Tag Archives: anything and everything

At Home Concerts

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At Home Concerts

Hello! For those of you who don’t know, my “big girl job” is as an independent provider for people with special needs. I specialize in community integration and the development of daily living skills and have been an “essential” employee throughout the coronavirus pandemic. So, you can imagine how hard it is to do my job of getting my clients out and about in the community when there is a contagious virus and many of them are high risk.

My job has now been limited to the homes of my clients and that is A-okay because it’s what is best for them, their families, and myself. But, that’s not to say it hasn’t been easy, especially when cabin fever is kicking in for everyone. I am constantly trying to come up with fun ways to keep my clients entertained at home to combat the boredom blues and was particularly pleased with my brain blast last week.

My most senior client who I am with the most often during the week LOVES the golden oldies and always tells me about when he saw The Beach Boys and Sha Na Na in concert. After his recollection last week, he asked when we can see those bands live together. I told him as soon as it was safe, as always, and then I realized we kind of could see them in concert.

I told him I had an idea and pulled YouTube up on his TV. Then, I found some live footage of Sha Na Na performing as well as plenty of full length Beach Boys concerts. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw his favorites performing right in front of him again. In fact, he was so elated that he told me to bring his brother up so he could see how much fun he was having. 🙂

My friend and I plan on having weekly “concerts” at home, compliments of YouTube. We have The Beach Boys on deck and who knows what will be next! It was amazing to see him so excited about something and, sometimes, the most fun things can happen right at home. ❤

Which bands have you seen in concert? Who would you love to see perform live? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Still Need Something To Do?

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Still Need Something To Do?

Hello! If quarantine has been giving you nothing but the boredom blues as of late, then it sounds like you need an activity ASAP. We’re not just talking about the basics of reading, gardening, and baking… We’re talking guest blogging. If you would like to be a featured writer on lifewithlilred for the day to my readers in over one hundred and ninety countries, then shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com

Join my Quarantine Team and spend an afternoon doing something different! Who knows, it might just light a creative spark to keep you inspired as the coronavirus pandemic continues on. Send me an email with a few post ideas that you had in mind and we’ll get you on your way to becoming part of the lifewithlilred family in no time! ❤

Save Time By Outsourcing Your Personal Admin

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Save Time By Outsourcing Your Personal Admin

Do you feel like you don’t have any time? If you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get stuff done, you may be overstretching yourself. It’s okay to pay someone to complete personal admin. From getting help moving house to having your shopping delivered, you can carve some time back for yourself by leaving your daily tasks to the professionals:

Help Moving House:

Were you considering renting a van and driving your furniture to your new home? Moving is already stressful enough without you having to relocate your entire house at the same time. Hire a moving company to do the job for you. You can often select the level of service you require, from long-distance relocation to storage options until you get settled in. Let yourself focus on getting your family into the new place while a moving company does the rest for you.

Grocery Shopping:

Are you fed up with making your way to the supermarket every week? Well, stop doing it! 1.8 billion people worldwide shop online, so it’s time to join a quarter of the population and start saving yourself some time. Choose a delivery service and let your food come to you. If you don’t drive, ordering your food shopping saves you even more time than relying on public transport. You can order more in one go, too, rather than carrying bags home yourself.

Painting and Decorating:

While we’d all love a pristine home, if you’re not a professional, doing some home decor yourself can often be disappointing. You have a perfect idea of what you want the room to look like, only to find your DIY skills are a little lacking. The hours tick by while you’re watching paint dry, knowing you’ll have to put another coat of paint on. Doesn’t sound fun, right? Pay a professional painter or decorator, and you’ll be happy with the finished product and save yourself time in the process. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to finding a painter, you could make use of a site like My House Painter https://www.myhousepainter.com/painters/texas/ to locate and get estimates from a whole host of local contractors so that you can choose the best one for you.

Gardening:

It can feel daunting to tackle your garden maintenance, especially if your outdoor space has gone unloved for a while. You could seek out Pinterest for some garden inspiration, or you could hire a professional gardener to take the stress off you. Your garden might need a little spruce up or you might take the opportunity to hire a landscape gardener for a complete overhaul. Take back some vital weekend time you might otherwise spend wondering what to do with your garden.

Daily Errands:

Are you tired of having to wait in line or complete daily errands that are otherwise pretty dull? From putting together IKEA furniture to folding your laundry, there are hundreds of daily tasks you can outsource to someone else. See if there’s a service like TaskRabbit in your area to hire someone to take on your daily errands. Or, you might want to earn money doing this for someone yourself.

There are hundreds of little things you can outsource to others to make time for yourself. Start outsourcing your personal admin today, and you’ll be surprised when it frees up time to do the things you actually enjoy.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Keeping Sane In Quarantine

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Keeping Sane In Quarantine

Hello! Yours truly and my boyfriend have essentially been in quarantine mode since March nineteenth when the restaurants and bars in Ohio first shut down. Johnny was on furlough and just recently went back to work while I have been holding down the fort with my clients the whole time as an “essential” employee.

Our interactions with others (outside of work) has been very limited to occasional social distance hang outs with a friend or two and a weekly errand if we need anything from the store. This has, by no means, been the most fun I’ve ever had but with numerous high risk clients and family members, safety always comes first.

There was a point when cabin fever was really setting in and “this sucks” was my signature catchphrase for most of the day (Just ask Johnny!). So, what have I been doing to keep myself sane during close to four months of lock down? All of the following:

Writing Daily:

It has been really important to me to try and keep my daily schedule in tact, which means writing every day for lifewithlilred. Is coming up with content difficult when there’s literally nothing to do? YES!! But, it keeps my brain active and it’s fun for me. I have been continuing on with my schedule of getting up early before work to write and it is just the push I need to get myself up and going each and every day.

Reading A Ton:

There is only so much TV you can watch and video games you can play until your brain feels so mushy it would be a pleasure to read a dictionary. I have definitely been at that point, myself, in quarantine so I try to read a little every day. As usual, I have been loving reading my thriller/mystery books. The best part? A good whodoneit keeps my mind working once I’ve put the book down as I try to figure out what happens next. Bonus!

Perfecting Skills:

It has REALLY sucked not being able to go for my weekly figure skating practices because I looked forward to them so much. So, now, I have been focused more than ever on perfecting things that I can do from home. Like learning languages, for example. About two to three times a week I practice French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Czech while once weekly I work on American Sign Language.

Is sitting on my couch practicing languages as fun as hitting the rink? Yes, actually, in its own way. And, it gives me something to do on a scheduled basis which is why I think I have been so dedicated to Duolingo for the past few months.

Not Going Social Media Crazy:

With everyone butting heads with different opinions right now as well as constantly being flooded with news of the mainly bad kind – social media can feel overwhelming, especially right now. If scrolling through your newsfeed is making you feel more upset than entertained, then maybe it’s time for you to take a brief hiatus. Plenty of my friends have and I find myself shying away from checking my Facebook 24/7 too.

There’s only so much bickering and bad news you can take and if you’re seeing it all of the time, it’s no wonder why you might not be feeling your best! Take a break from your social and replace that time with something that makes you laugh online like your favorite comedy YouTube videos or dog related memes. :*)

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How have you been keeping yourself sane in quarantine? How have you been keeping yourself safe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A Day In The Life Of Quarantine

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A Day In The Life Of Quarantine

Hello! Unfortunately in Ohio, the coronavirus cases are rising again and life in quarantine for me and Johnny will continue on until who knows how long. We both have been limiting our time in the community drastically and only go out for an errand once a week or so apiece since mid-March. Cabin fever, much?! But, with both of our families being high risk as well as quite a few of my clients, the risk is just not worth it.

As an essential employee, I have been working this entire time and, normally, I loved to let my hair down and go out with Johnny and our friends over the weekend. We all know that this won’t be happening again for the foreseeable future and this question has been asked to me so many times now: What have Johnny and I been doing this whole time?

Lol, it’s a great question, honestly. On a typical day when we are both off, there tends to be a TV show or movie marathon at some point. Johnny loves to play video games so while he’s doing that I like to read, write, or practice my languages. Cooking dinner and breakfast for my man also helps pass the time too and it’s so fun for me because I love coming up with new dishes to serve.

Although it’s summertime in Ohio right now, the weather has just been crap so our outdoor options are severely limited. Before, it was cold and raining nonstop. Now, the temperatures are in the mid nineties and it makes being outdoors for even a minute unbearable. It’s too bad because we both would love to go for a hike but when one of us (AKA me) tends to get nauseous in the heat, it just isn’t even worth it.

Quarantine life has been like being grounded except I can have a glass of wine whenever I want and that makes it a bit more fun! Johnny and I both are itching to get out of the house but safety always comes first. So, in the meantime, I am a-okay being in our little apartment building with LEGO and watching Impractical Jokers for hours on end. ❤

How has the coronavirus impacted your life? What are things like in your neck of the woods right now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A Friendly Reminder!

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A Friendly Reminder!

Hey everyone!! I recently went on a getaway staycation with my family in Lexington, Kentucky and, although the trip really just consisted of chilling, it was the most fun I’ve had in ages. I wanted to remind everyone that you can still have a great time despite taking extra precautions like face masks and social distancing. Especially since I can imagine we are all going a bit stir crazy right now!

During our trip, all of us stuck with what we were comfortable doing. If that was wearing a mask and going out, fine. If it was just hanging out at home in the air conditioning, that was okay too. It’s easy to feel trapped in this situation, which is why going out of state for a while felt like the perfect solution… Even if it was just to sit in a different living room and watch TV. 😀

Feeling stressed amidst the coronavirus pandemic? Try planning a small, safe getaway. Stay in a hotel for a night or rent a cabin in the middle of nowhere! Sometimes the best thing you can do is get out of the house or apartment you’ve been stuck in and experience a change of scenery. Keep your safety standards high and I promise you, it will make you feel like a brand new person. I know I do!

Are you planning a safe getaway any time soon? How do you destress during the coronavirus pandemic? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Simple Improvements To Secure Your Home

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Simple Improvements To Secure Your Home

It is important that you feel safe and secure in your home. After all, a quiet evening on the couch after a long days work is what most of us crave! Feeling safer can be done with the following super easy steps:

Close Those Windows:

The very first thing that we are going to suggest is that you close all the windows in your home when you aren’t in. Even when you are, it is safer for you to leave them on the latch, and never leave them open at night time. If you live in an area that is known for having a high crime rate, then you want to make sure you are locking them too. We know it can feel like a pain to have to go around locking and unlocking the windows all the time, but you can’t really put a price on safety.

So, make sure that your windows are not left open at night time or through any period that you are not in the home. People who are looking to break in don’t typically want to enter a home when there are still people inside, so as long as it is obvious you are home, you should be okay.

Get Your Doors Checked:

You also need to look into getting all of the doors in your home checked. Now, this includes your garage door, so if you are at all worried about this, then you need to visit the better built door website where you will find a service that can help you with the garage door in particular. You want to ensure that all doors close properly, all of them lock, and a slight gust of wind isn’t going to blow them open. You don’t want to be in a vulnerable home and doors that don’t shut or lock make yours vulnerable.

Install A Security System:

Finally, you’re going to want to install a security system. There are so many different types on the market that you aren’t going to be limited in what you want. For example, you might want one that sets off a loud alarm to let the intruder know what they have done in the hopes that this will make them turn and back away. Or, you might want one that activates a silent alarm, sends a notification to your phone and the police so that they have a higher chance of getting caught by the authorities. It’s up to you, but a security system is definitely one of the best ways to keep your home feel secure.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now know what some of the simple improvements are that you need to do in order to secure your home. Good luck, and ensure everything is done to the highest possible standard.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Peachy Clean

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Peachy Clean

Hello! These past few months of quarantine due to the coronavirus have been fairly stressful for yours truly. As an “essential” employee, I have been working this entire time and it can be a lot, especially when my clients don’t fully understand the extent of what’s going on. On the other hand, my boyfriend has been on furlough since late March and will be returning to work in early July.

There have been days when it feels nearly impossible to get myself ready for work when I know that Johnny is home. But, he has seriously been so amazing throughout this whole thing and I can’t imagine being confined to the apartment all day every day. We both have very different situations and are handling it the best way we know how. But, at this point, we kind of have it down to a science.

While I am at work, Johnny has been doing all of the household chores like the dishes, taking out the trash, and clearing out the clutter. And, on Wednesday evenings and Sunday, I take over the cleaning for the day. This past week, I had a particularly difficult time and Johnny texted me to let me know that I should look in the bathroom for a surprise when I got home.

Naturally, we had to have our immature exchange about a toilet catastrophe and when I was reassured it wasn’t that, I spent all day being curious about what was awaiting me in the throne room. As soon as I get home, I ran into the LOO and saw:

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A CLEAN SINK! I have been going on about how I need to clean the bathroom for the past few weeks and have just been too drained to do so. Johnny then took it upon himself to take care of it for me. Is it clean enough to eat out of? No. But it is way better than before and I couldn’t think of a better bathroom surprise if I tried! 😀 ❤

How does your significant other like to surprise you? How do you two divide up the household chores? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Face Mask Festivities: Actual Face Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Actual Face Mask Edition

Hello!!! My county board of Developmental Disabilities has been doing a wonderful job of educating and protecting all of their employees and the people we help. Earlier in May, a care package was delivered to me that was filled with games and activities to help entertain my clients while in quarantine.

This month, a box of personal protective equipment was dropped off and I was able to divvy up the goods between all of the families I serve. I even got to keep two cloth face masks for myself and Johnny. I was so happy because I’ve been meaning to buy cloth masks for a while but never did because Johnny and I have been using the disposable hospital masks.

I love that the cloth masks can be reused and, while they may seem thicker than the disposable masks, I feel that they are so much more breathable. I also am a huge fan of the paisley pattern on mine! Check it out:

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Normally, I would go for the plain black mask that I chose for Johnny but the bright orange and yellow on mine just made me happy. In fact, I didn’t even mind putting it on when I ran into the store. Summit DD provided me with a lot of pattern options from polka dots and paisley to rainbow and regular, solid colors. Each of my clients enjoyed picking out their favorite and I enjoyed knowing that they had an extra way to keep them safe.

Are face masks the most fun thing to wear? No! Especially if you wear glasses, lol. But, my new cloth mask certainly makes, what I feel is an obligation, a whole lot easier. ❤

What pattern is on your face mask? Do you prefer cloth or disposable masks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Six Ways To Help Your Mental Well Being

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Six Ways To Help Your Mental Well Being

With all of the craziness of today’s world, it’s easy to let your mental health slip. But, there are always steps that you can take to help improve your mental well being, like the following:

Speak To Your Loved Ones:

It’s always good to speak to others when you’re feeling low. Social connection is something we need as humans to function. Going without speaking to anyone for a long time can definitely take its toll, and when you’re not feeling yourself, that feeling can be even worse. Communicating is important, and we all have those individuals, whether they’re friends or family, who we can trust to speak openly about anything. Surround yourself with people who you feel comfortable with and can talk to, rather than being around people who might bring you down or make you feel like you can’t be open about certain things in your life. Pick up the phone or see them in person, whatever form of communication you use, make sure you’re doing more of it when you can.

If there is something that is weighing heavily on your mind, you might not want to open up to friends and family and that’s okay. However, that doesn’t mean that you should be keeping it all in and therapy might be a better approach. That way, you can speak with a fully neutral and confidential party about what’s troubling you. Therapists like those at empoweryouexperts.com (or a similar practice in your local area) can give you a safe space to speak openly while providing you with the tools to handle these situations and improve your well being. This is a great first step in changing your life for the better.

Learn To Forgive Yourself:

There’s a lot in life that we can end up regretting, things happen and mistakes are made. However, when it comes to focusing on what we’ve done in the past, we tend to reflect more on the negatives and less on the positives. Looking at what we’ve achieved is more important than those things in life that we’d rather forget. There are also times in life where events might happen that are simply out of control. A lot of heartbreaking situations like an abortion procedure or having to deal with a difficult breakup are just a few examples where we have to learn to forgive ourselves. It’s important to understand that these things happened, and forgiving yourself is the first step to accepting it.

Of course, learning to forgive yourself can be far easier said than done and no one needs to go through this process alone. Talking to a therapist can be most helpful or a mental health treatment center can benefit those who need more intensive care. To find a center that is the right fit for you, simply enter a search for “Mental Health treatment in Woodland Hills, CA” (or your local area). Don’t be afraid to ask questions or even schedule a tour to see if their options suit your needs.

Focus On What Makes You Happy:

As you go through life, you start to understand what makes you happy. There are certainly things that you might have done in the past or you will do in the future that you feel could have been handled differently. As long as you’re learning from these experiences and putting your own happiness before others, that’s all that matters. We spend a lot of time making sure everyone else is happy but spend a fraction of that time making sure that we are happy. Self-care is a word that’s thrown about a lot nowadays, and it’s an important one. It’s important to spend more time on yourself to help give your mental well being a boost when it needs it.

Have A Healthy Work-Life Balance:

Work-life balances are something that can be difficult to perfect, and we’re all different in how we see a career. For some, work is simply a way of earning money to spend more time enjoying life. For others, it might be something that they love to do and sacrifice other areas of their life, perhaps being less sociable, for example. However, it’s important that whatever your attitude is towards work and life, it’s good to try and balance it when you can. For all of the work you do, it’s important to enjoy the fruits of your labor. The same goes for your lifestyle and that in order to have a good one, you need to work and be able to support yourself independently, even with a partner.

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Take A Digital Detox:

Digital detoxes are something that many are considering to be very important nowadays. We spend so much time on social media and technology that it can be exhausting when we don’t switch off from it. As far as your mental health goes, it can be very difficult to not compare yourself to others online. We all want to share the very best version of ourselves and not so much of the negativity. However, what that does is show a reality that’s not actually always a positive one. It can be easy to compare yourself in a number of ways to others online, whether it be to do with your looks or the amount of success someone might be having in their life compared to yours.

It’s good to take a digital detox every now and then when you can. Whether it’s a day or two, a week, or even a month. Switching off from social media can be refreshing but will also help you refocus your own ambitions and goals in life.

Consider Your Diet & Exercise:

Diet and exercise are important to stay healthy in life, but for some, it can be difficult to manage. Even with all of the hours in the day, it can be hard to exercise if you don’t have the motivation. It’s even harder when you’ve not found something that you enjoy when it comes to fitness. The same can go for your diet and enjoying food that is healthy without it being something you don’t actually like. Try to find ways of improving both where you can because eating the right foods and exercising regularly can contribute to better mental health and well being. Find sports or exercise you enjoy and try new foods to see what you like and don’t like. Don’t feel guilty for indulging every so often either!

Helping your mental health is important, and it’s something you certainly need to do a lot more of. Use these tips to help spend time on your well being and do them more when you’re struggling. See friends, keep a priority on your happiness, and take a detox when needed.

Featured Image By: Pexels