Tag Archives: just so you know

Dec4

Life Update

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Life Update

Howdy! It’s been a while since I’ve gave you an update on all of the new and exciting things in Lil Red’s world so I thought that I would take the time to fill you in. Let’s see, the first big news I can share with you is that I have a new nephew! My brother and his wife had their little boy, Patrick, at the beginning of November and we are all so in love with his darling tiny face and wispy blonde hair. Mom, dad, and baby are happy and healthy and I cannot wait to see them when I go to Georgia hopefully in January.

What else? Well, things with my boyfriend, Johnny, are going swimmingly and we loved spending Thanksgiving together with both of our families. We are both looking forward to the rest of the holiday season and I only have a few more weeks of pestering him to let me tell him what I got as his Christmas gift. I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.

Work is also going just swell and it was so nice to have three work days and the weekend off for the Thanksgiving holiday. I have been working my little tail off since the car accident so it was a much needed break and I feel so refreshed. But, is it bad that I’m already jonesing for my days off for Christmas? 😀

My niece, Valerie, and her mom and dad are also doing amazing. She is seriously the light of my life and it’s so fun watching her crawl around and hear her say “dada”. She loves to laugh and play with her toys and her two doggie big brothers and cat big sister. I can’t wait for her first Christmas and Christmas in general… did I mention Christmas?!

Despite the medical issues that I filled you in on yesterday, everything else in Lil Red’s world is, thankfully, awesome. I so appreciate all of your well wishes and I hope that all of you have the happiest holiday season!

What are some of your life updates? How do you celebrate for the holidays? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec3

Accident Update

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Accident Update

Hellooo everyone! If you recall, in late September, my boyfriend and I were hit head on by a reckless driver and I was hospitalized. I was pretty banged up and went home with a catheter and a lot of pain. Since then, my shoulder area has never stopped hurting. There’s times when I wake up in the morning and I can’t even apply my makeup because I can’t lift my arm.

I assumed that this pain would go away on its own but, then, things began taking a scary turn when I was at work in mid October. My right arm went completely numb and my hand essentially stopped working. I couldn’t grip anything and was dropping stuff left and right. I immediately scheduled an appointment with an orthopedist and was given a cortisone shot with the hopes that that would help.

Unfortunately, a week later, the symptoms moved into my left arm as well as the right and my arms began feeling fuzzy and so heavy that lifting them was impossible. It just didn’t feel like my arms. I called the orthopedist back with the update and an MRI was scheduled and in the time of waiting for that to happen, the pain moved into my neck and collarbones.

The MRI results showed a lot of swelling in my right shoulder as well as an injury to the cervical spine and my doctor ordered physical therapy. I have to begin trying to strengthen these areas of my body for three weeks and if that doesn’t work, then I’m not really sure what happens next.

This whole situation has been extremely frustrating and inconvenient, to say the least, and I am just completely over it. Especially considering that it has been over two months now since the accident and I’m still experiencing symptoms that are quite scary. But, here’s to hoping that the physical therapy will help!

I have had so many people reaching out to check up on me and I appreciate it so much. Thank you all for the well wishes and I will update everyone once the physical therapy finishes up and I find out what happens next.

What have been your experiences with physical therapy? How do you stay positive during a difficult situation? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov27

Holiday Season Guest Bloggers Wanted

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Holiday Season Guest Bloggers Wanted

Hiya! With the holiday season in full swing, now is the perfect time to join lifewithlilred’s family of guest bloggers for some good cheer. If you are interested in sharing any winter or holiday themed posts for my viewers in one hundred and eighty-eight different countries, then please email me at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com

Your guest post could range from anything to photos of your hometown during the winter to your favorite holiday traditions or recipes. Or, how about a New Year’s Eve inspired OOTD or MOTD? I’m not picky! Email me some ideas and we will get you all set to star on lifewithlilred for the day. Looking forward to hearing from all of you! Much love. -Sarah

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Nov24

Lil Red’s Black Friday Shopping Pro Tips

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Lil Red’s Black Friday Shopping Pro Tips

Howdy!! In a mere handful of days it will be my favorite holiday of Thanksgiving because FOOD… and family, of course. 😉 And, with Thanksgiving just around the corner means that Black Friday will be coming in hot on its heels. I, personally, have never gone Black Friday shopping before because I suffered through five years of working on the day during my time in retail.

It’s no surprise that I have no desire to be within twenty feet of a mall on Black Friday. But, Lil Red lives and breathes shopping so allow me to grace you with these pro tips for a successful Black Friday haul:

Be Nice:

Although this has nothing to do with scoring the best deals, it has everything to do with being the best person. Please, please, PLEASE be kind to your retail and restaurant workers on Black Friday and every day. Those who have never worked a Black Friday before honestly have no idea how stressful it is and a rude customer can be enough to completely ruin someone on the biggest shopping day of the year.

Say please and thank you, try not to leave destruction in your wake as you shop, and be mindful of the other shoppers. And, always remember, you literally just spent the day prior celebrating all you have to be thankful for so if you don’t get what you wanted, there’s no need to punch someone in the face about it. Je-sus!

Do Your Research:

Now, having said all of that, the first step to a successful Black Friday is to do some research. It’s a mixed bag of which stores reveal their deals before the day and which don’t, so try investigating by either calling the store or going online. This will help you to decide the best order in which to shop. If there’s a hot deal going on right at midnight for something you have your eye on, then twenty-five percent off at your favorite store can wait.

Often times, stores repeat the deals that they had in year’s past so also bear that in mind when you are making your preparations.

Make A List:

Once you have a general idea of where to go and when, it’s time to make a list of what you would like to purchase. I know I always mention list making – but, damnit, it’s helpful! If you have specific things in mind that you want to buy on Black Friday, you cannot hit the stores willy nilly. It’s important to coordinate your wants with the deals happening so that you can create the best course of action for the order of stores you want to visit.

Time Is Of The Essence:

So you have a plan of what you want, the deals happening, and where you want to go. But, the thing is, so does everyone else. It’s all in the timing when it comes to Black Friday shopping. If you are shopping for specifics, you can’t spend too much time in one store or you might jeopardize getting the other things you want. Get in, grab your item, check out, and head to your next location. Then, once your shopping is complete, feel free to revisit anywhere else you want to spend more time in.

However, if you are going shopping just for the fun of it, take all of the time in the world. But, remember, if you do shop at a leisurely pace, a lot of the stores will be pretty picked over by the time you get there.

Know When To Say When:

Black Friday shopping is awesome for nabbing a big electronic for a song or doing your Christmas shopping. But, don’t be crazy about it. If you find yourself spending way too much money or shoving other people to get to the next place or hot item, then you’ve probably had enough Black Friday. Go home, take a chill pill, and try again on Cyber Monday when you’re not in the general public. 😉

Speaking Of Cyber Monday…

If you’re not keen on the craziness that is Black Friday, Cyber Monday is just days away and you can enjoy the deals from the comfort of your own home. Just remember to do your research prior. This might involve signing up for emails, which could notify you of the deals ahead of time (The same goes for regular Black Friday shopping!).

Get ready, get set, and shop with Lil Red’s Black Friday Shopping Pro Tips!

Have you been Black Friday shopping? Do you have any crazy stories from working or shopping a Black Friday? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov19

This Is How Not To Spend All Of Your Free Time Cleaning!

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This Is How Not To Spend All Of Your Free Time Cleaning!

Busy parents are always looking for ways to minimize tasks in the home, so they have more quality time to spend with the kids. Of course, it is also crucial that jobs such as cleaning aren’t minimized to the point where the home is no longer hygienic or livable for the family that dwells within. Happily, there is a middle way, and it’s to find hacks that allow a thorough cleaning, but don’t take up too much time. A topic you can read more about in the post below:

Vacuum, don’t dust:

The first tip that can help you save time, yet still have a clean home is to cut down the amount of dusting that you do. This is because many traditional forms of dusting just end up moving the particles around your space, rather than getting rid of them.

Instead, why not use the specially designed hose attachments for your vacuum? Something that will not only make getting into those tricky nooks and crannies like the ones in the pantry a lot easier, but will also remove the dust particles from circulation. In fact, if you like, you can add another step to your dust removal system in the form of a HEPA air filter. A device that does a similar job to a vacuum by removing particles from the air, but it can be used all of the time.

Keep floors sparkling:

Floors can undoubtedly take a lot of time and effort to keep clean, only to be trampled all over by the family as they come in and out of the home. Of course, I’m not suggesting that you give up on this task altogether. Far from it, in fact! You just need some methods of cleaning the floors that don’t take up all your spare time.

Luckily, there are several methods to choose from, depending on the types of flooring you have in your home. One, in particular, to be aware of is a robot sweeper. A small round device with brushes that can help to keep your wood, laminate, or tiled floors much cleaner – with no back-breaking work for you at all.

Fear not if you have carpeted floors because, fortunately, there are carpet and rug cleaning specialists out there that can come to your home and offer a same-day service. Something that will leave you free to spend plenty of quality time with the kids while the cleaning is going on.

Clean as you go:

Finally, if you approach cleaning your home as a big job that needs to be completed every week, you can easily spend far too much of the weekend doing it. That is why you should practice the ‘clean as you go’ technique, instead. Something that you can learn more about here, and that will help you regain precious time to spend with your family.

Cleaning as you go is an excellent time saver but accidents do happen and it might be outside of your skill set to give a proper cleaning. This can include a soda stain on a light colored couch, red wine spills that would require help from a rug cleaning specialist, chipping paint, or tearing wallpaper. If you have a major cleaning issue, get assistance as soon as possible because those stains are going to be more difficult to remove once it has time to set.

Cleaning isn’t the most fun part of life but it must be done. Use the hacks above to make cleaning your place easier, quicker, and totally stress free.

Nov5

5 Home Improvements To Protect Your Home From Burglars

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5 Home Improvements To Protect Your Home From Burglars

Keeping yourself and your family safe should always be the main goal. Want to keep burglars away from your home? Here are a few improvements that could help to ward off would-be intruders:

Replace old windows and doors:

If your windows and doors are very old, you may want to consider replacing them. Many old windows and doors can be easily broken into by modern burglars even with the use of the simplest objects. Signs of visible wear and tear such as cracked windows or loose hinges could be a particular danger.

When it comes to windows, you ideally want a strong frame material like uPVC, double glazing, and window locks. You should hire a replacement window company to replace your windows as it can be a precise and tricky job to fit them. Replacing your windows not only increases your safety but will also be like a face lift for your home! Boost your security and upgrade the aesthetic by researching the best replacement companies in your area. You want a business that is trusted, accredited, and well reviewed. For window installation in Denver, Five Seasons Windows is a great place to start.

As for doors, consider upgrading to a steel door with a modern lock (you could even consider a smart lock). Doors can be more easily replaced by oneself, but to ensure that it’s fitted securely you may still want to hire professionals.

Put up net curtains:

Net curtains could also help to deter burglars – especially when hanging them up on windows that are facing onto a busy street. If you have valuables in your home, a burglar may be able to see them through the window and this might encourage them to choose you as a target. Net curtains stop burglars from being able to peek in, while still letting in sunlight.

On top of net curtains, you may also be able to use blinds as a way of distorting people’s view in. Frosted glass could also be an option, but it might prevent you from being able to look out.

Install security lighting:

Security lighting is a great way to keep away burglars. This is lighting located on the outside of your home that only turns on when motion is detected. Many burglars like to target homes at night when it’s easy to move undetected. Security lighting will make it harder for burglars to go unnoticed by illuminating them for all your neighbors to see. The fact that security lighting only comes on when motion is detected will save you money in energy bills compared to permanent lighting.

Cut down high hedges:

High hedges, walls, and fences can offer privacy, but they could also make it easier for burglars to break into your home without being seen by neighbors. By cutting down these barriers, your burglars won’t have anything to hide behind. This will make them less likely to choose you as a target.

Fit a burglar alarm:

Burglar alarms are triggered if somebody opens your door and can only be deactivated using a code. Nowadays, there are smart burglar alarms that can alert your phone as well as taking video footage of whoever is outside. Some will even alert the police if not deactivated within a certain amount of time. If you have home insurance, a burglar alarm could also help to reduce your insurance rates. If you are interested in having an alarm system for your home installed, simply enter a search for “security companies indianapolis indiana” (or your local area). Security alarms are something you hope will never be needed but you will be relieved to have should a situation ever arise. Be sure to seek referrals and recommendations for security companies from friends and family too.

Give your family the gift of protection this holiday season with making the improvements above!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Oct28

Warning! These Signs Show That You Need A Detox ASAP

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Warning! These Signs Show That You Need A Detox ASAP

The body is a tireless machine that works even while you sleep. It flushes out toxins or those chemicals and foreign elements you’ve picked up from the products you used, the pollution you’re exposed to, and the food and substances ingested. However, like any machine, the body can get overwhelmed, and its efficiency can go downhill with little to no support from you.

This is where detoxification comes in. It helps the body deal effectively with the toxin buildup that can result in health conditions. While detox is closely associated with fasting, losing weight, and doing a short-term diet, this act of cleansing can be a periodic activity and carried out as necessary. There are several ways to give your body a detox including this detox IV therapy, dietary changes, and eliminating certain substances from your life. Let’s learn some more:

You Feel Tired:

Something’s off when you feel fatigued despite getting enough sleep and rest. This constant sluggishness can be a symptom of adrenal fatigue, which happens when the adrenal glands are unable to produce enough hormones, such as cortisol, which handles stress and other responsibilities.

Many reasons cause this adrenal burnout:

  • Lack of nutrients, like zinc, which supports adrenal health
  • Chemicals from food and drugs or materials that come in contact with the body
  • Excessive stress and unhealthy responses to them

You Have Not Been Sleeping Well:

A healthy person secretes cortisol in response to a fight-or-flight situation and switches this off. As the day wears on, the cortisol level is also expected to go down so you can sleep. The opposite occurs for some people who can’t sleep at night because of heightened alertness caused by high cortisol levels.

Aside from addressing any cortisol imbalance, as noted above, your lifestyle affects how you sleep. The usual suspects are the following:

  • Caffeine
  • Alcohol
  • Nicotine
  • Heavy meals before bedtime

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As you age, your liver is not in the optimal condition to break down the above substances and flush them out. Thus, alcohol takes longer to metabolize and hits you with hangovers. If you are having difficulty with your alcohol consumption, it might be time to look into a Detox Retreat or program to help get you on the right track.

You Are Beset with Digestive Issues:

The digestive system is among the first to suffer when harmful elements accumulate in the body. Some manifestations include diarrhea, constipation, gas pains, and the like. When your stomach is out of whack at the slightest provocation, then you probably need to carry out these things:

  • Do an elimination diet. It’s a method to confirm food intolerances that can irritate your stomach.
  • Add fiber to your meals. A diet rich in high-fiber sources like fruits and vegetables promotes a healthy gut. Dietary fiber enables regular bowel movements and stimulates the growth of good bacteria in the colon through probiotics.

Speaking of gut bacteria, another telltale sign for detox is when you always crave for sweets. According to research published on PBS.org, the sugar in these foods can impede the production of proteins critical to the growth of the good bacteria.

You Have Skin Problems:

What’s happening inside of your body is reflected in your skin. Rashes, pimples, blemishes, and skin discoloration are clear-as-day signs. To heal your skin and restore its health, you must start from within and work toward the outside:

  • Cleanse your liver, and support its health. Enrich your diet with garlic, carrots, green tea, avocado, apples, and walnuts.
  • Hydrate your skin. Water aids in digestion and replenishes fluids you lose through urine and sweat.
  • Care for your skin. Select toners, cleansers, and face masks with natural ingredients to clean your pores from the outside.

You Need to Pass a Critical Test

You may have consumed alcohol or taken certain recreational substances at some point. Whatever your reasons or motivations, the exposure is there, and you need to be clean for a job offer. A detox is clearly in order to eliminate toxins from your body and help you pass the test.

In doing this kind of detox and ensuring you have the right program, consider the following:

  • Level of exposure (i.e., the type of substance you took and the frequency)
  • Your body weight and height
  • Metabolism rate

As with any detoxification program, drink lots of water and eat high-fiber foods. Indeed, by going through this detox, not only are you preparing yourself for a significant career milestone, but you are also cleansing your body of harmful toxins.

Your body deserves a break. Give time and effort to help it cleanse, heal, and restore itself. Living in a toxin-free environment is impossible, but you have detoxification programs as necessary for your health and well-being.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Oct21

Guest Bloggers Wanted!

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Guest Bloggers Wanted!

Howdy everyone! Just a friendly reminder that lifewithlilred is always accepting guest bloggers if you are interested in having your work viewed in 188 different countries! With the cold weather officially among us, I am looking for your best comfy cozy OOTDs, MOTDs perfect for a family get together, favorite holiday recipes, and your go to fall and winter activities in your neck of the woods. And, of course, I am always up for any of your ideas as long as they are fall or winter related!

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, feel free to email me at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com ❤

Oct12

And In Conclusion…

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And In Conclusion…

Hello everyone! So I definitely laid some scary news on you all yesterday and I’m sorry for it but, oh my god, it was crazy. One of the things that I pride myself on as a blogger is not sugar coating anything. From my ongoing issues with mental health to everything in between, I try to keep it 100% real with all of you because, if not, then what’s the point?

I am so grateful to have been able to walk out of a severe car crash with the injuries that I had, which seem minor in comparison to breaking a bone, a bleeding cut, or worse. My boyfriend and I are both doing much better now but I’d be a liar if I didn’t say that it didn’t suck on ice. One person’s poor decision when it came to driving effected SIX other cars, people, and families. And, not only that, but he also had another major wreck at his own fault two years prior.

It honestly makes you wonder how that person ended up with his license in the first place, when he only seemed to leave destruction in his path. People could have been killed and, after the wreck, he still seemed unfazed – which is scary. I can only hope that the people in my neck of the woods are spared from having him on the road again and all I can do is urge all of you to be careful when you get behind the wheel. Not just careful for yourself but for all of the others around you, as well.

I always say when I’m in the car with my clients and they ask me if I’m afraid to drive that I’m never worried about my ability to drive, but for everyone else around me. And that definitely rang true the day of the accident. I am completely confident in my boyfriend’s ability to drive but that also didn’t prevent someone from getting into our lane and hitting us head on. So, all I can say is – be aware of your surroundings, wear your seat belts, and always be thankful when you make it to your destination safely.

What is something that you’re afraid of? How did you deal with a car accident if you’ve ever been in one? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct11

Accidents Happen

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Accidents Happen

*Trigger Warning* This post contains details of a car accident and medical trauma.

Helloooo everyone! Those of you who follow me on Facebook will know that yours truly was in a car accident this past month that had me in the hospital. (And, for those of you who don’t follow me on Facebook, make sure you get on it at: Sarah Mushenheim!) It was a really scary, painful experience and I wanted to give you all the 411 on what happened because I have been so blown away by all of the well wishes and all of you deserve to know. So, let’s get to it.

It was a Sunday afternoon circa one PM when my boyfriend and I were driving to pick some things up from his house and then we were going to have a date day. I had just returned from vacation the night before so we hadn’t seen each other for a week and were eager to hang out. Unfortunately, that got cut short, because as we were at an intersection on a twenty-five MPH street, we got hit head on by a driver going at least forty-five.

How did this person end up in the complete wrong lane and effect not just us but SIX cars in total? I’m really not sure, because it happened so quickly. But, I am fairly sure he was trying to get around a person turning left and, in the process, swiped another car and ended up going head first into ours. This left the car that got swiped, our car, and the car of the guy who hit us totaled. And, I’m assuming the other three cars ended up in fender benders or the like from all of the commotion going on on the road.

The heavy blow to our car caused the air bags to go off and, oh my god, the pain was indescribable. Before the accident, I had my feet on the dashboard and when I saw the car coming I instinctively went into fetal position. This caused my skater’s legs to go wham, bam, thank you ma’am right into my chest. I felt like I couldn’t breathe and I just remember screaming bloody murder.

Thankfully, the first responders came quickly and, while we were waiting for them, I had to shimmy my way out of the driver’s side door because the accident prevented my side from opening. I can recall yelling “let me out, let me out” and that was also super scary because I already felt like I couldn’t breathe and then I felt trapped on top of it.

Once the police and ambulances came, everything was a whirlwind. The EMTs began to check me and my boyfriend and we ended up being transported to a local hospital. We were both experiencing pain in our chests and had seat belt burns and various bumps and bruises. I also had a horrible pain in the bottom left corner of my stomach.

When we got to the hospital, we were put in separate rooms and I was asked to give a urine sample. I hobbled my sorry ass into the bathroom and got my shorts and undies down to see that there was blood in them as well as blood in my urine. Once this discovery was made, I had to get a CAT scan done and a pelvic exam which hurt so incredibly badly.

According to the scan, there was an air bubble in my bladder. And, as the day went on, there was still blood in my urine and it was becoming increasingly difficult to pee. So, the decision was made to have me transferred to the ER in Cleveland with a trauma team to try and find out what was going on with my bladder.

By the time I arrived in Cleveland, it was already eight thirty at night and I was exhausted. I was in unbearable pain and, at this point, I couldn’t pass urine at all and was experiencing all the discomfort of an insanely full bladder. Another CAT scan was done as well as a bladder scan and a catheter was put in so that I could finally go to the bathroom. I also had to get an X-ray of my shoulder to make sure I didn’t have any fractures there.

When this was all said and done, it was around two in the morning and I was told that I was going to be admitted to the hospital. A room finally opened up around five AM and all I wanted was to sleep but the constant questions, poking, and prodding made that damn near impossible.

I spent the following day at the hospital being monitored and having different tests done and was able to go home around eight in the evening with my catheter still in. And, lucky for me, I got to have it taken out two days later because it was very uncomfortable and quite painful. Everything looked okay according to the urologist and I just had to keep an eye on the slight bleeding that was still happening.

Thankfully, nothing was majorly wrong other than the pain and the same goes for my boyfriend, as well. We both had to take the week off of work and were happy to return the following Monday. There were a lot of things to be grateful for in this situation. No one involved in the accident got severely hurt. The insurance company of the person responsible took care of everything thanks to the help of the Auto Accident Lawyer on the case. And, most importantly, we were in my boyfriend’s big station wagon. Had we been in the Little Red Love Machine (a tiny hatchback), this would have been an entirely different story.

I am so appreciative to my family, boyfriend, the first responders, and the staff at both hospitals for taking such good care of me. It was a horrible situation to be in, but it could have been a lot worse and I am so thankful that all is well for both me and my boyfriend now. And, thank you to all of you for the concern and get well soons. It didn’t go unnoticed and I love you all! ❤

What are you thankful for? Has anyone had a situation similar to mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah