Tag Archives: little red love machine

May7

A Car Repair Cautionary Tale

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A Car Repair Cautionary Tale

Hello!! My car, AKA the Little Red Love Machine, is my little pride and joy. She is basically me in car form and I worked very hard to be able to buy my dream car. It is so important to me to make sure she is running in the best, safest way possible and I always stay up to date on regular maintenance. I began going to a shop down the street from me for oil changes and have had a positive experience every time. Except for the last time…

After my last oil change, I was informed that my car needed some extra work and that the price was going to be steep – the bare minimum being around $1340. YIKES! Right away, my feelers went up because what they were recommending was something that I had gotten done before and for way cheaper. Rather than commit to anything right away, I called another repair shop I go to on occasion and got a quote from them. The price just on the phone? $960. That was much more like it! Better yet, when I took my car to get fixed, the true price when they called me was $820. That was even more like it and over five hundred dollars less than the original quote!

While I was doing the happy dance for a repair that was even less than anticipated, I was a bit peeved. Did the people at the first repair shop think I was stupid or something? In fact, after they high balled me, I got a text from one of the team members saying I could get a free oil change if I wrote a review and I’m pretty sure they knew I had their number lol. (And, no: I did not write the review as temping as a free oil change is!)

This is why I decided to share my cautionary tale. If you are getting a major repair on anything done and the price seems way too high, get a second quote from a different source. Hell, get a few! If the prices are similar across the board, then that’s okay. However, you might find yourself in a situation similar to mine and will be so glad that you called around. This might seem like a no brainer but it is definitely worth the reminder so that you can continue to get the most bang for your buck and find professionals that are trustworthy. You couldn’t pay me to go to the original shop I went to again!

I am pleased to report that the Little Red Love Machine is back in excellent condition and my savings speak for themselves. You can’t beat that!

Do you have a story similar to mine? How much money did you end up saving by getting additional quotes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan17

Driving Safely In The Snow

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Driving Safely In The Snow

Hello!! In my youth, winters in Ohio were brutal. The snow was extreme, the temperatures were frigid, and school cancellations were frequent. When I began driving over a decade ago, it was so important to be well versed in driving in the snow, even if the weather wasn’t “as bad” as I could recall. In fact, I vividly remember driving an hour home from the dealership in my new car during a crazy snow storm and it was terrifying! As the years passed, winters in my neck of the woods became far more moderate and it felt like we barely got snow at all anymore. Then, winter weather came back with a bang this year. Not just in the AK-Rowdy but all across the country. It snowed in Atlanta where my brother lives and the whole city shut down!

I drive a lot for work and I can tell that so many people on the road now have little experience driving in snow. I have to admit, it took me a good minute or two to shake off the rust once it really started coming down here. So, I thought it would be helpful to compile a few pro tips for driving safely in the snow should it hit your area next:

Tap Those Breaks:

The natural instinct should something unexpected happen while driving is to slam on the breaks. But in the snow, this is the worst possible thing you can do because you’re not going to stop. You’re going to slide and that has the potential to cause accidents. Give yourself plenty of space between cars because that will give you the time to be able to break accordingly. Pump those breaks with a tap, tap, taperoo and keep it in mind every time you are prepping to come to a stop.

Proceed With Caution:

No matter the weather, there is always going to be someone on the road driving faster than you. This can be intimidating when it’s snowing because you might get the urge to speed up too. DON’T. Driving in the snow is all about being fully comfortable in regards to handling the car and your speed. Once you push yourself beyond what you feel capable of doing, panic can quickly set in and that can cause even more problems. DO YOU on the road and anyone who doesn’t like it can go around you.

Practice Makes Perfect:

Honestly, I’m pretty lucky to have more years of experience than I care to admit driving in the snow. Many people can’t say the same so don’t let your first trial run be on the road itself. If you are not familiar with driving in the snow, find yourself an empty parking lot as soon as snow starts to fall. Practice breaking, turning, slowing down, speeding up, and anything else you need to get a feel for it. Then, it’s a good idea to take some drives through your own neighborhood or residential areas so you can get experience on less busy streets before hitting the major roads.

It Sounds Silly:

For those who live in snowy areas: How often do you see people inquiring about the conditions of the road on social media? In my neck of the woods, our talk of the town page is always exploding with them! Now, ninety-nine percent of the time, people are happy to let you know. The other one percent is someone saying you’re stupid and they’re a hater! Anyways, if you do find yourself questioning driving conditions – just make a post because the chances are high that you are going to almost immediately get a real time update. If your question has been answered and you’re uncomfortable driving because of it, just stay home until the plows come through. And, yes, you are sure to get an update on that too!

I have driven in some NO joke snow storms this winter and it was scary even with my experience. There is no shame in pulling to the side of the road or hibernating the day away. Your safety is the most important thing!

What is winter weather like where you live? What is the worst weather you have driven through? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct19

Chilly Day OOTD Bloopers

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Chilly Day OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Chilly Day OOTD! These pictures were taken before an amazing afternoon with my main squeeze. That day, Johnny and I drove to Burton, Ohio so he could be a featured musician on the PBS show The World According To Polka. It was the best experience and Johnny absolutely crushed. I always say that we are a power couple but that week further solidified the sentiment. While Johnny filmed for PBS on Monday, one of the videos that I shot for Tim Misny aired on CBS that Friday! How cool is that?! Thankfully, none of these yikes shots were on TV so, naturally, I put them on my blog instead. Lol, check it out:

WOW. Talk about a come hither shot! 😉

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Disregard my roots that desperately need touched up… And my face.

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Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down!

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I’M SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I appear to be malfunctioning so big ups to Johnny for capturing it

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Who’s up for a game of Peek A Boo?!

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A bow or a potential face plant? The world may never know! End scene.

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During the work week, I feel like I am ALWAYS driving and that’s probably because I am. Driving to the homes of clients, driving clients, making the voyage to Misnyland, errands, appointments, it’s never ending. With the amount of time I spend in the Little Red Love Machine, you would think that I would listen to a book tape or perhaps a podcast. While Johnny loves them, they are not my bag at all. So, I opt for radio stations that play either rap (My favorite!) or Top 40 hits. Do I enjoy what I listen to? Not always – it often feels like there is literally nothing on. But, the music I do hear keeps me company and is familiar enough that I can perform solo concerts in my whip. It’s fun, keeps me alert and focused, and makes constantly being in my car something that doesn’t feel like a complete chore.

One thing that I have been living for recently as I listen to the radio is a new emergence of pop singers. IE: Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, and Chappell Roan. I was born and raised on Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera and have never stopped loving them. These new gals on the scene bring such a fresh take to old favorites and I am so there for it. As soon as I hear ANYTHING by my three main baddies on the radio, it’s game over. I transform into lead singer, backup singer, and musician at the drop of a hat. I’ve got to say, I sound excellent (Not) and maybe Sabrina, Olivia, and Chappell could learn a thing or two from Lil Red (Still not)!!

It’s basically one person Carpool Karaoke all day every day for yours truly. It’s a lot, yes. But, when the jams are on nobody can tell me NOTHING!!

What is your favorite genre of music? Who is one of your favorite new artists? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar26

Spring Flowers

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Spring Flowers

Howdy!! One of my favorite times of the year is right now. Winter is almost over, the promise of spring is so close, and it feels like anything is possible. The thing I look forward to the most is seeing spring flowers begin to pop up because it just makes me happy. After the grey, snowy days of winter, there is nothing better than seeing beautiful blooms and spring flowers are some of my favorites too. Daffodils, crocuses, and hyacinths brighten my day and I always try to take a moment to appreciate them. This past week, I was thrilled to see yellow daffodils in my parents’ yard – even though it was snowing!

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Last week was a bit of a doozy for yours truly. I, unfortunately, had to stop going to therapy because mine and Johnny’s insurance is garbage. As you can imagine, this was really disappointing for me. It felt like I had literally just found a therapist I was comfortable with and then it got taken away. However, there wasn’t anything I could do after paying over seven hundred dollars in under one month. And, on top of that, my beloved Little Red Love Machine started making some crazayyyy noises so it was an expensive repair on top of the medical expenses. Talk about stressful!

As I left my mom and dad’s house feeling not my best, I noticed the daffodils in the yard and couldn’t believe I didn’t see them on my way in. I guess I had my blinders on! Instead of getting in my car and going straight home, I took some time standing as the snow fell to take it in. Even though the flowers were getting snowed on, they were still adding gorgeous color to the world. It was a nice metaphor for what I was going through in that immediate moment. Despite feeling sad, I can still do my best to continue to shine and that made the situation a bit more bearable. ❤

Spring Flowers are short lived and I am glad that I took those extra moments to let that fleeting beauty sink in. I needed some daffodils that day and I left chez parents feeling better than I did before.

What is your favorite flower? What is your favorite time of the year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul13

Yikes! A Summary Of A Terrible 9 Days

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Yikes! A Summary Of A Terrible 9 Days

Hello! This past week and change has been an absolute doozy and I sure hope that it has been much better for all of you. Two car accidents (Both not my fault), an injured toe, and spilled leftovers from dinner all over the porch of my apartment made for a very upset Lil Red. After this ordeal, fingers crossed that it’s sunshine and rainbows from here on out because your girl needs it!

It all started two Tuesdays ago when my beloved car got a major ouchie from a HUGE window cleaning van. While driving to work, my car got hit by someone not paying attention in the slightest when he was trying to change lanes. The Little Red Love Machine got hit smack dab in the middle and has been out of commission since then. I miss my car terribly and I cannot wait for the repairs to get done so she can be back in my loving arms once more.

Thankfully, no one was hurt from this mishap – except for my feelings, that is! 1) The driver who hit me was SO mean to me and that was charming, to say the least. And 2) When Johnny and I first started dating, we were in a major car accident when we got hit head on and it left me hospitalized. For the next several days after my car got hit, I was sore but mainly shaken up. Getting hit by such a big van had me feeling the trauma of the accident Johnny and I were in all over again and that was the most difficult thing.

Now, you would think that I wouldn’t be due for another accident nine days later so we can all be surprised by that lol. Last Thursday, my literal worst nightmare came to fruition when I was driving with a client and my car got hit. Once again, the driver was not paying attention and backed into my car at a red light while trying to change lanes. He claimed to have “not even seen me”, which is exactly what the last guy said too!

Thankfully, no one was hurt from this mishap, either. But, my client struggled and that upset me the most because it is my job to keep him safe. It was, honestly, the worst possible timing imaginable especially considering that we were barely ten minutes away from home. I was so proud of how quickly my client was able to recover from this situation but it just felt like one bad thing going on after another and I was really feeling the emotional pain from it.

The straws that broke the camel’s back, so to say, happened the following day on Friday. Yes, they were small things but it almost made me break down in tears. To start, I dropped our Nintendo Switch on my big toe and it hurt like a MOTHER. Then, when dropping off my brother and some leftovers from Hibachi Japan at my mom and dad’s, one of the containers slipped and fell all over my porch and stairwell.

I took my brother home and returned within fifteen minutes to clean up the spill and, to my surprise, Johnny had done it for me. This almost had me crying too because it was SO sweet of him. He saw what a tough time I was having and took it upon himself to take care of it. I knew I married him for a reason! ❤

Thanks to Johnny’s angel status on Friday, I was able to rally a little and enjoyed a hang out session with our friend, Ty. We got to break in mine and Johnny’s new TV with video games and a scary movie, which was a hoot. The following day, my amazing best friend Kate of Live In The Nautical and I had an all evening FaceTime date and that cheered me up even more. She is, truly, so wonderful and it was just the sunshine I needed to start feeling better again.

It can only go up from here, right?! As always, I am beyond grateful that nobody got hurt during the car accidents. I am also beyond grateful for my darling husband and friends for helping me get through these trying times. Now, I think I need a vacation!

What or who makes you feel better when you’re sad? What kind of self care do you do to help yourself feel better? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr19

Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD Bonus Pictures

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Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD Bonus Pictures

Howdy everyone and welcome to some bonus pictures from my Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD! Tomorrow, tune in for a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club and then we will be taking a look at the numerous bloopers from my shoot. Thanks to Johnny’s rapid fire picture taking, there was an equal amount of bloopers as there were winners lol. Now, let’s peep the ones that made the cut:

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Although I don’t get to take OOTD pictures as often as I would like, it is still one of my most favorite things to do for lifewithlilred. While I would have loved to go to a more scenic location to shoot for my Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD, the parking lot of my apartment worked just fine! I have actually always wanted to take pictures with my car because it is one of my most prized possessions. And, luckily for me, it rained the night before so the Little Red Love Machine was nice and clean. 😀

There is nothing that boosts my confidence quite like a good outfit and getting in front of the camera to capture it. When I was younger and America’s Next Top Model was the most popular thing on planet Earth, I always dreamed of being on that show. And, thanks to the ol’ blog, I can make those dreams come true even if it is just in front of my apartment haha.

While I will never work with Vogue level photographers, that’s okay because I have Johnny and that’s even better. He is seriously the best blog husband ever and puts up with my OOTD shoot antics like a champ. “Just a few more” is my mantra when he takes my pictures and he always obliges, which truly warms my cold bitter heart. I am a very lucky gal! ❤

My cure all for when I’m feeling down is getting dolled up and snapping some pics. Even if you are a bit camera shy, I encourage everyone to get their pictures taken when the mood suits. I think you’ll have some fun! 🙂

Do you prefer to take pictures or be in front of the camera? What makes you feel confident? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr17

Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD

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Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This past week, I had an interview for a new job coaching position and had to take advantage of the fact that I was wearing makeup by making Johnny take some pictures… Even if it was just in our apartment’s parking lot lol. Hey, you work with what you’ve got. These pictures combine three of my favorite things: My new hair, my car, and spring skirts! Check it out:

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Who? What? Wear?

  • White Blouse: H&M
  • Floral Skirt: Love On A Hanger, TJMaxx
  • Heels: ModCloth
  • Turquoise Necklace: My brother got me this necklace in New Mexico 🙂
  • Gold Cuff: Aerie
  • Little Red Love Machine: Mazda 2 Hatchback Sport ❤

I have been hinting at a new OOTD for a while and, believe you me, I have wanted to take pictures SO. Bad. However, the weather has been crap for the past couple of weeks here. It has been frigid cold and rainy so not only did I have to take advantage of my painted face during this shoot but the nice weather too! It was bright and sunny, making for the perfect climate for OOTD pictures.

This outfit is a fairly simple one but I think that it is so fabulous to finally welcome the spring weather with. I have been itching to wear my new Love On A Hanger skirt from TJMaxx since I bought it a few weeks ago and was very happy to finally break it out… Even if it was just for twenty minutes worth of picture taking. 😀

My original thought was to pair this skirt with my favorite white Rachel Zoe tank top because that is what I was wearing the day I tried it on in the fitting room. Although it looked cute, it didn’t pack enough punch so I returned to my closet for something different. I decided to go with a white blouse from H&M, instead. It is old as the dickens but it worked just right when tucked into the skirt.

As you all know, I am very fond of this particular style of skirt. The high waist, short length, and tight fit is so flattering. And, the beauty of these skirts is that if you tuck a shirt into it, it gives the illusion of wearing a dress. The breezy fabric of my H&M blouse offered some movement even while tucked in, which I liked because the canvas like material of the skirt definitely doesn’t provide that!

When it comes to wearing these skirts, constructing the basis of the outfit isn’t as important as the shoes that you choose. Typically, a bold pattern speaks for itself and you don’t have to do much to make it work. However, it’s crucial to pair skirts like this with a shoe that doesn’t have any straps. The high waist mini skirt gives your body such a nice, leggy silhouette and strappy shoes will ruin the length that you created.

The heels that I went with are an Old Faithful from ModCloth. I’m actually pretty sure they are one of my first purchases from that site! The cornflower blue flowers in the heels matched perfectly with those in my skirt, which made both of the patterns work together. Remember, when mixing and matching patterns that you need a like color in both pieces for a cohesive look!

I didn’t want to go overboard with my accessories because I loved how my tattoos looked against a somewhat muted palette. I went with one of my favorite gold cuffs and for a pop of color, I added my turquoise necklace from my brother. This necklace was the ideal length and hit right where my blouse opens up at the collar for a sweet peek a boo of blue.

I cannot wait to wear my Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD for more than twenty minutes and it is a look that you will be seeing more of. Tune in tomorrow to peep my new nails, then it will be on to bonus pictures and bloopers. See you then!

What is your favorite thing about springtime? What is your favorite style of skirt? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb14

Shout Out!!

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Shout Out!!

Hello! Ohio has been hit with a few insane snow storms these past couple of weeks that pretty much left everybody in my apartment community snowed in. During one particularly bad storm, we got over a foot of snow and my work was canceled for Thursday and Friday. The Little Red Love Machine did not move from its parking spot until Monday and, of course through my own fault, I had a very tough go of trying to get my car unstuck from the snow.

If you can recall from my last snow day, Johnny and I don’t own a shovel and spent a solid hour clearing out our cars with a baking sheet. Sadly, we didn’t learn our lesson and still never purchased one so come Monday morning, I was trying to clear my car with my windshield wiper brush. I will be the first to admit that it was absolutely shameful lol.

About ten minutes passed in my effort and I was making surprisingly good progress. Then, a kindly stranger in the complex over brought me his shovel and all was going even better. THEN, kindly maintenance workers took up the fight to get me unstuck and they arrived not a moment too soon because I was getting tired!

The maintenance men made quick work of shoveling the remainder of snow around my car but we hit a major wall when we discovered that my car was sitting on a block of ice that was at least an inch thick. Try as we may, we still couldn’t back my car out of its spot. The workers refused for that to be the end, though, and left the scene and returned with an ice chipper to try again.

My knights in a green pick up truck spent an entire hour clearing snow and ice and attempting to move my car until, finally, it was free. You guys have no idea how thankful I was! Before leaving for work, I just had to do something for them and offered to run into my apartment and make them some coffee which they happily accepted. It still didn’t feel like enough but it was the least that I could do. I also made sure to sing their praises both on the phone and in email to our leasing office so their amazing work could be commended.

Because of their super hero level efforts, I was only fifteen minutes late for work but I felt like I was on cloud nine all day. From the encouraging remarks from fellow neighbors to the borrowed shovel and the best maintenance workers ever, I experienced the kindness of strangers at full throttle.

Every time I have told this story since last week, I got the warm fuzzies as if it had just happened that morning. And, I definitely have them again now! This just goes to show how much your words and actions can turn someone’s day around and it inspires me to continue to always choose kindness every day. ❤

How do you like to make someone’s day? What happened when you experienced the kindness of strangers? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May23

Loud & Clear!

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Loud & Clear!

Hello all!! A few days ago, I posted about how the radio in my car has not been working for the past several months. I drive a lot for work, so it has been a huge drag not being able to have my singalongs when I hit the road. Before, my radio would always turn back on after a day or two of not working but after months had gone by, I had all but given up hope of hearing anything in my car until I got it fixed. So, you could imagine my surprise when the radio began playing music out of nowhere!

I was about to leave work for the day, turned my car on, and was immediately greeted by The University of Akron’s radio station blasting. Needless to say, it completely shocked me and I dropped my iPod as I was selecting music to play at full volume for the ride home! It’s a little thing, but listening to the radio while I drive makes my work day better and, despite being stuck in rush hour traffic, it was the best drive I have had in months.

I wouldn’t say that I had a bad day at work that day, but I definitely have felt like I could use a pick me up and my radio working was just the surprise I needed. I was eager to hear what the hits have been after two months of radio silence and I walked into my apartment with an ear to ear grin because the last song I heard was one of my jams by Machine Gun Kelly. Small thing. World of difference.

While I love my job so much, we all have those days where we just don’t feel like going to work. However, as I write this, I am itching to get in my car and start my day so I can listen to the radio and enjoy the eighty degree weather in Ohio with my windows down. Let’s have a great day today!

What is your favorite radio station? Who is your favorite Top 40 artist? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May18

Radio Silence

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Radio Silence

Hello! For the past year or so, my radio in the Little Red Love Machine would do this adorable thing while I’m driving and stop working. Lol, I used to joke that the ghost from my apartment had made his way into my car because it would always start working again after a day or so. While super annoying, I was never too bothered by it because I knew it would turn on the next time I ran over a bump in the road.

Your girl doesn’t know anything about cars but I knew that there was definitely some type of issue and, unfortunately, my radio stopped working altogether about two months ago. I drive a lot for my job and this has meant no more Top 40 singalongs, CDs, or using the aux cord for my iPod. The only thing I can do is play my iPod at full volume and continue recycling the exact same songs that I have been listening to since I was fourteen! Haha.

Normally, it’s a good thing when you don’t hear any noises from your car because that means everything is in working order. However, radio silence is a whole different ball game – especially for me. I work for myself and provide care for people with special needs. My time in the car with my music while driving between clients or returning home from work allows me to decompress from the stresses of the day and it is very hard being without.

“Then why haven’t you gotten your radio fixed, Sarah?” I was just getting to that! Between paying taxes, repairs for my car in April, and purchases for my wedding I can’t justify another charge to my bills. But trust and believe that my car radio will be fixed sooner rather than later and the Little Red Love Machine will return to her former glory in no time!

What is your go to driving music? Do you have a name for your car? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah