Tag Archives: life

Jul13

Keeping Sane In Quarantine

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Keeping Sane In Quarantine

Hello! Yours truly and my boyfriend have essentially been in quarantine mode since March nineteenth when the restaurants and bars in Ohio first shut down. Johnny was on furlough and just recently went back to work while I have been holding down the fort with my clients the whole time as an “essential” employee.

Our interactions with others (outside of work) has been very limited to occasional social distance hang outs with a friend or two and a weekly errand if we need anything from the store. This has, by no means, been the most fun I’ve ever had but with numerous high risk clients and family members, safety always comes first.

There was a point when cabin fever was really setting in and “this sucks” was my signature catchphrase for most of the day (Just ask Johnny!). So, what have I been doing to keep myself sane during close to four months of lock down? All of the following:

Writing Daily:

It has been really important to me to try and keep my daily schedule in tact, which means writing every day for lifewithlilred. Is coming up with content difficult when there’s literally nothing to do? YES!! But, it keeps my brain active and it’s fun for me. I have been continuing on with my schedule of getting up early before work to write and it is just the push I need to get myself up and going each and every day.

Reading A Ton:

There is only so much TV you can watch and video games you can play until your brain feels so mushy it would be a pleasure to read a dictionary. I have definitely been at that point, myself, in quarantine so I try to read a little every day. As usual, I have been loving reading my thriller/mystery books. The best part? A good whodoneit keeps my mind working once I’ve put the book down as I try to figure out what happens next. Bonus!

Perfecting Skills:

It has REALLY sucked not being able to go for my weekly figure skating practices because I looked forward to them so much. So, now, I have been focused more than ever on perfecting things that I can do from home. Like learning languages, for example. About two to three times a week I practice French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Czech while once weekly I work on American Sign Language.

Is sitting on my couch practicing languages as fun as hitting the rink? Yes, actually, in its own way. And, it gives me something to do on a scheduled basis which is why I think I have been so dedicated to Duolingo for the past few months.

Not Going Social Media Crazy:

With everyone butting heads with different opinions right now as well as constantly being flooded with news of the mainly bad kind – social media can feel overwhelming, especially right now. If scrolling through your newsfeed is making you feel more upset than entertained, then maybe it’s time for you to take a brief hiatus. Plenty of my friends have and I find myself shying away from checking my Facebook 24/7 too.

There’s only so much bickering and bad news you can take and if you’re seeing it all of the time, it’s no wonder why you might not be feeling your best! Take a break from your social and replace that time with something that makes you laugh online like your favorite comedy YouTube videos or dog related memes. :*)

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How have you been keeping yourself sane in quarantine? How have you been keeping yourself safe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul12

How Do I Go Out Social Distance Style?

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How Do I Go Out Social Distance Style?

Hello! A follow up question that Johnny and I usually get asked after “what do we do all day?” while in quarantine is “how do you go out?”. The answer? Very carefully, of course! Other than going to work, we limit ourselves to one to two individual errands per week and we always have our face masks on and hand sanitizer at the ready.

As far as grocery shopping goes, I try to do a big shopping haul once a month. My supermarkets are trying to social distance the best they can with one way aisles but I feel like not everyone cares to use them. So, if groceries are needed, I try to go first thing in the morning before stores get too crowded.

If there’s a random place we need to go to like the gas station, bank, etc. both Johnny and I formulate a game plan that will get us in and out the quickest. We also have masks and sanitizer on hand in our cars in case we need to make an unexpected stop. It’s just best to be prepared, is all.

Finally, as you all can see, I got my hair and my nails done. How did I do that? Very carefully, of course! Lol, actually, all of the salons I go to for my beauty treatments are being exceptional at following the highest safety precautions. I was informed by either the owners of the salon or an employee of what was being done to keep everyone safe and I felt comfortable with all of the measures being taken. Like the following:

  • Getting your temperature taken before entering.
  • Masks required by all (Employees and customers).
  • Washing hands required immediately after entering.
  • Limited number of employees and customers in at one time (Under ten).
  • Way beyond six feet of room between everyone for social distance standards.
  • Plexiglass between employee and customer (At nail salon).
  • Sanitizing after each customer.

With all of the amazing steps being taken to keep each salon up and running safely, I felt okay going in to get pampered. I spread each appointment out by a week or two so I wasn’t going out too frequently and I was so happy each time because I felt safe and totally awesome after going months without being able to go to a salon.

Johnny and I are taking all of this craziness in stride and are living our lives right now by doing only what makes us feel comfortable. How we feel might not be the same as everyone else but it works for us and that’s all that matters to me. ❤

What social distance standards did stores in your area put in place? Are masks required where you live? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul11

A Day In The Life Of Quarantine

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A Day In The Life Of Quarantine

Hello! Unfortunately in Ohio, the coronavirus cases are rising again and life in quarantine for me and Johnny will continue on until who knows how long. We both have been limiting our time in the community drastically and only go out for an errand once a week or so apiece since mid-March. Cabin fever, much?! But, with both of our families being high risk as well as quite a few of my clients, the risk is just not worth it.

As an essential employee, I have been working this entire time and, normally, I loved to let my hair down and go out with Johnny and our friends over the weekend. We all know that this won’t be happening again for the foreseeable future and this question has been asked to me so many times now: What have Johnny and I been doing this whole time?

Lol, it’s a great question, honestly. On a typical day when we are both off, there tends to be a TV show or movie marathon at some point. Johnny loves to play video games so while he’s doing that I like to read, write, or practice my languages. Cooking dinner and breakfast for my man also helps pass the time too and it’s so fun for me because I love coming up with new dishes to serve.

Although it’s summertime in Ohio right now, the weather has just been crap so our outdoor options are severely limited. Before, it was cold and raining nonstop. Now, the temperatures are in the mid nineties and it makes being outdoors for even a minute unbearable. It’s too bad because we both would love to go for a hike but when one of us (AKA me) tends to get nauseous in the heat, it just isn’t even worth it.

Quarantine life has been like being grounded except I can have a glass of wine whenever I want and that makes it a bit more fun! Johnny and I both are itching to get out of the house but safety always comes first. So, in the meantime, I am a-okay being in our little apartment building with LEGO and watching Impractical Jokers for hours on end. ❤

How has the coronavirus impacted your life? What are things like in your neck of the woods right now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul1

Redefining How You Perceive Yourself In Daily Life

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Redefining How You Perceive Yourself In Daily Life

Self-image can seem like a tertiary consideration to reflect upon, but it actually defines much of how we view the world, and how we relate to other people. For instance, if you hold very little self-confidence, everyone can seem impressive and, sometimes, others can take advantage of you more easily. If you are thoroughly narcissistic and egocentric, odds are you’ll have trouble really connecting with anyone or forming trusting relationships.

Of course, it’s rare that we are either one or the other. Personalities are complex, to the point where even the best behavioral scientists, psychologists, and neurologists haven’t and likely will never fully map out how our ‘souls’ can express themselves. But that doesn’t mean you can’t commit to personal changes that make the most sense.

Redefining how your perceive yourself in everyday life can seem like an intense challenge and reflective habit, something that we might not be very comfortable with. Yet taking small changes for the better and doing so with a sense of grace and consideration can lead to big, positive changes. For instance, what if instead of telling yourself that you’re not skilled enough, you simply thought ‘I can give this a go?’ Odds are, you’d benefit dramatically over the years.

Now, try the following to help keep the positivity flowing in your life:

Daily Affirmations:

Daily affirmations needn’t share voodoo, spiritual, or otherwise ethereal beliefs. Simply looking in the mirror and telling yourself you are powerful and are about to enjoy a great day can be enough. Telling yourself you look great in the mirror and pointing your finger-guns to confirm it can be enough. How we speak to ourselves matters, because ultimately you will begin to believe the narratives you tell yourself. If you wouldn’t allow a friend to speak to you that way, why allow yourself?

Working Towards Improvement:

Confidence can also come from working to improve yourself. For instance, if you’re obese, does that really matter if you’re now eating right and working out as you can? Obesity is just a present state, sooner rather than later you’ll be amazed at the progress you’re making. This can help you avoid feeling completely stuck in the situation you are in now. No matter what the improvement is, from taking care of your skin to losing weight or simply feeling more body-confident with well-fitting clothes, you have a sense of progression and something to be really proud of. For some, this might be emphasized with a new tattoo or a visit to SOMA surgery center for further work. This can help you feel positive about your self-image to an untold degree.

Comparing Yourself To Yesterday:

Comparing yourself to yesterday is much better than comparing yourself to someone else’s stature today. If you’re stronger and more pensive than you were last week, that’s good news. If you feel happier in that you’ve managed to achieve a life milestone, be that a promotion or starting a new relationship, it doesn’t matter that someone ten years younger than you is advising the United Nations. What matters is your own progress. Remember, you’re lapping everyone stuck on the couch!

With this advice, we hope you can incrementally redefine how you perceive yourself in daily life – all for the better.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jul1

Unlocking Your Health Through Vital, Practical Means

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Unlocking Your Health Through Vital, Practical Means

When it comes to optimizing and even unlocking our best health, it can be hard to know where to begin. Sometimes, it can seem most evident in the mini-decisions we make each day. Choosing to walk up the stairs at work rather than take the elevator, for instance, can burn off a few calories and get our heart pumping in a way it might not have otherwise. Adding this up over the course of very many months, and you might be better off for it.

Yet it can be hard to measure small efforts like this, despite how worthwhile they are. When it comes to true health improvement we want to know that it’s having an effect and we want to feel the difference in advance. So, how can we do this? Furthermore, how can we be sure the pursuit we’re taking on that journey is practical, backed by the science, and also something we can sustainably commit to?

Of course, no health advice column will help you perfect your particular needs, but you can be nudged in the right direction. As always, be sure to speak to your doctor regarding any changes you make to your lifestyle, first.

Posture & Physical Care:

Your posture is important to consider, because it can mean plenty for your digestive system, how comfortable you feel during the day, and your core strength. Of course, physical care cannot be forced, sometimes you’re lacking in flexibility or sometimes you need OPA orthopedic care to help better manage your physical limits as you grow in potential. When you can better manage your body’s strength and flexibility, you will enjoy a marked increase in your health.

Reducing & Addressing Stress:

Stress can be a big problem. It can cause neurodegeneration, impact your sleep, and even affect your appetite. From taking walks in nature and reading to meditating and exercising regularly, you can manage and directly address your stress levels. If you live a relatively high-impact life with intense workloads, this can be a fantastic new set of schedule assertions to make. Stress, if managed, can be felt and then easily expressed rather than being bottled up and causing you untold physical and mental health damage.

Diet Is Everything:

You’d be surprised how much your diet can impact your life. From how it influences your gut flora to your skin condition and how well you sleep at night, a good diet can improve your life in almost every way. Calculating your macros with an app and scanning the foods you eat can be a worthwhile approach to take and you might find that good supplementation is key. Many people are vitamin D deficient, for instance, and so understanding what this means and how to remedy it can help you unlock the doors of your health and push them open just a little wider.

With these starter ideas, we hope you can further unlock your health via vital, practical, and sustainable means.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jun28

A Flower For Me

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A Flower For Me

Hello! On Father’s Day, my sister and her daughter arrived at our parents’ house at the exact same time that I did. We didn’t plan it at all and it was perfect because we all had the maximum time together before we split back up for the day. Beautiful presents and lots of love were gifted to our dear old dad but I think I got the most special treat of all that day. Check it out:

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After presents, we all took a pause and went to the backyard so my niece, Valerie, could move and groove before my sister took off. My dad loves to show Val his flower and vegetable garden and she loves it too. More often than not, you can see my dad smelling the flowers with her and then he will help her pick a bloom for her mom.

On Father’s Day, Val wanted a flower for each hand once she picked her favorite. Then, she toddled up to her auntie and handed me a flower with a big smile on her face. And, right at that moment, our Golden Retriever gobbled up the flower in the hand she wasn’t paying attention to. *Face palm*

Once Val realized her other flower was missing, I offered her mine to make up for it. But, she just kept handing it back to me. I have to say, I was really happy she did because there is literally nothing better than getting a pretty little flower from your fifteen month old niece. I brought it home with me and put it in my dried flower collection and it’s never not going to make me smile whenever I see it. ❤

How did you celebrate Father’s Day? How is your garden doing this summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun26

New Hair, Who Dis?

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New Hair, Who Dis?

Hellooo everyone! Now, we all know that “Life is better in red” but I found out that blondes do have more fun. Well, I’m having half more fun anyways! I have been hinting at a hair change for a while and I finally was able to get to the salon so my hair guru, Anna, could work her magic. I always thought that I would look really cute with yellowy blonde hair and my hunch was correct. Behold, the glory of my new “convertible” half red and half blonde hair:

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Convertible hair is honestly the most accurate term for my new do because it is the most versatile style I have ever had. Literally any way I fix my hair in the morning could be a little or vastly different than how it was worn the day before. Hell, I could have a different hair style for every hour of the day! How cool is that?

To achieve the blonde half of my hair, Anna bleached it for an hour. I have never had my hair bleached before so we had no idea what was going to happen. And, of course, we both understand the importance of being safe than sorry. Thankfully, my bleached half still feels and looks very healthy!

After washing the bleach out, the toner was applied to give my hair the yellowy hue that I was after. The ultimate goal is a bright mustard yellow and I will be going back in a month to get that taken care of. I can’t wait! I plan on having Anna help keep me blonde until I am more educated about it but I will continue to dye the red part at home. There’s nothing better than a trip to the salon so even getting half of your hair dyed is a treat. 😀

I am so proud of myself for embracing a brand new style after the same old for what seemed like forever. My confidence is through the roof and I’m already thinking of what color I want to compliment my red next. I’m thinking pink! ❤

What is your favorite salon treatment to get? Have you recently embraced a new look? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun23

Face Mask Festivities: Actual Face Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Actual Face Mask Edition

Hello!!! My county board of Developmental Disabilities has been doing a wonderful job of educating and protecting all of their employees and the people we help. Earlier in May, a care package was delivered to me that was filled with games and activities to help entertain my clients while in quarantine.

This month, a box of personal protective equipment was dropped off and I was able to divvy up the goods between all of the families I serve. I even got to keep two cloth face masks for myself and Johnny. I was so happy because I’ve been meaning to buy cloth masks for a while but never did because Johnny and I have been using the disposable hospital masks.

I love that the cloth masks can be reused and, while they may seem thicker than the disposable masks, I feel that they are so much more breathable. I also am a huge fan of the paisley pattern on mine! Check it out:

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Normally, I would go for the plain black mask that I chose for Johnny but the bright orange and yellow on mine just made me happy. In fact, I didn’t even mind putting it on when I ran into the store. Summit DD provided me with a lot of pattern options from polka dots and paisley to rainbow and regular, solid colors. Each of my clients enjoyed picking out their favorite and I enjoyed knowing that they had an extra way to keep them safe.

Are face masks the most fun thing to wear? No! Especially if you wear glasses, lol. But, my new cloth mask certainly makes, what I feel is an obligation, a whole lot easier. ❤

What pattern is on your face mask? Do you prefer cloth or disposable masks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun22

Kind Of Adulting?

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Kind Of Adulting?

Hello! My boyfriend and I recently celebrated his thirty-first birthday and my twenty-sixth. Johnny and I have birthdays exactly one week apart from each other and I kind of have to laugh at our haul. We received and purchased quite a few appliances for the kitchen and bathroom so adulting, right? Sort of!

Johnny and I are also big kids at heart so our birthdays wouldn’t be complete without something a little more fun. Hence, the LEGO sets we gifted to each other. We got the perfect combination of “work” and “play” things for our birthdays and despite feeling like a grown up with our new appliances, we couldn’t be happier! We have been enjoying the following:

Electric Toothbrush:

I have had a lot of dental woes compliments of my oral surgery gone wrong two years ago. Because of the extensive problems I still suffer from, I have to see a periodontist pretty frequently. My periodontist has recommended an electric toothbrush till he’s blue in the face and I guess I didn’t realize just how bad I needed it until I found my gum problems were getting worse.

That past visit to the periodontist happened a week or so before my birthday and I planned on purchasing an electric toothbrush for myself. But, then I remembered birthday and my mom agreed to let me order one off of Amazon. The first time I used it, I couldn’t believe I had been brushing my teeth any other way before. And, now I can’t picture my dental care without it.

The best part? Johnny loves it too and let me pick out a pink electric toothbrush that we share, with different brush heads obvi! I just adore the color and I am so pleased with the results I’ve had so far. 🙂

Air Fryer:

Johnny’s parents so kindly gifted us with their barely used air fryer, which was amazing because we were going to buy one right after we left their home. So, instead, we went to the grocery store and purchased ALL of the air fried delicacies you can think of. French fries, mozzarella sticks, hash browns, you name it. Then, we went back to our apartment and had a big air fried feast!

We are so obsessed with the ease of using our air fryer and how FREAKING AMAZING it makes everything taste. We are both looking forward to trying new recipes and if you have any favorites, please pass them along. Especially anything vegetarian. 😀

Brita Water Pitcher:

The last new thing we got for our apartment was a Brita water pitcher and filters. Mainly because Johnny was sick of lugging all of my water bottles and gallons after going grocery shopping! Haha, but seriously, the Brita pitcher is awesome. We have both been drinking so much more water, which comes right from our own tap and filters to delicious, safe to drink H20 instantly.

I honestly have never seen Johnny drink as much water since purchasing the Brita pitcher and it is such a positive change. I, myself, have been drinking way more too even though I’m usually pretty good about it. The filters last for one month and they are inexpensive to purchase – I got six on Amazon for twenty-five bucks.

Another great bonus? The pitcher and filters are easily going to pay for themselves since we won’t be purchasing water at the store anymore. You just can’t beat that.

Johnny and I are adulting in our own way and I love it. We also love all of these handy little tools that make life so much easier! 😀

What is your favorite appliance? How do you stay young at heart? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun16

Embracing Your Inner Gym Bunny

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Embracing Your Inner Gym Bunny

While in lockdown, you may have been hankering for your work out sessions at your fitness gym and you now have to make do with some at-home exercise. This will suffice for now, but what about when you can go back to the gym? Times will have changed, and there will be a new normal that you have to adjust to. You will have to remain socially distant, classes may only involve a handful of people, you may need to buy your own equipment, and hand sanitizer will become your best friend. Take a look at why you should *safely* embrace your inner gym bunny when lockdown ends:

The Range Of Exercise:

If you are used to doing twenty minutes on the cross trainer, a 5k run on the treadmill, and pumping some iron in the weights area, then an aerobics class as seen at YouTube.com at home simply isn’t going to cut it. Being able to work a wider range of muscle groups and having the equipment to tailor your workout so that it is bespoke to you is only available at a gym. While you might not be paying your full subscription fee each month at the moment, you will relish having the chance to when you can get back to a spin class and enjoy your HIIT workout once again.

While you are indoors a little more, take the chance to hone a new workout plan for when you do head back to the gym. If you are keen to lose the weight in your arms or you want to strengthen your core, construct a workout plan specifically for these areas using the many free guides available on the Internet.

Gear:

If you are looking to head back to the gym, make sure that you look the part. You want to be turning heads for all of the right reasons, so go to a site like curvesncombatboots.com and check out their achingly cool leggings and awesome tops so that you look amazing when you venture to do some exercise for the first time in ages. Pair your clothing with some new running shoes. While you might not fancy heading to the high street or the mall, there are plenty of online retailers with some excellent discounts at the moment. Take advantage of them while they are trying to encourage more shoppers back to their stores.

Classes:

While classes may be smaller, having an instructor in front of you yelling at you to go faster can actually be inspiring and make you work harder. Finding your mojo at home when watching a YouTube session or when trying to go for a jog outside can be tough. Sometimes, you need that expert to encourage you. Classes range from Zumba to box-fit and from spin to circuits. Each of these classes will help you to shift the pounds and tone up. You will also find that your dopamine levels increase negating the cortisone levels in your bloodstream. This can make you feel more positive, content, and happier in these uncertain times.

Venturing to the gym was something that we used to take for granted. Follow this guide, and enjoy embracing your inner gym bunny in the post-pandemic world.

Featured Image By: Pexels