Tag Archives: anything and everything

Nov3

Monster Mash

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Hello! A few days ago, I posted about a Halloween craft that I made with my client out of Popsicle sticks. They turned out like this:

While the Barney sticks were for my client, the ghosts, Jack-O-Lantern, and Frankenstein were for Johnny who wanted to decorate his space at work for Halloween. Despite forgetting to bring his flat friends with him on the job for the first few days, my sweetie finally remembered and he claims that he is never going to take them down. 🙂

The day that Johnny brought the Popsicle sticks into work, he took a picture of his decorated area WITHOUT ME EVEN ASKING! Check it out:

I was not expecting my fairly simple crafts to be the crowning jewel of Johnny’s display and it made me so proud that he liked them that much. His little paper cut out ghosts make me smile and that applies for basically everything he does, lol.

While we are all worried about the outcome of Election Day today, I just had to post some mushy nonsense to help take the edge off. And I am so thankful to get through whatever the results will be together with my Johnny. ❤

How did you decorate for Halloween? How is your work space decorated? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov2

Flooring For Your Retail Store

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Flooring For Your Retail Store

Commercial flooring may be something you are considering if you are opening up a new store or you have determined that it is time for a re-vamp. There are many different types of flooring to pick from, and below we will tell you what needs to be considered when choosing flooring for your retail store.

The first factor to keep in mind is how the commercial flooring looks. A lot of people will only shop in places that visually appeal to them. This is why selecting the right flooring is so crucial. Consider the color and the tone. In hidden corners, dark floors can carry connotations of dirt. Light floors have the benefit of opening up the store and making it look bigger. For excitement and warmth, consider the likes of melon, orange, paprika, and other warm colors. For a modern and refined style, flooring in shades of grey, navy, or mint works effectively.

You also need to consider the resilience, as your floor will need to be able to withstand a high amount of foot track. If you’re going to go for carpet, make sure you put together a carpet cleaning schedule to keep on top of things. High quality carpet extractors will definitely come in handy! You also need flooring that has a high level of friction. The last thing you want is for your clients to fall or slip while looking around. Not only would they end up being injured, but you’d be liable. When choosing commercial flooring, you also have to consider the product. A prime example would be a bike store. Most have non-slip flooring, as this is essential for when customers are trying out bicycles.

You might be surprised to find that there is so much more to selecting the best flooring than you originally thought. You really do need to consider the service your store is providing as well as its visual appearance for the best outcome. If you are having trouble making a decision with all of this new information, that’s okay! When you make an appointment with Carolina Commercial Flooring installers (or a similar company in your local area), your team of professionals will be able to talk through your ideas with you. Based on your conversation, they will be able to give you suggestions for flooring that meets your aesthetics and the functionality your store needs.

What About Flotex Flooring?

In the past, business owners had the option of wood, tiling, or carpet when it came to flooring. This was the case for many years. However, there are now lots of flooring choices available, and one of these options is Flotex.

Flotex commercial flooring is very much like a hybrid of vinyl and carpet flooring. It combines the best features of the two, resulting in commercial flooring that is cheap, practical, and aesthetically pleasing. You will find this type of flooring in a lot of public spaces, including classrooms, gyms, and libraries. So, what makes it so popular?

Flotex flooring is easy to look after and hygienic. Carpets trap everything, from allergens and spills to dirt. This is because the fibers are typically curved. Flotex flooring does not do this, as the fibers are upright. This makes the flooring a lot easier to clean.

You can also expect high levels of comfort and durability with Flotex flooring because it has more fibers than carpet, which makes it very comfortable. It also means that it is long-lasting and durable too, which is why it works well in environments where there is a high amount of traffic.

You can also expect better acoustic qualities when compared with other flooring alternatives due to the sheer number of fibers. As you can see, there are many benefits associated with Flotex, and this is why it is also popular in homes and businesses. Remember that you can usually get samples of commercial carpet squares from reputable flooring suppliers so be sure to use them in order to find the best solution for your space!

Signs You Need To Replace Your Carpet:

Nothing looks worse than a dirty or worn carpet. It can have a negative impact on the overall appearance of your business. Signs that you need to get rid of your current carpet includes stains that cannot be removed, as well as an excessive amount of wear and tear. Is your carpet giving off a bad odor? There is only so much air freshener you can use to disguise this. Plus, not everyone wants to smell artificial air sprays when at work.

Have you noticed that more and more people are suffering from allergies at your business? Allergies are made worse when a carpet is old. This is because the carpet retains more particulate matter and allergens. An increase in allergies is likely to come from your carpet. You also need to look at the state of the carpet padding. If you don’t have any padding, the carpet is essentially nothing but a layer of fabric. The padding improves insulation, buffers sound, and provides comfort. When this layer is worn, you need to replace your carpet with new commercial flooring, as it has lost its effectiveness.

Use the tips above and get your business looking its best with new flooring!

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Nov2

Literally Falling For Fall

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Literally Falling For Fall

Hello! Have you ever had a day where you feel like you’re constantly running into stuff, tripping over your own feet, or dropping something? Because SAME – especially last week. Despite many ouches, profanity, and bruises my day ended in an up kind of way so I thought I’d tell you all about it.

My morning started with a fine how do you do of stepping on the plug of my hair straightener and spilling my bottle of serum all over the floor when regaining my balance. I was so pissed about my favorite serum loosing half of its contents onto my bath mat and the plug going into the soft sole of my feet hurt like a mother.

After that incident, I thought my day could only go up from there and my time at work was fairly average. Once I finished driving home in the rain, I was looking forward to having a glass of wine and relaxing but life decided to throw me a few more curve balls.

My apartment complex is located in a wooded area and there are countless trees all over the property. Countless trees equals countless leaves, of course, and my goodness are they slick after it rains. As I was walking towards the stairs to get to my second floor apartment, I tread over a particularly slippery patch of wet leaves. I lost my balance, landed hard on my side, and everything I had in my hands came flying out.

As someone who has figure skated a majority of her life, you would think I would be exempt from slippery falls off ice but that just is not the case. Lol, it hurt SO bad and left a nasty bruise on my leg. After the initial shock and pain of falling, I kind of forgot what I had in my hands and just wanted to get into my apartment. I collected everything I saw immediately on the ground and headed upstairs to tell Johnny my tale of woe.

Johnny and I spent our evening watching a TV show called Slasher and we were in the middle of an episode when we heard a knock on our door around eight. I had no idea who it could be and was shocked to see some neighbors I vaguely recognized in my doorway. They held out my apartment keys to me and said they found them when they were walking up to their own place.

I was SO shocked by the fact that I had essentially lost my keys for an entire evening without knowing it. However, I was more shocked by the kindness of the strangers who returned my missing keys to me – I have no idea what I would have done the following morning when I left for work and realized they weren’t there!

Despite major boo boos, my day ended on a huge high note from my guardian angels who found my keys. I am so thankful to them (and their wonderful eye sight) for locating the keys on the ground, in the dark, while it was raining, and with leaves everywhere. Amazing looking out! ❤

Have you ever lost your keys before? How did you end up finding them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov1

Creating A More Healthy Home

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Creating A More Healthy Home

You want your home to be a healthy and safe space for your family to live in and there are plenty of things you can do to make sure your home is more health conscious. Whether it’s being more environmentally aware or making better choices with your food, here are some tips to make a healthier home:

Shop Healthy:

Grocery shopping for healthy food is a great way to start the improvement process. Try to create a list beforehand and have your meal options ready so that you can shop for all the necessary bits and pieces you’ll need to make it. It’s worth trying to find healthy alternatives to anything unhealthy that you buy as you certainly may find that there’s more available now than ever before. With an increased focus on different dietary requirements, you are likely to find a lot more suitable options out there that are going to taste good whilst also being very healthy.

Keep Up With Home Maintenance:

Home maintenance is important to keep up with as they can often affect your household’s health if you don’t look after it. For example, ensuring your heating and air conditioning units are working properly and that any necessary filters have been cleaned in order to keep the air nice and clean. It’s worth getting a company like River City Heating and Air who can help with any home maintenance or fixes that need doing. You should also be looking at other machines in your home like the washing machine and dishwasher, for example, to check that they’re being deep cleaned on a regular basis. Failure to do so might result in damage to the machines but also problems with your health in what clings to clothing or what’s found in the filters of your dishwasher.

Sometimes, however, problems will occur in your home that can’t be avoided with regular maintenance. It is a good idea to compile a list of professionals that you can call when a situation arises. This can include emergency electrical services, emergency plumbers, locksmiths, a garage door repair company, roof repair professionals, and tree removal specialists. Time is of the essence when a home emergency takes place and knowing who to call can only help you and save money when avoiding further damage.

Go Green & Save Money:

Going green can be helpful in creating a healthier home that’s not only beneficial for you but can also help you to protect the environment too. Look at the ways in which you can go green and how you might be able to save money at the same time. One example is to consider solar energy and installing solar panels onto the property in order to generate its own electricity. If you decide to go green with solar, we suggest maximizing the system efficiency by hooking up the panels to a battery storage. That way you can store the excess power and use it when your panels are not producing electricity.

Solar panels are amazing for the environment and can prove to be a huge money saver in the long run. This is an especially good option if your home gets a lot of natural sunlight. If you are interested in learning more, simply enter a search for “solar panels houston” (or your local area). A consultation with a team of professionals can answer your questions and provide you with the next steps to take.

Speaking of electricity, you could also consider a change in your commute with an electric vehicle. This is not only good for the environment but good for your wallet too. You can even use the help of Residential electricians in your area to install an EV charging station for you so you never have to worry about tracking one down. Finally, you could start recycling more and embracing a paperless and plastic-free home. Both of these are easy to do, and it just requires a bit of extra work and effort on your part.

Free Your Space Of Clutter:

If your home is full of clutter, it’s a good idea to try and find ways of freeing up your excess items where possible. Look at what you have in your areas now and to do a declutter every so often. You may be best to do it at the start and end of each season, seeing as we can end up bringing in a lot of stuff into our homes over time. Be active when it comes to staying on top of clutter, and you’ll have a much more enjoyable at home experience because of it.

Transform Your Garden:

Transforming your garden is one area of the home that often gets overlooked. However, you could do many things in your garden and that includes growing your own food. Improve your garden in different ways and make it a more livable space for you and your household. Whether it’s entertaining guests around a fire pit or pruning the garden with your children, the garden can be a great place to keep yourselves healthy.

Creating a healthy home is important, so use these tips to begin a positive change today!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov1

How To Deal With A Home Damage Emergency

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How To Deal With A Home Damage Emergency

A home damage emergency can happen at any time and, like many things in life, they can often come at the wrong time. It’s worth making sure you know how to deal with a home emergency, however big or small it may be. With that being said, here are some tips for dealing with a home damage emergency so that life can return to normal as soon as possible:

Check Everyone Is Safe:

It’s important to know that when home damage occurs within your home, that all of the household is safe and sound. Whether it’s a kitchen fire or a constant flow of water coming out of the bathroom toilet, it’s good to take scope of everyone in the premises. Checking in to see if your children and partner are safe is important because then you can focus on the matter at hand. It might be that some home damages are caused by a member of the household, and they possibly could have injured themselves as a result. That’s why it’s important to check that everyone is okay and that no one is seriously harmed.

Do a once-over of any family members and guests, and then you can get any information necessary about what happened. This can be particularly important in scenarios where someone might be stressed out over what’s happened and needs calming down.

Assess The Damage Yourself:

Next up, it’s important to assess the damage that has been caused and whether or not it poses an instant threat. For some, like the boiler breaking down or becoming compromised in some way, could be dangerous to your home and therefore need you to vacate the property until the professionals arrive to look at the issue further. There also might be occasions where the damage is possibly very minimal and, as a result, you don’t need to call anyone out and instead may be able to fix the problem yourself. However, care must be taken when it comes to fixing things yourself because there is a chance that you might cause further damage. Be sure you know exactly what you need to do before going through with it. Otherwise, it may end up being a more costly fix.

Call Emergency Services If Needed:

When it comes to emergency services, it might be that you need to request their help in a situation where a family member is injured or you need authorities to take an account of what happened. There are times where property damage has been caused by someone else that doesn’t live in your household and is needing to be found or dealt with. The emergency services are there as and when you need them so if you need them, don’t be afraid to call.

Call In The Professionals:

When it comes to property damage, some jobs might require more than what you’re capable of. With that being said, it might be necessary to call in the professionals to get the job done. Again, attempting to do it yourself may not be something that is possible or that will end up going correctly. And so it’s worth hiring a property damage restoration company to come in and to assess the damage themselves so that the right work can be carried out. As much as it’s nice to think that your skills and experience expand to this level of expertise, it’s not always the case.

Try To Keep Life As Normal As Possible:

Finally, when it comes to property damage, it can end up throwing off the normal routine that you and your family might have. Try to keep life as normal as possible whatever home damage has been caused. The sooner you can get it fixed the better, but it’s something that shouldn’t impact your way of living for too long. Keep everyone happy and focused on other things until the problems can be solved.

Dealing with a home damage emergency can often be a challenge, but if you’ve got the right people to do the job, then it’s going to get done in no time at all! 🙂

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov1

Lil Red PSA: Vote, Vote, Vote Edition

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Lil Red PSA: Vote, Vote, Vote Edition

Hi everyone! Election Day is fast approaching and I wanted to use my platform to encourage everyone to participate in their right to vote. This is going to be, quite possibly, one of the most important elections of my lifetime and I can only hope and wish that a more suitable candidate will soon be in office.

I’m sure everyone can guess who I voted for if they keep in touch with me on Facebook but I want all of you to vote no matter who it’s for. Letting my voice be heard politically is something that makes me proud and I am proud of anyone who will be exercising their right as this election draws to a close.

These are extremely scary and tense times and the fate of America’s safety rests in the people’s hands. Send in your mail in ballots and if you’re voting in person, please continue to follow social distancing standards to help keep yourself and those around you safe. ❤

Vote, Vote, Vote

*And remember your loved ones who could be effected if the wrong person gets in the White House!

Featured Image By: Elemant5 Digital from Pexels

Oct31

Happy Halloween!

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Happy Halloween!

Hello everyone! Just swinging by on this spooky Saturday to wish all of you a very Happy Halloween! Although this year is much different than Halloween’s of past, there is still plenty of fun to be had. From scary movie marathons and crafts to a social distanced bonfire or a scavenger hunt at home, this could potentially be your best Halloween yet because you will have to do something totally different if you wish to be in COVID safety standards. But, something totally different doesn’t mean anything less enjoyable!

Visit previous Halloween posts here on lifewithlilred to help get you inspired and bring some scary fun and completely safe Halloween spirit to you and yours. ❤

Happy Halloween!!

^^^ Never forget my sweet doggie’s Minion costume!

How are you celebrating Halloween this year? What is your favorite Halloween costume ever? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct28

Keeping Calm When Moving House Independently

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Keeping Calm When Moving House Independently

Moving to a new house is such a huge task, and it can feel almost impossible when you have to struggle through the journey by yourself. Moving alone means that you are the only person responsible for completing each and every requirement, and this can easily become an overwhelming task. Luckily you needn’t suffer through such a negative experience, as there are many proactive tips and tricks that you can utilize to keep calm and cool whilst moving to a new home independently! Read on to uncover some of the best steps that you can follow now to breeze through your move and make the most of each and every achievement:

Make A Plan:

One of the best things that you can do to take the stress out of moving by yourself is to make a detailed plan which includes every important step and feature. The most essential date of all is the day that you move into your new property, but there are also many other tasks that you must complete before you reach this point. Your belongings must be organized and either packed up ready for the move, sold on for extra funds, or simply thrown away, and you need to update your address with all of the relevant companies to maintain security.

It is also important to organize utilities inside your new home, not forgetting a WiFi connection, and arrange your finances by using a platform like MortgageCalculator.Org to figure out your monthly payments. Making a plan will help you to ensure that you don’t accidentally miss any of the most essential steps during your move, and the fact that you can tick off each task as you go is a great motivation to keep on working hard to get closer to your goal.

Get Professional Support

If you feel as though you are struggling through your move without any support, there’s always the option to enlist professional, specialist help to see you through to the end of your journey. Whether you need the help of an experienced estate agent to find your new dream home or would benefit from a team of trusted movers to help you transport your life from A to B, there are many different brands and people ready and waiting for your inquiry. It’s a good idea to check online and read a few reviews left by previous customers to get a better feel for the quality of the service they provide, as you don’t want to waste money on something that won’t really offer any benefit, and positive feedback can give you great peace of mind.

Keeping calm when moving independently has never been so simple when you are able to utilize the top tips and tricks that have been detailed above! You needn’t struggle through such a huge task all by yourself, as there’s always a way to maintain control or seek out specialist support to help carry you through the process.

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Oct24

Working In The Care Profession During COVID Times

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Working In The Care Profession During COVID Times

Hello! For those of you who don’t know, I am an Independent Provider for people with special needs and I provide care in home and in the community. I have been an essential worker since the beginning of all of this COVID business in March and, I’ll be honest, sometimes I just want to crawl back in bed instead of go to work!

Because I work with some very high risk families, I have been essentially in my own state of lock down for the past seven months. Coffees with friends have turned into FaceTime dates and dinners out with Johnny just means Door Dashing something now. Of course, this is all A-okay, though, because I would never forgive myself if I ever brought this virus to any of my clients. It’s a lot of pressure but it’s just me doing my job.

I have come to terms with the fact that I will not be “going out” and Johnny has too, since we live together (Believe me, I wouldn’t want to. Just the thought of going to a bar or restaurant makes me cringe!). This has put us in very close acquaintance with our TV, Nintendo Switch, and each other literally every day, lol.

Although it can feel like a lot to be so limited to my apartment, I do still treat myself monthly to getting my nails done and it is my outing to look forward to. I know that many of those working in the care and health profession are doing everything that they can to keep their clients and patients safe and I applaud all of them because it’s not easy, that’s for sure.

I also encourage all of us who are hunkered down to participate in a “treat” to help lift your spirits. After a rough day at work or even just hearing the state of the world on the news, I never say no to a pick me up. Whether that be pampering myself with a face mask or maybe ordering something small online – it’s important for me to be in the best mood I can to continue being able to give the best care that I can to my clients every day.

I am very thankful to my clients and their families because they motivate me to be extra careful every day. I am also very thankful to everyone in the health and care profession as well as all employees right now who continue with their duties despite potentially being in harm’s way. We rock and I wish nothing but the best for all of you! ❤

How has your job been affected from COVID? How do you keep your spirits high right now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct23

When You’re Having Trouble Finding Your Dream Home

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When You’re Having Trouble Finding Your Dream Home

The real estate market can be one wild ride to go through. Looking for homes is far from easy and even homes that you should be able to easily say “no” or “yes” to can become a trickier subject when you’re thinking about trying to move quickly or ensuring you have your finances in the right place. However, it’s even harder when you just can’t find a home to say “yes” to. If you’re having trouble finding your new home, here are a few tips to get you back in the game:

Know your priorities:

First of all, you might need to manage your expectations a little. When you’re talking about the right home for you, does it have to tick every single box or are there some boxes that are more important than the others? For the vast majority of house hunters, the latter is more likely to be the case. If that is so, then you should take the time to actually know which boxes need to be ticked and which would be nice to have. Sit down with a pen, paper, and anyone else who is involved in buying the home and brainstorm things you want from the home. Then take the time to separate them into actual wants and needs, so you know what you might be willing to drop if all the most important boxes are ticked.

Get some help looking:

If you’re having trouble finding a good home, then the simple issue might be that you don’t know where to look. That’s nothing to be ashamed of, it’s not like it’s your profession to go house hunting. That is the profession of real estate agents, however. Working with local real estate agents means getting access to someone who has done plenty of research in the area, so they know about what amenities you can expect, how properties compare to one another in the general area, as well as pricing history throughout the area. What’s more, there are plenty of properties that don’t get advertised to the general public that a good estate agent can help you find.

If you’re looking for a major change, expand your horizons! Perhaps you want to try living in a brand new state and are interested in land home packages delaware, or elsewhere, which combine the convenience of securing both land and a custom-built home. This change of scenery might be just the inspiration you need to find your dream property, especially if you are coming up empty with local options. Working with a home builder team is interactive, exciting and could be an excellent way to go if you are not willing to sacrifice the must haves and nice to haves in your new home.

Can you make it your dream home?

Your home might not exactly fit all of your needs and wants right now, but how many of those could you take the time to implement yourself? When it comes to home styling, the world is your oyster so long as you have the budget for it. However, even when it comes to how much space you have and how many rooms you have, you might want to look at home remodeling services. This is going to boost the overall price of the home, of course, so you need to seriously consider how much you want those changes. If you still can’t imagine the house to be the home of your dreams even with remodeling, it is best to explore other options like touring different properties or considering new house and land packages. Sometimes the home you are viewing is just not a good fit and that is okay!

Can you make your dream home?

Buying a home to only renovate and remodel it can be a lot more expensive than you might think. In fact, it might actually be more cost-effective to build your dream home, yourself. Going for a new build with the help of custom home builders is actually a more reasonable choice than you might think. Besides, if you have the budget, you can make sure that your custom home ticks every single one of your wants and needs. Custom home communities like Olde Bulltown Village are becoming more and more popular and could be a great place to start looking for inspiration. For those who don’t want to compromise, there simply isn’t a better option than to build the home yourself instead of buying one.

Know when you have found the right house:

Perhaps you’ve already found the home for you, but you simply haven’t taken the time to acknowledge it. In a lot of cases, if you find the best home on the market early, then you might not make a move on it since you want to see what else is out there. However, the more homes you look at, the more the details of that older property can slip out of your mind. Be sure to talk about homes you have looked over with your real estate agent so you can compare them in detail and remind yourself of the house that might already be right for you. Then you need to be willing to act on it.

You might not always be able to get the home that ticks every single one of your boxes. If you do, it’s probably going to be more expensive than you might think. However, hopefully, the tips above will help you get a little closer than you currently are!

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