Tag Archives: fun

Northeast Ohio Rocks

Standard

Hi everyone and welcome to a new week here on lifewithlilred! So there’s this super cool thing in my neck of the woods called Northeast Ohio Rocks. It’s literally people painting rocks and then hiding them all over popular areas so that others can find them. It’s like a grown up Easter egg hunt. And, once you find a rock, you are encouraged to take a picture of it, post it on their Facebook page, and rehide it so that someone else can find it.

I have to admit that I kind of missed the mark on rehiding the rock that I found – but it’s just so darn pretty that I had to keep it around for a spell. Take a look:

I found this rock at Blossom Music Center when I saw Green Day there last August. My sister and I were waiting to enter the venue, and it just happened to be sitting on the stone made fence that was lining the foliage. I felt so lucky to have found my Northeast Ohio Rock, because 1) It’s really cool looking and 2) It was themed around the solar eclipse that happened the previous day. It was a great find and it was like getting a huge hug from a stranger.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve wanted to rehide this rock for a long time. But, I just haven’t found the perfect place for it. Until now. As luck would have it, I will be back at Blossom this July to see Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie, and I plan on putting it back where it was found almost exactly a year ago.

I was so happy to have had such a beautiful creation tucked safely in my pocket for the duration of the Green Day concert, and now someone can experience that same excited feeling that comes with a lucky find for the Marilyn Manson show. It might have taken me a long time to get to rehiding my rock, but I’m happy with my plan and can’t wait to put it into action!

Does your area do something similar to Northeast Ohio Rocks? Would you ever incorporate something like this into your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Spaces

Liebster Award #17

Standard
Liebster Award #17

Hellooooo!! Earlier this week, lifewithlilred was nominated for its seventeenth Liebster Award by my friend Ive over at Ive’s Trendy Blog. I love the number seventeen and I am so pleased to have been nominated again for the Liebster Award, which is my favorite award post to do! Thank you so much to Ive for liking my page enough to nominate me – I’m a fan of your blog, too! Everyone, do be sure to check out her page and give it some love. 🙂 Now, let’s get on to the rules for this award:

The Rules:

  • Create a post in your blog about this Award and spread the news.
  • Acknowledge the person who nominated you in the same post. Also let the person know your opinion about his/her own blog.
  • Answer the questions given to you by the person who nominated you.
  • Choose at least 5 (maximum 10) bloggers whom you enjoy reading and want to nominate.
  • Create 10 questions for your nominees to answer.
  • Notify your nominees that you nominated them. Also paste your post link in the notification so that they can follow the required steps.

Q & A:

What was the happiest day of your life? I was super happy the day I graduated from college.

What sad event would you change if you had the chance to? Uhmm…. Skip.

Dogs or cats? DOGS!!!! All dogs. Dogs all day every day.

What’s your favorite series? Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

If you saw a celebrity, how would you react? Uhmmm… It depends on the celebrity. Lol, if it was the Kardashians, I would projectile vomit. If it were Marilyn Manson, I would cry tears of joy!

What’s your idea of fun? When you laugh a lot.

Have you ever been in a long distance relationship? Nope.

What is your inspiration in life? My parents. :*)

Are you a foodie? Yes! I love trying out new food, as long as it’s vegetarian friendly.

Would you be in Game Of Thrones if you had the opportunity? I’ve never seen that show before, so no.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. What is the weather like where you live?
  2. Heels or flats?
  3. What is your dream job?
  4. When did you realize that you enjoyed writing?
  5. New shoes or a new purse?
  6. What is your favorite way to treat yoself?
  7. Texting or calling?
  8. What was the last movie you saw in theaters?
  9. What is your favorite restaurant?
  10. What is your order at Starbucks?
  11. What is your best friend like?

Many thanks again to Ive for my seventeenth Liebster Award nomination! How would you answer some of Ive’s questions for her nominees? How about some of the questions that I asked mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Fun Facts For Ya

Standard
Fun Facts For Ya

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! It’s only half way through April, but I feel like it is dragging on to no end. The weather in Ohio has been snowy one day and springy the next and I just can’t deal with Mother Nature’s mood swings anymore. So, to have a quick and easy post today, which is all I can manage when I’m in the bipolar weather blues, here’s some Fun Facts For Ya:

  1. I just saw A Quiet Place in theaters and it was pretty good! I wouldn’t call it as amazing as everyone else is, but that’s strictly because I’m not a fan of the “creature” related horror films. However, I will say that it was a very unique experience to be in a theater and feel like everyone is holding their breath the entire time, which really mimicked the vibe of the film.
  2. I have been holding off on getting a haircut for the past couple of weeks due to a lack of free time so it has been hats, beanies, and throwing my hair into a little bun all day every day. I’m over it!
  3. Other than fall weather, I love spring time temperatures where you just need a light jacket to feel comfortable. So, hopefully that will get here soon once Mother Nature is done throwing her bitch fit.
  4. This past year, I’ve really been making an effort to drink more water. But, I don’t think I could ever eliminate pop completely, as I am a Diet Coke fiend!
  5. My new favorite place in the world is a bar that I live close to called Quarter Up. It is two rooms filled with old school arcade games and table top board games and it is a blast! We just went for my sister’s birthday on Sunday and it was much enjoyed by all who attended.
  6. I am completely exhausted as I write this, because I had the craziest dreams last night so it was a night of restless sleep. Apparently, I was screaming in real life, which I thought I was just doing in dream form, sooooo that’s weird. Lol, shit.
  7. There is a slew of movies that I want to see in theaters soon including The Strangers, Blockers, Truth Or Dare, and Hereditary. Shockingly, it’s not all horror movies since I threw a comedy in there!
  8. Not to beat this into the ground anymore, BUT I can’t wait for warmer weather so that I can go running outside, which I really enjoy. Walking the hallways in my home to get my steps on my pedometer is getting really old really fast!
  9. I am a sucker for eating out and consistently crave Chipotle, Taco Bell, Indian food, and Mexican food daily. It’s my cross to bear, I suppose.
  10. It is my 24th birthday on June 7th and I am simply dreading it. I wish that I could stay 22 for forever – that was a good year.

Those are just a handful of fun facts about me – and I am looking forward to hearing some facts about you! What are some well or little known factoids about you? Do you have any unique or weird talents? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Twitter

5 Thoughtful Gift Ideas For Your Special Someone

Standard
5 Thoughtful Gift Ideas For Your Special Someone

When it comes to buying gifts, some of us leave it to the last minute due to our busy lives. But, sometimes, we really feel the need to show we care – particularly if this is for a loved one, like a partner. If you are struggling to show that person who is special in your life that you care, check out the five suggestions below that are suitable for any budget and will have the special person in your life bursting with joy:

Memory Book:

Treasured memories are special, and keeping those memories alive and safe can be hard, which is why keeping them in something like a memory book is a great idea. Moreover, it can be an incredibly thoughtful and loving gift to give to a partner for any occasion.

There are few things that are nicer to receive than a collage of treasured memories, because not only does it show that these moments are meaningful to you, but it gives you both a chance to reminisce. In addition to photographs, make sure you keep old tickets, receipts, or packing from magical moments and keep them all together in a safe place until you go ahead and make your scrapbook. Another nice touch, is to include a few written stores that describe a fond memory or feeling you felt in that particular moment. Everyone likes to feel special and significant; this is a very cheap yet effective way to achieve that.

The Gift Of Knowledge:

Is your S/O interested in their family tree? How about doing a search at https://www.genealogybank.com/explore/census/1920-records for more info on the past of their beloved family members. Play historian and put your findings together on a PowerPoint or leather bound scrapbook. This is such a thoughtful gift and the facts you find might surprise the both of you!

Diamonds:

A diamond is a classic way of showing that you care. Traditionally, a partner buys a diamond ring to get engaged and are given as a 60th wedding anniversary gift. A set of diamond earrings are often the dream gift for most girls! Diamonds are a natural product with varying degrees of quality and they come in all different shapes and sizes. It can be a daunting task to know how to choose the right diamond, so make sure that you do your research. You will want to buy from a reputable dealer when shopping diamond engagement rings Toronto that can provide advice rather than salesmanship. In doing these two things, you should be able to find the perfect gift for your special someone!

A Trip:

Arranging a trip away doesn’t have to break the bank. With many airlines having frequent sales, there are many budget flights available to your dream places. Surprise that person who means a lot to you with a long weekend away. Check out places on Airbnb or Accommodation on search engine websites to find some great deals.

A Special Playlist:

With many music streaming applications out there, there is no need to rush out and buy a MP3 player to make a playlist. Head over to something like Spotify or Amazon Music and put together a playlist of songs that mean something to you both. Make sure that you include a range of songs; happy, sad, and that song that makes you both dance like crazy in your car!

so2

Playlists are a cheap and sweet way to go!

A special occasion isn’t needed to shower your special someone with love. Take the above ideas to heart and surprise your S/O with something sweet!

10 Ideas To Kick-Start Your Business For Summer

Standard
10 Ideas To Kick-Start Your Business For Summer

If you’re someone that tends to notice a bit of a change in your business at different times of the year, then you’ll often need to get creative with your company strategy. Many businesses experience seasonal fluctuations in sales or even their company culture and employee engagement. And, if you’re one of them, you’re going to want to pick up some tips and tricks on how to cope with them, because even the most successful businesses are faced with challenging times. However, the trick isn’t centered around how or when they happen, but how you react and get things back on track. Summer is coming up and it’s time to really work on your business ideas to support the season. But what can you do? Some of the following:

Aim To Go Viral:

Let’s kick off with something that you really want to try and do – and that’s to go viral. It’s safe to assume that you’re going to be on social media, and you probably have some campaigns up your sleeve for summer, too. But if you really want to kick-start your business, you’re going to want to reach a massive audience and get a lot more traction with your posts. Make sure that you keep those tactics in mind when you’re planning out the execution of your campaigns.

Of course, going viral is something that is easier said than done if you are unfamiliar with the world of social media. If this is the case for you, it could be incredibly worthwhile to find a marketing agency like InSync Media to assist you. They will be able to form a cohesive marketing strategy, execute it, and get your posts in front of more people.

Host An Event:

If there’s one thing that we all love during the summer, it’s a good old-fashioned event. And it’s great to have an excuse to throw a big party. Give yourself plenty of time to get planning and establish an event marketing timeline so you can be completely prepared for it. Think about which customers, media outlets, or even influential people you might like to invite. When you host an event, you’re not only going to get people talking about your business at the event itself, but you’ll also get the additional coverage on social media which can give you a boost, too.

Launch A New Service:

You may not be able to launch an entirely new product in a few short months, but you could up your game when it comes to services. Whether you want to offer a personal shopping service online or create a VIP delivery option, it is a great way to shake things up and see a spike in your sales. If you are considering improved delivery options, you will probably need some help. Impacked Packaging helps companies source packaging with reliable services and great prices to match. You and your customers will both be happy!

ten1

Get to planning!

Bring In More Video:

If you’re not someone that tends to use a lot of video in your marketing campaigns or even internally in your business, then this could be something that you change. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be a professional videographer to make this happen. In fact, it’s probably good that you don’t attempt it yourself, because when you bring in the right company, such as www.lifetime-media.com, the quality will be better. Whether you are doing internal videos or promotional material, the use of video is going to give you an exciting new dimension to play around with.

Work With Influencers:

Influencers have an ever-increasing presence in the lives of consumers. These are the men and women that your consumers follow and look to for advice. So, of course, choosing to team up with them to promote your business or to support a launch that you have coming up is going to be a good idea. Make sure that you create a strong strategy for this as www.foundr.com talks through. That way, you’ll be sure to choose the right influencers and be able to get the best results.

Collaborate With Another Company:

You could also think about collaborating with another brand. This isn’t going to be one of your direct competitors, but you could definitely look to work with a company that has a similar audience to you, but perhaps in a different industry. That way, when you launch a product or host an event together, you’re going to be targeting the same consumers, but you’ll also get double the exposure by tapping into their engaged audience, too.

Create Limited Edition Packaging:

Everyone gets excited when the word limited edition gets thrown around. Again, creating a new product might not be manageable for you, but you might be able to launch some spring or summer themed packaging to impress your customers this season. If you are shipping a product like fragrances, tea, or coffee in limited edition packaging, do keep in mind that airtight packaging does not necessarily mean smell proof. You will want to research different materials and seals carefully for the best costumer experience.

In the same breath, you might also want to consider switching up the labels on your products to create a brand new look for old favorites. Businesses like Columbine Labels in Denver (or something similar in your local area) provide custom label printing services. Your labels will be one of a kind and customers will be sure to take note. You could even launch a sale to discount the products with the old labels.

ten2

Unsplash Image

Run A Competition:

Customers always love an exciting competition. So take a look at the best ways to run a successful contest, make some plans, and launch one or two over the summer just for fun!

Start A New Series:

We’ve mentioned your social promotions a few times now, but for a very good reason. It’s very likely that you tend to stick to the same kinds of promotions and the same types of posts. So if you really want to shake things up for summer, then you’re going to want to launch something new. A series is a great idea for this. Whether it’s a range of interviews, thoughts from your teams, or posts based on a set topic, this can be a really interesting way to engage your audience online.

A social media series is the perfect way to introduce something brand new for the summertime. Maybe your homemade skin care line now has SPF and you could work with influencers to promote it. Your food truck might be serving up tasty summer smoothies and could benefit from a professional in food and beverage marketing. Summer is the time to explore and have some fun with your content so don’t wait until the last minute. Start brainstorming now!

Launch A Flash Sale:

Finally, you could think about launching a flash sale. And no, you don’t have to overdo the discounts here. If you want to drum up some excitement, you could hide codes around the website or send out gifts with purchases. Either way, timed promotions like this can often give your sales a boost when you need it the most.

Summer is just around the corner, so get to planning something exciting and new and watch your business bloom.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

The Fashion Statement That’s Out Of The Ordinary

Standard
The Fashion Statement That’s Out Of The Ordinary

Fashion is on every lip and in every shop. Consequently, as a fashionista, you know the two magic words that can get you noticed and send plenty of positive trendy waves your way: Fashion Statement. The only problem with fashion statements, is that it needs to be an extension of yourself through the means of fashion without becoming abusive, shocking, or political. In other words, you can’t exactly be wearing a print out of your favorite congressman and call it a fashion statement; it would be a political opinion, and it can expose you to unnecessary painful repercussions once in the street.

Additionally, the statement is about making your outfit work, which means you need to think in terms of accessorizing or finding the right item to wear, instead of openly sharing your opinion about a specific matter with others. In fact, when you think about it, a fashion statement that doesn’t look like anything else is far from being a piece of cake!

The problem with fashion statements:

Do you know where most people go to find the perfect fashion statement? They turn to magazines, fashion bloggers, and, naturally, high street shops. As a result, everyone’s favorite fashion statement pieces are the same. How can you make a real statement if you look like everyone else? Additionally, one could also ask how a mass-produced piece can be the best personality piece for your wardrobe. In short, belts, earrings, clutch bags, hats, and shoes, while they are often the ideal accessories for your outfit, may not work as a unique, stylish item when everyone buys from the same shop. You need to be a little more creative, and that’s a good thing. Making your fashion statement meaningful by making it more personal is hardly a challenge for a fashionista with a sharp sense of style.

Make it vintage and personal:

If you have a love for old clothes, you can transform an outfit by pairing it with a true vintage item. If you know a few good addresses for vintage fashion, you can make sure to add a nice handbag from the 1950s or even some of the 1970s platform Cuban shoes that everyone wants. However, if you’re worried about wearing something that might require more care than modern fashion pieces, you can make your own vintage tee with SE Apparel. You can wear a fake 1970s vintage top with a picture of your parents’ wedding on it, for instance, or with a logo from the time – as logos are back in trend.

DIY:

If you’re particularly crafty, or if you know someone who is, you can definitely transform your style by wearing a hand-knitted scarf or a cute crochet beanie. The most adventurous can even sew their own clothes. There are plenty of simple patterns for beginners that can take you through the art of making your skirt or your dress in a few hours’ time. Nothing says personal statement as much as handmade clothes! Perhaps you might not be skilled with crafting your own clothes but are an excellent artist. This is great too! You could print your own graphic tees using your design for something totally one of a kind. You might even turn this into a side hustle so everyone can enjoy your creativity.

If DIY is not your thing, you can still incorporate aspects inspired by it into your outfits. Go for sweet embroidered pieces, chunky knitwear, beaded jewelry, or you can even buy odd socks with a homemade flare or fun patterns. No DIY skills required!

jacket1

Creating your own clothes is the ultimate DIY!

Fashion statements don’t work if they just make you look like anybody else. You have to be creative to showcase your style with original items – and, most importantly, have some fun!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Adult Coloring Book Fun

Standard
Adult Coloring Book Fun

Hiii everyone! So when my mom had her stay in the hospital, she was gifted with a plethora of adult coloring books to keep her occupied. So, we now have a plethora of adult coloring books at home for anyone in my family who is interested in doing a little coloring of their own.

I have to admit, I have never fully completed an adult coloring book picture before. God knows that I have started them with every intention to finish it, only to lose interest or give up a few days later. With that in mind, you can only imagine how excited I was to have finished my first picture in its entirety. I was so thrilled that I even started another one! Check it out:

color1color2

It was easy to choose which pictures to color, since I love The Little Mermaid and all things skulls! Is my mermaid picture the best? Of course not! But, it was fun to do. It was nice to take a quick five or ten minutes during the day to sit down and fill in some of the blank spaces.

Taking a little break to focus on something other than my work day proved to be beneficial. It’s always good to take a breather and relax when you feel like you’re going nonstop during the day. And, even though my colored picture was low quality, I felt accomplished to have actually finished it instead of leaving yet another half finished page in the book. In fact, I’m even looking forward to finishing my skull picture!

Who else likes to use adult coloring books? What kind of color palette would you use for the skull picture? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Standard
Happy Birthday, Dad!

Hi everyone and TGIF! Today is a special day, because it’s my dad’s birthday!! My dad. The vacation planner extraordinaire, the man with the green thumb, and my favorite guy on the planet. One of my favorite daily activities is annoying my father, and knowing that deep down, despite my constant burping, singing, and dancing around is that he loves me like crazy. And I him, of course.

CHARLES is a really special guy and he has taught me all about enjoying the simple things in life. My dad is an amazing gardener and can seemingly make beautiful plants, flowers, and vegetables appear out of nothing. He also invests in his passion for wildlife watching every day by feeding the neighborhood birds and squirrels in our backyard. Watching my father tend to his craft daily is a constant reminder for me to take a step back and appreciate the beauty that surrounds my home that he created. Like I said, he’s a really special guy.

Although my dad doesn’t read my blog (As far as I know.), it wouldn’t be right to not wish him a happy birthday on lifewithlilred. So happy birthday, dad. I sure do love you! ❤

DSCN0892.JPG

April Funky Time Jams

Standard
April Funky Time Jams

Hiiii everyone and welcome to another month here on lifewithlilred! With spring officially upon us, it only feels right for my music selection for the month to be upbeat, poppy, and filled with girl power. But, of course, it wouldn’t be a Lil Red music post without some good old horror rock and emo screamo thrown in! Let’s get to it:

(And, as always, I have no rights to the above songs or videos!)

I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been watching The Voice with my mom and Kelly Clarkson is one of the judges or if spring really is in the air, but I have been going pop queen crazy lately. Britney, Christina, Lady Gaga – the works. There’s something about the increase in temperature and being able to drive with the windows semi down that puts me in the best mood. And, nothing puts me in a better than best mood than singing along to my most loved pop divas in the Little Red Love Machine!

Of course, all of the emoness that I can muster is still necessary and so is listening to Rob Zombie, since I’ll be seeing him with Marilyn Manson in July. I can’t say that I’m his number one fan or anything, but so far so good. 😀

Which artists do you like to play when you’re in a good mood? Who is your favorite pop queen? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nourishing Your Friendships

Standard
Nourishing Your Friendships

How often do you sit on the sofa with your partner barely a foot away from each other, chatting with other people on social media? How often do you go out for lunch with a friend or to their house, to both spend time checking your emails or scrolling through feeds? If the answer is “all of the time”, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Most of us are now spending time communicating or sharing with people online when we are in the company of others. We’re glued to our phones most of the time, and we often give it more attention than the people around us.

Social media is wonderful. Used correctly it’s a great way to nourish your friendships and maintain contact with people that live far away. But, many of us are guilty of paying more attention to these screens and communications than we are our real lives. Our real-world relationships are suffering because we struggle to give the real world and the people in it our full attention.

This kind of neglect can lead to the breakdown of friendships, divorce, and ultimately extreme loneliness. These friendships and relationships are important. These are the people that are there when you need them. That offer you a shoulder to cry on or important advice. That pick you up when you are down and give you a confidence boost.

While these friends and lovers might always be there when you need them, without nourishing the friendship by giving it your attention, time, and love, it won’t always be the same. For a lasting friendship that never falters or declines, you need to put some work into it. Here are some great ways to do just that:

Give Them Your Time:

Best friends are often the ones that you don’t need to see every week for things to stay the same. Even after a bit of a break, you snap back into your old ways, sharing jokes and giggles like you’ve never been apart. You can call them in the middle of the night even if you haven’t seen them for a month. But, you do still need to give them some time. Eventually, it will have been too long. Try to meet regularly, even if it’s just for a quick coffee. Show them that you want to make an effort to see them, even when you are busy, and they’ll do the same for you.

nourish1

#BFFs

Leave Your Phone at Home:

There’s nothing worse than being out with a friend to see them constantly on their phone. You feel like going out was a waste of time, and you’d have got more of their attention if you were both at home chatting online. So, don’t make this mistake yourself. Have a rule with your friends that when you are together, the phones stay behind. So what if you don’t share a photo of your dinner with all of your Instagram followers? You’ll really share it with your friends, instead.

Listen:

The key to all relationships is listening to each other. This is another thing that’s easier to do when you’ve put your phones and devices down. To show you are listening to everyday conversations, remember what they’ve told you and ask about it in the future. Don’t make them tell you the same thing twice because you weren’t paying attention the first time.

Give Gifts:

Everyone loves to receive a gift, but as we get older, we often buy them less. Many of our friends probably only get a birthday text or Facebook message. Now and then, get them something just because you want to. It could be a membership to the Flower of the Month Club or a nice meal out. Think about it, though. Don’t just buy something for the sake of it. Get them something that they will genuinely love.

Try New Things Together:

One reason that relationships start to fade is due to a lack of shared interests. Think about yourself ten years ago – are your interests still the same? Probably not, we change and develop all of the time, just as the world changes around us. Your best friend from ten years ago will also have different interests, and they may not be the same as yours. To maintain this friendship, it’s important to do two things. First, show an interest in the things that they love. Even if it’s not your cup of tea, ask them questions and give it a go for yourself or at least make it clear that it’s something that you are willing to talk about.

Then, you need to try new things together. Think outside of the box and try something that neither of you has ever considered. This will mean that you’ve always got something new in common, even if it’s a disaster.

nourish2

#selfie!

Know When to Let Go:

However essential friendships are, it’s also as important to know when to let go. To stop wasting your time and effort on those people that never give back, that only bring negativity into your life, and that leaves you feeling worse than you did before you spoke. Letting go of these negative relationships can help you to feel more positive and give you more free time to spend with the people that are willing to give back.

Good friends listen, they are honest, they make you laugh, and they are there whenever you need them. To have friends like this, it’s essential that you learn how to be one yourself.

Featured Image By: Unsplash