Category Archives: Fun

Aug21

Super Happy Fun Times

Posted on August 21, 2020 by lifewithlilred

Hi! This past weekend, Johnny and I went on a date for the first time since March. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “A date? You and Johnny barely leave the house!” Believe me, I would be thinking the exact same thing. But, thanks to a little something called DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area), Johnny and I were able to enjoy some drinks from our favorite bar in Kent while sitting outside in the park!

We spent two hours eating takeout from Taco Tantos and drinking Moscow Mules from the Zephyr and we did it all completely social distanced. Granted, it was a lot different than back in 2019 when we all had no problem being on the Zephyr’s back patio playing games and hanging out. However, what we did was the next best thing! Some of our Kent friends even stopped by for a chat, which was great because we haven’t really seen anyone since March, either.

Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem sitting in my living room with Johnny day drinking and watching The Last Kingdom. But, there is absolutely nothing better than getting dressed up and going out with my boyfriend. Sitting on that park bench in Kent laughing and taking selfies was one of the most joyous moments I’ve had in weeks and I am going to treasure it for forever. It brought me back to our first date almost one year ago and it was kind of magical.

The best part? Now that we know that the open container areas in Kent are something that we feel comfortable with, we can go on dates again whenever we want! As soon as Johnny brought our drinks to our bench, the first thing we both said was “this is so nice” and we are already looking forward to our next date very soon! ❤

How do you do social distance hang outs? Does your downtown area have a DORA program? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug11

Escape Room Game EPIC FAIL

Posted on August 11, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! For my birthday this past June, my brother and his family treated me to a bunch of goodies including this here room escape game for me and Johnny to play:

I have been eager to play this since it was gifted to me because I have always wanted to go to a real life room escape game. I used to LOVE playing the escape room computer games back in the day and I’d like to think that I would do pretty well for myself. In fact, that’s what I thought about this at home escape room too. Johnny and I are smart cookies and I was confident that we could solve the puzzles and escape the secret lab. Unfortunately, I was dead wrong.

Johnny and I finally decided to attempt this game when we were dogsitting for the weekend because the house we were in was way bigger than our apartment and we needed room to spread things out. The basic gist? Solve ten consecutive riddles with the help of hints if you need and escape the secret lab.

We initially started out strongly in our attempt to escape the lab. Of course, we had to use ALL of the hints to solve the first three or four riddles we completed but we solved them, lol. All of this took us at least an hour but, then, things started getting more complicated.

After our small successes with the “easier” riddles, they became more and more difficult to solve. We were getting hints that we had no idea what to do with and, after a few drinks, let’s just say things got very murky. Johnny and I puzzled over the last clue that we attempted for forty-five minutes bare minimum and then gave up to go watch Impractical Jokers.

I’m not going to lie, I was a little disappointed that we couldn’t solve the game but we completely lost all of our momentum and there was no way we were getting it back. Honestly, I was impressed at how much we even accomplished because it was really hard – the level three and a half difficulty wasn’t lying!

I don’t know how inclined I am to play another at home room escape game again. After two hours of working through the riddles, we were still so far away from solving it that it kind of lost its fun. I think we will stick to our preferred Trivial Pursuit from now on but if you’re feeling adventurous and have a knack for riddle solving, then an Escape Room game might be right for you! 😀

What have been your experiences with room escape games? What is your favorite game to play at home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul24

Harry Potter Great Hall LEGO Set

Posted on July 24, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! While in quarantine, Johnny and I have been enjoying putting together LEGO sets including ones from Harry Potter and Star Wars. Johnny bought me the Hogwarts Clock Tower set for my birthday and we had such fun assembling it that I went ahead and bought the Great Hall set a few weeks later. Although the bigger sets are a bit pricey, they are worth every penny in the hours of entertainment that Johnny and I get out of them.

We stretched the Great Hall set out over the course of a weekend while Harry Potter movies, Impractical Jokers, or The Office played on TV. After at least five solid hours of building our Great Hall was finally complete. The best part? Attaching it to the Clock Tower, of course! Check it out:

While the Clock Tower set is specifically from the Yule Ball scene in The Goblet Of Fire, our Great Hall set combines imagery from both the first and second films. Don’t believe me? We have Professor Quirrell and the basilisk to prove it! Our sets are, technically, not the most cohesive right now but our two sets combined look AWESOME… From the outside, at least.

In comparison to the Clock Tower set, the Great Hall had a lot more pieces which made it a much more intricate and time consuming build. All the while, it was insanely hot in our apartment so spreading it out over a few days was definitely the move. As always, Johnny and I have a great system when it comes to our LEGO construction. He takes care of all of the detail work, which is impossible for me to do with my nails. I, on the other hand, handle a lot of the big pieces and everyone wins!

Johnny and I like to buy a new LEGO set every few months and I am already looking forward to my next Harry Potter purchases. What’s on deck? For starters, the Whomping Willow set! Then, I would love to add the Astronomy Tower, Hagrid’s Hut, and the Quidditch Pitch. Hey, it’s Harry Potter so I have to dream big! 🙂

What has been keeping you entertained in quarantine? Who else enjoys building with LEGO? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun20

New LEGO Rolling Stones Mini Figs

Posted on June 20, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Quarantine has definitely gotten Johnny and I acquainted with our inner child and it has been all LEGO everything. From the competition show LEGO Masters to the Harry Potter set Johnny got me for my birthday, we have been hooked on creating and adding to our collection.

A while back ago, Johnny and I had the inspired idea to make Mini Figs of ourselves and stumbled upon a website called MiniFigs.Me. Sadly, we never made our own Minis of each other but I did end up getting him a little something special from the site as a late birthday gift. Behold, a custom set of his favorite band the Rolling Stones:

From making your own custom Mini Figs to purchasing sets of iconic musicians and characters, the MiniFigs.Me website has it all. Johnny has been enamored with the LEGO replica of the Rolling Stones for a long while and I was so happy to finally purchase it for him. I also love the stage he built – perfect for when they perform as the resident band of Hogwarts!

I am looking forward to getting many more Mini Figs from our newly discovered favorite site. I have my eyes on a little David Bowie and Johnny can’t stop talking about the characters from “The Nightman Cometh” from It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. The Rolling Stones Mini Figs are just perfect and they were made and shipped so quickly. I probably got it a week after I ordered them and they came all the way from England.

Johnny and I can’t recommend MiniFigs.Me enough and I can’t wait to continue showing all of you our newest additions in our LEGO world. ❤

Who would you like to have a Mini Fig of? Do you have a favorite Mini Fig of your own? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun12

My First LEGO Set!

Posted on June 12, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! One of my favorite shows that Johnny and I have watched while in quarantine is LEGO Masters. I had never played with LEGO in my youth and Johnny was all about it and he still is. Watching the friendly competition show definitely spiked my interest and Johnny and I resolved to build a LEGO set together… Which he gifted me with for my 26th birthday! Check out my Harry Potter themed masterpiece:

From the rubble of LEGO bricks scattered all over my coffee table, a replica of Hogwarts Castle during the Yule Bar arose within one evening at chez moi. Johnny and I cleared the clutter, improved the lighting situation with a standing lamp from the bedroom, and began to build along with the assembly instructions. And, I have to say, the first brick was so satisfying!

Very early on in our build, Johnny and I found that with my talon nails, assembling the smaller LEGO pieces was damn near impossible. So, I handled the big pieces while Johnny focused on the details and it made for a perfect pairing. It was so amazing to see our hard work take shape as the castle came alive with such iconic parts of Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire.

A Christmas time ball at Hogwarts does, indeed, sound magical and I think that added to the joyous atmosphere of the entire evening. Johnny and I worked together and made something awesome and it was hands down the best quarantine date night we’ve had. We are looking forward to continuing to extend Hogwarts and plan on getting more sets to add on soon. Keep it posted!

What was your favorite childhood toy? Have you built anything cool with LEGO recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May28

3 Ways To Keep Busy During Lock Down

Posted on May 28, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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As the days in lock down turn into weeks and the weeks roll into months, it can become increasingly difficult to know what else to do with all of this extra time on your hands. Well, most people always wished they had more time and now that it has come, we should put it to good use. Whether it’s spending more time with the children or learning something new, it’s safe to say that this opportunity will probably never become available again. Without a firm quarantine end date in sight, check out this list of three ways to keep busy during the lock down:

Learn a New Language:

The benefits of learning a new language go beyond being able to order food while on holiday. It also comes with both personal and professional advantages. On the personal side, it strengthens your IQ, and it is also a great workout for your brain. These cognitive benefits help to ward off dementia and enable you to be more decisive and focused on the task at hand. Did you know that learning a new language also sharpens your sensory perceptions in terms of touch, hearing, sight, speech, and movement? Not many other hobbies can attest to this claim.

On the professional side of things, having bilingual skills greatly opens up your job prospects and makes you more attractive to employers. For companies, it allows for a greater ability to reach new customers in new markets worldwide. Learning a foreign language also sharpens your communication skills making you a more rounded employee.

Take Up a New Hobby:

With most people working around the clock in today’s modern societies, not much time is left for extra-curricular activities and hobbies. Yet the advantages of having hobbies are priceless. For one thing, it keeps you present in that moment. A lot of time is spent regretting the past or planning for the future that most people never truly live in the ‘now’. Hobbies can be used for stress relief as it diverts your attention to something that creates pleasure. Hobbies help you connect with people or groups with similar interests. This encourages feelings of inclusion, support, and community, which is great for your mental health.

There are many hobbies that you can consider taking up, including writing, photography, cooking, and gardening. If you think that you have green fingers, why not get out of the house and into your backyard and try to grow something a bit different than the standard household vegetables. As summer is on the way, try growing some pineberries (white strawberries) or some achocha pods. If you’re really adventurous, you could look up how to grow a luffa gourd, then have the added benefits of organic sponges for your bath or kitchen. No matter what hobby you choose to take on, it will certainly help you while away the extra time on your hands.

Give gardening a go!

Catch Up on Family Time:

Spending more time with your family can be done in multiple ways thanks to the technological advances in video calling. If you don’t have immediate family around you, then you could link up with them via Zoom, WhatsApp, and many more similar programs. Family time is probably the most important use of our time, yet hardly any time is committed to it. Why not jump in and play some fun games online with your kids or video call your aunt or grandparents – you’ll certainly be glad you did!

Dedicating your time to worthwhile hobbies will make your quarantine much more enjoyable. Choose something you’re interested in and watch a day go by as you immerse yourself in something new!

Featured Image By: Pexels

May25

Having A Great Day, The Safe Way

Posted on May 25, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hi! While in quarantine, there have been many special occasions that have came and passed, including several birthdays in my family and Mother’s Day. Although it would have been nice to have big birthday blow outs and celebrations, that just isn’t possible right now. However, my family always seemed to manage to have a good time, despite the obvious set backs.

For example, for my sister and dad’s back to back birthdays, Johnny and I ordered pizza and we made an evening of it at my parents’ house. And, for my brother’s birthday, we hit up a local ice cream stand and brought that deliciousness home to enjoy. We also took the dogs (and ourselves) for a walk around the neighborhood, too!

While these are, admittedly, tame ways to celebrate someone’s big day, it worked perfectly for the current circumstances. Good food and company was shared between all of the people I love and it doesn’t get much better than that. Also, Pizza Hut… Need I say more?

Although your get togethers might not be picture perfect right now, you can still make a great day with the options that are safely available. My boyfriend’s birthday is a week before mine and, while I have gifts at the ready compliments of Amazon, I am also making him something special for dinner. AKA I’m getting him Outback Steakhouse so he can have that for his birthday dinner and watch WWII documentaries a la Parks & Rec. Like I said, work with what you’ve got given the circumstances!

Enjoy your low key celebrations for now and plan for an even bigger and better bash next year. Stay safe and have fun. ❤

How are you celebrating special occasions social distance style? What is your favorite takeout treat? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May24

Just Something Nice :)

Posted on May 24, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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HELLO! So, this quarantine has been lots of fun… I mean not the quarantine itself, everything kind of sucks. But, hanging out with my boyfriend at home when I’m done at work has been a hoot. Johnny and I have binge watched series after series and played countless hours of Animal Crossing to help us pass the time and, although it’s boring, I wouldn’t want to be quarantined with anyone else. :*)

One of my favorite nice Johnny stories that I never shared was from after I attended a wine and paint night with my best friend and some of the bridal party for her upcoming wedding. I came home with my tail between my legs because I thought my painting turned out like BOO BOO:

But, the first thing Johnny said when he saw my painting was that he liked it and it looked like a Christmas card. Now, I have the painting proudly displayed in the living room. He always knows how to turn something I see negatively into a positive which I suck at doing and I always feel happy when I look at my masterpiece now.

Another thing that never fails to put a smile on my face is when I notice that Johnny has put my little artist’s wooden body model into a different position:

^^^ It’s the little things, right?! 😅

Although things are far from awesome right now, I get to spend my excess free time safely tucked away in our goofy apartment world and I am so thankful for that. Especially when such fun surprises are scattered about if you know where to look! 🙂

Who has helped make this time in quarantine more tolerable for you? What is a silly tradition between you and someone your close with? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May3

Stay Sane In Quarantine With These Hobby Ideas

Posted on May 3, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Stay Sane In Quarantine With These Hobby Ideas

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that we are living in scary times. This global pandemic has pushed most of the world into lock down and quarantine, and even when working from home, it’s pretty boring! You’re unable to see friends and family, and you can’t even bounce off of the fun of the office to feel better about things. Instead, you get the chance to sit, twiddle your thumbs, and wait for life to resume in some kind of normality.

The thing is, this is not how it works. It doesn’t work like that because you have to consider your mental health. You need to keep busy, and for that, you need a hobby. This is especially true if you are in quarantine alone. So, let’s take a look at some of the best hobbies you could take up to stay sane through these unprecedented and unnerving times:

Visit National Parks – Virtually:

You may be desperate for a change of scenery, but you cannot leave the house. So, you need to get out virtually, instead. Make the use of your WiFi and get online to national parks and glaciers. You’ll be able to travel the world and view national parks without having to leave the house. Sure, it’s not quite the same, but it’s going to take the mystery out of the world you can’t explore properly!

Enjoy Puzzles:

You need to exercise the mind to keep the brain busy, and that starts with a PennyDell Puzzles crossword puzzle subscription. Puzzles are going to help you to keep your mind sharp and teach you new things. It’s also going to give you the chance to enjoy something in this quarantine that will continue long after.

YouTube Art Classes:

Did you know that there are drawing tutorials on YouTube? Most people aren’t aware of them and yet there they are, ready and waiting for you to learn from them. You may not be much of a drawer, or you may be an artist that requires a brush up on skills. Either way, drawing tutorials on YouTube are going to help you to hone your skills. If you are interested in learning a new hobby on YouTube, you will certainly want access to all of the content across the platform. A youtube vpn service can assist with that so you can always find the best creator that speaks to you.

Concert Films:

The musicians out there are going to love the chance to enjoy available concert films like these online. You can choose to go through the entire Netflix collection, of course, but consider branching out a little. Concert films and other musical elements are going to be the most fun option for you in quarantine!

Learn To Bake:

While the shops are selling out of basic baking ingredients, you can still learn to bake with any number of online video tutorials. You can also learn how to cook elaborate recipes that you can batch and freeze for later. It’s so important that you choose a course that inspires you, whether that’s lunch or cakes you want to bake.

Hobbies are important to help keep you sane right now so try some of the tips above while you’re stuck at home!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Apr27

Taking Advantage Of The Internet In Self-Isolation

Posted on April 27, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Taking Advantage Of The Internet In Self-Isolation

Hello! Thank god for the internet while we’re all hunkered down at home, amiright? Personally, I would be going crazy without my access to social media and all of the entertainment streaming services that Johnny and I have. The internet is a wonderful tool to help fight the boredom blues and, amidst the stay at home orders, it is now being used for a lot more than aimlessly scrolling through Facebook. Bored? Try some of the following:

Take A Class:

Right now, there are so many free courses being offered online from reputable colleges to teachers hosting Zoom lectures. I have even seen that Yale is offering free admission to their course entitled “Happiness” or something of the like. I, myself, have been participating in an online American Sign Language class being taught via Zoom and have been having a blast. It feels great to learn something new and you can’t beat free!

Streaming:

Amazon, Netflix, YouTube, and iTunes provide endless new shows, short films, and movies that you can watch from the comfort of your home. Lying on the couch, in bed, or relaxing on your patio requires entertainment; therefore, a good internet connection is necessary. Making the internet as effective as possible in your home can go a long way toward relieving your boredom. Take advantage of the cox internet with a high speed, and you may not buffer even when you connect different devices.

Tour A Museum:

In the mood to travel? How about taking a virtual trip to one of the many museums offering tours online. Play some classical music, enjoy a glass of wine, and get a taste of the finer things as you admire art from around the world. Take a look and get inspired and then, who knows? Maybe you’ll be creating your own masterpieces afterwards.

Watch A Play:

Many theaters and opera houses are offering online streaming of their shows. I have seen advertising from everything from theaters in New York City to the Paris Opera House virtually opening their doors to the bored general public. I would love to watch a few operas in my free time and I am interested in checking out a viewing of the Phantom Of The Opera which I have seen advertised all over Facebook. So cool!

Connect With Friends:

Who says getting online has to be all about learning? Of course, connecting with friends is a given on social media. But, how about scheduling a chat over Zoom? You could play trivia, watch a show all together, have a paint night, or participate in a happy hour drink. Yes, it’s fun to catch up but actually doing an activity together will be a nice reminder of old times and could be a new weekly tradition to look forward to until real life meetings can happen.

Start A Club:

If you are trying to connect with like minded individuals, try hosting a virtual club. You could form a group based around anything from books and writing to movies and art. Schedule a weekly Zoom meeting to discuss the latest few chapters or the cliffhanger in the TV series you’re watching together. Intelligent conversations always perk me up when being plopped in front of the TV is the norm and everyone can benefit from that!

So many resources have made the internet even better than it already is during the coronavirus panic and these ideas are sure to entertain during those times when it feels like there is “nothing to do”. Enjoy!

Have you been doing anything similar to the tips above? How have you been using the internet to your advantage right now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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