Tag Archives: travel

Aug12

AFI Concert

Posted on August 12, 2024 by lifewithlilred

Hello!!! As you all know, I very rarely do much of anything that isn’t work related during the week days. My schedule is always crazy and I like to be well rested every day so I can do my best. However, sometimes exceptions need to be made because all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! This past Wednesday, I enjoyed the most amazing sister’s night out with Kristen to see AFI and 30 Seconds To Mars at Blossom Music Center. We scored fantastic seats in the pavilion, had a perfect view of the stage, and spent the evening living our best lives together. Check it out:

Kristen and I were not interested in seeing the two opening acts, KennyHoopla and Poppy because we never heard of them and frankly didn’t care. We arrived right when Poppy was finishing their set and they actually sounded really good so we are both going to be looking into that! Very shortly after we settled into our seats, AFI entered the stage and we were so happy to have gotten there right in the knick of time. We haven’t seen AFI in seven years since they played at the House of Blues and we didn’t want to miss a minute of it.

The show opened with Girls Not Grey and when I say Kristen and I lost our shit, I mean we literally lost our shit lol. We were going absolutely crazy singing our lungs out and dancing like no one was watching. We were both huffing and puffing after three songs and needed to take a breather and it turns out people were watching! The concertgoers sitting behind us apparently were deciding amongst themselves if we were sisters or not and one of the ladies was so triumphant because she called it. Kristen and I often get told we don’t look alike at all but that’s simply not true. Our style might be polar opposites but our faces are incredibly similar. The reasoning behind this gal’s educated guess was so sweet – she told us we were dancing exactly alike. ❤

AFI’s set included tons of crowd pleasers like Miss Murder, Love Like Winter, I Hope You Suffer, and Beautiful Thieves. Kristen and I were both elated that the show closed with our all time favorite of Silver And Cold! AFI sounded amazing from beginning to end and were just as good, if not better, than when we saw them almost a decade ago. Our only regret was that their set wasn’t longer. They played for roughly forty-five minutes or so with no encore and it just wasn’t enough. AFI was the reason we were going out to begin with and in my perfect world they would have played all night.

30 Seconds To Mars took the stage at nine o’clock and Kristen and I both agreed on leaving after thirty minutes to avoid traffic. We left after twenty minutes because they lightweight sucked lol. Neither of us are 30 Seconds fans but we were willing to see what the performance was going to be like and even stick around longer if we wanted to. It was cool to see Jared Leto in the flesh and I definitely made the joke of “Do a scene from Dallas Buyers Club” several times. However, their music was kind of lame, was basically just saying “woah” a ton, and we had no desire to stand there any longer. Jared did a lot of talking and in the twenty minutes that it took to walk back to our car, he was still talking. We were both so not mad about dipping out early!

Kristen and I were exhausted the following day but that is a small price to pay for a sister’s night on the town. I loved every minute of our time together with my best friend!

What was the last concert you saw? Who would you like to see live? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul23

Asian Lantern Festival

Posted on July 23, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!!! This past Friday evening was an absolutely magical one because my entire family went to the Asian Lantern Festival at the Cleveland Zoo. This is an extremely popular event that happens every summer and we have wanted to go for years. We finally made it with all of my siblings, nieces, and nephew in tow and that alone made it worth the wait. During our time at the zoo we saw the most incredible inflatable and light displays, acrobatic performances, and of course some animals too. Everything was glorious and I couldn’t stop taking pictures if my life depended on it lol. I wanted all of my darling readers to be able to see everything and even this massive photo dump doesn’t cover it all. Check it out:

I knew we were all in for a huge treat on Friday based on all of the pictures I have seen from other attendees on social media. However, after experiencing the Asian Lantern Festival for myself, I can say that pictures don’t do it any justice. From the moment we walked into the zoo there were spectacular wonders at every turn. From glowing gems in the trees to delicate light up flowers, the displays big and small were beautiful and even the most camera-happy guest (Like me!) couldn’t capture all of it. Every single fixture filled me with delight to the point that it was kid on Christmas Day level. Each moment was joyous and being with my whole family made it even more so. Cameras capture images, but not necessarily the atmosphere of the event and I wish I could bottle it up. The zoo was completely buzzing with families, friends, and partners making their own special memories too.

While every display was gorgeous, I definitely still had my favorites. I loved the unicorn and dragon, the gemstone trees, and the pagoda surrounded by cherry blossoms. Strolling through the light up tunnels also harbored a sense of adventure because you didn’t know what beautiful sight was there to greet you on the other side. Some of the displays like the dragon in the egg, butterflies, and monkeys surrounding the Tree of Life even moved! This was way cool because there were wands that the kiddos could wave to activate the motions – kind of like at Harry Potter world at Universal Studios. These surprises made the night even more magical and I will never, ever forget it!

By the time we were leaving the zoo it was getting fully dark out and my niece claimed that the displays looked even better at night night time lol. She was so right, but we were exhausted after our big evening out and ready to head home all happy as can be!

Does the zoo in your area host events like this? What is a yearly event that happens in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul22

Lil Red Fun Facts

Posted on July 22, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! I turned thirty in June and it is so weird to be in a brand new decade. I swear, things that happened literal years ago feel like they just happened yesterday and I know I am technically an adult but I still feel like a teenager! It’s honestly hard to wrap my head around it at times. Despite feeling way younger than I am, my blog is a firm reminder of my age because I started it when I was twenty and will have my ten year blogaversary in September. With that and my new decade in mind, I thought it would be cool to update my fun facts as a freshly turned dirty thirty year old. Let’s get to it:

No Kids For Me:

Johnny and I have been together for over five years now and married for three of them. We get asked ridiculously often if we are ever going to have kids and the answer is still a resounding HARD NO. We are extremely happy with our lives sans children and the desire for parenthood is just not there. However, we are very proud to be the Fun Aunt and Uncle to our nieces and nephew and that is plenty for us. We also love being pet parents to the best bunnies in the whole world, Melvin and Penelope!

The Grind Don’t Stop:

I have been self employed for close to a decade between being an Independent Provider, blog jobs, and social media management. I also recently accepted a job as the social media manager to Tim Misny and it has been amazing! I have an extremely busy schedule, but it is the best kind of busy. I am so lucky to be able to do what I genuinely enjoy every day and it rarely feels like work. I take a lot of pride in the jobs I created for myself and am always excited to see where each work day takes me.

A Few Of My Favorite Things:

My favorite things have really not changed all that much. I am still a horror and true crime aficionado, Mexican and Indian food will always reign supreme, and my days are not complete without a can or two of Diet Coke. The newest addition to my favorites is coffee. It’s not like I didn’t like it before. However, my Keurig perished during the Great Kitchen Flood of 2022 and I never bothered replacing it. For Valentine’s Day this year, Johnny got me a new one and now I don’t know how I survived so long without a morning cup of coffee (or ten lol). My go to KCup is Green Mountain’s French Vanilla and it is my favorite way to kick start the day.

Biggest Wish:

Johnny and I never had a honeymoon and that is definitely my biggest wish. More than anything, we would want a European honeymoon and often talk about all of the adventures we would have. At this point, though, traveling anywhere would be nice! This is easier said than done because Johnny has a normal schedule at his job and limited time off while I make my days up as I go along. Some day we will get to go out and explore the world and I can’t wait!

Guilty Pleasure:

There is nothing better to me than sitting on the couch, putting the TV on, and vegging out. I am obsessed with reality TV and am an avid viewer of basically everything on TLC. Give me ALL of the 90 Day Fiance! My most recent guilty pleasure has got to be Degrassi. I have been rewatching the show from the very beginning and only have two seasons left. Degrassi was mine and my sister’s jam in high school and it is amazing to me how hard the episodes still hit as an adult. I have definitely shed several tears over it and keep going back for more every time I get the chance. This is primarily when Johnny is running errands because he refuses to watch with me lol.

I’m Looking Forward To:

As of now, what I am looking forward to the most is the fall season. I have been over summer since it started and have been manifesting fifty degree days whenever I step foot outside. Fall is my favorite time of year – the fashion, SOUP, weather, and Halloween! Johnny and I already have our costume idea picked out and are planning on Candy Land inspired characters. Lord Licorice for him and a Candy Queen for me. All I need to do is actually find a costume and we are in business. I think it’s going to be adorable!

A new decade yes, but I am still the same old Lil Red as you can see. Some things don’t change all that much!

What are some fun facts about you? What is one of your goals for 2024? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul12

Mini Golf Fun

Posted on July 12, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! During mine and Johnny’s Fourth of July staycation, we did ALL of the activities. One of my favorites was going mini golfing together with my brother. We hopped into the Little Red Love Machine and headed to Fun n’ Stuff, which is an amusement center in my neck of the woods. There’s a little something for everyone young and old at Fun n’ Stuff – arcade games, laser tag, roller skating, bumper cars and boats, go karts, and two huge mini golf courses. The mini golf set up is awesome and has a pirate and dinosaur themed course. There were fun surprises scattered throughout like animatronic dinos, an octopus that shoots water, and challenging twists and turns with each put! Check it out:

In my neck of the woods, there aren’t too many mini golf courses in a close vicinity. The only other one within a fifteen mile radius is called Downview and it is not the best lol. It is small, expensive, and can be completed in under a half hour. At Fun n’ Stuff, the pricing was infinitely better and you got so much more for it. For a whopping eight dollars and fifty cents, you could play the two mini golf courses for as long as you’d like. It took us at least an hour and a half to finish both the dinosaur and pirate courses and it was worth every penny!

Visually, the dinosaur course was a lot more appealing and the gigantic moving dinosaurs really stole the show. I also loved the smoking and steaming volcano. However, I think I liked playing the pirate course more because it was just cool! Putting the ball through cannons, going on the pirate ship, and the skull tunnel with glowing eyes really spoke to me. So much so that I actually won the game with fifty-three strokes on the pirate course which literally never happens. Let’s just say I lack finesse when it comes to the subtle art of put put golf! I am pleased to report that between both courses I got FOUR hole in ones so it was a banner day for yours truly. We definitely plan on going back before the summer is out. 😀

Mini golf is one of my favorite summertime activities and I am so glad we got to squeeze it into our staycation. There is nothing like some good competitive fun and next time we go back I am manifesting a win on both courses!!

What is one of your favorite summer outings? Are there any cool mini golf courses in your area? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul6

Date Day!!

Posted on July 6, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! This past week has been so super nice because Johnny and I both had time off from work. We took some time to relax but we mainly jam packed each day with SO many activities. It felt really weird to be having all kinds of adventures when I should have been at work but the good kind of weird! My favorite day of my time off was definitely Tuesday because Johnny and I went on a date day in downtown Cuyahoga Falls AKA the Riverfront. It is such a quaint little area with all kinds of cute boutiques, eateries, and bars. I have wanted to do a shopping day there for so long and it was perfect!

We began our date at the vintage shops and they are plentiful on the Riverfront. Surprisingly, I have never been to any of them before and now that I have, it is a dangerous combination lol. They were fabulous! My favorite one of all had to be A Signature Antiques and I could have literally spent all day and all my money there. A Signature had clothing, accessories, and decor fresh from the 1930s to the 1990s and it was like shopping in a time capsule. Everywhere I looked offered even more surprises with vintage ware that I have only seen in magazines and movies. It was enchanting, to say the least, and I walked away with two simply amazing accessories. I can’t wait for you to see them soon!

After spending time shopping in the past, we skyrocketed into the present. We visited a coffee shop/bar and got cocktails that we were able to sip as we strolled the Riverfront. There were a few other boutiques I wanted to check out but none of them held a candle to the vintage shops. That was okay, though, because it was just about time for our favorite bar, the Cashmere Cricket, to open. The Cricket is where we had our first date and we also went there to celebrate after getting engaged. It is a very special spot for us and we like to go as often as we can. We enjoyed sharing appetizers and the most divine cocktails. A watermelon mojito for Johnny and a pickle martini for me. It was the perfect way to conclude a perfect day. ❤

I loved my Date Day with my Johnny and being able to spend so much time together having fun this week. It will be hard to go back to work, but I will be looking back on our little staycation most fondly!

What is an ideal date day for you? Do you have any favorite vintage shops in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May29

Elton John Brunch

Posted on May 29, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! This past Sunday, Johnny and I enjoyed a highly entertaining day at an Elton John Brunch with his mom for a belated Mother’s Day gift. This event took place at the Music Box Supper Club, which is located in The Flats in Cleveland. While the venue hosts regular bands from time to time, they are known for having tribute performances and it is an absolute blast. We haven’t been to the Music Box Supper Club since seeing a Bruce Springsteen tribute band called Swamps of Jersey years ago. That was a total hoot so we all knew we were in for some fun at our brunch outing. Check it out:

I think myself, Johnny, and my beloved mother-in-law will say that the brunch portion of our time at the Music Box Supper Club left a lot to be desired. However, the mimosas were A-okay and our Elton John for the afternoon was spectacular. Tommy Lee Thompson from Akron (Represent!) was a brilliant combination of old and new Elton and he had the entire audience singing, dancing, laughing, and smiling from ear to ear. He had cheeky quips, could tickle the keyboard keys like nobody’s business, and the unmistakable Elton John voice to match. We were seated facing his back during the show, but this was actually a good thing. We could see everything he was doing on the keyboard perfectly and it was mind blowing!

For the hour and a half performance, Tommy Lee Thompson performed several classic Elton John hits. He also spent some time playing Billy Joel, The Monkees, and Carole King. Although these songs were good, I think we were all happy when he went back to Elton John. It was the Elton John Brunch, after all! Johnny and I were elated that he opened the show with The Bitch Is Back because it is our jam. And, as always, we got very sentimental when he performed Your Song. Our sweet niece did her flower girl thing to Your Song when we got married and it holds the most special place in our hearts. You could tell that everyone in the audience had some time of connection to the songs being played and it was so nice to be part of a crowd full of people having the literal best Sunday ever. ❤

We had a banner time celebrating Johnny’s mom at the Elton John Brunch and have grand plans for more visits to the Music Box Supper Club this summer. They have a stellar tribute band lineup and we are SO there for it!

What is the best tribute band you have seen? What is your favorite Elton John song? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May8

Louie Run Fun

Posted on May 8, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone! This past week has been a crazy busy one because I started my brand new job as Tim Misny’s social media manager. It has been an absolute whirlwind and I have been enjoying myself so much! My first assignment, so to speak, was this past Sunday at the Lake County Fairgrounds for the 40th Annual Louie Run. The Louie Run is the “unofficial official” kick start to the motorcycle riding season in Ohio and honors those who lost their lives or were injured through motorcycle accidents. It also tips its cap to those who have made a positive impact on the motorcycle community. This was definitely an event that Johnny and I didn’t expect to find ourselves at, but it was SO awesome!! Check it out:

The Louie Run was jam packed with activities (classic car and motorcycle shows, stunt shows, etc) food trucks, vendors, and musicians and it was my job to capture it. As soon as Johnny and I arrived on scene, it went straight to shooting Facebook Live segments and snapping pics and videos to post on social media throughout the week. We were going here, there, and everywhere so I could conduct interviews and showcase all of the excitement of the day. Even though it was exhausting, it was a complete dream come true! I have conducted several interviews in the past, but it was always with people I knew. On the spot interviews are something I have never done before or even had the opportunity to do and I think I nailed it. 😀

Basically every single moment at the Louie Run was hectic and every time I thought Johnny and I had a moment to catch our breath, it was onto the next thing. That’s not to say that we didn’t love every minute of it, though! We were also still able to pencil in a few moments for non work related fun too. We adored seeing the tiniest rider of the day proudly rolling around on his mini bike and all of the random conversations we had with the attendees. Johnny and I also got the biggest kick out of the several requests for pictures I got as we strolled around the fairgrounds. It had me feeling like a celebrity and it was really cool!!

You can watch all of my Live segments from the Louie Run on Tim Misny’s Facebook page and there is much more to come all week. I can’t wait to see what my new job has in store for me next!

What is an annual event that takes place in your neck of the woods? Have you ever rode a motorcycle before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr30

Hawaii Haul

Posted on April 30, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! In mid April, my mom, dad, and brother went on a guided vacation to Hawaii. This was their dream trip and we were all thrilled that they got to go on such a wonderful adventure. Although I was happy for their fun in the sun, I was missing them something fierce. Honestly, I couldn’t wait for them to come home as soon as they left! Prior to their departure, they asked all of the family what kind of souvenirs they might like. I answered with jewelry and my history buff husband wanted something from Pearl Harbor. I am pleased to report that my travelers delivered! Check it out:

When I visited my family after they returned, it was like a mini Christmas on the dining room table. It was laden with gifts for the kids and grandkids and it warmed my heart that all of us were thought of no matter how far apart we were. Johnny received some guitar picks and a model of the USS Arizona Memorial. He was SO excited to build the model and when I returned home from work the following day, he was almost done with it already. In fact, he enjoyed the build so much that he plans on buying more from the brand. Both the picks and model are proudly displayed on our knick knack shelves.

For my gift, I got exactly what I wanted – a stunning necklace and earrings! I am loving the shell necklace and it will be a fabulous accessory this summer. I am going to wear it wrapped as a bracelet and the pretty, neutral palette will allow me to wear it with anything and everything. The piece de resistance, however, was the earrings for sure. The delicate gold cutouts of sea turtles blew me away and they are also highly sentimental. Sea turtles are my brother’s favorite and what he was most looking forward to seeing. Like the necklace, these earrings are going to enhance any outfit and it will be like a hug from my family every time I wear them. ❤

My family had the best time on their trip and I had the best time welcoming them home. I call dibs on next vacation!!!

Do you have any vacations planned? Where are you going? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr12

Total Solar Eclipse

Posted on April 12, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! The solar eclipse this past Monday has been the buzz in Akron, Ohio for months because we just so happened to be in the path of totality. For once, something cool was happening here and everyone was SO excited for it and for good reason. The Total Solar Eclipse was one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced and Ohio delivered. I mentioned earlier that we were fearing a cloudy day and, thankfully, that wasn’t the case whatsoever. We had the most perfect, sunny weather for the ultimate view of the big show and it was truly spectacular.

These pictures I took are not the best and they do not do justice to the solar eclipse at all. But, I did the best I could with limited visibility lol! Check it out:

There were countless eclipse festivals that Johnny and I could have attended on Monday, but we opted to stay home and watch it with our downstairs neighbor from the porch. I’m so glad we did because we were delighted by what we saw when we walked out the door. It seemed like every single person in our apartment community was outside watching too and it was such fun to be all together and cheering as the sun and moon performed. Even if we did go to a festival, I highly doubt we would have had a better view because ours was crystal clear and mainly unobstructed.

The total eclipse happened around 3:15 and Johnny and I were able to go outside as soon as we finished up with work at 2:45. During that time, the moon was moving and grooving closer to the sun and rapid progress was being made every time we looked up. This was neat to see, but the magic happened when totality was reached. During that four minute window, everything went completely dark. Street lights came on and the temperature dropped ten degrees. You could feel it immediately! It was such a surreal feeling to experience nighttime in the middle of the day and I think everyone was simply blown away. I sure was!

Minutes after the total eclipse, we were back to a typical afternoon level of sun and warmth. However, the feeling of witnessing a once in a lifetime phenomenon remained. Johnny and I are still not over it and why should we be? It was beautiful. ❤

Did you watch the solar eclipse? What is something cool that you experienced in nature? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr5

Tips For Job Hunting In A New City

Posted on April 5, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Job hunting in a new city can be overwhelming. You may feel as if you are making steps forward one minute and then going ten steps backward in the next second. Whether you’re moving because of personal reasons or because you just want a new opportunity and a fresh start, navigating the job market adds another stressor on top of the move. Here are some things that can help:

Research the Job Market:

Before you make the move, make sure that you are researching the job market thoroughly. Look for the industries in the area that are arriving and growing. There’s always a couple of them if you do your digging ahead of time. If you are in these industries already, then you are in luck. If you are not in these industries but you’re interested in them now, it’s a great time to pivot.

You can do courses online to upgrade your skills and make you more marketable when you arrive at your destination. Check out any online job portals that may be in use as well. Also, take a look at the best US cities for white-collar workers, according to Checkr’s new report, to see if your city is included.

Update Your Resume:

Having an updated resume is an absolute must. You need to tailor your resume so that it will show off your greatest skills. If you need to update your LinkedIn profile and any other professional platforms, do so. You want to make sure that there’s always the latest information available about you. The quicker you do this, the sooner you will land your dream job in your new city.

Dive Into Local Resources:

There are several resources available for job seekers so you should make sure that you are doing your best to hunt them down. Find a local career center, find out when their job fairs are happening and where all the employment agents are located in the city. If you do a bit of detective work you may find that being Sherlock Holmes is not too difficult. You will find what you are looking for and get the help you need.

Remote and Freelance Options:

You may want to consider remote and freelance options so that you can work from just about anywhere. In today’s digital age this type of arrangement is very common. If you’re ready for a change then try to find an opportunity so you can work from just about anywhere you can pitch a tent and have Wi-Fi!

You may find that your next opportunity comes in a jaw-dropping way. So keep your eyes open and your ears to the ground you never know what you may find!

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