Tag Archives: lilred

Feb16

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

Feb13

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

Feb8

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

Jan26

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

Jan25

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!!!!!

Jan21

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

Jan20

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

Jan12

My Skin Care Routine

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My Skin Care Routine

Hellooo! I frequently get compliments on my complexion and questions on my skin care routine. So, today, I thought that I would share my daily regime with all of you. Of course, everyone’s skin is different so you can tailor your routine to the products that suit you best. The products that I use are all for a normal skin type and quite a few of them can be bought at your local drugstores.

Step One: Beauty Bar

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I start off my skin care routine by washing my face with a beauty bar. I take care of this in the shower, because I hate getting water all over my sink. And, a sink doesn’t give you all of that fantastic steam that helps open your pores for a deep clean.

I love to use bars with charcoal in them to help clear blackheads around my nose. But, for now, I am using one of my favorites from Appalachian Naturals, a homemade soap store in North Carolina where my family vacations. This bar is great, because it has some grit in it to exfoliate, but is overall very gentle and also removes makeup, which is another added bonus.

Step Two: Exfoliate

routine1

After I finish washing my face, I use a scrub to get rid of anything that my beauty bar left behind – dry skin, blackheads, makeup, etc. I usually always use a St. Ives scrub and am currently finishing up their Oatmeal Scrub & Mask. I love this mask because it smells delicious and it has a creamy texture with a fair amount of grit in it for a gentle but effective clean. My skin always looks so much fresher and brighter after I use a good scrub, and I would never go a day without one.

Step Three: Toner

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Before I moisturize or use any treatments, I always apply witch hazel as a toner. I first use the witch hazel to clean my nose piercings, as it’s a great antiseptic. Then, I apply it all over my face to prep my skin for my moisturizer and to remove any final crud that washing left behind. Witch hazel minimizes my pores and leaves my skin feeling so clean. I also get fantastic value for the bottle, as it lasts me well over four months.

Step Four: Moisturize & Treatments

routine

To complete the process, I use a moisturizer and two treatments to get my skin ready for the day. After applying my witch hazel, I use:

  • Nutriganics eye cream from The Body Shop. I have been using this product for close to five years and, at twenty-three, any traces of eye wrinkles are nonexistent.
  • Then, I apply my moisturizer, which I got at Walgreen’s for THIRTY THREE CENTS thanks to their rewards program. I normally use the Vitamin E moisturizer from The Body Shop, but this Olay one works just as well and has lasted me over two months. The texture is light, but it provides a lush hydration and it absorbs well.
  • And, finally, I finish up by using Vital C’s Vitamin C Brightening Face Serum. I always use something with Vitamin C in it to give my skin a radiant glow and this serum is the truth. It gives my skin a smooth finish, perfect for applying makeup, and leaves my skin looking bright and refreshed.

I have been using a skin care routine to the likes of the one seen above since I was about fifteen. Now, as a twenty-something, I have it perfected and could not live without my favorite products!

What is one of your must have skin care products? How do you achieve a flawless complexion? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Pibiplast

Jan9

Awesome Blogger Award #1

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Awesome Blogger Award #1

Helloooo! My darling friend from Girl With The Paw Print Tattoo recently nominated lifewithlilred for its first Awesome Blogger Award! Not only am I obsessed with the name of this blog, as it derives from one of my favorite series of books, but I am also in love with how open and honest its author is. It takes a brave person to put their lives out there with the goal of helping others, and I am constantly impressed by the content on GWTPPT. Do be sure to check it out! Now, let’s get on to the rules:

The Rules:

  • Thank the person who nominated you
  • Tag it under #awesomebloggeraward in the Reader
  • Answer the questions your nominator gave you
  • Nominate at least 5 awesome bloggers
  • Give your nominees 10 new questions to answer
  • Let your nominees know that they’ve been nominated

Q & A:

What do you hope to achieve in 2018? I hope to continue making progress in therapy and working hard in all of my jobs and on my blog.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In a lovely apartment or home with a bunny and two dogs.

What is one thing you cannot live without? Coffee, Diet Coke, my family, and friends. Not in that order!

What is your favorite movie and why? I love V For Vendetta and Pan’s Labyrinth because I love the stories, directors, and actors in each film.

If you could go back in time to any era, where would you go and why? The 1980’s! It seems like so much fun and I am a huge fan of the music from that era.

What is your favorite candle scent? All vanilla everything.

What was the most recent thing you got excited about? Seeing amazing fireworks while ringing in the new year.

What are topics that appeal to you the most on the blogging community? Beauty, fashion, and mental health.

Did you accomplish any goals you had for last year? This is bad, but I never really make goals for myself. I am proud of getting myself started in therapy, though.

If you had one million dollars, what would you do and why? Find a home for every dog on the planet!

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. How did you celebrate during the past holiday season?
  2. What was your favorite gift that you received?
  3. What was your favorite gift that you gave?
  4. What is winter weather like in your neck of the woods?
  5. How do you spend your time when it’s too cold to brave the outdoors?
  6. What are you looking forward to in the new year?
  7. What is something that makes you proud?
  8. What was the last TV series you binged on?
  9. What was the last movie that you saw in theaters?
  10. How do you treat yourself?

Thank you so much again to the Girl With The Paw Print Tattoo for lifewithlilred’s first Awesome Blogger Award nomination! How would you answer some of my nominator’s questions? 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

Jan7

lifewithlilred By The Numbers In 2017

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lifewithlilred By The Numbers In 2017

Hellloooooooo and happy Sunday! With a brand new year upon is, it’s time to explore lifewithlilred By The Numbers In 2017. My blog is my pride and joy, and I am so pleased with the progress that I have made this past year to keep my page running smoothly. As always, thank you to all of my readers and friends who stop by on my page – all of you have helped to make 2017 the best year yet on lifewithlilred! These stats and the progress made since 2016 would be simply impossible without each and every one of you!

2017 Stats:

  • Overall Views: 66,000
  • Followers: 6,730
  • Likes: 27,000
  • Comments: 4,300
  • Countries I’m Read In: 170+

Wow!!! I love how WordPress gives you your stats by the day, month, and year so that you can really track the strides that have been made on your page as time passes. It helps me so much in deciding feasible goals for each month and the entire year. Do I wish that I could get 100,000 views in 2018? Who doesn’t?! But, I would be SO pleased with 75,000 and am going to do everything in my power to make that happen this year. #GOALS

How do you create goals for your blog? What is something about your page that makes you proud? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah