Tag Archives: Anything & Everything

Nov14

Best Husband Ever!

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Best Husband Ever!

Hello! My darling husband, Johnny, really is a blog husband to the T. He has been taking OOTD pictures (And now TikTok videos!) since our second date over six years ago. Every single shot you have seen on lifewithlilred is compliments of him and words can’t even describe how appreciative I am for it! When the weekend rolls around we shoot one or two outfits and it takes well under ten minutes to do so. Although the sessions are speedy, Johnny always does his running joke… He will him and haw under his breath, say something along the lines of “oh my god”, and proceed to be my photographer while grinning at his cleverness. It has been this way for forever and I could not picture our shoots without him going through his little routine!

Although he puts on his hilarious act, I know so very well how proud Johnny is of me. 1) He tells me so all the time. And 2) He tells literally everyone. This past weekend we had one of our best friends, Cliff, over to watch the Rock Hall induction ceremony. I went to bed after an hour or so and as soon as I went upstairs, I could hear Johnny telling Cliff a story about me. I recognized it immediately as when Spinal Tap shared my OOTD video on TikTok from when we had our date night to see the sequel. Johnny claims that this is the coolest thing that has ever happened and I have to agree! Since that share, Johnny has made it a point to tell every single one of our friends when we see them and it makes me so unbelievably happy. ❤

My Johnny isn’t just a blog husband because he helps me with my content. He is a blog husband because he talks it up every chance he can get. It’s actually really funny because Johnny doesn’t read my blog as he is already living it lol. Despite that, he hypes it up so much and that is true love! He verbalizes and puts into action his pride in my side profession and it means the world. Johnny will even give me suggestions for posts and outfits that I hadn’t thought of and I love that lifewithlilred has given us both a space to be creative.

Johnny’s work hosted a Halloween costume contest and when we both returned home he dove right into a story about it. A group of his coworkers asked him to take a picture and he shifted into blog photographer mode. Thanks to my teachings, he knows how to work angles baby and his coworkers couldn’t believe how well the pictures turned out. He told them it was all because of me and his weekend photography gig. I have a feeling he is going to be the go to guy to snap pics at the next work function!

I am the luckiest girl in the world and Johnny’s help on my blog makes me feel so special. He makes me feel so special and I just love my main squeeze! ❤

Does anyone help you with your blog or social media? What do you appreciate about your partner? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug28

Eleven Year Blogiversary!!

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Eleven Year Blogiversary!!

Howdy! lifewithlilred has been a big part of my life for so long that I honestly forget how long it has been around for lol. It always comes as a surprise to me when I get the WordPress email that my domain name is about to renew and this time around was no different. You could have knocked me over with a feather when it dawned on me that my little corner of the internet is celebrating its Eleven Year Blogiversary! Not to mention over SIX YEARS of publishing daily content. Holy wow, it really is quite an accomplishment and I am so very proud of it. ❤

lifewithlilred started out as a pleasure project when I first started college and honestly it wasn’t even my idea. At that point, I was regularly posting pictures of my outfits on Facebook and I was getting constant comments that I should start a blog. I had always loved writing and, of course, fashion and I decided to go for it. I am so glad I did because I could not imagine my life without my blog baby today. lifewithlilred has given me countless gifts that I am eternally grateful for. It introduced me to my best friend in the world, provided me with the space to create, have fun, and be my most authentic self, and opened up an entire blogosphere with the most amazing people. I put myself into lifewithlilred fully and I was rewarded in ways that I will always treasure.

Of course, the most important aspect of lifewithlilred is you. My dear readers and beloved friends. You have been with me through life’s many ups and downs, through thick and thin, and every milestone for the past eleven years. You know me well and it is my complete pleasure to know you too. The blogosphere is my friend and I truly mean that. Whenever anything happens, you are the first person I want to tell and I eagerly await to put words to keyboard to fill you in. That is something that I can’t thank you enough for. lifewithlilred has shown me that you are all here with me no matter where we are located and because of that, I am never ever alone. ❤

Here’s to eleven years of lifewithlilred and eleven more. I love you all!

Jun10

How To Take Care Of Your Self-Sufficient Home

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How To Take Care Of Your Self-Sufficient Home

In recent years, more and more people have seen the benefits of living a more self-sufficient lifestyle. This way, you are able to live off the grid and still look after your family. You can save money and reap the rewards of your own hard work. Even better, you can live a greener lifestyle as a self-sufficient lifestyle is often a more sustainable way to live. Of course, there are different ways to be more self-sufficient. A lot of people still rely on outside infrastructure, but you might be surprised at how much you can do for yourself if you look after your home:

Feeding Your Family:

There are a few different lines of thought about how much land you need to feed a family. If you want to be completely self-sufficient, most sources recommend about five acres of land for a family of four. This includes growing vegetables, crops, and even livestock. As well as the food itself, you also need to consider infrastructure like barns or storage areas, buffer areas like fences and hedges, woodland for firewood, and extra areas for rotational grazing if you have different livestock.

However, most people might not manage to be completely self-sufficient, especially because it takes a lot of land, a lot of investment, and a lot of work to keep it going. But even with a smaller portion of land, you can still grow most of the vegetables that you might need throughout the year, as well as rearing chickens for eggs and meat, and even keeping bees for honey. This middle ground is a much more common option because it’s more manageable for most people. No matter how much land you have, it’s important to plan what you grow, where you grow it, and how much food that will provide. This will allow you to maximize the land you have.

Utilities:

As well as looking after your plants and crops, you need to look after yourself. For many people, it’s relatively simple to set up their utilities so that they’re mostly, if not completely, separate from the grid. Solar and wind power can keep your property running, and you can set up a generator if there’s an emergency. You also need to get batteries for storing the power so that, if you lose it for whatever reason, your home can still have electricity.

You can also use natural water sources like lakes, wells, and rainwater for your home. You can store it in cisterns and clean it before you use it. You will have to make sure that you check local regulations when using natural water bodies or wells. A septic tank can store any waste so your home doesn’t need to be hooked up to a sewage system. You will have to get regular septic tank pumping to maintain it and empty it when needed.

Decorating Your Home:

Once you have all of the practical steps covered and your home is self-sufficient, you can focus on making your house feel like your home. You can decorate the exterior and interior for that cottage-core feeling, making sure that you balance practicality with aesthetics.

Creating a self sufficient home is an exciting adventure and can prove that you are much more capable than you thought!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Jun9

Sweet Surprises: Random Money Edition

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Sweet Surprises: Random Money Edition

Hello!! This past week, I had a little moment on my break at work that simply tickled me and I just had to share it with all of you. I don’t know about you, but every once in a while I will see a post on Facebook about someone finding random money on their person. Unfortunately, I can’t relate because I am one of those people that rarely carry cash… Primarily because I want to spend it immediately! However, that statement is no longer true because that is what happened during my break time surprise and, I’ve got to say, it was just as delightful as I imagined it being.

After finishing up some work on the computer, I still had a bit of time to kill. So, I started reading a new book called The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers (Peep the Book Club review soon!). As I was reading, I reached in my purse for anything that could be used as a bookmark and pulled out the first thing that felt like paper. As per ushe, I was expecting a receipt that I didn’t need but wasn’t going to leave my purse until cleaning it out. Rather, it was a small envelope. You can only imagine my surprise when I opened it to discover it was Christmas cash from last year from my parents. I must have stuck it in my purse with the intention of spending it, it got lost in the black hole that is my handbag, and I straight up forgot about it.

When I made this discovery, it seriously felt like getting a hug from my mom and dad. Yes, the cashola was nice but it was even better to have a Christmas surprise in June! I immediately called my mom to announce my findings and what I thought would be a short call turned into a ten minute gab fest and that was the cherry on top. I was already having a great day but this made it an excellent one and it really is the little things in life that make it so much sweeter. ❤

Like I said, as soon as I have cash – I want to spend it! I used it to buy more leafy greens for the bunnies, a couple of dinner options for me and Johnny, and some super yummy dill pickle trail mix too. Dinner and snack time for us and the bunnies were proudly sponsored by mom and dad. I just love them!!! :*)

What is a little thing that made you happy recently? Have you found random money before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May28

TikTok Talk

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TikTok Talk

Hello!! As you all know, I am a word girl through and through. I have always preferred blogging as my main outlet which is why I was never particularly interested in incorporating video content too. However, after making a big life change, I had more free time on my hands, said “why not?”, and started my TikTok in mid March. This was not to take the place of my blog, but to enhance it with footage of OOTDs, bloopers, cooking, and whatever else strikes my fancy. After one day on the social media platform, I finally got what all the fuss is about because it is kind of fun!

I have no delusions of becoming a TikTok star, even though it would be awesome. I’m just proud of the fact that people are actually watching my content. Even if it was just one person, I would be proud because video content isn’t in my comfort zone and I decided to go for it anyways. And, I’ve got to say, after two months I feel pretty awesome about my amount of likes and almost ONE HUNDRED followers!

Slow and steady wins the race and even if my page’s progress isn’t astronomical, it’s there, and that’s good enough for me. And, as another old cliche goes, if you never try, you never know. While video content isn’t my forte, you don’t need to be Spielberg to create a video and post it on TikTok. Had I didn’t give it the old college try, I wouldn’t have realized how much fun it is to create in a new medium. Whether you’re thinking about starting a blog, going to the gym, growing a garden, or making a profile on a different social media platform – go for it! If you end up not liking it, it’s okay. The most important thing is that you gave it a shot and you know one way or the other. I definitely expected to fall off of my TikTok a few days in but I have posted daily content since its creation. Your new favorite thing could be just one try away!

As always, give me a follow on TikTok @lilred6794 and keep pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. You never know what opportunities will come from it!

Have you tried something new recently? How did it go? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May7

A Car Repair Cautionary Tale

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A Car Repair Cautionary Tale

Hello!! My car, AKA the Little Red Love Machine, is my little pride and joy. She is basically me in car form and I worked very hard to be able to buy my dream car. It is so important to me to make sure she is running in the best, safest way possible and I always stay up to date on regular maintenance. I began going to a shop down the street from me for oil changes and have had a positive experience every time. Except for the last time…

After my last oil change, I was informed that my car needed some extra work and that the price was going to be steep – the bare minimum being around $1340. YIKES! Right away, my feelers went up because what they were recommending was something that I had gotten done before and for way cheaper. Rather than commit to anything right away, I called another repair shop I go to on occasion and got a quote from them. The price just on the phone? $960. That was much more like it! Better yet, when I took my car to get fixed, the true price when they called me was $820. That was even more like it and over five hundred dollars less than the original quote!

While I was doing the happy dance for a repair that was even less than anticipated, I was a bit peeved. Did the people at the first repair shop think I was stupid or something? In fact, after they high balled me, I got a text from one of the team members saying I could get a free oil change if I wrote a review and I’m pretty sure they knew I had their number lol. (And, no: I did not write the review as temping as a free oil change is!)

This is why I decided to share my cautionary tale. If you are getting a major repair on anything done and the price seems way too high, get a second quote from a different source. Hell, get a few! If the prices are similar across the board, then that’s okay. However, you might find yourself in a situation similar to mine and will be so glad that you called around. This might seem like a no brainer but it is definitely worth the reminder so that you can continue to get the most bang for your buck and find professionals that are trustworthy. You couldn’t pay me to go to the original shop I went to again!

I am pleased to report that the Little Red Love Machine is back in excellent condition and my savings speak for themselves. You can’t beat that!

Do you have a story similar to mine? How much money did you end up saving by getting additional quotes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar12

Spring Cleaning In Small Doses

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Spring Cleaning In Small Doses

Howdy! During my last bout of Spring Cleaning, I had a GREAT SUCCESS because I located one of my favorite tank tops that has been missing for literal years. It was a simple black tank top by Rachel Zoe but it fit so perfectly, went with everything, and was one of my go to tops in the summer. I truly thought it was gone to the world and was beyond happy when I uncovered it amungst the clutter. I have to admit that, since then, my cleaning only went as far as necessary chores but I got back into the swing of things this weekend, baby! I have been using the Small Doses approach to get my apartment back in tiptop shape and this is what has helped me because, let’s be real, Spring Cleaning can be kind of overwhelming:

First Things First:

Sometimes, you just might not have the energy to clean and that is okay! If you planned on deep cleaning after work and had a long day, relax instead. At this point, one more day or two isn’t going to make a difference and you can get back at it better rested. This is something that isn’t worth beating yourself up about so take care of you and you can take care of the rest tomorrow. I have been really worn out recently and every intention I had of cleaning after work went out the window. At first, I was definitely mentally berating myself lol. However, this wasn’t doing me any favors and I made plans to clean this weekend and followed through.

Baby Steps:

I have been cleaning little by little and I love the instant gratification I feel from it. It’s so rewarding and it makes me want to clean more! I also find that I achieve a deeper, better clean when I focus on one thing at a time. I start by targetting one area that I would like to see improved and go from there. This past weekend, there were three things I wanted to do: Clean the bathrooms, clear off my catchall kitchen table, and clear through and consolidate our bedroom closet. I did two of those tasks on Saturday and completed my list on Sunday. Despite the fact that these were smaller chores, the difference was so noticable and it felt good!

Donate/Trash Liberally:

What is your spring cleaning goal? Is it a sparkling home from top to bottom? Getting your yard in pristine condition? In my case, my main goal is clearing clutter. Listen, Johnny and I are packrats lol. After being together for over five years, we have compiled a lot of stuff and we simply don’t need it. By establishing my objective, it definitely made it easier to add to the trash/donate bags and create more tasks with my goal in mind. This is why my next items on the To Clean list are going to be clearing off our coffee table and TV stand as well as going through our multitude of clothing to donate.

Regular Upkeep:

I like the Small Doses approach because I think it’s totally easier, but also because it gives me a chance to make better choices with the upkeep. Doing a little bit at a time helps me establish good habits with what I have already done and gives me the opportunity to practice them before adding something new. For example, after getting home from work I put everything back in its proper place rather than all over my catchall table. I am also putting all of the clothes away immediately after doing laundry to prevent any pileups. Once again, small chores but a big effect!

Spring Cleaning isn’t just about cleaning, but about making better habits too. I am really happy with my progress so far!

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

Feb27

Spring Cleaning Surprise

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Spring Cleaning Surprise

Howdy! I got home from work way earlier than normal on Monday and had three or so hours to kill before Johnny’s shift was over. I’m not really sure why, but out of nowhere, I got a strong desire to clean. I’ll be perfectly honest with you, it can be very difficult for me to find the motivation to clean outside of necessary chores. Feeling mentally and physically exhausted just seems to be the norm for me as of late and it sucks. It’s not like I don’t want to clean but the energy to do so is nowhere to be found. So, when this overwhelming urge hit me to clean, I went for it!

I decided to tackle one room before clocking in again to work from home and that was mine and Johnny’s bedroom. I cleared up any trash, did several loads of laundry, and organized the closet. I also was able to put Johnny’s clothes in some semblance of order because he needs a freaking dresser lol. As I was doing that, I found an incredible surprise: One of my FAVORITE tank tops that I thought I left in the Poconos when we went on vacation a few years prior. I looked everywhere in my apartment for it and came up empty so leaving it behind seemed like the most reasonable explanation. I guess I didn’t look everywhere, though.

After finally having found my black Rachel Zoe tank top, I was elated. The motivation to clean was there and I was rewarded for it. In fact, after this find, I found myself looking forward to tackling my office next! I genuinely thought that the cherry on top was being reunited with my beloved tank top. However, the cherry on top came after the bedroom was clean as a whistle. I had open access to an outlet again and I was eager to put a new Bath & Body Works wallflower into my Halloween plugin. The room looked so fresh and good that I decided to accentuate it with a Fiji White Sands wallflower. The spotless room combined with the crisp, beachy scent made me so happy!

I guess the moral of the story is, that if you are lacking motivation for a deep cleaning session – it really is okay. However, my first hand experience is that you will start feeling fantastic as you go through the process. Even if it is one room or one task at a time, you are accomplishing something that needs to be done and that is rewarding. There is no need to beat yourself up if you don’t have the energy to clean. Do what you can, revel in your success, and you are on your way to forming a good habit.

I really am proud of myself for getting an early start on my spring cleaning and giving the apartment the love it deserves doesn’t feel nearly as overwhelming. In fact, it is a welcome change of pace!

What is on your spring cleaning agenda? Have you found anything recently that you thought you lost? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb26

Just Something Silly

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Just Something Silly

Hello! Johnny and I live right down the street from a Circle K and it is a beautiful, beautiful thing. Whether I am in desperate need of a Diet Coke, we’d love a snack, or a refreshing White Claw after work, we frequent our go to gas station several times per week. Because of our high return rate, we have a very friendly relationship with all of the employees and it is always nice to pop in and exchange pleasantries. In fact, sometimes Johnny plays music with one of the guys who works there. What can I say, Circle K is a community!

This past Sunday, we needed a new lighter and, of course, a Diet Coke for me so Johnny made a quick Circle K stop. He told one of our favorite employees who calls him “rock star” every time she sees him (So cute!) to surprise him with whatever lighter she wants – as long as it was a fun one. When he returned home, he showed me her selection and we had to laugh because it was the most random choice ever lol:

I honestly have no idea why this is the lighter our fave employee handed Johnny, but I am SO glad she did. Maybe it reminded her of me and Johnny as a couple if we lived on a farm and weren’t emo AF, maybe she just liked it. Regardless of why, I can’t help but have a chuckle every time I see it sitting on our coffee table. It really is the little things in life and we have vowed to have her pick our lighters since this fateful Circle K run. I genuinely cannot wait to see what we get next!

Whether it’s your favorite store, restaurant, or gas station, I truly believe it’s a special thing to go somewhere where everyone knows you and you know them. Our Circle K is that place for us and we wouldn’t have it any other way! ❤

What store do you frequent regularly? What is your favorite snack to grab from the gas station? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan25

What Would You Do?

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What Would You Do?

Hello!! Every job I’ve ever had has involved working with the general public in some way shape or form. I like to think I’m a people person, even if I’m not always feeling it! During my fifteen year tenure of working with the public, I feel like I’ve encountered every situation imaginable – good or bad. And, sometimes, I leave situations feeling like it wasn’t my best work lol. This past week, I found myself in a situation that I have never experienced before and it really left me scratching my head. So, I’m curious, What Would You Do? Story time:

This past week in Ohio has been BRUTAL. We have had temperatures in the negatives or close to with very strong wind, making it even colder. On Wednesday, I had a quick errand to run and it was a whopping two degrees by the time I got to the store. Allow me to paint a picture: This particular store is located in a plaza with a handful of other businesses. When I arrived, the parking lot was completely empty with only one car at the farthest end of the shopping center. Due to the weather, any signs of parking lines were invisible so I parked my car as usual and headed into the store for a less than five minute stop.

When I opened the door, a literal gale of wind followed me inside. I walked up to the front desk, only to be informed by the employee that I parked incorrectly because my car wasn’t on a slant. I said something along the lines of not being able to see the lines and now I know for next time. However, he insisted I take my sorry ass back out in the two degree weather and fix it. I almost thought he was joking until I realized he was serious.

Because I was on a time crunch to get to work and didn’t have the time to go to a different location, I did as I was told. I was greeted with a sarcastic “welcome back”, made my purchase, and promptly left. In the three or so minutes I spent in the store, not a single car entered the parking lot to be blighted by my poor parking job. *Massive Eye Roll*

Maybe I’m overreacting, but I thought this was so strange lol. I just feel like it’s not a good look to send paying customers back outside to fix a parking job in an empty lot. Had I had the time, I would have just left rather than go along with it. Trust and believe I was screaming profanities in my head, though! In conclusion, I won’t be giving that store any more of my business.

Was this weird or is it just me? What would you have done in this situation? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah