3 Last Minute DIY Christmas Gifts

Still searching (or maybe you forgot to buy) that perfect Christmas gift for your loved one? We’ve got you covered this holiday season with three DIY gift ideas that are sure to bring a smile to your loved ones faces!

We have noticed how busy everyone is around the holiday season, especially our members here at Ment! We love our members and are always trying our best to give back so we figured what better way to test a few these gift ideas then to gift them out! 

Sharpie Mugs

We all love mugs right? Even better, you don’t even have to be an artist! Just trade in your paintbrush for a sharpie pen and become your own Picasso.

If you’re like me, you may buy your mugs at the dollar store or even the dollar tree. This is perfect because all you need is a plain white mug. Grab your favorite designs, letters or stickers at any craft store and apply them to your mug! Because let’s not pretend like we don’t all own atleast one monogrammed item – am I right?  We also discovered that contact paper works as well! One thing you may need to invest in is an oil based sharpie paint pen. This is important so make sure your paying attention! Regular sharpies will not work for this project so be sure that they are oil based to assure that your design won’t come off. Lastly, turn up the heat and toss them (maybe not literally) into the oven and “bake” for 30 minutes, let them sit, then peel off the sticker! 

And voila – a cute and personalized mug with no hassle!

We are so excited about this one because endless coffee (and other amenities) here at Ment, means you are always welcome to bring your favorite mug or use one of ours. Those free Spencer’s coffee beans are just waiting to be brewed and poured into our mugs! This time next week, the Ment offices just may be “brewing” with happy members and mug lovers! 

Sidenote: while it has been said that these mugs are washable, we decided not to test them out in a dishwasher so approach with caution at your own risk on that one! However, as we obviously go through coffee like its water around here, we can safely say that they are hand washable!

 

Christmas Sugar Cookie Scrub

Ditch those typical lotion and perfume holiday gifts and give something that not only smells like the holidays but also looks like it! With only a few ingredients, you will be ready to treat your loved ones (or yourself) in no time.

If you don’t already have these things sitting around your house, it should be fairly easy to get your hands on them. You will need sugar because of course you’re going to be smelling sweet, organic coconut oil and therapeutic grade essential oils (Plant Therapy has a bunch of fun holiday scents!) and a sprinkle of… well – sprinkles! Mix together and pour into a mason jar and you are set! 

So easy and simple and who doesn’t love a gift in a mason jar? Tie a ribbon on it and your ready to gift! While we didn’t mix up this fun concoction yet for our members, we thought it was too neat to pass up sharing. After making up a small batch of my own at home, I can safely say that it will have you smelling like Christmas and your skin glowing! While I will never pass up a trip to Bath and Body Works, sometimes there is just nothing like making something of your own. Not to mention, this makes for a more personal and thoughtful gift for your loved one. 

 

 Hot Cocoa Ornaments

Not sure if your family and friends would prefer a nice décor item or a sweet treat? Why not make both! It’s a win-win for everyone and a simple gift idea with endless options.

If you like hot cocoa and enjoy Christmas ornaments, you should have fun with this one. Grab some clear craft ornaments from your local Walmart or craft store and get ready to fill them with sweet goodness. Use your favorite packaged instant hot chocolate mix (we chose Swiss Miss) and throw in all of the “fixins” to top it off. I suggest using a funnel for this part because it can get a little messy.  Put the top back on the ornament and there we have it!

A decoration AND a delicious drink…it doesn’t get much better than that! Add a name tag or ribbon to the top for a little extra personalization and you are finished. We had a lot of fun making these for our members and my family just may be getting a few of these too. Just like Ment, these ornaments perfectly fit the definition of functionality. 

An office space that provides the perfect work atmosphere and a fun environment to interact with others —  A decorative holiday ornament that doubles as a sweet treat for later. 

I see no difference! 

These decorations will be hanging from the tree in our lobby all week just waiting for our members to come take them home! 

So there we have it folks! Three gift ideas that are sure to keep you, your loved ones and your bank account happy this Christmas season. With less than a week left before the big day, the clock is ticking so what are you waiting for? Get crafty and have some fun – we know we sure did!

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What is My 3:59? The Story and Name Behind the Movement

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This month, we are introducing you to our community partner, My 3:59 and the man who started it, Dan Klein. This year, we are ditching the New Year’s resolutions for “3:59s.” Want to set a goal for yourself that you’ve been aiming towards for a while? Now is the time with the new year approaching. Klein’s story has inspired us to do the same. 

Klein created his own movement after becoming inspired by Roger Bannister, the first person to break the four-minute mile barrier when, at the time, it was scientifically proven that the human body just couldn’t do it. Despite all of the naysayers Bannister not only to set out to break the mythical barrier – he did it! He did the impossible, he broke the 4 minute mile. He ran it in 3:59. 

As a husband and father of four, Klein was diagnosed with cancer and walked away with a life changing perspective on life and the things that the human body is capable of – both mentally and physically. Dan Klein started the My 3:59 movement with the dunk of a basketball at the age of 42; a goal that he had set for himself after his diagnosis. After going through cancer and experiencing everything the illness teaches you physically, emotionally, spiritually and psychologically, he approached the dunk with the 3:59 attitude and did his impossible – his 3:59. He made the dunk but more importantly, he achieved the 3:59 spirit. 

Since the then, there have been other 3:59s. Physical ones like hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim and completing the Louisville Ironman. Along with other life 3:59s – starting his own business, learning to play the guitar with one of his sons, and writing a book to share the My 3:59 story with others. Many others have responded by setting their own 3:59s as well! Everything from someone starting a non-profit they always dreamt about to someone acting in a play to a grandmother learning to swim for the first time at the age of 72 so she could swim with her grandchildren. 

“It’s really inspiring to see people take the My 3:59 story and spirit and turn it inward and become very intentional about doing the impossibles of their lives, their “I always wanted to….”, their 3:59s,” Klein said.

Dan Klein’s book can be purchased on Amazon or found at his website along with additional information. Klein is also available as a speaker at events where he shares motivation and encouragement with others. 

3:59s are all about setting goals for yourself and achieving them. If Klein’s story can teach us anything, it’s to keep pushing until you reach the impossible!

At Ment Cowork, we have achieved a series of 3:59s of our own. Being the first of its kind in Bowling Green, we have worked to establish an  environment that is the ideal place for members to do business. Stay tuned to hear about some of our personal goals here at Ment Cowork and to hear how we are planning to make some changes of our own.

 

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Introducing Our Newest Mentern Carli

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Hi friends! My name is Carli Hughes and I’m the newest Mentern. I’m so excited to be starting my internship here at Ment where I’ll be able to explore what this exciting journey has to offer. As you’ve gotten to know all the previous interns, I am no exception and would love to share who I am with you. 

I was born and raised here in Bowling Green, KY with a background in makeup, skincare & esthetics. Through this career I’ve learned the importance of marketing and social media presence and how this can greatly impact a brand. Being from Bowling Green I enjoy connecting with the community and will often shop local; it’s just the culture here! I believe coworking is a wonderful addition to some of the things our city has to offer for our community. 

Sometimes I find talking about myself brings back flashbacks of the first day of school when you have to share with the class a few things about yourself and you’ve completely gone blank. Who am I? What defines me? What are some interesting quirks? I enjoy going to the movie theaters alone, I rewatch the same 5 shows, I can successfully knit a square & I believe the perfect date is April 25th because it’s not too hot, not too cold, all you need is a light jacket. (Shoutout to all my Miss Congeniality fans) I think it’s important in life to take every moment as it comes and find the right group of people to surround yourself with. Do what makes you happy, have some fun & just do you boo.

I like to keep things short and sweet so I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to learn a little more about me and what I value. Before I sign off, I’d like to share my -ment word with you and why I feel it’s important. I chose momentum. The law of momentum states that an object will stay in motion until it meets a resisting force. So I leave you with this – keep pushing forward because there’s nothing standing in your way.

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Goodbye Menternship

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As I spend one of my last days here at 911 college street, I am able to reflect on my time spent at Ment. Coming into this internship, I was unfamiliar with the coworking industry and the community that came with it. From the inspiring space to the empowering people, my time here at Ment has been nothing short of amazing. 

 

Between content creation and management, to organizing events and keeping in touch with other professionals in the community, I feel I have gained real world insight about the public relations industry as a whole. Being a mentern has given me knowledge that I can’t learn in a classroom and I am so thankful for the experience! I want to give a special thanks to Hayley, Valerie and JD for providing me with this opportunity. 

 

In just a few short weeks, I will be graduating and making the move back to Lexington, Kentucky to pursue my photography business full-time. I plan on implementing social media and creative writing skills that I have gained here at Ment into my own business. If you want to keep up with me, feel free to follow my social accounts at @abigail.e.photography. 

 

I hope that you all have enjoyed reading my blog posts over the course of the semester. I have loved being a part of this community and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Ment Cowork! It’s not a goodbye, rather a see you later. 

 

I’m coming for you, big girl world.

 

 

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Ment Insider Tour

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If you follow us on instagram, you are probably familiar with what our space looks like by now, However, several people who wonder to our blog have no clue who we are or what we offer as a coworking facility. Head to the link below to check it out and feel free to leave a review on what you think of our space in the comments!

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The Newbie Pack in Review: The Spot BG

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You guys have heard us talk about our friends at The Spot before, however today we are bringing you in on our entire experience with them. Hayley & I looked up their class schedule and decided we were going to attend an upcoming yoga class. Upon viewing their website, we decided to YOLO it and purchased the student introductory offer, giving us 14 days of unlimited access for $49. 

If you’re like me, once you sign up for something it is so much easier to commit. It was even easier to be able to just walk across the street and get our classes scheduled for the following two weeks, one nearly every day. This was intimidating at first, being two formerly active, but crazy schedules allowing no room to exercise, women. But let me tell you, it was so worth it. 

We’re going to share some of our favorite classes below:

Power Vinyasa Yoga

We started the week off with Monday morning yoga at noon. This power yoga class was fast paced yet relaxing, energizing, and enabled us to break a sweat during the day to break up our usual routines. Yoga provides a nice brain break for all ages, and you can move at whatever speed you feel comfortable with. 

Boxing & HIIT 

Shew, this one will leave you feeling sore, in all the right ways. If you have any frustration to work off, this is the class for you! I love a challenge and feel so good afterwards. 

Reformer All Levels 

Hayley & I had never experienced a pilates class before and it is unlike any other workout. The reformer class is great for all ages! Jump boards are entertaining while working your legs and abs at the same time, and you can adjust the resistance as needed. Think trampoline while you’re laying down. 

TRX

I was unable to make it to this class, however Hayley received a head to toe workout using just her body as the weights. Once you figure out how to use the equipment, it truly feels amazing to use your own body to do the work – similar to yoga. Like many classes we went to, TRX will leave you feeling sore but accomplished. 

Spin

A personal favorite, because I needed a good butt kickin. As the lights go down and the music gets loud, spin allows you to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Ment member Emily frequents Spin class and says her favorite part about the class is how Charolette the instructor pushes & motivates her. Emily tracks her scores through her Apple watch and is constantly working towards new goals. 

Aerial Yoga

This class was so much fun. Grab a group of your friends and head to aerial for a relaxing full body stretch and look cool doing it. Why just hangout when you can hang upside down? 

When you get stuck, it’s okay to laugh about it. 

And Lastly… Yin Yoga

The best way to end the two weeks was with Yin yoga. This class is peaceful, slow paced and allows you to relax your brain while getting a good stretch in. We call this adult nap time, and if we could do it every day we definitely would. 

 

Recap… Now unfortunately I found the Spot a little too late and move away from Bowling Green in two weeks *cue tears* however Hayley is looking into becoming a member! If you’re considering trying out the Spot, we say go for it! From the encouraging environment to the multiple different options for breaking a sweat, we can honestly say you owe it to yourself to give it a try!

 

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Why You Should Celebrate Halloween This Year

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With Halloween today, spooky season is in full effect. 

Let’s keep it short and sweet. Here is why I think you should be celebrating. 

 

It gives you a reason to be together – First and foremost, Halloween is an excuse to celebrate! We work hard and deserve days to celebrate with our family and friends. Whether you are passing out candy at home, taking your kids trick or treating, or attending a Halloween party this year, be sure to enjoy yourself and the company. 

 

You get to act like a kid again – Just because you might be old doesn’t mean you don’t know how to have fun. Whether you have children or you don’t, take a note from their book – dress up, get excited and eat candy.

 

You get to put your diet on hold for the day – This might be one of my personal favorites. Don’t be afraid to indulge in all of the spooky sweets and treats this weekend. From the monsters much to the witches punch, it’s all fair game. Even if that does mean digging through your child’s bag of candy or having an extra glass of witches punch. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. After all, Halloween only comes once a year!

 

If you are reading this and your weekend plans include sitting on the couch, I encourage you to change them. Spend this weekend with your family and friends and go make some memories. Let’s enjoy this tradition and all it has to offer! We all deserve a break from the real world at some point. 

 

Bottom line is, have fun. 

Happy Halloween!

 

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6 Tips to Becoming an iPhone Photo Expert

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As a professional photographer, I am honestly amazed at the capability iPhones have to capture quality images. With different modes and filters, sometimes it can even be hard to distinguish an iPhone photo vs. a photo captured on a digital camera. I personally use iphone photos for all of my instagram stories and highlights. You can check out my shots on instagram here. Since we carry around our phones 24/7, we have the opportunity to create some pretty cool things. 

 

Have you ever looked back on your photos and thought, “What in the world was I thinking when I took this?” If so, this post is for you. I am offering some tips that will change the game for you iPhone photographers – AKA, almost everyone.

 

Slow down

 

First and foremost this is one of the biggest problems we face when taking pictures. A picture freezes a moment and captures it in time, so slow down and focus on that moment. Look at the screen while you are taking the photo and be aware of objects you are either putting in or cutting out. Once we do this, we avoid errors such as accidentally cutting grandmas head off. 

 

Tap the screen to lock focus

 

It’s true. We can get a lock on our focus simply by clicking the subject and holding down on the screen for a few seconds. You would be amazed at what this simple trick can do to change the quality of your iPhone photos. 

 

Zoom with your feet, not with your phone

 

This is possibly my favorite one. When you zoom with your iPhone, the quality is quite literally destroyed. If your images turn out pixelated and grainy, this is why. Next time you go to take a picture, zoom with your feet. Don’t be scared to get up close to your subject, you will thank me later.

 

Take advantage of the different shooting modes

 

As a photographer myself, I think this feature is so cool. You have the option to choose between a regular photo, portrait, square, panoramic, and even wide angle view on the new iPhone 11. Take into account what you are shooting and decide which mode would be best. For portraits, be sure to pull your subject away from the background to get the best depth of field. 

 

Get different Angles

 

Who said you had to be one and done? Don’t be scared to move around when you are taking photos with your iPhone. Get angles from up high and down low, up close and further away. Test out different options with your subject to see which ones you like best. It’s better to have too many to choose from than not enough. 

 

Use a preset

 

And lastly, the complete and total game changer: applying a preset. Also known as adding a filter on your photo which has the ability to change the entire look and feel. Check out free apps such as vsco, colourtone and lightroom to filter your photos like a #pro. Here’s an example of an iPhone photo with a lightroom preset below.

Use these tips and wow people with your next iphone photo. Happy shooting!

 

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3 Tips to Break a Sweat

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Don’t stay bundled up this season. 

It’s time to SWEAT

As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, it is easy to get trapped in a routine involving work, eat and sleep. Holidays are near and summer is long gone, so who needs to work out anyways, right? Wrong. 

I had the chance to sit down and talk with Loralee Stephens, owner of the Spot this past week to gain some tips and tricks when it comes to this thing called exercise and getting it done.

With over 18 years of of being involved through the industry from being a group aerobics instructor, personal trainer, fitness director, and club manager, Lauralee has experienced it all. She fell in love with the pilates method and has been a full time studio owner since 2006. 

To my surprise, Loralee said that just like everyone, she does not particularly always love or want to work out. However, when her alarm goes off at 3 a.m. she is excited to get up and start her day.

With these few tips, Lauralee has managed to have some of the same clients appear in her classes for 13 years. If you are stuck in a rut and can’t seem to get out of it, it’s time to make a change. Don’t just start 2020 on a good foot, end 2019 on a good one as well. 

And here’s how…

Have an accountability partner

 

Finding an accountability partner is so important. This is for the days that you just wake up and tell yourself, well maybe I’ll do it tomorrow instead and it slowly turns into a reptivite and vicious cycle. If you and your partner commit to holding one another accountable, you would be surprised what you can accomplish. Set goals together, workout routines, even dietary needs. 

 

Make a commitment 

 

Write out your workouts in your calendar and set specific time aside to accomplish them. Sign up for a class and pay for it ahead of time. Tell yourself you can do this. If you make exercising a part of your daily schedule, it will benefit your life in so many ways, both inside and outside of the office. 

 

Find a community

 

Lastly, and potentially the biggest one. Finding a community will take your experience to a whole new level. Join a gym or class that you are excited to attend, not only for the workout but for the people you get to see when you walk in the door. Find a community that will love you where you’re at but challenge you to grow. After all, we aren’t ment to walk through life alone.

 

Click here to purchase a 14 day unlimited class pass from the Spot for only $49. It’s time to get out and sweat!

 

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Why Dogs Make the Best Companions

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If you haven’t had the chance to be loved by a dog, you’re doing it all wrong. Dogs are some of the best companions to go through life with and they are guaranteed to stick by your side through the good, the bad and the ugly. As cheesy as it may sound, dogs really do provide unconditional love. Even though we are all human and extremely far from perfect, you will never do wrong in your pups eyes. 

 

Now let’s talk about all of the ways a dog could benefit your life…

 

They are always willing to do whatever you want- 

Dogs are so excited to just be with you. Wanna go on a walk? Spend a few hours in the office? Drive around town? Have a lazy day spent on the couch? Whatever the task may be, they are right there next to you feeling so thankful to be included in your life. 

 

They will reduce your stress at work-

Pets remind people to step away from the stress of the world and provide a temporary distraction including laughter and positivity. Studies have actually proved that pets have calming effects, reduce blood pressure, lower stress and make employees more productive. Can’t bring your pet to work? They will be the first one to greet you at the door to welcome you home when you get off. As soon as you give them a reaction, the worries of work will fade, at least momentarily. 

 

At Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle, nearly 6,000 pups share a workspace with their humans. Amazon has a good thing going. But are we really surprised…they always are ahead of the game. We are pet friendly here at Ment and it brightens our day to see furry friends walk in the office. 

 

They provide unconditional love-

Even when we don’t deserve it, dogs will be there to love us unconditionally. Without even using words, they are there for you even if no one else is. Dogs know our emotions and want to celebrate when we are excited, and cuddle up close by when we are sad. Dogs believe in their humans. What more could you ask for? 

 

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