Feb27

Beauty Tag #2

Posted on by
Standard
Beauty Tag #2

Helloooo! This weekend, lifewithlilred was nominated for its second Beauty Tag by my sweet friend, Claudia, over at New Life – Fresh You. I love Claudia’s page and I’m sure that all of you will too, so do be sure to check it out! Here we go:

Q & A:

1. Do you remember your first makeup item?

It’s not exactly a makeup but I had hella LipSmackers chapstick in my youth.

2. Describe your perfect mascara. Have you found one that fits your specifications?

I am obsessed with Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara. It’s the jam.

3. What kind of coverage do you prefer from a foundation?

I don’t wear foundation. I never have.

4. Favorite high end brand?

I wouldn’t necessarily say I have a favorite, because I don’t wear a lot of high end products.

5. What cosmetics brands have you always wanted to try but still haven’t?

None that I can think of.

6. Favorite drugstore brand?

NYX!!

7. Do you wear false lashes?

No, I’ve actually never tried them, either. They seem like such a pain to get on!!

8. Is there any kind of makeup you can’t leave the house without?

Nope, I feel pretty okay about leaving the house with a fresh face.

9. What is your most cherished beauty product?

My favorite NYX red lipstick.

10. How often do you shop for makeup? Do you like to pick up an item here and there, or get lots of goodies at once?

I pick up things as I need them, so maybe once every few months.

11. Do you have a “beauty budget” or do you spend freely?

I spend freely. I don’t spend money unless I’m comfortable paying for whatever it is, though.

12. Do you utilize coupons, reward cards, and sales when you shop for cosmetics?

HELL YEAH! I’m all about saving money, so I love utilizing anything that can help me do that.

13. What type of product do you buy the most of?

I feel like I purchase skin care more regularly than makeup, so I’m going to say moisturizer.

14. Is there a brand you absolutely can’t stand?

Not that I can think of.

15. Do you avoid certain ingredients in cosmetics, like parabens or sulfates?

As long as the product is cruelty free, then I’m good.

16. Do you have a favorite place to shop for makeup?

Target, lol.

17. Do you like trying new skin care products or do you keep a certain routine?

I do have my staple skin care products that I will use for all eternity, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t like experimenting if I find a good deal or something new that I’d like to try.

18. Favorite bath and body brand?

The Body Shop.

19. If you could only buy from one brand, which brand would you choose?

The Body Shop, for sure. They’re a one stop shop and I use a lot of their products, anyway.

20. What brand do you think has the best packaging?

Hmm… I really don’t know.

21. Which celebrity always has great makeup?

It’s hard to say, because I don’t really pay attention.

22. Do you belong to any online makeup communities?

No.

23. Favorite beauty gurus:

I deeply admire the makeup skills behind the local drag queens in my neck of the woods.

24. Do you like multi-functional products like lip and cheek stains?

No. I’d prefer separate items.

25. Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?

I used to be, but not too much any more. Only if I’m really tired am I clumsy. Today, for example, I accidentally spilled one of my facial oils in a sleepy stupor. I was so pissed!

26. Do you use makeup base/primer for the eyes?

Nope. The less products that I use, the better.

27. How many hair products do you use on a typical day?

I only wash my hair once a month, when I’m redyeing it. I wouldn’t even call it washing, because I just condition it with the product that comes in the box kit. So I don’t own any shampoo or conditioner. However, when I’m straightening my hair I do use heat protecting spray and styling oil.

28. What do you apply first, concealer or foundation?

Neither, because I don’t use them.

29. Would you ever consider taking makeup classes?

Nah.

30. What do you love about makeup?

I love that it showcases the personality behind the person wearing it.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

Thank you so much again to Claudia for my Beauty Tag nomination – this was so fun! How would you answer some of these questions? Which beauty products could you never live without? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb26

Simple Ways To Make The House Safe

Posted on by
Standard
Simple Ways To Make The House Safe

Your home should be a fortress of safety for you and your family. It is the place we keep everything which is important to us and because of this, we should keep it safe and sound. If you are looking to make your home a little safer this year, here are some easy ways to do it.

Secure the front door:

The first way to keep your home safe, is to make sure that the main entrance is totally secure and safe. Your front door is the most crucial door in the home to keep secure, so it is worth investing a little extra money to make sure that you get the best one possible. Instead of looking for a hollow door, go for one that is solid and this will make things much safer for you and help to put your mind at rest.

Secure the windows:

The windows are the main place where burglars will look to enter the home. This is the reason why it is so important to make sure that these parts of the house do not serve as weak spots for them to get inside and harm you. To secure the windows, you will need to invest some time and energy. If you can place a metal rod on the track, you can also prevent them being opened from the outside.

Tidy the garden:

One of the things which people don’t think about is that the appearance of your home from the outside can tell a potential burglar a lot about you. For example, if your garden is overgrown, wild, and messy, this will suggest that no one lives here to look after it and, therefore, it will become an easy target for thieves. Make sure you tidy your garden and keep it trim to prevent this from happening. Another reason to trim the garden is so that there are no hiding places for thieves to wait. This will deter them from coming to your home because they are more likely to be caught.

Know your neighbors:

Not enough of us spend time getting to know our neighbors, which is a crying shame really. The sense of community we once had isn’t quite there any more, and this can be dangerous for your home while you are away on holiday or out of town. By getting to know your neighbors, you build that level of trust needed where you can ask them to watch out for your home when you go away. This is incredibly useful and is something which you want to work for.

Don’t give thieves a chance:

The easiest way to deter would be criminals is to install a security system which they can see from the outside of the home. The first thing to add would be motion sensor lights on the perimeter of the home which light them up if they come near your “fortress”, most of the time this will immediately stop criminals from trying to break in. Extra precautions are security cameras on the outside of the home, an alarm system on the inside, and even a panic button in case thing get nasty.

Everyone deserves the utmost safety in their home, and the above tips can definitely help to achieve that!

Featured Image By: Public Domain Pictures

Feb26

Liebster Award #16

Posted on by
Standard
Liebster Award #16

Hello everyone!! Lifewithlilred was recently nominated for its sixteenth Liebster Award by my sweet friends, Soumi and Mukulesh, the darling husband and wife duo of MuMi’s Fun Life. Their blog is such a delight and is filled with a wide array of topics that are sure to please everyone. Thank you so much, love birds!! ❤ Now, let’s get on to the rules for the award:

The Rules:

  • Create a post in your blog about this Award and spread the news.
  • Acknowledge the person who nominated you in the same post. Also let the person know your opinion about his/her own blog.
  • Answer the questions given to you by the person who nominated you.
  • Choose at least 5 (maximum 10) bloggers whom you enjoy reading and want to nominate.
  • Create 10 questions for your nominees to answer.
  • Notify your nominees that you nominated them. Also paste your post link in the notification so that they can follow the required steps.

Q & A:

What do you think is the most important quality a blogger should have? I think that bloggers should be personable and have a good sense of humor.

If you can choose only one person and one essential item to travel the world, what will you choose? My sister and my wallet.

Which do you prefer – a self planned trip or a travel package of a tour operator? Why? A little bit of both. It’s fun to do things on your own and be spontaneous but having a set in stone plan is nice, too.

What do you think is the most versatile vegetable which you can use in any dish? Onions and garlic. You can never have too much garlic! Vampires beware!!

What do you think is more important to enhance your beauty – a good fashion sense or good makeup skills? Good fashion sense – I think that it showcases ones personality more.

What inspires you more – a biography of a great person or a heart warming fiction? I’m more fond of fiction. I haven’t read too many biographies.

What do you think is more important to you as a blogger – satisfaction of a creator/appreciation from your readers? Satisfaction as a creator, definitely. I take a lot of pride in my work and it feels good. Appreciation from my readers is just an amazing added bonus!

What do you prefer more on a special occasion – fine dining at a luxurious restaurant or a candle lit dinner at home? Why? Both are nice! It’s fun to get glammed up and go out on the town, but it’s just as great cooking at home with your family.

If you win the lottery some day what will you choose – fulfill your own dream or help any of your loved ones fulfill his/her dream? You can only choose one not both. Oh dang… I’d say, help a loved one because my family definitely has a vested interest in wanting all dogs to have a good home so it would be like my dream, too!

Which one do you think is an absolutely essential home decor – small live pot plants or photo collage frames? We have a lot of potted plants at home so yes, I think greenery is a must.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. What is the weather like in your neck of the woods today?
  2. What has been your favorite part of 2018 so far?
  3. Who is one of your role models?
  4. What is the last movie that you saw in theaters?
  5. What are some of the qualities that you look for in a friend?
  6. Last book that you read?
  7. What is one of your guilty pleasures?
  8. Favorite sweet treat?
  9. Favorite store to shop at?
  10. What was your favorite childhood toy?

Thank you so much again to Soumi and Mukulesh of MuMi’s Fun Life for the nomination! I loved answering your questions! How would you answer some of my nominator’s questions for me? How about some of my questions for my nominees? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb25

Blush, Baby – Tarte In Feisty Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Blush, Baby – Tarte In Feisty Edition

Hello! Although I am not huge on buying makeup outside of the drugstore, my favorite brand that Sephora offers is probably Tarte. I love the way that their products work and the variety of colors that they offer. My sister is the makeup queen in my family, and she gave me this hand me down Tarte blush that she never even used a few weeks ago! It is a tinge darker than what I usually go for, but it’s still pretty all the same:

feistyfeisty2feisty3

This Feisty blush actually reminds me of the exact shade that my mom would use when she did my makeup for skating competitions. Can I see myself wearing it in real life? Maybe in the fall, because I feel like this color would be gorgeous during that season. But for spring and summer, it just seems a bit too dark for me. There seems to be a really red undertone to this shade and with my hair and the pink undertones in my skin it all would be too much!

My sister, on the other hand, could get away with this shade because she is a bronze goddess so I’m not sure why she gave this to me. But, it doesn’t hurt to experiment and maybe come autumn I’ll have a new favorite shade.

What is your favorite brand that Sephora carries? Do you prefer dark or light blushes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb24

Trying Something New

Posted on by
Standard
Trying Something New

Hello everyone and happy weekend! Saying that this winter has been below average would be putting it nicely, because it really freaking sucked. But, life goes on, and sometimes you just have to keep pushing through until your next big exciting break happens. To keep myself from going insane, I have been trying to incorporate some new things into my life to keep my mental health in check and to have some fun.

One thing that I love to do is learn new languages. I speak English and pretty above decent French, if I do say so myself. Learning new languages has always been a fun thing for me, rather than a chore. So, to add to the fun, I began teaching myself American Sign Language about two months ago and I’m really enjoying it. I try my best to practice for at least a little bit every day and am proud of the progress that I’ve made. I also like to watch French films and TV shows or movies with sign language in it to keep myself sharp.

The great thing about learning a new language, is that there is always something new that you can learn within the language that you’re practicing. Constantly gaining knowledge helps keep my mind off of some of the bullshit, and it is one of my favorite ways to pass the time. I plan on learning Spanish next because, despite taking it for eight years in grade school, I can’t remember a darn thing and I’d like to have it in my language arsenal.

Another new activity that I have been trying, as per recommendation of my therapist, is yoga and meditation. I have taken yoga classes before and really enjoyed it, and with my therapist pushing it every week, I decided to give it another shot. I found free yoga and meditation classes at one of the local libraries and have had nothing but good experiences so far. And, since I ball on a budget, you can’t beat free!

Although I haven’t been having the best of times in life by any means at the moment, I am proud of myself for getting up and trying to learn something new instead of giving up and doing nothing with my day. I always feel good when I activate my mind and body and now, I just need to remind myself to keep doing it because I know that it works.

What is something new that you would like to try? Are you taking any classes or teaching yourself about a subject that you’re interested in? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Pinterest

Feb23

4 Career Paths In Public Administration

Posted on by
Standard
4 Career Paths In Public Administration

If you are currently in search of a career path that is fitting of your vocational calling, earning a degree in public administration might be one that you will want to consider. This is a noble calling where you can service your local, national, or global community. It is a way to put your gifts to use, in conjunction with the education that you receive, to make the world a better place. With that in mind, take a look at four possible career paths in public administration that you might find appealing:

Education Administration: We all know that schools are one of the most important social institutions that we have. Without them, we cannot adequately prepare young people to become productive members of society themselves. That being said, schools depend on professional and qualified administrators in order to run smoothly. Without that, chaos can quickly descend on the institution itself. If you enjoy the field of education, and you have the capacity to lead and supervise, a career in educational administration might be right up your alley.

Elected Official: City, state, and county jurisdictions across the country are in need of qualified officials to take over the helm. Managing items of the public interest is serious business, and it requires a specialized knowledge that not just anyone possesses. When you have a degree in public administration, you will be well positioned to run for public office and have members of the community take you seriously. You will also learn the skills necessary for public crisis management, and that is something that is becoming more and more important today.

Policy Advisor: Society is constantly evolving and changing. Along with that comes the need to create new policies and regulations in order to properly manage and organize the people within any given community. A policy advisor is able to read what is happening and propose new ideas that will better reflect the changing face of society. It is, once again, a specialized field that requires a unique knowledge base and set of skills. This is how society will adapt and change with the times. Policies that are rooted in the past are often doomed to fail today. In exchange, policy advisors look for ways to anticipate the future and make sure that the local community is prepared when the time comes.

Civil Service Jobs: There are a host of civil service jobs designed to support and uphold the ideals of the local community. Not everyone aspires, or is qualified, to be an elected official. That does not mean that you do not want to serve in a professional capacity. If that is you, then a civil service job is what you are looking for. These are typically support role positions that follow a set career path. Job security is high, but so is the competition.

While there are many more jobs awaiting a person with a degree in public administration, these four should give you the motivation that you need to pursue a higher education. Giving yourself to help others, and making a career out of it at the same time, is extremely rewarding. You owe it to yourself to at least consider such a career option, so contact a school near you today.

Featured Image By: The Twin Powers

Feb23

February 2018 Finishes

Posted on by
Standard
February 2018 Finishes

Hello everyone! Another month is drawing to a close already, and you know what that means. It’s time to discuss my February finishes! This month, it was all about products from The Body Shop. I used up two skin care goodies and one body butter in February and I felt so pampered to be using such wonderful products from my favorite one stop shop for all things beauty. Take a look and let’s discuss:

febb

Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

TBS Body Butter: Although The Body Shop has many amazing fruity scents to choose from, and I love them, I am always partial to their softer collections. I love their Shea and Cocoa butter and, of course, their Almond body butter! There is nothing better than taking a nice, warm bath and slathering on this body butter before putting on your jammies. I love the nutty scent and how good it makes my skin feel after using it. It took me about seven full body uses to finish this product.

TBS Face Mask: When it comes to skin care, I love all charcoal everything and this mask is freaking EVERYTHING. Within one use, this charcoal face mask eliminates every single stinking black head on my nose and leaves my skin simply glowing afterwards. Despite this mask being an absolute pain to clean up in the shower after using it, it is so worth it and I am so happy to have another one of these in my hoard for future uses. I got about ten uses out of this container.

TBS Moisturizer: My sister actually gave me this hand me down from the Oils Of Life collection because she couldn’t stand the smell. And, I have to admit, I am not a huge fan of it, either. This moisturizer smells very herbal and some people really like that, but me – not so much. Although I’m not huge on the way it smells, I would use this product again because it left my skin feeling so hydrated and well taken care of. I didn’t notice any immediate changes in my skin from using this moisturizer, but I would like to try it again to see if anything magical happens to my face from it. It took me one month to finish this product.

February was a great month for finishes and even though I didn’t care for the Oils Of Life scent, I would still like to use all of these products again. Those who love The Body Shop as much as me can definitely see why I enjoyed this month in beauty products as much as I did!

Which products did you finish up this month? What is your favorite product from The Body Shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb22

Do You Love Your Home? Time To Show It

Posted on by
Standard
Do You Love Your Home? Time To Show It

A home is much more than walls and a roof. It’s a place that means something to you and your family. It’s where memories are made. Your house should feel like a safe and inviting shelter from the world. Whether you’ve had a hard day at work or your kids have had a hard day at school, everybody should feel as if they can stroll through that front door and let all of their worries fade away. It’s not just about creating a practical environment for physical relaxation but an aesthetically-pleasing environment that relaxes the mind. For example, your couch can look modern or sophisticated and still be comfortable.

Essentially, creating an inviting home is all about finding a good balance between prettiness and comfort. Whatever improvements need to be made, it’s time to put some effort into the appearance of your humble abode. Do you love your home? If you do, then you should want to show that. Let’s talk about some of the improvements you could make to your household in order to create a warmer and more relaxing environment for you and the whole family. You don’t need to hire a professional team or become a DIY expert either; any beginner with determination can renovate their home:

Space is everything:

The first step towards improving your home is to declutter every room. This is a chance to get rid of all the junk you’ve hoarded over the years (and perhaps make some money by selling those things at a yard sale). In turn, you’ll notice that the house slowly opens up. There’s more potential space in your home than you realize. That minimalistic and spacious design you’ve always wanted is within reach. It’s just about putting your home’s available space to better use. Putting up shelves on the walls as additional storage space is another great way to “tidy up” rooms in the house.

Lighting affects the mood of a room:

The importance of lighting in a home can’t be underestimated. If your house feels a little drab and dreary despite being decorated with all of the bells and whistles, then you might want to consider that the problem lies with the lighting. So many households have a bad interior design because the decorator doesn’t consider the layout and colors used in each room. If you want your home to feel bright and enticing, then you need to utilize lighting cleverly. Throughout the day, you should be allowing natural light into your home as much as possible. Neutral colors such as white will naturally reflect any sunlight pouring in through the windows and serve to brighten up each room in the house.

Tame your back garden:

Another important aspect of a happy home is a nice garden. That’s right – you need to push your horizons a little further than interior design. Your house’s exterior is just as important to your home. Is it nice to look out of your window and see an overgrown jungle that used to be your garden? If you really love your home, then you need to tidy up this outdoor space. You might even want to look into companies such as ABC Home & Commercial to help you mow, fertilize, and essentially tame your garden if you need help. The key thing is to make this area feel homely. Create a relaxing patio area with comfy seats, a dining table, and maybe even a patio awning for shelter from the elements.

Once your backyard has been tamed, fixtures like ponds or pools can make an amazing addition and boost property value. Not a lot of space? No problem! Spools (AKA small pools) are becoming wildly popular and for good reason. They require a lot less maintenance and, due to their small size, can fit in almost any yard. When you choose a fiberglass, gunite, & vinyl spool, you create a backyard oasis for your home, ready for the kids (or you!) to jump right into when the sun comes out.

Reinvent the front of the house:

Continuing from the previous point, you need to think about the entire house when it comes to exterior design. Tidying up your back garden is one thing, but the front of your house is a crucial element of your home’s overall feel. It makes the first impression on you and your guests, after all. If you want to come home to a pleasant sight before you’ve even opened the door, then you might want to consider repaving the path leading up to the door and putting some plants on the front window sills. You could even repaint the front door to give it a “fresh” feel. Reinvent the front of the house, in other words.

With spring just around the corner, there is no better time than now to give your home a new beginning and spruce things up a bit!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb22

Blush, Baby – Maybelline Dream Bouncy In Fresh Pink Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Blush, Baby – Maybelline Dream Bouncy In Fresh Pink Edition

Howdy! After trying many a different brands of blushes over the years, my all time favorite would have to be Maybelline’s Dream Bouncy blushes. It is a cream blush and the best word to describe its texture really is bouncy. It’s soft, cushiony, and feels barely there lightweight on the skin. I have quite a few Dream Bouncy blushes in various shades, but my go to color from the start has always been Fresh Pink:

bouncy2bouncy1bouncy3

Besides for its seven dollar price tag (give or take) and its pillow soft texture, what I like best about the Fresh Pink color is that it’s great for layering and mixing. As I mentioned yesterday, I like to apply my lavender blush over this color for a flower field effect. I also enjoy layering a peach blush over top of it for a sweet mimosa shade. The Dream Bouncy blushes blend effortlessly and the color doesn’t budge all day, which is a wonderful bonus.

The nice thing about this blush is that, despite its brightness before applying, it goes on quite light – which is great. Too bright of blush looks clown-like on me and that is never a good look! The cream texture and soft pink coloring leaves my skin looking dewy and fresh. I always keep Fresh Pink well stocked in my makeup hoard and I use it every day that I wear makeup. Maybe she’s born with it? Maybe it’s Maybelline! 😉

What is your favorite drugstore brand of makeup? Do you prefer cream or powder blush? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb21

What It Takes To Join The Army

Posted on by
Standard
What It Takes To Join The Army

If we are honest, all countries need their military at present, although it is not the case that everyone is suitable for military service. But if you are thinking about joining your army, you might well be wondering whether or not you actually have what is required to make that happen. It’s no secret that it takes plenty of training and a lot of time before you can get fully admitted into the army – but in the first place, you need to work out whether you are made of the right stuff. You might be surprised at just how many people probably are, and if you read on you will see some strong arguments that you might be able to do this as your career – if you so choose to follow that particular line in your life:

A Sense Of Pride:

Something that tends to set apart those who want to be in the army from the rest of the civilians is that they have a deep pride in their country, their homeland, and what it stands for. If you feel that you are particularly proud of your own nation, then you will probably find it easier to become a soldier, or employ another role within the army of your country (see below). Of course, this is not something you can fake, and you either are proud of your country or you are not. But as long as you are, and you are keen to serve that country in the manner of your choosing, you might find that joining the army is a great way to do so. If you are particularly proud, you might even choose to have your time in the army commemorated later on with a coin from MilitaryCoinsUSA or somewhere similar.

A Special Skill:

It’s important to remember that not everyone in the army is a soldier. You have a number of different roles which you might be able to fulfill, and that’s why one of the first things to do is to make sure that you have a certain skill which you can be proud of, and which nobody else necessarily has as well as you. It might be that you are a particularly good chef, in which case you could occupy that position in the army. Or maybe you are an engineer, and you want to do that, instead. Whatever it is, you can be sure that there is some way in which you can make it a part of your life by joining the army of your country. So don’t feel that you have to do some of the less savory acts you might associate with being in the army – there are a whole range of things to do.

army1

Pexels Image

Commitment:

Once you have made the decision, however, it’s vital that you stick to it. You need to be fully committed to your decision to be in the army if you are to make the most of it, and you might even suffer some poor consequences if you don’t manage to follow through with this. If you don’t know whether you will have the commitment or not, it can mean that you find it much harder to achieve what you want to with your career, so this is an important part of the whole.

Making any major choices in your career path is something that should be thought about very carefully, especially if you are considering a role in your nation’s army.

Featured Image By: Pexels