Author Archives: lifewithlilred

About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!

May19

Britney Spears Monopoly

Posted on May 19, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Hello!! Mother’s Day was this past Sunday and another fabulous mom that was celebrated was my sister, Kristen. She is the mom to my two darling nieces, Valerie and Raya, and is absolutely amazing! Having a sister is having a built in best friend and Kristen will always be my A1 bestie. Normally for Mother’s Day, I get Kristen a Starbucks gift card to keep her caffeinated during her crazy busy days, but this year was different. While visiting my loved one at the Cleveland Clinic with Johnny, I saw Britney Spears Monopoly displayed in the gift shop and I couldn’t pass it up! Kristen is The Queen of Pop’s number one fan and I knew that the Monopoly board would make a wonderful addition to her merch collection. Check it out:

Once Johnny and I returned home from Cleveland, we decided that it wouldn’t hurt to give Britney Spears Monopoly a test run. We have Legend of Zelda Monopoly, but we wanted to play with the shiny new toy lol. Of course, every Monopoly board is the same thing, but I think the Britney Spears one might be my all time favorite version. I, too, am a huge Britney fan and have many a fond memory of sing alongs to the queen with my sis. A board entirely dedicated to all of our favorite songs was just perfect and it was a blast to play – especially while Johnny was DJ and playing all 90s hits!

Because of our current schedules, it can be hard for Kristen and I to commit to plans. However, it was my lucky day this past week because we both happened to be at our parents’ house at the same time. I didn’t have her gift on me, but my apartment is not even five minutes away so we went there together for the grand reveal. Kristen literally gasped when I presented her with her Mother’s Day gift and it was exactly the reaction I was hoping for. And, as one Britney fan to another, she completely understood why Johnny and I had to play it first haha. 🙂

If Britney reigns supreme in your world, then you absolutely have to invest in this Monopoly board! It is such an awesome collector’s item and you will clutch your pearls when you see it too. In fact, Johnny and I had so much fun playing it that we are thinking of buying a copy for ourselves! 😀

Who is your favorite pop singer? 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

May18

Nothing To Write? Have Some Prompts!

Posted on May 18, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! After publishing my Content Creating 101 post, I received lots of questions asking how I come up with daily content for lifewithlilred. There are a few answers that immediately come to mind, but the first and foremost is that I love to write. I always have and even though I hated school, I never minded when writing papers was the assignment. I like to consider writing as something that I am good at and it makes me feel good when I do it; So, I just go for it! Writing brings me joy so, in that regard, it is very easy for me to find inspiration for content because everything makes me want to write lol.

Although daily content is on lifewithlilred, that doesn’t mean that I don’t get writer’s block too. I swear, some mornings I sit here for twenty or so minutes struggling to get a post started. Writer’s block happens to the best of us, but it’s still annoying AF! If you weren’t aware, WordPress now offers daily writing prompts. However, if you are looking to knock out some posts of your own quickly, I thought I’d provide some of my own too. Let’s get started:

Summer Plans:

What are your goals this summer? I actually just recently wrote about this!
What was the best summer vacation you ever took?
What is your dream summer vacation?
Describe your perfect summer day.
Summertime recipes or party tips? Bring it on!

All About You:

What were you like when you were little? Favorite games, toys, foods?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
What are your favorite things? What brings you joy?
What is your favorite thing about yourself?
What is your go to thing on a lazy day? Comfort shows and comfort food, perhaps? Oh wait, no – that’s me lol.

Hobbies:

What is a project you completed that you are proud of?
What is your favorite medium of art to work with?
How do you express your personality with your hobby? Shopping is my favorite hobby and I express mine through my clothes!
How did you get interested in your hobby? Who taught you?
Did your hobby come easily to you or did you struggle to get started?

Just For Funsies:

What is something that always makes you laugh? For me, that’s easy! The movie Step Brothers, of course!
What is your biggest pet peeve?
What is an adorable thing that your children or pets do? I simply can’t stand it when Melvin and Penelope are snuggling!
What is something new that you want to try?
What happened on the best day you have ever had?

There are twenty ideas above to help get you started and kick writer’s blocks’ stupid butt! Make sure you tag me in the post if you use any of these prompts because I would love to read them. And, if this was helpful to you and you would like more prompt posts, let me know!

What do you love about writing? What is something that you struggle with when you are writing? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: Always remember, that anything that you want to write is important. If you think something is worthy to write about, then it is! ❤

May17

May Flowers

Posted on May 17, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past week when I got to my parents’ house after work, I found my dad in the backyard preparing his raised planters for spring flowers. It was a gorgeous day outside and it was going to rain that night, making for the perfect conditions to plant. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bask in the sunshine and spend some quality time with my dad and even though I was dog tired, I offered my assistance which he happily accepted. We spent a glorious hour or so together creating beauty and I am so pleased with our handiwork. Check it out:

Ever since I can remember, my dad has been an avid gardener and all spring, summer, and fall long you can catch him outside tending to the yard. During the warm months, we enjoy the bounty of his vegetable garden and the bouquets he makes weekly for my mom. Not only does he have two green thumbs, but he is also a very gifted flower arranger and his bouquets are stunning. Last year, his veggie garden went into overdrive with hauls so big we simply didn’t know what to do with everything. So, he decided flowers were the way to go this summer since all of our lives are crazy at this current juncture.

When I was younger, I loved to help in the garden and as I grew up, I tried to help as much as I could with planting and upkeep. It had been a while since I gardened and I forgot how much fun it was! Seriously, all of it was a blast from donning ridiculous gardening gloves, handling the delicate flowers, and cleaning up the dirt that got on us with the garden hose. And, of course, doing it all side by side with my dad. For the past few months, the time we have spent together is almost always driving to the Cleveland Clinic, so it was SO awesome to be able to do something with him for the joy of it.

Our garden day was the first time I had spent a considerable amount of time outside in so long. It only recently got nice out in Ohio and the previous weather had been absolute garbage. Being outside, soaking up the sun, and making something grow was just what I needed. Once we returned inside, I wanted to go back out again to plant more and I found myself thinking that I would like more house plants when I got to my apartment. I might just have a green thumb yet!

My dad has now started to plan his garden projects with my help in mind and I am more than up for the task. In fact, we will be planting flower seeds later this week. I can’t wait! 🙂

What is your favorite outdoor activity? What do you and your parents do to spend quality time together? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May16

Updated Vegetarian Cheesy Gordita Crunches

Posted on May 16, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Updated Vegetarian Cheesy Gordita Crunches

Hello!! Last year, I began making vegetarian cheesy gordita crunches as an homage to my beloved Taco Bell. It has become a staple in mine and Johnny’s dinner arsenal ever since, which is fine by me because they are so yummy and crazy easy to make. Also, can we talk about how freaking expensive Taco Bell is now? What used to be a constant in my life has quickly become an every once in a while thing because of it. While it saddens me deeply, I have upgraded my at home gordita game quite a bit and truly consider it to be a Taco Bell taste alike. Check it out:

^^^ Note that Taco Bell doesn’t use sour cream on their gorditas. I love it though and the Daisy sour cream squeeze bottle is perfect for tacos!

Although I miss TBell something fierce, I do find comfort in the fact that some of their products are available in grocery stores like the taco seasoning and Baja sauce. It takes the edge off, but only slightly lol. I have already been using both of these when making my gordita crunches and the real game changer happened when I discovered Old El Paso made nacho cheese shells. My mind was blown during my last curbside order and so was Johnny’s! The nacho cheese cheesy gordita crunch is his go to order at Taco Bell. 🙂

When I made this dish last week, it was definitely the best ever. I love to cook, but I have never made anything that I considered to be even remotely close to a restaurant or fast food chain before. What made it even better was how simple it was to make. This dinner took under a half hour to prepare with minimal work involved. All I did was make the taco meat for Johnny, heat up vegetarian refried beans for me, and melt cheese lol. This is a meal that I am so fine cooking regardless of how busy my day is and the leftovers turn into more easy peasy dinners throughout the week. You can’t beat that!

