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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!

Sweetest Thing Ever!

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Sweetest Thing Ever!

Hello! The day of Johnny’s show this past weekend, we were just hanging around our apartment when he looked closely at my new nails. Then, he told me that they were the same color I had on during our first date – strawberry lemonade! Needless to say, my heart exploded into a million tiny pieces and I had to pinch myself that I actually have this guy as my husband.

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I can remember our first date very well but obviously not as well as Johnny. For example, I was so nervous that when I got to the Cashmere Cricket, I literally walked right by him without even noticing that he was there lol. Over drinks, we talked about anything and everything and had the best time and have been together almost every day since. Johnny, on the other hand, could tell you verbatim conversations that we had on our first date and it never fails to give me the warm fuzzies.

When Johnny told me his revelation about my fresh fill, my first thought was instantly that “I am the luckiest girl in the world”. And, secondly, I thought that no one should settle for anything less than this. And, believe you me, before I met Johnny I did a lot of settling when it came to relationships and I always wondered why I didn’t have the best results.

Every person deserves to be treated like royalty by their significant others and, despite always thinking this, I never let that rule apply to me. I, honestly, didn’t even know my own worth until I started seeing myself through Johnny’s eyes. We often get from our friends and complete strangers that we are “#relationshipgoals” and that is so sweet. However, we are just two people who are basically exactly alike who found each other at just the right time.

Prior to our first date we had both been unlucky in love and I had sworn off of dating until he Facebook messaged me asking if they made a pair of my Union Jack platforms in men’s. Now, there was a guy that I could talk to! We went out to the Cashmere Cricket that night and the rest is history. Every day I am reminded of how lucky I am to be married to such a stand up guy and his comment about my nails is a shining example. ❤

How did you and your SO meet? What makes you feel lucky? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Boyz In The Band

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Boyz In The Band

Hi! This past weekend, my darling husband’s band, The Outside Voices, had their final hurrah performance at Musica in Akron. It was a bittersweet showing for everyone involved but it was so nice to be surrounded by such great friends and family the entire night. In fact, tons of Johnny’s family who I haven’t met yet made the trip to see the show and that was awesome to finally be able to meet them! We also had several of our dear friends from Marietta come to the concert, which was also amazing. ❤

All of the guys in The Outside Voices performed so well and that is all that I wanted for them during their last show. But, bigger and better things are calling and Johnny already has lots of musical plans up his sleeve to tend to and that is really exciting! I can’t wait to see what he does next!

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^^^ Interested in hearing Johnny play? He is lead guitar!!

^^^ Kevin’s other band, The Buffalo Ryders, are one of my faves!!

Kevin (bass), Sam (drums), Jimmy (guitar), and Johnny are my sweetest boys and it has been an absolute pleasure to see them perform time and time again. When Johnny and I first started dating almost three years ago, we were with the band boyz constantly and they all feel like older brothers/besties to me now and that is so special to me. I am so proud of everything that they have accomplished together and can’t wait to hear all of their new projects on the horizon!

Who is your favorite local band? Can you play any instruments? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy Housewarming Gift

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Happy Housewarming Gift

Hello! My bestie, Lea, came by a couple of weeks ago to check out mine and Johnny’s new place. Even though it isn’t perfect yet, I was so excited for her to see it. I was also excited that Johnny would have his own room to hang out in where he could shut the door so we wouldn’t have to listen to his war documentaries lol. Oh, the perks of our new place!

Lea was so sweet and brought by a little housewarming gift and, I admit, I didn’t really know what to do with it at first:

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Lea got us a Turtle Vine for the new place and I have never owned a house plant before! In my old apartment, there wasn’t really a good place to put plants so I just never bothered. The great news, is that I haven’t killed my little Turtle Vine yet… In fact, it’s thriving! When Lea brought it over, the vines didn’t have any length to them at all and I can’t believe how much it has grown in a few short weeks.

My dad is the one with the green thumb in our family and I almost contemplated just having him care for it. But, I think I am doing alright! I love this plant’s soft leaves and the pot that it lives in is so pretty. Whenever Lea comes by, all she needs to do is bring herself and I’m happy so I was tickled by her thoughtfulness. I don’t think I’ll turn into a full on plant mom any time soon but, now, I wouldn’t be opposed to my Turtle Vine having a friend or two. 😀

The best housewarming gift that Johnny and I have is actually being able to host friends comfortably in our bigger apartment. However, this sweet prezzie from my best friend is a very close second! ❤

Do you have a green thumb? How many house plants do you have? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

JCPenney Style Couples Shoot

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JCPenney Style Couples Shoot

Hello!! The last time mine and Johnny’s dear friend, Shannon, came to visit he took some absolutely amazing shots of us. We were feeling very inspired by silly JCPenney style couples portraits and the end result is just perfect. Johnny and I can’t wait to get these pics printed and framed along with our wedding pictures that we haven’t bothered to do yet lol. Check it out:

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The last time Shannon came to see us from Marietta, he essentially brought a photo studio in a duffel bag with him and all of these shots were taken in the living room of our old apartment. He had so many different backdrops, equipment, and equipment hacks to make these pictures happen and Johnny and I couldn’t be more grateful. We had wanted to do a shoot like this for forever and it was definitely worth the wait!

I’m not going to lie to you guys, Johnny and I were pretty hungover when this photo shoot happened and I consider it a miracle that we were able to coax Johnny out of his bathrobe and into normal clothes lol. Our somewhat matching spooky sweaters were just right for posing with our sweet son, Sam, from Trick ‘R Treat and, of course, we had to include some White Claw in for good measure. Who could ask for anything more?

Despite the general ridiculousness of these pictures, they mean so much to us because Shannon took so much time and effort to make them happen. These shots truly showcase the quirky couple that is me and Johnny and we hope that all of you got as big of a kick of them as we did. Thanks again, Shannon – we love you!!! ❤

Do you have any funny couples shots of you and your significant other? What are they like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Yellow & Red Violet Nails

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New Yellow & Red Violet Nails

Hello! This past Thursday, I enjoyed a much needed fill at Elysian Nails after a long and stressful week. More like a long and stressful month, actually, with mine and Johnny’s big move! During my last fill, the weather in Ohio was still crap and was cold, rainy, and snowy. The winteresque weather inspired a more muted color combo for my claws but this time around, it has been warm and sunny! Summer style colors were a must and this is what I went with:

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I am very fond of the yellow and red violet color combo and have definitely used it before. I just think it’s so pretty and perfect to welcome beautiful weather with! I can’t help but to smile every time I look at them, especially paired with my fairly new tattoos on my hands that I love oh so very much. 😀

As always, the pampering from my nail tech at Elysian was fabulous but it was also very bittersweet. She is moving on to a new job and I am incredibly thankful that I got to see her one last time before her two weeks are up. I look forward to my monthly trips to Elysian as soon as I leave the salon. Of course, my nails look gorgeous every time but I am more excited to see my nail tech and catch up on the latest in our lives. She has truly become a dear friend and we already have plans for an Indian food dinner soon. I can’t wait!

My hair stylist, tattoo artist, and nail tech are some of my favorite people in the whole world and I am so proud to wear their work. Many thanks to all of them for keeping me looking my best. We’ll see what happens with a new to me nail tech next month!

Do you have a close relationship with your stylists? What color of nail polish do you have on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Moving On Up: Art Wall

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Moving On Up: Art Wall

Hello! This past Wednesday, I was hanging out at home while Johnny was at band practice and wanted to spend the evening relaxing instead of unpacking. That changed tunes pretty quickly, though, because of an unfortunate mishap with the video game I was playing. Basically, I accidentally loaded a previous save point and everything I did after that point got deleted. I was SO upset!!

Rather than wallow in my frustration, I decided to get started on a new unpacking project: Creating an art wall. It’s looking very nice so far, if I do say so myself:

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^^^ There’s still a ways to go but it’s getting there!

Between an endless supply of paintings from Goodwill, crafts with my bestie, and Johnny’s own artwork collection, I had a lot to work with for my art wall. This was a project that I had wanted to do in my old apartment and just never got around to finishing it… Probably because I never bought more Command strips to hang the paintings with lol. Johnny had actually bought several packs of them during his last trip to Walmart, which is how this first go at the art wall was possible.

The end result will have artwork hanging up all the way along the stairs and it is going to look so cool! I’m really happy with how it’s looking so far, though, and it was the perfect project to sink my teeth into after an epic gaming failure. The concentration it took to hang everything just so definitely kept my mind off of three hours of Paper Mario getting lost in oblivion!

Progress with unpacking has been pretty good but it has slowed down because we need more shelving for a lot of the remainders. In fact, I was feeling a bit down about it and this project helped perk me up and kicked my motivation back into high gear – especially with our housewarming/birthaversary party right around the corner. 😀

Although my project isn’t complete yet, I can already picture the end result and I can’t wait to show all of you. This is how I always wanted the staircase in my old apartment to look and it feels good for that vision to finally come to life!

What have you been crafting lately? Have you been working on any home decor projects? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Housewarming Party Pro Tips

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Housewarming Party Pro Tips

Hello! Johnny and I have been working hard to get our new apartment in order after our big move with a housewarming/birthaversary party as our goal at the end of the month. With the party in mind, it has encouraged us to pick up the pace with our unpacking to get our place in as good of order as we can for when our guests show up. Here are some of my pro tips to help you prepare for a housewarming party that I have been following closely:

Preparing The Home:

Moving is incredibly stressful and a big bash afterwards is the best reward! While your new digs don’t have to be completely perfect, there are some things that need to be in order before your party:

Make use of closet space: Some things simply can’t be unpacked yet due to needing additional furniture, which is definitely the case for me and Johnny. Make good use of your closet space and place these items accordingly so they’re not taking up room around the house. Out of sight, out of mind!

Get rid of packing supplies: One thing that is taking up lots of room in our new apartment is empty boxes! Do not fall for the trap of “I might need them eventually” because I promise you will be able to acquire more. Post on social media if anyone else might need them or get them to your nearest recycling center. I am lucky enough that one of my best friends is moving so she is getting all of our packing supplies as we continue to unpack.

Have plenty of seating areas: As I said before, the place doesn’t need to be just right for your party and things can be stowed away for the time being in rooms that guests won’t be in, like bedrooms or offices. However, plenty of seating areas is a must for your guests. Arrange your chairs and couches so everyone has a comfortable place to be.

Invites:

I sent out a Facebook invite well in advance so that I know how much food I will have to prepare and order (Which we will discuss more in the next header). In the invites, I let our guests know that in the afternoon, it will be mainly family coming by and if you want to rage, then arrive in the evening. That way, your invitees will know which time slot better applies to them.

Food & Drinks:

While you don’t need a ten course meal for your party, food and drinks are an obvious must. I have been scouring Pinterest for yummy dips and finger foods to make and then Johnny and I will just order a couple of pizzas. As far as drinks go, do make sure you have nonalcoholic options too if you plan on having booze. Mocktails, pop, water, and juice are a necessity if you have friends and family who don’t indulge in the drink! I plan on making up some mocktails as well as a party punch for the guests who are so inclined.

Entertainment:

Parties where everyone sits around and talks are fine but everyone likes games! Have an area with some table top or video games set up for your guests to play. Classic games are sure to go over well like Uno, Catch Phrase, or the Five Second Rule. If you have games that others haven’t heard of, just make sure you’re around to explain the rules to make the gaming experience more fun. And, of course, don’t forget to have some great music playing but not too loudly!

Our party has Johnny and I working double time after our move and I am so not mad about it. The place is looking wonderful and I can’t wait to celebrate! 😀

What are some of your party planning pro tips? How did you reward yourself after a big move or life event? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

What Have We Been Up To?

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What Have We Been Up To?

Hello! Johnny and I have been diligently unpacking away after our big move at the end of April. While that has taken up a majority of our free time, we have still been enjoying ourselves and making time for fun things too. And, yes, part of the fun has shockingly come from the unpacking process itself – which I never thought I would say!

Unpacking:

Actually… Let me rephrase that… It’s not so much the unpacking that’s fun rather than all of the opportunities that come with it. Johnny moved into my apartment so there wasn’t much for us to decide on when it came to furniture placement and decorating together. Now, however, with much more room, it has been nice to come up with our apartment layout as a team.

For example, we have a little nook under our staircase that we decided would be perfect for bookshelves to house our massive collection. When I got home from work, it was a huge surprise because Johnny assembled and filled the new shelves while I was gone. This opened up considerable space having the shelves neatly tucked away and we were able to have a lot more options when it comes to placement of other furniture. It looks so nice!

Another fun part about the unpacking process is that we have a goal in mind: A housewarming/birthaversary party. We can’t wait to welcome friends and family into our new place at the end of the month to celebrate all kinds of big events: Our move, Johnny’s birthday, my birthday, and our one year wedding anniversary. I’m so excited! 😀

Entertainment:

Because of having a functional AC unit in our new apartment, it has become the place to chill both literally and metaphorically. We have been having a blast relaxing in a comfortable climate and watching all kinds of good movies and TV. We are currently binging The Man In The High Castle, which is absolutely EXCELLENT. We have also been enjoying lots of movies including The Imitation Game (One of my faves!), Schindler’s List, Indiana Jones, and Role Models (Both of our faves!).

Of course, this was something that we would have done at our old place regardless of the extreme heat. Actually feeling cold and snuggling up with blankets is a brand new sensation to us, though, and we still can’t get over the novelty of it!

Out & About:

Actual spring weather is finally here with some summer like temps peppered in for good measure. We have been making the most of it with outings in downtown Cuyahoga Falls, at hiking trails with my family, game nights with friends, and meeting our new neighbors. It was easy to stay cuddled up at home with the snowy and rainy days last month. But, there is no excuse now that the weather is nice out and we have been trying to have outings together at least once a week.

It has been an exciting and jam packed few weeks for us and I have been enjoying every minute of it… I’ll enjoy it even more, though, when we are fully unpacked and celebrating at our party!

What have you been up to? What are you currently binge watching? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A Night At The Theater OOTD Pt. 3

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A Night At The Theater OOTD Pt. 3

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Today, we are going to be taking a look at my look for an evening at Playhouse Square this past weekend. My mom and I had a night on the town for Mother’s Day and it was so much fun! We stepped out in our Saturday night’s best for a delicious meal at Pepper’s and seeing To Kill A Mockingbird at Playhouse Square. Here’s what I wore:

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Who? What? Wear?

I’m not going to lie, I struggled a bit with creating this OOTD and it was thrown together about fifteen minutes before I left to pick up my mom. The original dress I had on just wasn’t doing anything for me and while it was pretty, it didn’t blow me away. I had toyed around with the idea of wearing Johnny’s blinged out button down the night before and am so happy that I went for it. The end result is definitely an outfit that I would wear again!

Playhouse Square is, honestly, one of the fanciest locations that I have ever been to and it’s fun to go there and see everyone dressed to the nines. This is actually why I vetoed this look at first because I wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of wearing jeans. With a little styling magic, I ended up with what I thought was a very chic look and apparently everyone else thought so too – I was getting compliments all night. 😀

With Johnny’s shirt in mind that I had been coveting since he got it, I went from there. The button down from Phix felt like an accessory in itself with shining glittery stars so I wanted that to be the main statement of my look. To achieve that, I kept things simple and put on one of my favorite cami tops from French Rooster. Note that I didn’t add a necklace to keep from going overboard with the accessories and it was just right. The button down really didn’t need much!

The Seven Jeans that I wore were an obvious choice because they are coated and provided sheen to help compliment the glitter. And, in just the right lighting, you could see the snakeskin pattern really well and that made my Nine West purse pop even if its an all neutral color palette. The higher rise on the jeans gave a nice long leg line which helped make the look even more sleek.

My Forever 21 platforms were also a no brainer for my OOTD and they are one of my most treasured pairs of shoes. I love them SO. Freaking. Much. The red and gold flames on the heels gave an actual pop of color and the boot platform base blended seamlessly with the rest of the look. This enhanced the leg line and I felt six feet tall instead of barely over five foot one.

I am the queen of overthinking and that is exactly what I was doing before putting this outfit together. When, really, I should have just worn it from the start. This OOTD is very much inspired by my husband’s style with my own personal twist to it and I felt like a rock star all evening. I think that I’ll be raiding Johnny’s wardrobe a lot more often! ❤

What do you like to wear to dress up? Whose style inspires you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Taking Care Of Yourself Post Pregnancy

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Taking Care Of Yourself Post Pregnancy

After nine months of pregnancy and the exhausting journey of childbirth, it’s important to take care of yourself too. You need to heal your body, which will usually take about six weeks. And you also need to recover from all of that emotional chaos both during and after pregnancy, which can be a bit more complicated.

This postpartum period is vital for your health and well being and for your baby’s health. It’s a time to focus on you and your needs. So in this blog post, we’ll share some tips on how to take care of yourself after pregnancy. But first, let’s talk a bit more about what to expect during this postpartum period:

What Happens During the Postpartum?

During the postpartum period, you will experience many changes in your body. You will likely be tired and may have trouble sleeping. You may also have mood swings and feel overwhelmed. All of these are normal reactions to the stress of pregnancy and childbirth.

Your body is going through a lot of changes, too. Your hormone levels will drop, which can cause you to feel moody or anxious. You may also have trouble with your digestion and may experience constipation or diarrhea. It’s essential to listen to your body during this time and to take things easy. Try not to do too much at once and give yourself time to rest and recover. You can also experience postpartum hair loss, which is normal and usually temporary, but if the problem persists, you should consult a female hair loss clinic.

Let’s check out some more tips:

Get Enough Sleep:

This one is easier said than done, especially if you have a newborn at home. But it’s important to get as much sleep as you can. Try taking naps when your baby naps and go to bed early if possible. If you can’t seem to get enough sleep, talk to your doctor about it.

Eat Healthy Foods:

You need to fuel your body with healthy foods so that you can have the energy you need to take care of yourself and your baby. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. And make sure to drink plenty of water.

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Exercise:

Exercise is important for your physical and mental health. It can help you to lose pregnancy weight, improve your mood, and give you more energy. Start with gentle exercises and build up as you feel able.

Take Time for Yourself:

It’s essential to take time for yourself, even if it’s just a few minutes each day. Do something that you enjoy, and that makes you feel good. This can be anything from reading a book to taking a bath.

Get Outside:

The most important thing we always tell people to do for themselves after pregnancy is to get outside. Fresh air and exposure to sunlight do wonders for a moody atmosphere.

Connect with Other Parents:

One of the best things you can do for yourself after pregnancy is to connect with other parents. Meeting other parents can give you a sense of community and support. It can also be a great way to learn about parenting and get advice from others who have been there.

See Your Doctor:

It’s essential to see your doctor for a postpartum check-up six weeks after you have your baby. This is an excellent time to talk about any concerns you have and to get help if you need it.

Get Help with Housework:

If you can, get help with housework and childcare. This will give you more time to take care of yourself. If you can’t get help with the cleaning, try to do a little bit each day and take breaks when you need them.

Join a Support Group:

If you’re struggling with your postpartum emotions, consider joining a support group. This can be a great way to connect with other parents and get the support you need.

Seek Professional Help:

It is estimated that one in seven women experience postpartum depression. If you feel depressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, seek professional help. This is nothing to be ashamed of, and getting help can make a big difference.

Bonus Tip: Don’t forget to pamper yourself every now and then! Get a massage, have your nails done, or just treat yourself to something special. You deserve it! If you are looking for the ultimate treat after your pregnancy, you might want to consider a mommy makeover to get your body back to pre-baby status. This is especially worthwhile if you are struggling with the changes in your body since giving birth. To get started, simply enter a search for “mommy makeover Toronto” (or your local area) to schedule a consultation. This can provide a huge boost to your self esteem and there is no shame in seeking improvements for yourself postpartum.

Congratulations on your new addition! After nine months of carrying a little life inside you, it’s essential to take care of yourself as you begin this new journey. Following these tips will help get you started on the right foot. Remember that taking care of yourself is not only good for you but also for your baby. Enjoy this special time and take care of yourself!