Fun & (Video) Games

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Fun & (Video) Games

Hi! Johnny and I celebrated our one year anniversary on September first – hurray! Pre-Johnny, I never played video games too often. Of course, I played my fair share of Mario Party and Super Smash Bros. back in the day. I was also addicted to Diablo II on the ol’ desktop computer. Watching my brothers play adventure and sports games was always a hoot too. While their expertise was limited to Madden some people can bet on sports and win big. The help is there online or even in sports bars to turn your fantasy league or favorite teams into an extra income!

Besides from those, that’s about as far as my video game expertise goes. Until Johnny and I started dating that is! Before, all I had was a lowly GameCube and Wii – now we collectively have a Switch and a PlayStation 3.

In recent quarantine times, I developed a huge taste for games like Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing and try to check in on my island at least every other day. I also love playing throwback Mario games on the Switch’s Super Nintendo Arcade. Other than that, though? Nothing really. Until Johnny and I exchanged gifts for our one year that is!

For part of my gift (Tune in later for more on our celebration!), Johnny ceremonially turned the Switch on and displayed on the screen was both Paper Mario: The Origami King and Diablo III: Reaper Of Souls. I absolutely LOVE the Paper Mario games and have been telling Johnny I want to try The Origami King for the past few months now. I also haven’t played Diablo III in over half a decade so that was just the cherry on top of a perfect gift.

Johnny and I recently watched an excellent documentary on Netflix called High Score. The series was about seven or eight episodes long and it discussed the evolution of video games from the old school arcades to present day. I think the video game bug definitely bit the both of us while we bingewatched High Score and I can see it reflected in my anniversary gift – I’m so not mad about it though!

In fact, I think I shall dub our one year as the Fun & Games anniversary because I, too, got something entertainment based for Johnny. That’s right, I got him the Millennium Falcon LEGO set from Star Wars. No, not the crazy expensive sets – however, we decided our five year will be the Upgrade the Millennium Falcon anniversary! Johnny put his space craft together in one evening and I am already looking forward to more time with Paper Mario and Diablo, lol. I’m looking forward to more time with my MAN the most and here’s to our one year together. ❤

Which anniversary did you and your partner celebrate this year? How did you celebrate? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Tattoo You: Family Portraits Edition

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Tattoo You: Family Portraits Edition

Hello!! This past month, I treated myself to a tap out tattoo session AKA nine hours straight of getting work done. I prefer this method, as I can get a lot done at one time and my tattoo artist, Emily, completed nine tattoos and some touch ups during our time together. I love everything I got but I am particularly enamored with these family portraits I got on the side of my lower leg. Check it out:

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A lot of my tattoos are from comic books that I love but I also find inspiration when I’m scrolling through social media and see something cool. At some point, someone on my Facebook timeline posted the example picture that my tattoos are based on and I fell in love. I decided that I would like to do something similar with my own family and my tattoo artist made the perfect depictions with just lines and patterns.

My tattoos are in the following order:

  • Grandma, Grandpa (Dad’s side)
  • Grandma, Grandpa (Mom’s side)
  • Mom, Dad

Emily told me that the hardest part of sketching out these tattoos was making each silhouette look like the person despite not having a face. I say that she knocked it out of the park and I can see the likeness of all of my loved ones perfectly. In my parent’s house, all three of these pictures have been on the shelves in the living room for as long as I can remember and they have always been some of my favorites. I am proud to have something so beautiful to commemorate each family member and I have not been able to stop looking at my legs since I got the tattoos!! (PS: If you are considering getting tattooed, here is some useful information on: Which places hurt the most when getting tattooed).

Do you have any tattoos? Which one is your favorite? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Yellow & Red Violet Nails

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New Yellow & Red Violet Nails

Hello everyone! Your girl was feeling her damn self in August! I got my hair done, new tattoos, and a gorgeous fill on my talons. It’s safe to say my self esteem is sky high because there’s nothing like some pampering (Yes, getting tattooed is pampering to me!) to make me feel at one hundred million percent. I love my “treat time” in the salons and it is always just what the doctor ordered. Because the doctor did, in fact, order these claws:

Way back in the day, my sister had an eyeshadow kit by some drugstore brand or another – it might have been CoverGirl or something of the like. Anyways, it was called “Bird Of Paradise” and the colors were very similar to the ones I picked. I have always loved the color combination of a bright red violet and poppy yellow ever since and wanted to do one more hurrah to summer hues before we transition into the fall.

Last time I got my nails done, you might remember me complaining about how rough the nail tech was on my nails. She made me bleed multiple times and I don’t think I have ever been so uncomfortable during a fill before. So, naturally, I would get this nail tech again this time around.

I am never one to complain and I understand that things aren’t always going to feel like a massage at the nail salon. However, I have just never had an experience of getting nicked and legit man handled So. Many. Times. before. After the fourth or fifth “ouch” I finally had to say something because it was just getting ridiculous at that point.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the results of my fill but I don’t want to spend an entire hour and fifteen minutes (She takes a long time.) with my fingers bleeding. Not the best look and I definitely plan on asking not to have her do my nails again the next time I come in. #SOannoying -_-

Have you ever had an unpleasant salon experience before? What happened? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Creating A Perfect Garden

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Creating A Perfect Garden

Having some outside space at your home is a significant asset and one that enables you to enjoy spending time at your property both indoors and outside. Keeping your yard looking great has many benefits; for a start, it improves your home’s curb appeal, which could add to its value should you decide to sell it. Secondly, having a yard that is in tip-top condition enables you to get outdoors and spend time in the beautiful natural surroundings of your garden.

If you don’t naturally have a green thumb, you may feel a little daunted by the idea of taking care of a garden, and the thought of keeping it looking great may feel overwhelming. However, creating a gorgeous garden is well worth the effort, and is so much easier than you may think. Plus, being outdoors and closer to nature is believed to have significant benefits on your wellbeing, so having a lovely garden is most definitely a winner.

Ready to get to work on creating a photo worthy outside space? Here’s how to create a perfect garden:

Luscious lawns:

Your lawn is likely to cover your yard’s largest area, so it is worth taking the time to get your grass looking its best. Achieving a perfect lawn requires the right tools for the job. You will need a mower that makes light work of trimming your grass, plus a trimmer to neaten up the edges. It is worth doing some research for the perfect garden machinery to match your needs, as it does make a big difference. You can click here to read handy reviews to help you decide on the right tools for you. You might also want to check out https://www.lawncare.net/service-areas/georgia/ for the best professional care for your yard.

Pick Your Plants:

When you pick the right plants for your yard, they will stay looking good for longer and will really enhance your space. You will need to consider the climate that you live in along with the soil conditions where you live to choose the perfect plants for your yard. Some plants are better suited to colder conditions, and some flowers are hardy enough to survive even the hottest climates. It is also worth thinking about how much time you have to take care of your garden. If you are short of time, there’s no reason why your backyard cannot stay looking great. It would be best if you simply choose low maintenance options to keep your garden looking awesome with minimal effort.

A Place to Relax:

No garden is complete if you are unable to enjoy it. When creating your perfect garden, you need to consider how you plan to spend your time outdoors, so that you can ensure that your yard matches your needs. Do you love to entertain? If so then you will certainly need a grill, or you could even look into these pizza oven kits for an exciting fixture and a delicious meal. Alternatively, perhaps you like to relax in the sunshine with a good book, or maybe you want to practice yoga on the lawn. Whatever you love to do in your garden, you can create an outdoor space that fits the bill.

Create your own outdoor oasis with new lush garden landscapes!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Feeling Presidential

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Feeling Presidential

Hi everyone!! For those of you who don’t know, my “big girl job” is as an Independent Provider for people with special needs. Most of my clients are not too interested in politics and that is totally fine. However, one of my clients decided he wants to become president this past week. With nothing to do cause COVID, we turned our time together into running his campaign and nurturing his dreams.

My client and I made posters, campaign speeches, and discussed all of his platforms and strategies. It proved to be educational for both of us because he learned more about what it takes to become president and I got to learn about all of the things that are really important to him. It was also just plain fun and something different.

If you work in the field like me or if you have children, this could be a great idea to get them Feeling Presidential too. Spend some time talking about what it means to be president and how your future candidate would go about their victory. Then, you can craft to your heart’s content and even work on some grammar as you write your speeches.

The crafting and talking about future goals is inspiring and it could open up a whole new world that your child or client might not know existed before. So put your president pants on and get to work!

How do you create fun and unique activities for your children? What would your platform be if you were president? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Press & Journal

Staying In Your Own Home As You Age

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Staying In Your Own Home As You Age

If you’re planning to stay in place and remain at home as you age, then the key is to plan ahead. Many things change as we get older and new challenges that we need to overcome start to present themselves. Here are some things that you may want to consider if you want to age in your own home rather than entering a care facility:

Make your wishes known:

If you have decided that you want to age in place, then the first thing that you should do is to make your wishes known to your friends and family. By letting those close to you know your intentions, they can start to think of ways in which they can best support you. If you fail to let your relatives know your wishes, then you risk them fighting you when it comes down to making the decision.

Start looking at the support you have available:

It is never too early to start familiarizing yourself with the home health care services and aged support available to you in your area. How about getting started by checking out www.careforfamily.com.au/ ? You can get virtually any kind of help you need at home, though you should be aware that most of these come at a cost. If you know the cost of aging in-state early, then you can begin saving for these expenses to help you afford them. Don’t forget to research the benefit schemes that may also be available to you and to look into other funding sources such as equity release.

Identify areas in which you may need help:

If you already have an existing medical condition, then plan ahead to try and identify areas that could potentially prevent you from aging at home. Are you worried about your mobility? Do you struggle to keep up with the housework? Do you forget things? By identifying these potential issues early, you can put safeguarding measures in place that will allow you to stay safe in your own home.

Start socializing with other local seniors:

One of the biggest issues with choosing to age at home is the isolation that it can cause. People who choose to move into a care facility often have access to group activities, other residents, and the company of staff, but if you choose to age at home, then these may not be available to you. To prevent loneliness and boredom, try to get involved with social clubs and to make friends in your local area that are around the same age as you.

Boost your security:

Last but not least, although no one wants to think about people preying on the elderly, you need to ensure that your home security is robust enough to keep you safe. You may want to consider installing CCTV, a monitored alarm, or additional outside lighting to deter intruders and to notify the authorities if someone tries to break into your property.

Most people would like to stay in their own homes for as long as possible while they age but are let down by a lack of funding and pre-planning. By thinking ahead and budgeting for the cost, you can ensure that your wishes become a reality!

Featured Image By: Pexels

5 Ways To Reduce Home-Buying Anxiety As A Seller

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5 Ways To Reduce Home-Buying Anxiety As A Seller

As a property owner, you understand what it feels like to buy a home. Although you can’t wait to locate your ideal house, there’s also a sense of tension. With the figures involved, the last thing you want to do is spend money on a dud. Plus, it doesn’t have to be a dump – you may learn to hate it over time because it isn’t perfect.

Buying a home is easily one of the most stressful experiences ever. However, sellers aren’t exempt from the sensation. When your property is listed online or with a traditional realtor, you must make the interested parties feel as at home as possible. Those who are tense and anxious will instantly dislike the house and choose another property.

You already have a lot on your plate since buyers are incredibly picky, which may make you annoyed and frustrated. It wouldn’t surprise you the number of homeowners that think selling up is a mistake! Still, reducing a buyer’s anxiety levels is vital as it will give them a warm, fuzzy glow, and once they connect that with your house, they won’t want another property.

Here are the five best ways to make investing in your home as stress-free as possible:

Offer Flexible Viewing Times:

Flexible viewing times are the least you can do to welcome potential buyers into your home and give them a grand tour. By all means, discuss the optimal periods with your realtor and let them advertise the information accordingly, yet if they call at 6 PM and ask if it’s okay to pop around for thirty minutes, you should say yes.

There’s no doubt that it gets in the way of your routine, but half-an-hour is a small sacrifice if it boosts the odds of offloading the property. An excellent middle ground is to stage an open house. That way, you can house as many people as will fit throughout the day. The fact that an open house viewing lasts from the morning until the evening is ideal from a flexibility perspective. People will be less anxious when they know that they don’t have to rush.

Opening your home to so many people can be stressful. However, whether you’re working with a local realtor or someone from the team at Lynchburg realtors, they will be able to help make your open house a success. Most realtors have ingenious hacks for staging and showing your home to make it feel like “the one” for anyone who attends the open house. With an experienced professional on your team, it should be smooth sailing!

Spruce Up The Exterior:

In many ways, the exterior of the house is the most important feature. The interior is important, too, but buyers are happy to see the building’s foundation as they want to stamp their authority on the property. They don’t like a house that’s already furnished and hard (or expensive) to restructure.

The outside is a different animal as it’s the first thing they see when they turn up on the drive. Curb appeal is a fantastic way to impress home buyers, and that’s what you should focus on as a seller. Houses that have the wow factor stand out from the crowd in a saturated market place. Therefore, the odds of finding someone who wants to purchase your home are higher.

It’s tough to explain because it’s a feeling. One thing that makes buyers more anxious is the idea that they won’t fall in love at first sight. They won’t if your property omits the elements that are non-negotiable, such as a garden and garage. Not only will these features tick the right boxes, but they’ll also impress the viewers if you take the time to repair impurities and add a lick of paint to make it shiny.

keys1Home sweet home!

Check For Signs Of Pests:

You may assume that you’d know if you were sharing your home with pests. Most people do, which is why it comes as a shock when buyers spot the signs and point them out during a viewing. Aside from blindsiding you, it also ruins any shot you have of closing the deal, with current viewers or future ones. It’s a small market and word travels quickly.

Pests make people anxious because the last thing they want to do is move in and realize critters are running amok. Thankfully, you would notice if big pests were residing in your property. Still, smaller insects are harder to spot as they can seem like the norm.

Mosquitoes are everywhere, so it’s not as if there’s an infestation. At least, that’s how it appears, yet Mosquito Authority points out that people should enjoy their gardens and pools without swatting away flying insects. If your home has water features and dense vegetation, there’s a good chance that the mosquitoes aren’t just visiting.

Other creepy crawlies to watch out for are termites, roaches, and ants as they’re inconspicuous enough to go under the radar. Pests can cause a lot of damage really quickly – especially termites. If you see signs of an infestation, you will want to hire a specialist in Termite Control immediately to prevent further issues.

Respond ASAP:

Whatever your decision, you should respond as quickly as you can to an offer. For buyers, it’s tempting to see meaning in the tiniest of things, so not hearing from a seller will send them crazy. The Balance recommends breathing techniques for people who get stressed out while waiting to hear back about an offer!

Don’t worry if you aren’t going to give them the news they hoped for as it’s part of the process. Remember – the sooner they understand that you want more money, the quicker you can come to an arrangement. Of course, if you leave it for weeks and assume that they don’t have the money, you’ll reduce the chances of securing a compromise.

In reality, their realtor has probably told them that you’d come back with a counteroffer, so they’ll be prepared to increase the bid or take themselves out of the running. You control the outcome, meaning you’re in charge and hold all the cards. Remember that the next time and try and empathize with the people who are desperately waiting to hear if they have a new home or need to make another bid.

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Accept Cold Feet:

Cold feet – everybody gets them. It’s not rare for sellers to back out of deals because they hate the idea of moving. As a result, you shouldn’t lose the plot if a buyer starts to have second thoughts. Firstly, it may be nothing more than a ploy to reduce the value of the property. Lots of sellers have fallen for it and dropped the asking price out of desperation.

On the other hand, they could genuinely be worried about the prospect of buying your home or are debating between other properties. They could be considering a house on the other side of town, a newly built home from Home Group Perth (or a similar company in your local area), and your property. That’s a big decision! In that case, there isn’t much you can do but hope that the feeling of unease passes and the buyers come to their senses. Sure, offer them another viewing if you believe that it will set the story straight, yet there’s no reason to bend over backward.

With the figures involved, the likelihood is that they’re second-guessing the decision and nothing you do will change that. Instead, the trick is to hold firm and wait. In the meantime, you can continue to talk to other parties and line-up another buyer in case the agreement falls through. Whatever you do, please don’t contact them in-person and harass them as you’ll only increase their anxiety.

Anxiety can kill a deal, regardless of how much you attempt to ease a person’s nerves. The key is to eliminate the tension from the moment they view your property by boosting its curb appeal and fixing flaws, whether they are apparent or hard to spot. Good luck!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Sweet Surprises: Sister Edition

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Sweet Surprises: Sister Edition

Hello all and welcome to the first post of September 2020 here on lifewithlilred! Today, we are going to discuss a sweet surprise from my big sister, Kristen. My sis is my ultimate BFF and I am proud to be the permanent fourth wheel to her, her boyfriend, and daughter. If I could I would be with them all of the time!

This past week, Kristen told me she had a gift waiting for me at my mom and dad’s and I could hardly wait to get over there for work to see what it was. I had no idea what it could have been and no hints were given to me so I went into the surprise blind… And discovered the following:

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As a “just because” prezzie, Kristen surprised me with this super cool skull and butterfly art by Marmont Hill that she found at TJMaxx. Kristen told me she thought it looked “very me” when she saw it and couldn’t pass it up… She was right! It is very me and if I weren’t almost out of blank space on my body I’d get it tattooed, lol.

Unfortunately, I see Kristen and her family nowhere near as much as I would like and we both want to make an effort to change that. However, we text each other pretty much every day. I am so excited to hang my new art up in my apartment and I am going to get the warm fuzzies every time I see it.

After returning home with my treasured new decor, I was in such a giving spirit that I decided to start my Christmas shopping way early. I have a ton of people to shop for, sue me for it! I just had to spoil my sister’s daughter rotten this year and I can’t wait to do the same for Kristen and her partner. Both are such hard working, loving, dedicated parents and friends and if anyone deserves gifts galore, it is most definitely them. ❤

How do you surprise your loved ones? When do you like to start your holiday shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

3 Key Ways To Impress A Home Buyer

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3 Key Ways To Impress A Home Buyer

Are you thinking about selling your home soon? If so then you need to make sure that you are taking the right steps to impress potential buyers. Steps like the following:

Ensure The Property Is In Tip Top Condition:

If you are trying to sell someone your home, they aren’t going to be interested unless you have got it in tip-top condition. All of the repairs should be done. There should be no peeling wallpaper or paint coming off of the walls. Nothing should be broken or look like it is about to be broken. All of the holes in the wall should be filled and anything else that takes away from the condition of your home needs to be sorted out.

If you are not marketing your property as a fixer-upper, then that is not what people expect to see. People will only pay your asking price if they are impressed with your home, and if it looks as though it’s going to need a lot of money poured into it to restore, this isn’t going to happen. As well as making all of the necessary repairs, check that all the decor is up to standard, no paint on the floor, and so on. All of the rooms in the home should be clear and tidy, and you can even look into master bedroom organization tips to keep your room looking awesomely neat.

Don’t Forget About Curb Appeal:

The first impression that anyone has of your home is when they see it from the outside. If you haven’t focused on the curb appeal of your property, and it looks like a mess from outside, they are already going to have this opinion of the home in their head by the time they come inside. This could be detrimental to the possibility of a sale, so you must be careful with this and take the time to improve the outside of your home.

It doesn’t have to be a lot to make it impressive. Simply keep the grass at a reasonable length, add some flowers for decoration, and perhaps a plant pot or two. If the actual house itself looks as though it could use an update, do this too. It might feel like a lot of work for a home you are moving out of, but you can get the money back through the sale, so it’s not the end of the world.

Include A Few Unique Features:

Finally, you need to make sure that you are thinking about adding some unique design options to your home. Don’t forget that there are going to be a few different properties around your neighborhood that will undoubtedly be on sale at the same time. You’ll need to make sure that your home stands out from these. One of the best ways to do that is with a few unique features One of these could be a water feature at the front of the home. These can look incredible and are cheaper to set up than you might imagine. There are even DIY options to explore.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now understand some of the key ways to impress a home buyer. Good luck!

Featured Image By: Pexels

August 2020 Finishes

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August 2020 Finishes

Hi everyone and welcome to the last post of August 2020 here on lifewithlilred! Today, we are going to be discussing all of the products I used up this past month and there are quite a few of them. Let’s get started and, then, I will see all of ya’ll in September! Here we go:

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Would I Use Again?

  • Bath & Body Works Champagne Apple & Honey shower gel: YES
  • Garnier Micellar Water: YES
  • Garnier Waterproof Makeup Micellar Water: MAYBE
  • Azure Lux Rose Gold Serum: YES
  • SkinLab Lift & Firm moisturizer: YES
  • SkinLab Hydrate & Replenish Eye Cream: NO

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Shower Gel: As per ushe, I gotta have my Bath & Body Works goodies stocked and at the ready in my apartment and their shower gels are one of my favorite things to hoard! The Champagne Apple & Honey fragrance smells so good and I must have bought at least six bottles of it at their Semi Annual Sale! It takes me over one month to finish one bottle.

Garnier Micellar Water: Garnier’s Micellar Water is another statement item in my beauty routine and I always have a bottle or two handy at home. It usually takes me at least two and a half months to finish one bottle and I use it morning and night as a toner and eye makeup remover. It is especially nice to use after a very hot day – so refreshing!

Garnier Waterproof Micellar Water: This travel sized bottle came as a freebie when I purchased my normal pink bottle of micellar water. I noticed no real difference between the waterproof and regular formula so I wouldn’t go out of my way to get it again. But I never say no to free! It took me less than three weeks to finish the mini bottle.

Azure Lux Serum: As always, I absolutely love the Azure Lux serums. The Rose Gold is my fave but I enjoy the 24K one too! It takes me one month to finish one bottle with morning and night use and my skin has never looked brighter or more radiant. Highly recommend and it can be found on Amazon or, if you’re lucky, TJMaxx. 🙂

SkinLab Moisturizer: Like a lot of these empties, I keep a healthy supply of my SkinLab moisturizer on hand at all times too. It takes me a little under one month to use one jar with morning and night use and my skin thanks me for it every day. I feel like the Lift & Firm formula has kept my skin so youthful and… firm. Lol! The SkinLab products can also be purchased on Amazon or at TJMaxx if you come across them.

SkinLab Eye Cream: I normally use SkinLab’s Lift & Firm eye cream but I decided to give the Hydrate & Replenish formula a try. I really liked the gel texture, however, I never felt like it did a whole lot. It did not absorb nicely and when I would rub my eyes, little bits of eye cream gunk would rub off with it. It took me about two or so months to use one tiny pot and I would not use it again.

August 2020 left me with a lot of finishes and I’m ready to go in September slightly cooler, hopefully, and with lots of pampering in my future!

Which products did you use up this month? Which beauty products do you recommend? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah