Tag Archives: anything and everything

Sep8

Moving? Get Things In Order For A Smoother Move!

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Moving? Get Things In Order For A Smoother Move!

We all know that moving house can be a bit stressful, especially when it comes to your first time. The scale of organization, the psychological adjustment, and the emotional strain involved in the process, are the main factors behind the enormous pressure we can experience during this transitional stage of our lives.

First-time movers often underestimate some key elements of the pre-mobile phase, such as market research for a modern transportation service or packing their assets properly. So, to avoid feeling in a state of panic a week before the big day, do your homework and get an idea from some transport company specializing in home relocations. Also, make sure you start packing your items in advance and mark the shipping boxes correctly. This way, you will be able to find everything you need, quickly and easily, when you start unpacking them in your new home and garden!

So your dream home is ready. Let’s say you have found a beautiful new property with Bellriver Homes and you are about to move in. You will definitely want to make sure it runs smoothly, so how can you pack up easily and effectively?

Priority marking:

This marking system could determine which box has priority in moving, which goes first to the transport truck and which is loaded last. In this way, the moving company will be able to give priority to which boxes will be loaded first in the truck so that they can then be unloaded and transported in the correct order to the right room. The other idea behind this system for easy removal is to state clearly so that you remember which box has priority in terms of unpacking. Thus, you can mark a box with a “Y” for high priority, a “M” for medium priority and an “X” to highlight its low priority level. 

How to pack fragile items and how to mark the boxes to achieve safe transport:

In this case, whether you decide to pack your fragile items in groups or to make fragile items per room, numbered or with colored markers, you will need to use packaging and to wrap them properly with protective bubble wrap. Wrap each item individually whether it is glass, crystal, porcelain, or mirror and carefully place them in boxes. Use a lot of bubble wrap or old towels and cloths to fill any gaps between the objects and the sides of the box so that when the transport is undertaken with the truck the objects remain in place. Lastly, make sure that you have a label on all sides of the package that says it is fragile for the movers to see.

It’s no secret that packing up to move can be a huge chore. If you need a helping hand with this process, simply enter a search for “reliable movers in Bakersfield” (or your local area). Moving companies often offer assistance with packing too so your beloved keepsakes can stay safe in transport. Certain moving companies might specialize in specific kinds of items they transport. This can include the heirlooms that are valuable in worth or sentiment or very fragile items. Bigger furnishings might require special care in the moving process as well. If you have a hot tub to be moved to your new home, for example, services from a Spa Moving Company (or a similar one in your local area) can assist with transportation. How great will it be to have a relaxing soak after the big move?!

Unpacking after moving house?

The move is over, you are in your new home, and there are so many boxes to unpack! The best thing you can do is keep your cool and take your time. You will find that unpacking can be fun, especially if you have done the packaging and labeling correctly. You can reuse the marking system and start unpacking room by room, from high to low priority. Take regular breaks and enjoy, decorate your new home gradually without stress. Why not open a bottle of wine or lemonade, light a scented candle, and say “hello” to your new home! And if you have to move again one day, you now know how to do it the easiest way!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Sep8

Lil Red & The Best Morning Ever

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Lil Red & The Best Morning Ever

Hi! I am and am not a morning person. I love to sleep in on the weekends but when I do need to get up for work during the week I am pretty good about not hitting the snooze button! My mornings before work are usually a bit hectic because I still need to write and get ready before I head out an hour and change later. So, I guess I have to be pretty good about not hitting the snooze button.

A few days ago, though? I hit that snooze button so hard! Fifteen minutes worth, in fact, so I had to kick it into hyper speed if I wanted to make it to work on time, write, and shower. Instead of freaking out, I said “challenge accepted” and ended up having a morning where everything went my way.

First of all, I felt awesome from the little bit of extra sleep. I also managed to leave my apartment earlier than normal because I had to drop some about to be due library books off at my mom and dad’s on the way. But, in my rush out the door as well as carrying a bunch of other crap, I forgot my can of Diet Coke on the kitchen table and didn’t realize it until I got in my car. Too late to turn back so I headed to chez parents.

LUCKY ME, though, because besides from seeing my parents bright and early (Which was nice!) I was able to snag a can of pop from their place and all was well. Then, about five minutes later, things just got a whole lot better.

I haven’t mentioned this on here, but my car radio has not been working for the past month. No radio, no CDs, no plugging in my iPod – nothing. So, I just have to play my iPod really loud while driving but it just isn’t the same. I missed being able to play the radio, specifically on Throwback Thursday, desperately and vowed to get it fixed EVENTUALLY.

Although it sucks, I came to terms with my unfortunate radio situation and was cranking AFI’s decemberunderground on my iPod when a miracle happened. I was sitting at a red light and out of nowhere my radio turned on! I literally thought I was imagining things but it really was playing and I eagerly began going through all of my favorite stations to hear what was good that I’ve been missing out on.

During my twenty or so minute drive to work, I heard all of my favorite songs on the radio and it really did feel like everything was going my way. I was just worried my radio wasn’t going to work again when I was done with my shift. LUCKY ME, though, because it did and I heard even more of my favorites on the way to my next client. It. Was. AWESOME!

Having such an amazing string of luck all morning was just the pick me up I needed to finish my work week strongly and I am still reveling in my good fortune. It really is true that the smallest things can have the biggest impact! 🙂

Have you had something lucky happen recently? Are you an early bird or night owl? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep6

Grocery Shopping Fun

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Grocery Shopping Fun

Hello! I don’t know about you guys but I have always loved going grocery shopping. From tagging along with my mom in my youth to stocking up the cupboards in my apartment, there’s just something about picking out tasty food that is so enjoyable to me. I normally only try to go shopping one time a month and knock everything out that I need and it has always worked for me. In fact, it works even better now in COVID times because who wants to go to the store every single time they run out of something?

My shopping extravaganzas were put on pause for the past month or so because Johnny made a few smaller trips. I was so thankful he did because I really didn’t feel like it but his shopping trips just didn’t hit the same. No offense to my MAN because I definitely was not as specific on the shopping list as I could have been, lol! This past week, I finally did a big shopping trip after we deemed our apartment as having “nothing to eat” and it was a blast!

In my neck of the woods, we have Giant Eagle and if you’re lucky it’s a Market District one like I have by me. The Market Districts are DOPE because they have literally everything you could ever want including all of the things you didn’t even know you needed. When it first opened five or so years ago, it was actually the place to be as there is a bar where you can get a drink and walk around with it while you shop. They even had live music playing for the first handful of months.

Not only does the Market District have a bar but they have all kinds of food stands where you can pick up specialty items – everything from gelato and sushi to stir fry, soul food, and delicious prepared pasta salads, soups, and antipasto. Like I said, all of the things you didn’t even know you needed.

I love going grocery shopping because it feels good to take care of myself and Johnny. Of course, I get everything we need on the list but I picked up plenty of treats for myself like vegetarian sushi, my favorite grapefruit beer, and yummy fruit popsicles. Johnny, on the other hand, got a lot of the breakfast items that he eats but didn’t make a special request for. I got them anyways because I wanted him to have variety. 🙂

Adulting doesn’t always have to suck and I think my deep love for grocery shopping is a prime example of that. Don’t tell anyone – but it can actually be kind of fun!

What is your favorite adulting chore? How about your least favorite? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep1

Staying In Your Own Home As You Age

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Staying In Your Own Home As You Age

If you’re planning to stay in place and remain at home as you age, then the key is to plan ahead. Many things change as we get older and new challenges that we need to overcome start to present themselves. Here are some things that you may want to consider if you want to age in your own home rather than entering a care facility:

Make your wishes known:

If you have decided that you want to age in place, then the first thing that you should do is to make your wishes known to your friends and family. By letting those close to you know your intentions, they can start to think of ways in which they can best support you. If you fail to let your relatives know your wishes, then you risk them fighting you when it comes down to making the decision.

Start looking at the support you have available:

It is never too early to start familiarizing yourself with the home health care services and aged support available to you in your area. How about getting started by checking out www.careforfamily.com.au/ ? You can get virtually any kind of help you need at home, though you should be aware that most of these come at a cost. If you know the cost of aging in-state early, then you can begin saving for these expenses to help you afford them. Don’t forget to research the benefit schemes that may also be available to you and to look into other funding sources such as equity release.

Identify areas in which you may need help:

If you already have an existing medical condition, then plan ahead to try and identify areas that could potentially prevent you from aging at home. Are you worried about your mobility? Do you struggle to keep up with the housework? Do you forget things? By identifying these potential issues early, you can put safeguarding measures in place that will allow you to stay safe in your own home.

Start socializing with other local seniors:

One of the biggest issues with choosing to age at home is the isolation that it can cause. People who choose to move into a care facility often have access to group activities, other residents, and the company of staff, but if you choose to age at home, then these may not be available to you. To prevent loneliness and boredom, try to get involved with social clubs and to make friends in your local area that are around the same age as you.

Boost your security:

Last but not least, although no one wants to think about people preying on the elderly, you need to ensure that your home security is robust enough to keep you safe. You may want to consider installing CCTV, a monitored alarm, or additional outside lighting to deter intruders and to notify the authorities if someone tries to break into your property.

Most people would like to stay in their own homes for as long as possible while they age but are let down by a lack of funding and pre-planning. By thinking ahead and budgeting for the cost, you can ensure that your wishes become a reality!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Aug30

Hi, How Are You?

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Hi, How Are You?

Hi there! Recently at work, I took a client through a McDonald’s drive thru for lunch. I pulled my car up to the speaker and greeted whomever was working with a standard “Hi, how are you?” A very young and shocked sounding male voice told me “no one ever asks me how I’m doing, I guess I’m doing pretty good”. We chatted for a few seconds and he took my order, then I pulled up to his window to make the transaction.

A barely twenty-something year old kid who looked miserable, at best, had the voice I could finally put a face to. However, when I pulled my car up, he gave me a huge smile and thanked me for “being cool”. My heart somewhat broke and exploded. Broke because this young man working at a Micky D’s right off of the highway had a high point in his day just because I asked him how he was. Exploded because something so simple improved how he felt and, therefore, it made me feel good.

After I rolled up to the next window, I proceeded to give his compliments to the manager because he deserved it. He was prompt and kind and I wanted his day to continue to be the best. When my client and I drove away she told me “I think you made his day” and I told her that he made mine too.

Times are crazy right now. COVID and political unrest do not make for the most ideal living situation! But, times are never too crazy to be friendly to everyone you encounter and I think this story definitely can attest to that. ❤

How has someone made your day recently? How have you made someone’s day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug29

lifewithlilred Domain Renewal!

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lifewithlilred Domain Renewal!

Hello!!! On August 21st, lifewithlilred’s domain of http://www.lifewithlilred.com has been renewed for its seventh year online. It feels like just yesterday when I started my blog and it’s hard to believe that it has already been going on for the better part of a decade. lifewithlilred originally started out as more of an online journal and ode to fashion and from such simple beginnings, I now have readers and friends in over one hundred and ninety different countries. Wow!

Since lifewithlilred’s conception, I have been writing every day. I get up early before work to get my blogging done and I can’t believe I still have stuff to talk about after all of this time! No one ever said blogging was easy and that is the truth – it takes a lot of dedication and perseverance to write Every. Single. Day. Luckily for me, such amazing friends tuning in makes this task a joy instead of a burden.

I want to thank literally everyone who has viewed lifewithlilred because all of you serve as my motivation to continue on with this blogging journey. So thank you all from the bottom of my heart and here’s to another lucky seven more years of lifewithlilred!! ❤

And, as a reminder, my blog is a safe place for everyone and if you are ever interested in guest blogging for me, then shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com 🙂

Aug28

Preparations To Make Moving Day A Breeze

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Preparations To Make Moving Day A Breeze

Moving day should be an exciting one where you step right into your next adventure. However, there’s a lot to remember and the idea of moving can be pretty overwhelming. To help you, the ideas below should make the day a breeze. Take a look and see what you can do to make this a much easier task:

Don’t Panic About Doing The Hard Stuff Yourself – Hire Somebody:

Stop panicking about doing the hard stuff yourself. You shouldn’t have to do it alone. Contacting a service like Burnett’s Moving Services will take a literal weight off of your shoulders and give you the help you need. You may also want to ask family members and friends for help. Moving, of course, is an expensive adventure and one of the best ways to save money is to move all the light stuff on your own. Then, you can leave the heavy lifting for furniture to the professionals from a mover interstate company like Austate.

Donate Items That You No Longer Use Or Want:

Don’t take absolutely everything with you on moving day. There are likely some items that you can donate as you no longer use them. If you haven’t used something for six months or more, chances are, you won’t use them again.

Organize Your Boxes:

Remember, don’t make one box too heavy or an innocent helper or removal expert could end up dropping all of your things when the bottom opens up. Make sure your boxes are a fair weight and that you have organized them well. For instance, you should label each box, not just with the room but what’s inside of it. This will help you if you need to grab something quickly.

Create A To-do List In Advance:

Your moving preparations should start months, or at least weeks ahead to ensure that you don’t forget anything. Make to-do lists so that you can stay on top of everything. You’ll need to make sure you do the following things:

  • Inform your utility suppliers of your move.
  • Redirect mail to your new address.
  • Inform neighbors that you’re moving.
  • Look for a new school if you have kids.
  • Prepare your pets for the move.
  • Use up all of the food in the house.
  • Hire the necessary services and ensure they are available on the day.

Try Not To Have Kids and Pets There On Moving Day:

Kids and pets can slow you down on moving day, especially if they are feeling stressed about the whole thing. See if you can find a sitter if you’re not moving too far away and let the adults handle the rest.

Get Smart As You Pack:

You can get smart as you pack, for example, wrapping up your dishes and other breakable items with clothing, socks, towels, and t-shirts to cushion any impact. You can also leave your drawers intact and simply wrap them up with plastic to keep the contents safe. Try filling up things like hampers, laundry baskets, and storage bins with clothes and other items to double their use up. If the packing process is what you dread the most, fear not! A majority of moving companies offer packing services as well. Simply enter a search for “Bayville movers” (or your local area) to find a well reviewed company to take this task off of your hands. Moving can be very stressful and extra help with packing will be a huge relief.

Pack An Emergency Box For Each Family Member:

Pack an emergency box for each member of the family, including things like a drink, snack, charger, book, toy, and anything else they may need when they are making their way to or have arrived at the new place. You’ll minimize tantrums and keep everybody happy!

Good luck on your move!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Aug27

What Are Your Goals For The Rest Of The Year?

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What Are Your Goals For The Rest Of The Year?

It’s easy to think that this year has been a bit of a mess. Because in many ways, it has. But at the same time, the days are still ticking by. And if you’re someone that is looking at the time and thinking, where has the time gone, then you’re not alone. Because the situation of the world definitely makes you feel like you’re on pause, but you’re not! Life goes on. And before long, you may find that you want to try and turn the year around and be able to accomplish something. This doesn’t even have to refer to work. It can be about your hobbies, your home, or your health – anything! But if you want anything to happen, you have to make sure that you set those goals. So, let’s take a look.

Follow Your Passion:

To start with, it could be that you want to think about doing something that you love. Maybe you’ve felt uneasy over the last few months and you’ve felt lost? When that’s the case, working to uncover your passion and then dedicating some time to it can be just what you need right now.

Start A Side Hustle:

As a step on from that, you may find that you want to do something that will help or advance your career. Maybe you’re not happy at work at the moment? Or you have always dreamed of doing a different job? Now could be the time that you start a side hustle or you think about taking a course to help you change careers.

goal1Unsplash Image

Get Fit:

You also might want to look after your body a little more. If you have felt lethargic lately, it could really help you if you start to work on getting fit. There’s so much time left this year, you could really transform your body!

