Tag Archives: hobby

Aug14

5 Self Care Tips To Remember

Posted on by
Standard
5 Self Care Tips To Remember

There is nothing more important than looking after yourself, and we’re constantly being told that self care is the way to do it. Spend some time doing yoga and putting cucumber on your eyes, and you’ll be cured of all of your ills, right? Well, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but looking after yourself is still an imperative part of your health and happiness, and it gives you the boost that you need to carry on during rough patches.

But what simple self care tips can you carry with you, in order to make sure that you know how and when to take some time out? We’ve put together five here, for those seeking inner peace and well being.

Drink more water:

Okay, you heard it here first. Well, you probably didn’t. Drink. More. Water. Those three little words are what everybody needs to hear. Not only will it keep you hydrated (obviously) but it will also clear up your skin, clear out the junk from your body, and give you the energy that you need to be as great as you can be. Oh, and it’s practically the easiest thing in the world. Carry a water bottle with you at all times; you won’t regret it.

self

Pexels Image

Just relax:

A lot of us don’t relax, because we don’t even know how to. Relaxing isn’t scrolling through your phone for hours or sitting there worrying about what you should be doing instead of relaxing. It’s really making an effort to chill out and to clear your mind of everything in order to do so. Work on letting things go, so that you can get to a place of total tranquility every once in a while.

Being able to fully relax takes practice – especially if you have anxiety. It’s all about finding that “just right” thing that works for you. Maybe it’s a hot cup of tea and reading a chapter of a new book. Or, it could be popping on your favorite feel good show and enjoying some delicious gummies from https://thehempdoctor.com/delta-9-thc/, allowing the THC to calm your nerves and put your body into a state of zen and relaxation. Explore different options and soon, relaxing will become something to enjoy instead of one more thing to stress over.

Sleep well:

One of the main things that you need to do if you want to look after yourself is to sleep well. Sleeping gives your body a chance to restore itself and it’s good for the ol’ mind, too. Check out an air conditioning store nearby so that you can get the perfect sleep temperature nailed and try to maintain some kind of routine when it comes to the time that you go to bed and the time that you wake up.

If you are struggling to fall asleep or spending your nights tossing and turning, there are countless tips you can try to help. This could be a visit to your doctor, limiting screen time before bed, using soothing essential oils like lavender, or sipping on THC Drinks before you start getting ready for bed. When you find what works for you, you are going to feel so much better and well rested.

Make time for your passions:

Your passions are what make life worth living and they’re not only great because you find them enjoyable. Escaping into the things that you love is perfect for self care, as it allows you to really be yourself and let go of all of the issues that are whizzing around your mind. Whether you love art, music, or reading, make sure that you’ve got time to pursue it. You’ll feel on top of the world when you do!

If one of your passions is travel, perhaps your self care will come in the form of taking a vacation. We all need one whether it is a staycation, weekend getaway, or a big trip. Making travel plans can be both exciting and soothing as it gives your mind a literal vacation. From exploring lodging accommodations like a bed and breakfast or bruachdryne apartment rentals to scoping out the best eateries and activities, planning a trip can be as fun as taking one. The ultimate in self care!

Be kind to yourself:

Many people beat themselves up all of the time, for various reasons. Maybe you’re not where you want to be with your career, you think that you’re not thin enough, or you believe that you’ve done something wrong that is going to follow you forever. However, you need to be kind to yourself. You’ll make mistakes, but you’re on the right path. You still deserve to be happy, so don’t forget this.

If you find yourself caught in an anti kindness to yourself cycle, try doing something nice for yourself instead. Do you fancy a massage? Enter a search for “swedish massage in Alameda, CA” (or your local area) and book that appointment! Want a quiet afternoon with a good book? Curl up and make it happen! Treating yourself to something you enjoy is an amazing way to be kind to yourself and you will always feel better when you invest in number one – you!

Enjoy improving your self care rituals; you deserve it!

Aug13

Six Ways To Bring Out Your Inner Artist

Posted on by
Standard
Six Ways To Bring Out Your Inner Artist

Art is often seen as something that is reserved for a dedicated few. It’s something that seems incredibly beginner unfriendly, inaccessible, and also expensive – but all three of those claims are far from the truth and the reality is that everyone possesses the creative mind required for art. The big hurdle to overcome is the initial step and, in this article, we’re going to show you six ways to bring out your inner artist:

Visit an art gallery or art-related event:

There are likely dozens, if not hundreds, of art-related events and galleries that you can visit for inspiration. It could be an art gallery, it could be a photography workshop, or even just a speech by a famous artist or design professional. Whatever the event is, attend it and see if it can change your mind to bring out your inner artist.

Look at the art of your favorite books and movies:

Everyone has a source of inspiration for their creative works and yours could be from your favorite books, movies, or cartoons. Plenty of cartoonists love watching different cartoons from all different eras for inspiration and some painters enjoy fantasy scenes from movies and use them as references for creations.

Find an alternate art medium:

You don’t have to stick to paints and canvas or even pencils and paper. There are plenty of fun and expressive mediums and tools that you can use such as chalk, graphite, sculpting, or even using Lego to create unique works of art. There are no limitations when it comes to art, so use whatever you want to be expressive and create something unique to you.

Try and go digital with your art:

Many people stay away from traditional art tools and mediums because they believe that it’s hard to recover from mistakes and they just hate to see their work crumpled in the bin. This is where digital tools can come in handy. With features like copy and pasting, layers, and the ever-so-useful undo button, it can make getting into art a lot easier.

Make friends in the art community and learn from them:

There are plenty of ways to get out there to meet the art community either in your local area or even over the internet. You could attend a paint and sip class to make friends while you work or you could join art communities over the internet and discuss things such as art tools and ideas together. You’ll find that it’s much easier to bring out your inner artist if you have friends that enjoy the same things as you.

Have a purpose for your artistic creations:

Lastly, try and find a purpose for your art. If you just use art as a creative stress reliever, then that’s perfectly fine. But if you’re interested in art because you want to sell fashionable shirts or posters, then having a goal to work towards will help motivate you and bring out your inner artist.

Remember that art isn’t about being perfect so create, explore, and always have fun!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Aug7

Lil Red’s Book Club: Those People Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: Those People Edition

Hello, hello everyone and welcome to a new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, we are going to be discussing the whodoneit thriller called Those People, written by Louise Candlish. I have been going through books left and right during my free time, and out of the past handful that I’ve finished, Those People has definitely been my favorite. It leaves you questioning how far you would go to stand up to a bully or, in this case, a neighbor from hell. Without revealing spoilers, let’s discuss:

bookie

Lowland Way is the suburban dream street. Beautiful homes, posh neighbors, and a quiet peacefulness that makes it the ideal neighborhood for the families living there. That is, until Darren and Jodie move in, wreaking havoc on the once “family friendly” street. Loud music, parties, swearing, foul attitudes, a used car business ran from the front yard, and noisy as can be home renovations make the new neighbors on the block less than popular. Especially considering that their business and construction make them a massive eyesore on the picture perfect community.

What’s worse is, the more that Jodie and Darren’s neighbors like Tess, Sissy, Naomi, Em, Ant, and Ralph plea for the noise levels to be kept down, the more intense everything seems to get on their property. And, Darren and Jodie often scoff at any of the uptight neighbors coming to their yard with requests. As if all of this wasn’t bad enough, someone died on Darren and Jodie’s property as the result of an accident on their construction scaffolding.

Once this misfortune happens, the neighbors begin banding together to put an end to Darren and Jodie’s reign of terror. Even if that means committing a murder themselves. However, the scaffolding accident wasn’t so clear cut and while the neighbors are plotting murder, they are being investigated for one as the screws on the structure were tampered with. So, who committed the deed that made the “wrong” person die and can the neighbors work up the nerve to attempt murder again to get it right? Read Those People to find out!

This book was such a quick read for me because it was simply riveting. I loved how the chapters were presented from a different neighbor’s point of view each time and it kept me turning the page because I wanted to see how situations were seen in the other character’s eyes. There were two whodoneit scenarios in the book and I enjoyed piecing together the information from each neighbor to try and figure out what their role was in the crimes committed.

Those People was a nice break from the unstable female narrator books that I have been drawn to lately and it was well worth the read. I don’t think any of you will be able to put it down! I am going to rate it with a 7.5 out of ten and highly recommend it.

Has anyone else read Those People? What were your thoughts on it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug1

Lil Red’s Book Club: Necessary People Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: Necessary People Edition

Greetings! There are times in my life when I am without a book or graphic novel to read, but those are certainly rare. I have been enjoying quite a few suspenseful thrillers as of late revolving around seemingly “good” girls with dark secrets and motives. The most recent one I finished was called Necessary People by Anna Pitoniak. Although this book wasn’t my favorite by any means, I read it in a matter of days and found myself itching to get back to it when it wasn’t in my hands. So, without any spoilers to those who plan on giving this book a try, let’s discuss:

book

Necessary People spins a tale around a toxic friendship between Violet and Stella. And, when I say that these girls are polar opposites, I mean that in absolutely every sense. Violet suffered from a traumatic upbringing, is a Plain Jane, and prefers to be behind the scenes instead of in the spotlight. All the while, Stella is filthy rich, flashy, and performs best for an audience.

The girls met in college and quickly became inseparable, although a lot of their friendship revolved around Violet getting Stella out of sticky drunken situations, thus making Violet feel like she was important and needed. Because of Violet’s abusive parents, she ended up with Stella’s family for the holidays and was rewarded to the ultimate prize upon graduation: To be able to live with Stella in a lavish apartment in New York City for rent that was dirt cheap, compliments of Stella’s parents.

Post graduation, Stella traveled the world and Violet buckled down as an intern at a news company called KCN. Violet pulled herself up by her bootstraps and quickly began to climb the ladder of success at the network, ultimately landing the gig of an associate producer. And, upon Stella’s return home she was left to her own devices because her BFF turned into a workaholic.

Then, things changed rather abruptly when Violet informed Stella that her head boss was at the party they were attending for the wedding anniversary of Stella’s parents. And, just like that, Stella was on and began as an intern at the news network the following week. She began to move up in her own right – by being in front of the camera and reporting the news that Violet worked hard to investigate.

Despite Violet’s lack of desire to be an anchorwoman, seeing her somewhat lazy other half get the glory for her labor began to take its toll. And, once again, Violet was left in Stella’s shadow. What happens when jealousy begins to eat away between two “best friends”? Read the book and find out!

Although I wasn’t a huge fan of either of the main characters in this book, it proved for a good, fast paced read. I wouldn’t want to be friends with Stella or Violet but I loved their dynamic between each other that was filled with back handed compliments and snide remarks.

It was interesting, because they were both “mean girls” in their own way but Stella was just more forthright about it. So, seeing things from the perspective of Violet, the girl who shied away from all eyes being on her was a nice spin on things. She definitely had the brains of the operation between her and Stella and used her wits to her advantage throughout the book to try and ensure that she would land on top. Ambitious or just a bitch? Lol, you decide!

Like I said, this book wasn’t my favorite but I do think that it was worth a read and I’ll rate it with a 6.5 out of ten stars.

Has anyone else read Necessary People? What were your thoughts on it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul29

Comfort Food

Posted on by
Standard
Comfort Food

Hellooo everyone! When I’m in the mood for it, I love to cook. But, that is something that I really haven’t done in a while, opting for quick hunger fixes like sandwiches, eggs, cereal, and mac n cheese (of course!). I’ve wanted to make some more fulfilling meals for a while now but haven’t felt up to it. However, the bad bitch is back (lol) and I spent Sunday morning cooking up a pasta salad that will feed me for the week as well as some carrots with a butter glaze and rosemary. Check it out:

foodfood1

When I go grocery shopping, I try to buy a lot of fresh veggies to eat with hummus as a snack. It’s important to me not to be wasteful so I really do try to eat absolutely everything that I buy before hitting the grocery again. In my fridge, I had a bag of baby carrots and some lovely little cherry tomatoes that had been sitting there for a while so I decided to make some simple culinary magic happen with the ingredients that I had in my fridge and pantry.

I enjoyed my cooking time so much because I feel like I haven’t made a substantial meal since moving into my apartment and it felt good to create something delicious for myself. Self care includes eating good food and I’m hoping that my mental health will improve while I work my way through the pot of pasta salad that I made all by myself.

Here is the makeshift recipe I created for the salad if you’d like to try it out for yourself. I know I’m partial to it because I made it but it is such a nice, light pasta salad perfect for summer!

  • 1 box bowtie pasta
  • 2 small jars of artichoke, pour it all in (liquid included!)
  • 1 container cherry tomatoes
  • Large chunks of mozzarella cheese
  • Parmesan cheese sprinkled over top
  • Seasoned with: Salt, pepper, basil, parsley, and oregano

And, for the carrots, I cooked them up, let them cook some more in butter, and then seasoned with salt, pepper, and rosemary.

I hope you enjoy my hodge podge pasta salad as much as I did and feel free to add your own twist onto it! 😀

What is your favorite dish to cook? What kind of food do you love to eat in the summer time? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul21

How To Feel More Authentic In Your Skin

Posted on by
Standard
How To Feel More Authentic In Your Skin

It is incredibly easy to be confused by the tides of life, and by our impression of ourselves. Having a secure and firm knowledge of yourself and your surroundings often means you’re not taking an open-minded enough approach. After all, if we were only ever 100% sure of ourselves, we would have no need to grow, evolve, and move forward in our lives. The same goes for the circumstances in our life.

Wishing to become a more authentic person can be hard to do. But we know it’s something we would like to achieve. We know it would help us live according to our truth, to defend ourselves more readily, to be more open to those we admire, and more tolerant of those we don’t. However, it can be hard to define ‘authenticity.’ Surely even in our struggles to be authentic, we are being our authentic selves in that moment? You see how confusion can build.

What matters is your feeling, and how you chase it, provided you understand the essential elements of self-care in your quest for actualization. Let us explore personal authenticity together, and what changes you might make to encourage a more wholesome sense of you:

Help Others:

It can be extremely easy to fall into a sense of solipsism. Only concerned with our own issues, we develop a pervasive sense of tunnel-vision. It can make us much less thoughtful of others and less receptive to their ideas. Sometimes, to overcome this, taking a positive step by helping others can be worthwhile. But it’s important you don’t do this simply to ‘improve yourself’. Help others because you want to. Because there might be a cause that you think is worthy, or there’s a person you’d like to assist.

It doesn’t have to be a monetary form of help, either. Simply helping your grandmother attend that theater show she might love to see, helping someone cross the road, or even standing up for someone in a heated debate can all be forms of helping someone. When we do that, and do it genuinely, we can feel a sense of connection. Just ensure the help is consented to first of all, and you won’t make any accidental mistakes.

Like What You Like:

It can be very easy to dissuade ourselves of our interests. For example, it could be that we absolutely adore playing tabletop games with a community of our peers. But because of our highly-entrepreneurial and motivated workplace, we are surrounded by those who live and breathe work. We can feel pressure to fall in line with them, especially because we are often socially comprised to the five closest people to us. But should you worry about that? We’re not entirely convinced.

Feeling more authentic in your skin is often tantamount to simply accepting yourself, and accepting what you like. If you wish to start gardening, clay animation, painting, dancing, or anything that you would consider out of your ‘identity norms’, then go for it! Life is about trying new things and anyone who turns their nose down to your new hobbies clearly doesn’t have your best intentions in mind.

Stop Worrying About It:

Telling anyone to ‘stop worrying’ when they are worrying is often a somewhat shallow strategy. But in this case, as long as you go to bed knowing that you’ve done your best that day, then it is more than enough. To become authentic does not mean being the best-dressed, the most handsome, performing the highest standing jump, or doing the best cartwheel. It simply means being you, whatever that means, right now.

With these tips – we hope you can find yourself fondly and enjoy all life has to offer!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jun18

Galaxy Wine Glass Craft

Posted on by
Standard
Galaxy Wine Glass Craft

Howdy! I end up at one of the many local libraries with my clients several times per month, because there are always fun activities being held that are completely free to the public. From crafts and record clubs to murder mystery games and movie nights, there is a program suited for everyone’s interests. This past week, I took one of my clients to a craft activity at the library where we painted our own galaxy themed wine glasses. Here are the results for mine:

galaxy1galaxygalaxy2

Needless to say, ours definitely didn’t turn out like the amazing examples seen above. But, it was sure fun, nonetheless. The library provided everything for this event and all I had to do was register myself and my client and show up. The librarian purchased the wine glasses from the Dollar Tree and the acrylic paints and brushes from Michael’s for a budget friendly craft.

The glasses were pre-painted by the librarian so that we were just able to decorate and she said that there were three coats of black paint on the glass. We then used outer space inspired colors like blues, purples, and reds to create our own little galaxy. The glasses can be baked in the oven to preserve the paint if you intend on drinking out of it. But, do remember to put the glass in the oven as soon as you turn it on so it gradually gets used to the heat and doesn’t shatter!

I plan on using my glass strictly for decor. It’s not perfect, by any means. But, my client and I had a blast making them and it was a craft that can easily be replicated at home if anyone is interested in giving it a try. 🙂

How do you get crafty? What kind of programs are held at your local library? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun11

Four Fantastic Reasons To Take Up Crafting

Posted on by
Standard
Four Fantastic Reasons To Take Up Crafting

If you’re in the market for a relaxing activity that promises endless hours of fun and satisfaction, you should definitely consider crafting. Why? If the four reasons below don’t convince you, trying your hand at something crafty certainly will. Next time you’ve got some time on your hands, do yourself a favor and give crafting a try:

Curiosity:

One thing that defines all crafty folk is curiosity. You get a kick out of working out how to go about creating something out of its component parts, and it’s not just the intellectual knowledge you hunger for, but the experience. If you’re naturally curious, crafting offers endless opportunities to discover new processes, get your head around intricate designs, and get to grips with different materials. Whether you’re into embroidery or woodwork, once you get started, you’ll discover an endless world of complexity to uncover for yourself.

Be a Gifting Goddess:

Everyone has that friend who reliably produces the most jaw-dropping gifts, which they then reveal were made by hand! With a little crafting expertise, you can be a gifting goddess too. No matter what area of crafting you’re into, chances are you’ll be able to whip up a gift for someone special. If you’re into knitting, woolen gifts always go down as a treat (even the once cringe-worthy Christmas jumper is having a revival these days!). Or, if you’re a baker or cook, why not gift a batch of homemade cookies or a tasty jar of preserves? If you’re new to your craft and are not quite up for full-on gift production, consider other crafty ways to personalize your shop-bought gifts. You could make your own cards, or invest in a punch board and create your own personalized gift bags.

craft1

Photo by Kaboompics .com from Pexels

Crafters Are Forever Young:

Who says old dogs can’t learn new tricks? Research has consistently demonstrated that taking up new habits can have a positive impact on the sharpness and adaptability of your mind. Learning new things creates brand-new neural pathways, which work against the natural deterioration of the brain that comes with age. While it doesn’t matter what new things you do, crafts are a great choice because you’re unlikely to get bored with an endless array of new techniques and skills waiting to be mastered.

New Communities:

While crafting can be a rewarding solitary activity, crafters should be aware of the danger of becoming reclusive. If you’re looking for ways to get out there more, getting into a new craft will open up new worlds for you, socially. Learning from others is the best excuse to meet people, and a quick glance online will give you a sense of the local crafting communities available. Even if there are no craft events coming up, you’ll find a thriving online community sharing tips and inspiration, so there’s no need to feel alone. Crafters can be a shy tribe but remember: there are no strangers out there… only friends you haven’t met yet.

Whatever your reasons for taking up crafting, don’t forget the most important benefit of all: crafting simply makes you feel good! Who cares how good your results are. What matters is that you’re enjoying yourself. 🙂

Featured Image By: Jasmin Schreiber on Unsplash

May18

Super Cool Planter

Posted on by
Standard
Super Cool Planter

Hi! As you all know, my dad is an expert gardener so that makes gift giving very easy for him. For his birthday this past month, I got him this awesome stackable planter set from Amazon. Since it has warmed up significantly in Ohio since April, he finally got around to getting the planter set up with strawberries and flowers and it looks great! Take a look:

plant2plantplant1

I was so happy to come home on Mother’s Day and see the planter out on the deck in its full glory. It also made me smile to see the garden gnome planter that I got for him last year with a potted plant in his little knapsack. Seeing the splendor of my dad’s hard work never ceases to amaze me and it’s always so cool to see the projects that he tends to so lovingly take full bloom!

What is your favorite plant or flower? Who else is a fan of gardening? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr14

Library Freebie Haul

Posted on by
Standard
Library Freebie Haul

Helloooo! While apartment shopping, I have made a really strong effort to shop mainly at discount or thrift stores. Ballin on a budget is important to me and I am so happy to have saved so much money by shopping smart for my new place. Of course, I never say no to freebies, either, and was able to pick out a ton of books from the free to take section at one of the local libraries. Check it out:

hobby4

Reading is one of my favorite hobbies and, until I can figure out which entertainment streaming service I’ll be going with, I will be doing a lot of it at my apartment. So, a haul of new books to read was just what I needed! For the most part, all of the books I chose are thrillers and I am looking forward to sinking my teeth into all of them. And, how can you say no to a book by Betty White FO FREE? The answer is: you don’t!

At a book store, all of these would surely total out to around one hundred bucks and I was able to take them home for nothing. This was a great haul and I am so happy to have some new books to stock my shelves with at chez moi. 🙂

Do you frequent any of your local libraries? How do you save money while shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah