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! ❤
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:
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
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!
Books:
Podcasts:
Websites:
Books:
Audio Books:
Podcasts:
Apps:
YouTube:
Websites:
Books:
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
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:
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.
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
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
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!
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
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
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:
Would I Use Again?
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
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’?
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.
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.
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.
Hey everyone and happy Monday! As you can tell by the post title, I’M GOING TO BE AN AUNT!! That’s right! My sister, Kristen, and her long term boyfriend, Ramon, are with child and we are all so excited. The baby is due on March 22nd, which just so happens to be my mom’s birthday! Kristen and the bambino are doing awesome, according to the doctor at her twelve week ultrasound and we got to see a picture of the wee babe. LOOK AT IT!!!!
Baby! :*) ❤
I dare say that no one is more excited about the baby than me, because I finally get to be an auntie! And, trust and believe, I am going to be the funnest, coolest one on the planet. Your auntie loves you, Baby Big Head! ❤
Are you an aunt or uncle? What is your favorite thing about having nieces and nephews? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Featured Image By: Vimeo
Hello! In October, I will be out of town for about ten days, and would love some help maintaining the blog while I’m away. Lots of spooky fun can be had in October, from Halloween makeup posts to pro tips on pumpkin carving and it would be wonderful to be able to feature more of my friends on lifewithlilred. If you’re interested in creating a fall or Halloween post, or really anything you want, please shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com ! Thanks in advance! -Sarah
Hello! I was so touched this past week because, upon one of my coworker’s return home from a trip to Arizona, she surprised me with a lovely souvenir. I was absolutely tickled that she thought of me during her travels, and it was such a wonderful reminder of how thankful I am for her friendship. Check it out:
This beautiful teal lounger will make the perfect, breezy option for a variety of occasions. A lazy day at home, a pretty cover up at the pool, or belted with heels for a chic boho look. The color of my new dress makes me so happy, because it reminds me of my college color, Tri-C Teal! And, it makes me even happier to know that a beloved friend cares about me enough to pick me up a little something something while she’s away.
Surprises are an amazing way to show the ones that you love how much they mean to you. From a pop in visit to a homemade treat or a new dress, never pass up on the opportunity to show some love to your friends and family! ❤
How do you like to surprise your loved ones? What is the best surprise that you have ever received? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
