Paranormal Activity?!

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Paranormal Activity?!

Hellooooo! Okay, so the weirdest things happened in my apartment this past week which begs the question of if it’s haunted. Lol, I know it sounds crazy, but the instances that occurred were so impossible that it made me really freaked out. Let us proceed:

Exhibit A:

A few days before this occurrence, I accidentally broke a small plate when trying to get it out of my cabinet on the stove and refrigerator side. The plate broke into a few large pieces that were easy to pick up and get moved directly to the trash can. I then got the little shards cleaned up and continued to go about my day. To my knowledge, that was the last of the problem.

But, three days later, broken plate pieces reappeared in places that just weren’t possible for them to be at. That morning, I had taken my trash out that contained the plate fragments before I left for work. I got home that night and walked into my bathroom to start preparing a bath. And, as luck would have it, I stepped on a piece of broken plate. Mind you, the plate broke three days prior, was in the trash, and hadn’t left the trash since. AND, I stood in my bathroom that morning doing my hair and makeup and didn’t step on anything.

I tended to my foot, ran the bath water, and went to the kitchen to get something to drink. Then, on the opposite counter from which the plate broke sat a larger piece of plate that I couldn’t have missed that morning when I stood in the same spot to fix a glass of Tang for breakfast. This is when I started getting really uneasy, because there was just no way that I would have missed such a big piece of broken plate that morning. And, even if I did, the chances of it sitting there for three days without me seeing it was absolutely impossible.

After the glass incident, it made me hyper aware of two other instances that happened, one being the night before and the other happening the day before that.

Exhibit B:

Maybe this was nothing, but I don’t see how this could have happened without my knowledge, either. The night before the glass incident, I got out of bed to go to the bathroom. I was looking in my mirror while washing my hands and, behind me, I saw a HUGE hornet sitting on my wall.

When I go in and out of my apartment, I never leave my door wide open and I am always quick to get in or get out to prevent things like this from happening. But, even if I wasn’t, I definitely would have noticed this big sucker flying into my apartment. I shit you not, it was a little smaller than a silver dollar. So, needless to say, I was terrified when I saw it just hanging out in my bathroom.

I grabbed my fly swatter and, because it was gigantic, it was really slow and I was able to send it to a watery toilet grave. I felt very unnerved afterwards, though, because it just seemed too big to miss and that means it probably was in my apartment while I was home that evening and I didn’t even know it. Weird.

And, finally, the last incident happened the day before the hornet and two days before the two other glass instances.

Exhibit C:

I would say at least two weeks ago, over a weekend, my boyfriend was over and we were drinking wine on my couch. He accidentally dropped his glass and it broke on the floor space in between my couch and coffee table. It was no big deal and the glass was cleaned up and I thought that was the end of it.

But, two weeks after the glass breaking, a shard showed up again underneath my foot at least ten feet from where the glass broke to begin with. Once again, I have no clue how such a big piece could have gone unnoticed for two weeks or longer without me or someone else stepping on it.

I am glad it was me that stepped on it, though, because that morning I had my old skating coach and her daughter over for lunch. Her little girl was running around my apartment barefoot and it could have been her that stepped on it instead of me. I walked on the glass literally right after they left and was so confused as to how it got almost all the way to my front door and was sitting there for who knows how long without anything happening.

Maybe all of these were coincidences but three weird things happening three days in a row had me so spooked. Nothing has happened since and, hopefully, that will be the last of it. But, if not, I’ll keep you all posted!!

Can anyone offer me some explanations for the above instances? Have you ever experienced any paranormal activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Summer Guest Bloggers Wanted!

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Summer Guest Bloggers Wanted!

Hiii everyone! Unfortunately in Ohio, we didn’t get to enjoy a whole lot of spring weather. It was desperately cold with a few nice days and now we have already skyrocketed into temperatures in the 80’s. I am so not thrilled about it, because Lil Red was not made for extreme heat. So, with summer weather basically here in Ohio, I figured I would announce a call to action for some guest bloggers!

If you have a warm weather OOTD or MOTD, summer vaca travel tips, favorite recipes, or activities and want to share it with my audience in over one hundred and eighty different countries, then please shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com . I look forward to hearing from all of you! Much love. -Sarah

Top Ways To Attract More Clients To Your Events Place

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Top Ways To Attract More Clients To Your Events Place

Ever wondered why malls, concert grounds, office buildings, hotels, resorts, events places, and even schools invest so much effort and money into beautifying their gardens and parking lots? The landscape and terrain of an events place are more than just a backdrop for photos and videos. They have a logistical purpose, too.

If you’re managing an event place and you want to attract more clients, you might need to look into the current amenities you’re offering. If you haven’t yet invested in commercial landscaping services in North Oklahoma City, it’s about time you rethink that decision. A well-landscaped garden area and parking lot, along with the affordability of your place and other amenities and features, is an important consideration for many potential clients.

Parking lot, gardens, pathways, driveway, etc:

Most of the time, an event place is filled to capacity with people. Whether it’s a wedding, a corporate event, a birthday, or a product launch, events places house as many guests as they are capable of. With this, comes the responsibility of providing ample parking spaces for the guests and the clients. This also includes regular maintenance to the parking area like seal coating and line striping, so that people can clearly see where a proper parking space is available. It would be wise to find a professional to manage the upkeep of this for you. In order to find a professional near you, simply enter a search for “Paving contractor in Royse City, TX” or your local area. And, while many event places leave enough area for a parking space, not many of them invest money and energy into landscaping their parking lots and driveway.

The landscape of an events place’s parking lot, pathway, and driveway, however, is more than just aesthetics. It’s more than just a backdrop for a nice wedding photo. Hilly and uneven terrain will make it hard for guests to reach the main hall of the event place (especially if it’s a formal event and the women are wearing sky-high heels!). A landscape artist will see that these issues are dealt with. They will also make sure that during rainy days, the gardens won’t collapse and the pathways are well covered to protect the clients and their guests.

Indeed, the right landscaping can turn your event space into a sought after destination for weddings and retreats. When you work with a commercial landscaping company, you will be able to coordinate a plan for all four seasons so your event space will always look photo op ready. The team you choose will be able to bring your vision to life with plants, flowers, and greenery appropriate for the season. A beautifully maintained property is a sure fire way to get people talking!

Marketing:

You could have the most beautiful event space in the world but no one will know about it if you don’t market it properly. A great place to start is by advertising your business at expo fairs specific to the events you host like weddings or corporate get togethers. You can set up your booth with a custom tent wall, giveaway products, flyers, and banners so it will catch everyone’s eye. After the fair, you can add the banners and flags you used to the exterior of your event center to capture the attention of even more traffic.

Another excellent way to put your business out there is by inviting the clientele you’re hoping to attract to an event. For example, those in the wedding industry would be impressed by a wine and cheese tasting to preview the space and be inspired for pre wedding cocktail hours. To get started, simply enter a search for “wine tasting bath” (or your local area) to find specialty restaurants or wineries to accommodate. An event like this is casual, fun, and a perfect ice breaker.

Full and topnotch amenities:

Does your event place have a waiting area for the guests’ drivers and aids? Is it wheelchair accessible? Do you have facilities that cater to the need of individuals with physical challenges? These are important features of an event place and many potential clients may start to look to your competitors’ direction just because you didn’t put enough ramps (for wheelchairs and strollers) in your building or garden. Sometimes, the reason why clients won’t rent your place is as simple as not having a few important amenities and features.

Let’s also consider your outdoor setting as this is a very important aspect if you are hosting events both inside and out. Are there enough shaded areas for guests to be comfortable on a hot day? Will there be an outdoor bar or dining area? How about benches scattered throughout to enjoy the landscape? Aluminum is an excellent option for this as it is durable in the weather and lightweight. Felton Industries (or a similar company in your local area) specializes in outdoor aluminum furniture and can be your one stop shop to furnish the outside of your event space. Always remember, the comfort of your guests is key!

Affordability and price competitiveness:

There are a lot of competitions in this industry. Restaurants are opening their doors for events. Hotels have grand ballrooms where a large event can be held. There are exhibit halls to host seminars and conferences. Even parking lots are turned into concert grounds when the situation calls for it. What separates your event place from all of the others? One thing that potential clients will look into is the affordability and competitiveness of your pricing scheme. If you can offer the same facilities and amenities for a lower price than your competitors, then clients are more likely to choose your event place.

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Having a well-maintained landscape is good for your business, especially during the summer time! Keep these things in mind so that you can create a great environment for your employees and customers.

Chardon Polka Band

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Chardon Polka Band

Hiii everyone! This past Thursday, my client and I were truly living our best lives because we got to see the Chardon Polka Band perform at one of our local libraries. I try to take this client out to concerts and anything music related whenever I can because that’s his favorite and he plays the piano so beautifully. We have seen the CPB play twice before and they are so much fun that we had to see them again.

Now, I know what you’re thinking “a polka concert sounds like a nightmare”. And, initially, I thought so too. But, they are the most endearing, talented group of people that I’ve ever met and it’s impossible to not love them. They are so kind to everyone in their audience from little kids, the elderly, and people with special needs and that type of selfless attitude makes me a fan of them no matter what style of music they play.

I had no idea that the Chardon Polka Band was kind of a big deal in Ohio until now, but these guys go around all over the country playing polka everywhere from funerals, and christenings, to elementary schools, and senior centers. And, of course, any beer related festival that you can think of! I never thought I’d find myself as a polka fan until seeing these whacky guys perform and it’s so nice to consider them as my friends now, too!

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

Both my client and myself purchased a CPB T-shirt that we wear with pride and we are so excited to see our friends with an unexpected cult following perform again soon!

Who are the local celebrities in your neck of the woods? What are your thoughts on polka music? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Docplayer

Lil Red’s Book Club: Hide By Lisa Gardner Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Hide By Lisa Gardner Edition

Hi! I love visiting the local libraries in my area because you never know what kind of events are taking place or good stuff that they’re giving away. At the library in North Hill that I go to with one of my clients, there are always a few boxes of books that are free for the taking and we always enjoy looking through those. The last time that we were there, I had a massive haul of thriller, horror, and suspense books including Hide by Lisa Gardner.

I just finished this suspense filled whodoneit a few days ago and I LOVED it. Normally, I am very good at figuring out the outcome of a book or movie well before the grand reveal but, for once, this one kept me guessing the entire time. I hate to brag, but this honestly never happens.

Hide revolves around Tanya or Annabelle or whatever her name is because, sometimes, she doesn’t even know. Her life has been on the run nonstop since her youth and, just as she thought that things were finally settling down, an underground chamber containing the mummified remains of six little girls was found on the grounds of an abandoned mental hospital.

The story is told from the perspectives of Bobby Dodge, a new detective and Annabelle and it switches back and forth every few chapters. Both the detective and Annabelle are trying to solve the mystery of who committed such an atrocious crime and fast. Because, somehow, Annabelle is the missing key and she very well could be next.

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Although this book was just about four hundred and fifty pages, it felt like a quick read and I definitely recommend it for fans of crime related psychological thrillers. My only qualm is that a cheap bottle of window cleaner from the Dollar Tree managed to open in my car and spill all over my book, which made it look pretty gross! Thankfully, I was still able to read it despite the water logged pages and now I am really interested in reading more of Lisa Gardner’s work!

What is your favorite genre to read? What are you reading right now (Other than my blog, of course!)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Lil Red’s Presidential Medal Of Freedom: Too Faced Melted Matte In Queen B Edition

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Lil Red’s Presidential Medal Of Freedom: Too Faced Melted Matte In Queen B Edition

Helloooo! Have any of you ever had a beauty product that you were pretty excited about but just never bothered using? Lol, because that’s what definitely happened with the Sephora freebie I got of Too Faced’s Melted Matte lip paint. I got the shade in Queen B FO FREE with a twenty-five dollar online purchase and I thought that the deep mauve shade was pretty but it also is a color that I wouldn’t normally wear so it just sat unused in my makeup box until May 15th, 2019.

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On that fateful day, I was wearing a turquoise spaghetti strap top, denim shorts, black mini platforms, and a jean jacket. I thought that the above shade would look so good with the various blue hues that I had in my OOTD so I put some on, threw the tube of lippie in my bag, and headed out the door.

I was right, of course, because the lipstick looked divine. And, like anyone, I was expecting to have to reapply after working, eating lunch, and kissing my boyfriend. But… I didn’t? I was blown away! This lip paint literally didn’t budge. So, I continued on with my day which included eating Indian food and more kissing my boyfriend. AND IT STILL STAYED ON! It looked like I had just applied it and, at that point, I had had the color on for at least ten hours.

HOW DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN?!
HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!
WHY HAS IT TAKEN ME ALMOST A YEAR TO USE THIS LIPPIE?!
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK ON I HAVE NO IDEA!

But, seriously though. How is that even possible? This is why I have to award the Too Faced Melted Matte lip paint with the Lil Red Presidential Medal Of Freedom. For withstanding Indian food, PDA, and a day on the job without so much as budging. I thank you for your commendable service and cannot recommend this product enough! 😀

What is your favorite product by Too Faced? Do you have any products that have been sitting unused in your stash? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Super Cool Planter

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Super Cool Planter

Hi! As you all know, my dad is an expert gardener so that makes gift giving very easy for him. For his birthday this past month, I got him this awesome stackable planter set from Amazon. Since it has warmed up significantly in Ohio since April, he finally got around to getting the planter set up with strawberries and flowers and it looks great! Take a look:

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I was so happy to come home on Mother’s Day and see the planter out on the deck in its full glory. It also made me smile to see the garden gnome planter that I got for him last year with a potted plant in his little knapsack. Seeing the splendor of my dad’s hard work never ceases to amaze me and it’s always so cool to see the projects that he tends to so lovingly take full bloom!

What is your favorite plant or flower? Who else is a fan of gardening? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apartment Lyfe Update

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Apartment Lyfe Update

Helloooo! It has been almost one month since I moved into my very own apartment and, honestly, it couldn’t have gone better. The move went smoothly, I love my space, and it legitimately feels like a vacation being here. From furniture shopping to stocking up my pantry and cooking in my kitchen or waking up in my loft space, everything is still so exciting to me.

And, the novelty continues, as I work on fixing up my office and an art wall in my living room. But, my main living spaces are complete and it turned out exactly how I wanted it to. Even just sitting here at the desk in my office and typing on my own brand new laptop feels awesome!

This move happened at the perfect time and it felt right instead of rushed or scary. I am enjoying my new home so much and it has been such a joy sharing the process with all of you too! What was your first apartment like? What about your current living quarters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Summer Care For Your Furry Friends

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Summer Care For Your Furry Friends

When the weather gets better, it becomes the perfect time to head out and spend some long lazy days with your furry friend. Walking in the snow and rain is fun, as is anything with your best friend, but the summer sun? Unreal. It opens up so many more opportunities to go out and explore. But the care that you need to provide your four-legged friend changes when the heat cranks up. So what can you do to make sure that your dog is going to live his best summer life? Read on to find out more:

Car:

This should go without saying, but people are still leaving their dogs in hot cars. There have been plenty of videos where people have locked themselves in a hot car to demonstrate the issue… and yet it is still happening. It can take just ten minutes for a dog to get heatstroke and then die. Many people simply don’t know how hot a car gets when left in the sun, even for a few minutes. If you need to run some errands but have your dog with you, take the dog home first. Alternatively, make sure you have enough water and take the dog out of the car when you get out, too.

Protection:

In the summer, you are much more likely to have a dog rubbing noses with new friends and shaking that mane in the grass. It is time to step up protection to include things like heart-worm, Lyme disease, fleas, and tick prevention for dogs. All of which can put a damper on your summer fun!

Cool It:

Asphalt, heck, even earth gets baked and soaks in a lot of heat. If you wouldn’t walk on it barefoot, then don’t make your dog walk on it, either. It will burn their paws, so make sure there are shady spots in the garden and try to head out early in the morning or late in the evening when it isn’t too hot. If you have a cool truck that your furry buddy likes to travel in, remember how hot that metal base is going to be before your pup hops in.

Sunburn:

Dogs get sunburn just like we do. Make sure that you apply a high factor of cream to ears, nose, and any other exposed skin. You’re going to need to check with your vet about the best cream to use, just because it is excellent for us humans, doesn’t mean it is going to work for your pooch.

Water:

In the summer you can never have enough water ready for your dog. They carry around a fur coat all of the time – imagine if that was you! Have a big bowl of fresh water in the house that is topped up all day long. And, when you go for your walks, take a pop-up bowl and a giant bottle of water. Most dog-friendly parks also have taps that have fresh drinking water, too. Dogs can’t simply cool down, they need to pant and drink water. Speaking of water, get a children’s swimming pool and fill it up and let them go wild for a few hours. It really helps them burn energy and relax. But remember that all-important sun cream!

Weight:

Over the winter months, we all have a tendency to put on a little weight – your dog included. The summer is the perfect time to shed those pounds by getting out there and exploring together. Just like humans, it isn’t healthy for dogs to carry too much weight as it puts a lot of strain on their joints. Increasing your levels of activity slowly over the space of a week or two will help you tackle those more adventurous days with ease. On average, you should be looking to walk your pooch for around 30+ minutes per day. If they are a little overweight, then you are going to have to ease them into it.

Fans:

If you know it’s going to be really warm, then get a fan in the room your dog spends the most time in. Leave the fan running for as long as you can during the day. It is better that you have a fan that is safe to use when you aren’t at home, too. But a simple oscillating fan will do wonders to bring down the temperature.

Dogs and humans aren’t too dissimilar when it comes to what they need in the summer. We are both more likely to get bitten by an insect, both need a lot more water, and enjoy splashing around in a pool. Treat your dog the way you treat yourself over the summer months!

Featured Image By: Andrew Pons on Unsplash

Lil Red’s Art Gallery: Final Few Edition

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Lil Red’s Art Gallery: Final Few Edition

Howdy! For the final viewing of Lil Red’s Art Gallery, we are going to take a look at two of the biggest pictures and one of the smallest ones that I purchased from Goodwill. The two large ones honestly have me stumped on why I bought them other than the fact that I just thought they looked cool. The poster sized images feature wild berries and plants of Alaska, a state which I have literally no ties to. But, I don’t know, the colors were unique and I liked that it looked like something out of a textbook so into the cart it went! Take a closer look:

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And, as for the other little painting that I purchased, I loved what the women were wearing more than anything. The flowing dresses, huge sun hat, parasol in hand – I wish that us ladies still dressed like that! The colors in the painting also spoke to me. I like how soft the palette is and how it almost looks like it’s going to rain. You can also see the signs of a heavy wind from the ribbons adorning their ensemble blowing about. And, of course, this picture also reminds me of something that would be in the funeral home too, so there’s that! #funeralhomechic

What is your favorite art museum to visit? Who is your favorite artist? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah