Oct29

Easy Ways To Make Extra Holiday Money

Posted on October 29, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Christmas can be a stressful time of the year financially, especially if your budget is already stretched. If decreasing your spending won’t cut it, then starting to look at options for making more money can be the way to get through the holiday season. Many people take on second jobs at this time of year, but could there be an easier way to boost your savings? Get ready to grow your income with these ways to make extra money in the lead up to Christmas:

Invest:

Putting your money into a particular stock that you know will help you reap rewards will make sense. Of course, it’s a case of having patience, discipline, and knowledge. In this day and age, the likes of cryptocurrency is taking over. This is because we’re likely to use digital currency going forward and cash will become close to being obsolete. Learn about crypto, BNB trading, the market cap, and all kinds of related pieces because it could help you make more than just a little extra money on the side.

With the rise of cryptocurrency, you might want to buy bitcoin with INdependent Reserve. As always, it’s important to do your research first as many people know of bitcoin but are not familiar with its ins and outs. If you have a friend or family member that uses bitcoin, it’s a great idea to pick their brain and ask for advice. Should you not have that option, go online and seek tutorials and step by step guides. Find out the Bitcoin price in USD or the currency you use, familiarize yourself with best practices, and make your investments wisely. Once you become savvy, it can become a viable extra source of income.

Use your skills:

Do you work in a job where you could use your skills on a freelance basis? It could be easier than you think. From copywriting to bookkeeping, there are all kinds of jobs you can do part-time or freelance to help you boost your income. It’s worth checking out the types of roles that are available online through websites like Upwork and People Per Hour.

Many people turn side hustles into full-time roles, giving you the perfect excuse to make a switch to a career you’re passionate about and interested in. Remember to only work the hours you can afford to spare, you don’t want your side hustle to have an effect on your day job.

Become a tutor:

Becoming a tutor can be another excellent way to put your skills and knowledge to good use. Whether you can speak another language or you were great with math at school, you could help a student improve their skills and help them succeed. You can find tutoring opportunities listed with local schools or colleges, and a shout-out on Facebook could be another way for you to find your first gig. Becoming a tutor can be very rewarding, helping you remember your enthusiasm and interest in a subject you might not get to use very often.

Offer babysitting services:

Many people need babysitters at this time of year. People get very busy during the holiday season, so if you love kids – why not offer up your services? You could ask friends and family to begin with and to help you build up some experience. From there, you can find babysitting jobs online in your local area. Babysitting can be a lot of fun, and great practice if you’re thinking of starting your own family soon!

Become a dog walker:

If taking care of kids isn’t your thing, perhaps you could take care of animals, instead? Dog walkers are in high demand, and you can make some great additional income as a walker. Not only will you get the chance to interact and play with some fantastic dogs, but it can also help you stay fit too. Getting out and about during the winter is tough when the nights are dark and the weather is cold, but a four-legged friend who’s happy to see you should be more than enough motivation to get outside!

Sell unwanted goods on eBay:

With the holidays around the corner, it’s a good idea to clear out some of the clutter in your home before a new intake of gifts arrives. This helps you to keep your home neat, as well as making sure you haven’t got items sitting there going to waste.

Selling your unwanted items on eBay is easier than you might think, and you can do it all from your phone. Of course, not everything is going to sell so if you find yourself with items you can’t make money from, you always have the option of donating or recycling them.

Take advantage of cashback:

There are a lot of ways you can earn money online, some of which involve nothing more than carrying out your regular activities! Cashback websites are great for helping you get money back on your purchases, with no catch. Most top retailers can be found on cashback websites. Not only that, but many cashback retailers can also help you find discount codes online – helping you save even more money on your purchases.

Spending your free time making some extra money can be an easy way to build up your Christmas fund. Not only that, but it could lead to something more permanent that could help you increase your savings in the New Year!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Oct29

Bath Bomb Blitz: Treat Me Edition

Posted on October 29, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Yo yo yo. Yesterday, you all saw my little beauty haul from the Dollar Tree, which included two bath bombs. Obviously, I was not anticipating a Lush quality treat from the bombs that I purchased. But, I also wasn’t expecting it to suck so bad, lol. Either way, I’m glad that I tried it out. The Dollar Tree is one of my favorite places to buy small add ons to holiday and birthday gifts like candles, candy, and coffee mugs. And, now I know (and all of you will, too) that the bath bombs are something that you can take a hard pass on for your stocking stuffers this year. Let’s discuss:

The rainbow bath bomb is, admittedly, very cute and I thought that it would be a fun one to try out for the ol’ blog. I wouldn’t say that I was excited to give it a shot, I was more curious than anything. So, I filled up my bath tub, dropped the bomb in, and watched as the fizzy spectacle took place. Sadly, that’s all that happened when the bath bomb touched the water. It fizzed for a solid minute or two, turned the water a murky pink, and that was that.

Was I surprised? Definitely not. And, oddly, I was still okay with testing it out to give all of you the details and because it was a whopping one dollar so it didn’t break my bank! I still have one bath bomb by Treat Me left to try and I am not anticipating any bath tub magic a la Lush but, maybe – just maybe, the other one will be better. #wishfulthinking

What is your favorite bath bomb by Lush? How do you do stocking stuffers for the holiday season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct28

Warning! These Signs Show That You Need A Detox ASAP

Posted on October 28, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Warning! These Signs Show That You Need A Detox ASAP

The body is a tireless machine that works even while you sleep. It flushes out toxins or those chemicals and foreign elements you’ve picked up from the products you used, the pollution you’re exposed to, and the food and substances ingested. However, like any machine, the body can get overwhelmed, and its efficiency can go downhill with little to no support from you.

This is where detoxification comes in. It helps the body deal effectively with the toxin buildup that can result in health conditions. While detox is closely associated with fasting, losing weight, and doing a short-term diet, this act of cleansing can be a periodic activity and carried out as necessary. There are several ways to give your body a detox including this detox IV therapy, dietary changes, and eliminating certain substances from your life. Let’s learn some more:

You Feel Tired:

Something’s off when you feel fatigued despite getting enough sleep and rest. This constant sluggishness can be a symptom of adrenal fatigue, which happens when the adrenal glands are unable to produce enough hormones, such as cortisol, which handles stress and other responsibilities.

Many reasons cause this adrenal burnout:

Lack of nutrients, like zinc, which supports adrenal health
Chemicals from food and drugs or materials that come in contact with the body
Excessive stress and unhealthy responses to them

You Have Not Been Sleeping Well:

A healthy person secretes cortisol in response to a fight-or-flight situation and switches this off. As the day wears on, the cortisol level is also expected to go down so you can sleep. The opposite occurs for some people who can’t sleep at night because of heightened alertness caused by high cortisol levels.

Aside from addressing any cortisol imbalance, as noted above, your lifestyle affects how you sleep. The usual suspects are the following:

Caffeine
Alcohol
Nicotine
Heavy meals before bedtime

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As you age, your liver is not in the optimal condition to break down the above substances and flush them out. Thus, alcohol takes longer to metabolize and hits you with hangovers. If you are having difficulty with your alcohol consumption, it might be time to look into a Detox Retreat or program to help get you on the right track.

You Are Beset with Digestive Issues:

The digestive system is among the first to suffer when harmful elements accumulate in the body. Some manifestations include diarrhea, constipation, gas pains, and the like. When your stomach is out of whack at the slightest provocation, then you probably need to carry out these things:

Do an elimination diet. It’s a method to confirm food intolerances that can irritate your stomach.
Add fiber to your meals. A diet rich in high-fiber sources like fruits and vegetables promotes a healthy gut. Dietary fiber enables regular bowel movements and stimulates the growth of good bacteria in the colon through probiotics.

Speaking of gut bacteria, another telltale sign for detox is when you always crave for sweets. According to research published on PBS.org, the sugar in these foods can impede the production of proteins critical to the growth of the good bacteria.

You Have Skin Problems:

What’s happening inside of your body is reflected in your skin. Rashes, pimples, blemishes, and skin discoloration are clear-as-day signs. To heal your skin and restore its health, you must start from within and work toward the outside:

Cleanse your liver, and support its health. Enrich your diet with garlic, carrots, green tea, avocado, apples, and walnuts.
Hydrate your skin. Water aids in digestion and replenishes fluids you lose through urine and sweat.
Care for your skin. Select toners, cleansers, and face masks with natural ingredients to clean your pores from the outside.

You Need to Pass a Critical Test

You may have consumed alcohol or taken certain recreational substances at some point. Whatever your reasons or motivations, the exposure is there, and you need to be clean for a job offer. A detox is clearly in order to eliminate toxins from your body and help you pass the test.

In doing this kind of detox and ensuring you have the right program, consider the following:

Level of exposure (i.e., the type of substance you took and the frequency)
Your body weight and height
Metabolism rate

As with any detoxification program, drink lots of water and eat high-fiber foods. Indeed, by going through this detox, not only are you preparing yourself for a significant career milestone, but you are also cleansing your body of harmful toxins.

Your body deserves a break. Give time and effort to help it cleanse, heal, and restore itself. Living in a toxin-free environment is impossible, but you have detoxification programs as necessary for your health and well-being.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Oct28

Dollar Tree Beauty Haul

Posted on October 28, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Salutations! So, I know what some of you are thinking from the title of this post… “What kind of beauty products could they possibly have at the Dollar Tree?” Lol, well, you’d be surprised! On top of my new Halloween glasses, I ended up with a bunch of fun little beauty goodies to take home during my last Dollar Tree shopping excursion. I didn’t mean to go so hard but WHAT CAN YA DO?! Blog about it, obvi. Haha, take a look and let’s discuss:

I have never been one for fake eyelashes and just opt for my Better Than Sex mascara to give me big, bold lashes. However, as soon as I saw the fun green, red, purple, and blue lashes I was instantly enamored and needed all of them. With Halloween around the corner, the red ones will be perfect with my sexy Raggedy Anne costume and I’m sure I’ll find use for the other three when my boyfriend’s band plays a show. Will they be of the best quality? Absolutely not. Will they last at least one night? Here’s to hoping!

And, of course, I couldn’t say no to the darling new lip balms in the cherry and red lip containers. I shit you not, I have had the same chapstacks in my purse for literal years so it was definitely time for an upgrade. I couldn’t think of a better way to do that than with a great big red lip container since we all know that that’s my signature. :*)

Finally, I snagged a few bath bombs because I thought it would be interesting to see how they worked. Will they be of the best quality? Absolutely not. Will it be on the blog tomorrow for a new edition of Bath Bomb Blitz? You know it!

There is nothing like getting some treats for yourself to perk you up during the work week and this little haul did just that. I’m excited to experiment with all of my new goodies and I’m even more excited that they didn’t break the bank at a dollar apiece. 😀

How do you treat yoself? What is your favorite discount store? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct27

Tiny TJMaxx Beauty Haul

Posted on October 27, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy! When it comes to beauty products, I am really not picky. I’ve never minded using bath and body care from the grocery store, drugstore makeup brands, and basic skin care. Well, that is, until I started working at The Body Shop several years ago, because that turned me into a skin care freak!

For a while, I was strictly using their products when it came to my skin care routine. I have since branched out and I have TJMaxx to thank for that, because they have such a fantastic beauty section with all kinds of fun new brands and old favorites to try. Now, whenever I run out of anything in my pampering routine, I hit up TJs to restock. Check it out:

When it comes to styling my hair, a good heat protector and leave in conditioner are a must for me. Both help to eliminate any frizz and keep my hair silky and sleek for the perfect pin straight appearance. I had purchased my first bottle of thermal serum by RUSK way back in January and I am just now finishing up the bottle. This is astounding, because I use the product almost every day and, at ten dollars, that makes the cost per wear mere fractions of a cent!

This thermal serum works wonders. It smells awesome, it doesn’t leave my hair greasy, and my hair has never looked healthier even with daily heat styling. My ends aren’t fried and my locks are so smooth to the touch so I was very happy when TJMaxx had another bottle of it available because adding it into my cart was a no brainer.

And, of course, I would be nowhere without a good Vitamin C serum during my skin care routine. I chose a bottle of Provence Beauty’s brightening serum and am looking forward to trying it. It was six dollars for one bottle but it seems to be filled to the brim with product so I am hoping that it will last me a long time. Come cold weather, it is easy for your skin to take on a dull appearance from the lack of sunshine. Thankfully, my Vitamin C products keep me radiant all year long and I completely swear by them.

This was a tiny beauty haul but I did get everything I needed and then some… because, seriously, who goes into TJMaxx for just one thing?! 😉

Which beauty products do you swear by? How do you save money on your beauty routine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct26

Dollar Tree Halloween Haul

Posted on October 26, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Hi! One store that I grow increasingly fond of with every passing trip is the Dollar Tree. I always seem to find the best deals on food, apartment supplies, and little add ons for gift giving occasions. And I do literally mean the best deals considering that everything there is one dollar! This past trip to the Dollar Tree left me with a big haul of Halloween (And every day of the year supplies!), beauty goodies, and sunglasses. You will see all of the other purchases later but, for now, check out my new Halloween glasses perfect for sipping on your favorite potion:

I have had my eye on these plastic Halloween themed glasses for a while now and I finally caved and took a few home with me during my last shopping trip. And, because I live every day like it’s Halloween, they will all definitely be a year round staple at my apartment. I love the orange and grey skull cups but the purple and orange skeleton hand stemmed wine glasses are my absolute favorite! The funky colors and the spider web detailing on the bottom of the glasses are pure spooky fun and I can’t wait to break them out. 😀

What is your favorite holiday to decorate for? How do you prepare your house for Halloween? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct25

How To Bring More Balance Into Your Life

Posted on October 25, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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How To Bring More Balance Into Your Life

There is so much pressure on people nowadays to work hard, earn loads of money, and meet the accepted norms of what success means in today’s society; it is little wonder that many people feel stressed. Feeling stressed is a common state of mind for many people. The pressure to look great, be popular, and have lots of money can weigh heavily on people. This is often amplified by social media and the images that people see on TV and in the press. The good news, is that it is possible to minimize the stress that you experience in your life. Taking control of the situation can help you to bring balance back into your life and make you feel a lot better. Here are some of the ways that you can beat stress and improve your overall well being:

Regain Your Perspective:

If you are constantly comparing yourself to others, then it is time to stop. If scrolling through your social media makes you feel that everyone else’s life is perfect, then you are mistaken. Don’t forget that what you see on social media is simply the edited highlights of someone’s life. People very rarely post the whole truth on social media platforms. Minimizing the amount of time that you spend on social media can help. When you are online, remember to keep your perspective and remind yourself that people only share what they want the world to see.

Beat Stress and Anxiety:

Chronic stress can harm both your physical and mental well being so it is important to find ways to manage it. Many people find practicing mindfulness helpful in reducing their stress. Mindfulness is a tool which enables people to focus their attention on the present moment. This helps to stop the mind from getting caught up in unhelpful thoughts about the past and future.

Being under prolonged stress or pressure can make you feel anxious. Anxiety is a condition that can significantly impact your life. Everyone feels anxious from time to time, for example, before taking a test. However, chronic anxiety can leave you feeling anxious on a daily basis making everyday life much harder. Luckily, anxiety treatment is available to help you ease the feelings of anxiousness and provide you with help and support.

Take Care of Yourself:

If you are working hard and always rushing around, then chances are that you aren’t taking the best care of yourself. Stress and anxiety, coupled with long working hours, can take their toll on your well being. This makes it all the more important to practice self-care to regain balance in your life.

Try and get plenty of sleep so that your body has a chance to relax and recover. Getting enough sleep can also have a positive effect on your mood and help you to think more clearly. Make sure that you feed your body with the right fuel. Making healthy food choices will help nourish your body and mind and make you feel infinitely better.

Life is a balancing act and the tips above will help you find the right level to keep you happy and healthy.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Oct25

Breakfast Of Champions

Posted on October 25, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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*Trigger Warning: This post contains references to eating disorders.

Hellooo everyone! Eating “normally” has always been something that I’ve struggled with. From eating too much to not eating at all and a battle with bulimia, food turned into my best friend and worst enemy. I still struggle with occasional spurts of not wanting to eat or a strong desire to have a binge and purge sesh and do my damnedest to fight the urge. And, I have to say, I have been doing a great job and I am proud of that.

One thing that has helped me with my food related issues has been trying to create a normal schedule for myself of when to eat. And, for once, this includes breakfast – something that I would avoid until around May of this year when I was settled into my apartment. For some reason, there was nothing more satisfying to me than waking up in my own place, opening my refrigerator to examine the food that I bought by myself, and making something tasty to eat.

Now, mind you, it’s never like I’m making some super gourmet breakfast extravaganza. Rather, I usually opt for something easy like my favorites of eggie in a basket or a bagel with a sunny side up egg and a slice of cheese on it. I also will go for just eggs and toast or a bagel with cream cheese. As a vegetarian and not a vegan, I am very mindful of where my eggs come from and always choose the cage free/free roaming option and these are a staple you can find in my fridge more often than not along with bagels and a grainy loaf of bread.

Eating breakfast was never important to me until I started realizing the impact it had on my day. It made me drive to work without dreading it, I would feel satisfied but not bursting at the seams, and I wasn’t obsessively counting down the minutes until lunch. My attitude seemed to improve tenfold and by the time lunch rolled around, I wasn’t chomping at the bit to indulge in a huge meal.

Of course, I value my beauty sleep and don’t always have the time to cook something for myself in the morning. But, I like that I have made this positive and healthy change in my life and have been keeping up with it. And, guess what? Adding an extra meal didn’t effect my weight in any way shape or form, which was my main concern.

Living as an eating disorder survivor is a difficult thing, because it’s always going to be a nagging little thought in the back of your mind. Very much how it is with my self harm struggles. But, the harder I work at making healthy choices when it comes to food, the weaker those voices become. And, maybe some day, I won’t ever have to deal with them at all.

What do you like to eat for breakfast? How do you make healthy choices when it comes to food? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct24

Settle Your Home Anxieties For The Winter

Posted on October 24, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Settle Your Home Anxieties For The Winter

You needn’t be a high maintenance person to feel stress occupying a home in which cleaning is not the expected standard. For example, if visiting the home or apartment of a friend’s friend, we may feel dismayed to see the bathroom in poor state, or perhaps that their dogs have left hair all over the sofas.

Many of us have caring standards for our homes, even if they might get a little messy from time to time. Thankfully, the anxiety or at least noticeable necessary need for a clean we can see will direct us to careful action. Often, the transfer of the seasons will help us notice this more, as they show our homes in a new light. This is why the bright warmth of spring often gives way to cleaning, to use one example.

Settling your home anxieties for the winter then, as we begin our slow march towards it, could be a great method of ensuring your home is catered for and refined once cold weather strikes. We would like to offer you some worthwhile advice here, and hope it can make a real difference:

Roofing:

Roofing truly does matter. A solid roofer will be able to figure out if you have holes or damages that need attending to, because this could have opened you up to a terrible attic leak, a loss of insulation, or even an infestation of some kind. Settling your home anxieties will often mean caring for your roof first, because the intense coldness of the weather can cause cracks to show, shingles to become damaged, or tiles to become loose. An inspection, therefore, is always a wise idea.

Pavement Care:

The pavement outside and leading up to your home (in the form of a patio, garden path, and driveway) can be a real victim of harmful black ice. This can lead to nasty trips, falls, and injuries, especially in the morning when you may still be waking up for your commute. Even if you’re aware of this it can be dangerous, let alone when elderly or younger relatives come to visit or bound from your home in an excitable fashion. As such, we recommend hiring a professional asphalt contractor that uses innovative Crack Sealers to fix up your driveway (and elsewhere) and improve the paving. You should also purchase a good amount of gritting material to limit slips and provide traction should it be a problem.

Weather Debris:

Weather debris is important to consider. From damaged fencing, loose roof tiles, upturned trampolines, and uprooted signs, it’s important to consider your potential weather debris and plan for that. Perhaps if a heavy winter’s snowfall or hailstorm is predicted, then bringing your vehicle into the garage to protect it could be important or putting heavier locks on your doors, or even, in some cases, rooting down exterior belongings that could rise in the weather. This may seem outlandish, but these scenarios do happen, and it’s always best to remain prepared to that degree.

With this advice, you are certain to correctly settle your home anxieties for the winter. Now get some hot chocolate and relax!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Oct24

Unsung Wardrobe Heroes: Black Crop Top Edition

Posted on October 24, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Unsung Wardrobe Heroes: Black Crop Top Edition

Howdy! An article of clothing that I don’t think I give enough credit to is my beloved black crop top from Target. I have had this little number for a handful of years and I honestly can’t even tell you the amount of times that I’ve worn it. I do know that for the ten dollar price, my cost per wear is probably down to fractions of a cent! From its perfect cut and soft material to its versatility in styling literally any outfit, my black crop top is definitely an Unsung Wardrobe Hero.

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^^^ See the full OOTD posts from these shoots here and here!

This past summer, I have sported my crop top often simply by pairing it with jean shorts and loads of jewelry for a quick work outfit or with a pleated faux leather skirt for something more dressy seen below:

^^^ Peep me and my boyfriend looking mighty cute!

During the summer, it’s easy to slack on your outfits – believe me, I get it. It was unbearably hot in Ohio this year, with days in the high eighties and nineties more often than not. And, for those of you who don’t know, Lil Red does not function well in extreme heat. I sweat like nobody’s business, I get fatigued, and downright cranky. Despite the major discomfort, still staying fashion forward and slaying the streets was important to me.

My black crop top allowed me to stay cool and comfortable without showing too much skin and for that, I am thankful. Looking like a blogger when I go out is a high priority for me and the fact that I could wear this shirt dressed up or down kept the possibilities endless all summer long. And, it doesn’t just stop there because there is nothing better than a crop top under an oversized blazer come fall, which I have already been rocking heavily compliments of the cooler weather.

It’s easy to hold your more expensive or flashy pieces in a higher regard than your basic staples and that just doesn’t fly with me. Sure, I love my bling, bags, and shoes but I also appreciate the many OOTDs that my black crop top has allowed me to style throughout the years and I definitely consider it one of my wardrobe staples. So, here’s to you, my darling Target crop top and thank you for continuing to serve me well! ❤

What is one of your Unsung Wardrobe Heroes? Which piece in your closet do you think you wear the most? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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