Author Archives: lifewithlilred

Unknown's avatar

About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
Mar22

How Do You Connect With Your Parents?

Posted on by
Standard
How Do You Connect With Your Parents?

When you’re a child, your parents are the center of your world. It’s difficult to imagine that you could one day not need to have them around anymore. However, as you grow older, your relationship evolves. You are not an inexperienced child anymore. You’re an adult. And with the realization that you can do everything you want by yourself comes another one: You don’t need your parents anymore. You can be sure that they are aware of it. As a result, a lot of adults struggle to maintain a sane and happy relationship with their parents. If this is something that you are having a hard time with, then try utilizing the tips below:

#1. Twin your hobbies

Hobbies are a great way to bond, so why not find something you both enjoy? Gardening is a great activity that you can both share without needing to be in the same place. You can discuss your plans for your respective gardens and exchange tips and tools. You could even share flowers by giving each other cuts from your favorite plants. If you don’t have a garden or don’t have the time or energy to manage your lawn and bushes, you can opt for a more relaxing approach. A zen garden is not only a tasteful addition to your interior decor, but it’s also a playful, meditative tool. You could compare designs and patterns, or even create a joint album on Facebook where you can both upload photos of your creations.

#2. Try something new together

New experiences are enriching. Your parents have watched you grow up, walk, and discover the world from the start. Reconnect with those feeling by choosing to try something new together. For instance, if you’ve never tried golf, you can take lessons together and rejoice in being the witness of each other’s discovery journey. You can find all of the equipment you need at a lower cost online – rock bottom golf is an excellent address for amateur golfers. If sports aren’t your thing, how about booking an escape room experience together? There’s nothing more rewarding than working together to beat the clock!

#3. You’re never too old to play games

Do you remember board game nights at home? Everyone has played Monopoly with their parents during the holiday. And, despite all of the frustrations that come with the game, it was fun to share a moment. When you play games, you connect at a deeper level. It goes beyond your age, life experience, or even social responsibilities. You are players all equal in the context of the game. If board games aren’t your cup of tea, video games are a fantastic choice. Over a quarter of gamers are 50+, meaning that age has never made any major difference. All you need is a gaming console that attaches to the TV, and you’re both ready to interact in the virtual world. With online platforms, you don’t even need to be in the same room!

#4. Booking a holiday together

If the idea of going on holiday with your parents is terrifying, you might want to give it a second thought. Most people find it challenging to survive a shared vacation. But you need to think beyond your family bond. The reason why most cross-generational holidays fail is that people revert to previous behavior patterns, namely your parents trying to care for you in the way they’re always used to and you, instinctively, react in the passive-aggressive way that you used to as a teenager. As a result, tensions occur. But, you can avoid this trap by treating your parents as friends, AKA equals. If you don’t give them the upper hand in the relationship, there is no reason for conflicts anymore.

#5. Plan regular catch-ups

Many adults complain that their parents are out of touch with their lives. Be honest, can you blame them? Do you give them the opportunity to know what is going on in your life? If you don’t organize regular catch-up dinners and casual meetings, they can never get to understand your hopes, passions, and struggles. Unless you share about yourself, people can’t stay updated about your journey.

#6. Group chat for everyone!

No time for a catch-up meal? Make the most of modern tools and create a group chat that keeps everyone in the loop. Family group chats can be frustrating at times. But, they’re the perfect tool to share little moments of your every day life, discuss big decisions, or merely check on how everyone is doing. By making your interactions more casual, you design a new relationship with your parents.

Adulthood can create distance between you and your parents. It’s never easy to change the base of a relationship. But, as you grow up and become independent, the foundation of your relationship naturally evolves. Don’t let it damage your bond. On the contrary, find new ways to get to know each other again.

Featured Image By: Flickr

Mar22

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Posted on by
Standard
Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Hello! Today is a very special, wonderful day because it is my mom’s birthday! Although my mom may look sweet, petite, and absolutely adorable (Which she is!) – she’s a total badass. Seriously. She beat cancer’s ass, she’s a doctor, and she still somehow manages to make time for everyone and every dog she encounters. In other words, she’s my hero. An inspiration to anyone she meets, myself especially, my mom really is the greatest. And, now, she is the greatest grandma, as well, to her granddaughter and my niece, Valerie.

In every adventure and obstacle that life sends my mom’s way, she handles it with the poise of a queen and comes out on top every time. I love you, mom, and I thank you for all that you have done to shape and inspire me into the *semi* badass that I am today!

Happy Birthday!! ❤

mom

Mar21

One Of Those Mornings

Posted on by
Standard
One Of Those Mornings

Hellooooooooo! Have you ever had one of those mornings where everything just seems to be so insanely UGH? It starts as soon as you wake up and it doesn’t end until you are caffeinated enough to get your shit together. When I’m tired, I normally suffer from a severe case of the dropsies and there is absolutely no telling where whatever is in my hand might end up. For example:

ugh

Lol, yes that is my heat protecting spray. And, yes, it definitely landed in the toilet. Haha, thank gawd it was nearly empty, anyways! Not only did my hair care make a splash into the throne but so much makeup landed in the trash can and I honestly have no idea how that happened. I guess I’ll blame it on being tired and funnel some more coffee down my mouth? Yeah? Yeah.

All I can hope for all of you, my darlings, is that none of your morning routine essentials end up in the toilet. Because, if that doesn’t happen, then I would say you’re off to a pretty good start for your day! 😀

How does your body react when you are tired? How much sleep do you need to get yourself through another day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar20

Tiny TJMaxx Haul

Posted on by
Standard
Tiny TJMaxx Haul

Helloo!! Whenever I get a gift card to TJMaxx, I always try to stock up on things that I know I’m going to need in the future. So, despite always wanting new shoes, I normally will purchase my skin care essentials like moisturizer, micellar water, and serums. My neighbor who I dogsit for treated me to a leftover TJs gift card of hers to spend while I was watching her pups and I ended up with two new moisturizers that I’m really looking forward to trying. Check it out:

scsc3sc1sc2sc4sc5sc6

^^^ First of all, peep the Cosmo and Wanda green and pink a la the Fairly Odd Parents! 😀

While browsing the beauty section, both of these Skin Lab moisturizers spoke to me. And, it was impossible to just choose one, considering they both have a really different formula but they each look equally as beneficial. I also liked how the packaging fully explained what each ingredient in the moisturizer does so that you feel like you’re taking charge of your skin care routine.

When choosing a moisturizer, texture is one of the most important things that I look for in determining if it will work for me or not. With normal skin, anything too heavy is just too much and doesn’t sit well under makeup. While anything too light leaves my skin feeling thirsty for more hydration. Both of these moisturizers have either a whipped or gel texture, which is exactly what I like. The gel one will be perfect during the warm summer days, while the whipped will be great for the spring, as it can still be chilly and windy.

Another added bonus, is that these two moisturizers together cost me about fifteen bucks, which definitely beats buying one for that price at a drugstore. I can’t wait to try both of these Skin Lab products out and all of you will be the first to know if they are worth trying out for yourself! 😀

What is your favorite store to get a gift card at? Do you have a skin care stockpile at home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar19

What The Sbux?

Posted on by
Standard
What The Sbux?

Hiii everyone! Before my surgery, I was all about getting iced coffee from Starbucks. A venti iced coffee with cream and vanilla would be my treat on Monday morning to begin my work week. So, before things went screwy and I was still working, I ordered my usual and went off to a client’s house.

During that visit, I was drinking my coffee (without a straw, a-thank-you) and all of a sudden, my mouth began bleeding profusely. I ran to the bathroom and spent five minutes spitting blood into the sink until I realized that I probably needed gauze. I acquired some and once I thought that it was safe to remove, my mouth began bleeding like a faucet again.

After that fateful incident, I was turned off from coffee and began a green tea kick. But, now, I have grown weary of all green tea everything and am ready to try something new. So, my question for everyone is what do they get from Starbucks? I tried my iced coffee order last week when I was working and it was just not as good as I remember it being. I would prefer something that’s calorie friendly with some coffee in it but not an extreme coffee taste.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!! ❤

What is your Starbucks order? Are you a coffee or tea drinker or both? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar18

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Silent Patient Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: The Silent Patient Edition

Helloooo! I just recently finished a book called The Silent Patient and, although I figured out the major twist before the grand reveal, I really enjoyed it! A thriller through and through, this book explores the effects of childhood trauma in an adult and what it means to be psychologically “killed”. Part detective story, part diary, and one hundred percent awesome, The Silent Patient was definitely worth the read.

silent

Alex Michaelides’ psychiatric facility thriller revolves around Theo, a psychotherapist, and Alicia, a patient who hasn’t uttered one word since killing her husband via multiple gunshots to the face. Theo transfers to the failing facility that Alicia is at with the intention of “rescuing” her. To do this, Theo begins to visit her estranged family and former business partners to gather a better understanding of who the mute Alicia really is.

In doing so, Theo learns of a troubled childhood and past that closely resembles his own family trauma in his youth. Then, things get especially interesting when Alicia bestows her diary onto Theo and we find out that in the days leading up to the murder she committed, she was being followed. Which begs the question if she really committed the murder at all.

Filled with multiple twists, turns, and Red Herrings, The Silent Patient was a fast read, because it was impossible to stop! I finished the three hundred twenty-five page book in two days and only wish that it could have been longer. If you are like me, then you enjoy trying to figure out the major plot twist before it happens. I revel in solving the mystery before it is revealed and my advice to those who will read it is to go with your gut instinct as soon as you start because, chances are, you are right!

I give this book a ten out of ten, no questions asked. It was one of the most unique thrillers that I’ve read in a good long while. The mental health aspect of it was fascinating and there was not one single character that I didn’t enjoy reading about. Give it a try, because you will not be disappointed. 😀

What is your favorite thriller? Do you like to try and solve the grand reveal while reading or watching a movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar17

Lil Red’s Book Club: Hidden Bodies Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: Hidden Bodies Edition

Howdy! Last week, I completely devoured YOU by Caroline Kepnes. Starving for more, I had to grab the sequel to Joe Goldberg’s super stalker story and ended up reading Hidden Bodies in two days. As many will agree, the follow up was not as good as the gripping first one. But, it was written exactly the same as the first, hence, it was totally un-put-down-able. Let’s discuss:

hidden

In Hidden Bodies, Joe Goldberg ditches gloomy New York for sunny LA. However, it wasn’t because he wanted to work on his tan. No, he just needed to seek revenge on the last girl that screwed him over. When Amy fled their relationship with a small fortune of rare books in tow, Joe used his uncanny ability to stalk his prey to find out that LA was her destination. So, he called it quits at Mooney’s, packed a duffel bag, and headed west.

Joe learned that Amy had hopes of becoming an actress but he also found that trying to locate his ex in LA was a lot harder than he initially thought. While on the prowl, he gets himself into more trouble and yet another relationship with an incredibly rich woman in the movie industry compliments of crashing an audition that Amy could have been at.

Once Joe begins his relationship with wealthy and older Love, the plot begins to get just the slightest bit far fetched. And by the slightest, I mean very. I enjoyed it, despite some of it reading like soft core porn. But, it just didn’t feel as creepy as its predecessor. Because of the too crazy to be true plot once finding Amy was completely abandoned, the overpowering sense of being watched and followed went out the window with it.

It was still a well written sequel and, because of that, it was a quick read although it was close to four hundred pages. But, I could have not read it and still been fine. However, I am not going to tell you to not read this book. At the end of the day, Joe Goldberg is hilarious. Yes, he’s an awful, sick, disgusting character and that’s putting it nicely. But, the Joeisms in Hidden Bodies were as rich as they were in YOU and you’ll be sure to get some good laughs in.

I am going to give Caroline Kepnes’s follow up a six out of ten. It was good, but not great. But, if you liked YOU, you’re not going to not like Hidden Bodies. Now, I am looking forward to the second season of the television show YOU to see if they incorporate any of this sequel into it!

What were your thoughts on YOU or Hidden Bodies? How did you feel about the TV show of YOU? I want to hear from all of YOU, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar16

Colt Johnson Shout Out

Posted on by
Standard
Colt Johnson Shout Out

Hi!! One of my Sunday evening traditions with my favorite cousin, Laura, who lives in Pittsburgh is watching 90 Day Fiance together. We love to watch the new episode and text the entire time, discussing the latest drama and making witty comments. If you watched the newest season on TLC, then you will know all about the craziness that was Colt, Larissa, and DEBBIE. Colt and Larissa were the couple that we all loved to hate and they provided Laura and I with endless hours of quality entertainment.

So, imagine my surprise when Laura emailed me a video of Colt, himself, talking directly to me! Lol, during Laura’s free time, she found a website where you can hire celebrities to make videos for you. She found Colt on the site and she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get him to congratulate me on my status as a new aunt. Check this shit out:

Guys… I really just can’t. As soon as Colt started saying my name I immediately texted Laura with “wtf is happening?” Lol and when I realized that he was talking to me the hysterical freaking out began. I laughed so hard I almost cried and I just had to share this beautiful shout out with all of you. Even if you don’t watch 90 Day Fiance, there is no denying the hilarity of this video and I cannot wait to return the favor to Laura with her own special hello from Coltee. 😀

Who else is a 90 Day Fiance fan? Which couple do you love to hate on that show? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Casino

Mar15

Refresh The Parts Of Your Home That Fade First

Posted on by
Standard
Refresh The Parts Of Your Home That Fade First

It’s a sad feeling when the home you once loved and cherished is fading away, but it will no doubt get to the point sooner or later. New home or not, the general wear and tear that it faces will lead you to want something more. You might even consider moving homes to something a bit more modern but, even then, the cracks will begin to show eventually, and it could be one of the biggest regrets of your life. Because we know how easy it is to think that a new home will be one without problems but, in fact, they can sometimes have more!

So, when you do feel like your home is beginning to fade, you need to think about how you can perk it back up again and make it look like a million dollars. It’s easy enough to bring an aging home back to life, you just have to think about the parts of your home that are fading first and what you’re going to be able to do about it. Luckily for you, we’re on hand to help and we think these top tips will bring a fading home back to life.

The Windows & Doors:

If you think about how often you mess with all of the windows and doors in your home, it should come as no surprise to you that they’re going to be one of the first things that fades away. It’s so easy for them to become chipped or damaged, especially the fragile paint that you’ll usually find surrounding your windows. Vinyl windows are the best thing that you can bring into your home and they’re going to look so good compared to your old ones if you feel like they’re wasting away. Plus, having new windows and frames installed is only going to improve the green side of your home, meaning you might just notice those bills dropping a bit more than you thought!

The Interior Decor:

The interior decor is going to be something you hold very close to your heart. You have your own style and we’re not about to try and change that. But, we do think that it’s so important that you take some time to update it yearly. Wallpaper may last two years or so, but after that it just becomes outdated. And if you inspect it closely enough, you will notice the wear and tear. So keeping it fresh every single year is a must and you have to admit that redecorating isn’t that expensive and is so fun once you get into it. You’ll often find that fresh decor is all you’re going to need to spruce your home up.

The Vibe:

The vibe of your home was probably something electric when you first started out. You had so much going on, so much happiness, and there just would have been a buzz about it. But, now, things can easily change when you realize how hard owning a home is and how the novelty wears off after a few months. But, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t host monthly gatherings to keep a good vibe going in your home. As long as you surround it with fun, you will feel great!

With spring just around the corner, give your home a little makeover and watch it come back to life in full bloom.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Mar15

How To Set Up A Welcoming Guest Room

Posted on by
Standard
How To Set Up A Welcoming Guest Room

If you have guests staying with you, then you want to make them feel both welcomed and comfortable during their visit. In a previous article, https://lifewithlilred.com/how-to-prepare-your-home-for-guests/, we provided you with some general tips on preparing your home for your guests but, in this post, we are going to go into greater detail on the guest room itself:

#1: Provide essential furniture

You don’t want your guests sleeping on a mattress on the floor or living from their suitcase. In terms of feeling welcomed, that isn’t very welcoming at all! You need to provide those pieces of furniture that should be considered essential. We are, of course, talking about a comfortable bed, a dresser for their clothes, and a mirror, so they can beautify themselves in the morning before joining you for breakfast. You can buy all of this and many more essential pieces of furniture at discounted rates at https://shopdiscountdirect.com/shop/bedrooms; perfect for you if you’re on a budget! Alternatively, shop around online or on the high street but, for the sake of your guests, do try to get the best that your money can buy.

#2: Clear the room

If your guests are staying for an extended period, you should clear the room of any clutter or personal possessions pertaining to you. Clear table spaces for their personal items and ensure that there is enough floor space for their bags, etc. When it comes to the guest room, less is more, so don’t over stuff it with things you think they might like. Stick to the basics, such as a clock, calendar, and the furniture we mentioned, and let your guests have the room to make it just how they like during their stay.

As you clear the guest room of any personal clutter, you might find that these items are cluttering the rest of the house! Fear not and and consider smart storage furniture in the guest room as you remodel it. Furnishings from millie and jones, for example, often feature storage options built directly into their bed frames. You will be able to tuck your own mementos away and prevent it from overflowing into other spaces in your house.

#3: Focus on comfort

Okay, so you have bought them a bed, but don’t forget to buy a comfortable mattress, too. And remember to buy quality bed linen, pillows, mattress toppers, and extra blankets to add to their comfort level. If they are staying for a while, you should also have extra bed sheets and pillowcases available, with the option of room service if you are happy to change their bedding for them! Aside from the bed, consider putting an extra armchair or a small sofa in there, as well. Alongside a table and a lamp, they will then have somewhere to relax in the room, without having to sit on the bed when they are in the need for some alone time.

#4: Provide a home away from home experience

You might need space away from your guests at certain times of the day and, with no offense to you, they might need personal time with their own company too! Therefore, give your guests a room that is worth living in. A miniature refrigerator stocked with drinks and snacks will satisfy them should they need refreshments. You might include tea and coffee facilities too, as well as a bowl of fruit, cookies, and other snacking items.

Then, think about giving your guest something to do in the room. Perhaps a magazine rack stocked with the latest editions or a bookshelf with both fiction and non-fiction. You could also add a television and DVD player with films and box sets to go with them. Finally, a desk and chair which will be useful if your guests are bringing their computers with them to do some work during their stay.

After putting some effort into creating a welcoming guest room, your guests will want to return to you again and again. Unless, of course, you are trying to deter anybody from staying with you. In which case, do as we told you not to, and give them that mattress on the floor of your cluttered room! Of course, we’re sure you’re not that unkind!

Featured Image By: Pxhere