Tag Archives: coffee

Jun6

Birthday Freebies

Posted on June 6, 2017 by lifewithlilred

Hellooo everyone and happy Tuesday! Okay, so for those of you who don’t know, my 23rd birthday is tomorrow! Yikes. I can’t say that I’m thrilled about this but, I have to say, I am hyped about the plethora of freebies that I have received so far for my big day. As you guys know, your girl is constantly ballin on a budget so whether it be a free travel sized lotion to a percentage off a purchase, I’m all about that sale bout that sale SO FRUGAL (Sung to the tune of All About That Bass. Thank you, thank you I’ll be here all week.) ANYWAYS, take a look at my Birthday Freebies so far and let’s discuss:

One free small smoothie from Robek’s
One free beverage of any size from Dunkin’ Donuts
A ten dollar gift card from Victoria’s Secret for being an Angel Card holder
One free burrito from Moe’s
One free beverage of any size from Starbucks

Ayyyy! So, obviously I’m getting the birthday hookup and I freaking love it. There is nothing better than going out for a coffee or for dinner with friends and not having to pay a dime for it. Thanks to apps and rewards programs, getting extra bang for your buck on your birthday has never been easier. The beauty of some of these rewards is that I never even go to these places anymore, but because my account is open, I still get to reap the birthday benefits.

Like Moe’s and Dunkin’? Literally haven’t been to either in close to a year. BUT I have the Moe’s app and the Dunkin’ rewards program card (which works like a gift card but I haven’t uploaded money on it for years), so my birthday is in their registry. And Robek’s? It’s a rarity that I go there, but I have the app so my smoothie will be on them for my next visit! Of course, ten dollars at Victoria’s Secret doesn’t get you very far, but still. That’s a free panty or lip gloss and we all know by now how much I love free.

Being a savvy shopper whether that be with restaurants, coffee shops, or clothing stores is all about playing along with their promotions. Sign up for the emails, let their app take up a bit of extra space on your devices, give the loyalty program a try, apply for the credit card if you shop there frequently enough. Before you answer with a solid “no” to the salesperson telling you about these things, hear them out. You’ll be glad you did once you score some free birthday swag.

So there you have it, my Birthday Freebies (so far!)! What other restaurants/stores offer freebies on birthdays? What restaurants/stores offer the best every day promotions? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr11

Iced Coffee Obsession

Posted on April 11, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hiii everyone and happy Tuesday! I hope everyone is having a fabulous week so far. So, if there’s one thing that a Lil Red loves, it’s her coffee! I’m a caffeine fiend, so a smooth, strong, hot cup of coffee is a must for me when I am working, lounging, doing nothing, and doing everything. I am a hot, black coffee drinker through and through and I will be a monkey’s uncle before I succumb to putting cream or sugar in my cup. But, when the warm weather hits, which has happened this past week in Ohio, my tastes change to absolutely craving a good cup of iced coffee.

One of my favorite things to treat myself with is an iced coffee from Starbucks. A venti iced coffee with cream and vanilla, to be exact! “But wait! I thought you don’t believe in cream in your coffee!” You might say? I DON’T. But, iced coffee is a totally different story. I hate iced, black coffee more than anything and I just need that little splash of cream to turn the beverage into a drinkable delight. So, yeah.

Anyways, it’s a rare occasion that I get Starbucks now that I don’t work at the mall, so I always really enjoy it when I get it. But as you all know, I am constantly balling on a budget and it’s not like I love spending three dollars for a drink that I could totally make at home. So, make it at home I did. I have been making my own iced coffee every day for the past week and it has been an absolutely delicious experience. My coffee concoction has tasted great every time, and not shelling out the dough for basically the exact same thing at Starbucks has been a freaking blessing, lol.

An iced coffee recipe may seem self explanatory, but mine has turned out really freaking good so I’m going to share it on here, anyways:

Sarah’s Iced Coffee Masterpiece

Make yourself the amount of coffee that you plan on drinking.
Once complete, let the coffee sit for about an hour so that it can cool.
Add 4 to 5 ice cubes to a glass and pour the now room temperature coffee over it.
Add a splash of flavor. I have been totally obsessed with Coffee Mate’s Natural Bliss Vanilla creamer.
Drink and enjoy!

If you aren’t hip to the Coffee Mate Natural Bliss creamer collection, then you need to get on it ASAP. It is the purest, richest vanilla creamer that I have ever tasted and it literally will transform your iced coffee. I do not say this lightly, because it makes my coffee creation taste one million times better than what I used to get at Starbucks. AND it costed like two dollars for a bottle, which is awesome!

