Tag Archives: lifewithlilred

Liebster Award #16

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Liebster Award #16

Hello everyone!! Lifewithlilred was recently nominated for its sixteenth Liebster Award by my sweet friends, Soumi and Mukulesh, the darling husband and wife duo of MuMi’s Fun Life. Their blog is such a delight and is filled with a wide array of topics that are sure to please everyone. Thank you so much, love birds!! ❤ Now, let’s get on to the rules for the award:

The Rules:

  • Create a post in your blog about this Award and spread the news.
  • Acknowledge the person who nominated you in the same post. Also let the person know your opinion about his/her own blog.
  • Answer the questions given to you by the person who nominated you.
  • Choose at least 5 (maximum 10) bloggers whom you enjoy reading and want to nominate.
  • Create 10 questions for your nominees to answer.
  • Notify your nominees that you nominated them. Also paste your post link in the notification so that they can follow the required steps.

Q & A:

What do you think is the most important quality a blogger should have? I think that bloggers should be personable and have a good sense of humor.

If you can choose only one person and one essential item to travel the world, what will you choose? My sister and my wallet.

Which do you prefer – a self planned trip or a travel package of a tour operator? Why? A little bit of both. It’s fun to do things on your own and be spontaneous but having a set in stone plan is nice, too.

What do you think is the most versatile vegetable which you can use in any dish? Onions and garlic. You can never have too much garlic! Vampires beware!!

What do you think is more important to enhance your beauty – a good fashion sense or good makeup skills? Good fashion sense – I think that it showcases ones personality more.

What inspires you more – a biography of a great person or a heart warming fiction? I’m more fond of fiction. I haven’t read too many biographies.

What do you think is more important to you as a blogger – satisfaction of a creator/appreciation from your readers? Satisfaction as a creator, definitely. I take a lot of pride in my work and it feels good. Appreciation from my readers is just an amazing added bonus!

What do you prefer more on a special occasion – fine dining at a luxurious restaurant or a candle lit dinner at home? Why? Both are nice! It’s fun to get glammed up and go out on the town, but it’s just as great cooking at home with your family.

If you win the lottery some day what will you choose – fulfill your own dream or help any of your loved ones fulfill his/her dream? You can only choose one not both. Oh dang… I’d say, help a loved one because my family definitely has a vested interest in wanting all dogs to have a good home so it would be like my dream, too!

Which one do you think is an absolutely essential home decor – small live pot plants or photo collage frames? We have a lot of potted plants at home so yes, I think greenery is a must.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. What is the weather like in your neck of the woods today?
  2. What has been your favorite part of 2018 so far?
  3. Who is one of your role models?
  4. What is the last movie that you saw in theaters?
  5. What are some of the qualities that you look for in a friend?
  6. Last book that you read?
  7. What is one of your guilty pleasures?
  8. Favorite sweet treat?
  9. Favorite store to shop at?
  10. What was your favorite childhood toy?

Thank you so much again to Soumi and Mukulesh of MuMi’s Fun Life for the nomination! I loved answering your questions! How would you answer some of my nominator’s questions for me? How about some of my questions for my nominees? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Blog Post Ideas For When You’re Out Of Blog Post Ideas Finale

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Blog Post Ideas For When You’re Out Of Blog Post Ideas Finale

Howdy! I decided to make my Blog Post Ideas For When You’re Out Of Blog Post Ideas post a series, so today we are going to wrap things up with the grand finale! Writer’s block and blogs with no content will be a thing of the past, because after this post yours truly will have provided FIFTEEN prompts to help get you started. We will conclude with these ideas:

You could write about…

Your Pets:

Who doesn’t love animals? Whether it be your dog or cat or maybe you have more exotic pets like a snake or parrot, animal posts are always fun. I, myself, have written about my two beloved rescue pups, Gem and Ollie, many a time. You could share pictures of your furry, feathery, or scaly friends, which is sure to bring a smile to your reader’s faces. Or you could write about the rescue organization that you adopted your forever friend from. No matter how you go about it, pet posts are sure to please!

Your Job:

Being in the working force is something that almost all of us are familiar with. No matter if it’s the dream job or a dead end deal that you’re ready to move on from, chances are that your readers can relate. Of course, don’t spill details that you’re not comfortable with like your coworker’s names or the company that you’re employed by. But, do share humorous work stories like that time that your boss had toilet paper stuck to his or her shoe or when you accidentally asked for “one sex” instead of “one sec” while getting out your resume in a job interview. Or, perhaps you just need to vent about a bad day on the job. We all get it, so share away.

Your BFF:

With #friendshipgoals always being a relevant trending topic, why not write about your bestie? Maybe you have been best friends with your number one for over a decade, like mine. Or you might have met your A1 in an unconventional way. Your readers will be inspired by your loyalty to your ride or die AND your best friend will love being featured on your page – it’s a win/win. With friendship in mind, you could also write about tips for making new friends, which is especially beneficial to those that are shy or have some social anxiety. So, take a seat at your laptop and spread the friendship love!

Your Dreams:

What was the craziest/scariest/funniest/weirdest dream that you’ve ever had? Do you wake up with feelings of “wtf?” every morning from your vivid dreams during your snoozefest? Then, creating a dream log on your blog might be a great and interesting way to create content. We share our crazy dreams with people sometimes as soon as we wake up, so why not do the same on your page? Or, if you forget your dreams pretty easily, then you could always write about your daydreams, instead. A shopping spree or a trip to Europe, anyone?

Food & Drinks:

We all have to eat and drink, it’s a fact of life. And, because of that, us lucky bloggers will always have something to write about. Are you an adventurous eater? Or maybe you are a bit picky and are trying to branch out some more. Perhaps you love to host dinner parties. A meal brings people together in every walk of life, so food related posts can really help to bring a sense of community to your page. Share your favorite recipes, tell us your cooking disasters, and dish on your kitchen hacks that will make cooking and cleanup afterwards easier. Us foodies want to know!

I hope that this brainstorming series was beneficial to all of my blogging friends that tune into lifewithlilred. Thank you for checking it out! Which ideas are you going to incorporate into your blog? How do you go about creating content on your page? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Blog Post Ideas For When You’re Out Of Blog Post Ideas Pt. 2

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Blog Post Ideas For When You’re Out Of Blog Post Ideas Pt. 2

Hellooooo! Yesterday we talked about five different topic starters for when you are experiencing a case of writer’s block. And today, we are going to discuss a few more ideas for when you’re totally out of ideas for your blog post for the day or week. Let’s get to it!

You could write about…

A Movie/Book Review:

There is truly not enough time in the world to get through all of the books or movies on your must watch/read list when you lead a busy life. And when you finally get to tuck into that sequel or movie that you’ve been dying to see and realize that it really sucked can make it seem like you wasted your time. Not to mention that it’s disappointing! Reviews for books, movies, or even TV series are always going to be helpful for those who want to know whether to give that piece of pop culture the time of day. It also provides a hub for those who want to dish their opinions, as well. This is an excellent topic to focus on if you are a book worm or the film critic of your friends.

Your Favorite Songs/Bands:

It’s always fun to be introduced to new music. Not only that, but it’s interesting to see what your favorite blogging friends like to listen to when they’re making the commute to work. Use a post to highlight your all time favorite tunes or describe a concert that you went to recently. I’m sure that many of you revel in the chances to show your friends your favorite bands, so why not do the same on your page? Music posts are a great way to tell your readers more about yourself and starts great conversation in the comments, too!

Your Workout Regime:

Fitness will always be a hot trending topic, as most of us try to live a healthy lifestyle and try to incorporate some form of working out into our week. It doesn’t matter what level your workout is at. You could do the bare minimum or be a body builder, but there will always be someone who is right there with you and could benefit from your tips. New Year’s Resolutions are definitely still relevant, especially as some might be slowing down with their goals to get in better shape. Use your post for the day to help motivate those that are in the resolution slump or just beginning their fitness journey – it could help change someone’s life.

Crafting/DIY:

Pinterest will always be the mecca of all things DIY, but that doesn’t mean that your blog can’t become the next crafting hot spot! Similarly to working out, it doesn’t matter if you are an expert crafter or barely scraping by on your project, because someone will always benefit from it. Tell us about the best crafting products, give a step by step guide on your latest DIY endeavor, or you could even tell us about the time that your craft was an epic failure. Crafting is a fun and lighthearted topic to write about and can help inspire the artistic side in your readers. It doesn’t get much better than that if you have a passion for all things arts and crafts.

Ballin’ On A Budget:

Saving money is something that literally everyone could benefit from. In fact, if you were to write about your best tips for penny pinching, you would have a reader in me because I love that shit! Do you know where to score free swag? Maybe you know how to coupon so well that it brings new products to dirt cheap prices. Or, perhaps you know how to save tons of moolah on your travels. No matter what the saving money technique is that you shine in, I WANT TO KNOW! And, chances are, so does everyone else because who doesn’t love saving money?!

Writer’s block sucks, but the prompts above sure don’t! Use my tips above and you’ll be cranking out new content in no time. What are your go to writing topics? How do you cure a bad case of writer’s block? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Blog Post Ideas For When You’re Out Of Blog Post Ideas

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Blog Post Ideas For When You’re Out Of Blog Post Ideas

As writers, we all have those days where we can’t seem to come up with anything. Whether that be writing a novel in pen or typing away on your blog, when nothing seems to click, it can be nothing short of ripping your hair out frustrating. We’ve all had writer’s block in some way shape or form as far as creating content goes. And today, I am here to help you get unstuck when you need some ideas for posts on your blog. Take a look:

You can write about…

Your Favorite Travel Location:

Whether it be your favorite family vaca or just your local coffee shop around the block, shine some spotlight on it. Everyone daydreams about travel, so give the people something to wanderlust about. Perhaps you visited Harry Potter World in Florida or California. Maybe that cute little smoothie shack in town makes the best strawberry banana treat that you’ve ever tasted. Giving people an escape from their own world is what blogging is all about, so literally let them escape and transport them to your favorite place.

All Things Beauty:

Do you have a cupboard full of makeup products or nail polishes? Do you dye your own hair? Perhaps you’re a cosmetologist, hair stylist, or nail tech. Tell us more! Beauty tips and tricks will always be popular, but it’s seriously such a hot topic right now. From YouTube influencers to celebrities spilling their secret hacks, everyone seems to be enthralled in learning more about the world of makeup. Dish about your favorite products, tricks, or your profession in the industry and watch your stats skyrocket.

Passion For Fashion:

Are you a shopaholic like myself? Are you a shoe hoarder? Do you love styling OOTDs? Similar to beauty, fashion is a hot trending topic right now. Whether you’re a full blown fashionista or just starting to develop your personal style, fashion posts will always be in demand. Tell us where you score the best deals for designer looks. Write about your tips on finding amazing steals at the thrift shop. Teach us how to style a wardrobe staple, like a blazer, two or three different ways. Or, maybe you have some crazy stories about working fashion retail. No matter the topic, those with a passion for fashion will certainly appreciate it.

Snap Some Pics:

Are you a budding photographer? A selfie queen? Or, you might just love snapping some quick pics on your iPhone of things that interest you as you make your way throughout the day. Like writing about travel locations, pictures can transport the reader, as well. It doesn’t matter if you’re a photography professional or just starting out, because a picture is worth a thousand words. Show your readers the world through your eyes, and discover or refine a newly found or old passion.

Tell Us More:

A blog is literally an online diary and sometimes it can help to treat it as such. Maybe you had a bad day. Perhaps you had a totally embarrassing moment that, in hindsight, was hilarious. Or, something amazing happened and you want to scream it from the mountain tops. Write it out. Your days might not be interesting to you but, to others, it might feel like reading reality TV. Everyone has had the feeling before that literally every single person on the planet has a more exciting life than them. Or, they might just want to relate to someone else’s problems instead of focusing on their own. No matter what the case may be, share it with the world and watch as people come forward to share their own similar situations or just offer a kind word.

Blogging is a tough job, but somebody has gotta do it. So why not you? Getting stuck on creating content can certainly suck. But, with the guide above, you should be able to start cranking out new posts in no time!

How do you shake the feelings of writer’s block? What is your go to topic to write about? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Planet Minecraft

Blogger Recognition Award #6

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Blogger Recognition Award #6

Hihihi! This past Friday, lifewithlilred was nominated for its sixth Blogger Recognition Award by my friend Cherilyn over at Cherilyn Does. I love chit chatting with Cherilyn and her blog is definitely a must read – especially if you have an interest in makeup. She seriously does the most fabulous product reviews! Thanks for your friendship and the nomination, darling! The rules to this award are as follows:

The Rules:

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you and link to their blog.
  • Write a post to show your award.
  • Give a brief story of how your blog started.
  • Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
  • Select 15 other bloggers that you want to give this award to and comment on each blog to let them know with a link to your award post.

Because my original thoughts on my first Blogger Recognition Award hasn’t changed much, you can view them here and I will just move on to my nominees!

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

Once more, do give Cherilyn’s page some love – her blog is such a treat! What are some of your blogging tricks and tips? Who is one of your favorite bloggers? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

The TMI Tag

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The TMI Tag

Hi hi hi! This past weekend my friend, Claudia, over at New Life Fresh You nominated lifewithlilred for The TMI Tag. I have never been nominated for this one, and it’s basically a huge Q & A so it should be a lot of fun. I had a blast reading all of Claudia’s answers and her blog is such a gem so do be sure to check it out! Now, let’s get on to the rules for the tag.

The Rules:

  • You can participate if you want, if not, you can totally decline it.
  • Mention the person who tagged you.
  • Answer the questions from below.
  • Let the person you tagged know by commenting on their page.

Q & A:

What are you currently wearing? Black skinny jeans and a grey and teal Diamond Supply hoodie from my PacSun days.

Have you ever been in love? Yes.

Did you ever have a terrible breakup? Yes.

How old are you? 23

How tall are you? 5’1 1/4″ (The quarter counts!)

How much do you weigh? 120 pounds give or take.

Do you have any piercings? Yep. I’ve had over thirty in my life time but now I only have my bellybutton, two on my ears, my septum, and two studs on each nostril. I would love to get a facial dermal or my lip pierced again!

Do you have any tattoos? Yes, I have five and am planning on getting three more this month.

What’s your favorite drink? Moscato and Diet Coke.

What’s your favorite song? Beautiful Day by U2 – lyrics from that song was the first tattoo that I got the day that I turned eighteen.

What’s your zodiac sign? Gemini.

How long does it take you to shower? Fifteen to twenty minutes – I like long showers.

What’s your favorite show? Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, My 600 Lb. Life, and Jeopardy.

What’s your favorite band? I love U2, anything with Jack White, Marilyn Manson, Glass Animals, Arcade Fire, and Wolf Parade.

Something you really miss? College! I loved school.

Where do you go when you are sad? My bedroom to snuggle up with my Kindle and watch Netflix.

How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? Including my shower, I would say a solid hour.

Have you ever been in a physical fight? Nope.

What turns you on? Physically, I am all about really tall guys. Tattoos and piercings are a plus. And kindness and intelligence is a must.

What turns you off? I’m keeping Claudia’s answer of ignorance and disrespect, for sure.

Quality you look for in a partner? Smart, funny, goal oriented, kind, charismatic.

What’s your favorite color? Black.

Loud music or soft? Loud.

Favorite quote? Eh, I don’t really have one.

Favorite actor? I have been on a huge Hugo Weaving kick lately.

Do you have any fears? What are they? No comment.

What’s the last thing that made you cry? Definitely shed a tear over the movie The Shape Of Water. It was fabulous.

Meaning behind your blog name? Lil Red has been my nickname for five or so years thanks to my signature red hair and lipstick and lifewithlilred just flows really nicely.

Last time you said you loved someone? Before going to bed last night to my parents. 🙂

Last book you read? Honestly, I forget. I used to read every night before bed, but then I started teaching myself American Sign Language and that’s usually what I practice every night before falling asleep.

The book you’re currently reading? ASL For Dummies, lololol.

Last show you watched? Jeopardy.

Last place you were My bedroom.

Last sport you played? Figure skating.

Who’s the last person you talked to? My mom.

The last song you sang? Lunchbox by Marilyn Manson.

Favorite chat up line? What is that? lol.

Do you have a crush? Marilyn Manson, all day every day. I love him SO SO SO much.

The relationship between you and the person you last texted? My sister.

Favorite food? Anything vegetarian. I love to eat. But I especially love Indian food and Taco Bell.

Place you want to visit? France.

Last time you were insulted? I don’t really know. I don’t get genuinely insulted too easily, but I do get annoyed pretty frequently, haha.

Favorite flavor of candy? Sour!

What instrument do you play? None! I wish I could play the guitar, though.

Favorite piece of jewelry? Long, dangly earrings.

Last time you hung out with someone? I had a wine night with my friends over the weekend.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

Thank you so much to Claudia for nominating lifewithlilred for the TMI Tag! It was a ton of fun making this post. How would you answer some of the questions in the tag? What are things that you consider to be TMI? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Liebster Award #15

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Liebster Award #15

Hey everyone and TGIF! This past weekend, lifewithlilred got nominated for its fifteenth Liebster Award from the mastermind behind Health & Wellness: The Good Energy Blog. If you are looking for some feel good vibes and to get your chi back in balance, then clicking that blog link is an absolute necessity. Let the page’s color palette soothe you and use the positive energy radiating from each post to help jump start your day! Now, let’s get on to the award rules:

The Rules:

  • Acknowledge the blog who nominated you.
  • Answer the 11 questions your nominator asked.
  • Nominate 11 other bloggers.
  • Ask them 11 questions.

Q & A:

Where are you from? Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. It’s basically right by Akron and about forty or so minutes away from Cleveland.

What inspired you to start writing? I used to love journaling in high school, I still have all of my filled up notebooks in my closet – that might be a fun thing to revisit on the old blog! But, as far as my blog goes, enough people told me I should so I rolled my eyes and said “fine” and have been hooked ever since.

What is your blog about? Fashion, beauty, lifestyle, home decor, and everything in between!

Give one phrase that expresses your intentions to reach out to the world? Uhhh… I dunno… Probably something like “Let’s all be awesome together” haha ayyy! *finger guns*

What is your favorite book? The Little Prince and The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time.

If you can choose anywhere in the world to visit, where and why? France, so I can get my French on with the locals. It’s very frustrating to be good at speaking French when there’s few people in my area that I can practice with.

Your favorite book? Since I have many, I’ll list some more: Gentlemen & Players, Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf (Even though it’s a play!), and I love The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo trilogy.

Who inspires you? My parents and three siblings. AND MY TWO DOGS!!! 😀

Name a hobby you enjoy? I love figure skating and learning new languages. I am currently teaching myself American Sign Language.

What is your favorite season? Fall, fo sho.

Name one good quality about yourself? I’m freaking hilarious and DEAD SEXY. 😉

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. What was the last movie that you saw in theaters?
  2. Sweet or salty?
  3. How are you going to be spending Valentine’s Day?
  4. Do you have any hidden talents?
  5. Would you rather wear no makeup or the same outfit for two weeks?
  6. What do you love about your best friend?
  7. What is your spirit animal?
  8. What was the last series that you binge watched?
  9. What do you do to relax?
  10. How long have you been blogging for?
  11. What is your favorite way to spend free time?

Thank you so much again to The Good Energy Blog for lifewithlilred’s fifteenth Liebster Award nomination! How would you answer some of my nominator’s questions? How about some of the questions that I asked my nominees? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

7,000+ Followers!!!

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7,000+ Followers!!!

Woohoo!!! I just had to write a quick post to thank all of my readers, because I now have over 7,000 followers!! This is a gigantic landmark and I am so proud to be on the better half to 10,000 lifewithlilred followers – so here’s to making that happen. 😀 Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of my friends and followers of lifewithlilred, because this achievement is compliments of each and every one of you!

I’M SO HAPPPPPPPPPPY!!!!!

Blogging Tips (Since You Asked!)

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Blogging Tips (Since You Asked!)

Hey! Okay, ever since my post about my 2017 stats, I have been receiving a lot of cries for help in the blogging world for tips and tricks. So, today, I thought that I would share the wealth and give some advice for those who want to see more action on their page. The tricks that are seen below have worked wonders for lifewithlilred and I have already seen an increase in my numbers in this month alone. Let’s get to it!

Write, Write, Write:

You can’t have a blog without content and it is SO important that you keep cranking posts out. In 2017, I posted every single day and that gave me the best stats yet in my almost four years of blogging. Can’t commit to daily posts? Then try and create a schedule and stick to it so that your readers will know which days to come back to see something new.

Branch Out:

I always thought that my page would be strictly a beauty and fashion blog, but one will find that they lose inspiration for content very quickly if they limit themselves to just one or two categories of writing. Try giving other styles of writing and different subjects a go and see the spikes in your stats from your spicy new content.

Interact With The Blogging World:

Bloggers won’t bite, I promise. The blogging community is so fantastic, talented, and welcoming. Explore different blogs, make new friends, and gain insight into literally any topic that you can imagine. I have made countless amazing friends through lifewithlilred and that’s what is most important to me, always. The extra exposure that you can get from interacting with others is just another sweet added bonus of the blogosphere.

Social Media Is Your Friend:

If you have a ton of Facebook friends or followers on Twitter and Instagram, then why not share your blog on your social media? My URL for lifewithlilred is the first thing that people see when they find my personal Facebook page. I never am spammy about my posts or anything like that, but my URL is there for those that want to explore my blog further.

If you have a specific likeable page for your blog on social media, that’s great. I have one, myself, but I pick my battles and I chose to spend more time on my actual WordPress blog rather than trying to get more people to like my lifewithlilred Facebook page. Be picky about what you put your time and energy into and make sure that what you choose is what would benefit your blog the most.

In Conclusion:

Admit it, when you started blogging you thought that it would be a piece of cake. You also might have been a bit shocked to find out that it’s not in the slightest. Blogging is hard work that you really have to dedicate yourself to if you want to see results. Not only that, but it’s a little bit of luck, as well. But, with the tips above, you can make the odds of seeing the fruits of your labor flourish turn more in your favor. Good luck!

What are your blogging tips and tricks? What are your goals for your blog? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Pinterest

Therapy Update (Since You Asked!)

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Therapy Update (Since You Asked!)

Hellooo! So I’ve gotten quite a few requests for a follow up post about my journey that I started a month or so ago when I chose to go back to therapy. So, here it is! I’ll tell you what, the first few weeks were hard with a capital H-A-R-D. I forgot about the whole therapy process of feeling like utter shit after unearthing painful memories. So, for about three or so weeks, I was a hot mess. I was extremely depressed, mentally and physically exhausted, and retreating to old not so good habits.

But then, the hour long appointments began getting easier and I was even starting to enjoy going to them. First of all, I freaking love my therapist. She is so kind and easy to talk to AND she laughs at all of my bad jokes, which is a wonderful added bonus. On our first session together, she taught me about the importance of deep breathing when I am feeling stressed, upset, or overwhelmed and I employ that skill often now. It’s crazy how something that we don’t even think about, like breathing, can make you feel so much better and clear headed once you take a moment to pause and take a good, deep breath.

My therapist has also helped me with changing my thought patterns, because I tend to have an “it’s the end of the world” mind frame when something goes wrong, so we have worked on addressing that. It’s so nice to have a safe place to go and express my feelings and troubles every week with no judgement or backlash. I look forward to my therapy sessions and am proud of the progress that I have made thus far.

How do you do something good for your mental health? How do you calm yourself when you are upset? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah