Tag Archives: holidays

Holiday Haul: My Friend Edition

Standard
Holiday Haul: My Friend Edition

Hello! It is a very rare thing for me to take time off from work. Mainly because I love my job but also having no paid time off, lol. However, I have taken two weeks off so I can safely celebrate Christmas with my family. I have had such fun enjoying the holiday season with my clients. From online shopping for the perfect presents for each of them to decking out their homes with Christmas decor – it really doesn’t get much better than that!

On my last week of work before my holiday vacation, one of my dear friends who I have the joy of working with bestowed these beautiful gifts onto me. Check it out:

5CB58592-27E0-4D87-9CF7-99A97FE09E5D

My pal and I love to color together and I am tickled that he selected a coloring book and colored pencils just for me. I am so excited to bring the Buggie Buddies book with me the next time I watch my niece because she loves stickers and creating masterpieces with crayons. The Malley’s Chocolates are delicious and tastes like a fancy Heath Bar, which is perfect because that’s one of my favorite candies. I also love the Christmas card that came with my gifts – it is absolutely adorable!

Nothing is more special to me than the gifts that my sweet friends have chosen. Honestly, the selection above is already my favorite gift and it isn’t even Christmas yet. I know how much thought and care went into picking these gifts out – from the carefully wrapped package to the contents inside that are filled with such happy memories. I know my friend is going to love the present I got for him and I cannot wait to call him on Christmas day when he opens it! ❤

What is one of your favorite gifts that you have received? Is there a gift that you’re really excited about giving this year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Getting In The Holiday Spirit: Christmas Tree Decorating Edition

Standard
Getting In The Holiday Spirit: Christmas Tree Decorating Edition

Hello! This past week, one of my clients and I continued on with our tradition of decorating the Christmas tree together. For the second year in a row, we were rockin’ around the Christmas tree, singing Christmas carols, and enjoying each other’s company. It hasn’t felt much like Christmas time considering the state of my state right now, as the coronavirus continues to run its course through Ohio. However, just like when my client and I decorated the Christmas tree last year, I felt much more like celebrating by the time we were done. 🙂

Check out our handiwork:

BD206F1F-3BC0-4EF2-B3AB-1AC51D573F02F6E06ACD-E4D0-4314-A4B7-8CC90BAE2B03A0C29198-DBFD-497B-A6D5-87F6E53FC5A0

My friend absolutely loves Christmas and has been excited for the upcoming holiday for months now. His joy for the season is contagious and it was so much fun to decorate the tree with him. Especially because I haven’t decorated the tree in my family home in years because we keep it up year round, lol! While all of his favorite tunes played, we debated the best placement for the ornaments and wondered out loud what would be waiting for us under the tree this year. I can’t wait for him to open his gift from me on Christmas day! 🙂

Everything feels so scary and different right now and it was really nice to spend a peaceful afternoon around the glowing lights on the tree. If you have the Blue Christmas blues right now, as I did, I highly recommend doing a little decorating, yourself. Whether that be hanging ornaments on the tree or placing Christmas village figurines on your mantel, a little holiday cheer can go a long way. I can attest to that firsthand. ❤

How do you get into the holiday spirit? Do you have a favorite holiday decoration? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Ballin’ On A Budget Christmas Gifts

Standard
Ballin’ On A Budget Christmas Gifts

Hi! Christmas is coming in hot and it is no secret that this year’s holiday celebrations will be much different than in 2019. COVID-19 has put a damper on literally everything and many are still out of work and struggling to make ends meet. It is understandable that the holiday season might be stressing out those in a pinch even more so I put together a list of totally sweet and cheap gift ideas that will make anyone’s day. It’s always, always the thought that counts and your giftees will love the following:

Picture this:

Do you have a ton of favorite selfies and pics with one of your giftees? Print a couple out and frame them or print out a bunch and tuck them away in a photo album. I love this gift idea and have used it often, myself. Photos bring you back to happier times like vacations, girls night out, and family get togethers. Everyone can certainly smile more during these times and a pic with you and your giftee will do the trick just fine.

DIY:

Another simple and fun gift idea is all things DIY. How about crafting some holiday ornaments for everyone on your list? Holiday themed decor always goes over well and your options are limitless. Perhaps painted winter scenes to hang up? Homemade bath and body care items or candles? Or you could assemble all of the ingredients to make holiday cookies into a cute Mason jar. DIY gifts are special because no one else in the world will have something like it!

Future fun:

Talk to your giftees about what they are most excited to do when it’s safe. Are they dying to see a movie in theaters? Browse the mall care free for the afternoon? What about dining at their favorite restaurant? Get the deets and present a plan for a day together with those on your list in 2021. This is insanely thoughtful and it shows that you’re listening when your loved ones talk to you. Also, who doesn’t like having something to look forward to?!

Family Day:

Instead of a gift, why not opt to plan a winter wonderland day for your family post or pre Christmas? Host a snowball fight or a trek through the woods. What about ice skating on a lake? Or driving around to look at Christmas lights? It will be such fun to have everyone all together again! Have hot chocolate ready for once you head inside and pop on a Christmas movie or comedy to keep the good vibes going. I would love to do this with my family. 🙂

Books & movies:

I don’t know anyone who isn’t constantly asking for recommendations of books or movies to help ease their pandemic boredom. Choose a new book or movie that you think your giftee would love. It could be one of your favorites, it could be something new from their fave author or actor – heck, it could be something totally random! Either way, you are providing some entertainment for everyone on your list and they will be most appreciative when they feel like there is “nothing” to do.

The holidays shouldn’t be a stressful time so try and enjoy yourself! Easier said than done, I know. But, as I said before, the thought you put into your gifts is the most important thing so use the ideas above to help get you started. ❤

How is your holiday shopping going? Do you have a gift you are really excited to give? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Holiday Season Writing Prompts

Standard
Holiday Season Writing Prompts

Howdy! In case you haven’t noticed, I am most sympathetic to bloggers that are struggling to create content during the COVID-19 pandemic. Writing is an amazing outlet and I think that I would go crazy if I didn’t keep with my routine of daily blogging. It saddens me that there are people in the blogosphere who feel like they have nothing to say right now and I want to help. I have posted several dozen writing prompts throughout this year and I don’t plan on stopping now!

If you need some inspiration to get a post going, try writing about the following:

  • Holiday gift guides (Best gifts for him, her, parents, children, etc.)
  • Safety tips for celebrating this holiday season
  • Stories behind any of your favorite holiday decor
  • Special holiday memories
  • Favorite recipes for cold weather
  • A favorite gift you have received or given
  • What your holiday will look like this year in comparison to last
  • Sweet treats! Cookie decorating, chocolate making, etc.
  • What winter weather is like in your neck of the woods
  • A holiday themed OOTD or MOTD
  • Holiday traditions in your family
  • Pro tips for perfectly wrapped presents
  • Favorite cold weather activities
  • What the holiday season means to you

The list could go on and on…

If you’re still having a rough go of creating content and find these posts helpful, let me know because I can always make more. Questions or concerns? Write a comment or email me at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com ❤

Has blogging in 2020 been hard for you? What are you excited to do when it’s safer to do so? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree

Standard
Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree

Hello! Way back in May of this year (Doesn’t that seem like forever ago?!), one of my favorites, Sheryl, guest blogged on lifewithlilred for the first time. We became fast friends and I am always so happy to chat with her whether that be over the blogosphere, Facebook, or email. Despite never meeting in real life or our difference in age (Although, Sheryl doesn’t look a day over twenty-one!), we have so much in common and I am very thankful to be her “young friend” as she calls me. ❤

Please check out Sheryl’s Light to keep up to date on all of the delightful musings of my dear friend and enjoy her guest post that she made special for lifewithlilred:

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree

I’m posting today in answer to my friend, Sarah’s, call for holiday guest blog posts. I wasn’t going to blog today so reading her post prompted me to jump on the bandwagon. In reading my Facebook newsfeed I have noticed a lot of my friends have already put up their Christmas trees to stave off the coronavirus blues. Yesterday, I decided to decorate mine too! Sometimes I get lazy or my back will hurt. I’m glad I did.  

Seeing a winter scene of twinkling Christmas house lights on a snowy landscape is so pretty. The same feeling comes with the lights on my Christmas tree:

image(5)image(6)

My son and his family are visiting his dad in Florida so I snapped the top picture to send to him. He loved it, stating that they couldn’t wait to get home to Texas to put up their tree. They have this huge Christmas tree that was decorated minimally for the last few years because of the grabby little hands of my two grandsons. This year, with them being four and five now, they can put a few more decorations on their tree! I can’t wait to see it.

Next, I’m going to pull out the rest of my Christmas decorations completing the scene. I save all of my old Christmas cards to put up on the doors which makes it very festive! This year will, of course, be very different from the previous years. Where I live there will be no Santa for the kids, no hot chocolate and cookies, and no decorated Common Room. 

The positive that’s coming out of all of this is not boo-hoo what I’m missing but more that I will never take the get-togethers of the Christmas season for granted ever again. I came across this hilarious video which is so true of Christmas 2020.

Take Care,
Sheryl Rose

Have you completed your holiday decorating? How does it look? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sweet Surprises: A Thanksgiving Stowaway Edition

Standard
Sweet Surprises: A Thanksgiving Stowaway Edition

Hello!! Sadly, Johnny and I were not able to attend Thanksgiving with my family and it really, really sucked. It was so hard to visit my loved ones outside and not be able to hug them and enjoy the day together. It was especially difficult to not be able to hold my niece, Valerie, because she is my lil BFF and I have never not held her whenever I see her since she has been born.

My parents were nice enough to drop Thanksgiving dinner off on mine and Johnny’s doorstep and it wasn’t until the following day that I noticed a little stowaway on the bag they sent over:

127214393_167890441719866_7123459606698413746_n

Valerie loves playing with stickers and her and my sister stuck this little guy from Trolls onto our to go bag. I didn’t notice it right away because it was on the backside of it and it made me so happy when I finally saw this “hi auntie” message from my niece.

The little things really do make the best sweet surprises. I wish I could have been there to hear Val say “uh oh” when one of her stickers ripped and I am so ready for Christmas so I can be there when her and her parents open all of her prezzies.

This Thanksgiving was straight up not a good time for me or Johnny and I am sharing these stories to help remind and encourage people to continue wearing their masks and social distance. The food, my sticker stowaway, and being with Johnny made the day not the worst but our Thanksgiving would have been so much better had we been able to celebrate traditionally.

Regardless, my sweet surprise from my niece and sister definitely helped perk me up. It is also a nice reminder that even the smallest gestures can have such a great impact. Be kind to everyone because you have no idea what they’re going through. Who knows, you might be helping make their bad day just that little bit better. 🙂

How did you safely celebrate Thanksgiving? What are you looking forward to as the year comes to a close? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Lil Red’s Thanksgiving

Standard
Lil Red’s Thanksgiving

Hello! For those of you who don’t know, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love sitting around the table with my family and enjoying the most delicious food that I have been waiting all year to eat, lol! Unfortunately, due to the nature of my job of working in several different homes throughout the course of this pandemic, Johnny and I deemed it unsafe for us to participate in the holiday with both of our families.

Making that decision was not easy and I honestly cried for at least three days about it. However, safety is and will always be my primary goal and anything I can do to protect my family, my clients, and myself is worth all of the hardships. As I’ve mentioned before, COVID-19 has been on a terrifying rise in Ohio and it has made doing anything other than work and grocery shopping damn near impossible for those who are taking the virus seriously.

On Thanksgiving, Johnny and I were able to visit with my family outside and my parents were nice enough to drop off our Thanksgiving meal to our apartment. It was not traditional in any sense of the word but we all felt good with that decision no matter how hard it was.

As someone who has worked in the health care field throughout this entire pandemic, it is safe to say that I am totally burned out. However, a bright ray of sunshine is on the horizon for me come Christmas. I have not taken any time off to recharge for the past nine months and I plan on taking two weeks off prior to Christmas so I can celebrate safely with my family.

It will feel so good to have that time to relax, breathe a little bit easier, and be able to watch my family open all of the gifts that I picked out special for them. Thanksgiving was a bust but I am going to make this Christmas the best one yet and I can’t wait!

How did you celebrate Thanksgiving this year? What is your favorite holiday? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: Thank those of us in the health care profession not just with your words but by wearing a mask and social distancing to help curb the spread of COVID-19. We are tired. We are exhausted. And we need your help!

Wanted: Holiday Season Guest Bloggers

Standard
Wanted: Holiday Season Guest Bloggers

Hi everyone! I don’t know what COVID is like in your neck of the woods but it is bad, bad, bad in Ohio. Johnny and I are even more hunkered down than ever and, if that’s the case for you, then why not fill a free afternoon with guest blogging for lifewithlilred?!

From your Christmas cookie decoration station to gift guides, delicious recipes, favorite holiday memories, etc. if it has something to do with the holiday season, then I want it on my page! If you are interested in being a featured blogger for the day on lifewithlilred, please email me your post ideas at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com so that we can chit chat and get you scheduled. 🙂

Once you guest blog on my page you will always be welcome back with open arms so join the Lil Red fam today! Stay safe and happy holidays! ❤

Happy Thanksgiving!

Standard
Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello everyone and a very Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! Compliments of COVID, the 2020 holiday season is going to be a lot different. Family get togethers might be taking place over Zoom rather than in person or the celebrations could be pushed back until everyone can participate without crippling anxiety. No matter how you spend your day, I urge all of you to do it as safely as possible so all of your loved ones will be around to celebrate a *hopefully* normal Thanksgiving and Christmas next year.

2020 has been a wild ride and the craziness just reminds me of how thankful I am for all of the wonderful things about my life. A beautiful family, loving relationship, rewarding job, and fabulous friends both in person and online in the blogosphere are certainly nothing to sneeze at!

Thank you all so much for sharing in lifewithlilred with me because each and every one of you help keep me motivated to write each and every day. I am so proud of the sense of community that I feel on my page and I wish nothing but health, safety, and all of the good things for you and yours. ❤

Happy Thanksgiving!

Arranging An Unforgettable Birthday For Your SO

Standard
Arranging An Unforgettable Birthday For Your SO

We’ve all been having a tough year and most of us are looking forward to things getting back to normal, now that there’s some hope on the horizon. If your SO has played a big role in helping you get through the obstacle course that the previous year has been, then it’s only right that you want to give them the big birthday bash they deserve. If things are safe enough to really enjoy the day with a bang by the time the big day rolls around, here are some tips on how to do it:

A wake up to remember:

There really are few things as heartwarming as getting breakfast in bed or waking up to find a little gift lying beside you on the pillow. You can make their morning truly special with even the smallest gestures to show that, yes, you do remember what day it is and you want to celebrate it as soon as possible. It doesn’t have to be a huge spread. However, one thing you don’t want to do is to wake up your SO just so you can give them the birthday morning you have planned. Get things ready for when they usually wake up and then wait for them to start to stir. Otherwise, you shouldn’t be surprised if they start off grumpy.

Pamper them silly:

Some people don’t like spa-like stuff, but you might be surprised how well some people can take to it if they have never felt it before. Whether it’s going for a full spa treatment, spending some time at the sauna together, or even just preparing an extra lush bath for them at home. If you’re feeling more romantically inclined, then you might think to arrange for a couple’s massage. If your SO has been working extra hard as of late to keep things going smoothly, then letting them take the edge off is the perfect way to acknowledge that and to make it clear that you care about their well being amongst all of this.

Arrange a big night on the town:

If it has been an extra-long while since you have both been able to go out and to enjoy the nightlife, then it might be the perfect time to think about taking them out with your shared group of friends to really live it up. You can order some table service to make sure your loved one really feels like a VIP, then go dancing, partying, and getting into some trouble with one another. Of course, not a great option if your loved one is more of a homebody who likes their creature comforts, but a lot of us have been just waiting for the opportunity to kick things off. For a more low key option, brunch is always fun if a night on the town isn’t your giftee’s cup of tea. Charming spots like Greenroom are most welcoming for a boozy, birthday breakfast. Arrive ahead of time with balloons and decorations to make your meal even better!

so1

Pixabay Image

The big party:

Sure, it might be the traditional idea, but for some people, the big birthday party really works. If it’s a particularly big birthday, such as the 21st, the 30th, or any of the other multiples of ten, it’s often expected that a little extra bit of fuss is made over a person. If it’s a special birthday, you can also get their loved ones such as friends and family involved in making it a really big event. However, if your SO has said that they genuinely don’t enjoy parties in the past and they have meant it, don’t assume that they do really love parties deep down. That simply is not the case for most people who say that.

Make it a time to appreciate them:

Not every way of celebrating their birthday has to be some big thing. Instead, you can just as easily leave little touches throughout the day that show them how much you care about them. For instance, one great gift could be a jar of love notes that they can open up throughout the day and beyond to see reasons that you love them, are grateful for them, memories you share with them, or even the occasional blue message if you want to take things into the boudoir. You can make things even more fun and leave these messages with little bonus gifts (like their favorite candy) in places they’re likely to look throughout the day.

Sentimental gifts always go over well and there is a range of options beyond love notes. A beautiful bouquet of flowers, for example, is a lovely way to brighten your partner’s day. Or, perhaps, surprising them with wall art of the moon phase on your birthday or each of your birthdays for a personalized display in your home.

so2

Pixabay Image

Go somewhere together:

This isn’t necessarily an idea that’s exclusive from those above. However, if you’re able to travel, then it might be a great idea to combine one of the ideas above with the chance to enjoy getting away from familiar locations. A great romantic city break could be just what you need so that you can both feel like you’re being treated to something special on the big day. You can order food, enjoy hotel facilities, and take the time to explore something new together. It’s a great way to create brand new memories and a lot of us have really been missing the chance to explore outside of our own neighborhoods for the past several months.

Share an experience:

Sharing an experience together is always a great idea for a way to celebrate your SO’s big day. How about a day at the aquarium? An amusement park? Or, perhaps, a couple’s massage at the spa? If your partner is an adrenaline junkie, you could try your hand at skydiving, bungee jumping, or a ride for two in a Supermarine Spitfire. The rides provided by https://www.spitfires.com/ will leave both of you on the edge of your seat!

There is no particular event, expenditure, or organization that can make your SO’s birthday special. What is most important is that you think about what they would love and you do what you can to make it a reality. That’s the surest way to make them feel special!

Featured Image By: Pixabay