Tag Archives: hobby

Jun3

Enjoying Improving

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Enjoying Improving

Hi! During quarantine, I have been enjoying getting to practice all of the different languages that I have been learning. I have much more time to do so and have noticed how much I’ve improved thanks to the almost daily practice sessions. On Duolingo, I am taking French, Spanish, Czech, German, and Italian. I also have been LOVING practicing American Sign Language through YouTube videos.

Recently, I began taking an online ASL Zoom class taught by the fabulous Doctor Jen. Unfortunately, she stopped doing her weekly teaches and I was left high, dry, and disappointed because I have been wanting to learn ASL for forever. Especially since teaching myself a little from books was nothing in comparison to watching someone teach you.

It was important to me to find another source to continue learning ASL with because I was doing way better than I expected. And, luckily, I landed on ten twenty minute lessons of basic sign language from a guy who looks like Steve Martin AND the one guy from Whose Line Is It Anyway? You’ll see what I mean, I promise:

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to this video!

Although I loved learning ASL under Doctor Jen, it’s nice to continue learning even if it is with someone different. And, thankfully, Doctor Byron Bridges is a close second! Born deaf to deaf parents, Doctor Bridges has degrees from numerous different schools and is dedicated to teaching his craft.

Not only is he brilliant, but it’s impossible to not grin from ear to ear when you see how animated and in he gets to each lesson. If you’re looking for something to help pass the time, why not give a few of these ASL classes a try? You’ll be glad you did!

Where else offers ASL classes online? Which languages do you know? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May28

3 Ways To Keep Busy During Lock Down

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3 Ways To Keep Busy During Lock Down

As the days in lock down turn into weeks and the weeks roll into months, it can become increasingly difficult to know what else to do with all of this extra time on your hands. Well, most people always wished they had more time and now that it has come, we should put it to good use. Whether it’s spending more time with the children or learning something new, it’s safe to say that this opportunity will probably never become available again. Without a firm quarantine end date in sight, check out this list of three ways to keep busy during the lock down:

Learn a New Language:

The benefits of learning a new language go beyond being able to order food while on holiday. It also comes with both personal and professional advantages. On the personal side, it strengthens your IQ, and it is also a great workout for your brain. These cognitive benefits help to ward off dementia and enable you to be more decisive and focused on the task at hand. Did you know that learning a new language also sharpens your sensory perceptions in terms of touch, hearing, sight, speech, and movement? Not many other hobbies can attest to this claim.

On the professional side of things, having bilingual skills greatly opens up your job prospects and makes you more attractive to employers. For companies, it allows for a greater ability to reach new customers in new markets worldwide. Learning a foreign language also sharpens your communication skills making you a more rounded employee.

Take Up a New Hobby:

With most people working around the clock in today’s modern societies, not much time is left for extra-curricular activities and hobbies. Yet the advantages of having hobbies are priceless. For one thing, it keeps you present in that moment. A lot of time is spent regretting the past or planning for the future that most people never truly live in the ‘now’. Hobbies can be used for stress relief as it diverts your attention to something that creates pleasure. Hobbies help you connect with people or groups with similar interests. This encourages feelings of inclusion, support, and community, which is great for your mental health.

There are many hobbies that you can consider taking up, including writing, photography, cooking, and gardening. If you think that you have green fingers, why not get out of the house and into your backyard and try to grow something a bit different than the standard household vegetables. As summer is on the way, try growing some pineberries (white strawberries) or some achocha pods. If you’re really adventurous, you could look up how to grow a luffa gourd, then have the added benefits of organic sponges for your bath or kitchen. No matter what hobby you choose to take on, it will certainly help you while away the extra time on your hands.

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Give gardening a go!

Catch Up on Family Time:

Spending more time with your family can be done in multiple ways thanks to the technological advances in video calling. If you don’t have immediate family around you, then you could link up with them via Zoom, WhatsApp, and many more similar programs. Family time is probably the most important use of our time, yet hardly any time is committed to it. Why not jump in and play some fun games online with your kids or video call your aunt or grandparents – you’ll certainly be glad you did!

Dedicating your time to worthwhile hobbies will make your quarantine much more enjoyable. Choose something you’re interested in and watch a day go by as you immerse yourself in something new!

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May26

What Have I Been Watching? Pt. 2

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What Have I Been Watching? Pt. 2

Hello!!! Although the stay at home order in Ohio is gradually being lifted, Johnny and I are still not comfortable yet diving into normal society. So, until we feel safe to enjoy the community again, we are okay with continuing our constant state of vegging out at home. On a previous post, I broke down all of the television and movies that are keeping my boyfriend and I sane…

Can you believe that a few weeks after posting that article, we’re already done with all of the shows that I mentioned?! Now, we’re onto the following:

SuperStore:

Johnny began watching this comedy based in a Walmart style store a couple of weeks ago and, originally, I didn’t care for it. Season one was weak and it took me a while for all of the different characters to rub off on me. When I finally started enjoying the show about halfway through season two, I did a complete 180 and now I am obsessed.

Superstore is the first thing I recommend when Johnny asks me what I want to watch. There are a few bigger names in the cast but I have not heard of a majority of the actors in it, which is kind of fun. From coworker relationships to goofy antics throughout the store, this show has kept me in stitches ever since I realized I liked it!

LEGO Masters:

I have definitely posted about LEGO Masters before but I wanted to mention it again, because it is that fun. Hosted by Will Arnett and judged by two master builders from LEGO, this is a fast paced competition show where teams of two create masterpieces out of the beloved children’s toy.

LEGO Masters follows your standard competition style protocol with eliminations and different challenges, each episode more exciting and difficult than the next. The artistic ability of every single contestant on the show was just amazing and I am crossing my fingers for a season two.

The Pacific:

My boyfriend is a huge history buff and you can often catch him at home watching different documentaries and TV shows about the subject. Earlier in quarantine, we watched Band Of Brothers, which depicted the soldiers fighting in the Easy Company division in WWII.

Now, we are watching The Pacific. Still WWII, but the soldiers being depicted are now fighting the Japanese soldiers in famous battles like Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima. Believe me, the show is intense. But, omg is it interesting. I can’t say that I am as big of a war genre lover as my boyfriend. However, an episode or two of a series per day is something that I can handle and I have been enjoying dipping my toes in the water with that.

America’s Next Top Model:

Lol, this is certainly not one of Johnny’s shows but it is one of mine! I have been dedicated to rewatching ANTM since all of the seasons got put on Hulu and revel in when Johnny ends up taking a nap so I can put on a few episodes without him complaining! Cheesy, corny, guilty pleasure TV? Absolutely. But I couldn’t stop watching Tyra Banks and that big beautiful forehead if I tried! ❤

These are just a few of the shows that have been keeping my boyfriend and I entertained in quarantine. How about yours? What are you currently or have recently been binging on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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!

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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