Why We’re Becoming A Healthier Society

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Why We’re Becoming A Healthier Society

We may be in the middle of the coronavirus problem, but there’s much to be hopeful for. We’re the healthiest society that the world has ever seen, and by a long way. Indeed, there have been many great advances made in the past hundred years, to the point where many of the problems that plagued past generations are beginning to become a thing of the past. For instance, we’ve made a lot of progress when it comes to child mortality, which is the lowest it has ever been, and people are living longer (and better) too. So what’s driven these changes? We take a look at a few reasons why we’re becoming healthier below:

What’s Good For You:

Humans advance because we’re able to build on the knowledge of the generation that has come before us. If we all had to start from scratch, we’d be in much worse shape! Today, we know a lot of things we need to do in order to be at our best. If you can eat fresh fruit and vegetables, get your dose of minerals and vitamins, and work up a sweat, then you’ll be in a good position, health-wise. We can all be healthiest just by having the right things be a part of our lives.

What To Avoid:

And then there’s the matter of what to avoid. You’ve got to feel sorry for people who were subjected to the smoking adverts of the 1940s and ’50s; they had no idea just what a negative impact cigarettes would have on their health. Fortunately, now we do. Research has told us the things that we should avoid if we want to be our healthiest selves. For example, we know that we shouldn’t eat too much junk food, drink alcohol, or smoke cigarettes.

Medical Advances:

Of course, even if people did all of the things they were supposed to, there’s always a chance of falling ill. We’ve made great advances in this area, too, so that illness and conditions that were previously hard to treat have become much more manageable. There has been particular progress made in the fields of cancer treatment, diabetes management, heart issues, and other serious conditions. While these things still pose a threat to the general well being of society, there are many reasons why there’s cause to be optimistic.

Focus on the Mind:

We’ve also made progress because we know that the physical and mental aspects of our body aren’t separate; they’re intertwined. Whereas in the olden days, medicine focused totally on the physical well being of the patient, today we’re paying more attention to the mental side of things. We know more about talking therapies, prescriptions, and a number of other treatment paths that can get the best results for people with mental health issues. As Shape says, we are also finding out more about the advantages of supplements like CBD. We’re able to guide people who are suffering from depression and other mental health issues in the right direction.

Clean Standards:

Finally, perhaps the biggest reason why we’re becoming healthier is that we have cleaner standards. This has been the thing that has curbed coronavirus more than anything else. We take it for granted, but there were many periods in history where people didn’t wash their hands.

Despite things being scary right now, there are still many positive changes that have been made to healthcare to be proud of.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Sunshine Blogger Award #7

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Sunshine Blogger Award #7

Hello!! This past week, lifewithlilred was nominated for its seventh Sunshine Blogger Award from my friend Debby at Debby SEO. It was such a pleasant surprise because I haven’t been nominated for an award in forever and I’m hoping that they make a comeback because they are such fun to complete and pass on! Now, let’s get to the rules for this award:

The Rules:

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you in the post and link to their blog
  • Answer the 11 questions asked of you
  • List the rules and include the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post
  • Write a new list of 11 questions for your nominees
  • Nominate 11 bloggers for the Sunshine Blogger Award

Q & A:

Are you familiar with SEO strategies? Have you optimized your site yourself? Did you do off site or on site SEO for your blog or website and are you happy with the results? I am but I typically don’t talk business on blog posts!

What is the most embarrassing clothing item you have ever worn? Normally I love my Sexy Raggedy Anne Halloween costume but I remember wearing it when I worked in the mall and had to pass out candy for Trick Or Treat. I was so embarrassed but a bunch of dads definitely loved it, lol!

If you were given $750 to spend on anything you wanted, what would you buy? I would pay my rent for the month and then go to TJMaxx to spend the rest. 😀

If you had enough money that you never needed to work again, what would you do with your time? I would like to travel and finally get a pet because I would be home more often. A puppy and a bunny, please. ❤

If you could start over your life and change one thing, what would you change? Mmmm… I would have liked to do a bit better in high school so that I would have started college right away. But I’m happy with how things turned out.

What do you consider your greatest strength, your greatest weakness? Greatest strength is probably my personality and greatest weakness is that I can be pretty sensitive which is annoying sometimes haha.

What have you tried lately that is new and exciting? Playing Animal Crossing while riding out this stay at home order!!

What was the greatest adventure in your life so far? Dating my boyfriend and running two businesses.

What makes you happiest and when you think about it you cannot help but smile? My family, our two dogs, and my boyfriend.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. How has your neck of the woods been effected by the coronavirus?
  2. What have you been doing to pass the time during self-isolation?
  3. What shows or movies have you been binging?
  4. Last book you read?
  5. Last movie you saw in theaters?
  6. What is something that you are looking forward to?
  7. What is your favorite restaurant in your area?
  8. What is your favorite tourist attraction where you live?
  9. Do you have any phobias?
  10. Last thing you purchased from the store?
  11. What is the first thing you plan on doing once the coronavirus dies down?

Thank you so much again to Debby for the Sunshine Blogger nomination! How would you answer some of Debby’s questions for her nominees? What about some of the questions for mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Celebrating Special Occasions In Self-Isolation

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Celebrating Special Occasions In Self-Isolation

Hello! Ohio has a stay at home order in place until the beginning of May – as for right now. Unfortunately, special occasions don’t just stop because we are practicing self isolation. So, if a loved one has a birthday coming up, it can certainly feel like a bit of a bust. Thankfully, there are still ways to keep communication alive from the comfort of your own home. Use some of the following tips if anyone you know is celebrating their big day:

Order Them Takeout:

If a friend or family member is celebrating a birthday, you could do the social distancing equivalent of a birthday dinner by sending them over some takeout. Pick out a delicious meal from their favorite restaurant and Door Dash it on over for a birthday surprise. And, how surprised and thankful your giftee will be when he or she finds out that they don’t have to cook dinner!

Special Delivery:

Online deliveries are, for the most part, still a thing. How about sending your giftee a quarantine kit to help keep them entertained? Assemble a care package filled with adult coloring books, board games, books, or movies with the promise of a game night/late celebration once the stay at home order has been lifted.

Have A Virtual Drink:

Virtual drinks and happy hours over video chat has become a new trend as of late and my boyfriend and I are so there for it. We have participated in a few rounds of virtual drinks with our friends and it is always a blast. Call up your friend or family member on FaceTime or Skype who is celebrating a big day and toast to them. And, of course, real life drinks at a later time goes without saying!

Plan Ahead:

If all of the virtual mumbo jumbo isn’t your style, send your loved one an email or some snail mail inviting them to a celebration hang out at a later time. Your giftee will be 1) tickled that you remembered and 2) excited to have a fun event to look forward to. Plan an itinerary for an afternoon or evening on the town with the person celebrating and don’t forget to mark it in the calendar!

Don’t let your loved one’s special day go uncelebrated with the tips above and happy happy days to those celebrating during a stay at home order! ❤

How have you celebrated a special occasion during self-isolation? Will your birthday take place during the stay at home order? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Reader Map DIY Craft

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Reader Map DIY Craft

Hi! One of the things that I love about blogging on WordPress is how they tell you what countries are reading you every day on your stats page. When I first started lifewithlilred, it was always exciting to get a new country reading me and it still is. So, I decided to pin a world map to a bulletin board and placed a thumbtack in the designated position for each country that I had readers in:

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Over five years ago when I began my reader map, my dad and I spent an entire afternoon locating each country so I could place a pin to start keeping track. It was a fun and downright educational way to spend some time and I thought that it was a great craft for my blogger friends to work on, especially when we all should be practicing self isolation.

Dig up an old map from your school days or print one out for yourself and you will get a visual representation of your blog’s global klout by the end of the project. I love having a reader map and the best part? Adding new thumbtacks to it as new countries start reading me! My most recent pin being in Seychelles. 🙂

What have you been crafting to help pass time in quarantine? Which DIY project that you made are you most proud of? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Are Your Drains Healthy? Here Are The Signs They’re Not!

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Are Your Drains Healthy? Here Are The Signs They’re Not!

If there is one thing that can cause upset for your property, it’s drain issues. There are a lot of jobs around the house that you can do yourself, from fixing a busted fuse to changing a light bulb. However, there are just some jobs that require a little help from the professionals.

Plumbing and drain issues are some of the worst for a house. They cause a level of disruption that you can’t fathom until it happens to you! It’s hard enough to figure out what the problem might be, but fixing it? That’s a whole other ball game! If you need sewer line repair, you need to call the professionals. If you need to replace the drains, that’s another job you can’t do alone.

So, you need to know the signs of the drains being unhealthy, and we’ve got a list of the most common signs for you below:

Stinky Pipes:

Everyone notices the smell of a dead drain. The food rot, the rotting plants – they don’t smell great! Dirty water that stagnates has a foul odor, and you will notice it right away. The worst thing is that the smell will make its way through the house – not what you want! This is where you want to have your drains snaked and thoroughly cleaned by an expert right away. You can click now to schedule an appointment with a drain engineer for some advice or professional help if you feel that one of drains needs it. It’s also so important to dispose of the grease and fat from your pans properly. Don’t throw old grease down the drain – it’ll stink!

Slow Toilet Drainage:

We’ve all been there at least once: we flush the toilet, and we watch the water rise up before it drains. Except for this time, the water level isn’t changing, and nothing is flushing…oops! The worst is when this happens in someone else’s house! However, a plunger should work here, and that will help the waste to drain correctly. If you’re still having issues, then that’s when you call your Plumber!

Gurgling Drains:

Your drains should never be singing to you. Pipes and fixtures are designed to be silent, so you need to think about what could be causing the bubbles. Dirt and grease build-up is one reason, but you really need the water to drain down slowly. Clean drains don’t speak, and you need to ask the professionals at Ansell Drainage (or a similar company in your local area) to use a long wire to let go of all the built-up muck.

Dreadful Damp:

A drain or pipe that has collapsed or cracked can cause damp within your property. The damage that the drain causes will disrupt the flowing water, causing damp in the walls of the home. So, you need to avoid penetrating wet rot and learn to spot the damp signs in the house. When you notice it, try to figure out the source of the wet and call in the professionals to help. The last thing that you want is to deal with substantial damp patches all over the house.

Drains are supposed to be quiet, clean, and smell nice. If yours are playing up, call in the right professionals, and don’t wait around!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Just Saying Hi!

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Just Saying Hi!

Hello! Wow, what a weird time amiright? Ohio’s stay at home order has been officially pushed back to May first so “normal” life seems even farther away than ever. I am so thankful for my quarantine buddy, Johnny, who has kept me company and sane this whole time. I am also thankful for our new addiction of Animal Crossing for also keeping us company and sane this whole time, lol.

It’s a very awkward time to be a blogger right now because it’s sure hard to make content when you can’t go shopping anywhere/do anything. So, major kudos to everyone still sitting down at their laptop and making posts happen even if they have nothing to do with your regular subject matter because it’s difficult.

I, for one, am struggling with keeping up with my once daily posting. So, I thought that it would be fun to accept writing prompts in the comments for future posts. It could be anything that comes to mind or a question that you might have for me. And, I’ll reply with a writing prompt back for you. Let’s see what happens!

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

Dinner For Two Pt. 2

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Dinner For Two Pt. 2

Hi! On April first, Johnny and I celebrated seven months of PASSIONATE LOVE with each other. Thankfully, neither of us said April Fools and it was easily the best day I’ve had since all of this self-isolation business. If you recall from previous posts, I love cooking for my boyfriend. And if you recall from a very previous post, Johnny surprised me with dinner he made a few weeks ago when I came home from work.

Just when I thought that he couldn’t top himself, he raised the bar as he always does. On our seven month, we both got dressed up and when I got home from work I couldn’t believe my eyes when I opened the door. As I stepped in, I heard music playing on our record player, smelled garlic bread, and saw a fireplace screensaver burning brightly on the TV.

The best sight of all, though? Definitely seeing Johnny standing in the kitchen in a button down top and skinnies stirring a huge pot of spaghetti. We ate a delicious meal that he got stressed out cooking at our coffee table that he cleaned off special for the occasion. Then, we drank champagne and listened to all of our favorite songs. I lied when I said it was one of the best days of self-isolation because it was one of the best days of my life.

This has been a very stressful time for both of us and it was so nice to escape those feelings of unease for the day to celebrate our relationship. Johnny’s theory was that he wanted to make the dinner special because he couldn’t take me out to a restaurant. He succeeded with flying colors and, to me – a night in like that trumps going out on the town any time.

How have you celebrated special occasions in self-isolation? How have you kept your spirits up during this difficult time? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy Birthday, Kristen!!

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Happy Birthday, Kristen!!

Hello! We are ringing in another Mushenheim family birthday because today is my big sister, Kristen’s, big day. My sister is my best friend in the whole world and it is my life’s greatest achievement to be the designated fourth wheel to Kristen, her boyfriend, and their little girl named Valerie. Kristen is celebrating her “one year and one day” of motherhood and she is amazing at it. But today, it is all about her!

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I know I just used the word “amazing” to describe Kristen but I’m going to use it again. She is AMAZING! She is the most loving mother and it is the best feeling in the world to watch her playing and cuddling with her sweet daughter. Kristen is my BFF but Valerie is definitely a close runner up! Her compassion knows no bounds and when she’s not caring for the dogs and cats at the animal shelter she works at or tending to her daughter and two dogs and two cats, she is never too busy to participate in family time or help a friend (Or sister!) in need.

When I was younger, I used to get somewhat annoyed when people told me Kristen and I looked alike but now I consider it the highest compliment. My sister is the epitome of beautiful inside and out and it makes me so proud to be her little sis. I wish we weren’t under lock down so we could properly celebrate Kristen’s day but I can’t wait to spoil her with a candle lit Taco Bell dinner once this all blows over. 😉

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KRISTEN!

I LOVE YOU! ❤

April 2020 Funky Time Jams

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April 2020 Funky Time Jams

Hello! We are officially one week through April and what feels like one thousand years in self-isolation. So, music has definitely been a big part of helping to make the time go faster. There’s something about playing a familiar song while tucking into a good book that is so comforting – especially when it’s so easy to feel unnerved even in your own home. This is the music that has been keeping me company as yet another day in quarantine passes by:

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos!

A random compilation, I know – but this has been such a random feeling time. Everything just seems so up in the air and I never know what mood I’m in. Sometimes all I want to hear is top forty hits all day. Other times, I want nothing more than to time travel back to the 50s and 60s as I eagerly await for the completion of another day.

While Ohio is under a stay at home order, I have been clinging to a schedule and normalcy. This means following along with my music listening times daily like when I’m in the shower or writing in the morning. It’s nice to hear something that puts me more at ease when I’m trying to relax or upbeat tracks when I need to get ready for work.

Familiar things are my friends right now and the songs above have all been there at some point during this whole ordeal. Whether that be to save me from boredom or to hype me up, there’s nothing better than some Old Faithfuls!

What have been your favorite songs lately? What do you play to fight the lock down blues? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Fun & Fresh Gift Ideas For Men

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Fun & Fresh Gift Ideas For Men

It’s not always easy to buy gifts for men. In fact, it can be really difficult and even more so now that we are unable to go shopping for gifts. So if you want to buy some unique and interesting gifts this year, take a little look at this mini guide to see what could work for your next birthday purchase for a special guy in your life:

Gadgets, gadgets, gadgets:

Most men love gadgets and at any time of the year too! A lot of companies launch new products at this time of year and there are usually special offers at certain times of the year. There are so many different types of gadget on offer, and this can make it tough to decide what to buy. You can buy everything from virtual reality gaming headsets to self-stirring mugs. Think about what your partner or your brother has already got and what kinds of gadgets would entertain them or make their life easier. You could go for something practical if they like specific things to do with DIY or art for example or if they just love playing with toy cars and helicopters!

Clothing and accessories:

Buying clothing isn’t a necessity at the moment but it will be again at some point and although this doesn’t sound like the most original idea, it can have a twist put on it. Why not add a personal touch to one of their fashion accessories? Nowadays, you can customize everything from trainers and football boots to caps and this may really impress some of the men in your family. If this idea sounds appealing, do some research online. You could add their name or a special date, for example to remember their anniversary or other occasion.

Sporting gifts:

If you live with a sports fan, the options are endless. Indulge their passion with a stadium tour, match tickets, or a private lesson. Buy books, DVDs, or novelty golf balls as stocking fillers. Research signed shirts or retro football online. If you’re married to a gym bunny, read up on the best wearable gadgets or order a personalized gym bag. There are gifts out there to suit every budget and for lovers of every sport – you could certainly look at tested paddles too so when the time comes to enjoy some Pickleball, they’re prepared!

Manly hampers? Sounds fun enough!

If you’re searching for unique presents for him, look no further than a bespoke manly hamper. You can order a hamper online or buy your basket and fill it with ingredients yourself, depending on what they like. Maybe they love Thai food, so you could make a Thai themed hamper! This is a great idea for friends and relatives who love to eat and drink.

Popular items include alcohol miniatures, chocolates, cheese, nuts, and more. If you make your own, you can put all of your loved one’s favorite things inside which will impress them and show that you know them too. You can add shower and shave gel, candles, soap, and beard oil if you don’t want to go down the food route. The options are really endless and it’s time to start thinking outside the box!

Use the ideas above to help get you inspired for gifting the guy in your life with the best present ever!

Featured Image By: Pixabay