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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
Nov3

Sephora Haul

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Sephora Haul

Hi! I was running low on my Better Than Sex mascara, which meant that it was time to put an online order in with Sephora. I love shopping on Sephora’s website because of all of the amazing freebies that are offered with your purchase. You can’t beat free shipping, two samples, a mini product, and cashing in your Beauty Insider points for a haul worth writing home about… Or posting on your blog about, I should say! Check it out:

The Haul:

  • 2 Too Faced Better Than Sex mascaras
  • Clinique Moisture Surge moisturizer: FREE with Beauty Insider points
  • Summer Fridays Jet Lag face mask: FREE with twenty-five dollar purchase
  • Lancome Advanced Genifique serum sample: FREE with purchase
  • Fenty Skin starter set sample: FREE with purchase

The Better Than Sex mascara by Too Faced is the most expensive makeup product that I use. While I cringe a bit at the twenty-seven dollar price tag, I can justify it by all of the goodies that I get to test out from my purchase. Sephora always offers an assortment of free mini products with twenty-five dollar orders and if you shop with Sephora, then you know that that isn’t hard to do!

During my online shopping, I usually like to cash in my Beauty Insider points and when I saw that the Clinique Moisture Surge moisturizer was available, it went into my bag immediately. I do love my Garnier SkinActive moisturizers but the Moisture Surge by Clinique is SO nice. It is ultra hydrating, so lightweight, and absorbs like a dream. Although I have a ton of my Garnier moisturizers in my stock pile, the Clinique one will be much appreciated during the winter to help combat dry skin.

For my next freebie, I chose the Jet Lag face mask by Summer Fridays because it has been a while since we have had a Face Mask Festivities post. Testing out new face masks is one of my favorite things to do to relax and you can’t beat trying one out free of charge. I’m excited! 😀

Finally, for my samples I went with a serum by Lancome and the Fenty Skin starter set. I could take or leave the serum because I am most looking forward to trying out the Fenty products – I have always wanted to! The starter set came with the Total Cleans’r, Fat Water, and Hydra Vizor. How can you turn down testing out a product named Fat Water?! The answer is that you don’t lol.

For under sixty dollars, I was able to get my must have mascara and a whole lot of freebies along with it. I can’t wait to try out all of the new to me products in my haul so keep it posted for reviews!

Have you used any of these products before? What do you think of them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

 

Nov2

Easy Ways To Secure Your Home

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Easy Ways To Secure Your Home

If you’re decorating your home or working on some important home maintenance, then you might be thinking about your home security. However, a burglar can strike at any time and if your home isn’t secure, then you could be at risk. To help you get back to the more enjoyable home tasks, here are some easy ways to make your home is more secure:

Secure The Doors:

Don’t let someone just walk in your front door. More burglars than you’d think gain access through the front door. Check that all of your exterior doors have strong door frames, protected hinges, and a mail slot that can’t be used to reach through to unlock the door. If you’re moving into a home that someone else lived in, change the locks. This means that there won’t be strangers out there with keys to your home. You can also make sure that you have the best locks available.

There are some other easy reinforcements you can add:

  • Install a deadbolt
  • Add a strike plate
  • Upgrade to smart locks
  • Buy a video doorbell

Reinforce Sliding Glass Doors:

Sliding doors are loved by burglars, so make sure that yours are properly protected. You could use a window bar or a dowel in the track to prevent the door from being forced open from the outside. For a more high-tech solution, you can add a door sensor or a glass break sensor. These will alert you if someone tampers with the door, and the loud noise could scare off an intruder.

Tend to the Garage Door:

A garage door that isn’t functioning as it should is a huge welcome sign to burglars and provides an open invitation into your home. Finding a team that specializes in garage door repair should be done immediately to get it back in working order and provide peace of mind. If you have to wait for the repair to take place, ensure that any doors leading into the home from the garage are locked at all times until the garage door can get fixed.

Lock Your Windows:

Windows are another entry point for intruders, as they are often left shut but unlocked by homeowners. If you’re considering replacement windows, make sure you take security into account. Manufacturer latches on windows aren’t always effective, and can often be quite flimsy. If you don’t think your window latches are secure, you can add new locks to them or key-operated levers to make them more secure. There are some other upgrades that you can make to:

  • Reinforce the glass with window security film
  • Install window or glass break sensors
  • Add window bars
  • Plant prickly bushes under first-floor windows

Light Up The Landscape:

Intruders don’t want to be caught in a bright light. You can discourage would-be intruders by using plenty of outdoor lighting. Place lots of lights around your front and back yards, along any pathways, and near the garage and other outdoor structures. These lights will make intruders less likely to approach the house, but you’ll also reduce the risk of stumbling yourself when you come home at night.

You can make your outdoor security lights even more effective with a few other tips:

  • Use motion-activated lights
  • Save power with solar-powered lights
  • Use a smart outlet to put outdoor lights on a timer
  • Set up schedules with smart light bulbs

Keeping your home secure and safe doesn’t have to be complicated. Some simple, affordable upgrades can help you to keep things more secure, so you can feel much safer in your home.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Nov2

Accessory Story: Halloween Haul Pt. 2

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Accessory Story: Halloween Haul Pt. 2

Hello! After acquiring our Halloween costumes, Johnny and I realized that we didn’t have everything that we needed. So, we made our way back to Spirit Halloween to pick up some odds and ends to complete our costumes. Makeup was an absolute must but I also needed to grab some type of skirt for my bodysuit style costume, which I can’t wait to show you all! Now, take a look at this part two Halloween Haul:

Despite getting everything that we needed for our costumes, I will be the first to admit that Johnny and I should have done this a lot earlier. When we hit the store last Thursday, Spirit Halloween was so picked over with entire displays completely bare and a check out line longer than waiting for a ride at an amusement part. I think if we waited even an hour longer to go, we wouldn’t have gotten the last few essentials for our costumes!

Originally, I wanted a black tulle skirt to compliment my bodysuit but there was none to be found. All that was left was purple and red skirts so red it was! Because the red was going to be such an abrupt pop of color, I decided to go with the glitter top hat headband to tie the look together. It might work or it might not but, on the bright side, I could use it if I celebrate Halloween as a sexy Mad Hatter next year lol.

With the costume accessories taken care of, it was onto makeup and Johnny purchased us a palette with red, black, and white cream based makeup. While he selected our face palette, I needed eyelash glue in a bad way because all of mine was no longer usable. I won’t be wearing the bow fake eyelashes with my costume but it gave me all of the Hello Kitty vibes and I couldn’t pass them up. So cute!

And, finally, the hair glitter was not really a costume purchase either but something fun to have. I used to love using gold and silver spray glitter in my hair for some fairy sparkle so I just had to buy a can for myself. I was a bit disappointed that there was no gold glitter but beggars can’t be choosers when the entire store’s supply was almost entirely gone.

Partially for costumes and partially for fun, Spirit Halloween provided me with another successful accessory haul. I can’t wait for all of you to see mine and Johnny’s Halloween OOTDs so keep it posted!

What is your favorite holiday? What did you dress up as for Halloween? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov1

How To Regain Your Confidence To Smile More 

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How To Regain Your Confidence To Smile More 

There are so many reasons to smile in life. From daily affection from your children to having some time to cook up a storm, there are daily occurrences that everyone experiences that should encourage you to smile. Smiling more will maintain a good mood and a positive attitude. Should you dislike your smile or not feel entirely confident when smiling, here is how to regain your confidence and fall back in love with your smile:

Get dental help:

Using dental services can get your smile in top condition so that you feel more confident and happy smiling. You can repair your teeth, transform them to better health, or reshape them so that you like your smile and the overall look of your teeth. Getting help with your teeth will help you achieve your desired outcome as well as the best oral health.

Practice in the mirror:

You might not like your smile because of a quick and unflattering picture. If so, remember that a picture does not always reflect what you look like. You could have been caught off guard yet remember that in your mind and use it as a reason not to smile. If this is the case, then practice smiling more in the mirror. Doing so will help you see how much better you look when you smile. It will also help you practice smiling for photos so that you can see how much nicer you look when you smile for the next pictures you take.

Smile more:

If you often find that you have a grumpy face yet feel happy, why not show off your happiness through smiling? There is no harm in walking around smiling or watching the TV and smiling. Smiling is the best way to feel happy. If you are not in the best mood and want to get out of your slump, then try smiling and notice how much better it makes you feel. You will soon smile more and more and regain your confidence to smile again.

Face the fear:

Everyone has their own unique phobia and if yours is smiling in photos or in public, then face those fears. It is the only way to overcome it. The more you practice smiling in photos and out in public, the more comfortable you will feel doing it. Soon enough, it will come naturally to you to smile in photos and you will look back and realize how far you have come by facing your fears.

Brush as much as you should:

Should you have poor teeth or gum health, it could be the reason that you are avoiding smiling. If so, then make sure to brush your teeth and gums as often as you should (at least twice a day) to maintain good oral health. Better oral health will encourage you to smile more and feel confident in doing so. If you can find time to brush after every meal, then you will be able to achieve optimal oral health.

You are never fully dressed without a smile! Use the tips above and soon you will be flashing your pearly whites all day. 🙂

Featured Image By: Anastasia Gepp from Pixabay

Nov1

Accessory Story: Halloween Haul Edition

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Accessory Story: Halloween Haul Edition

Hi! Halloween is mine and Johnny’s favorite time of the year. We love the style, the decorations, and all of the other spooky treats that come with the season. Last week, we ventured out to three different stores to search for vampire costumes for Halloween weekend and while Johnny found a great costume, I had no such luck. I had to resort to purchasing a costume off of Amazon (Which you will all see soon!) but I didn’t walk away from our shopping empty handed. Check out my Halloween Accessory Haul:

While I normally prefer accessory shopping at TJMaxx, you can’t beat places like Spirit Halloween to find odds and ends that add a touch of the macabre to all of your OOTDS. I have always wanted finger rings despite my pointy acrylics and just couldn’t pass up on the ones that I bought. And, yes, I had to buy them both because I couldn’t decide between the Vampire and Skeleton pack! Can you imagine typing at the keyboard with those babies on? 😀

Several years ago, I bought a pair of my favorite bloody knife earrings from Spirit Halloween and was looking forward to scoping out their earring selection. It definitely didn’t disappoint and I love the Day Of The Dead inspired dangly pair that I picked out. The real piece de resistance, however, is the feather collar for all of the Black Swan vibes. I recently rewatched that movie for the millionth time and when I saw only one collar left on the shelf, it had to come home with me.

I seriously cannot wait to create a look with the collar as the centerpiece so keep your eyes peeled for that as well as my Halloween costume OOTD very soon. It may be November first but that’s no matter when every day is Halloween in my household! ❤

What did you dress up as for Halloween? How would you style my feather collar? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct31

Easy Tips For Improved Cooking Skills 

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Easy Tips For Improved Cooking Skills 

Knowing how to cook is a basic, fundamental skill that we all need to have. The pandemic has been tough on everyone, but many people have gone out of their way to get creative. Some have headed outside and created a garden packed with new flowers and veggies. Others have turned their hand to DIY and revamped their entire houses.

Then, there are those who turned to cooking. With the pandemic ending and lock downs lifting, people are choosing to Google ‘bakery course near me’ to improve their cooking skills that they learned while they were unable to go out and see people. Cooking is an amazing skill to have – it’s science and a little bit of magic all rolled together. Learning to bake a beautiful loaf of bread or cook the perfect roast chicken dinner? It’s all part of the fun.

If you want to improve your cooking skills, you can, and we’ve got some tips for you below to continue building your skill set:

Shop Well:

You can’t cook delicious meals without delicious ingredients, right? Ingredients that are fresh and vibrant in taste and color can help you to make transformative foods. Even the most basic dishes can become five star meals when you choose the right ingredients, and that’s the best place to start.

Get Equipped:

Can you cook the perfect fried egg if your pans are scratched to pieces? Of course not. If you want to make cooking a hobby of yours, then you need to equip yourself with the right tools. The right pans, the best knives, new kitchen scales, and the right cutlery can ensure that your cooking becomes something better than you ever thought it could be. The best quality equipment will help you to bring those recipes out properly.

Prepare Beforehand:

Be prepared. You need to get yourself set up by weighing and measuring all of your ingredients before you even get started. Warm up the oven early, and get into the habit of preparing your ingredients before you do anything else. This will make the whole process easier on you when you want to improve the current skills you have.

And, remember, part of the prep work before making anything involves reading the recipe thoroughly! When you are just beginning to take cooking more seriously inspect the recipe carefully no matter how easy it might seem. From pasta sauce to a diet-friendly edibles recipe, you don’t want to realize you don’t have some necessary ingredients halfway through the process!

Have A Tasting Spoon:

When you cook, you need to taste. You’ll see the best chefs tasting as they go and they do this for a good reason. Tasting will help you to tell whether you have seasoned enough and it can help you to avoid plating up a dish that really doesn’t taste great. Of course, you need to keep this spoon separate from the rest of the cooking utensils you use!

Use the tips above to make the next meal you prepare even better. Happy cooking!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Oct31

5 Reasons Why Being A Sports Fan Is Great For You

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5 Reasons Why Being A Sports Fan Is Great For You

Many of us have a love of sports and there is something so exciting about following your favorite team as they make their way to the championship. Whether it’s cheering on the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL or Liverpool in the premier league, watching your team achieve greatness is the best thing. In fact, there are many benefits to being a sports fan, and some studies show that being one has positive psychological, emotional, and social benefits like the following:

Sense of Community:

The sense of community is a key component to what makes sports so popular. It’s a way for people who might not have much in common or from different parts of the world to connect. In our society, sports have become a way for different people from various cultures and backgrounds to come together and share in the excitement. The power of cheering and support from other fans in the stadium is amazing. It’s great being part of a big community and sharing sports news through sites similar to https://sportnews.in/.

This sports fan community really is there when you think about it on a smaller scale too. How many times have you worn your favorite Steelers or Cronulla Sharks merchandise and then got engaged in conversation from a stranger? Whether it’s playful banter about whose team is better or which player is looking good this year, your sports merch is inviting a chat with anyone who loves the game. You might make a new friend from something as simple as wearing a team jersey!

Help To Deal With Stress:

Sports have always been a great way to relieve stress. Watching sports helps to relax, distracts you from your problems, and gives you something to talk about with other people. We all know that there is nothing better than watching your favorite team win. Watching your favorite player score a goal or make an awesome play is so inspirational. It’s easy to be transported when watching a big game and having something to focus on and cheer for is a perfect way to shake away stress.

Happiness:

When it comes to the team’s fans, they have their own set of reasons to cheer on the team. Some may have been born into sports fandom like Stephen Troese Jr, some may be cheering for their favorite player, or they could just be cheering for the joy of being in a good mood. One study found that 50% of participants reported feeling more energetic when it comes to baseball games and 41% felt more relaxed after watching the game with happy spectators. Those numbers speak for themselves!

Increased Self Esteem:

Overall, sports fans not only get to reap the social benefits but also the psychological benefits as well. We often feel down on ourselves and forget about our accomplishments. It’s easy to get caught up in the negative aspects of life. But cheering for your favorite team has been found to boost self esteem and make you feel better about yourself. Being a sports fan can also boost your self esteem from a social perspective as you chat away with other enthusiasts. You might even have the opportunity to teach them something new about their favorite teams or players. Keep up to date with all of the sports news you enjoy with a subscription for BRT Sports Magazine (or another similar digital magazine) so you can keep the conversation flowing and encourage new friendships.

Make Some Money:

Sports betting has become an increasingly popular hobby and can be quite lucrative. Whether it’s a small wager among friends or using an app or website to bet, it’s important to be smart about it. Do your research of the team and all of its players, look into the buzz on Champions League Predictions or the next big game coming up, and only make a bet with an amount you are comfortable with losing. While this is not for everyone, it can be a bit of fun and might provide some extra pocket change.

If you enjoy sports betting, be sure to keep your finger on the pulse of big changes in your preferred sport so you can make informed decisions. You will want the most current information while also being well versed in the past performances of players and the franchise as a whole. Looking up “football predictions today“, for example, can help you start considering your bets for the night’s big game. The most accurate information is also beneficial as it gives you the opportunity to think about all possible outcomes before laying your money down.

When a sports fan cheers for a team, they are not only boosting their own self esteem but also supporting their hometown or country’s success. It’s a common trend for people to be more connected with the community when they are enjoying a game all together.

Featured Image By: Jimmy Conover on Unsplash

Oct31

Welcome To The Rainbow Bridge

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Welcome To The Rainbow Bridge

Hello…. We interrupt our scheduled broadcasting of Halloween accessories to deliver some very sad news. This past Tuesday, one of my sweet family pups, Ollie, joined our other beloved fallen four leggeds on the Rainbow Bridge. Ollie was the gentlest most darling little boy and fought valiantly through heart failure. Needless to say, mine and my family’s hearts are absolutely broken and we miss lil Ollie terribly.

We are all so thankful for the time that he had with us and to Canine Lifeline for helping us welcome him into our home. I don’t think anyone could see a picture of our tiny Terrier without welcoming him into your hearts too:

On February 13th of 2014, we brought Ollie home and adopted him officially on Valentine’s Day. I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him and will never forget how he pranced out the door of the pet store and into the car when we took him home. I don’t think he left my arms for hours! As we’ve always had medium sized dogs, a little one that you could scoop up was a novelty to all of us.

Ollie had so many funny quirks like his absolute refusal to walk down stairs so we would have to carry him down when he would wander onto the second floor. We would also always joke that he was part cat because he had so many cat like mannerisms! He would bat all of his toys and his wittle face whenever he had an itch. He was also incredibly particular about his treats but I’m sure he is chowing down on his preferred soft peanut butter bites up in doggy heaven.

It is never easy to part with our furry friends but I take so much comfort in the fact that he is in a happy place and back to his normal, perky self. We love you so much, little Ollie, and it is never goodbye but see you later. ❤

Do you have any pets? Do they have any quirky habits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct30

October 2021 Finishes

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October 2021 Finishes

Hello! Sadly, official spooky season is drawing to a close which means that it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes for the month. It also commences spooky season all year round for Johnny and I lol! Last month, we had a ton of beauty finishes to discuss while today we only have a mere three so this will be a short and sweet post. Also, make sure you tune in tomorrow to see some Halloween accessories that I purchased when Johnny and I went costume shopping. 😀 Now, lets get to it:

Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

e.l.f. Eye Cream: Prior to the pandemic, I was loyal to the SkinLab products and loved their gel eye cream that I could purchase at TJMaxx. Unfortunately, my monthly TJs trips ended due to COVID and I turned to Amazon for my beauty products. I was surprised to see the gel eye cream that I would normally buy for seven dollars was selling for twenty and I couldn’t bring myself to make the purchase. So, I began searching for cheaper but effective eye creams, instead, and ended up with the Holy Hydration! cream by e.l.f..

I bought this eye cream because it received great reviews on Amazon and was only six dollars. Despite the almost five star rating, I would be a liar if I said I wasn’t a little wary of just how cheap this eye cream was which is why I was pleasantly surprised when I fell in love with it. The Holy Hydration! eye cream lasted me close to two months and in that time, I noticed that the sensitive skin around my eyes felt smoother and oh so hydrated and my designer bags were decreased too. 😀

For the price, you just can’t beat this eye cream and I highly recommend it. This just goes to show that you don’t need to spend an arm and a leg for your skin care! If you would like to read about my other finishes that have already been discussed, be sure to check out the linked posts. ❤

What is your favorite drug store skin care brand? Which products did you use up this month? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct29

Keeping An Eye On Your Child’s Health This Winter

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Keeping An Eye On Your Child’s Health This Winter

Kids have a habit of picking up every little thing that is going around. It doesn’t matter if it is a cold or the latest dance fad. As parents, we want to make sure that our kids stay healthy so we need to keep an eye on them. Here are some ways to monitor your child’s health this winter:

Know what help is available:

Kids can have accidents and they can get sick at a moments notice so it is important to know what medical assistance is around you. Medicare On Video is a great way to understand what help you can get in the event of yourself or your kids needing help. Local hospitals are often signposted so that anyone can find them, not just the locals. And don’t forget, if you have any doubts, Google can be your friend.

Alert other parents:

It isn’t nice when our kids get sick but if they do, it is important to let the parents around us know so that they can prepare. Their kids might get lucky and skip the bug that is going around but it is always best to warn others if your kids have taken ill. If their kids became ill, you would want to know so that you can prepare. It isn’t a pleasant phone call or message to make but it is better than allowing viruses to run rampage through their group of friends. This is really useful if they are very young or have an issue with their immune system.

Fresh air:

One of the main reasons that the common cold and flues manage to do so well in the winter is because the ventilation in our schools are terrible in the winter. Every cough lets germs float in the air, and without open windows, they stay in the room. If you can, get your kids outside during the weekend and let their lungs breathe in some fresh air. Being in the fresh air helps to boost your immune system and helps to promote a healthy immune response in the body.

Pay attention to their mental health:

It’s not just your child’s physical health you need to keep an eye on in winter, it’s their mental health too. ‘Winter blues’ may not be taken seriously by some, but many people, especially young people, can develop depression and anxiety at this time of year. If you suspect your child is struggling with their mental health, consult a professional. Your doctor or a dedicated facility like the Eva Carlston Academy can provide support for your child and help them with their condition. Pay attention to your child’s mood and what’s going on in their life to help you stay tuned into potential issues.

Fresh food:

Kids get most of their nutrition through the food that they eat so make sure that they are getting plenty of healthy options. Of course, you can always add multi-vitamins if you think that will help. One of the best ways to ensure that they are getting the most out of their diet is with a wide selection of fruit throughout the day. They might not be keen on broccoli but they might love a bunch of grapes, instead.

Hopefully, you can get through this winter without any major issues and that your children continue to thrive under your watchful eye. Being sick is no fun at any time of the year but especially during the holiday season!

Featured Image By: Jupi Lu from Pixabay