Tag Archives: enjoy

Jun11

Four Fantastic Reasons To Take Up Crafting

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Four Fantastic Reasons To Take Up Crafting

If you’re in the market for a relaxing activity that promises endless hours of fun and satisfaction, you should definitely consider crafting. Why? If the four reasons below don’t convince you, trying your hand at something crafty certainly will. Next time you’ve got some time on your hands, do yourself a favor and give crafting a try:

Curiosity:

One thing that defines all crafty folk is curiosity. You get a kick out of working out how to go about creating something out of its component parts, and it’s not just the intellectual knowledge you hunger for, but the experience. If you’re naturally curious, crafting offers endless opportunities to discover new processes, get your head around intricate designs, and get to grips with different materials. Whether you’re into embroidery or woodwork, once you get started, you’ll discover an endless world of complexity to uncover for yourself.

Be a Gifting Goddess:

Everyone has that friend who reliably produces the most jaw-dropping gifts, which they then reveal were made by hand! With a little crafting expertise, you can be a gifting goddess too. No matter what area of crafting you’re into, chances are you’ll be able to whip up a gift for someone special. If you’re into knitting, woolen gifts always go down as a treat (even the once cringe-worthy Christmas jumper is having a revival these days!). Or, if you’re a baker or cook, why not gift a batch of homemade cookies or a tasty jar of preserves? If you’re new to your craft and are not quite up for full-on gift production, consider other crafty ways to personalize your shop-bought gifts. You could make your own cards, or invest in a punch board and create your own personalized gift bags.

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Photo by Kaboompics .com from Pexels

Crafters Are Forever Young:

Who says old dogs can’t learn new tricks? Research has consistently demonstrated that taking up new habits can have a positive impact on the sharpness and adaptability of your mind. Learning new things creates brand-new neural pathways, which work against the natural deterioration of the brain that comes with age. While it doesn’t matter what new things you do, crafts are a great choice because you’re unlikely to get bored with an endless array of new techniques and skills waiting to be mastered.

New Communities:

While crafting can be a rewarding solitary activity, crafters should be aware of the danger of becoming reclusive. If you’re looking for ways to get out there more, getting into a new craft will open up new worlds for you, socially. Learning from others is the best excuse to meet people, and a quick glance online will give you a sense of the local crafting communities available. Even if there are no craft events coming up, you’ll find a thriving online community sharing tips and inspiration, so there’s no need to feel alone. Crafters can be a shy tribe but remember: there are no strangers out there… only friends you haven’t met yet.

Whatever your reasons for taking up crafting, don’t forget the most important benefit of all: crafting simply makes you feel good! Who cares how good your results are. What matters is that you’re enjoying yourself. 🙂

Featured Image By: Jasmin Schreiber on Unsplash

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Jun4

Lil Red Loves: Ma Edition

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Lil Red Loves: Ma Edition

Helloo! This past week, I took one of my clients to see Ma. She is my scary movie girl and we always go to the latest showings together at the theaters. It’s a blast! Ever since seeing the trailer for Ma for the past few months, we have been looking forward to going. And, it definitely didn’t disappoint. We both left the theater speechless aside from agreeing that we both loved it.

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to this video.

Boasting an all star cast of Octavia Spencer, Juliette Lewis, Allison Janney, and Missi Pyle along with the main young actors who all did a bang up job, Ma was filled with shockers from start to finish. Ma tells the story of a lonely middle aged woman with a traumatic past who finds her niche with a group of teens after buying them booze at a convenience store. But, what originally seems innocent enough takes a dark turn into obsession really quickly.

Is Ma just on the hunt for friends or on the trail for revenge? Full of jaw dropping horror gags and a shocking, heartbreaking grand reveal, Ma is definitely worth the watch. It wasn’t so much blood and guts horror as it was stomach churning unfortunate-ness and suspense. So, if you’re up for a night at the movies seeing a flick that was outrageously cringe worthy but a whole lot of fun with the dark humor peppered in, then get your tickets for Ma ASAP!

What is the last movie you saw in theaters? What were your thoughts on Ma? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Ma Movie

May30

Dining Delights: Enjoy Food With Friends This Summer!

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Dining Delights: Enjoy Food With Friends This Summer!

Summer is a time for making memories. With the nice weather and longer days, we’re all in a happier mood and ready to socialize. And, one of the best ways to get everyone together is with food. Sharing a meal is a great way to connect with your loved ones and it’s tons of fun. Check out the following ideas for food friendly events this summer:

Barbecue:

Everyone loves a good barbecue. So, if you want to get everyone together on a hot day? Fire up the grill! Dust off your old barbecue and contact some propane companies to find the best price on gas. Purchase some meat and vegetables to grill and make burgers, hot dogs, chicken, steaks, ribs, and skewers. If you want to keep the drinks flowing all day, you could mix up a cocktail in a large dispenser along with some fruit slices and herbs and guests can help themselves to the ready mixed drink with no messing around. Have plenty of ice in the freezer that they can pop into their glass so each drink is perfectly chilled.

Picnic:

If you have friends and family scattered across different places, why not choose a scenic park in a relatively central location to all of you and have a picnic? If everyone brings a selection of different foods, you’ll all have plenty to share. Pinterest has lots of recipe ideas for interesting sandwiches, pastries, salads, and sweet treats so it doesn’t have to be all of the same kind of stuff! It’s a nice way to spend time outdoors and it’s not especially expensive, either. Check out if the place you want to picnic in has car parking charges or entry fees ahead of time for complete convenience.

Afternoon tea:

More fancy than a picnic and something you can do from your own home is an afternoon tea. Decorate your garden table in a pretty tablecloth and some flowers in mason jars and serve finger sandwiches, dainty pastries, cakes on tiered stands, and tea in mismatched china cups. Perfect for a celebration (just add a bottle of champagne or prosecco!) or just a girls afternoon spent together.

Restaurant:

Lots of restaurants are particularly great over the warmer months. Find somewhere that has an outdoor area where you can meet with your friends and enjoy food and drinks. While restaurants and eateries can be expensive, check sites like Groupon for deals to save money and also the website of the venue. Some places will have special offers on certain days. If you’re looking to save money, skip the starters (restaurant mains are so large you really don’t need them anyway!) and pass on the alcohol. You can always enjoy a few drinks at home afterwards which will be way cheaper than buying while you’re out. Stick to water and soft drinks and you’ll save significantly on your bill.

Use the tips above to plan a lovely afternoon outing for your friends and family – just make sure they all come on an empty stomach!

Featured Image By: Pexels

May26

Face Mask Festivities: SpaLife Brightening Sheet Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: SpaLife Brightening Sheet Mask Edition

Hiii everyone! While in the shower the other day, I remembered that a friend of mine gave me a Target gift card when I was moving into my apartment. I was so happy that I remembered this but was also SO annoyed because I had been to Target at least three times since moving. Smh.

But, it’s better late than never for using the gift card so I made a Target run and purchased a few essentials as well as a sheet face mask to push me slightly above the gift card limit. I have never used a sheet mask before so I thought that I would give it a try as a little treat to myself. I went with a brightening mask made with papaya by SpaLife and it was about three dollars per mask. I can’t say that it was my favorite face mask experience but I didn’t hate it. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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^^^ Hahaha, ahhhh that picture kills me! 😀

Because my skin type is as normal as it gets, I always go for masks that are either brightening or hydrating. And, with summer coming in hot, I thought that my skin could use some brightening for a more radiant appearance in the bright sun. I have also been really tired lately so my skin has been looking and feeling pretty lackluster. Needless to say, a brightening mask was just what the doctor ordered.

When I took the sheet mask out of the package, it was absolutely dripping with the papaya serum. I was a little surprised by this because the mask was inexpensive. I wasn’t expecting it to be bone dry but I also wasn’t expecting it to be jam packed with papaya goodness, either. This mask smelled really good, too. I caught a whiff of papaya as soon as I opened the packet and it lingered for the duration of having the mask on.

I left the mask on for about twelve minutes and then it fell off while I was in the shower. The mask wasn’t uncomfortable by any means but I didn’t like that you essentially just had to sit there with the mask on to avoid it falling off. This is why I prefer your standard face mask from a jar or tube so that you can continue going about your business until it’s time to wash it off.

Although the mask came off prematurely, I can say that I definitely saw some results from it. I had literally no expectations for this mask so maybe that’s why I was more keen to pick up on any differences in my skin. But, my under eye circles seemed less prevalent, my skin looked brighter, and it felt insanely smooth so I was very happy about all of that.

I can’t say that I would go out of my way to use a sheet mask again because I enjoy normal face masks so much but I’m glad that I tried it. And, if you haven’t tried one before, then you should go to Target and grab a SpaLife mask. It was inexpensive and an overall pleasant experience for what it was!

How do you feel about sheet masks? What is your favorite face mask to use? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May17

Apartment Lyfe Update

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Apartment Lyfe Update

Helloooo! It has been almost one month since I moved into my very own apartment and, honestly, it couldn’t have gone better. The move went smoothly, I love my space, and it legitimately feels like a vacation being here. From furniture shopping to stocking up my pantry and cooking in my kitchen or waking up in my loft space, everything is still so exciting to me.

And, the novelty continues, as I work on fixing up my office and an art wall in my living room. But, my main living spaces are complete and it turned out exactly how I wanted it to. Even just sitting here at the desk in my office and typing on my own brand new laptop feels awesome!

This move happened at the perfect time and it felt right instead of rushed or scary. I am enjoying my new home so much and it has been such a joy sharing the process with all of you too! What was your first apartment like? What about your current living quarters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May4

May 2019 Funky Time Jams

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May 2019 Funky Time Jams

Greetings and welcome to another fabulous month here on lifewithlilred! During the past few weeks of working with my newest client, I have been introduced to a ton of new music because he is all about the oldies but goodies. So, we have been listening to a lot of good stuff ranging from the 40’s to the 70’s. All of this music is just pure fun and I can’t get enough of it. Here are a few of my favorites:

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos!

In this day and age where most songs on the radio are about sex, drugs, violence, or a combination of the three, it’s nice to listen to something more innocent. All of the songs above are such feel good anthems and I get genuinely happy when I listen to them. Singing along to the tunes with my darling client certainly helps the happiness cause, too! I find myself playing the songs above constantly throughout the day now and, no matter how stressed or busy I am, it manages to lift my mood and put a smile on my face. I feel like that’s what these songs are all about!

What are some of your feel good anthems? What is your favorite era of music? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr28

More Pictures & A Bonus OOTD

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More Pictures & A Bonus OOTD

Hiii everyone and welcome to the viewing of the rest of the pics taken for me by my dear friend, Markus! I really am in love with these photos and I feel like they captured both the essence of myself and lifewithlilred perfectly. Him and I definitely plan on taking more pictures together soon so be on the lookout for them! But, for now, check the rest of these out:

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Who? What? Wear?

For the more beauty related photos that Markus took for his school project, I went with an OOTD that was a little sweeter. And, nothing says sweet to me more than gorgeous florals like the pattern in my True Destiny top. I got this shirt from TJ’s about a half a year ago and I love it so much. The colors are bright and the structured torso against the over the top puffy sleeves create a lot of visual interest. Normally, I am not a huge flower girl, but this shirt definitely made me change my mind about that!

But, because Lil Red is an edgy gal, I had to pepper a little spice into the look with my faux leather skinnies by Blank NYC. And, for some extra sassafras, the “Blah, blah, blah” word bubble heels a la Lust For Life were a must. I am obsessed with these message heels and have three pairs but I thought the blue ones would be nice with the colorful palette on top. I topped this look off with a hat from my brother and sister in law for Christmas and I was camera ready. 😀

How do you add edginess to your OOTDs? How would you describe your style? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah