Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!

Miniature Schnauzer Love

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Miniature Schnauzer Love

If you are tempted to welcome a puppy into your home, the miniature schnauzer is an outstanding canine companion to have in your household. With an exceptional temperament, a fun and friendly attitude, and nothing worse than a bark in terms of aggression, these terrier like dogs are perfect for the family. If you want to welcome a new four legged friend into your brood, chances are that you’ve already done tons of research, but have you considered these lesser thought about aspects of dog ownership?

Intelligence:

The miniature schnauzer is a highly intelligent breed. Forget not knowing his name, being unable to fetch a toy, or having no clue what toilet training is, your mini schnauzer will aim to please. He is loyal, obedient, and highly intelligent. At only ten weeks of age, your mini schnauzer should be able to sit and stay on command and will enjoy taking part in training sessions with you. It’s a good idea at the puppy nipping stage to teach bite inhibition to try and ward off the need for a dog bite lawyer. You want to train your mutt to be calm, measured and alert to your voice. They need to be focused on you even in a park full of people and other hounds. Your miniature schnauzer will do just that.

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Life is ruff!

Food:

A miniature schnauzer is very food motivated. This can be helpful when trying to get your little buddy to listen to you. Waft his favorite treat under his nose and you’ll have him under your little finger. But it can also be a hindrance. Miniature schnauzers are well known to have delicate tummies, so high fat snacks and unhealthy scraps from the dining room table are a no. This is a good thing, as it means your dog won’t grow up chubby or having to watch his weight. A miniature schnauzer is energetic, bouncy, and fun to have around. So as long as you have the time to take them on two walks a day, they’ll be a happy mutt.

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SO. Cute!

Appearance:

All miniature schnauzers look male – it’s the beard that does it! However, whatever gender your mini is, you will need to groom him regularly. He’ll need regular brushing and clipping to ensure that his hair doesn’t get matted or too bedraggled. Feed a top quality grain free kibble with the right nutrients and his coat should look shiny and healthy for his entire life. There are many cuts to choose from including the breed standard beard and short coat to the more flamboyant Asian fusion cuts. The choice is yours, but make sure that you go to a groomer who knows what they are doing. Sensitive shampoos and conditioners are a must for this delicate little breed.

Getting a dog is daunting, but it will be the best decision you have ever made. Miniature schnauzers are fun, will keep you on your toes, and will make the perfect family pet for your household.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Summer Skating

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Summer Skating

Greetings! This past year, I have enjoyed firing up my old passion of figure skating by learning how to ice dance. Every other week, I drive up to Lakewood to work with one of my old coaches, who I consider one of the best of the best. He truly is an extraordinaire in all things figure skating and it has been such a pleasure to have him teach me again.

Unfortunately, with summer upon us, all of the hockey camps are in full swing and it drastically changes the times when us figure skaters can do our thing. There were literally no times that I could skate in Lakewood with my coach, Chris, without rearranging my work schedule dramatically, which I really didn’t want to do.

So, I had to come up with Plan B and contacted the coach, whose name is also Sarah, and who taught me literally everything to see if she could squeeze me in. Thankfully, we arranged an early morning ice time for a skate sesh and I worked with her for the first time in close to a decade this past week. And, did I mention that it was at the rink in Kent where I learned how to skate? Talk about nostalgia!

I enjoyed my skate time so much by being at my old rink with my former coach and it felt just like the good old days. I even worked on a few jumps instead of just strictly ice dancing, which I wasn’t expecting, but I’m glad I did! I had such a blast and felt so good afterwards that I just had to call my parents and thank them for all of the years that they supported my sport.

All of the lessons, dresses and skates, and competitions were not cheap. But, they gave me something that I will be able to work hard at and that gives me so much joy for many years to come and I am so thankful for that. It hit me so hard after being at the rink where they would take me for all of those years and I am looking forward to spending my summer ice time there. Thanks again, mom and dad! ❤

What sport did you play when you were younger? Are you still active in it now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Birthday Freebies

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Birthday Freebies

Helloooo everyone! As you all know, Lil Red is all about free stuff. But, I didn’t want to say stuff, I wanted to say SHIT. So, yes, Lil Red is all about free shit. I am a member of a lot of different rewards programs that are always very generous when a birthday rolls around and I spend the month of June cashing in on it. So, if you have any of the following stores or eateries in your area, be sure to sign up for their rewards programs so you can be treated on your birthday, too!

  • Sephora Beauty Insider Kat Von D or Drunk Elephant mini gift set
  • Free burrito from Moe’s
  • Free small smoothie from Robek’s
  • Free beverage of any size from Dunkin’ Donuts
  • Free cinnamon sticks from Pizza Hut
  • Free beverage from Starbucks
  • Free Grand Slam breakfast from Denny’s
  • Free dessert from Olive Garden

Altogether, these birthday freebies total out to at least forty dollars, making the sometimes annoyingness of signing up for an app or reward card completely worth it.

Happy savings!

Which other stores or restaurants offer freebies or deals on your birthday? Which rewards program do you use the most? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Better Than Sex Mascara Annoyance

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Better Than Sex Mascara Annoyance

Yo yo yo. I’m sure when you read the title of the post all of you were like “what?” because I would be nowhere without my Better Than Sex mascara by Too Faced. And, that’s still true. But, oh my god, they must have changed the formula or something because the mascara is SO sticky now and I really just can’t deal. This would all be fine and dandy if it wasn’t for the fact that I wear contacts because it has been causing me a lot of grief. Read on to find out more!

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The first thing that I do once I’m out of the shower and have wiped off my face with my micellar water is put my contacts in. This has been my routine for years and, then, I apply my skin care products and makeup accordingly. But, now the order of operations has been tragically skewed because the fact that my mascara now takes at least a half hour to fully dry has been destroying my contacts left and right.

Within an hour or so of having my mascara on and contacts in, they would be so dry from the Better Than Sex getting on the lenses that I literally couldn’t see anything and would have to take them out. It was getting to the point where I had to wear my glasses with the wrong prescription to go about my day, making my vision nowhere near as sharp as it should be. It was just getting ridiculous.

After going through a box of contacts that should have lasted me three months in a little over one, I said that enough was enough and began putting my contacts in after my mascara had time to dry. Annoying? Totally. But, it worked, and I am no longer changing my one a day contacts twice daily.

On the BTS reviews on Sephora’s website, I saw many people complain about the same issue that I was having so I just had to write a post about switching up my morning routine to accommodate the stickiest mascara ever. And, also to say to Too Faced to get the old formula of Better Than Sex back ASAFP, because this new one is not doing anyone any favors. SMH!

Which mascara do you use? What do you do about sticky mascaras? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Birthday Fun!

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Birthday Fun!

Hellooooo!! My June 7th birthday came and went and I am now twenty-five years of age. How about that! I had a wonderful birthday weekend and the celebrations are not over, as I have belated tom foolery scheduled with some of my girlfriends. During my birthday weekend, I enjoyed eleven hours of being tattooed, a subpar Mexican dinner with my family, and a lovely hang out with my boyfriend. Despite the Margaritas being weak AF and my dinner being cold, it was a definite success!

I received many beautiful gifts from everyone who celebrated with me. But, what I’m most excited about is the tickets that I got from my parents to see The Raconteurs at Stage AE in Pittsburgh this August. This will be my second time seeing Jack White in the past two years and they are playing at one of my favorite venues so, needless to say, I am beyond excited. 😀 #bestgiftever

Although I am not thrilled about being twenty-five, I had a great time quietly celebrating my birthday and thank you to everyone for the well wishes, which made my day even more special! ❤

How did you celebrate your birthday this year? How did you celebrate your twenty-fifth birthday? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Best Facials To Get In The Summertime

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Best Facials To Get In The Summertime

An investment in your skincare can help you to feel confident about your complexion all year long. However, the heat of summer can bring new challenges to your skin, such as sweat or sunburn. It’s important to find the right facial norfolk va to keep your skin moisturized and healthy all summer long. Here are some of the best facials to get in the summertime:

Microdermabrasion:

This facial uses an exfoliation treatment and gives a light peel that helps your skin grow new tissue as it eliminates dead skin cells. This will give your face a fresh start for summertime, helping to avoid clogged pores from sweat. Microdermabrasion uses micro crystals to lightly peel the skin, which encourages the growth of new tissue. The uppermost layer of the skin is gently removed during the treatment, eliminating any dead skin cells, impurities, or debris. This is a noninvasive procedure, as the process does not use chemicals, needles, or lasers, so patients get beautiful skin rejuvenation with virtually no downtime.

Chemical Peels:

A chemical peel treatment is used for mild to serious cosmetic issues and encourages skin rejuvenation and deep skin resurfacing. This is a mild skin rejuvenation and resurfacing procedure that exfoliates and renews the skin on the face, neck, or hands using carefully-selected chemicals. You can get a treatment in a range of levels, from extremely mild with no downtime, to more extensive that will lead to more significant peeling and a longer recovery time. While chemical peels are great for anti aging, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. To find more options, simply enter a search for “anti-aging treatments in Columbia, MD” (or your local area) to find the right treatment for you.

Dermaplaning:

This treatment is an advanced way to remove dead skin cells and peach fuzz, which reveals glowing skin immediately after the procedure. Dermaplaning is a popular, safe, and effective way to exfoliate facial skin. An experienced esthetician can use this method to remove dead skin cells and peach fuzz to reveal your natural, smooth skin. Unlike microdermabrasion, dermaplaning involves the gentle use of a sharp scalpel to remove the very top layer of the skin, revealing the rejuvenated skin beneath it.

Treat yourself to a facial today to reveal perfect summer ready skin!

If The Shoe Fits: Dolce Vita Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Dolce Vita Edition

Hiii everyone and welcome to a new edition of If The Shoe Fits! Today, we’re going to be discussing a gorgeous pair of faux snakeskin stiletto mules by Dolce Vita that my mom got me for my birthday. I have grown increasingly fond of cheetah print over the past year or so but snakeskin has always been my preferred animal print. I think that it is so chic, edgy, and sexy and I am especially drawn to it when it comes to accessories like purses and shoes. So, when my mom offered me this pair that she saw on TJMaxx’s website for my birthday, I was, obviously, all about it. Take a look:

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As we all know, Lil Red is a shoe girl through and through. So, it may come as a surprise to some that I only have about two pairs of heels with a stiletto on them. I have always liked the chunky wedge or platform style heels and have never been too impressed with stilettos on me. I think this might be because I have very muscular legs from figure skating so the thicker heels go better with my body type.

But, I just couldn’t say no to these Dolce Vita beauties! My new mules use my favorite snakeskin hue of grey, black, and taupe and I really do love the shape of them. The pointed toe, skinny heel, and almost full foot coverage. Ugh, forget about it! These mules are going to look SO fierce with jet black skinnies and a cardi during a warmer fall day and I am one hundred percent there for it!

What is your favorite animal print? How would you style these mules? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sephora Birthday Gift

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Sephora Birthday Gift

Howdy! When it comes to my birthday, I always try to cash in on the freebies that are offered through rewards programs at my favorite stores and eateries. As a Beauty Insider for Sephora, that means I get to pick a freebie birthday gift between two mini gift sets. This year, the choice was between a Kat Von D liquid liner, loose powder, and lipstick samples or a cleanser and moisturizer by Drunk Elephant. Because I don’t use liquid liner or any type of powder, I went with the Drunk Elephant option seen below:

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I have never used any Drunk Elephant products before, but I’ve heard nothing but good things about it so I am looking forward to giving my freebies a try. I can always use moisturizers and cleansers, too, so even if these don’t last me very long it will be a few days of using something that I didn’t actually buy. And, for a frugal gal like me, this is always a plus! Although I wasn’t too thrilled with the birthday gift choices from Sephora this year, free is free, and maybe I will have found a new favorite brand!

What did you choose for your Sephora birthday gift? Have you ever used the Drunk Elephant brand before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Alternatives To Running: Cardio Workouts That You Can Do Indoors

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Alternatives To Running: Cardio Workouts That You Can Do Indoors

Running is undoubtedly the cardio workout of choice for most people and it’s for a good reason: Running at a six-mile per hour pace lets you burn up to 557 calories an hour, while jogging lets you burn up to 398 calories an hour. It is also a form of stress relief for some, especially outdoors when the weather is pleasant. It becomes tricky to stick to a regular running routine during the rainy months, so it is always best to consider workout alternatives that you can do indoors. Here are some cardio workouts that burn as many calories as running:

Jump rope:

There’s a reason why jump rope is essential in boxing training: It enhances footwork, strengthens your shoulders, improves your coordination, and stimulates sprinting. Also, it lets you burn 500 calories in just 30 minutes. To make the most of this indoor workout, do intervals of fast and slow jumps. Or you can jump as fast as you can for a minute then rest for 20-30 seconds.

Boxing:

This improves your strength, speed, agility, hand-eye coordination, endurance, and power while getting you in great shape. It combines the muscle building advantages of strength training with the calorie burn of a cardio workout, so it helps you get a full body experience. It also enables you to achieve better body composition. Thus, you don’t just lose weight; you build muscle as well and get a toned, fit body as a bonus. It burns about 600 calories an hour and, even if you’re not sparring or throwing punches with boxing gloves, you still burn fat through the other components, such as jump rope, shadow boxing, and calisthenics.

If you are serious about going further with your boxing workouts, you will definitely need the proper equipment as you advance. Like any sport, you don’t need to dive into purchasing top of the line items right away. However, Fight Gear like gloves, boots, and protective gear is not just going to help you improve but it is a safety precaution as well. Boxing can be dangerous and you will want the right equipment to keep you protected while enjoying your exercise.

Zumba:

Dance exercises have gained popularity in recent years not only because they are an effective cardio workout but also because they are fun. Going to a Zumba class, for example, is like going to a dance party. It combines fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body, adapted from aerobic principles to help you tone your muscles and improve cardiovascular health. It is often done to the beat of Latin dance music. An hour of Zumba lets you burn between 350 and 650 calories per hour depending on the intensity.

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Swimming:

If sweating is not your thing, then you should consider swimming to burn calories. It is a total body workout that lets you strengthen your body even if you are treading water. Fighting gravity makes your muscles work extra hard to keep you afloat. To make the most out of this workout, make sure to do a few laps using different strokes, then have a water-treading interval. A minute of fast swimming can burn up to 14 calories, so doing it for an hour lets you burn as much as 840 calories.

No swimming pool? Most residential buildings and sports hubs near Eastwood City have pools you can use for free! Perhaps you would like something more permanent if you are serious about swimming. One option you could consider is getting a temporary pool you can erect when the weather’s nice. A pool in the backyard is most people’s dream, after all! However, if you’re looking for something that’s not only much bigger but can also add value to your property, then you can research in-ground pool builders near you on sites like https://pinnaclepoolsandspas.com/pool-builders/ to get your project started.

If you are considering an in-ground pool installation, be sure to choose a reputable and well reviewed company. There is a lot more work that goes into having a pool than you might have thought! A good rule of thumb is to call several different companies with the questions you might have. Do they offer cleaning services? Do they specialize in saltwater pool conversion? If so, are they offering sound advice for issues like corrosion that may arise? The expertise of the company you choose is so important as you will want to fully enjoy your investment.

When you’re using swimming as a work out, always remember safety. It can be exhausting exercise so pay attention to how you’re feeling throughout your swim. Outdoor pools should also have fencing around them to protect those using the pool area. Whether it’s a residential or commercial pool, if the pool or fences are new, they’ll need someone like these pool fence inspectors melbourne to come and check things out and, if things aren’t quite as they should be, advise on what needs to be done in order to bring them up to the necessary standard.

The rain should never keep you from staying on track with your fitness goals. With these workouts, you can stay in shape regardless of the weather.

Exporting 101: Tips For Small Businesses

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Exporting 101: Tips For Small Businesses

Depending on your line of business and the products you’re selling, there’s a chance that you’ll need to export your products for customers, business partners, or resellers abroad even if you’re still just operating as a small-scale enterprise. Global trade is quite competitive, so when there’s a demand for your product to be shipped to another country, you want to do it right and profit as much as possible. With this in mind, as well as the tips below, you may wish to access site of someone like 3G and invest in shipping software that can help you streamline your processes and enable you to keep tabs on your shipments so that you can be sure they will arrive safely at their destination. 

Here are a few things to remember when exporting your products as a small scale business:

Know the Law and Restrictions:

Before you export your products, you’ll want to know if the product is legal or complies with any regulations and restrictions in the country it’ll be exported to. So, do your research before contacting a logistics company or upping your production to meet the demand in your target country.

Get Partners:

When talking about exporting your products as a small business, you might be thinking about sending your products directly and individually to your clients. However, this can be quite costly in terms of shipping and would take a lot of time and effort to track individually. As such, the best way for you to sell your products abroad is to find partners who are willing to buy and sell the product for you in their country.

This way, you’d be able to send products via air freight or whatever method you choose in bulk, which is cheaper and more convenient for you. Having partners would also mean that you’d be able to sell your products and have you earn more consistently. Your partners may even be willing to process and pay for the shipping for you. But it’s also important that you do your research regarding your partners to know that they’re legitimate and could be trusted to avoid risk.

Packaging:

You may also want to have different packaging for your exported products; perhaps with better packaging or provide a translation of your product’s manual and other information (such as ingredients and nutritional value). It is so important for your product to be accessible to all future customers and translations are a huge part of it. Whether it’s a small recipe book or wine bottles labels with unique logos and phrases, it is a great idea to print them in the most spoken language of each country you ship to. It could make the difference between someone purchasing it or not.

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Decide on the Pricing:

Another thing you’d also want to consider when exporting your products is the pricing. Your pricing would depend on whether you’re selling directly to a customer or a partner, as well as various other factors that make up your transportøkonomi (transport economy). When selling to a business partner, you’d have to consider your bulk pricing and should also include all the costs related to shipping, customs, and logistics, as well as the cost of labor. The price should be agreed upon by you and your business partner in a way that you’re both able to profit while your business partners can still sell it at a competitive and reasonable price in their respective countries.

Exporting products can be expensive, but there are software solutions that can help with cost control, economic freight analysis, and more. These solutions will be tailor made to your company to help ensure best results.

Choose a Good Logistics Company:

You’d be sending valuable products to your partners or customers in another country that’s miles away, so it’s important that you find a company to ship it safely and make sure that it arrives on time to its intended destination without any hitch. As such, you will want to choose a licensed customs broker that would be able to store, handle, and deliver your products on time and also handle all of the necessary legal paperwork and customs clearances. The bottom line, is that you want to ship your products safely, legally, and on time.

Utilizing the best technology can ensure that your products are always ending up in your customer’s hands. Freight Management Software can be a huge assistance in this as it handles the management of shipments, manifests, and customers. It can also include label printing, least cost routing, and real time quotes. A service like this can save you a lot of extra time and money so look into the best fit for your company. A happy customer is one with the product they purchased arriving in a timely, safe manner.

Knowing how to export your product properly can be the key to turning your small business into a huge enterprise. As such, it’s important to keep these pointers in mind when you’re shipping your products abroad.