Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
Jul4

Bath & Body Works Summer Sweets Collection

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Bath & Body Works Summer Sweets Collection

Howdy!! During my last trip to Bath & Body Works, I was on the hunt for hand soaps but spent some time browsing the rest of the store. I had no intention of buying anything else because I refuse to pay full price for their products, I just wanted to see and smell what was new – especially one of their latest collections. I saw advertisements for Bubble Gum, Cotton Candy, and Blue Raspberry scents and I had to see what that was all about! Even though everything smelled awesome, I didn’t make a purchase. As luck would have it, though, this collection was featured a few weeks later in the Semi Annual Sale and I was able to get these products for four bucks instead of eighteen. SCORE!! Check it out and let’s discuss these scents:

^^^ How cute is that packaging?! So fun and summery!

Cotton Candy Clouds: This fragrance literally has me on cloud nine and I am obsessed. I don’t think cotton candy has a scent, but if it did – this would be it! Cotton Candy Clouds offers notes of “spun sugar, pink berries, and whipped vanilla” and as an avid vanilla fan, I am all about it. If you are not, this is definitely one that you can skip on because it really is pure vanilla with the slightest hint of strawberries. Cotton Candy? Maybe. A vanilla cone with fresh strawberries on top? Absolutely!

Bubble Gum Pop: Now, this scent is a lot more straight forward than Cotton Candy Clouds lol. There’s not much room for interpretation on a Bubble Gum scent! Just imagine a piece of Big Chew and there you go. The notes of “gumball sugar, candied fruits, and citrus burst” are all just smoke and mirrors to say “this smells exactly like a piece of bubble gum”. Simple as that! I can’t say that I would get this scent again but I couldn’t resist at least getting a shower gel. 😀

Blue Raspberry Burst: The piece de resistance of this batch has got to be Blue Raspberry Burst! I am a blue flavor gal through and through – blue Gatorade, blue Icees, blue slushies, blue Italian Ice, blue candy, Blue Moon ice cream, all blue everything. If you, too, share my sentiments that anything blue is the best, then this is the scent for you. Blue Raspberry Burst features notes of “blue raspberry (obvi lol), juicy candy, and sweet musk” and smells exactly like a blue Jolly Rancher. AKA the best flavor!! I am SO there for it and had to get it in a fragrance spray too. I can’t wait to use them. ❤

I didn’t think it was possible, but these scents are even sweeter because the price was nice. I got four items for less than it would have costed to get one full price. You can’t beat that!!

Did you shop the B&BW Semi Annual Sale? What did you get in your haul? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul3

Country Cutie OOTD

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Country Cutie OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Johnny and I have a spectacular summer concert series lined up and this look was for Outlaw Fest to see Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan at Blossom Music Center. We went to this show in the middle of a full fledged heat wave here in Ohio so I had to make some changes to my original plan which was to wear a Western button down of Johnny’s. Instead, I went with an itty bitty brand new top and shorts to keep me cool and rockin’ all night long. Take a look:

Who? What? Wear?

Crochet Crop Top: Bozzolo, TJMaxx

Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Heeled Boots: These were purchased forever ago from Target

Sunglasses and Cross Earrings: Lucky Brand, TJMaxx

The bracelet ring was purchased forever ago from Claire’s

Although I had to swap out shirts to accommodate the weather, this was no problem because I had a back up in mind: My new crochet crop top by Bozzolo. I got this cute crop a few days before the concert during an impromptu TJs trip with my mom and it truly couldn’t have happened at a better time! This crop is oh so sweet and I love the creamy color and the buttons down the front. It also provided beaucoup ventilation which was especially appreciated while being in a sea of people in ninety degree weather. Not only did this top keep me comfortable weather wise but I just feel so comfortable in it in general. The thick tank straps are exactly what I like to keep my bra straps concealed so I didn’t have to worry about them playing peek a boo all night!

Next on the agenda was shorts and I went with a darling pair of blue jean shorts from American Eagle Outfitters. As always, their shorts are the best and I live in them all summer. I couldn’t imagine wearing anything other than classic blue jean shorts to a country show. This pair is pure Americana, Girl Next Door perfection. I like that they are short but not too short and they provided the leg length I needed to make the tall boots I wanted to wear work.

