Oct24

Attracting & Keeping The Best Talent To Your Company

Posted on October 24, 2022 by lifewithlilred

In order to maintain a successful company, it is essential to have the best talent working for you. The best way to attract and keep top talent is by implementing policies and practices that appeal to them. In this blog post, we will discuss four ways that you can keep your employees happy and engaged. By following these tips, you will be able to reduce turnover rates and improve productivity in your workplace:

Offer a competitive salary and benefits package:

In order to attract top talent, you need to offer a competitive compensation package with other companies in your industry. This includes offering a fair base salary and providing benefits such as health insurance, retirement savings plans, and paid time off. Employees will be more likely to stay with your company if they feel they are fairly compensated.

You should also consider offering perks and bonuses to attract and retain employees. These include flexible work hours, stock options, or employer tuition reimbursement services. Employees appreciate being rewarded for their hard work and these types of perks can help you stand out from other employers.

Promote a positive work/life balance:

The best employees are those who are happy and engaged in their work. To promote a positive work/life balance, you should offer flexible work hours and the ability to telecommute. This will give your employees more control over their time, leading to increased productivity and satisfaction. Ensure your employees have access to quality childcare and eldercare resources. This will help them feel supported in their personal lives, and they will be more likely to stay focused on their work when at the office.

Create high-quality skill development opportunities:

The best talent wants to be challenged and given the opportunity to grow. If your company can provide employees with opportunities to develop new skill sets like with ITIL 4 certification, you’ll be more likely to attract top talent – and keep them. One way to do this is to invest in employee training and development programs. These range from formal courses and certification programs to on-the-job training and mentorship opportunities. By giving your employees a chance to learn new skills, you’re making your company more attractive to prospective talent and increasing employee engagement and retention.

Foster a positive and supportive company culture:

Your company culture should promote positivity, collaboration, and respect. Employees should feel like they are part of a team and that their contributions are valued. If your employees feel like they are in a toxic or damaging environment, they will be more likely to seek employment elsewhere. Make sure that your company values are evident in everything you do, from how you treat your customers to how you interact with each other. Promote a culture of open communication and respect and encourage employees to give feedback.

Implementing these four policies will result in a happier and more productive workforce. By following these tips, you’ll be able to reduce turnover rates and ensure that your company has the best talent working for you.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Oct24

Lil Red’s Book Club: Thinner By Stephen King Edition

Posted on October 24, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Thinner By Stephen King Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, without giving any spoilers away, we will be discussing Thinner by Stephen King. There is never a bad time to read one of the kings of horror but it just hits differently during spooky season. I have been on a huge King kick as of late and have recently enjoyed Carrie and Fire-Starter. Thinner was a fun, quick read and before we get started, I will be placing a trigger warning on it for violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Billy Halleck is a family man who is living the good life. He has a beautiful wife, beloved daughter, expensive home, and a great job as a lawyer. From this standpoint, he is the picture of success. Then, you look at the man who is being discussed and find out that he is very overweight and cruising dangerously to the heart attack zone. Constant binge eating has brought Billy’s weight to roughly two hundred and fifty pounds. Sure, he might say he’s on a diet but the empty snack wrappers and soda cans tell a totally different story.

Billy’s success in his small Connecticut town is a double edged sword. On one hand, he is making lots of money. On the other, his ins with judges and police officers helped sweep a crime that Billy is culpable of under the rug. Due to a bout of distracted driving, Billy ran over a wanderer whose caravan was camped in town. Instead of serving jail time, Billy got a slap on the wrist and his life went back to normal… So normal that he almost forgot about the ringleader of the fortune tellers and performers. His nose was suffering from necrosis and he touched Billy gently and whispered “thinner” to win justice for the victim.

Soon, Billy began to lose weight despite eating more than ever before. At first, it was nothing major and his scale stayed comfortably in the 240s. Then, the weight loss became rapid and within a few short weeks he lost forty pounds. Trips to the doctor and multiple tests confirmed that nothing was “wrong” with Billy medically. But, then again, a curse doesn’t show up on a blood test.

As Billy continues to go from dangerously overweight to dangerously thin, other strange phenomena is happening to the people involved in Billy’s courtroom coverup. The judge has inexplicably began growing scales and the chief of police has sprouted oozing, weeping pimples all over his body. They, too, were cursed by the caravan leader.

Time is running out and Billy has lost well over one hundred pounds in two months. He knows he will not find a cure at a medical facility that his wife insists on him checking into. So, he begins a road trip along the Northeast coast to track the wanderers down and get his curse lifted. Will he find them before the emaciation and arrhythmia in his heart kills him first? Read Thinner to find out!

Like Carrie and Fire-Starter, I had a great time reading Thinner. Was it my favorite Stephen King book that I have ever read? No. But, like all King books, it was a campy and fun page turner. I have always enjoyed King’s books not just for the horror but because of the humor! Stephen King has such a dry, silly sense of humor and so many lines in Thinner made me and Johnny laugh out loud.

Thinner wasn’t as much of a jump scare read as it was plain disturbing. “The Incredible Shrinking Man”, as Billy calls himself, is such a simple yet terrifying punishment. Most chapters in the book were marked by Billy’s new weight and reading his deterioration into a gaunt, skeletal man almost made me happy to have some areas of my body with extra padding lol.

While I liked the story line, I didn’t care as much for Billy as a main character as I have in other King books. He seemed to play the blame game for his situation a lot instead of taking full responsibility for running a woman over. And, although he didn’t serve time in jail like he should have, he let the whole issue slip his mind almost completely rather than feel any guilt for it. Not a good look!

I am going to rate Thinner with a seven out of ten stars. This is a perfect and fast paced read to get you into the Halloween spirit. Although it wasn’t as groundbreaking as other King books, I still recommend it!

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

Oct23

Sweet Surprises: Spooky Decor Edition

Posted on October 23, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Whenever Johnny and I are running errands individually, we always seem to come home with a little treat for each other without fail. This has especially rang true throughout late September and the entire month of October because it is spooky season, baby! In our bigger apartment, it has been impossible to say no to all kinds of Halloween decor to deck our place out in. Thanks to Johnny stopping into Walgreen’s, we now have these new additions to our collection:

Halloween is a state of mind and Johnny and I live in that mindset year round. Constantly watching scary movies, wearing spooky sweaters, and having a huge decor collection also really helps the cause! We have been living our best lives this October between date days, movie marathons, and all of the Halloween shopping. I suspect we will also be living our best lives in early November when all of the candy and decorations are on sale! 😀

It has been a rough few weeks in Lil Red’s world and Johnny always knows how to cheer me up. Sometimes it’s just turning on one of my favorite shows or, in this case, returning home with some surprises! We have yet to hang up the Prisoner Of Azkaban wiggle picture but I literally gasped when I saw the skeleton couple on their boat. The best part? It lights up! Its new home is on top of one of our book shelves and it makes a perfect little nightlight now that it is getting so dark early in the evening. I think the resemblance of me and Johnny is uncanny. ❤

As Halloween draws closer, it is becoming impossible to contain the excitement! Keep it posted on lifewithlilred for more scary good content including some must see horror flicks and my plans for the ultimate movie night on Halloween weekend!

What is your favorite holiday to decorate for? What is your favorite store to shop at for seasonal decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct22

A Night At The Theater OOTD Pt. 4 Bloopers

Posted on October 22, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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A Night At The Theater OOTD Pt. 4 Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Night At The Theater OOTD! Johnny and I had a great time during our date night of dinner at The Haunted House Restaurant and a not so great time seeing Les Mis at Playhouse Square. Talk about a snooze fest lol. Regardless, it’s always a blast to step out in a carefully styled OOTD with my husband. ❤

On occasion, my phone will do this weird thing that makes all of the pictures look blurry. It happened to be one of those occasions on Saturday night, making some blooper shots look like horror movie stills. I’m not mad about it because it’s perfect for spooky season! Check it out:

Slowly draining Johnny’s life force

I look terrifying lol

Just working what my mama gave me

Your classic “I just got engaged” pose

Johnny told me I looked like a bearded dragon when I lifted my coat’s collar and this is my interpretation of what a bearded dragon looks like:

Looking like Bette Midler in Hocus Pocus

My face when Johnny asks if we’re done yet lol

Creature of the night

Straight YIKES dude

I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!

Just talking to Eugene……

EUGENE!!!!!!!!!!!

Eugene is a kindly usher at Playhouse Square who noticed Johnny and I taking pictures when we straight ditched Les Mis. With pictures like the above, it’s hard to see why he asked if I modeled professionally!! He was a total angel, though, and insisted on taking mine and Johnny’s pictures and we couldn’t resist a selfie with him. Just a couple of fashionistas on the town! 😀

As I was going through the pictures of me that Johnny took, I was honestly fearful for my life lol I look so scary in some of them!! (Note that if my sweet husband saw what I just typed he would say I look scary in all of them haha) This batch of bloopers definitely lived up to the “yikes” portion of the good, the bad, and the yikes. I always fancied myself a horror movie scream queen but now I think that my calling is as the villainess!

With another fabulous date night and OOTD in the books, Johnny and I have truly been living our best lives this fall. I can’t wait to continue thriving together in the joy of spooky season! ❤

What is your favorite scary movie? Do you have any selfies with strangers on your phone? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct21

Period Problems: Talking To Your Teen

Posted on October 21, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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When it comes to talking to your teen about anything, especially something as personal and private as periods, you might feel like you’re hitting a brick wall. They’ll clam up, tune out, and give you that look that says they know something you don’t. But don’t worry. There are ways to ease into the subject with them so it doesn’t seem like such a foreign topic. Keep reading for some tips on how to talk to your teen about periods without making it uncomfortable for them:

They Can Still Do Everything They Love:

Your main goal should be to let them know that they can continue to do everything they love. Like playing sports or hanging out with their friends, while they’re getting ready to get their period. Things like period swimwear for teens exist now. So daily life doesn’t have to grind to a halt. They’ll appreciate the fact that you don’t make it seem like periods are an interruption of life, rather a small annoyance.

Find The Right Time And Place:

Before you bring it up, you’ll have to try to find the right time and place. Think about how much your teen might be willing to open up to you. If they’re open to talking about it, you can try to bring it up when they seem ready, like when they seem less distracted by other things. Or by asking them outright if they want to chat. For example, they’ll be open to talking more when they’re done with Netflix or their homework.

Make It Clear You Care:

If you want your teen to feel like they can talk to you about periods, you’ll want to make it clear that you care. You might say things like, “I’m so sorry you have to deal with this, but I’m glad we can talk about it.” Or, “It’s important for you to talk to someone if you’re feeling sad or if you have questions about your body.” You can tell your teen that you want them to feel like they can talk to you about periods by saying things like these.

Be Patient:

As you try to talk to your teen about periods, you’ll want to be patient and give them space to share their thoughts. You don’t want to push them into talking about something they’re not ready to. It can seem pushy or overly inductive if you try to “push” your teen into talking about periods right away. Instead, try to wait until you see that your teen is ready to open up about it.

Ask Open-Ended Questions:

Try to use open-ended questions to get your teen talking about periods. What do they think about periods? What are their questions? Open-ended questions help you get your teen thinking without giving them a direct answer and help them open up to talking about something they might not otherwise talk about. They can help you get your teen talking about periods in a non-pushy way and give them space to share their thoughts.

Don’t Let Embarrassment Stop You:

It’s important to remember that they might feel embarrassed, weird, or even gross about period problems. Especially if they haven’t talked to anyone about it yet. It’s normal for teens to feel that way, but you have to try to avoid making them feel like that. If your teen is embarrassed about talking about periods, try to avoid making them feel like they have to talk about it. Make it clear that it’s okay if they don’t want to talk about it and that you’re not going to make them do it if they don’t want to.

First periods can be scary and it’s important to keep your teen’s mind at ease. Use the tips above for a good place to start!

Featured Image By: Sora Shimazaki via Pexels

Oct21

Health Habits To Start Today

Posted on October 21, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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At times, the problems and responsibilities of being an adult can seem so big that taking on more can seem like a crazy idea. Still, you can’t say enough about how important it is to take care of your own health. If you keep up with some healthy habits for a while, you might find it easier to handle what the day throws at you. Read on to find out what you can do to get to this point:

Eat Well:

Most of the time, we only care about how something tastes and don’t care about our health. But unfortunately, the fast and unhealthy food we eat every day to save time and effort in our busy lives poses a threat to our bodies that we can’t even imagine. This is why we want to talk about how important it is to eat a healthy diet.

If you’ve been eating unhealthy food for a long time, it might be hard for you to switch to a healthy diet all at once. But with time and effort, you’ll get used to it and eventually live a healthy life. Eating healthy doesn’t mean only eating boiled food, eating less, or not eating fat. Switching to a healthy, well-balanced diet means eating everything in the right amount, at the right time, and with the right combination. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a treat or a “cheat meal” but it’s always best to do so in moderation.

Be Proactive With Your Health Checkups:

Establishing and upholding healthy habits begins with being proactive about health checkups. Being proactive not only aids in the early detection and prevention of diseases but also assists with managing existing conditions more effectively. This approach is evident when dealing with hearing health – devices like the Lyric hearing aid can significantly enhance the auditory experience. At the same time, checkups enable healthcare providers to monitor an individual’s overall well being as they provide necessary treatment and advice to promote better health.

Exercise Regularly:

If you want to make sure you have healthy habits, you should also think about adding exercise to your daily routine. Fitness starts with a good workout and what seems difficult now will be so easy in due time. Also, don’t worry about how much it will cost. Working out doesn’t have to be expensive; you just need to search around for something that will suit your budget and interest you. Muay Thai for beginners is a perfect example.

Making a regular time to exercise is the first step if you want to start working out more. Creating a schedule for your workouts can make it far more likely that you will keep up a healthy fitness program. Although routines are great for staying on track, it’s also important to mix things up every once in a while. Introducing some element of surprise into a long-term task can help keep it interesting. So, if you want to make working out more enjoyable, try throwing in some unexpected challenges.

Sleep Well:

Last but not least, sleep is one of the most important things for your health. It can also make or break your fitness routines because it affects your ability to stick with them. So, every night, make sure you get enough sleep. All bodily functions rely on enough sleep. How well our bodies and brains function the following day is impacted, as are our immune systems, metabolism, and susceptibility to developing chronic diseases. The importance of sleep cannot be overstated; it has far-reaching effects on your overall health.

With simple changes in diet and lifestyle, you will be your best and healthiest self. All it takes is a little time and effort!

Featured Image By: Jane Doan

Oct21

A Night At The Theater OOTD Pt. 4

Posted on October 21, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past weekend, Johnny and I went on a date night to The Haunted House Restaurant and Playhouse Square for a showing of Les Miserables. We had a great time despite Les Mis being a total snooze fest lol. No matter what the occasion, I love to step out in a great outfit but it feels even more important to do so for A Night At The Theater. Going to a play or a musical is an event where everyone wants to look their best and I felt my best in this look:

Who? What? Wear?

Emerald Green Coat: Nine West, Blue Boutique (A thrift store in my area)
Mustard Yellow Button Down: Notations, Goodwill (This is Johnny’s shirt!)
Snakeskin Pattern Coated Jeans: Seven, TJMaxx
Platform Boots: Forever 21
Heart Earrings: SugarFix By BaubleBar, Target
Stud Embellished Purse: Foley + Corinna, TJMaxx

When I am styling an OOTD for a theater production, I want it to be both chic and unique. Of course, I want to look sophisticated but I also don’t want to wear what everyone else has on. I think that this outfit was very successful because I felt classy AF and was sporting pieces that all had cool details to them to make the look pop. If you notice, each key component in this fit has a lovely sheen to it that only enhanced the “look at me vibes” and made me feel like a star without being on stage.

I started styling this outfit with Johnny’s blouse by Notations in mind because I am obsessed with it and never had an occasion to wear it to. As you all know, I love me some mustard yellow and jewel tones like that and the emerald green in the coat just hit different in the fall! This blouse reminds me of a sexy bowling shirt in the best way possible and I love that I can borrow my husband’s clothes! 😀

To keep going with the sheen in the top, the logical next step was a coated pair of snakeskin patterned skinnies. These jeans by Seven are one of my absolute favorites and it created such a nice, lean silhouette when paired with the blouse. When you’re creating outfits, it is so important for each piece to flow together to form a cohesive look. The shine in both the pants and top blended seamlessly and made me feel ten feet tall rather than barely 5’1. You just wouldn’t get that same effect with a plain black pair of skinnies.

A coat was a must because it has been freaking freezing in my neck of the woods. While the Nine West one is, admittedly, not the warmest, it served its purpose well in this look. I thought that the emerald green looked beautiful over top of the mustard yellow and it was fun to wear two of my favorite colors at once. This coat is such a classic piece but the striking color makes it really special. It also had some sheen to it to keep the likeness that I was working with in tact.

With the base of the outfit sorted, it was time to accessorize. You can all call me out on featuring my Forever 21 platforms in yet another OOTD but I just can’t help myself – they are the best! I love a platform boot because they offer an incredible boost in height and a fabulous touch of retro. I have several pairs in different colors but I didn’t want to introduce anything too crazy against the palette that was already created. These platforms were the way to go and the peek-a-boo of gold and red further complimented the jewel tones in the outfit.

For earrings, I chose my red heart dangly pair to tie the look together from head to toe thanks to the red in the platforms. With neck tattoos, colorful hair, and five nose piercings, I have began to shy away from dangly earrings because it can be a bit much. However, I had my hair pulled back and it gave me the perfect canvas for a longer pair of earrings since my neck was so exposed. Not to mention how freaking cute they are!

Finally, I decided to swap my Union Jack studded purse with my white Foley + Corinna one. I tend to change my purse every month or two and this was the right time for a new one. This bag is one of my favorites and the black spikes pop so well against the stark white base. I also liked how it added another color to this outfit’s palette without interference since it is a neutral. The only dislike is that it’s a bit small so I’ll constantly be having to empty out my Taco Bell receipts lol.

I had an absolute blast styling this date night at the theater look and it made me feel like a billion bucks. This OOTD also featured two pieces found at secondhand stores, which is a true testament to the power of thrifting!

What is the best thing that you have found at a thrift shop? Which events do you deem worthy to dress up for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: Keep it posted for bloopers from this OOTD tomorrow!

Oct20

Les Miserables At Playhouse Square (Partial) Review

Posted on October 20, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Les Miserables At Playhouse Square (Partial) Review

Hello! This past Saturday, Johnny and I went on a date night to The Haunted House Restaurant and Playhouse Square. Les Miserables was being performed at the KeyBank State Theater and Johnny and I decided to go since my parents couldn’t. Were we both chomping at the bit to see Les Mis? Not really. I love the theater more than the average bear and I have never had any desire to see it, despite its popularity. And, of course, Johnny didn’t care either way lol.

Because we were feeling wishy washy about attending in general, I told Johnny that we would make it to the intermission and leave. We were both tired after a long week and were also not trying to get stuck in traffic on the way home because the Cleveland Guardians was playing that night. Satisfied with this plan, we headed to Playhouse Square after a great meal. However, we ended up leaving after hearing “Castle On A Cloud” performed because it is my fave. Check out some pics and let’s discuss:

EUGENE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me preface our chit chat with the following: I freaking LOVE going to Playhouse Square and there is nothing better to me than a night at the theater. I have been to many a show there and have always had a blast, even with productions I wasn’t overly excited about because I can still admire the production value. For the life of me, though, I just could not get into Les Mis!

Johnny and I both had absolutely no idea of what Les Mis was about and we still don’t have the foggiest. BUT, when the show began we were both really feeling it. The beginning was set on a boat and it felt like you were rocking away on the stormy seas with the cast. Then… everyone started singing lol.

At first, I thought it was just a fluke but I couldn’t understand a word of what anyone was saying. In fact, I found myself wishing that the show had subtitles! I recalled to myself when I saw Frozen at the KeyBank State Theater in August and while I had some problems hearing/understanding the actors, it was nowhere near as bad as Les Mis. It almost made things worse that I have a bit of familiarity with the music of the show and still couldn’t understand NOTHIN.

As we sat through song after song (Because, let’s be real, the whole play is just one long song!), things were not getting any better. Yes, the set was spectacular and it always is at a Playhouse Square show but was it good enough to sit through the whole show in confusion? No, lol. Johnny and I had a loose understanding of what was going on from the phrases that we could make out but that was about it.

After close to an hour of attempting to give the show a chance to get better, we decided to call it a loss and head home – especially since we had an hour drive back. Honestly, on any other occasion, I would never consider leaving a play early. I was enjoying myself a little but Johnny most definitely wasn’t and we were exhausted – so much so that we were both yawning in our seats. The intermission was also a ways away and I was worried one of us was going to fall asleep! Sometimes, it’s best to just leave and this was one of those times.

I am a bit sad that Les Mis wasn’t this groundbreaking theatrical experience for myself and Johnny. But, we gave it a shot and no one can say that we didn’t try. Had we been able to understand even a little more of what was being sang, this post probably would have been totally different!

What are your thoughts on Les Mis? Have you ever left a movie or production early? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct19

The Haunted House Restaurant Date Night

Posted on October 19, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! This past Saturday, Johnny and I were on deck to see Les Miserables at Playhouse Square because my parents couldn’t attend. You can read all about that experience and peep my OOTD from it later this week! Prior to heading to the theater, we decided to finally check out The Haunted House Restaurant in Beachwood for dinner. Despite the, admittedly, unoriginal name, there was nothing in the realm of normal at this restaurant and it was a blast! Check it out:

Lol at Johnny!

The whole restaurant was decked out in murals and horror movie memorabilia

Michael Myers was a guest star and lurking around the whole place!

For drinks, Johnny got the Beetlejuice and I went for the Trick Or Treat. For food, Johnny ordered the Texas Chainsaw Burger and I got the Ecto Burger.

The Haunted House Restaurant opened in Beachwood about a year ago and Johnny and I were so excited to go despite the mixed bag of reviews that we had heard. Some people loved it while others complained about the food and that it wasn’t like a “real” haunted house. This wasn’t the case for me and Johnny at all and we cannot wait to go back. In fact, we are already planning to host our birthaversary there in June!

Let’s start with the food and drinks… The Haunted House Restaurant had a huge cocktail menu featuring spooky themed drinks and their own wine. Johnny’s version of a Pina Colada called the Beetlejuice looked SO cool and he really enjoyed it. I ordered their popular “Trick Or Treat”, which was basically a boozy apple cider and it was delicious. It was exactly what I was hoping it would be and I loved that it was garnished with fresh pieces of apple for a classy touch. I want to make something similar for a scary movie night ASAP. 😀

I can’t speak for Johnny’s Texas Chainsaw Burger but my Ecto Burger was just alright. It was an impossible burger with vegan BBQ pulled pork, gouda, and onions. I wanted to like it so badly but it was pretty dry overall and was lacking severely in the flavor department. The French fries, however, were amazing and I would have been happy just eating a plateful of them.

Although my burger wasn’t the best, it was okay because the experience as a whole was. As soon as we walked into the restaurant, Johnny and I were so there for it. All of the staff were in costumes and horror makeup, the decor was second to none, and the creepy music playing on the speakers all set the stage for a great evening. Also, our server at the bar was a star!

The fabulous murals and memorabilia was like being in a scary movie museum and there seemed to be tricks and treats everywhere you turned. Johnny and I happened to be there when a birthday was being celebrated and the staff put on a great show. The sirens from The Purge played over the speakers and the staff came out dancing with flashing lights for the birthday guest. Then, they played “In Da Club” and it was hilarious lol.

All of the above isn’t even the best part because that belonged to whomever the restaurant had playing Michael Myers. About halfway through our meal, Johnny noticed Mr. Myers posted up outside one of the doors to the restaurant. He reveled in scaring passerbyers and the restaurant goers alike and happily posed for pictures when asked. Then, he made his way inside and went throughout the place to entertain everyone. Unfortunately, we had to go before he got to the bar where we were seated but it was still so awesome!

Our trip to The Haunted House Restaurant was one of mine and Johnny’s favorite date nights yet. We had so much fun and the only bad thing is that it’s about forty minutes away. This actually might be a good thing, though, because we would be there literally all of the time!

Where is your favorite date night spot? What is your favorite scary movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct18

Fall Craft Morning

Posted on October 18, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! I work as an Independent Provider for people with special needs and it is the best job ever! This past Friday, I spent a fantastic morning getting crafty with one of my clients and we had a blast. Even better, part of our supplies for the projects we completed came from going on a fall hike. We gathered leaves to do some crayon stenciling and also purchased small pumpkins to paint. These crafts were simple to make but so much fun and will be a great way to spend a chilly fall afternoon with nothing to do:

My neck of the woods boasts so many different Metro Parks that it’s impossible to keep track of them all. I have been looking forward to fall hikes with my client since the summertime and the trail we went on was glorious with all of the leaves changing colors. It also was a unique twist to turn it into a scavenger hunt of sorts while we scoured the ground for perfect leaves to stencil.

After the hike was done and our hoodie pockets were filled with leaves, we bought pumpkins and headed home to get our craft on. The leaf stenciling was a huge hit and, although the directions are self explanatory, here they are:

Acquire leaves
Place the leaf vein side up underneath a piece of paper
Rub over the leaf gently with the side of a crayon
Rinse and repeat

While our leaf craft was very successful, the piece de resistance was definitely painting the pumpkins! I have never carved a pumpkin before and, honestly, don’t trust myself enough to lol so painting a pumpkin is my compromise. This is a craft that I have done with many a client and it’s an ideal way to get into the fall spirit without the messiness of pumpkin carving. I opted for a pumpkin with the lifewithlilred initials and my client painted a super colorful pumpkin that turned out amazing. Now, I have to figure out some more crafts for next week! 😀

Not only is fall my favorite season but it is also my favorite time of year to spend with the people I serve. Enjoying the beautiful nature, cooler temps, and all of the activities and crafts that come with autumn never makes for a dull moment! ❤

Have you made any fall crafts? How did they turn out? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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