Lil Red Loves: Libraries

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Lil Red Loves: Libraries

Hi! Something that I’ve been fond of for as long as I can remember but, even more so this year, is the good ol’ local library. In my neck of the woods, there are plenty of different libraries to go to that have instilled in me a love for reading from story time as a youngin up until now as a twenty something. And, what I have learned this past year, is that libraries aren’t just for checking out books and movies.

Frequenting the libraries in the greater Akron area has become a staple in my day job, as they offer wonderful, educational, and fun programs that are all completely free. My clients and I love visiting different libraries and always end up reaping the benefits that the programs and events have to offer. From gaining knowledge and new hobbies to receiving totally free books like the ones below, the library is definitely the place to be.

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The libraries in my area offer everything from reading with therapy dogs to GED classes and murder mystery dinners. I have been to excellent music concerts with clients and showings of recently released movies in a huge auditorium. I’ve also attended yoga classes, escape rooms, and lessons in meditation all for the cost of absolutely FREE.

Just last week at North Hill Library’s meditation class, there were cardboard boxes full of free books for the taking. Mysteries, romances, fiction, and nonfiction alike were all there to be sorted through and there was no limit to what we could select. My client and I had a blast looking at all of the choices and I ended up picking out all of the above horror style murder mysteries (My favorite!) to take home with me. Will I like all of them? Maybe not, but that’s no harm done, because I can always donate it so that someone else can have what might be their new favorite page turner.

Lil Red will always support establishments that better the community and I am thankful that mine has so many excellent libraries to choose from, because they do just that. Libraries are inclusive to every single person in this world and there is much to be learned and a lot of fun to be had during your next visit to the neighborhood library!

Who else makes good use out of their local library? What type of programs does your library offer to the public? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

November 2018 Funky Time Jams

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November 2018 Funky Time Jams

Hellooooo! Can you believe that it’s November already? The spooky month of October is officially out and we are fully into Thanksgiving and Christmas territory. This means that holiday music will be coming in hot and Lil Red just won’t stand for that. After hearing Christmas songs day in and day out for three months of the year for four years of working in the mall, I’ve heard enough to last me a lifetime. So, I’ll be listening to the following, instead:

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

First of all, let’s get one thing straight: I do not like Post Malone. Lol, frankly, I don’t even know who he is. BUT, my sister plays the song “I Fall Apart” when we’re together and the lyrics of “whippin in the foreign, but the tears keep blowin” put us in hysterics every time. So, yes, this song needed to be included.

Now that that disclaimer is out of the way, this month is all about Fleetwood Mac and Stevie, Stevie, Stevie. My parents saw FM when they came to Cleveland at the end of October and we are still riding the high of their concert by playing all Fleetwood Mac everything. The Edge Of Seventeen is our go to jam, because it always gives us a laugh thinking about our favorite scene from School Of Rock:

Yeah…. Stevie. 😉

Watch and enjoy the above hilarity and then keep on rocking all month long with my November Funky Time Jams!

What is your favorite music themed movie? What are your thoughts on holiday music? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Event Planners Can Help You Make Your Corporate Event A Hit

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Event Planners Can Help You Make Your Corporate Event A Hit

If you’ve been placed in charge of organizing an upcoming event for your company, you want to make a good impression. That’s a tall order, considering everything that goes into planning a big event and ensuring it comes off without a hitch. In addition to paying attention to every detail, you also have to stay within the event’s operating budget. This can be difficult, but the right help can smooth out the process.

Most people try to do everything piecemeal when planning an event. They rent a venue, rent equipment, arrange entertainment, schedule speakers, hire staff, and on and on. Fortunately, an event planning company can take care of many of these details, while helping to keep spending low. Additionally, when you work with an event planner Westport CT, you can customize services, so you won’t be paying for services that you don’t need.

When you hire event planners, they will visit your venue personally to determine your specific needs. This is essential so that they can supply you with the right multimedia equipment to perform well in the environment. It is also a very important role if you can’t physically be in the space should it be a destination event like these corporate retreats protugal. Otherwise, you may find that your equipment isn’t broadcasting sound loud enough to reach the farthest parts of the venue. You’ll also want to make sure that video monitors can be seen by all of your guests. Your event planning specialists will know how to give you a quality system without compelling you to overspend on more expensive machines that you may not need.

Should you be planning a corporate event that requires travel, you will want to enlist the help of destination management services like those offered by uniquedmc.com. It can be very hard to plan an event in a space that you can’t see for yourself and a destination management team will ensure the success of your event. From production planning to activities and reservations, all aspects of the event will be handled despite your difference in location.

Your event planners will also pay close attention to lighting, seating, and other arrangements to help create an ideal setting. Since they will remain on-site for the event, you can rest assured that backup equipment will be available if anything happens to fail. This can be a major concern, especially if your event relies heavily on audio/visual equipment. Your event planner will be able to utilize the best audio visual company Hawaii (or your local area) to ensure that every aspect of this portion of the event goes without a hitch.

An excellent event planner is certainly more important than you might have thought and could make the difference between a great event or a lackluster one. Event planners are used to solving problems that may arise in an efficient manner. They also know how to communicate efficiently and event booking software makes that even easier. Event booking software can assist with ticket sales, engagement, and venue layouts from your own phone so your planner can keep everyone up to date in real time. These tools paired with experience will make an event planner a huge asset to your team.

Hiring event planners can take a great burden off of your back, allowing you to concentrate on other aspects of planning the event. Leaving the set-up and management of the venue to the professionals lets you devote your efforts to arranging guest speakers, sending out invitations, and taking care of other details. Together with your event planners, you’ll be able to stay within your budget and pull off an exciting and memorable event for your company.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Dollar Tree Deals

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Dollar Tree Deals

Hi! We all know that Lil Red loves to shop but, the trick is, is that I am all about the discount stores to save copious amounts of cash while I partake in my favorite hobby. In today’s post, it’s all about the Washingtons, because I began my Christmas shopping early at the Dollar Tree and got six fairly decent sized candles for a dollar apiece. Check it out:

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The beauty of discount stores, aside from the immense amount of savings from shopping there, is that no one is the wiser when they receive their presents. I plan on attaching sets of three of the above candles with a festive bow as part of gifts for friends and family and, for all they know, I could have gotten them at Target. Not only is the size of the candles relatively big for a dollar deal but, they smell amazing, too! The Pineapple Upside Down Cake is my favorite and I know that it will be a hit for my giftees. 🙂

What is your favorite discount store? Who has started their holiday shopping already? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Gephardt Daily

Hats Off: Adora Edition

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Hats Off: Adora Edition

Howdy! Is there such a thing as having too much black in my wardrobe? I often ask myself this question and always answer with a big fat NO! Despite my colorful hair, lipstick, and personality, I normally adhere to a fairly bleak color palette of primarily black clothing along with grey, white, and navy. But, I appreciate color just as much as the next person and have plenty of vibrant odds and ends to add a fun pop to the darkest of outfits. So, with that in mind, I had no problem adding on another black hat to my collection. Check it out:

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I purchased this hat along with the Peter Grimm number from yesterday’s post at TJMaxx. I’m not going to lie, the camel safari inspired bowler hat is a bit out of my comfort zone so it felt good to hop right back in it with this fab find by Adora. Was it the jet black Panama style that sold me? Or how about the adorable puff ball and beaded detail around the rim? All good guesses, and they are correct. BUT, I actually got this hat mainly because it reminded me of Stevie Nicks. I had her heavy on the mind ever since my parents saw Fleetwood Mac in concert a few days prior. So jealous!

So, you could totally go full Stevie with this hat and pair it with all of the billowy, flowy things that you can find. Or, you can go ahead and wear it with literally anything becauuuse BLACK IS A NEUTRAL! And, of course, nothing goes better with all black clothing than black on black on black. My new Adora hat reminds me a lot of American Horror Story: Coven and my plan is to pair it with a Wednesday Adams style dress, smart heels, and a clutch purse for all of the witchy vibes. Edgy and cool, but still oh so chic.

What is your favorite color to wear? What is your favorite cold weather accessory? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Hats Off: Peter Grimm Edition

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Hats Off: Peter Grimm Edition

Yo! Aside from shoes, which we all know are one of Lil Red’s major vices, I am definitely a hat girl. This gene was single handedly passed down from my grandma (my mom’s mom), who owned over one hundred hats. I began my own collection when I was fifteen or so with a deep purple cloche number, and it has expanded from there. In fact, quite a few of the hats in my collection are from my beloved grandma, so I know that she’s happy up in heaven that this love for her favorite accessory was passed down to one of her granddaughters. So, I’m positive that she’ll be pleased with my latest headwear purchase – I know I am! Take a look:

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I scored this Peter Grimm beauty from TJMaxx for seventeen bucks and, when I looked on the website for Peter Grimm, it was sixty! It was a total steal for such a cool hat, especially since I don’t own any in the camel coloring. I don’t know why I used to associate tan with being boring, because the color of this hat made my red locks POP. So, major shout out to Mister Peter Grimm for helping me to adjust that major character flaw.

What I love about this hat, is that it’s safari inspired with the faux suede rope and adjustable toggle, but it looks so damn chic because it’s attached to a somewhat bowler style hat instead of a traditional safari one. I can picture this Peter Grimm number with a cargo jumpsuit or romper, obviously. But, because it’s so neutral, it can be worn with literally anything to add some unexpected spice to an outfit. For example, I can totally see myself pairing it with my Fervour skeleton jumpsuit just because for a look that’s quirky cool – my specialty!

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

Five Below Find

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Five Below Find

Howdy! Something that I’ve grown very fond of as of late are discount stores. Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Five Below – you name it, and I like it. Ballin on a budget is my lifestyle choice and these stores live by my motto of “why pay more if you don’t have to”. From office supplies and snacks to holiday decor for a dollar, sometimes I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot when I stop into a discount shop. Just the other day at Five Below, for example, I walked away with this darling hair bow for three bucks and I’m sure it would have costed at least ten at Claire’s! Take a look:

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This beautiful black bow with the long streamers ties in perfectly with my sweet goth aesthetic and I cannot wait to wear it. My hair definitely needs to grow out a bit more and, once it does, I will be pairing it with half up and messy bun styles ASAFP. The beauty of discount stores is that no one needs to know the price that you paid for a good find. For three bucks, I found a new accessory that would have costed me triple the price elsewhere and you just can’t beat that!

What is your favorite discount store to shop at? What is one of your best discount store finds? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Five Below

Tips For Dealing With The Stress Of Losing Your Job

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Tips For Dealing With The Stress Of Losing Your Job

No one wants to go through the experience of getting fired, but these things happen in life for whatever reason. When this happens to you, it’s important that you pick yourself up and try to get back to normal as soon as possible. But doing that and dealing with the stress of losing your job isn’t easy. Here are some tips and advice to help you deal with that and come out of this experience in a stronger position:

Don’t Let it Destroy Your Confidence:

When you lose your job, it’s easy to feel down about it and lose sight of your long-term goals. That’s definitely the wrong way to deal with a job loss, though. You can’t allow one setback such as this to completely destroy your confidence and stop you from going on to do the things that you want to do in your career. Brush yourself off and know that there are still lots of successes to be had.

Start Looking for Other Opportunities Right Away:

There are always opportunities out there for you to explore and you should start looking for them right away when you lose your job. Rather than being down and out, look at it as a chance to find another role that will ultimately be even better for you. One job loss doesn’t signal the end of your career or anything like it. In the long-term, you might look back at this as a positive turning point for you.

If it Was Wrongful, Consider Taking Action:

Losing your job is one thing, but being fired for an illegitimate reason is even worse. You should get in touch with a wrongful termination attorney if you suspect that you’ve been sacked for a reason that’s not justifiable in the eyes of the law. You can fight the case, win it, and get your job back or at least some sort of compensation for the experience.

Learn Lessons From the Experience:

Every negative experience in your career and life can be learned from in one way or another. There’s always something that you can take away from the hardship so that you can try to do better in the future. It could help you to avoid failures or mistakes in other jobs and roles that you take on further down the line.

Change Course if the Career Path Your On Doesn’t Suit You:

It might even be time for you to change course in your career completely. If your career isn’t suiting you, don’t hesitate to change it and pursue something completely different. It might be just what you need in order to refresh things and revitalize your career. There’s little point in pursuing a career path that doesn’t suit you. Services like Executive Outplacement can be most helpful in easing the transition of a new career path and can be a great tool if the stress of this change is getting to you.

The stress that comes with losing your job is never easy, but it’s not the end of the world. There are always other opportunities out there for you to pursue, and they might turn out to be better for you than the job that you’ve been doing up until now. So get back on the horse and work towards success!

Featured Image By: Flickr

Happy Halloween!

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Happy Halloween!

Greetings everyone and a very Happy Halloween to all of you! I hope that all of you who celebrate enjoy a day of tricks and treats and, to those of you who don’t partake in the festivities, have a great normal day! Here is a friendly reminder of my angry dog in her minion costume last year wishing everyone a wonderful day:

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Gem says…

Happy Halloween!!

Making Time For Me

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Making Time For Me

Hello! I know the title of this post might seem a bit extra to some, considering I just recently was on vacation. But, oh my goodness is it necessary. Upon returning home from my trip, my work days were absolutely insane. We’re talking rising at seven to get ready and going, going, going nonstop until my arrival home after nine at night. Ah, the joys of playing catch up when you work for yourself and don’t get PTO!

With all of that craziness in mind, it was so important for me to make time for myself to go skating in between clients this past week. Despite a forty-five minute drive there and back to the rink, just one hour on the ice made me feel much better. The cold air, the challenge, and the exercise was more than enough to clear my head half way through the week and gave me the drive to push through until my weekend days off.

Sometimes, I have a really hard time making time for myself. I will work myself so hard to the point that, when I do have free time, I just want to veg out and do nothing. And, believe me, I was feeling this way last week like no other. But, I pushed myself to get to skating practice, even though I was riding the struggle bus, and it was well worth it. Not only did I feel proud of myself for having a good skate, but it left me feeling invigorated and ready for work, which I had to be at shortly after practice.

Making time for yourself doesn’t mean that you need to take an entire mental health day. Although, sometimes, that’s good too! Rather, I took under three hours of my day to do something that I really enjoy and the pay off was grand. Over the past few months, I have experienced the effects of feeling burnt out, and it is no walk in the park. But, I know that if I keep carving out time for myself during my work week, that my mental health will continue to improve and my determination to finish the week strong instead of idly passing through it will keep me on top in all aspects of my life.

How do you make time for you during your working hours? What do you do for yourself when you start to feel burnt out? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah