Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Skirt Alert OOTD! Despite the fact that I despise dressing for summer, I have been having a lot of fun styling all of the looks that you have seen this season. Having said that, can fall hurry up and get here now or? Your girl has been ready for fall since summer began and I cannot wait to dress for my favorite season of all! I have been gazing hungrily at all of my cardigans, scarves, hats, gloves, and jackets and I will be SO happy when I can bust them out! While I am counting down the days until cooler weather, I still want to enjoy shooting as many summer fits as I can… and laughing at them too! Roll the Blooper Reel, please!
Thinking about what I’m going to order at the restaurant we were on our way to
You’re looking at America’s Next Top Model. Drink it in, it always goes down smooth!
I swear to drunk I’m not god
Did someone say Mexican food?! Your girl was SO hungry lol
I was treated to the coolest lighting and THIS is what I do?!
Taking a pause to listen to the Margaritas that were calling my name
Let’s blow this Popsicle stand!!!
Johnny and I have been to many an amazing concert this summer and our lineup is not complete just yet. In fact, the best has been saved for last. That’s right, we’re seeing Weird Al at Blossom in September!! Weird Al has been a staple in my life for as long as I can remember. My older bros freaking loved him and I can recall listening to his CDs on our way to family vacations or just running errands. He has truly only gotten better and I have been blessed enough to see him live twice already. Whenever he comes to the greater Akron area, it goes without saying that I will be there with bells on!
Johnny loves Weird Al just as much as me and my big bro and we listen to him often. It’s just fun to sing along and get silly and I swear his lyrics are still funny no matter how many times we hear them. He has transformed songs for me to the point that I cannot hear the original on the radio without his lyrics swarming through my head. One of my all time favorite Weird Al parodies has got to be Whatever You Like (Original by T.I.). I also happen to LOVE the original song and have been hearing it on the radio a fair amount recently even though it was released seventeen years ago! You could imagine how happy I was to hear it again but as soon as I started singing along, I was spitting Weird Al lyrics lol. I just know that is exactly what he would want and I will forever be his number one fan. ❤
Weird Al will be the perfect finale to an excellent summer concert series and I cannot wait to tell you all about it!
What is your favorite Weird Al song? Have you ever seen him in concert before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Your wedding ring is one of the most meaningful pieces of jewelry you’ll ever own. It’s not just a symbol of love and commitment, but it’s also something that becomes part of your look every single day. This is why choosing the right wedding ring is so important. It doesn’t matter whether you’re drawn to something modern or something timeless. Your ring should reflect both your personal style as well as your relationship. But no matter what you pick, the ring you choose will play a special role in your life and here’s why finding the right one truly matters:
It’s a daily reflection of your style:
Unlike your wedding dress or your suit which is worn just for a day, your wedding ring is something you’re going to wear every single day. This makes it one of the most personal style choices you’ll ever make. Trends like baguette wedding bands offer a fresh take on tradition, combining vintage elegance with modern minimalism. They have geometric cuts and clean silhouettes which give them a contemporary edge while still feeling classic. Whether one solo or paired with an engagement ring, they add a touch of sparkle that feels subtle and yet intentional.
It symbolizes your relationship:
Beyond the aesthetics, your wedding ring holds deep emotional value. It’s a physical representation of your commitment and your love. Many couples choose designs or custom details that hold personal meaning, from engraved messaging to birthstones or unique settings. When you take the time to find the right ring together, it becomes so much more than just a piece of jewelry, but it becomes a symbol of the promises that you’ve made and the journey that you’re beginning together.
It needs to suit your lifestyle:
The perfect ring is not just about looks, it has to work for your lifestyle too. Your ring should be designed to fit seamlessly into your daily routine. You need to choose something that’s appealing as an active wearer. A ring that has a low profile setting and smooth, clean lines is not just beautiful, but it’s practical. This makes it a great option for those who want a bit of glamour without sacrificing their comfort.
It’s a piece that you’ll treasure for life:
Your wedding ring is likely going to be one of the few accessories that remains constant throughout your life. It’s with you during milestones, quiet moments, celebrations and challenges, and over time, it becomes enmeshed in your story. It’s worth investing the time and thought into choosing a ring that resonates with you, something you’ll love just as much in thirty years as you do right now.
No matter the type of wedding band that you pick, the right ring will be a reflection of your love, your style, and your life. Pick something with care, wear it with pride, and let it tell your story every day!
Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! It is so much fun to have other couple friends and Johnny and I try to do date nights with them as often as we can. A few weekends ago, we had an absolutely fabulous time having a triple date night with two of my best girls from high school and their beaus. We hit up the best Mexican restaurant in our area, El Meson, and ate and drank like kings and queens! Regardless of if we are with other couples or not, it is still a date with Johnny too and I just had to show out in a cute little something. Check it out and peep that funky lighting. It’s starting to look like a triple rainbow!!!
I honestly have no idea where the daisy earrings are from!
When I was planning this OOTD, I had bodycon skirts on the brain. I have a substantial collection of this style of skirt because I just love them! They are the perfect combination of sassy and sexy and the fit is so flattering. So, I started styling this look by browsing in the skirt department of my wardrobe. There were quite a few of them that I wore fairly recently so I bypassed those and zeroed in on the pastel floral bodycon by Love On A Hanger. The colors and pattern of this skirt are oh so sweet and it also eliminated any think work for the rest of the outfit. It styled itself as soon as I plucked my skirt from the rack!
As it was hot AF out, a tank top or crop was definitely the move and I went for a classic white Rachel Zoe tank. I am not a basic essentials girl in any sense of the words but I will forever be obsessed with the Rachel Zoe tank top set in black and white that I purchased forever ago. They fit SO well and I appreciate the V-neck and ribbing that gives such a plain top a little extra oomph. I have been living in them all summer and the white top was just what I needed to compliment the skirt. It worked well with the pattern and also offered the same formfitting shape to offer a seamless transition.
Last but not least were shoes and accessories before we hit the road to dig into a delicious meal. For shoes, I went with a lilac pair of platforms by Olivia Miller. These were FIVE DOLLA HOLLA from Walmart and I still can’t believe that. I have other shoes by Olivia Miller that were upwards of forty bucks from TJMaxx! They fit the pastel vibe to the T and were just slightly darker than some of the lilac flowers in the skirt. So perfecto! Finally, I popped on a darling pair of daisy stud earrings to keep with the flower power aesthetic and I was ready to go to our triple date in style!
This Skirt Alert OOTD was simple, fun, and can be so easily replicated. I’m just thankful I didn’t spill anything on it! 😀
What is your favorite style of skirt? What is your favorite flower? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the newest novel by Fredrik Backman called My Friends. This book is a major change of pace from my normal thrillers but is easily one of the best ones I have ever read and I truly cannot recommend it enough. It has been several days since I finished it and I can’t stop thinking about it and talking about it to literally any and everyone! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on my friends for domestic and child abuse, violence, and sexual assault. Now, let’s get to it:
Louisa has run away from her foster home but as she says, she will turn eighteen tomorrow and technically that doesn’t make her missing. It simply makes her gone. Her only person in the world, Fish, has returned to Mother Earth and she is completely alone. Minus one thing that makes her happy, a postcard of her favorite, most beloved painting in the world. It is called The One of the Sea and was the first painting ever made by the artist, C. Jat. It is being sold at an auction this very night and she will finally be able to see the only beautiful thing she has ever had with her own eyes.
Granted, being in the auction is easier said than done. Sure, she can pass as a waitress for the uber rich but they know. They know she is not one of them and a bitter old woman declares her a cockroach. Louisa does not take kindly to that at all and her sharp mouth gets her instantly thrown out of the gallery and a call is made to the police. So, she takes her backpack full of her meager belongings that is primarily made up of spray paint, goes to the alleyway behind the gallery, and begins to decorate it.
In the alley, she meets a homeless man and what she presumes to be his cat. He appears to be desperately sick and frail and can barely speak. The man likes what she is painting very much and he is the nicest adult Louisa has ever met. As he was so kind to her, she decides to be kind to him and offers him her postcard that provides her only source of comfort. Now, he can have something beautiful too and they paint together. With his spray paint, the man creates his signature until they are rudely interrupted by the police and a wild chase ensues. Before Louisa runs away, she promises the man she will find him tomorrow and they can paint again.
As Louisa makes her getaway, the police are questioning the homeless man when they are interrupted again. This time, by a friend. His name is Ted and he tells the police that the man isn’t homeless at all. He is the artist whose painting, The One of the Sea, is being auctioned off. The artist passes out, wakes up in the hospital with Ted by his side, and with his dying breath tells him to find Louisa because she is one of them. And that is when the real story begins.
Ted finds Louisa in the alleyway where she promised the artist she would meet him and has something for her. He hands her a box that contains the most wonderful painting in the world. The artist said that artists should die poor and he sold all of his belongings to buy back his painting and see it hanging up one more time. Rather than be delighted, Louisa is affronted. How can she possibly be responsible for a painting so beautiful and valuable? And what in the world is she going to do with it? Everyone will think it was stolen.
After copious amounts of bickering, Ted goes against his better judgement and agrees to let Louisa come with him back to his hometown. There is someone there who might be able to help sell the painting. The unlikely pair board a train. Louisa who knows no fear and Ted who is afraid of everything. Ted isn’t just a random person though, he is one of the people in the painting. You see, The One of the Sea isn’t of the sea at all. Sure, there is the sea and a pier, but it’s a painting of laughter. A painting of three teenagers that you can just barely make out who look like they are in stitches together. Barely anyone notices them in the painting because they are looking at the sea but they are all Louisa can think about.
Every night, Louisa would go to sleep thinking about those friends. Thinking that when she woke up, she would be at the pier with them and they would teach her how to swim. They were her friends too. She asks Ted to tell her all about them and he does. He tells her of the summer when three people changed his life for forever. Rather, how they changed each other’s lives. And after that summer, none of them will ever be the same. Who were these remarkable people? And who was the artist, really? Read My Friends to find out!
Reading My Friends was like reading a book of poetry. Fredrik Backman crafted every single word in this book with the most tender care and you could find something that moves you in every sentence. Something that makes you laugh out loud, something that makes you cry, something that makes you happy to feel anything at all. And, believe you me, I did a lot of crying while reading this book. But I also laughed and fell in love with each character and it was such a cathartic experience.
My Friends goes back and forth from real time to Ted’s story twenty-five years ago and you could swear that it just happened yesterday. And, in a way, it is because Louisa is hearing it for the very first time too. And, through his story, Louisa is able to see real beauty for the first time in her life. She is able to be wrapped in words by an adult who doesn’t raise his voice or fists. She drives Ted absolutely crazy but is simply impossible not to love. Louisa reminded the artist of his own friends and through their journey, Ted learns that she is one of them indeed. Maybe more than anyone else in the whole world and it was a gift to read both of their worlds expand. To learn that no one is really as alone as they may seem.
I am going to award My Friends with a ten million out of ten stars. This is a book for everyone and should not be skipped on. I think you will love it just as much as I did!
Have you read My Friends yet? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Concert Cutie OOTD! These pics were taken before an absolutely fabulous night seeing The Struts and thank goodness we didn’t take them after because I was a sweaty mess. I love styling OOTDs for concerts because it provides the perfect opportunity to not only show out but stand out in the crowd. It gives you the chance to be bold, have fun, and put on a fit that you might not normally wear on a normal outing. My look to see The Struts was Spice Girls inspired and it is one of my favorite ones yet – I had to go full glam to be in the presence of glam party rockers! I put my best face and fit forward but in these pics, the face leaves a lot to be desired lol check it out:
Don’t mind me, it’s my first day with my hands
Why do I always have to get an itch at the most inconvenient time?
Apparently I REALLY had to go to the bathroom
Wiping the sweat from my furrowed chin
Look out! Sexy lady coming through!!
Fist pumping like champs
Off to the show BYE!!!!
This has nothing to do with the concert but it is a funny story nonetheless. The concert was my belated birthday gift and our sweet niece recently turned three. Her party was held at Chuck E. Cheese… Excuse me – Charles Entertainment Cheese. I honestly didn’t even know this place still existed, all I knew was that my mom absolutely despised taking me and my siblings there when we were little. And, believe you me, I get it. It’s a germ buffet and all of the characters are creepy AF! Funny enough, my birthday girl and eldest niece held similar sentiments. They LIVED for the games but are terrified of Chuck E.! Whenever the character actor would roll through the function, they both ran away like their lives depended on it. Lol, I guess it was a small price to pay for arcade games, pizza, and a Bluey cake!
Johnny and I were in stitches throughout the event because Chuck E. Cheese serves booze, which is wild. There is a catch, though. Two drinks maximum and one drink per hour which is probably a good thing considering there was a point when fights were breaking out at Charles Entertainment constantly. As we sipped our White Claw and played games so our nieces could cash in the tickets we won for prizes, we joked that it was our favorite bar lolol. As we had to work the following day, we decided to get a personal pizza to go and share it. Guys, I kid you not, this pizza literally looked like play food. You know the kind – the plastic pizza with Velcro to attach the slices. It also tasted like what I assume play food tastes like lol. But, hey, it was a small price to pay to celebrate one of our favorite little ladies and play ALL the Skee Ball! 😀
If you have a Chuck E. Cheese in the area, I highly recommend taking your kiddos because it’s straight up hilarious. 15/10 experience sans the scary costumed rat!!!
How would you celebrate your birthday when you were little? What is something that creeped you out in your youth? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Howdy! I am a HUGE fan of social media and enjoy posting on my Facebook and TikTok so much. As a word girl through and through, I rarely watch TikTok videos and leave my social media intake to scrolling through Facebook. However, let’s be real – Facebook has become a massive buzzkill and it only gets worse by the day considering the political climate in the USA. Scrolling for fun became doom scrolling and I just couldn’t take it anymore. So, I post a bunch of BS, avoid what upsets me like the plague, and call it a day.
Normally, my social media time is when I get home from work and Johnny is playing video games. We’ll do our own thing, chat about our day, and then go on to having dinner and watching our favorite shows. With my usual source of entertainment on the outs in the past couple of weeks, I have been left with nothing to do but twiddle my thumbs. It’s hard to cozy up in my favorite chair with a book when video game noises are reverberating throughout the living room! So, I decided to do something different and downloaded a couple of apps called Finch and Flutter. I had seen several ads for both of them when I was on the hunt for funny memes on FB and figured it couldn’t hurt to give them a go. I’m so glad I did because I have been LOVING them!
Let’s start by discussing Finch. Finch is an app that revolves around mental health and well being as you care for a little bird. After you download the app, it does a mental health screening. What are your challenges? What would you like to improve? Then, it creates goals that revolves around that which will help your bird grow, earn points, and go on adventures. For example, if you struggle with focus, one of your goals might be to turn off your phone notifications when you are working. If you are working through anxiety, your goals could include doing some breathing exercises which the app will walk you through. It’s pretty cool!
When I was little, Neopets was the website to be on and my siblings and I were obsessed with it. In fact, I can remember racing each other after school to the computer room to be the first in line to check on our virtual pets. Having Finch is really like having a pocket pet or Tamagotchi and it hits right in the nostalgia. It might not have the best games ever like Meerca Chase but it is still a lot of fun and fulfilling too! It feels good to check off goals as you complete them and I do feel better when I use it. As a caffeine queen, I have several goals a day to drink more water. And when I spend my mornings working on the computer, stretch break or stepping outside goals come in very handy. It’s nice to check in with my little bird every day and I always look forward to when my Poppy comes home from her adventures to tell me about her new discoveries. Highly recommend! ❤
The other app I have been using daily is called Flutter. Long story short, you are in a lovely forest that plays the most soothing music and your goal is to fill it with moths. You can expand your surroundings with the points you earn, decorate it with flowers and mushrooms to attract different species, and nurture your moths by feeding them pollen and leveling them up. There are challenges to complete like missions the wise owl in the forest sends you on, growing mushrooms for the resident ant, and feeding a gigantic frog fireflies to earn flowers.
Flutter is extremely mindless but incredibly pleasing. Your forest and the music is absolutely charming and it’s nice to watch your moths flit about as you wait patiently for a new one to grow. It’s exciting to continue leveling up because your moths just keep getting better and better and you can learn all kinds of interesting facts as your insect encyclopedia expands. Flutter is definitely not as goal oriented as Finch but I still really enjoy using it. So much so, that I haven’t even tried their butterfly or under the sea expansions because I am so invested in my forest! 😀
If you are sick of doom scrolling during your spare time, I cannot recommend giving Finch or Flutter a try enough. It has been a welcome change of pace from my usual routine!
What is your favorite app? Have you used Finch or Flutter before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Fashion staples are those timeless pieces that people have found useful to have in their wardrobe over and over again. These are the kind of clothes that let us dress for the occasion, the weather, and for our own sense of comfort and confidence. Here are the fashion staples every person should have in their collection. You never know where you might be invited or what your professional role might require you to wear, and these garments will see you through:
Simple, Casual Tees:
How many simple, casual, and plain tees do you own? One or two? Maybe ten or twenty? If it’s the latter, you can certainly skip this step! But if you’re the kind of person who finds these types of t-shirts boring and useless, you’ll still want to have some in your wardrobe. There will be occasions where you need them, and other tops won’t fit the bill. No matter what your personal preference is, it’s best to have two to three simple and casual tees in your wardrobe. They can be worn to compliment a bold patterned piece or you can elevate them to fit your personal style with accessories.
Additionally, to ensure your t-shirt has the right fit, you can check out these t shirts for some inspiration if you’re taller, as they’re specifically designed for tall men with extra length in the torso and sleeves to ensure a proper fit without riding up or feeling too short. Note the neutral shades that are featured as these will go with anything you pair them with.
Bottoms That Aren’t Jeans:
Jeans are wonderfully versatile clothing. You can wear them to most things, including work. However, they’re not always going to be appropriate. Sometimes you will need other sets of bottoms, whether it’s a pair of slacks, some cargo trousers, or capris. Even if you don’t wear trousers of any kind very often, these staples will still need to be on your shelves or hangers. Aside from jeans, make sure you’ve got at least two other types of bottom options in your wardrobe. You can have as many jeans as you like, in as many shades of denim as you fancy! Just leave some room for a few spare pieces you can fall back to when jeans won’t cut it.
Shirt/Blouse and a Blazer:
A classic blouse or button down shirt and a good blazer are the perfect kind of corporate wear that’s good for turning up to work in. They don’t have to be plain either, if you don’t want them to be. We would recommend having a plain white shirt or blouse hanging up though, just in case you do need a basic like this when you’re first starting a job. As for the blazer, make sure you can comfortably button it and wear it round. Be sure to double check in the mirror how it creases around you as you move. We’ve all been in a scenario where we’ve had a blazer on and needed to lift our arms above our head, only for the lapels to stay there when we bring them back down!
A Cocktail Dress or Suit:
When you own a cocktail dress and/or a suit or two, you’ve always got something quite fancy but not too over the top to wear. Now the next time you’re invited out to a dinner with some co-workers, you won’t have to turn them down simply because you’re not sure what to put on. Cocktail dresses and suits are usually considered to be ‘semi formal’ wear and they’re still sleek and stylish enough for most upmarket events. Indeed, you could even attend award shows and red carpets in these garments! But unless you’ve got the next Oscars firmly booked in your calendar, we recommend reserving them for more professional events and serious occasions.
2 Pairs of Smart Shoes, 2 Pairs of Trainers:
When you have two sets of each, you’ll have a pair of shoes that will be appropriate no matter where you need to go. And trust us when we say that you cannot operate with just either alone. You need both parts of the shoe world on your side. It’s why you’ll want the smart shoes to be different styles from each other. A set of heels that can go with any outfit, for example, alongside a pair of flatter shoes that wouldn’t look out of place on the office floor. And then we come to the trainers. Unlike the smart shoes, you’ll want these to be the most comfortable, well-shaped trainers you can find. Once you’ve found your soul-pair, buy them in double! You’ll be wearing these more than the smart shoes, so you’re going to need a backup pair just in case.
A Long Coat:
Finally, no one should have a wardrobe that doesn’t have at least one long coat tucked away to the side. This is your traditional bit of outerwear that’s perfect for dreary and wet days, usually in the autumn, early winter, and sometimes in the spring. A coat like this will usually take the form of a trench coat, but you can go a bit fluffier and fancier here if you like. Whatever your style, there’s going to be a long form coat out there for you! As long as it’s down to your knees at the least, you’ll have a reliable overcoat to pop on for the days when you need a bit of weatherproofing all over but don’t want something too heavy.
With these classic staples in your wardrobe, you will be able to dress to impress for any occasion!
Play is the way children develop skills, discover their world, and relate to other children. For families with children of varying abilities, it does take a bit of effort to come up with activities where all of them will be able to play together, but it is also very rewarding. Better still, you don’t have to spend very much money or have an extensive workshop setting in order to achieve it. Let’s look at a few different ways to explore how:
Start with What They Love:
Every child has something that will get them excited, a favorite activity type, texture, or color. Start with that. If your little one loves music, think of ways to integrate movement and sound into games. Drumming on turned-over pots, shaking handmade chimes, or beating along with one hand on something will entertain children of all abilities.
Keep It Flexible:
Inclusive play also means adapting play so that all children can participate at their own pace. Envision a game of catch with an enlarged ball that is easy on the grip and rolls more gradually. Or create a sensory bin with things of different textures, such as smooth rocks, soft cloths, and crinkled paper, so children can choose and select whatever entertains them. The more adaptable the arrangement, the more likely it is that each child will create his or her own manner of participating.
Take Into Consideration Space and Accessibility:
At other moments, it is not the activity that creates the barrier but the configuration of the room itself. Bypassing floor obstacles, the use of low tables, and gaps between the path and other zones all help greatly. If it is an outside game being organized, ensure that the ground is firm and easily negotiable for all users. Simple adaptations of this sort will allow full participation in the game to children with mobility devices or those requiring more space within which to move.
Involve the Whole Household:
When everyone joins in, play feels more inclusive. Siblings, cousins, or friends can be given simple roles like keeping score, helping to pass materials, or partnering up for team activities. This not only supports the child with additional needs but also builds empathy and understanding among all the kids involved.
Bring in Useful Inspiration:
Innovation is not always required. Sometimes the best of practical tips come from those already on the other side of the journey. Consultation with therapists, teachers, or other parents in support groups within the community will give you new activity ideas that work. At an even broader scale, information offered through a life care planning company might give you ideas on how you might incorporate environments and routines that specifically complement all of the family members’ abilities and needs.
Make It About Joy, Not Perfection:
The objective isn’t that all children finish the activity identically. It’s laughter, curiosity, and bonding in common moments. If the tower of blocks topples over, that’s all in good fun. If a child paints the grass rather than the paper, a new medium of art has been made!
Once you’ve discovered some things that all of you love to do, incorporate them into your regular lineup. You’ll notice over time which subtle changes make them more fun. Soon you’ll have a collection of games, crafts, and sensory activities that unite the entire family and you’ll see that with a little imagination, play really is for all!
Hello! Johnny and I are attending an outdoor summer wedding of our dear friends and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate such a wonderful couple! The wedding will take place on an almost ninety degree day and as you all know, Lil Red does not do well in extreme heat. For this reason, every dress I had in mind to wear went straight out the window because they were thicker in material or a maxi style. While I would have made do, I thought I would try my luck at TJMaxx to see if I could find something that would keep me more comfortable. During my last trip to TJs, everything summer was getting marked down and I was hoping to find a dress on the cheap. The fashion gods truly smiled upon me because the dress I ended up with was the very last one I tried on! Check it out:
As you might remember, I have a method when it comes to shopping at TJMaxx and this trip was a shining example of why it works so well. Step 1) Make my rounds. Step 2) Try clothes on. Step 3) Revisit the departments for anything I might have missed. As I browsed the store for Step 1, I honestly had thought that I had seen it all. The racks of dresses went from jam packed a few weeks ago to barely anything there. And, unfortunately, every dress I did happen to like did nothing for me during my first fitting room session. I was frustrated and I almost bypassed Step 3 of revisiting the dress racks because surely I couldn’t have missed anything when there were such limited options to pick from. WRONG!!
I was SO dead wrong and this is exactly why you never bypass Step 3! Sure enough, as soon as I returned to the dresses, it was like the pretty little Cynthia Rowley number magically appeared. I took a few other dresses to the fitting room and I shouldn’t have even bothered. This dress was last but certainly not least and it was perfect. The price was perfect too – it was only ten dollars!! My new dress is a linen material and it is nice and light and the pattern just screams summer. It is laden with kiwis, pomegranates, and oranges and is basically a fruit salad in a dress. Have I used the word perfect already? Yes, but I don’t care because it also perfectly compliments by orange and pink nails! It was like my trip to Elysian Nails was leading up to this fateful fitting room moment.
Now, this dress might not be dressy enough for a typical wedding. However, an outdoor summer wedding gives you plenty of wiggle room for what’s appropriate to wear. Let’s be honest, is anyone expecting other people to wear full fledged penguin suits and ball gowns? Hard no. It’s all about light fabrics and sundresses and every dress I tried on prior to the Cynthia Rowley one seemed laughable once it was on. They were all long and heavy and I just know I would have been miserable in them even if they looked good. I was genuinely worried about being in the heat for that long and this dress will allow me to celebrate and dance the night away without getting heat stroke. GREAT SUCCESS!
If at first you don’t succeed at TJMaxx, try and try again or however that old saying goes. My only regret is that I didn’t find this dress sooner because I would have been wearing it all summer long!
Have the stores near you put out fall clothing yet? Do you plan on shopping summer clearance? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello!! One of my nieces is almost a birthday girl and I can’t wait to celebrate! Last year, she was all about Gabby’s Dollhouse (And still is!) but this past year, she has turned into Bluey’s number one fan. TJMaxx always has beaucoup Bluey in the children’s department so I knew just where to go to pick up her prezzies. I got her new Bluey duds, an interactive Bluey toy, and a light up Bluey figurine to paint. Upon further inspection of the figurine, I thought that it might be too involved for her to do so I decided to paint it really nicely myself. I worked on it all of this past weekend and thought it turned out so good minus when the light is turned on. It looks like garbage then, which is kind of a bummer! Check it out:
^^^ UGH -_-
Painting this figurine was truly a labor of love and I mean that very seriously because it took for freaking ever lol. When I first started applying the acrylic paint, it was going on really thin and chunky. I also learned that it would be necessary to paint it in parts so there was always a place with dried paint to hold onto. Once the first layer was fully on, it was obvious that I would need to repaint it again… and again… and again. I ended up repainting this statue of Bluey’s loving mom and dad FOUR times in total and it definitely needed it. The areas that specifically had darker colors like the deep blues on Bluey’s dad didn’t even come close to being how it should look until the fourth attempt.
I was so happy I was satisfied with the end result by the time my fourth go around was complete because there was literally nothing else I could do. All of the paint was long gone at that point! I hate to toot my own horn, but I think that my weekend painting project turned out fabulously. Even Johnny was impressed and I was just pleased as punch. The real kicker, though, was when the batteries were in and the green and red lights began to alternate. Because WTF?! You can see Every. Single. Paint stroke and then some. It’s sort of creepy actually lol. On the bright side, sans light it looks just right and that’s good enough for me! 😀
As time consuming and sometimes frustrating as this project was, it warmed my cold bitter heart to make something special for my niece. I hope she loves it!
What was your favorite show growing up? Do you have any diehard Bluey kiddos? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
lifewithlilred 