Tag Archives: swimming

Jun29

Summer Fun!

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Summer Fun!

Hello! After a long and dreary winter, it is so nice to finally be enjoying the sunny days of summer. I have certainly been making the most of it with lots of fun in the sun… And the sunburns to prove it. -_- Despite looking like a lobster, I am already fantasizing about more days spent by the pool at my apartment community with a good book!

This past weekend was one filled with ACTIVITIES and I think that I am still recovering from it:

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This past Saturday, my sister and darling niece came over to go swimming and it was such a blast. To make it even better, Kristen surprised me with a Taco Bell inner tube that I am still freaking out over. Her and Valerie went to Five Below to stock up on pool toys and couldn’t not get me this TBell themed masterpiece. Val had so much fun hitching a ride on it with me and it will definitely be joining me every time I hit the pool!

My brother and his wife and son also came to visit from Georgia over the weekend and Johnny and I loved accompanying them to the park. We swung on the swings to our heart’s content and I have to laugh at Johnny’s outfit choice on such a hot day! He is nothing if not committed to our preferred OOTD choice of All Black Everything. 😀

I have never been a huge lover of summer and will forever be fall’s number one fan. However, I have a brand new appreciation for the season now that I can share in the joy with my niece. Trips to the pool, zoo, and park have never been more fun and will be even better once I remember to wear sunscreen smh!

What is your favorite summer activity? How about your favorite season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

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Aug28

My Favorite Summer 2021 Memories

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My Favorite Summer 2021 Memories

Hi! Summer is quickly drawing to a close and that is fine by Lil Red because I live for fall weather, fashion, and holidays. Both Johnny and I are eager to step out in our favorite jackets, sweaters, and long sleeve shirts for hikes, bonfires, and corn mazes in cool temperatures that don’t physically pain us lol.

Although the fall will forever be my preferred time of the year, I have to say that this summer was a great success – especially in comparison to last year. Let’s discuss some of my fave memories from these past few months:

Getting Married:

The best memory of all from this summer is Johnny and I getting married in June, of course! Our wedding day was a beautiful, albeit very hot one, so obviously it was the perfect time for us to tie the knot wearing all black haha! It was so special for us to have a small, intimate wedding in one of our best friend’s back yards surrounded by our immediate family and closest friends. It was one of the best days of my life and I just love being married! ❤

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Conneaut, Ohio Road Trip:

This month, Johnny and I made an hour and a half drive to Conneaut, Ohio for a D-Day reenactment and it was awesome! My husband, the history buff, has never been to a war reenactment before and has always wanted to so when I found out about the event, I surprised him with tickets. The reenactments, demonstrations, and fair food were all great. The best part, however, was seeing a big smile on Johnny’s face all day. Something tells me that this is not the last reenactment that we’ll be attending together and I can’t wait! 🙂

Birthday Celebrations:

Me, Johnny, and my two besties all have summertime birthdays and I love being able to celebrate with them every year. I consider myself to be an excellent gift giver so birthdays and holidays are my favorite. Picking out the perfect presents for my loved ones is so much fun to me and it’s even better to see their reactions once they have opened their gifts. In true Lil Red fashion, I have already began my Christmas shopping planning – I just can’t help myself. 😀

Swimming:

Last year, the pool at my apartment community was closed for obvious reasons. This summer, however, it is open for business and I have been making the most of it. I have spent many an evening lounging in the pool with my bestie or with my sister and niece and it has been so nice. While I can’t wait for cooler weather, I will definitely miss the option to go swimming once my day at work is over. An evening at the pool and then dinner with my BFF or sister and niece is the best thing to look forward to after a work day!

Date Day:

The best date day that Johnny and I had this summer was, easily, our time spent in downtown Cuyahoga Falls a few Saturdays ago. We had an amazing time browsing through the ultra cool Jenks Building while listening to our ultra cool friends play in the Buffalo Ryders. After their set, our band boyz joined Johnny and I for a cocktail hour at our favorite local bar, The Cashmere Cricket. Saturday is the best day to go because the Cricket makes all of their cocktails with dry ice, which makes your drinks bubble and smoke like a potion.

Once our outing was done, Johnny and I went back to our apartment for our usual weekend festivities of playing video games, dancing, and listening to music. It was a perfect day and one of my favorite summer memories.

So there you have it, my favorite summer memories! Summer is my least favorite season by far but, after these past few months, I definitely think I like it a little bit more! ❤

What are your favorite memories of this summer? What are you looking forward to in the fall? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug13

Chilling Out

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Chilling Out

Hello! These past few weekends for Johnny and I have been nice and relaxing which is a welcome change of pace after several super busy weekends in a row. I definitely know that I was feeling the effects of being on the move nonstop because I felt so exhausted throughout my work week. My job is quite mentally demanding so this on top of tired made me feel drained.

While I love going out and about with Johnny, a lot of my favorite things can be done just Chilling Out in our apartment. Like the following:

Pampering Party:

Pampering myself after a long day at work always makes me feel better. This means bubble baths, face masks, getting my nails done, and painting my toe nails. Johnny also loves to have his nails painted so I’ll usually do his fingers and toes too while the nail polish is out. Nothing pleases me more than an evening at the nail salon or testing out a new skin care product and it is a great midweek refresher until the weekend rolls around. A Pampering Party is my favorite form of self care and it gives me something to look forward to for once I get home.

Fun & Games:

Super intense video games are not relaxing to me in the slightest even though I love them. However, Pokemon Snap and Animal Crossing never fail to put me in the chill zone. Both games for the Nintendo Switch are insanely cute, laid back, and fairly mindless. They are also games that Johnny and I enjoy a lot so we play them often when we need some time to unwind. Our new hobby has been listening to The Last Podcast On The Left together and we will normally play Pokemon Snap or Animal Crossing while we have an episode on.

Soak Up The Sun:

I have been making great use of the pool at my apartment community this summer and it feels nice to be in the water and catch some rays in the evening. It is also the best time to go since it is not as crowded which makes it even more relaxing! Our apartment gets incredibly hot in the summer so I love having a pool two minutes away to cool off in. It’s hard to get in a chill set of mind when you’re sweating profusely lol!

Book Club:

Despite pretty much only reading horror and thriller novels, reading always helps me to relax and I try to finish a book at least every three weeks. Right now, I have been working on Candide by Voltaire which I have really been enjoying. Next on deck is a suspense novel by Megan Miranda called Such A Quiet Place. Nothing is better than settling in with a good book and I get transported to the chill zone as soon as I read one page.

It’s important to know what helps you to relax when you are feeling tired or stressed and the above are all surefire ways to unwind for me. Talk about an instant chill pill!

How do you like to relax? What makes you feel stressed? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug6

Rest Of Summer Goals

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Rest Of Summer Goals

Hi! Can you believe we are already in August? I feel like July flew by! When the month of August arrives, I always feel like summer is about to be over when, in reality, we still have a good month and a half left. There is still much I want to do in that time, including the following:

Let’s Go To The Movies:

The first movie I saw in theaters since several months prior to the start of the pandemic was Demon Slayer The Movie and it was excellent. Sadly, I haven’t been to a movie since seeing it in May and that definitely needs to change. When Johnny and I first started dating, we were always going on dates to the movies and there is plenty to pick from this summer – especially if you’re a horror fan like us. I am dying to see A Quiet Place 2, The Conjuring 3, and Don’t Breathe 2. A few weeks ago, Johnny and I watched Don’t Breathe because he had never seen it and it is just in time for the sequel’s release later this month. 😀

Fun In The Sun:

I love being able to use the pool at my apartment community and, despite making an effort to go weekly, it still doesn’t feel like enough! There is nothing better than taking a dip on a hot summer day and I just know I will regret not using the pool more often once it closes for the year. To remedy this, I plan on visiting the pool at least two times a week so I can make up for lost time when it wasn’t open last year.

More Pictures, Please:

One of my favorite types of posts to create for lifewithlilred are Outfit Of The Days. It is so much fun to me to style outfits, come up with an idea for a photo shoot, and selecting the perfect pics for my blog. It’s basically just me pretending to be on America’s Next Top Model and I live for it lol. It would be a shame to not take advantage of the beautiful weather and shoot some more summer looks so I am hoping to do another handful of photo shoots before the weather turns. Then, keep it posted for my all time favorite: FALL FASHION!!!

Every Day I’m Hustlin’:

I am on the verge of a 1,000 day writing streak on WordPress and am quickly approaching a year in a row of practicing five languages on Duolingo. I am incredibly proud of this and won’t stop even after I have reached these landmark achievements. It is so exciting to get one step closer to my goals every day and who knows? We just might have to do a 1,000th post extravaganza on lifewithlilred with a giveaway! What do you think? 🙂

Here’s to sunny days and lots of fun for all this August!!

What are your goals for the rest of the summer? Do you have any exciting plans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul22

Tone Up With These Exercises

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Tone Up With These Exercises

If you’re ready to take control of your life, becoming active is the greatest place to start. It means getting up, breaking out of your old pattern, and creating a new one that will improve your life. Here are the best exercises for working up a sweat and toning up your muscles:

Boxing:

Boxing is fantastic if you want to work on your core muscles while still getting a solid workout for the rest of your body. It also enhances your balance, mobility, and coordination while simultaneously working your muscles, all of which may be applied in your daily life.

If you’ve never boxed before, it’s a good idea to practice alongside someone who understands what they’re doing, such as a trainer or a buddy. That way, you can be sure that you’re doing everything correctly and that you’re not injuring yourself.

Swimming:

Swimming could be the exercise for you if you have aches and pains because water relieves all of the strain on your body and allows you to focus on moving around freely. This is why many physiotherapists recommend swimming. Not only that, but it works every muscle in your body, which means you not only burn calories but also tone up. That being said, if you are struggling with joint pain such as in your knees or shoulders, it’s always best to consult a knee or shoulder specialist before starting any physical activity.

Cycling:

Cycling is a favorite go-to workout because you can do it both indoors and out. You can get in shape in front of the television if you have an exercise bike! Just thirty minutes of riding each day can significantly increase your physical power and stamina and the more you sweat, the more fat you’re literally melting away.

Circuit training:

If you prefer to push yourself to your limits, circuit training is the ideal cardio workout for you. High-intensity workouts with minimal recovery time make for a difficult session, but one that is well worth it once done. It’s a fast-paced workout, so make sure you’re hydrated and eat something before you start; otherwise, you won’t have the energy you need. Make sure you have a bottle of water within reach for when you have a little rest period. You’ll see why.

Whatever you choose to do, give it a fair chance before deciding whether or not you like it. Not everyone is the same and just because your friends say running is the best thing for them doesn’t imply it will be the case for you. This is when trial and error comes into play. Don’t give up on getting healthier if you don’t like something; simply keep going until you find something you truly appreciate.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Jul16

Let’s Find You A Nice, Relaxing Hobby

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Let’s Find You A Nice, Relaxing Hobby

If you are in need of a new hobby, then you might want to try something that is relaxing after a long day. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the nice, chill hobbies that you can take up, so keep reading if you would like to find out more:

Arts And Crafts:

The first thing that we are going to look at is arts and crafts. There is nothing stressful about this hobby, except when things start to go wrong! But, you might find that this is actually extremely therapeutic for you as it gives you something to do with your hands. You are creating brand new things and, the best part, is that there are so many different types of arts and crafts that you’re not just stuck with one. For example, if you find that painting isn’t for you, then you can move onto crochet or scrapbooking until you find your favorite.

Arts and crafts provides you with a creative outlet that helps you to convey how you are feeling. It could be exactly what you need to get rid of the stress of the day.

Reading:

Another thing that you can think about is reading. People don’t really see reading as a hobby, but it is and it is a fantastic one. You can get yourself lost in a range of different worlds, become someone else for a little while, and escape your own reality. The best books are the ones that you can’t put down no matter how hard you try and we suggest you try out an assortment of books to find what you like the most. There is a list of books for emergent readers if you are looking for ideas. Just prepare yourself, because the feelings that you experience when you read are real.

Swimming:

Finally, if you want to do something that keeps you active but that can be relaxing, swimming is your best option. This is a great option as you can just leisurely swim up and down until you feel as though you have had enough. The water relaxes your body and there is nothing but you and the water out in front of you in these moments. It’s a lovely feeling and you can feel your stresses melt away as you glide up and down the pool.

Trial and error is always going to be the best way forward when it comes to a new hobby. If none of the above examples are speaking to you – there are countless more activities to try! We wish you the best of luck finding what you’re looking for.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jun21

What I’m Looking Forward To This Summer

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What I’m Looking Forward To This Summer

Hello! June has been a GREAT SUCCESS of a month so far due to my recent nuptials, double birthday with my husband, and bestie’s birthday and I have a feeling that this summer is only going to get better. Last summer was a wash for everyone because of the pandemic and now that Johnny and I are fully vaccinated, we plan on making the most of the season. While I can’t wait for weekend trips with Johnny and soaking up the sun for about ten minutes before I start to burn, I am especially looking forward to the following:

Swimming:

Even though I refuse to get my hair wet, that doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy time in the pool! One of my clients has a pool and we try to utilize it at least once a week. The pool in my apartment community is also open for the summer and I’m really excited to go swimming with my niece and sister. I haven’t been able to use the community pool since the summer of 2019 when I moved in as it was closed last summer, which makes me even more eager for a swimming outing ASAP!

Shopping:

As you all know, Lil Red loves to shop and in late May I had my first non grocery related shopping trip since before the pandemic at Summit Mall. I had a huge haul at Altar’d State and American Eagle and the shopping bug has been biting ever since. I am very much looking forward to spending my birthday gift cards at TJMaxx, outings to the mall, and maybe even a day trip to my favorite outdoor mall, Crocker Park.

Shopping has always been very therapeutic to me and even if I walk away with nothing, I still have a blast. There is nothing better to me than spending an afternoon browsing and seeing what’s new in fashion. During the pandemic, I only did online shopping so being able to visit all of my favorite haunts in person this summer will be tons of fun and I definitely feel a mother/daughter trip to TJMaxx in my near future. 😀

Concerts:

My Johnny is a musician and his band, The Outside Voices, hasn’t played since early March of 2020. This is the longest he has gone without playing live music in over a decade and I know he is just dying to perform again. And I am just dying to watch! We are both counting down the days till their first show this summer and are equally excited to see other bands too. In fact, we just went to our first concert together in Marietta this past weekend and had an awesome time seeing our friends in Jake Dunn & The Blackbirds perform. Long live local music!

Happy summer to all!

What are you looking forward to this summer? What is your favorite warm weather activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug5

Beach Babe OOTD

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Beach Babe OOTD

Hi everyone! This past weekend, my parents had the pleasure of watching my sweet niece, Valerie, while her mom and dad were attending a friend’s wedding in Chicago. After running some errands on Saturday, it was a must to break out the kiddie pool to splish splash with Val and have some fun in the sun. And, of course, her TT is extra enough that taking pics was a must. Take a look:

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Who? What? Wear?

To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to post the pictures above because of the visible rolls on my stomach. But, then, I remembered this picture that I saw on Facebook and had the confidence to post my bikini clad pics – and they were a hit!

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^^^ Amazing image from Handful

This picture gave me the friendly reminder that EVERYONE’S stomach rolls when they sit down, no matter what your body type is. So, why was I expecting my sit down pictures to look any different? And, you know what? I love how I look in my kiddie pool pics. I love how happy I look, I love the sunlight on my tattoos, and I love how good my bikini made me feel, because it can be an intimidating thing to wear. And, of course, I love seeing pictures of my niece with her TT!

It’s amazing what a piece of clothing you really like can do for your self esteem. Whether that be a bikini, a dress, or a pair of jeans that fit you like a glove – it just gives you that extra boost to make you feel like the queen of the world. And, my Little Mermaid bikini does that for me.

The first time I wore it this summer, I thought that I would shy away and just stay in my towel instead of enjoying the lake. But, as soon as I took a breath and dropped the towel, I felt a-okay. I remembered how awesome my bikini made me feel just trying it on in the dressing room and let myself feel that way again, even if other people were seeing me in it. This gave me the confidence I needed to strut about the Metro Park lake or even just my open backyard at home without the fear of what other people are going to think.

I feel like an absolute Beach Babe in my two piece and I hope that all of you feel the same way in your swimwear. Remember, a “bikini body” is just a body in a bikini so don’t let whatever makes you feel insecure prevent you from enjoying your swim time. I promise you, the water is fine. ❤

What kind of clothes do you feel the most confident in? How does wearing swimwear make you feel? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun11

Alternatives To Running: Cardio Workouts That You Can Do Indoors

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Alternatives To Running: Cardio Workouts That You Can Do Indoors

Running is undoubtedly the cardio workout of choice for most people and it’s for a good reason: Running at a six-mile per hour pace lets you burn up to 557 calories an hour, while jogging lets you burn up to 398 calories an hour. It is also a form of stress relief for some, especially outdoors when the weather is pleasant. It becomes tricky to stick to a regular running routine during the rainy months, so it is always best to consider workout alternatives that you can do indoors. Here are some cardio workouts that burn as many calories as running:

Jump rope:

There’s a reason why jump rope is essential in boxing training: It enhances footwork, strengthens your shoulders, improves your coordination, and stimulates sprinting. Also, it lets you burn 500 calories in just 30 minutes. To make the most of this indoor workout, do intervals of fast and slow jumps. Or you can jump as fast as you can for a minute then rest for 20-30 seconds.

Boxing:

This improves your strength, speed, agility, hand-eye coordination, endurance, and power while getting you in great shape. It combines the muscle building advantages of strength training with the calorie burn of a cardio workout, so it helps you get a full body experience. It also enables you to achieve better body composition. Thus, you don’t just lose weight; you build muscle as well and get a toned, fit body as a bonus. It burns about 600 calories an hour and, even if you’re not sparring or throwing punches, you still burn fat through the other components, such as jump rope, shadow boxing, and calisthenics.

Zumba:

Dance exercises have gained popularity in recent years not only because they are an effective cardio workout but also because they are fun. Going to a Zumba class, for example, is like going to a dance party. It combines fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body, adapted from aerobic principles to help you tone your muscles and improve cardiovascular health. It is often done to the beat of Latin dance music. An hour of Zumba lets you burn between 350 and 650 calories per hour depending on the intensity.

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Swimming:

If sweating is not your thing, then you should consider swimming to burn calories. It is a total body workout that lets you strengthen your body even if you are treading water. Fighting gravity makes your muscles work extra hard to keep you afloat. To make the most out of this workout, make sure to do a few laps using different strokes, then have a water-treading interval. A minute of fast swimming can burn up to 14 calories, so doing it for an hour lets you burn as much as 840 calories. No swimming pool? Most residential buildings and sports hubs near Eastwood City have pools you can use for free!

The rain should never keep you from staying on track with your fitness goals. With these workouts, you can stay in shape regardless of the weather.

May27

Study Break!

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Study Break!

Heyyy everyone and happy Hump Day! So after over four hours of slaving away on school work yesterday in Starbucks, my sister Kristen and I decided to have some fun in the sun at the Monroe Falls Metro Park lake. It was a perfect hot and sunny day yesterday, so it was an ideal day to break out our bikinis and lounge around in the sunshine. Once I got home from Sbux yesterday I desperately needed a study break, so when Kristen suggested that we go to the lake, I was all for it. I threw on my bikini, a pair of black shorts, a flannel, and my trusty Brandy Melville floppy hat and we were off! Once we got to the lake we were so happy to see that we basically had the whole place to ourselves minus a few sunbathers. I guess that’s what you get for going on a Tuesday afternoon, especially when all of the local kids are still in school. After lazing about on our beach towels for a while and chatting it up we decided to put our feet in the water – which was unfortunately really dirty! But no worries, because a little ways down from where we dumped all of our stuff, there was a sandy beach like area which we walked over to – and because sand is a natural purifier, the water was much cleaner there. (I learned that from Naked & Afraid!!!) So we kicked about in the sand, which felt amazing on my nasty ass feet and then we got into the water – which was shockingly cold for how hot it was!! Once we had enough of the sand and slightly cleaner lake water, we decided to take a walk to the other side of the lake where there was a completely empty playground – perfect for two twenty somethings to play on!! We walked barefoot while juggling all of our lake outing necessities and finally made it to the other side of the park for some good old fashioned tomfoolery. We played to our little hearts content on what we could play on anyways – there were so many stupid monkey bars and whatnot and Lil Red has NO upper body strength! And because it was so hot out the slides weren’t very “slidey” so we ended up getting stuck on all of them. Shameful!! After our little play date we walked back to the side of the lake we started on via the boardwalk and called it a day. A Kristen and Sarah hang out wouldn’t be complete without getting some Taco Bell, so best believe that’s how we concluded our sister afternoon! Here’s some cute pics from our fun time yesterday:

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I had such a great time during my study break yesterday! I’m also having a great time writing about yesterday’s study break during my study break today! 😉 So I must get back to work, but I will talk to you all soon! Is there any metro parks near you that you like to frequent? Is there a local lake that you enjoy going to? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah