Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
Feb12

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts

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Last Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts

Hi! Love Day is right around the corner! Are you and your significant other ready for it? Johnny and I sure are! For his gift, Johnny requested help paying for a PS5 that his friend sold to him on the way cheap. It was such a great deal and we are having so much fun playing on it! As for my gift, I really didn’t need anything although I had a couple of video games in mind that I would like to try. Then, I saw an ad on Facebook for a Cupid’s Revenge haunted house and decided that I would love that as my gift. It’s a great date that pairs our love of all things horror and haunted attractions with a sentimental twist. I can’t wait to go and tell you all about it! If you are lacking on ideas to spoil your SO with, fear not. Today, we are going to take a look at some last minute gifts that are sure to please. Let’s get to it!

Boo Boxes:

How about gifting a little bit of everything with a Boo Box? Step 1) Find a pretty gift basket or box. Step 2) Fill it with sweet little somethings. It’s as simple as that! You could go the decadent route with boxes of chocolate, hot cocoa mix, and their favorite candies. Perhaps you will go with cozy gifts like new pajamas, a soft blanket, and a pair of slippers. Or, you could go sentimental with framed photos, love notes, and a handmade piece of art of jewelry. No matter what you choose, you cannot lose with a Boo Box and it’s as easy as a trip to TJMaxx!

Date Night:

Now, reservations for your first date night choices might not be doable as we’re getting down to the wire. However, it doesn’t hurt to try or come up with something more unique than a dinner out. A local theater might be doing romance movie screenings. There are sure to be plenty of couples wine and paint nights. You could create your own dinner at a cooking class. Or maybe you will try an activity that’s totally out there like visiting a rage room, going to a glassblowing studio, or taking a road trip to visit different boutiques and cafes that you haven’t been to before. Look for special events at museums, planetariums, restaurants that offer mixology courses, or scentology stores. Even if your date doesn’t fall exactly on Valentine’s Day, you will have a fun plan to look forward to.

Shop Till You Drop:

Sometimes the best gift of all is letting your SO pick out their gift. Johnny and I very much agree to this! Set a shopping budget, fuel up at Starbucks, and visit your partner’s favorite stores. If your selection is a bit picked over from the holiday, improvise. Hit up vintage and antique boutiques, go thrifting, create your own bouquet at a flower shop, or pop into specialty stores for amazing jewelry or bath and body care. If all else fails – online shop till you drop! That is an especially good option if you can’t find the size or color of what you like the best. It will be like a bonus gift when it arrives in the mail. 😀

Pampering, Please:

Spa related gifts are always going to go over well for those who love to pamper! Treat your SO to a new full set at their favorite nail salon. How about some hair treatments and a blowout at their go to hair salon? You could also book massages and facials at your local spa. Remember that even if this isn’t your thing, your partner will love doing it together. A couples massage, pedicures, masks, and wraps are something you can both enjoy and benefit from. Throw caution to the wind and book for two so you can both be primped and pampered for the big day!

Music To My Ears:

If it’s in your budget, why not score some concert tickets if your SO’s favorite is playing nearby? You could also opt for tickets to a play, musical, or orchestra. If not, no biggie! You could purchase some new vinyl records, merch from their favorite musical, or bring the music right to your living room. While their favorite tunes are playing you can cook a delicious meal, make cocktails or chocolate together, or play a new board or video game. Music is definitely one of mine and Johnny’s love languages and there is nothing sweeter than putting on your partner’s favorite song and watching their face light up!

No matter the gift, Valentine’s Day is special because you’re both together. These ideas will only add to the ambiance!

How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day? What was the best date you have ever been on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb11

Rare Beauty Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter In Exhilarate Review

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Rare Beauty Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter In Exhilarate Review

Hi! A few weeks ago I needed to make a trip to Sephora as I was out of three of my go to makeup products. My shopping list included more Better Than Sex mascara, a new highlighter, and a dupe for my beloved radiance beads. Thanks to the help of a wonderful employee, I was able to check off everything on my list and ended up with two new to me products. The Face Bond Luminizer by Urban Decay and the Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter by Rare Beauty. They are both phenomenal and it has been fun to try new makeup as this is an area where I like to stay in my comfort zone. I was happy when the Rare Beauty highlighter was recommended because I love my eyeshadow palette from that brand and knew the quality would be excellent. It sure is! Check it out:

*** Note: These pictures were taken prior to putting on the Face Bond Luminizer to soften and blend!

Prior to the Rare Beauty highlighter, I was using a pink shade by Sephora that I liked a lot. My plan was to just buy that again but it had been discontinued so I was out of luck in that department. This ended up being a good thing because my helper at Sephora pointed me towards Rare Beauty next. We took a look at some of the pink highlighters and she also showed me the gold Exhilarate as she said it would look really nice with my complexion. I have rosy undertones and was afraid that the gold would just be too much. What it looked like, however, was sunshine slapping me across the face and I was so not mad about it! I never even would have thought of going for the gold if I didn’t have assistance and it was exciting to see a re-imagined version of my standard MOTD. Even if it wasn’t a major change. 🙂

The Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter is so aptly named. My old highlighter felt like more of a powder and the Rare Beauty has an almost creamy texture that is oh so soft and applies perfectly with one swipe. While I love the angular looks that can be achieved with a highlighter, I prefer a more natural approach and was able to achieve that by pairing this highlighter with the Face Bond Luminizer. When I apply highlighter, I use it going down my nose, on my chin, the apples of my cheeks to my hairline, and my jawline. After my first use of Exhilarate, I was a bit worried because it looked like a lot. After blending with my radiance beads dupe, it definitely toned down the appearance of the highlighter to an overall glow which is exactly what I like. I have always been curious about other Rare Beauty products since purchasing one of their palettes and I am glad I got the chance to try more. I know it will be the first section I go to next time I visit Sephora!

Although I will never be a huge makeup gal, this Sephora shopping trip was a nice way of dipping my toes into the water. I highly recommend the Rare Beauty highlighters!

What is your favorite brand of makeup? Where do you like to shop for makeup? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb10

YAY! 6.5 Year Blogging Streak!

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YAY! 6.5 Year Blogging Streak!

Hello everyone!! I started lifewithlilred in September of 2014 and can’t believe I’ll be on my twelve year blogiversary this year! It literally feels like just yesterday when I got enough people telling me I should start a blog and I threw my hands in the air and said “why not?”. Since its conception, lifewithlilred has been a labor of love. I have always enjoyed writing and have been committed to creating a happy space for myself and others as soon as my first post published. Somewhere along the line, I decided that a few articles a week just weren’t enough and made it my goal to post daily content. I am pleased to report that I have officially crossed the threshold of having over six and a half years worth of articles published every day. It’s freaking crazy!

I often get asked how I continue to come up with content to post and my answer is a combination of a few different things. 1) First and foremost, it’s FUN! 2) It’s one of my favorite forms of self care. 3) I love interacting with my readers. And, perhaps most importantly of all – 4) I am stubborn lol. Once I start a streak of something, I simply refuse to stop. The challenge is incredibly motivating and publishing daily is so ingrained in me that I would hate to think of how I would feel if I didn’t sit at my computer and write every day. My suspicions all point to that it would feel freaking terrible. So, I will continue to pop a squat at my laptop with a smile because to reiterate Point 1, it is so much fun. 😀

I would say that I was a pretty lonely kid growing up. I didn’t have a lot of friends and that remained to be true until the end of high school. One of the few things that made me feel better as a teenager was social media. A place where I could post anything and everything and I knew at least someone was looking at it. Eventually, I began to post OOTD pictures which led to my friends on Facebook telling me that if I started a blog that they would read it. The sentiment was so kind and I figured that if my handful of people I interacted with on social media would pop by, maybe others would too. My goal when I started lifewithlilred wasn’t to make money or become famous but to hopefully make friends and expand my very small circle. It didn’t matter to me where anyone was located, just to have someone to talk to and have a space on the internet where I could shout into the void.

And you know what? As soon as my blog started, the loneliness began to dissipate. Every view was exciting, every comment a potential new friend and even a best friend too! Within weeks of starting my blog, the blogosphere brought me Kate of Live In The Nautical and we have been inseparable ever since. Everything I hoped for was happening and I am always going to feel so grateful for it. I went from writing the saddest shit in the world in my journals to writing on my blog for the pure joy of writing in the blink of an eye. lifewithlilred became my safe space. A place that I got to grow and nourish until I forgot why I was ever lonely to begin with.

All of this is a very long way of saying that I keep my daily content streak alive for the lonely girl I was. I keep it going for anyone who feels like they need a friend. Or anyone that needs the reminder to continue plugging away with a smile on their face and a kind word on their lips. lifewithlilred started for me but I realize that it has always been for all of you. I feel so proud to have maintained my streak, formed a happy place for myself and others to retire to, and found the best friend in the world to boot. I am eternally thankful for the encouragement I received to get this blog ball rolling as well as the encouragement to keep sticking to it. Because who knows what will be on my page next?!

Thank you to everyone who has ever stopped by on lifewithlilred. You made a huge difference to me! ❤

What helps motivate you? Do you have a streak going in anything? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb9

New Valentine’s Day Nails

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New Valentine’s Day Nails

Oh hey! This past Tuesday I enjoyed a wonderful pampering session at Elysian Nails and my fill appointment couldn’t have come a moment too soon. My nails rarely break but the week before my appointment two of them snapped and it was terrible! I’m genuinely unsure as to how it happened because it’s not like I was going rock climbing or doing anything crazy. One of the instances was simply picking up my laptop and the other was when I was putting groceries away. I walked into the salon with my tail between my legs but left with my head held high because my amazing tech made my claws good as new in a pretty Valentine’s Day motif. Check it out:

Nine times out of ten, I walk into Elysian Nails with no set in stone plan for my nail polish colors. Rather, I let the selection speak to me and tell me what I need. This time around, however, I was thinking a chocolate cherry motif for V-Day. Something sophisticated, chic, and different than the usual pink and red. Then, I saw pink and red and couldn’t resist lol! Hey, if the Valentine’s Day palette isn’t broken – don’t fix it. I couldn’t help but swoon over the cherry bomb red and the vivid hot pink and just knew they would pop with an OOTD for mine and Johnny’s V-Day date. I can’t wait to go to a Cupid’s Revenge haunted house together this weekend. I have no idea what it will entail but I know it’s going to be a blast! 😀

As my tech and I chatted away, I had a random moment where I felt so proud. She was new to the nail game when she started a year or so ago and I have been going to her faithfully unless she is booked up. My tech has really improved so much and it was incredibly apparent to me this time around. She was confident and detail oriented while working at a speedy quick pace. In under an hour she had replaced two broken nails, trimmed down my regrowth, created a sturdier base with a thicker application of acrylic, and sharpened my talons to perfection. In fact, I couldn’t believe the time as my nail polish dried and made it back to work with over fifteen minutes to spare. Our appointment was short and sweet and now I have V-Day nails that can’t be beat. I am already looking forward to my next fill to bust out some soft pastel hues for spring. ❤

Stay tuned for my Valentine’s Day OOTD, a haunted house review, and lots more fun coming soon on lifewithlilred!

What are your V-Day plans? Do you have any beauty appointments scheduled prior to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb8

Don’t Cry Over Spilled Coffee

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Don’t Cry Over Spilled Coffee

Hello! I wanted to share a little story that happened to me a week or so ago. My beloved downstairs neighbor unfortunately fell and went to a rehab center after he was released from the hospital. I visited in both locations as often as I could and when I had a fully open morning I brought us coffee from Starbucks with one of my Christmas gift cards. Two venti iced coffees were the move and I didn’t even sip on mine in the car as the drive over was short. As I carried some extra supplies for him and our bevvies into the rehab center, I thought how badly it would suck if one of the drinks spilled. I suppose I must have manifested it because that is exactly what happened. SMH -_-

As I set down the drinks to sign into the center, one of them toppled over and it was like it happened in slow motion while I experienced the deja vu of what I just thought. I was happy it was my coffee that spilled but not so happy that it spilled everywhere. The reception desk was hit but it was primarily on the ground. After the coffee catastrophe, I could legit not apologize enough to the receptionist and she was SO unbelievably kind. As we both cleaned up the spill together, I was sure to tell her so and then she told me a story that went like this…

While shopping at Aldi, she accidentally dropped a glass jar of pasta sauce that shattered everywhere. She didn’t want to just leave the spill and a kind person in the aisle found an employee and they all cleaned it up together. I told her that she was the kind person in my own spill scenario and I could tell how happy it made her. My oopsie daisy probably happened right when her shift was starting and instead of it messing up her day, she wished me a better one. She also lamented over how sad it was that I didn’t even get a sip of my caffeine and I really appreciated that because it sucked just as badly as I imagined it lol.

All of this is to say that the nice receptionist paid forward the kindness that someone else gave her during her shopping trip and we can all learn from that. The world is a scary place right now and I think everyone needs all of the kindness that they can get. Even things that you think are little can be so helpful so pay someone a compliment. Hold the door open for someone. Bring a coffee to your coworker. Or simply listen when someone is having a bad day or has something on their mind. Whether you are helping someone mop up spilled coffee or bringing your neighbor a plate of dinner you cooked, it all makes a difference. Thanks to my receptionist hero’s bright attitude, this turned into a situation that wasn’t worth crying over spilled coffee. (Maybe only slightly internally!) Rather, it was a great reminder to keep the kindness going to the next person I encountered. ❤

Everyone has the power to turn someone else’s day around. Use it liberally and the bright side of life shines through!

Have you had any oopsie daisies recently? How did you fix it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb7

Lil Red Call To Action

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Lil Red Call To Action

Hi hi! If you noticed from my New Year’s Resolutions Follow Up, I did indeed start a new job. I am so happy to say that I am the new Social Media Manager for Empire Window Company in Solon, Ohio. They are a local business that has been doing window, door, and siding installations for the past sixty years. It might be a slight step outside of my comfort zone but if there is one thing that your girl knows how to do, it’s how to create content! I am incredibly excited to be able to work social media management again as my last situation was a complete bust. I feel very confident in saying that I think this is the company for me and that feels wonderful!

I would appreciate it SO so mucho if all of you would help a Lil Red out. Please give a follow to Empire Window Company on Facebook and on Instagram too @empirewindowco. I would love for all of you to see my handiwork as these pages get going! One of my goals has been to give social media management a final go and I have been working very hard on seizing this opportunity. It really is a gift and every interaction is a step in the right direction. I can’t wait to create and have fun with a brand new team and it would be the cherry on top for all of my dear readers to be a part of it. Many, many thanks!!

As a treat, here is me enjoying my OM-Cheese Burger from Applebees lolol:

How is your job going? Are you interested in starting a new job? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb6

Middle Class Fancy At Applebees

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Middle Class Fancy At Applebees

Hello! Johnny and I only have streaming services so we don’t see commercials very often except for on Peacock. It’s mainly just insurance and medication commercials lol but sometimes we are gifted by seeing the new items on the menu at pizza shops and restaurants. The one that really caught our eye last week was the OM-Cheese Burger from Applebees. It is basically a burger placed in a bath of melted cheese and it looked absolutely beautiful. Johnny asked if I wanted to go get it for lunch the following weekend and my answer was a resounding YES. I was looking forward to it all week and it was a wonderful Middle Class Fancy afternoon on the town! Check it out:

Saturday was an exciting day not just because of Middle Class Fancy but because it was the Royal Rumble, baby! Every year we watch with our bestie and turn it into a big event. Our lunch at Applebees was the perfect way to fuel up for the big show! From start to finish, our experience was excellent – as per ushe. Our server was a delight, the drinks were just right, and our food was dynamite. I think I should start a career in poetry! We also were able to utilize their fantastic 2 for $25 deal for our meals that offers one appetizer and two entrees. You can’t beat that and we opted for the mozzarella sticks and two OM-Cheese Burgers. Our server wasn’t sure if they could make the entree with an Impossible Burger but they pulled through and I am eternally grateful. This dish was what dreams are made of.

I was completely starving when we went to lunch and our food arrived blessedly quick. As soon as that fajita plate was put in front of me, it was go time. Unlike Johnny, I am a fries first kind of girl because fries will never be better than when they are first placed in front of you. The French fries were crisp, salty, and were good until the very last one. Then, it was burger time. When I told people we were going to Applebees to try this concoction, the majority of responses were that it looked disgusting lol. I replied that you had to see past the initial disgust to get to the beauty inside and it was a very accurate sentiment! This cheeseburger was in a pool of ooey gooey queso dip and it was just divine. The burger was juicy, the buns were fluffy, and that cheese though! I err on the side of cheesy whenever the option is available and it was like this meal was made for me. It was so tasty and filling and I honestly could have benefited from a nap afterwards. Exactly how a Middle Class Fancy date should end! ❤

If you are a cheese fiend, the OM-Cheese Burger from Applebees is a must try. Get your Middle Class Fancy on and have a blast!!

What is your favorite chain restaurant? What is your least favorite commercial? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb5

How To Plan A Trip That Doesn’t Rely On The Weather

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How To Plan A Trip That Doesn’t Rely On The Weather

Planning a trip that depends on good weather is such an optimistic personality trait. In some locations, it can make sense (like a beach or a desert, for example). But it also falls apart the second the forecast decides to act up, because of course it does. You do all the paper admin you need for your trip, be it visas for another country, renting cars, booking tickets, flights, boats, tours, hotels, and then everything you imagined you’d be doing in your head goes sideways because of the weather (well, the activities at least).

It’s great to make a full vacation schedule but it also is smart to plan for bad weather. Like it or not, it can definitely rain on your parade! What’s the best way to go about this? Keep on reading!

Build the Trip Like it Has Two Lanes:

The simplest way to stay sane is to plan a trip with two lanes: an outdoor lane and an indoor lane. It’s not exactly two fully scheduled itineraries, because that’s exhausting and nobody wants a vacation that feels like project management. See it more as Plan A and Plan B so you have two sets of options that can be swapped depending on the weather.

If you’re going to St. Annes on vacation or just coastal towns in general in the UK (as this is getting more common for tourists outside the UK), then the outdoor stuff could be cliff walks, beach time, visiting gardens, or walking in the cute touristy area. When it comes to indoor-oriented activities, you can check whats on Saint Annes local theater for live shows, look for shops, museums, or tasting sessions at wineries or restaurants.

Choose Indoor Plans that Still Feel Like the Destination:

A few examples were just mentioned above, but maybe you could consider them generic. But it seriously helps to pickout some destinations in advance that are indoor. If you want to visit London or Paris for the first time ever, sure, everyone wants to see the landmarks, but as you know, there’s famous indoor things to do as well. Like in London, there’s the Victoria and Albert museum that so many tourists flock to, and the Louvre in Paris, but they’re indoor activities, and they alone are like a destination. So, try to look around for that too for your upcoming trip. 

You Can’t Let Weather be a Dealbreaker:

You can’t control Mother Nature, and sometimes, you have no choice but to make the most out of the situation. Hopefully it’s not a horrible storm or anything, but just try and have fun anyways. Sure, if you’re camping or hiking during your trip, it can make it significantly less fun, and sometimes even full-on impossible, but for town and city trips at least, you can manage easily. 

Plan ahead for any bad weather during your travels and you will still have an amazing time indoor and out!

Featured Image By: Pexels Image

Feb5

V-Day Date Ideas

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V-Day Date Ideas

Howdy! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Are you and your SO ready for it? As per mine and Johnny’s tradition of never giving each other gifts on the day of, we have already gotten that part out of the way. In my defense, this actually wasn’t my idea or consistent pestering this time! Johnny’s friend sold him a PS5 on the cheap and he requested some help on that front for his gift. For my prezzie, I think we are going to go to a Valentine’s Day haunted house and I am really looking forward to that! Of course, we also will be including the first option on this list of V-Day Date Ideas as it is our all time favorite. Let’s discuss:

Middle Class Fancy:

Middle Class Fancy dates are mine and Johnny’s bread and butter and it goes a little something like this: Step 1) Pick out your favorite chain restaurant. An Applebees, Chili’s, Red Lobster, or Olive Garden is top tier. Step 2) Put on your Sunday best. Step 3) Eat and drink like kings. Step 4) Go to a movie afterwards. For our Middle Class Fancy event we will be visiting one of our go to chain restaurants and seeing the new Scream movie. If you are from the Midwest, I am sure you know a thing or two about a Middle Class Fancy night on the town and I can’t wait for our upcoming MCF festivities!

Upper Class Fancy (lol):

If Middle Class Fancy isn’t your thing, perhaps you will go the Upper Class Fancy route instead. Upper Class Fancy is all about the finer things in life. How about starting your date at a chic little cocktail bar followed by a meal at a not chain restaurant. Countless fine dining restaurants will be offering special Valentine’s Day dishes or couples experiences so be sure to investigate your local options. Rather than a movie, you could opt for a night at the theater, a spot of shopping, or an appointment for a couples massage or spa day. Upper Class Fancy dates are the opportunity to spoil each other so don’t be afraid to splurge on your big day out.

Local Events:

If you are stumped for ideas, look local! Maybe your partner is a romance movie connoisseur? There is sure to be a bar or restaurant offering trivia around that theme. Is your boo crafty? Find a workshop for candle making, scentology, or creating beautiful bouquets. A fantastic cook? Learn how to make a brand new dish at a cooking class! Hobby based gifts and dates are always sure to please and also ranks highly in the brownie points department. It shows that you are listening to your main squeeze, care about their interests, and are invested in helping expand them. How sweet is that? ❤

A Night In:

Some people think that a V-Day out is a racket and, honestly, they’re not wrong. Where you go is sure to be crowded, a restaurant might be fully booked, and stores will be completely picked over. To avoid that, bring the date night in. DoorDash your favorite meal and rent a movie that’s in theaters to bypass the hubbub. Make your own wine and paint night with a YouTube tutorial video. Bake and decorate a cake or make chocolates. Craft your own cocktails or do at home spa treatments. No matter where you go, Valentine’s Day is all about enjoying each other’s company and there is no place like home to do so.

Something New:

Tired of the same old? Try something new! If you have exhausted your V-Day date ideas, step outside of your comfort zone. Shake things up with a ballroom dancing class. Go to an escape room or a rage room. Take a note from mine and Johnny’s book and go to a love themed haunted house! Hit up an arcade bar, fly high at a trampoline park, book a hotel for the night and soak in the hot tub or make a splash in the pool. A new experience together offers the element of surprise which makes for a particularly exciting date. Think about the events or activities that your partner has always wanted to try and go for it!

No matter how you spend Valentine’s Day, it will be special because you’re with someone you love. Have so much fun!

What are your Valentine’s Day plans? What’s a perfect date night like for you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb4

January 2026 Finishes

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January 2026 Finishes

Hello everyone and TGIF! And by that I mean thank god it’s February!!! Is it just me or did January feel like it lasted five months? Lol it was cold, grey, and the days dragged on with no end in sight. Prior to this insane temperature drop, I was feeling a-okay about winter but all I have to say is: Is it spring yet? I need sixty and sunny like yesterday! Before January can be kissed goodbye or more like kicked out until next year, let’s discuss my beauty finishes for the month:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Vampire Blood Body Cream: YES

Avon Cucumber Melon Body Wash: NO

Bath & Body Works Calypso Clementine Body Lotion: YES

Bath & Body Works Blue Raspberry Burst Body Wash: YES

Garnier Micellar Water: MAYBE

Precision Beauty Vitamin C + Collagen Serum: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Products: I am a Bath & Body Works gal through and through and I had a delightful medley of empties from there in January. I had my favorite Halloween scent of Vampire Blood, enjoyed a burst of summertime citrus with Calypso Clementine, and was LOVING the Blue Raspberry Burst body wash. In my humble opinion, blue flavors are the best but Blue Raspberry reigns supreme. Blue Raspberry Burst smells exactly like an Icee from the movie theater and it is definitely one of my new favorites. It’s different while still smelling delicious and I will be keeping my eyes peeled for more when the B&BW summer lines drop!

Avon Body Wash: In case you haven’t noticed, I am extremely loyal to my B&BW products and use them *almost* exclusively. Minus this Cucumber Melon body wash from Avon! This was gifted to me and I thought I would give it a try. It was okay and basically a smell alike to B&BW’s Cucumber Melon scent. However, I wish that I used this product when the weather gets warmer because it really dried my skin out and the frigid temperatures made it even worse. My skin never feels dry after using B&BW shower gel, rather super nourished and hydrated and I couldn’t wait to use them again after finishing this bottle. It took me one month of daily use to do so.

Garnier Micellar Water: Like my B&BW goodies, I am fiercely loyal to my Evoluderm micellar water. It is simply the best at removing makeup and hydrating my skin and it is a staple in my morning and nighttime beauty routine. Unfortunately, TJMaxx doesn’t carry it all of the time and I had to settle for a bottle of Garnier micellar water, instead. It will continue to be my runner up brand when I can’t get my hands on Evoluderm but it’s not like I love it. The Garnier micellar water just lacks the oomph of Evoluderm. I noticed I had to scrub hard to remove makeup and it still wasn’t completely gone and it pales in comparison to the hydration of my go to brand. Fine in a bind but not my fave!

Precision Beauty Serum: I cannot say enough good things about the Precision Beauty serums and have been using them for the past several months. Each bottle lasts me close to five weeks with twice daily use and I have had nothing but positive results. The Vitamin C + Collagen was especially nice during the dreary days as it provided such a big radiance boost. And, despite collagen being a primary ingredient, it didn’t dry my skin out. In fact, it has never felt better! I have used several different versions of their serums and all of them are great so I highly recommend trying one for yourself. 🙂

And, with that, smell ya later January. Let’s move on to brighter days ahead!

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah