Simple Changes For Better Spring Cleaning

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Simple Changes For Better Spring Cleaning

Famously, around this time of year many people often go to work on cleaning their houses as good as possible. Of course, in real life you need to do this much more often, but it is still worth having one really deep clean around this time of year. Even if it is just to make yourself feel better in the home, it is totally worth it. If you do it right, you will probably find that everyone who lives there is much more relaxed and able to feel comfortable in the new found cleanliness, so for that reason alone it is worthwhile. If you are about to embark on your own spring cleaning project, make sure you bear the following in mind for a better, cleaner result:

Declutter First: To clean your house in the best way possible is to be logical about the order in which you do it. This means that you should make an effort to clear anything that doesn’t need to be there first. Decluttering is something that people often skim over, thinking that they are doing it right, when actually their methods are not anywhere near as effective or lasting as they could be. Consider that, although it is perfectly fine to simply stow things away in clever storage spaces, it is even better to get rid of anything that you might be able to part with. You might choose to sell such belongings or give them away to charity; either way, this is a much better long-term solution to your space problems.

Deep Washing: The main thing to remember about spring cleaning is that it needs to be as deep as possible. This will probably mean, in most circumstances, that you will need to use equipment and tools which are different than the ones you normally use. If you are used to using usual household products, then you might want to think about trying to use something different for your spring cleaning. For example, getting your hands on a decent pressure washer to clean the carpets with is likely to be a great idea, as it will pick up dirt that you didn’t even know was there! If you have never used one before, don’t worry – you can learn more about pressure washers here before you start!

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^ So thankful for my dryer!

Room By Room: Another major mistake that people make is to clean the whole house in one go. This might seem to make sense, but it is much more effective on the whole if you simply go from room to room, fully cleaning each one as you go. You need to make sure that you are happy with one room before moving on to the next, as this is how you can ensure that you have cleaned all of the necessary areas as deep as possible. With any luck, you won’t need to do so again for quite a long time. Now, get to spring cleaning!

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Looks like a successful spring clean to me!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jetting Off To Sunnier Climates? Make Sure Your Home Is Safe and Secure

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Jetting Off To Sunnier Climates? Make Sure Your Home Is Safe and Secure

With January and February out of the way (easily the dullest and most depressing months of the year!) many of us are looking forward into 2017 and planning some of the fun things that we want to do. For some, this will mean an annual summer holiday, a week or two of great weather, delicious food, and plenty to see and do. However, as a homeowner, there’s always the major worry of home security when you go away. When your property is left unoccupied for a period of time, it dramatically increases your risk of a break in. Here are some of the ways that you can protect against this and get your home safe and secure by the time your summer vacation rolls around:

Get a Burglar Alarm Installed: If you don’t already have a burglar alarm installed, this should be high on your list of priorities. Not just useful for vacations but for day to day use, too. Did you know that most burglaries take place in the daytime? Being able to set the alarm when you go to work will thwart thieves who simply won’t stick around once the noise starts going off. It’s worth doing some research on the best home security systems and seeing which one suits you best.

Do you want an alarm that’s monitored? This means that if it goes off the security system call you (to see if it’s a false alarm) and if it’s not, they call the police. There’s a charge for this, but if you believe yourself to be especially high risk, it’s a good investment. Do you need an alarm which can be used with pets? This means that you can set it and your cat or dog won’t set it off. Either way, having a look at what’s on the market is your first step.

Invest in a High Quality CCTV System: CCTV is useful as it deters burglars (who want to minimize their risk of being caught) and if someone does try it, you have evidence. CCTV is also useful if you have vehicles outside of your home because if any damage or theft occurs, you will have video proof of what happened. Go with a system that records footage to a cloud-based server. That way if someone breaks into your home, they can’t just take the computer that the footage is stored on. You need a camera that records clearly because police won’t accept grainy recordings if you ever need to use it as evidence.

Consider Smart Lighting: ‘Smart home’ devices are becoming increasingly popular. Lighting is particularly useful from a home security perspective as it allows you to turn the lights in your home on and off without you being there. You control everything from an app on your phone so that you can give the illusion of someone being home and moving around in the property. Alternatively, you could use classic timer switches which are a much cheaper option. You can set lamps, televisions, and radios to go on and off at different times to further enhance the “I’m here but secretly I’m not” appearance.

Featured Image By: Wikimedia

Spring Surprise

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Spring Surprise

Hiiiii! This morning as I was leaving the house, I caught a little pretty something out of the corner of my eye while I was in the car. Among all of the brown leaves and dry grass, a little yellow crocus was popping out to say an early spring hello. I didn’t have time to snap a quick pic then but as I was taking the dogs out this afternoon I just had to take one! It was so cute and wittle and it made me so happy to see! Take a look:

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After kind of a blah few days, it was so nice to see a tiny pop of color as a Spring Surprise and a preview of hopefully some lovely blooms to come. There’s nothing like a brave little crocus showing off its petals to brighten your day and get you hyped for warmer weather, all floral everything, and a new spring season here on lifewithlilred!

Happy Tuesday!

Sore Throat When You Wake Up?

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Sore Throat When You Wake Up?

Do you wake up from a refreshing night’s sleep only to find that your morning has been ruined before it’s even got started as you feel that familiar pain when you swallow? Having a sore throat in the morning is a fairly common complaint and although it’s irritating, it is rarely a cause for concern. Of course, just because a sore throat isn’t going to kill you doesn’t mean that it can’t be really annoying when it happens, which is why you need to know what you are dealing with so that you can put your morning sore throats to bed once and for all. Here are some of the most common causes of sore throats upon waking:

Snoring: When you snore, your mouth is open and your throat can get quite dry because of all the air that you are taking in. If you wake up only to find that your throat is hoarse and dry, it could be that you are snoring and should try to record yourself sleeping for a few nights or ask your sleeping partner to listen out, if you have one. If you are snoring a lot, take a look at http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/easy-snoring-remedies#1 to sort the problem out and start waking up pain-free.

Dehydration: If you don’t drink enough fluids before you hit the hay or if your room is too dry, you could become dehydrated through the night. This, like snoring, can cause your throat to dry up and become sore.

Acid Reflux: If you wake up not only to a sore throat but also to an unpleasant sour taste in your mouth, there is a good chance that acid reflux could be the problem. Acid reflux is a condition in which the acid in your stomach partially comes back up through the esophagus. It can cause stomach pain, heartburn, and sore throats (and bad breath!!). You can deal with acid reflux by following the steps at https://chriskresser.com/get-rid-of-heartburn-and-gerd-forever-in-three-simple-steps/. If reflux continues to be a problem after this, see a doctor

A Swollen Uvula: The uvula is that small bit of skin that hangs down at the back of your mouth. It can become inflamed and swollen when you are sick with a virus or infection, or when there is too much bacteria in the area. Although you are likely to experience throat pain all day when you have a swollen uvula, it could be the case that some of the other factors mentioned in this post can increase your throat pain when you wake up in the morning. You can find out more about the uvula at https://safesymptoms.com/swollen-uvula/ .

Upper Respiratory Infection: If your upper airway is infected, your nose will begin to produce more mucus than before as a form of defense against the invading virus. Sometimes, this mucus trickles down to the back of your throat when you’re sleeping and it can inflame, irritate, and dry out the area – meaning that your throat will be pretty sore in the morning.

If you continue to experience a sore throat upon waking for a prolonged period of time, you should definitely have it checked out by a doctor. Chances are it’ll be nothing serious, but it’s always best to know. And waking up ache free at the start of your day will also be an added plus!

Featured Image By: Flickr

My Unhealthy Obsession With Social Media!? Likes & Dislikes

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My Unhealthy Obsession With Social Media!? Likes & Dislikes
Hi everyone and happy Monday! I hope all of you are having a wonderful start to your week and are not suffering from the Monday blahs too much! If there’s one thing that’s important to me, it’s featuring guest bloggers on my page. I want lifewithlilred to be a place for everyone. Whether it be via random articles or a full on guest bloggers series, if someone feels so inclined to want to be on my page, who am I to deny them that?
The article below is written by a young lady who’s new to the blogging world, Janicia. Please be sure to check out her page and give it some love and encouragement because even the most experienced bloggers were new once, too!

My Unhealthy Obsession With Social Media!? Likes & Dislikes

There is this constant battle and argument on whether social media has enhanced our lives or totally hindered our mental state. The question is. Where do you stand? Are you that person who is constantly switched on to the latest celebrity gossip and social media trends? Or are you someone that has the capability to put their phone down without having FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)? Unfortunately, I fall under the FOMO side of things!
The unfortunate truth is that social media isn’t all glitz and glam. The divide between reality and fiction is often blurred. There is another universe within our devises which exists and it’s kind of scary! We’ve been given an illusion, a distorted vision of what is true and what is false. Why is it, that we always chose to follow people who portray a perfect life? Is it because we’re envious or is it a form of encouragement? Perhaps they are just GOALS. As soon as we come across an attractive picture or person, the first thing we do is stalk their page and one hour later we’ve traveled ten accounts too deep! Are you lost? Or do you follow my gist? It gets to a point where you’ve pretty much found your future husband, met your in-laws, his relatives, and his two best friends John and Matthew! We’ve all been, there, right? Right? (I totes have…multiple times! -Sarah)
There comes a point, after having seen so many pictures of perfection on various profiles, that we begin to analyze our own lives and current situations. “How did they acquire all this success”, we ask. “She looks amazing! I wonder how much it would cost to get that body sculpture”. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it! It is a new phenomenon in our society, especially in the entertainment industry, where women are paying for the perfect body. If you had the money, time, and energy to do so, wouldn’t you do it too?
That said, social media has narrowed the borders of our vast world significantly. You’re now able to connect with people all over the world who have similar interests as yourself, which is fantastic! All you do is click follow and you are friends…well, virtual friends! You now have access to private and intimate images and videos of people you would never have seen otherwise. If you are an entrepreneur, you have direct contact and access to your target audience by sending out tweets, Instagram pics, and Facebook posts to the world at no cost of your own. The uses of social media are endless, it is how you exploit it that will either hinder or better your agenda.
I, like most, will continue to spend 50% of my day glued to my phone, computer screen, or tablet while surfing on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and my favorite: Google! The struggle continues and hopefully one day we (and I!) can find a healthy balance. A happy medium that gives us the opportunity to spend a lot more time away from our screens and more time living and enjoying our actual lives!

^^^ Thank you so much to Janicia for her insightful and humorous guest post! Who suffers from FOMO without being glued to their smart phone? How has social media impacted your life? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Interested in guest blogging for lifewithlilred? Shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com! ❤

PMS? Or Just Pissed?

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PMS? Or Just Pissed?

Heyy everyone and happy Monday. So thanks to a not so subtle title, I’m sure you guys can all gather that it’s my “time of the month”. TMI? Maybe. But, it is my page which sometimes doubles as an online journal for when I just want to shout out to the void of the world wide web and be petty. So, let’s play out this new game show style segment and see what happens…

Sarah’s Bad Mood:

Is It PMS Or Just Pissed?

The Symptoms:

Well…Let’s see:

  1.  For a snack last night I ate three pancakes, two squares of Ghirardelli chocolate, a bagel and butter, a bowl of fettuccine noodles, and a delightful couscous salad.
  2.  I just told my dog who offered me a toy to “go away”.
  3.  My stomach feels like somebody is Mortal Kombat punching it.
  4.  I am SO freaking irritable that I seriously think I could Mortal Kombat punch a hole through the wall.
  5.  Did I mention that all I want to do is eat?
  6.  I literally think that if somebody looked at me the wrong way right now that I would scream and then immediately start crying.

Now, I’m no Web MD specialist but my conclusion to this riveting (admittedly TMI) new segment is…

PMS!

You know, when I was a teenager, my periods never bothered me. They were more of a monthly annoyance than anything and that was it. No pissy moods, no cramps, no wanting to eat everything in a twelve foot radius, no mood swings, no nothing. But now, as a twenty-two year old, my periods are the biggest pain in the ass on the planet. Cramps like a mother, my mouth turns into a vacuum that consumes literally ALL the food, and mood swings that would make Ohio weather seem normal.

I’ve mentioned this to a lot of my girlfriends and about three fourths of them have similar sentiments to mine. As if being a young twenty something pathetically floundering her way through life wasn’t hard enough already, mother nature gives me a week of torture monthly. I swear guys, I legit feel like I’m going crazy and it’s just exhausting! I don’t know why but today is just wearing me out and I’m already so ready for a drink and Netflix in bed.

Sorry to the people who read this that are grossed out by periods or whatever but sometimes being a girl really sucks and mama needed to vent. Besides, now we can all rest easy in knowing that it’s PMS rather than Just Pissed! 😉

Okay, now for some questions. Ladies, how do you deal with PMS? Gentlemen, what do you do when a lady in your life is PMSing (Staying away is not an acceptable answer!!)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Hats Off: Nicole Marciano Edition

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Hats Off: Nicole Marciano Edition

Hiii everyone and happy weekend! I hope all of you are having a wonderful and relaxing Sunday! Yesterday, a quick stop to TJMaxx got me a super cute new floppy hat by Nicole Marciano for a whopping four dollars. Thanks to a ten dollar off coupon compliments of their credit card, I was able to snag this little beauty which I am SO stoked to sport this summer. Take a look:

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^^^ So. Fun!

I have quite a large hat collection due to a love that I developed from my grandma who had over one hundred of them! I love, love, love floppy hats but all of mine are either felt or wool which is fine for fall, winter, and the spring but not so much for summer. I’ve wanted a big, floppy, straw style hat for a while now but never managed to find one that I liked enough to purchase. They were all either too big, too small, too blah, or the shape wasn’t to my liking. Seriously, some of the floppy hats that I’ve encountered were HUGE which would result in the hat to droop in an unflattering sad elephant ear style that was just…no.

But, I absolutely LOVE this little Nicole Marciano number. It’s big without being gigantic, the shape that the hat takes when it’s actually on is quite attractive, and the “bonjour” detailing was just too darling to pass up. And for four dollars?! Hello! This hat is going to be so charming with a little sun dress, chunky wedges, and “don’t look at me” sunglasses for a glam but fun summer time look. It will provide me with the perfect shade and a touch of Paris chic for a day of shopping at my favorite outdoor mall, a trip to the zoo, or simply reading the latest issue of Cosmo on my deck. Just thinking of it makes me more than ready for summer!

Hats Off, indeed, to this cute as can be Nicole Marciano piece! What is your must have accessory for spring or summer? Who else has a hat collection of their own? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A Cure For Wellness

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A Cure For Wellness

Hi everyone and TGIF! Last night, I went to the movies with my sister and her boyfriend, truly living up to the permanent third wheel status. Kristen, Ramon, and I went to see A Cure For Wellness and it was alright! Ramon told me that he heard it described as a combination of American Horror Story: Asylum and Shutter Island and I think that that was right on the money. I can’t say that it was my favorite movie I’ve ever seen in my life but I’m glad that I saw it. However, I would have much preferred to see Get Out, instead! Hopefully that will happen soon because I’d love to see it in theaters.

I’m not going to give away any spoilers because the movie is still brand new but it really did leave me scratching my head. I do like when movies are thought provoking and ambiguous because I love nothing more than discussing film and TV show theories with my friends. I mean, I know what I took away from the plot points that they seemed to leave up to interpretation and, I hate to brag, but I’m pretty sure my theory is close to what they were trying to tell us without actually telling us.

So, that was vague. But what I will say is that I thought that the acting was very well done. Dane DeHaan who played the leading character and ambitious Lockhart was superb and he was very easy on the eyes! All of the actors seemed to work really well with each other and it was fun discussing afterwards who we felt was good, bad, or could have done more at the questionable sanitarium where the film took place.

A Cure For Wellness isn’t a movie that I plan on watching multiple times when it comes out on video but I would like to watch it once more to pick up on things that I might have missed yesterday. Despite its poor Rotten Tomatoes rating, I still enjoyed my evening at the movie theater especially since I didn’t pay a dime for my ticket and popcorn. The Regal Theaters reward card is basically the best thing that has ever happened to me. As an avid lover of going to the movies, it is nice to actually get tangible and useful rewards like sixteen dollars worth of free swag yesterday night. And if free movies, popcorn, and beverages aren’t your deal, you can always go to their online store where you can spend your points on movie merchandise!

After A Cure For Wellness has been out for a couple more weeks, I’ll post what my general conclusion from the film was. But, until then, it is open for discussion in my comments section. What was your takeaway from the film? What were some parts that left you pondering? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

^^^ I have no rights to this trailer, which is compliments of 20th Century Fox.

Possible Spoiler Alert in the comments section!!

Featured Image By: Slash Film

External Options To Make Your Home Look Great

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External Options To Make Your Home Look Great

Everyone always seems to focus on the inside of their home. This is of course fair enough, as the bedroom is where you sleep in and the living room is where you essentially live. But a lot can be said for making the outside look appealing, too. First, it makes you feel good in the knowledge that it looks nice, yet also because spring is soon approaching and as a result you’ll be spending more time outside. There are many ways to make your house look better, so here are a few ideas to get you started:

House Facades: The exterior of your home could always benefit from a fresh coat of paint. Or consider changing the boarding to something more appealing. The facade is what gives your home character and is the first thing people see when they come to you. You can also consider the roof. Sometimes roofs can become slightly damaged or faded over the year due to the sun and the elements. This can be sorted out. You can find a roofing company to do it for you. They can make the change needed to give your home that extra look of professionalism. Not only that, but a damaged roof can mean escaping heat, which costs you money. Rain can also get in, causing wood to rot and damp to spread which can make your family ill as well as cause a lot of additional damage on the inside of your home.

Extension: Why not go all out and get some construction work done on your home. It is expensive, sure. But by extending your property, your home will not only look better, but you’ll also have a nicer place to live. You can see this as an investment because the money you spend will be recouped if you sell the house as the work will increase the home’s value. It can range from anything, too. A small porch at the front of your home to make more room inside to a full top and bottom extension that is sure to look amazing. You could even do something like convert a garage into another sitting room or even a games room. The possibilities are endless and if you decide to go through with it you’ll be adding a lot of extra appeal to your home.

Go For The Garden: Plant now and they will bloom in spring and summer, making your garden look totally amazing and vibrant with life and color. You can really make a difference by doing this the right way. If you plant different plants, they will bloom at different times meaning the garden will be colorful all year around. You should also consider additions like carved sculptures or stone statues to make it look even more like an outdoor wonderland. Hang things off the walls of your house and use ornaments to really bring the garden to life. You can personalize them and make them pertinent to you and your family, your hobbies, or your pets!

Featured Image By: Verani

Selfie Spam

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Selfie Spam

Hiiii everyone and happy Thursday! I have come to realize that I’m not the best at posting some Sarah Selfies every now and then on lifewithlilred. But, thanks to a lazy day, that is about to change! And what better time to do it than on Throwback Thursday considering both of these were taken a week or two ago?! SCORE.

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So, there’s that. Lol.

Selfies can seriously be either the most fantastic or most stressful thing of your life. I’ll tell ya, there’s nothing better than taking a fabulous picture on the first few clicks of your camera. When you’re feeling yourself and the lighting is giving you all the love, it feels like the hallelujah chorus should be singing your praises any second.

But, god forbid, that your pics are just not working. I can think of few things that are more frustrating than when you’re looking fab and can literally not take a “good” picture to save your life! Whether the lighting is wonky, you can’t make the perfect face, or your palms are sweaty (knees weak, arms are heavy), a selfie shoot that is going wrong freaking SUCKS. It’s like…you know you’re looking Instagram worthy so why in the name of all that is holy is it not translating to one measly picture. Yeeesh!

So, here’s to you: the selfie queens that can take a gorgeous picture about 99.9% of the time. I admire the hell out of you and salute you. Maybe, if Sarah Selfie Shoots weren’t so freaking annoying half of the time, I could aspire to be on your level!

It only felt right to upload some Selfie Spam today and my hope for all of you is nothing but perfect selfies in the future! What are your tricks and tips for a super like-worthy selfie? How do you choose your favorite picture when literally all twenty of the ones that you took look exactly alike? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah