Tag Archives: fun

Just Something Nice :)

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Just Something Nice :)

HELLO! So, this quarantine has been lots of fun… I mean not the quarantine itself, everything kind of sucks. But, hanging out with my boyfriend at home when I’m done at work has been a hoot. Johnny and I have binge watched series after series and played countless hours of Animal Crossing to help us pass the time and, although it’s boring, I wouldn’t want to be quarantined with anyone else. :*)

One of my favorite nice Johnny stories that I never shared was from after I attended a wine and paint night with my best friend and some of the bridal party for her upcoming wedding. I came home with my tail between my legs because I thought my painting turned out like BOO BOO:

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But, the first thing Johnny said when he saw my painting was that he liked it and it looked like a Christmas card. Now, I have the painting proudly displayed in the living room. He always knows how to turn something I see negatively into a positive which I suck at doing and I always feel happy when I look at my masterpiece now.

Another thing that never fails to put a smile on my face is when I notice that Johnny has put my little artist’s wooden body model into a different position:

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^^^ It’s the little things, right?! 😅

Although things are far from awesome right now, I get to spend my excess free time safely tucked away in our goofy apartment world and I am so thankful for that. Especially when such fun surprises are scattered about if you know where to look! 🙂

Who has helped make this time in quarantine more tolerable for you? What is a silly tradition between you and someone your close with? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Positive Changes In Quarantine

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Positive Changes In Quarantine

Hello! Although different businesses are beginning to open in Ohio, my boyfriend and I plan on staying in until we are comfortable going back out. At least once per day, whether I’m at home or at work, being bored is acknowledged. And, yes, it’s a boring time. But, I’ve made some positive changes that I’m proud of during this time indoors so it can’t be all bad, right?

… It’s still pretty bad. But I am happy about the following:

Preparing Food At Home:

My boyfriend, Johnny, and I have been eating at home like nobody’s business. Which is a vast improvement health wise and financially to when we were eating out once or twice a week. Of course, we still treat ourselves to Taco Bell every now and then but we have been doing much better about going grocery shopping, preparing meals, and eating leftovers. I could get used to this!

Worthwhile Hobbies:

At the beginning of the quarantine, you couldn’t visit any webpage without being encouraged to take up a new hobby. And, as redundant as that was, it’s true. During my time at home, I have been practicing all of my languages (French, Czech, German, Spanish, and Italian) and I have also began learning American Sign Language. Not only that, but I have read a few books and wrote a ton.

I have enjoyed being able to practice all of my favorite hobbies as well as picking up a new one and it has made my time in quarantine much more pleasant. Although I am normally pretty good at practicing at least a few times a week, I would like to continue moving with the huge amount of momentum I have gained within the past month.

More Regular Sleep:

During the quarantine, I have gotten myself on a pretty solid sleeping schedule that I am very happy with. My new “bed time” of about ten thirty and then waking up for work at seven has made my body feel so much more… regular. Lol, seriously. I feel well rested, I can wake up for work without hitting the snooze, and I have been falling asleep more quickly. I definitely think that I can keep up with that!

More Financially Responsible:

Although I have succumbed to a few online shopping purchases, I have to say, I have been so much more financially responsible since this quarantine. Of course, there’s nowhere to go to spend money BUT I think all of this time off from impulse buys and drinks at the bar is going to make me think twice about how easily I spend money sometimes. Is it the most fun change? No. But, learning how to say no to things isn’t such a bad thing, either!

Yes, the quarantine is boring. However, there are silver linings to the situation everywhere if you know how to look!

Have you made any positive changes in quarantine? How do you feel about stay at home orders being lifted? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Prepare For Summer With These Awesome Style Choices

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Prepare For Summer With These Awesome Style Choices

While lock down may not have fully ended just yet, that doesn’t mean that it’s not time to start getting ready for the summer season. Specifically, we’re thinking about your new style options and there are definitely some trends here that are worth considering. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can look incredible when the sun begins to emerge:

The Right Shades:

Yes, you can start by thinking about which sunglasses you are going to wear to the beach this year. This is an easy place to begin and it’s worth noting that not every pair of sunglasses is going to suit every person. The style of sunglasses that are right for you is always going to depend on both of your eyes and the shape of your face. Some people are more suited for aviator-style shades while others will be better off with cats-eye glasses. It’s entirely up to you, of course, but a big trend this year is the wooden arms of the shades. Typically made from bamboo, these will stand out beautifully and make quite the impression.

New Jewelry And Piercings:

You can be a little bolder with your style this season and, instead, opt for some new piercings. A popular choice this year is going to be the constellation ear piercing. These look incredible and you can find out more from Urban Body Jewelry. Alternatively, nose piercings are another popular choice worth checking out this year. Studs are definitely on-trend and you’re going to see these a lot this summer with new season looks.

A Fresh Hairstyle:

A lot of people are currently wondering what their style should be when they emerge from lock down. Remember, a lot of offices are not reopening which means that employees have a chance to think big with their style. That means that many people are being a little bolder with their hair dye choices. If you’ve always dreamed about trying out a radical new color for your hair, then now could be a perfect time. Be aware that some color choices are going to make your eyes pop beautifully. Particularly when you get the makeup just right to go with the option that you choose.

From neon pink to a gorgeous silver, there are an abundant array of possibilities for you to consider. You could also match this with a brand new cut too. Is now the time to try a pixie cut? It definitely could be!

Metallic Leather:

Finally, if you’re looking to reinvent your wardrobe this summer season, then you might want to visit a retro clothing store. If you look at fashion blogs, you’ll see that metallic leather is back on-trend. You’re going to see a lot of people this season looking as though they are heading to an 80’s themed rave and we think you’ll agree, it’s about time.

We hope you have fun trying some of these trends and ideas yourself to look fresh and fun all summer long!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Renewing Your Style This Spring

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Renewing Your Style This Spring

Whether it’s through new makeup or an overhaul of your wardrobe, everyone needs to renew and revitalize their style from time to time. If you think the time is right for you to make some changes and shake up how you style yourself, we’ve got some tips and ideas that might help you achieve the outcomes you’re looking for. Of course, your style should be unique to you, but here are some of the options you might want to consider:

Find Suitable Sources of Inspiration:

If you think the time is right to make a change, the first step is to find some sources of inspiration for your new look and where you want to take your style. Browse some blogs and look to influencers or celebrities who rock the kind of style you’re interested in. There’s a plethora of images out there for you to scour and take inspiration from, so this shouldn’t be a problem.

Try a Minimal Color Palette:

When one of your aims is to revamp your wardrobe, you can achieve this by doing something different with the color palette. You should try to keep it simple and reduced to begin with because this will limit you and provide your approach to fashion and the process of developing a new style to become a little more focused. So try it out for yourself.

Find a New Go-To Lipstick:

One of the most important items you’ll own as a woman with regards to style and fashion is that one lipstick that you can always call upon when you need to add something new to your look. You should shop matte lipstick and find a new one that fits with the new style that you’re looking to create for yourself. It could be just what you need right now.

Aim for Quality Over Quantity:

When it comes to improving your approach to style, you should always aim for the ethos of quality over quantity. Anyone who’s hoarded fashion items and ended up with an incredibly bloated wardrobe knows that having lots of clothes doesn’t make dressing yourself each day any easier. It makes it more difficult and you become overwhelmed by lots of underwhelming options.

Invest in Some New Shoes:

One of the most important things to buy for yourself when you’re looking to renew your style is a pair of shoes that can be used in all kinds of different scenarios. They should be flexible and versatile and make you feel at ease and confident when you’re wearing them. It’s always a good place to start. *Just make sure you can walk in them easily! 😀

Every now and then, you need to take a step back and see if the time is right to do something new with your style. A fresh look can transform your entire being and put a new spring in your step. There are lots of ways of making this happen, and the ideas above should help you get started.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Get To Know Me In Quarantine

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Get To Know Me In Quarantine

Hello! It has been a good long while since lifewithlilred began. Therefore, it has been a good long while since I laid down some fun facts on you about yours truly. I figured, there’s no better time than the present… Especially when coming up with daily content amidst a stay at home order is way harder than I thought it would be! Read on to find out more about your favorite lil red haired, pierced, tattooed blogger:

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^^^ Normal me VS stay at home order me, lol!

All about me:

  1. My name is Sarah Mushenheim and, come September, lifewithlilred will be six years old!
  2. I love to figure skate, shop, read, go to concerts, and hang out with my boyfriend, friends, and family.
  3. I am an aunt to an adorable little girl named Valerie and a handsome little boy named Patrick.
  4. I am self employed as an independent provider for people with special needs. August will be my three year anniversary and I love my job!
  5. I have lost count of how many tattoos I have but I can’t wait to get more!
  6. My first post quarantine treats will definitely be getting my hair, nails, and some tattoos done. Oh you fancy, huh?!
  7. Learning new languages is one of my favorite hobbies. I speak English and French and am currently practicing American Sign Language, Czech, German, Spanish, and Italian. I plan on giving Portuguese a shot next.
  8. I write every morning. Literally every morning. And, on a random day where I can’t squeeze a post in before work makes me feel very off!
  9. My boyfriend, Johnny, and I have been playing hella Animal Crossing so if you play, come check out our island. 😀
  10. My family has two dogs, both of which are extremely precious and rescued. We have a little Terrier mix named Ollie and a goofy Golden Retriever puppy named Archie. ❤

Now you know a little more about me and I would love to hear from you! What are some fun facts about yourself? Or some of your favorite things? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

5 Tips For Preparing For Your Next Dinner Party (While Quarantined!)

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5 Tips For Preparing For Your Next Dinner Party (While Quarantined!)

As we move into warmer months ahead, you may be nostalgic for the days of sunshiny afternoons and barbecues with friends. While many of us are still in quarantine, we’re all hopeful that life can go back to resembling some form of normalcy in the coming months.

What are some of the things you could do now to prepare your home for friend get-togethers later when the world starts reopening? Let’s go over five easy tips to help you prepare for your next dinner party… all while you are quarantined:

Get your yard under control:

There’s no time like the present when it comes to doing yard work. Trim hedges and bushes. Power washing any exposed concrete, deck boards, or sidewalks is a great way to make your home really seem well taken care of. If weeds are starting to crowd out plants now, get on top of them since they will only get worse as the weather gets better.

Get those windows washed:

Better yet, consider hiring a monthly window cleaner to make sure your house windows shine like the top of the Chrysler building. Smudges from dirty fingers, dog and cat noses, and bugs make a home look messier than it is.

Speaking of bugs…

Call a local pest control to make sure you don’t have any potential critters coming. Yellow jackets, hornets, and wasps are best taken care of in late spring or early summer months, and nobody wants those bugging them at our friendly get-togethers. Mosquitoes, ticks, and other yard bugs can be controlled with a semi-annual pest control visit.

Do that deep cleaning you’ve been putting off:

You can check out an older blog that mentions the cleaning musts that many of us forget when doing deep or spring cleaning. If you’re not a fan of scrubbing floors and the weird crevices in your bathroom, do all the basic cleaning, then hire a company to do the deep cleaning for you. If the weather has turned beautiful in your neck of the woods, open up those doors after you’ve cleaned to get any of the cleaning product scents out of the home while bringing in some fresh air.

Planning makes perfect:

Plan the perfect dinner party ahead of time. When you throw a get-together, it always seems to take more time to organize than what you expect. Run down a list of things that you need to do before you would want people eating and chatting over a delicious dinner at your house. If you need extra utensils, cloth napkins, citronella candles, or tablescape items like tablecloths and vases, research affordable ones and order them online or place a curbside order for them.

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Lovely!

Quarantine life has been difficult, but making the most of it doesn’t have to be. As we transition into some form of new normal, many of us are craving social interaction that we took for granted before. Now is the time to get your home in a great place to host the get-together we’ve all been dreaming of for the past several months once it’s safe to do so!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Totally Tights

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Totally Tights

Hello! During my recent little treat yoself online shopping session, I got some super fun accessories from Urban Outfitters. All of my purchases didn’t ship together, though, and I ended up getting the last of it a few days ago. There is nothing like a bit of online shopping to perk you up and the gift just keeps on giving once it shows up on your door!

The tights you’re about to see from UO may be a small new addition to my accessories collection but they are cuter than I could have ever imagined. So, yes, good things definitely come in small packages! Check it out:

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Yes, these most certainly are colorful rhinestoned fishnets and I am completely obsessed! A while back ago, I saw an advertisement for similar tights on Facebook and I remember thinking how cute they were but I didn’t order them. So, when these little beauties showed up during my Urban Outfitters spree, I just had to buy a pair… And a back up one in case the first pair snags. 😉

These tights are absolutely perfect for layering under short shorts and will add an amazing touch of fun to the most simple outfits. And, with bedazzled fishnets you definitely don’t have to go all out. Pair under shorts, throw on a graphic tee and combat boots and hit up your favorite stomping grounds with your friends when it’s safe to do so. These tights will be sure to make a statement during your first outing in a month of Sundays!

What is your favorite funky accessory? Do you have any crazy tights? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

What Have I Been Watching?

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What Have I Been Watching?

Hi! Although there are plenty of ideas to help keep you occupied during this quarantine, sometimes there is nothing better than turning on the ol’ BOOB TUBE. Lol, we’re talking TV! My boyfriend, Johnny, and I have been finishing shows left and right and are always ready to start something new. This past month or so, we have been watching the following:

Community:

Hilarious six season comedy based around a study group formed at a community college. All star cast, witty dialogue, and so freaking funny that it wasn’t hard to finish a half a season in a day! Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a laugh.

Game Of Thrones:

Before dating Johnny, I had never seen one episode of Game Of Thrones until he suggested it and, believe you me, I was perfectly fine with this. But, that was until I saw one episode and realized what I had been missing! Johnny and I took a nice long break from the show after the intense Red Wedding, promising we’d come back to it in a little while.

A little while ended up being months on end but, thanks to the quarantine, we finally finished it and it was amazing! Intricate story line, twists and turns every episode, amazing action, and oh yeah… Dragons! Not a show for the faint of heart but definitely worth the watch if you can turn a blind eye to the more disturbing scenes.

Stand Up Comedy:

Before I go to bed, sometimes Johnny and I will watch a stand up comedy special. We have watched a lot of Peter Holmes and Jason Mulaney and it has been so much fun! I was never too “in” to stand up before and I’m still not but it’s a nice change of pace every once in a while. I have laughed till I cried so I guess you could say those comedians are pretty good!

Parks & Recreation:

After finishing Community, we needed a new comedy show to watch so we decided to both rewatch Parks & Rec. This show revolves around a Parks & Recreation department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana and it is a delight. Fabulous cast of Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Nick Offerman, Rob Lowe, and more! No matter how many times I’ve seen each episode, I laugh. It is the perfect show to put on as background noise or a binge worthy way to spend an afternoon.

Saturday Night Live:

Johnny and I have been enjoying watching Saturday Night Live From Home. Granted, the first episode was a huge disappointment. However, the second one knocked it out of the park once the cast got the hang of it. It’s so fun to see how these comedians can get creative in their own homes to make these new skits.

Johnny and I believe that the producers are literally approving anything suggested from the cast solely based on if “it sounds funny”. And, I promise you, it’s all funny. Especially the music video from the past episode with a cameo from Adam Sandler! Love it.

Coming Up Next: Ozark

The next show that Johnny and I plan on watching is Ozark, starring Jason Bateman. Netflix recently released the new third season, which I have yet to see. I have seen season one and two and loved it. So, I’m looking forward to watching it again with my BOO and seeing all of the craziness that I see being discussed about season three. No spoilers, please!

What have you been watching in quarantine? What is your favorite TV series? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May 2020 Funky Time Jams

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May 2020 Funky Time Jams

Hi! We’re just truckin’ along through May and, I’ve gotta tell you, I’m so not feeling it. Lol, I am so physically and mentally exhausted and I could definitely use a day off. But, alas, here I am writing extra early before work so I still get there on time! I guess it’s okay, though. So much of my day is spent being unproductive that sometimes (But not all the times!) it feels good to immerse myself in a day’s work.

An early morning, followed by a long day of work, followed by a long day of quarantine certainly requires the perfect soundtrack and this is what I have been bumping:

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos.

Nine times out of ten, I leave the house for work feeling blah so I depend on my car ride jams to give me the pick me up I need to be at one hundred percent by the time I get to my client’s front door. Sometimes this will be me playing my favorites on my iPod or I’ll scroll through the radio until I land on something good.

My most recent fave, though? Probably The Weeknd! My boyfriend and I just recently watched the Saturday Night Live that he performed on and I had no idea “Blinding Lights” was one of his songs until he played it. That has been my friggen JAM on the radio and it put me down a Weeknd worm hole that I am so okay with.

Somewhat random, but I have also been playing “My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison constantly. My client and I heard it when we were listening to the radio and I totally forgot how much I love that song until I heard it again. And, of course, you can’t go wrong with The Rolling Stones so if you haven’t checked out their latest “Living In A Ghost Town”, do be sure to check it out!

What are some of your quarantine jams? What do you like to listen to to hype you up for work? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Bath Bomb Blitz: Bombs & Balms Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Bombs & Balms Edition

Hello! While Ohio’s stay at home order is still in place, I’ve been trying to do a lot of pampering at home until I can get to the salons. This means bubble baths, face masks, and (I can’t believe I’m saying this) but painting my nails with regular old nail polish. Lol, it’s a far cry from acrylics but what can ya do?!

I love a good at home pampering sesh as much as the next but, damn, am I looking forward to leaving it to the professionals! In the meantime, it’s not so bad, especially when bath time involves using wonderful treats from my friend, Annie’s, business of Bombs & Balms. Annie makes amazing bath and body care treats including the Harry Potter themed bath bomb we’re going to discuss today:

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Okay, everyone knows I am a Lush snob when it comes to bath bombs. I friggen love them and, I hate to be the one to say it, but some homemade bath bombs just aren’t good. The ones I have used in the past that weren’t from a name brand always ended up being a disappointment, which is why I was so blown away by Annie’s Death Eater inspired bath bomb.

Of course, anything Harry Potter is alright by me so we were already off to a good start. And, as soon as I dropped the bath bomb in the water it was putting in work! Before I knew it, my tub was filled with inky black water but it wasn’t over yet. I kid you not, this bath bomb fizzed for at least seven minutes, and it was still going by the time I just couldn’t wait anymore and had to get in the tub!

Annie’s bath bomb put on a great show and I fancied thinking that I could almost see the Dark Mark from Harry Potter in the water. So cool! I also loved seeing all of the green, gold, and silver glitter twinkling about for a magical touch that felt oh so Slytherin.

Annie’s bath bomb was easily of Lush quality and I would use any of her products again in a heartbeat. In fact, it was one of my favorite bath bombs that I have used in a while! Annie is currently in the process of rebranding her business to now include homemade jewelry and you can shop with her on all of the following platforms:

  • Facebook
  • Etsy: BombsAndBalms
  • Instagram: bombsandbalms

Looking for some high quality bath and body care with the perfect touch of fun? Be sure to check all of Annie’s work out today! 🙂

How have you been pampering yourself at home? Which Harry Potter house do you belong to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah