Tag Archives: hobby

May22

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

May21

Lil Red’s Book Club: Mike Omer’s In The Darkness Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Mike Omer’s In The Darkness Edition

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Before the libraries closed in Ohio, I was lucky enough to have visited one a week or so prior and was able to get two books. One, was Doctor Sleep by Stephen King and the other was called In The Darkness by Mike Omer. Before we begin discussing In The Darkness, I must warn those who might be triggered that this book revolves around the FBI catching sexually deviant serial killers.

Whew! Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get to it without discussing any spoilers:

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In The Darkness follows FBI profiler, Doctor Zoe Bentley, and her partner, Special Agent Tatum Gray, who are sent to San Angelo, Texas on a case that could escalate. The situation? A video stream of a young woman being buried alive, posted from an account only known as Schrodinger and titled “Experiment Number One”.

Doctor Bentley specializes in serial killers and spent her childhood living next door to one. Now, she makes it her livelihood to help the FBI track them down. But, how can you track someone down based on video footage shot in a seemingly random location? And, is finding the potential future victims in the small amount of time before they die even possible?

In The Darkness covers a whirlwind case which begs all of the typical questions of who can be trusted, is sketchy, a red herring, and the serial killer, of course! This detective mystery kept me guessing until the very last page and I can’t wait to read more of Zoe Bentley’s adventures in Mike Omer’s collection.

What I loved about this book, is that it literally read like Law & Order SVU, a show that my boyfriend and I are obsessed with. It was fast paced, the main characters were all flawed but extremely likeable, and the story felt so crazy that it just might happen. Indeed, this book is not for the faint of heart but is one I recommend for those who enjoy a high pressure cat and mouse game between the good of the police force and the evil of the killer on the run.

I am going to rate Mike Omer’s “In The Darkness” with a seven out of ten stars. The story line was interesting and intricate and I was rooting for Zoe and Tatum the entire time. The writing, at times, left a little to be desired. But, other than that, no complaints!

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

May19

Have Some More Writing Prompts!

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Have Some More Writing Prompts!

Hey! Has the coronavirus quarantine put a cramp in your blog’s style? Ugh, I get it because SAME. The coronavirus has put a cramp in my literal style because my life revolves around comfort clothes right now and I thought I would never live to see the day for that to happen. Lol, it also makes creating daily content for my page exceedingly difficult.

More so than I imagined, actually, and I felt like I was really in a slump. It was a hard adjustment to find inspiration in the walls of my apartment but I think that I am just about there and I want all of you to be too. I recently offered some writing prompts on lifewithlilred and I’m here today to help the writer’s block even further with the following:

  • Have you taken any interesting online classes while quarantined?
  • Do you ever feel like you were born in the wrong decade? Which era do you most relate to?
  • Do you know anyone local making face masks? It’s always nice to drop their info!
  • Speaking of, supporting all of your favorite local businesses and artists with online nods is a great way to help your community!
  • Are there any foods that you absolutely refuse to try?
  • Have you been managing to have any fun while quarantined? How?
  • Did you have any blog posts that got put on hold until it’s safe to achieve? What were they like?
  • How about any other exciting events or trips that got cancelled? It’s okay to be upset about it. (I still have yet to meet my six month old nephew, which sucks!)
  • How have you been staying in touch with your friends? Scheduled happy hours or trivia nights, perhaps?

I am looking forward to going out and doing the things that I enjoy safely. Unfortunately, I don’t know when that will be. But, in the meantime, it’s so nice to have lifewithlilred to keep me occupied and I love being able to interact with all of you so keep those comments coming. Happy writing! Much love. -Sarah

May11

Have Some Writing Prompts!

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Have Some Writing Prompts!

Hello! Coming up with daily content during a global pandemic has been proving to be pretty difficult on my end. And, although I know all of my blogging friends around the world are rock stars, you all might be struggling too. There is no shame in that! I swear, writing articles some days feels like pulling teeth. So, I decided to provide some prompts for all of you to help keep up with blog maintenance. Here we go:

 

  • How has the coronavirus impacted your life?
  • Favorite quarantine activities?
  • What are you most looking forward to once things go back to normal?
  • Most binge worthy shows or movies on different streaming services?
  • Your quarantine play list.
  • A lock down OOTD or MOTD for all of my fashionistas and makeup divas.
  • If you could be an animal, what would you like to be and why?
  • Favorite recipes to cook at home?
  • DIY crafting guide.
  • A virtual tour of the favorite room of your house or your garden.

This is arguably the most boring yet unnerving time of everyone’s life. And, if not everyone… Then at least mine, lol. I have found writing to be an even bigger stress reliever than usual and I hope these prompts will help do the same for all of you! ❤

What should I write about next? How has the coronavirus impacted your blogging habits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May4

Lil Red’s Book Club: Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep Edition

Hello! Before Ohio’s stay at home order was put in place, I took my brother to the library to get some books. I ended up picking out Doctor Sleep by Stephen King for myself and, since all of the libraries are closed, it has been sitting in my apartment this whole time. So I read it. And, let me tell you, I am so glad I did because it was EXCELLENT! Let’s get started:

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Doctor Sleep is the sequel to The Shining, which follows the infamous Jack Torrence’s son, Dan. Despite constantly being drunk, Dan still shines and every once in a while, he gets contacted by a little girl named Abra who writes on the chalkboard of his rented room. Fast forward, and Abra grows up into a preteen, Dan gets sober, and becomes a hospice orderly with the nickname of “Doctor Sleep” because he helps people who are close to death pass over.

Everything is looking good, until Abra becomes aware of a wandering group called the True Knot. The True Knot are a vampire like people who feed off of “steam” to help promote their longevity. What is steam? It’s the vapor that comes out of the children who they like to torture that are able to shine. And Abra? She shines a lot. So much so that the True Knot, lead by a beautiful viper women named Rose The Hat, picked up on her and they want her bad.

Will the True Knot continue to prosper from their evilly acquired steam? Or will Abra, Dan, and some unexpected friends along the way be able to finish them off once and for all? Read the book to find out!

Before reading Doctor Sleep, I saw the movie with my sister and boyfriend in theaters and was less than impressed. I loved the story line but, oh my god, did it drag on for what felt like forever. I believe it was just under three hours. So, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the book because I didn’t want it to be so drawn out that it read like a dryer manual.

Thankfully, it was the movie that was flawed and not the book because it was a wild ride. There was excitement with every turn of the page of Doctor Sleep and I found myself reading it for hours on end without feeling any desire to stop. The “good guy” characters were all just so likeable and I was mentally cheering them on the whole time. As for the bad guys? They were awful. But, I’d be a liar if I didn’t say that I was eager to find out what they were going to do next.

Doctor Sleep was an amazing read and my only regret was that I didn’t start it sooner. I loved it so much that I’m even willing to give the movie another shot! I reward Doctor Sleep with the prestigious ten out of ten stars and I can’t recommend it enough if you are a Stephen King fan!

What book are you currently reading? What did you think of the movie or book of Doctor Sleep? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May3

Stay Sane In Quarantine With These Hobby Ideas

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Stay Sane In Quarantine With These Hobby Ideas

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that we are living in scary times. This global pandemic has pushed most of the world into lock down and quarantine, and even when working from home, it’s pretty boring! You’re unable to see friends and family, and you can’t even bounce off of the fun of the office to feel better about things. Instead, you get the chance to sit, twiddle your thumbs, and wait for life to resume in some kind of normality.

The thing is, this is not how it works. It doesn’t work like that because you have to consider your mental health. You need to keep busy, and for that, you need a hobby. This is especially true if you are in quarantine alone. So, let’s take a look at some of the best hobbies you could take up to stay sane through these unprecedented and unnerving times:

Visit National Parks – Virtually:

You may be desperate for a change of scenery, but you cannot leave the house. So, you need to get out virtually, instead. Make the use of your WiFi and get online to national parks and glaciers. You’ll be able to travel the world and view national parks without having to leave the house. Sure, it’s not quite the same, but it’s going to take the mystery out of the world you can’t explore properly!

Enjoy Puzzles:

You need to exercise the mind to keep the brain busy, and that starts with a PennyDell Puzzles crossword puzzle subscription. Puzzles are going to help you to keep your mind sharp and teach you new things. It’s also going to give you the chance to enjoy something in this quarantine that will continue long after.

YouTube Art Classes:

Did you know that there are drawing tutorials on YouTube? Most people aren’t aware of them and yet there they are, ready and waiting for you to learn from them. You may not be much of a drawer, or you may be an artist that requires a brush up on skills. Either way, drawing tutorials on YouTube are going to help you to hone your skills. If you are interested in learning a new hobby on YouTube, you will certainly want access to all of the content across the platform. A youtube vpn service can assist with that so you can always find the best creator that speaks to you.

Concert Films:

The musicians out there are going to love the chance to enjoy available concert films like these online. You can choose to go through the entire Netflix collection, of course, but consider branching out a little. Concert films and other musical elements are going to be the most fun option for you in quarantine!

Learn To Bake:

While the shops are selling out of basic baking ingredients, you can still learn to bake with any number of online video tutorials. You can also learn how to cook elaborate recipes that you can batch and freeze for later. It’s so important that you choose a course that inspires you, whether that’s lunch or cakes you want to bake.

Hobbies are important to help keep you sane right now so try some of the tips above while you’re stuck at home!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Apr27

Taking Advantage Of The Internet In Self-Isolation

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Taking Advantage Of The Internet In Self-Isolation

Hello! Thank god for the internet while we’re all hunkered down at home, amiright? Personally, I would be going crazy without my access to social media and all of the entertainment streaming services that Johnny and I have. The internet is a wonderful tool to help fight the boredom blues and, amidst the stay at home orders, it is now being used for a lot more than aimlessly scrolling through Facebook. Bored? Try some of the following:

Take A Class:

Right now, there are so many free courses being offered online from reputable colleges to teachers hosting Zoom lectures. I have even seen that Yale is offering free admission to their course entitled “Happiness” or something of the like. I, myself, have been participating in an online American Sign Language class being taught via Zoom and have been having a blast. It feels great to learn something new and you can’t beat free!

Streaming:

Amazon, Netflix, YouTube, and iTunes provide endless new shows, short films, and movies that you can watch from the comfort of your home. Lying on the couch, in bed, or relaxing on your patio requires entertainment; therefore, a good internet connection is necessary. Making the internet as effective as possible in your home can go a long way toward relieving your boredom. Take advantage of the cox internet with a high speed, and you may not buffer even when you connect different devices.

Tour A Museum:

In the mood to travel? How about taking a virtual trip to one of the many museums offering tours online. Play some classical music, enjoy a glass of wine, and get a taste of the finer things as you admire art from around the world. Take a look and get inspired and then, who knows? Maybe you’ll be creating your own masterpieces afterwards.

Watch A Play:

Many theaters and opera houses are offering online streaming of their shows. I have seen advertising from everything from theaters in New York City to the Paris Opera House virtually opening their doors to the bored general public. I would love to watch a few operas in my free time and I am interested in checking out a viewing of the Phantom Of The Opera which I have seen advertised all over Facebook. So cool!

Connect With Friends:

Who says getting online has to be all about learning? Of course, connecting with friends is a given on social media. But, how about scheduling a chat over Zoom? You could play trivia, watch a show all together, have a paint night, or participate in a happy hour drink. Yes, it’s fun to catch up but actually doing an activity together will be a nice reminder of old times and could be a new weekly tradition to look forward to until real life meetings can happen.

Start A Club:

If you are trying to connect with like minded individuals, try hosting a virtual club. You could form a group based around anything from books and writing to movies and art. Schedule a weekly Zoom meeting to discuss the latest few chapters or the cliffhanger in the TV series you’re watching together. Intelligent conversations always perk me up when being plopped in front of the TV is the norm and everyone can benefit from that!

So many resources have made the internet even better than it already is during the coronavirus panic and these ideas are sure to entertain during those times when it feels like there is “nothing to do”. Enjoy!

Have you been doing anything similar to the tips above? How have you been using the internet to your advantage right now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr26

Hanging In There?

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Hanging In There?

Hi! I just wanted to do a check in to see how everyone is doing because I think we are all getting to the stir crazy point of our stay at home orders. Things are difficult right now and I want to remind all of you that it is okay to be upset! We have all literally never dealt with anything like this before and there is no right or wrong way to feel so hang in there, as our inspirational kitten meme says.

When all of this started, I thought that I would be fine if I just didn’t let myself get frustrated. This was a huge mistake and, as we learned from my mental breakdown when my nails weren’t successful, just the smallest straw can break the camel’s back when you are bottling everything inside. So let it out!

Blogging has been a huge help to me during this crazy time and I really view it as my online journal right now, especially when I can’t frequent TJMaxx and show you all what’s good! Find your medium that helps you express yourself and dive in. Write in your diary, paint a picture, or whip up a delicious dessert. Immerse yourself in something that makes you feel good and watch your mood improve vastly.

Still looking for a project? As always, I invite all of you to guest blog on my page and you can email me at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com if you would like to be featured as lifewithlilred’s once daily post. You can also friend me on Facebook at: Sarah Mushenheim for all of the best memes and the random thoughts that don’t make it to my blog. See you there!

What has been your go to hobby in self-isolation? What is something that makes you feel better? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Medium

Apr23

Learning Something New

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Learning Something New

Hello! As many of you know, I am extremely passionate about learning new languages. It is one of my favorite hobbies and I currently practice French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Czech on Duolingo. This past week, however, I added a sixth language to my arsenal: American Sign Language.

Maybe you remember a few years ago when I was teaching myself ASL through different books. It proved to be a lot harder than I thought and I eventually fell out of it, promising myself I’d take a class at the soonest opportunity. That never happened, either. Until the fateful day I saw an article on Facebook about a Doctor Jennifer Delora teaching ASL for free on Zoom during the stay at home order.

I was instantly intrigued and saved the article for later use and was so happy I did after watching the first Zoom class with Doctor Jen. In the first lesson, we went over the alphabet, numbers one through ten, greetings, pronouns, and other simple signs. It was a thorough lesson and I finished it feeling proud of what I had learned and eager to do the next one.

Not only is Doctor Jen hilarious but she is absolutely brilliant and teaches ASL in a way that anyone of any skill level could learn. She’s down to earth, amazing at what she does, and I felt like I absorbed everything she said like a sponge. You can find Doctor Jen’s videos on YouTube and I highly recommend giving them a try. Heck, even if you just learn the alphabet, that’s a wonderful first step. Catch you all at the next class!

Which languages do you know? Are you learning any new languages? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr21

Community Fun In Self-Isolation

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Community Fun In Self-Isolation

Hello! While all of us are basking in the boredom of self-isolation, I am sure that those who were active members in the community are itching to get back to planning and participating in events for all to enjoy. Although seeing each other from a distance is the standard now, there are still plenty of ways for us to come together as a community and make the best of a difficult situation. Perhaps with some of the following ideas:

Parking Lot Events:

The inspiration from this post actually came from a client’s mom who told me her family attended Easter mass from a broadcast in the church parking lot. What a great idea! Just like at the drive in movies, people filed in with their windows up and were instructed by signs to tune into a radio station for the mass. She said it was such an amazing, refreshing, safe community event and it sure sounds like it.

If attending a parking lot religious ceremony isn’t your thing, how about a neighborhood drive in movie night, instead? I could definitely go for that one!

Social Media Groups:

My city in Ohio has a Facebook “talk of the town” group where people can post news and chit chat with each other. If your area doesn’t have such a page, why not create one yourself? Have everyone vote on a different show to watch in unison from the comfort of their home so all of you can discuss it later. Or how about a neighborhood book club? As long as everyone is communicating with each other, that’s all that matters.

Neighborhood Games:

On your neighborhood social media group, you could post the rules for a neighborhood participation game. You could try something like I Spy for people to walk or drive around and find the clues. Maybe you could encourage everyone to put their dog in a Halloween costume if they are going out for a stroll. Or how about a quarantine edition of Bingo to play from the porch? There are tons of possibilities if you get creative!

Decorate Your Yard:

Something fun for your neighborhood to participate in could be a yard decorating extravaganza for everyone to enjoy. Perhaps you could plant beautiful flowers in your yard? Or what about putting some of your holiday themed inflatables or lights back on display? You could even do something totally random like a snowman made out of tires if you feel like it! Get inspired and create a lawn display for all of your neighbors to be proud of when they walk or drive by.

It’s hard not being able to see each other traditionally but it’s important to still enjoy your friends and neighborhood even if it is from a distance. Use the ideas above and have some fun!

How have you been interacting with people from a distance? Has your community done any social distancing activities like the ones above? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah