Tag Archives: holiday season

Dec13

Seasonal Friendly Reminders

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Seasonal Friendly Reminders

Howdy!! The holiday season is a joyous time, but there is no denying that is can be highly stressful – especially for those who struggle to feel merry and bright around this time of year. I thought it would be a good idea to discuss some Seasonal Friendly Reminders today to help enhance the holidays for everyone – holly jolly or not. Let’s take a look at a few different ways to do so:

Holiday Shop Kindly:

From someone who had an extensive tenure working retail, believe me when I say that holidays can bring out the absolute worst in people. In fact, a vast majority of the most terrible encounters I ever had with customers happened during the holidays. Look, we all get it. The stores are crowded, what you want might not be available, a seasonal employee might make a mistake – but it’s never EVER a reason to be mean to someone. Practice patience and if you can’t, stick to online shopping instead of ruining someone’s day.

It’s Okay To Feel Sad:

There is a preconceived notion that this is the happiest time of the year and that it’s impossible to feel sad during the holidays. FALSE. This can actually be the hardest time of the year for those who have lost a loved one, battle with their mental health, or are suffering from an illness. Or it could be none of the above. Regardless, it is okay to feel sad and if you know someone who might be struggling, comfort them. Comments like “You can’t be sad, it’s Christmas” are not helpful because holidays don’t dictate someone’s happiness. Be there, lend an ear, and choose your words carefully – it could be exactly what that person needs!

No Comment:

Changing is part of what makes us human and we change all of the time whether we realize it or not. Some changes are more obvious than others – new tattoos, piercings, a hair cut, growing your hair, or losing/gaining weight. If whatever change you see in someone is not your personal cup of tea, Do. Not. Comment. On. It. Let’s repeat that: No comment is the best comment! Some of these changes could be a result of trauma or an illness and unless information is volunteered, the best rule of thumb is to please bite your tongue. 🙂

And Remember…

You truly have the power to make or break someone’s day so use it wisely. When all else fails, just be kind. Give a smile, a pleasant word, hold the door open for someone – small gestures like these could turn a bad day into something more tolerable. This really can be a sensitive time of the year so be sensitive of that. Spreading holiday cheer doesn’t have to be a huge production and Random Acts of Kindness do the job just fine!

Honestly, these are all good things to remember no matter the time of the year but it just hits different during the holidays!

Have you worked a seasonal job before? Have you ever had a bad holiday experience? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec11

Community Fun

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Community Fun

Hello!! Listen, I’ll be the first to admit that there are downsides to living in Ohio. It’s basically just corn lol. However, I love my life here and still wouldn’t change it for a thing. One of the best parts about the greater Akron area is the true sense of community we have and it’s greater amplified by all of the fun events hosted throughout the city. Concerts, food truck festivals, vendor fairs, you name it and chances are we have done something similar in our neck of the woods!

A particularly fantastic community gathering spot is the Quirk Cultural Center in Cuyahoga Falls. At the Quirk, they offer workshops for people of all ages. From tiny tots to seniors, there is something for everyone there. In fact, I used to take pottery classes there for several years in my youth and have enjoyed watercolor painting classes in my adulthood. And, this past weekend, I took my nieces there for a special crafting workshop so they could make Christmas presents for their parents.

All I knew for the craft class was that we were going to paint mugs and the girls were so excited. I was too because any time with them is the best time! Even though it was a simple activity, our hosts at the Quirk did such a phenomenal job of making it special. When we walked into the space, we were greeted by a huge Christmas tree, holiday inflatables, festive music, and a hot chocolate and cookie station. The greatest surprise was how neat the mugs to be painted were. There was a snowman, a reindeer, Santa, and a mug with Santa’s belt going around the middle. They seriously looked like something you could paint at All Fired Up and it only costed ten dollars per person to participate.

The girls and I had SO much fun and my eldest niece did a banner job painting the mug herself and my younger niece, who is two, did the best she could lol. Either way, I knew they both knew that they were making something for their parents and they were so happy to have a gift for them that they made all by themselves! There were so many families at the event and it was a joy to get in the holiday spirit all together. I hope that they will be doing more paint parties soon because it was a hit for both the adults and kiddos!

A wonderful time was had by all at our pseudo All Fired Up workshop and I am definitely feeling merrier and brighter for it!

What kind of events does your community put on? Have you ever taken a crafting workshop before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec6

Last Minute Gift Ideas

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Last Minute Gift Ideas

Hello!! I have to admit, I did not complete my holiday shopping as early as I usually do this year. However, I am pleased to report that I will officially be DONE once I pick up a gift card at my nail salon on Tuesday. It feels so good to have gifts for everyone in my big family out of the way and I have been working on wrapping a few gifts at a time whenever I feel like it lol. We are officially in the holiday home stretch and if you are just starting your shopping now, then: 1) You are giving ME anxiety! And 2) I am here to help with these last minute options. Let’s get to it:

Food & Drink:

You truly can never go wrong with a food and drink style gift and it is something I implement every year. For the families I work with, I always go with some type of gift basket like chocolate, popcorn, or cookie kits and they are very well received. In fact, this year, I scored a wonderful deal for customized chocolate tins from Ghirardelli that I am really excited about. Most stores offer a great array of gift baskets, wine or beer samplers, or cooking and baking kits so go for it!

Gift Cards:

SO many people say that gift cards are a thoughtless gift and I say FALSE. If you do feel that way, though, you can absolutely put some thought into gift cards! Treat your giftee to a gift card to a movie theater and a favorite restaurant. BOOM. Instant date night. Have a giftee that drives a lot (Like me!)? They will surely want some help filling their tank! Shopping for a shopaholic? Now they can go wild at their go to stores. Yes, it’s one of the most easy ways to complete your shopping. But, it will be a gift that’s truly appreciated and that’s alright in my book!

Pet Supplies:

As a bunny mom, I can honestly say that I am THRILLED whenever I get a Chewy gift card or supplies for my gremlins as a gift. If you have some proud pet parents on your list, this could be a fantastic way to go. As a bonus, it will give them some extra scratch to spend on post holiday sales! If you don’t know what kind of supplies are necessary for your giftee’s pet, just ask. It’s another added bonus because it eliminates a chore for them too.

Photo Albums:

If you’re looking for a more sentimental option, photo albums or framed pictures are perfect – especially if you are the designated picture taker in your family (Like me!). This is a gift that I give at least one of every year because it’s just so easy and it’s really thoughtful. You could do an album of your kiddos for the grandparents, framed pics of you and your bestie on a fun day out, or even canvas prints. Websites like Shutterfly are always running great promotions so this is a gift that could be completed right from your computer!

Stocking Stuffers:

There is literally no rule stating that a gift has to be big or expensive. All that matters is the thought!! Stocking stuffers are excellent if you are strapped for time, ideas, or cash. Think candles and lotion, shaving kits or hot sauce, socks, hats, bath bombs – I could go on for forever. A small item or two and a big smile on your face is really all you need and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. ❤

If you have finished your holiday shopping: Kudos! If not, I hope these ideas help!

Are you good at wrapping gifts? What are your holiday plans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov20

Holiday Mental Health Reminder

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Holiday Mental Health Reminder

Hello!! We are SO close to Thanksgiving that I can almost taste the green bean casserole (Don’t hate on it!). And, of course, then we enter the whirlwind of the winter holiday season. While this is an incredibly joyous time, it can also be highly stressful and it’s important to put your mental health first. Let’s talk about a few ways that you can ease some of those get together jitters so you can still have the merry and brightest time ever:

Ground Rules:

Given the current political situation we are in, it’s very likely that politics will be a topic of discussion at your gathering. This can be a blessing if everyone has the same political views but a curse if not! If the attendees are all across the board on their viewpoints, it might be a good idea to set a Ground Rule of not talking about it period. Unless each guest can engage in polite conversation, then it can turn heated very quickly and that is the last thing you want during the holidays!

Take Breaks:

If your holiday gathering has you feeling overwhelmed, take a break! There’s no rules saying that you can’t and you can excuse yourself without being obvious. No one will think anything of it if you pop into another room to “make a phone call” or you could volunteer to take the family dog out for a quick jaunt. Once you have a few minutes to yourself, you can enter back into the situation feeling refreshed and better able to handle it.

Make Yourself Busy:

Sometimes the best way to shake off anxiety is to make yourself busy. There is always going to be the need for an extra helping hand during the holidays so be that person. Take drink orders, set the table, assist in the kitchen – you know the old saying about idle hands! Giving yourself a task to focus on could be just what you need if your mind starts to race or you’re feeling triggered.

Focus On The Positive:

There is a high probability that there is going to be someone you can’t freaking stand at the gathering. This can create a lot of tension within yourself so try not to let it fester and focus on the positives, instead. Chances are that when you start looking for the positives, there will be a lot of it! There are people you *probably* like there, the food will be banging, or maybe you will play some really fun games. The festivities are not going to last forever so you could be miserable or try to make the most of it for a few hours!

Talk It Out:

There is this preconceived notion that you are supposed to be happy AF during the holidays and that couldn’t be further from the case. Holidays can be an incredibly difficult time for people and it makes sense if you think about it. If you are feeling that holiday depression kick in, it could be really helpful to talk about it with a loved one or counselor. Then, you can create some strategies to get you through and try to take a bit of joy in the festivities too.

Whatever you are feeling during the holidays, good or bad, is okay! You’re allowed to feel anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed but with these tips I hope you can enjoy the season more fully!

What is your favorite thing about the holidays? What stresses you out during them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov14

Holiday Gift Brainstorm

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Holiday Gift Brainstorm

Hello! The winter holiday season is fast approaching. For those last minute shoppers, this is no big deal. However, it definitely feels like crunch time for the people that like to get their shopping done early. I fall under the latter category and have been diligently pecking away at my to buy for list. I have to admit that I have been feeling pretty uninspired during my shopping so let’s do a Holiday Gift Brainstorm! Then, we can all sit back and enjoy the holiday season stress free:

Gifts of Experience:

One of the most popular options for gift giving falls under Gifts of Experience. This is a great way to go if you are shopping for someone who has everything! Experience gifts could be anything from movie tickets to a pottery class or a few sessions at a yoga studio. The point is for your giftee to try something new or, perhaps, learn more about their favorite hobby. Gifts of Experience are nice for adults and children alike. If you have some kiddos to shop for, ask their parents if something like swim lessons, sports camp, or an art class would be a doable option. The last thing you want to give parents is more work so bonus points if you will be the transportation!

Just Ask:

While on the subject of asking people about gifts, there really is something to be said for asking in advance about what your giftees would like. This eliminates the potential for them not liking what you purchased and you can give them what they actually want or need. For example, families with small children might appreciate supplies like diapers, formula, or clothing as opposed to even more toys! Pet owners (like myself) could prefer a Chewy gift card over something for themselves. If you don’t ask, you will have no idea. If you are still wanting an element of surprise, try talking to someone close to your giftee for the inside scoop.

Favor Gifts:

The best prezzie of all could be taking something off of your giftee’s plate, which brings us to Favor Gifts. Maybe you will clean their house a few times, volunteer to be a date night babysitter, or even pay for their next oil change. These gifts are designed to make an aspect of adulting easier and we could all use a little less stress. I know I would be thrilled if my gift was a cleaning session at my apartment! 😀

Homemade:

There is no rule stating that you have to be an Etsy shop level crafter to give a homemade gift. Although, if you are, then that’s great too! Knitted scarves, socks, or baby booties will be welcome gifts during the winter. How about a photo collage? Maybe a mini portrait of your giftee or their beloved pet? You could put all of the dry ingredients for soup or cookies in a Mason jar, seal it with a bow, and call it a day. Or if you have a giftee that would like to learn your craft, offer a couple tutorial sessions and get them some of the basic essentials needed for a beginner level. And, as a bonus, you will have quality time together.

The best part of the holiday season is sharing it with the ones you love. No one’s saying the gifts aren’t nice, though! 😀 Happy shopping!

How is your holiday shopping going? Who is the most difficult person to shop for on your list? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov12

Hoosige Elf Costume Review

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Hoosige Elf Costume Review

Hi everyone!! I am SO excited to start creating content for the holiday season with Tim Misny. We have a ton of fun planned to show off our Misny Merch holiday collection, decor tours, and featuring all things merry and bright. For the festivities, I purchased an elf costume by Hoosige on Amazon and wanted to write a review because I just tried it on. This costume came with six different pieces and was under forty dollars, which will make it a hot seller for holiday celebrations. However, there are definitely some things you should be aware of before clicking on the order button:

elff

^^^ Image by Hoosige

When I am ordering clothing or costumes, I always always check the customer reviews in terms of sizing. Nine times out of ten, these sentiments have steered me in the right direction for a perfect fit. This time – not so much. If you read the Amazon reviews for this costume, almost every person recommended sizing up. So I did. Rather than ordering a small, I went for a medium and I wish I didn’t because the costume was ginormous. Not only was it oversized in width, but it is nowhere near as short as the image will lead you to believe. The dress went to the middle of my calves. With no time to exchange my order, I had to make things work so I gathered the excess in the back and secured it with a hair clip. The moral of the story: Order your regular size and, for once, do not listen to the reviews!

It is also worth mentioning that the socks looked more like sleeves for a shirt and did not fit close to the body at all. I opted to swap mine out for a pair of white, ruffly ankle socks. The shoes also leave a lot to be desired and felt like sanitary coverings. They are not made for outdoor use so if you plan to wear them, put them on after you enter into your destination. I will not be using them and will wear a red pair of heels instead – I need any extra length I can get! I will say that the hat and ears are insanely cute and both stayed nice and secure once on. In fact, they are the only parts of the costume that I don’t have a problem with lol.

Even though I am swimming in this costume, I will be damned if I’m not working it and after some tweaking it did look a lot better. If you plan on ordering one for yourself, just know that it might not be exactly what you had in mind after viewing the product pictures!

Do you have a costume you wear during the holidays? What is your favorite holiday movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug20

Early Holiday Shopping 101

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Early Holiday Shopping 101

Hello!!! I absolutely adore the winter holiday season and want to be able to revel in it stress free. Of course, like many, that stress comes from the gift department which is why I like to get a very early jump on my Christmas shopping. I have a big family and that makes for a pretty extensive shopping list! Rather than scramble last minute and pray that the prezzies arrive on time, I avoid that completely by starting my purchasing right about now. This is never a chore but something really fun because your girl loves to shop even if it is for other people! As I prepare to get my holiday shopping out of the way, there are a few things that I always keep in mind. Let’s get started:

Consider Your Budget:

Holiday shopping should not break your bank and it is so important to consider your budget to prevent that from happening. The simplest way that I keep my budget in check is by placing a firm amount on what I am willing to spend and sticking to it. Sure, you can leave a bit of wiggle room. However, be wary of wiggling too much because that’s when you can get into trouble. Around now is when I like to pick up a few extra shifts at work and designate that cash for strictly holiday purposes. This is a great way to ease stress later on. Once again, I would much rather do more work now as opposed to waiting into the winter. And, yes, that is because I hate driving in the snow SO. Much. lol!

Consider Your Time:

Considering your time doesn’t exactly apply to online and in store purchases now. But, if you are going the handmade or custom made gift route, it is absolutely something to think about. Custom orders can take a decent amount of time to get done and it might take longer as the holiday season approaches. It is best to get these out of the way ASAP to avoid that. Homemade gifts are an amazing and most loved way to go and completing them in a rush could be very frazzling, to say the least. Chip away at your homemade goods when you can so you can more fully enjoy the craftsmanship and skill involved. Then, your gift will be made with love instead of hair being teared out. 😀

Sales & Deals:

Early holiday shopping is all about knowing what should be purchased at the current moment and what can wait until later. If you see an item for your giftee at an awesome price, then go for it now! Chances are you will not find it at a better price later if it is already a total steal. The same goes for clearance or seasonal products, get them now or they will be gone. It is also helpful to think about where you like to buy holiday gifts at. Do they run sales often? Do they have a big Black Friday or winter Semi-Annual Sale? If that is the case, it might be a good idea to wait until the prezzies you have your eye on are on promotion. This is a-okay, but you will want to be cautious because other people might be scoping them out too!

Alternate Options:

There are so many different ways to do holiday presents so talk to your family and friends and see about switching things up! Perhaps you will have a White Elephant party? Maybe everyone will have one specific giftee to shop for? Or how about everyone pitches in for an experience style gift all together? This can be a really fun way to make new family traditions while keeping stress at a minimum. There is no right way to do the holidays so get creative and go for it. Whatever it is will be perfect for your nearest and dearest. ❤

With that, I am ready to get my shop on and am already looking forward to holiday memories with my loved ones!

Are you an early or last minute holiday shopper? What is one of the holiday traditions in your family? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan11

BFF Holiday Hangout

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BFF Holiday Hangout

Hello!!! This past Friday, I had a wonderful post holiday hang out with my BFF, Lea. This was fantastic because I spent the entirety of my Christmas break sick so it was nice to have a celebration that I was up for. We hit up our favorite bar, the Cashmere Cricket, for drinks and dinner and it was divine! We sipped on martinis (Lavender Fizz for me and Key Lime Pie for her) and had a delicious meal. I have never ate at the Cricket before and I am still thinking about their grilled cheese dippers! SO yummy. What I am swooning over the most, though, are the most amazing gifts from my bestie:

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Lea and I have been best friends since high school, but the novelty of gift giving for Christmas and birthdays has yet to wear off. We both agree that we are each other’s favorite person to shop for because it’s fun lol. Whenever I hit up my preferred TJMaxx or she attends a craft fair, we are very much in tune to the prezzies that we would go wild over. Her and I know exactly what each other would like and we always end up with gifts that we would have bought for ourselves or would want to buy. It’s a beautiful thing. ❤

For Christmas, Lea gifted me with a bottle of Peach Moscato, cocktail mixes, a gorgeous pair of skeleton hand earrings, and a lounging skeleton pillow. Lea and I are peach wine girls and that is forever a staple in our gifts during exchanges. The Farm Fresh wine was very tasty and it was so nice to sip on during a weekend viewing of My 600 Lb. Life. She also got me cocktail mixes in Cherry Limeade, Citrus-Berry Sangria, and Strawberry Pineapple. I have never seen anything like these drink pouches before, but all you have to do is add wine or vodka and water and sip away. These are going to be a blast to try out!

What I am loving the most from my gifts from Lea has got to be the earrings and pillow. Lea knows that all things spooky speak to my soul so anything with skeletons is A-okay with me. In fact, I was wearing a sweater with a skull print when we were together! I cannot wait to wear my new earrings and am shocked that I don’t already own something like them. They are creepy while still being delicate in sparkling silver and will be a welcome addition to one of my next OOTDs. And, of course, how fabulous is that pillow? The lounging skeleton is perfect for… Well, lounging lol and how fun are those tassels?! It matches mine and Johnny’s emo aesthetic to the T. 🙂

Having a best friend like my Lea is the absolute best gift I could ever have and I look forward to our annual holiday hangouts every year. Our summer birthdays are still way over the horizon, but I already can’t wait to shop for my best girl! ❤

How do you and your friends celebrate the holidays? How long have you been friends with your best friend for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan4

Merry Merry OOTD

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Merry Merry OOTD

Hi darlings!! My Christmas break did not really go accordingly to plan because I was sick during a majority of it. Luckily, my family celebrated the holiday later in the week and I was able to rally enough to go and stay in my bubble. We had a wonderful day because my family in its entirety was there. All four kids, our partners, and my three nieces and sweet nephew. It was amazing and is what Christmas is all about! For my holiday outfit, I didn’t want to go too all out because I was wiped out. I did throw a little something something together, though! Check it out:

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Who? What? Wear?

Feliz Navidad Sweater: Walmart

Skinny Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters

Platform Boots: Dolls Kill

Hoop Earrings: Argentino Vivo, TJMaxx

Johnny and I have loved being able to sport our Tim Misny holiday sweaters throughout December, so I wanted to wear something different for this look. We have quite a few Christmas sweaters to choose from, but my absolute favorite has to be the Feliz Navidad one. Sorry, Tim!! We purchased this years ago from Walmart and I’m not really sure why lol. I think we both just liked it a lot because I can’t recall ever wearing it to a get together with friends! This sweater is everything. It is festive, fun, and bright and I will never not be over the beads, tassels, and hot peppers hanging off of it. 😀

With a sweater this bold, I really didn’t have any other options for pants other than my go to black skinnies. So, we’ll move onto shoes and accessories! For jewelry, there wasn’t any open real estate for necklaces or bracelets. Of course, even if there was I wouldn’t have worn them because of all the bling on the sweater! I opted to keep things simple with my go to pair of gold hoop earrings by Argentino Vivo. My sweater offered a lot of movement and so do the earrings so that complimented each other nicely. These earrings are also big enough to hold their own against the sweater and added some lovely length to my neck.

Shoes were next and I was sick of wearing my red Bamboo boots for holiday OOTDs. I decided to go a very different route by wearing my devil horn Dolls Kill platforms instead for a little heaven and a little hell. Mainly, I wore these for the red glitter but privately I wore them to laugh about it in my head lol. I think they added perfectly to the pure over the topness of the sweater and they are definitely the Lil Red version of Dorothy’s ruby slippers. Once these babies were on, I was ready to celebrate the holiday in devilishly good style!

My Merry Merry OOTD put me in the holiday spirit, but that was nothing compared to how my spirits soared when I was together with my whole family. I hope all of you had a fantastic holiday too!

How did you celebrate the holiday season? Do you have any fun holiday sweaters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan1

Happy New Year!!

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Happy New Year!!

Helloooo darlings and Happy New Year!!! It’s 2024, baby and this is a most exciting year indeed. Come September, it will be lifewithlilred’s TEN YEAR blogiversary spectacular!! I have never been one for making New Year’s Resolutions and, honestly, is anyone really? I feel like no one makes them anymore and the ones I have made in the past were broken pretty much immediately lol. However, I am bringing nothing but good vibes into 2024 because there is so much to look forward to!

As you all know, I formed a partnership with one of Ohio’s most well known local celebrities, Tim Misny, this past November. In the New Year, we will be taking our content creating to the next level with lots of fun adventures and I couldn’t be more excited. We have grand plans of podcasts, videos, and merch photo shoots and it is such a thrill for all of my hard work to pay off in such a major way. lifewithlilred has been an almost decade long journey and this is, easily, the coolest thing my blog baby has ever done for me. 😀

From taking on new clients in my work as an Independent Provider as well as some social media management gigs, it’s safe to say I like to keep myself busy. This is a wonderful thing and I love all of my many jobs more than words can say. However, after getting pretty sick on what should have been my holiday vacation, I realized how damaging the “grind don’t stop” lifestyle can be. I guess I do have a resolution to be more lenient with myself when I need to take a break as well as recognizing my own limitations. I am only one person and definitely need to treat myself better as my own employer! The grind should stop sometimes and whether that be taking a long weekend or clearing my schedule for a day, I plan on doing that more this year.

Last year was for lack of better words, a shit show. There was SO much going wrong and I feel like I am finally getting a grasp on normal life again. One constant in my life is my blog and I am so thankful for all of you because I think I would go nuts without lifewithlilred! I hope each and every one of you has a New Year full of smiles, success, and joy. Let’s make 2024 our best year yet and thank you for joining me on another trip around the blogosphere. I love you all. ❤

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!