Tag Archives: update

Reduce Stress With These Kitchen Upgrades

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Reduce Stress With These Kitchen Upgrades

Renovating the areas you use the most is an exciting process. It means you can add the things you need and make your life much easier. The kitchen is the most used room in the home, and there are numerous upgrades you can do to make it the most loved room in the home too. Like the following:

Ripping out an old kitchen comes with many opportunities. Of course, you can design the kitchen you want. But you also have the specific advantage of being able to have the piping and plumbing inspected. What would be the point of a brand new kitchen built around old and failing pipes? Reliable plumbing services will work with you to have your pipes installed and running as smoothly as possible. This gives you massive peace of mind to move forward with the plan.

It can be a dream come true to design your own kitchen, especially if you love to cook. However, it isn’t cheap, so you may want to consider the budget you have to work with. Whether it is large or small, there still needs to be a plan. A finalized design means there is little chance of something going wrong. Yet it will also keep you within budget and cultivate a healthy relationship with contractors. Most also offer 3D designs today, so you can design exactly what you want together.

Even if you don’t cook much, modern kitchens are a gathering space for the family when designed in a specific way, such as open-plan. It can also be a relaxing area for adults to take five and catch up on the day’s events. But with modernity comes the need for power. The average family home has around eleven kitchen appliances, not including mobile devices. So consider USB sockets in your new kitchen.

A modern kitchen isn’t only used for cooking. Today, the modern kitchen space is multi-functional and used for gathering families. Yet, the main reason for a new kitchen is indeed for cooking. And we all cook in different ways. Think about how you use the space and you can design a new kitchen around your needs. For example, you can have pan racks and knife strips placed where you need them. This helps protect your expensive set of Globals for smooth food preparation!

Even when you redesign a kitchen, you are still going to be working with limited space. With everything you might need, such as spice racks, pan space, and utensils, it helps to think about storage. You can work with your contractor on the design of the cabinet work, adding in extras as you go. Modern cabinets come with tiers for efficient use of space, lighting features, and even under-cupboard storage such as wine glass holders and utensil hooks.

Create your dream kitchen with the tips above and enjoy your new, remodeled space!

Featured Image By: Pexels

The Best Ways To Add Value To Your Home

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The Best Ways To Add Value To Your Home

There are many reasons why you may be looking to add value to your home. For example, you may be considering moving house and selling your property or simply feeling like your home is looking a little worse for wear. Fortunately, there are many steps that you can take to add value to your home, like the following:

Turning your garage into a functional space is a great way to add value to your home. It could be the perfect spot for a man cave, home gym, or as a smart setup for extra storage. There are many different ways in which you can complete this task, but it’s best to start from the ground up. For example, you could wipe away years of wear and tear and improve the overall look of your garage floor by applying epoxy garage coating.

One of the easiest ways in which you can add value to your home is by resolving any maintenance issues you are facing, no matter how minor. While these problems may start out small, they can quickly become costly to deal with and cause significant damage to your home. There are plenty of guides online that will talk you through the basic home maintenance tasks, such as fixing a leaking tap or pipe or that one stair that always creaks when you stand on it. However, it’s also important that you know when a certain task falls beyond your skills as a DIY-er so that you can call in experts for help.

Adding value to your home often means that you’re able to sell your property quicker when it hits the market. As such, when it comes to adding value, you should be mindful of what buyers are looking for – with an excellent kitchen often being at the top of the list. It’s estimated that a new kitchen can add 5-10% to the value of your home! Now is the perfect time to revamp and redesign your kitchen. When doing so, think carefully about the kind of aesthetic you are trying to achieve. Do you want a clean, modern kitchen full of the latest gadgets or do you want something a little more cozy and retro? If your kitchen is already relatively new, you may want to consider upgrading other key areas of your home, such as the bathroom.

Another option that can add value to your home is by making it more sustainable, such as by switching to a renewable energy provider, investing in double-glazed windows, or installing solar panels. While these upgrades can be costly, you’ll likely find that they help you save money in the long-run by lowering your energy bills. This will also make your home much more attractive to potential buyers, especially as society becomes more and more environmentally conscious each year. In fact, many buyers are on the lookout for eco-friendly properties for this very reason.

Investing in meaningful upgrades to your home will result in a boost in property value when it comes time to sell. Pick out a project and see how you can transform your space!

Featured Image By: Brian Babb on Unsplash

Exterior Upgrades For Your Home

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Exterior Upgrades For Your Home

There are a number of ways that you can upgrade the outside of your home to get your property looking its best. Boost your curb appeal and let your house become the talk of the town with these projects:

Painting the outside of your home is one of the fastest ways for you to freshen up your property if it is either tired or dated. Whether you are applying the same color as the paintwork you have right now or are trying to make a more drastic change, it’s very easy for you to give your home an immediate face lift. The cost of painting the exterior of your home will vary depending on its size and shape. It’s always a good idea to speak with the local paint experts in your area so you can better determine which colors will make your property pop.

Another thing you need to do is look into driveway upgrades. If you do this, then you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to freshen up your home’s exterior. Driveway upgrades can mean laying down a new drive or perhaps installing a new gate. If there is anything you aren’t quite sure about when it comes to getting a new drive, then you can always ask your local driveway gates builder for advice. They can then inform you on a range of materials, including wood, aluminum, and timber.

Repointing brickwork is a big job, but at the same time, it’s one that you should be trying to get done. If you repoint an entire home, then you need to take into account the size of the area and the accessible walls. Rendering is also worth considering. This is when you cover the exterior wall with a rendering substance. This is usually made out of either sand or cement. It also contains lime or resin. When you render your home, you will be able to transform its whole appearance.

Cladding is a very popular choice for homeowners and it adds a fresh look to your property. If you want to add or replace cladding, then you need to look into the different types available and you also need to understand the benefits of each one too. Also make sure that you are taking into account the cost of maintenance. The main types of cladding used in modern architecture are stone, brick, metal, and wood. You also have UPVC, which is good if you would rather go for a more interesting color. If you can keep this in mind then it will help you out a lot, as it gives you way more freedom when the time comes for you to update your home.

Make the exterior of your home just as inviting as its interior with these upgrades!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Collegiate Chic OOTD

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Collegiate Chic OOTD

Howdy!! This past Monday, I had an exciting day at work. I visited Kent State University with my boss, Tim, to assist with a presentation to the Principles of Marketing class. We had a blast and it was a joy to interact with all of the students. For the occasion, I wanted to put together a Collegiate Chic OOTD that was professional, but offered that extra dose of Lil Red flare. Unfortunately, I had to leave before Johnny was home from work so he couldn’t take pictures for me. I didn’t want to fiddle around with my tripod and a timer so I figured some mirror pictures would suffice. Never mind the bunny hutch that makes a guest appearance! Check it out:

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Houndstooth Knit Blazer: Joie, TJMaxx

Navy Blue Skater Skirt: This was a hand me down from a colleague!

Knee Socks: Target

Heeled Oxfords: Lulu Hun, ModCloth

The earrings were a gift from Johnny’s mom!

Sometimes, outfits come to me in a vision and that was very much the case for my Collegiate Chic OOTD. I knew exactly what I wanted and it turned out exactly how I wanted and it was so very satisfying! This look began with the gorgeous knit blazer by Joie. I loved the classic double breasted shape and the houndstooth pattern gave the studious vibe that I was going for. While the shape of the blazer is quite traditional, the color palette is an interesting take on houndstooth and that was the main selling point for me. It gave the quirky aesthetic I needed to do a school inspired look Lil Red’s way.

Obvi before adding the blazer, the base of the outfit needed to be addressed! Aside from the periwinkle pop in the blazer, the remaining colors were fully neutral. Meaning that I could pair it with any other neutral hue and it would form a cohesive look. I chose navy as my neutral and put on a navy blue crop top underneath the blazer and a skater skirt to match. The skirt paired with the blazer offered a modern take on stuffy school uniforms and I felt like the coolest kid on campus because of it.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. To drive the updated uniform motif home, I slipped on some heather grey knee highs. Remember, you can always add another neutral to the mix without negatively effecting the rest of the outfit. And, of course, what is a fresher take on a school uniform than a pair of heeled oxfords? Peep how the tawny shade in the heels matched perfectly to the blazer! Last but not least, I chose a lovely pair of earrings that my mother-in-law gifted me and I was ready to take on a school day my way.

My Collegiate Chic OOTD was such fun to style and even more fun to wear. I was so inspired by the idea of modernizing a school uniform and it ended up being one of my favorite looks in recent past!

Did you have to wear uniforms to school? What were they like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

1250 Day Duolingo Streak

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1250 Day Duolingo Streak

Hello!! I have been using Duolingo for so long that I don’t really think about it anymore. It is a staple in my morning routine of wake up, check Facebook, check my email, and practice a French lesson before starting my day. And, as often as I can, I try to do lessons in Spanish, Italian, German, and Czech too. This past weekend, I achieved a milestone streak of 1250 days of completing a lesson on Duolingo and I couldn’t believe it. That’s almost three and a half years!!

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HUZZAH!!!

In case you haven’t noticed, I am a very routine oriented person and it works beautifully for me. Once something that I am committed to becomes part of my schedule, I do everything in my power to keep it going. Duolingo is a perfect example of that because I love to learn new things – especially languages. Learning French is a goal that I have been working on since high school and I am thrilled to still be going strong with it. Although I wish I could practice my other languages more, I don’t have all of the time in the world in the morning and when I get home from work, I just want to sit lol.

Despite not practicing the other languages I am just okay at, I have noticed a better understanding when I hear them spoken. For example, Johnny has been sick with a nasty virus for the past handful of days. When I am sick, I turn to my comfort shows of anime and reality TV. Johnny, on the other hand, is a history buff and has been watching tons of WWII movies and documentaries. Whenever I am around and French or German is being spoken, he always calls me in to translate and I have a very high success rate! It is rare that I have the opportunity to put my language knowledge to the test and I was reveling in it. It made me feel so good that there were a few things in the programs Johnny was watching that he needed my assistance for. That seriously never happens!

I am so proud of my 1250 Day Duolingo Streak and can still barely believe my own eyes about it. It seems like just yesterday I downloaded the app and it has, without a doubt, been a fantastic tool to use. I can’t wait to get to a 1500 day streak – my next big milestone!

Do you use Duolingo? What language(s) are you learning? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sick AF

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Sick AF

Helloooo!!! There have been countless nasty bugs spreading around in my neck of the woods and, unfortunately, I caught a mega one. It all started this past Friday after Johnny and I returned home from our date night. Once we were back and settled in, I noticed that my throat was starting to feel a bit sore. We both chalked it up to the fluctuating temperatures because it’s been going from thirty to sixty degrees in a matter of a day. After playing some Diablo IV, I retired upstairs and went to bed assuming I would feel better the following day… Well, you know that old saying about assuming! *face palm*

When I woke up on Saturday, I felt like I got ran over by a truck. I was sore, feverish, and it fatigued me to move from Point A to Point B in the apartment. Even going to the bathroom which I could get to in under ten steps exhausted me. Normally, mine and Johnny’s designated “day of lay” is on Sunday and we literally do nothing. Over the weekend, we had a double day of lay and Johnny was so accommodating to his poor, sick wifey. He got me tons of blue Gatorade and even DoorDashed us Chipotle with claims that comfort food would help lol. ❤

By the time Monday rolled around, there was just no way going to work was possible and I felt no better than I did over the weekend. And, like my own personal Groundhog’s Day, the same thing happened on Tuesday too. It is Wednesday as I type this and I am finally feeling slightly better because I think I am transitioning into the congestion phase of the bug. I made the executive decision to call the week a wash so I can rest for the weekend because I have plans that I would be devastated if I missed. Here’s to hoping this bought of nasty will be done by then!

This week long sick spell has been a firm reminder that I need to start slowing down my work schedule. I really have been pushing myself too hard and am convinced that I got even sicker because of it. I am hoping to make changes for a lower key pace and am keeping my fingers crossed for that opportunity to present itself soon!

Have you been sick recently? What did you binge watch while recovering? I have been rewatching Euphoria and the Entertainment District arc of Demon Slayer. 🙂 I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A Lil Red Update

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A Lil Red Update

Helloooo darlings! Is it just me or have these past few months been crazy? I feel like I have been going nonstop and am so looking forward to Christmas break even though I literally just took time off for Thanksgiving lol. Even though I have been on the move between all of my jobs and I am exhausted, it hasn’t been bad at all! In fact, I have made quite a few changes to my work schedule and have been enjoying it – even though this change requires me to get up at three AM a few mornings during the work week. 😮 So early, I know but so worth it!

Since October I have been providing transportation to one of my old clients to take him to work. I pick him up at seven thirty in the morning, but that doesn’t mean that I can sleep in until I have to leave. After lots of mental math, I realized that I would need to get up at three for my morning to go like usual. Get up, work out, take care of the bunnies, shower, take the buns out to play, write, and work from home for my other job for two hours. After all of this, it takes me to seven o’clock when I have to leave.

The mornings are a doozy, for sure, but I have so loved seeing my old client again that I don’t even care. What’s even better is that our day together doesn’t end once we get to his job because I have recently became his job coach too! I got my job coaching certification a few years ago for another client and, unfortunately, it fell through. I never sought out another client for that particular aspect of my job so it was most exciting for the opportunity to give it a shot. I like to think I’m rocking it, but my client takes the cake and it has been a great experience for both of us. 🙂

My work in the field isn’t the only thing that has been keeping me busy busy because online work has been nuts too. Gotta love peak advertising season! Between lifewithlilred, my job as an in house writer for a tech entrepreneur, and potentially creating a podcast with a local celebrity, it’s safe to say that I have had a lot of quality time with my computer. It’s a lot, yes, but once again it is extremely fulfilling and I am thrilled with all of the ways that my different jobs have been taking off. I feel so proud of myself and it keeps me motivated to keep working hard to achieve even more of my goals.

With all of these changes to my work schedule, I am patting myself on the back and giving myself an “attagirl” for being all done with my holiday shopping! I knew there was a reason that I started around August because it’s one less thing I have to worry about now. Well… Except for wrapping everything lol but, otherwise, it’s a wrap. I can’t wait to keep working my hardest until my holiday break and hope the new year starts just as strong!

What has been going on in your wonderful world? How has work been going for you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sleeping Good, Feeling Great

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Sleeping Good, Feeling Great

Hello!! I have had a few appointments with my new therapist and it has been most helpful! She is seriously the best and is so much fun to talk to – it’s almost like I’m venting to a friend and I really like that. I have noticed a significant difference in my mood already just by being able to vocalize some of the things that have been weighing on my mind. Another big change that I made other than therapy is finding someone new to handle my medication management and that has been a HUGE success!

It’s incredibly important to get professional help for your well-being when you’re struggling mentally. There are some great services out there, like this website, that you can look into when it comes to improving your mental health and well-being in general.

Prior to the new person I have been going to for med management, I was just seeing a general practitioner. He was fine, but our appointments literally only lasted like two minutes and it was expensive as all get out. So, I decided to make an appointment with a nurse practitioner who works in the same office as my therapist. My only regret? That I didn’t do it sooner because she is awesome and prescribed me a new medication that has seriously changed my life.

This past summer, I was diagnosed with PTSD. I have always suffered from night terrors, but it was getting to be SO extreme. There was a point when I was only having a handful of night terrors per week and it turned into an every single night affair. For months, I was waking up every night screaming and it was horrible for both me and Johnny. It was so hard to fall back asleep after I jarred us awake from screaming bloody murder and we were going through life exhausted.

I had no idea that there was a medication that could help with my night terrors, so I never brought it up. You could have knocked me over with a feather when my nurse practitioner told me that there was something that she could prescribe! Since taking this new medication, I have not had one single night terror. None. Nada. Zip. Zero. I don’t think I realized how sleep deprived I was until I was actually getting a good night’s sleep for the first time in months.

Now that I am sleeping better, I feel energized, my mood has improved, and my work days don’t feel anywhere near as daunting. Normally, I would be too fatigued by the time the weekend rolled around to do anything. Now, Johnny and I have had outings with friends, family, and ourselves every weekend. It’s fun! I feel more like myself than I have in months and I am so thankful that I am finally sleeping through the night. The power of being well rested is a real thing!

If you feel like you are struggling, I can’t encourage you enough to seek help. It might feel scary, but you are going to feel so much better and I am proof of that. I know you can do it! ❤

What is something that helps you sleep well? Do you dream a lot when you sleep? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Therapy Success!

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Therapy Success!

Hello!! After a very unsuccessful first shot of therapy, I finally had an appointment with someone new this past Wednesday. And, I am pleased to report that it went awesome!! After canceling with the person who I was seeing, I had no plans of giving therapy another try. I felt really disappointed by how the session went because I didn’t feel heard whatsoever and it was hard for me to even set up an appointment in the first place. Thankfully, the receptionist encouraged me to give it another go with someone who she thought would be a better fit and she was completely right. It was a match made in therapy heaven!

During my introductory session with my new therapist, I felt really comfortable talking to her. She was pierced and tatted and I instantly liked that right away! I was also shocked to find that my last therapist wasn’t hearing me for real. My new therapist warned me that our session would be repetitive to questions already asked with the prior therapist and that was fine. I understood that she needed to confirm what was in the notes. However, MAJOR experiences in my life that are very important to my healing weren’t taken note of at all. This seemed so inappropriate to me because those appointments were not only a waste of my time, but it was went about in a way that I didn’t appreciate and it was confirmed.

Thankfully, not feeling heard wasn’t an issue at all with my new therapist. In fact, I felt better than I have in weeks after our session because I could tell she was truly interested in what I had to say. Like my first appointment with my old therapist, I made it clear that while I would like to learn new coping skills and get advice, I really needed my feelings validated and to talk about my trauma. My new one agreed 150% and my old one spent our appointments shoving halfhearted solutions down my throat. I am SO happy to know that I am going to get what I need during my next appointments and I feel great about the next steps going forward!

It’s true that you need to shop around for a therapist that works for you and this last session was a testament to that. I am proud of myself for trying again and so relieved to have found someone that I can do that with. 🙂

Have you ever had a bad therapy experience? What did you do about it? I honestly have half a mind to complain to the office about mine. I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Lil Red & The Weird Weekend

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Lil Red & The Weird Weekend

Hello everyone! Before we begin this post about some weekend weirdness, I will be placing a trigger warning on it for mental health, being in the ER, and blood. Now, let’s get to it:

It has been a hard past year and change in Lil Red’s world and this past week has been the absolute pits. Like, it was really bad and I was and still am pretty down in the dumps. I had a horribly stressful day last Thursday and spent the following days being super depressed. Friday came and went and Saturday felt like a bit of an upswing because Johnny and I spent the whole day together. We played lots of Diablo IV, ordered Domino’s for dinner, and settled down on the floor with the bunnies to play some Magic The Gathering.

As we schemed for our next turn, nature called and I went to the bathroom. When I sat on the can, I was startled to see that my sleep pants were soaked in blood. This was strange because Aunt Flo wasn’t scheduled to come for another four or so days. I wasn’t experiencing any pain or cramping and while it was weird, Johnny and I decided that we would visit the ER if I was still bleeding on Sunday. I was and it was off to Akron General that morning.

Thankfully, we were able to get right into a room once we arrived at the ER and that would have definitely not been the case if we went on Saturday night. The doctor came in and asked me questions like “Are you pregnant?” HARD NO. “Did you experience any physical trauma?” Nope. “Did something stressful or upsetting happen?” HARD YES. With that information, the doc decided to do blood work and a pelvic exam to see what was up with my down low area.

The pelvic exam was a pain in my pelvis, but we were relieved to hear that nothing was visibly wrong. So, we waited for the test results from the labs and swabs that were taken. As Johnny and I waited with bated breath, there was nothing to do but watch some TV. I selected the Lifetime channel and while Johnny initially grumbled, I am pleased to say that he was riveted by the time the movie ended. Lol, he is such a doll. ❤

Shortly after our Lifetime flick wrapped up, the doctor returned to tell us that my blood work and swabs were normal. She informed us that my hormones got out of whack from the stressful event and it triggered abnormal bleeding. Afterwards, I was able to change and Johnny and I could head home. As we drove back, we made a pit stop at Taco Bell and reminisced on how weird and unfortunate the situation was. My mind was hurting so much that it translated into a bodily reaction. I suppose we could have figured that out without a trip to the ER, but something like that had never happened to me before and it was scary.

I am happy to say that I am feeling better now. Not great, but slightly below average and that’s a big improvement. This is your Lil Red Friendly Reminder to take care of yourselves because, apparently, stress and depression can manifest itself in lots of crazy ways!

Have you ever been to the ER before? What happened? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah