Category Archives: Anything & Everything

Great Ways To De-Stress

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Great Ways To De-Stress

There are plenty of ways to relax. You can read a book, have a long bath, or watch your favorite movie with a takeout dinner. But what about those days when you can’t relax? You need to let off some steam after a hard day, and these things all seem too passive? You’re much too agitated to sit still. You need to de-stress and unwind before you are ready to chill out.

Well, fortunately, you don’t need to be stuck thinking about your day, winding yourself up more and more until you can’t sleep. With the right techniques, you can get yourself perfectly zen before hitting the sack. Here are some of the best ways to de-stress after a hard day:

Do Something Creative: Using your energy for something creative is a great way to burn it off, and you may even create something amazing. Draw, paint, or play an instrument. Even if you’re not creatively talented, you can always try something new and find that you really enjoy it – even if you’re not the best. You don’t need to be good at an instrument to have fun trying, check out kindsound.com for some ideas. You also don’t need to be a great artist to make a picture. Adult coloring means that anyone can spend time using creative energies. Have a look at justcolor.net for some great printables.

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So fun!

Go For A Run: Running is a brilliant way to de-stress. You don’t need to go anywhere special or invest in expensive equipment. You just need some cheap trainers to get started. Run straight out of your front door, focusing on the rhythm of your feet hitting the ground and feel your stress leaving your body. Run until you feel better or you can’t run anymore. Then, turn around and go home. You’ll feel more relaxed and confident, and you’ll get a fantastic night’s sleep.

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Pixabay Image

Do A Fitness Video: If you don’t fancy running, try an online fitness video, instead. There are plenty available on YouTube, but try something new like combat aerobics or boxercise to burn away some of that stress efficiently. Literally, punch it out of your body.

Have A Massage: Getting a massage is probably the most passive way to release your stress. You don’t have to do anything but lie there while someone else pounds the stress from your muscles, getting rid of your knots and helping to remove the tension from your body. Often after a good massage, people feel like a weight has been lifted from their shoulders. Swedish massages tend to be a very popular option and might be just what you need to unwind. If you are interested in learning more before you book an appointment, simply enter a search for “swedish massage in Missouri City, TX” (or your local area) to find the best massage therapists near you.

Massages are great for providing short term relief for stress. However, they are not going to be a cure for consistent pain, tension, or nerve issues. If this is something you are struggling with, it’s important to speak with your doctor. They might recommend physical therapy or perhaps Rolfing Structural Integration which is a combination of manual and movement therapy. Once your pain has improved, you will surely find that your stress levels will lower too.

Shout: If all else fails, scream and shout and let it all out! #britneyspears #will.i.am Sometimes there’s no better way to release everything than to scream. Go down to the bottom of your garden and scream your heart out. You might find that you feel much better afterward and who cares if you freak out the neighbors!

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Ahhhhh!

Finding a way to let your feelings out can calm you down enough that you can enjoy the rest of your evening and get a great night’s sleep. If you can let these negative energies out productively and safely, then treat yourself, you deserve it.

Featured Image By: Her Campus

Falling For Fall Guest Bloggers Series Conclusion

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Falling For Fall Guest Bloggers Series Conclusion

Hello everyone and happy Hump Day! I’m here today to bring my Falling For Fall guest bloggers series to a close. I want to thank all of my amazing guest bloggers for making this season’s series such a success. All of you are welcome back on lifewithlilred anytime if you would like to pen another post for my readers or do a collaboration. I had so much fun chatting with all of you and it was such a pleasure to work with each of you. 🙂

I hope that all of my readers enjoyed my Falling For Fall series as much as I did working on it. See you next season change for a celebration of all things winter wonderland here on lifewithlilred!

What was your favorite post from this series? Who is going to join me as a guest blogger come wintertime? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Wanted: Falling For Fall Guest Bloggers

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Wanted: Falling For Fall Guest Bloggers

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! I know, I know it’s not anywhere close to fall yet! BUT, I’m sure all of you know by now that when a new season approaches, I like to welcome it on lifewithlilred with one of my guest bloggers series. Starting August 29th through September 6th, I am looking for a crew of bloggers to share their favorite things about fall with the world.

From MOTDs and OOTDs to fun fall activities and your homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte recipes, I’m hoping for a wide range of unique posts special for autumn. If you are interested in participating, please shoot me an email with your name, blog name, and post ideas to sarah.mush6794@gmail.com ! THANKS! ❤

Time For A Fresh Start? Here’s How!

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Time For A Fresh Start? Here’s How!

There are infinite reasons in life as to why you might need a fresh start. A new job that you want to be a brand new person for, a big move coming up, or anything that dramatically changes your life. When that time comes, making some alterations in your life might be necessary to get the full fresh start effect. If you’re ready to commit to feeling like a whole new person, follow these steps:

Have A Declutter Session:

Having too many possessions is never a good way to go when trying to get a fresh start. That means that it’s time to go through your wardrobe, the most cluttered place in most people’s houses. Get rid of the pieces that you haven’t worn in months (and probably never will again) and try to keep as few items as you will need. The idea is only to have pieces that go together, which will save you a lot of time when picking outfits! Having fewer clothes also helps you to have a tidier mind, perfect for a brand new you. As a bonus, you get to donate your unwanted items to charity.

We will talk more about a thorough cleaning in the next section, but decluttering is the first step in that process. This is especially important if you have done your research for residential cleaning services in San Antonio (or your local area) and are scheduling a cleaning. You do not want someone cleaning around your clutter for two main reasons. 1) You will not achieve a true deep clean. And 2) You will not get as much bang for your buck.

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 #declutter

Clean The House:

Another thing that you can do for a fresh start is to have a massive clean out of your house. Now is the time when you would want to get in a house cleaning service so that you can get a thorough job done. When you are surrounded by a clean and organized house, it will feel like a brand new space. It makes room for you to add new decorations, pictures, and anything else that you think would be good for your new beginning. Just try to keep it very clean for as long as you possibly can!

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Cleanliness is godliness!

Out With The Negative:

If you have some people in your life who you feel anxious or unhappy around, you might need to change that. To have a fresh start, you need to let go of any people who aren’t enriching your life. You only want to be surrounded by individuals who add to the enjoyment of your life, without taking any away. Any relationship shouldn’t be a lot of hard work with little reward. This doesn’t mean that you need to cut all of your friends out straight away. Just try to see the people who make you happy more; it doesn’t have to happen in a horrible manner.

Focus On Yourself:

The most important thing that you can do is look after yourself during your new beginning. Spend a good few days being kind to yourself. Eat healthily and exercise a lot. Make a meal plan for yourself and try not to cheat! Get some movement in, even if that is just walking home from work or taking the long walk to the shops. If you do this, you’ll feel the best that you possibly can in yourself, allowing you to have the most amazing fresh start ever. You deserve it!

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No matter how you choose to create your fresh start, be good to yourself and the rest will follow suit!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Sick Of Stuff? Smart Solutions For A Clutter-Free Home

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Sick Of Stuff? Smart Solutions For A Clutter-Free Home

Is there stuff everywhere you look in your home? Are you tired of tidying up only to find that the house looks like a bombsite the day after? If so, you’re not alone. If you’ve got a guest room packed full of boxes or your bedroom furniture is constantly draped in clothes, here are some smart solutions for a clutter-free home:

Out With The Old:

Before you attempt to tidy or take a trip to the store to look for storage units for sale, unleash your inner ruthless streak and have a clear out. If you haven’t got space to store everything, there’s absolutely no point in keeping things that you haven’t even seen for years. If you’ve got an attic full of clothes and toys that the kids have grown out of, a collection of old TVs or game consoles gathering dust in the garage, or your shelves are packed with video games, books, or DVDs that you don’t want anymore, then now is the time to get rid of it. If you’ve got items that are in sell-able condition, consider listing them on auction sites or host a yard sale. You could also put a bag together and donate it to charity.

Storage, Storage, Storage:

If you’ve got shoes lying around the bedroom, clothes draped over chairs, or toys strewn all over the living room floor, investing in storage will change your life. It’s so easy to accumulate stuff and, before you know it, you’ve run out of room to keep it tidy. Buy boxes and crates to store toys and look into buying a second-hand chest or wardrobe if your closet is bursting at the seams. You could also use a clothes rail to save space or put a shoe rack in the bottom of your wardrobe. Alternatively, you could get in touch with professionals that install custom closets raleigh nc, or in your local area, to make this dedicated space for you inside your closet.

If you’re limited when it comes to floor space, make use of the walls. You can fit units and hang shelves to store everything from jars, containers, and plates in the kitchen to ornaments, photo frames, and books in the living room.

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 Cleanliness is godliness!

Daily Chores:

It’s so much easier to keep on top of clutter when you make an effort to tidy up after yourself on a daily basis. It takes five minutes to run around and put everything back in its rightful place at the end of the day. If you do this, you’ll save yourself from wasting hours on the weekend trying to tackle massive piles of stuff when you should be putting your feet up and enjoying a well-earned rest.

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That high ceiling!!

Clutter is a major bugaboo for most homeowners. It can make it virtually impossible to find things and it can contribute to stress and make it hard to keep the home clean and tidy. If you’ve got too much stuff, tackle this problem now. The longer you leave it, the worse it will get. Have a clear out, get rid of anything that you don’t want, and start organizing each room. Buy storage boxes and containers, hang some shelves, and look at furniture options with added storage. Have a quick tidy at the end of the day, and you should find it much easier to keep the clutter monster at bay for good!

Featured Image By: Flickr

Monday Update: PLEASE LIKE ME Edition

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Monday Update: PLEASE LIKE ME Edition

Hi everyone and happy Monday!! I hope that all of you had a fabulous and fun weekend. A somewhat well known Lil Red Fun Fact is that I have a straight up drug dealer phone. I have an old school, slide up, keyboard trap phone and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Seriously, the day that they quit making “normal” phones, all of you can call me on the landline.

Because of this (I think) charming quirk of mine, Facebook is really the only social media that I use. Instagram and Twitter seem to be such smartphone “on the go” mediums that I never really bothered with them. Lol, because let’s be real – NO ONE logs on to their laptop to use Twitter or Instagram. They just don’t. So, long story short, I put a lot of time into making my personal Facebook page and my page for lifewithlilred as accessible as possible because you’re never going to find me on SnapChat, Twitter, etc.

Although my blog FB page isn’t everything that I would like it to be yet, it would still mean a lot if you could mozey on over and give my page a like! I’ve been stuck in the four hundreds for a lifetime now and, needless to say, I’m over it. The links for my personal and blog FB page are as follows:

So, yeah. A like on my blog page would be awesome, but all of you are also more than welcome to follow me on my personal page if you can’t get enough Lil Red! And, of course, leave me a comment if you liked my page so I can return the favor and follow your blog! THANKS!!!!! Much love. -Sarah

Keeping Your Landlord Happy: A Lowdown

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Keeping Your Landlord Happy: A Lowdown

When you live in a rented apartment, you can’t just think about your own wants and needs. You also need to consider how you can keep your landlord happy, too. If you start to get into disputes with them and end up in their bad books, you will find that they might start to make your life a nightmare! Even worse, they could end up throwing you out, and then you will have to start a house search, which no one ever wants to be forced to do. Wondering how you can keep your landlord as nice as pie (And pie is really nice!)? Here’s the lowdown!

Pay Your Rent And Deposit On Time: Before you move in, you will need to pay a deposit to your landlord. It’s important that you pay this on time, as many landlords withhold the keys until it is paid. Once you move in, you should also ensure that all of your rent payments are made on time. If you don’t pay on time, you might not be meeting your half of the contractual agreement. As a result, you could be evicted. But don’t let it get to that point – mark your calendars for the day the rent is due, cough up the cash, and that will keep a big smile on your landlord’s face!

Of course, problems can arise with paying rent and you might want to ask if payment plans are possible if needed. However, if you feel you have been wrongfully evicted due to rent issues or something else, you should contact a tenant eviction lawyer. This is something that you definitely need an experienced professional for.

Keep Things Neat And Tidy: You need to keep your apartment clean and well-kept. Even though your landlord doesn’t have to live with you, they won’t want to see any long-term dirt accumulate as this can be very difficult to get rid of. Plus, it may encourage mold or damp developing. It is also necessary to clean the property thoroughly when you are preparing to move out. Whizz tenancy cleaning service can keep your apartment looking spick and span if you don’t have much time to do all of the cleaning. They will also give it a very deep clean when you are moving out, as well!

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Cleanliness is godliness!!!

Talk To Your Landlord About Problems: If you do find a problem with your apartment, you need to let your landlord know as soon as possible. That way, they can get to work on solving it before it becomes a huge problem. You shouldn’t try and fix something yourself – in fact, it may say in your contract that you are not allowed to. Just leave all of the DIY and renovations to the landlord as they are responsible for them. And it will save you a lot of money, too! It’s an obvious win/win.

Keep Your Neighbors Happy: As well as your landlord, you also need to keep your neighbors on Team You, too. When you are friendly and pleasant towards your neighbors, you will find that you are a lot less likely to get involved in any disputes and arguments. And happy neighbors with no complaints about the loud tenant below them makes for a very happy landlord!

Apartment living means getting along with all types of people in the building. Be kind and courteous and everyone, landlord included, will benefit from it!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Adulting Essentials

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Adulting Essentials
Hello everyone and TGIF! I hope all of you are having a fabulous day so far and have a bright and exciting weekend to look forward to. If there’s one thing that I know as a twenty-something, it’s that I constantly feel under-prepared. Everything up until the late teens and early twenties was great, right? A la-di-da world where the only thing that you needed to worry about was what to wear to school and your hours at your weekend job. Fast forward to the ripe age of 23. Freshly graduated from college, moving out of your dorm to your own apartment, and (sort of) ready to take on the world. This is basically what your teenage self has been dreaming about since forever. So why does it feel so stressful?!

The life of a twenty-something is a bumbling and haphazard mess 90% of the time. Job hunting, grad school, moving out of chez mom and dad. You’re stretched thin in all directions and all you want is some literal direction in your so called life. As the baby of the family, I’ve watched three older siblings do the growing up thing. And now, as the 23 year old baby of the family, I guess I have to do the whole growing up thing myself. Gross.

So what comes with growing up? A big girl job, your own place, squeezing some time in for fun between binge eating or binge studying – that all sounds about right. For a big girl job you’re armed with your education or experience. For having some fun, you have your high school or college BFFs to schedule a GNO with. But your own place? A place that you need to pay rent for, furnish, AND do your own laundry in? Well, you’re gonna need a few things:

1) Stationary: From calendars and notebooks to highlighters, agendas, fountain pens, and business cards, stationary supplies are a total must. You know how the life of a twenty-something is a bumbling, haphazard mess 90% of the time? That, my dear readers, is what the planner is for. The calendar, the to do list, the agenda – whatever you call it, is a twenty-something essential. Doctors appointments? Job interview? Date night with the SO? Drinks with the girls? Yeah, there’s a planner for that. Hang your calendar with pride wherever you can see it and take a stab at sitting down with a glass of wine and organizing your week. You will be amazed at how your days will open up once you begin utilizing the free space that you have in between work till four and cardio at 7 on Monday and Wednesday.

2) The Perfect Mattress: The first thing that my sister did when she moved into her own apartment was buy herself a queen sized bed. Okay, girl. I see you. Now, I don’t usually say this, but she had the right idea. There is nothing better than tucking into bed with a good book and Enya on your iPod after a long day. Get comfy cozy in your boyfriend’s shirt, throw on an overnight face mask, and snuggle up on your new mattress compliments of Casper. Breathable, lush, plush, springy, and supportive, you’ll be traveling to the land of nod in no time as soon as you get curled up on the mattress of your dreams. Just make sure to put mattress shopping with Casper on your to do list before dozing off tonight! 😉

3) Business Casual Wardrobe: This isn’t necessarily an apartment essential as much as it is a life essential. I think that it is so important for twenty-somethings to begin investing in business casual wardrobe staples. Whether your ideal job setting is laid back or totally formal, you still need something to wear to the interview, right? Start supplying your closet with sharp, chic pieces that scream “boss lady” as soon as you walk in the door. I’m talking pencil skirts, crisp button downs, trench coats, blazers, cardigans, and a smart pair of trousers.

When I began shopping for my job with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (which is about as business cashe as it gets), I gradually began making an effort to instill a more professional feel into my wardrobe. I hit up stores like Loft and Express for clothes that were unquestionably cute, but still looked put together and work place appropriate. Look for simple, well tailored pieces and let your accessories or a funky patterned cardi showcase your personality. There is no rule stating that business casual means boring!

4) Culinary Cool: One of the things that comes with moving out is not having a delicious meal prepped for you every day by the rents. I, personally, am a firm believer that everyone should have a basic understanding of cooking and finding your way around a kitchen. Unfortunately, not everyone shares this mindset with me, so cooking on your own might be a rude awakening to burnt pizzas or blowing a fortune on takeout every night.

BUT IT’S OKAY!! I promise. I absolutely love cooking and baking and my golden rule is that if you can read, you can cook. Go to the library or bookstore, snag some cook books (even if it is Making Eggs For Dummies!), and practice. Hit up your local Aldi’s or Save A Lot for ingredients, follow the directions, and you’ll have a meal that you made all by yourself in no time. I swear that it is not as daunting as it might seem and, within time, you might find yourself actually enjoying your meal preparations in your kitchen.

But, of course, you can’t cook without the proper tools. You don’t need to go overboard, but do invest in some quality but not too costly gear to help you out. Spatulas, measuring spoons and cups, mixing bowls, and a sheet pan for your pizza rolls will go a long way. And, like any well stocked arsenal, it doesn’t become that way over night. Pick up odds and ends for your kitchen every so often when you’re out and about and you’ll have all of the necessities before you know it.

5) TREAT YOSELF: Adulting can sometimes really suck. Like a lot. Believe me, I get it. Full time job, college, bills? It’s like a whirlwind of misery. That is why I am all about incorporating a TREAT YOSELF attitude into my adult lifestyle. Seriously. Get out, have some fun, and let the destressing begin. This can range from going out to get your nails done after a long week in the office to buying that sassy dress from Target because it hugged your curves in all of the right places. Do things that make you feel good (within reason). Buy things that make you feel good (within your budget), and you’ll find yourself breezing through adulthood like the boss lady that you are. YOU GO, GIRL!
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Adulting can be unquestionably overwhelming, but you’ll be just fine with the right Essentials! What are your adulting must haves? How do you destress after a long day of being a grown up? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Featured Image By: ZootScoop

Home Issues From Hell

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Home Issues From Hell

There are so many things that can go wrong with a home that you probably don’t want to think about. In some cases, you might buy a new property and discover that the builder has cut a lot of corners, leaving you with a home riddled with problems. In others, it’s possible that you’ve bought a home and now that it’s starting to age, you’re seeing more issues develop. Either way, it can be useful to know what these issues are, the impact that they can have, and the best way to handle them. Let’s start by thinking about the problem with water:

Water Woes: The issue with water, is that it’s meant to run off of the house, away from the home when it rains. However, some homes with poor builds have guttering that causes the water to pool on top of the roof. When this happens, it can leave a weight on the roof, pushing it down. Eventually, depending on the level of water building up, a cheaper roof could even collapse leaving a very unhappy, soggy homeowner.

If you think that you have an issue like this with your roof, you might want to think about getting it repaired. A roofing contractor can help you resolve the issue, formulating a plan for the repair, and completing it in a timely manner. Your roof might need a complete overhaul or maybe you’ll luck out and it will only require patchwork. Something your contractor might recommend is roof flashing. This directs water away from the home to prevent leaks and damage with folded metal strips like those at Custom COLORBOND® flashings Australia (or your local area). It’s far better to tend to these problems now rather than one day finding that water is pouring through your ceiling and onto all of your possessions.

Don’t forget, that if water does trickle into your home, it’s quite possible that it will cause issues with damp, which will eventually lead to mold. This, in turn, can leave you with a rather nasty insect infestation in your new, soggy environment. At the point when you see hundreds of insects crawling on the inside wall of your home where mold has developed, feel free to scream. I think we all would!

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#EW

How Much?!? Of course, the problem from hell in your home could also be financial. If you’re paying your energy bill monthly, you could be on a nice little tariff that is more than reasonable. But then, one day you get a letter in the post, stating that your bill will rise by hundreds. What on earth is going on? Usually, this is due to a fault in your boiler or heating system that is costing you a fortune. You need to get this repaired as quickly as possible. The problem is, that if it’s caused your energy bills to fluctuate, the issue is already quite serious. That’s why you want to get regular inspections of systems like this. By doing that, you can avoid a problem creeping up on you and hitting you with an unexpected, painfully high bill.

Time To Yell Timber? If we’re looking at the worst problem for a property owner, it has to be structural issues. Structural issues can be due to poor builds or environmental factors. Either way, it might mean that your home is dangerous to live in and needs and instant, expensive repair job. There’s no way around this, and you can’t sell your way out of it, either. No sensible buyer is going to buy a home with structural issues. The first signs of a problem like this are buckling floorboards and sticking doors.

It’s a special kind of hell when your home goes from safe haven to a money pit, so be on the look out for signs of a shaky build, damp, and poor guttering when you’re house hunting.

Monday Update: HELLLLP Edition

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Monday Update: HELLLLP Edition

Hellooooooooooooooo everyone and happy Monday! I hope that everyone had a super fabulous weekend! Okay, so I’m gonna keep it real with you guys: I NEED HELP. I am really trying to get more likes on lifewithlilred’s Facebook page and I would be so incredibly happy and thankful if all of you could click the like button! And, of course, I’ll help you right back. If you have a Facebook page for your blog, comment me the link and I’ll send a like your way. If not, I’ll follow your blog, instead!

I promise you all that I don’t spam my Facebook page with constant posts, either. In fact, I got a notification from Facebook today saying that I wasn’t posting enough! So click that like button, leave me a comment saying if you want me to like your FB page or follow your blog, and I will happily oblige! Much love. -Sarah

THANKS!!!!!!!!! ❤

^^^ #obnoxious