Tag Archives: lifewithlilred

Wanted: Back To School Guest Bloggers

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Wanted: Back To School Guest Bloggers

Hello! Whether you’re learning from home or actually going on campus, it is now back to school season. Was I ever really excited for back to school? Not really! Not until college, anyways. I think I would be extra not excited to go back now so that means lifewithlilred needs some amazing guest bloggers more than ever.

No matter how you or your children are learning, I want to hear about it! What has home schooling been like? Do you have a how to guide to make cloth face masks? What about a fresh face MOTD or comfy cozy OOTD for Zoom meetings? Or perhaps your own unique take on a school lunch? If you are interested in guest blogging for lifewithlilred, please shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com (And remember – my blog is read in over one hundred and ninety different countries!)

Can’t wait to hear from you!

thanks

Hi, How Are You?

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Hi, How Are You?

Hi there! Recently at work, I took a client through a McDonald’s drive thru for lunch. I pulled my car up to the speaker and greeted whomever was working with a standard “Hi, how are you?” A very young and shocked sounding male voice told me “no one ever asks me how I’m doing, I guess I’m doing pretty good”. We chatted for a few seconds and he took my order, then I pulled up to his window to make the transaction.

A barely twenty-something year old kid who looked miserable, at best, had the voice I could finally put a face to. However, when I pulled my car up, he gave me a huge smile and thanked me for “being cool”. My heart somewhat broke and exploded. Broke because this young man working at a Micky D’s right off of the highway had a high point in his day just because I asked him how he was. Exploded because something so simple improved how he felt and, therefore, it made me feel good.

After I rolled up to the next window, I proceeded to give his compliments to the manager because he deserved it. He was prompt and kind and I wanted his day to continue to be the best. When my client and I drove away she told me “I think you made his day” and I told her that he made mine too.

Times are crazy right now. COVID and political unrest do not make for the most ideal living situation! But, times are never too crazy to be friendly to everyone you encounter and I think this story definitely can attest to that. ❤

How has someone made your day recently? How have you made someone’s day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

lifewithlilred Domain Renewal!

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lifewithlilred Domain Renewal!

Hello!!! On August 21st, lifewithlilred’s domain of http://www.lifewithlilred.com has been renewed for its seventh year online. It feels like just yesterday when I started my blog and it’s hard to believe that it has already been going on for the better part of a decade. lifewithlilred originally started out as more of an online journal and ode to fashion and from such simple beginnings, I now have readers and friends in over one hundred and ninety different countries. Wow!

Since lifewithlilred’s conception, I have been writing every day. I get up early before work to get my blogging done and I can’t believe I still have stuff to talk about after all of this time! No one ever said blogging was easy and that is the truth – it takes a lot of dedication and perseverance to write Every. Single. Day. Luckily for me, such amazing friends tuning in makes this task a joy instead of a burden.

I want to thank literally everyone who has viewed lifewithlilred because all of you serve as my motivation to continue on with this blogging journey. So thank you all from the bottom of my heart and here’s to another lucky seven more years of lifewithlilred!! ❤

And, as a reminder, my blog is a safe place for everyone and if you are ever interested in guest blogging for me, then shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com 🙂

Random Lil Red Fun Facts

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Random Lil Red Fun Facts

Hello! In coronavirus times, I have become a little bit “boring”. Not because I want to, of course. Safety trumps all and with multiple high risk clients that I care for, I can never be too, well… careful! A lack of going out and socializing/shopping has definitely made maintaining lifewithlilred more difficult but no one said being a blogger was easy and I still write every day.

If you are just tuning into my page, welcome! I hope you learn something new about me. For those of you who have been with me for the past almost six years, hi again! I also hope you learn something new about me with the following:

  1. I have well over fifty tattoos and have simply lost count of how many I have at this point.
  2. I try to read at least two books per month – sometimes three if I’m feeling especially reading ravenous.
  3. I wouldn’t consider myself a huge “gamer” but I have become obsessed with Animal Crossing since I have been at home more often. Johnny and I share an island called Dingusburg and my favorite thing is fishing for sharks and diving for undersea critters. 🙂
  4. I have been self employed for the past six years and run two businesses that I am very proud of.
  5. Johnny and I are celebrating one year together on September 1st and I couldn’t be happier!
  6. My last in store shopping trip was at TJMaxx in February and I miss it desperately.
  7. I also miss going ice skating a lot too! I used to figure skate competitively and just started taking up learning how to ice dance. I even bought new skates. Then, COVID happened, and I haven’t been on the ice since March. Whomp whomp.
  8. I am an aunt to an adorable niece and nephew. I am the baby of the family with two older brothers and an older sister. I also have two dog brothers named Archie and Ollie. ❤
  9. I allow myself two “treat” outings per month and I always opt to get my hair and nails done. I think I would go crazy without my monthly fill and color touch up!
  10. I have been a vegetarian for close to two decades and I love all kinds of food – especially Indian, Mexican, and Thai. Unfortunately, Johnny is on a much different diet of chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and Honey Nut Cheerios to lower his cholesterol so I usually have to eat my favorites by my damn self… More for me!

What are some fun facts about you? Do you have any questions for me? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Lil Red And The Rogue Cheerio

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Lil Red And The Rogue Cheerio

Hello! My boyfriend, Johnny, is basically the cutest and he is always doing little things around the apartment that make me think about him when I notice it. For example, he likes to change the position of my wooden artist’s body model and whenever I see which way the legs or arms are stretched out this time around it never ceases to make me smile.

Recently, Johnny has taken up eating Honey Nut Cheerios to lower his cholesterol ever since his friend came back from the doctor’s with a report of his cholesterol running high. It’s a little bit funny but more power to him for making a positive change!

Before he even began telling me about his new breakfast routine of having a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios in the morning I definitely knew. How? He is always leaving a rogue Cheerio behind:

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While Johnny makes his breakfast, he is definitely tired enough to not notice if an escape artist Cheerio ends up on our kitchen counter instead of in his bowl or the bag. So, when I am prepping all of my own stuff in the morning, I am greeted by the Cheerio that got away sitting all alone on the countertop.

When I asked Johnny if he ever notices the rogue Cheerio in the mornings, he replied with: “No, but it’s so you know I’m eating my breakfast”. And, now that he knows I notice it, I think he leaves a Honey Nut Cheerio behind anyways just to make me smile. It seriously always does and I do feel a bit better knowing that he ate before going to work!

The rogue Cheerio may seem like a silly story but I think it’s sweet and something so small can make a huge impact on your day. Normally, waking up for work is a drag but seeing that piece of cereal in the morning just tickles me. Instead of thinking about all of the crap I have to do for the day, I am usually thinking about how happy I am and all of the amazing times Johnny and I have had in our almost year of dating.

Moral of the story? The Rogue Cheerio makes for a very happy Lil Red and a boyfriend who is lowering his cholesterol one bowl of Honey Nut at a time, lol! 🙂

What is something little that makes you smile? What is your favorite kind of cereal? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Making It Work

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Making It Work

Hello! I recently had to cancel a lifewithlilred photo shoot for COVID reasons and I was so disappointed because it was a treat I was really looking forward to. Safety trumps all, however, so I decided to try and make a photo shoot work anyway. Thanks to my mom’s iPod photography skills, I had a bounty of great shots to pick from and I enjoyed the quality time with JANE most of all.

You know how after you take a bunch of pictures, you immediately seek out the ones that you deem “good”? I am guilty of it, myself, and it took a few times of scrolling through my pics to see the beauty in the unintentional shots my mom captured. In fact, quite a few of them ended up being my favorites! Check it out:

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Keeping two businesses up and running during any time is stressful but during a pandemic it is even crazier! This photo shoot was such a nice way to relax and have some fun and so much new content for lifewithlilred has been inspiring for me. Not to mention your girl was feeling her goddamn self!!

For the past six years of being self employed, making it work has been the name of the game. I wouldn’t have it any other way and it only improves my ability to think creatively and problem solve. These “oopsie” pictures are a visual reminder to me to keep making things work – from maintaining my businesses to taking the time to notice the amazing things that can be captured every moment. It’s all about just knowing where to look. 🙂

How do you make it work during stressful times? What is something that you find beautiful? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Ideal Inspiration Blogger Award

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Ideal Inspiration Blogger Award

Hi! This past weekend, lifewithlilred was nominated for its first Ideal Inspiration Blogger Award by my friend, Luna, over at BetterDayWeb. It has been a good long while since my page was nominated for a blogging award so I was excited to work on this post after reading Luna’s comment to me with the award info. It is so nice to know that other people take something positive with them when they visit my page and it is much appreciated. For more positive, inspiring bloggers, do be sure to check out Luna’s blog, as well! Now, let’s get on to the rules for this award:

The Rules:

  • Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link to their site
  • Answer the questions you got
  • Nominate up to 9 bloggers and ask them 5 new questions
  • Notify the bloggers you nominate so they know they have been nominated
  • List the rules and display the award logo in your blog post
  • Provide a link to the award creator. Rising Star from https://idealinspiration.blog/

Q & A:

What is the absolute best thing that has happened in your life so far? Just one?! How about three? Lol, I love being an aunt, I am insanely proud of my two businesses, and I have a wonderful family and boyfriend. That is all, definitely, the best!

Do you have a special talent, if yes; what is it? I have an excellent memory, which made my time in the theater world a snap with all of the lines I had to memorize! Now, I use that special gift to learn different languages. I currently practice French, Italian, Spanish, German, Czech, and American Sign Language. I’d like to learn Latin or Swedish next.

If you could do anything you wanted at all with no risk of failing. What would you do? This is a tough one! I would probably go to the skating rink and bust out some Olympic level figure skating – which, sadly, only happens in my dreams!

Fill in the blank. To me, Happiness is ________. Being with my family, hands down.

What always makes you smile? Coming home from work and seeing Johnny after a long day. 🙂

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. Which actor or actress would you love to be besties with?
  2. Do you like salty snacks or do you have a sweet tooth?
  3. How did the coronavirus affect your neck of the woods?
  4. Favorite movie, TV show, and book?
  5. What is your favorite season and why?

Thank you so much again to the darling Luna for nominating lifewithlilred for the Ideal Inspiration Blogger Award! How would you answer some of Luna’s questions for her nominees? How about some of my questions for mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Writer’s Block? Have Some Quarantine Writing Prompts!

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Writer’s Block? Have Some Quarantine Writing Prompts!

Hello! Depending on where you live in this great big universe, you might have been or currently are living in a state of quarantine. As for me, I have been in a lock down lifestyle since March 19th in Akron, Ohio. Other than leaving the house to go to work as an “essential” employee, I probably go out two times a month for groceries and appointments.

Maintaining a blog in normal times is hard work. However, maintaining a blog in a time of quarantine is a whole different ball game. I, myself, have had a difficult time coming up with daily content and sometimes it feels impossible to come up with a blog post for the day.

Back in early 2020, I could find inspiration to write about anything from a quick trip to TJMaxx or an adventure outing with friends. Fast forward over half a year later and the most exciting thing I have to tell you guys is when I get a new LEGO set. Lol, so I understand better than anyone what it means to have writer’s block right now and there is no shame in it!

If you are coming up with question marks for your page, try writing about the following:

  1. Have you picked up any new hobbies or perfected an old skill in quarantine?
  2. What have you been binge watching lately?
  3. How many books have you finished? Which one was your favorite?
  4. How has your garden or potted plants been growing?
  5. What has been the most difficult part about being in quarantine?
  6. What has been the best part about being in quarantine?
  7. Have you cooked or baked anything new?
  8. How has your beauty routine changed since being in quarantine?
  9. How has your work or day to day life been affected by the coronavirus?
  10. What are you most looking forward to doing post quarantine?

We are all having a hard enough time right now so don’t let your blog be another thing that stresses you out. And, if you’re curious how to become a better editor, follow the link to perfect your post. Use the prompts above and tag me in it so I can read it, too! 🙂

Much love. -Sarah

Still Need Something To Do?

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Still Need Something To Do?

Hello! If quarantine has been giving you nothing but the boredom blues as of late, then it sounds like you need an activity ASAP. We’re not just talking about the basics of reading, gardening, and baking… We’re talking guest blogging. If you would like to be a featured writer on lifewithlilred for the day to my readers in over one hundred and ninety countries, then shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com

Join my Quarantine Team and spend an afternoon doing something different! Who knows, it might just light a creative spark to keep you inspired as the coronavirus pandemic continues on. Send me an email with a few post ideas that you had in mind and we’ll get you on your way to becoming part of the lifewithlilred family in no time! ❤

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