Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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Just your average gal blogging an average blog!

4 Simple Ways To Make Your Home Greener

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4 Simple Ways To Make Your Home Greener

From the brands that we buy to our home cleaning routines; most of us value the idea of making green choices. When it comes to shopping for your home ware and utilities, there are plenty of ways to go eco-friendly. For those looking for a few pointers, these four simple solutions could help you on your way (and maybe you’ll save a few dollars too)!

Research your materials:

When shopping for home ware, whether cushions, rugs, or teacups; we often choose based on aesthetics and color scheme. Of course, these factors are important, yet it’s also important to prioritize the right materials. Items made of hemp, for example, are considered an excellent sustainable choice. Hemp does not require pesticides to grow and only needs a small amount of water. What’s more, hemp can absorb C02 during the growth process. Bamboo is another great choice to look out for when shopping for home ware items. Bamboo also requires no fertilizer; it grows quickly and can easily self-regenerate. Materials like jute or seagrass are also excellent sustainable materials to look out for when you are decorating your home.

Save water:

Using less water around the home can make a huge amount of difference to both your green practices and your bill. For example, water-saving shower heads allow you to use less water when showering. There are two types of water-saving shower heads; aerating and non-aerating. Aerating shower heads push the water through smaller holes and provide increased pressure. Non-aerating shower heads combine a restricted water flow with air.

To save money, it’s worth checking out a few different water providers to see if you can make any savings. While you’re at it, ensure that you know what Action to Take Before and After Discovering a Water Leak or Flooding. Staying clued up when it comes to water can help you to go green, save cash, and keep your home safe.

Start composting:

Compost refers to various organic substances, from fruit and vegetables to grass clippings or twigs. When you mix these things together, you’ll have an excellent natural fertilizer to enrich the soil in your garden. Great composting is essential if you want to grow nice fruits and vegetables without using any chemical-based fertilizers. You’ll be going greener by reducing your food waste and creating a space to grow natural foods from the earth. At the same time, you’ll be reducing food waste which goes to the landfill. When organic food waste goes there, the conditions are not right for it to break down properly. Due to this, a buildup of methane gas occurs which pollutes our air.

Zero waste:

When it comes to the home, there are plenty of ways to use less and waste less. First, when you need to make purchases, try second-hand stores before you opt for buying new. As well as this, try planning your meals out in advance to minimize the chance of food waste. There are plenty of zero-waste grocery stores out there which have entirely removed the need for packaging. Getting into a green routine is an ongoing project; so don’t worry if you can’t make every change overnight.

Follow the tips above and do your share in helping to protect our environment by going green!

Featured Image By: Pexels

5 Ways To Overcome Your Fear Of Blood Tests

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5 Ways To Overcome Your Fear Of Blood Tests

Does the thought of having your blood taken make you feel sick? Would you put off a visit to the emergency room if you thought you may need a blood test? Well, you’re not alone, as millions of people suffer from a fear of needles (trypanophobia) or blood (hemophobia). Here are five things you can try to overcome your fear:

Separate your phobias:

When thinking about taking a blood test are you afraid of seeing your own blood, the needle used to draw it, or a combination of the two? Being able to identify what it is you fear can help you to create an action plan to overcome it. For example, if you fear the sight of blood, then you could ask the nurse to erect a screen between you whilst you have your blood taken. Or, if you fear the needle itself, then your phlebotomist may be able to use a smaller needle or draw blood from a part of your body where you feel less fearful.

Educate yourself:

Many people have found themselves able to overcome or at least lessen their phobia by facing them head-on and learning more about them. This enables them to confront their fears rationally and scientifically rather than letting their brains blow them out of proportion. Do some research on phlebotomy (the scientific name for drawing blood) and even consider getting some phlebotomy training to help you understand what is going on when you have your blood taken. By doing this, you will also be exposing yourself to images and descriptions of your phobia which can help to desensitize you to their exposure.

Communicate your fears:

Don’t suffer through your phobia in silence, instead, communicate it to your phlebotomist so that you can work through it together. Because the fear of blood tests is a common occurrence, the chances are that your phlebotomist has some tricks up their sleeve to help make the process less stressful. Tell your phlebotomist of your fear in advance of your session so that they can allow a little more time for your visit and not rush you.

Distract yourself:

Believe it or not, our brains struggle to process too many things at once which makes distraction one of the best ways to get through a blood test that you are fearful of. Try bringing a friend or relative into the room and have them start an engrossing conversation with you. You may also want to try tapping or touching another part of your body whilst the blood test is conducted to distract you from the sensation of your blood being drawn.

Seek phobia counseling:

If your phobia is very severe, then you may wish to seek phobia counseling to help you deal with the anxiety that your phobia will make you feel. During phobia counseling, your counselor may choose to offer you cognitive behavioral therapy, group counseling sessions, self-care treatments, or a combination of all three. These sessions aren’t designed to cure your phobia but can help you to approach and manage it in a rational way.

We all have thing that we fear and, if blood and needles are some of yours, use the tips above during your next visit to the doctor.

Featured Image By: Pexels

3 Tips To Get Your Horse Show Ready

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3 Tips To Get Your Horse Show Ready

Showing your horse can be an extremely exciting and fulfilling act. Whether you have shown before or if this is your first time, there are a lot of preparations that you need to make. It is crucial that you don’t wait until the last minute. Here are some tips to ready you and your horse for the next show:

Exercise Your Horse:

Leading up to the show, you will have to practice and train with your horse. Not only does your horse need to be ready for the show, but so do you. Make sure that your animal can tackle all of the different horse show jumps before you arrive on the big day.

Groom Your Horse:

Grooming can serve as a preventative medicine for animals. It increases blood to the surface of the skin and massages the different muscle groups. In addition, when you groom your horse, you are solidifying your bond. It is a great way for you and your animal to be close, leading up to the horse show.

A daily brushing routine also gives you a chance to spot small problems, like a warm spot, a cut, or a loose shoe, before they turn into something that keeps your horse home on show day. If you want to sharpen this side of your routine, Freddie Vasquez Jr is an equestrian professional with more than three decades of experience and the owner of Messenger Hill Farm. Watching how someone at that level handles grooming and conditioning can change the way you approach your own horse’s care.

Gather Your Equipment:

You do not want to forget any of your necessary equipment before the show. You should start to prepare to leave two to three days in advance. The longer that you give yourself to prepare, the less likely you are to forget anything. To make sure that you forget nothing, you can also make a list in advance to ensure that you don’t forget your equipment at home.

If you show your horse, then you already know that it can be an exciting experience. If you are new or if you are looking for tips to create a better experience, then these can help prepare you for the next show.

Outstanding Ornaments

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Outstanding Ornaments

Howdy! An obvious but always effective Christmas gift is presenting some ornaments for your giftee’s tree. I usually use ornaments as an add on gift but they are also super handy when you just need a little something for your work colleagues or a Secret Santa. For my client’s families this year, I went with a chocolate assortment and some darling ornaments that I snagged from Target and Amazon. Check it out:

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I got the Bicycle Santa ornaments from Target and the felt Christmas characters from Amazon and I’m really happy with all of them! The felt ornaments came in a pack of eight with two of each little friend, which is perfect for mix and matching. With a pretty hefty list of people to shop for, I always am looking for cost effective but quality pieces and you can never go wrong with some holiday decor. What’s more, it will make your giftee think of you every time they hang your ornament on the tree. 🙂

How do you get the most bang for your buck with your holiday shopping? What are your favorite add on gifts? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Wrapping Paper Palooza

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Wrapping Paper Palooza

Hello, all! I absolutely love Christmas shopping but wrapping presents? Eh… Not so much. Let me start off by saying that I start out strong for the first few gifts and then it all goes downward in a tragic spiral pretty quickly. HOWEVER, I did purchase some wrapping paper recently from the Dollar Tree that has made the process a lot easier. It doesn’t take much to blow my mind and this simple trick on the paper did. Check it out:

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The super cool thing about this wrapping paper is that on the inside of it are lines that you can cut on to make sure you’re making an even slice! This may seem like a little thing but for someone who got a poor score on their scissor skills in kindergarten, it’s a big deal! I was so tickled by this discovery and it seriously did make wrapping my presents go a lot more smoothly.

The Dollar Tree literally never ceases to amaze me because I got five tubes of really nice wrapping paper for five whole dollars. The images are cute, the paper is thick, and it offered a handy hack for the scissor challenged people in society. Like I said, little thing: big, BIG difference!

What are some of your present wrapping pro tips? How far along are you in the holiday shopping process? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

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It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Hello everyone! With annoying annoyances and the stresses of being a working adult, I just haven’t felt too much into the holiday spirit as of late. Of course, I’m excited for giving and receiving presents as well as quality family time but I haven’t felt that happy go lucky mood that comes with Christmas approaching. However, that all changed this past week when I enjoyed decorating the Christmas tree at one of my client’s homes. Check out our handy work:

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This particular client of mine is the literal light of my life. He is an older man with Down Syndrome and he is the physical embodiment of joy. It’s honestly hard not to get excited over small things that delight him and his smile and laugh are absolutely contagious. My friend loves the holidays and has been talking about us decorating the Christmas tree together since June, at least.

So, once I arrived at his house, we got to work. As the lights of the tree changed color we decorated with everything from bulbs and stars to tiny nativity scenes and birds. We played the Christmas music that he loves so dearly and took pleasure in the simple joy that comes with hanging a bauble in the perfect spot.

We decorated the tree for an hour or so and then sat back to admire our work and I have never felt more in the holiday spirit then I did right then and there. If that’s not the true meaning of Christmas, then I don’t know what is. ❤

How do you get in the holiday spirit? What is your favorite piece of holiday decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

SO ANNOYED!

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SO ANNOYED!

Howdy!! I need to have a little vent sesh because oh my goodness am I annoyed! So yesterday morning, I get into my car to go to work and I turn my windshield wipers on because it was raining, only to find that they were snapped in two. I hauled ass to the nearest auto shop so I could get new blades which costed me over forty dollars and was halfway to work when I realized my back blades were stolen.

WHO DOES THAT?!

Like, seriously though. Who does that? Although it was annoying to have an unnecessary expense charged to my credit card, it wasn’t even about the money. Even though that was upsetting considering how hard I work to pay my bills and keep a bunch of frozen food on the table. But, it honestly just felt like a slap in the face. I have always felt comfortable at my apartment complex and to have that turned completely upside down by simply getting into my car to go to work was a huge punch in the gut.

This situation has definitely made me feel antsy and I am hoping that it doesn’t happen again because those windshield wipers aren’t cheap! I also hope that whomever did this got their kicks in ruining someone else’s day and has a nice meet up with karma when it comes to bite them in the ass. Je-sus!

Whew, do I feel better now lol I needed to get all of that off my chest. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk on The Case Of The Stolen Windshield Wipers. 😀

Has anything like this ever happened to you? Do you believe in karma? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Where To Splurge And Where To Save When Decorating Your Home

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Where To Splurge And Where To Save When Decorating Your Home

Decorating a home from scratch can be really expensive, so it’s worth knowing the best places to save money and where it pays to spend a little more. Maybe you’ve just moved into a new place or perhaps you want to do up your existing home, either way, here are some places to save and where to splurge:

Splurge: Mattress

As humans, we spend a huge portion of our lives in bed. We might not all be lucky enough to get a full eight hours, but even if you’re only getting six that’s still a quarter of your day. A good mattress is essential for good health, it supports your back, hips, and neck. It keeps you comfortable and allows you to get the highest quality of sleep.

However, mattresses are expensive, and it might be tempting to look for a good quality second hand one – but it’s best not to do that if you can. Not only will a used mattress show signs of wear but it could also be hiding bed bugs which you’ll then bring into your home. Exterminators like Bed Bug Inspector recommend that you don’t purchase second hand items that could harbor these pests, as it’s a common way that they get into peoples homes and spread.

Save: Dining table

A solid wooden dining table will last you for a lifetime if you look after it well, and if you look around chances are you’ll find people selling old and antique tables simply because they do stand the test of time. Don’t be put off by old fashioned looks, as long as it’s in good condition you can always upcycle it. Sand down the top, add some new legs, and you could stain it or paint it and really bring it up to date.

Splurge: Dining chairs

Saving on a dining table gives you more money to spend on the chairs, and it’s often worth buying some more luxurious, comfortable dining chairs. Once you’ve upcycled the table you can go about choosing some nice new chairs that suit the overall look. It could be some modern fabric chairs, some cool perspex ghost chairs, an industrial style – whatever it is you’re going for.

Save: Accessories

Accessories make a house a home, but you don’t need to spend a fortune here. Some plants from Ikea, some vases from TJMaxx, some frames from the Dollar Store, and other little accessories from charity stores and boot fares can all come together really nicely.

Splurge: Sofa

A good quality sofa will cost you a fair bit of cash, but it will look great and last you for many years. If you don’t have the funds up front, lots of companies offer finance options allowing you to spread the cost. The best sofas will be made from good quality fabrics and materials so they won’t go saggy and uncomfortable after a couple of years.

When decorating your home, shop smart with the saving tips above so you can have more moolah towards your splurge worthy purchases!

December 2019 Funky Time Jams

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December 2019 Funky Time Jams

Hello everyone! We are in the final stretch of 2019, which is so crazy to me! It seems like just yesterday that we were ringing in the new year. Now is the time to make your final holiday preparations, decide on your new year’s resolutions, and do what you can to finish up 2019 strongly. So, allow me to suggest some tunes as you work on wrapping up the month and year:

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos!

This past month, my boyfriend and I watched the Motley Crue movie called The Dirt. Now, mind you, I have never listened to them before in my life but my man is a fan so I decided to give them a go. And, despite all of them being batshit crazy, their music sure is catchy! They actually just announced that they’re going to start touring again so if they come anywhere close to my neck of the woods, I think that Johnny and I are going to go!

And, speaking of concerts, we will be attending the Marilyn Manson and Ozzy Osbourne show in Pittsburgh this coming year, compliments of Johnny’s Christmas gift to me! I am so freaking excited because this will make it the third time I’ve seen Marilyn Manson perform and it never gets old.

Finally, I just had to pepper in some new years themed songs amidst all of the crazies listed above for your enjoyment. Happy last month of the year!

Are you attending any concerts soon? What is your favorite music based movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Super Fun Cold Weather Activities

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Super Fun Cold Weather Activities

Hi everyone! Despite the chilly temperatures outside, I always enjoy outdoor winter activities… and then warming up inside with hot chocolate! Depending on your area, there could be a ton of exciting options for you and, lucky for me, there are a lot to pick from in my neck of the woods. Some of my favorites include:

Winter Lights At The Zoo:

On Thanksgiving weekend, my parents, boyfriend, sister, niece, and I went to the Akron Zoo during the after hours to check out their amazing holiday lights display. The whole property was lit up with gorgeous color. Some of the lights blinked, others flashed, and the bigger ones were timed to light up to the beat of Christmas carols.

Of course, it’s always fun to see the animals at the zoo but the light displays were just spectacular. I loved all of the lights shaped like different animals, especially the elephant whose trunk moved! Definitely check out if any of the zoos in your area do any special winter displays because it’s a wonderful option for all ages.

Outdoor Skating Rinks:

During the winter, I try to hit up an outdoor rink at least once. As a skater girl, it is such a good time to hit the great outdoors and show off a bit for the general public! 😀 I love the rink at Lock 3 that we have in downtown Akron, which now includes bumper tubes and ice bikes, if skating isn’t your thing.

A lot of the outdoor rinks will feature other fun activities like sledding, Christmas crafts, and holiday markets. And, did I mention the always delicious hot chocolate stands? Skating at an outdoor rink makes for a great date or hang out with your friends but try and go during a less popular time (morning or early afternoon), if you aren’t the most confident skater.

Toboggan/Sled Rides:

There is a toboggan chute in my area that I have been dying to try out and I would love to give it a go this year. It can reach speeds of up to 50 MPH, which is awesome if you are a thrill seeker, like myself. If this sounds a bit too intense for you, sled riding is another fun option and is a good one to take your children or nieces and nephews to. I am definitely hoping we can take my little niece, Valerie, down a baby hill or two this year!

Hikes Are Nice:

I always enjoy taking at least one hike during the winter time at one of the many amazing Metro Parks in my area. I think that it is so much fun to bundle up, pull on my boots, and trudge around in the snow. Not only is it an excellent work out, but I especially love to see all of the gorgeous snow coating the trees and feeling myself warm up just a little bit more with every step.

Playing In The Snow:

Playing in the snow is not just for children anymore, especially because boozy hot chocolate is definitely a thing! Gather up your friends during a fresh snowfall and relive your childhood with snowmen, snowball fights, and snow angels. Finish out your snow session with a bonfire to warm you up!

When there’s so many fun options for outdoor winter activities, you can create a memorable and inexpensive afternoon with your favorite people. Keep the spirit of the day going with Christmas movies and warm drinks after!

What is your favorite winter activity? What is your favorite way to warm up after a cold day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah