Tag Archives: enjoy

Jan11

Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s World’s Smallest Disco Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s World’s Smallest Disco Edition

Hi! This past weekend, I enjoyed a nice, relaxing soak with the World’s Smallest Disco bath bomb from Lush. This was a treat from my sister’s Christmas gifts to me, and, despite a difficult clean up, this bath bomb was a lot of fun. With a name like World’s Smallest Disco, how could it be anything but a total blast?! Check out some pics and let’s discuss:

discodisco1disco2disco3disco4disco5disco6

It should come as no surprise that I love bath bombs that turn the water either black or really dark blue, so World’s Smallest Disco was the tops for that matter. It transformed the water into a gorgeous, inky blue with tiny galaxies of glitter floating throughout the water. So. Pretty!

So pretty, in fact, that I talked about that first instead of the neon pink, yellow, green, orange, and blue polka dots that erupted from the bath bomb, fizzing out like shooting stars. They also took longer to dissolve than the grey portion of the bath bomb, so the little disco lights stayed in the tub with you until they went away themselves. This product had great movement and it moved itself from one end of the bath tub to the other, leaving bright streams of color throughout the water. It was a spectacular light show and definitely felt like a dance party happening before my eyes.

World’s Smallest Disco also smelled really good, too. Nice and citrusy. It left my skin feeling soft and hydrated after shaving and I loved soaking in the midnight sky bath water. But, this bath bomb was a pain in the ass to clean up. Obviously, the darker colored bath bombs stain the tub in a much more noticeable way than a lighter hue and stain my bath tub, it did. So much so, that the Turtle jelly bomb that I just used was infinitely easier to clean than World’s Smallest Disco. Annoying, yes. But, I still would use this bath bomb again and give it a seven out of ten.

What is your favorite bath product to use? Which store offers the best bath time goodies? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan7

How To Make Your Wedding The Wedding Of The Year

Posted on by
Standard
How To Make Your Wedding The Wedding Of The Year

Planning a wedding can be a very trying and stressful experience. There are a lot of things you are going to need to consider, and many things that can go wrong. It is important to make sure you have thought hard about the different elements of the wedding, ensuring everyone has one of the best and most memorable weddings ever. Here are just a few things to consider when planning your wedding:

Choose the Right Venue:

The most important part of the process when it comes to planning a wedding is to choose the right venue. There are so many things that have to happen in order to achieve a memorable day, but there is no doubt that the right venue is at the top of the list, as your day is going to be built around the location. Of course, a prime location for guests doesn’t necessarily apply if you are planning to elope with services like https://geoffwilkings.com/helicopter-elopement-packages-alberta/ . The perfect venue for you and your partner is just a helicopter ride away!

When selecting the venue, you will want somewhere scenic for amazing pictures and spacious enough to comfortably accommodate your guests. It is a good idea to visit several different options while keeping in mind your number of guests as well as the layout of the tables and chairs. A venue that may seem perfect might not be big enough when seating arrangements are added. To begin exploring venue options, simply enter a search for “wedding reception venue in london” (or your local area). Go in with a solid plan and don’t forget to have fun because this is so exciting!

Get the Table Plan Sorted:

There are a lot of other things you are going to have to keep in mind, and one of the biggest is making sure that you get the table plan sorted. This is something that you need to focus on because it can make a big difference to the way people are able to interact, and can have a good bearing on the way they experience the day. The table plan will cause stress, and you might like to have a couple of goes at getting it as right as possible.

Photo Booth:

A photo booth is an absolute must for modern weddings – even if you do have a photographer. A photo booth is an excellent way of being able to get more unique photos, as well as group shots and couple photos, especially with costumes and props. Take a look at the different photo booth backdrops for sale that you could use for your wedding in order to enhance the photo booth experience.

Make Sure There’s Plenty of Food:

Another of the most essential aspects of a wedding is making sure there is plenty of food. You don’t want to risk your guests going hungry, and this is why it is important to sort out food for the meal, as well as possibly a buffet for later in the evening. Remember that it is better to have too much food than not enough, so this is something to keep in mind.

Planning a wedding can be a time consuming and difficult task, but the tips above will keep your big day running as smoothly as possible!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jan5

Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush Jelly Bomb In Turtle Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush Jelly Bomb In Turtle Edition

Howdy! Today, instead of talking more about the Huda Beauty Emerald Obsessions palette, we are going to review the Turtle Jelly Bomb from Lush that I received for Christmas. I finally felt up to taking a bath a few days ago and taking care of the Woolly Mammoth that I had become, and a bath bomb was an absolute must for the occasion. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

turtleturtle1turtle2turtle3turtle4

The reviews that I read on the Lush website for the Turtle Bomb were mixed, because the jelly bombs can be difficult to clean up. However, I love the jelly bombs, because they are ultra hydrating and they are super fun to use. The thick, nourishing jelly that comes from the bath bomb feels like liquid body butter and it is perfect to rub into your skin before you shave to prevent any dryness. So, after an almost month of not shaving during my surgery recovery, the jelly bomb was just what I needed to take care of business. The Turtle Bomb helped give me a smooth shave and it was so moisturizing that I didn’t even need to put on lotion afterwards.

Upon placing the bomb in the tub, it immediately started to fizz and change the bath water to a lovely forest green. It smelled awesome, too. So fresh and outdoorsy – kind of like Irish Springs. I enjoyed using this jelly bomb way more than I anticipated judging by the wishy washy reviews. But, I will agree with the people that said the jelly looked like pond scum because they are definitely right, as you can tell from the up close pictures.

My only other complaint with the Turtle Bomb is that there wasn’t as much jelly in it as I recall other bombs having, so that was kind of disappointing because there wasn’t enough for a full body application. Other than those minor issues, I liked what this jelly bomb did to the water, it smelled great, and it was easy to clean up so I would use it again, for sure! I give it a six and a half out of ten.

What is your favorite product from Lush? What are your thoughts on the Turtle Bomb? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan2

Make Memories On Your Next Family Vacation

Posted on by
Standard
Make Memories On Your Next Family Vacation

There’s nothing quite like a family vacation. As parents, we only get 18 summers and 18 winter breaks with our children before they grow up and want to do things on their own. These words should stick in the mind of any parent who has so far put off a family vacation because of timing, money, or even the fact that their kids are young and may not remember it. It doesn’t matter if they remember it, because YOU will. As a parent, you’re going to carry every single vacation, haircut, and the first day of school in your heart and mind for the rest of your life. Memories are moments that you can never get back and you should be doing everything possible to make memories with your children.

Below, you’re going to read some of the ways that you can make memories with your children on your next vacation:

Unplug:

Between work, social media, and the massive lack of downtime that parents get, smartphones and tablets are usually the entertainment of choice throughout the day. When you are on vacation, though, it’s time to unplug. Facebook is like an empty refrigerator; you can open it several times, and you still won’t find anything interesting in there! Put the phone away and watch things happen with your eyes, not a screen. You will be amazed at how much more wondrous every outing can be when you don’t feel attached to your devices. Dinners are tastier, sightseeing during a nights of lights shines brighter, and ordinary moments will feel magical.

For a full unplugged vacation, plan for activities sans phone. This could be a vigorous trek of a mountainside, seeing a Broadway show, or even something that would certainly leave your phone waterlogged! Take a dive and enter a search for “best molokini snorkel tour near me” if you’re visiting the beautiful beaches of Hawaii and want to experience an unforgettable undersea adventure.

Take Photos:

Taking lots of pictures of the scenery is nice, but taking photos of the kids and your family all together and having fun is so much nicer! Prepare yourself with a list of 50mm DSLR lenses so that you know the best ones to bring with you when you go, and don’t pose too much. Get the candid pictures when they’re not expecting it, and you capture those raw moments of your children discovering life – it’s exciting, and you’ll be able to hold onto those forever.

If you are hoping for tons of photo ops on your vaca, a guided tour could be the way to go as your escort will be able to show you all of the scenic spots and beloved community staples. If this is something that appeals to you, simply enter a search for “guided tour holidays” and book the trip of your dreams – minimum planning required!

Go With The Flow:

No matter what goes wrong, relax. Take it in, absorb it, and make the best of the situation at hand. You cannot predict freak weather or a delay in your flight. What you can do, though, is make the best of it. Play silly games with the kids. Run around and get some energy moving. Keep everyone calm and happy with snacks and crayons. Just go with it; you’re still going to have those, “remember when…” moments, maybe just not the ones you originally anticipated. Keep in mind that even if you experience travel chaos, there is a light at the end of the tunnel: Your vacation! All of the stress will melt away once you are on your Galapagos islands cruise, at the amusement park of your dreams, or sight seeing in a new country.

Rewind Time:

When was the last time you ran screaming toward the waves on vacation? Or built sandcastles? It’s time to put down the book and go and have some immersive, imaginative fun with the children. They’re going to love every second of you being messy with them, so go and be messy! Those are the memories that you can never get back.

Making memories on vacation is the way that you set up your future. Looking back is never sweeter than when you have a photo album full of your family in the best light possible. Take a moment, breathe it in, and enjoy!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan1

Happy New Year!

Posted on by
Standard
Happy New Year!

Hello everyone and a very Happy New Year to one and all! We are officially in 2019! Can you believe it?! It’s a brand new year for all of us and another year of fabulousness on lifewithlilred. As usual, I didn’t make any New Year’s Resolutions. And, sadly, my mouth is still wreaking havoc on me from my surgery, so celebrating isn’t in the cards for me, either. But, to continue on in the holiday season is exciting, all the same, and I hope that all of you enjoy yourselves no matter how you spend your day! Happy 2019!

How are you celebrating New Years? What are some of your New Year’s Resolutions? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec19

Hitting The Open Road

Posted on by
Standard
Hitting The Open Road

There is something about road trips that gets people all excited. Perhaps it’s so alluring because anything can happen while you are on the road (new experiences) or you get to become a stranger in every new destination. No one knows you and something about that is freeing. However, as much as it can be unpredictable, you still need to plan before you hit the road if you want to have a perfect vacation:

Your destination and route:

The best way to pick a destination is to work out the time it will take you to get there. Ideally, road trips should not take longer than a day. Choose a destination that is only a couple of hours away so that you can make as many stops as possible to take in the views and tour new places. Once you have decided on a destination, pick the most scenic routes to that location. People can get bored easily on a road trip if all they see is flat grass and predictable scenery along the way.

Tune up your car:

Get your car checked thoroughly by a qualified mechanic. For example, get the oil changed, refill your windshield wiper fluid, and make sure that all of the lights are working correctly. You need cars that can carry all of you and your luggage without you feeling cramped inside. If your road trip will be long, then you will need to consider the mileage of your vehicle. Sports cars, convertibles, and SUVs are great for road trips. If you are bringing along more than two friends, then definitely go for an SUV.

Your expectations:

Your friends have different expectations and it’s up to you to bring up a discussion about those expectations. The point here, is for all of you to agree on what you should do on the road trip. For example, you need to decide where you will stop along the road and whether you will stay in hostels, hotels, or Airbnbs. If you decide to stay in a hotel, make reservations ahead of time. You don’t want an argument to break out somewhere in the middle of the trip about where to stop to eat or sleep.

The scenery and the new people you meet along the way are not going to be enough entertainment. So bring along your headphones, books, magazines, puzzles, DVD players, and more to keep everyone entertained and remember to have fun!

Dec12

Traditions It’s Okay To Break During Christmas

Posted on by
Standard
Traditions It’s Okay To Break During Christmas

Hi everyone! Today’s post is guest written by my sweet friend, Ester. Her blog is excellent and chock full of gorgeous photos, travel, and well written passages. So, do be sure to check out her page and give it some love! Please enjoy this lovely guest post and if you are interested in sharing your work on lifewithlilred, shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com !

Dear World,

A week or so ago, I was talking to my boss about sales at Christmas time and how that’s having an impact on how we exchange presents now compared to previous years. This conversation then made me think about all of the little traditions I’ve been changing and adapting every year and how I now live the Christmas period today. It is very interesting how we all try to follow the traditions because that’s what makes us human (that is, culture) but we also want to adapt them to our modern world.

I’m personally very okay with breaking the rules, I’ve been doing that my whole life. I like traditions with a twist. On the one hand, I love how comfortable and homey it feels following a ritual, but I also want to change my lifestyle for the best. Moreover, spending the Christmas holidays in other countries and being exposed to other cultures had an impact on how I now spend my time in December. So without further ado, here are the traditions that I am okay breaking this Christmas:

Ordering your Christmas dinner online:

Last year I spent hours cooking what I really wanted to be an absolute wonder of a meal. I slow-cooked the lamb and I tried my best to make a chestnut puree. It took me a whole afternoon of grocery shopping and a whole morning spent in the kitchen to go through all of that. The result, though, was a disaster. I think I put so much pressure on myself because I really wanted to somehow cook this Masterchef dinner that I screwed it all up. The meat was not tender and the puree was just uneatable. Somehow, I managed to finish it out of compassion and pity.

This year. I’m not going to repeat that experience or decide that I’ll magically become a chef in no time. That’s why my Christmas dinner will be kindly and lovingly prepared by Waitrose and Partners. I’m sure it will be much better than what I could ever cook myself. We will eat it at our place, next to the Christmas tree while drinking a good bottle of Prosecco. I’ll have the morning to relax and call all of my family and friends in Italy and I won’t be panicking in the kitchen. I, too, deserve to enjoy my Christmas morning.

ester

Exchanging gifts after Christmas:

This is actually the topic that led me to write this post in the first place. Here in London families are now embracing a new tradition: instead of exchanging presents on Christmas day, they organise a shopping trip to the mall on Boxing Day (or the week after Christmas) to buy each other what they really want at a cheaper price. If you think about it, that’s a win-win situation: everyone will receive what they want and the cost will be heavily reduced by the sales.

I know, I agree that is very nice and special to open your presents on Christmas day but, hey, you could have one gift under the tree and the rest at the Boxing Day sales. I, myself, have decided to wait a bit longer to buy my own Christmas present this year (I always treat myself to something special) because, by waiting a week or two I can buy my gift at half price. So, why not?

ester6If you’re in London for Christmas, try and find Harry Potter’s magic wand!

Eating way too much:

My relationship with food used to be quite complicated. I’m now fine but, if I eat too much, my stomach hurts badly. To be fair, I suppose it’s quite normal. If we eat too much, we don’t feel great at all. That’s why I always need to make sure I don’t cross that line at Christmas. I really hate feeling nauseated with stomach pain and a heavy head during the holidays. Also, I don’t want to ruin all of the hard work that I’ve been doing for the past few weeks.

This means, that I’ll do my best to go running once a week. But, I will also make sure that I won’t have three slices of Panettone in one day. I’m sure you know your limits, as well.

ester3ester4

Wrapping paper:

I’m not very good at leading an environmentally-friendly lifestyle but, after living in London for almost two years, I understand the importance and urgency to do so. Here in the city, everything is wrapped in plastic or paper. Every single lunch has some plastic in it and we all abuse the use of plastic bottles. It was a friend of mine who made me notice it and it’s very true, so I’m now trying to be more sensitive to that matter.

For this reason, I’m also considering what to do with wrapping paper. Not all wrapping paper can be recycled. Foil or glitter-decorated paper cannot be recycled and the same goes if there’s sticky tape or decorations on it. My suggestion here would be to make sure you buy wrapping paper that can be recycled easily – even better if that’s made with recycled paper.

ester2ester5

Of course, I understand the huge importance of traditions in our life and I, myself, love gathering together with my family to spend a wonderful Christmas together. However, traditions can be adapted to lifestyle and personal preferences. At the end of the day, what really counts is that we all spend a memorable day surrounded by the people we love the most because that’s what will make us happy.

What do you think? Are there any traditions that you are going to break or bend this Christmas? Let me know what your plans are for the holidays!

Best,

Ester Piubeni

My website: esterpiubeni.com

My Instagram account: ester_piubeni

Thank you again to Ester for her guest post on lifewithlilred! Happy holidays! Much love. -Sarah

Nov30

Get More Involved In Your Local Community

Posted on by
Standard
Get More Involved In Your Local Community

Whether you have recently moved into a new area or you are just keen to try and improve your current sociability, you will find that it is a great idea to try and get more involved in your local community whenever possible. Getting more involved is often merely a matter of doing more and getting out there as a way to have some fun, do good, and meet new friends. In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the activities in particular you might want to consider if you are going to try and get more involved in your local community. Consider some of the following and you’ll be surprised at the difference that it makes:

Play Sports:

Playing sports is an activity that is offered in almost every community. The sport that you choose to play is up to you, but it might prove especially expedient if you go for one that is strongly team-focused, so that you can meet many more people. You will find that sports such as softball and baseball and so on are especially good for this. If there are no such groups out there, grab some softball lineup cards, find a place to play, and start one!

Take An Evening Class:

If there is some skill or ability that you have always wanted to have, you might want to consider taking some kind of evening class, instead. You are bound to be able to find some in your local area, and hopefully a few that spike your personal interest. The benefit of this, is that if you go and learn about something that interests you, you are bound to meet a number of like-minded people and, in doing so, you will find that you will soon become a real part of the community. This is one of the surest and swiftest ways to build up a strong network of friends, so it’s definitely worth considering. Take an evening class at your local university or college, and you will be able to get much more involved in your community in no time.

involved1

Always invite your new friends to coffee!

Volunteer:

One of the more wholesome ways to get more involved in your local community is to volunteer somewhere. If you look around, you are sure to find opportunities for this, as there always are. Soup kitchens, church programs, the Special Olympics, and animal shelters are all great places to start. Doing good feels good and you will meet plenty of new people (Or pets!) as a result.

Getting involved in your community is a fun way to fill up your free time and, with the new friends that you make, you will be the talk of the town in no time!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov22

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on by
Standard
Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello everyone and a Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! Thanksgiving is one of my most loved holidays, because it revolves around food and family, which are my two favorite things in the world. There is nothing like having friends and family over to share in a beautiful meal and just enjoy each other’s company, and I feel like that is what this day is all about.

Today, I am looking forward to cooking up some deliciousness in the kitchen with my mom and sister. I love to cook, and it is so fun and rewarding to be able to make a meal that everyone looks forward to year round (At least, I do!). I hope that however you spend your day today brings you a lot of joy, good food, and wonderful company.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish? How are you going to spend your day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov5

November 2018 Funky Time Jams

Posted on by
Standard
November 2018 Funky Time Jams

Hellooooo! Can you believe that it’s November already? The spooky month of October is officially out and we are fully into Thanksgiving and Christmas territory. This means that holiday music will be coming in hot and Lil Red just won’t stand for that. After hearing Christmas songs day in and day out for three months of the year for four years of working in the mall, I’ve heard enough to last me a lifetime. So, I’ll be listening to the following, instead:

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

First of all, let’s get one thing straight: I do not like Post Malone. Lol, frankly, I don’t even know who he is. BUT, my sister plays the song “I Fall Apart” when we’re together and the lyrics of “whippin in the foreign, but the tears keep blowin” put us in hysterics every time. So, yes, this song needed to be included.

Now that that disclaimer is out of the way, this month is all about Fleetwood Mac and Stevie, Stevie, Stevie. My parents saw FM when they came to Cleveland at the end of October and we are still riding the high of their concert by playing all Fleetwood Mac everything. The Edge Of Seventeen is our go to jam, because it always gives us a laugh thinking about our favorite scene from School Of Rock:

Yeah…. Stevie. 😉

Watch and enjoy the above hilarity and then keep on rocking all month long with my November Funky Time Jams!

What is your favorite music themed movie? What are your thoughts on holiday music? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah