Jul29

Brick Convention Haul

Posted on July 29, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Hello!!! If you have ever watched Lego Masters, then I am sure you have noticed all of the adorable accessories that the contestants sometimes wear made from Lego. I am extremely partial to the Lego hair bow, myself, and that is what I was hoping that I would find at the Brick Convention. And I did! One of the vendor stands called AbbieDabbles was selling hair bows, earrings, and necklaces made from Lego bricks and I couldn’t say no to the following:

I will be the first to admit, I found my purchases to be insanely overpriced lol. In fact, when Johnny and I took a closer look at them he told me exactly how we could have made them ourselves. Hindsight is 20/20, though, and I love my Brick Convention mementos anyways. When at the Brick Convention, as they say, and I can’t wait to sport all of my new accessories!

The AbbieDabbles booth had hair bows of every color, but I chose black because I pretty much already have every other color in my hair right now. And, as always, black is my favorite color! The earrings were much harder to choose from because they were all so cute! There were so many spooky earrings including ones with little skulls and little bones. The bat ones just had that something extra to them! I also adore the stud leaf earrings with the ladybug on top, which you can see in an upcoming OOTD very soon. 😀

Huge shout out to AbbieDabbles for all of the adorable Lego swag. 12/10 would recommend! We have a jam packed agenda coming up here on lifewithlilred so keep it locked for two new OOTDs, a TJMaxx haul, and my review for the Barbie movie!! ❤

Is there a Brick Convention coming to your neck of the woods? Are you going to go? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul28

Breathwork For Relaxation

Posted on July 28, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Those in high-stress careers or those who have a lot on their plate probably catch themselves taking a deep breath once in a while. That single deep breath can work wonders, but to keep that little bit of peace and clarity going, learning some breathwork is going to be beneficial. Try the following when you need to chill out:

Why do breathwork?

Breathwork has been shown to stop the body’s stress response as it is happening and to reduce stress levels overall. There are a few accompaniments to breathwork, like ice baths, therapy, meditation, and other stress and trauma management. Breathwork dates back to 2700 BCE and is said to help calm the body, mind, and find some balance. This can be a particularly useful tool when you feel overwhelmed and are prone to anxiety attacks. You could consider using an anxiety tracker app to log anything that is a potential trigger to help identify these overwhelming feelings of stress and anxiety. You can also log anything that helps ground you, such as doing these breathwork techniques.

Can anyone do breathwork?

For the more simple breathwork, it is easy to get started, but it’s a good idea to watch a YouTube video to make sure you have the method correctly in your mind. There are some forms of breathwork that will need to be led by an expert instructor as they have a bigger impact on the body, and those are Holotropic Breathwork and Breath of Fire.

Whistling Lips:

To slow your breathing down even more than just regular box breathing, you can make use of this technique. Just like a regular deep breath, breathe in through your nose, hold it for a moment, pour your lips into the shape you’d use for whistling, and exhale as slowly as possible through that shape. You’re not forcing yourself to whistle, though; instead, just let the air pass through. You’ll need to focus on keeping your lips pursed, so there is a lot of mindfulness in this method. Run this through five times, and you’ll feel much calmer at the end of it.

Lion’s Breath:

The first few times you do this, you might feel a little silly – but it works wonders for relieving tension in your face and chest, and many people do it for a little energizing. Get comfortable, take a deep breath through your nose, and be sure to open up your eyes as wide as possible. Open your mouth, stick out your tongue as far as it will go down towards your chin, and let the breath out with an ‘ahhhhh’ or ‘haaaaa’ sound. As a fun addition, you usually put your eyes focusing on the tip of your nose or up to between your eyebrows. Doing three rounds of this should have you feeling nice and relaxed.

478:

This type of breathwork is something that many people are familiar with, as it is often recommended to those with anxiety and high stress. Focusing on breathing pulls the mind away from the source of the issue, and the breath itself helps to slow the heart rate down to a healthy speed. For the 478 method, you inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and slowly release the breath for 8 seconds. The hard work here comes from the controlled exhale, as it encourages the body to let go of stress.

For those who know that their stress level is high and needs work, here are some other things that can help: Reduce Your Stress With These Hobbies | lifewithlilred.

Featured Image By: Katie Bush on Unsplash

Jul28

Patrick Durham Meet & Greet

Posted on July 28, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone!! The Lego Brick Convention that I attended this past weekend was so great! The displays and shopping with the vendors was fun, but the highlight of the day was meeting a former Lego Masters contestant. Patrick Durham of Team Grandpappies in season three was the piece de resistance of the convention and we couldn’t wait to see him. Johnny and I got a huge kick out of him and his partner, Kerry, during the show and I was on pins and needles to meet a Lego celebrity. Check it out:

After Johnny, my brother, and I made our rounds throughout the first section of the convention, we approached a very long line. We all assumed it was the line to meet Patrick, but it turns out it was formed to get a closer look at the displays. So, we bypassed it completely and went on the prowl to meet the Lego Master. And, we were in luck!! Patrick was literally just standing at his area beyond the line and we only had to wait briefly for our turn at a meet and greet.

Saying Patrick was the nicest person ever is the understatement of the century. He greeted my crew and all of his other fans with such warmth and good humor – it felt like having a chat with your own grandpappy. After exchanging pleasantries and quips, we asked about Kerry and learned sad news. He had passed away from heart complications on June 11th. This was such a disappointing thing to hear and we extended our deepest sympathies. Not only were Patrick and Kerry beloved grandpappies to their own grandchildren, but they were America’s grandpappies too.

We got to spend almost ten minutes with Patrick and after he signed my autograph, we had a photo shoot! Johnny snapped lots of pics and Patrick was SERVING. At one point, he assured Johnny that he wasn’t flirting with me and I let it be known that I was most definitely flirting with him! Lol, we all had a laugh. We were also so flattered when he told me and Johnny we were the coolest looking people he had seen that day. What a guy!

Spending time with Patrick Durham at the Brick Convention was one of my favorite things I have done this year. It was just really cool and it’s always awesome to meet someone on TV and finding out they are exactly how they appear on screen in person. Thanks for the laughs and your time, Patrick. Long live Team Grandpappies! ❤

Have you ever met a celebrity? Who were some of your favorite Lego Master contestants? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul27

Brick Convention 2023

Posted on July 27, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! I had a fantastic weekend! On Friday, Johnny and I went to the shooting range and on Saturday, we attended the Brick Convention with my brother. The Brick Convention was an ode to all things Lego and it was an absolute blast! Johnny and I are avid fans of Lego and this event did not disappoint. There were displays, vendors, and even a contestant from Lego Masters. The only not great thing was that the building the convention was held in wasn’t air conditioned. It was hot as bejeezus and even though we had a lot of fun, we were ready to get the hell out of there lol.

Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the awesome displays from the convention. Keep it posted this week for more because we have an OOTD, my convention haul, and meeting Patrick Durham! Let’s get started:

Talk about WOW, right?! Walking through the Brick Convention was like being a kid on Christmas day. It was Lego as far as the eye could see and it was incredible to take it all in. While it was nice to shop around with the many different vendors, the most fun was looking at all of the displays created by such amazing artists. Every single piece begged the question of “how did they do that?!”. Johnny and I love to build Lego sets together and sometimes I have difficulty with that let alone free building masterpieces. It was like being in our own personal episode of Lego Masters!

It was hard to get a close look at some of the builds because the convention center was very crowded. It was basically get in front of the build, snap a picture if you want, and move on. While all of the creations were excellent, I was extremely partial to the art gallery that was set up. There were Lego pictures of Mario and Luigi that moved, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, The Child, and of course the Lego rendition of the Creation of Adam. That was my favorite and my mind is still blown by it. Seriously, how did they do that?!

Despite the fact that we were sweating bullets the entire Brick Convention, I am so happy to have gone. I have never been to an event like that before and it was an experience I’ll always remember. Tune in tomorrow for more about my meeting with the one and only Patrick Durham of Team Grandpappies!!!

Do you like to build Lego? Have you ever been to a similar event before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul26

How To Achieve Your Weight Loss Goals Sooner

Posted on July 26, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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How To Achieve Your Weight Loss Goals Sooner

Weight loss is not easy for everyone. Some people can find it difficult to commit to lifestyle changes while others find it challenging to adapt to a new food routine. If you are on a mission to supercharge your weight loss goals, look no further. These tips will help you achieve your weight loss and fitness goals sooner, which will help you feel like your best self again:

Use medical support:

Although you might want to pursue and achieve your weight loss goals on your own, sometimes seeking medical support can be the best way for you to achieve your goal sooner. Using medical weight loss solutions can be the answer to increasing your weight loss. Yes, you must still maintain a healthy lifestyle. Yet, with another extra push, you can meet your goals and feel happier within your skin. There are an endless array of tools to help in your journey to better health like weight loss injectables, supplements, and surgeries. When used in tandem with lifestyle and diet changes, the difference it could make will be significant.

As you work towards a healthier weight, it is important to listen to the advice of the doctor who is helping you. Weight loss is a process that needs to be done right and you should seek counsel before you add anything new to your regimen. As such, run it by your doctor if you should buy GLP-1 (or any other supplements) to further assist in your weight loss or if the new exercises you are thinking of adding to your fitness routine are appropriate for you and your goals. This will ensure that you are doing everything in the safest, most healthy way possible.

Choose to eat low-fat foods:

Eating the right foods will guarantee to contribute to faster weight loss. Eating low-fat foods that are also high in fiber will help you feel fuller for longer while helping you consume less fat. If you want to achieve your weight loss goals, then you must eat the right foods in order to contribute to a healthier diet that is lower in calories and saturated fat. Changing your diet can be a really difficult thing and a lifestyle overhaul might feel overwhelming. This is normal and is something that should be discussed with a doctor or therapist, especially if you are having a hard time with cravings. Your doctor will be able to provide other recommendations to assist you like tirzepatide weight loss to help reduce your appetite.

Move more:

One of the most simple ways to achieve your weight loss goal sooner is to move more. If you are currently not doing much physical activity, how do you expect to achieve your weight loss goals in your desired amount of time? Whether you wish to join the gym or pursue workouts from home, maintaining a regular fitness routine will assist with speeding up your weight loss journey. It is a good idea to find an exercise that you enjoy, otherwise, you might slack off and not maintain your routine. This can come with trial and error so try out different exercise routines to find one that you can maintain.

Supplements to assist in weight loss can also give you a boost in energy to further increase your movement. You might notice this increase when you buy tesofensine pills to help with your weight loss journey.

Don’t forget about the high-calorie drinks:

If you enjoy drinking milky coffees, milkshakes, or sugary energy drinks, it is not a good idea to consume many of these if possible when you are committed to a weight loss journey. High-calorie drinks will contribute to your daily calorie intake, which can act as invisible calories, yet be the cause of you experiencing a slow weight loss journey. The best thing to do is to stick to low-calorie drinks and ensure that you keep as hydrated as possible to maintain your quick and healthy weight loss journey.

Using these tips, your weight loss journey will be as healthy and seamless as possible. Having an easy weight loss journey might seem impossible, however, using these tips is more achievable than you think!

Featured Image By: Ketut Subiyanto

Jul26

Date On The Range

Posted on July 26, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Johnny and I are still going strong with our weekend date nights and we had a literal blast this past Friday. We went to the shooting range with our downstairs neighbor and it was a hoot! Going to the shooting range is something that Johnny and I have always wanted to do together and just never did. He grew up shooting guns with his dad and I have only been to the range once in my life. We are also avid fans of the short lived competitive shooting show, Top Shot, and wanted to feel like our favorite contestants!

After finding out that our new-ish neighbor and new bestie liked to go to the range when he could, we decided to make an evening of it. We hit up Range USA in Canton, then returned back to my apartment where I cooked dinner. It was such a fun and different night out and you just can’t beat the “Friday date night” promo that Range USA runs. It’s buy one lane get one free! Check it out:

Before I went to the shooting range for the first time, I never saw the appeal of guns. After firing off a few rounds, however, I understood it and it was something that I wanted to do again. If you are in a safe and secure setting, why not? And, I hate to brag, but I did really good that first time and was eager to see if I still retained anything I learned from the pro at the range who taught me!

Once our waivers were signed, targets were purchased, and our safety gear was on, we were ready to go to our lanes. The target selection at Range USA was excellent and Johnny and I chose the shooting gallery one. Yes, because it was delightfully reminiscent of Top Shot challenges lol. Every gun I shot was a new experience and it was really cool – even though the rifle kicked like a mule. I was definitely done after four rounds and Johnny had a sore shoulder the next day.

I was really impressed with Johnny’s performance and mine wasn’t so bad, either! Johnny did so well and hit several bullseyes which was awesome to see. I was a bit disappointed with how I did, but then I remembered that this was only my second time shooting with entirely different guns. When I thought about it that way, I was proud of how I did. While I had lots of shots that weren’t on target whatsoever, I had a lot that were and felt great about them!

We had such a good time at the range that we are going to make it a thing. Every other week, we plan on hitting the range and making use of the date night special. We have even recruited two of our other friends to join our club and, of course, have dinner at my place after. Our Date On The Range was the most unique one we have been on yet and we are still chattering away about the good time that was had by all. 😀

Next weekend, it is my turn to select our date and I can’t wait for it. We are going to go shopping at some adorable boutiques in downtown Cuyahoga Falls and get Olive Garden for dinner. Long live Middle Class Fancy!!

What is your favorite competition show? What is the most unique date you have been on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul25

Dinner & A Show OOTD Bloopers

Posted on July 25, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Dinner & A Show OOTD! Because of this past year being absolutely INSANE, Johnny and I didn’t get the opportunity to go on many dates. Rather, we opted to staying in and having game nights. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good night in playing board and video games but there is something about a night out that just hits different!

With things thankfully slowing down in Lil Red’s world, going out on actual dates with Johnny is finally happening again. It is something that I missed so much and I relish every second of them. And, naturally, I have to look my absolute best as we continue on with our Date Night Revival:

That face you make when your husband lets you know he has to go to the bathroom for the millionth time

I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everybody in the Applebee’s parking lot say heyyyyyyyy

Taking pictures in the sunshine got me like

Serving sass and DELIVERING

Lol, wtf even?

I hate to get all sappy, but the past few date nights with Johnny have made me school girl giddy. The last date that I can recall going on before Moulin Rouge and Dinner & A Show was seeing Hadestown way back in February! Saying a night out was long overdue is a huge understatement and now that it’s happening, it feels like our first dates all over again. It’s freaking awesome and made such a simple night out feel like a massive event!

For future date nights, we plan on making the ultimate Middle Class Fancy circuit. We’re talking Olive Garden, we’re talking Red Lobster, O’Charley’s, and oh so much more. Johnny and I are not hard to please whatsoever and dining at a five star restaurant has no appeal to us. We want to go to all of the places that are reasonably priced, dress to the nines, and eat like kings. Our dinner at Applebee’s gave us an insatiable craving for the average things in life and I am eagerly anticipating all of the bread sticks at the OG. 😀

No matter where we go or what we do, Johnny and I always have a blast. When you bring the party just by arriving, it turns going to a chain restaurant into an amazing date. Here’s to Middle Class Fancy because it’s the best way to go!

What is your favorite chain restaurant? How do you get your Middle Class Fancy on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul24

Dinner & A Show OOTD

Posted on July 24, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Today, we are going to take a look at my date night look that I sported this past weekend. Johnny and I had a night on the town on Friday going to Applebee’s and seeing Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. It was a hoot! And, as always, we had to step out in our best to do date night right! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Aviator Print Button Down: Karl Lagerfeld, TJMaxx

Popsicle Print Scarf: BCBG, TJMaxx

Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Lace Up Heels: Juicy Couture, Kohl’s

Sunglasses: Sam Edelman, TJMaxx

The heart dangle earrings were purchased by my aunt at an estate sale!

The last date night Johnny and I went to was seeing Moulin Rouge at Playhouse Square. This was a situation that required actual fancy dress, but our dinner and a movie date night was all about Middle Class Fancy. Because of this, I decided to style a look that was fairly casual because there’s no point in settling in to watch a movie in something uncomfortable! I played around with several different options in my head before I settled on this OOTD and I love how it turned out. 😀

For this look, I was very inspired by my husband who can rock a bold button down like no other. I went with my Aviator print button down by Karl Lagerfeld for a few reasons. 1) It is the loudest button down I own and I still wanted this casual look to be a lot of fun. And 2) Johnny was sporting a black button down and mine was a perfect compliment to his:

Very nice!!!!!!

Black shorts were the obvious way to go with my white and black top and then it was time for accessories. To start, I tied my BCBG popsicle print scarf around my neck as another ode to my A1. A pattern on top of a pattern can be a tricky styling technique to pull off. However, this worked because 1) The additional pattern came from a smaller accessory. And 2) The base of the scarf was white and that blended well with the shirt. The only thing you’re really seeing is the pop of color with the pale pink trim and blue popsicles.

With the base of my outfit settled, I popped on a pair of small dangly earrings of a red heart. I didn’t want to go overboard with additional accessories because the patterns I had on served as an accessory in themselves. These earrings added the slightest touch of movement to compliment the breezy scarf and gave an adorable color burst when they hit the light just right.

For shoes, I went with my lace up wedges by Juicy Couture. These heels are old as dirt, but I love them so very much and they are one of my favorite pairs. I chose them because their color palette really did tie the look together from head to toe. The black laces, of course, paired with the sunglasses pattern. And, the creamy base was just right with the soft shades of the scarf. With that, I was ready to go!

My Dinner & A Show OOTD was all about being comfortably cute and it was exactly what I needed for our date night. It was also such fun to wear an outfit that meshed with Johnny’s so well. My lil style icon! ❤

What is your favorite date night location? What movie are you looking forward to seeing in theaters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul23

Cheerio No Go

Posted on July 23, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! My mom has been on a HUGE cereal kick and it has made me crave a big bowl of Cheerios something fierce. I don’t eat cereal too often, but it’s all I can think about when I get a taste for it. When Johnny and I went grocery shopping at Aldi’s a week or so ago, I just had to get a box of their Crispy Oats. We have had so much GREAT SUCCESS since we began shopping at Aldi’s and I figured their version of Cheerios would be just fine. Sadly, I was mistaken…

I have been trying really hard to squeeze in breakfast every day and I thought cereal would be a quick and easy way to go. I prepped myself a bowl of Crispy Oats, sat down at the computer to work, and couldn’t wait to take my first bite. My craving was about to be satisfied and I was really looking forward to it! Unfortunately, I guess I should have waited until I purchased actual Cheerios because the Crispy Oats were just not it.

The first spoonful I had tasted… off. Then I went in for a second and realized that the Crispy Oats tasted exactly what I could imagine pencil shavings would taste like. They were kind of woody and weird and it was definitely not what I pictured my first bowl of cereal in years to be like! Not that Cheerios are the most flavorful cereal on the planet, but I don’t remember them tasting like that lol. I even had a second bowl a few days later to see if I set myself up for disappointment by being too hyped up and my sentiments remained the same. This was a Cheerio No Go, for sure.

With all of the goodies that we have been enjoying from Aldi’s, there were sure to be a few misses. My top three have to be their toilet paper, the Clancy’s tortilla chips, and the Crispy Oats. But, hey, that’s not bad at all. Even with a few duds, you simply can’t beat the prices at Aldi’s and Johnny and I have already saved a bundle. Plus, the Crispy Oats won’t go to waste… Cheerios are our family dog’s favorite treat so hopefully he won’t mind the off brand too much! 😉

Pip pip cheerio to the Crispy Oats because your girl was not a fan. This is one that you can skip if you find yourself at Aldi’s. Keep it posted on lifewithlilred for a date night OOTD tomorrow!

What is your favorite kind of cereal? What do you normally have for breakfast? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul22

Dinner & A Movie Date Night

Posted on July 22, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Last Friday, Johnny and I had a fabulous date night of dinner and a movie. Applebee’s was running a promo for spend X amount of money and get a free ticket to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and we were so there for it! In fact, we got our Middle Class Fancy on so hard that we ended up with three free tickets lol. It was an absolute blast and was so typically us. Whether we’re all dressed up for Taco Bell or a date night at The Bee’s, we treat everything like a special occasion because it is! Check it out:

Okay, is it just me or did Applebee’s really up their game? Perhaps it was the Margaritas we were enjoying or the thrill of a night out, but our food was so good. We started our meal with Crispy Cheese Bites as an appetizer and they were bomb AF. They were like a mixture of a cheese curd and mozzarella stick and came with Ranch and Firecracker sauce to dip in. If we didn’t have actual dinner ordered too, we easily could have ate the whole plate! Our leftovers were also A1 when we air fried them later that weekend. 😀

For the main course, Johnny got his usual of a bacon cheeseburger and I got the Three-Cheese Chicken Penne minus the chicken. As you can see, Johnny loved his burger and my pasta was awesome. It wasn’t as good as something from Olive Garden, but it was close. My meal also inspired our next Middle Class Fancy outing because I want to hit up the OG. Maybe when I drag Johnny to the Barbie movie with me?!

After we were done eating, we headed to the theater to settle in for the movie. This was the first movie we have seen since we took our niece to see Sing 2 for her third birthday last year! Pre pandemic, Johnny and I used to see movies together pretty frequently and I’m hoping we bring that back. The Regal we went to was so fancy with big reclining chairs that were insanely comfortable. It was the perfect setup to get our Indiana Jones on and I only want to go to that theater from now on. Once you see a movie in a recliner, you can’t go back!

Johnny and I have had a date night two weeks in a row and nothing makes me happier. Even though we are always dead tired by the end of the week, stepping out with my main squeeze is like getting a caffeine IV. I can’t wait for our next date night at the Olive Garden because it’s going to be my turn to pick! ❤

What is your favorite Middle Class Fancy restaurant? What was the last movie you saw in theaters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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