Tag Archives: quarantine

Apr26

Hanging In There?

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Hanging In There?

Hi! I just wanted to do a check in to see how everyone is doing because I think we are all getting to the stir crazy point of our stay at home orders. Things are difficult right now and I want to remind all of you that it is okay to be upset! We have all literally never dealt with anything like this before and there is no right or wrong way to feel so hang in there, as our inspirational kitten meme says.

When all of this started, I thought that I would be fine if I just didn’t let myself get frustrated. This was a huge mistake and, as we learned from my mental breakdown when my nails weren’t successful, just the smallest straw can break the camel’s back when you are bottling everything inside. So let it out!

Blogging has been a huge help to me during this crazy time and I really view it as my online journal right now, especially when I can’t frequent TJMaxx and show you all what’s good! Find your medium that helps you express yourself and dive in. Write in your diary, paint a picture, or whip up a delicious dessert. Immerse yourself in something that makes you feel good and watch your mood improve vastly.

Still looking for a project? As always, I invite all of you to guest blog on my page and you can email me at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com if you would like to be featured as lifewithlilred’s once daily post. You can also friend me on Facebook at: Sarah Mushenheim for all of the best memes and the random thoughts that don’t make it to my blog. See you there!

What has been your go to hobby in self-isolation? What is something that makes you feel better? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Medium

Apr24

No New Nails

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No New Nails

Hello! If you recall, I recently bought a DIY acrylic kit to attempt to fill my talons from home. I’d love to tell you that it worked and my nails look fabulous. But, sadly, it ended up being a crap lousy attempt during a crap lousy day. Mannnn, I don’t know what it was. I guess it was a combination of a bunch of stuff, so let’s discuss:

Despite all of the ideas that I have been posting to keep all of you entertained in self-isolation, no one is saying that it still doesn’t suck. Lol, I guess the day I tried to do my nails, I was really feeling down – blame it on my impending period or all of the coronavirus panic but, damn. Once the acrylic on my nails just refused to dry, the waterworks started flowing.

Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t just the nails but a build up of a difficult few weeks. Work has been long and boring, tax season and car repairs bled my bank account, and the weather has been crap so leaving the house just for a walk with my boyfriend has been impossible. Call it cabin fever or the pre-period crazies but your girl just cracked.

I cried, and I cried, and I cried some more. Thankfully, my boyfriend was nothing short of supportive and always talks me through my moments when my struggle with depression just gets the best of me. Eventually, once I calmed down, I removed my fake nails and after another cry sesh, Johnny put America’s Next Top Model on for me like the angel he is.

Like I said, no one is saying that this isn’t a hard time and it manifests itself in different ways. Have you felt over emotional lately? Has your normal sleep pattern been disrupted? Are you exhausted all the time? Cause same. And my best advice? Seek the comfort of those you love.

It’s easy when you’re feeling upset to not want to be around someone but, seriously, talk to someone. In my case, I ended up having to cry into the arms of my boyfriend after avoiding talking about how I was feeling once the metaphorical straw broke the camel’s back. Don’t let yourself get to this point because, chances are, everyone is feeling the same way and maybe they need to talk, too.

Contact your friends, do something that makes you smile, or watch a funny movie and get yourself back on track. We can all do this!

How have you been dealing emotionally with the coronavirus? What do you do to make yourself feel better? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr23

Learning Something New

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Learning Something New

Hello! As many of you know, I am extremely passionate about learning new languages. It is one of my favorite hobbies and I currently practice French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Czech on Duolingo. This past week, however, I added a sixth language to my arsenal: American Sign Language.

Maybe you remember a few years ago when I was teaching myself ASL through different books. It proved to be a lot harder than I thought and I eventually fell out of it, promising myself I’d take a class at the soonest opportunity. That never happened, either. Until the fateful day I saw an article on Facebook about a Doctor Jennifer Delora teaching ASL for free on Zoom during the stay at home order.

I was instantly intrigued and saved the article for later use and was so happy I did after watching the first Zoom class with Doctor Jen. In the first lesson, we went over the alphabet, numbers one through ten, greetings, pronouns, and other simple signs. It was a thorough lesson and I finished it feeling proud of what I had learned and eager to do the next one.

Not only is Doctor Jen hilarious but she is absolutely brilliant and teaches ASL in a way that anyone of any skill level could learn. She’s down to earth, amazing at what she does, and I felt like I absorbed everything she said like a sponge. You can find Doctor Jen’s videos on YouTube and I highly recommend giving them a try. Heck, even if you just learn the alphabet, that’s a wonderful first step. Catch you all at the next class!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAuwyTJyBVg

Which languages do you know? Are you learning any new languages? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr22

Feeling Stressed In Isolation? Let’s Fix That

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Feeling Stressed In Isolation? Let’s Fix That

Do you feel stressed being confined to your home? Well, you’re not alone. Studies seem to suggest that while social distancing may be reducing the spread of the coronavirus, it’s also causing a surge in mental health issues and that’s a problem. However, there are ways to beat back the stress and protect your mental health in your own home. Here are some of the best options that we recommend:

Keep Your Schedule:

This one is particularly important according to the experts. You need to make sure that you are sticking to the same schedule that you were on before lock down began. If you don’t do this, you’ll throw your levels of energy and your sleeping pattern off course. This can cause you to feel more stressed because you’ll be getting less sleep at night. So rather than throwing the alarm away, make sure that you rise with the sun. Start work if you’re working and if you’re not, why not begin the day with some light exercise.

Exercise will help too. Staying active is going to help you burn off that stress and keep your mental health in check. It will mean that you don’t have to worry about your body starting to succumb to aches and pains simply because you’re not using it enough. Remember, you can be creative with different types of exercises too. For instance, you can throw a dance party on Zoom with friends and family members.

Eat Well:

Various studies have shown time and time again that issues with your diet can cause problems with your mental health. If you don’t eat right, then there’s a good chance that you are going to feel more stressed than usual and it will impact your mood. The problem is that you might not have the energy or the motivation to cook a full meal and that’s okay. You can make this easier by using a meal preparation service. With a solution like this, you will be able to make sure that you get the delicious meal you want without having to worry about all of the issues with preparation. There are lots of great companies that offer this service. For instance, you can consider Hello Fresh vs Home Chef to find the right choice for you.

Me Time:

Finally, while it might seem odd to say, you could be finding it difficult to get the time to yourself that you need. Particularly, if you are a parent and working from home while still trying to make sure that your kids stay on top of their school work. But it’s important that you do take an hour or so out of the day to just relax, unwind, and forget about what’s going on in the world for a little while.

It’s tough to stay positive at times like this but looking after your body and your mind is always going to be a step in the right direction.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Apr22

Pampering Yourself At Home

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Pampering Yourself At Home

Hello! I, like many of you, am absolutely itching to get back to all of my normal pampering routines once the coronavirus dies down. Heck, I’m absolutely itching to get back to ALL of my normal routines! But, the pampering aspect holds a special place in my heart because it’s something I value and enjoy a lot. If you are ready to get your beauty on in self-isolation, start with the following tips:

Do Your Makeup:

I know it’s easy to blow off doing your morning makeup routine if you’re at home right now but I promise it makes a huge difference. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had many a makeup free day and it feels great. However, it feels even better to do your makeup after a long stint of makeup free days, lol.

Whenever I am feeling a bit down, I wake up early and do my makeup before work and I always have sky high confidence the whole day. Doing your makeup gives a nod to the normalcy of a “regular” day at work and did I mention all of the quarantine selfies you can take after? Bonus!

Do Your Nails:

Of course I just had to get a DIY acrylic kit because I literally can’t live without my claws. This is a great option for those who are going crazy without their scheduled trips to the salon! If you’re not too bent out of shape about your acrylics, set up a manicure bar at home for something more low key. Soak your nails, shape and file them, and pick a perfect spring color to paint them. (This is also a great idea for a little mommy and me time, too!)

Do Your Hair:

Right now I am doing nothing to my hair because I plan on changing it up post quarantine. But, if this is not the case for you, then do keep up with your hair maintenance if you dye it. This suggestion is not a suggestion to cut your hair on your own because we all know that it can lead to catastrophe!

Rather, this is a suggestion to take some time to yourself in the evening for a long shower and maybe a deep conditioning treatment. To really bring the beauty salon to you, have someone in your house wash your hair for the ultimate pampering.

And Remember:

Many of your favorite salons are offering gift cards right now and that is a wonderful way to support them during this crazy time. I plan on buying gift cards to all of my stomping grounds so that as soon as this passes, I will be the first one in the salon chair! 😀

How do you pamper yourself at home? What helps you relax during this stressful time? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr21

Community Fun In Self-Isolation

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Community Fun In Self-Isolation

Hello! While all of us are basking in the boredom of self-isolation, I am sure that those who were active members in the community are itching to get back to planning and participating in events for all to enjoy. Although seeing each other from a distance is the standard now, there are still plenty of ways for us to come together as a community and make the best of a difficult situation. Perhaps with some of the following ideas:

Parking Lot Events:

The inspiration from this post actually came from a client’s mom who told me her family attended Easter mass from a broadcast in the church parking lot. What a great idea! Just like at the drive in movies, people filed in with their windows up and were instructed by signs to tune into a radio station for the mass. She said it was such an amazing, refreshing, safe community event and it sure sounds like it.

If attending a parking lot religious ceremony isn’t your thing, how about a neighborhood drive in movie night, instead? I could definitely go for that one!

Social Media Groups:

My city in Ohio has a Facebook “talk of the town” group where people can post news and chit chat with each other. If your area doesn’t have such a page, why not create one yourself? Have everyone vote on a different show to watch in unison from the comfort of their home so all of you can discuss it later. Or how about a neighborhood book club? As long as everyone is communicating with each other, that’s all that matters.

Neighborhood Games:

On your neighborhood social media group, you could post the rules for a neighborhood participation game. You could try something like I Spy for people to walk or drive around and find the clues. Maybe you could encourage everyone to put their dog in a Halloween costume if they are going out for a stroll. Or how about a quarantine edition of Bingo to play from the porch? There are tons of possibilities if you get creative!

Decorate Your Yard:

Something fun for your neighborhood to participate in could be a yard decorating extravaganza for everyone to enjoy. Perhaps you could plant beautiful flowers in your yard? Or what about putting some of your holiday themed inflatables or lights back on display? You could even do something totally random like a snowman made out of tires if you feel like it! Get inspired and create a lawn display for all of your neighbors to be proud of when they walk or drive by.

It’s hard not being able to see each other traditionally but it’s important to still enjoy your friends and neighborhood even if it is from a distance. Use the ideas above and have some fun!

How have you been interacting with people from a distance? Has your community done any social distancing activities like the ones above? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr20

Activities For Children In Self-Isolation

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Activities For Children In Self-Isolation

Hello! Many of my friends are now home schooling their children and, for the most part, it’s going great. Some are even thinking of making the plunge to home schooling all of the time. But what do you do when your kiddos have a ton of extra energy and assignments due? How about some entertainment? Help eliminate the wiggles and get some extra focus back with the following activities:

Scheduled Recess:

To many students, playing with their friends at recess is the high point of their day. Schedule some play time outside or board games inside if the weather is inclement after lunch. It will bring some familiarity to their schedule and, after a half hour of free play outside, the next math assignment should come a bit easier afterwards!

Pillow Fort Party:

Are your kids hung up on English homework? Build a pillow fort special for them to do their reading in. Permit playing in the fort once the chapters are read and the homework is complete for a special reward. How about a movie night from the comfort of the pillows and blankets once the day is complete? Don’t forget the popcorn. 😀

Kitchen Helpers:

Kids can learn a lot about math and science through helping in the kitchen. Have your little ones help you out the next time you make lunch or bake cookies. Teach them about different measurements and kitchen safety. If it goes over well, decorating the treats once the “lesson” is done makes for a fine reward.

Talk To Them:

If you’re having a hard time keeping your kids focused on the task at hand, just ask them what you can do to help. Maybe that means playing music as they work. Or what about a dance break to a few songs every hour? They might have their own tried and true methods, themselves, so try sticking to them if they work.

Encourage Their Friendships:

I’m sure it’s so hard for all of the kiddos to be away from their friends right now, especially if they have no one around their age at home. Encourage their friendships even in self-isolation. Allow them to FaceTime or chat with a friend on the phone during a break. Even teachers give their students chit chat time so do the same while you’re homeschooling. Just a small break to talk to someone in their peer group could be a welcome change of pace for your child throughout the day.

I tip my cap to all of the parents at home right now with their children because I genuinely don’t know how they’re doing it! Hopefully, these tips will make their current job a little bit easier. 🙂

How is homeschooling your children going? How do you keep them focused during the school day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr19

Taking Care Of A Dog When Practicing Social-Distancing

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Taking Care Of A Dog When Practicing Social-Distancing

Having a dog can change your life. A dog means that you’ve got a constant and loving companion. Someone who loves you and shows it. Who is loyal and affectionate and who is always there when you need them. Owning a dog can improve your mental health, boost your social interactions, and encourage you to get more exercise.

But now, normal life is very different. We can’t take our dogs to our favorite dog parks. We can’t let them run free, playing with their friends while we chat with other dog owners. If you are ill, you might struggle to look after them, and getting to the vets can be difficult.

The good news is, that there isn’t currently any evidence that COVID-19 affects dogs or that they can transmit the virus to humans. Having a dog shouldn’t make you sick, and you shouldn’t be able to affect them if you become unwell. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take some extra precautions. Here are some tips to help you to look after your dog while practicing social-distancing or even living in self-isolation:

Find a Quiet Time to Walk:

At the moment, as long as you are in good health, at no increased risk, and have no symptoms of COVID-19, you are allowed to take your dog out for a walk. But, it’s best practice to stay at least two meters away from anyone else, to avoid the possible spread of the virus. If you usually walk in quite a busy park, you might find it easier to avoid other people if you find a quieter time to walk, perhaps first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Keep Him on a Lead:

Social distancing becomes a lot harder when your dog is off the lead, and you’ve got less control over where they run. Keep them on their lead whenever you go out, and remember to wash the grip before you go out and when you get home.

Save Money on Pet Care:

Pet care can be expensive, and if you can’t work at the moment, you may be keen to save money wherever you can. Save money by printing a petmeds coupon and try shopping around for pet food and any other supplies. Don’t forget to shop on sale!

puppy1

All smiles!

Find Out More About Your Vet’s Policy:

Hopefully, your vet is still open and seeing patients. Even if you don’t need to see them, it’s a good idea to be prepared, as their policies may have changed. Look on their website or social media pages to see if any restrictions have been put in place. You may have to book in advance, and you might not be allowed into the surgery until your appointment time, to minimize contact in the waiting areas. If you do need to see your vet, wash your hands before and after, avoid touching your face, and consider wearing a mask while you are out of the house.

Minimize Contact If You Are Symptomatic:

If you are symptomatic, however mild your symptoms are, you should go into self-isolation straight away. Then, while there is no evidence that your pet could become affected, not enough is known about how they may carry the virus on their fur or collar, so avoid too much contact until your symptoms subside.

Arrange for an Alternative Walker:

If you are self-isolating, you shouldn’t even leave the house to walk your dog, nor should anyone else in your household. If you have a garden, you may be able to manage, but if not, it’s important that your dog gets some exercise. Arrange for someone else to collect (without entering your home or coming within two meters of you) your dog for walks, bringing their own lead, and not making contact with anything from within your home.

Keep Stocked Up on Food and Other Supplies:

You don’t need to stockpile pet food and supplies, but it is a good idea to have at least a week’s worth at all times, in case you struggle to get out and can’t get a delivery.

Use the tips above to keep taking the best care of your four legged friends during this difficult time.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Apr19

Keeping Things Exciting In Self-Isolation

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Keeping Things Exciting In Self-Isolation

Hello! It has come to the point in Ohio’s stay at home order where I am beginning to realize that this shit sucks. Lol, of course being at home is for the best right now and I completely agree with it but, damn, I’m going bored out of my mind. A few days ago, I decided that a little more excitement needs to be happening at my apartment before I go crazy. Here are a few of the ideas that I know I’ll be trying and a few extra ones for all of ya’ll:

Drinks On The Balcony:

Literally one of the first things my boyfriend, Johnny, and I say to each other on a nice day is how we wish we could be outdoors at one of our favorite bars in Kent. So, the next time the afternoon is bright and sunny when we both get off work, we are going to make a delicious mixed drink, set up some chairs on my balcony, and enjoy an evening pretending we’re out with our friends.

So, that last part was lame. But, concocting a rum punch, making some snacks, and spending an evening outside isn’t! If we can’t go out to our old stomping grounds, we might as well just make “Sarah’s Balcony” our new favorite bar!

Build A Model:

Johnny and I have been on a big Lego kick lately because of the insanely fun contest show “Lego Masters”. We have watched the documentaries and the movies and, now, we are ready to try our hand at building some for ourselves. One of our next plans is to order a big Lego set like the two thousand piece pirate ship and work on it together.

I have never played with Lego before and Johnny loves it so I know it will be a fun evening or two spent in block building harmony. Plus, seeing the end result of what we created is a huge exciting bonus. 😀

Make Things Grow:

Although there is nowhere in my apartment community to garden or plant flowers, I can still have some indoor plants! Potted flowers, herbs, or plants are a great project to work on. Or, if you have space to plant on your property – take it outdoors! Tending to a plant and helping it grow is so rewarding and there is nothing more exciting than seeing the first sprouts of your success.

Take Advantage Of Your Options:

In Ohio, carry out is still going strong at restaurants. And, what’s better? It just became approved to do take out drinks, as well! Although Johnny and I have cooked at home almost every day of this quarantine, it is still nice to get a treat. Hopefully this upcoming weekend, we will be ordering Mexican food from our favorite restaurant and Margaritas to go for a day date.

Is this the best option? No. But it’s a damn good one and no matter how bad I want to eat at a restaurant, sitting on the couch while eating Mexican food, drinking Margs, and watching Community with my beau sounds like an enticing close second. Take advantage of the options going on in your area and use it to spice up your day!

There is nothing wrong with saying that everything about right now sucks. But, be that as it may, there are still options to have some fun. Use the ideas above to help you get started!

How do you keep things exciting in self-isolation? How do you plan on treating yourself during this crazy time? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr18

White Claw Lemonade Mixed Drink – YUM!

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White Claw Lemonade Mixed Drink – YUM!

Hello! This stint in self-isolation has taught me that there is a whole lot more than going out to the bars… So, in the meantime, I’ll just be drinking at home. Lol, this past weekend while Johnny and I were binging on Community (Hilarious) and Animal Crossing (So fun) he made us a very simple but delicious mixed drink that I can totally picture us enjoying on my balcony once it’s nice and warm out.

Unfortunately, it will be a while before we can revisit our favorite stomping grounds with our friends to drink summery drinks on the patio. But, for now, a White Claw Lemonade will do just fine:

claw

During our TV marathon, Johnny mixed one lime White Claw with a healthy splash of Newman’s Own Virgin Lemonade. I always have a carton or two of this lemonade in my apartment because it’s really tart, which is what I prefer. When combined with the fizzy carbonated lime Claw, it made a boozy Sprite and it went down way too easily.

Perfect for making a pitcher to share on the porch or to sip on while you fish in your Animal Crossing village, I think Johnny’s “hard lemonade” will be a quarantine staple in our apartment. Yum! 😀

What is your favorite boozy drink? How are you virtually interacting with your friends? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah