Category Archives: Fun

Date Ideas For When Spring Has Sprung

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Date Ideas For When Spring Has Sprung

Spring is a time for new starts and bidding goodbye to the horrible winter months. Finally, it’s time for long, flowy dresses, and making the most of springtime with your SO. What are the ways to make the most of this wonderful weather, and all of the exciting events coming up? It’s time to take the initiative with your social calendar, so let’s give you some ideas for quality couple time:

Go On A Picnic:

This really is the first port of call. You’ve got to get out and enjoy the lovely weather, especially if it might turn into April showers. Having an outdoor picnic gives you the opportunity to kick back, relax, and have some quality time with your other half. It’s also great in spring before the summer months come by, and with it, all of the annoying summer insects.

Picnics are so fun because you can plan a menu to make or get takeout from your favorite restaurant. I had a friend who would get takeout from her and her partner’s go to places, they would eat outdoors, and enjoy a walk afterwards. Perhaps you’ll have sammies on an afternoon outing or something more decadent for an evening meal. A candlelit Indian meal outdoors is as simple as entering a search for “indian restaurant cambridge uk” (or your local area). However you go about it, picnics are a great date!

A Sporting Event:

While you might consider sports to be the height of tedium, you will earn extra brownie points with your boo if you present them with some sports tickets to their favorite event. And besides, if you go and experience a baseball game on a mild spring evening, you don’t even have to pay attention to the game to enjoy the ambiance.

A Romantic Night Time Meal:

Either head to your local restaurant and book a table outside or go for a wonderful romantic rooftop dining experience. Enjoying the spring months while sipping on a glass of Chardonnay with your favorite pizza is one of life’s little pleasures. And it’s even better when you’ve got your significant other to share it with. If you are in the mood to shake things up, go to a restaurant that specializes in cuisine that you have never tried before. Perhaps a Turkish restaurant like The Mantl? Or maybe an Indian buffet to sample a bit of everything? It’s always fun to try something new on a date night!

Head To A Concert:

Check your local venues for the latest artists making an appearance near you. The big stadium events are also slowly coming up, with artists like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and seasoned pros the Rolling Stones all embarking on open-air tours. That time of evening when the main act is taking the stage, the weather’s nice and cool, and thousands of people are having a great time, you can’t help but get caught up in the vibe. And there’s plenty of opportunities for perfect selfies with your SO!

Go For A Walk:

Who’d have thought it, in this day and age you could go for a walk?! Yes, you don’t need to spend money to have a great time with your partner. The spring months are the perfect opportunity to get your rambling shoes on and go exploring. And before the unbearable temperatures of the summer come, you can get plenty of beneficial exercise outdoors, and explore your surroundings with the one you love. Even if you aren’t particularly inclined towards nature, getting out for a nice walk is always going to help bring you and your partner closer together.

The springtime is one of the most perfect parts of the year. It’s not too hot, not too cold, and everything is now gearing up for a fantastic summer. So, as spring has sprung, get yourself outdoors, don’t worry about spring cleaning for now!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Duolingo Obsessed!!

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Duolingo Obsessed!!

Hey everyone and happy Hump Day! Okay, so on a recent post that I made talking about how I enjoy learning new languages, I got so much positive feedback and some great tips. Thanks for that, by the way! Many of you mentioned the Duolingo app in your comments, and I decided to give it a go and I am in LOVE!!

Normally, when I’m learning a new language, I just like doing the tapes in my car and practicing on my own. I had heard of the Duolingo app before but never thought of giving it a try until it got such positive reviews from my readers. I am SO thankful for that, because I am enjoying it so much!! I’m working my way through the French lessons as a fun refresher and then I plan on starting Spanish within the next month.

I just can’t emphasize enough how pleased I am that you guys shared such positivity for the app with me, because I’m bullheaded enough that I would have just kept trudging through doing things my own way without it. Learning a new language is such an amazing workout for your brain and if you are interested in a great mental workout, then Duolingo is the way to go. I can now join the rave reviewers, because within a handful of days, I have become obsessed!!

How do you practice a new language? Are there any other handy language apps that you like to use? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: MUO

What It Takes To Take The Perfect Instagram Photo

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What It Takes To Take The Perfect Instagram Photo

If you’re all about spreading the love online and sharing your lifestyle with carefully chosen friends and followers, it’s likely that you’ve been trying to launch your Instagram profile already. Instagram offers a new perspective on social media content, as it’s a purely visual platform. In other words, it’s you’ve got something to share, show it instead of writing it. For anybody who believes that a picture can speak a thousand words, it’s the ideal place to build up a successful presence. Here are some tips on how to make that possible:

Social media is a platform of inspiration:

The main obstacle that you’re going to face when trying to develop your Instagram presence is yourself. Indeed, there is a constant and valuable discussion on whether social media enhances or hinders your life. The truth is somewhere in between. An engaging Instagram presence can be a form of lifestyle motivation or inspiration if the profile displays quality photos. However, you need to stay focused on your message and not lose yourself in the depth of a connection string or confuse a number of followers with your personal value.

Be patient and build a stunning feed:

Once you’ve got your head around the philosophical debate about social media and social value, it’s crucial to build your feed. Unless you’re especially lucky, you won’t gather a lot of attention with your first picture. Therefore you need to build your feed with 15 to 20 of your best images first. If you’re looking for a stunning visual, you may want to check this backdrop store to find the perfect backdrop for your portraits and fashion snaps. There’s nothing better to give your photos a professional finish. You will need to create a comfortable posting schedule, either weekly or twice a week, to accumulate visuals and build up a presence.

When getting your Insta up and running, your username is just as important as your feed itself. You want your name to reflect your brand so skip on the generic and use something unique to you. Of course, this can be easier said than done! If you are struggling to create the perfect username, try out this username generator Instagram for help. It’s also free! 😀

While patience is a virtue when it comes to anything social media, it can be a bit disheartening when things move at a slower pace. If you are craving the likes and communication, you can buy IG likes or pay to be featured on other people’s platforms. This can give your page a nice boost, especially if you are just starting out.

Embrace new stylish trends:

Instagram is a world of images. What this means is that only the best and most stylish images can get noticed. Don’t waste any more time and learn about the latest photo trends to create dazzling portraits. The color palette for this year gravitates around rosy, peachy, and golden tones, so make sure to update your makeup and wardrobe to create on-trend photos. If you work with a camera instead of a smartphone, you can be playful with the light presence to create a delicate mood around the main character.

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Oh snap!

Don’t click and post:

Finally, a winning Instagram presence is not measured by the number of photos you share, but by their quality. Take the time to develop your style and to find an angle you like. If, like Tilly and the Buttons, you prefer pastel colors, you need to create a decor that will reflect your palette. This can take a lot of time but, ultimately only the most stunning images get noticed. So it’s worth working on your visual personality before posting!

Becoming an Instagram sensation doesn’t happen overnight. Thankfully, it’s a fun process that enables you to define and perfect your online brand and style. You are what they see, so make every flash count!

Featured Image By: PXhere

Holiday Q & A

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Holiday Q & A

Hi everyone and happy holiday season! Today, I thought that it would be fun to do a little Holiday Q & A to get in the spirit of Christmas. Feel free to copy these questions onto your page and answer them to share in the festivities!

What is on your Christmas wish list? Shoes, shoes, shoes, Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara, shoes, some facial scrubs, and a few more pairs of shoes.

What is winter weather like in your area? In Akron, Ohio it’s pretty snowy at the moment. But, earlier in the month we had obscenely warm weather for December.

Favorite holiday treat? Peppermint Mocha drinks from Starbucks! I always treat myself to one or two during the holiday season.

Are you easy or hard to shop for? I get told that I am both. For people that know me really well, I’m sure they would say that I’m easy to shop for. But acquaintances would probably say I’m more difficult, because of my distinctive style and personality.

Favorite holiday movie? I don’t really have one, actually. Although, my family normally watches Step Brothers during the holiday season at some point or another lolol.

Do you prefer a White Christmas? I don’t really care… hahaha I guess not though. I don’t like the snow all that much.

Favorite cold weather activity? Going ice skating at my favorite outdoor rink in Akron!

Favorite holiday memory? I love watching people open their presents from me – it never gets old!

So there you have it, my Holiday Q & A! How would you answer some of my questions? What are some of your own holiday themed Q & A’s? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Hot Chocolate & Halloween, My Fall Favorite Things

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Hot Chocolate & Halloween, My Fall Favorite Things

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! This post is compliments of my friend, Geneva, from the blog GenneyDarling. You might remember this sweet little lady from her Mauve Maven OOTD during my Salute To Summer guest bloggers series. Today, Geneva is here to share her list of fall favorites with all of you. Cuddle up and get some inspiration for your next autumn outing with your friends:

Hot Chocolate & Halloween, My Fall Favorite Things

Hello followers of lifewithlilred! I am Geneva from GenneyDarling and I am writing to you guys today to tell you my favorite things about the fall season…

The fall scenery in New England: I love living in the North East region of the U.S. because of the fall time. The leafs changing colors and the brisk chill in the air leaves all of New England looking like storybook perfection.

Hot chocolate and tea: There’s nothing like a hot drink to warm you up on the chilly days of the season. Pull on your favorite fingerless gloves to keep from burning your hands, sip, and enjoy.

Pumpkin flavored everything: Now, I hate to be a basic white girl but pumpkin flavor is absolutely the best. I’m not the kind of person to get a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks every chance I get, though. I’m more of a pumpkin bread and muffin type of gal!

Halloween: One of my favorite holidays is Halloween. It’s always fun to dress up and decorate for Halloween even though I’m not a kid anymore and probably shouldn’t go trick-or-treating…OR SHOULD I?! 😉

Cuddling with your SO in warm blankets: Fall can be a busy season, so it’s nice to take advantage of a lazy day by cuddling with your boy or girlfriend and binge watching movies or a TV series.

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Cozy socks: This might be my absolute favorite part of fall. I LOVE thick wool socks. My feet are always cold so I constantly wear them around the house or with boots to go out. Sliding around on hardwood floors is another added bonus!

Sweatshirts and sweaters: Layering all of the things during the cold weather months is a must. You can always put more layers on but you can only take so many off. I love being able to layer clothes to keep me nice and snugly all day.

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Bonfires: Bonfires are fun in the summer, but are even better during the fall when it’s a little chilly. Fires are perfect for warming up and spending time with friends on a cold evening.

Baked goods: Another reason to love fall is that you can finally bake yummy treats in the oven without overheating the whole kitchen. In fact, you can use it to warm up the kitchen on a cold day. Plus, who doesn’t love eating pumpkin bread, warm cookies, and gooey chocolate brownies?!

Scary movies: I’ve never been a big horror movie person, but recently I have been learning to enjoy them more. Never mind the fact that I still have to look away at the suspenseful scary parts. A cold, dark fall night is the perfect atmosphere to snuggle up with your friends for a horror movie marathon – eyes shut the whole time or not!

I hope that all of you are enjoying the autumn season as much as I am!

Check out my other fall time posts below:

5 Nail Colors to Complete Your Fall Look

What I’m Listening to in October

Cosmic Love

Cranberry Apple Cider Smoothie

^^^ Thank you so much to Geneva for stopping by to guest post on lifewithlilred! What are your favorite things about fall? What are you being for Halloween? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Let The Halloween Heaven Guest Bloggers Series COMMENCE!

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Let The Halloween Heaven Guest Bloggers Series COMMENCE!

Hello everyone and happy weekend!! Tomorrow begins lifewithlilred’s Halloween Heaven guest bloggers series and I, for one, am really freaking excited. I have a bunch of incredibly cool posts to share with you brought to you by some of the best makeup artists, photographers, chefs, and writers that I know.

This guest bloggers series is going to be a fun change of pace from the fashion based series (Which I’ve loved!) that have graced lifewithlilred in the past. The Halloween Heaven posts that will launch tomorrow are all made by brand new (and one returning) guest bloggers on my page and I am so thrilled to share their talent with all of you.

I hope that you all are ready for some Halloween themed fun on lifewithlilred! I SURE AM. What was your favorite Halloween costume that you’ve worn? What is something that you enjoy doing during this spooky time of the year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Monday Update: Fall Fun Edition

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Monday Update: Fall Fun Edition

Hello everyone and happy Monday! I hope that all of you had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. The fall season is officially among us and I, for one, could not be happier. Actually, that’s a lie, I could be happier BECAUSE IT’S BEEN NINETY DEGREES IN OHIO FOR THE PAST WEEK!!!! All of you know by now that I live for the fall and this heat wave is simply unacceptable. So now instead of participating in all of my favorite fall activities listed below, I will simply have to daydream about it until it cools down to autumnal temperatures. Let’s discuss some of my fave fall outings:

  1. Apple Picking: There are TONS of gorgeous orchards in Ohio filled with trees that are spilling over with crisp, fresh apples. I love going to orchards with my family, friends, or on a date and then making something delicious afterwards with the bounty like an apple pie or crisp. So fun and so yum.
  2. Haunted Houses: Ohio also has quite a few haunted houses that I’m always keen on visiting. Being a horror junkie, going to a haunted house during a chilly, pitch black fall night is one of my favorite things to do. I went to the Factory Of Terror last year and would love to go there again and definitely would like to make it to the 7 Floors Of Hell, too!
  3. Fall Cooking: Lil Red loves to cook all of the vegetarian delights, but I especially love making (and eating) fall comfort food. Soups, stews, breads, and huge dishes of mac n’ cheese are just a few of my go to meals. And the fall sweets aren’t so bad, either! Cinnamon rolls, pies, crisps, and cobblers?! Yes, please. Fall food is so hearty, rich, and flavorful, and it makes sitting down for every meal such a joy.
  4. Fall Shopping: This list of fall favorites wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t talk shopping at least a little bit! Can you say boots and peacoats?! I LOVE IT!! I’m pretty well flush for fall clothing, considering it makes up about 75% of my wardrobe but that never seems to stop me from buying all the booties and oversized sweaters. It’s a curse!
  5. Perfect Weather: Although the heat in Ohio is destroying my favored fall weather, I live for the mid 50s and 60s temps that fall usually brings. I love being that slightest bit chilly. The bite that the fall air blows around, which reddens the cheeks and leaves your hands tucked in your pockets is always what I prefer to scorching summers. One of my favorite things to do during a brisk fall day is throwing on a thick sweater and combat boots and exploring one of the many beautiful Metro Parks in Ohio.

Here’s to hoping that the weather in my neck of the woods makes a drastic change so that I can start enjoying some of my fall favorites soon!

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: Fall Fun Edition! What are some of your favorite fall activities? What is your favorite season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Woot Woot!

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Woot Woot!

Hey everyone and happy Friday!! It’s a big friggen FIESTA up in here because guess what I did yesterday?! YES, I did eat Taco Bell. BUT that’s not all…

I PURCHASED MY GREYHOUND BUS TICKET TO SEE KATE FROM ANKHOR YOU IN OCTOBER!!!!!!!!!!!

The Bloggers Conference is officially on AF and I’m so excited I can hardly contain myself. Because I ball on a budget, I am saving over one hundred dollars by enduring the nine hour bus ride to Manhattan from Cleveland instead of flying. Of course flying is more convenient and obviously less time consuming but I now have one hundred dollars more for New York shopping money, instead! I’ll take it!

Lil Red has never been to NYC before so, needless to say, I am very excited. Kate and I are about to be two bad mamma jammas taking the city by storm. By storm, I tell ya! We have SO MANY ACTIVITIES planned as well as tons of photo shoots so keep your eyes peeled for many a collaborative post by yours truly and Ankhor You!

And, of course, I am still looking for Halloween themed guest posts for while I am away, so if you are interested in being on lifewithlilred and you can have a post ready by October 10th, then please email me at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com 🙂

What are some must see sights in New York? What themes should Kate and I do for some Bloggers Conference 2017 photo shoots? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Giphy

How Well Do You Know Lil Red?

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How Well Do You Know Lil Red?

Hey everyone and happy Thursday! Lifewithlilred has now been floating around in cyber space for over THREE YEARS now, which is crazy. That means it’s been over three years of almost daily publishing, which means that you guys should know me pretty well by now, right?

WE’RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT:

*Cue the intense music*

In today’s edition of How Well Do You Know Lil Red?, I will be asking eight questions of increasing difficulty. The answers will be posted tomorrow as well as a link to the page of whoever answered the most questions correctly first!

HERE WE GO:

  1. True or False: Lil Red is a vegetarian.
  2. What store do I constantly post about shopping at?
  3. What is my favorite genre of books/movies?
  4. Do I prefer sweet or sour candy?
  5. What type of job did I work before starting college?
  6. Where did I earn my Associate Of Arts degree from?
  7. What kind of animal is my dream pet?
  8. What brand of lipstick do I use?

Lil Red Pro Tip: Need help? The Awards category on my page is a great place to start to find the answers!

How Well Do You Know Lil Red? How well do you think your readers know you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mini Halloween Guest Bloggers Series, Anyone?

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Mini Halloween Guest Bloggers Series, Anyone?

Hello, hello one and all and happy Hump Day! So as you all know, I am venturing to the Big City to hang out with one of my BFFs, Kate, from Ankhor You in mid October. We are both ecstatic to finally be hanging out for our “Bloggers Conference” after literal MONTHS of non stop texting and almost weekly FaceTime dates. It’s going to be a blast and once I return to Ohio, we will be spamming our blogs with tons of collaborative fun.

However, while I’m away, I would love to host a mini guest bloggers series on my page so that I can fully enjoy my vaca with the knowledge that lifewithlilred is in good hands. And what better way to do that than by inviting my blogging friends to celebrate Halloween with my readers?!

I absolutely LOVE Halloween. A little known fun fact about Lil Red is that my first job was working as an actor in a haunted house for two years. With that being said, I love the horror genre, I obviously live for haunted houses, and there is nothing better than attending a boozy costume party.

For this guest bloggers series, I want it all. Your best costume ideas (store bought or DIY), a funny or scary Halloween experience, your favorite Halloween treats (or tricks!), and how to guides on applying the perfect costume makeup.

Because this is a mini series, I am going to need five posts, but am willing to increase it by a few depending on the response. So, if you are interested in turning lifewithlilred into Halloween Heaven, please email me at sarah.mush6794@gmail.com with your post ideas! THANKS!!!! -Sarah

Featured Image By: Pinterest