Tag Archives: hobbies

May19

Reduce Your Stress With These Hobbies

Posted on by
Standard
Reduce Your Stress With These Hobbies

Every person in the world experiences stress now and then. It’s important to know that it is a very normal part of life. That being said, extreme stress or prolonged periods of stress can result in several health problems. The best way for you to relieve this stress would be for you to try and do things you enjoy. If you want to find some stress relieving hobbies, why not try the following?

Walking:

Taking a walk outside can work wonders when it comes to your overall health. A quick walk can help to stop you from overthinking, is a healthy distraction from your thoughts, and a great form of exercise.

Listening to Music:

Listening to music or playing your favorite songs is an excellent way for you to put yourself in a good mood. One major plus here is that there are even some health benefits to listening to music for half an hour, every single day. It can lower your blood pressure and it can also calm anxiety. If you want to play an instrument, check out Sound and Music.

Yoga:

One activity that is great if you want to gain traction for melting stress would be yoga. Yoga is a fantastic way for you to build strength or tone up. Studies have shown time and time again that yoga can reduce your stress response and it can have a major impact on those who are experiencing stress and anxiety.

Reading:

If you want a cheap hobby that won’t break the bank, crack open a good book. Reading for just five minutes a day is enough to reduce stress, not to mention that it gives you the chance to escape to a fictional world. You can leave reality behind for as long as you want and wipe out tension with ease.

Gardening:

It’s time for you to get your gardening gloves out and start planting! As the warmer weather hits, you will soon find that it’s easier than ever for you to get outside and garden. Studies have shown that gardening can boost your mood and it can help to regulate the hormone known as cortisol. Not only is gardening a proven mood booster, but it can also give you the chance to focus all of your attention on a single activity. This helps to distract you from whatever it is you’re going through right now.

Hiking:

Nothing beats a scenic view! Walking in nature can help to put an end to your pattern of obsessing, in addition to exposing you to a wonderful view. Hiking is an ideal form of aerobic exercise. You would be surprised at how beneficial it can be and it can help you in more ways than one. Why not see if there are any scenic routes you could take around your local area?

Shake your stress away by enjoying yourself with any of the hobbies above as they are tried and true methods to relieving stress!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Advertisement
Jun2

Finding Real Contentment In Your Life

Posted on by
Standard
Finding Real Contentment In Your Life

We all want to be content. But so many of us spend our lives in ways that prevent us from experiencing these types of feelings. Instead, we choose pathways that stress us out, cause worry, and ultimately lead to dissatisfaction. This is a strange way to live when you think about it. Certainly, there will be moments and events in life over which we have no control. But there are many things we do have control over, and it is critical that we do take control so that we can become happier. Here are a few steps to get you started:

Feel Fulfilled In Your Everyday Life:

Whatever you choose to accomplish with your daily life, it is critical that you enjoy it. If you’re serious about your job, choose a position and a route that you like. Strive for advancement. Finish all tasks to a high quality. If you want to concentrate on your family, do all you can to offer your children the greatest possible upbringing. It’s also okay if you want to concentrate on both. What matters is that you feel satisfied and content with your work.

Break Bad Habits:

To some extent, we all have poor habits. Some of them are controllable. Some people are completely out of control. Whatever your bad habit is, it’s critical that you recognize the negative effects it may be having on your life and take measures to change it. It is sometimes easier said than done to break harmful habits. Some are physically addictive, such as smoking, binge drinking, or drug abuse. Some have a psychological addiction. Idly scrolling through social media, interacting with harmful influences, and procrastinating are all bad habits too.

Whatever your issue is, you can overcome it. You could consult a doctor. You could find help by joining a support group. You could reach out to helplines. You could go to a drug recovery center after researching nursing and rehab near me. Whatever the problem, just know that it’s possible to change it.

For example, instead of smoking, you can try Delta 8 online, which is committed to supporting members as they work through life challenges. In addition to offering support groups and educational workshops, they recently launched a new smoking cessation program called HHC Delta 8 — an initiative designed to help members with addictions or other challenging habits transition from one stage of life to the next.

Concentrate On Your Relationships:

Some relationships can offer us nothing but joy. They provide us with happiness. They make us feel more supported. They let us realize we are loved. Others can deplete us. These unfavorable interactions will undermine our self esteem, distress us, and wear us out. It is critical that you realize which relationships are unhealthy for you and separate yourself from them, concentrating your efforts on those that bring you joy.

Have Some Interests:

We often get engrossed in work, housework, fitness, and keeping up with friends and family. However, having some hobbies is also a good idea. These can keep you engaged, help you develop amazing skill sets, and offer you something to work on. Whatever your interests are, make sure you set aside time to focus on them.

These are just a handful of the many things that you can do to achieve true satisfaction in your life. It will help you in waking up in a cheerful mood and lots to look forward to. Hopefully, these suggestions will put you on the right path.

Featured Image By: Andrea Piacquadio

Apr13

Getting Outside & Getting Active!

Posted on by
Standard
Getting Outside & Getting Active!

This decade started out with pretty intensive restrictions and many of us are far past due in reconnecting with nature. Getting outside and active again could be considered the pinnacle of self care, or at least a priority we should focus on now that spring is here. Let’s look at a few things that you can do to fully enjoy your time outdoors:

Consider Hiking Routes:

Hiking is a great way to exercise and get back out into nature. This is because the activity allows you to traverse nature trails at your own speed, with people you like, and in a relatively safe, well treaded environment. With enough hydration, nourishment, and the willingness to take breaks, you can see your surroundings through a lens that you might not have for a while. Speaking of lenses, this is also a fantastic means of taking up photography once more.

Revisit old trails or explore new ones and make a day of it. This is an ideal opportunity for picnicking with friends or enjoying quiet time with yourself in nature.

Try Your Hand At Archery:

Archery can be a cool activity to take up if you’re looking for something new and different. When you know how to buy a compound bow, you can work with friends to hit targets in a specialist center or perhaps on land that you have access to (in a direction safely oriented away from roads or footpaths). This kind of habit can get you out into nature, as well as strengthen your arm, neck, shoulder, back, and core muscles. And, let’s all admit that we all thought that archery looked like so much fun in summer camp movies!

Get Out On The Water:

There’s nothing quite as natural and awe-inspiring as the sea or large bodies of water. If you’re lucky enough to live near either, then spending time in that environment can be a welcome change. From joining a local sailing or rowing club to simply spending time in a rented kayak, a beautiful time connecting with water (or simply learning to gain your swimming strength once again as an adult), can be a tremendous activity. For strong swimmers, new advanced hobbies like scuba diving could be a fun and adventurous route to take.

Nice weather calls for enjoying the great outdoors so get active and have some fun!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan26

Happy Haulidays: Parents Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Happy Haulidays: Parents Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to the last edition of my holiday haul compliments of my parents! The one thing that I asked for for Christmas was a new set of pots and pans and they definitely delivered. I can’t wait to use the beautiful set that they got me and it will be nice to not have to do dishes immediately after cooking dinner as I originally only had a handful of pots and pans before! Check it out:

image_50396673image_50444289

Thanks to my husband’s family graciously giving us a new air fryer for Christmas and the new cookware from mine, we have everything that we need in our kitchen now. I am so happy! I try to cook an “actual” dinner instead of air fried foods several times per week so these pots and pans will certainly come in handy. My old cookware is also, admittedly, not the best so using quality cookware for the first time is something that I’m really looking forward to.

While some might consider cooking to be a chore, it is one of my favorite things to do. Serving food for someone is an act of love, and I always enjoy whipping up mine and Johnny’s favorite meals. Our middle class fancy conversation after dinner usually is something along these lines…

Me: I love cooking you dinner.

Johnny: And I love eating it!

Lol, there is nothing more satisfying than that to me!

After a much needed curbside grocery order, I have a feeling that I will be cooking up a storm. Thanks to my parents, I have all of the tools I need to make my time spent cooking an even more joyful experience. ❤

What are some of your favorite vegetarian recipes? How do you show love to someone? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov22

Love To Read? Start A Book Club!

Posted on by
Standard
Love To Read? Start A Book Club!

Hello! When I am not working, binging Criminal Minds, ice skating, or playing way too much Animal Crossing, I absolutely love to read. There is nothing better to me than cracking open a good book and reading “just one more chapter” for hours on end! While I don’t belong to an in person book club, I take a lot of pride in Lil Red’s Book Club on the ol’ blog and so enjoy sharing my latest reads with all of you.

If you and your friends are avid readers too, there is no better time to start a book club. The cold winter months means extra time at home and nothing says comfy cozy like curling up on the couch with a new book. It doesn’t take much to create a book club of your own and you can get started with these ideas:

Decide What To Read:

First and foremost, you have to decide what your book club will be reading and how these books are being chosen. Will each person take turns selecting a book? Will you be reading popular books from different genres? Or maybe going with authors in an alphabetical order? You could even make your book club exclusive to one genre like romance or true crime.

However you go about choosing your books, it is important that everyone agrees on it. If you are going the true crime or horror route, do screen the book ahead of time in case there is any subject matter that might be triggering to any of your club members.

How Often Are You Meeting?

Whether you’re meeting in person or virtually, make sure that you come up with a schedule and follow it. Should your members have a book finished in one month to discuss? Or, perhaps, they might read forty pages per week? Keep in mind that everyone’s schedules are different and you don’t want anyone to fall behind with their reading. It can be discouraging if one member is flying ahead in the book while everyone else is stuck on chapter three!

What Will You Talk About?

Some book clubs use an open discussion format when discussing their latest book while others might have a list of questions or topics that they want to talk about. Prior to hosting your book club session, come up with key talking points ahead of time to keep the conversation moving. Some books as well as author’s websites include book club questions which are all great starting points for inspiration.

Snacks & Drinks:

A five course meal is definitely not necessary for your book club meeting but some light snacks and drinks are a must. You could sample different teas, beers, wines, and finger foods popular in where the book is set. Or, you could have themed treats like button cookies if you read Coraline or endless supplies of chocolate if your club just finished Chocolat. If you are having virtual book club meetings, then fear not. You can leave treat bags at each member’s house.

Book clubs are an amazing way to bring fellow reading enthusiasts together for an evening of good company and conversation. Don’t forget that you can host movie nights too if the book you have read has been made into a movie! 😀

What is your favorite book turned movie? What is your book club currently reading? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov16

5 Factors To Consider When Buying Sports Equipment

Posted on by
Standard
5 Factors To Consider When Buying Sports Equipment

When getting into a sport, there may come a point when you need to buy your own equipment. But just which equipment should you buy? Below are 5 factors to help you choose the right gear:

Cost:

First, you need to set yourself a budget. The price of equipment can vary a lot – brand new professional-level equipment will usually cost the most, while used entry-level equipment will cost the least.

Some sports are likely to be more expensive than others. For example, you can get into yoga with nothing more than a yoga mat. A sport like sailing, meanwhile, requires buying an entire boat. Most people end up hiring or sharing a boat until they get to a professional level as there’s often no point investing in one until then.

Size/weight:

Equipment needs to be the right size and weight to match your body. This is important for performance and safety (it’s imperative that items like helmets are the right size – if they’re too loose, they won’t protect you). If you’re buying equipment for a child, it’s worth finding equipment targeted at their age. As they grow, you may need to invest in new equipment. This is something to keep an eye on.

Performance level:

In many sports, you can buy different types of equipment aimed at different performance levels. There’s no need to splurge on professional equipment if you’re a beginner. Unless you’re playing at a professional level, you won’t notice the difference between a basic tennis racket and professional tennis racket. Equipment aimed at beginners may even be easier and safer to use in some cases. For example, a pro-level bicycle may be more tricky to handle than an entry-level bike.

Brand reputation:

Some official sports bodies may require you to buy a specific brand. If you’re not taking part in a sport that demands this, you have the freedom to choose from various different brands – but which should you choose?

It’s worth looking into the reputation of different brands to find something that is recommended by other users. For example, when choosing a ping pong table, it’s worth spending time looking at table tennis reviews. Don’t just focus on the most well-known brands as there are many lesser known brands out there selling top quality gear and it’s generally a lot cheaper than top brands.

Condition:

If you’re thinking of buying used equipment, you’ll need to consider the condition. If equipment is heavily used and worn, there may be a greater chance of it breaking in the near future. Certain old or worn equipment may even be unsafe to use and is worth steering clear of.

Try to always buy used equipment in person. When buying online, stick to local selling sites so that you can pick up equipment in person and carefully inspect the condition. It’s possible to find a lot of used equipment online being sold cheaply that is still in practically new condition, which is the type of equipment you should be aiming for.

Like many other hobbies, playing sports involves some monetary investment. Shop smart with the tips above as you pick out your gear!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov8

Lil Red’s Book Club: Not A Happy Family By Shari Lapena Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: Not A Happy Family By Shari Lapena Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, without giving any spoilers away, we will be discussing Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena. I got this book in large print from the library and, is it just me, or does reading a large print book go by way faster than a normal print? After a mere five reading sessions, I was done with this four hundred and twenty-two page thriller and it was one that I enjoyed a lot! Now, let’s get to it:

Sheila and Fred Merton are, for lack of better words, filthy rich. Fred made his fortune in robotics and they boast a sprawling estate and a net worth upwards of thirty million. Fred is proud of his life as a businessman but of his children… Not so much, and it all comes to light on a particularly awful Easter dinner when Catherine, Dan, and Jenna’s father screams his poison in a drunken rage. While his disappointment is nothing new, his extreme anger is a surprise but no one is ready for what happens next when Fred and Sheila are found murdered in their own home.

The bodies of the Merton parents are discovered by their long term nanny turned housekeeper and the police investigation begins immediately with the children as their prime suspects. First, we have the eldest sister named Catherine. She is a dermatologist and married to Ted, who both enjoy the finer things in life. Dan is the middle child who is married to Lisa and are currently in a desperate financial situation. Fred also happened to refuse and degrade him when he asked for a loan on Easter Sunday. And, finally, we have Jenna who is the baby of the family. She is a starving artist with a new fling every week, a violent streak, and is currently living off of a monthly allowance from her parents.

Any one of the Merton children could have committed the double murder but who? All of them have secrets to hide about the night of the murder and with their partners lying for them and siblings backing each other up, it sends the detectives on a wild goose chase with the possibility that the case could go cold. Each Merton child has a lot to lose and a fortune to gain from the wills of Sheila and Fred so whodoneit? Read Not A Happy Family to find out!

I have been pretty unimpressed with the books that I have read recently and Not A Happy Family kept me on my toes until the very last page. This was definitely a nice change of pace and, for once, I couldn’t figure out the grand reveal so I really liked it! Not A Happy Family was an unputdownable read with red herrings at every turn of the page, especially because the children weren’t the only players in the investigation. The housekeeper, aunt, and a family friend are all potential suspects too which added to the confusion and suspense of the case.

This book changed narrators either every chapter or paragraph between the children, their partners, or other suspects who all have a lot of money to gain from the murder of Fred and Sheila. I love this type of format and it added so much urgency because you couldn’t put each person’s puzzle pieces together consistently. Just when I thought that I knew who did it, I read another few paragraphs and my opinion would change drastically.

I can’t recommend Not A Happy Family enough if you are looking for a fast paced murder mystery and am awarding it with an eight out of ten stars. Although it wasn’t a groundbreaking story line, it had me hooked and happily reading for hours on end. If you like playing detective as much as I do, then you are going to love this book!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep27

Lil Red’s Book Club: False Witness By Karin Slaughter Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: False Witness By Karin Slaughter Edition

Hi everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, we will be discussing a book called False Witness by Karin Slaughter – without giving any spoilers away, of course. Before we begin, however, I will be placing an extreme trigger warning on this book and post. False Witness covers every type of abuse imaginable, violence, rape, and drug addiction. It is definitely not a book to be read by the faint of heart. With that in mind, let’s get to it:

Big sister Leigh and little sis Callie spent their childhood in poverty and immersed in abuse at the hands of adults who should have been protecting them. Finally, the hunted became the hunters and the sisters murdered one of their abusers – the father of the child that Callie was babysitting. They cleaned house, covered their tracks, and lived their lives as if nothing happened afterwards.

To cope, Leigh worked hard to the point of obsessive and became a defense attorney for a major law firm. Callie, on the other hand, turned to hard drugs to ease her pain from scars both mental and physical. She would show up in Leigh’s life occasionally to steal money and possessions but mainly lived on the streets or seedy motels.

For over twenty years, the girls thought that they had gotten away with the perfect crime and did their best to keep it in the back of their minds. That is, until Leigh is hired to defend a new client on brutal rape charges. Who is he? None other than the boy that they babysat all of those years ago.

Andrew Tenant is clearly guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and everyone seems to know it. However, he expects to get off scot free because he has leverage over Leigh that will incriminate both her and Callie if she doesn’t succeed in trial… He knows that they killed his father. How, you may ask? Read False Witness to find out!

Let me start off by saying that False Witness in its entirety was insanely hard to read. Its content was nothing short of heartbreaking and deeply disturbing. Having said that, it was a book that kept my attention to the very end with twists, turns, and complete curve balls on every page.

The subject matter was, at times, unbearable. However, Karin Slaughter crafted the two sisters in such a way that I was rooting for them harder than I have for any other character in the books that I have read recently. Despite their flaws, both Leigh and Callie were likeable, smart, so strong, and sometimes absolutely hilarious. In fact, I liked them even more because of everything that they have gone through.

Slaughter hit hard in this book to the point that it was almost grueling. She shined a light on very real issues and wrote in such a way that it felt like you were reading a true story. The sense of urgency in this book was palpable. There were also delicious moments of comic relief that had me in stitches, which was much needed and appreciated.

I am going to award Karin Slaughter’s False Witness with a six out of ten star rating. While I can’t say that I enjoyed this book due to its graphic nature, I loved how it was written as well as the two main characters. If you can stomach it, False Witness is certainly worth the read. If not, please don’t bother with it because it is not worth damaging your own mental health.

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Sep22

Must Have Products For Ultimate Relaxation

Posted on by
Standard
Must Have Products For Ultimate Relaxation

With the pandemic still going strong and cold weather on the horizon, there is no better time to turn your home into a relaxation station to keep yourself safe and warm. Today, we are going to look at a few key elements to provide for the ultimate R&R experience from the comfort of your house or apartment. Let’s get to it:

Sound Machines:

Sound machines are an ideal option if you have trouble sleeping or concentrating when working from home. These handy little machines can give you a range of different sounds from white noise to crashing waves and rain falling. Not to mention that they are great for soothing infants! Sound machines can be a perfect replacement for keeping the TV on before bed if you need some noise to fall asleep as it will eliminate the harsh lighting, which is doing you no favors as you try to nod off.

Speaking Of Sleep:

Speaking of sleep, when was the last time that you got a new mattress? Your mattress should be replaced, roughly, every seven years and a brand new one will do wonders for relaxation. Do your research and find a quality mattress for sale so you can sleep peacefully every night. A new mattress combined with a sound machine will surely help you feel more well rested when the alarm goes off in the morning.

Soothing Hobbies:

There are plenty of hobbies that are, easily, more relaxing than others and include everything from knitting and reading to adult coloring books. Engaging in a hobby that promotes mindfulness is a great way to step away from the stress of your day to day life. Spending some quiet time with yourself lost in a good book or creating something beautiful is one of the best ways to spend a snowy day in.

Soft Lighting:

Harsh, bright lighting is never conducive to helping you relax. Of course, brighter lighting in appropriate areas like your kitchen and office are a necessity. However, you can opt for softer, dim lighting in the living room and bedroom to increase your relaxation even more. Dim lights enhanced by twinkling fairy lights or a Himalayan salt lamp will create a lovely ambiance and can allow your body to get in a more zen state come evening time.

Ready, set, relax with the products above to turn your snow days in into much needed R&R time for you!

Sep15

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

Posted on by
Standard
These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

Hi! Guess what?! We are officially THREE DAYS AWAY from my 1,000 post streak and I am so beyond excited! Make sure you keep it posted for a giveaway to celebrate this monumental accomplishment. 🙂 We all know that Lil Red loves to write, but what about my other favorite things? Read on to find out more:

Favorite Drink?

Every day I try to drink a lot of water and bring my travel mug from the Department Of Developmental Disabilities with me everywhere to stay hydrated. This makes me feel less bad about drinking two cans of Diet Coke every morning for a caffeine jolt before work lol! Diet Coke is, hands down, my favorite drink and I could drink it all day. When it comes to adult beverages, I love champagne and my life changed for the better when I learned that you don’t need a special occasion to drink it. 😀

Favorite Non-Writing Hobby:

I have always loved to read and I try to finish at least two books per month. Getting lost in a good book is one of my favorite forms of self care and it’s even better if it is raining outside! I also really enjoy learning different languages and am on a three hundred twenty-five day streak on Duolingo. French is my best language, by far, but it is such fun to try and improve my Spanish, Italian, German, and Czech too!

Favorite Season?

Fall, of course! Every year I look forward to fall time… Mainly for the fashion! I love layering, boots, and breaking out all of my favorite jackets. Fall time activities like apple picking, hiking, and corn mazes are also a blast and I live for haunted houses. I haven’t been in two years due to the pandemic and, sadly, probably won’t get to go this year due to the rises in COVID cases. But I cannot wait to get reacquainted with my favorite haunts when it’s safer.

My first job was actually as an actor at the Carnival Of Horrors and, even though I know a ton of haunted house tricks, I am still terrified at every one I visit!

Favorite Thing About Myself?

Well, I like to think that I’m frickin hilarious. But, my favorite thing about myself is probably my determination. Once I have a goal in mind, I try to stick with it and I wouldn’t be reaching a 1,000 post writing streak without that. Nothing pleases me more than crossing things off of my mental daily “to do” list and that’s what keeps me motivated to continue writing, practicing my languages, and working out every day.

Favorite Sport:

Ice skating! I skated competitively for about ten years and stopped when I was sixteen or so. Prior to the pandemic, I got back into it and lived for my weekly skate sessions. I actually just had my first lesson since the winter of 2020 a few weekends ago and it was amazing… Even though my legs felt like Jello all day afterwards!

When it comes to my favorite sport that I like to watch other than skating, I would definitely say gymnastics. My mind is blown every time I see it so, trust and believe that my brain was exploding during these past Olympic Games.

Favorite Memory:

My wedding!! Getting married this June was so amazing and I love being a wifey. Any time spent with my Johnny is my favorite. I also loved becoming an aunt when my niece was born, graduating from Cuyahoga Community College, and vacationing in Orlando, Florida with my family.

Favorite Game:

My husband and I are avid gamers and I love our weekend game nights together. Word games are my favorite so my preferred game is Scrabble, for sure. Johnny and I also love the game Horrified where you have to save a village from classic movie monsters. In terms of video games, I am still addicted to Animal Crossing and Pokemon Snap – I actually just played both last night! 😀

And, of course, another one of my favorite things is creating content every day for my dear friends and readers. I love you all so much! ❤

What are some of your favorite things? What are your goals? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah