Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
Sep16

Fun & Games: AC/DC Monopoly Edition

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Fun & Games: AC/DC Monopoly Edition

Hi! As you saw in a recent post, Johnny and I checked out Sweets & Geeks this past week and had the best time shopping till we dropped. Sweets & Geeks features something for every possible fandom imaginable and had countless forms of collectables including board games, plushies, backpacks, Funkos, and everything in between. Johnny and I are especially partial to a good board game and he began his shopping in that department. In no time at all, he returned with two games in hand: A new expansion of Horrified as well as AC/DC Monopoly! 😀

Johnny is the biggest AC/DC fan ever and it brought me such joy to take him to their show in Cleveland a few years back. A themed Monopoly board of his favorite band was a no brainer to purchase and we had a blast breaking it out with our birthday BFF, Cliff, a few days later. I may have gotten my butt kicked seven ways till Sunday but I’ll get my revenge next time! Check it out:

Monopoly is one of those games that people either love or hate and I have never met anyone who fell right in the middle. Although I agree that it is a tedious game at times, Johnny and I love it and were so happy to add the AC/DC board to our collection. Granted, we only have one other Monopoly a la Legend Of Zelda but it is a collection of two, nonetheless! There is never anything special or new about the themed Monopoly boards and the game play forever remains the same. However, it’s just fun to play on a board centered around one of your favorite things! They also make a great gift – my sister loves her Britney Spears Monopoly board that I got her for Mother’s Day! (I eventually want to get that one too! Long live the queen!) ❤

When Johnny, Cliff, and I dived into our AC/DC Monopoly, we had the band blaring on vinyl and settled in for a heated competition. I am saddened to report that the competition was neither heated nor successful for me and I think I went bankrupt in forty minutes lol. What can I say, I was trying to make some money moves and all of them fell through. Such is the game, though, and regardless of winning or losing, the company couldn’t be beat. I can’t wait to play again soon and avenge my honor to the tune of High Voltage rock!!!!!

If there is an AC/DC super fan in your life, this Monopoly board is a must. Whether it’s a loved or hated game, it sure makes a great collectable!

Do you have any themed Monopoly boards? What is your favorite board game? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep15

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Anniversary By Alex Finlay Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Anniversary By Alex Finlay Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a thriller by Alex Finlay called The Anniversary. Although I wouldn’t call this book great, it was pretty good and the twisty cat and mouse plot was intriguing. My main qualm wasn’t so much with the contents of the book itself, rather with the at times, disjointed writing style of Alex Finlay. We’ll get to that more after the synopsis, though! Before we begin our chat about The Anniversary, I will be placing a trigger warning for graphic violence, disturbing content, sexual and physical assault, and combat in war. You ready? Let’s go:

High schoolers Jules and Quinn have seemingly nothing in common. Jules is beautiful, popular, and the star of the school. Quinn, on the other hand, is solitary, introverted, and prefers the company of books to people. However, these polar opposites formed a bond by semi-flirting their way through study hall before returning back to their normal crowds or lack thereof. While their interests are far from the same, the night of May first 1992 will forge their paths together for years to come to solve the mystery of what happened that fateful night and all of the tragedies to follow.

On May first, Quinn was sent to a juvenile detention center for almost killing a kid in a fight. On May first, Jules was kidnapped by the May Day Killer but he let her live. Life was never the same since. While Quinn was incarcerated, his mother was murdered and his brother’s health began to fail. With nowhere else to go upon his release, Quinn joined the army. As Quinn serves his country, Jules is serving looks and has a blossoming career as a young model. Her life might look glamorous on the outside but on the inside, Jules is almost always in the haze of a drug or alcohol induced stupor to shield herself from the memories of her narrow escape.

The May Day Killer was never found after Jules’ abduction and he continues to strike every year like clockwork. Some girls are spared, some are never seen from again. The FBI is desperate to close this case and Jules and two other May Day survivors begin to assist by trying to remember every detail from their encounter with the serial killer. Meanwhile, Quinn is working a case of his own. Before her murder, his mom uncovered something hinky going on at the factory she worked at. The day she was going to spill was the day of her death. His mom’s findings are meaningless to Quinn and leave him with more questions than answers. Little does he know, his mom’s murder and the May Day Killer are more connected than anyone thought possible. Will Jules and Quinn crack the cases to their own trauma? Or will a serial killer continue to walk free? Read The Anniversary to find out!

I am very much a fan of a good wild goose chase between a killer and the victims and The Anniversary really scratched that itch. The plot for The Anniversary was juicy to say the least and it kept me turning the pages. In fact, I finished it in three sittings. To a point, I enjoyed the story and the characters both major and minor. The biggest turn off of this book all came down to the way it was written. The Anniversary was marked through the passage of time with chunks of the book taking place one year or up to ten years later. This pieced together approach was somewhat confusing because so much could happen within that time frame! Once the next year took place, you basically had to remeet the characters with where they were at instead of where they have been which only left me wanting more. More information, more cohesion. More something to make this book feel like a completed work rather than a second or third draft.

Although I truly didn’t care for the way this book was set up, it doesn’t take away from the fact that it was still a slightly above average thriller. The grand reveals were shocking, it was fun to play detective along with the FBI, and it was almost like reading an episode of Law & Order: SVU. I will say that I felt like Jules’ character was a bit one dimensional but that was made up for in spades with Quinn. I don’t think it’s possible for him to not tug at your heart strings! The Anniversary had all of the fixings for a semi high Lil Red’s Book Club star rating. It really did fall short on the choppy writing, though, as it completely took away from a fully positive reader experience.

Overall, I am going to rate The Anniversary with a five out of ten stars. This was a perfectly average thriller that deserves a perfectly average rating. You’re not missing out on anything if you don’t read it, but you’re not going to hate it if you do give it a go!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep14

Let’s Shop At Sweets & Geeks

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Let’s Shop At Sweets & Geeks

Hey! This past Friday I went on an adventure with Johnny and my brother, Andrew, to have a little fun in Medina. Our plan was to hit up Alien Vacation Mini Golf but, first, some shopping at Sweets & Geeks was in order. Sweets & Geeks is right up the street from our mini golf destination and we just had to check it out as we have all heard nothing but amazing things about it. All of the rumors were definitely true because this was one of the coolest shops we have ever been to! I think we could have spent the entire day and a lot more money in it lol. Stay tuned for a walking tour on my TikTok but let’s discuss further here:

^^^ Obvi had to get the AC/DC Monopoly! More on that later. 🙂

When we first stepped into Sweets & Geeks, I think we were all a tad awestruck from the sheer enormity of product and the size of the store. This place was almost like a labyrinth with countless different rooms to explore all featuring sugary delights or memorabilia from literally every fandom known to mankind. There was anime, superheroes, Star Wars, Pokemon, Hello Kitty, music, and everything in between. Shelves were adorned with models and Funko Pops, adorable backpacks were on display, and there was an entire wall dedicated to Pokemon and anime plushies. This was, indeed, a nerd’s paradise and I mean that in the best, most loving way possible as I, too, am a nerd!

While it was neat to look through the insane candy selection, we were all pretty set on checking out our favorite fandoms and simply walking the space. We couldn’t believe our eyes at the immense amount of playing cards lining walls in cases, massive containers of posters throughout the store, life size replicas of superheroes and villains, and some of the biggest plushies we have ever seen. It really was like being in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and everywhere we turned showed us something brand new.

Johnny and I walked away with a new Horrified board, AC/DC Monopoly, some novelty snacks, and anime themed sparkling water. By the time we made our rounds throughout the store, we were all eager to pay for the goodies in our basket lest we spend any more money lol. Believe you me, that would not have been hard to do! Sweets & Geeks was basically like shopping through vendors at a Comicon all in one place and the best part is that we don’t have to wait for a yearly event. We can make the drive to Sweets & Geeks whenever! 😀

If you are ever in my neck of the woods, Sweets & Geeks is a must see destination. There is truly something for everyone and you will have a blast!!

What is your favorite fandom? Do you have a store like Sweets & Geeks near you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep13

Almost Autumn OOTD

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Almost Autumn OOTD

Hi! Mother Nature has been playing sick and twisted games in the good ol’ A-K-ROWDY and has been flip flopping on a dime between pleasant cool temps and hot AF. This has been majorly killing my vibe because in my head fall starts when September hits lol. I just want a nice, crisp day damnit! Dressing for this weird limbo season has fluctuated from fall fits and booty shorts and there is literally no in between. On the bright side, I did get to bust out this Almost Autumn OOTD on a breezy day which sent my soul soaring. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Button Down Top: Truth By Republic, TJMaxx

Bodycon Skirt: Originality, Dry Goods

Wedge Heels: BCBG, TJMaxx

Lock Necklace: Michael Kors, TJMaxx

The brooch style earrings were purchased forever ago from PacSun!

I recently purchased the army green Truth By Republic button down at TJMaxx and was so eager to wear it as soon as the weather allowed. I have the same top in navy and it is one of my favorites! The Truth By Republic tops fit me like a glove and I love being able to wear pieces that are more form fitting without the sensation of being too tight. They are the perfect little somethings to pair with a smart pair of jeans or sweet skirt and option B was what I went for. With the top pre-selected, this outfit really did build itself!

In the skirt department, I chose a darling bodycon by Originality that just screams fall! The pattern reminds me of retro wallpaper and the burnt orange that is primarily featured is my most beloved hue of autumn. The skirt and top were truly a match made in fall color heaven and I was able to pull from the small amount of sage green in the skirt to form cohesion with the button down. I wore the top tucked in to form a pseudo dress for a result that was both chic and sassy. I always like to show a little leg! 😀

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. I kept with the green theme for my heels and went for a cool pair of cutout wedges by BCBG. Like the skirt and the top, the green wasn’t a perfect match but it was close enough and the combo definitely makes the eyes dance between all of the different shades! For accessories I opted for a pretty pair of brooch style studs because I loved the neckline the top created and didn’t want to deter from it. Rather, I enhanced it by adding on a gorgeous Michael Kors necklace in blingy gold. With that, I was ready to enjoy a little taste of fall weather!

I can’t wait to style ALL of the fall OOTDs and share them with you. Stick around for so much more seasonal fashion fun! ❤

Have you updated your wardrobe for fall? What is your perfect fall temperature (Mine is fifty-five degrees!)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep12

Groovy Movies: Buddy Edition

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Groovy Movies: Buddy Edition

Hi! Prior to dating Johnny, I wholeheartedly admit that I was a horror movie snob. I was all about the atmospheric, moody, psychological thriller scary movies and nothing else would do. I didn’t care for silly slashers, couldn’t be bothered with creature horror films, and turned up my nose at anything remotely campy. All of these examples, however, are exactly what Johnny loves and I certainly changed my tune after he took me to school on all of his favorites. I recently saw Buddy with a friend, which is a comedy horror that checked all of the boxes of Johnny’s scary movie must haves. This movie was not great but I don’t think I would have slightly liked it without my further education from Johnny! Let’s discuss in a spoiler free setting, as always, but first I’ll be placing a trigger warning for gory violence and disturbing content. Here we go:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

It’s Buddy! is a Barney style children’s show featuring a huge orange unicorn named Buddy. At his playhouse it is fun and games, dance parties and songs, and learning lessons like apologizing or being brave. When all of the kids participate and smile, it is an excellent day at Buddy’s. If they don’t comply… not so much. After a little boy refuses to learn a dance routine, Buddy snaps and the remaining playmates are terrified. Freddy, Oliver, and Hannah thought that Buddy loved them. Was he lying this whole time? One thing is for sure, the kids need to get to the real world and fast.

In the real world, we come across a perfectly normal family. A mom named Grace, her husband, and their two sons. There is something bothering Grace, though. Something that feels missing and she can’t shake it. Deep in her being, Grace believes that she has another child out there and takes matters into her own hands by hiring a psychic. The psychic insists on contacting the spirit in the house that is plaguing Grace but it isn’t a pesky ghost or poltergeist at all. It’s Buddy and he needs a new friend.

Grace knows that Buddy is behind her missing child and when he invites her into the television later that night she joins him as the new clubhouse nurse. The kids and Grace only have one chance to get back to the real world and danger lurks at every turn. Buddy is intent on closing this horrific episode out with a song and it is up to them to stop it. Will Grace’s family become whole? Will the other children get to return home too? Watch Buddy to find out!

I feel a bit torn about Buddy because there were parts of it that I liked and parts that dragged and I consider that difficult to do in a barely hour and a half flick. Buddy’s clubhouse was uber fun with nods to Barney and Pee Wee’s Playhouse that I deeply appreciated. What dragged, in my opinion, was the repetitive and relatively tame nature of the film. There were parts that literally felt like we were just watching an off brand Barney episode and that’s a massive bore for a room of adults. In fact, it was almost painful until more major plot points were introduced like Grace and her family.

Buddy did provide laughs and a couple of jump scares but it was overall a very average flick. I actually REALLY liked the plot but I didn’t like the execution of it and there were parts that were just plain weird AF. If you watch Buddy, you will know exactly what I’m talking about! Was this a movie worth seeing? If you’re looking for a very different, semi horror comedy then I guess? I left the theater feeling neither here nor there either way but was definitely glad that it was a short movie!

I am going to rate Buddy with a three out of ten stars. I don’t think this is one to go see in the theaters but it could be a laugh if you are watching at home!

Did you see Buddy? What did you think about it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep11

Groban Gal OOTD Bloopers

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Groban Gal OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Groban Gal OOTD! Seeing Josh Groban’s Stage, Screen, And Symphony concert was, indeed, the highlight of mine and Johnny’s summer and we have been singing our praises for the experience regularly ever since. It’s hard not to live in the past when we got upgraded to the best seats in the house for free – right in front of the stage!! Josh Groban was simply miraculous from start to finish. These pics? Not so much! Let’s take a lookieloo:

I’m a star, baby!

Just dipping a toe in to test the grass…

And almost did a nose dive!!!

Just pretend you didn’t see that!

Sassy lady!!!!

Just airing my armpits out

Off to see The Grobes, byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

The desire for seeing Josh Groban in concert all stemmed from a one minute video from Tim And Eric’s Awesome Show, Great Job called “Groban Sings Casey”. In this video, Josh Groban sings a compilation of songs in his classic style including hits like Choo Choo Train (I Want To Ride), Hamburgers And Hotdogs, and Time Travel. It is ridiculous, hilarious, and opened our eyes to the glory of The Grobes. So, when we saw he would be on Blossom Music Center’s summer concert lineup, those tickets were as good as ours.

In our ideal concert fantasy, we were going to yell “play Hamburgers And Hotdogs”, Josh Groban would hear us, and perform it with the Akron Symphony Orchestra. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. However, as we made chit chat while waiting for the concert to start, we met someone whose husband was singing in the choir that took the stage with The Grobester. He ended up coming by to join the conversation before he had to be backstage and we told him about Groban Sings Casey and it turns out he was already hip! In fact, one of the other members of the choir was going to bring it up to The Grobeman but got sidetracked and they talked about goats instead. I like to think that the fire that burns in mine and Johnny’s hearts for Groban Sings Casey burns the same for The Josh, though!! ❤

Best concert ever? Best concert ever. Thank you to Blossom, J-Grobes, and the Akron Symphony Orchestra for the most amazing time!!

What is your favorite Josh Groban song? Are you aware of the life changing properties of Groban Sings Casey? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep10

Groban Gal OOTD

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Groban Gal OOTD

Hello hello and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Today we’re going to take a look at the lil fit I wore to see Josh Groban for his Stage, Screen, And Symphony tour at Blossom Music Center. This concert was truly one for the memory books as we got upgraded from standing on the lawn to being four rows away from the front of the stage! Blessings and riches eternal for the Blossom employees who literally made our lives and turned us into Josh Groban super fans. Johnny and I are so proud to call ourselves Groban Gals now after being transformed by his incredible voice! We already talked about the show in the linked previous post so let’s get into the fashion:

Who? What? Wear?

Crochet Top: Bozzolo, TJMaxx

Trapeze Pants: Patrons Of Peace, TJMaxx

You can’t really see the shoes but I wore a funky pair of platforms from ModCloth.

The earrings are Lucky Brand and the necklace was purchased close to two decades ago at a vendor sale!

When it comes to dressing for a show at Blossom, the name of the game is always cute and comfortable. There is a lot of walking involved to get from parking to the venue and if you have lawn tickets you are standing all night. That has never stopped your girl from wearing heels, though! The weather was absolutely perfect the night of the show with temps in the low seventies and a pleasant breeze so itty bitty short shorts were not required. For that reason, I started styling this look in the middle with a gorgeous pair of trapeze pants by Patrons Of Peace. The pattern screams tropical paradise, the wide legs are so retro and cool, and I just love swishing with every step!

Next up was a top to go with it and I selected a darling little crochet crop by Bozzolo. This is one of my go to tops in the summer because it goes with everything, is insanely comfy, and keeps me cool. The buttons down the front are too sweet and the peek a boo pop of bra serves some sass. Although this piece is a neutral and fairly basic, it was just right with the loud trapeze pants to form a cohesive look instead of confusing.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. I opted for one of my favorite pairs of platforms from ModCloth for the occasion and they were definitely needed. The pants are so long! Even though you can’t see them, they feature a 70s style pattern in burnt orange and navy which worked really well with the deeper shades of the pants. In the accessories department I chose a pretty pair of three tiered turquoise earrings by Lucky Brand which were a gift from my mom. I also added a beautiful feathered handmade necklace for good measure as I had some open real estate on my chest. With that, I was ready to start swooning over Josh Groban’s crooning!! 😀

Stay tuned for the Blooper Reel from this look coming soon and another concert review will be on the horizon. I can’t wait to see Billy Idol next!

Did you go to any concerts this summer? Who did you see? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep9

Amazing Autumn Guest Bloggers Wanted!!

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Amazing Autumn Guest Bloggers Wanted!!

Oh hey!! As you know, I will be vacationing in Italy in the near future and I am beyond excited!! This trip of a lifetime will be enjoyed by me, Johnny, my parents, and brother and I can’t believe it is right around the corner. It will be very special to go on this adventure with my family and it will also serve as a pseudo honeymoon for me and Johnny as we never went on one after getting married. It’s always a thrill to go on a trip but it’s also a tad stressful because there are a lot of I’s to dot and T’s to cross before it’s go time!

Blessedly, my biggest concern has been tended to: Care for the bunnies while we are away! Johnny and I assembled a super team of three who we trust implicitly to be with them morning, afternoon, and night and that is a huge weight off of my shoulders. They are our babies, after all! The next step in my prep will be ensuring that I have posts scheduled to rock and roll for my social media management job (Be sure to check that out!). I plan on visiting a lot of installation sites interspersed with office visits before my trip to handle that and it might just be in a new (used) car! More on that later when the purchase actually happens because the Little Red Love Machine has been causing me a lot of grief. 😦 *Bawling my eyes out*

Last but certainly not least on my checklist is maintaining my daily content streak here on lifewithlilred. I have been posting every day for seven years and counting and I will be a monkey’s uncle if I ever let that massive achievement fall by the wayside! I have been blogging every chance I get to schedule posts but I also wanted to open lifewithlilred up to all of you in an Amazing Autumn Guest Bloggers Series. This is your chance to interact with my viewers, get to know me better, and have some fall fun too!!

If you have a fabulous fall OOTD, tasty recipes, autumn inspired MOTDs, cool costumes, or spooky seasonal decor that you want to showcase, then let me at it! You can reach me by email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com and I truly can’t wait to hear from you! Let’s ring in autumn together and celebrate everything that makes this season so magical! ❤

Did you go on vacation this summer? Where did you go? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep8

Summer Highlights

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Summer Highlights

Hi! I know summer isn’t “technically” over yet but it’s September and in my head it’s fall lol. So I thought I’d go through my summer highlights today, fall calendar date be damned! This summer has been jam packed with so many activities right from the jump as mine and Johnny’s birthaversary kick starts the month of June. We started this summer by hosting friends and family for a super fun party and the events and hang outs felt nonstop since. Johnny and I are definitely trying to take it easier on our schedule this fall but this summer was certainly one to remember! Especially my personal favorite occurrences:

Josh Groban Concert:

A few weeks ago Johnny and I had the best experience ever at Blossom Music Center seeing… Josh Groban lol. Yes, we laughed about this too but what started out as attending for a joke turned us into complete super fans. Johnny and I purchased tickets for the Stage, Screen, And Symphony tour because we love Josh Groban’s comedy but the jury was out on his music. After pre gaming, we posted up on the lawn of Blossom for the show and didn’t have the best view but could see the jumbotron well. Josh Groban took the stage promptly at seven to open his set with “Pure Imagination” and after that song something magical happened!

Post Pure Imagination, a Blossom employee came up to us and offered us seats in the pavilion. We assumed we would be in the back or the middle but were moved up to the fourth row in front of the stage. It was SO awesome!! From our upgraded seats we had a perfect view of The Grobes and our initial laughter subsided instantly because we were completely mesmerized. Josh Groban truly has the voice of an angel and it was such a treat to hear him perform beloved classics from the best view in the house. We couldn’t believe our good luck and are now so proud to say that Josh Groban was one of the most excellent performances we have ever seen. What a night!

Bestie’s Engagement:

Johnny and I were totally and absolutely overjoyed to take part in an engagement party for my best friend, Lea, in early August and my heart simply flutters whenever I think about it! After the proposal at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, Lea’s fiance organized a party at a brewery with family and close friends to celebrate. It was the most lovely time and it really was an honor to be there for my best girl. I am so excited to help in any way I can for her wedding and beyond thrilled for her happiness. She deserves nothing less. ❤

All The Mini Golf:

I don’t know about all of you, but I love me some mini golf! I enjoyed going to many indoor and outdoor mini golf courses this summer with Johnny and my brother and it is always such a laugh. Whether we are doing good or bad doesn’t matter because it’s just the most fun to hit some balls around lol. But the answer is: Yes, I did come in last place pretty much every time! Although there are some pretty good outdoor courses in my neck of the woods, we have a few indoor ones that totally take the cake. We love visiting Alien Vacation and Glow Sticks which are both fabulous!

Glow Sticks is an indoor eighteen hole course that revolves around music from the 1950s to the 2000s. Each room features a different decade with murals of the most prominent artists of the time and obstacles that match the theme IE: A giant Rolling Stones tongue. My musician main squeeze was living for it as was I! What a unique and cool little spot! Alien Vacation is also ultra cool with wacky murals and an immersive walk through experience. There are animatronics, obstacles that move, and the neatest themes like an under the sea, ancient Egypt, and jungle themed rooms. We have been to Alien Vacation several times and it is always a blast!

The Strokes Concert:

Johnny and I gifted each other with concert tickets for our birthaversary and seeing The Strokes at Blossom Music Center was my prezzie. They have been a bucket list band for me since I was ten years old and I could not let the opportunity to finally see them live pass by! We opted for pavilion seats as they were only slightly more expensive than posting up on the lawn and had a terrific view of the stage from our middle left position. The Strokes crushed and it was just amazing to hear all of my favorite songs IRL. We made friends with all of the people around us and formed a ragtag group of people that shared my sentiments too: That this was not a concert to be missed!

Johnny and I made so many beautiful memories this summer and I can’t wait to see what fall has in store for us!

What is your favorite memory from this summer? What are you looking forward to in the fall? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep7

The Modern Living Room: Essential Setup Tips For An Organized, Functional Home

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The Modern Living Room: Essential Setup Tips For An Organized, Functional Home

Your living room isn’t just another room; it’s the heart of your home, where all the good stuff happens. It’s where you kick back after a long day, gather the family for movie night, and host friends. Because it wears so many hats, it can easily become a magnet for clutter, making the whole house feel a bit chaotic. Creating a living room that works well and feels organized isn’t about being perfect. It’s about setting up a space that genuinely supports your daily life and feels truly relaxing:

Define Your Living Room’s Purpose:

Before you even think about moving furniture, take a moment to really consider how you use your living room. Is it mostly a comfy spot for your family to watch TV? Is it a more formal area for guests? Or does it need to pull double duty as a play zone for the kids or a part-time office? Your answers will guide every choice you make. A room meant for quiet reading will have different needs than one built for lively game nights. Be honest about your actual lifestyle, not the one you see in fancy magazines. This clarity will help you figure out what furniture and items belong.

Create a Clear Focal Point:

Every well-designed room has something that catches your eye and grounds the space – a focal point. In lots of modern living rooms, the TV naturally takes center stage. But a mess of wires, a bulky media console, and competing gadgets can quickly turn that focal point into an eyesore. For a clean, sleek look, think about professional TV mounting. Getting your screen up on the wall not only frees up valuable floor space but also creates a smooth, integrated feel. Hiding those pesky cords inside the wall is the final touch that upgrades your entertainment area from cluttered to polished, letting your decor shine instead of your cables.

Smart Storage is Your Best Friend:

Clutter is the biggest enemy of an organized living room. The secret to winning this battle is making sure everything has its own designated spot. This doesn’t mean you need a giant wall unit. Instead, look for clever, multi-functional furniture.

An ottoman with a lid that lifts off can stash blankets, remotes, and magazines.

A coffee table with drawers or a lower shelf keeps surfaces clear.

Woven baskets are perfect for corralling kids’ toys or extra pillows.

Adding storage right into your existing furniture helps you keep essentials close by without them taking over the room. Even in smaller spaces, a little bit of professional organizer storage tips can make a huge difference in how open and airy the room feels.

Get Your Layout and Flow Right:

How you arrange your furniture really changes how the room feels and works. A common mistake is pushing all the furniture right up against the walls, which can make a space feel like a waiting room. Instead, try pulling your sofa and chairs a few inches away from the walls to give them some breathing room. Arrange seating so it encourages conversation, usually by having pieces face each other. Most importantly, make sure there are clear paths to walk through the room without bumping into things. This creates a natural flow and makes the space feel more welcoming.

Layer Your Lighting for Mood and Function:

Lighting often gets overlooked, but it’s important for creating a warm and relaxing living room. A single overhead light is rarely enough and can cast harsh shadows. A well-lit room should have layers of light from different sources.

Ambient Lighting: This is your general, overall light, often from a ceiling fixture or recessed lights.

Task Lighting: This is focused light for activities like reading, such as a floor lamp next to a chair.

Accent Lighting: This highlights specific features, like a piece of art or a plant.

Mixing these three types gives you the flexibility to change the room’s mood instantly, from bright and energetic for a party to soft and cozy for a quiet evening. Good living room organization rules often mean thinking about things like light and flow, not just physical objects.

By focusing on your purpose, smart storage, and good flow, you can turn your living room into a space that’s both beautiful and perfectly suited to your life. A little planning goes a long way in creating a home you truly love living in!

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