Tag Archives: proud

Jun20

(Late!) Father’s Day Story

Posted on by
Standard
(Late!) Father’s Day Story

Hi everyone! I want to extend the happiest of late Father’s Day greetings to all of the daddios that celebrated such a special day. I also felt so inclined to share with you my Father’s Day gift purchase for my dad as well as a story about what makes mine the best of the best from when we enjoyed a family lunch this past Saturday. First, take a look at the hilarity that I got him for his beautiful garden:

gnomegnome1gnome2gnome3

Not only does my dad have five hundred green thumbs, but he also has a fantastic collection of outdoor decor to add even more charm to his handiwork. You can only have so much of anything, though, and my dad put the kebash on anyone getting him more garden gnomes.

So, to solve the problem, I got him a surefire way to keep the gnomes at bay with the new garden statue seen above. Is it a T-Rex? Godzilla? Or something the world doesn’t even know about yet? I don’t know. BUT, this statue entitled “The Massacre” was a hit for my dad and everyone else in the family. My dad said that “only Sarah would find something like this” but I’ll give you all a hint: I got in on Amazon!

As I’ve said hundreds of times on my blog, my dad really is amazing. And, I was reminded of that when we went out to lunch at First Watch last Saturday. As we waited for our table, an older man gestured for his wife to look at me in all of my tattooed glory and she then proceeded to mean mug the ever living shit out of me. I didn’t know anything was even happening until my dad made a broad gesture and loudly exclaimed “Wow, Sarah, she’s checking you out!”

I was so tickled by this encounter because my dad HATES my tattoos. He’s constantly asking for me to stop getting them and to get laser surgery, lol. But, he hated his daughter getting treated like a member of the freak show at a carnival even more. I didn’t notice the interaction between this couple and, even if I did, I’m used to it. So, it was really touching to know that my dad is literally always looking out for me even when I don’t know it. And, although he might not agree with all of my choices, he still supports and protects me no matter what. #myhero #daddysgirl

How did you celebrate Father’s Day? How does your dad look out for you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun17

Summer Skating

Posted on by
Standard
Summer Skating

Greetings! This past year, I have enjoyed firing up my old passion of figure skating by learning how to ice dance. Every other week, I drive up to Lakewood to work with one of my old coaches, who I consider one of the best of the best. He truly is an extraordinaire in all things figure skating and it has been such a pleasure to have him teach me again.

Unfortunately, with summer upon us, all of the hockey camps are in full swing and it drastically changes the times when us figure skaters can do our thing. There were literally no times that I could skate in Lakewood with my coach, Chris, without rearranging my work schedule dramatically, which I really didn’t want to do.

So, I had to come up with Plan B and contacted the coach, whose name is also Sarah, and who taught me literally everything to see if she could squeeze me in. Thankfully, we arranged an early morning ice time for a skate sesh and I worked with her for the first time in close to a decade this past week. And, did I mention that it was at the rink in Kent where I learned how to skate? Talk about nostalgia!

I enjoyed my skate time so much by being at my old rink with my former coach and it felt just like the good old days. I even worked on a few jumps instead of just strictly ice dancing, which I wasn’t expecting, but I’m glad I did! I had such a blast and felt so good afterwards that I just had to call my parents and thank them for all of the years that they supported my sport.

All of the lessons, dresses and skates, and competitions were not cheap. But, they gave me something that I will be able to work hard at and that gives me so much joy for many years to come and I am so thankful for that. It hit me so hard after being at the rink where they would take me for all of those years and I am looking forward to spending my summer ice time there. Thanks again, mom and dad! ❤

What sport did you play when you were younger? Are you still active in it now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May17

Apartment Lyfe Update

Posted on by
Standard
Apartment Lyfe Update

Helloooo! It has been almost one month since I moved into my very own apartment and, honestly, it couldn’t have gone better. The move went smoothly, I love my space, and it legitimately feels like a vacation being here. From furniture shopping to stocking up my pantry and cooking in my kitchen or waking up in my loft space, everything is still so exciting to me.

And, the novelty continues, as I work on fixing up my office and an art wall in my living room. But, my main living spaces are complete and it turned out exactly how I wanted it to. Even just sitting here at the desk in my office and typing on my own brand new laptop feels awesome!

This move happened at the perfect time and it felt right instead of rushed or scary. I am enjoying my new home so much and it has been such a joy sharing the process with all of you too! What was your first apartment like? What about your current living quarters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr24

Welcome To My Crib: Living Room Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Welcome To My Crib: Living Room Edition

Hello, MTV, and welcome to my crib. Today, we are going to take a closer look at my living room and bonus points to anyone who can name the movie that’s playing on my TV in the pictures! My living room is actually my favorite space in my apartment and you guys will also get to see the furniture that I got for a song at a secondhand store called Abbey Ann’s. I wasn’t able to take pics when I got the furniture because it was all stored up in the garage and I am in love! Take a look:

lr5lr2lr4lr3lr

The couch, floral chair, coffee table, and the two end tables pushed together to form the TV stand are thanks to Abbey Ann’s and I think that they are all perfect. I love how the colors of each piece compliment each other and look so nice against the light hardwood flooring. It was a lot of fun putting this space together and once this part of the unpacking process was complete, the rest was relatively easy.

I love being able to display my collection of books and movies and also peep that Step Brothers blanket! I have also been enjoying watching my movies on the hand me down TV from my sister until I figure out which streaming service that I will be going with. My living room feels cozy but still chic and cool and I adore it. I can’t wait to have people over to share a drink and a chat on my loveseat and to show off all of my hard work, of course!

How is your living room decorated? Where did you do your furniture shopping at for your home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr21

Moving On Up: The Big Day!

Posted on by
Standard
Moving On Up: The Big Day!

Helloooo! After much preparation, shopping, and spending for my move into chez moi, the big day is finally here!! The movers have been hired, all of my stuff is packed, and I am ready to go. 😀 There are what feels like tons of boxes and furniture seen below to get from Point A to Point B but it is going to feel so good once everything is where it needs to be and in working order. So good, that I won’t even mind unpacking all of this:

stuffstuff1

WOOF.

All of you have been here for the hauls, the excitement, and my nerves about moving and I want to thank you for it. I can’t wait to show everyone how my apartment looks once I’m all settled in! ❤

What are some of your tips and tricks when it comes to moving? How about when it comes to unpacking? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr3

Moving On Up: Abbey Ann’s Haul

Posted on by
Standard
Moving On Up: Abbey Ann’s Haul

Hiii everyone! In my neck of the woods in Ohio, there are several thrift stores called Abbey Ann’s. Rather than clothes, though, they sell furniture and unique knick knacks for your home. Going to Abbey Ann’s wasn’t even on my radar until my client’s mom suggested it and I am so glad she did, because I got all of the furniture I needed for my apartment for a whopping four hundred and thirty dollars. This includes the following:

 

  • Loveseat
  • Chair and footstool
  • Vanity and stool
  • Full length mirror
  • Coffee table
  • Two end tables

Unfortunately, I do not have pictures of the goods right now, because they are all covered up in my garage. But, I will definitely take pictures once they are all set up in my apartment. What I will say for now is, that I was a friggen fool for even considering purchasing all new furniture for my apartment when I got SEVEN things for less than what one new item would probably cost.

People tend to turn their nose up when it comes to thrift and consignment shopping and, I have to admit, I can be one of those people. But, I know a well taken care of item when I see it and all of the pieces that I picked out were of such high quality that I couldn’t pass any of it up. Not only that, but the owner of the Abbey Ann’s that I shopped at cleans all of the furniture up and sands or polishes them to make them look like new. In fact, he had just steam cleaned the loveseat that I bought two days before.

I’m really proud of myself, because after furniture shopping I pretty much have all of the big necessities that I need and I got it all for a price that was a steal. Now, all I have to do is pick up a few more random needs and I will be all set for moving day. That wasn’t so hard, after all! 🙂

Do you have a store similar to Abbey Ann’s in your area? What is the best deal you’ve ever scored at a thrift or consignment shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar26

Moving On Up

Posted on by
Standard
Moving On Up

Hi! So something very exciting happened this past Friday… I put down a security deposit for an apartment! That’s right, in the middle of April, Lil Red will be leaving the nest and moving into her own space. I picked out a two bedroom loft in the Timbertop apartment community, which just so happens to be down the street from my old neighborhood. It is also where my sister and her family are located.

This spot is perfect, because I didn’t want to move too far away from any of my clients and where I am now is basically a central location between the eight of them. I am so looking forward to decorating my place and furnishing an office where I can get all of my blogging and paperwork done comfortably. In fact, I started the haulathon the day I put my deposit down by going to TJMaxx so you’ll definitely see all of the apartment goods I got in a future post.

These aren’t the best pictures of my new place, as I took them quickly when I was seeing it for the first time. But, still:

tt10tt3tttt1tt2tt4tt5tt6tt7tt9tt8

Pretty cool, right?!

I am literally in love with my apartment and can’t wait to keep you all updated on the moving process. In the meantime, what are some apartment essentials that I will need? Where is your favorite place to shop in store or online for home products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar22

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Posted on by
Standard
Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Hello! Today is a very special, wonderful day because it is my mom’s birthday! Although my mom may look sweet, petite, and absolutely adorable (Which she is!) – she’s a total badass. Seriously. She beat cancer’s ass, she’s a doctor, and she still somehow manages to make time for everyone and every dog she encounters. In other words, she’s my hero. An inspiration to anyone she meets, myself especially, my mom really is the greatest. And, now, she is the greatest grandma, as well, to her granddaughter and my niece, Valerie.

In every adventure and obstacle that life sends my mom’s way, she handles it with the poise of a queen and comes out on top every time. I love you, mom, and I thank you for all that you have done to shape and inspire me into the *semi* badass that I am today!

Happy Birthday!! ❤

mom

Feb28

Social Media Tips & Tricks

Posted on by
Standard
Social Media Tips & Tricks

Hii everyone! Last week, I enjoyed spending some time at my old high school talking about lifewithlilred and social media with the students in the Theater Arts Career Academy (TACA). The TACA program was something that I attended back in the day and I still keep in touch with the wonderful teacher who was in charge of the program.

A few weeks ago, he posted a link to my blog on the TACA Facebook page, and I was so flattered! So, I offered to come in for a visit and teach the students about some social media dos and dont’s, especially since all of them are applying for colleges and part time jobs. I was also able to share information on initially setting up social media pages, including how to get sms online verification without using your main details to further protect your identity. We had a great discussion and some of the students even took notes, which I thought was so cute!

You can read some of the key points that we talked about below but, bear in mind, that I came up with these according to their age group. However, a lot of these tips apply to many, especially if they work in the world of freelance, like writing or theater! Let’s get to it:

No Partying, Please:

Ohhhhh my goodness. This one should go without saying, but I’ll repeat it again. If you are underage (And, frankly, even of age!), no one wants to see pictures of you getting wasted. No one wants to see pictures of the ten bag of weed you just bought. And, no one wants to hear your drunk Facebook babbles… Although, those can be pretty funny.

Employers and colleges, alike, are not keen on any of the above behaviors, because it all has the potential to reflect poorly on your work. And, if you think that employers and colleges aren’t checking your social media pages, then you are living under a rock. Maintaining a squeaky clean image is important for future successes and it all starts with your social media pages.

Stay Clear Of Controversy:

We are living in a politically charged world right now and so many people have the mindset that if your opinion is different, then you are an automatic enemy. Who’s to say that your future bosses and deans are going to be any different? This is not saying to not have an opinion but, if you are posting really radical points of view, you might be shooting yourself in the foot, so to speak.

I’ve heard from many friends who work with talent agencies that political and religiously driven posts are a no no if you are working for them. And, all posting that type of info does is create arguments on your page, laden with profanity and off color remarks. Do you really want that featured on your profile if people who could benefit your future are looking at it? Not so much.

If you absolutely must share your opinion, talk about it over coffee with your friends. Put it in an argumentative essay. Or, maybe join a debate club. But, social media is not the best place for it.

Spread Positive Gossip:

Spreading good news about yourself is far different from bragging, as long as you approach it properly. If you are proud of your volunteer project, invite your friends to join. If you nailed an audition for a play, let the people know! Sharing the good stuff that is happening to you is far better than being a Debbie Downer on your page.

And, I get it, the world is not sunshine, rainbows, and puppies. But, searching for the positive in a not so great situation shows that you have a great attitude, which is an asset to any business or college campus. An example that I gave for turning a negative post around, was when I was driving to school and I spilled my coffee on literally everything but my white shirt. I was pissed about my coffee but, how lucky was I that a crisp white shirt didn’t suffer an unfortunate stain?! It’s all about perspective, baby!

Pick The Right Profile Pic:

I think that it is so important to have a profile picture that is easily recognizable as you. And, by this, I mean that the picture should be the version of you that people are most likely to see if they run into you on the street. So, if you got glammed up for prom, that’s probably not your best choice. And, if you took a selfie while you were sick in bed, that isn’t a good option, either. Choose a picture that you would like future employers or professors seeing. And, always make sure that the picture is just of you. Nobody wants to guess who you are in a group photo!

I was happy with how receptive the students who I talked with were about these ideas. And, all of them agreed on these tips making sense, being helpful, and something that they could implement on their social media pages. I felt really proud of that and I am happy that I had the opportunity to spread some knowledge at my old school. 😀

What are some of your social media tips and tricks? What is your preferred social media platform? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb16

Progress!

Posted on by
Standard
Progress!

Hi! These past few months have been a whirlwind. December and a portion of January was spent recovering from surgery. While the rest of January and this month have been spent playing catch up from all of the missed time from work. I’ve been very busy going from client to client, maintaining the blog, and still working in time for skating lessons when I can. And, I’ve got to say, I’m feeling awesome!

Even though the recovery from my surgery gone wrong was a great big bitch, a lot of progress was made for my health unintentionally. For example, I quit smoking. I also quit drinking pop and my coffee intake has been very limited, too. Did I want to do any of this? Absolutely not. But, with so many open wounds in my mouth, smoking was impossible. And coffee and pop just didn’t sit well in my stomach once I was able to drink anything comfortably. There was a time when I even considered being a part of a coffee club so I could get coffee delivered regularly, but now it just wouldn’t be worth it with my current state, oh well.

Everyone knows that I am (or was) a Diet Coke fiend and I would never say no to a hot cup of coffee or a trip to Starbucks if I was asked. But, shockingly, I am very okay with these changes, because I have been too busy sipping on the tea to notice. Yes, I have become addicted to green tea and I love it so much that I’m okay with replacing one addiction with another!

During surgery recovery, tea always made me feel a little better. It was refreshing, mild on my stomach, and it put a minuscule pep in my step. And, now, tea makes me feel AWESOME. It energizes me, tastes delicious, and it makes me feel light without the heaviness of a caffeine crash from drinking coffee.

Although the changes above were far from intentional, I’m proud of that progress. Without my horrible oral surgery, I don’t think I would have ever bothered to quit smoking or drinking pop and for that I am thankful. I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t have a cigarette or two while I’m drinking. And, I’d definitely be a liar if I said that I didn’t enjoy a Baja Blast when I hit up Taco Bell. But, these every once in a while occasions are much better than every day habits and I can live with that!

Who else has made some good progress lately? Who has been keeping up with their New Year’s Resolutions? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah