Oct2

My October Wish List

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My October Wish List

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! The glorious month of October is among us, which means I get to enjoy all of my favorite things. As I lover of all things horror, I get to finally get down with my spooky self and drag my boyfriend along for the ride! Because, all of the fall things wouldn’t be complete without a special someone or bestie to revel in the fright with. Here are a few things that I hope to do this month and, so help me god if I don’t, because we’re gonna have some issues!

  1. HAUNTED HOUSES!!!!!!!!!! All of the haunted houses. So many haunted houses. I LOVE HAUNTED HOUSES. The thrill, the scares, the anticipation! I spent two Octobers in my teenage years working at a haunted house and it was SO. MUCH. FUN. Ohio actually offers some pretty good haunts, if you’re willing to venture a little ways to get to them. So, road trip and spookfest, anyone?
  2. SCARY MOVIES!!!!!!!!! All of the scary movies. So many scary movies. I LOVE SCARY MOVIES! Of course, I am eagerly anticipating the theater release of the new Halloween movie but, October is also a time to revisit old favorites. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Saw, The Strangers, Ils, Hush, and all things Stephen King for starters, please.
  3. PUMPKINPALOOZA! So, I’ve never carved a pumpkin before and, frankly, I don’t think it’s the best idea. (Sarah + a carving knife sounds like a pretty bad equation!) But, my boyfriend wants to, so it’s the least I can do! Regardless of if I can carve a pumpkin adequately enough, it will still be fun to complete a traditional Halloween craft together.
  4. Pumpkin Spice, Please: I know, so basic. But, I always have to get at least one Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks this month. Don’t worry, though, I’ll be back to all iced coffee everything in no time!
  5. Take A Hike: I also want to get in lots of hikes in some of Ohio’s many wonderful Metro Parks. There is nothing better than being amongst all of the trees changing color and crunching through fallen leaves on the ground during a blustery fall day. It’s so much fun that it doesn’t even feel like exercising. 😀

What is on your October Wish List? What is your favorite thing about this month? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct1

Burnt Out

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Burnt Out

Hi everyone and happy Monday! I hope that all of you had a wonderful weekend! It’s been a long few weeks for Lil Red, thanks to a horrible stint with the flu earlier this month. Because I work for myself in all three of my jobs, I don’t have the luxury of paid time off. So, I had a lot of making up to do because of a week of being totally incapacitated. And, believe me when I say, I am completely burnt out.

When it comes to all of my endeavors in life, I take every precaution to keep them running smoothly. Prewriting blogs specifically for the occasion of being sick, following my calendar to a T to keep myself on time for all of my appointments every day, and even taking time for me to go ice dancing during the week. So, why do I feel so unbelievably exhausted?

Yes, I have been stretching myself too thin for work. But, it was a complete necessity to make up for lost time, especially because I will be out of office for a third of October. I think that an impending family vacation and then some me time with my cousin in Pittsburgh also has something to do with it. It feels so close but so far away, so everything leading up to it just feels like a chore.

What do I do? I could completely burn myself into the ground until it’s time for me to hit the bricks for vacation. Or, I could make sure that I’m still incorporating some R&R in the meantime, because god knows I need it. I think that I’ll be going with Option B! An unfortunate truth of self employment means no PTO but, now I know for future reference that working ten days in a row to make up for it isn’t the right answer, either.

Finding a healthy balance for the workaholic and human in me is difficult. Naturally, I want to be productive during my work days. But, all work and no play makes Lil Red a dull girl, and it’s important for me to work in breaks during the day no matter how small they may be. Even a half hour to enjoy a drink at Starbucks is better than going from task to task without a second to breathe in between!

There’s no denying that I am feeling burnt out in my daily life. But, hopefully taking some time during my day just for me will help improve this sensation until I get to completely let loose on vacation! #poetandididntknowit 😀

What do you do when you are feeling burnt out? How do you carve in time for yourself during a busy day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep30

Fall Finesse OOTD

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Fall Finesse OOTD

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! Today, we are going to discuss a fall OOTD post to help set the mood for the upcoming spooktacular month of October. My friend, Carlie, who I’m sure you remember from guest posts on my page has also created an autumn outfit so do be sure to head over to Bombshell and check hers out, too! The pictures below were taken by my boyfriend, which is always so much fun, so take a look and let’s get to it:

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Who? What? Wear?

During the fall, there’s nothing better than an All Black Everything OOTD to set some witchy vibes for the day. Once you create your base with a pair of black skinnies or joggers and a black sweater, tee, or jacket, it’s all about the accessories. Because of a mundane palette, you can choose pieces that really pop to decorate your look with. You can always add a pop of color accessory to break up the monotoned look, or you can stick with equally bleak but chic pieces, which is what I did.

To start accessorizing, I began with the main focal point in my look, which is the Printed Village scarf. This lovely little number shows the various stages of the moon in waxing and waning in striking silver, and it instantly added dimension to my OOTD. The best part about this scarf, is that it’s really long and wide so it can be worn in a variety of ways. For this particular look, I wore it as a shawl. But, I have worn it before as a skirt, Parisian style, and as a plain old scarf so it definitely offers a lot of variety!

And, of course, the glistening silver moons wouldn’t be complete without some gold thrown into the mix. I chose to combine the cool metallic colors by wearing my Baroque patterned Bamboo healed booties, which just so happens to be one of my favorites! Some might think that wearing silver and gold together is a no no. And, they are absolutely right if they’re paired with a multitude of other colors. But, when worn with just one other color, the end result is amazing. The shimmering shades danced so beautifully together in the light and, instead of the “don’t look at me” vibe that all black can give off, all eyes will definitely be on you.

To finish styling my outfit, it was time to add some jewelry. To keep with the spooky chic motif, I added in some Halloween appropriate rings like the spread winged owl and the turquoise cross that attached to a bracelet with a skull on it. Then, I went for some of my favorite jewelry in my arsenal for around my neck – my rosaries. I have three in my collection and I love them all equally. They vary in color and length and, when worn together, the effect is effortlessly cool and will complete any look perfectly.

What I like about this Fall Finesse OOTD is that it started out really simple and, then, it was taken to a whole new level by pairing it with the right accessories. Creating visual break up with the jewelry, shoes, scarves, and whatever else you see fit takes a look from zero to one hundred real quick and, the beauty of accessories, is that you can use them as sparingly or as boldly as you like. My look can be easily replicated, but never completely the same, thanks to unique accessories adding their own special flavor to each OOTD!

How would you accessorize an all black everything outfit? How do you express yourself through accessories? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep29

October Guest Bloggers Reminder

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October Guest Bloggers Reminder

Hi everyone and happy weekend! I am just sending out a friendly reminder that I would still love to have anyone and everyone on my blog coming up next month while I’ll be out of office. If you are interested in being featured on lifewithlilred for the day, then please email me at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com with your ideas for a fall or Halloween themed post! Thank you! ❤

Sep28

Cleveland Aquarium Pics

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Cleveland Aquarium Pics

Hi everyone and happy Friday! I hope all of you had a wonderful week and are looking forward to a fun and relaxing weekend. This past Saturday, I visited the Cleveland Aquarium, and it was mediocre at best for the price of admission. And, we all know that this is no beuno for a gal who balls on a budget! But, I did get some nice pictures of the undersea life that was there so take a look and let’s discuss:

 

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The total cost of admission was twenty dollars as well as a six dollar parking fee and the time spent in the aquarium amounted to barely an hour and a half. This was disappointing to me because, although the displays that were there looked cool, I felt like I wasn’t getting a lot of bang for my buck. The aquarium, in total, was three or four rooms with spaced out displays and, then, two other rooms with full room displays that included a string ray touch tank and the shark tank with a walk in tunnel.

I really enjoyed the shark room and the walk in tunnel was really neat and long in length. However, the other rooms that had spaced out displays featuring aquatic life of different countries left a lot to be desired. There were about three or four tanks per room and that was it. So, it felt more like a large, well decorated pet store than an actual aquarium.

If you are planning a trip to the Cleveland Aquarium, my best advice to you is don’t. You are much better off spending a day at the Cleveland Zoo, which provides you with an excellent value for your money, as it is a whole park rather than just a handful of rooms. It is also cheaper than the Aquarium, too! 😀

What is your favorite activity to do in a big city near you? Who else has a zoo or aquarium close by? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep27

Meditation Recommendations

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Meditation Recommendations

Hi everyone! Something that I really enjoy doing is going to a meditation class offered by my local library. The woman who runs it, Joann Xi, is the founder of the Center for Health, Happiness, and Chan. This organization promotes a mindful and contemplative lifestyle and teaches the art of meditation to those in the greater Akron area. During class this week, Joann gave us a paper listing some helpful books, apps, podcasts, and websites that she recommends and I thought that I would share it with all of you. And, if you are interested in seeing Joann in action, check out my blog post which features her YouTube videos. She’s amazing!

From Eastern Traditions:

Books:

  1. The Art of Living: Vipassana Meditation as Taught by S.N. Goenka by William Hart
  2. Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh
  3. True Love by Thich Nhat Hanh
  4. Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism by Chogyam Trungpa
  5. Bringing Home the Dharma by Jack Kornfield
  6. The Wisdom of No Escape by Pema Chodron

Podcasts:

  1. Insight Hour Podcast with Joseph Goldstein
  2. Ram Dass Hear and Now
  3. Heart Wisdom Podcast with Jack Kornfield

Websites:

  1. https://www.secularbuddhism.org/
  2. https://www.lionsroar.com/

From Western Traditions:

Books:

  1. Invitation to Love by Thomas Keating
  2. Intimacy with God by Thomas Keating
  3. Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Merton
  4. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
  5. Fully Present by Susan L Smalley and Diana Winston
  6. Mindful Work by David Gelles

Audio Books:

  1. Going on Being by Mark Epstein
  2. Going to Pieces without Falling Apart by Mark Epstein

Podcasts:

  1. 10% Happier with Dan Harris

Apps:

  1. Headspace (Westernized version of eastern meditation practices)

YouTube:

  1. Zen Den
  2. Cosmic Kids

Websites:

  1. https://www.cac.org/
  2. https://www.couragerenewal.org

Integration of East/West:

Books:

  1. Living Zen Loving God by Ruben L.F. Habito
  2. The Mystic Heart by Wayne Teasdale
  3. The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts

I hope that some of these wonderful options to help introduce you to meditation or further your practices prove to be beneficial to those who need it. Once a skeptic, I truly believe in the power of meditation and the amazing work that Joann is doing, so please enjoy!

Who else participates in meditation? What are some ways that help you to relax? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep26

Step-By-Step Guide On Finding A Gift For Someone Special

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Step-By-Step Guide On Finding A Gift For Someone Special

Buying someone a present is something that is extremely fun, but it can also be very stressful at the same time. This is because new products and goods are released onto the market each and every day. This is obviously great in one sense because it means that with so much choice people are bound to find something perfect for the person that they are looking for. However, it also makes it increasingly difficult to come to a final decision because one cannot make up their mind.

This blog post aims to help people out with that, as it will provide guidance and tips regarding what one should look for when they are buying a gift for someone they are close to in order to help them narrow down their search:

Budget:

The first thing that obviously needs to be considered is how much the individual in question is willing to spend on the present. It can often be tempting to buy a gift that is elaborate, exciting, and impressive but also highly expensive in price. But, buying a present should be fun; it shouldn’t be something that causes damage to one’s bank balance. The first thing that anybody looking to buy a gift should do is sit down and come up with a limit on how much they are going to spend. This is a good idea, because not only does it help people to keep their finances in check but it also helps to narrow down the search for a gift dramatically.

Brainstorm:

Once a budget is set, the best thing to do is to take a piece of paper and brainstorm some facts about the person that they are buying for. There are a whole host of different things that people can write down. The following are just a handful of things which can be considered; the person’s favorite color, where they were born, their favorite alcoholic drink, whether they are a handbag or a shoe person, do they wear a lot of jewelry, what was their most memorable holiday, what is their favorite scent, etc.

This brainstorm is highly useful, because it will allow the person buying the present to open their mind in order to find inspiration for the types of gifts that the person would like. People always say it is the thought that counts and that is certainly the case. The brainstorm is also great, because little things can spark off a plethora of present ideas. For instance, if one’s favorite smell is lavender, then you could buy the person lavender scented candles, a floral based perfume, or a lavender-scented sachet. Or, if the person likes to travel, you could buy a toiletry bag, a guidebook on their new destination, and a new book to keep them occupied on the plane.

Always remember that gifts with some thought behind it are the best way to go, and will always be cherished by your giftee. Happy shopping!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Sep26

Fall Words – Høst Ord

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Fall Words – Høst Ord

Hello everyone! Today, my friend Christina of Stiina Marie is back to teach us some fall words and phrases used in Norway. If you recall, Christina guest blogged on lifewithlilred a few weeks ago and has been kind enough to return to teach us some more of a new language. As you all know, I personally love to learn different languages, so this post is right up my alley! Thank you so much, Christina! xx

Fall Words – Høst Ord

Today, I am going to teach you various words pertaining to fall that are in Bokmål – the main language of Norway. Read the pronunciation in italics as it would be in English.

There is a slight “R” roll in Bokmål. This is similar to Spanish. To properly learn Norwegian, this exercise is a great start! Try listening to Norwegian movies and music that are already familiar to you. Disney movies are almost always a hit!

Words to Practice:

Rain = REGN reh-gin

Storm = STORM  storm

Cloudy = OVERSKYET ohver-sheeyet

Cold = KJØLIG cher-leeg

Sweater = GENSER gehn-ser

Hoodie = HETTEGENSER heht-teh-gehn-ser

Scarf = SKJERF sh-ehr-ff

Coffee = KAFFE kafffeh

Soup = SUPPE sue-pppeh

Squirrel = EKORN eh-korn

Black cat = SORT KATT sort kahtttt

Owl = UGLE oooog-leh

Acorns = EIKENØTTER eye-ken-nohttter

Tree = TRE treeh

Spooky = SKUMMELT skoooommmelt

Dark (color) = MØRK murrrrk

Sentences and Phrases:

I love fall. = JEG ELSKER HØST. Yuh-eye el-skerr huhst.

I want a cup of coffee/tea. = JEG VIL HA EN KOPP KAFFE/TE. Yuh-eye vil ha ehn kohppp kahffeh/teh.

Pile of leaves = LØVHAUG luhv-haowg

I love to eat! = JEG ELSKER Å SPISE. Yuh-eye el-skerr a speeeseeh.

Any words that you would like to learn that I can help you with? Drop a message below!

Thanks again to Christina for taking the time to teach us something new! What languages can you speak? What do you think is the best way to learn a new language? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep25

September 2018 Finishes

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September 2018 Finishes

Hello everyone and happy Tuesday! With September nearing an end, it is time to discuss all of my empties from the past month. There are actually quite a few of them this time around, so let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

  • Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water: YES
  • Kind Natured Shea & Macadamia scrub: NO
  • St. Ives Coconut & Coffee scrub: YES
  • The Body Shop Strawberry shower gel: YES
  • Garnier Micellar Foaming Gel Cleanser: NO
  • Aveeno Ultra Calming Gel Cleanser: NO
  • Vital C Vitamin C serum: YES
  • The Body Shop Vitamin E mask: YES

Why/Why Not?

Garnier Micellar Water: Although I am not the biggest fan of micellar water, I will say that it is much cheaper than eye makeup remover and, for that, I will continue to use it. At six dollars a bottle and about a month and a half of use per purchase, I feel like I am getting an excellent value for my money. The micellar water also makes a great toner and I like to clean my piercings with it, so I will definitely keep this product around.

Kind Natured Scrub: It’s funny, because I have never gotten a smoother shave than with this scrub. It also left my legs feeling amazingly soft without using any lotion. BUT, this product was so hard to squeeze out of the bottle. In fact, a lot of product is still in there, but I can’t get it out. So, it is not a good value, even though it worked well and I will not be using it again.

St. Ives Scrub: I loved using the St. Ives Coconut & Coffee scrub every morning! It smelled delicious, it was tough on blackheads, and it was totally invigorating. I got a little over a month’s use out of one four dollar bottle and I enjoyed using it daily.

TBS Shower Gel: I always like using shower gels from The Body Shop, because they lather so well. The insane amount of bubbles makes me feel extra clean and the strawberry scent is so sweet and yummy. I got a month and a half’s use out of this bottle and it was a Christmas gift, so I’m happy I finally got around to using it!

Garnier Gel Cleanser: This mini cleanser came for free with a purchase of a bottle of micellar water, and I was so not impressed. It didn’t remove my makeup whatsoever, it didn’t lather well, and my face felt tight after each use. I wouldn’t recommend this product and would never consider buying it in full size, no matter how good of a sale there is! 😡

Aveeno Gel Cleanser: I got this mini cleanser from a Walgreen’s freebie bag and enjoyed using it more than the Garnier cleanser. This cleanser removed my makeup well and it lathered nicely. But, a lot of cleansers do that and I can get one for a lot cheaper than Aveeno’s prices. So, it’s a no from me, dawg.

Vital C Serum: I love, love, love my Vitamin C serum! I put this on every morning before my eye cream and moisturizer and it feels divine. It absorbs quickly and sits well under my makeup, and I love knowing that I’m using a product that will keep my skin glowing. One bottle of serum costs me eight dollars and it takes me over two months to finish it. Much better than the double digit prices I was paying at The Body Shop for a similar product!

TBS Mask: I always enjoy using The Body Shop’s Vitamin E mask at night time, and was lucky enough to score it at TJMaxx for about five bucks. I get over twenty uses out of one jar and it always leaves my skin feeling soft, hydrated, and peaches and cream perfection in the morning. Here’s to hoping that I can find another one on the cheap at TJs soon! 😀

Although there were some no go’s for me in this month’s empties, I am happy that I got to finish them up. It always feels good to use up a freebie or a gift to maximize savings in the beauty department. A worthwhile product or no, you can’t beat that!

Have you used any of the products listed above? What were your thoughts on them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep24

Job Security: Agreed Truth To Myth To A Morphed Resurgence

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Job Security: Agreed Truth To Myth To A Morphed Resurgence

Wouldn’t we all love to not have a figurative axe swinging over our heads? If you look closely on the handle, it says ‘job redundancy’. That old familiar feeling of losing a job and not having any control to stop it from happening has plagued many of our minds most of our lives. And it’s true, your worries are justified so don’t start thinking you’re worrying over nothing. The economic crash in 2008 showed us that there are very few jobs that are recession-proof.

At any time, your job could go onto the chopping block as companies change, make cuts, and throw a role into another and merge them to only need one worker instead of two. There are endless reasons for why most jobs are able to be squashed when they are needed to, but none of them satisfies us when we have been let go. So that begs the question, should we turn away in anger at experts who talk about ‘job security’?

What is necessary:

Don’t get emotional about economics, it’s purely logical. Ask yourself what is really needed for society to keep functioning? Food, water, and power. So, any job that is necessary in these fields will be saved by almost anything to hit a company or economy. Jobs like trucking will never die because hauling loads is needed for businesses to survive. They need their freight to be delivered so they can keep functioning, providing a service or products to their customers, and maintaining certain parts of the national structure. Check out the knight transportation near me and see what kind of jobs could give you this security that cannot fail no matter what happens. They have training courses that can lead you onto different kinds of trucking jobs.

Time served is not safe:

Once upon a time when you were considered a veteran in a company, you were spared from any kind of cuts. However, nowadays companies cannot play favorites if they want to compete. Therefore, if you are one of the longest standing workers in your company, don’t consider yourself safe. What business leaders want is commitment and performance. In this regard, you’re only as good as your last working day, week, or month. They require everyone to be working their best and showing results for their actions.

Even if you have worked for the same company for decades, you need to keep your job performance levels high all of the time – and, perhaps, even higher than the average worker seeing as you’re more experienced. One way to keep improving in the company despite your tenure is to do training classes and get certified in new skills. This could be reasonable suspicion training for DOT, health and safety, or even management courses. These additional trainings can help take your career to the next level.

New wave:

A new wave of jobs are coming onto the market that may be swapping security with competition. Freelance roles around the world that are mainly online remote working are giving anyone with the skill and commitment the chance to earn good money when they want to. From writing professional CVs for clients, reviewing products that get sent to you, testing online services for companies in the build phase, and even writing hotel reviews after being paid to be a guest for a few days are just some of the jobs being created.

Job security was true once upon a time, then, it sadly became a myth and now it seems to be making a comeback but in a completely different way. The bottom line is, never rely on your job title or time served to be spared from cuts and recessions and keep working hard to stay in a positive light.