Oct8

Therapy Success!

Posted on October 8, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Hello!! After a very unsuccessful first shot of therapy, I finally had an appointment with someone new this past Wednesday. And, I am pleased to report that it went awesome!! After canceling with the person who I was seeing, I had no plans of giving therapy another try. I felt really disappointed by how the session went because I didn’t feel heard whatsoever and it was hard for me to even set up an appointment in the first place. Thankfully, the receptionist encouraged me to give it another go with someone who she thought would be a better fit and she was completely right. It was a match made in therapy heaven!

During my introductory session with my new therapist, I felt really comfortable talking to her. She was pierced and tatted and I instantly liked that right away! I was also shocked to find that my last therapist wasn’t hearing me for real. My new therapist warned me that our session would be repetitive to questions already asked with the prior therapist and that was fine. I understood that she needed to confirm what was in the notes. However, MAJOR experiences in my life that are very important to my healing weren’t taken note of at all. This seemed so inappropriate to me because those appointments were not only a waste of my time, but it was went about in a way that I didn’t appreciate and it was confirmed.

Thankfully, not feeling heard wasn’t an issue at all with my new therapist. In fact, I felt better than I have in weeks after our session because I could tell she was truly interested in what I had to say. Like my first appointment with my old therapist, I made it clear that while I would like to learn new coping skills and get advice, I really needed my feelings validated and to talk about my trauma. My new one agreed 150% and my old one spent our appointments shoving halfhearted solutions down my throat. I am SO happy to know that I am going to get what I need during my next appointments and I feel great about the next steps going forward!

It’s true that you need to shop around for a therapist that works for you and this last session was a testament to that. I am proud of myself for trying again and so relieved to have found someone that I can do that with. 🙂

Have you ever had a bad therapy experience? What did you do about it? I honestly have half a mind to complain to the office about mine. I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct7

Lil Red & The Weird Weekend

Posted on October 7, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone! Before we begin this post about some weekend weirdness, I will be placing a trigger warning on it for mental health, being in the ER, and blood. Now, let’s get to it:

It has been a hard past year and change in Lil Red’s world and this past week has been the absolute pits. Like, it was really bad and I was and still am pretty down in the dumps. I had a horribly stressful day last Thursday and spent the following days being super depressed. Friday came and went and Saturday felt like a bit of an upswing because Johnny and I spent the whole day together. We played lots of Diablo IV, ordered Domino’s for dinner, and settled down on the floor with the bunnies to play some Magic The Gathering.

As we schemed for our next turn, nature called and I went to the bathroom. When I sat on the can, I was startled to see that my sleep pants were soaked in blood. This was strange because Aunt Flo wasn’t scheduled to come for another four or so days. I wasn’t experiencing any pain or cramping and while it was weird, Johnny and I decided that we would visit the ER if I was still bleeding on Sunday. I was and it was off to Akron General that morning.

Thankfully, we were able to get right into a room once we arrived at the ER and that would have definitely not been the case if we went on Saturday night. The doctor came in and asked me questions like “Are you pregnant?” HARD NO. “Did you experience any physical trauma?” Nope. “Did something stressful or upsetting happen?” HARD YES. With that information, the doc decided to do blood work and a pelvic exam to see what was up with my down low area.

The pelvic exam was a pain in my pelvis, but we were relieved to hear that nothing was visibly wrong. So, we waited for the test results from the labs and swabs that were taken. As Johnny and I waited with bated breath, there was nothing to do but watch some TV. I selected the Lifetime channel and while Johnny initially grumbled, I am pleased to say that he was riveted by the time the movie ended. Lol, he is such a doll. ❤

Shortly after our Lifetime flick wrapped up, the doctor returned to tell us that my blood work and swabs were normal. She informed us that my hormones got out of whack from the stressful event and it triggered abnormal bleeding. Afterwards, I was able to change and Johnny and I could head home. As we drove back, we made a pit stop at Taco Bell and reminisced on how weird and unfortunate the situation was. My mind was hurting so much that it translated into a bodily reaction. I suppose we could have figured that out without a trip to the ER, but something like that had never happened to me before and it was scary.

I am happy to say that I am feeling better now. Not great, but slightly below average and that’s a big improvement. This is your Lil Red Friendly Reminder to take care of yourselves because, apparently, stress and depression can manifest itself in lots of crazy ways!

Have you ever been to the ER before? What happened? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct6

New Mocha & Oxblood Nails

Posted on October 6, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy!! When Johnny and I had COVID, I had a nail appointment that needed to be cancelled. The last thing I wanted was to make all of the fabulous techs and patrons of my favorite salon sick! As I lounged about doing a whole lot of nothing, the promise of a fill was the treat I needed to look forward to. My nails were so grown out and it was driving me nuts! This past Tuesday, I couldn’t wait to hit the salon after a quick shift at work and Shelley slayed on these Mocha & Oxblood nails:

I was feeling very uninspired the past few fills in terms of nail polish colors. Summer was winding down, but it wasn’t quite fall and it was hard to determine what I wanted to go with. Not this time, though! On Monday evening, I went out to a delicious Mexican dinner with my bestie, Lea. She had on the most lovely beige polish and that was all of the inspo I needed. This is not the first time that I have done a variation of nude and red polish, but it hits just right every time. It feels so chic for fall and I am living for that oxblood polish – it is gorgeous!

When I have a first thing in the morning appointment at Elysian Nails, I am SO fine with the fill taking longer because my work won’t start until later. In the middle of the day, however, I want a super speedy session so I can get back to whatever else is on my agenda for the day. Shelley is synonymous with super speedy fills and she knocked mine out in forty minutes. As always, it is most impressive and she completely rocked it. In under an hour, my grown out talons were a distant memory and I left the salon feeling like a million bucks. This is the first fill I have been excited about in a while and the color combo has me feeling like a fall queen.

Some pampering was exactly what I needed for a post COVID pick me up and your girl is officially back to feeling herself. It’s amazing what a mere hour at the salon can do!

What are your favorite fall colors? What color of nail polish do you have on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct5

Quick & Easy Pumpkin Milkshake Recipe

Posted on October 5, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy! The transition into fall is the perfect time to host guest bloggers on lifewithlilred. It is such fun to be inspired by the autumn traditions and joys of dear friends and readers and it adds that extra touch of (pumpkin) spice to my page. Speaking of pumpkins, today, we will be checking out a pumpkin milkshake recipe by Rachael from And Fierce. I have never tried a pumpkin milkshake before, but with a recipe that sounds this yummy, I think I’ll be giving it a shot! Take a look:

Quick & Easy Pumpkin Milkshake Recipe

Compliments of Rachael from And Fierce

One of our local restaurants we like to hit up at the end of their season will have a pumpkin milkshake. Earlier this month, I kept saying we have to go the last day and get one. We ran out of time and never went. After that, I decided I would make my own at home.

Simple and real ingredients but the result is perfection! So let’s go!!

Ingredients:

15 oz can of pure pumpkin

10-12 oz of vanilla ice cream (if you want more feel free to add more)

1/2 cup of milk

1/2 inch nob of fresh ginger, peeled and grated

2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie seasoning

Salted caramel sauce

Real whipped cream

Directions:

Add your pumpkin, vanilla ice cream, peeled and grated ginger, milk, and pumpkin pie seasoning into a blender and mix it up.

Once blended, get a cup and squirt caramel on the sides of the inside of the cup. Squirt or dollop your real whipped cream and add more caramel sauce to the top.

Yeilds: Roughly 32 ounces

As you can see I split mine into three 16 ounce cups to share between myself, Atticus, and Winter.

These really hit the spot and are completely kid approved! I’m sure we will make these again!

Many thanks again to Rachael for sharing her gorgeous Halloween Wreath and Pumpkin Milkshake Recipe here on lifewithlilred. For more from this amazing blogger, check out her page and give her a follow on Instagram @kavebabe !!

What is your favorite fall flavor? Are you team pumpkin spice or apple? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct4

Easy Halloween Wreath

Posted on October 4, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! I love hosting guest bloggers on lifewithlilred, especially during the change of the seasons. It is so much fun to see how my friends and readers from all over the world welcome and celebrate different seasons and the holidays that come with it. I was SO excited to see this past week that one of my darling friends, Rachael, the mastermind behind the fabulous blog, And Fierce, responded to my guest bloggers call to action. She is so fantastic so do give her page some love! Today, we are going to check out an Easy Halloween Wreath that she created and check back in tomorrow for her recipe for pumpkin milkshakes. Yum! Let’s get to it:

Easy Halloween Wreath

Compliments of Rachael from And Fierce

As a Halloween lover, it is extremely hard not to buy everything in the store right when I see it. I think I speak for everyone when I say, it is easier to throw something in your cart and buy it than it is to curate something yourself. I made Winter’s first two Halloween costumes and this year I bought hers. I could’ve made it but I didn’t really have the patience for it this year.

So somehow I’ve had the time to make two Halloween wreaths??

Okay, so, what happened was, I had been slowly putting together sticks from our yard to make this wreath that I kind of came up with in my head. I was feeling myself because of how it turned out. I put in all the time to do it all and plan it out. But I guess it wasn’t as sturdy as I thought. It didn’t take long until it fell off the door. At that point, it was an easy fix. I laid it on the floor in the kitchen to fix later. But I waited too long, because Winter decided that she needed to walk through that area that no one ever walks through. So needless to say, the whole thing was trash at that point. I did take a few things from it to use again.

Here is what the first one looked like…

I do like the new one better though. It just feels a bit more lively for the season. I just love orange and black for Halloween too!

You could totally make this in a couple hours, if you are uninterrupted… *ahem* kids.

Supplies

12 inch Wreath Wire

2 spools of 6 inch Tulle, 25 yards (1 black, 1 orange)*

Felt Bat

Fake Black Peonies

Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks

Fishing Wire

Ribbon

Instructions:

First thing you want to do is get your tulle ready and cut. I just used the wire wreath as a guide and cut about 12 inch pieces. I cut the whole roll of each and used almost the whole spool.

Next, start adding the tulle to the wreath wire. I took a section of tulle and folded it the long way and then folded it again to loop it on the wire.

Notice the direction I did the tulle. I added it from the inside out, if that makes sense. This way it stayed better and it made it lay nice and flat.

I kept it simple by adding evenly to each section just so I didn’t get ahead of myself and have to go back and fix sections.

I then started to get into a groove and this is how I patterned the pieces to try and keep it all even.

After I continued and made each section the same, I went back and added tulle pieces where I felt it needed it. Or if you feel like you want yours to be fuller, go ahead and add more. *Also depending on how full you want it to look, you may need more tulle.

Once I got it looking how I wanted, I hot glued the leaves of the peonies. Then I added on the peonies. Next, I looped the fishing wire to add the bat to hang in the middle of the wreath. I also eyeballed the length and used hot glue and cut any excess.

I then took my ribbon and looped it through the top of the wreath, on the first wire. I just tied a tight knot and cut any excess.

I am obsessed! As you can see, I did copy my original wreath with the same feel, but this one is the mic drop. It’s so pretty and I’m so happy I have it hanging on my door!!

How amazing is that wreath?! Rachael absolutely rocked it! For more from this lovely guest blogger, give Rachael a follow on Instagram: @kavebabe, check out her blog, and visit lifewithlilred tomorrow for her pumpkin milkshake recipe. Thanks again, boo! ❤

Do you like to make your own seasonal decorations? What is your favorite holiday to decorate for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct3

Bath & Body Works October Freebie

Posted on October 3, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! After having COVID, I felt like I had a billion things to do! Disinfecting our COVID lair, getting caught up with work, and tons of errands. Even though it has been busy, busy – it feels good to be well enough to be doing anything! No errand day would be complete without a trip to Bath & Body Works and I was excited to cash in my October freebie coupon. This month, it was a free hand cream and although I am not a huge fan of this product by B&BW, free is free! I chose the Find Serenity hand cream from their Aromatherapy line in Mimosa & Spearmint:

This trip to B&BW was an interesting one because my sense of smell is lacking thanks to COVID. So, I simply went in, grabbed a tube of hand cream at my whimsy, checked out, and left. I chose the Mimosa & Spearmint scent because I was intrigued. I genuinely thought that it was going to smell like an actual mimosa and, sadly, that wasn’t the case. In fact, I still have no idea what this “mimosa” is that they speak of! Hold on… Let’s give it a Google…

OH – It’s a flower! Okay, that makes much more sense than a hand cream smelling like an alcoholic beverage haha. Now that that mystery has been solved, let’s talk about this scent! From what I can smell of it – it doesn’t really smell like anything. It’s not really floral, it’s not really minty, it’s just neutral. I read the reviews for Mimosa & Spearmint to see if it was my COVID nose playing tricks on me and I am pleased to report that that wasn’t the case! This scent seemed to be a headscratcher for those who purchased it because it wasn’t true to its description. That is fine by me, though, because good or bad, I don’t care about the scent of lotion since I only wear it before bed. I’m just happy my sense of smell was accurate! 😀

Is this a must buy from B&BW? Who’s to say? If you are looking for a fresh, neutral scent then go for it. If you are looking for something that packs more of a punch, then you can definitely skip on Mimosa (It’s a flower!) & Spearmint.

When did your sense of smell fully return after having COVID? Who is excited for the Bath & Body Works Christmas line? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct2

Lil Red’s Guide To Setting Boundaries

Posted on October 2, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello my sweets! One thing that I have struggled with all of my life is setting boundaries for myself. Although I wasn’t a fan of the therapist who I was seeing, this is something that she encouraged and I agree. Living a boundary free life and being a constant yes man is only going to lead to your own demise. For me, this came in the form of massive burnout, poor mental health, and bottom of the barrel self worth and esteem. I am trying to be better at establishing boundaries and sticking to them and here is what I have been working on:

Learning To Say No:

Saying “no” is one of the hardest things for me – especially when someone needs my help. This saying is cliche, but it really is true – you can’t help others until you help yourself. One of the things that I need to work on is re-framing my thoughts because I can’t help but feel like a bad person when I say no. My mantra when I am getting in my feels about it is “You are not a bad person. You are a good person. Your boundaries are appropriate.” It is something that I am constantly reminding myself of and, with time, I am hopeful that my thought patterns will change.

Do What You Can:

My uncle gave me some advice that I really liked when discussing boundaries with him. He said what helps him is to say “Well, I can’t do this BUT I can do that”. I like this because it puts me in control of the situation and what I am willing to give. It’s also a nice reminder that I can’t do everything but I can do something and that is a comforting place to be. I will definitely be utilizing this pro tip and it feels good to have a technique that is so simple, but effective.

Have A Support Team:

My aunt and uncle have been an amazing support team for me and we talk on the phone frequently. When I told them that boundaries are something I’m making an effort to work on, they were so proud and it made me feel proud too. Setting boundaries can feel like a bad thing to me and it was uplifting to hear that it really is a great thing. Hearing my aunt say “you go, girl” when I was telling her about a text I sent was motivating because it let me know I am on the right track. When you are making a change in your life, you need people in your corner and I am so thankful I have that.

Hold Yourself Accountable:

Setting boundaries is a brand new thing to me and I understand that I need to hold myself accountable. In other words, I can’t just talk the talk but I need to walk the walk too. Wanting to change and actually changing are two completely different things. As I work on this new goal, I know that I need to keep myself in check. I can do this by checking in with my support squad and standing firm with my boundaries. And, yes, standing firm with these boundaries even if they are not respected. It will be hard, but no one ever said a big change is easy!

I am working really hard on myself and I am proud to be doing this for me. I try to be very honest with all of you about my mental health and, honestly, it has been hanging on by a thread. I am looking forward to feeling better and I can’t wait to meet my new therapist so we can work on boundary setting even more!

How do you set boundaries for yourself? What is something that you struggle with? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct1

What To Do When You Have COVID

Posted on October 1, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Johnny and I are finally COVID free and thank the most high because it sucked majorly. I am so looking forward to getting back to work and returning to my normal schedule because the cabin fever is real! My COVID experience was exhausting and I cannot recall a time when I have ever been sicker. I am very much enjoying feeling back to normal and also breathing out of my nose! Your girl was sounding like Napoleon Dynamite for days and I was starting to annoy myself lol. If you find yourself bit by the COVID bug, here are a few things you can do to slightly improve your situation:

Stay Home:

I wish that this were a given, but for some people it isn’t and that is so not cool. If you have tested positive for COVID, please stay home!! If you have symptoms of COVID, please stay home!! Have yourself a merry little staycation and come back to the land of the living when you are testing negative and feeling better. You never know who you could be infecting and it’s not right to be spreading your sickness around to those in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate:

When you have COVID, hydration is your best friend. Johnny and I consumed more Gatorade and water than a football team and even then it didn’t feel like enough. I was constantly thirsty while I was sick and blue Gatorade was my saving grace. It tasted like liquid gold or rather, liquid blue lol. It is so important to give your body what it needs when you are ill so drink up. Cheers to that!

Try To Eat:

I had no appetite whatsoever during my COVID tenure and chances are you won’t, either. However, you just have to try to eat anyways. Your body needs that fuel to recover. No one is saying you need to have a five course meal, but a bowl of soup, some crackers, or in my case – a plate of spaghetti can go a long way. My bedside featured a box of tissues, a bottle of Gatorade, a bottle of water, and a box of crackers to munch on. For me, it was really hard to eat when I genuinely wasn’t hungry, but it was something that needed to be done so I just pushed myself to do it.

Entertainment:

When you are sick, there is literally nothing else to do but watch TV so put it on! Bingewatch away anything that your little heart desires. In my case, it was a Saw movie marathon! Having a movie or a comfort show like The Office on provided a welcome distraction to how miserable I was feeling. It gave me something else to focus my attention on and that was a welcome reprieve. Whether it’s video games, your favorite show, or a good book to get lost in, allow yourself to get distracted and try to get some enjoyment out of what you’re doing.

Get Up:

This is not to say get up and run a marathon, but try and get up and move after you have been laying down for a while. Not only will this help prevent blood clots, but it can also assist in loosening up your body if you have any stiffness. Every few hours, I would get up, go downstairs, and pet the bunnies or see what Johnny was watching in the living room. These little excursions were exhausting, but it made returning back to bed so much sweeter!

If you have COVID, get well soon!! I understand firsthand how badly it sucks, but you will feel better. In the meantime, give your body the tools it needs to start healing itself. ❤

What were your COVID symptoms? What did you bingewatch if you had COVID? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep30

Lil Red’s Book Club: We Love To Entertain By Sarah Strohmeyer Edition

Posted on September 30, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Lil Red’s Book Club: We Love To Entertain By Sarah Strohmeyer Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, we will be discussing a thriller by Sarah Strohmeyer called We Love To Entertain and, as always, no spoilers will be given away. This book was a nice change of pace from the previous ones I just finished by Mary Kubica because it was actually good lol. BURN! Yes, this book was simply riddled with typos to the point of being ridiculous. However, I liked the story line and did not see the grand reveal coming at all. It held my attention to the very end and the same can’t be said for my recent Book Club reads. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on We Love To Entertain for disturbing content and general violence. Now, let’s get to it:

Erika has been plain unlucky throughout her life and is nothing short of thrilled when she receives an offer for her dream job. She will serve as a personal assistant to sweetheart Holly and hunky Robert – a power couple starring on the popular competitive renovation show, To The Manor Build. Holly and Robert will be transforming a property in Erika’s hometown of Snowden, Vermont and she will be there every step of the way. Yes, the experience is great. But, spending time with the handsome Robert is even better in Erika’s eyes.

For months, Erika has been helping Holly and Robert renovate an expansive mountainside retreat that was seized from the former owner for not paying his taxes. Zeke Strickland, put his heart and soul into his old home to raise his twin boys with his wife. However, after suffering from a traumatic brain injury, their money dried up and Zeke’s injury subjected him to violent rages. It’s no matter to Holly and Robert, though, because they got the property for a song and he is nothing but a blip on their radar. That is, until they begin receiving threatening letters from who they can only assume is Zeke.

Not only are Holly and Robert competing on To The Manor Build, but they are also getting married! They will be livestreaming their wedding and everyone is ecstatic. Well, everyone but Erika anyways. Being the loyal assistant that she is, Erika rolls through the punches of the wedding day and returns to her mother, Kim’s, home in a sour mood. Later that night as Erika pouts in her room, she has an unexpected visitor – Robert. Maybe he realized marrying Holly was a mistake and he is there to profess his love?! Uh… No.

Robert is there to ask Erika to borrow her car so he can take Holly on a surprise honeymoon to Montreal. He says that there are not enough charging stations on the way for his Tesla and she can borrow it in the meantime. Although Holly and Robert just tied the knot – this is no time for a honeymoon. The finale of To The Manor Build is happening in a week and it will be a mad dash to the finish. Robert assures Erika that they will be back before they will be missed, they will be in constant contact, and that Erika will handle herself beautifully. What else can Erika say except “bon voyage”?

The producers of To The Manor Build are very displeased at Robert and Holly for their getaway, but the show must go on. There are decisions that only the newlyweds can make, though, and no one can seem to get in touch with either of them. Erika blows up their phones to no avail and metaphorical fires for the renovation are popping up left and right. As days go by with zero contact, a missing persons report is filed and the law is taking their disappearance seriously. And, it’s not Zeke Strickland who they suspect, but Erika – the lowly assistant with a massive crush on Robert. Will Holly and Robert be found dead or alive? Is Erika guilty of this crime? Read We Love To Entertain to find out!

I thought We Love To Entertain was an insanely creative read. Not only was it suspenseful, but it was also pure fun. As you can guess, To The Manor Build is an HGTV style show and it was amusing to read about the ins and outs of the production, design, and the people assisting in the renovation. I also really enjoyed how after every few chapters, there would be a blog post by Holly or Robert along with comments on Reddit threads from the show’s fans. This book read like reality TV drama and I was so there for it.

Unlike Mary Kubica, who couldn’t craft a likeable character to save her own life, that was not the case whatsoever for Sarah Strohmeyer. I adored her cache of quirky characters and that enhanced my reading experience even more. It was nice to finally form an attachment to the people I was reading about after two duds in a row. I was rooting for Erika, who was so tragically out of her league. I also really liked her mom, Kim, and Kim’s coworker named Doreen who was an absolute hoot. Holly’s mom, Tammy, also played a fantastic role and I loved how her, Kim, and Doreen banded together at the end of the book.

As you all know, I am a big stickler for typos and We Love To Entertain was quite possibly the worst book I have read in that regard. Guys, it was so bad. I’m not talking a handful of errors, I’m talking an error every few pages. This will absolutely effect my star rating, but it didn’t take away from the fact that it was still a good book. We Love To Entertain was fast paced, it was “hand me my popcorn” worthy drama, and it was HGTV from hell happening before your eyes. While I find the amount of typos inexcusable, I was a fan. *shrugs*

I am going to rate We Love To Entertain with a six out of ten stars. If it weren’t for those pesky errors, it would have been a seven and a half, for sure. I still recommend this book, though, and I think you will have a blast reading it like I did!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep29

Planning A Successful Home Remodel

Posted on September 29, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Doing a remodel or making more space is not an easy feat; without the right planning, things can go wrong – and that is no fun for anyone. Remodels are extremely exciting, but if you don’t create a plan and execute it perfectly, it can be your worst nightmare. Here are some quick tips for planning a home remodel to keep things running like a dream:

What do you want?

First and foremost, what is it that you want to achieve with your remodel? Is it that you want more space for the children to play? Perhaps you want more room to entertain people or an extra bedroom. Knowing how big the job will be will help you plan for how long it will take. Think about if your remodel is something that will add value to your home, and if you were to sell would you get a good return on your investment?

Alternatively, you could also opt for Home Additions if you find that your needs excel in what a remodel provides. A home addition is great if you find that you need more space, which is perfect for growing families or those simply seeking a customized living environment.

Budget:

Sticking to your budget is a must, because budgets can get blown pretty quickly when inspiration and innovation takes over. To help yourself get a better budget, get quotes in advance from the companies you want to use, and factor in a short stay somewhere else when the work is being done. To begin researching the right company for you and your budget, simply enter a search for “Construction company in Spanaway, WA” (or your local area). From there, you can get an idea of the general costs of the projects that you have in mind and if it’s feasible or not.

Do you need a remodel?

Perhaps you don’t need a remodel, and what you need is a good declutter and some upgrades, instead. Adding new windows from Mega Solutions to give more light and a big clean can give you the extra space that you want. Think about the details of the remodel, and try and work out if a full remodel is what you need, or if it is achievable in other ways.

When you do a good deep clean, some rearranging, and a few minor projects it certainly might be enough to bypass a remodel for the time being. However, no amount of small improvements will improve the overall functionality of the room. For example, a remodel might be in order if your kitchen is quite cramped between fixtures, appliances, and counter space. This is when researching home remodeling contractors in California (or your local area) would be helpful. Take the time to really go through your home to see what you can improve independently and what would definitely require a professional expertise.

DIY Sparingly:

Millions of us believe that we can handle almost all jobs in the house without help. However, the truth is that we all have our limits, and it isn’t until we hit them that we realize we might’ve made a mistake. For example, if you live in an older home, would you know how to check for asbestos? Or, would you know which walls are load-bearing? A lot can go wrong pretty quickly with a DIY remodel.

Rather than try to DIY everything in your project, just do what you can do properly and safely. The rest is something you should leave to a professional team. For example, if you are looking into Scaffolding East Sussex (or your local area) and are afraid of heights, it might not be the best DIY project for you!

Storage:

While remodeling companies are very conscious about the debris it can cause, there will still be some that are unavoidable. So, it can be a smart idea for you to move things into storage – as this will reduce the need for so much deep cleaning during and after the remodel. Plus it leaves a lot more space for your chosen company to work. Check out short term storage in your local area.

Pets and Children:

Keep in mind that the noise and extra people can be very disruptive and upsetting for young children and pets. Sometimes it can be better for your pet to be in a kennel or cattery for a short while during the loudest part of the work. As for children, a few nights at their grandparents or another family member’s house can be most helpful.

If a remodel is not in your budget or something you want, there are always other ways to improve your home : 7 Home Decor Ideas For Any Budget | lifewithlilred.

Featured Image By: Samuel Cruz on Unsplash

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