Tag Archives: travel

May25

Vaca Style Tips For Every Occasion

Posted on by
Standard
Vaca Style Tips For Every Occasion

So, you’re a traveler? You love to jet off to new places and foreign lands and have a good time? That’s awesome, because there is nothing better than broadening your horizons and enjoying life. But, before you leave, you need to make sure that you’re ready. Nope, that doesn’t mean that you have your passport and visas in order, although that is imperative! In this sense, we’re talking about style. After all, you have to look good while you travel, or else that holiday romance might never happen! Hello, European boys!

Luckily, you can always turn heads while traveling with these tips:

Pack A Series Of Outfits: Naturally, there is never enough space when you start to pack. But, that isn’t an excuse! For centuries, travelers have been finding new and creative ways to jam things into their rucksacks, and you can do the same. Nay, you should do the same. If you’re away for a while, the outfits that you pack will get to feel weathered and tired. As a result, you might begin to develop the wardrobe blahs, feeling like you lack that little something something. By taking everything from sundresses to hot pants and all of the pieces in between, your wardrobe won’t start to feel boring while you’re away.

style11.png

Be sure to pack some sunnies!

Only Wear Casual Clothes During The Day: Another reason clothes start to feel old is because you are wearing them too much. While you’re away, you won’t think twice about wearing an evening outfit during the day. Indeed, it might be necessary if you haven’t got any clean clothes. The problem with this, is that they lose their shine a lot quicker as a result. The solution is simple: keep evening wear for the evenings. Then, when you get ready, you will have the same feeling like every other time you go for a night on the town.

Take Accessories: Just because you’re abroad, doesn’t mean that you can’t accessorize. In fact, you should do it more when you are in a foreign land. What do you know about accessories? Well, the first and main thing is that they are style enhancers. That means that they are the perfect side dish to making an okay outfit look great. Seeing as your outfits are bound to lose their appeal, a few accessories could help you step up your game. All you have to do is pack a handful that goes with most items. A word of warning: don’t go overboard and pack them carefully to avoid them getting tangled. No one wants to spend a morning in Rome undoing a necklace knot!

style12

Pretty!

Refresh Your Style: What you take with you isn’t what will come back. Most people throw things away and buy new things while they are on the move. And, it’s an excellent idea. Okay, there might not be an H&M on the high street if you’re thousands of miles from home. Still, the local markets always try and cater to the tourists, so there should be some cheap items that catch your eye. In fact, they’ll be dirt cheap if you learn how to haggle properly.

Style is important when you’re traveling in a new place. It will take you from the girl sightseeing to the sight that people are gazing at! Happy travels!

Featured Image By: Flickr

May24

Keeping Safe When You Are Traveling: A Complete Guide

Posted on by
Standard
Keeping Safe When You Are Traveling: A Complete Guide

Who doesn’t love to travel? Whether it’s for a vacation, business, or to visit your family, travel educates and entertains. Unfortunately, some trips do not go well and are ruined by accidents or ill health. Here’s a quick guide to how you can keep healthy when you are away from home and what you can do if something goes wrong. But fingers crossed that it doesn’t, of course!

Be proactive and prepare before you go:

Be realistic about your health and your physical limitations before you travel. This is especially important if you have chosen to travel by air. There are some people who should not fly and they include:

  • Babies under 2 days old
  • Women who have passed 36 weeks of pregnancy
  • People who have recently had any type of surgery
  • People who have recently suffered a stomach, eye, or head injury.
  • People who have recently had a heart attack or stroke

If you have any sort of health condition it is always a good idea to talk to your doctor before you leave, just in case.

Plan ahead for injuries and illnesses:

You will be responsible for hospital and other medical arrangements during your trip so double check your health insurance and make sure that you are covered for the entirety of your vacation as well as the location you are traveling to. Should you be planning a longer stay, it is a good idea to enter a search for “health insurance quotes florida” (or your vacation destination) in case a medical emergency arises. No one wants to imagine anything going wrong on a trip, but it is far better to be safe than sorry. In addition, think about where you will access treatment if you become ill or injured. Compile a list of USA emergency dentist locations and hospitals in case something goes wrong. This will cut down your stress levels if you are in need of treatment while you are away, as you will already have a place in mind.

Take your own first aid kit with you for minor emergencies. Stock it up with band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and cotton wool so that you can treat cuts and scrapes. Include any prescribed medication and some pain killers. Some basic first aid knowledge is essential so have a read up on what you should do in an emergency. You also need to know when you should call a doctor. In general terms, you need to call medical assistance if you have diarrhea AND a high fever, have been bitten or scratched by an animal, or have been in an accident and are seriously injured.

Let your friends and family know when you will be going, where you will be going, and when you intend to return. Always carry details of your next of kin and your medical requirements with you. You can store these in a mobile phone or in card form in your wallet. Steps like sharing your location gives everyone much needed peace of mind so be sure to drop a pin to your family while you are traveling. Remember that some areas have spotty reception so it might be a good idea to have a personal hot spot with you so you can always be connected. Share the resources you are using like the rental service you are working with should you check out our go to cabin spot in the mountains as well as important contacts like the property manager or local police and hospitals. All of this information will hopefully not be needed but it is crucial that you pass it on.

Look after your health while you are away:

It is easy to get carried away on holiday and take risks that we would not take when we are at home. Some sensible precautions will go a long way towards making your trip a safe one. Limit your alcohol intake and use sunscreen when you are in hot and sunny climates. Be especially careful if you are on the coast or in the country as there are additional hazards. Be aware of your surroundings and think about the dangers that you might face and how to avoid them as necessary.

Vacation is meant for fun, not catastrophe. Have a back up plan in place for peace of mind while you have a good time!

Featured Image By: Pexels

May23

Keeping Yourself Entertained On Vaca

Posted on by
Standard
Keeping Yourself Entertained On Vaca

Are you one of the lucky ones heading abroad on your vacation this year? Whether you’re on the road, in a hotel, or on a cruise, there can be moments, particularly after a long day of exploring, when all you want is to settle down and relax. An evening in the hotel with Netflix or a good book can be just what the doctor ordered after you’ve been on your feet all day sightseeing. But staying entertained and ensuring that you don’t run out of things to do while you’re abroad isn’t quite so easy as when you’re at home. Here are just a few ways that you can make sure that, even in your downtime, you’re fully fighting the boredom blahs:

Don’t Rely On Books: If you love to get a jump on your summer reading list while on vaca, books can become far too cumbersome. Whether you read while you travel, relax by the pool, or just as you go through life, it might be time to invest in a bit of a technological helper. Rather than packing a book a day into your luggage, a Kindle is a cheap, lightweight, and easily transportable alternative. With literally millions of books to choose from, all accessible online, you’ll never be caught short without a book again.

Keep Some Entertainment Downloaded: Sometimes WiFi is obscenely slow, and sometimes *gasp* you just can’t connect at all. The worst thing in these situations is to have no backup plan. Keeping a few shows downloaded onto whatever device you’re using can be a real lifesaver in moments of boredom. Netflix has options to download now, as do many other video hosting sites. And be sure to double check that your Spotify Premium account is up to date before you set off so that you can still access all of your favorite music, even when WiFi isn’t an option.

enter1

Pixabay Image

Netflix Is Your BFF: When you need some reassuring familiarity and an evening to yourself, it’s all about Netflix. Whether you’re entertaining young ones or just chilling on your own, being able to get a few of your favorite shows online is essential. While Netflix, ordinarily, won’t work abroad, using a VPN enables you to bypass that. Check out securethoughts to find out exactly how to do it. Then, all of your favorite shows are just a button-push away.

Portable Chargers Are Everything: We rely so heavily on electronic devices in this day and age, from smartphones to laptops and tablets to Kindles, that it’s not surprising that portable charging devices are growing in popularity. When you’re in an airport or hotel room, chances are that you’ll have access to power, but when you’re on the road, public transport, or walking around the city, it could be a bit more tricky. Keep a fully charged portable power supply in your handbag all of the time, and you’ll never find yourself caught with the power out again.

enter2

Is your device fully charged??

Traveling the world doesn’t mean that you don’t want a few moments of R&R every now and then, and if they take the form of your favorite books or TV shows, it’s always best to be prepared. Happy traveling!

Featured Image By: Pexels

May18

Summer Fun Checklist

Posted on by
Standard
Summer Fun Checklist

It may not always seem like it, but the time of year that it is can make a huge difference in a person’s life. Winter and autumn can be difficult sometimes because of things like seasonal effective disorder. How early the sun rises and sets is enough to have an effect on people’s moods (I know it does for me!). As another example, people look at the New Year as something of a new start, and it is a time when they try to grasp that opportunity.

Summer is no different. If you are in college, especially, the break from the academic year represents an opportunity to improve yourself (or simply to bask in laziness for a few weeks). That may mean that you go traveling and experience the wonders of another culture or you may decide, instead, to stay closer to home and participate in some volunteering or work experience to better prepare you for your post-graduation job search. For people who work, it is a chance to go on holiday. However, you may just want to stay at home and relax. For some people, the perfect summer day is taking a book to a local park and sitting under a tree until it gets too dark to read.

If you are thinking of making the most of the summer this year, you will need to start preparing now since it is so nearly upon us. Here are five things that you need to make sure of before you set off on whatever plans that you’ve made:

  1. If you are hoping to leave the country, you should book your flights exactly eighteen weeks before you intend to travel. Research has shown that airline websites offer the cheapest prices at those times. Otherwise, you need to check that your passport is still valid. And do not forget your visa! There is nothing worse than getting somewhere only to be sent back again right away.
  2. Depending on where you’re going, you will need to make sure that your wardrobe matches. If you are heading to some tropical paradise, you’ll need a bikini or swimming trunks. Do not forget your sunglasses and the most important thing of all: sun tan lotion. Nothing ruins a vacation quite like a nasty sunburn.
  3. Personal grooming is crucial, too. If you are looking for the best razor for the bikini area, you need to make sure that you get one with which you are comfortable. Otherwise, you should remember that in different climates you will need to have products for your hair and skin. If you are not used to hot weather all year round, you may quickly find that your lips crack or your skin becomes a little dry. Thinking ahead and packing precautionary lotions or ointments is the smartest thing to do when you’re jetsetting to a new place.
  4. You should always take a book with you just in case for surprise waits before appointments or lunch dates, but it is never more important than when you are on holiday. They are not called ‘beach reads’ for nothing!
  5. No one forgets a camera anymore since they do not forget their phone but to get the best pictures, you should think about a camera with film. It costs more but the photos are better. Also, why not take a notebook along so that you can better remember the holiday when you get back?

Nothing makes pre-vacation planning easier than a good old fashioned checklist. Make yours, check it twice, and you’re off!

Featured Image By: Pexels

May5

Wanted: Salute To Summer Guest Bloggers

Posted on by
Standard
Wanted: Salute To Summer Guest Bloggers

FYI!! 🙂

lifewithlilred's avatarlifewithlilred

Hiiii everyone and TGIF! With summer somewhat on the horizon (although, let’s be real – it’s still a healthy distance away!), I thought that it would be the perfect time to get the ball rolling on lifewithlilred’s upcoming Salute To Summer guest bloggers series. I’ll be the first to admit that I am so not a summer fan. I hate being hot. I hate wearing shorts (which is why a majority of my summer is spent in my signature black skinnies!). I hate water related activities. And, did I mention that I HATE being hot?!

Obviously, I’m a spring and fall kind of gal. But, that doesn’t mean that summer should be put on the back burner on the ol’ blog! Especially considering that a majority of my friends are huge summer fans – the most important one being my big sister. And, if nothing else, I have a summer…

View original post 123 more words

Apr28

Wanted: Salute To Summer Guest Bloggers

Posted on by
Standard
Wanted: Salute To Summer Guest Bloggers

Hiiii everyone and TGIF! With summer somewhat on the horizon (although, let’s be real – it’s still a healthy distance away!), I thought that it would be the perfect time to get the ball rolling on lifewithlilred’s upcoming Salute To Summer guest bloggers series. I’ll be the first to admit that I am so not a summer fan. I hate being hot. I hate wearing shorts (which is why a majority of my summer is spent in my signature black skinnies!). I hate water related activities. And, did I mention that I HATE being hot?!

Obviously, I’m a spring and fall kind of gal. But, that doesn’t mean that summer should be put on the back burner on the ol’ blog! Especially considering that a majority of my friends are huge summer fans – the most important one being my big sister. And, if nothing else, I have a summer birthday (June 7th!) so that is definitely a cause for some summer celebration!

I want the Salute To Summer guest bloggers series to showcase all of the fun that this obnoxiously hot, upcoming season has to offer. And, who knows, maybe my guest bloggers might just end up changing my mind on being a summer hater! For this series, we are talking summer vacas, lazy afternoons day drinking by the pool, and the best warm weather hangouts in your area. And, of course, I won’t say no to summer themed OOTDs and MOTDs, either!

If you are interested in participating in lifewithlilred’s Salute To Summer guest bloggers series, shoot me an email with your ideas at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com !!!

Have a fabulous weekend! ❤

Apr21

In The Right Place: The Things You Should Prioritize When Relocating Your Family

Posted on by
Standard
In The Right Place: The Things You Should Prioritize When Relocating Your Family

Moving can be incredibly hard for one person, not to mention a whole family. There are a variety of reasons as to why someone might like to move their family elsewhere, from dissatisfaction with the local schools, to affordability, or simply just needing more space, sometimes it’s best to take the plunge and start drawing up an ideal new life for your closest and most loved.

This can feel like a gargantuan task. If you don’t have an area in mind for a career or other family members, how do you choose the best area out of a seemingly endless list? There are a few items to consider before fully making that choice:

Transport: This is a big one. Not only do you have to assess if you’re going to have a convenient time traveling outside of your new nest, but you need to plan ahead. Imagine your children are five or even ten years older than they are now. Can they access their friends with relative ease? Are they able to make it to town to have a reasonable chance of earning money at a part time job? Try and look back to your childhood, what was important to you at that point in your life? In that self-searching exercise, you might find things that surprise you.

A good way to reassure yourself that this point is taken care of is scheduling a practice run around the area where you go to view your potential new house. Driving around and figuring out where everything is can give you a valuable understanding that can save you future headaches. If you have the funds and the time, consider allocating a few days to explore the new area while staying at a hotel or B&B.

Additionally, how easy is it to move your belongings there? Getting a quote from moving companies can also be worthwhile at this stage.

Opportunities: This is the second half of the earlier point about imagining your children’s future. Do they have ease of access to jobs? How are the schools rated in the local educational authorities inspection reports? Prior to making a decision, it’s a wise idea to tour the schools in the area you are considering. To get started, simply enter a search for “lake city fl private schools” (or the area of your move) to begin weighing your options. Public and online schools should be taken into account as well. If you’re going somewhere to relocate for a career, this still needs to be kept in mind. Adding a few miles to your commute could be worth getting into a better school’s catchment area in the long run!

When your move involves a relocation to another state or country, you are not going to know the best schools, hospitals, or opportunities off the top of your head. This would be an excellent time to work with a realtor as they can give you the ins and outs of the area you will be moving to. To get started, simply enter a search for “Lake Arrowhead real estate” (or the area you are moving to). The fact of the matter is that you might not be able to go back and forth to your new location to get to know it better so the help from an excellent agent will make things much easier.

Locals: This is a less measurable resource, but figuring out how the locals interact with each other can be quite important. Perhaps going to a cafe and getting a fix on how you’re greeted and how people interact can be enlightening. Of course, take this with a pinch of salt, you never know who’s had a bad day. Try striking up a conversation with a few people at the market in town and see if anyone’s receptive. You never know, you might be pleasantly surprised!

Facilities: It’s also important to make sure that you have access to the right facilities in the area you move to. Not only does that mean having local shops and amenities, but having access to the services you need. With an app like Care.com, you can find elderly care, child care, or even pet care. So make sure to check out what’s available nearby, to ensure that you have the right people around to support you.

Crime Rate: You can find the crime rate of a local area online. This is important for your peace of mind and overall safety of the family.

Price: Last but arguably the most important is the price. How affluent is the area? What are the surrounding houses like? Can you expect your house value to improve? Is a higher startup cost worth the surroundings? This is a highly subjective value that will be different for everyone who moves, so take the time to weigh the pros and cons, while offsetting them against the price.

Best of luck to anyone moving house! This is an exciting time for you to redefine how your future will be. Make the most of it! 🙂

Featured Image By: Flickr

Mar21

Work Perks: Retirement Gifts That Count

Posted on by
Standard
Work Perks: Retirement Gifts That Count

Job hunting can be a real drag, so when you find the job that you want and that will make you happy, it’s exciting news! The first thing that people look for in a new role is usually the perks. When you work for someone else for forty hours a week, you need to make sure that you have a reason to be there – other than the money for food and staying alive! If you are lucky enough to stay with your company for the duration of your working life, you will find yourself gearing up for the big finish: retirement!

retire

 Flickr Image

Retiring from your career is a big deal! You will have spent time in a job that was more than just somewhere to go every day, it was a place that you built most of your life around. Whether you know the person retiring or you ARE the person retiring, you should be preparing to give or receive a gift from your colleagues. Long service deserves a reward and if you are buying a gift for someone retiring from a long career, the thought you put into it will mean far more than the value of the gift. So, what are the perfect retirement gifts on the market today? Largely, this will depend on the person retiring, but here are a few ideas for your company to chip in on:

retire1

Nice form!

Classic Gifts: Retirement gifts often allude to the time the person has spent in the role, so a watch is often the go-to gift. These are usually etched with the years of service and a thank you message – thanking the person for their time spent on the job.

Hobby Gifts: If you tailor your choice of gift to the hobby of the retiree, you’ll be well remembered. A session of golf, inscribed golf clubs, or a luxury bottle of wine for a wine connoisseur plays to their likes and implies what they’ll be up to once they begin their period of retirement. If you want to make them laugh, getting a customized bobblehead doll dressed in golfing gear or holding a glass of wine from mbobble to go along with it can inject a little humor into a wistful situation!

If you’re going the golf route, which is a very popular retirement activity, there are so many accessories for the sport that would make great gifts. Gloves, towels, or a new bag will all go over well. However, if you want to go for ultra memorable, you could read up on https://shopindoorgolf.com/pages/best-golf-launch-monitors-2021 for the best launch monitors to improve their skills.

Of course, the retiree who plans on spending their down time golfing will need somewhere to golf at. You can only practice putting in the back yard so much! If everyone at work chipped in for Williamsburg golf packages (or your local area), it will certainly be a cherished gift. These packages often include dining options too which would be the perfect setting to reconnect with old coworkers.

Travel Gifts: Most retirees use their newly gained down time to see places that they never had a chance to visit due to their time being consumed by work. Personalized luggage tags, passport holders, or even a new set of luggage can really help them on their way and give them a daily reminder of the generosity of their colleagues. If you really want to go all out for your beloved colleague, you might want to consider adding luxury into their travels with services like BlackJet. Then, they can travel in style and comfort from their own private jet!

Experience Gifts: Memories are a powerful gift for most, but for retirees, they’re the best to have. Organize a whip-round for an experience day such as a concert or sporting event for their favorite team. Hopefully you’ll know them well enough to make the right choices!

Industry Gifts: If the person retiring was a success in something they made or sold, a gift relating to that to remind them of their achievements could be a wonderful surprise. If your company specializes in shoes, then a one of a kind pair of shoes or sneakers could be a lovely reminder of all their years with the company.

Retirement can be a sad time for the person leaving, but it’s also a time of exploration and happiness so sending someone off with a memorable gift will really make their day. You’ll feel the same when it’s your turn eventually!

Featured Image By: FreeStock Photos

Feb9

Bath & Body Works February Freebies

Posted on by
Standard
Bath & Body Works February Freebies

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! Bath & Body Works is back on track with their freebies after taking December off and I couldn’t be happier. This month, I switched things up and went with shower gel instead of lotion since I already have like ten travel sized lotions that accumulated over the months. I went with shower gel because when I make my way to Europe hopefully within the year, it will be nice to have travel approved body washes that I didn’t have to pay a dime for. Hey, every little bit helps!

The shower gels will also be a nice addition to add on to gifts to friends and family when their birthdays come around. Adding in a few mini lotions with their shower gel counterparts brings an extra ten or more dollar value to the prezzie without having to break out the plastic or cold hard cash. That’s such a win in my book! Seriously, nothing is better than having a stock pile of beauty items to turn to when you feel like a gift is kind of blah because of either lack of funds or inspiration. What girl doesn’t love a few extra bath and body care goodies to add to her collection?!

feb

Today, I got two travel sized shower gels in Beautiful Day and Pretty As A Peach. Both of these scents are equally delicious but that’s not what I want to talk about in this post. Instead, I want to discuss the possibility of doing a giveaway on lifewithlilred soon – the very first one, as a matter of fact! February is all about my Think Spring guest bloggers series but come March, a giveaway with a little bouquet of four or five travel sized lotions or gels could be lots of fun! Like I said, what girl doesn’t love a few extra bath and body care goodies to add to her collection?!

So there you have it, my Bath & Body Works February Freebies! How does everyone feel about a giveaway? Which scents do you think I should include? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan25

Mia Toro Luggage

Posted on by
Standard
Mia Toro Luggage

Hiii everyone and happy Hump Day! So this past weekend my mom and I went on a quick trip to TJMaxx just to get out of the house for a little bit. To be frank, the store was not looking all that great because of the transition from cold to warm weather clothing and the end of season clearance sales. But, despite this, I was still able to walk away with two things that I simply love. This includes the gorgeous Mia Toro Paris themed luggage seen below which will be absolutely perfect for my future trip to Europe. Take a look:

I have had my eye on this darling rolling luggage for literal months now but never much cared to by it because it was priced at a steep one hundred smackers. And after about a month or so of the luggage being at the store, it was gone. In my head, I thought that that was that and I would just have to settle for something less cute once my European travels are a go. It turns out that, four months later, I was wrong.

My mom was actually the one who spotted the Mia Toro baggage sitting among all of the other travel accessories, so a major shout out to her! And, even better, the price was slashed to fifty-six bucks, which I thought was totally reasonable. To put it lightly, I was completely TICKLED that some way, some how my beautiful luggage found its way back to me and at a fraction of the cost, to boot!

Needless to say, the luggage was coming home with me and my mom was kind enough to treat me to it since it was originally supposed to be one of my Christmas presents before it vanished into thin air. I think that this rolling suitcase is the most precious thing on the planet and I love absolutely everything about it. The size, colors, and pattern – *muah* c’est magnifique!

Nothing will be better than rolling into the airport with my Mia Toro Paris themed luggage in tow as Lil Red goes Europe! Love. Love. Freaking LOVE. It truly was my lucky day during that trip to TJs because I was also able to snag my FAVORITE skin care item – the Destiny Boutique Charcoal Face Bar.

soap

If you ever encounter this beauty bar, then I really encourage you to get it. I have been using the same bar since the middle of OCTOBER and it is still going strong!! My skin has never looked better thanks to the cleansing power of charcoal and because of the bar’s gigantic size, I’m sure that I’ll still be working on the same one for another few months. I’m so happy to have found another one to put in back stock and at six bucks per bar, I consider it a super steal! GREAT SUCCESS!!

Obviously, I’m beyond obsessed with my Mia Toro Luggage and can’t believe how lucky I got during my last trip to TJMaxx! What is your favorite score from TJs? What are some must see locations in Europe that I should check out? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah