Nov27

Solutions For A Home That’s Seen Better Days

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Solutions For A Home That’s Seen Better Days

It might be tempting to throw in the towel if you’ve grown tired of your home’s appearance. As the years go by, a household’s design can quickly become dated and forlorn. Things start breaking, clutter starts to shrink the rooms, and your house no longer feels as fresh as it once did. If you’re out of ideas to improve the situation, then here are some solutions for a home that’s seen better days:

Do more with your space:

The first solution that might help a worn-out home is to do more with the space. For starters, you should consider decluttering. Sometimes, a household simply appears old and worn out because it’s cluttered. Getting rid of possessions you no longer need will help to open the available space in your home and also create a minimalistic layout. With increased spaciousness, there are more opportunities to reinvent your humble abode.

Of course, if you assess that your home is just too small for you and your family, then it might be time to move on. You should do some research on the real estate market if this is the case. You might be able to find a property that’s better suited to the needs of your family. If you’ve cleared out your house and still feel like it’s too small for you, then this might be your best option. On the plus side, a minimalist aesthetic is more attractive to potential buyers. If you’re going to sell your old house, then stripping it back in terms of design might help you on your mission.

Give it a better external face:

If you really want to improve your worn-out home, then you need to give as much attention to its exterior design as the interior. A modern household on the inside might not have the same impact if it looks shabby on the outside. Start off by cleaning up your front yard. Putting away loose items, pulling up weeds that are coming through concrete cracks, and cleaning the driveway are all simple ways to spruce up your household exterior. Maybe you should plant some flowerbeds and even get hanging flower baskets for either side of your front door, too. This will give your home’s front face some eye-grabbing visuals. If the exterior of your house needs more TLC than what minor changes can provide, you might want to consider house rendering to improve the aesthetic and hide imperfections. It can make a huge difference and will have your home looking as good as when you first moved in.

Use lighting to create an impact:

Lighting can really create an impact in a home if used correctly. As shown in the picture below, neutral wall paint can help to reflect daylight and brighten up a room. Even using different flooring can help to put your house’s lighting to better use. Rather than using carpet in your home, which can quickly become tacky and unappealing, you could use laminated wooden flooring to help reflect light and brighten up your home. If you want to retain the comfort factor, then rugs can easily achieve the same effect as carpet without losing the chic aesthetic of wooden flooring. Plus, natural materials such as wood are classic and timeless; your home will look fresh and modern on an endless basis.

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Windows on windows on windows

Every home needs freshening up now and again, so use the above tips to get your house feeling back to how it did when you first bought it and experience a world of difference.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov27

Winter Guest Bloggers?!

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Winter Guest Bloggers?!

Howdy! For some of us, winter weather is already in full swing and, for others, it will be arriving soon enough. Some of the lucky ones, though, don’t experience the cold at all! No matter what the situation is in your neck of the woods, Lil Red wants to feature your winter themed posts on the ol’ blog. From favorite recipes and frosty makeup looks to bundled up OOTDs and holiday shopping tips, I want it all! If you are interested in guest blogging on my page for some winter fun, please shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com ! Much love. -Sarah

Nov26

Making A little Extra: Give Your Bank Balance A Boost For Christmas

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Making A little Extra: Give Your Bank Balance A Boost For Christmas

It’s the festive season, and there seems to be a lot of extra things to spend your cash on. With so much distrust and uncertainty surrounding the banks in America, many people are looking elsewhere to invest their hard-earned cash. Making wise money decisions can be challenging. However, putting some aside will allow many to invest their income in places other than their bank account. There are also an array of ways, other than investment, to earn a little extra right now and for the foreseeable future. Easing the cost of Christmas will feel great in the new year, so it’s worth looking into. The following are some ideas, inspiration, and advice for those seeking new ways to top-up their bank balance:

Have You Thought About The Market?

It can take people some time to get their head around investing in stocks and shares, and it might not have been something you’ve considered regarding your cash. However, once people get the hang of it after researching the best prop firms; it can be a fun and lucrative decision. It’s an option that can suit many budgets and it’s worth putting a little cash into something first so that you can get to grips with the process, and expand once you have access to capital and further training and education on trading strategies and risk management.

Reading and researching everything from what a fast stochastic is to why options trading might be perfect for you is a must. This will help to break down stocks and their ratings for you to better understand what certain companies and corporations are doing, and how, when, and why you might want to get involved. Trading in stocks can be a very intricate game that requires a strategic plan, but with the right research, it becomes possible for anyone to do.

There is no guarantee that you’ll end up getting rich from trading shares, but those who make a wise stock price prediction in the market can grow their cash steadily and sell at the best time to release a lump sum to be used for whatever they wish. This makes it a particularly appealing option around Christmas time, as the added cash can make a real difference to the bills, present shopping and the plethora of other expenses that are bound to come up during the festive season.

Do You have An Opinion To Give?

If you’re able to take some time during the day to answer questions and provide your opinion on things, then paid surveys could be the option for you. Set yourself up with a dedicated email that you can use to sign up to the array of websites that are out there. Depending on how many you sign up for; there is an unlimited amount of surveys and questionnaires out there, ready for you to fill in.

The role will be flexible, as there’ll always be options in your inbox; so when you’re at home with a festive latte, you can take an hour or so and fill in as many online surveys as you can manage. Each questionnaire will pay a set amount, and, if you stick with a particular website; they usually add up what you’ve completed to a certain amount before you can withdraw any cash into your account, or redeem “points” towards shopping vouchers. You can sit and earn a little extra while you wait for the kids to change after football practice, and there’s no deadlines or pressure to complete things if you don’t have the time. It could be a great extra income for you, especially if you’re not quite ready for stocks and shares.

Making a little extra coin during the holidays is always a good thing to look into – those presents don’t pay themselves!

Featured Image By: Kaboom Pics

Nov26

Why Do We Struggle With Our Careers So Much?

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Why Do We Struggle With Our Careers So Much?

Our careers are something that we have to carry through life and, they do, financially. But, think about how much financial freedom we actually gain through our career. For a lot of us, it isn’t that much. We still have to do the constant calculations to make sure that we stay within budget, and don’t go getting ourselves into any money trouble. But, trust us, money is just the start of the issue with our careers. Work is a necessity, but something that we don’t always want to do. There are many factors to this, some of which we’re going to explore today:

You Don’t Do What You Want To Do:

If you’re not doing what you want to do with your career, then how are you ever going to get to the point where going to work isn’t a complete chore? Even if it means taking a bit of a pay cut, we definitely recommend chasing your dreams in terms of your career. One way of doing this would be to contact an employment agency. It’s not always easy finding the job you want because there are too many conditions to it. You might have had to have a certain amount of experience or qualifications. But going through an employment agency can actually reduce all of the needs that a company has. You’ll generally find that they’re just desperate to get someone to fill a role, and all training will be given on the job. You’ll often find that they have more jobs that will suit you, and they’ll help you through the hiring process. It might be temporary work at first, but the majority of them always lead to a permanent career.

The Awkwardness Of “Work Friends”:

Work friends can be an awkward thing, no doubt. Do you only talk to them from nine to five? Do you get happy hour drinks with them? How about sending them a holiday card? The lines can feel blurred. But, we would definitely recommend befriending a person or two. Just having that one person that you can chat and pass the time with is so important if you feel like your day is dragging at a painfully slow rate.

There’s 0 Motivation:

We know that feeling all too well. Your alarm clock goes off in the morning, and all you can think about doing is pulling the covers over your face and never coming out. But, if that motivation doesn’t spike as soon as you get out of bed and get ready, then we’ve got a problem. If you’ve got 0 motivation, you need to think about option number one. You’re never going to be able to find motivation for a career that you’re not even interested in. Or, you could just go on a money chase. If you climb the ladder to the top of your career, you’ll often find things are much more interesting.

Life Is Holding You Back:

Life definitely does hold us back, we won’t deny that. Think of all of the things you want to do, but think you can’t because of your career. One of the biggest for a lot of people is travel. They want a life filled with travel, but how can they leave their job? Well, you could always save a few thousand to get you going, and then work in all of the countries that you visit. A self employed lifestyle can be a very fulfilling one.

No matter what the reasoning may be, careers can be difficult. But, with the tips above and some time, your nine to five will change for the better!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov26

Holiday Gathering OOTD

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Holiday Gathering OOTD

Hi! With the holiday season in full swing now, it’s important to be able to put together a lovely OOTD for any get togethers that you might be attending. The outfit in this post is actually what I wore for Thanksgiving, and it has given me a good template to follow for a look that’s classy but still fun around your family, friends, or total strangers! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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Who? What? Wear?

When thinking about what I wanted to wear on Thanksgiving day, my BCBG layered sweater dress seemed like an obvious choice. It’s so cute and comfortable while still looking really chic, and that is a must because Lil Red always tries to show out at family events! Plus, this dress fits a bit looser so I don’t have to worry about busting out of it after eating a huge holiday meal!

But, of course, just this dress would not be warm enough for a late November holiday so I had to enlist the help of some tights to cover my legs. And, cold or not, my legs are pretty hairy so the tights needed to happen, anyways. At first, I was going to just wear some sheer black tights but, I found this charcoal sweater pair in my closet and decided to give them a go. I was a little worried that it would be too much grey, but the heather grey of the dress looked lovely against the charcoal and the two differing sweater textures was also a nice, cozy touch. The sweet blue doves on my heels also paired well with the palette, too, so (For once!) I didn’t choose black and went with All Grey Everything.

To top this look off, literally, I decided to go with one of my favorites: My purple, orange, and navy plaid topper coat from Target. Because everything else was neutral in my OOTD, I could go color crazy and still look put together. The deep, burnt colors in this coat just scream festive fall holiday to me and I loved how it popped against the stark white and soft grey underneath. My topper coat felt like a really necessary part of this overall look, because the dress and tights were so comfortable. It took my OOTD from Thanksgiving Lounge to Thanksgiving Get Down and I absolutely love the end results!

When styling for a cold weather holiday event, it’s important that you dress for the weather without wearing a full blown snowsuit! Knitwear is a great place to start – sweaters, cardigans, cableknit dresses, and thick tights will all keep you nice and warm without breaking out the puffer coats. And, to complete your look, always top it off with a cool coat or jacket to add some pizazz to your comfortably cute OOTD.

How do you style a look for holiday gatherings? How do you stay warm while still looking chic? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov25

Four Paws First: Winter Dog Care Tips

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Four Paws First: Winter Dog Care Tips

The winter months can be a magical time of frosty early mornings or cozy sunset walks with your canine companion. But, just as the colder temperatures and extreme weather conditions can take their toll on us, they can also take a toll on our pets. Learn how to combat the conditions and keep your four pawed friend happy and safe this winter:

Adjust Their Diet:

When the temperature drops, you may need to adjust the amount and type of food that you offer. It could be that dogs who are outdoors and being active will require richer food, while animals that become reluctant to exercise outdoors may need less food in order for you to manage their weight. Look up care tips for the particular breed and age of dog, like German Shepherd puppy care, to adjust the food mix to your particular dog and nourish them right.

Keep Them Active:

For some dogs, nothing puts them off from exploring, while others can be very resistant to going outdoors when it gets colder – much like some humans! If your canine companion is less keen on venturing out, make sure that you can keep then active indoors. Provide lots of dog toys to keep them busy and consider setting up an obstacle course if you have the space to keep their bodies and minds active.

Prepare Them For Walks:

When you do go out, bear in mind that bad weather conditions such as fog and the darker early mornings and evenings can reduce visibility. First, make sure that you have good verbal command of your dog and that you can recall them easily. Check to ensure that their microchip details are up to date in case they do get lost. Look for reflective collars or attached LED lights to collars and coats to make them more visible to drivers. And, make sure that you have a winter dog coat if needed, especially if you own a short haired breed such as a greyhound – they will really need the extra warmth.

Keep Up With The Grooming:

Don’t let winter be an excuse to get lax with your animal grooming! Make sure that you are still regularly brushing out the coats of longer haired breeds and using a mild dog shampoo to get out any mud and dirt that becomes matted into their coat during walks. Inspect your dogs paws regularly too, especially if the weather turns icy. A lot of the gritting agents used to stop the ground icing can be damaging on delicate paws, and you may need to use a protective paw balm in icy weather to prevent sores and cracks from forming. If your dog has a longer coat, check that the hairs between their paw pads aren’t trapping little balls of ice and damaging them.

Beware Of Food Hazards:

With your pet in the house more and lots of festive food around, there can be dangers, as most dogs are opportunists when it comes to sneaking a snack! Chocolate can be a particular hazard, as it’s as enticing to canines as it is to humans and yet it contains a compound called theobromine which is toxic to them and can cause their kidneys to fail – this substance is present in the highest concentration in dark chocolate. Foods like avocado can cause an upset tummy, corn on the cob can block their intestines, cooked bones (say from a roast bird) could splinter and perforate their insides, or anything sugar-free containing Xylitol can cause hypoglycemia in dogs. All of these must be stored safely away from curious noses.

Providing your dog with the best care year round, especially during the winter months, will keep them happy, healthy, and around for many more Christmases to come!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov25

November 2018 Finishes

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November 2018 Finishes

Howdy! November is on its way out the door and, with that, December is coming in hot to continue ringing in the holiday season. With yet another month drawing to a close at a crazy fast rate, it’s time for lifewithlilred’s monthly finishes post so that we can talk product reviews. Take a look at my empties for November and let’s discuss:

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Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

Micellar Water: I have been using Garnier’s Micellar Water for close to a year, I’d say, and I plan on using it until it becomes discontinued. And, hopefully, it never will! I use this product every day as a toner and eye makeup remover and it lasts me a month and a half or longer, which is a pretty good value. Although I can’t say that I’ve seen major changes in my skin, I still like the Garnier water well enough and it’s way cheaper than any eye makeup remover and toner on the market.

B&BW Shower Gel: I love me my travel size goodies from Bath & Body Works and I love that I get them FO FREE even more! Japanese Cherry Blossom isn’t my favorite scent but, boy, does it bring me back to my grade school years! It takes me three weeks or longer to finish one mini shower gel and you absolutely can’t beat that. So, B&BW, keep those coupons coming!

Vital C Serum: I live for all things Vitamin C when it comes to my skin care and I will always buy the Vital C serum when I see it at TJMaxx. For seven bucks, I get a bottle of magic that lasts me for two months, which is an amazing deal for something that makes my skin so radiant. Seriously, there’s been days where I’ve been tired as THE DICKENS but still manage to have glowing skin thanks to this product. And, a little goes a long way, which is always a plus.

Although I didn’t finish too many products this month, it was still successful because I liked everything that I used up. And, each item that I used was free or really cheap, which speaks to my ballin’ on a budget lifestyle and simply touches my heart. ❤ 😀

What empties do you have this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov24

All Done Christmas Shopping!

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All Done Christmas Shopping!

Woohoo! That’s right, I am All Done Christmas Shopping! I actually finished up about two weeks ago but I had so many posts pre-written that I’m just now getting to this announcement. It should come as no surprise that I jump at every opportunity that I can get to shop so, as soon as November first rolled around, I began my quest to cross off all of the people that I needed to shop for on my list.

For the past few years, I have strictly been doing online shopping. But, this year, I actually hit a few shops for some purchases and I enjoyed it! My theory behind online shopping was that I would beat the crowds entirely by just not going to stores altogether. However, doing some in store shopping in early November was completely pleasant, because no one was in the mad scramble to get their buying done like it is in December. It was also nice to shop at a few discount stores to save some money on little odds and ends that were needed to tie some gifts together.

Although in store shopping was a welcomed change of pace, Amazon pulled through for me, just as they always do year after year. All of the items that I ordered were shipped on time, arrived at my home in perfect condition, and were all reasonably priced. It also makes me happy to know that the gifts that I purchased online cannot be found in any stores nearby. That means that each present feels one of a kind and those are my favorite types of gifts to give!

Now, all that’s left to do is wrap all of the presents up, drink some spiked hot chocolate, and fantasize about my credit card bill getting lost in the mail! 😀

Who else is done holiday shopping? Are you an early or late holiday shopper? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov23

Learning To Love Your Appearance Every Single Day

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Learning To Love Your Appearance Every Single Day

You might have laughed at the title of this post because it’s not possible to love your appearance every single day, right? We all have the occasional “good hair day”, but that’s it. However, there’s no need to be so cynical. There are always going to be days on which you’re not a fan of your hair or you look a little sleepier than usual, but you can learn to love your appearance even when it’s not 100%. It all comes down to improving your mindset. And your mental health is linked to your physical health, so this will help to give your appearance a glow too. Reducing stress can reduce acne, for example, so there’s a clear correlation. Here’s how you can improve your mindset and learn to love your appearance every day:

Facial Beauty:

Let’s start off with your face, because that’s often the main point of focus when it comes to appearance. Many of us are critical of our facial appearance, but this is an aspect of beauty that’s easy to alter. You could start off by trying out microblading if you want to improve your brow game. Eyebrows have become a very important part of facial beauty over recent years, and you might find that changing the shape of your brows changes the appearance of your entire face. You could also try cutting back on foundation; makeup doesn’t always have to be the answer. Giving your skin a break from excessive use of foundation might help to clear up any blemishes, and it’ll make you naturally glow.

Sometimes treatments and makeup aren’t enough to make a drastic change. If you are looking for big improvements, you could find a reputable plastic surgeon to consult with. Looking for something less extreme? How about changing your eye color! Hazel, green, even purple, and blue eye contacts are available to see the whole world through a different set of eye colors!

Fashion:

Fashion is another integral part of loving your appearance every single day. The way you dress has a massive impact on your overall look. If you dress well every day, then you’ll look good every day. It’s as simple as that. But avoid fast fashion; opt for clothes that are timelessly stylish so that they can stay in your wardrobe for years. That being said, if you give away some of your old clothes to charity because they no longer fit or suit you, then there might be an opening in your wardrobe for some new additions. If you want to get inspired, then you should look into some fashionable boutiques which offer modern yet varied options. It’s important that you’re not too restrictive with your choice of style. Fashion should reflect your personality, so have fun with it.

Sleep:

One of the best ways to improve your appearance is to improve your health. The way we look on the outside is a reflection of how well we take care of ourselves. Cutting out unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking can help to improve your skin quality, for instance. You also need to prioritize a healthy sleeping pattern. The term “beauty sleep” is probably nothing new to you, and there’s a lot of substance to this idea. A cup of coffee might make you feel more awake, but does it get rid of the bags under your eyes? No. And that’s because your body is trying to tell you it needs rest. You can’t cut corners when it comes to sleeping well. Sleep deprivation can weaken your immune system, slow your metabolism, and even reduce muscle repair. In other words, your healthy workouts won’t have the impact you want. Start sleeping better if you want your body to improve in appearance. You’ll look and feel good. It’s about more than vanity; it’s about your physical and emotional wellbeing.

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Catch some Z’s!

A strong sense of self confidence can help you get through the toughest of times, so start building up yours little by little with the above tips!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov23

How To Pull Yourself Out Of A Slump & Get Motivated

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How To Pull Yourself Out Of A Slump & Get Motivated

Getting motivated can be hard work, especially if something big has happened to demotivate you. This could include losing your job, not achieving a goal, or even just life in general. You have to remember that only you can get yourself out of the slump that you are in right now and, by putting the effort in, you can be sure to give yourself the boost you need:

Have One Goal:

If you are in a slump, then there is a high chance that this is because you have far too much going on in your life right now. You are probably trying too hard, and you may be trying to accomplish too many things at once. If you want to try and get around this, then you need to choose one single goal. You also need to focus on it completely and give it everything you have. This will help you to achieve it much more efficiently and it will also help you with your motivation, especially once you complete the task at hand.

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Find Inspiration:

Inspiration is quite possibly the best way for you to get motivated. Look at what you want to achieve, and then look at the people who have actually done it. You will soon see that they went through stages where they were demotivated, as well, but it didn’t stop them from going out there and making their dreams come true.

Get Excited:

If you want to get out of a slump, then you need to get yourself excited about a goal. Talk to other people about what you want to achieve and visualize what it would be like to be successful. When you do this, you can then get that additional drive and push yourself harder.

Get Some Support:

It is incredibly difficult to accomplish something on your own. If you want to run a marathon, for example, then you need to have your friends and family around you. You may want to join a running club and even go onto forums to find out what other people do in order to get motivated. If you have been in an accident that stops you from achieving what you want, then look for legal support, such as an injury lawyer. The support you get will largely depend on your own situation but, either way, you should never try and get by without it.

Commit:

If you have something that you want to achieve, then don’t be afraid to go public with your idea. When you do this, you give yourself more motivation than ever and you can also prove to those around you that you can do whatever you put your mind to. This can be a really big self-confidence booster too, so this is an important factor for you to take into consideration when planning your goals.

A slump around the holidays can be the worst, so use the tips above and get yourself back on track!

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