Tag Archives: surprise

Sweet Surprises: Fresh Ink Edition

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Sweet Surprises: Fresh Ink Edition

Hello!! Ever since becoming Tim Misny’s social media manager, I have received SO much support and encouragement and it makes me feel SO good. Everyone from immediate family and friends to random people online have shared their excitement with me and I appreciate it more than words can say. I have felt so celebrated and it’s not even mine and Johnny’s birthaversary yet! This past Monday, we visited Johnny’s parents for a belated Mother’s Day dinner. As a Sweet Surprise, Johnny’s mom didn’t gift me with tattoos – but something else that involves some Fresh Ink! Check it out:

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Ever since I was little, I remember my mom having a few pens in her purse. She always kept that thang on her and when I first started my big girl jobs a decade ago, pens were the first thing I added to my work bag. The pens we had handy were never anything special, but they wrote and that was the most important thing. I used to think about getting fun pens with pompoms and streamers because I am that extra and ten years later I still don’t own any lol. Until now, anyways!

For my new job gift, my amazing mother-in-law gave me the cutest set of polka dot pens with huge diamonds on the top. Pompoms and streamers, who? Because diamonds truly are a girl’s best friend! I was so touched by this kind gesture and can’t help but smile every time I see my new ink. I, of course, have one in my purse, one at my computer station, and one in my desk upstairs for safe keeping. These adorable pens were the perfect little something for a writer and I love that my mother-in-law thought of me immediately when she saw them. ❤

More often than not, the best Sweet Surprises come in small packages. I am thrilled to finally have some pens with personality – it only took ten years to get them! 😀

Have you gotten any sweet surprises recently? How do you like to celebrate your loved ones? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy Easter!!

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Happy Easter!!

Hello everyone and Happy Easter to those who celebrate! I hope you all have a fantastic day. 🙂 This past week was an absolute doozy in the worst way possible and it has been nice to take the time to unwind this weekend. Tuesday was literally horrible and I am hoping for sunshiny days ahead… Well, as sunshiny as you can get with April showers! Despite Tuesday being awful, I did have a little Easter pick me up that I thought I would share with all of you:

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On Wednesday morning, I was still reeling from the day before and was feeling really blue as I went to pick up my transport client. All I wanted to do was sleep, but seeing my clients always perks me up and I am so glad that I powered through. As my client approached my car, I noticed him carrying a pretty wrapped package and card. It was an early Easter gift and it couldn’t have come at a better time. In fact, this is not the first time I was gifted a sweet surprise from this family when I desperately needed a pick me up. They must have some type of telepathy!

After I got my client to work, I parked my car to unwrap my prezzie because I couldn’t wait till I got home. I was delighted by a beautiful card and some Bunny Hollow hand soap! It was such a thoughtful gesture and is a true testament to wonderful things coming in small packages. Even though the week was extremely trying times for yours truly, this was such a welcome reminder of all of the good that is in my life. I was so thankful for this perfectly timed surprise. ❤

This little token of appreciation went a long way and it feels so good to be cherished by others during the holidays. Happy Easter to all of you and I hope this spring brings you flowers, rainbows, and happiness!

Have you had any sweet surprises recently? How are you celebrating Easter? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Double Sweet Surprises!

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Double Sweet Surprises!

Howdy! One thing that Johnny and I love to do is surprise each other with little odds and ends when we are out and about. It could be anything from wall art and plushies to Halloween decor, and it is just as fun to give a surprise as much as it is to get one! This past Friday, I was delighted to find some adorable bunny trinkets at Target for our knick knack shelves and couldn’t wait to show Johnny as soon as I got home. Coincidentally, he had a treat for me too! Check it out:

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Thanks to a recent shopping trip to TJMaxx, I learned that this time of the year is prime for finding bunny themed decorations. You might be thinking “duh” because we’re entering spring and that means Easter. In my defense, lol, I don’t celebrate Easter and I also never shop around this time of the year. I prefer to hit up the post winter sales and wait till it gets completely warm out until I invest in new spring clothing. However, knowing what I know now, it makes me want to shop even more! As a proud bunny mom, I want all of the options that dog and cat parents have year round. The trick is that I have to cram it into a few months!

On Friday, I had a most excellent outing to Target with my brother to grab some new duds for his upcoming vacation. I genuinely had no intention of getting anything, but Target knows how to get you with the one to five dollar or so items right as you walk in. Immediately, small bunny statues in gold and white caught my eye and I just couldn’t help myself. Johnny and I are literally obsessed with the bunny decor I got from TJs and since he won’t let me get more bunnies, this was the next best thing. 😀

With my new bunny friends in tow, I made my way home after shopping to show the #1 Bunny Dad. My jaw hit the floor when he told me he had a surprise for me too! What are the odds?! For my treat, Johnny first presented me with a new kind of Warheads candy which we later determined to be disgusting. The real treat was a Gengar squishmallow that he picked up while running errands!! I have never had or even held a squishmallow before and, guys, the hype is real. It is SO soft and this gift couldn’t have come at a better time; I got sick the following day and cuddled with it as I rode out a cold from hell. It was even more comforting that it came from my Johnny. ❤

Johnny and I must have had some telepathy that told us we needed a little extra something this past Friday! It was a banner day for Double Sweet Surprises, indeed!

What is your favorite Pokemon? What is your favorite holiday to decorate for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sweet Surprises: Knitted With Love Edition

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Sweet Surprises: Knitted With Love Edition

Hello!! My mom is my number one girl. She is my absolute best friend and I just love being around her. Everyone who crosses her path will tell you the same thing too – she is simply amazing! One thing that my mom and I like to do together is watercolor painting. However, there is one hobby that my mom has that I can’t wrap my head around and that is knitting! My mom has knit the most precious sweaters and baby blankets for my sweet nieces and nephews. She makes a mean scarf and has recently added a new item to her repertoire – headbands! This past week, my mom gifted me with one that she whipped up in no time at all. Check it out:

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I knew that my mom was making a headband for me, but it was still a huge surprise when she presented me with the finished product. She literally just started it and I blinked and it was done! I was beyond thrilled with my prezzie and it’s far better than anything that I could buy at the store because my mom made it. I love the soft grey color she picked out for me and it is the perfect neutral to keep from clashing with whatever my hair color is at the time. My new headband also fit like a glove and was just right – not too tight or too loose. She did an excellent job!

Anything that my mom gifts me is instantly very special to me and my handmade headband took the cake. It made me feel so good to know that she made it just for me. In fact, it actually has me hoping for a few more cold days so I can wear it! Knitting is a craft that makes zero sense to me and I think it’s so impressive that my mom can make something beautiful out of a skein of yarn. She is making a headband for my niece next and I know that she’s going to love hers just as much as I do mine. ❤

Huge thank you to my mom for this most wonderful Sweet Surprise. I know that every single stitch was Knitted With Love and I’ll cherish it for always! I love you!!!!

What is your favorite craft? Do you have any knitted with love clothing or accessories? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sweet Surprises: Painted Parrot Edition

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Sweet Surprises: Painted Parrot Edition

Howdy!! This past Wednesday, my darling niece, Val Gal, came over for a slumber party. It is something we both always look forward to because it is such fun!! I make us dinner, we have ice cream sundaes for dessert, enjoy a movie, and play, play, play. For our entertainment while we noshed on Mint Chocolate Chip sundaes, Val chose Mulan and I was stoked. That was one of my favorite Disney movies as a kid and we were also eating my favorite ice cream. And I was with my favorite person! As always, our partay was a raging success and a full on rager. I was also presented with quite possibly the sweetest gift ever. Check it out:

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Val is a huge fan of crafting. She loves to paint, color, and make masterpieces with Play Doh. For Christmas, I got her a set of animal figurines that she could paint because that is one of her favorite activities. I had honestly forgotten about it when Val told me she brought me something. She handed me a parrot from the set that she painted and said “This is for you, TT. You got it for me for Christmas, but I wanted you to have one too.” Believe me when I say, I completely melted. Out of the mouths of babes!!

My sweet niece is just the coolest kid and Johnny and I cherish the time we spend with her. Val is the best big sister to Raya and is so kind, talented, and absolutely freaking hilarious. That girl keeps me in stitches and I am constantly quoting the ridiculousness she says on the daily. The parrot that she made with love is a testament to what an amazing little girl she is. It was yet another reminder of her thoughtfulness and it really moved me. We are each other’s best friends and she makes my life infinitely better. ❤

My parrot has a prized spot on our knick knack shelf and I smile every time I look at it/think about it. Here’s to many more slumber parties and fabulous memories with my lil BFF!

What is a gift that you cherish? What is your favorite thing that someone made for you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Bath Bomb Blitz: Rusted Acre Soap Co. Jason Voorhees Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Rusted Acre Soap Co. Jason Voorhees Edition

Hello! Unfortunately, my holiday was less than holly jolly because I was sick AF. This was so incredibly disappointing to me because I took a whole week off of work to relax and visit with friends and family. I mean, I guess I did relax because I watched So. Many. Episodes. of My 600 Lb. Life lol. I also very much enjoyed using the bath bombs from my BFF Christmas gift. My darling Kate of Live In The Nautical treated me to the most amazing set of horror themed bath bombs by Rusted Acre Soap Co. They have been such a blast to use and it was so soothing to be able to soak my troubles away. After using the Knife bath bomb, I decided to use the Jason Voorhees one the following day. Check it out:

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^^^ Note how the final formation in the second to last picture kind of looks like the Jason mask!!

After the great success of the Knife bath bomb, I couldn’t wait to try more! Johnny and I watched all of the Friday The 13th movies this past Halloween and even though those movies suck, it was still a lot of fun. Nothing about this bath bomb sucked, however, and I was shook from the show this bath bomb put on! While Jason Voorhees is our least favorite slasher star, this is one of my favorite bath bombs I have ever used. As I watched this bath bomb do its thing, I found myself wondering at every surprise just how Rusted Acre Soap Co. created something so freaking cool!

Like the Knife bath bomb, the Jason one really didn’t start doing anything noteworthy until a few minutes in. It took well over five minutes (maybe eight?) for this bath bomb to fizz out entirely and this is both a blessing and a curse. While it does look awesome, it isn’t ideal for my situation because we do not have a lot of hot water at our apartment. By the time the bath bomb was done, the water was less than steamy, but I digress. Like any good slasher, the climax had a slow build up and the end result was phenomenal.

Out of nowhere, streams of blood red and forest green water began to shoot out of the eyes of the mask. It went this way and that throughout the tub and began changing the water to the inky red that the Knife bath bomb produced. This went on for a fair bit of time and I was honestly mentally willing it to go faster so the water would still be hot. Then, I noticed what the bath bomb was actually doing. It was replicating the Jason mask in the water! It took a good while for this to happen, but what a thrill when I realized it!!

I am going to rate the Jason Voorhees bath bomb with an eight out of ten stars. Yes, it took a minute to get to the grand reveal. BUT, this bath bomb accomplished something I didn’t even know was possible and it was fabulous. I can’t wait to see what the remaining three slasher stars in my gift set does!

Who is your favorite slasher star? What is the best bath bomb you have ever used? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sweet Surprises: Lovely Ladybugs Edition

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Sweet Surprises: Lovely Ladybugs Edition

Hey darlings!! Tuesday was a banner day for your girl because I got Santa Mail from my sweet Kate of Live In The Nautical AND from the beautiful Carlie of Bombshell. These lovely ladies have been my blogging besties since lifewithlilred started all the way back in 2014. In this almost decade tenure of being in the blogosphere, I have had the joy of collaborating and becoming friends with Carlie and she is nothing short of a delight. She is cool, crafty, and the spooky match to my spooky soul. Carlie gifted me with the most adorable pair of earrings that I have ever seen and I just had to share them with all of you:

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When I saw my package from Carlie, the vampire goddess herself, I tore it open like a rabid animal. In the packing envelope, I found a little red box and that was already perfect in and of itself. As my blog tagline goes, Life is better in red, and that applies to jewelry boxes too! After smiling to myself about Carlie’s perfect gift box choice, I opened the lid and was delighted with my findings. These delicate gold ladybug earrings are so precious and they warmed my little heart. I absolutely love ladybugs and I love them even more when they are gold and have pink rhinestones! 😀

Being a blogger is awesome because writing is my passion. What makes it the awesomest, however, is all of the wonderful people I have been able to connect with through lifewithlilred. Carlie lives in California and I would have never met her otherwise. Through my page, we became fast friends via text and FaceTime and meeting her was like meeting my blogging big sis. Every day, I am SO thankful to the blogosphere for bringing such amazing friends like Carlie and Kate into my life. And, of course, all of you too. ❤ ❤ ❤

My girl Carlie is an absolute queen and you can keep up to date with all of her fabulousness by giving her a follow on Instagram: @carliemichelle66 . Thank you for my earrings, doll – love you!!! ❤

Have you met any friends through blogging? What is something cool that your blog has done for you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sweet Surprises: Early Christmas Gift Edition

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Sweet Surprises: Early Christmas Gift Edition

Hello!!! I had a pretty difficult day at my job as an Independent Provider this past Monday and it hit me really hard. It is always the worst when I have to let go of long term clients, but that is just what had to happen and I was beside myself. It was a rain cloud on this past week for sure, but a rainbow appeared on Wednesday morning when one of my clients decided to give me their family Christmas gift early. Oddly enough, I was actually thinking of bringing their gifts in that very day! This was, hands down, one of the most beautiful, thoughtful gifts I have ever received and reminded me why working in the field is still exactly where I needed to be. Maybe that family decided I could use a pick me up that day and it worked like a charm. Check it out:

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The inside of the sun and moon patterned bracelet says “You were made to make a difference” and the inside of the plain one says “You make the world a better place”.

Guys, when I tell you I was ugly crying when I unwrapped my presents – I mean I was ugly crying. I adore the mini cuff message bracelets so very much and have at least six of them in my collection. The very first one I got was from my mom when I was a teenager and it sparked a love of them ever since. My clients’ family had no idea about this and I was flabbergasted when I opened them up and simply verklempt when I read the sweet sentiments inside. The messages that these bracelets held were exactly what I needed and given to me exactly when I needed them. It was so unbelievably special to me and once the waterworks started, there was no stopping it.

I love my job so much and always will, even on hard days. But, I think anyone who works in the care field wonders from time to time if they are ever actually making a difference – especially after a bad day. These bracelets were the confirmation I needed that, yes, I am changing the lives of the people I serve and, yes, the world is a better place because of it. It was humbling and beautiful to see this written plainly across the bracelets I received. This gift was so comforting because it told me that I am still doing everything right by my clients and people who I will have the pleasure of helping in the future. I just renewed my certification as a provider and I can’t wait to see where my next three years in the field takes me!

This is the literal first time that I have cried over a gift and I will treasure these bracelets until the end of my days. It was given to me by a family who is so special to me and I take pride in the fact that I am special to them too. ❤

Have you ever got emotional over a gift? What is the best gift you have ever received? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Surprise Christmas Trees

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Surprise Christmas Trees

Howdy!!! This past Wednesday, I went on a wonderful walk with my brother at the Overlook hiking trail. At this particular trail, you can stay on a paved loop that takes you to an overlook area that looks down on the Cuyahoga River or you can go rogue on a dirt path that takes you all the way down to the river. We opted to do a few rounds on the half mile loop and I am so glad that we did! During our walk, we saw two Surprise Christmas Trees and I thought it was such a cool and fun idea that I had to share it with all of you. Check it out:

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The Overlook trail is completely laden with deer and it is nothing out of the ordinary to see them running through the woods or grazing in a clearing. I always say that I am on “deer patrol” on this trail and keep a vigilant eye on the wooded areas for my four legged friends. You can only imagine my surprise when we rounded a curve and it wasn’t a deer I saw, but the littlest Christmas tree (second image) tucked back behind the bigger trees. I was simply enamored with this discovery and loved the fact that someone went out of their way so creatively to spark a bit of holiday spirit for their fellow hikers.

I thought that this tiny taste of holiday magic was a one off until we found another tree (first image) with Christmas ornaments on it. I found myself wondering if it was the original tree decorator or someone else who was inspired by it and decided to do more of the same. Either way, it inspired me and my brother and we both agreed that we should bring some ornaments of our own the next time we hit the Overlook trail. Something tells me that we will be seeing a lot more ornaments upon our return because I think a lot of people will be sharing our sentiments too!

These Surprise Christmas Trees really made me smile and I hope they did the same for you. This was such a unique and special idea and maybe you’ll feel the urge to decorate on your favorite hiking trail too!

Do you like decorating for the holidays? What is your favorite holiday decoration (I love the twelve foot skeletons dressed as Santa!)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Sweet Surprises: Reader Friend Edition

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Sweet Surprises: Reader Friend Edition

Hello!! Every day, I am thankful for the beauty of blogging. Of course, I always love to write and it is a joy to express myself on my page. However, the thing that I love best about blogging is the people! I met my best friend through lifewithlilred and so many other members of the blogosphere that I feel lucky to connect with. This Tuesday, I received a beautiful card in the mail that was bought for me by the darling Leenda, the author behind The Bus To Sorry. While she was at a craft fair, she spotted a card and sticker that she thought I would like and she was so right! Check it out:

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There is something about a handwritten note from a friend that just hits different. I was SO excited to open the letter from Leenda because I had no idea what it was going to be. All I knew was that it was something that she thought would match my vibe. I ripped into the envelope like a rabid beast and clutched my pearls over what I saw. Guys, I am obsessed with my note card and sticker by Freshly Squeezed Art. As soon as I got home, I immediately put the sticker on my laptop and left the note on my desk. I enjoy looking at it too much for it to go in my letter box!

These lovely little gifts match my aesthetic to the T. It amazed me that someone who only knows me from my blog and comments could pick something that I would have picked for myself. It honestly made me feel really proud of myself that I am so open on my page that it gave one of my beloved reader friends perfect insight into a prezzie I would adore. I feel incredibly touched to be thought of by Leenda and it was a wonderful reminder of why I started my blog in the first place. It was always to make new friends and I am so glad that it is having that effect. ❤

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Leenda for this Sweet Surprise. It made my week and do be sure to check out her page and give it some love!

What is something that you would pick out for me? Have you met any good friends through your blog? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah