Tag Archives: experience

Apr12

Total Solar Eclipse

Posted on April 12, 2024 by lifewithlilred

Hello! The solar eclipse this past Monday has been the buzz in Akron, Ohio for months because we just so happened to be in the path of totality. For once, something cool was happening here and everyone was SO excited for it and for good reason. The Total Solar Eclipse was one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced and Ohio delivered. I mentioned earlier that we were fearing a cloudy day and, thankfully, that wasn’t the case whatsoever. We had the most perfect, sunny weather for the ultimate view of the big show and it was truly spectacular.

These pictures I took are not the best and they do not do justice to the solar eclipse at all. But, I did the best I could with limited visibility lol! Check it out:

There were countless eclipse festivals that Johnny and I could have attended on Monday, but we opted to stay home and watch it with our downstairs neighbor from the porch. I’m so glad we did because we were delighted by what we saw when we walked out the door. It seemed like every single person in our apartment community was outside watching too and it was such fun to be all together and cheering as the sun and moon performed. Even if we did go to a festival, I highly doubt we would have had a better view because ours was crystal clear and mainly unobstructed.

The total eclipse happened around 3:15 and Johnny and I were able to go outside as soon as we finished up with work at 2:45. During that time, the moon was moving and grooving closer to the sun and rapid progress was being made every time we looked up. This was neat to see, but the magic happened when totality was reached. During that four minute window, everything went completely dark. Street lights came on and the temperature dropped ten degrees. You could feel it immediately! It was such a surreal feeling to experience nighttime in the middle of the day and I think everyone was simply blown away. I sure was!

Minutes after the total eclipse, we were back to a typical afternoon level of sun and warmth. However, the feeling of witnessing a once in a lifetime phenomenon remained. Johnny and I are still not over it and why should we be? It was beautiful. ❤

Did you watch the solar eclipse? What is something cool that you experienced in nature? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar23

Face Mask Festivities: Rejuvenating Tea Tree Sheet Mask By GlamUp Edition

Posted on March 23, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Rejuvenating Tea Tree Sheet Mask By GlamUp Edition

Hello! I spent the first week of March being sick AF and other than being sick, it was awesome lol. I worked from home, I watched endless TV, and enjoyed a bit of pampering with face masks too. It honestly felt like a mini vacation… minus the being sick part! As I was recuperating, I found myself growing rather fond of sheet masks even though I still think they are annoying. So, I decided to add a weekly face mask to my routine to bring back sick staycation vibes and have a little midweek treat. This past Wednesday, I used a Rejuvenating Tea Tree sheet mask by GlamUp and I actually really liked it! Check it out:

I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a handful of GlamUp masks left to use and I went with the tea tree one simply for scent related purposes. I love a minty scent and thought this mask would feel brisk and refreshing. After work, I applied the mask, startled Johnny, and settled in for twenty minutes to let it sit. As per ushie, the sheet mask didn’t fit well in the slightest and I was constantly rearranging it. Despite all of the fidgeting, this mask felt SO nice on and, for once, I felt confident I would have good results from it.

As the mask set, I felt perked up by the bold mint scent and the pleasant, cooling sensation. The sheet mask was drenched with serum and I liked that I could literally feel it soaking in. To me, the experience of having a face mask on is just as important as the results and, in that regard, the tea tree mask was already the best GlamUp one I have used so far. After the twenty minutes was up, I removed the mask and was greeted by a fresh looking appearance and smooth to the touch skin. What I liked best of all, though, was that my skin was tingling from the time I took it off to when I went to bed. Now, that is what I’m talking about!

I am going to rate the Rejuvenating Tea Tree mask with an eight out of ten stars. I would happily use it again thanks to the excellent experience and satisfying results. Not too shabby for a sheet mask!!

Do you have any weekly pampering routines? What is your favorite brand of face masks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar13

Paint Night

Posted on March 13, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!!! I don’t know about all of you, but I had a great weekend!! After spending an entire week being sick AF, I rallied hard and it couldn’t have came a moment too soon because I had big plans. On Friday, I attended a paint night with my brother and on Saturday, Johnny and I took our birthday girl niece out for a treat day. It felt so good to have some fun after feeling like death warmed over and I enjoyed every minute of it. Check out what I created at paint night:

On Friday evening, my brother Andrew and I went to the Solon Rec Center for a paint class hosted by the wonderful Melinda of So So Artsy. This is the second time Andrew and I have been to one of her events and she is just the best. Melinda owns a paint and sip studio, but she also teaches classes at community centers. Of course, this was a no sip class but that doesn’t mean that Melinda didn’t bring the party anyways. She has the brightest personality, is hilarious, and made our experience a million times better.

For our canvas art, we were painting cardinals and began with the background. For the top half, we mixed blue with the smallest touch of white and did the reverse for the bottom. To keep things moving full steam ahead, we blow dried the wet paint and began the next part. Step two was making the branch and the bird and we started that by making our outlines with chalk. I was surprised by how easy Melinda made the process for the bird’s outline. All we did was make a big set of parenthesis for the body, a small set for the head, and drew the tail by making a number eleven branching out at the bottom.

Once the outlines were complete, it was time to paint again. For our branches, we used brown with a hint of red and black and for the birds we used red and black. Before I knew it, all of the canvases were filled with sweet red birds perched on their branches. The last thing to do was add some more to the background. Melinda’s example used snow, but I was feeling inspired by cherry blossoms and used red and white instead. Once again, Melinda showed us a quick fix for painting the snow or, in my case, flower petals: Load up your brush with paint, place it flat on the canvas, and twist the brush to make a circle. Afterwards, we blow dried the canvases again and were on our way home with two freshly painted masterpieces!

Andrew and I had an absolute blast at Paint Night and I am looking forward to going to another class with him soon. I wonder what we’ll create next! ❤

Have you been to a paint night before? What did you paint? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar6

Date Night!!!!

Posted on March 6, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! This past Friday was simply wonderful! It has been a fat minute since Johnny and I went on a date night and that is exactly what we did. My sweet Johnny suggested a dinner out on Friday and we had both been looking forward to it all week. Rather than go to one of our usual haunts, Johnny had his heart set on Mike’s Place in Kent. This was perfectly fine by me because we haven’t been there since we got married! For our wedding, we spent the weekend in Kent and had breakfast at Mike’s before heading home. It was just as delicious, kitschy, and completely fun as I remember it being almost three years ago!

Mike’s Place is a beloved eatery in our neck of the woods and for good reason. The menu (as you can see) is expansive and offers options for any dietary restriction. This is something that is greatly appreciated by my vegetarian self and despite having access to the entire menu with substitutions, I was relieved that they had a “veggie” portion in their menu. There were just too many options! Mike’s Place has literally any dish or drink you can imagine and the roadmap menu is peppered with hilarious names and jokes for each item. You could seriously go there every day for months and not order the same thing twice!

While the food is enough to make you want to keep returning to Mike’s again and again, the restaurant is so much more than that. The atmosphere is so welcoming and accommodating and the service is excellent. And, don’t even get me started on the decor because Mike’s is like a museum! Johnny and I sat in a literal bus for our meal and it was awesome. The walls and ceilings are covered with crazy art and fixtures and each room has a specific theme. It really adds to the excitement of going to Mike’s Place because you never know where you’re going to end up.

For our drinks, Johnny went with the Dragon Slayer and I had a Margarita. I wasn’t overly impressed with my marg, but Johnny definitely loved slaying the dragon! We also shared a Peach Sangria that was simply delightful. I ordered cheese tortellini with white sauce, salad, and garlic bread and enjoyed every bite. Johnny got his classic bacon cheeseburger and French fries and he slayed that too lol. The French fries were SO good – super crispy on the outside and soft as can be inside. We were stuffed by the end of our dinner, both with food and feelings lol. ❤

Johnny and I ended our date night as we normally do… Playing Diablo IV. We had the best time going out and plan on making a night out a more regular occurrence. I think we will both be happy if we go to Mike’s Place again next time!

What is your perfect date night like? What is one of your favorite restaurants in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan26

Urgently Awesome

Posted on January 26, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! A few weekends ago, I took a tumble that resulted in some pretty gnarly cuts on two of my fingers. The boo boos were in the most inconvenient spot – right on the crease beneath the pad of the finger. My right hand ring finger was healing pretty well, but the one on my middle finger was a different story. I felt like the wound was barely closing and what’s worse, it felt infected too. By the time I was nearing the end of a course of antibiotics, I was worried that it wasn’t enough so Johnny and I decided to go to the Well Now urgent care clinic down the street from us. This place actually used to be a Family Video lol.

We went to Well Now this past Monday and we were both most impressed with it. We were in and out in less than an hour, which was great. The care was phenomenal and there were also TONS of goodies there too! Check it out:

Before going to the Well Now clinic, I looked up some reviews online to see other people’s opinions. For the most part, it came highly recommended. This was nice, but what stuck out the most to me was that this place had a Slushie machine in the waiting room! Obviously, I just had to see this for myself and by god there was. Lol, I have never seen anything like it before and it was so fantastic to sip on a blue raspberry Slush Puppie as we waited to get called back. It reminded me of when my dad would take me to skating practice because he would always get us a Slushie to share afterwards. Such a lovely burst of nostalgia. 🙂

We were called back to a room less than five minutes after sitting down and the PA who took care of us was the best. He was so nice and funny, which really helped put both me and Johnny at ease. He dressed my finger to help get it to close and wrapped it up in some crazy contraption that made it look like a banana. Trust and believe I couldn’t wait to flip people off with it! The process was quick and pain free and before we knew it, we were ready to walk out the door. Of course, we had to grab some snacks to go on our way out. Another very nice touch, indeed!

Going to the Well Now clinic was a great experience and I would definitely recommend it. Not just for the Slushie machine, but for the excellent level of care too!

What was the best waiting room you have ever been in? Have you ever been to an urgent care before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec13

Give Me A Boost

Posted on December 13, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!!!! Johnny and I had the misfortune of getting Covid late this September and it was about a bitch lol. The last time we had Covid was in 2020 and we were both completely asymptomatic. If I didn’t know I was exposed, we never would have known we even had it. This past time around, we had ALL of the symptoms and it sucked. The general rule of thumb is to wait three or so months to get a vaccine or booster shot post Covid and I finally was able to get my updated booster this past Friday and… it SUCKED!!!!!

I have gotten every Covid vaccine and booster available and I have never reacted well to them. I’m not sure why I expected this time to be any different and, bully for me, because this was probably my worst experience yet. Pretty much immediately after my shot, my arm was extremely sore but I was still feeling okay physically. Fast forward to that night after a delightful hang out with my bestie and I spent my slumber sweating to the oldies. My pillowcase is now a shocking combo of red and blue hair dye because of it SMH.

On Saturday, I woke up with a pounding headache, nausea, and a fever that flip flopped back and forth with chills. I spent all day watching Criminal Minds and My 600 Lb Life and despite them being two of my favorite comfort shows, I was not comforted one bit! I had no appetite, felt so run down, and couldn’t wait to go to bed with the hopes that I would feel better on Sunday. I slept and sweat for a solid twelve or so hours and somehow managed to wake up feeling worse.

Sunday was a doozy of a day and my nausea was at an all time high. I ralphed four times and only started feeling slightly better when I was able to keep some food down for dinner later that evening. Thankfully, after another super sweaty night, I am feeling much better as I write this Monday morning. I can only compare this booster experience to my day three or four of having actual Covid and it was a pretty miserable way to spend the weekend.

Having said all of that, I am SO happy to be boosted up just in time for the holidays. I consider these booster shots to be a necessary evil because of how poorly I react to them. However, I know that if Johnny and I were to get Covid again, it would be so much worse without the added protection. Even though it was a major bummer to spend the weekend feeling like ass, I knew that I would feel better soon and that was good enough for me. I’m just glad to be over and done with it and now I have the pleasure of taking care of Johnny when he gets boosted this upcoming weekend! 😀

Unfortunately, Covid is something we’re always going to have to deal with. The vaccines and boosters make me feel much more comfortable with that fact and I am proud to do my part to keep myself and those around me safe. ❤

How did you react to your Covid vaccines and boosters? So so or oh NO? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec11

How You Can Harmonize Your Concert Experience

Posted on December 11, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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How You Can Harmonize Your Concert Experience

Who doesn’t love going to a good concert? Getting to see your favorite performer live just feels unreal, doesn’t it? There’s so much anticipation, so much hype, and all of it is thrilling! Even though it’s exciting, concerts aren’t really what they used to be; even concerts today aren’t the same as they were a decade ago. Nowadays, there are phones recording everything everywhere, high ticket prices thanks to a certain company, and sometimes you have to drive really far just to see your favorite performers, like Weird Al. In general, it all feels a bit different. With that said, it’s important to make the most of concerts as the prices and etiquette change. Here’s everything you need to know:

Plan Everything Far in Advance:

Seriously, who wants to feel stressed out before, during, and after a concert? You’ll want to go ahead and choose your tickets wisely based on your preferences for seating, proximity to the stage, and overall concert atmosphere. Basically, as soon as you find out about the concert, buy the tickets ASAP. Transportation is another big part of this. You’ll need to research your options, whether it’s public transit, ride share services, or parking facilities near the venue. No matter what, you’ll need to always plan for potential traffic and make sure you have a reliable way to get there and back.

Another thing you’ll need to do in advance is to have an idea about the policies at the venue; they all vary no matter which MSG bag policy is common for that venue, but more and more venues are getting strict about this; there are even some that won’t allow for phone or camera usage either.

Comfortable Attire:

While it’s totally understandable that you want to look as cute as possible, being comfortable matters way more. This especially goes for shoes; you’ll want to opt for comfortable shoes, especially if there’s standing involved (for some reason, standing concerts seem to be getting more common). You’ll likely be on your feet for an extended period and comfortable footwear can make a significant difference.

You Need Ear Protection:

No matter how far away you are from the stage or speakers, you’ll still need ear protection. People will be screaming all around you, seriously everywhere, there will be screams (unless this is a classical concert, of course). So it’s best to just consider bringing ear protection to safeguard your hearing without compromising the music experience.

Contribute to a Positive Atmosphere:

This seems to be a problem nowadays, not just the etiquette but this questionable toxicity that’s been growing. You need to embrace the collective excitement, and you definitely need to respect the performers and fellow concertgoers to create an enjoyable environment for everyone.

Concerts are an amazing experience and they can be even better with the tips above!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Dec5

Gifts Of Experience Ideas

Posted on December 5, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!!! It is definitely crunch time for finishing holiday shopping and that can be a difficult place to be. Stores are probably picked over, perhaps some gifts won’t arrive on time for a celebration, or you have no idea what to get someone. But, fear not because there is a solution! We’re talking about the gift of experience. Gifts of experience are an amazing way to go if you are in a bind or are shopping for someone who has everything. Let’s take a look at some ideas to get you started:

Art Classes:

Whether you’re young or old, it’s always fun to try something new and that can be done with art classes. It could be pottery, watercolor, sketching, even glass blowing! No matter what form of art you choose, it will provide a brand new experience for your giftee and that is the whole point. You could even take the class with your giftee for some extra quality time. This is a great option for adults and kids alike and you might just be introducing them to their new favorite hobby.

Gym Membership:

If your giftee has a passion for fitness, why not pay for a month or two of a gym membership? It could be to their own gym or a new one if they don’t have a set place. Most gym memberships include being able to take the classes being offered so you could join in as a guest too! While this is a gift that is more geared for adults, it can be tweaked for kids too. Maybe they want to take swim lessons or a little movers class? The gym can help with that! This is a perfect gift with New Year’s Resolutions being right around the corner!

Scent-sational:

How about some pampering for your giftee? There are lots of specialty boutiques that can help you create your own signature scent for a candle or bath and body care. This is an ideal option for someone on your list who appreciates the finer things in life or who lives for a trip to Bath & Body Works. Bath and body care is always a popular choice for presents and making your own puts a unique twist on a classic gift. I would love something like this!

Date Night:

Do you have any couples on your holiday shopping list? Treating them to a date night will be a huge hit! This could be anything from a nice dinner out to a ballroom dancing class or tickets to a play. You can also make a date night in kit if you can’t find anything out and about that would strike the fancy of your giftees. This could include a bottle of wine and some new board games, a grocery store gift card to cook a meal together, or a few months of a streaming service to watch all of their favorite shows. Whichever way you go, this is a thoughtful gift for the couples in your life.

Body Mods:

There is nothing quite like the experience of a new piercing or tattoo! If there is someone on your list who has an affinity for body mods, then I cannot stress enough how well a gift card to their favorite tattoo or piercing shop will go over. You will have won the holiday celebration, period. Lol, this is coming from my personal opinion as a gal with more tattoos than she can count. Nay, I am a personal expert because I know for a fact your body modded giftee will be psyched!

Gifts Of Experience are a fun take on traditional holiday presents and are a surefire way to go if you are experiencing shopping stress. These gifts are also a lovely way to show that you are actively listening when your giftee talks to you about their hobbies and interests!

What is a gift of experience you have received? Are you all done with your holiday shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov28

How To Explore Your Career Options In The Medical Field

Posted on November 28, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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How To Explore Your Career Options In The Medical Field

Statistics show that about 44% of people are planning to make a career switch. If you are in this group, career exploration can help you figure out your next steps, whether you are a recent graduate looking for a job or a seasoned professional considering a change. The purpose of this process is to understand more about your alternatives and limit your selections to one path that best suits you. Career exploration can also help you gain confidence that will impress a hiring manager and connect you with people in various sectors. This post will highlight how to explore your career options in the medical field:

Start with yourself:

Consider what piques your interest, what you like doing, and what inspires you. If you are a recent graduate from medical school, consider the roles you played in school projects, groups, or part-time work that you excelled at or enjoyed. If you are thinking about changing careers, evaluate what you have always wanted to accomplish or what you liked and disliked about your past jobs. Make a list of what is essential to you in a profession, as well as specializations or issues that can inspire you.

Look at possible careers:

After you have developed a list of places and roles that interest you the most, begin studying occupations that meet most of, if not all, of your requirements. Learn about job descriptions, typical earnings, job outlook, education and training requirements, and everyday tasks. Now, make a list of your top alternatives. This stage allows you to make an informed decision, so keep this in mind. As a tip, consider completing a free online assessment as part of your study to determine what occupations would suit your interests, experience, and skills. For instance, if you wish to work as an emergency medical technician, you can schedule a paramedic ride along to get hands-on experience.

Get rid of any jobs that do not interest you:

Some job paths may not be in your best interest as you continue to research them. Some may demand more knowledge and hard skills than you presently have or wish to obtain, others may pay less than you want to make, and still, others may not have a good employment outlook, which might lead to job instability later on. Be as picky as you need to be during this phase so that you end up with feasible prospects. Not only does this set you up for success, but you can avoid wasting your time.

Get interactive with people in the field:

You may conduct a lot of study on your final job alternatives, but the finest insights into your selection will likely come from individuals who are currently working in the field. Contact people in your professional network or instructors if you are in college and ask if they know anyone you can contact who would be willing to chat with you about their experience. Ask questions, get information, and build future connections.

Doing your research and the good old fashioned process of elimination will help you better explore careers in the medical field!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov11

Akron Comicon Haul

Posted on November 11, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Akron Comicon this past weekend was a blast and I spent the best afternoon with Johnny and my brother. We came, we saw, we shopped and each walked away with a bagful of goodies featuring all of our favorite things. I wasn’t able to attend the Con last year and Johnny surprised me with all kinds of gifts to decorate our apartment with. It felt so good to be able to participate this time around and I am loving all of our new swag! Check it out:

^^^ The last three posters were made by Vile Consumption and the Wolfman was painted and autographed by Drac of Transylvania Tonight!

It was SO hard to exercise self restraint at the Comicon because there was a ton of merchandise from my favorite fandoms to buy! We’re talking Demon Slayer, Assassination Classroom, horror flicks, Lego, and much more. The first thing I selected was my Funko Pop of The Little Prince. I had no idea that this Funko existed and my brother got it for me in exchange for paying for our tickets. I have countless tattoos from the book and it is a piece of literature (and film) that is very dear to my heart. Best believe it is proudly displayed on our knick knack shelf! ❤

Johnny also treated me to a few little prezzies including the V mini fig from V For Vendetta and the crocheted Plague Doctor. Like The Little Prince, V For Vendetta is another book/movie that is one of my all time favorites. And, also like The Little Prince, I have a buttload of tattoos from V For Vendetta too! The mini fig is perfect and I love that Johnny always knows exactly what I would like without consulting with me. We both fell in love with our tiny Plague Doctor friend and as soon as Johnny saw me give it a cuddle, it was as good as ours lol.

Finally, the Akron Comicon was an amazing place to gather more art for our expansive collection. While visiting with Drac and Countess Carita of Transylvania Tonight, we noticed that Drac had a new piece of his artwork on display: The Wolfman. This was a must buy because we already have all of his other movie monster prints from last year’s Con. Now, we have the Mummy, Dracula, Frankenstein, the Creature From The Black Lagoon, Doctor Jekyll, and the Wolfman all painted and signed by Drac! We also couldn’t say no to the posters by Vile Consumption because they are hilarious lol. I was geeking out over the Sister Act one from The Nun, it wasn’t even a question about the David Pumpkins print, and Trick R’ Treat was an obvious choice because it’s one of our fave Halloween flicks. SAM!!! 😀

The Akron Comicon was a GREAT SUCCESS and I am so happy with all of our fun purchases. I can’t wait to get our new artwork hung up around the apartment! 🙂

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

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