Redo Your Home:

You may even be thinking about your home and some of the changes that you’d like to make. Because when you’re spending more time inside, as you will throughout the winter, you might want to spruce it up. Whether you have suffered with an issue recently and need to look into water damage restoration cost or you want to redo the space because it’s been a while since you did it, now is the time. It may be the project you focus on that makes you feel great!

Be More Present:

You may find that the most important thing for you is to be able to be more present. It’s easy to get worked up over everything that is happening in the world right now. That can then often mean that you’re worrying or overthinking a lot of the time. But that just causes you to miss a lot of life. It will pass you by! When you decide to be more present, you are going to find that you are able to make the most of all of your efforts.

Ready, set, goal and finish the year strong!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Aug26

Random Lil Red Fun Facts

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Random Lil Red Fun Facts

Hello! In coronavirus times, I have become a little bit “boring”. Not because I want to, of course. Safety trumps all and with multiple high risk clients that I care for, I can never be too, well… careful! A lack of going out and socializing/shopping has definitely made maintaining lifewithlilred more difficult but no one said being a blogger was easy and I still write every day.

If you are just tuning into my page, welcome! I hope you learn something new about me. For those of you who have been with me for the past almost six years, hi again! I also hope you learn something new about me with the following:

  1. I have well over fifty tattoos and have simply lost count of how many I have at this point.
  2. I try to read at least two books per month – sometimes three if I’m feeling especially reading ravenous.
  3. I wouldn’t consider myself a huge “gamer” but I have become obsessed with Animal Crossing since I have been at home more often. Johnny and I share an island called Dingusburg and my favorite thing is fishing for sharks and diving for undersea critters. 🙂
  4. I have been self employed for the past six years and run two businesses that I am very proud of.
  5. Johnny and I are celebrating one year together on September 1st and I couldn’t be happier!
  6. My last in store shopping trip was at TJMaxx in February and I miss it desperately.
  7. I also miss going ice skating a lot too! I used to figure skate competitively and just started taking up learning how to ice dance. I even bought new skates. Then, COVID happened, and I haven’t been on the ice since March. Whomp whomp.
  8. I am an aunt to an adorable niece and nephew. I am the baby of the family with two older brothers and an older sister. I also have two dog brothers named Archie and Ollie. ❤
  9. I allow myself two “treat” outings per month and I always opt to get my hair and nails done. I think I would go crazy without my monthly fill and color touch up!
  10. I have been a vegetarian for close to two decades and I love all kinds of food – especially Indian, Mexican, and Thai. Unfortunately, Johnny is on a much different diet of chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and Honey Nut Cheerios to lower his cholesterol so I usually have to eat my favorites by my damn self… More for me!

What are some fun facts about you? Do you have any questions for me? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug23

Making Time For Me

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Making Time For Me

Hello! Ever since I began my self employment journey five years and change back, I have been dedicated to running both of my businesses the best that I can. Of course, it is exhausting but it is also so rewarding that it makes putting one foot in front of the other each day that little bit easier. The only bad thing about self employment? No paid time off. -_-

I have always had a hard time taking days off because needing “me time” during the week means I won’t be getting paid! However, having a boyfriend who gets holidays off has turned my mindset a total one eighty. Believe you me, I love my job but having to go to work on a day that Johnny has off is for the birds.

So, I began to do something different when Johnny and I got more serious. I began being much more lenient with myself about taking a day off. Sleeping in during the weekend rocks but there’s something about sleeping in on a day you should be at work that just hits different.

Since I have become better about taking a day off every once in a while, it has given me something to look forward to. Johnny and I now coordinate our time off as best as we can and I cannot wait for Labor Day Monday so I can have a three day weekend with my MAN. It’s a bit of a way off, yes. But can you blame a girl for being excited about the little things during the coronavirus pandemic?!

Making more time for me has turned me into a much more relaxed individual because I’m literally giving myself permission to chill out. That really has never happened before since I began being my own boss. A day off with my boyfriend is always what the doctor ordered, though, so bring on Labor Day! 😀

What are you looking forward to? How do you make time for yourself? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah