Tag Archives: decorations

Mar21

She Sells Seashells

Posted on March 21, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Hello!!! I work as an Independent Provider for people with special needs and specialize in community inclusion and daily living skills. I have worked in the field for almost a decade and all of my clients new and old will always hold a very special place in my heart. It is the best job in the whole world and I am so thankful to have assisted so many amazing families. It means so much to be trusted to provide quality care and I deliver nothing less every day at work.

Whenever I can’t see my clients due to vacations or days off, I miss them terribly! My days feel so off without my normal shifts and all smiles and I couldn’t wait for one of my clients to return from a family vaca. I know for a fact this young man was missing me too because he collected seashells on the beach just for me and proudly presented them when I saw him again:

When I was given my seashells, I seriously almost cried. I was SO touched that my client took the time out of his vacation to search for shells that he thought I would like. He was completely right, because I LOVE them. He told me that they have to drive to the beach next time because all of the shells that he wanted to bring me wouldn’t fit on the plane! I cannot wait to find a pretty jar to house my shells in and display it on my knick knack shelves so I can see them and smile every day. ❤

Between three jobs, I am a busy lady. However, I will never be too busy to see my clients; I simply could not imagine my life without any of them! It brings me such great joy to teach new things when I am at work, but every day, I am the one who learns something new. My seashells will serve as a reminder to always be thoughtful, generous, and kind – just like the dear young man who gave them to me. I am the lucky one to even know him and feel proud to continue to grow as people together!

As the weather in Ohio remains awful, I will be on the beach in the sunshine every time I see my seashells. Always turn your face towards the sun and have the best day, darling friends!

Where is your dream vacation location? Who has seashells on display in their home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan23

Halloween Pop Up Tree

Posted on January 23, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past holiday season, my client’s mom offered my family her pop up Christmas tree to use since we didn’t put one up. She also learned that Johnny and I didn’t have a tree, either, but if we ever got one then, of course, it had to be black. As a bonus Christmas gift, I was surprised once again by her generosity because Johnny and I got the Christmas or should I say Halloween tree of our dreams! Check it out:

^^^ Lol, please don’t mind our corral of bunny supplies in the background!

When I originally brought the borrowed pop up tree to my family home, I had no idea what it entailed because I had never heard of it before! It is, however, exactly what you would think it would be and is so very cool. A pop up tree is basically a base, poles, and a “tree” to place over them. The Christmas pop up tree that we used was five feet tall and came pre-decorated with ornaments, ribbons, and lights. Similarly, our Halloween tree came pre-lit and adorned with glittery pumpkins. 😀

It took me less than two minutes to assemble the tree and I couldn’t believe its perfection. Everything about it is just right for me and Johnny. The narrow size is also ideal for our apartment setting and we will be able to put it anywhere without taking up too much space. Every year for Christmas, Johnny’s mom gifts us with a couple of ornaments apiece and they have all been sitting on our knick knack shelves. Now, we finally have a tree of our own to decorate and I can’t wait to dress it up with our fairly extensive ornament collection!

I am obsessed with my Halloween Pop Up Tree and am so appreciative to my client’s mom for the amazing gift. And, yes, just like all of our other Halloween gear, the tree will be staying up all year round!

Do you use real or artificial Christmas trees? What is your favorite Christmas ornament? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct26

Hosting Halloween? Try These Ideas!

Posted on October 26, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! It is almost Halloween weekend and I am so excited for it!! On Friday, Johnny and I are going to have a scary movie night with one of our friends (my bestie and her husband had to reschedule) and then passing out candy to trick-or-treaters in my parents’ neighborhood on Saturday night. Whether you are hosting a huge bash or a small get together, these ideas will be sure to be a hit for major Halloween fun:

Food & Drinks:

Let’s all be honest here, one of the most important aspects of a holiday party is the food and drinks! You could do a potluck style situation and have everyone bring a drink or snack. Or, you could go the route that I planned on doing and preparing things yourself. Since my party of five will be a party of three on Friday, I will be keeping things fairly simple – tacos for dinner and apple cider cocktails while the movie night commences.

There are so many amazing recipes for cocktails (nonalcoholic too) and spooky snacks on Pinterest. You could try some of the following at your party:

Caramel apple bark
A trail mix station
Apple butter or pumpkin cheesecake
Cupcakes or cake pops
Crockpot dishes like soups or dips
Themed cocktails – Bloody Marys, anyone?

So Many Activities:

Movie nights are an easy way to go for a Halloween party. To keep things fair, have everyone write down what they would like to watch and draw from a hat to leave things up to chance. If you’re looking for more “active” activities, you could incorporate any of these ideas:

Costume Contest: What good is a Halloween party if everyone isn’t dressed up? You could create a makeshift runway, have your guests model their look, and vote on which costume is the best. A goodie bag of candy or a small Halloween decoration could be the prize for the winner.

Pumpkin Carving Or Painting: Decorations are always a must for a party and you could all make your own with a pumpkin carving or painting station. How cool would it be to have your whole front yard lit up with jack-o-lanterns that your guests created? This is also a great activity to do outside if the weather is nice and it’s still light out.

Dance The Night Away: If you have space to allow for some dancing, then go for it! Of course, you will need a fantastic spooky playlist. Johnny and I recommend our main jams of the Monster Mash, Alice Cooper, and Ghost.

Scavenger Hunt: A nighttime scavenger hunt would be so much fun! You can hide clues throughout your yard and home and have a prize for whomever completes the task first. Be sure to supply flashlights if this is going to be an after dark activity.

Set The Space:

Any host with the most knows not to leave preparing your party space for the last minute! You might have to move furniture around or have additional seating depending on how many people are attending. As long as you can accommodate your guests comfortably, then you are good to go. If you are going to be watching movies, make sure you have lots of extra blankets or pillows or have the party-goers bring their own.

Do Good:

A get together during this time of the year is perfect for doing some good as we are quickly approaching the holiday season. The “buy in” for your party could be a donation to a homeless shelter, animal rescue organization, or charity of your choosing. This is a simple but effective way of giving back!

With these tips, your Halloween party will be the talk of your friend group for years to come. Now, can Johnny and I get an invite or…?!

What are you doing for Halloween? What will you be dressing up as? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct23

Sweet Surprises: Spooky Decor Edition

Posted on October 23, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Whenever Johnny and I are running errands individually, we always seem to come home with a little treat for each other without fail. This has especially rang true throughout late September and the entire month of October because it is spooky season, baby! In our bigger apartment, it has been impossible to say no to all kinds of Halloween decor to deck our place out in. Thanks to Johnny stopping into Walgreen’s, we now have these new additions to our collection:

Halloween is a state of mind and Johnny and I live in that mindset year round. Constantly watching scary movies, wearing spooky sweaters, and having a huge decor collection also really helps the cause! We have been living our best lives this October between date days, movie marathons, and all of the Halloween shopping. I suspect we will also be living our best lives in early November when all of the candy and decorations are on sale! 😀

It has been a rough few weeks in Lil Red’s world and Johnny always knows how to cheer me up. Sometimes it’s just turning on one of my favorite shows or, in this case, returning home with some surprises! We have yet to hang up the Prisoner Of Azkaban wiggle picture but I literally gasped when I saw the skeleton couple on their boat. The best part? It lights up! Its new home is on top of one of our book shelves and it makes a perfect little nightlight now that it is getting so dark early in the evening. I think the resemblance of me and Johnny is uncanny. ❤

As Halloween draws closer, it is becoming impossible to contain the excitement! Keep it posted on lifewithlilred for more scary good content including some must see horror flicks and my plans for the ultimate movie night on Halloween weekend!

What is your favorite holiday to decorate for? What is your favorite store to shop at for seasonal decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct19

The Haunted House Restaurant Date Night

Posted on October 19, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! This past Saturday, Johnny and I were on deck to see Les Miserables at Playhouse Square because my parents couldn’t attend. You can read all about that experience and peep my OOTD from it later this week! Prior to heading to the theater, we decided to finally check out The Haunted House Restaurant in Beachwood for dinner. Despite the, admittedly, unoriginal name, there was nothing in the realm of normal at this restaurant and it was a blast! Check it out:

Lol at Johnny!

The whole restaurant was decked out in murals and horror movie memorabilia

Michael Myers was a guest star and lurking around the whole place!

For drinks, Johnny got the Beetlejuice and I went for the Trick Or Treat. For food, Johnny ordered the Texas Chainsaw Burger and I got the Ecto Burger.

The Haunted House Restaurant opened in Beachwood about a year ago and Johnny and I were so excited to go despite the mixed bag of reviews that we had heard. Some people loved it while others complained about the food and that it wasn’t like a “real” haunted house. This wasn’t the case for me and Johnny at all and we cannot wait to go back. In fact, we are already planning to host our birthaversary there in June!

Let’s start with the food and drinks… The Haunted House Restaurant had a huge cocktail menu featuring spooky themed drinks and their own wine. Johnny’s version of a Pina Colada called the Beetlejuice looked SO cool and he really enjoyed it. I ordered their popular “Trick Or Treat”, which was basically a boozy apple cider and it was delicious. It was exactly what I was hoping it would be and I loved that it was garnished with fresh pieces of apple for a classy touch. I want to make something similar for a scary movie night ASAP. 😀

I can’t speak for Johnny’s Texas Chainsaw Burger but my Ecto Burger was just alright. It was an impossible burger with vegan BBQ pulled pork, gouda, and onions. I wanted to like it so badly but it was pretty dry overall and was lacking severely in the flavor department. The French fries, however, were amazing and I would have been happy just eating a plateful of them.

Although my burger wasn’t the best, it was okay because the experience as a whole was. As soon as we walked into the restaurant, Johnny and I were so there for it. All of the staff were in costumes and horror makeup, the decor was second to none, and the creepy music playing on the speakers all set the stage for a great evening. Also, our server at the bar was a star!

The fabulous murals and memorabilia was like being in a scary movie museum and there seemed to be tricks and treats everywhere you turned. Johnny and I happened to be there when a birthday was being celebrated and the staff put on a great show. The sirens from The Purge played over the speakers and the staff came out dancing with flashing lights for the birthday guest. Then, they played “In Da Club” and it was hilarious lol.

All of the above isn’t even the best part because that belonged to whomever the restaurant had playing Michael Myers. About halfway through our meal, Johnny noticed Mr. Myers posted up outside one of the doors to the restaurant. He reveled in scaring passerbyers and the restaurant goers alike and happily posed for pictures when asked. Then, he made his way inside and went throughout the place to entertain everyone. Unfortunately, we had to go before he got to the bar where we were seated but it was still so awesome!

Our trip to The Haunted House Restaurant was one of mine and Johnny’s favorite date nights yet. We had so much fun and the only bad thing is that it’s about forty minutes away. This actually might be a good thing, though, because we would be there literally all of the time!

Where is your favorite date night spot? What is your favorite scary movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct3

Revamp Your Yard For Spooky Season

Posted on October 3, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Spooky season is in full swing and what better way to pay homage to the best time of the year than in your own yard?! Sure, your house might be full of Halloween decor like mine but the outside is just as important to set all of the vibes come trick-or-treat night. At least, I sure think so, especially because I so wish that I had a yard to decorate! Let’s look at some fun projects to revamp your yard just in time for Halloween:

Decor Galore:

How cool would it be to have a front yard filled with twinkling orange lights, fake bats hanging from the trees, and zombies poking up from the ground? While you don’t have to go crazy with giant inflatables or twenty foot skeletons, a little decor goes a long way. Fake cobwebs, home made jack-o-lanterns, and makeshift ghosts in the trees works just as well!

Better yet, so many of the DIY aspects of Halloween decorating can be done as a family. You could make a bunch of creepy spiders by tracing your hands on cardboard or silly ghosts by sticking your feet in some paint. And, of course, there’s nothing better than a pumpkin carving night while watching all of your favorite scary flicks.

Autumnal Landscaping:

Mum is the word and you can purchase tons of glorious flowers to add some colorful cheer during the day. This is also another great activity to do as a family, perhaps by making a trip to your local pumpkin patch for some potted flowers? What’s more, you could paint jack-o-lantern faces on them for all of the fun of pumpkin carving without the pulpy mess!

Don’t forget to make the most of all of the fallen leaves adorning your yard too. They could easily be turned into garlands to hang around your door or porch railing. Add some fake cobwebs and you can’t go wrong. Or, just have a leaf jumping competition and warm up with some hot chocolate afterwards.

If you’re crunched for time or have no green thumb to be found (And, no, Frankenstein green paint on your hands doesn’t count!), then you could hire a reliable landscaping company that delivers great results. You can even consult with them to turn your yard into the ultimate autumn oasis.

Trick-Or-Treat Tips:

Arguably one of the most fun parts of Halloween is seeing all of the adorable costumes come trick-or-treat night. Rather than answering a ringing doorbell all evening, how about setting up shop outside? My husband and I plan on doing this in my parent’s neighborhood! We will have a crackling fire and the Monster Mash playing on repeat, obviously.

You don’t have to stop there, though! You could host a neighborhood costume contest or set up a scavenger hunt in your freshly decorated yard. Expertly placed pine cones, mini pumpkins, and fake spiders could all be things to find. The prize? Extra candy! If you don’t have a fire pit, be sure to place lots of twinkling or floodlights around your property so everyone can find their way!

One of my favorite things about spooky season is all of the great outdoor decorations. Turn your yard into one that would make me stop and stare and have the best time!

Oct1

Mini Halloween Haul

Posted on October 1, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! It is spooky season all year long in mine and Johnny’s world and the decor in our apartment reflects this. We love all things horror and true crime and Halloween is the happiest time of the year for us. Now that we are settled comfortably in our new apartment, we really wanted to upgrade our spooky decor since we have so much more additional space.

After a wildly successful haul at Marc’s, a discount store in my neck of the woods, I was itching to go back. I got all kinds of cool Halloween goodies and the best part was seeing the same items I purchased at Walgreen’s for triple the cost. The haul below costed me a whole ten bucks at Marc’s and from the Akron Zoo when I went with my nieces and sister. You can peep the OOTD from our outing tomorrow! Now, let’s take a look-see at my new Halloween treats – no tricks necessary!

^^^ The little ghost and pumpkin are from the zoo, the rest is from Marc’s.

My Johnny has a huge collection of Halloween themed socks and he actually just bought a ton more from TJMaxx when we went last week. I was so proud! I’d be a liar if I said that I wasn’t a tad jealous so I was so happy to find some socks of my own at Marc’s. They are also the same brand of the Frankenstein socks that Johnny surprised me with last year and that I’m currently wearing right now! While my collection will never achieve Johnny level, it’s a pretty good start. 😀

The skull candles were a whopping two for a dollar and I am obsessed with them. 1) Talk about a STEAL and 2) they will be perfect for our scary movie marathons every weekend! The piece de resistance of my haul, however, is the skeleton hand candle holder. This costed me two dollars and I couldn’t believe my good luck. It reminded me so much of this year’s Bath & Body Works Halloween line and probably would have been selling for twenty or more bucks from there. Talk about an amazing find!

And, finally, who knew you could find some Halloween cuteness at the zoo?! At the Akron Zoo, you have to exit through the gift shop and it’s a total money trap lol. I love spoiling my nieces with a new stuffed animal every time we go, though, so what can ya do except buy a treat for yourself too! Every year, Johnny and I work on instilling a love of Halloween in our oldest niece, Val. It’s definitely working and she picked out the pumpkin for herself. She also plays with the decorations on our spooky shelf whenever she comes over. Proud aunt and uncle alert!! ❤

Not bad for a ten dollar haul, right? Mine and Johnny’s apartment is filling up nicely with Halloween decor and it is what we have always wanted. A local discount store with the coolest spooky treats is really helping the cause!

What is your favorite discount store? Do you have your Halloween decorations out yet? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep20

Fun Ways To Personalize Your Home

Posted on September 20, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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If you do not want your home to be like every other one on the block, then there are lots of things you can do to make it more interesting than the average home in your neighborhood. Have some fun with these ideas that people will be sure to take notice of:

Paint the exterior doors:

Painting the exterior doors in a unique color is a good way to really put your stamp on your property and show the world that you are unique. A fuchsia door or an orange porch might not be the norm, but if it’s what you love, then why not go for it?! It will be worth it if it makes you smile and is something that your neighbors will take joy in too.

Create a mosaic:

One of the more unusual things you can do to personalize your home is to create a mosaic either on a wall or floor indoors or to the exterior of your property. You can buy ready made mosaic wall art or make your own and it is a great way to tell your own personal story in an artistic way that is likely to add value to your property too. Decorative and unique, it will look great, add meaning, and impress potential future buyers all in one fell swoop.

Make your own soft furnishings:

A fun way to personalize your property is by making your own soft furnishings such as cushions, quilts, and blankets. Having things that you have made yourself in your home is a really good way of making it feel more like yours. If you are looking for something really special, then why not use transfers to put your own photographs onto cushions and throws? It’s a unique way to display them, and will ensure that no one else has the same decor as you.

^^^ Pexels Image

Use washi tape:

Washi tape is basically decorative tape that comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. It can be used to decorate your home in a cute, non-permanent way, and because there are so many designs available, it is an easy way of making your home more personal to you. For example, if you love floral designs, you can line your shelves with poppy print washi tape or if you love gold, you can create gild frames around light switches and other fixtures. It will also only cost you a few dollars to do so!

Buy your favorite flowers:

Buying your favorite flowers, whether they be roses, geraniums, or lilies, and displaying them in every room of your home is an easy and uplifting way to make your property more personal to you. Nothing is better than the scent of fresh cut flowers in your home!

Personalizing your property is a fun way to make it more your own, stand out more, and adds value to potential buyers, so why not try out some of the ideas above today?

Featured Image By: Pexels

Sep14

Marc’s Halloween Haul

Posted on September 14, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! In my neck of the woods, there is a discount store called Marc’s that offers everything from food and clothing to toys and home goods. This past week, they also had a ton of Halloween goodies that I just had to snag for the apartment. Everything was SO cute and also way cheaper than anything you would find at TJMaxx and Walmart. Take a look:

It is Halloween year round in mine and Johnny’s home and our decor includes skeletons, pumpkins, ghosts, ghouls, and a Jason Voorhees cardboard cutout lol. Our neighbor gave us this life size likeness and it still freaks me out sometimes! I have taken it upon myself to freshen up our Halloween stock pile this year and just couldn’t say no to the above purchases – especially considering I got all of them for under twenty-five dollars. 😀

I am particularly partial to the glittery hanging skeleton with the bow tie and Johnny loves the skeleton and scepter statue. Our niece, Valerie, always wants to play with our ghost figurines when she comes over so I think she will be a huge fan of the “BOO” ghost statue! As soon as I brought this haul home, it was like a kid in a candy store and Johnny added them to our spooky shelves throughout the apartment. SO. Precious!

While chain stores might have a bigger selection of Halloween goodies, don’t write off the discount stores. I have never seen anything like my purchases at Marc’s elsewhere so you are sure to find some very unique pieces if you know where to look. Now, is it Halloween yet?!

Where is your favorite place to shop for seasonal decor? How do you decorate for Halloween? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug30

TJMaxx Mini Halloween Haul

Posted on August 30, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! In terms of shopping, I think that right now is the most wonderful time of the year. I love when fall clothing starts making a comeback and, of course, all of the Halloween goodies! This past week, I couldn’t help indulging in the former and the latter during some much needed retail therapy. I went to TJMaxx at just the right time when they started putting out their Halloween decor and walked away with the following:

Johnny and I keep our spooky decorations up all year round so I was excited to get some new additions for our little slice of Halloween heaven. I freaking LOVE the snow globe featuring a skull and striking snake. The best thing about it, of course, is the little bats floating around in lieu of glitter. It is just so cute and looks great on one of the shelves in our book nook. It was also the only one in the store. 😀

I also just had to get two new plates by Royal Stafford with his and hers skulls on it. When I saw these on display, I literally clutched my pearls because I have several plates from this brand already. I purchased them almost three years ago and have never seen anything like it at TJMaxx since so I felt lucky to find more to add to my collection. They are way too pretty to use for its intended purpose of eating off of but I like having them just to have them lol.

Halloween is in my home all of the time but is officially in the air in stores and I am so there for it. Johnny and I plan on having a Halloween shopping crawl soon for more decor and I can’t wait!

What is your favorite holiday to shop for? Which stores have the best holiday decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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