Category Archives: Anything & Everything

Mar23

Duolingo Progress

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Duolingo Progress

Hi! For those of you who don’t know, one of my favorite hobbies is learning new languages. I would say that I am fluent in French and, thanks to Duolingo, I have spent the past few months working on Spanish. I was going to just focus on those two languages for the time being but, then, I watched a fantastic film over the weekend called The Green Book and it was absolutely impossible to not start learning Italian afterwards!

Every day, I try to practice for at least thirty minutes between the three languages and it makes me feel so good. I love to learn and it feels awesome to gain a new skill as well as do something that makes me genuinely happy. I really do stand by the phrase that I loosely toss around on here that “knowledge is power”. Learning a new phrase in a language or a fact per day is empowering. You don’t have to be in school to continue your education and it makes it even better when you are teaching yourself.

I am so thankful for Duolingo, 1) because it’s completely free and 2) because it allows my skills to flourish. And, did I mention that it’s fun?! So much fun, that I think I will go practice my trifecta of languages now. 😀

Who else uses the Duolingo app? What languages are you learning? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar12

Super Cute Stuff

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Super Cute Stuff

Howdy! As you all can tell, I have been reading a lot lately. There is nothing better than diving into a good book and I am currently hunkering down with The Innocent Client every chance I can get! With all of this reading, a super cute book mark is a must and the one that I’m using never ceases to make me smile, because there’s an adorable story behind it. Take a look and I’ll tell you all about it:

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On the second day out from my surgery gone wrong in December, I wanted nothing more than some ice cream from the parlor down the street, Handel’s. Their ice cream is delicious with a variety of flavors to pick from and I knew that it would feel so good on my aching mouth. I decided that I wanted the Peppermint Stick ice cream and my dad left to get it for me. But, I almost instantly changed my mind as soon as he departed and realized I wanted chocolate, instead, because I was really miserable.

The catch, is that my dad doesn’t have a cell phone so there was no way he would know that the Peppermint Stick was a no go. So, in my pain pill induced stupor, I called Handel’s and let them know the dire situation at hand. I described my dad’s appearance and my desperate need for chocolate and they said that they would pass the memo along. They probably thought that I was crazy, but I was proud to have handled my needs because I was super out of it.

I eagerly awaited my ice cream and when my dad returned home, he said that the container was already waiting there for him and he just had to pay. When I opened the bag up, I saw the darling handwritten note seen above and I was tickled. It was so sweet and I needed that, because I was hurting so badly.

I kept the note on my bedside table and it has become the perfect book mark during my reading extravaganzas. It doesn’t take much to make someone smile and, little does the employee who helped me know, she makes me smile every day!

How have you made someone smile today? What is your favorite ice cream flavor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan7

Three Simple Steps To A Happier 2019

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Three Simple Steps To A Happier 2019

Want to be happier, more positive and upbeat this year? Of course you do! Even if you don’t see yourself as a naturally chipper individual there’s plenty that you can do to improve your mood and start enjoying life more. Here are three steps you can take towards a happier 2019:

Exercise:

When you think about happiness, for most of us, exercise isn’t the first thing that springs to mind. It’s hard work and it can be a bit of a chore, however, it’s incredibly good for your mental as well as physical health. Exercise regulates hormones, can help you to sleep better and, despite it being tiring, it actually gives you more energy. If you’re in a bit of a slump and feel like you have no ‘get up and go’, sign up for the gym and give it a try. If you’re not one for the gym, long hikes with your dog, swimming, cycling, or whatever else gets you moving can be just as good!

Learn:

When we leave formal education and get a job, most of us stop making an effort to learn new things. But it shouldn’t be the case, regardless of what you’re interested in. There’s so much information out there that you don’t yet know! You could research a topic yourself using articles, online libraries, podcasts, and more. You could attend a course, the subject doesn’t necessarily have to be academic – it could be art, baking, or another kind of craft.

Another option would be to take on some official education, whether it’s an online degree or paralegal studies to further your existing law qualifications, this kind of study can help you to progress in your career. Learning new things gives us satisfaction, something to work on, and it feels good when we reach our goals. Feel like you’re stagnating? Choose a topic and hit the books, whether it’s just for yourself or for your career.

Give:

You might feel as though you don’t have much to give. For example, you might feel like unless you have lots of money to give that there’s not much you can do to help a charity. But it’s simply not the case. You could hold a fundraiser and get people to sponsor you or your workplace. You could volunteer your time, spending an hour a week at a soup kitchen, a women’s hostel, or an animal shelter. Even a couple of dollars a month helps these kinds of organizations.

Giving back in some way to a cause that does good benefits both you and them. It helps them to continue on in their work and it makes you feel good, too. It’s nice knowing that you’ve been able to help and that your time and efforts have been appreciated. See if there are any charities or schemes locally that are in need of help, most are usually desperate for volunteers and donations as they don’t receive any kind of government funding.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan7

How To Make Your Wedding The Wedding Of The Year

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How To Make Your Wedding The Wedding Of The Year

Planning a wedding can be a very trying and stressful experience. There are a lot of things you are going to need to consider, and many things that can go wrong. It is important to make sure you have thought hard about the different elements of the wedding, ensuring everyone has one of the best and most memorable weddings ever. Here are just a few things to consider when planning your wedding:

Choose the Right Venue:

The most important part of the process when it comes to planning a wedding is to choose the right venue. There are so many things that have to happen in order to achieve a memorable day, but there is no doubt that the right venue is at the top of the list, as your day is going to be built around the location. Of course, a prime location for guests doesn’t necessarily apply if you are planning to elope with services like https://geoffwilkings.com/helicopter-elopement-packages-alberta/ . The perfect venue for you and your partner is just a helicopter ride away!

When selecting the venue, you will want somewhere scenic for amazing pictures and spacious enough to comfortably accommodate your guests. It is a good idea to visit several different options while keeping in mind your number of guests as well as the layout of the tables and chairs. A venue that may seem perfect might not be big enough when seating arrangements are added. To begin exploring venue options, simply enter a search for “wedding reception venue in london” (or your local area). Go in with a solid plan and don’t forget to have fun because this is so exciting!

Get the Table Plan Sorted:

There are a lot of other things you are going to have to keep in mind, and one of the biggest is making sure that you get the table plan sorted. This is something that you need to focus on because it can make a big difference to the way people are able to interact, and can have a good bearing on the way they experience the day. The table plan will cause stress, and you might like to have a couple of goes at getting it as right as possible.

Photo Booth:

A photo booth is an absolute must for modern weddings – even if you do have a photographer. A photo booth is an excellent way of being able to get more unique photos, as well as group shots and couple photos, especially with costumes and props. Take a look at the different photo booth backdrops for sale that you could use for your wedding in order to enhance the photo booth experience.

Make Sure There’s Plenty of Food:

Another of the most essential aspects of a wedding is making sure there is plenty of food. You don’t want to risk your guests going hungry, and this is why it is important to sort out food for the meal, as well as possibly a buffet for later in the evening. Remember that it is better to have too much food than not enough, so this is something to keep in mind.

Planning a wedding can be a time consuming and difficult task, but the tips above will keep your big day running as smoothly as possible!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jan2

Gift Ideas Inspired By Nature

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Gift Ideas Inspired By Nature

When it comes to giving gifts, you can choose to head to a department store and you are sure to get something beautiful and thoughtful. But, sometimes, it’s great to give something a little more meaningful and likely to be treasured and used for longer. When people say natural gifts, it can conjure up all sorts of images and ideas, but if you know someone who cares about the environment, prefers natural products, or has a bit of a hippy heart, then these gifts will be perfect for them. This has the extra bonus of supporting some smaller businesses, too.

“My favorite things often have a story behind them and are usually handmade or discovered at a flea market.” – Amy Sedaris

Handmade soaps:

You will often find with handmade soaps that these are home-based businesses with one person behind the whole range. If you have allergies or your skin doesn’t love some ingredients from mass producers, you’re likely to be able to use these. They are usually 100% organic, packed with pure essential oils, and smell fantastic.

Felt booties:

Slippers or boots handmade from 100% wool, and natural rubber. From farm to foot is a great ethos to live by. Usually made in part by hand and part by machine, you know you’re going to get a lovely product with a lot of care and attention to detail.

Cold water essential oil diffuser:

An essential oil diffuser will disperse gorgeous scents all over the home. You can choose different fragrances depending on what mood you are trying to create. To create a calming environment, especially when someone is feeling run down, use lemon. Lavender is perfect for soothing anxiety and aiding sleep. Cinnamon helps concentration and creates a warm atmosphere. Use Peppermint for brainstorming and boosting energy and Rosemary to help you recall information and ward off headaches.

Metal straws:

Many places have banned single-use plastics and are pushing to only have plastic straws for those who really need them. But, sometimes, sipping a cold drink with a straw is a particular type of bliss. Get your friend (and yourself) a pack of metal straws to do your share in waste reduction.

And, speaking of waste reduction, it is almost impossible to cook a meal without having some waste produced. If your friend doesn’t already compost, now might be the perfect time to start. You could gift them with a large composter for in the garden or a smaller more portable one for the kitchen. A compost pail will help your friend reduce their carbon footprint considerably. Many pails come with charcoal filters, which will help trap and control the odors that are often associated with composting. Once the compost is created, it can be used to grow herbs and more veggies.

Plants are great gifting options, too. Not every eco-friendly person is great at taking care of plants, though. So bear that in mind and perhaps opt for something that is easy to look after. Succulents are very popular right now, have a gorgeous effect on their surroundings, and are easy to care for. Air plants are also wildly popular with people who simply can’t seem to keep anything alive. Tillandsias as they are known, require no soil, and can grow simply by being hot glued to an object. All they need is a mist of water once a week or so.

Solid deodorant:

Ditch the roll-on or spray deodorant for something a little more earth-friendly. You can pick up a pot of solid deodorant made from skin loving ingredients that work hard all day to prevent you from sweating and work just as well as anything you’ll buy in store.

Great tea:

A good cup of tea at the right time can change your life. There are many, many brands of tea but you could spend some extra time looking for handmade teas that have a benefit to the local area or the makers directly. This is a double whammy, as you can also choose a beverage that has health benefits like aiding digestion, heart health, or calming teas. Gift loose leaves with a reusable tea bag for maximum eco-friendliness.

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Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

If your recipient is looking to increase their knowledge in all the ways that they can have a positive impact on the planet, then you should take a look at some of the best books around at the moment. Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste, by Bea Johnson is a great choice. This Changes Everything – Capitalism vs. Climate is written by Naomi Klein and talks environment and the ‘free market.’ Or, some inspirational literature like Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, or Wild: A Journey from Lost to Found by Cheryl Strayed.

When it comes to giving gifts, the thought far outweighs the price that has been paid. So get your friend or family member something that will mean a great deal to them while being kind to the world.

Featured Image By: Vladimir Proskurovskiy on Unsplash

Nov30

Get More Involved In Your Local Community

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Get More Involved In Your Local Community

Whether you have recently moved into a new area or you are just keen to try and improve your current sociability, you will find that it is a great idea to try and get more involved in your local community whenever possible. Getting more involved is often merely a matter of doing more and getting out there as a way to have some fun, do good, and meet new friends. In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the activities in particular you might want to consider if you are going to try and get more involved in your local community. Consider some of the following and you’ll be surprised at the difference that it makes:

Play Sports:

Playing sports is an activity that is offered in almost every community. The sport that you choose to play is up to you, but it might prove especially expedient if you go for one that is strongly team-focused, so that you can meet many more people. You will find that sports such as softball and baseball and so on are especially good for this. If there are no such groups out there, grab some softball lineup cards, find a place to play, and start one!

Take An Evening Class:

If there is some skill or ability that you have always wanted to have, you might want to consider taking some kind of evening class, instead. You are bound to be able to find some in your local area, and hopefully a few that spike your personal interest. The benefit of this, is that if you go and learn about something that interests you, you are bound to meet a number of like-minded people and, in doing so, you will find that you will soon become a real part of the community. This is one of the surest and swiftest ways to build up a strong network of friends, so it’s definitely worth considering. Take an evening class at your local university or college, and you will be able to get much more involved in your community in no time.

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Always invite your new friends to coffee!

Volunteer:

One of the more wholesome ways to get more involved in your local community is to volunteer somewhere. If you look around, you are sure to find opportunities for this, as there always are. Soup kitchens, church programs, the Special Olympics, and animal shelters are all great places to start. Doing good feels good and you will meet plenty of new people (Or pets!) as a result.

Getting involved in your community is a fun way to fill up your free time and, with the new friends that you make, you will be the talk of the town in no time!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Sep17

Fall Flowers

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Fall Flowers

Howdy! In my neck of the woods, there’s a really awesome garden center called Graf Growers. They have farmer’s market events, workshops, a garden store, and a market filled with fresh produce. Every week during the fall, you can get a Market Basket that comes filled with fresh fruits and veggies along with recipes and a surprise gift. In the basket that we just got, all of the vegetables that were included could be used to make pico de gallo. Yum!

Normally, the surprise gift is an extra selection of produce but, this week, we were treated to a beautiful bouquet from their gardens. Check it out:

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What I love about this arrangement is that it looks like fall. The deeper colors that are used are so striking, and they look so lovely against the white roses and snap dragons in the arrangement. There is nothing like a fresh bouquet of flowers to make you smile, especially one that was a surprise! And, this special treat certainly displays all of the glory of autumn in one small bunch. So pretty! :*)

What is your favorite fall color? What is your favorite flower? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep16

Four Year Blogiversary?!

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Four Year Blogiversary?!

HOLY MOLEY!!!! According to WordPress, I have had lifewithlilred up and running for four years as of the thirteenth of September and I had no idea! It feels like just yesterday that I started my blog as I prepared to start college and, now, here we are four years later and still going strong. I am so proud of my dedication to keeping my page afloat for four whole years. That’s almost a half a decade of fabulousness and I’m so thankful for having such a wonderful group of readers to share that with.

Blogging can sometimes be a thankless job, but the friends that I have made and the businesses that I’ve had the pleasure of working with make it all worthwhile. There is nothing like a blogiversary to give you a swift kick in the booty to keep up the good work and my motivation is sky high right now. Here’s to another four years of lifewithlilred and I’m looking forward to sharing it with all of you! Much love. -Sarah

Jul31

Nurturing Your Inspiration Is A Vital Requirement

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Nurturing Your Inspiration Is A Vital Requirement

Nurturing your inspiration is a vital requirement if you hope to continually enjoy your best creative self from year to year. Remember that creativity is a fire to be kindled, not a pool that continually refills no matter how you encourage it. Many people think that reading books, watching movies or television, and even playing story-driven video games are simply efforts in pure recreation. However, are they really? Consider what you are doing during this time. You are intellectually absorbing a story, emotionally feeling through the methods the medium is using to present its ideas to you, as well as serving as a way of connecting with narratives that may not be present in your life.

This is why stories and recreational entertainment will always be a powerful tool for inspiration. For example, no good writer has ever managed to write an amazing book without being skilled in the art of reading or understanding the narrative elements that help a book come to full fruition. Every painter can list their favorite paintings. Even some of the best stories known are inspired projects. For all of the incredible writing and extremely polished narrative arcs of the Harry Potter series, even JK Rowling herself has credited the New Testament and Joseph Campell’s ‘The Hero’s Journey’ as helping her formulate the basis of her efforts.

It’s likely that you understand the need for inspiration. But how can you find it in the world around you? Are there methods of helping you attain this without difficulty, or do you need to work at it in order to kindle your levels? Well, not entirely. Consider the following:

Live Theater:

Live theater offers the power of presenting us a story in a dramatized fashion and, as such, can be tremendously useful to see the full visceral and creative power of a story. In order to make the most of this experience, you need to stay present, and also know what to look for in the first place. Heading to the theatre can be an absolutely essential experience for many people, but not enough people head to the shows that aren’t mainstream. The theatre can completely transfix you in thought, show you a story with more intimacy than a movie or TV series ever could, and inspire you with the creative beauty and excellence of actors and dramatists in their prime.

Go to a hit show, like Sleep No More in order to feel sustained, or find your favorite theatre practitioner and decide to view many different plays in their style. Some of the best shows, such as Sleep No More, are adaptions of some of the most famous plays of all time, such as Shakespeare’s Macbeth. There are reasons stories such as these have survived for hundreds of years, and they deserve your attention. This historical performance and memorable peak that is presented to you can really inspire you. How could it not? Heading outside of your comfort zone and to a show like this could be the first bedrock of inspiration you consider applying to your life.

Biographies:

Literature can teach us many things. It can serve as a means of not only shaping the world around us by depending on it artistically but can help us learn the lessons of a period, become intimate with a setting, or understand human nature through both fictional and real-life vessels documented with beautiful language. If you rarely read, you are sorely missing out.

However, instead of insisting that you read Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky in order to feel inspired, sometimes nurturing your own motivation and creative interest on a personal level can be best achieved by reading the biographies of those who you most respect. From people who have managed to turn challenges into beacons of positivity such as Michael J. Fox, or historical figures that spearheaded a movement such as Mary Wollstonecraft, biographies have the power to help us feel and think as a person who we admire.

You might find biographies that inspire you to work out, help you through an injury, or to help you manage loss. Remember that you are human too, so connecting to others through this personal yet private experience can help kindle your inspiration.

Personal Achievements:

Of course, finding inspiration needn’t come from others. Sometimes, you should look to yourself for this. Remember, it’s likely that you are much more amazing than you think and have completed many great achievements that your modesty will not allow you to celebrate. Remember your best self, because this is who you are underneath everything. Understanding this and reminding you of it can help you bring that side of you out more often, and can generally help you feel more comfortable using that side of you to conduct most matters of your life. If you make this effort, you are sure to experience inspiration.

With these tips, you are sure to feel fueled and nourished from day to day as a more inspired individual.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jun8

Unique Differences In U.S. Military Weddings

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Unique Differences In U.S. Military Weddings

Each of us is dreaming and planning of how to make our special day stand out and worth remembering for everyone. But, sometimes, it’s easier said than done. However, if you are serving in the military, you are an ex-Army officer, or you’re a cadet in the Academy, you are entitled to have a wedding ceremony in a military fashion. Military weddings in the States are different than the typical civil weddings in many ways.

Although they proved to be very hard to organize and plan due to the uncertainty and dynamics of living the military life, there is a big chance that everyone present at the wedding will remember it for all of those little things that are applicable only to these types of weddings. In this article, we’ll give you a number of brief examples of all of the traditions related to military-themed weddings:

Dress Code:

If you’re in the military and you decide to marry your beloved, you will be expected to wear your unit’s uniform, along with all of the medals or ribbons that you might have. And, as there will probably be lots of other military members (most commonly, the best man), they are also expected to wear their Army suits.

In cases when the bride is the one serving her country, there is a tradition that calls for a bride wearing military boots under her beautiful wedding dress. Apart from that, when attending a military-themed wedding, all attendees should wear formal attire if they’re not members of the military.

Arch From the Drawn Swords:

The feeling of walking down the aisle and saying that fateful ‘’yes’’ is even better when you know that there will be a memorable moment after that where you and your beloved will march down the arch made of drawn swords and sabres. Truly a sight to behold and relatable only to military weddings.

Army Insignia:

To spice things up even more and make everyone feel like part of the Army tradition, couples can also opt for engraving custom insignia on challenge coins and presenting a coin to each guest. Professional yet affordable coins can be made by Embleholics on your big day.

It’s also worth noting here that military couples do enjoy some benefits in the form of numerous discounts when it comes to finding a professional makeup artist for the wedding or acquiring pearl wedding rings.

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Unsplash Image

Getting Married on Base:

Military bases of operation usually provide everything for the wedding ceremony and the reception that comes after that. You won’t have a chance of attending a wedding ceremony on base if you are invited to a civilian wedding!

There are many other things that we didn’t mention in this article, but we will leave the rest for you to imagine (although we are pretty sure that you already know of many things that should be added to our little list here). The bottom line, is that military weddings are truly different than other weddings. They never fail to create unforgettable memories and experiences for everyone.

Featured Image By: Unsplash