Tag Archives: rain

May14

Beat The Spring Blahs

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Beat The Spring Blahs

Hello!! When I think of spring, of course, rain is involved. However, I mainly am focused on sunny days, light jacket weather, and pretty spring flowers blooming. Unfortunately, the sunny days in my neck of the woods have been extremely limited and it has been grey, cold, and rainy for a majority of the season. It sucks! In fact, I’m bundled up in a heavy hoodie and beanie as I type this and I am still chilly. With days that feel like it’s six o’clock in the evening all day, everyone in Akron is desperate for a change in the weather as the blahs have definitely kicked in. Mine most certainly have and I have been trying to do the following to help perk me up. Maybe some of these ideas will help you too:

Make Your Own Sun:

If the sun isn’t shining, who says you can’t make your own?! Try incorporating brightness into your day any way you can. Whether this be picking up a bouquet for your kitchen table, wearing a bold colored jacket, or painting your nails in a shocking hue. These vivid shades add a much needed pop to the dreariness outdoors and it will be sure to make you smile when you utilize them. I employed this method by getting bright pink and orange nails during my last fill and complete strangers have told me how nice it is to see some color!

Take Advantage of Rain Free Days:

The rain free days have been scarce, but when the days are blessedly clear, you best believe that I am walking! Take full advantage of the break in weather and get outdoors. Your dog will love a good walk or hike in the woods, you can complete lawn work, or simply sit outside and read a book or chat on the phone. You will be so happy that you took the opportunity to get out and get active once that next storm hits and it is back indoors.

Rainy Day Activities:

There are some activities that just hit different when it’s raining out. IE: Crafting, reading, listening to music, or watching scary movies! If the day is a wash, you might as well make the most of it indoors and enjoy yourself. Use these rainy days to relax, recharge, and unwind because the rain falling on your windows gives you the perfect soundtrack. And, yes, these rainy day activities can also include a good nap to catch up on some Zs! 😀

Daydreamer:

Summer might not be here yet but that doesn’t mean you can’t start planning for it now! What is your perfect warm weather day like? A BBQ with friends? A late evening bonfire? Going swimming or playing outdoor games? Build your day and make it happen as soon as that warm weather hits to celebrate. It’s always nice to have something to look forward to and a fun day or party is just what the doctor ordered. After a big get together in the sun, you will be kissing those springtime blahs goodbye.

I am not a summer girl in the slightest but I have been craving it something fierce as of late. Just a few more weeks to go and I cannot wait for the rainy day blahs to kick rocks!

What is springtime weather like where you live? What is your favorite rainy day activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr16

Pop Of Pink OOTD Bloopers

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Pop Of Pink OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Pop Of Pink OOTD! We have had April showers in abundance and all I have to say is – bring on those beautiful May flowers and dry ground lol. All I want to do is take a good hike in the woods without sinking into a quagmire and worrying about muddy shoes! Especially after this shoot because the mud runneth over after a downpour the day before. You can peep videos of this look too on my TikTok @lilred6794 so be sure to take a look! Now, let’s get to it:

TFYM when you’re standing in mud

Trying my best to not fall in said mud

Dawning on me that there is mud ALL over my shoes

Omw to get ALL the baby wipes to clean off said mud

Bye bye to these roots – check out my hair makeover soon!

Now, where was I? Oh yeah, MUD lol. As I was taking pictures in my mom and dad’s yard, I was pleased because I thought I found a relatively dry patch to work with. So, I began the song and dance of shooting with a tripod. Set the timer, run to my place, WERK my ass off, run back to the tripod, evaluate the picture, rinse, repeat, repeat, repeat. In my head, everything was going swell until I got a better look at my shoes in the pictures. They were totally and completely caked in mud and because of the Barbie pink of the platforms, it was totally and completely obvious.

When I tell you I ran to break out some baby wipes, I mean I sprinted. I told my mom “I need baby wipes STAT” as if this were a medical drama, sat my sorry behind down, and began the dirty job of getting my beloved platforms clean. As I scrubbed, I prayed to the fashion gods to protect my platforms and I am blessed to report that my prayers were answered. By the time I was done, my shoes were back to their former glory, and I decided that that was a wrap. You can’t tempt fate a second time because I guess the “relatively dry patch” I was so happy with straight up wasn’t lol.

Who knew an OOTD shoot could be so messy?! I have learned my lesson and will be sticking to solid ground until storm season is over – my shoes depend on it!

What is spring weather like where you live? What is your favorite spring flower? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May17

New Phone Photos

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New Phone Photos

Hi! On April 29th, I proudly accepted a new job as the social media manager for Tim Misny. This is, hands down, the biggest opportunity I have ever had for my online work and I am so incredibly happy that my hard work has paid off in such a major way. While I love working on all aspects of social media, the most fun part of my job (other than my amazing coworkers) is redesigning the Misny Merch. One of my jobs is to freshen the brand up and I think I am going to make a total splash with it. As a fashionista, I never dreamed that I would get to be designing clothes too with my new job and it’s awesome!

Of course, the most important aspect of my job is creating content. However, that is incredibly hard to do when your phone is consistently almost out of storage lol. Between pictures of my nieces, bunnies, Johnny and me, and OOTD shots it’s easy to see why! I was graciously given a brand new iPhone for my work phone and it has been a blast playing around with it. This past weekend, both Johnny and I took our turns snapping pics and videos on the new phone. Unfortunately, the lighting for OOTD shots was abysmal. But, I did get these super cool pics:

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Johnny and I ventured outside after it got done raining for a photography adventure. We spent some time chasing the lighting for some pics of me and there was literally nothing good to show for it. As we continued walking around Timber Top, Johnny pointed out how neat the rain water drops resting on plant leaves looked. I completely agreed and just had to get some pictures. I was blown away by them! The detail and the way the light reflected off of the water looked like a painting and I knew these shots would never be possible on my old phone!

Even though I am doing a lot of what I already do for other social media accounts that I manage for Tim, the novelty has yet to wear off. There are many things that are completely different and it’s so exciting. I truly feel like it is my big break and it makes simply going outside to practice pictures on a new phone feel like a brand new experience. I can’t wait to see where this job takes me next! 😀

How often do you upgrade your phone? How many pictures do you have on your phone? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb22

Preparing Your Home For Storms

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Preparing Your Home For Storms

With extreme weather events and disastrous storms becoming more common in many parts of the world, it’s never been more important to know how to protect your home correctly and make it prepared for when storms hit. We’re going to discuss some of the best steps you should take to keep your home protected next time a storm hits your town:

Use Surge Protectors:

One thing you need to think about when it comes to protecting your home ahead of a storm is the electricity. Ideally, you want to make sure that you have surge protectors in place so that the electricity doesn’t cut out on you halfway through the storm. Electrical surges are very common during storms and they can easily leave your entire home without power. Electricians like those at Old Town Electric (or a similar business in your local area) can assist with surge protector installation so you can avoid outages during major storms. This is an essential part of safeguarding your home should you live in an area that often faces outages or stormy weather.

Store Away Anything That’s Not Secured:

If you have anything out in the open in your garden or other outdoor spaces, you should think about storing them away. They’re likely to get picked up in the wind and be damaged. Even worse, the wind could carry them onto your roof or through one of your windows, and that’s definitely not something you’ll want to be dealing with. Store them securely in a shed or garage.

Keep an Eye on Your Generator:

As we’ve discussed, electricity supplies can be hit in numerous ways during a storm. If you find yourself without power, a backup will bring you peace of mind. For most people, that will be a generator and you should make sure you have one in place. You’ll also need to keep it in check and have it monitored with a generator monitoring service so it’s ready to jump into action when needed.

Generators are especially important if you’re in an area where power outages happen fairly frequently. Nothing puts a damper on your day like waiting around for the power to come back on! An Electric generator shop in Chelmsford, MA or your local area will be able to assist you in finding the model that makes the most sense for your property.

Check the Gutters:

Your gutters are going to be put under some pretty intense pressure during a storm, which is why it’s important to clean them regularly. When you know a storm is on the way, it’s a good idea to get the gutters looked at, either by a professional who knows how to remove any blockages properly or by yourself if you are handy.

Keep the Trees Trimmed:

Finally, you should make sure your trees are in good shape and don’t have any weak branches. Branches are likely to break and fall and potentially cause a lot of damage. Get the help of a tree surgeon so the job gets done safely.

Your home is your most valuable asset and it’s also the place that keeps you and your family protected. If you want to make sure your home is prepared for any storm that might come your way, make the most of the ideas above.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov19

How To Ace Winter At Home

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How To Ace Winter At Home

Winter varies from place to place but unless you’re somewhere on the equator the likelihood is that it’s going to be cold. Sure, some places are worse than others and will need better home preparation but, in most cases, there’s usually a few things needing to be done to ensure the home is a functioning and comfortable place to be during the winter months. Some people love winter. The coziness of it is what attracts people, and Christmas, of course. Others hate it. They don’t do well with the darkness and cold, and that’s fine. Either or, here are some tips to help you succeed over the winter months:

Get your energy solutions sorted:

Energy prices fluctuate year in and out which is why you need to change your provider often. If you want a good winter, you don’t want to pay too much money for your energy, so make sure you consider changing providers. You might also want to look at your insulation. Of course, a heating and cooling company can check this out for you. If you know you don’t have any it could be a worthy investment which could save you a lot of money on energy. In the same vein, you’ll want to get your boiler and other burning devices serviced so that you know they’re safe to operate.

Clean the gutters:

Winter usually brings rain and snow. This will increase water flow and really clog up your gutters, especially if you live somewhere close to trees. The leaves are usually the key culprits of gutter blockage. You can buy the tools for these on amazon but you might just be better off approaching someone to do it for you. If you do it yourself, make sure there’s someone under you holding the ladder so you don’t fall.

If you are having consistent issues with your gutters, you might want to consider a new approach. Aluminum Seamless Gutters provide long lasting and durable protection and can make a huge difference if you live in a rainy climate. A reliable gutter system will better protect your home during inclement weather.

You might also need to clear the drains which the gutters run into. These can be more important because they’ll cause standing water issues around your home, small puddles might be manageable but when you get the bigger ones it’ll be a lot harder to handle in most cases. It’s just a case of lifting the lid with a gloved hand and pulling the leaves out.

Check the alarms:

You’ll be at home more often due to the winter weather and this is even more prevalent this year due to coronavirus. So make sure it’s safe. Check your smoke alarms first, then make sure you’ve got a working carbon monoxide alarm in place around any fossil burning appliance. Then you need to ensure the house alarm is working. If it isn’t, think about upgrading or at least making the current one work properly. If you can’t afford it don’t panic, just make sure your doors and locks are secure and be sure to check the windows too.

Get your home in tip top shape before the winter comes with the tips above!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov5

Literally Falling For Fall Update

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Literally Falling For Fall Update

Hello! If you have been following lifewithlilred for a while, then you have been with me through all kinds of ouches like when Johnny and I got in a car accident and I was hospitalized and an oral surgery gone dreadfully wrong. My most recent “whoopsy daisy” of taking a tumble on the wet, leaf strewn wooden walkway to my apartment was nowhere near as severe but, gotDAMN did it hurt and I’ve got a hell of a bruise to prove it. Check it out:

Now, this is not a post to get sympathy for this deep purple monstrosity. Rather, it is a reminder to be careful!! Coincidentally, my Johnny took a spill mere hours before me when he was taking out the trash that day and we have since been taking our time making the walk to our apartment on the wet, rainy fall days that Ohio has been plagued with.

Johnny has actually been so sweet because, most days, he gets home from work before me and he’ll text me to remind me that it’s really slick so I don’t take another spill. Falls, tumbles, accidents, oopsies, boo boos, or whatever you call it can be so painful and even fatal for some so this is just your Lil Red reminder to take your time while walking (And driving!) during this slippery weather so you don’t end up with a major bruise on your side too!

What is the fall weather like in your neck of the woods? What are some of your safety tips for bad weather? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov2

Literally Falling For Fall

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Literally Falling For Fall

Hello! Have you ever had a day where you feel like you’re constantly running into stuff, tripping over your own feet, or dropping something? Because SAME – especially last week. Despite many ouches, profanity, and bruises my day ended in an up kind of way so I thought I’d tell you all about it.

My morning started with a fine how do you do of stepping on the plug of my hair straightener and spilling my bottle of serum all over the floor when regaining my balance. I was so pissed about my favorite serum loosing half of its contents onto my bath mat and the plug going into the soft sole of my feet hurt like a mother.

After that incident, I thought my day could only go up from there and my time at work was fairly average. Once I finished driving home in the rain, I was looking forward to having a glass of wine and relaxing but life decided to throw me a few more curve balls.

My apartment complex is located in a wooded area and there are countless trees all over the property. Countless trees equals countless leaves, of course, and my goodness are they slick after it rains. As I was walking towards the stairs to get to my second floor apartment, I tread over a particularly slippery patch of wet leaves. I lost my balance, landed hard on my side, and everything I had in my hands came flying out.

As someone who has figure skated a majority of her life, you would think I would be exempt from slippery falls off ice but that just is not the case. Lol, it hurt SO bad and left a nasty bruise on my leg. After the initial shock and pain of falling, I kind of forgot what I had in my hands and just wanted to get into my apartment. I collected everything I saw immediately on the ground and headed upstairs to tell Johnny my tale of woe.

Johnny and I spent our evening watching a TV show called Slasher and we were in the middle of an episode when we heard a knock on our door around eight. I had no idea who it could be and was shocked to see some neighbors I vaguely recognized in my doorway. They held out my apartment keys to me and said they found them when they were walking up to their own place.

I was SO shocked by the fact that I had essentially lost my keys for an entire evening without knowing it. However, I was more shocked by the kindness of the strangers who returned my missing keys to me – I have no idea what I would have done the following morning when I left for work and realized they weren’t there!

Despite major boo boos, my day ended on a huge high note from my guardian angels who found my keys. I am so thankful to them (and their wonderful eye sight) for locating the keys on the ground, in the dark, while it was raining, and with leaves everywhere. Amazing looking out! ❤

Have you ever lost your keys before? How did you end up finding them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug11

How To Protect Your Home From Storm Damage

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How To Protect Your Home From Storm Damage

The impact of severe storms and natural disasters are hard to predict. If caught off guard and not prepared, you could end up dishing out several thousand dollars for repairs. Whether you just moved into an area that experiences frequent storms or you are looking to up your preparedness, these tips will help you better protect your home:

Get Home Insurance Or Update Your Policy:

Having home insurance is crucial to protecting your home. It ensures that if something awful happens, you may not have to pay for the expense solely out of your pocket. When shopping for home insurance or updating your policy, make sure the policy covers the basics of what you need. If your home is surrounded by trees, it would be a good idea to make sure that your policy covers for that type of damage. Keep in mind it is up to you to find that out before a big storm comes. Read through your policy. Even though it may cover some storm-related damages, it may not cover all. For instance, damage from flooding, hurricanes, and earthquakes requires a special policy. It is always a good idea to shop around until you find the best plan for your home. To get started, simply enter a search for “home insurance jacksonville fl” (or your local area) to get the coverage that your family needs.

Seal Your Doors And Windows:

This is imperative to protecting your home. You do not want to be caught in a storm and your windows are not sealed or boarded up. Make sure that you seal your windows tightly without any breaks. The littlest break can cause a myriad of problems. If you are facing a tornado or hurricane the strong winds can get in, allowing for those storms to travel through while taking your home with it.

Maintenance To The Stormwater Drain: 

If your property has a stormwater drain, it is imperative that you have it serviced routinely by a Stormwater Waste Removal company. Neglecting to do so can cause flooding as well as environmental damage and this can be further exasperated by a heavy storm. Significant rainfall can cause blockages of debris in your drain and can do more damage than you might have thought if it isn’t regularly maintained.

Repair The Roof:

You have been putting it off long enough! Check your roof to make sure there are not any loose or missing shingles. If you find some, replace or fix them as soon as possible. You do not want a strong wind to catch onto a shingle coming loose. Your roof will suffer and so will you when you have to pay storm damage repair. It is also recommended that you seal your chimneys or vents if they are located on the roof. If they are not sealed up properly, you leave your home vulnerable to the elements, putting you in danger.

Repair Loose Siding:

Keep an eye out for loose pieces of siding that may catch a gust of wind. You also want to look for unattached edges. If the siding catches a powerful wind, it can fly off and leave your home exposed to the elements. Flying siding also causes a lot of damage. Attach it back to the frame of the house and check that they are secure often or consider new Siding Installations to avoid further problems in the future.

Repair Your Fences:

Your fences can cause a lot of damage to your home if they are not secured or repaired before a storm. Look for places where the fence is loose and ensure that the gates are tightly secured. It is also a good idea to survey your property, making sure to put away things that could fly around and cause more damage. Any outdoor furniture on your patio, deck, or lawn should be put inside the house. If your fence is in need of repairs, simply enter a search for “Fence contractor in Rockwall, TX” or your local area to prevent future damage.

Once the outside of your home is secure, settle in with a good book and enjoy the thunderstorm!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Dec17

Bad Weather? Here’s How to Protect Your Home

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Bad Weather? Here’s How to Protect Your Home

If you’ve never experienced the damage bad weather can do to your home, you should consider yourself lucky. Sure, rain may make your living room floor soaked if your windows are leaking and a hard gust of wind may weaken the shingles of your roof – but it’s still nothing at all compared to the floods and hurricanes we’ve experienced over the last decade.

While it’s difficult to prepare your home for that kind of weather unless you live in a bunker, you can still prepare it for cold days and heavy falls of both snow and rain. The spring has yet to arrive for a couple of months and the more you can do for your home now, the better off it will be in case your area should experience a storm anytime soon.

Here is a handful of tips in terms of making sure your home is strong enough to handle the elements. It just makes it a bit easier to put your feet up and relax as the wind howls outside:

First: Seal windows and doors

It’s only logical that the first thing you need to do is to ensure that the storm has no way of entering your home. This means, of course, that you need to make sure that all of your windows and doors are sealed properly. Wind funneling through your home will push upwards and may even lift your roof if it’s strong enough. It’s the kind of water damage your home could definitely do without.

You may want to purchase and install special storm shutters for your windows, for example, or just take a tour around your home to inspects the seals and make sure that there are no cracks to allow the wind in. Have a look here if you’d like to make your own storm shutters, by the way. They will be just as strong as the regular ones you’d buy in the shops as long as you follow the instructions.

Next: Consider steel doors:

You will only need this if you live in an area that often experiences stormy weather, but steel doors can really make a huge difference in terms of safety at home. When you have a steel door as your entry door, you avoid seeing hard winds tearing through those weaker double, French, or sliding doors for your patio. Install special hardware to strengthen the doors where they meet and try bolts that fasten the doors into the framing at the top and the bottom.

Think about the other doors in your house that are connected to the outside world; have a look at garage doors, for example, to avoid seeing the storm damage your vehicle, as well. That being said, your car may still get damaged by severe weather and if that does end up being the case, don’t wait to file your insurance claim for hail damage or any other type of damage that comes from the weather. Your insurance will work with you to make the repairs as cost-effective as possible.

Other points to keep in mind while it’s still quiet before the storm is, of course, to clear out your yard so that no furniture is able to fly off – and have an extra look at your roof. While the damage bad weather can do to your belongings is big enough, it can do even more damage if a roof shingle should hit an animal or a person.

Featured Image By: Pexels