Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
Mar19

Airbrush Plush Review

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Airbrush Plush Review

Hello! This past Friday, Johnny and I had the most amazing time celebrating our eldest niece for her sixth birthday. We wanted it to be the ultimate Treat Day for her and she gave us a grand plan of what she would like to do: Dinner at Chipotle, a shopping spree at Target, and a slumber party at our apartment. So that is exactly what we did!! After noshing at Chipotle, we shopped till we dropped at Target. Our niece picked out plenty of toys and a couple of crafts and it was so sweet that she wanted to play with everything and complete the crafts with us. On Saturday morning, we broke out the Airbrush Plush craft kit and it was seriously the cutest little project and the kiddo loved it. Check it out:

As soon as our niece locked eyes on the Airbrush Plush kit, she was all about it lol. Anything that comes with a unicorn plushie is an instant yes so into the cart it went! I was really excited to help her with this craft because it was so delightfully reminiscent of the DoodleBear. The DoodleBear was a toy that I had as a child and it was basically the OG version of the Airbrush Plush. It was a teddy bear that came with markers, you could color all over it, and then wash it and do it again. The Airbrush Plush had all the same sentiments and my niece couldn’t believe I played with something so similar when I was little too.

This kit cost twenty bucks and I consider it to be money well spent based on the fun factor alone. The ease of use and the fact that you can rinse and repeat the process only solidified that and it would be such a great gift or a craft to pick up for a rainy day. The Airbrush Plush kit came with an airbrush, four markers, and plenty of stencils in a wide variety of patterns. All Johnny and I had to do was put two AA batteries in the airbrush and our niece was able to handle the rest completely on her own. She had a solid idea of how she wanted her plushie to look and airbrushed away until she was satisfied, then added stencils to give the unicorn magic powers lol. Our hearts exploded when she said she was giving the plushie “rock n roll” hair!! We have taught her well. ❤

The Airbrush Plush fully dried in under twenty minutes, the cleanup was nonexistent, and I think we were all very happy with this purchase. If you were a 90s kid and unlocked a core memory with the DoodleBear mention, you will enjoy it just as much too. Highly recommend!

What was your favorite toy as a child? What is a really cool toy that your kiddo has? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar18

Are You Ready For A Big Change?

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Are You Ready For A Big Change?

Hello!! Whether it is a change that is expected or not, change can be really hard. However, change is necessary and, more often than not, the risk is worth the reward. I have some big changes coming up in the next few months and despite feeling a little stressed, I am mainly excited! After spending a lot of time mulling over my decision, I was able to reach a conclusion that was best for me. Here are the approaches that I took that I found to be the most helpful and maybe they will help you too for your next big adventure:

Time Travel:

Are you currently feeling unhappy with where you’re at? Then, I invite you to time travel! Go back and think about the last point in your life when you were feeling fully content. What was your situation back then? What changed between then and now? Can you make the changes to get those feel good feelings back? When you can pinpoint that moment in time, you can really start to evaluate what was working for and against you. Even if you can’t make a huge change immediately to get your life on a more positive trajectory, you will have a place to start when the time comes.

Plan A, B, & C:

Of course, making major life changes requires a lot of planning. In my situation, I made my perfect world plan as well as several backup options that I would be happy with too. When you have a Plan A, a backup plan, and a backup to your backup plan, you are well set to implement them anyway you see fit. It could be a combination of the three or you might find that one plan has everything and you are going for it. Putting all of your eggs in one basket definitely means betting on yourself but, remember, sometimes compromises will need to be made to get you to where you want to be!

When You Know, You Know:

Does simply the thought of making a change make you happy? Or maybe you have a gut feeling that a shift in your life needs to be made? Don’t ignore that! No one but you can tell you what’s right for you so listen to yourself. What’s best for you might not be the decision a partner or loved one would make and that’s okay because it’s your life. Only you can direct where it’s going to take you so if you are experiencing that desire for change, work with it.

Challenge Your Thoughts:

A big life change can sometimes feel like a grieving process. You are switching up the norm and that can be difficult to wrap your head around. However, implementing a necessary change is going to be a lot harder if you are constantly going back and forth about it in your head. Be firm and confident in the decision you arrived at and challenge those wishy washy thoughts. This is why it is so important to plan, plan, plan because solid next steps can allow you to go forth knowing without a doubt that you made the right choice.

If you feel ready for a big change – go for it full steam ahead. You never know where it will take you but the chances are high that you’re going to feel a lot better!

Have you had a big change in your life recently? What helped you during that process? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar17

Guitar Lessons

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Guitar Lessons

Hi! My Johnny is an exceptionally gifted musician and it is one of my favorite things to hear him play. He truly brings music with him everywhere he goes – whether he is playing you a song he thinks you would love, expanding his record collection, or accurately playing air guitar anytime we are listening to a sweet solo. And, of course, he revels in being able to teach others too. He adores showing our eldest niece the ropes on the keyboard, guitar, and ukulele and they practice under the name: The Rainbow Band lol. So cute! He also recently began giving my dad guitar lessons:

About a month or so ago, my dad asked me if Johnny would be willing to give him some guitar lessons. I immediately told him “of course” because I knew Johnny would say the exact same. He lives for this! My dad has had a guitar for forever and knows some of the basics and wanted to improve on them. So, every other Wednesday, Johnny comes over after work to help make it happen. My dad has been practicing every day since their first lesson and that in itself is music to Johnny’s ears. This is his love language to the T and being able to express that is a gift for all parties involved.

This past Wednesday, I ran an errand for my parents and when I got back, Johnny and dad were setting up for their lesson. I stuck around for a bit to get a progress report and was so impressed. They were strumming along to Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses together and it sounded pretty good!! That song is actually the first one I ice skated to in competition and, of course, it’s hilarious if you have seen the movie Step Brothers lol. They spent their lesson working through the song, which is exactly how Johnny learned to play guitar. It makes me so happy that my dad and Johnny are doing this together and my main squeeze always looks forward to it. I know my future rock star dad does too!

Should my dad and Johnny’s band hit the big time, you now know how it all started. I see a triple platinum record in the future!

Do you play an instrument? What instrument do you wish you could play? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar16

Physical Signs You Need A Change

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Physical Signs You Need A Change

Howdy!! Sometimes life changes are expected, welcomed, and can happen gradually. Other times, you might find yourself in a situation where a change is necessary for your own well being. Whether it be a high stress job, toxic relationship, or an environment that no longer feels safe – it is so important to formulate a plan and follow through to get yourself back on track. Listen carefully to your mind and body because if you are in tune with them, you won’t miss the warning signs they are sending you to consider other options. I recently found myself in a situation that warranted a change, completely ignored my better judgement, and ended up with true, noticeable physical symptoms of duress. If you are experiencing any of the following in your situation, it’s time to reevaluate things:

Loss of Appetite:

I have always had a very healthy appetite and look forward to eating my favorite foods at mealtime. That was not the case at all recently. I was SO stressed out and under SO much mental strain that my appetite completely went out the window. I wasn’t feeling hunger and literally had to force myself to eat. Even with my favorite dishes in front of me, I could barely muster taking a bite, let alone finish the entire meal. And, oftentimes, I was left nauseated after a couple of forkfuls. Combined with the next symptom we are going to discuss, I was literally running on fumes. The good news? After I implemented my change, my appetite came back and I was ravenous. I would have a meal, an hour or two later I was starving, and I would eat again. I clearly had a lot of catching up to do!

Disturbed Sleep:

When you sleep, your body is healing itself. When your sleep pattern experiences a shocking alteration, all I’ve got to say is good luck tomorrow lol. Racing thoughts kept me up until all hours of the night for days in a row and my anxiety was so heightened it felt like a constant panic attack. My heart consistently felt like I was running a marathon and it was so exhausting. Paired with not sleeping and barely eating, I was in full fledged zombie mode and getting through each day felt impossible. The good news? After I implemented my change, I slept like a baby! I am still catching up on my Z’s and I actually had to lay down in the middle of writing this. Never, ever devalue the power of a good night’s sleep because it is going to catch up with you quicker than you might think.

An Unexpected Visit:

For people who menstruate, I am talking to YOU lol. This might be TMI and I don’t care. During an extremely stressful situation a few years ago, my hormones got super out of whack and it triggered a period. I had no idea that could even happen and ended up going to the ER. It was scary! This past week, I had a surprise period weeks before I was due for my cycle. When I was greeted with this unexpected guest was when I decided enough was enough because it was like the trifecta of awful: No sleep, no nourishment, and a wicked early period to boot. The evidence at this point was indisputable and I needed a change ASAFP.

Getting out of a difficult situation can be SO hard even if the change is nothing but positive. Remember that no one can discredit your feelings and doing what’s best for you is the most important thing!

What is something that stresses you out? Do you struggle with making changes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar15

What’s Cookin?!

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What’s Cookin?!

Hello!! One of my favorite things in the world is to cook dinner. I love being able to spend time doing my thing in the kitchen and creating something delicious for Johnny and myself after work. And, because I will never master the fine art of cooking for two, I always have plenty to share with my parents and beloved downstairs neighbor, Tony. Despite loving to cook and fixing a plate for my loved ones, I find that it is the first thing that falls by the wayside when I am having a mental health moment (Or week or month but who’s counting lol).

The lack of desire to cook and sheer exhaustion physically and mentally was definitely the case for me recently. However, I am pleased to report that your girl is back! I am feeling much better and it felt so good to be able to make some of mine and Johnny’s favorite dishes. I whipped up a big pot of Fettuccine Alfredo and chicken breast for him. I also made my world famous spruced up baked potatoes and jalapeno popper quesadillas! And, of course, Johnny ran a plate down to Tony and I fixed a plate for my parents too.

The combined act of not only preparing the food but sharing it is so satisfying to me and I take pride in being the neighbor and daughter that surprises someone with a home cooked meal. I expect nothing in return for this because it’s truly my pleasure. It’s always nice to be complimented, though, and this text exchange with my mom made my day:

I guess the moral of the story is a few things. First and foremost, if you are noticing that some of your favorite hobbies or passions are becoming difficult to do – it’s okay!! However, it’s going to be glorious when you get that desire back and this post is a testament to that. Don’t beat yourself up over taking a break because you’re just going to feel worse. Rather, get back in your flow little by little and when you are back – You’re back, baby!

Second, if you have something to share – share away! Whether it’s posting your artwork on social media, fixing an extra plate for a loved one, or mowing your neighbor’s lawn, doing good feels good. Your gifts, skills, passions, and hobbies are all valuable and I’m not talking money. These are all things that someone, somewhere is going to appreciate and that makes what you are doing even more special. For example, I love knowing that my neighbor or parents aren’t going to have to cook dinner for themselves when I share the bounty. This is not only an act of kindness for them but myself too so share liberally because it’s going to do your world a world of good. ❤

I am back to being genuinely excited about cooking and it’s an amazing place to be. I hope all of you are finding full passion in the things that make you happy too!

What is your favorite hobby? How do you share it with others? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar14

Spring Flower Surprise

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Spring Flower Surprise

Hello! The weather in Ohio these past few weeks has been crazy. It went from single digit temperatures and snow to a full fledged heat wave this entire week. Since Sunday, we have been experiencing blessedly warm temperatures in the high fifties and low sixties. It might even get up to seventy degrees this weekend! I have been loving it and it feels so weird to not be bundling up in a million layers every time I step foot outside. The sunshine alone has put a huge pep back in my step because my seasonal depression has kicked rocks and left me with plain old depression lol. But, hey, that’s manageable! 😀

Because the weather did a complete one eighty, spring flowers weren’t anywhere on my mind because it just seemed too early. However, I had an amazing surprise when I worked at chez mom and dad on Tuesday. My dad let me know that a patch of pretty yellow flowers had bloomed! Check it out:

When I visited the backyard before heading home, I was expecting to see a couple of flowers bravely peeking out of the ground. I was so shocked to see a huge patch of yellow flowers, instead! It took my breath away to see the petals dancing in the wind and was just what I needed after having a lot of recent stress. It felt so good to see these beautiful blooms, gulp down the fresh air, and have a big smile on my face. I think I could have stood out there all day. I always look forward to the first flowers of spring and these ones were there when I needed it most – I am so appreciative for that. ❤

I hope these flowers brightened your day as much as it did mine. Here’s to warm weather and all the spring flowers!

What is your favorite flower? What do you look forward to in the spring? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar13

Pearlessence Argan + Vitamin E Facial Oil Review

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Pearlessence Argan + Vitamin E Facial Oil Review

Hello! This past winter, I decided to dabble in facial oils when shopping skin care. Ohio winters are absolutely frigid and I figured some extra hydration to combat dry skin couldn’t hurt. The first facial oil I tried was by CleanBeauty and it was not it, whatsoever. It was incredibly heavy and literally just sat on my face all day. I was so happy when I completed the bottle! After that epic failure, I just wanted to use the other facial oil that I purchased, one by Pearlessence, and be done with it. I am currently using their Argan + Vitamin E Facial Oil and it’s actually not so bad! Let’s discuss:

In comparison to the last facial oil I used, the Pearlessence one is nowhere near as heavy. Yes, it still feels like an oil lol but it doesn’t feel suffocating on the skin. And, with a thin enough layer, it absorbs somewhat and that is another huge plus. My skin definitely feels nourished after using it and looks bright and awake. The question is, would I use a facial oil again after this one? The answer: HARD NO!

Trying facial oils was something that sounded like a great idea at the time and it made sense as I prepped my skin care supply for winter. Despite the Pearlessence oil being significantly lighter than its predecessor, I still can’t stand the way it feels lol. At the end of the day, it only absorbs somewhat and I despise the greasy feeling of something like that on my skin. That’s exactly why I only put lotion on before I’m about to fall asleep! The moral of the story? If you aren’t experiencing significant dryness, stick to your normal serum instead. Regardless of the freezing winter temperatures and biting wind, my skin just wasn’t at a level that would benefit from a facial oil. I can’t wait to start using regular serums again. 😀

If you are on the market for a less intense facial oil, the Pearlessence Argan + Vitamin E is pretty good. But, if you’re not – this is certainly a product you can skip on!

Do you change your skin care with the seasons? What kind of skin care do you use for warm weather? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar12

Spring Cleaning In Small Doses

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Spring Cleaning In Small Doses

Howdy! During my last bout of Spring Cleaning, I had a GREAT SUCCESS because I located one of my favorite tank tops that has been missing for literal years. It was a simple black tank top by Rachel Zoe but it fit so perfectly, went with everything, and was one of my go to tops in the summer. I truly thought it was gone to the world and was beyond happy when I uncovered it amungst the clutter. I have to admit that, since then, my cleaning only went as far as necessary chores but I got back into the swing of things this weekend, baby! I have been using the Small Doses approach to get my apartment back in tiptop shape and this is what has helped me because, let’s be real, Spring Cleaning can be kind of overwhelming:

First Things First:

Sometimes, you just might not have the energy to clean and that is okay! If you planned on deep cleaning after work and had a long day, relax instead. At this point, one more day or two isn’t going to make a difference and you can get back at it better rested. This is something that isn’t worth beating yourself up about so take care of you and you can take care of the rest tomorrow. I have been really worn out recently and every intention I had of cleaning after work went out the window. At first, I was definitely mentally berating myself lol. However, this wasn’t doing me any favors and I made plans to clean this weekend and followed through.

Baby Steps:

I have been cleaning little by little and I love the instant gratification I feel from it. It’s so rewarding and it makes me want to clean more! I also find that I achieve a deeper, better clean when I focus on one thing at a time. I start by targetting one area that I would like to see improved and go from there. This past weekend, there were three things I wanted to do: Clean the bathrooms, clear off my catchall kitchen table, and clear through and consolidate our bedroom closet. I did two of those tasks on Saturday and completed my list on Sunday. Despite the fact that these were smaller chores, the difference was so noticable and it felt good!

Donate/Trash Liberally:

What is your spring cleaning goal? Is it a sparkling home from top to bottom? Getting your yard in pristine condition? In my case, my main goal is clearing clutter. Listen, Johnny and I are packrats lol. After being together for over five years, we have compiled a lot of stuff and we simply don’t need it. By establishing my objective, it definitely made it easier to add to the trash/donate bags and create more tasks with my goal in mind. This is why my next items on the To Clean list are going to be clearing off our coffee table and TV stand as well as going through our multitude of clothing to donate.

Regular Upkeep:

I like the Small Doses approach because I think it’s totally easier, but also because it gives me a chance to make better choices with the upkeep. Doing a little bit at a time helps me establish good habits with what I have already done and gives me the opportunity to practice them before adding something new. For example, after getting home from work I put everything back in its proper place rather than all over my catchall table. I am also putting all of the clothes away immediately after doing laundry to prevent any pileups. Once again, small chores but a big effect!

Spring Cleaning isn’t just about cleaning, but about making better habits too. I am really happy with my progress so far!

Have you started any spring cleaning? What is your least favorite chore? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar11

Fun & Games: Horrified – World Of Monsters Edition

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Fun & Games: Horrified – World Of Monsters Edition

Hello! Johnny and I love playing board games together and one of our favorites is, hands down, Horrified. In this co-op game, your mission is to work as a team and save a village from classic horror movie monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein and his Bride, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Each monster has its own unique way of being defeated with tasks you must complete and all the while, you have to protect yourself, teammates, and villagers on the board. It is so much fun!!

We have gotten great use out of Horrified and Johnny and I always hoped they would make a new board with new monsters. You could imagine our surprise when we found out there was three! In addition to the original, there is a board for American Monsters, Greek Monsters, and World of Monsters. This past weekend, we made a Target Run to see if they had any of these new boards available. They had World of Monsters and we played it as soon as we got home. We had an absolute blast!

The premise of World of Monsters is the exact same as the original Horrified but with brand new heroes, monsters, villagers, items, action cards, and objectives. In World of Monsters, you can go toe to toe with the Sphinx, Yeti, Jiangshi, and Cthulhu. As per the game’s recommendation, we battled the Sphinx and Yeti first to get a feel for the board. Johnny played as the Buccaneer and I chose the Parapsychologist. Both of these heroes worked really well together and we were able to utilize their strengths for optimal results because we reigned victorious. Granted, our Life Counter was getting down to the wire but we still won so who cares lol.

Despite the fact that the way you play the other Horrified games doesn’t change, World of Monsters still felt so fresh and new. It was exciting to see everything the new board had to offer and it looked amazing too! If you are as big of fans of the first game as Johnny and I am, then this is a must buy. We plan on getting the other two boards as well and I have a feeling we are going to be playing a lot. I am SO not mad about this and would love to pencil in a game if we are both up for it after work instead of retiring to the couch. These new boards are what we have been waiting for and, as great as the original is, it’s going to make returning to it after playing something different even better!

Horrified is an easy to learn, fast, total blast of a game and I cannot recommend World of Monsters enough. And I cannot wait to play more!!

What is your favorite board game? Have you played Horrified before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar10

Vegetarian Friendly Ramen

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Vegetarian Friendly Ramen

Howdy!! I have been a vegetarian for as long as I can remember and I will forever be checking the labels of food at the store/where the food is prepared in restaurants. I refuse to let my streak be broken and that often means not getting the things that I would like to try. Soup is a shining example of this because a majority of what you’re buying in store is made with some type of meat based broth. Another food that has fairly limited options is ramen. There’s a million noodle packs for carnivores and one or two for vegetarians!

I have tried a handful of quick to go vegetarian ramen and none of them have ever done much for me. However, I have had a lot of luck in finding my favorite kind during my past few grocery trips. This specific kind of ramen isn’t always available so I get a ton when it is for a speedy and cheap meal. If you are forever on the hunt for a good vegetarian ramen, I can’t recommend this kind enough:

A little sweet, a little spicy, and a little over a dollar – this Sweet Chili ramen is the bomb.com ! It is bold, flavorful, and filling and I actually just had a cup prior to writing this lol. What can I say, I decided to switch my breakfast up from my recent avocado toast kick! It might not seem like much, but it really is a beautiful thing when you can find a food that you like that adheres to your dietary restrictions. In cases like this, it’s like finding the holy grail and you are in for a treat if you try it too. It is SO. Freaking. Yummy!!

The Chili Lime ramen has become my foolproof option and it is easily the best out of every kind I have tried before. 12/10!

What are some of your favorite vegetarian options at the grocery store? Do you have a favorite meatless brand? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah