Mar25

4 Things Your Dog Needs Beyond Food And Water

Posted on March 25, 2021 by lifewithlilred

If you are a proud dog parent, you know how special these furry creatures are. Dogs are integral parts of their families. They bring so much joy, comfort, and companionship. With that in mind, you want to give them the best care possible to make them as happy as they make you – each and every day.

Safe Space:

When your dog spends time outside, it is vital to their well-being to have a safe place for them to sleep. Colorbond Dog Kennels are a quality and effective solution for your dog’s housing needs. These kennels are designed for longevity. The durable construction is raised off the ground to protect pets from fleas, parasites, snakes, roaming wildlife, and other unsecured dogs. Your dog needs to have a safe place to relax too! The kennel will also be their go-to location during the day if they feel tired or are looking for a quiet respite from the activity around your home. It is a place just for them.

Toys:

Yes, your dog really does need toys. However, they do not need to be fancy to be fun and effective. Dog toys do more than clutter up your floor. They keep your dog busy and entertained. Dog toys prevent your furry companion from finding your favorite shoes or even the baseboards and using them to scratch the chewing itch. Dogs are comforted and calmed by the act of chewing on things, and they keep them happy. You can find dog toys at many stores or try your hand at making them yourself for a DIY project.

Here is a fun tutorial on how to make upcycled dog toys from old t-shirts:

Exercise:

Just like people, some dog breeds require more exercise than others. And, just like people, exercise allows dogs to relieve stress through physical activity. When your dog is worn out physically, they are less likely to become destructive and chew or dig due to boredom or pent-up energy that is waiting to be released. As an added benefit, exercise is a chance to bond with your dog and take some time out of your everyday responsibilities for yourself, as well.

Love:

At the end of every day, if you look back at what your canine family member has wanted from you, it is basic needs and, overwhelmingly, it is love. Your dog wants to be with you. They long for a belly rub or scratch behind the ears with a “good boy/girl” thrown in for good measure. They deserve all of the love and in ample amounts!

So sweet!

Your best friend deserves the best. Beyond caring for their basic needs, give them a safe space with shelter to retreat to and relax. Dogs do not need much; their basic needs are easy to meet. They just want some love, care, and of course – you!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Mar25

Engagement Ring Reveal

Posted on March 25, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! My engagement ring was too big when Johnny proposed so I took it to Jared’s first thing the following Monday morning. In the meantime before my appointment at the jewelry store, we tied the ear strap from a disposable mask around the ring to keep it from falling off lol. I was not able to pick up my ring until Friday and it was such a long few days without it – especially considering I had just gotten it!

Come Friday morning, I arrived at Jared’s as soon as they opened to pick up my ring and they did an absolutely fabulous job resizing it. It fits so well but is still easy to take on and off, which is great because I don’t shower or sleep in it. I knew that my ring was the one for me at first glance and I am so happy to officially have it back in my possession. And now, the grand reveal:

^^^ The ring is a carved fresh water pearl on a sterling silver band.

Johnny and I are a fashion forward punk rock couple and we wanted unique rings without having to spend a small fortune and that is what we got. His boasts a red coffin with skeletons holding it and I think our rings look awesome together. They are completely perfect for us and I am constantly admiring them both throughout the day. Whether other people like them or not, we are always being told “I haven’t seen anything like it before” – which is exactly what we were going for!

When it comes to my fashion sense, I love pieces that are edgy while still being pretty and my ring showcases that beautifully. The band and skeleton hands are so delicate while the carved skull pearl makes a bold statement and I have never been so smitten with a piece of jewelry before. Both mine and Johnny’s rings have such a strong personality and I can’t imagine us having anything different.

Whenever I look at my ring, I am brought back to Johnny’s proposal and feel even more in love and it really doesn’t get any better than that. ❤

What does your engagement ring look like? What is your favorite type of jewelry to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar24

Keep Your Home Pest Free With These Tips

Posted on March 24, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Keep Your Home Pest Free With These Tips

The thought of uninvited guests such as spiders, ants, rodents, or fleas roaming around your home may well give you the shivers! And it should. Pests in your home can be a huge health hazard for you and your family so it is important to follow these pest prevention tips to keep everyone safe:

Use natural remedies:

This one may sound a little weird but it’s actually one of the most effective ways of keeping pests from entering your home in the first place. In fact, all you need are the right herbs, either in fresh form or in an essential oil. Although, if you use them in fresh form you will need to combine with water and use a spray bottle to squirt them into all of the cracks and crevices that the pests could be living in. In particular, mint is good for banishing spiders from your home. While lavender and rosemary can help keep your home rodent free and smelling nice all at the same time.

Keep your home clean and clutter-free:

One of the best ways to make sure your home stays pest-free is to keep on top of both the cleaning and the clutter. Indeed, a home with less clutter will not only be easier to clean, but it will also provide fewer spaces for uninvited guests such as pests to hide.

When it comes to keeping your home clean, deep cleanses are very important. This means you need to move furniture and appliances, making sure to pick up any debris underneath and sanitizing where possible. Also, do not forget to regularly wash items such as chair and cushion covers, as well as throws to prevent them from becoming appealing to pests.

Use your garden:

You may think that spending more time out in your garden will only encourage pests to come into your home. However, the exact opposite is true. In fact, by keeping your garden in good condition and by using it regularly you can help deter pests. This is because they are unlikely to occupy space in which humans are spending a good deal of time.

Of course, by spending more time outside you may increase your chances of letting the occasional fly into your home. However, installing screens on the doors and windows should help minimize this.

Get some help from the pros:

Another smart way of ensuring your home stays pest-free is to get some help from a professional exterminator when needed. Indeed, professionals are best positioned to help you rid your home and garden of any visitors that could be posing a risk to you and your family’s health.

Of course, it’s always best to take the time to check that the specialist you are using has the experience and the equipment to handle the specific type of infestation you are dealing with. What this means is if you have an issue with tarantulas, black widows, or brown recluse spiders, getting a spider pest control expert is your best bet. After all, some pests, such as the spiders mentioned before can be venomous as well as just inconvenient, so making sure they are dealt with appropriately is crucial.

Start utilizing the tips above today to keep your home better protected from pests!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Mar24

Fun & (Board) Games

Posted on March 24, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Johnny and I spent this past winter hibernating with our video games and streaming services and while we will never tire of playing Diablo III together, we both agreed it would be nice to have more variety. While we love video gaming, we both enjoy playing board games, classic card games, and Magic The Gathering too. In total, we have five different video game systems so we were never hurting in that department. However, we were definitely lacking when it comes to board games. Until Johnny made some surprise purchases a few weeks ago, that is.

The day before Johnny proposed, he was running some errands and ended up at Off The Wagon – a toy store in Kent. There, he got us three new board games as well as a fourth one from Walmart and we have played at least one round of something every day since. Check it out:

^^^ Johnny bought Horrified, Scrabble, and Seinfeld Clue from Off The Wagon and Betrayal At House On The Hill from Walmart.

My fiance is, hands down, the most thoughtful person I have ever met and his board game haul is another shining example of that. We had been talking about doing some board game shopping a few days before he made his purchases and I was delighted when he showed me his buys because, had I been there, I probably would have bought the exact same things.

Scrabble was a must because we both love word games (I will always like playing Scrabble with my mom best, though!). Seinfeld Clue was another obvious choice because that is our favorite show and we are in stitches every time we try to figure out whodoneit. We need three players for Betrayal At House On The Hill so we have yet to play but it looks like a lot of fun! Which brings us to Johnny’s last pick and, easily, our favorite of the lot: Horrified.

Horrified is an adventure cooperative game with the purpose of saving a town from classic movie monsters like Dracula, The Invisible Man, and Frankenstein and his Bride. You and your teammates work together to solve puzzles, save villagers, and slay monsters while avoiding getting attacked yourself. At first, Johnny and I were a bit intimidated by Horrified because it seemed awfully complicated. However, it was way less complex than we originally thought and got the hang of it really quickly.

We both have never played anything like Horrified before and it is so much fun that we have already began looking for similar games. Johnny and I are both huge horror fans and going face to face with characters like The Wolfman and Mummy is exciting. Horrified will never be played the same way twice and sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. No matter the outcome, we are always glad to have played and I highly recommend it!

Wanna play Horrified too? Shop with my Like To Know link: https://rstyle.me/+lsmDlYXzRvabGV3ZDjSg3w

What is your favorite board game? Do you have any cooperative game recommendations for me? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar23

Warm Weather Projects For Your Property

Posted on March 23, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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There’s just something about the combination of spring cleaning and the improved weather that turns the “curl up and relax” mentality of winter completely on its head. When the sun comes out, it puts a renewed pep in our step and I’m sure many of us have been thinking about home improvement projects both big and small that can be worked on during the warm weather.

If you’re experiencing the “get up and go” attitude of spring but nothing immediately comes to mind, consider the following projects:

Windows & Doors:

Replacing old windows and doors will give a welcome facelift to both the interior and exterior of your home. A bold front door is a must and if you get new replacement windows, then it is all the better to let the sunshine in with. New windows and doors are also an instant curb appeal booster so it will raise your property value! If you’d like to take this idea one step further, you could even turn one of the rooms into a sun room with floor length windows. A bright, sunny room will be a nice change of pace after the darkness of winter. If this is a project you’re looking to complete, simply type in a search for “Replacement windows Greenville” or your local area to find the experts who are right for you.

Backyard Fun:

It’s safe to say that absolutely everyone will be outside as often as they can in the warm weather so make sure your backyard is well equipped. This could mean arranging a patio area or a deck for social distanced hang outs or preparing your barbecue pit for the season. If you enjoy woodworking you might want to try your hand at making and decorating cornhole boards for tournaments. Don’t forget a net for volleyball and badminton!

Of course, if you want your backyard to be the ultimate place to hang out this summer, you will want it to look its best. Flowers, gardens, soft green grass to play on, and solar lights and other decor are all great places to start. Remember, a well kept outer property will only help boost your curb appeal so don’t be afraid to go all out with your gardening.

Nature Window:

Creating a nature window ties the two ideas above together for an activity you can enjoy inside. Outside of a large window place bird feeders, baths, and houses, hummingbird and butterfly feeders, butterfly bushes, and insect condos. Basically, anything that will help attract local wildlife. You will have the perfect view of all of the birds flying in and out and all from the comfort of the air conditioning! Not to mention that all of the animals will thank you. 🙂

Don’t let your get up and go energy get up and leave! Try out some of the projects above to welcome back the warm weather.

Mar23

Steps To Take After A Car Accident

Posted on March 23, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Car accidents are not only incredibly scary but they are incredibly stressful because you now have a lot of unexpected things to deal with all at once. Injuries, car repairs, dealing with insurance, and So. Many. Bills – just to name a few. It’s important to note that if you have sustained injuries after being involved in a collision then it’s crucial to visit a specialist like an auto accident chiropractor, especially if you have endured spinal injuries, as this can lead to long-term damage and chronic pain. Being in an accident is stressful and it can all feel really overwhelming but there are some steps that you can take to help make the process easier. Let’s get started:

Hire A Lawyer:

The answer to “what do to after a car crash” is always going to be: Hire a lawyer. I was in a serious car accident a year and a half ago when my fiance and I got hit head on and I wish that I had hired a lawyer immediately instead of waiting. It would have saved so much hassle between the nonstop hospital and doctor bills and hang ups from the insurance companies. Not to mention all of the stress that came from trying to deal with it all by myself! As soon as I hired a lawyer, it was like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders and I could breathe a lot easier knowing I had a professional on my side.

When hiring a lawyer, always do your research before you commit to anyone. You want a knowledgeable professional who is truly in your corner so you can have the best outcome. To get started, check out this attorney here and start receiving the help you need.

Car Repairs:

If you have not been injured, you will want to tend to any car repairs or, potentially, car shopping so that you can be mobile and keep your daily life running smoothly. While it’s understandable to want to get this done quickly, don’t be afraid to shop around for the best deals. Lots of collision repair centers offer AAA or veteran’s discounts. You can also keep your eye out for coupons too when you take your car to SmogMart, as their website offers plenty to help cut costs. Some places like collision repair Richmond Hill even offer in house car rental services to save you from endless Uber rides.

Document Everything:

Not only will you want pictures of the damage to your car but it is also important to take pictures of your injuries if you were hurt, which is standard. Have hard and backup copies of all of your documents and keep them well organized so you can reference them quickly as needed. Don’t forget to take note of time missed from work as well as anything that you have difficulty doing now due to injuries. It’s also a good rule of thumb to send any bills or other communication that you receive in the mail to your lawyer at Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys as you get it so they stay up to date on everything.

Take Your Time:

As mentioned above, car accidents are, first and foremost, really scary so it’s understandable to be a bit wary of driving after being in one. This is completely normal and it’s so important to not get behind the wheel of a car again until you feel ready. It’s not safe for yourself or other drivers if you are really anxious on the road. Give yourself time and a break because you just went through something so dangerous. It’s also good to talk about these worries and fears instead of bottling them up so a video chat with a friend or therapist could go a long way.

While these tips won’t take all of the stress of a car accident away, they will certainly help. Also so glad you are okay!

Mar23

New Baby & Bubblegum Pink Nails

Posted on March 23, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! After getting engaged, I just had to get my nails done so I could take some pictures of my engagement ring with a fresh fill. You will have to wait a few more days to see my ring because it is getting resized but that doesn’t mean you can’t check out my claws in the meantime!

I was so excited to go to Elysian Nails to share the good news with my tech, Gabby. As always, she did an amazing job and it was so nice to gab and be pampered in my happy place. I love how my nails turned out and once I can pick up my ring it will be perfect. Take a look:

While you will have to keep checking in to see the piece de resistance of my engagement ring, I can tell you that it is a pearl with a sterling silver band. Prior to going to the salon, I knew I wanted a really light pink to compliment the pearl but I was stumped on the second color. A few shades of lavender caught my eye but, then I saw the name “Fairy Land” on a bottle of polish before really noticing what the color was. I was already sold just by the name but when I took a better look at the bubblegum pink hue, I thought it it was a great choice. Not just to enhance my ring but for spring, too.

As a child and to this day, I love fairy tales and my engagement felt like my own personal fairy tale coming to life, which is why that polish spoke to me. Despite my red and pink hair and pink nails, pink is by no means my favorite color. However, Gabby is so good at shaping and sharpening my nails that even with the most girly of polish colors they still look edgy while being oh so pretty. Spoiler Alert! Edgy and pretty describes my engagement ring to the T!

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

Mar22

3 Things To Remember When You Start Exercising Later In Life

Posted on March 22, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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3 Things To Remember When You Start Exercising Later In Life

Not everyone likes to exercise and that’s okay. But even if you don’t like running or you are now at the point where you think you may have to do a little exercise, it could be hard to get into it if you’re a bit older. But whatever your stage of life, physical fitness can make you feel better and have a positive impact on a number of health conditions. But where do we begin?

The Importance of Starting Small:

One of the biggest temptations is to make up for lost time. So we think that we have to run 10k, but learning to run before you can walk, almost literally, can make you run the risk of a whole host of injuries. We can get injuries, not just because we are overreaching, but it is also due to poor form. Common podiatrist clients are the people who run too much. Starting to exercise is about making sure you get the form right before you do anything else. Whether you are lifting weights or running, you must focus on doing the move correctly. People are so impatient and want to get into the heavier, more difficult things, but the reality is that you need to slow down and start small.

Finding the Right Exercises for Your Lifestyle:

Another common misconception is that if we are to get fit, we need to hit the gym five or six days a week. This is not the case. When we think back to our ancestors, the hunter-gatherers, they only expelled energy when they needed to and we can learn from that. There are people who believe that you don’t need to exercise much in order to be healthy. And this is a very popular approach, especially for those who need to exercise quickly. This is why there are products like the X3 Bar that prove very popular because they provide the stimulus to grow muscle and cardiovascular health while doing it in a short space of time. But if you like the idea of running long distances, it’s entirely your prerogative. Whatever fits around your lifestyle will be enough to keep you fit.

Keeping At It:

This is the biggest thing we all need to overcome. When we find the right routines for our lives and perform them correctly, we have to stick to a schedule in order to achieve results. This is why many people give up at the gym at the end of January having just set up a membership only four weeks before! The best thing for you to do is to go to the calendar and mark the days where you can exercise and for how long. But in addition, you must remember that you will only make significant impacts on your life if you stick to a healthy diet. Exercising is the best way to begin, but if you want to make big changes, you’ll also need to change your eating habits.

It’s never too late to start exercising! Start small, keep it gradual, and make sure that you are doing your exercises correctly to prevent injuries.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Mar22

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!!

Posted on March 22, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone! Today is a happy, wonderful day because it is my amazing mom’s birthday! My mom is my best friend in the whole world and I love spending time with her. She is my partner in crime for everything and we are both really looking forward to her “mother of the bride” status when Johnny and I get married. I am already having so much fun planning out the preparations in my head that her and I can do together.

I treasure every minute I have with my mom and always think back on our pre-pandemic TJMaxx shopping trips fondly as well as the countless hours spent in the kitchen talking, cooking, or playing Scrabble. When something exciting happens, my mom is the first person I want to call and she is always there to comfort me on the not so good days too. Some days when I see her, it just doesn’t feel long enough and we both love to laugh when we end up on the phone with each other an hour later. 🙂

My mom is my hero and I admire her to no end. She is the most caring, strong, resilient, beautiful person I have ever known and I am so lucky to be her daughter. I love you so much, mom!

Happy Birthday!!!! ❤

Mar21

Engagement OOTDs

Posted on March 21, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Hi! Johnny proposed to me during a couples lifewithlilred photo shoot for my Reimagine Your Wardrobe series and it was absolutely perfect. You read about all of the details of the proposal yesterday and, today, we are going to talk about our spring sweater weather OOTDs. I have wanted to style and photograph Johnny for a while now and, while I didn’t put his look together, I am so proud of how well he did in front of the camera! This was not his first rodeo when it comes to being photographed but he took my direction so well and I think our pictures turned out great. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear? Hers:

Cropped Sweater: Forever 21
Skort: Almost Famous, TJMaxx
Rhinestone Fishnets: Urban Outfitters
Daisy Wedge Mules: B.A.I.T., ModCloth
Lightning Bolt Earrings: EmLeigh’s and Mama B’s

Who? What? Wear? His:

Zebra Striped Sweater: Straight To Hell
Leather Jacket: Straight To Hell
Jeans: Hot Topic
Sunglasses: These are mine and are from Forever 21 – he misplaced his 🙂
Boots: We are both not sure lol!

I love both men and women’s fashion equally and I think that Johnny has amazing personal style that actually closely mimics mine. We are both not afraid to take risks when it comes to our outfits and we like to have fun with what we wear. I have been so excited for his debut on my blog and, during our photo shoot before he proposed, he told me that that was what he was nervous about. Like I said yesterday, I really had no idea he was going to pop the question!

The day of our engagement, Johnny got ready before me so it was easy to style an OOTD around what he was already wearing. Johnny loves online shopping with Phix and Straight To Hell and he had just purchased his sweater and jacket within the past few months. My fiance is fond of animal patterns and, while we both agree that the sweater is a little itchy, he still likes it all the same – a tank top or T-shirt underneath is definitely necessary, though.

As soon as I saw that Johnny was sporting his new sweater, my mind instantly went to my rainbow cropped sweater from Forever 21. I have had it for years now and, honestly, haven’t worn it for a year or so and I thought it would be perfect for my Reimagine Your Wardrobe series. It also made me feel like Rainbow Brite when I had it on which is a huge bonus.

Since Johnny had black skinny jeans covered already, I decided to pair the sweater with my Almost Famous skort which you might remember from my In Summer, We Wear Black OOTD. I can’t say that I wore this skort too often when I first bought it but, now, I want to wear it all of the time because it is so versatile. When paired with a tucked in cami or even the sweater in my pictures, it looks like a mini dress and it is a unique substitute to regular old jean shorts in the summer.

Once I had the base of my outfit down, it was time to accessorize. I was going for a “muted rainbow” vibe to compliment and pop against Johnny’s almost All Black Everything OOTD. My Urban Outfitters tights were an obvious choice to me because it was a bit chilly out and I don’t get to wear them too often. They are also just so darn fun except for when the rhinestones get caught in the fishnets!

For shoes, I was originally going to wear a pair of wedged white loafers but they looked too chunky so I went with my yellow mules, instead. I adore these little wedges that I got for a steal on ModCloth and they helped achieve the silhouette I wanted and added a super sweet pop of color. Finally, I just had to break out my pink glitter lightning bolt earrings that Johnny and I got on our Valentine’s Day date last year. I can’t say that I have worn them too much, either, but I’m glad I did because, like the skort, I think I will be wearing my lightning earrings constantly.

I really love how mine and Johnny’s outfits look together and it is so special to me to have these pictures because they document the entire hour before we got engaged. I see a lot of couples OOTDs happening in lifewithlilred’s future and I am so ecstatic to have my Johnny help me out. ❤

How would you describe your personal style? How about your partner’s style? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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