Tag Archives: fun

Mar12

Happy Day!

Posted on March 12, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Hello! This past Sunday was a wonderful, happy day with my family because we celebrated my niece’s third birthday. It seems like just yesterday that my sister brought her home from the hospital and I was in all of the feels. I didn’t think I would be so emotional but then I found myself crying not once or twice but THREE times when we took Val to her first movie at the theaters to see Sing 2.

Prior to seeing the movie, Val enjoyed a huge present haul from her TT and Uncle “Ohnny”. She loved all of her new Mini Mouse gear, pop up books, and a ukulele from Johnny. He got her a purple one and a black one for himself so they can have lessons together. How sweet is that?!

After lunch and lots of playing, we headed to the movie theater for Sing 2. None of us have seen the first one but that didn’t matter much because what is there to know about animals singing? I must admit that Johnny and I weren’t chomping at the bit to see this movie. We were definitely more excited about Val’s first movie theater experience. However, by the end of the flick we were eating our words because it was pretty much the cutest movie ever.

Long story short, a musical theater group are putting on an intergalactic themed show for a not so nice entertainment bigwig. The songs in the movie are mostly current popular hits including songs by Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, and Shawn Mendes. Not to mention that Bono of U2 (our family favorite band) does a voice in the movie which we were all stoked about.

Sing 2 opened with “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince and we were all hooked from there. I was getting super invested in this movie and when Bono’s reclusive character had some struggles, I couldn’t help but shed a few tears. THEN, Johnny and I were surprised to hear one of the characters singing “Could Have Been Me” by The Struts. We absolutely love them and I started crying again not because it was sad but I was just so happy lol.

Finally, I cried three times a lady at the end when the space themed musical wrapped up with “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” by U2. We were all singing along, including my little niece and it just melted my heart. My dad even shed a tear or two! Meanwhile, Johnny just laughed at me because I literally cry during ninety percent of the movies we watch. It truly doesn’t take much!

We all had the best day celebrating my best girl and I have been looking back on it fondly all week because it was such a Beautiful Day… See what I did there, U2 fans? By the way, if you are looking for a fun family movie, I can’t recommend Sing 2 enough. Just have some tissues at the ready because you may or may not cry too!

What is the first movie you saw in theaters? What is your favorite animated movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar11

Dinner Time!

Posted on March 11, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello! Ever since discovering the joys of Pinterest super late in the game, I have spent many an enjoyable evening cooking up new recipes for myself and Johnny. It has been great fun because I love to cook and I was so bored with all of the dinners that I have been making time and time again. This past Friday, I cooked a feast for dinner and while it was a lot of food, it also meant leftovers for days and that’s always good! Check it out:

The Menu:

Mac n’ cheese: You can see the recipe on this previous post of mine!
Jalapeño popper rolls: Berly’s Kitchen on Pinterest
Perogies with sauteed onions and garlic and honey mustard
Rosemary and butter carrots

My sweet Johnny spent most of the week being bummed out that he had to go to work on Saturday. I planned on cooking a big dinner on Friday anyways but when I got a surprise day off, I decided to go even bigger to help cheer him up. Johnny’s love language is definitely sharing his favorite music for me and since I have not one ounce of musical talent, cooking our favorite meals is my love language for him.

I started with homemade mac n’ cheese with the tried and true recipe that my mom has been making since I was little. It was and is still one of my favorite dishes and my niece is especially partial to it too. However, I still think it turns out better when my mom makes it! Although it’s not quite up to JANE level standards when I make it, it is still really yummy and I like to make mac n’ cheese grilled cheeses with the leftovers.

Then, it was on to the jalapeño popper rolls, which were delicious! This recipe was another one that required pizza dough to make but I figured Pillsbury croissants would work too. At least, I hoped so because the last time I substituted croissants for pizza dough for a recipe, it didn’t turn out the best. This time around, Pillsbury did me right and the rolls were a highlight of the meal and something I would happily make again.

I didn’t have pickled jalapenos as the recipe called for so I cut mine up and broiled them in the oven for about five minutes. The end result tasted exactly like the jalapeño popper quesadillas that are mine and Johnny’s favorite. In fact, it was almost an identical recipe minus the crushed up tortilla chips to give the quesadillas some extra crunch.

Originally, I just planned on cooking the mac n’ cheese and the rolls but I figured I might as well try and clear some food from my pantry, fridge, and freezer since I had extra time on my hands. For example, I love the idea of baby carrots. However, whenever I buy a bag, they always just end up sitting in my crisper drawer.

I figured it was now or never to use the carrots so I just threw them in a pot of water and cooked them up. It took about thirty minutes for the baby carrots to be completely tender. Then, I drained the water and put them back in the pot with butter, rosemary, salt, and pepper and let that simmer for five minutes. This is something that I made when I first moved into my apartment and it was just as tasty as I remembered it being. They are also still really good leftover!

Similarly to baby carrots, I always find myself buying onions and garlic during grocery shopping even though I rarely use them! I guess it’s just a habit because those were ingredients that were never not available at my parent’s home. I had a box of perogies that have been sitting in my freezer for a while so I knew just what to do: Saute the veggies and the perogies along with honey mustard. 😀

This was not a complex meal to make at all and, even though I might have went a bit overboard, we ate like royalty on Friday night… and also every night that we had the leftovers lol! I enjoyed my cooking session so much and it was the best to see how surprised Johnny was when he got home from work. ❤

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

Mar4

Having A Laugh

Posted on March 4, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello! When it comes to mine and Johnny’s usual entertainment after the work day, we tend to enjoy more dramatic shows like Criminal Minds, Wentworth, and all of the true crime. Then, before bed we will turn on something funny. However, recently, all we have wanted to do was laugh and have been in hysterics over the following:

Step Brothers:

Step Brothers is my favorite comedy movie in the whole world and Johnny and I quote it daily. No matter how many times we watch it, we still laugh like it’s the first time we ever saw it. We have seriously watched it three times in the past month because it is such a comfort film and we never feel like scrolling through all of the movie options on our streaming services. Why Step Brothers didn’t win an Oscar for Best Movie Ever is beyond me!

UHF:

Johnny and I are huge “Weird Al” fans and, shockingly, I have never seen UHF until this past Sunday and it was SO. Funny. Taking a peek into Weird Al’s brain while watching this flick was nothing short of a delight and we have every intention of watching it again really soon. There were so many “wtf” moments in UHF and I truly couldn’t even lol. It has already become a much loved film to quote in our wide arsenal of movie quotes after just one watch.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022):

My husband and I both have a special spot in our hearts for all things horror and, despite the lackluster reviews of the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I really wanted to watch it. I am so glad that we did because we actually both ended up really enjoying ourselves regardless of the naysayers. Is it a traditionally funny film? Absolutely not. But like all classic slasher flicks, it was just so goofy and there were parts where we were in stitches.

If you are expecting the masterpiece that is the original TCM (My all time favorite horror movie), then don’t bother with the new one. However, if you are looking for a way to kill an hour and a half and you’re a slasher fan, then I say: Go for it!

Superbad:

Superbad is another movie that Johnny and I will put on when we can’t think of anything else to watch and it never disappoints. We’ve probably watched it over fifteen times in the two and a half years that we’ve been together! Superbad is yet another movie that works its way into our daily vernacular and it is much beloved by us and literally every single person in our friend group.

Tim & Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie:

Johnny and I love us some Tim & Eric and had a viewing of their Billion Dollar Movie after watching UHF on Sunday. They are straight up ridiculous and come up with some of the weirdest shit that I have ever seen and that is why we love them! Tim & Eric formed DOBIS (Doing Business) to earn the money back from a billion dollar movie they made that flopped and work to renovate an old mall. It is just as crazy weird as everything they always do and I would never expect anything less.

Maybe it’s the crappy weather Ohio has been having lately or the good old fashioned seasonal depression that have put Johnny and I in a comedy mood and I am so not mad about it. Everything seems a little better after a laughing sesh with all of our favorite funny movies!

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

Mar3

Super Happy Great Day!

Posted on March 3, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello! After a long week, I was SO ready for some time off over the weekend. This past Saturday was a wonderful one and it was such a treat – it was a low key day but it was spent with the best company and that’s what made it fabulous!

I was so happy to be able to treat my sister, her boyfriend, and my sweet niece to lunch at Chipotle. I am constantly craving it and it was delicious! It’s also one of my niece’s favorite eateries and she was so excited about “me beans and rice”, which I am still cracking up about. 😀

After lunch, we went back to my parents’ house to hang out before Kristen and Ramon had to go to work and I stuck around for some extra time with my Val Gal. We read books, played hide and seek, and watched some of the new Space Jam movie. We loved it! And, of course, it was so fun to see our hometown hero, LeBron James, in it.

My day was already great but it was even better once I got home because one of mine and Johnny’s best friends, Shannon, stayed the weekend with us. He lives in Marietta so we don’t get to see him too often but he was photographing a concert in Cleveland and we were more than happy to provide him with a place to crash.

Once he returned back to our place from the show, we spent hours catching up and laughing hysterically about anything and everything. He is an absolute delight and we can’t wait for the weather to warm up so that we can spend the weekend at his place. A fun time was definitely had by all. ❤

I was working hard for this past weekend and it was so worth it because it was a hoot. Good company and good food makes for a very happy me!

How was your weekend? What is one of your favorite restaurants? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb24

Have Fun & Stay Active With Bowling

Posted on February 24, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Did you know that bowling is one of the most popular activities out there? Most people don’t associate it with a sport, but it is. Just because you don’t need to be extremely athletic, doesn’t mean it isn’t a proper sporting activity. In fact, this makes it a perfect way for people to start exercising and being more active. If you’re new to the whole fitness thing, bowling is a brilliant way into the door. It gets you up and moving, but without loads of heavy impact or crazy strain on your body.

So, if you like the sound of this, how can you get started?

Buy the gear:

Another reason to take up bowling is that it doesn’t require a lot of gear. Usually, all you need are some bowling shoes, bowling gloves, and a bowling ball. Now, it’s important you understand what kind of bowling ball is best for you based on your ability and physical strength. It can be good to start with a lighter one and make your way up. Also, bowling alleys do supply all of these things for you anyway. So, when you’re just starting out, maybe don’t invest in the gear just yet. Play with what they provide, see if you enjoy bowling, and then commit to buying your own stuff.

As you get more into bowling and perhaps assemble a recreational team, it can be fun to go all out with some matching gear. From gloves to roto grip T-shirts or even matching bowling shoes it is a great way to symbolize your camaraderie.

Find somewhere to play:

You’ll be surprised at how many bowling alleys are close to where you live. It wouldn’t be farfetched to say that every city in the country should have at least one bowling alley. Look online for your closest one, see the reviews, and pay it a visit. It can be a good idea to go to multiple places before you decide on one to visit regularly.

Book your slots/buy a membership:

Some bowling alleys let you buy a membership that grants you unlimited access to the facility whenever you want. You still have to book a slot, but you don’t have to pay every single time. However, the majority of places will just make you pay every time you book a slot. Either way, figure out the best time to go bowling. If this is something you want to do on your own or just with a couple of friends, it can be best to book slots around the busy periods. Those of you that have free time during the day should book during weekdays as it means kids won’t be around. It can be harder to get slots after schools close because lots of kids love bowling.

From here, you’ll reap the health and fitness benefits of bowling, while also enjoying a very fun and sociable activity. Who knows, you might get good enough to go pro someday! 😀

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb17

Jesus Christ Superstar Date Night

Posted on February 17, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello! This past Saturday, Johnny and I had a wonderful date night to see Jesus Christ Superstar at Playhouse Square. This has been our first big outing since the pandemic began and it was even better than I could have dreamed! Also, huge shout out to my dad for making this possible with his yearly Christmas gift of season tickets to Playhouse Square for the family. Tomorrow, we will take a look at my OOTD so be sure to keep it posted for that!

Our date day began at Pepper’s Italian Restaurant in Lakewood before the show. We had a to die for dinner of gnocchi with Alfredo sauce, Margarita pizza, focaccia bread, salad, and Prosecco. It was absolutely delicious and my only regret is that it isn’t closer so that we could eat there all of the time. 😀

After an amazing meal that I am still dreaming about, we had some time to kill before it was time to go to the theater to take our seats. We decided to have an after dinner drink at a bar down the street from Pepper’s called the Funhouse. Johnny has been there before but I haven’t and it was the coolest place ever!! It had the theme of an old fashioned carnival with tons of dark decor mixed with the bright colors of a fair. The Funhouse is definitely our kind of bar!

I was already sold on the bar based on the decor alone but their unique drink menu didn’t hurt, either. I just had to try one of their alcohol slushies and chose blue raspberry as my flavor. It was So. Yummy. and if we didn’t have a play to catch, I think I could have had one or two more. 🙂

After a quick drink, it was time to head to Playhouse Square for the main event – seeing Jesus Christ Superstar. Everyone has a laugh when I say that it is my favorite musical because I am an atheist. I can’t help it, though, and have been enamored with it ever since having to watch it every Easter at Catholic grade school. The rock opera music gets me every time and I love that it shows a human depiction of the story of Christ’s crucifixion.

A few years ago, I made Johnny watch the classic movie adaptation of the musical and while he liked it, he wasn’t one hundred percent sold on it. I wasn’t sure what his reaction was going to be to the show so as soon as it began and he whispered to me “this is amazing” my heart basically exploded because he was seeing it how I do.

We were lucky enough to see the show despite it being canceled last year due to the pandemic and were treated to an extra special viewing because of its fiftieth anniversary celebration. Because of this, there was a small orchestra playing in the wings of the theater along with the band playing onstage with wailing electric guitar, organ, keyboards, drums, and saxophone.

The stage was set with an industrial vibe of open scaffolding and a huge upside down cross going directly down the stage. This was also reflected in the costumes for the characters who were dressed in baggy clothing to maximize all of their beautiful movements. And the actors? They were sublime.

The chorus was fabulous and the individual roles were just flawless. I daresay that the actor playing Judas might have out shined Jesus but who really stole the show was King Herod. His flashy rendition of “King Herod’s Song” was a major highlight of the entire show and Johnny and I spent so much time on the ride home going gaga over it.

Jesus Christ Superstar was performed with no intermission so it was seamless from start to finish. The loud music, glam rock style vocals, and all of the little tricks that they worked into the show made for one of the best adaptations that I have ever seen. It was so incredibly creative and really is a production that makes you think.

I knew that I was going to enjoy the show but it made it even better that Johnny loved it too. Our hour long car ride home until we went to bed was filled with conversation about the story, what we liked, and reliving it in its entirety. I couldn’t have asked for anything more and it was seriously one of the best evenings of my life! ❤

What is your favorite musical? Do you have a favorite song from Jesus Christ Superstar? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan16

Oh Deer!

Posted on January 16, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hi! During our family holiday weekend at Oglebay, we jam packed a ton of activities into a short period of time. The property was beautiful with fun events happening everywhere you looked as well as what seemed like a never ending amount of deer roaming about. One particular family of deer seemed to take a liking to hanging around our lodge and were so tame that we were able to feed them peanuts right out of the palm of our hands. It. Was. Awesome! Check it out:

When my deer friends first started congregating in the front of our lodge, I thought it was lucky to be able to see them so closely. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that they would come right up to my sister and I for a snack but I have photographic proof of that! At first, we just threw some peanuts in their general direction to see what happened. They must have really liked them because, shortly after, they just started coming directly to the source for more. 😀

Throughout our stay, we must have seen close to fifty deer and many of them were enjoying treats from other families too. I would have been completely satisfied just feeding the deer our entire weekend stay and was so sad when my friends eventually had their fill and headed back into the woods. However, something tells me that they will have no problem finding another family to score some snacks with upon our return home!

What an amazing experience this was because hand feeding the deer in my neck of the woods would never happen. This was one of the many highlights of my holiday weekend at Oglebay! ❤

What kind of wildlife resides in your area? What is your favorite animal? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan15

Seventies Chic OOTD Bonus Pictures

Posted on January 15, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hi everyone and welcome to some bonus pictures from my Seventies Chic OOTD! These pictures were taken at our lodge at Oglebay where my family enjoyed a holiday weekend together. It was the best! In just one short day and a half, we did so many activities around the property and it was absolute Christmas magic – even if it was a few weeks late! Check out some more OOTD pics and let’s discuss:

For holiday fun, Oglebay is definitely the place to be. The property boasts six miles of holiday light displays to drive through, a laser light show, zoo, and an outdoor light show set to a remixed tune of Christmas music and Led Zeppelin. Not to mention the abundance of deer wandering around that are so friendly that you can feed them out of the palm of your hand. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for pics of that because it was incredible!

From opening presents and experiencing the spectacular light displays, it was a weekend that I will never forget. In fact, my family is already in talks of doing it again next year. My favorite part of our little getaway had to be the outdoor light show that had a rocking soundtrack. The snow was falling and Johnny and I even had an impromptu snowball fight. It might have resulted in me accidentally hitting him in the face when I was aiming for his arm but he walked it off like a champ… Whoops. 🙂

Every Christmas spent with my family is an amazing time but our Oglebay adventure holds a very special place in my heart. Barely two days didn’t feel long enough and I already can’t wait for next Christmas! ❤

How did you celebrate the holidays this year? What are some of your favorite holiday memories? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan14

Hosting The Perfect Brunch Party

Posted on January 14, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Brunch parties are an excellent way to bring your friends together for any type of social event, whether it is a bachelorette party, baby shower, or just a general get together. When it comes to brunch, you do not have to plan an elaborate setup for a fun gathering because it’s a much more laid back event. Here, we look at how to host the perfect brunch party:

Think about who you are inviting and your budget:

It is important to work out the kinks in the plan before inviting everyone to your brunch of the century via group text. Decide how many people you can comfortably seat and go from there because this will help you plan your budget accordingly. Figuring out the amount of money you intend to spend on food for a brunch is your next task. Having a rough idea of your spending limit in advance will help you plan a menu with a reasonable budget.

Plan your menu:

It is time to start thinking about brunch menus after you have a guest list and a ballpark budget in mind. In order to please everyone in attendance, it is critical to include a variety of foods, both sweet and savory, on your menu. Creating your meal can be accomplished in many different ways including:

The first alternative is to prepare a number of little plates, similar to those served at a tapas restaurant. This allows you to experiment with all of the recipes you have saved on Instagram and Pinterest throughout the years.
Traditional meals can also be served with just one main dish and a few side dishes. With this method, you do not need as many components, which saves time and money.
In order to make a brunch truly memorable, you will want to serve dishes that highlight your culinary prowess and leave your guests clamoring for the recipe, such as this shrimp and grits recipe.

Don’t forget the cocktails:

Brunch drinks like mimosas, Bloody Marys, and sangria go well with the meal. Offering a selection of alcoholic beverages will help your guests relax and unwind. The longer a drink like sangria sits, the better it tastes. You do not have to worry about being a bartender because you can make them a few days ahead of time.

Nonalcoholic components can still be mixed in advance if you are making bubbly drinks like mimosas. All you will need to do is pour the champagne and mix it well before guests arrive. Make sure you have a selection of virgin mocktails for guests who would like a nonalcoholic option.

Lay the table the night before:

If you are hosting a brunch for a large group, it is a good idea to set up the table the night before. Putting out food and decorations may not seem like a big deal, but if you are a perfectionist, you could spend hours nitpicking. Take your time and create the party layout you have envisioned. The mood can be ruined if you are not thrilled with your setting because you had to rush.

Good food, yummy drinks, and great company will make your next brunch get together the best ever!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Jan7

Houndstooth, Honey OOTD Bloopers

Posted on January 7, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello! Thanks to Johnny’s new method of continuous picture taking when helping me with my OOTD pics, I have a wide variety of options to choose from when creating my posts. The good, the bad, and the bloopers. Even when I’m telling him that we are done for the round of pics, he will still take them until my phone is in my hands!

Contrary to popular belief, a blogger’s camera feed is not just perfectly timed shots but a mixture of great, not quite, and definitely not. If you’re like me, you love a blooper feed during the credits at the end of a movie so, rather than delete these “whoops” shots, I thought that I would share them with all of you! Here goes the blooper takes from my Houndstooth, Honey OOTD:

After taking OOTD pics, I am always eager to start scrolling through the endless amounts of shots that Johnny has taken. And, more often than not, I am showing him the bloopers as opposed to my favorites and laughing about them. To add to the humor, all of the pictures on my phone are taken “live” so you can usually see me cracking up and mouthing “oh my god, Johnny” when I realize he’s still clicking away.

When Johnny and I got engaged, he disguised his intentions as helping me out with my OOTDS and every photography adventure we have taken since reminds me of that. Not only is it sentimental for the both of us when we do OOTD shoots together but it is always so much fun. His vast improvement in composition is nothing to sneeze at, either!

Johnny is the best blog husband in the world and I am so thankful to him for being willing to snap some pics – or hundreds of yours truly. The best, the worst, or the bloopers, all of the pictures are special to me because of the time we have spent together. ❤

Who takes your pictures for your blog? Where is your favorite place to take pictures at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

	lifewithlilred on How To Stop Stressing Over You…
	lifewithlilred on V-Day OOTD Bloopers
	Dear Quiet on V-Day OOTD Bloopers
	Tony Burgess on How To Stop Stressing Over You…
	lifewithlilred on Best Weekend Ever!