Author Archives: lifewithlilred

Unknown's avatar

About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
Jan27

Planning The Ultimate Game Night With Your Friends

Posted on by
Standard
Planning The Ultimate Game Night With Your Friends

Hi! The weather in Akron, Ohio is currently snowy and freezing which ultimately makes going out a real drag. Believe me, I love nothing more than being out and about with my boyfriend and friends. However, it’s a hard pass when I need thirteen layers on to stay warm! This cold existence has left all of us stranded in our homes, riddled with the desire to still do something while remaining on the couch the whole time.

Cue: A game night

This past month, I have participated in so many game nights, I have lost track. Am I mad about it? No! Quite the opposite, actually. You know why? Because I prefer something like this to going to the bar any day of the week. In this post, we’re going to discuss the makings of a perfect game night for you and your friends to enjoy:

Location:

The host of the game night should reside in a good central location from all of the guests if they have enough room for such tom foolery. You might not want to be Keeper Of The Games in your studio apartment! Make sure there is enough space for everyone to spread out comfortably and I do mean comfortably because no one wants to sit on a threadbare couch! If your place is small, you might not have the room for a full on casino experience if you are planning a poker or blackjack night. That’s okay! Websites like mawinbet offer games like slot machines or sports themed experiences that can be played right from your phone. No trip to the casino or squeezing oversized card tables into your living room required!

Snacks:

Snacks are a crucial part of the game night and the responsibility can be divided up pretty evenly among your group. Everyone could throw in money for pizza, share a snack of their own, or a potluck style meal could be what suits you guys best. Either way, it shouldn’t be up to one person to provide all of the snacks for your evening.

Drinks:

Does your group of friends enjoy drinking? Great. Everyone can bring some beer or a bottle of wine. Does your group of friends not enjoy drinking? Great. Everyone can bring some pop, juice, or you can make mocktails. All I know is, you can’t be snacking on salty treats without something to wash it down with!

Games:

The games for the event is definitely something that should be discussed beforehand amongst your group. Is it a video gaming night? Classic board games? How about a murder mystery night? You could even play games that pay cash so you can fund your next get together! This is all important to know ahead of time so everyone knows what to bring or how they should dress.

Normally, my game nights include a little bit of everything from video games and cards to trivial pursuit and dice. You might even include some Spinni Casino in there if you want to make that part of the experience. You can stick with a theme and alternate weekly or draw different games from a hat. Just make sure that everyone who has a game that they would like to play gets that opportunity at some point.

Game nights are an amazing way to spend time with your friends while saving money that would otherwise be spent at the bar or restaurant. Make your events a weekly or monthly thing and watch your friend group grow even more tight-knit through the bond of good old fashioned fun!

What are your favorite games to play? What are some of your tips for the ultimate game night? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan26

Francesca’s Haul

Posted on by
Standard
Francesca’s Haul

Hello, hello! To finish out this little Mall Haul series, we are going to discuss a darling Jun & Ivy skirt and a headband that I got for Valentine’s Day from Francesca’s. On lifewithlilred, V-Day always means a fun photo shoot to show ya’ll how to dress girly sweet while still incorporating your personal style on the holiday of romance. And, since I’m in a relationship, I also needed a little something something to sport on my date night with my boyfriend as well as the photo shoot. Here’s a sneak peek of some of what I’ll be wearing compliments of Francesca’s:

franfran1fran2fran3fran4fran5

When it comes to styling for Valentine’s Day, I always try to incorporate a bit of a rocker edge, because I consider that to be my signature style. So, I was definitely happy to have found a cute and cheeky skirt for V-Day without it being in pink! During my trip to the mall, I didn’t want to go for anything too obvious but the lipstick kisses and red hearts against the black background of my Jun & Ivy skirt sold me.

The best part, though? The shape! This skirt is cinched around the waist with elastic, runs tighter down the thigh, and flounces out at the bottom. The effect? An hourglass silhouette which screams sex appeal while still being oh so sweet thanks to the movement at the bottom. When I first saw this skirt on the hanger, I thought it was a true skater skirt, but it is so much more than that. The unique designing takes it over the edge from just being “cute”, which is what I wanted to avoid.

And, of course, you aren’t complete for a V-Day OOTD without some accessories! To me, nothing beats sporting pearls on Valentine’s Day. They are timeless while still being daring because it takes a lot to pull off such classic simplicity. When I saw my pearl adorned headband, I was in love. I knew that it would tie together the vision that I had in my head while styling for my upcoming photo shoot and date night. But, never mind that, because this headband will be a perfect add on accessory to any look!

How will I incorporate these two new pieces into one slamming OOTD? You’ll just have to wait and see!

How do you style an OOTD for a date night out? How do you describe your personal style? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan25

Bath & Body Works Haul

Posted on by
Standard
Bath & Body Works Haul

Hi! When winter rolls around in Ohio, I like to take my clients to the mall to walk some laps. It’s important to continue exercise and self care even in freezing temperatures! While making our rounds when I was with a client, I noticed that Bath & Body Works was having a winter clearance sale and I knew I just had to get my hands on some goodies before everything was picked over. So, later that night, I ventured to the mall to score some super discounted treats. Check it out:

bbw1bbw2bbw3bbw4

Okay, let me start off by saying, I know that I purchased A TON of stuff. Sixteen products to be exact. BUT, I paid fifty dollars in total for all of the haul that you see above and you just can’t beat that. I only go grocery shopping once every two to two and a half months and EVERY. TIME. I end up buying body washes and lotion to replenish my dwindling supply. This haul eliminated that for at least a year while giving me scents that I love from a brand that I enjoy.

When I first moved into my apartment, I bought a ton of the foaming hand soap from Bath & Body Works and it is my absolute favorite. They smell amazing and leave my hands feeling clean without being dried out. I was so happy to have purchased some delicious summery scents for half off including my A1 of the Peach Bellini. It is almost as tasty as an actual Margarita… the Margarita Time hand soap be damned!

And, of course, I had to get all things apple for my body wash as it is my go to for shower time or perfume. The Champagne Apple & Honey along with the Winter Candy Apple is a sweet tart treat that will definitely help invigorate me during my morning shower! Is six bottles between the two excessive? Yes. But, hello emergency add on gifts if I ever need. 😀

I am SO pleased with my haul from Bath & Body Works and am already chomping at the bit to finish up the bath and body products I’m using now so I can break out the good stuff. Nothing is better than buying essentials that you actually need and are going to use for a song!

Which store has the best seasonal sales? What is your favorite Bath & Body Works fragrance? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan24

Victoria’s Secret Haul

Posted on by
Standard
Victoria’s Secret Haul

Hello everyone! Shockingly enough, I had a real hankering to go to the mall this past week. I know, I know – I’m amazed that I didn’t end up at TJMaxx myself! However, I needed some very specific things that I knew could only be bought by making the trek to Summit Mall. I was in the mood to hit up Bath & Body Works’ clearance sale, I was hoping to find something to wear for Valentine’s Day, and I definitely needed some new bras and undies!

Every year and a half or so, I’ll have a Victoria’s Secret haul to liven my lingerie up. There is nothing more boring than wearing the same handful of bras or panties throughout the week and it was high time to incorporate some new ones into the cycle. And, considering how cute everything at VS is, this wasn’t hard to do at all. Check it out:

vs2vs3vs5vs4vs6

In my opinion, there is nothing better or more empowering than knowing that you have a sexy little number on underneath your OOTD. Am I thrilled with how expensive Victoria’s Secret is? No. I spent way more money than I care to admit on the pieces above. BUT, my new purchases made me feel so good that it was one hundred and fifty percent worth it.

I love the feeling of true support that you get from a brand new bra. It makes your clothes look better, your figure look slamming, and you are kept locked and loaded all day long. I am obsessed with my mermaid shimmer grey bra and matching panty and I am really looking forward to breaking out the floral embroidered one, as well. The muted colors somehow work perfectly thanks to the peppy pattern and it will be a gorgeous bra to pair with some white or pale pink lace panties.

And, can we please talk about how cute the bow undies are?! Lol, I just couldn’t say no to them! To me, good lingerie is just as much as a staple as a killer pair of heels or a clutch purse. I already feel so much more confident from my purchases and will definitely be considered tided over until my next haul next year!

Where do you shop lingerie at? How do you get the most bang from your buck at Victoria’s Secret? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan23

Perfect Valentine’s Day Gifts For Your Boyfriend

Posted on by
Standard
Perfect Valentine’s Day Gifts For Your Boyfriend

Hello! Yesterday, we went over some perfect Valentine’s Day gifts for the special ladies in your life and, now, it’s on to the fellas. I, myself, find Valentine’s Day particularly difficult to shop for when I’m in a relationship. I definitely don’t want to go overboard with presents, as we just finished the holiday season. But, I don’t want to purchase too little, either! It’s a fine balance and today we are going to look over a bunch of different gifts for your man for every budget. Let’s get to it:

The Classics:

Who says guys can’t get chocolate, too?! The classics for the girlfriend is often chocolate, flowers, and a bottle of wine. Give these ideas a masculine twist like a six pack of his favorite beer, chocolate with pieces of bacon in it, and beef jerky bouquets… Yes, they are a thing. Or, you could always go to Five Below and grab one of these hunky chocolate bars that I got for my beau:

A981823A-00E8-4C39-BEA1-434F1CC2BFBD

^^^ Lololol.

Dapper Dudes:

Does your man candy enjoy dressing up or have a unique personal style? Go with this and treat him to a new pair of shoes or a goofy T-shirt. Help him accessorize with tie clips, pocket squares, and cuff links for a suave touch to his OOTDs. Any apparel based gifts will make him think of you every time he wears it, which is the whole point! But, if you gift him with a hoodie it is partially yours, of course. 😉

Sports Fan:

If you’re in a relationship with a sports fan, an ultimate gift would be tickets to the next big game. Ballin on a budget? That’s okay! Plan a night in when the next game he’s interested in is on TV. Provide Super Bowl level snacks, cold drinks, and a positive attitude in case his team is losing!

Memorabilia:

My boyfriend is a music connoisseur and we both have an affliction for movies. So, this is always a safe route to go if your partner is the same way. Snag him a cool new band T-shirt, get a coffee mug with his favorite Star Wars character on it, your options are limitless! And remember, nothing beats a good old fashioned night at the movies, which would be a great choice if a flick he’s dying to see is playing.

From The Heart:

Guys appreciate heartfelt gifts just as much as girls and just might be better at not showing it. Frame some of your favorite pictures together, write a poem, or take him to dinner at the restaurant where you had your first date. There is nothing wrong with going the more romantic route and it could be his favorite gift to date.

Experiences:

Experience gifts often go very well for guys and you could go as big or as small as you wish. How about a weekend getaway in a cozy cabin? A winter hike with thermoses of warm spiced cider? Or maybe a trip to a local museum for your history buff? Either way, you will be sharing in a day together and that is the most special part about Valentine’s Day! ❤

And who says guys are hard to shop for with the tips above?!

What do you like to gift your guy for Valentine’s Day? How do you plan on celebrating this year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan22

Why Career Mistakes Can Be A Good Thing

Posted on by
Standard
Why Career Mistakes Can Be A Good Thing

No one gets to where they want to go in life by taking the express shuttle to the top. If you look at the world’s most successful people, what you’ll typically find is a sort of zig-zag journey, one that took them to highs and lows and false-starts, before eventually ending up where they wanted to be. This is just as it is with the rest of life, which is always filled with ups and downs.

Your reasons for taking a different path in your career could be many-fold; you might be bored with your current work or you might make a serious error that ultimately ends up with your termination. When we find ourselves in this position, it’s easy to fall into a disheartened state of mind. We can begin to identify ourselves with our failures, or the dissatisfaction that we feel in our work.

But there is a way towards more career fulfillment. Instead of falling into a pit of negativity, we can embrace the idea of our career shortcomings, learn from them, and then push forward. These career detours can ultimately lead us towards a better and more fulfilling life. It’s all about owning the mistakes that you make, rather than allowing them to own you. There are lessons to be learned everywhere, and you can always take on a positive state of mind, rather than taking the negative route. To learn more about the idea of career detours, take a look at the infographic below, which was produced by the University of Maryland:


Infographic design by University of Maryland University of Maryland

 

Jan22

How We Can Improve The Health Of Society

Posted on by
Standard
How We Can Improve The Health Of Society

There’s no clear route towards creating a better society; indeed, some of the things that we think push us forward actually lead to more problems than they solve. But there is one field that undoubtedly serves to make us better: the improvement of healthcare. As a society, we have a duty to take a look at the health issues that cause the most damage to the population and take steps to move beyond them. While there are many areas of health that deserve attention, it’s best to start with the ones that are among the leading causes of death, which include heart disease, strokes, and diabetes.

It falls to public health officials to identify the threats that lead to serious medical issues and to educate the public about what they can do to protect themselves. As well as underlying health conditions, there must also be a spotlight on social factors that can impact a person’s health and quality of life, including alcohol and drug abuse, and accidents on the roads.

So how do you go about helping to eradicate these problems? It involves looking at the data, and making a note of any sharp increases in the numbers of people suffering from certain conditions and then looking at the lifestyle changes that might have contributed to this increase.

If you are interested in this topic, then you can look at becoming a public health official yourself. To learn more about the challenges and responsibilities of this position, take a look at the infographic below:


Infographic design by University of Nevada-Reno University of Nevada-Reno

Jan22

Perfect Valentine’s Day Gifts For Your Girlfriend

Posted on by
Standard
Perfect Valentine’s Day Gifts For Your Girlfriend

Hi! Valentine’s Day is getting closer and closer which can serve as a friendly reminder of the love you have for your partner OR that you are truly all alone in this world. 😉 I kid, I kid. Despite having a boyfriend, I think Valentine’s Day is a bunch of garbage and your relationship should be celebrated every day, not just on February 14th.

However, it will be nice to have a special day with my beau and I’m sure that those who are participating in V-Day are looking forward to it too. Frankly, I’d be hyped for Valentine’s Day even if I didn’t have a partner because it gives me the perfect excuse to drink wine and eat chocolate!

Speaking of wine and chocolate, how about we discuss some great gifts for the special lady in your life? And, be sure to tune in tomorrow when we explore some gifts for the fellas. Let’s get to it:

The Classics:

Some will find the gifting of the classics on Valentine’s Day lame or cheesy. However, I would be so amped up to receive sweet gifts like heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, a bouquet of flowers, or a good bottle of vino from my boyfriend. I find that the simplest gifts are the most effective and your ladyfriend will be tickled by the adoring gesture of a timeless variety of gifts.

Pampering, Please:

If you have a hard working, independent woman in your life, a treatment at the spa might be just what the doctor ordered. How about splurging on couples massages? Or a mani/pedi package for your princess? Pop some champagne, relax, and enjoy.

On a budget? No matter! Run a nice, hot bath with rose petals in it, light some candles, and turn on some Barry White. It works every time. 😉

Hopeless Romantic:

If you are overwhelmed with feelings of love for your girlfriend, fiance, or wife and have a way with words, perhaps a poem or a letter would be the perfect gift. Nothing is more swoon worthy than reading all of the reasons why your boyfriend loves you and it is something that you can keep for forever.

Date Night In:

Contrary to popular belief, Valentine’s Day isn’t about fancy dinners and posting your new heart shaped jewelry on Facebook. Rather, it’s about celebrating the bond between you and your partner. If you’re not into the hoopla of V-Day, plan a date night in. Cook a delicious dinner, don’t skimp on the chocolate cake, and play your lady’s favorite movie while enjoying a glass of wine. Beautiful.

Over The Top:

If you have the extra cash burning a hole in your pocket, plan a nice weekend getaway. You don’t have to travel far, two or three hours will do. But, a weekend together in a lovely B&B or hotel to celebrate the holiday is a definite treat. Look into Valentine’s Day suites or packages wherever you are staying for the best deals or a special gift from the location. New York City is a popular option for a getaway as there is just so much to do! You could see a Broadway show, visit museums, or opt for a spot of shopping and bbq in Soho for lunch. Wherever you go, plan at least one special date to truly take your Valentine’s Day over the top.

In this post, we explored different options for every budget to make this Valentine’s Day the best one yet for you and your partner. You’re welcome in advance! 😉 ❤

How are you celebrating V-Day? What are you gifting your loved one with? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan21

Valentine’s Day Card Call To Action

Posted on by
Standard
Valentine’s Day Card Call To Action

Hi everyone! I often see people post different news articles about an individual asking for a bunch of cards in the mail for a holiday or birthday. I used to think nothing of it but, when the holiday season hit, I figured that it was the least I could do to send a little holiday cheer to someone who is down on their luck, struggling, or could just use a smile.

Now, every time I see a post on Facebook of someone with a card request, I happily comply and send some snail mail their way. I also like to publish it on lifewithlilred so a larger, world wide platform can be reached for those who would like to make a Random Act Of Kindness.

A few days ago, I saw a post about a 104 year old WWII veteran asking for an overflow of Valentine’s Day Cards. You can read the full article here and send a card to the following address:

Operation Valentine
ATTN: Hold for Maj Bill White, USMC (Ret)
The Oaks at Inglewood
6725 Inglewood Ave.
Stockton, CA 95207

I hope that Maj. White enjoys his Valentine’s Day and the influx of cards that he is sure to receive. He is going to keep every single one and it makes me happy that one of them is going to be mine! 🙂

How do you do Random Acts Of Kindness throughout the day? What is a Random Act Of Kindness that you have received recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan20

When Can You Say That You’ve ‘Made It’?

Posted on by
Standard
When Can You Say That You’ve ‘Made It’?

Perhaps the easiest thing in the world to do is compare yourself to other people. As children, we learn this technique to help us understand our place in the social hierarchy, for better or worse. As we get older and compare our grades to other children or our siblings, we continually find out if we’re ‘good enough’ or where we’re lagging behind.

This can translate into adulthood, where the means of our livelihood or how much money we pull in each year can be somewhat intrusive areas of discussion at the Christmas work party or family barbecue. But when can you say that you’ve ‘made it’? We often use this term to express artists that now have enough listeners to guarantee material success, but should we really limit ourselves to this description?

In the following post, we hope to widen the parameters through which you may give yourself the real credit of ‘making it’, allowing us to think along healthier and more considered lines. Please, consider:

A Home You Love:

When occupying a home you love, you have one of the most vital and beautiful possessions anyone could hope for – no matter if you rent or use a mortgage to gain said property. A home you love can be a vital part of your personality, help you raise a family, or schedule the best social events within, and generally give you the room to be your most authentic self. General contractors can help you express your creative interests and tastes over the years, and that in itself gives you the opportunity to design to your hearts content. If you have this, no matter if you live alone or own a property in which you keep roommates or a humble family setup, you have something to be proud of.

Connections You Care About:

It’s very easy for us to mark ourselves as only successful when affluent, or able to define our material success this way. But really, the people we know, the loving connections we adopt, the closeness to our family, the genuine experiences we share with our friends – these are the things that count. It’s possible for someone living on a shoestring budget to enjoy and curate the closest relationships around them, while it’s also possible for someone within a beautiful, million-dollar home to feel completely isolated from those they are supposed to call friends. This realization can help you adjust your priorities accordingly.

Curating Your Interests:

Curating your interests is something that can seem so simple and basic. We’re all supposed to have hobbies. But more than simply watching something on Netflix or playing a video game (which are more than justified methods of relaxing and taking some stress off), curating a real interest can help bring you an incredible amount of joy over the years. It might be reading into a subject, learning a craft, or cooking well and eating a wide array of cuisines. We take interests for granted, but really, we should appreciate them as additional pursuits that give our life value. If you have a few of these to curate, you are truly a lucky individual.

With this advice, we hope you can see the conventional idea of ‘making it’ is only worthwhile when contributing to a healthy, humble life!

Featured Image By: Pexels