With some upgraded ingredients, I was able to invoke the taste of Taco Bell from the comfort of my own kitchen. Even if the prices of TBell went down, I will absolutely still be making my taste alike cheesy gordita crunches at home! 😀

Do you have any restaurant or fast food taste alike recipes? What is your favorite dinner to cook? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May15

Happy Dance Look Alive Face Moisturizer + CBD Review

Posted on May 15, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Happy Dance Look Alive Face Moisturizer + CBD Review

Hello! During my last shopping trip to TJMaxx, I was in desperate need of a restock to my beauty care hoard and returned with a huge haul. I got several products from new to me brands, one of which being a moisturizer with 150 MG CBD by Happy Dance. I have been using it for the past three weeks or so morning and night and I am obsessed with it!! It is, hands down, one of the best moisturizers that I have used in a long time and I am keeping my fingers crossed to find it again at TJs. Let’s discuss further:

Although I have always been interested in CBD infused products, I have shied away from them because a CBD serum that I tried didn’t react well with my skin. That was a few years ago, though, and I figured that it wouldn’t hurt to try a moisturizer out, instead. TJMaxx rarely carries CBD beauty products so I had to take advantage of the opportunity at hand. It was also very hard to say no to the adorable brand name Happy Dance and the bright, poppy yellow and purple packaging!

I was eager to try this moisturizer out right away and I did because I was completely out of the Bellyssima one I was using. My first experience with the Happy Dance moisturizer was at night and it was a unique one. This moisturizer has little to no scent and an interesting texture. It’s balmy to the point of being waxy, which is way different than anything I have ever used before. I was concerned that it wouldn’t apply or absorb well, but that was far from the case! When I began rubbing it in, it felt so rich and creamy – not what I was expecting at all.

As soon as the moisturizer was applied and began sinking in, I felt so soothed and calm. It is often hard for me to turn my brain off come bedtime and as soon as this product began working its magic, I was ready to fall asleep right away! It was awesome and just what I needed to relax more fully before drifting off. When I woke up the next morning, my skin felt incredibly soft and nourished. However, I was a bit worried that the moisturizer would just make me tired during my morning skin care routine. Happily, that was far from the case too!

While this moisturizer helped me doze at night, it was so invigorating in the morning. It was like using an entirely different product. I am in a constant state of tired when I am completing my morning routine and the Happy Dance moisturizer definitely perked me up. I wouldn’t say it had the effects of drinking a cup of coffee, it was more like being in a decent mood and feeling ready to take on the day. Hey, I’ll take it. 😀

The Look Alive moisturizer doesn’t just soothe and awaken, but it really works wonders as a moisturizer itself. I love the way my skin looks and feels with each use. My skin feels so unbelievably hydrated, looks way more supple, and I really like the matte finish it leaves. A little of this product also goes a very long way to cover your entire face and neck. At ten dollars for the jar, I thought I was splurging on this moisturizer. Now, I feel like I got it for a steal. Yeah, it’s that good!

I cannot recommend the Happy Dance Look Alive Moisturizer + CBD enough. It is a great product to start with if you would like to begin using CBD infused skin care. Just make sure you get a jar for yours truly too! 🙂

Have you used CBD infused skin care before? What are your thoughts on it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May14

Happy Mother’s Day!!!!

Posted on May 14, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and Happy Mother’s Day!!!! Today, we celebrate all of the amazing moms around the world and I like to think of this as my first Mother’s Day now that I have Melvin and Penelope lol. Hey, they are the closest thing Johnny and I will ever get to having kids! Of course, the real star of the day is my wonderful, beautiful, fantastic, strong, hilarious, and every good adjective that I can think of mom. ❤

My mom is my ride or die, A1 bestie. I am literally obsessed with her and we are typically in constant contact throughout the day because she shares the same sentiments about yours truly. We end up missing each other as soon as I leave the room or hang up the phone! My mom is a true class act and handles every difficulty life hands her with the utmost strength, grace, and resilience. She is a fighter, warrior, and the best mom; being her daughter is an absolute gift and I feel proud of that every single minute of every day. I love her so much I can hardly stand it! ❤

I would not be the person, friend, wife, and business owner that you all know and love without my mom guiding, supporting, and cheering me on every step of the way. We are each other’s own personal cheerleaders and I always know who to go to when I have exciting news, need a kind word, or just want to chat about nothing. The bond I share with my mom is something that I am eternally grateful for and I wish I could shrink her cute little self and carry her around in my pocket all day. Lol, is that weird? 😀

My mom deserves to be celebrated every day and I cannot wait to create more memories with my partner in crime by my side. Happy Mother’s Day to all of you and I love you, mom, more than words can say!

What is something special about your mom? What is your favorite memory with your mom? MOMS!! I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May13

Simple Dinner: Homemade French Bread Pizza

Posted on May 13, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Simple Dinner: Homemade French Bread Pizza

Hello! My life is pretty crazy at the moment and it can be hard to find the time and energy to do much of anything once I return home for the day. One thing that always makes me feel good no matter how tired I am, though, is cooking dinner when I can. Earlier in the week, Johnny and I put in a curbside shopping order filled with all of our essentials and ingredients for me to make meals with. As soon as all of our groceries were put away, I got to work making homemade French bread pizzas as I wanted to use the loaf of bread we got at its freshest. They turned out SO good!

The cheese doesn’t look as melted as it actually was in these pictures and I will definitely keep them in the oven longer the next time around. I just didn’t want the pizzas to burn because I accidentally broiled them a bit too long in the first step. That was my bad because I actually should have baked it instead of broiled lol WHOOPS! Check it out:

Ingredients:

1 loaf of French bread

Pizza sauce

Shredded mozzarella cheese

Butter

Garlic powder

Toppings

Step One: When I made jalapeno popper bread, I learned from the recipe to bake the bread with a melted butter and garlic powder spread to keep it from getting too hard. This was very effective and it kept the inside of the French bread soft and the outside nice and crisp. And, I repeat, BAKE not broil lol smh.

Step Two: Once the bread was taken out of the oven, I added pizza sauce, pepperoni for Johnny, and cheese, then put it back in the oven again to bake. Because of the broil catastrophe, I was monitoring my creation pretty closely and made the executive decision to take them out early. The cheese could have melted more, but it was an overall great first try!

Step Three: Enjoy!

This was such an easy and yummy dinner to make and was a fun twist on regular old pizza night. I really enjoyed my cheese French bread pizza and I know that Johnny loved his pepperoni ones because he asked me to make it again as soon as he was done eating. This is the best stamp of approval of all because my sweet husband is a fairly picky eater! I kept things simple in terms of toppings, but next time French bread pizza is on the menu, I will add some green pepper and red onion to mine; My favorite!

What is your favorite pizza topping? What is your go to simple dinner to make? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May12

Tips & Tricks To Make The Most Of A Small Home

Posted on May 12, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Tips & Tricks To Make The Most Of A Small Home

Are you ready to embrace the cozy and charming lifestyle of small space living? Downsizing to a smaller home can be a liberating experience, allowing you to simplify your life and focus on what truly matters. However, moving to a smaller home can also be overwhelming, especially if you’re used to a larger living space. That’s why we’re here to share some creative tips and tricks for making the most of your new home:

Get Rid Of Clutter:

Decluttering is an art form when it comes to small space living. The key to success is to get rid of anything that you don’t absolutely need – this includes clothes, books, furniture, and knick knacks. So what should you do with all of these things? You can either donate them to the less fortunate, plan a garage sale, or hire Junk removal to take them away for you.

Invest In Unique Storage Solutions:

Living in a smaller home requires thinking outside of the box when it comes to storage. One idea is to buy a bookshelf that also serves as a room divider or use floating shelves to free up floor space. Another option is to use an ottoman or bench that provides seating and storage space.

Maximize Wall Space:

Take advantage of vertical space! There is no need for a blank white wall. Hang artwork, use peg boards for kitchen utensils or tools, and even turn your spare wall space into a mini library. Storage options can truly start from the ground up.

Utilize Multi-Functional Furniture:

Multi-functional furniture is like having a mini-transformer in your home. It can turn into something entirely different with just the flick of a switch. This type of furniture is great for small spaces because it gives you more bang for your buck and helps save space. Examples of multi-functional furniture include a foldaway bed or a Murphy’s desk.

Play With Natural Light:

The sun is your best friend when it comes to making small spaces look bigger. Let as much natural light in as possible by taking advantage of large windows and skylights, and opt for lighter colors on your walls.

Don’t Forget The Outdoor Space:

No matter how small of a space you have, make sure to take advantage of the great outdoors. You can use your patio or balcony for extra seating and storage or to grow a small potted garden with herbs and vegetables.

With these tips and tricks, you will find yourself falling in love with your cozy new home. All it takes is a bit of creativity!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

May12

New Watermelon Nails

Posted on May 12, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! This past Wednesday, I was lucky enough to get an appointment first thing in the morning at Elysian Nails for a fill. It was a bit of a time crunch appointment because I needed to be at work very shortly after, but my amazing tech, Mary, made it work! While I always prefer an afternoon time slot to get the full relaxation effect of being at the salon, this speedy session was just what I needed to put some pep back in my step. My nails were looking SO jank and they are now absolutely perfect! Check it out:

^^^ Lol, precious Archie decided he wanted to show off his “talons” too! Cutest thing ever!

With the weather finally heating up in Akron, sweet summertime has been weighing heavily on my mind. So, I chose a color palette in honor of my favorite summer treat: watermelon! There is nothing better on a hot day and just thinking about it makes my mouth water! At the nail polish wall, I selected a pretty glittery pink and a bright and poppy kiwi green. I couldn’t find a glitter shade of green that spoke to me, but I did find a white and green glitter top coat and it worked out even better than I imagined. This is one of my favorite color combos yet!

Once my polish was selected, I let Mary know that I had to leave by eleven and she freaking DELIVERED. Mary has done my nails several times in the past and she has become my new go to girl since my old go to girl got a new job. She blew me away during this fill and, despite her speed, the quality of work was not sacrificed in the slightest. My nails are sturdy, sharp, and shaped to complete perfection. We were also chatting away the entire time which makes this session even more impressive to me. She is the best and I cannot wait for my appointment with her the day after my birthday in June. 😀

My high speed fill at Elysian Nails got me back to feeling myself as I have been feeling so blah as of late. I can’t help but smile every time I look at my watermelon claws and am looking forward to a more leisurely birthday fill soon!

What color of nail polish are you rocking? What is your favorite summertime treat? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May11

Summer Elder Emo OOTD Bloopers

Posted on May 11, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Summer Elder Emo OOTD! I don’t know about all of you, but I am SO ready for summer! What is it about this time of year that just makes you want to quit your job and lounge by the pool for three months straight? Lol, the weather for the past month in Ohio has been absolute crap and it has finally warmed up this week, making me so ready for some fun in the sun. And fun from OOTD bloopers, of course! Let’s check them out:

Something STANK!

Wait, you’re taking my picture?? 😮

That face you make when your bracelet gets caught on your top

The end result of a pretty epic hair flip

Wait, you’re taking my picture AGAIN?! 😮

My I’m not mad, just disappointed face

LOL wtf is this!

Lil Red, coming to an apartment complex balcony near you!

For our post blooper commentary, let’s chat a bit about comfort shows. We all have those few series that we know by heart, but they still hit just as hard every time you put it on! Mine and Johnny’s are Seinfeld, The Office, Parks & Rec, and Superstore. However, our lineup has changed up because we have become die hard fans of The Kroll Show. We started watching this three season series in mid April and are already on our third viewing of it. Every time the show ends, we simply start it over again!

With everything going on in Lil Red’s world, I need a laugh as often as I can and The Kroll Show delivers every time. It is a sketch show created by Nick Kroll and features all of his pals including John Mulaney, Jenny Slate, Jon Daly, and Andy Milonakis just to name a few. Every character in the sketches are absolutely ridiculous, the music is hilarious, and we can’t stop watching it to save our own lives. Johnny and I are obsessed with Dr. Armond, Pawnslyvania, and you can’t forget Publizity. In barely a month, it has become our most quoted show and whenever we come home, we tell each other which earworm was stuck in our heads for the day. In my case, it is almost always the love song Dr Armond’s wife made for him. Total bop. 😀

Laughter can truly be the best medicine of all, which is why the blooper reels have become a staple here on lifewithlilred. It also might be why we have watched the exact same show three times in a row too! Johnny and I have fallen away from our normal horror and true crime amidst our current hardship and our comfort shows have taken over. If you are having a bad day, put on your go to show and enjoy – it will do you a world of good!

What is your favorite comfort show? What is your favorite Kroll Show sketch? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: For John Mulaney fans, his new stand up show on Netflix, Baby J, was a HOOT!

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