Tag Archives: family

Safe & Sound – Let’s Talk Home Security

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Safe & Sound – Let’s Talk Home Security

The safety and security of your home should always be at the forefront of your mind for yourselves, family, and pets. With so many amazing options out there, it never hurts to shop around for ways to better improve your home security. You can start with some of the following:

Doors & Windows:

The doors and windows of your home are an excellent place to start, especially if they are a bit worse for the wear. A flimsy front door or obviously broken windows are as good as inviting unwanted guests into your home. Steel doors are sturdy and affordable for homeowners. Not to mention that new and improved doors and windows will give an instant makeover to your home’s exterior to boost its curb appeal significantly.

Get To Know Your Neighbors:

Having neighbors is, of course, great for friendship, cookouts, and get togethers. It’s also nice to have an extra set of eyes on your home if you’re not there. Let your neighbors know if you are going on vacation or a weekend getaway so they can check in on your place while you’re gone. And, as always, you will want to post on social media about your adventures but that puts a big neon sign on your house saying that you’re not home.

Lighting/Landscaping:

A poorly lit home exterior as well as lots of shrubbery or trees on your property are all things that potential burglars look for when scouting houses. To remedy this, consider motion activated lights around your property. If you like the privacy that your current landscaping brings, you could think about getting a fence or gate installed for an added layer of protection.

Security Systems:

You can’t talk about boosting your home security without mentioning security systems, of course. From cameras for your doorbell or by the front door to security alarms, they are all worth discussing with a local security company. A lot of these systems can be accessed and controlled by your smartphone too making it much more convenient.

With the holiday season upon us, we will all be out and about more. Consider your home security so you can celebrate with family and friends worry free.

Don’t Wait To Fix These Home Problems

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Don’t Wait To Fix These Home Problems

There are some problems in the home that are things you can hold off on like installing new flooring, replacing old furniture, and the like. While remodeling is fun, it’s something that you can postpone until a more appropriate time or a bigger budget. However, there are some problems that can happen in your home that shouldn’t wait to be fixed, like these examples:

Pest Issues:

Problems with pests both inside and out should always be tended to immediately because quick action will prevent the problem from getting worse. And, holding off can cause the situation to spiral out of control rapidly from a health and safety perspective for you and your family. If you’re having an issue with bugs, mice, or other critters call in a local expert to help deal with the infestation in the most humane way possible.

Leaks:

Similarly to pest problems, a leak in the roof or a pipe is something that can get out of hand quickly. It is a money drainer considering the heat, cold, or water that the house is losing, not to mention the cost of fixing the water damaged areas. Unless you are handy, this is also something that should be dealt with by local experts for a fast and effective way to fix the problem.

Appliance Repair:

Appliances are something that we all take for granted until they stop working. We never truly know how lucky we are for a dishwasher or a washer and dryer until you’re spending evenings washing dishes by hand or at the laundromat. It is important to schedule timely dishwasher repair services before it disrupts life routine. If any of your appliances appear to be on the fritz, schedule a repair appointment today to continue on with convenience and safety.

Windows & Doors:

If your windows or doors leave your home feeling drafty, it’s time to look at an upgrade. Can you imagine your savings in heating and air conditioning once these fixtures are more secure? It can also help prevent illness from the weather being let in. Not only will it keep the cold and warmth inside more effectively, but it will also double as a way to boost your home security, making it a win/win situation.

If you are having any issues with the problems above, it’s important to get on top of them before they cause even more headache. And, as always, if you are unsure of anything, then leave it to the professionals!

Warm Up With These Indoor Winter Activities

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Warm Up With These Indoor Winter Activities

Hello! I love the way the snow makes everything look like a holiday greeting card… and that’s about it lol. Driving in it is for the birds and as someone who is constantly cold, I can do without the extra dose of brrrrrr. So, needless to say, I like to enjoy my winter activities from the great indoors! If you feel similarly, try out these ideas all from the comfort of being wrapped in your favorite blanket:

Present Wrapping Party:

I absolutely LOVE shopping for holiday gifts but wrapping them? Not so much! Of course, it is a necessary evil and making it more fun can make it, dare I say, pleasant? Invite your friends over for a present wrapping marathon complete with hot cocoa and holiday movies. You can even have a gift swap at the end as a little reward for a job well done.

All Aboard:

In my neck of the woods, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad offers all kinds of fun winter activities and you can peep the falling snow without being stuck in it! For the little ones, they offer the Polar Express and for adults, there tends to be a beer or wine tasting event as you ride the train. If there is something similar in your area, it could be a fun way to shake things up for a unique winter memory.

Craft Competitions:

There are so many winter baubles and trinkets that you can craft and you can up the ante by turning it into a competition. How about a gingerbread house bake off? Creating your own candles with festive scents? Or decorating ornaments for your tree or mantel? The prize could simply be bragging rights or a small gift to commemorate their victory.

Santa Hat Movie Viewing:

If you’re looking for a boozy time with friends or drinking a lot of hot chocolate, then have I got a game for you! Whether it’s a holiday movie or not, put a Santa hat on the corner of the TV and when any character ends up “wearing” it, take a drink. I promise that it will make the Hallmark movie marathon way more bearable! 😀

Winter Game Night:

Game nights are always fun and, this time, you can put a holiday twist on it. Try charades with famous holiday movie scenes to act out. Or, go around in a circle and each person will have to say the next word of a Christmas carol. Pin the ornaments on the tree? A holiday edition of Never Have I Ever? You could even make a photo booth set up for goofy holiday pictures… The possibilities are endless! Don’t forget a hot chocolate bar or trail mix station for your guests!

Don’t let it snow on your parade with the ideas above and stay comfy cozy all while achieving the ultimate holiday spirit! 😀

PS: Spread the joy by putting a “buy in” to each event you host by having your guests bring a canned good to donate to a local shelter. ❤

What is your favorite winter activity? What puts you in the holiday spirit? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Faux Fur Fabulous OOTD Bonus Pictures

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Faux Fur Fabulous OOTD Bonus Pictures

Hello everyone and welcome to some bonus pictures from my Faux Fur Fabulous OOTD! These pictures were taken when Johnny and I celebrated our six month wedding anniversary and it was such a wonderful day. Take a look at my bonus shots including one hilarious blooper and let’s discuss what we did to make our day special:

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Can you guess which one the blooper is lol?! Like any good blog husband, Johnny takes So. Many. Pictures. in rapid fire succession and this includes the dismounts, awkward shots, and pictures that I didn’t even know he was taking!

To start off our day, Johnny and I met up with my parents and our niece in downtown Cuyahoga Falls for a puppy parade. While we got the time wrong on the parade itself (whomp whomp), we still got to see tons of dogs dressed up in their holiday best. We had so much fun pet watching and petting all of these adorable pups and it was truly dog heaven.

In the indoor area set up, the pooches could get their picture taken with Santa and owners could shop with local vendors for stocking stuffers for their pets. Our niece was able to meet Santa and by that I mean she just stood there in stunned silence haha. She eventually warmed up enough to give him a high five, though! 🙂

After the outing with our family, Johnny and I enjoyed a big lunch at Barrio where you can build your own tacos. Barrio is one of my favorite eateries and they have the best margaritas I have ever had. We got tacos for now and tacos for later and I am already itching to go back. 😀

When we were done eating, we checked out Off The Wagon and got a new board game to add to our vast collection. Then, we went to the Zephyr for a drink before heading home. Once we were back at the home front, an evening of video games and music commenced and it was an absolute blast. If our half year wedding anniversary was this good, I can’t imagine what our full year anniversary will be like!

No matter the occasion, Johnny and I always have the best time together and our date day was no exception. He is the best husband ever! ❤

What is your favorite restaurant? How does your community celebrate the holidays? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Thinking Of Getting A Dog? Here’s How To Make The Adoption More Practical

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Thinking Of Getting A Dog? Here’s How To Make The Adoption More Practical

Are you thinking about adopting a pet into your family? Perhaps you’ve had your eyes set on getting a dog for a long time or maybe your children are interested in helping to adopt a dog. Whatever the case is, bringing a dog into your family can be surprisingly difficult, time-consuming, and also impractical depending on where and how you live. So in this post, we’re going to be discussing a few tips to help you make adopting a dog much easier”

Are you ready to train your dog?

First, remember that you need to commit a lot of time to puppy training and other training tasks if you want your dog to behave and learn from you. If you don’t think that you have enough time for something like that, then it’s usually best to consider a different kind of hobby. Raising a dog and providing for it can be really hard, especially if you can’t provide them with attention on a regular basis.

Do some research on various dog breeds:

You may also want to do a little research on various dog breeds to help you choose which one to pick from. Dog breeds vary a lot in their personalities and also their physical looks. This is especially important if you want a dog that stays smaller or grows up to be a big boy or girl.

Is your home suitable for a dog?

You’ll also want to start preparing your home for a dog, especially if they’re rather big. Dogs can easily knock things over and you really don’t want them to be running around when you have a lot of things on the floor. Clean up your home and make sure you’ve installed various kinds of devices to hide cables and to keep your dog safe from harm.

Get to know your local vet ASAP:

Every pet owner has a duty to get to know their local vet. This is an important step in keeping your dog as healthy as it can be. Your vet will be able to provide you with ample information for recommended foods, keeping their shots up to date, and training tips too.

Do you have enough space in your home for a dog?

Finally, don’t forget that you need to prepare enough space in your home for your dog. You need to think about where your dog should sleep at night, but you also need to consider that your dogs need a bit of space to roam around. If you don’t have a large open area in your home or even access to a local park for your dog to explore, then you might want to reconsider adopting a dog. Just remember that it’s a lot of work and takes more space and sacrifice than you might imagine.

Dogs are a forever part of your family so consider all of the above before you sign the adoption papers!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Where To Start When Planning A Home Renovation

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Where To Start When Planning A Home Renovation

Whether you’re planning on prepping your home for winter or updating your home to make it bigger and more comfortable for you and your family, you know you can’t just pull out a drill and get started. A home renovation is a substantial project that demands plenty of care and planning. If you don’t know every step of the process, you might end up realizing that it won’t work right now. So, before you pull on your safety goggles, here is some advice for where to start when planning a renovation at home:

Decide Which Room Is Most Important:

Before you do anything, you should get an idea about which room requires the most attention. Many people begin with the room they use the most, which research shows is the kitchen, but this can also cause disruptions that make it impossible to use the room at all.

Other common rooms to start in are the living room, bathroom, and your bedroom, especially as you can usually make adjustments to the living situation while they are under renovation. A bathroom remodel with pros like mattbakercontracting.com (or a similar company in your local area) can be far more budget friendly than a kitchen remodel and is always appealing to potential buyers if you put your home on the market. However, you might consider these rooms perfect already, so it’s best to focus on anywhere that isn’t up to the same standard.

If you are already satisfied with the major components of your home, you could turn unused space into living areas. This is an incredibly common renovation for those that have an attic or basement and is an appealing one. A renovation to these spaces will not only boost your property value but allow you the freedom to turn these areas into whatever you please. It could be a home office, an entertainment room, or a guest room. If you would like to renovate your attic or basement, hold a family meeting to decide the best use of your new space.

Consider the Total Cost (And How You’ll Pay):

It’s no secret that a home renovation costs a lot of money, especially if you want it done right the first time. So, consider how much it will cost and how you will pay for it before you get on the phone with contractors or materials suppliers. Don’t forget to factor in additional costs as well like if you need to stay in a hotel while the renovation is completed or you need to make use of storage units and dumpster rentals. Dumpsters are a must for any home renovation so be sure to enter a search for “denver dumpster” (or your local area) to schedule your rental. It will help the clean up process so much!

Anyone who has done a renovation before will tell you that it will always cost more than your budget, so make allowances for this. Once you have decided which room needs the renovation the most, you can get an inspector to visit and check for any issues so you can budget accurately.

When your budget is established, consider the different ways to pay for the work, whether you want to take out a loan or pay everything upfront.

Decide Between DIY or Contractors:

The final step is to consider whether you will do it yourself or bring in professional contractors. Although DIY can save money in the short term, it could cost you more later as inexperienced DIYers can make mistakes that require repairs. There are also some parts of the home where contractors are essential. If you’re working with electricity, gas, or water, professional services like Panda Kitchen & Bath Expo are more reliable than attempting the work yourself.

It’s best to do your research and decide what jobs are feasible to complete yourself and what you will need a professional to assist with. Upgrading your living spaces can be a huge task, and one you may not be able to do completely solo. It takes a lot of time and dedication to take on a renovation, and when you employ contractors like those at ClearcutBuilders, this can take a significant amount of stress off managing every detail yourself. These professionals will also have experience and expertise in certain jobs that require access to resources and tools, ensuring a smoother project outcome.

A home renovation is a fantastic way to make your home safer and accommodate a growing family. It can take a lot of time and hard work, but as long as you remember these important factors, you will have no trouble planning a renovation that you will love.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Flight Of Fancy OOTD Bonus Pictures

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Flight Of Fancy OOTD Bonus Pictures

Hello everyone and welcome to some bonus pictures from yesterday’s Flight Of Fancy OOTD! That Saturday was such a fun day of playing model with my husband, having a libation at our favorite bar, and enjoying a community holiday activity with my family. It was the perfect day immersed in holiday spirit and I loved every minute of it! Let’s get to it:

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Over the past several years, downtown Cuyahoga Falls has transformed itself into a happening little place. Prior to the renovations, this area had more closed down shops and restaurants than open. Now, every storefront is practically filled with unique eateries, boutiques, and novelty shops. Not to mention all of the amazing holiday activities and festivals that are hosted there throughout the year.

This past Saturday, downtown Cuyahoga Falls opened up its outdoor skating rink and had a Santa parade, fireworks, and tree lighting ceremony to celebrate. Johnny and I met up with my parents and niece for the festivities and had an absolute blast. Our niece got to see her TT skate for the first time and she also got to see Santa riding on a firetruck through the streets.

Not only was the area beautifully decorated for the holidays but it was also snowing which made for a scene fresh out of a Hallmark movie. There was music playing, people dancing in the streets, and an indoor area to warm up, sip hot chocolate, and have the little ones write their letters to Santa. So much fun! 😀

A wonderful time was had by all this past weekend and I am so appreciative to my hometown for hosting such awesome events to bring the community together. ❤

How does your neck of the woods get in the holiday spirit? Is there a similar area to downtown Cuyahoga Falls where you live? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello everyone and Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!! This has been a year full of exciting things for yours truly including getting married, achieving a 1,000 day writing streak, and being fully vaccinated with a booster shot included. I am so thankful for all of this and, as always, I am so thankful for all of you – my dear readers and friends. ❤

Without your unending support, lifewithlilred would not be going strong for seven plus years and I love being with all of you on my blogging and life journey. While I feel lucky for this every day, days like Thanksgiving make me feel extra sentimental about it and I can’t express my gratitude enough.

I will keep this post short and sweet so you can go back to enjoying your Thanksgiving day. I just wanted to say that I love you all and hope you have the most joyous time with family and friends! ❤

How are you celebrating Thanksgiving? What are you thankful for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sweet Surprises: C&C California Earrings Edition

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Sweet Surprises: C&C California Earrings Edition

Hi! One thing that I always look forward to during my work week is seeing my sister, Kristen, and her family. If our schedules allow, we try to see each other every week for a hang session and dinner. It’s so much fun to share good food and the best company together with my sis and little niece. It is also a time when we like to swap our no longer wanted clothes, makeup, skin care, and accessories.

This past hang out, Kristen gave me these darling earrings by C&C California and I am genuinely unsure as to why she didn’t want them because I think they are the cutest! Check it out:

I love these earrings but, despite that, they are a pair that I would never buy for myself because I much prefer longer, dangly earrings with my short hair. Although these are not my preferred style, I love the colors of the hanging tassels along with the blingy gold and I think that they will look charming with my red, pink, and violet hair because the colors match perfectly! 😀

I am thinking of breaking these C&C California earrings out for Thanksgiving dinner if they look good with my outfit. However, if it were up to my little niece, she would be the one wearing them even though her ears aren’t pierced lol! She graciously let her TT hold onto them for safe keeping but I told her that as soon as she’s old enough to have her ears pierced she can have them back. ❤

Sweet Surprises or no, hanging out with my favorites is the best gift in itself and I am the luckiest sister and aunt in the whole world!

How old were you when you had your ears pierced? What style of earrings do you prefer to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

3 Ideas To Get Your Kids Interested In Nature

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3 Ideas To Get Your Kids Interested In Nature

By now, you have no doubt heard of the great mental health benefits of getting outside. But, while you might love the outdoors, your kids may still be on the fence. After all, it’s always more comfortable to sit inside, especially when the temperatures plummet. This won’t do them any favors, though, so it is important to try and get them more interested in nature. If you’re not sure where to begin, here are three ideas to help:

Show Them How Fun It Can Be:

Many kids will associate being outdoors with walking and walking far. There’s some truth to this, but it’s not the walk that makes nature fun, it’s seeing everything along the way. However, when they’re young, kids may not notice or care about this. All they see is a lot of green and brown.

You can change this attitude by considering the different ways to make nature walks enjoyable for kids, such as scavenger hunts, identifying different plants, animals, or bugs, or playing I Spy along the way. If possible, look for a trail that has a play area at the end, as this will give them something to look forward to, as long as they aren’t too tired by the time you arrive.

Bring Nature Indoors:

If your kids don’t appreciate nature as much as you’d like them to, how about bringing nature indoors? This is especially useful if you live somewhere cold and wet, making it difficult to get outside too often.

The benefits of houseplants can make them more appreciative of nature, and as you add more to your collection, they might become even more interested. You might get to the point where they want to help water them, care for them, and give them enough sunlight so they can thrive. It can be tricky to see plants grow outside, but having them inside allows your kids to see the entire lifespan.

Encourage Their Education:

While there might not be much in the school curriculum, you can still speak with their teacher and ask what they are doing to encourage a love of the outdoors in their students.

Depending on what they say, there is a range of resources they can use, including succulent classroom decor by Miss Jacobs that could be a small but inspiring module for your kids and their classmates. As it covers science, it can easily apply to a lesson, even if it’s something done to make up some time once all other lessons are finished.

As much as some people do not enjoy being outside, it’s fair to say that the majority of people can always find something to love about it. Whether it’s the positivity they feel after a long hike or the stunning views that they wouldn’t get from sitting on the sofa, your kids could experience the same shift, and soon, you won’t be able to keep them indoors at all

Featured Image By: Unsplash