My iced coffee revelation may seem like a simple thing, because it really is pretty simple. BUT, I am so excited that I’ve made myself something that 1) saves money and 2) doesn’t sacrifice the taste, just in time for the warm summer weather ahead! GO ME!!

So there you have it, my Iced Coffee Obsession! Who else makes their own coffee creations at home? What is your caffeine beverage of choice? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb6

I’ll Be There For You! How To Spend Quality Time With Your Friends

Posted on February 6, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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I’ll Be There For You! How To Spend Quality Time With Your Friends

We all have extremely busy lives – we have jobs, partners, kids to take care of, and a lot of us also have increasingly ageing parents that we need to check in on more and more often. A lot of the time, what we tend to let slide is our friends. And let’s face it: that’s kind of a tragedy. A lot of our friends predate our partners – we knew them from school or college and they’ve been with us through thick and thin (often literally, if you were a sad victim of the freshman fifteen!). It’s important to make sure that you maintain your friendships – they’ll be the ones who help you stay sane as the years go by! Here are some tips to help:

Go For A Specific Activity: If you haven’t seen your friends in a while and you’re worried about what to do with them then why not go for some kind of fun activity? Shopping always works – particularly when you take plenty of breaks to stop for pastries and coffee – although there isn’t really much point in going to see a movie together. After all, when are you going to get the chance to talk then? Relive your youth by going ice skating or maybe even bowling – you can get cheap bowling shoes online or you can rent them at the bowling alley. Anything that’s going to make you laugh will work just fine!

Is that a DOG I see?!

Cozy Up In Your House: You might have a partner and kids – if so, throw them out for an afternoon and make sure that you spend time with your girlfriends instead. Crack open a bottle of wine or make some great coffee, provide some cake, and get talking. Even if you haven’t seen each other for a while you’ll be sure to find that the conversation flows just like it always did. Remember that it isn’t always important to get your friends caught up on every single second of your life – you won’t have time for that anyway! Instead, talk about ideas, what’s going on in the world, and any feelings or worries that you might want to get out. You’ll feel more free and unburdened afterwards – and if you have young kids your brain will love you for going for some more intellectual conversation than the usual “Yes, you can pet that lady’s dog. No, we can’t take him home with us. Please get up off the sidewalk and stop crying.”

YUM

Go Away For A Girls’ Weekend: If you’re free and single or if you can leave your kids with your partner for the weekend, there’s nothing better than a weekend away with your nearest and dearest best friends. Go to the nearest city and rent an Airbnb and go dancing all night in heels that you don’t usually wear any more, or take a relaxing spa break together – just make sure it’s the sort of spa that serves plenty of prosecco and chocolate as well as health food! Just be aware that you might not want to get back to your real life once the weekend’s over. But hey, everyone needs a break!

Loving the hats!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan3

How To Brew Delicious French Press Coffee

Posted on January 3, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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How To Brew Delicious French Press Coffee

Us coffee drinkers know that there’s nothing quite like that first steaming hot morning cup of coffee to awaken our senses and get us ready for the challenges of a brand new day. Forget standing in long Starbucks queues or missing an important phone call because you were busy at the coffee machine. Or – the worst – instead of having a rich, full bodied brew: drinking plain average coffee because it’s the only choice that you have. In recent years the humble coffee bean has exploded on to the scene, going from being a simple, hot drink at breakfast to a full on lifestyle statement. Read up to see how you can make the perfect cup to kick start your morning:

What Is A French Press? A French press, or a Cafetière, is a coffee brewing product which allows the water to permeate the coffee beans. The plunger separates the beans from the brewed coffee which, if allowed the seep through, can make the coffee astringent and bitter. First designed in Italy by the designer, Attilio Calimani in 1929, today the French press is used all over the world and is said to make a smoother, richer cup of coffee than any other method. French presses are fairly inexpensive and tend to last for a good few years. Depending on what beans you choose to use, you may also want to purchase a grinder as finely ground beans often taste better than rough ground ones. However, at the end of the day, it’s down to the coffee drinker’s personal preference.

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The Best Beans: Coffee comes in a variety of strengths and flavors. From the milky yet sophisticated cappuccino, dark espresso, and chocolate infused mocha to the simple black coffee, latte, and the sugary sweet cuban cafe con leche there are countless ways of making coffee and just as many beans themselves. Let yourself experiment with different beans or, if you prefer instant coffee, then go online to check out some instant coffee reviews by those who take their morning cup of joe pretty seriously.

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How Much Water? Brewing a cup of coffee is, in theory, relatively simple. However there are a couple of things that, if you get them wrong can ruin the whole batch. First, make sure your beans are ground coarsely enough and if you’re using instant coffee, make sure that it’s a good quality brand with a high richness rating. Boiling water will scorch the grounds instantly which will leave you with a very bitter cup and tepid water won’t fully extract the coffee from the beans.

A good way to achieve the perfect temperature is by letting the water fully boil, then remove it from the heat to sit for a minute before pouring into the French press itself. When it comes to how much water to use consider how much coffee you want to make. One serving will equal one cup of water and two tablespoons of coffee beans; two servings equals two cups of water and a 1/4 cup of coffee beans and so on. A good French press coffee should be brewed for two to four minutes while cold brewed coffee uses a different method and should instead be left for two to four hours.

Featured Image By: Bryan Mills

Sep10

Fifteen Reasons To Look Forward To Fall

Posted on September 10, 2016 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and happy weekend! Welcome to my darling friend, Gintare’s, humorous take on why everyone should be looking forward to fall. This post is a hoot so I am sure you are all going to love it! Please be sure to check out Gintare’s blog, as well, for more fabulous posts! Enjoy:

Fifteen Reasons To Look Forward To Fall:

You can overdose on cinnamon and pumpkin anything and nobody will dare to judge you.

2. If you’re particularly bad at making yourself presentable, you can always tell people who stare that you’re testing some new looks for Halloween.

3. Same goes for if the 24-7 rain messed up your mascara, too.

4. You can skip make up entirely because nobody will see anything or anyone beyond the inside of their umbrellas.

5. You’ll get your cardio whilst jumping around avoiding puddles and slippery leaves on the pavement.

6. As the days get shorter the social pressure of going out and doing things will subside and you can release your inner introvert again!

7. Mid-week movie nights will be more common, too, as it will be miserable outside so why wouldn’t you escape to an imaginary world instead?

8. Speaking of, there will suddenly be so much time to read all those books you wanted to read since last fall!

9. If all else fails to entertain you, you can always just brew yourself some warm tea, cozy up in an over-sized sweater, and look through the window at the people miserably running from the cold rain because they forgot their umbrella. (Admit it, you enjoy it a little bit.)

10. Suddenly it’s a full year until you have to worry about how you look in a bikini. You know what that means!

11. For one glorious week, if you’re lucky even longer, the look of trees will be awesome enough to inspire you to write something awesome. Or so you’ll think.

12. Summer stuff will go on sale. This is when you buy something that’s a bit too small and aim to fit into it during the next summer. (Then you conveniently misplace it somewhere “whoopsie daisies”.)

13. There will be some amazing TV shows hitting the Internets!

14. Um…back to school stationery haul? Yas. I don’t even care that I’ve graduated from both school and uni already, no one can stop me!

15. Cozy socks and we’re closer to Christmas. ‘Nuff said.

Autumn is going to be great.

Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram, Bloglovin, & now also on Twitter @SatOnWed – because the full name didn’t fit, haha. 9 times out of 10 I will jump into following you back, unless you’re that 1 out of 10 robot account *squints suspiciously*.

^^^ Love it! Thank you so much again to Gintare for giving us her countdown of reasons to look forward to fall! Once again, please check out her page and show her some love! What other reasons would you add to Gintare’s list? What is your favorite thing about fall? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul16

Adore Me Inspired Lingerie Flat Lay

Posted on July 16, 2016 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and happy weekend! I hope all of you had a great week and are ready for some fun or R&R – I know I am! If there’s one thing that a Lil Red loves, it’s lingerie. There is nothing better than sporting a sexy little outfit or a hoodie and a pair of sweats and knowing that you have something pretty on underneath. If you are like me and are always looking for the best looks for an amazing deal then you have got to check out the selection of bras and panties that Adore Me has to offer. Their lingerie is seriously gorgeous and they also have a beautiful selection of plus sizes to choose from, too.

After treating yourself to a new set of lingerie from Adore Me, make sure you check out their Pinterest page and give them a follow! Now, on to my Adore Me Inspired Lingerie Flat Lay:

My lingerie flat lay was inspired by my days when I work on my summer classes from home. My homework days are filled with reading about everything from Shakespeare to Psychology so there are a few essentials that are a must to make the day not completely miserable:

COFFEE, coffee, and did I say coffee?
An adorable bra and panty.
My new glasses.

Okay, so coffee is self explanatory but what about the glasses and lingerie? I’m so glad you asked! When I work from home, I would never be caught dead in anything but a pair of sweats and my boyfriend’s hoodie. My homework days are a no makeup and no contacts day, as well…Hence my new specs! Because I am rocking a look that I do not feel my best in, a pretty set of lingerie is a friendly reminder that I’m still a stunner and a sass machine. Cute bras and underoos on my “bumming it” days is my way of keeping my self-esteem at a perfect ten even when I look like I just rolled out of bed!

So there you have it, my Adore Me Inspired Lingerie Flat Lay! Once again, please make sure to check out the Adore Me Pinterest page and do some shopping on the links provided above! When it comes to lingerie are you a mixer or a matcher? Do you have a bra or panty that you consider “lucky”? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar30

Liebster Award #5

Posted on March 30, 2016 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! Yesterday I was nominated for my fifth Liebster Award by my friend, Rola, over at RolasJournal. Her blog is fabulous so please be sure to give it some love! Thanks again, Rola! ❤ With all of these fun blogging awards comes a set of rules so check them out and then see how I answered Rola’s questions for her nominees:

The Rules:

Thank the person who nominated you and link back to his/her blog.
Copy and paste the Liebster Award badge to your post.
Answer the ten questions the person who nominated you asked.
Create ten new questions for the bloggers you are nominating.
Notify the bloggers that you have nominated by leaving a comment on their blog.

Q & A:

Why did you start blogging?

Lol, the honest answer is that a lot of people told me I should because of my unique style. I created lifewithlilred and discovered that I was pretty good at the whole blogging thing and then continued to go from there.

How long have you been blogging?

Since September of 2014.

Why did you chose this name for your blog?

I wanted something catchy and I also wanted it to be recognized as something that no one but me could have created. My nickname is Lil Red thanks to my bright red hair and lipstick. People know me as “that girl with the red hair” and I like titles that roll off the tongue so I thought lifewithlilred was a perfect name.

What are the top three things you want to do in 2016?

Get hired for a summer internship (fingers crossed!), graduate with my Associate of Arts degree after the fall semester, and get a bunny!!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Uhhhh…I don’t know, probably still miserable and apathetic. 😉

Are you a sweet/sour person?

SOUR!! I love sour candy so much. As far as my personality goes, I’m definitely like a Sour Patch Kid. I can change from sour to sweet and vice versa in a heartbeat!

If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you would do?

Find a home for every animal in every shelter in existence.

Are You a Morning Person?

Absolutely not, but with enough coffee I’m learning how to be.

Describe yourself in one word.

Unique.

Tell us something about yourself, absolutely anything…

Hmm…Right now I’m wearing one of my usual All Black Everything outfits and my crop top says Killin’ The Game in cursive. I love crop tops because I like to play peek a boo with my tattoos and piercings! 😀

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

What was the last food you ate?
What is one of your guilty pleasures?
Favorite TV show?
Warm or cold weather?
What was your favorite childhood toy?
Favorite book?
What celebrity would you want to trade places with for a day?
Who or what inspires you?
Favorite candy or sweet treat?
What is your favorite piece of clothing in your closet?

So there you have it, lifewithlilred’s Liebster Award #5! Shout out again to Rola from RolasJournal for the nomination! How would you answer some of the questions that I asked my nominees? What about some of the questions Rola asked hers? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb3

One Lovely Blog Award #3

Posted on February 3, 2016 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! I was recently nominated for my third One Lovely Blog Award by my dear friend, Nikki, over at: akinderway. I always enjoy my interactions with Miss Nikki and her blog is a real gem, so make sure you give her page some love! I have so much fun making award nomination posts and it makes for an easy day of blogging so thank you to all of my friends who have nominated lifewithlilred! As always, there are some rules that come with the awards so check them out and then let’s get started:

The Rules:

Thank the person that nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
List the rules.
Display the award on your post.
List seven facts about yourself.
Nominate (up to) 15 bloggers for this award and comment on one of their posts to let them know you have nominated them.

All About Me:

I’m currently writing this post while sipping coffee and taking a homework break. I always drink my coffee out of a sweet little mug with a koala bear being floated away by a bundle of balloons and it says “Have an up kind of day”. I think it’s the cutest thing ever!
This isn’t really a fun fact but right now the water in my shower isn’t draining very quickly. On Sunday I dyed my hair with my beloved Vidal Sassoon’s Runway Red and by the time I exited my shower the water was halfway up my calf and blood red. It was really disgusting but insanely cool.
The last movie I watched was The Interview. My sister and I haven’t seen that movie in forever and laughed like crazy the entire time! I love love LOVE James Franco! Hubba hubba.
My boyfriend and I recently entered the “Canton’s Cutest Couple” contest for a local radio station – not that I buy in to any of that stuff but a free dinner would be nice!
My socks are matching for once today, which deserves an award in itself.
I’ve become really fond of eating at Moe’s and have decided that I like them better than Chipotle. #WELCOMETOMOES
I’ll find anything you say infinitely funnier if you end it with “#blessed”.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

Once again, thank you so much to Nikki at akinderway for my third One Lovely Blog Award and congrats to my nominees! What are some fun facts about yourself? Do you have any weekend plans that you’re looking forward to? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan2

Best Friend Christmas Haul

Posted on January 2, 2016 by lifewithlilred

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Helloooo everyone and happy 2016! My best friend, Lea, and I were a little bit late in celebrating Christmas with each other but it finally happened this past week and it was glorious! We had such a wonderful time opening our presents, eating Taco Bell, and girl talking to our hearts content. Take a look at what I was gifted with by my darling:

From Lea I got:

A cozy fleece blanket (which I’m wrapped in right now!)
A to go coffee mug (which I’m obsessed with)
A Starbucks mini ornament
Bath & Body Works lotion
A coffee mug filled with bath and body products

I love everything that Lea got me so much but honestly I didn’t need anything from her. Our over seven years of best friendship is enough for me! It was a bit funny opening our gifts, however, because we got each other very similar presents. I got my girl a new mug and bath and body care goodies, as well, among other things! We seriously know each other too well and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’m so looking forward to a new year full of hang outs with my best girlfriend and I’m so thankful for her friendship and the beautiful Christmas gifts I received! You’re such a doll and I love you, Lea!! ❤

I hope everyone is having a wonderful new year’s weekend! Make sure you tune in with me for this week’s Monday Update so I can tell you about how I rung in the new year! Until then, how did everyone celebrate the arrival of 2016? Who has been doing some last minute Christmas gifting to your friends and family? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec21

Monday Update: NCI Training Edition

Posted on December 21, 2015 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and happy Monday!! This past Thursday I had my training for the National Core Indicators (NCI) research project in association with the Ohio Board of Developmental Disabilities at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio…What a mouthful! I had the honor of being one of fifty out of over five hundred selected to take part in this opportunity and I was so happy to be there – even though I had to get up at 4:15 in the morning to begin my day! Let’s discuss, but first take a look at some of the responsibilities that my new job will hold by watching some or all of this video:

My day began early on Thursday morning and didn’t stop until I got home at roughly 7:30 in the evening. After I finished getting myself ready for the day, I packed some snacks, made some coffee, and then hit the road. I live in Akron, Ohio and my drive to Columbus took a little over two hours. Luckily, I began my drive early enough to account for traffic because the rush hour traffic was insane! I had to be at The Ohio State University’s McCampbell Hall by 8:30 to begin checking in and because of my early start I made it right on time.

When I got to our designated room number, I was a bit taken aback by the fact that I was easily the youngest person there. Everyone was at least thirty or older and as I learned throughout the day, all of them had some type of job in the field of service for people with developmental disabilities. Other members of the research project had children with some type of special needs and there were also some fantastic self advocates taking part in the day as well. My parents were so impressed when I told them this and I have to say, I was quite impressed with myself, too!

Our day began at 9:00 sharp and we were introduced to the responsibilities we would have as members of the NCI research project. It’s going to be our job to interview people with developmental disabilities to make sure that through the Ohio Board of Developmental Disabilities they’re receiving the best care possible. It’s also going to be our duty to report anything suspicious to make sure that there is no negligence or abuse going on.

Throughout the day we watched and analyzed the video I posted above, learned how to report possible cases of abuse, and listened to speakers such as the head of the Nisonger Center at OSU who is assisting with this project, department heads at the Ohio Board of Developmental Disabilities, and the people in charge of the NCI project. It was so cool to be able to ask questions and interact with people who are in such high esteem in the world of developmental disabilities.

My training went on until five in the afternoon and I learned so much. We went over the survey that we’ll be completing in extensive detail and I feel confident in my ability to do it well. I have a folder full of paper with the slides of the Powerpoints that we were viewing too so I can look over them whenever I need. My mom read some of them with me too because she’s a developmental pediatrician and is always hungry for more knowledge!

My day was so jam packed with information that I couldn’t even begin to cover it all in one post. All of the speakers did a great job of holding my interest because it definitely would have been easy to zone out during the day! I am so happy to take part in such an important project and I can’t wait to begin conducting my interviews throughout the next few months!

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: NCI Training Edition! How was everyone’s weekend? What are your plans for the holidays? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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