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There is something powerful about the word explore, because it asks more of us than movement. It asks for presence.
In a world that constantly points us outward, toward the next place, the next milestone, the next version of success; this issue is an invitation to turn inward and look closer. To rediscover what’s already here. To explore not just faraway places, but your own backyard… your own story… your own capacity to grow.

Because sometimes exploration doesn’t look like a plane ticket or a packed itinerary. Sometimes it looks like slowing down enough to notice the way the light falls across your street in the evening. It looks like walking into a local shop you’ve passed a hundred times but never stepped inside. It looks like choosing to support the farmer, the maker, the dreamer, right here in our community.
There is growth in that kind of exploration.
It’s the kind that stretches you quietly. The kind that builds connection. The kind that reminds you that impact doesn’t always come from going further, it often comes from going deeper.
This issue is also about people. The ones who are creating spaces for others to discover something new. The ones who are cultivating more than products or services, but experiences. Opportunities. Belonging. They are the ones helping others explore, whether that’s through food grown with intention, spaces designed for gathering, or businesses built to serve something greater than themselves.
And if you’re willing to look, you’ll find that same invitation extended to you.
To grow in ways that aren’t always visible.
To trust yourself in the process.
To show up for your community, even in small ways that ripple further than you may ever see.
Because exploring your own backyard is not just about the place, it’s about perspective.
It’s about recognizing that what we’re building here matters. That the way we support one another matters. That choosing to be present, to be intentional, to be connected, that is where real impact begins.
And maybe, just maybe, the greatest thing we’ll discover isn’t somewhere out there. It’s who we become when we choose to fully be here.

July 2026
PUBLISHER
Desiree Gustafson | desiree.gustafson@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Mandy Mullen, Adriana Karagozian
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
E.T.C. Photography, John Robson, Delaney
Morrow Photography
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Rachel Chrisman
LAYOUT DESIGNER Amanda Schilling
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle





































1: LFRA firefighters responded to a wildfire in west of Loveland on May 11th. 2: Loveland's Planet Fitness Celebrates their 10 Year Anniversary. Owner Carla Jamieson shares her gratitude with us! 3: Oak & Stone Design gets a vehicle rebranding and we are obsessed! 4: Wild Oats Sewing regular Paris made her friends Mondo Bags that she gifted them while was visiting back home. 5: Projective Studios hosts open house with Mazoma Designs and Hutch Design & Build. 6: Owner and Publisher Desiree Gustafson graduated from Leadership Loveland's 2026 class! 7: Berthoud 100 Women Who Care make a generous donation to Be The Gift.







8: Element Flooring & Design owner Mindy Meyers helping atetndees of her first Build It Forward event. 9: Poudre Valley REA at the 2026 Berthoud Days. 10: Club Loveland members Christine Pachuda and Cheryl McDonald-Pugh took part in the Colorado Triathlon. 11: Owners of Wally's Speed Shop Wally and Miriam train for the Lake to Lake Triathlon. 12: SimLab Golf is making progress towards their grand opening, getting lighting installed over the future home of their Puttview system! 13: The Rio Grande is officially opening a new location in Loveland. Coming to 225 4th Street in early 2027. 14: Cristina Walston Agency sponsored the 2026 Johnstown BBQ Days Car Show.

















Pop & Sip Boba has officially rolled out its newest venture, a pop-up trailer named Marge the Barge. Serving up refreshing, handcrafted boba drinks alongside bites from their sister business, BBF Bitez, this mobile experience brings flavor, fun, and a little something for everyone. Whether you’re craving a sweet sip or a delicious snack, Marge is your new go-to. Keep an eye out for the event schedule on their social media, they'e just getting started.
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Audrey, standing alongside her team, previously worked in Communications when she received a life-changing diagnosis: brain cancer. Determined to keep fighting while continuing to serve, she transitioned into Records to manage her care. Recently, her team honored her by wearing gray for Brain Tumor Awareness Month. Audrey remains an incredible employee, and the support surrounding her speaks volumes about the compassion and strength within this department. Their unity reflects a culture of empathy and resilience.
Katy graduated in May 2026 with a certificate in Sustainability Leadership from the Sustainable Living Association. Ouzel Creative is proud to now have 100% of leadership go through this program to serve their clients with commitment to the well-being of people, environment and economic responsibility.
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Going miles.Beyond: 50 Miles on the Poudre


At 4 a.m. on April 12, 2026, long before the first hint of sunrise, headlamps flicker to life in the quiet of Bellvue, CO. Sixty-five runners gather at the edge of the Poudre River Trail, nerves humming beneath months of preparation. There’s no roaring crowd or elaborate start line. Just the soft shuffle of shoes on dirt and the quiet understanding that what lies ahead will ask more of them than they can fully predict.
Race Director Mandy Mullen, an ultra-runner herself, understands the emotion, anticipation, and uncertainty these runners carry to the start line. Alongside her husband, Nick, and a closeknit team, she moves through the small gathering of athletes, grateful for the chance to support them on a day that will test both body and mind.
The setup is intentionally simple. Unlike many races, there’s no finish line waiting where the runners begin. Once they leave Watson Lake, they won’t return. Instead, they’ll spend the day moving east along the Poudre River Trail through Fort Collins, Timnath, Windsor, and eventually Greeley — crossing county lines, communities, and personal limits along the way. This is the NOCO Urban Ultra.
Laura Cadamagnani, Loveland resident and member of FIT4MOM says “Running has become such an important form of self care since becoming a mom, and this race reminds me how lucky I am to live in Colorado and be part of such a supportive running community.”
The course unfolds gradually, tracing the Poudre River through stretches of open trail, neighborhoods, farmland, and growing Northern Colorado communities. Along the way, runners watch the sunrise over the plains, endure the heat of midday, and settle into the reflective silence that often comes during long hours on the move.
There are moments when everything clicks, when legs feel strong, conversations flow, and the miles seem to disappear.

“The NOCO Urban Ultra is more than a race- it paints a picture of encouragement, resilience and community.”
There are also moments when exhaustion creeps in, the body aches and the mind begins questioning why anyone would willingly choose to run this far.
But running ultra is about far more than mileage.
It’s about the training runs before sunrise, the sacrifices made behind the scenes, and the willingness to pursue something difficult simply because it matters.
The trail itself reflects that same spirit of perseverance. According to project manager Zac Wiebe, the trail connection has been nearly 50 years in the making, requiring collaboration between municipalities, organizations, and landowners. When the final section beneath Interstate 25 was completed last year, it opened the door for events like this to showcase the trail in a new way.
Aid stations become pockets of energy and encouragement throughout the day. Volunteers, including the Fort Collins lululemon team — where Mullen serves as an ambassador — provide fuel and motivating words to runners. Alexis Templenuevo ran on one of two teams representing Fit4Mom, whose members also staffed an aid station. “At 23 weeks pregnant, running reminds me that motherhood and strength can coexist beautifully,” Templenuevo said.
Ultrarunning isn’t reserved for elite athletes. It belongs just as much to the person crossing right before the cutoff as it
does to the front runner. The common thread is simple: the willingness to continue forward when things become uncomfortable. Loveland resident Margarita Cozar enjoyed the 50 mile journey with her team, Don’t Worry Be Happy, saying “Personally, it’s proof that if you try something and don't give up, anything is possible. For me it was my first race, so just to be able to finish is a lot. It means a lot because all the training and effort was worth it. It was so much fun to do it with people that support you and cheer you on.”
Mullen estimates that nearly four million steps were taken along the Poudre River Trail during this year’s event. Beyond the individual journeys, races like this also bring a unique form of tourism and connection to the region. Runners traveled from across Colorado and nine different states. Many bring family members or friends who spend the day supporting runners while exploring Northern Colorado’s towns along the route.
As the final runners crossed the finish line and the sun disappeared below the horizon, the day came full circle. What began in darkness ended there too, but with a different kind of light — one built through grit, community, and the shared experience of pushing through something difficult together. For every runner, the NOCO Urban Ultra became more than a race; it became a lasting story of resilience, accomplishment, and memories that can never be taken away.













Exploring Beauty Through Oak & Stone
ARTICLE BY ADRIANA KARAGOZIAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY E.T.C. PHOTOGRAPHY
As I await my next feature, I look up to see the fierce and bold stature of a man, his forearms scuffed and cut as a badge of honor from a landscaper’s day of labor. He sits down to join me at a tall table, amber-colored beers before us both, as we settle in for our interview at a local brewery. For Zach Averill of Oak & Stone Design, that setting feels exactly right for this article: after a day of labor, across the aisle from someone who understands both his gift and his humility, with the easy hum of Northern Colorado life moving around us. The sound of glasses meeting tables, the low murmur of conversation, the grounded familiarity of craft beer and community.
He carries the kind of presence that does not need to announce itself because it already has. He is 37 years old, running an extremely successful landscape design business, and there is something about him that feels larger than life without feeling performative. He has the grit of a man who has worked with his hands, the mind of a strategist, and the heart of someone who has not forgotten where he came from. Zach is not interested in building ordinary outdoor spaces. He is building places that invite people to explore their own lives differently. Colorado landscapes that do not pretend to be somewhere else, but instead rise up from the soil with native beauty, rugged resilience, and quiet wonder. Oak & Stone Design is a company rooted in hardscapes, water features, xeriscaping, and outdoor living, but underneath all of that is a deeper philosophy. Zach understands Colorado because Colorado made him. He knows its dry heat, its stubborn clay, its sudden storms, its wildness, and its demand for respect. “I know the plants, the fauna and flora. I'm very well versed with everything out here, but I'm also, and have always been, a big proponent of xeriscaping and lower water plants, and incorporating a lot of the plants that are native to Colorado that people might not even know of.”
That knowledge is more than technical expertise. Zach speaks the language of this land. He knows that beauty here does not have to be forced
into lush lawns or thirsty landscapes that fight against the region’s natural rhythm. He knows that Colorado has its own palette, its own architecture, its own fierce and unexpected softness. In his world, xeriscaping is not a compromise. It is an invitation. It is the adventure of discovering that native and water-wise plants can be colorful, textured, surprising, and alive with character. It is the realization that a yard can be both practical and poetic. Sustainability does not have to feel sparse. A Colorado landscape can be designed to endure, thrive, and still take your breath away.
“You can always point out a lot of our projects, because when you walk by, there's a paver walkway, but there's also all these really unique plants that people have never seen before, and that's usually a good sign that I did it.”
That is the signature of Oak & Stone Design. A plant someone has never seen before becomes a conversation starter, a little spark of discovery tucked into the landscape. Zach’s work carries a sense of exploration because he is not simply installing materials. He is creating destinations. He is asking what an outdoor space could become if people stopped settling for cracked concrete, tired grass, and designs that never belonged here in the first place.




“Behind the strong presence and ambitious business mind is a man who understands what it means to need help. He is not removed from that reality. He is connected to it.”
That business-forward instinct is part of what makes him so compelling. Zach is not trying to be everything to everyone. He knows his lane. He knows his strengths. He knows the work that lights him up and the work that dilutes the vision. There is power in knowing the difference between growth and chaos.
He talks about business with the sharpness of someone who has learned through experience, but also with the generosity of someone who wants the people around him to win. He partners with other trades when their expertise serves the project better. He mentors younger landscapers. He builds relationships through chambers, referrals, and community events. He shows up where he can, not because it looks good on paper, but because it matters.“I try to get out and do as much as I can, whether it's through the business or just myself, because I grew up poor, so doing Habitat for Humanity would be nice just to help people.” Behind the strong presence and ambitious business mind is a man who understands what it means to need help. He is not removed from that reality. He is connected to it.
Zach’s generosity is not soft in a fragile way. It is strong. It is practical. It shows up with tools, labor, referrals, mentorship, time, and problem-solving. It is the kind of kindness that puts on work boots and gets something done. That may be what makes him the modern Northern Colorado builder of dreams. He is creating something tangible, lasting, and useful. Something that changes the way a person experiences home.
And that, perhaps, is where the real magic of Oak & Stone Design lives. Not only in the boulders set with intention, or the pavers laid with craftsmanship, or the native plants chosen with ecological wisdom, but in the moment when a client sees what Zach saw all along.
A finished outdoor space has a way of becoming emotional for Zach. After weeks of dirt, dust, equipment, and anticipation, suddenly there it is. The vision made visible. The place where coffee will be sipped, friends will gather, kids will play, dogs will nap in the sun, and quiet evenings will stretch a little longer under the Colorado sky.
“One of my clients told me, "Every morning I get up and I go out and I sit down and I eat my cereal and just look out at that patio and just think we made the right choice." That feels good.”
Of course it does.
Because that is not just a review. That is a life being lived differently because of his work. That is someone beginning their day in beauty. That is a backyard becoming a ritual. That is craftsmanship becoming belonging.
Zach Averill embodies exploration in a way that feels both adventurous and deeply grounded. He explores what Colorado landscapes can be when they are designed with intelligence, restraint, creativity, and courage. He explores what business can become when
ambition and integrity are allowed to stand side by side. He explores what community means when success is not hoarded, but circulated.
Sitting across from him, beer in hand, I see a man who is building more than patios and water features. He is building a reputation. A legacy. A company with roots. A brand that feels fierce enough to grow and kind enough to matter. His stature, the thing that captivated me at the beginning, is more than just his size. It is his power in what he creates and how he breathes life into that vision.
Zach Averill is not chasing ordinary.
He is carving something bold into the Northern Colorado landscape, one stone, one plant, one water-wise oasis at a time.










There is a way of living that begins before the seed ever touches the soil.
It begins with our intention for the Earth. With the choices we make each day as we remember where we came from. It asks: How can I nourish my community? How can this harvest become part of something larger?
Living close to the land understands that nothing is ever wasted. The scraps from one meal become food for the soil. The soil harbors life for the seed. The seed births into food for the table. The table is a place shared between neighbors, families, and strangers, because
nourishment is not just for the privileged. It is a sacred honor everybody deserves.
Throughout the years, we have been taught many things, like buying organic is the healthier option, even though organic produce can still carry the weight of pesticides. We have been told using less water is better for the Earth, while watching more land grow barren. Our soil is thirsty for more than water. It yearns for life, care, and the same nourishment our bodies crave. When we see ourselves as responsible for the care of all living things, everything changes.
ARTICLE BY ADRIANA KARAGOZIAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DELANEY MORROW PHOTOGRAPHY
A backyard becomes more. We can create an ecosystem with a handful of herbs by the door. Tomatoes climbing a trellis, bees moving through flowers, mulch protecting the soil from the Colorado sun, kitchen scraps returning to compost — these are small acts toward a bigger future, substantial, conscious choices, reconnecting us to the core of who we are.
You do not need acres, a perfect farmstead, or a magazine-worthy garden to live this way. You begin where you are, with one raised bed, one pot of basil, one decision to buy local, one choice to feed the soil instead of stripping it bare. You are as much a part of the solution as the landscaper you choose, the farmer you support, and the grocery store where you shop. An afternoon at the Loveland Farmers Market, or a purchase from a local vendor, is a beginning.
There are so many ways to participate in this kind of living. The food you grow can be shared with family, friends, or a neighbor in need. The excess can be donated to a local food bank as part of your harvest story. A meal can become an offering. A business can become a bridge between land and community.
Donate fresh produce, pantry items, or funds when you can. Choose restaurants, farms, and small businesses in your community that care about how our community is fed. Use conscious-led companies for your garden work, like From Scratch Farm or Oak and Stone Design, not because one business is the whole answer, but because every thoughtful choice is.
Sustainability is not a buzzword. It is a way of life.
Every time we choose local, tend the soil, feed someone with intention, or participate in the care of the Earth, we become what it means to be land stewards. We become what it means to be sustainable. We become what it means to be regenerative.
This is how we become the solution, as individuals, as a community, and in our connection to the land.
CONTINUED >










ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
Winnipeg in the winter, and a 17-year-old waits 45 minutes in the cold for Keanu Reeves. Her fingers are numb. She is not there for an autograph. She is there to ask him to appear in her audition tape for MuchMusic, Canada’s MTV. When he finally agrees, she writes her number on a gum wrapper with a borrowed lip liner.
He calls days later.
That 17-year-old was Jen Cohen — fitness expert, host of the Habits & Hustle podcast, and best-selling author. She has built a career on the premise her frostbitten afternoon proved. She calls the practice the 10% Target: 10 attempts at whatever you want most in life.
The premise is simple. Most people never make one attempt. Almost nobody makes two. The math works in favor of the person who keeps going.
The top-rated Habits & Hustle podcast has logged hundreds of conversations with high performers and the people who study what the body does to the mind. Her TEDx talk, The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life, has traveled widely inside Fortune 500 sales-training rooms. On the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Cohen sits down to share the working rules that are the foundation of her latest book, Bigger, Better, Bolder.
“You have to be the CEO of your own life.”
FEATURING JEN COHEN
Discover the full 10% Target Mindset framework.


1 2
The door opens, or another door does. The unmade attempt and the refused one leave you in the same place — except one of them teaches you something.
Cohen frames her habits as a wager: How do I stack the deck so I win more than I lose? The workout happens first, and the food decisions follow. The email follow-up gets sent, and the answer arrives. The choices compound in a single direction.
3
No one is born with it. The people who look disciplined are running a routine they have rehearsed long enough that it no longer feels like effort. The reps are the skill. Miss them, and the skill fades, the same as any other.
4
Confidence does not arrive by repeating the word. It arrives after the body has done the thing — the workout finished, the cold walk endured, the email sent. The mind takes its cues from what the body proves it can do. Talk follows action, not the other way around.
5
The first decision sets the slope of the rest. Skip the Monday workout, and the rest of the week tends to follow. Hold the line on Monday, and the slope tilts the other way.

JULY 3RD
3rd of July Festival & Fireworks
Waggener Farm Park 1000 N Berthoud Pkwy | 5:00 PM
Celebrate our freedom and community at our annual 3rd of July celebration! Brought to you by the Town of Berthoud and located at the Waggener Farm Park, this exciting evening features live music, food trucks, inflatables, and family-friendly activities, all leading up to a spectacular fireworks show at dusk. The event kicks off with DJ Drake starting at 5:00 PM, followed by Tumbledown Shack at 7:00 PM.
JULY 4TH
North Lake Park, 2750 N. Taft Ave | 8:00 AM
City of Loveland’s July 4th Festival has returned for 2026! This year’s Independence Day celebration aligns with both Colorado’s 150th anniversary and the nation’s 250th anniversary. Come join us for family fun, food trucks, vendors, and entertainment in North Lake Park. In addition to North Lake Park, there are two nearby park locations to watch the fireworks display: Dwayne Webster Veterans Memorial Park, 401 W. 13th St. Benson Sculpture Garden, 1125 W. 29th St.
JULY 4TH
Loveland Liberty 5K
895 14th St SW, Loveland | 8:00 AM
Start your Fourth of July with a bang at the Loveland Liberty 5K! We kick things off at 8:15 AM from Grimm Brothers Brewhouse, and whether you’re racing, jogging, or walking, this event is built for all abilities and all kinds of fun. We’re proud to support Health4Heroes for the 2026 race—be sure to check out their mission. Promoted By: Sweetheart City Racing
JULY 4TH
Fitness on the Plaza
The Foundry Plaza, Downtown Loveland | 8:00 AM
Join us in The Foundry Plaza all summer for FREE Fitness classes, led be local teachers and studios. All our classes are free and open to the public. FREE all-ages & all-levels yoga classes at The Foundry Plaza! Yoga Flow | 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM & Gentle Yoga | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM. 7/4; 7/11; 7/18; 7/25.Bring your own yoga mat, water bottle and props if desired. Registration not required for these events.
JULY 8TH
222 E 3rd St, Loveland, CO | 6:30 PM
The Loveland Downtown District is excited to announce the incredible Wednesday Night Concert Series line up for Summer 2026! Live music on Wednesday nights is a part of the One Sweet Summer event series, and will start on Wednesday, July 8 and will run through Wednesday, August 26. Music starts at 6:30pm on the Foundry Stage and wraps up around 8:30pm. We’re excited to bring live music to the heart of the city throughout July and August.





JULY 9TH – 12TH
The Blue Championship at TPC Colorado
TPC Colorado 2375 TPC Pkwy, Berthoud, CO | 8:00 AM
This premier event showcases rising talent and seasoned pros from the PGA Tour competing for the championship title. Spectators will witness incredible skill and sportsmanship across the challenging course, set against the stunning backdrop of Berthoud. The tournament spans multiple days, offering ample opportunity to experience the excitement of live golf action. July 9th, 8:00 AM, July 10th, 8:00 AM, July 11th, 8:00 AM, July 12th, 8:00 AM
JULY 11TH
The Berthoud Market
Berthoud Town Park 200 N 7th Street Berthoud CO | 9:00 AM
The Berthoud Market is back! Spend your Saturday mornings with local growers, makers, and neighbors as you browse fresh-picked farm goods, handmade treasures, enjoy live music, and explore our family-friendly park. Bring a friend, grab a treat, and soak up the summer market vibes at Town Park. Closed July 4th & September 5th | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Saturdays June 13th - September 26th
JULY 16TH & 17TH
Crab Boil
201 E 4th St. Loveland, CO | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Join us at Desk Chair Workspace for our 5th Annual Rooftop Crab Boil, a summer tradition that locals look forward to every year. Chef Gator of Little Latitudes will be bringing the bold flavors of the South to Northern Colorado with a classic New Orleans–style seafood boil. Get ready to dig into a mouthwatering spread of crab, shrimp, andouille sausage, corn, potatoes, and mushrooms, served family-style right at your table.
JULY 17TH
High Plains Environmental Center 2698 Bluestem Willow Dr Loveland, CO | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Shop our native plant sale in-person at the nursery. Card preferred. F.A.Q.: When are the open-nursery sales? Every other Friday in 2026. What time is the open-nursery sale? 9am to 12pm. Can I take plants home the same day? Yes! Will you have all inventory for sale? No, we will hold some things back for online orders, contract grows, and if they are not large enough yet.
JULY 17TH & 18TH
700 S Railroad Ave, Loveland | All Day
Loveland Loves BBQ has evolved into the all-new Loveland Loves Rhythm & Brews… and it’s turning the volume way up. Get ready for bigger bands, louder music, and nonstop energy featuring Double Wide, JV3, Junction 34, School of Rock, and HAIRRAISER bringing the stage to life all weekend long. Pair that with a fleet of incredible food trucks, ice-cold beer, fresh margaritas, and loaded teas, and you’ve got the recipe for one unforgettable celebration.
JULY 22ND
MMM HQ Coworking: 712 Main St., Longmont, CO | 6:00 PM- 8:30 PM
If you missed our Regional Green Drinks in January you won't want to miss it again! This time Green Drinks NoCo will be joined with Denver, Longmont and Boulder to hang with your friends across the Front Range. Come anytime after 6pm and enjoy great conversations, snacks and beverages. Some will be provided, but BYO beverages and snacks to share. RSVP: https://luma.com/oc5p4qvf
JULY 24TH
Johnstown YMCA grass field | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
In collaboration with the Johnstown YMCA and Thompson River Parks and Rec, we are bringing summer fun, food, and music to the community!




