Tag Archives: life

Aug14

Surgery Story

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Surgery Story

Howdy! This past Tuesday I had a LEEP procedure done to remove precancerous cells from my cervix and I got a tubal as well and it went swimmingly. Johnny, my knight in shining armor, got me to the hospital for my seven o’clock check in and then it was all systems go. Between visits from registration, nurses, my gyno and surgeon, and the anesthesiologists (I can’t believe I spelled that right on the first go!) time moved at a rapid pace and before I knew it, it was nine o’clock and I was off to the OR! My two surgeries lasted about an hour and a half, I woke up in the recovery room two hours later, and we were basically on our way home as soon as I was awake. It felt SO good to go home and lay down some more!

My day after surgery consisted of laying in bed, drinking Gatorade, watching TV, and playing Pokopia and my Johnny waited on me hand and foot. He has been the absolute sweetest! The night after my surgery was the worst, though, because I was pretty much up all night trying to get comfortable. I am a belly sleeper and having to sleep on my back because of my stitches was just not happening. Therefore, the following day consisted of laying in bed, drinking Gatorade, watching TV, and playing Pokopia lol. Johnny even took that day off of work too to care for me since I was still fairly out of it. ❤

I am writing this two days out of surgery in case you can’t tell and am feeling okay. I actually ended up sleeping thirteen hours last night to make up for that first night of no sleep. It felt heavenly!! However, I am still really tired, somewhat sore, and TMI but constipated as all get out lol. And here I was thinking that I would go back to work the day after my operation SMH!! I definitely needed this recovery time though and am glad that I took it because despite the pain, it has been nice to have a few days off. 😀

This entire ordeal has been a bit crazy but I am so thankful to Johnny, my amazing gyno, and the hospital staff for taking the best care of me. The time at the hospital was a whirlwind but even in my froggy state on the way home, I couldn’t stop thinking about how lucky I was. My precancer was caught early and removed, I finally was able to have my tubes removed which is what I have always wanted, and I had a full team behind me ensuring expert care. Any kind of surgery is scary and there were several butterflies in my basket on the way to the hospital but all of those nerves were eased as the process got started. Or maybe it was the Xanax they gave me? Lol the jury is still out on that! But, in conclusion, I am feeling good enough to type this monologue today and that is a strong start!

I apologize for the rambling but even post op, your girl refuses to break her daily content streak and I wanted to update all of you. As relaxing as these days off were, I am ready to get back to the grind!

How has your week been? Do you have any exciting updates? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug8

Rad At Rad Air

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Rad At Rad Air

Hi! A few weeks ago my car broke down in a major way and I knew exactly where I was going to have it towed to be worked on: Rad Air, of course! I am blessed to have a fantastic auto shop literally right down the street from my apartment and have been taking my car there for years. I admit, it can be intimidating for me to take my car in for repairs because I legit know nothing about cars lol. However, in all of my time going there I never once felt out of my league. Rather, I felt welcomed by the genuine hospitality of the employees and forever have full confidence in their excellent work and more than fair prices. It really is a gift to be able to take your car to a shop that you trust completely!

All of my experiences at Rad Air have been 12/10 but this past repair really took the cake. My car is an older model and parts had to be ordered which took a bit longer than expected. That was no matter, though, because they gave me a loaner car free of charge. As my parents only have one vehicle, I would have had to miss work without the loaner and that was SO appreciated since I am self employed. I got to drive myself everywhere I needed to be in a fancy Ford Fusion and although I missed my car terribly, I very much enjoyed the sun roof and functioning radio. My radio went kaput a year ago so having some tunes instead of dead silence for a few days was a thrill lol.

While my car was being tended to, I was kindly updated by the staff on its progress and couldn’t wait to pick my baby up! I even scored a sweet deal on the cost thanks to a seventy-five dollar off coupon which helped a lot. 😀 When I was finally behind the wheel of the Little Red Love Machine, I honestly couldn’t believe it. My almost fifteen year old car was running as if it was brand new. In fact, driving it home reminded me of the day I drove it home during a huge snow storm in 2014 when I purchased it. It was all sunshine this time! 🙂

As soon as I got home, I just had to give my go to shop a little shout out on Facebook and was absolutely tickled by their reply. Rad Air really is the only place I would take my Little Red Love Machine!

The moral of this story? That good work never goes unappreciated by me and to always shop around until you find a place that you are comfortable taking your car to. Rad Air for life!! ❤

Where do you take your car for repairs? How long have you had your car? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul27

Auto Adventure

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Auto Adventure

Hello!! My beloved car AKA the Little Red Love Machine AKA the LRLM is in its elderly years at fourteen years old with a solid one hundred seventy five thousand miles. The LRLM is my first car, pride and joy, and it absolutely breaks my heart to know that I won’t get to have it for forever. It seems like something is always going wrong with it and things took a massive downward turn when she started smoking on my way home from work this past week. I don’t mean vaping like her owner but literally smoking lol and so began my Auto Adventure…

When my car started hot boxing, I pulled into the parking lot of Marigold Catering + Events, said expletives loudly, and promptly exited the vehicle. It was the cherry on top of a crap day but it actually didn’t end up being all that bad. Don’t get me wrong, the car situation wasn’t great. However, the employees of Marigold really made a world of difference and I appreciated them SO much! Just as soon as my car was in their parking lot, all of them immediately came to my aid. They even helped put coolant into my car to see if that did the trick. We had our fingers crossed but, unfortunately, the coolant was leaking and I needed to call a tow truck as I was uncomfortable driving it to the repair shop.

It was going to take AAA at least an hour to get to me so I decided to just sit down and read. As I waited, the employees of Marigold continued to check up on me to chat and offer something cold to drink and it was so incredibly kind. As the minutes ticked by while I was waiting for my ride, they began to close up shop. At this point, my tow truck was about ten minutes out and that was to all of our relief because the staff let me know that they were going to stay with me if the wait was longer. These perfect strangers rallied around me in my time of need and, although I was bummed out, it didn’t feel like a massive blow because they genuinely cared.

Once my tow truck arrived, I was beyond ready to get home but enjoyed our pleasant conversation as we rode to the repair shop. We talked about metro parks, local restaurants, and shared a lot of laughs. The cabin of the truck was nice and cool after sitting outside for two hours and it felt so good to finally be on my way home. Johnny was waiting for me at the repair shop that is right down the street from our apartment and I bid my tow truck driver farewell and thanked him profusely (As well as the Marigold staff!). Thanks to everyone’s help, I made it home safely and made some new friends too. I won’t soon forget it!

Car troubles? Sucks. The kindness of strangers turning the situation around? Amazing!! ❤

Have you experienced a random act of kindness recently? What happened? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul22

A Whole Lotta Nothing

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A Whole Lotta Nothing

Hi!! Johnny and I have a very strict work week schedule. We are both up around three o’clock so he can prepare for work and I can work from home before visiting clients, then we are in bed by six thirty at the latest to do it again the next day. Needless to say, we don’t do much during the work week unless we absolutely have to to maintain our regularly scheduled programming. Then, on the weekends, we are usually booked solid with plans with friends and family to make up for our five day all work and no play cycle. After what felt like weeks of nonstop work and hang outs we, blessedly, had a low key weekend and it was amazing!!

Outside of stopping by my sister’s house on Friday for a rousing pizza party and viewing of the new Descendants movie, Johnny and I were free as birds this past weekend. And these birds wanted to stay right in their cage! We spent our days off playing games while the other one was sleeping – CyberPunk for Johnny and Pokopia for me and had TV marathons with movies and shows. I was SO excited to finally watch Obsession with Johnny which we both loved and we binged on Blockbuster and Supernatural. We just started watching Supernatural a couple of days prior and had a lot to catch up on… Only fifteen seasons but who’s counting?! 😀

I knew our tanks were running low but I don’t think I realized how much so until we had some free time to veg out. In fact, we even had plans on Saturday but cancelled because we had already become one with the couch. Because of the constant craziness of our schedule, I often begin my work day on Monday feeling like I just didn’t have enough time for myself. That is so not the case as I type this at four o’clock on Monday morning! I feel refreshed, renewed, and wide awake and it is a most welcome change of pace. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy our weekend outings but it’s to say that sometimes it’s nice to do A Whole Lotta Nothing!

Oftentimes, we don’t notice that we’re getting burned out until it hits us all at once. I think this weekend qualifies as preventative care because any burned out-ness I was feeling has been stopped in its tracks. I’m ready to get back to the grind so bring it the heck on!!

How do you like to spend lazy days? Are you a weekend planner or do you go with the flow? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun22

A Little Update

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A Little Update

Hello! About a year or so ago I went to my annual appointment with my gynecologist and learned that the results of my pap smear had some abnormalities due to having HPV. I have had to get cervical biopsies every half a year since and recently had another one done in mid June. A few days ago I got a call from my gyno to tell me that there were some mild changes in the results and the next best step would be discussing surgery options to remove these problematic cells. I will be having an appointment to do so in early July. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t slightly nervous!

After receiving that call, I was a bit bummed out but not really surprised. I wouldn’t have had several biopsies if there wasn’t something not so great brewing. However, after the initial five minute pity party I was more thankful than anything. Yes, there are abnormalities BUT it was caught and expertly monitored early. Therefore, any procedures that follow won’t be as invasive. And, as a bonus, I might even be able to get my tubes tied when that cell removal happens. It’s kind of a win/win. This problem could have been resolved itself OR there would be a procedure that would resolve it. I just have to keep reminding myself that this is a best case scenario even if the idea of surgery is scary.

This is all to say that if you are a person with female anatomy, then please be sure you are going to the gynecologist for your annual appointments! If I didn’t attend mine, these abnormalities that were found would continue to change and more major surgery would be required. When these issues are found early, you will be able to have a best case scenario too. The risk of not getting screened regularly far outweighs any reward and it’s so important to take control of your health. I’m proud of myself for facing this issue head on and so grateful to be in the excellent care of my gyno. I might be a smidge worried but I know everything will be a-okay. ❤

In conclusion, stay on top of your health and your doctor’s appointments and stay tuned for updates on my health journey. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Have you had surgery before? How do you feel about attending medical appointments? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun2

4 Healthy Habits To Focus On Long-Term

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4 Healthy Habits To Focus On Long-Term

Everyone wants to be as healthy as possible, but most people think that means making large, dramatic changes. That doesn’t have to be the case! It’s just a matter of having a few healthy habits and snacks, and there shouldn’t be much to worry about. Four of these could end up being essential for your health as time goes on:

Taking an Exercise Break:

You’ll already know you should take breaks when you’re working, whether you’re in an office or working from home. This shouldn’t just be to grab a coffee or going to have lunch, though. It’s worth adding a bit of exercise to it, especially if you happen to sit at an office all day. The human body isn’t supposed to be seated constantly, after all. You could end up having health conditions because of it. By taking an exercise break you allow yourself the time to improve yourself while also boosting your mood for the rest of the day.

Cutting Out the Cigarettes:

Smoking is one of the most common habits around the world, despite how unhealthy it is. It increases your chances of developing various forms of cancer while impacting more than a few other parts of your life, too. That’s why it’s always worth quitting. You’ll end up noticing a large difference in your health as time goes on. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be as hard as you’d think. It could just be a matter of using the right products. Nicotine gum, patches, and similar products can help. Even vapes can be a great option to help cut down and quit, especially with the likes of IVG Pro 12 Refill vape pods.

Keeping Your Balance:

Most people don’t worry about their balance too much. At least, that’s the case until they start having problems with it. When you’re relatively young, this is the furthest thing from your mind. But, it could be more of a problem as you get older, and you could risk more than a few injuries. Preventing this doesn’t have to be too hard. Yoga and similar steps could be more than enough to help with your balance. And, you can work them into the exercise breaks mentioned above to make it even easier for yourself.

Being Mindful:

Your mental health is just as important to focus on with your health habits as your physical health is. And, there are more than a few habits that can help with this, with mindfulness being one of the more notable. It’ll help deal with your stress levels and anxiety quite a bit more than you would’ve thought. It can even improve your mood and help with mild pain, too. The trick is to put in consistent time and effort. You’ll see some benefits short-term, but these get a lot more pronounced as time goes on.

Living a healthy and happy life can be as simple as incorporating a few of the tips above into your daily routine!

Featured Image By: Aziz Acharki from Unsplash.

Feb10

YAY! 6.5 Year Blogging Streak!

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YAY! 6.5 Year Blogging Streak!

Hello everyone!! I started lifewithlilred in September of 2014 and can’t believe I’ll be on my twelve year blogiversary this year! It literally feels like just yesterday when I got enough people telling me I should start a blog and I threw my hands in the air and said “why not?”. Since its conception, lifewithlilred has been a labor of love. I have always enjoyed writing and have been committed to creating a happy space for myself and others as soon as my first post published. Somewhere along the line, I decided that a few articles a week just weren’t enough and made it my goal to post daily content. I am pleased to report that I have officially crossed the threshold of having over six and a half years worth of articles published every day. It’s freaking crazy!

I often get asked how I continue to come up with content to post and my answer is a combination of a few different things. 1) First and foremost, it’s FUN! 2) It’s one of my favorite forms of self care. 3) I love interacting with my readers. And, perhaps most importantly of all – 4) I am stubborn lol. Once I start a streak of something, I simply refuse to stop. The challenge is incredibly motivating and publishing daily is so ingrained in me that I would hate to think of how I would feel if I didn’t sit at my computer and write every day. My suspicions all point to that it would feel freaking terrible. So, I will continue to pop a squat at my laptop with a smile because to reiterate Point 1, it is so much fun. 😀

I would say that I was a pretty lonely kid growing up. I didn’t have a lot of friends and that remained to be true until the end of high school. One of the few things that made me feel better as a teenager was social media. A place where I could post anything and everything and I knew at least someone was looking at it. Eventually, I began to post OOTD pictures which led to my friends on Facebook telling me that if I started a blog that they would read it. The sentiment was so kind and I figured that if my handful of people I interacted with on social media would pop by, maybe others would too. My goal when I started lifewithlilred wasn’t to make money or become famous but to hopefully make friends and expand my very small circle. It didn’t matter to me where anyone was located, just to have someone to talk to and have a space on the internet where I could shout into the void.

And you know what? As soon as my blog started, the loneliness began to dissipate. Every view was exciting, every comment a potential new friend and even a best friend too! Within weeks of starting my blog, the blogosphere brought me Kate of Live In The Nautical and we have been inseparable ever since. Everything I hoped for was happening and I am always going to feel so grateful for it. I went from writing the saddest shit in the world in my journals to writing on my blog for the pure joy of writing in the blink of an eye. lifewithlilred became my safe space. A place that I got to grow and nourish until I forgot why I was ever lonely to begin with.

All of this is a very long way of saying that I keep my daily content streak alive for the lonely girl I was. I keep it going for anyone who feels like they need a friend. Or anyone that needs the reminder to continue plugging away with a smile on their face and a kind word on their lips. lifewithlilred started for me but I realize that it has always been for all of you. I feel so proud to have maintained my streak, formed a happy place for myself and others to retire to, and found the best friend in the world to boot. I am eternally thankful for the encouragement I received to get this blog ball rolling as well as the encouragement to keep sticking to it. Because who knows what will be on my page next?!

Thank you to everyone who has ever stopped by on lifewithlilred. You made a huge difference to me! ❤

What helps motivate you? Do you have a streak going in anything? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb8

Don’t Cry Over Spilled Coffee

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Don’t Cry Over Spilled Coffee

Hello! I wanted to share a little story that happened to me a week or so ago. My beloved downstairs neighbor unfortunately fell and went to a rehab center after he was released from the hospital. I visited in both locations as often as I could and when I had a fully open morning I brought us coffee from Starbucks with one of my Christmas gift cards. Two venti iced coffees were the move and I didn’t even sip on mine in the car as the drive over was short. As I carried some extra supplies for him and our bevvies into the rehab center, I thought how badly it would suck if one of the drinks spilled. I suppose I must have manifested it because that is exactly what happened. SMH -_-

As I set down the drinks to sign into the center, one of them toppled over and it was like it happened in slow motion while I experienced the deja vu of what I just thought. I was happy it was my coffee that spilled but not so happy that it spilled everywhere. The reception desk was hit but it was primarily on the ground. After the coffee catastrophe, I could legit not apologize enough to the receptionist and she was SO unbelievably kind. As we both cleaned up the spill together, I was sure to tell her so and then she told me a story that went like this…

While shopping at Aldi, she accidentally dropped a glass jar of pasta sauce that shattered everywhere. She didn’t want to just leave the spill and a kind person in the aisle found an employee and they all cleaned it up together. I told her that she was the kind person in my own spill scenario and I could tell how happy it made her. My oopsie daisy probably happened right when her shift was starting and instead of it messing up her day, she wished me a better one. She also lamented over how sad it was that I didn’t even get a sip of my caffeine and I really appreciated that because it sucked just as badly as I imagined it lol.

All of this is to say that the nice receptionist paid forward the kindness that someone else gave her during her shopping trip and we can all learn from that. The world is a scary place right now and I think everyone needs all of the kindness that they can get. Even things that you think are little can be so helpful so pay someone a compliment. Hold the door open for someone. Bring a coffee to your coworker. Or simply listen when someone is having a bad day or has something on their mind. Whether you are helping someone mop up spilled coffee or bringing your neighbor a plate of dinner you cooked, it all makes a difference. Thanks to my receptionist hero’s bright attitude, this turned into a situation that wasn’t worth crying over spilled coffee. (Maybe only slightly internally!) Rather, it was a great reminder to keep the kindness going to the next person I encountered. ❤

Everyone has the power to turn someone else’s day around. Use it liberally and the bright side of life shines through!

Have you had any oopsie daisies recently? How did you fix it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan15

3 Things To Consider When Looking At Your Finances

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3 Things To Consider When Looking At Your Finances

When it comes to finances, we know that it can be hard to keep yourself on the straight and narrow. There are so many unknown elements to factor in. Will you get a raise at work? Will one of your kids need to go to the ER for stitches? What should you spend on and what should you save for? The answers to these questions are not black and white. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at three of the things that we encourage you to consider:

Finances Won’t Stay The Same Forever:

We’re going to kick things off by saying that your finances are not going to stay the same forever. If you’re struggling financially at the moment and you’re finding it really hard to keep pushing forward, then you need to remember that the situation can improve. Things will get better, the tide will turn, and there will come a time when managing your finances doesn’t make you feel like tearing your hair out. If your budget isn’t stretching as far as you would like it to, or you feel as though you’re constantly behind where you should be, just remind yourself that it’s all temporary, and your time will come soon. For now, you just need to do your best.

Ensure Your Taxes Are Done Correctly:

Another thing that you’re going to need to do is make sure that your taxes are done correctly. Taxes are complex, and it’s always advisable to have an accountant on your side helping you with them. We understand that this seems counterproductive to some as you’re just adding another expense to your list, but it actually does help. This will ensure that you get all of the breaks and deductions that you are entitled to. It’s worth looking at an individual income tax service for yourself, seeing what is out there, and watching how much it benefits you. We’re not saying that you don’t need to know how to do your taxes though, as it’s still an important life skill, just that help is available.

Saving Is Your Best Friend:

The last thing that we want you to consider is that saving is your friend. Yes, it’s hard to save money, and yes, you may feel as though no matter what you can’t save. If that’s true, refer back to the first point that we mentioned and keep pushing forward. If you can save and you’re just choosing not to, that’s a whole other issue. Take a look into all of the options for saving, and see what you think would work best for you. At the end of the day, budgeting is a skill and you cannot improve if you don’t practice.

A new year is a brand new opportunity to better manage your finances. Get started with these tips!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Dec26

My New Year’s Resolutions

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My New Year’s Resolutions

Howdy! 2026 is right around the corner? Are you ready for a brand new year? Have you made your resolutions and are they actually ones that you can keep? I have never been one to set extreme goals for the new year. Rather, I turn to small achievable tasks that are easy to keep while still making positive changes. What’s the point of a New Year’s Resolution if you’re going to bail out after one month! Here are my little goals for 2026 and maybe they will help inspire you too:

Replace Screen Time:

The past few months I have felt like I have been on my phone constantly and I don’t like it! Whether it is scrolling aimlessly on Facebook, playing on apps, or shooting off texts I have turned into a phoneaholic and now that I recognize it – I can do something about it! I plan on replacing at least some of my screen time with reading a chapter or two of a book instead. Rather than participate in brain rot, I can tuck into a good book and share even more Lil Red’s Book Clubs. Talk about a win/win and a simple but effective resolution!

Keep Moving:

It is SO easy to get home from work, sit down on the couch, and not move until bedtime. Especially in the frigid winter months! This has been my MO and I think it could benefit from some changes. I have no plans on sacrificing my TV time but modifying it because who says you have to watch it sitting down? Completing a small workout or even just walking in place while your shows play can boost your health and mood, increase your energy, and provide a better night’s sleep. This is a particularly positive improvement for me as I love to hike when it’s warm out but hibernate all winter long. Even fifteen or so minutes of movement after work can make a big difference and I can do it from the comfort and warmth of my home!

Mental Boost:

I am my toughest critic and I have always been that way. I find it difficult to speak to myself positively even when I know I am doing great and that is no way to live. Engaging in kind self talk is a goal that I really have to put my mind to literally and metaphorically because I’m just not used to it. However, I do need to pat myself on the back more often and that starts now. Instead of focusing on every little thing I might have done wrong, I need to remind myself that I did the best I could and that is good enough.

A New Job?!

I am potentially starting a new job in January and will obvi be filling all of you in on that as soon as I can. My biggest goal? To absolutely CRUSH it!! I have felt the desire for change for a while now and a fateful email opened up the potential for it. Just the thought of a brand new adventure is exciting and I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed. A new job is a totally different change of pace and all I can do is put my best foot forward and rock it. Hey, that sounds like positive self talk to me!

These New Year’s Resolutions may not seem like much but they are to me. These goals are meaningful because I know I need to work on them and I know that I will succeed! 🙂

Do you have any resolutions for 2026? What is a positive change you made recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah