Tag Archives: friends

Apr25

Back On The Ice!

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Back On The Ice!

Hello!! My childhood sport of choice was competitive figure skating and I stopped when I was about sixteen years old. After that, I would skate just for fun and coach for the Special Olympics a few years later. Prior to the pandemic starting, I thought it would be cool to try ice dancing and take lessons again and did just that. Cue pandemic, what felt like an indefinite hiatus, then I was back. Until I wasn’t lol. I had an extremely off putting encounter with a male coach and it instantly sucked all of the joy out of being on the ice again. So, I hung up my skates and never went since. Until this weekend!! Check it out and peep the videos on my TikTok @lilred6794 :

A month or so ago, I noticed one of my friends on social media had recently got back into skating after some time off too. I knew who she was but she skated in a different club than me and was a few years younger than me in high school. However, her decision to skate again inspired me and I thought that it couldn’t hurt to shoot her a message to see if she wanted to go together sometime. The answer was a resounding YES, we scheduled a skate date, and were both so eager to hit the ice together this past weekend.

I arrived at the rink a bit earlier than my friend so I started the open skate session solo. And omg I was feeling good as soon as my blades touched the ice. The open skate was blessedly not crowded at all so I basically had free reign to do anything and everything. I did a few warm up laps and like no time had passed at all, I was back to spins, jumps, and footwork. What’s that old saying about riding a bike? Granted, what I was doing wasn’t perfect and I felt straight up drunk after spinning but I was sure proud of everything that I could still do!

By the time I was nice and warmed up, my friend was ready to get her skate on too. I told Johnny it was like the equivalent of going hiking with a friend. We skated around, talked like we had known each other for years even though we just met, and just had fun skating for the joy of it. It was such a wonderful experience to skate with no pressure whatsoever and to encourage each other to keep trying all of our long lost tricks. Before I knew it, the hour and a half long session was over and we exited the rink exhausted but exhilarated. We are going to try and skate at least once a month and I am already chomping at the bit for our next skate date!

The moral of the story is to NEVER let anyone take the fun and joy out of something you love to do. I am so thankful to have found a friend that gave me the motivation to get back on the ice after swearing off of it and am still riding the high of how proud I feel of both of us!

What is your favorite sport to play? Which sports did you play when you were little? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr13

Friday Night Dinner Club

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Friday Night Dinner Club

Hello!! Johnny and I are incredibly lucky – close to three years ago, we moved into a bigger apartment and it is still nothing short of a gift. Of course, the extra space is nice but one of the best things is, easily, our neighbor. Our downstairs neighbor, Tony, has been a staple in our lives since he moved in shortly after we did. We quickly bonded after our numerous chats while he was outside smoking and these chats turned into full fledged hangouts. We love going to the shooting range, playing pool, and my personal favorite – Friday Night Dinner Club.

Friday Night Dinner Club is exactly what it sounds like lol. One Friday per month, we will go out to eat together and take turns on picking where to eat and picking up the tab. We have hit up all of our favorite spots together and tried new restaurants too and it is always a blast. With the unpredictable winter and early spring weather, our Dinner Club meetings have taken place in Tony’s apartment. I will cook or we will order takeout and watch a movie for our entertainment. We had our March meeting this past Friday and it was a raging success:

For Dinner Club, I decided to cook us a huge dish of baked ziti, garlic bread, and salad. Then, we made the short trek downstairs to our co-founder’s digs to eat, drink, and be merry. Our original plan was to rent the newest Jason Statham vehicle, A Working Man. Unfortunately, that plan was foiled because it isn’t available yet. That was no matter because we watched another Jason Statham vehicle, instead. One of all of our personal favorites – The Beekeeper. We have watched The Beekeeper several times together during Dinner Club and it hits every time. Johnny, Tony, and I will spend the entire duration quoting the movie, hollering, and laughing whenever I react to a particularly “ouch” moment. We live for action and horror movies and this one takes the cake!

Even though Johnny and I have lived in our apartment community for upwards of five years, we have never had a neighbor like Tony. It is so special to have a friend literally right downstairs and it makes all of our lives so much better. I love having a neighbor that I can fix an extra plate for, shoot the breeze with, and shoot – have an entire club based around our friendship. A club that is deserving of jackets at some point in the future because we have definitely discussed it extensively lol. 😀

I cannot wait for our next Dinner Club meeting with the improved weather! Me and my favorite guys will be stepping out on the town and we are all already looking forward to it!

Do you have an amazing neighbor? Do you have any “clubs” with your friends? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar5

Girls Night!

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Girls Night!

Hello!! One of my New Year’s Resolutions was making more time for friends and fun and I am doing pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. My goal to achieve this was to have one outing per weekend with friends, family, or Johnny. Aside from a handful of lazy weekends, I have been crushing it and it has helped make my life feel fuller – especially considering that I used to have little to no work/life balance. This weekend, I had a girls night with a friend that I knew from high school but started hanging out with this past year thanks to our mutual bestie. We had a glorious night on the town planned until those plans fell through. Plan B was just as glorious, though!

Originally, my girl and I had grand plans of going to the Cashmere Cricket. Like literally everyone in the greater Akron area, this charming martini bar is our favorite. In fact, it’s where Johnny and I had our first date and celebrated our engagement! The Cashmere Cricket has the best food and drinks and the move was to go there for Pickle Martinis and their heavenly Grilled Cheese Dippers. We had been talking about it ALL week and were counting down the minutes until our food fantasies could come into fruition on Saturday. With a pep in my step, I headed to the bar to score us a booth and the joint was jumping. It was packed to the gills and a table wouldn’t be available for several hours later. Talk about a bummer!

Blessedly, there is always Plan B because the best Mexican restaurant ever, El Meson, is right up the street from the Cashmere Cricket. Like the Cricket, El Meson was hopping and it felt like everyone in our neck of the woods had the exact same plans as us! As luck would have it, we got one of the last tables available and were able to eat, drink, and be merry. This was actually a special occasion because my friend just had her second child and this was her first drink after the fact. It made me feel so good that she wanted to share in that with me. ❤

It was an honor to treat her and we did it up with margs and a surprise shot. Our delightful waiter randomly put shots on our table and we weighed our pros and cons. My MAJOR con was that the last time I took a shot at a bar five years ago I threw up immediately SMH. I have never taken a shot since but, hey, when at El Meson. I am pleased to report that it went down smoothly but 5/10 would probably not do again! Sometimes, Plan B just ends up being even better than what you originally had in mind and I don’t think we would have been getting random shots at the Cashmere Cricket! 😀

Cashmere Cricket will definitely be next on our agenda because we now know we should make reservations lol. I cannot wait for another fabulous Girls Night!

What is your favorite local bar or restaurant? What is a perfect night out for you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb5

Tabletop Gaming: A Guide For Beginners

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Tabletop Gaming: A Guide For Beginners

Tabletop gaming is a lot of fun. It’s something we’ve done since time immemorial and it’s something we’ll continue to do for years to come. After all, all you need is an idea of something to play and a place to play it – you don’t even necessarily need anyone to play with you either! One player TTRPGs are super common nowadays, and just having some time to dedicate to the session is the one requirement. But when you’re new to playing tabletop games, the whole tabletop scene can be a bit daunting. If that’s the predicament you find yourself in, here are some things to keep in mind about getting started:

Try Out Various Genres:

The variety you can find in the tabletop genre is genuinely astounding. It’s not just Dungeons and Dragons or Warhammer – there are hundreds of genres you can dig into and try out. If you find a typically popular tabletop game isn’t for you, you don’t have to keep playing it just because loads of other people do. You’ll be more than able to find something else to try that is likely to be a lot more fun, and suit your tastes better.

Buy a Dice Set:

When you have your own dice, you’re set. It doesn’t matter where you are, who you’re with, or what game you’re playing. You’ve brought an essential bit of kit along with you, and if there’s not enough to go round, you can pull your D20 Dice bag out of your pocket and be the hero. Aside from that, dice sets can get pretty creative. Many of them are made to look extra special and fancy, and you could even learn to make your own from home. Buying dice in colors and designs you love will only stoke the fires of your tabletop passion.

Don’t Be Afraid to Play with Strangers:

Heading down to a board game bar or cafe for a gaming night might sound quite intimidating, but it’s genuinely a lot of fun, even when you’re a beginner. Game nights like these bring the local gaming community together, and if you never give it a go, you’re unlikely to find other tabletop lovers outside of your select friend group. They’re strangers for now, for sure, but they won’t be for long! If you truly don’t enjoy the session you can leave whenever you want, and you don’t have to come back, but giving it a try is usually worth the time and energy. Plus, you can head online to find gaming forums and strike up conversations there too.

If you want to try tabletop gaming, get started with these tips. Try as many games as you can, get involved with any local gaming communities, and make sure you’ve got the right kit on your side too!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan18

Ladies Lunch

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Ladies Lunch

Hello!! I decided to actually make New Year’s Resolutions this year and I am pleased to report that I have been crushing. So much so, in fact, that I even added a new goal to achieve. My primary focuses are to continue going to the gym, firmly saying “no”, making more time for friends, and taking better care of my teeth. Every weekend since, I have had some type of outing with friends or family and I really do feel better for it. With a crazy demanding work schedule, it almost seemed impossible to make time for fun over the weekend because I was too dog tired. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still tired lol but now I feel like my weekends are a source of pleasure rather than counting down the minutes to my next shift.

This past weekend, my outing was to take my sister, Kristen, and three sweet nieces out for lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant, El Meson. It is the absolute best and a staple in my neck of the woods. I am always craving El Meson but the hankering was especially fierce as the Mexican restaurant we went to as a family for Christmas did nothing for me. So, I invited my girl squad to a “vanity lunch” so I could squash my cravings and get some quality time in with my four best girls.

Like myself, my girls live for Mexican food so our lunch was the perfect set up to eat, drink, and be merry – and did we ever! My eldest nieces went to town on queso and rice while Kristen and I opted for our usual vegetarian platters. We even toasted with her first drink since having my littlest niece in November and the Margaritas treated us just right! They always do, as did our favorite server who takes care of us every single time we have a lunch or dinner date. Dining at El Meson is forever fantastic, but he makes it that much better.

During the entirety of our Ladies Lunch, I couldn’t stop thinking about how lucky I was. This was my second weekend in a row that I got to spend time with the bestie squad! Prior to making my New Year’s Resolution, I honestly couldn’t tell you if I would have been up to those outings. And, I’m not going to lie, it is taking effort on my part to get myself out the door. However, once the plans are in action, it’s nonstop fun and that is exactly what I need. I even went out to lunch with a friend during my break on Tuesday!! Who am I and where is the normal, never does anything Lil Red?!

Ladies Lunch was a great success and I can’t wait to keep adding more plans to my agenda. It is making my life feel much more full and I am loving it!

What is your favorite local restaurant? What is your favorite kind of outing with friends? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec24

Dinner Party

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Dinner Party

Hello! Johnny and I both have really demanding work schedules and it can be hard to have the energy to do much of anything once the week is complete. While we love hanging out with our friends, we are perfectly fine just vegging out all weekend long. This past weekend, however, we turned into the hosts with the most because we had another couple over for a Dinner Party. We really don’t have a lot of couples to hang out with so it was a nice change of pace and we had the best time entertaining at chez nous. It has definitely been a while!

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On Saturday morning, we both got to cleaning as soon as we woke up. Johnny tackled vacuuming and cleaning the kitchen while I worked on the dreaded bathrooms. After our clean-a-thon, the apartment looked amazing and we were so pleased with our efforts! Granted, the bunnies did their due diligence of getting hay and bedding on the floor as soon as it was vacuumed but that’s just life as bunny parents lol. With a freshly cleaned apartment, we spent the rest of the day playing video games until it was time to start cooking.

For dinner, I planned on making my Olive Garden taste alike recipe for Fettuccine Alfredo, a taste alike salad, and garlic bread. Like Johnny and me, our guests live for a good Middle Class Fancy meal so it was the perfect way to go. Everything looked incredible and we were famished by the time the other couple arrived. Thankfully, so were they! I say thankfully because the last time we hosted a couple for dinner, they just didn’t eat and we were ravenous by the time we left. It was kind of weird. Over a delicious meal, we spent the entire evening talking and laughing away. Before we knew it, almost three hours had passed and it felt like they had just got here!

We parted ways with the promises of doing a get together again and as soon as the door shut, Johnny and I were raving about the success of our evening and making new friends. We were elated to know that they had a good time too and it was exciting to break out of our usual chill weekend comfort zone. I cannot wait to host another double date!!

Do you have a couple that you like to double date with? What is your favorite dish to prepare for a dinner party? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec17

Best Blanket EVER!!

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Best Blanket EVER!!

Howdy!! Every weekend, I have been diligently wrapping away at my cache of Christmas prezzies. I also got the very last gift I needed on my shopping list this past week at Elysian Nails. GREAT SUCCESS! On Sunday, I decided to finish my gift wrapping in its entirety and it was so nice to get some floor space back in my office once all of the packages had been opened! To my surprise, one of the boxes I opened contained something I didn’t remember ordering for myself at all. I questioned if I did some drunk Amazon shopping, but then I realized it was a Christmas gift from my A1 blogging bestie – Kate from Live In The Nautical. Check it out:

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One thing about Kate and I is that we are massive freeze babies lol. We are both literally always cold and Kate loves to cocoon in her heated blanket. Wrapping up in a warm hug of a blanket is something that is most appealing to me, but it’s something I would never buy for myself. So, Kate took matters into her own hands and I have an inkling that she has known exactly what to spoil me with for Xmas since this October. We had a massive drop in temperatures in Ohio and my apartment complex didn’t turn the heat on so Johnny and I were basically living in an ice box for a week. Kate is the most spectacular gift giver because she is constantly taking mental notes of situations like this and provides a remedy for it. ❤

My heated blanket was actually the last package I opened before it was a wrap on wrapping presents. As soon as I saw it, I ripped the box the blanket came in open and was ready to reward myself with a day of becoming one with my couch after a successful holiday shopping season. And become one with my couch, I did. From the comfort of my new heated blanket, I had a Degrassi marathon and vegged TF out. I live for a good Degrassi binge sesh and it was further enhanced by this Bwarm blanket because it is the freaking BEST. It is SO soft, SO comfortable, and has six different heat settings so you can adjust the temps as needed. I opted for a healthy “four” and it literally felt like I was wrapped up in all the comforters on my bed. It was also so soothing on my arms and back which tend to get a bit achy from never ending work on the computer. 12/10 Highly recommend!

Huge shout out to my main boo for this top tier present!! I have a feeling I am going to be living in this blanket as soon as I get home from work every day!

What is your favorite item that brings you comfort? Are you always hot or always cold? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec6

Last Minute Gift Ideas

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Last Minute Gift Ideas

Hello!! I have to admit, I did not complete my holiday shopping as early as I usually do this year. However, I am pleased to report that I will officially be DONE once I pick up a gift card at my nail salon on Tuesday. It feels so good to have gifts for everyone in my big family out of the way and I have been working on wrapping a few gifts at a time whenever I feel like it lol. We are officially in the holiday home stretch and if you are just starting your shopping now, then: 1) You are giving ME anxiety! And 2) I am here to help with these last minute options. Let’s get to it:

Food & Drink:

You truly can never go wrong with a food and drink style gift and it is something I implement every year. For the families I work with, I always go with some type of gift basket like chocolate, popcorn, or cookie kits and they are very well received. In fact, this year, I scored a wonderful deal for customized chocolate tins from Ghirardelli that I am really excited about. Most stores offer a great array of gift baskets, wine or beer samplers, or cooking and baking kits so go for it!

Gift Cards:

SO many people say that gift cards are a thoughtless gift and I say FALSE. If you do feel that way, though, you can absolutely put some thought into gift cards! Treat your giftee to a gift card to a movie theater and a favorite restaurant. BOOM. Instant date night. Have a giftee that drives a lot (Like me!)? They will surely want some help filling their tank! Shopping for a shopaholic? Now they can go wild at their go to stores. Yes, it’s one of the most easy ways to complete your shopping. But, it will be a gift that’s truly appreciated and that’s alright in my book!

Pet Supplies:

As a bunny mom, I can honestly say that I am THRILLED whenever I get a Chewy gift card or supplies for my gremlins as a gift. If you have some proud pet parents on your list, this could be a fantastic way to go. As a bonus, it will give them some extra scratch to spend on post holiday sales! If you don’t know what kind of supplies are necessary for your giftee’s pet, just ask. It’s another added bonus because it eliminates a chore for them too.

Photo Albums:

If you’re looking for a more sentimental option, photo albums or framed pictures are perfect – especially if you are the designated picture taker in your family (Like me!). This is a gift that I give at least one of every year because it’s just so easy and it’s really thoughtful. You could do an album of your kiddos for the grandparents, framed pics of you and your bestie on a fun day out, or even canvas prints. Websites like Shutterfly are always running great promotions so this is a gift that could be completed right from your computer!

Stocking Stuffers:

There is literally no rule stating that a gift has to be big or expensive. All that matters is the thought!! Stocking stuffers are excellent if you are strapped for time, ideas, or cash. Think candles and lotion, shaving kits or hot sauce, socks, hats, bath bombs – I could go on for forever. A small item or two and a big smile on your face is really all you need and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. ❤

If you have finished your holiday shopping: Kudos! If not, I hope these ideas help!

Are you good at wrapping gifts? What are your holiday plans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov28

Happy Thanksgiving!!

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Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hello everyone and Happy Thanksgiving!!! Today is one of my favorite days of the year and I am so looking forward to celebrating with mine and Johnny’s family. I am sure that all of you have grand plans for the day so I don’t want to take up too much of your time! But what kind of blogger would I be if I didn’t give an extra special holiday shout out to my dear readers? You already know I am infinitely thankful for all of you!!

lifewithlilred has been going strong for a decade and change and I still have a really hard time believing that. During this extensive tenure, you have been with me for every update, accomplishment, disappointment, and life changes and I think that is really cool. In fact, it’s what motivates me to keep up with daily content because I know that you are out there, somewhere reading it. My blog is just as much mine as it is yours and my biggest hope is that people smile when they stumble upon my corner of the internet.

The blogosphere is a beautiful thing and it has the power to bring people together. My blog gifted me with my best friend in the world and has brought people into my life that I would have never known otherwise. I was extremely lonely when I started lifewithlilred and the blogging community really helped remedy that. From Akron, Ohio, I am able to say that I have friends all over the world and my gratefulness for that knows no bounds.

Thank you to all of you for being my friend. Thank you to all of you for stopping by my page and being with me. Happy Thanksgiving to all! ❤

Nov14

Holiday Gift Brainstorm

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Holiday Gift Brainstorm

Hello! The winter holiday season is fast approaching. For those last minute shoppers, this is no big deal. However, it definitely feels like crunch time for the people that like to get their shopping done early. I fall under the latter category and have been diligently pecking away at my to buy for list. I have to admit that I have been feeling pretty uninspired during my shopping so let’s do a Holiday Gift Brainstorm! Then, we can all sit back and enjoy the holiday season stress free:

Gifts of Experience:

One of the most popular options for gift giving falls under Gifts of Experience. This is a great way to go if you are shopping for someone who has everything! Experience gifts could be anything from movie tickets to a pottery class or a few sessions at a yoga studio. The point is for your giftee to try something new or, perhaps, learn more about their favorite hobby. Gifts of Experience are nice for adults and children alike. If you have some kiddos to shop for, ask their parents if something like swim lessons, sports camp, or an art class would be a doable option. The last thing you want to give parents is more work so bonus points if you will be the transportation!

Just Ask:

While on the subject of asking people about gifts, there really is something to be said for asking in advance about what your giftees would like. This eliminates the potential for them not liking what you purchased and you can give them what they actually want or need. For example, families with small children might appreciate supplies like diapers, formula, or clothing as opposed to even more toys! Pet owners (like myself) could prefer a Chewy gift card over something for themselves. If you don’t ask, you will have no idea. If you are still wanting an element of surprise, try talking to someone close to your giftee for the inside scoop.

Favor Gifts:

The best prezzie of all could be taking something off of your giftee’s plate, which brings us to Favor Gifts. Maybe you will clean their house a few times, volunteer to be a date night babysitter, or even pay for their next oil change. These gifts are designed to make an aspect of adulting easier and we could all use a little less stress. I know I would be thrilled if my gift was a cleaning session at my apartment! 😀

Homemade:

There is no rule stating that you have to be an Etsy shop level crafter to give a homemade gift. Although, if you are, then that’s great too! Knitted scarves, socks, or baby booties will be welcome gifts during the winter. How about a photo collage? Maybe a mini portrait of your giftee or their beloved pet? You could put all of the dry ingredients for soup or cookies in a Mason jar, seal it with a bow, and call it a day. Or if you have a giftee that would like to learn your craft, offer a couple tutorial sessions and get them some of the basic essentials needed for a beginner level. And, as a bonus, you will have quality time together.

The best part of the holiday season is sharing it with the ones you love. No one’s saying the gifts aren’t nice, though! 😀 Happy shopping!

How is your holiday shopping going? Who is the most difficult person to shop for on your list? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah