Tag Archives: apartment

Jul29

Make Your Home More Comfortable With These Improvements

Posted on July 29, 2022 by lifewithlilred

After a while, your home could use a little upgrade in the comfort department. As time goes on things get old and need repair or something new comes out that you know you have to have. If you feel your home needs a boost in comfort, here are a few ideas to get you started:

Get a New Couch:

Couches are the ultimate in comfort. You are going to want to sit on them, sleep on them, lay on them, and have guests stay on them. After a while, they can lose their high level of comfort. Do yourself a favor and get a new couch.

You can visit stores like Ashley Home Furniture or any other affordable furniture store and find an amazing couch that is fluffy, soft, and reclines. Newer couches come with zero gravity reclining to take the pressure off of your back and make you feel as relaxed as possible.

Get Central Air and Heating:

A great way to up the comfort level of your home is to get central air and heating. This eliminates having to have wall or window units that only heat and cool certain rooms. With a central air system, you can evenly heat and cool your entire home.

A reputable company like Eggert Cooling and Heating knows exactly what your home needs to be at the perfect temperature at all times. It’s affordable and one of the best things you can do for your home.

Repaint Your Rooms:

Changing up the color of your rooms can really set a comfortable mood. Choosing soothing colors matched with the right color furniture will put you at ease while you are watching TV, going to sleep, or sitting in your favorite spot to read or relax.

Visit your local paint store and choose colors that speak to you and are universally regarded as soothing like some grays, browns, or blues. Let all parts of your home set the tone that will make you and your guests feel nice and cozy.

Improve Your Lighting:

When you can set the room with the right lighting, comfort will abound. The first thing to do is put your lights on dimmers. Dimmers will give you full control over the strength of the light and you can set it to be at the perfect level so you will feel chill at all times. Next, pick the right kind of lighting for your room. Some people enjoy indirect recessed lighting, while others choose to work with lamps or track lighting. Whatever your choice, the right lighting will set the right mood.

There are several other things you can do from blankets to carpeting and window treatments that will help set a great vibe in your home. As you improve upon one thing, you will discover something else that you can do and before long your entire home will be the epitome of comfort!

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Jul18

Top 2022 Home Decor Trends

Posted on July 18, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Do you want to upgrade your home or give it a new look, but you’re not sure where to begin? When you want to make a change in your home, it can be overwhelming with the plethora of options that you can choose from. This can turn what should be a fun and exciting project to embark on into a stressful one. It shouldn’t have to be that way!

To help you on your journey to create an improved space, you may wish to learn the top home decor trends in 2022. This can help you see what is popular right now and hopefully spark some inspiration while you design your rooms. It can be great fun to experiment with new furniture choices and color palettes that you may not have thought of before. The fun thing about trends is that they introduce you to new ideas and concepts. Here are some of the most popular decor trends you should know about:

Patterns:

While 2019 to 2021 took you in the direction of neutral color palettes, it looks like 2022 is taking you in the opposite direction with bold and unique patterns. People seem to be embracing large and bold prints on their wallpaper and furniture while contrasting this with a more subtle flooring installation such as vinyl. The most popular patterns being used are animals print.

Vintage:

Decor from the 70s and 80s is quickly coming back into style and there appear to be no limits. From the bright, neon colors to the chunky furniture, it is all making a comeback. Elements from the 70s and 80s are a great way to add pops of color and visual interest into any room and can be adapted to suit your personal color preferences. You can even opt for additional features such as neon signs, brass shelves, tropical prints, rounded accessories, and much more.

3D Art:

Perhaps as a result of spending more time inside from the COVID-19 pandemic, people are pushing toward adding more life into their homes. 3D art is an excellent way to make your home unique and turn the heads of your guests. Whether it is sea shells or portraits that pop out from their frames, they are both stunning and whimsical additions to your home. They can bring your walls to life and add character to a bare room.

Smart Storage:

The increase of remote working has changed the way that people live and use their homes. Many rooms have been adapted into multi functional spaces so that they can do more at home. This is a great way to make the most of your space. This is anything from home offices, home gyms, libraries, nurseries, craft rooms, and much more. For a multi functional space to work, you will need smart storage solutions. These are custom designed storage spaces, such as cupboards, that keep your space free from clutter and able to adapt for multiple uses.

If you’re not sure what upgrades to make to your home, follow these top decor trends of 2022 to help you spark some inspiration. Happy decorating!

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Jul10

White Hot OOTD Pt. 3

Posted on July 10, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the last of my White Hot OOTD shoot before we move on to the lols of the blooper reel! Prior to taking these pictures with Johnny, we had no idea of the beauty surrounding our new apartment. Although we still live in the same community, the scenery at our new place is vastly different to the old one. We used to be in a cluster of different complexes and are now nestled in the woods with greenery everywhere and a creek running through the property.

The last location we shot at is actually really cool because it’s a rock wall that makes up the base of our new complex:

To wrap up this photo series, I thought that we would talk a little bit about accessorizing. Knowing how to accessorize is just as much of an art as any other aspect of fashion because it is a delicate dance. Too much jewelry can take away from a great outfit and too little makes it feel like it’s missing something. You, truly, need that “just right” medium for optimum success and I think this OOTD achieved that.

There are a few key rules to follow when accessorizing that will help you put the cherry on top of any look:

Fill Negative Space:

Blank spaces on an OOTD are where accessories come into play, which you can see on my OOTD. Are you wearing a tank top? How about adding a jangling stack of bangles? Or, maybe you’re rocking a hot pair of short shorts – try an anklet or some bejeweled Gladiator sandals! Scooping neckline? Add a necklace of an appropriate length to fill the space!

Creating visual interest with an outfit means that you are making the eyes of whomever is looking at you dance. So, instead of just a brief up and down glance, they are looking here, there, and everywhere at all of the little touches you added to your look. Properly placed accessories is what helps to achieve this.

Consider Your Clothing:

This seems like an obvious tip but it needs to be said. Accessories thrive on a more neutral palette, which is why I limited mine to the top half of this OOTD. A bold patterned piece of clothing is an accessory in and of itself so you don’t want to weigh it down with unnecessary jewelry.

Let’s think about a white tank top again – this is grounds to spice things up with a lengthier pendant necklace. But what if you’re wearing a bright floral top? A short length silver or gold chain necklace or sweet stud earrings will work perfectly. Remember, accessories are meant to enhance – not take away from your overall OOTD.

As a heavily tattooed and pierced woman with some crazy cool hair, I have had to reconsider how I accessorize as my body mod collection grows. All of my modifications are my accessories so I am even more mindful of the jewelry that I wear in my OOTDs. The tips above work wonders for me and I know for a fact that they will for you too!

What is your favorite type of accessory? Do you have a piece of jewelry that you wear every day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun30

I’m So Excited!!

Posted on June 30, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! As you all know, I have never been a fan of summertime and I still wouldn’t call myself that now despite appreciating it much more. It’s probably because the pandemic made having summer fun impossible these past two years. While it still is a concern in my area of Ohio, we are currently in the green and it makes me feel way more comfortable with doing all of the ACTIVITIES!

There is so much that I’m looking forward to this summer, including the following:

Concerts:

Pre-pandemic, Johnny and I were always at different venues for his former band to play and it was a blast. However, we have never been to a big concert together and that is about to change this summer. Johnny and I are in a HUGE Willie Nelson phase and will be seeing him play at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls this July.

We are also going to Riot Fest in Chicago this September to see My Chemical Romance’s reunion. I scored these tickets prior to COVID and it got rescheduled and I was so thankful to be able to transfer our tickets to this year’s show. The lineup is absolutely amazing and I cannot wait!!

Pool Days:

My apartment community has a wonderful outdoor swimming pool and I count down the days until it opens for summer every year. The pool features a deep area, a section for the kids with a waterfall, and a mini pool on an upper deck. Whether I am lounging in the water with a good book or enjoying the pool with my niece it is always nice to escape at our own personal oasis. I also love that I can now take a float with my new Taco Bell inner tube that my sister got me! 😀

Apartment Hang Outs:

Johnny and I still can’t get over our new digs in our bigger apartment and other than more space, the biggest upgrade is definitely a functional air conditioning unit and windows that open. Our last apartment would get unbearably hot in the summer and it was painful for us to be there let alone anyone else. This made it literally impossible to host friends and family and that always made me feel sad.

Now that we have somewhere that we can truly beat the heat in, we have guests over all of the time and that novelty will never wear off. We absolutely love having people over for dinner, game nights, and movies and it gives us something to look forward to almost every weekend. Our new apartment also features a lovely front patio that is so nice to sit on in the evening and have a chat!

Garden Veggies:

At the old apartment, my kitchen was a small galley one and it made cooking possible but unpleasant. The new place, however, has an open kitchen and it has turned cooking back into my favorite thing thanks to an abundance of counter space. Every summer, I look forward to my dad’s vegetable garden because there is nothing better than making a meal with fresh veggies. It just hits different and I am so ready to enjoy the harvest – both cooking and eating it! 😀

I am finally starting to understand why people like summertime and I guess it’s not so bad after all. Here’s to summer fun for everyone!

What are you looking forward to this summer? Are you going to any concerts? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun8

House Plant Party

Posted on June 8, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Last month when Johnny and I had just moved into our new digs, my best friend, Lea, paid us a visit. She also came bearing gifts – a turtle vine! This was my very first house plant and, surprisingly to all of us, it hasn’t died yet. Rather, it is thriving and I can’t believe how big it has gotten in a month and some change. I have to say, I am very proud of it and take lots of pleasure in caring for it and watching its progress.

While I wouldn’t consider myself a full blown plant mom (Yet!), I did receive a few more at mine and Johnny’s housewarming/birthaversary party:

At the party, my cousin gifted us with a Jade plant and my aunt and uncle brought us a great big spider plant. When Lea first gave us the turtle vine, I almost contemplated giving it to my dad for fear that I would accidentally kill it. I quickly found that this wasn’t the case and was thrilled to receive some more plants to keep it company. 😀

In the old apartment, there wasn’t much opportunity for house plants to thrive. We had very limited space and there was little access for direct sunlight. The new apartment is a totally different story, however, and I have a huge window in my sitting area perfect for plants. And, yes, I wouldn’t be opposed to a few more to add to the collection. In fact, I already have grand plans for some plant stands so that they don’t have to sit on a foot stool anymore lol.

As you all know, my dad has the most amazing green thumb and my parents’ house is filled with plants and their outdoor property is glorious. I could always appreciate how fulfilling it would feel to make things grow but I never got to experience it firsthand in my own place. While I won’t be at my dad’s level probably ever, I am loving this small house plant party that’s forming at chez moi! ❤

Which house plants would you recommend for me? Do you have a green thumb too? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May28

Happy Housewarming Gifts

Posted on May 28, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! It isn’t even our housewarming/birthaversary party yet and Johnny and I have already been gifted with so many amazing things from our loved ones. Some of our favorite gifts so far have definitely come from Johnny’s Aunt Eileen and her husband, who I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time a few weeks ago at Johnny’s concert. They so generously sent us all of these goodies and we have been making great use of them since:

My Johnny is a HUGE history buff and enjoys his free time by watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, and reading up on his favorite subject. He is a wealth of knowledge and is always teaching me something new. So, he was especially excited by the BenShot glasses with a bullet in it! Aunt Eileen got us four of these glasses and Johnny has made sure that he has drank from every single one lol. Saying that we have a TON of glasses is an understatement and these are, easily, the coolest ones we have.

Aunt Eileen also gifted us with a video game themed clock and beer themed wall art (Two of our favorite things!) that Johnny hung up in our game room. It was just what we needed too since a majority of our wall art was used on the art wall. They are both perfect pieces of decor for our game room and now all we need is batteries to make them work… and a new Rolling Stones neon light which I accidentally broke. WHOOPS!

Johnny and I are so appreciative of everyone’s generosity as we celebrate our big move, wedding anniversary, and birthdays. Many thanks again to Aunt Eileen for the super thoughtful and very us gifts – we love them and you! ❤

What is your home decor style like? Do you have any exciting events to celebrate coming up? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May25

Completed Art Wall!

Posted on May 25, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! At mine and Johnny’s old apartment, I had a vision of an art wall going up the staircase. It never fully came to fruition because I ran out of Command strips, never bothered to get more, and didn’t want to put nails in the wall to hang things up with. Fast forward into our new digs and I began the art wall project once more with the full intention of completing it. And, I am pleased to say that it is finally done with Johnny’s help! It only took about three and a half years but, hey, better late than never:

Johnny and I have been working hard in the new apartment to prepare for our housewarming/birthaversary party and have been diligently checking things off of our to do list. Completing the art wall was a huge win because it cleared up lots of space where all of the pictures you see above were just sitting there. In fact, this masterpiece allowed us to fully move the furniture we wanted to put in the game room, making us about eighty percent done with our unpacking.

I was so tickled that Johnny helped me finish this project that I started and I could not have done it without him. It also went by much quicker than when I was trying to hang everything up by myself! Johnny was my handy helper and he basically did everything, which was very nice for me. All I did was come up with the layout I wanted and he did the rest. What a guy!

I am beyond thrilled with how our art wall turned out and it is exactly what I had pictured in my head. I catch myself admiring our effort constantly when I’m at home and I am so happy to have our art collection on display. Thanks to Goodwill hauls, crafting nights with my bestie, and the pieces that Johnny contributed, we have a wide assortment for all of our guests to see. My personal favorite? The autographed picture of Randy and Mr. Lahey from Trailer Park Boys! Can you find it?

What kind of art work do you have hanging up at home? What is your favorite thing on my art wall? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May18

Happy Housewarming Gift

Posted on May 18, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! My bestie, Lea, came by a couple of weeks ago to check out mine and Johnny’s new place. Even though it isn’t perfect yet, I was so excited for her to see it. I was also excited that Johnny would have his own room to hang out in where he could shut the door so we wouldn’t have to listen to his war documentaries lol. Oh, the perks of our new place!

Lea was so sweet and brought by a little housewarming gift and, I admit, I didn’t really know what to do with it at first:

Lea got us a Turtle Vine for the new place and I have never owned a house plant before! In my old apartment, there wasn’t really a good place to put plants so I just never bothered. The great news, is that I haven’t killed my little Turtle Vine yet… In fact, it’s thriving! When Lea brought it over, the vines didn’t have any length to them at all and I can’t believe how much it has grown in a few short weeks.

My dad is the one with the green thumb in our family and I almost contemplated just having him care for it. But, I think I am doing alright! I love this plant’s soft leaves and the pot that it lives in is so pretty. Whenever Lea comes by, all she needs to do is bring herself and I’m happy so I was tickled by her thoughtfulness. I don’t think I’ll turn into a full on plant mom any time soon but, now, I wouldn’t be opposed to my Turtle Vine having a friend or two. 😀

The best housewarming gift that Johnny and I have is actually being able to host friends comfortably in our bigger apartment. However, this sweet prezzie from my best friend is a very close second! ❤

Do you have a green thumb? How many house plants do you have? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May15

Moving On Up: Art Wall

Posted on May 15, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past Wednesday, I was hanging out at home while Johnny was at band practice and wanted to spend the evening relaxing instead of unpacking. That changed tunes pretty quickly, though, because of an unfortunate mishap with the video game I was playing. Basically, I accidentally loaded a previous save point and everything I did after that point got deleted. I was SO upset!!

Rather than wallow in my frustration, I decided to get started on a new unpacking project: Creating an art wall. It’s looking very nice so far, if I do say so myself:

^^^ There’s still a ways to go but it’s getting there!

Between an endless supply of paintings from Goodwill, crafts with my bestie, and Johnny’s own artwork collection, I had a lot to work with for my art wall. This was a project that I had wanted to do in my old apartment and just never got around to finishing it… Probably because I never bought more Command strips to hang the paintings with lol. Johnny had actually bought several packs of them during his last trip to Walmart, which is how this first go at the art wall was possible.

The end result will have artwork hanging up all the way along the stairs and it is going to look so cool! I’m really happy with how it’s looking so far, though, and it was the perfect project to sink my teeth into after an epic gaming failure. The concentration it took to hang everything just so definitely kept my mind off of three hours of Paper Mario getting lost in oblivion!

Progress with unpacking has been pretty good but it has slowed down because we need more shelving for a lot of the remainders. In fact, I was feeling a bit down about it and this project helped perk me up and kicked my motivation back into high gear – especially with our housewarming/birthaversary party right around the corner. 😀

Although my project isn’t complete yet, I can already picture the end result and I can’t wait to show all of you. This is how I always wanted the staircase in my old apartment to look and it feels good for that vision to finally come to life!

What have you been crafting lately? Have you been working on any home decor projects? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May13

What Have We Been Up To?

Posted on May 13, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Johnny and I have been diligently unpacking away after our big move at the end of April. While that has taken up a majority of our free time, we have still been enjoying ourselves and making time for fun things too. And, yes, part of the fun has shockingly come from the unpacking process itself – which I never thought I would say!

Unpacking:

Actually… Let me rephrase that… It’s not so much the unpacking that’s fun rather than all of the opportunities that come with it. Johnny moved into my apartment so there wasn’t much for us to decide on when it came to furniture placement and decorating together. Now, however, with much more room, it has been nice to come up with our apartment layout as a team.

For example, we have a little nook under our staircase that we decided would be perfect for bookshelves to house our massive collection. When I got home from work, it was a huge surprise because Johnny assembled and filled the new shelves while I was gone. This opened up considerable space having the shelves neatly tucked away and we were able to have a lot more options when it comes to placement of other furniture. It looks so nice!

Another fun part about the unpacking process is that we have a goal in mind: A housewarming/birthaversary party. We can’t wait to welcome friends and family into our new place at the end of the month to celebrate all kinds of big events: Our move, Johnny’s birthday, my birthday, and our one year wedding anniversary. I’m so excited! 😀

Entertainment:

Because of having a functional AC unit in our new apartment, it has become the place to chill both literally and metaphorically. We have been having a blast relaxing in a comfortable climate and watching all kinds of good movies and TV. We are currently binging The Man In The High Castle, which is absolutely EXCELLENT. We have also been enjoying lots of movies including The Imitation Game (One of my faves!), Schindler’s List, Indiana Jones, and Role Models (Both of our faves!).

Of course, this was something that we would have done at our old place regardless of the extreme heat. Actually feeling cold and snuggling up with blankets is a brand new sensation to us, though, and we still can’t get over the novelty of it!

Out & About:

Actual spring weather is finally here with some summer like temps peppered in for good measure. We have been making the most of it with outings in downtown Cuyahoga Falls, at hiking trails with my family, game nights with friends, and meeting our new neighbors. It was easy to stay cuddled up at home with the snowy and rainy days last month. But, there is no excuse now that the weather is nice out and we have been trying to have outings together at least once a week.

It has been an exciting and jam packed few weeks for us and I have been enjoying every minute of it… I’ll enjoy it even more, though, when we are fully unpacked and celebrating at our party!

What have you been up to? What are you currently binge watching? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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