Tag Archives: anything and everything

Feb11

Sweet Surprises: It Doesn’t Take Much Edition

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Sweet Surprises: It Doesn’t Take Much Edition

Hello everyone! With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, I thought I would take a minute to commemorate my darling boyfriend, Johnny, because he so deserves it! As we all know, Lil Red is a huge fan of sweet surprises and I like to show my gratitude for any type of gift that is treated to me with a blog post. So, here we are!

I, myself, am a huge fan of administering surprises even though I’m rotten at keeping my surprise a surprise! I feel like Johnny and I are always picking each other up a little something while we’re out and about whether it be a cool find at a thrift store or just grabbing dinner on the way home from work. Either way, it’s fun giving and receiving small treasures from the one you love best.

As the title of this post states, it really doesn’t take much to make me happy. In fact, just a six pack of tiny Diet Coke cans waiting for me in my fridge once I got home from a long day at work was enough to turn my day around. Let’s discuss:

pop

After my horrible oral surgery gone wrong last winter, I totally lost my taste for pop or coffee and became a fairly avid tea drinker. The harshness of the coffee’s caffeine and the pop’s carbonation was enough to put my stomach in knots, especially since I was used to only drinking the flat chocolatey chalk of Ensure for over a month and a half.

Once I was about four months out from my recovery and sunny days were a norm in Ohio again, the thought of an ice cold can of pop was enough to make my mouth water. And, as a bonus, I was able to drink it without an upset stomach. Back in the day, I was a Diet Coke fiend and could drink six cans a day, easily. Now, I might have one or two cans a week. But, when I do, it always hits the spot.

I haven’t been grocery shopping in a while and Johnny knows that I have been mooching on my mom and dad’s pop stash while I work from their home. So, he picked me up my own little cans when he went to the store after he got off from work. I came home and got a glass of wine from the fridge and he told me to look at the side compartment where my treat was cooling down for me.

I was so tickled because I always say that I could go for a pop when I never have it in the house and nine times out of ten he ends up hearing about it. He stifled my Diet Coke cravings for the time being because he thought of what I might need while he did his shopping. This was such a simple gesture but I felt so loved and taken care of and that’s what made it grand to me.

This Valentine’s Day, remember that it doesn’t matter what your gifts costed or if you can post a picture of the fancy meal you had on Instagram. What is really important is the thought that your partner put into it. I feel lucky that Johnny thinks of me when he’s going about his day to day life when we’re not together and I just know we are going to have the happiest Valentine’s Day together! ❤

What is a Sweet Surprise that you gave or received recently? How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb8

Facing Your Fears: A Memoir

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Facing Your Fears: A Memoir

Hi! For those of you who recall, around this time last year I was suffering through a recovery from an oral surgery gone severely wrong. For those of you who don’t recall, I had an oral surgery last year that went severely wrong, which you can read about on the provided link! I have always been wary about the dental arts and, after such a traumatic experience, the last thing I wanted was any more people poking around in my mouth with sharp objects.

Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out the way I hoped, which was never having to go to a dentist or oral surgeon again. Especially because the surgery I had last year left me with some lingering problems that needed corrected. And, especially because I turn twenty-six this year, these issues needed sorted out ASAP before I get off my mom and dad’s insurance.

So, with a heaping dose of anxiety, I made my way to the periodontist who my mom recommended as a patient herself. After an exam, the decisions were made that 1) the doctor was very nice and 2) I would need to undergo a deep cleaning of my gums to help with the recession that was happening as well as the recession that became worse post surgery.

This past week, I had the first deep cleaning on the right half of my mouth and I would be a liar if I said I wasn’t freaking out. Last year, one bad procedure on my mouth left me drinking Ensure and out of work for a month and a half. However, I knew that all of this work had to be done so I bucked up and sat myself in the chair after announcing how nervous I was, of course.

In fact, I started crying as soon as the first numbing injection took place. Yes, I was being a baby but I just couldn’t help myself. I was traumatized by a quack of an oral surgeon and being back in an office to get work done on my mouth made a whole flood of scared emotions come out. But, I gritted my teeth metaphorically speaking because my mouth was open and had the doctor continue.

By the time the numbing kicked in, I literally couldn’t feel a thing and the doctor spent at least an hour cleaning the first half of my mouth (I’ll get the second half done this week). At the end of the procedure, my periodontist thanked me for trusting him because he knew how much I had suffered and how hard it was for me to allow someone to do that type of work on me.

I was so moved by this because I was downright embarrassed. No one wants to hear that they take poor care of their mouth and also no one wants to burst into tears as soon as a needle gets pulled out. I didn’t feel one ounce of shame after the doctor thanked me because he understood where I was coming from and didn’t take it lightly that I was even there to begin with.

After the procedure, I was a bit sore and nauseous but, within a few days, everything was back to normal. My mouth already feels infinitely better and, shockingly, I’m looking forward to getting the other half taken care of this week. The doctor helped restore my faith in those working in the field of dentistry and it also motivated me to continue taking the best care of my teeth as all of the problems I have begin to resolve.

I faced my fear in a big way and the risk was definitely worth the reward. Despite not feeling well post procedure, I felt proud of myself and strangely confident. I confronted one of my biggest fears head on and I came out on top. This is a lesson that I am going to always come back to in my life because sometimes taking a leap of faith pays off in the best way!

What are you afraid of? How did you confront that fear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb7

5 Common Causes Of Hair Loss In Men

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5 Common Causes Of Hair Loss In Men

Male pattern baldness, the most common cause of hair loss in men, accounts for about 95 percent of hair loss. When men reach the age of 50, about 85 percent of men will experience hair thinning. Approximately 25 percent of men who will have male pattern baldness will begin to lose their hair by 21 years old. In the Philippines, hair loss shampoo is a recommended treatment, but it’s important to determine the causes to address them appropriately:

Male Pattern Baldness:

Male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Usually, it starts in their late 30s and worsens as time passes by. But in some cases, hair loss occurs earlier, even in their 20s. Most men dread losing their hair so will start looking into hair loss treatments as soon as they notice a significant difference. Thankfully, there are many treatments available today. The most common one is buying hair loss shampoo products that contain essential vitamins and compounds to promote hair growth. If these products have not been helpful for you, then you might be a good candidate for a hair transplant. You can schedule a Free Consultation for Hair Transplant right this moment!

The hair needs ample circulation for nutrients and vitamins to reach the hair strands. Using hair loss shampoo enhances the supply to the hair strands, making them strong and preventing hair fall. If the treatments you are currently trying aren’t working, there are multiple other routes that you can take for a full head of hair and a confidence boost. Contact your general practitioner or, perhaps, research neograft cost for its benefits to come up with a solution that is right for you.

Old Age:

Growing old may mean losing more hair than usual. Age is an important driver of hair loss, but mostly, it’s just a natural phase. Usually, people lose about 100 strands of hair per day. When people age, including women, they lose more. Hair thinning is a sign of aging, and it happens in many parts of the body. In women, it’s usually caused by a decline in the hormone estrogen. Services at facilities like Cosmed HairSkin Solutions (or a similar practice in your local area) can really help with slowing down this process through rejuvenating treatments. These treatments can strengthen hair follicles and promote natural regrowth. This can be a huge boost in your self confidence and is worth researching if you are looking for a new lease on life for your locks.

Family History:

If your parents suffer from hair loss, you might have it in the future. Hair loss can be hereditary. Though it’s inevitable since it’s genetic, slowing it down through everyday hair thickening products can help. Shampoos, oils, and hair supplements can help boost the hair’s strength, slowing down hair loss. You can also turn to professional services like Eldorado Hair Replacement (or a similar company in your local area) to create a treatment regime that is right for you.

Stress:

One of the most common causes of hair loss in men is stress. Feeling distressed can affect the body in many ways. In some people who experience anxiety, they have bald patches on the scalp. The good thing is, it’s not permanent, and if the stress is controlled, the hair will grow back. Managing stress can be done through eating a healthy and balanced diet, getting enough sleep, engaging in regular exercise, and doing meditation.

Medical Condition:

Many health conditions may cause hair loss, including thyroid problems. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism both cause alopecia and hair thinning. Controlling the thyroid hormones and maintaining healthy levels can improve overall health and prevent further hair loss. If the condition is treated, the hair will grow back.

Hair loss affects men more but can impact women, too. It’s essential to take care of the scalp and hair if you have any of these conditions. Using recommended and approved hair loss products can help reduce hair loss and promote a healthy scalp.

Jan22

Why Career Mistakes Can Be A Good Thing

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Why Career Mistakes Can Be A Good Thing

No one gets to where they want to go in life by taking the express shuttle to the top. If you look at the world’s most successful people, what you’ll typically find is a sort of zig-zag journey, one that took them to highs and lows and false-starts, before eventually ending up where they wanted to be. This is just as it is with the rest of life, which is always filled with ups and downs.

Your reasons for taking a different path in your career could be many-fold; you might be bored with your current work or you might make a serious error that ultimately ends up with your termination. When we find ourselves in this position, it’s easy to fall into a disheartened state of mind. We can begin to identify ourselves with our failures, or the dissatisfaction that we feel in our work.

But there is a way towards more career fulfillment. Instead of falling into a pit of negativity, we can embrace the idea of our career shortcomings, learn from them, and then push forward. These career detours can ultimately lead us towards a better and more fulfilling life. It’s all about owning the mistakes that you make, rather than allowing them to own you. There are lessons to be learned everywhere, and you can always take on a positive state of mind, rather than taking the negative route. To learn more about the idea of career detours, take a look at the infographic below, which was produced by the University of Maryland:


Infographic design by University of Maryland University of Maryland

 

Jan22

How We Can Improve The Health Of Society

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How We Can Improve The Health Of Society

There’s no clear route towards creating a better society; indeed, some of the things that we think push us forward actually lead to more problems than they solve. But there is one field that undoubtedly serves to make us better: the improvement of healthcare. As a society, we have a duty to take a look at the health issues that cause the most damage to the population and take steps to move beyond them. While there are many areas of health that deserve attention, it’s best to start with the ones that are among the leading causes of death, which include heart disease, strokes, and diabetes.

It falls to public health officials to identify the threats that lead to serious medical issues and to educate the public about what they can do to protect themselves. As well as underlying health conditions, there must also be a spotlight on social factors that can impact a person’s health and quality of life, including alcohol and drug abuse, and accidents on the roads.

So how do you go about helping to eradicate these problems? It involves looking at the data, and making a note of any sharp increases in the numbers of people suffering from certain conditions and then looking at the lifestyle changes that might have contributed to this increase.

If you are interested in this topic, then you can look at becoming a public health official yourself. To learn more about the challenges and responsibilities of this position, take a look at the infographic below:


Infographic design by University of Nevada-Reno University of Nevada-Reno

Jan21

Valentine’s Day Card Call To Action

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Valentine’s Day Card Call To Action

Hi everyone! I often see people post different news articles about an individual asking for a bunch of cards in the mail for a holiday or birthday. I used to think nothing of it but, when the holiday season hit, I figured that it was the least I could do to send a little holiday cheer to someone who is down on their luck, struggling, or could just use a smile.

Now, every time I see a post on Facebook of someone with a card request, I happily comply and send some snail mail their way. I also like to publish it on lifewithlilred so a larger, world wide platform can be reached for those who would like to make a Random Act Of Kindness.

A few days ago, I saw a post about a 104 year old WWII veteran asking for an overflow of Valentine’s Day Cards. You can read the full article here and send a card to the following address:

Operation Valentine
ATTN: Hold for Maj Bill White, USMC (Ret)
The Oaks at Inglewood
6725 Inglewood Ave.
Stockton, CA 95207

I hope that Maj. White enjoys his Valentine’s Day and the influx of cards that he is sure to receive. He is going to keep every single one and it makes me happy that one of them is going to be mine! 🙂

How do you do Random Acts Of Kindness throughout the day? What is a Random Act Of Kindness that you have received recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan20

When Can You Say That You’ve ‘Made It’?

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When Can You Say That You’ve ‘Made It’?

Perhaps the easiest thing in the world to do is compare yourself to other people. As children, we learn this technique to help us understand our place in the social hierarchy, for better or worse. As we get older and compare our grades to other children or our siblings, we continually find out if we’re ‘good enough’ or where we’re lagging behind.

This can translate into adulthood, where the means of our livelihood or how much money we pull in each year can be somewhat intrusive areas of discussion at the Christmas work party or family barbecue. But when can you say that you’ve ‘made it’? We often use this term to express artists that now have enough listeners to guarantee material success, but should we really limit ourselves to this description?

In the following post, we hope to widen the parameters through which you may give yourself the real credit of ‘making it’, allowing us to think along healthier and more considered lines. Please, consider:

A Home You Love:

When occupying a home you love, you have one of the most vital and beautiful possessions anyone could hope for – no matter if you rent or use a mortgage to gain said property. A home you love can be a vital part of your personality, help you raise a family, or schedule the best social events within, and generally give you the room to be your most authentic self. General contractors can help you express your creative interests and tastes over the years, and that in itself gives you the opportunity to design to your hearts content. If you have this, no matter if you live alone or own a property in which you keep roommates or a humble family setup, you have something to be proud of.

Connections You Care About:

It’s very easy for us to mark ourselves as only successful when affluent, or able to define our material success this way. But really, the people we know, the loving connections we adopt, the closeness to our family, the genuine experiences we share with our friends – these are the things that count. It’s possible for someone living on a shoestring budget to enjoy and curate the closest relationships around them, while it’s also possible for someone within a beautiful, million-dollar home to feel completely isolated from those they are supposed to call friends. This realization can help you adjust your priorities accordingly.

Curating Your Interests:

Curating your interests is something that can seem so simple and basic. We’re all supposed to have hobbies. But more than simply watching something on Netflix or playing a video game (which are more than justified methods of relaxing and taking some stress off), curating a real interest can help bring you an incredible amount of joy over the years. It might be reading into a subject, learning a craft, or cooking well and eating a wide array of cuisines. We take interests for granted, but really, we should appreciate them as additional pursuits that give our life value. If you have a few of these to curate, you are truly a lucky individual.

With this advice, we hope you can see the conventional idea of ‘making it’ is only worthwhile when contributing to a healthy, humble life!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan20

Paranormal Activity Pt. 3

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Paranormal Activity Pt. 3

Hi! So as all of you know, I have experienced some paranormal activity in my apartment. The major occurrences happened when I first moved in and the last activity before the most recent one took place about a month ago. This spooky situation came about on Friday the tenth around two in the afternoon and it had me SHOOK. So, let’s discuss:

I always have the afternoons off on Friday and some of the days are spent running around doing errands while others involve curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee. This Friday afternoon happened to be one of those days, so I lit my candles, got myself comfortable, and cracked open one of my comic books.

All was going well and I was enjoying my time relaxing when a piece of paper I had on my coffee table FLOATED ON TOP OF ONE OF THE CANDLES. This paper was sitting on top of a board game that was about a foot and a half away from my candles and when I adjusted my head I saw the paper in the air.

Luckily for me, the piece of paper landed on a candle that was burnt down enough that the flame wasn’t going to touch it. But, the candle that it did fall on was about six inches away from a brand new Yankee Candle that I got for Christmas whose two wicks were burning close to the top. Yikes!

Needless to say, I freaked out and phoned my parents who know about the haunting situation in my apartment and they freaked out too. Lol, it was such a crazy thing to have witnessed and I still get goosebumps when I think about it. There was just no way that that paper floating could have happened on its own. It had also been sitting there for months and a situation even remotely similar has never happened.

I have come to associate my “friend” in my apartment with being a man. When I first moved in, I always seemed to hear heavy footsteps at night coming from the office in my top floor apartment. In fact, I used to have to go downstairs to make sure there was no one there.

There is also a mirror in my loft bedroom with a skylight shining directly on it. And, at night when the light from the outdoors is coming in, the shadowy shape that forms behind the mirror looks like a poor silhouette of a man to me. Believe you me, nothing makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up like when I see that at bedtime.

The paranormal activity I had in my apartment in December seemed to be a friendly one but this last occurrence was anything but. I think it will be a good long while before I light my candles again!

What did you do to deal with paranormal activity if you’ve ever experienced any? Does anyone have any advice for me? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan9

How To Save Money When Buying Electrical Goods

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How To Save Money When Buying Electrical Goods

We live in a fast-paced consumer society where all of the electrical items that we buy are out of date by next year. With many households changing their appliances and tech on a very regular basis, it means that there is a lot of waste. Perfectly good items often end up getting discarded and this has a very real and obvious impact on the environment.

But many people are considerate about these factors and will sell on any unwanted electrical items once they have been replaced. Or, where the value is relatively low, and there is still some use to be had, they may give them away using a service such as a freecycle site.

You can save money on your electricity bill by choosing the right provider. However, if you are savvy and want to save money on an item and are not too bothered about having all of the very latest features, then you may want to take a look online to see what you can find for free or very cheap:

Printers:

One electrical item that is often offered up for next to nothing or even for free are printers. On the other hand, vinyl printers are much more expensive but a worthy investment if you have a business. With new features getting added all of the time, many people feel the need to upgrade. But, if you are just after something that you can use to print or scan the occasional document or photograph, then you may find that getting a used model is just as good as buying new. Before you get your new used printer, check online to make sure that you can buy the right ink cartridges for it still.

Appliances:

Kitchen appliances such as washing machines, fridges, and freezers, often get replaced. With the internet of things on the rise, people want an appliance that they can control from their smartphone from anywhere in the world. But if you are not interested in all of that, you could get a perfectly reasonable appliance for very cheap.

Before you take it, make sure that you check to see that there are no nasty noises coming from it when it is working. Washing machines that rattle about when they are in use may be on their way out and, in reality, it is probably not worth you taking it in that condition.

Computers:

If you need a computer for the basics such as web browsing and working on documents, then why not get a second hand one? Unless you are gaming or using the computer for a lot of complex operations, then you will be able to get a computer that suits your needs very cheaply.

The things that you need to look for when you get a second hand computer are that the hard disk has been cleared before you get it. It should have a new installation of the operating system ready for you to set up as you like. Check to make sure that the laptop batteries still hold their charge, and that everything boots up and works as it should.

Reusing electric goods helps save the environment and you some money. Try this option out when you’re ready for a new printer or computer!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jan3

Steps To Becoming An Advanced Practice Nurse

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Steps To Becoming An Advanced Practice Nurse

Becoming an advanced practice nurse could be the next step in your career if you work in nursing. It can offer you opportunities to work in specialist areas and take on more responsibility at work, including moving into leadership roles. If you’re thinking of becoming an advanced practice nurse, these are some of the steps that you may need to take:

Consider a Patient Focus Areas and Specialisms:

There are several areas of patient focus you can consider if you want to be an advanced nursing practitioner. There are also more specific specializations for you to choose within different practice areas. You might choose something like midwifery or psychiatric health.

Check Licensure Rules:

You will need to ensure that you have the necessary license to practice to be an advanced nurse practitioner. To be registered nationally in the US, you need to be licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRC). Different states and even medical settings can also require certain licenses.

Gain Valuable Experience:

Getting experience in your field of choice will help you to find the roles that you want and climb through the ranks too. You will need nursing experience if you want to complete a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).

Continue Your Education:

Nurses often start with an associate’s degree or may have a bachelor’s degree. To become an advanced practice nurse, you can consider gaining an MSN or DNP. Both of these qualifications could help you to achieve your goals.


Infographic Design By Bradley University