Tag Archives: enjoy

Dec19

Super Happy Fun Times

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Super Happy Fun Times

Hello!!! Last weekend was a wonderful one for me and, boy, did I need it. I had been feeling nothing short of blah for the past several weeks and now I know that the remedy for the blues is some snuggles, creating new holiday traditions, and Zoom dates to put a spring back in my step. Rinse and repeat for best results!

Last weekend, I was so happy because I got to babysit my sweet niece, Valerie, on Saturday night. I had been counting down the days because the last time I saw Val Gal was on Thanksgiving. Johnny and I were not able to participate in the holiday with my family and it was very hard seeing Val on the driveway and not being able to hold her. So, trust and believe, I was ready for all of the snugs.

Val and I had so much fun reading books, petting all of her animal friends (she loves their family pets!), playing Peek-A-Boo, and watching Trolls. Even though whenever I would sing along with the songs Val would go “NOOOOO” haha I didn’t realize I was that tone deaf! Being an aunt is the best thing ever and I am eagerly counting down the days until Christmas so I can spoil my niece and nephew rotten!

The weekend fun did not end there because on Sunday, I was able to Zoom with one of my dear friends, Scott. I have been a friend to him and his family for over six years now and I really miss being able to see them regularly and go out for coffee and lunch. Scott and I chatted for over an hour about anything and everything and it was so refreshing to gab, laugh, reminisce, and, of course, look forward to when it’s safe so we can all see each other again. ❤

Afterwards, Johnny and I ordered Pizza Hut pizza and settled in to watch his favorite holiday movie, The Muppets Christmas Carol. Believe it or not, I don’t think I’ve actually ever seen the full movie because when I was younger the part with Marley and Marley used to scare me SO bad (This humors Johnny to no end!). I am proud to say, I was able to get through that part without incident as an adult and we both enjoyed our afternoon viewing/pizza party so much. We decided that we should watch it every year along with Elf – even though Johnny fell asleep when we watched it!

It is so easy to be bummed out about the state of the world right now due to the coronavirus pandemic. But, sometimes, all it takes is a little holiday magic to get yourself back to baseline. I can attest to that firsthand. 🙂

What is your favorite holiday movie? How do you like to spoil your loved ones during the holiday season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec17

New Rose Pink & Silver Glitter Nails

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New Rose Pink & Silver Glitter Nails

Hello!! I live for my monthly nail appointments at Elysian Nails because it is pretty much the only time I venture into the public (other than one grocery shopping trip) cause COVID. I am not complaining, though, because I am dedicated to keeping myself, my loved ones, and my clients and their families safe. You can definitely imagine how excited I get to go to the salon and, I have to say, my past visit was one of the best ones yet. Check out these adorable Rose Pink & Silver Glitter Nails and let’s discuss:

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I had the pleasure of having a lovely new to the salon nail tech work on my claws and she did an awesome job! Not only are my stiletto nails on point but I had such a great time chatting with and getting to know my tech. We seriously did not stop girl talking the entire hour that I was there and it was like hanging out with a new friend. So much ground was covered like our love for tattoos and piercings as well as holiday plans and all of the plans we missed out on due to the pandemic.

The past several times I have gotten my nails done, I didn’t really talk to any of the techs aside from the usual pleasantries. Having conversations is not a requirement for me when I go to the salon but it sure was nice and it made my pampering time so much better. I plan on requesting this tech for my future visits and it makes me look forward to my monthly outings even more – especially considering that I didn’t experience ANY discomfort during the appointment like with the last tech I had.

I am in love with my nails and am most impressed because my new tech has not done a lot of stiletto nails before. I think the rose pink and silver glitter is a modern take on holiday colors and will not only be super sweet for Christmas but perfect for ringing in the New Year. The silver reminds me of tinsel and fresh fallen snow and when they are in the light they look gold like twinkling Christmas lights. Meanwhile, the pink hue makes me think of bubbly champagne to toast with on New Year’s Eve. Cheers!

What are your favorite colors to rock during the holiday season? How do you pamper yourself during the pandemic? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec14

Getting In The Holiday Spirit: Christmas Tree Decorating Edition

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Getting In The Holiday Spirit: Christmas Tree Decorating Edition

Hello! This past week, one of my clients and I continued on with our tradition of decorating the Christmas tree together. For the second year in a row, we were rockin’ around the Christmas tree, singing Christmas carols, and enjoying each other’s company. It hasn’t felt much like Christmas time considering the state of my state right now, as the coronavirus continues to run its course through Ohio. However, just like when my client and I decorated the Christmas tree last year, I felt much more like celebrating by the time we were done. 🙂

Check out our handiwork:

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My friend absolutely loves Christmas and has been excited for the upcoming holiday for months now. His joy for the season is contagious and it was so much fun to decorate the tree with him. Especially because I haven’t decorated the tree in my family home in years because we keep it up year round, lol! While all of his favorite tunes played, we debated the best placement for the ornaments and wondered out loud what would be waiting for us under the tree this year. I can’t wait for him to open his gift from me on Christmas day! 🙂

Everything feels so scary and different right now and it was really nice to spend a peaceful afternoon around the glowing lights on the tree. If you have the Blue Christmas blues right now, as I did, I highly recommend doing a little decorating, yourself. Whether that be hanging ornaments on the tree or placing Christmas village figurines on your mantel, a little holiday cheer can go a long way. I can attest to that firsthand. ❤

How do you get into the holiday spirit? Do you have a favorite holiday decoration? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec11

Have A Drink With Me!

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Have A Drink With Me!

Hello!!! While I was filling up the Little Red Love Machine at the gas station, I figured I would run in and grab some White Claws for me and Johnny. We are fond of the hard seltzer water and it’s nice to “crack a cold one” every now and then after work. While I was at the cash register, I noticed a display of alcohol infused cherries and I thought that it would make a nice addition for weekend drinks so I purchased a jar of those too. I’m glad I did because they are friggen delicious! Check it out:

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For those of you who don’t know, I am a self diagnosed Diet Coke fiend and I thought that these cherries would be great in a glass of Diet. I was one hundred and fifty percent right because it tasted just like cherry Coke after the drink sat for awhile. And, the drink wasn’t over once the pop was gone because, of course, you’re going to eat the cherries after. In the words of Pam from The Office, it was like “bonus drink”.

Normally, I don’t care to post about alcohol unless it’s something super different like the Martini Popsicles that I tried this summer. These cherries definitely qualify under “different” and I wanted to inform the masses as they would make a unique addition to your at home bar. Not only were the cherries a hit in a glass of Diet Coke but I could imagine that they would work well in drinks like juice or fruit punch. Or, how about a boozy topping to an ice cream sundae? Yum!

I think that a jar of alcohol infused cherries would make a perfect stocking stuffer and would be such a treat for parties and girls night once it’s safe to do so. Cheers to all of you!

What is your favorite kind of hard seltzer? What kind of drink would you garnish with these cherries? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec4

Three Hobbies To Take Up In 2021

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Three Hobbies To Take Up In 2021

The year is slowly coming to an end, bringing with it a time for reflection and looking to the new year. If you are starting to think about some new hobbies to take up, there is no better time to do so. It could be that you have always wanted to learn to dive or that there is a budding artist in you just waiting to get out. No matter what it is, there are a plethora of new skills out there just waiting to be discovered. Have a think about what you want to do and then consider how you are going to do it. Is it a course that you can do online? Or do you have to travel to do it? Will you need any equipment like a camera? How much will it cost? These are all important things to consider. Here are three new habits that you can take up in 2021:

Horse riding:

Horse riding is a great hobby to take up. It has a whole host of benefits as well as being a ton of fun too! By riding a horse, you will soon find that your posture has improved and that your coordination and balance has got better. It is also a brilliant way to get close to the beautiful animals, and you can help out with everything from grooming them to training them if you wish. Once you have been riding for a while, you could take your horse riding up a level and enter competitions or showjumping. You can teach your horse to jump over hay bales and other obstacles and compete against others.

Can all horse riders learn how to jump? The answer is yes, and if you are a confident rider, you may even be able to join local competitions. Remember, however, professional jockeys are a completely different kettle of fish. That being said, if you feel inspired reading Freddie Vasquez Equestrian reviews, you could also start jump courses and see where this takes you. It can be a super fun activity as long as you feel confident. It may look easy but it is hard work for the rider too! In short, it can be a great way to get those thigh muscles working!

Photography:

When it comes to learning a new skill, photography is an exciting choice. Not only will you learn something new, but you can also get some photos printed out that you can put up on the wall. It is a great way to remember good times and memories, as well as get images of people and places that you love. There is always something new to experiment with in photography and you have the possibility of turning your hobby into a career.

Crocheting:

Crocheting is a valuable skill to have, and it is relatively easy to learn and cheap to do. Once you have bought the wool and needles, you have the tools to create a whole host of beautiful crochet items to wear and for your home. Whether you decide to make a blanket, cardigan, or a scarf, the options are endless. One of the best things about crocheting is that it can be done anywhere at any time, and you will soon find the number of items you can create getting bigger and bigger.

These are just a few ideas of hobbies to take up in 2021 that are sure to pique your interest. No matter if you start it and love it or do it for a few weeks and realize it’s not quite for you, the most important thing is that you have taken on a challenge, pushed yourself out of your comfort zone, and tried something new. Don’t be afraid to try something else if your first option doesn’t work out!

Featured Image By: Alexander Dummer from Pexels

Nov27

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes By Suzanne Collins Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes By Suzanne Collins Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! This post has been a long time coming because The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes by Suzanne Collins was five hundred and fifteen pages. It took me a while to finish this prequel to The Hunger Games series but it was worth every single page and then some. As always, without giving any spoilers away, let’s discuss:

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For those of you who don’t know, I am a HUGE fan of The Hunger Games. From the books to the movies, I love it all and Katniss is one of my heroes. I am also #teampeta till the day I die, in case you were wondering! ANYWHO, The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes was pre-Katniss times and focuses solely on the future president of Panem, Coriolanus Snow, and his ultimate rise to power.

Young eighteen year old Coriolanus (Coryo to his loved ones) is a Capitol sweetheart despite secretly barely having a penny to his name. He covers his lack of cash with the gift of gab and excels at school. In fact, he excels so much that for the first time in Hunger Games history, students at the Academy are going to be mentors to the tributes and he is chosen to coach none other than Lucy Grey of District 12.

Originally, Coryo was disgusted by his fate because surely a scrawny girl from 12 couldn’t be the victor amid her extremely tough competition. What’s more, sadistic Dr. Gaul who is one of the head scientists of the games is watching his every move and she has plenty of surprises up her sleeves with her genetically mutated animals and love of war.

Despite Coryo’s obvious setbacks for the games, he lives by the motto “Snow lands on top” and he will do anything to win. And, as Lucy Grey proves herself to be a formidable opponent and a huge prize for the winning coach is announced – a full ride to the University, Coryo becomes even more intent on reigning victorious.

The Hunger Games are just the beginning of this wild ride and, sadly, I really can’t give any more away without spoiling a MAJOR plot twist that left me with my chin touching the floor. So, I will say this, The Hunger Games fans will absolutely love this book because it was easily one of my favorite ones of the series.

It was so interesting to read The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes because it tied in beautifully to the other three books. From beloved songs like “The Hanging Tree” and characters like the introduction of Lucky Flickerman, this prequel answers a lot of unanswered questions and it paints a very clear picture of how The Hunger Games began and why they are still happening decades later once Katniss volunteers as tribute.

Jam packed with action, twists, and turns on every page, it was impossible to put this book down. It also leaves you feeling conflicted about Coriolanus Snow who can almost be viewed as a tragic hero in his younger years. Don’t let this fool you, though, because if you have read the series or watched the movies, you will know that he ends up as a president who runs things more like a dictatorship.

Yes, Snow lands on top. But at what cost? Read The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes and find out!

Who else is a fan of The Hunger Games? Are you #teampeta or #teamgale? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov22

What Have I Been Watching? Pt. 4

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What Have I Been Watching? Pt. 4

Hello!! With COVID cases spiking dangerously in Ohio, Johnny and I are more hunkered down than ever. So, obviously, we have been getting a lot of use out of our streaming services of Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, and Shudder. Here is the best of what we have been watching recently:

Ils (Them):

First things first, sorry to my mom if she’s reading this because this French horror movie scared her so bad but it is one of my favorites. If you have Shudder, then you can watch Ils too. This crazy twist of a home invasion movie is what began my fondness for foreign films. I can remember when I first started learning French and I would watch this movie to practice, as the dialogue is quite limited. It felt so good to watch this several years later, completely understand it, and enjoy it just as much as the first time I saw it. Highly recommend for horror fans!

Slasher:

Johnny and I recently finished up the Canadian horror anthology Slasher and it was very good! So far, there are three seasons all with a different plot but some of the same cast members (like American Horror Story) and a fourth season is currently in the works. Slasher is equally entertaining as it is bloody and disgusting, drawing inspiration from lots of different… Well, slasher movies! I will say that season one was my favorite followed by season two, then three. However, each season was unique in its own way and it is a must for horror fans.

Letterkenny:

Another Canadian show that Johnny and I absolutely love is Letterkenny. Named after the small, fictional town in Canada the show is based in, Letterkenny follows a group of pals and all of their nonsense. From getting hammered, getting in fights, and participating in talent shows and adult spelling bees, there is literally never a not hilarious moment in this show. Each and every character is so funny and likeable in their own way but I am particularly fond of Stewart, Jonesy, and Riley! #ferda

Dancing With The Stars:

Finally, I am still going strong on watching Dancing With The Stars. Back in the day, I was an avid fan of the show but lost interest and haven’t seen it in several years. But, when I heard that Johnny Weir (one of my favorite figure skaters) was going to be competing, I was happy to step back into the ballroom.

Although I am enjoying DWTS, I am ready for it to be over lol. Don’t get me wrong, I love the performing, music, and costumes. However, I just can’t stand Tyra Banks as a hostess – she is so awful! I don’t plan on watching the next season unless there is someone who I really like on – but I am looking forward to seeing who comes out on top this season!

Which shows have you been binge watching? Do you have any movie or TV recommendations for me? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov20

At Home Concerts Pt. 2

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At Home Concerts Pt. 2

Hello! For those of you who don’t know, my “big girl” job is as an independent provider for adults with special needs. Pre-COVID, community integration was my specialty and I was always finding exciting activities and events for my clients to participate in that they might not have had access to before.

One of my favorite haunts “back in the day” with a client who is a music lover was a vinyl record club at the library where a group of our now good friends would sit around, eat pizza, listen to music, and talk about anything and everything. It was such fun and we both miss it a lot so, naturally, at home concerts had to happen when record club was no longer an option.

At home concerts are one of my favorite activities to do with clients now because it’s fun, safe, and I love singing and dancing with my pals! If you remember my original At Home Concerts post, you will know I taught one of my friends how to use YouTube and we are still going strong on watching his favorite golden oldies artists perform.

My other client has a much different taste in music, though. He loves rap! And so do I so at home concerts with him are an absolute trip. In fact, he was the one who introduced me to Cardi B and she’s one of my faves now! Every week we alternate who is going to pick the album and we spend the entire time dancing on opposite ends of the room, laughing, and talking about everything from the important to the downright silly.

Pre-COVID, at home concerts were the last thing on my mind when I could take my clients to all kinds of wonderful events where live music was played. Post-COVID, I find at home concerts to be an inspired idea and it has become my new favorite part about my job.

Exploring different genres of music, hearing songs I’ve never listened to before, and seeing my clients have fun is a high point of my day when we feel like listening to some tunes. We all consider our at home concerts to be an exciting event and it could be for you and your friends/family too!

Dress as your favorite artists, celebrate a different theme or genre, or even learn the different dances of the times so you can better groove to the music. An at home concert can turn a blah day into something really awesome – all it takes is a little creativity. 🙂

What are some of your favorite at home activities? Do you have any suggestions for what my clients and I should listen to next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct31

Happy Halloween!

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Happy Halloween!

Hello everyone! Just swinging by on this spooky Saturday to wish all of you a very Happy Halloween! Although this year is much different than Halloween’s of past, there is still plenty of fun to be had. From scary movie marathons and crafts to a social distanced bonfire or a scavenger hunt at home, this could potentially be your best Halloween yet because you will have to do something totally different if you wish to be in COVID safety standards. But, something totally different doesn’t mean anything less enjoyable!

Visit previous Halloween posts here on lifewithlilred to help get you inspired and bring some scary fun and completely safe Halloween spirit to you and yours. ❤

Happy Halloween!!

^^^ Never forget my sweet doggie’s Minion costume!

How are you celebrating Halloween this year? What is your favorite Halloween costume ever? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct22

Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Manuka Honey & Tea Tree Oil Deep Clearing Clay Mask & Cleanser Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Manuka Honey & Tea Tree Oil Deep Clearing Clay Mask & Cleanser Edition

Hi! At least every weekend I try to use a new face mask as a pampering treat after a long week. I am currently using up a pack of six Freeman masks I got from Amazon and, unfortunately, the first two I tried were total duds. It definitely made me ambivalent to try the other masks but I am happy to have had some success because it turns out the third try is a charm!

I loved the Deep Clearing mask I used with Manuka Honey and Tea Tree Oil so take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

I’ll be honest, I was a little wary of the honey and tea tree combination because I thought it would smell nasty. However, my first impression when I opened the packet was just how good it smelled! It was seriously like oats and honey and it made the rich and creamy texture feel that much more lush and nourishing. The mask was also really easy to apply, despite its thickness, and that is always a bonus because I hate having a struggle to even put the mask on.

I left this mask/cleanser on for about seven minutes and was curious to see how it would wash off. Like the application, the mask was a piece of cake to remove because it doubled as a cleanser too. As I washed it off, it was kind of foamy which helped take the mask off in its entirety without harsh scrubbing – it was really nice!

Yes, the mask application and removal process was the best out of the three Freeman masks I have tried… But how did it leave my skin feeling? The answer is: EXCELLENT! My skin felt so soft, my pores felt like they got a deep clean, and my skin tone looked perfectly even. I legit couldn’t stop rubbing my cheek because it was baby’s bottom smooth. 😀

I would absolutely recommend the Freeman Deep Clearing Manuka Honey & Tea Tree Oil Mask/Cleanser. I haven’t used a mask that left my skin feeling so nourished in a long time and I would be happy to use it again!

Which brand has the best face masks? How do you pamper yourself? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah