustrating. There are a number of different reasons that we may not be getting the sleep we need when then sun is down. Reasons such as sleeping with your phone, procrastinating at bedtime or sleeping next to a serial snorer can be enough to ruin a good REM cycle for the night.
If you've tried everything to get your snooze on and nothing's working, the secret may be in the amount of sunlight you're exposed to during the day. Writer, Carrie McBride, from
Apartment Therapy examines how moving your work space closer to the window can actually help you fall asleep at night. Keep reading to see what she has to say.
Researchers found a measurable difference in the length nighttime sleep between two sets of office workers: one seated near windows and the other seated far from windows or in windowless rooms. Subjects wore a device on their wrists that measured both daytime light exposure and sleep activity. The lucky workers near the windows were exposed to 173% more light during the workday and slept about 46 more minutes each night than their window-poor counterparts.
The study co-author called light "the most important synchronizing agent for the brain and body" and stressed the health benefits of daytime light exposure. So, if you have a home office, try to situate it near a window. If you can't, at least eat your lunch or take some calls near a window and take a walk in the sun if you can.
If your out-of-home office setting is too dark, try to get your co-workers on board to rearrange the office, change the shades or invest in some full-spectrum artificial light.
Fiat lux!