Shoes and accessories were all that was needed to wrap up this look and that was easy peasy. When we got tickets to Outlaw Fest, I already knew I wanted to wear my heeled boots from Target. They are as old as dirt but they still look great! They are a fun twist on a classic cowboy boot and I love being able to put a Lil Red spin on staple items. How fabulous is that sunset coloring and big ol’ buckles?! For accessories, I wanted to drive the Western aesthetic home with turquoise. I put on a pair of turquoise dangly cross earrings as well as a huge turquoise cross ring that connects to a bracelet and I was ready to go!

Outlaw Fest was such an amazing time from start to finish. I adored this OOTD and felt like a boot scootin’ star all night!

What are some of your summer wardrobe staples? Are you going to any concerts this summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul2

Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Haul

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Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Haul

Hello!! When it comes to bath and body care in my household, Bath & Body Works reigns supreme. We are huge fans of their foaming hand soap, shower gel, lotion, wallflowers, and hand sanitizers but I would never consider paying full price for them. Rather, I wait until the summer and winter Semi Annual Sales and do a massive restock of all of the goods that keep us smelling good. A few weeks ago, I received a text that said B&BW was offering an early preview of the Semi Annual Sale to their reward members and I hopped on it! For seventy dollars, I scored a total of eighteen items and you just can’t beat that! Check it out and let’s discuss the hand soaps from this haul:

Normally, I go nuts on hand soap during the Semi Annual Sale because we use ours constantly throughout the day. However, I just had a restock of my beloved soaps so I limited myself to four different scents – a couple of the classics and some Christmas in June vibes. I am smelling two of these for the first time as I write this so let’s see what I think lol:

Hot Cocoa & Cream: Wow, this is an incredibly straightforward and new to me scent. If you have ever had a steaming mug of hot cocoa, frothy whipped cream, and sweet marshmallows on a winter day, then that is exactly what Hot Cocoa & Cream smells like. In fact, the featured notes closely mimic what I just said with “decadent milk chocolate, fresh steamed milk, and mini marshmallows”. This would be an amazing scent to do holiday gift baskets with. Love it!

Winter Candy Apple: Other than Vanilla Bean Noel and Twisted Peppermint, Winter Candy Apple is one of my favorite holiday scents from B&BW. Of course, I love anything with the word apple in it when it comes to fragrances! Winter Candy Apple offers notes of “red apples, winter rose petals, and candied oranges”. It smells like a freshly made winter potpourri or tea and is a perfect blend between the apple and orange. It has a bit of spice to it but is primarily oh so sweet.

Fresh Amalfi Lemon: This is the other new to me scent in the batch and it is an interesting one. I was assuming Fresh Amalfi Lemon would be straight up lemon but it surprised me with the notes featured of “lemon leaves, chilled spearmint, and cedarwood citrus”. This is lemony and minty all in one and I actually don’t know how to feel about it lol. It’s not the best nor the worst, but I wouldn’t purchase this one again.

Cucumber Melon: A timeless classic, indeed! It’s hard not to think about Cucumber Melon when you think about Bath & Body Works. It is such a nostalgic scent from junior high and I can vividly remember the notes of “crisp cucumber, watery honeydew, and juicy cantaloupe” wafting around the gym locker room lol. This scent is so melony, so fresh, and just top tier B&BW. I always have to get a little something something from the Cucumber Melon line every Semi Annual Sale!

Stay tuned for more from my haul all week as well as a brand new OOTD! ❤

What is your favorite B&BW scent? Which scent do you wish B&BW would bring back (It’s Pearberry all the way for me!)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul1

Stanley Surprise

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Stanley Surprise

Hello and holy wow! Johnny and I have had an extremely busy month celebrating our birthaversary and we spent another weekend living it up. My bestie, Lea, came over last Friday for dinner and my birthday hangout and Johnny and I went to Outlaw Fest on Saturday! Lea and I both share summer birthdays and this is our seventeenth year having a special get together for our big days. That alone is such a beautiful gift and I treasure the time with my best girl so much! When it comes to gift giving, Lea and I are very similar. We get our ideas from simply listening when people are talking and store them away for later use. That is exactly what she did for my prezzie and I can pinpoint the precise moment when she decided on my perfect gift. Take a look and let’s discuss:

The last time Lea was over a month or so ago, she came walking in with a gorgeous lavender Stanley mug. I complimented the color immediately and showed off my Halloween tumbler I was using after Johnny threw out my beloved sea green Stanley because he didn’t wash it and there was mold in it. SMH. I told Lea that my main qualm with my current mug was that I was refilling it constantly and wanted to replace it with something bigger, perhaps with some birthday cash. Looking back on that moment after Lea gifted me with my pastel pink Stanley, I just know she was like “noted” in her head! ❤ I felt so special and loved that she remembered this and it made receiving the cup even more special.

The funny thing is, the Tuesday before our hang out, I actually did end up replacing my old Halloween tumbler with a forty ounce beast by Manna from TJMaxx. When Lea walked into the apartment this time, she clocked the mug and realized she was gifting me with something I already had. The thing is, what she gave me was infinitely better. There were Stanley cups at TJs that I was going to get, but the one I purchased was cheaper and I didn’t want to go overboard as I was buying new clothes too. She gave me exactly what I wanted and would have bought for myself and there was also the BFF sentiment behind it, which makes it the absolute best. I am now the proud owner of a mom and baby tumbler lol:

Shout out to my darling Lea for helping me stay hydrated all summer long with the replacement of my fallen Stanley. I love it and I love YOU so much, my sweet angel! ❤

Have you had to replace anything recently? How do you like to celebrate your birthday? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun30

June 2025 Finishes

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June 2025 Finishes

Hello everyone! June is drawing to a close which means bye bye birthaversary month and hello to more summer fun in July! It also means that it’s about that time to discuss my beauty empties. This month, I finished up two long term products. Normally, I am excited about that because I always look forward to trying more new to me bath and body and skin care. This time around, however, I am royally bummed out because these products were easily two of the best that I have used in recent memory. Take a look and let’s discuss:

Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Provence Beauty Hyaluronic Acid + Retinol Eye Cream: YES!!

AllAboutSkin Hyaluronic Acid Night Cream: YES!!

Why/Why Not?

Provence Beauty Eye Cream: I began using this eye cream in April and after almost three months of use, I am so sad to see it go. Usually, I don’t find myself getting attached to products but this one was so good that it was hard not to! This eye cream was a fantastic water gel texture. It was cooling, incredibly light, and I could feel optimum nourishment with the tiniest dab. While using this eye cream, my under eye designer bags decreased significantly and I definitely noticed fine lines getting tighter too. It is an excellent year round product but would be especially nice during the summer because it is so lightweight. I cannot recommend it enough and am keeping my fingers crossed to find another jar or ten at TJMaxx!

AllAboutSkin Moisturizer: Despite the AllAboutSkin Hyaluronic Acid moisturizer being technically a “night cream”, I considered it my all day moisturizer and applied it morning and night. I started using this jar in mid April and literally just finished it. I have never had a moisturizer last me that long before which was, in itself, very impressive for the value of my money alone. Like the eye cream, a super small amount of this moisturizer went a very long way – I used a nickel sized dollop with every use. This was just the right amount because this moisturizer is a bit heavier in texture. Regardless of that, it absorbed really quickly and achieved maximum hydration. My skin felt and looked soft and smooth and transformed into the prettiest peaches and cream complexion. This is the moisturizer to have and I highly recommend it!

Parting was such sweet sorrow with my two new favorite products and I will be keeping my eyes peeled high and low to find them again. How do you say goodbye to the best?!

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

Jun29

Bob Dylan & Willie Nelson Concert

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Bob Dylan & Willie Nelson Concert

Howdy!! This past weekend, Johnny and I checked off another concert on our summer lineup list. It was Outlaw Fest at Blossom Music Center and Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson were performing. We were supposed to see Willie Nelson at Blossom during the pandemic and had to skip on it so we were so happy to have been able to make up for it. I mean… kind of? Because the night definitely didn’t go accordingly to plan and it was basically one of the wildest nights out I’ve had since the after party at our wedding lol. Take a look at some pics that I don’t even remember a random stranger taking and let’s discuss:

Like any big event, the concession prices at Blossom are absolutely insane. To remedy that, literally everyone going to a show there pregames in a great big parking lot tailgate. Johnny and I got to the show with about an hour to kill, White Claw ready to go, and we posted up in the trunk of our car to sip away. As we were having our trunk time, a young couple who went with family across the way approached us to talk about our tattoos and they became our instant BFFs. We were chatting up a storm and, eventually, the entire family joined us. They were absolutely hilarious and we spent our pregame in stitches together. We were having so much fun that I don’t think any of us noticed we were all getting a fair bit tipsy.

Once we all felt good and ready to head into the venue, we did so as a team and found a nice, shady spot to watch from. We couldn’t see anyone on the stage, but we could hear the music and that was perfectly fine. Besides, Johnny and I were DEEPLY invested in conversation at this point. You guys, I kid you not, Johnny and I held individual sidebars with every single member of the family. Lol, they came to us with their complaints, we essentially gave them the “you have to get your ish together” motivational speech and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the mother’s daughter’s boyfriend would get a job and a license. We stepped into our roles as therapist beautifully and hope for nothing but the best!

Once Johnny and I had our fill of other people’s problems, I REALLY needed the bathroom so he waited for me while I did my thang. When I emerged from the facilities, I found Johnny standing there with two mixed drinks that featured a commemorative plastic pink cowboy hat. Lol he just couldn’t help himself! At this point, I was gone to the wind (Johnny was responsible because he was driving!) and we broke free from the family therapy session. We had been outside in ninety plus degree temps for close to four hours, Willie Nelson was going to be on soon, and we wanted to be able to fully enjoy it.

From what I recall and the poorly shot videos on my phone, both Willie and Bob tore it up. Those senior citizens still sound great!! Also, I was a little busy while Willie was playing because I ended up somehow with a new job perspective lol? One of the people we were standing by needed some social media assistance and we exchanged information! The night just kept getting better and better and I joked that Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan were simply our background music for the evening. By the time the show was over, we were totally and completely beat but it was so worth it for a whole lot of fun!

When we drove to the concert, we were not expecting for our night to transpire the way it did. It was, however, a memory (Or lack thereof!) for the ages!!

What is the craziest night out you have ever had? Are you going to any concerts this summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun28

B-Day OOTD Bloopers

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B-Day OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my B-Day OOTD! Johnny and I have been celebrating our birthaversary big time all month long and this lil look was worn to lunch at the Olive Garden with my family. It was the best gift! We still have beaucoup plans lined up in our roster and it is honestly kind of overwhelming lol. We went from never doing anything on the weekends to nonstop plans and I am exhausted! But, hey, the birthaversary is a monumental occasion so let the good times roll because when I can relax with a new season of my guilty pleasure show, it is going to be oh so sweet. 😀 Take a look at these yikes shots and let’s discuss:

Style, grace, poise

Your girl really knows how to stick the landing!

Perfecting my flamingo impression

Taking a minute to think about the Olive Garden. It’s never far from my mind!

When you think someone is waving at you but they weren’t

Preparing to speak some truth to Johnny

Straight up barrelling to my phone

Am I the only one who feels overwhelmed by streaming services? Lol, every single day there are a million brand new things. Some might be good, a majority is crap, and it is just a pain in the keister to figure out what to watch. I am one of those people that will spend a solid twenty minutes trying to find a show or documentary and then just end up turning on Superbad! For once, however, I know exactly what I am going to watch whenever I have time to spare. That’s right… A new season of America’s Sweethearts on Netflix just dropped and I am SO there for it! 😀

America’s Sweethearts is all about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the audition process, prepping for games, and all that good stuff. I remember when the first season came out vividly because I was sick and I watched it all in one day! I was hooked and you have no idea how happy I was for season two to be released – reality TV is my guilty pleasure and America’s Sweethearts serves on every level. Pretty ladies for your favorite bisexual, insane dancing, hardass coaches, drama, and sisterhood. What could be better?! Do I care about football? The hardest NO ever. Do I care deeply about the cheerleaders? You’re damn right! This new season is a bonus birthaversary gift and I cannot wait to revel in it. Go team!

A new season of a favorite show really is a treat and during my binge-a-thon of America’s Sweethearts, I plan on treating myself even more. I got a Taco Bell gift card for my birthday and am going to have a one person fiesta. Let those birthaversary good times roll on, baby!

What is one of your guilty pleasure shows? Have you watched America’s Sweethearts? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun27

New Max Studio Maxi Dress

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New Max Studio Maxi Dress

Howdy!! The final item from my TJMaxx summer wardrobe refresh haul is truly the piece de resistance. Other than a couple of new tops, I was really hoping to find a sun dress or two. What I ended up with, however, was a maxi dress that caught the corner of my eye. I walked past it while I was heading to the dressing rooms, did a double take, tossed it into the cart, and knew it was a winner as soon as it was on. This Max Studio maxi dress is serving all of the Midwest Princess vibes and I am a thousand percent there for it! Check it out:

^^^ Peep that original price tag! Talk about a STEAL!!! 😀

During a recent trip to Bath & Body Works, I noticed a new scent called Heirloom Tomato or something or other. It smelled like ass, but the packaging was so pretty. It featured deep reds and greens for the fruit/vegetable and was the first thing I thought of when I saw this dress. The color palette is almost identical! When I put it in the cart, I honestly didn’t think it was going to work out. As a petite gal, maxi dresses can be hit or miss for me. If they are not the perfect length and fit, I will drown in fabric. The maxi dress has to be “just right” and they have been few and far between in my extensive shopaholic tenure. My rule of thumb when shopping has always been to try clothes on anyways. Regardless of fit, style, or assumptions, if I like what I see, I am going to try it on. I am so glad for that because this dress would have been bypassed and I never would have found my new favorite thing!

From top to the flowy tiered bottom, this maxi dress is dynamite and I was so delighted when I fell in love with it in the fitting room. Not only was the length of this dress questionable to me, but the pattern was as well. As a heavily tattooed chick, loud patterns can look cluttered over all of my artwork. The full coverage on the legs and torso that this dress offered put a limit on my own color palette and allowed for the pattern to fully do the talking rather than work against the tattoos. I felt like a country music star in it and couldn’t help but do a twirl in the fitting room! I cannot wait to pair it with a deep blue denim jacket and a pair of heeled cowboy-esque boots. This dress is so different than anything I own and I know I am going to have a total blast styling it!

There’s a new country cutie in town and her name is Lil Red! You already know an OOTD with this Max Studio masterpiece is coming so keep your eyes peeled! ❤

Do you update your wardrobe with the change of the seasons? What are your summer wardrobe staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun26

New Bozzolo Crop Top

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New Bozzolo Crop Top

Howdy!! As you all know, I am not a summer girl whatsoever. I do not handle the heat well, I detest dressing for summer, and it is an all around miserable time for your favorite vampire. Although I am not happy in the slightest about the hot weather, I am extremely happy about the new clothes I got during my last TJMaxx adventure. That is always going to be a surefire way to perk me up! Cool and cute clothes were the name of the game and this eight dollar crop by Bozzolo certainly checks those boxes. Check it out:

Black will forever be my favorite color and a majority of the clothes in my wardrobe feature it. In stark contrast, I also adore white clothing – especially cream hues. These shades make my tattoos pop and I love being able to enhance my artwork accessories. I already have several cream crochet style crops in my closet so, unsurprisingly, this little number by Bozzolo caught my eye. It was an instance where I knew immediately that it would work, the price was nice at under ten bucks, and into the cart it went.

As expected, this cute crop was perfect when I tried it on. The material was soft and light, the thick straps were ideal for covering bra straps, and it looked like it was made to wear with the high waisted shorts I had on. Although this top is fairly simple, it has more to it than my typical tank tops and is a great option to just throw on and go about the day. It also provides the opportunity to dress up or down. It was already fabulous with shorts but would be oh so sweet with a flowing maxi skirt. This is definitely going to be one of my summer go tos and I won’t be giving it up as we transition to fall. It will be totes adorbs under a chunky cardigan too!

There is nothing better than finding clothes that are just right and this top was exactly what I needed for my summer wardrobe. It also might make a cameo in a concert OOTD soon so stay tuned!

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

Jun25

New Caroline Constas Flower Power Top

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New Caroline Constas Flower Power Top

Hello! My mom and I have had TJMaxx gift cards burning a hole in our pockets and decided to have an impromptu shopping trip during my break this past Tuesday. It was just the little pick me up I needed and we had so much fun. I absolutely love going shopping with my mom, I always have and I always will and she is my partner in crime. Normally, I like to stock up on skin care when I have gift cards to spend. This time, however, I was on the hunt for new summer clothes. As a gal who loves dressing for the fall, my warm weather clothes are lacking and I have recently been lamenting over having “nothing” to wear. Happily, I found three amazing new pieces to update my summer wardrobe and I can’t wait to show all of you! Let’s get started with this gorgeous top by Caroline Constas:

When I am at TJMaxx, I browse in the junior and women’s department alike and tend to have good luck across the board. Other than a super cute crop that you will see soon, the junior’s department was doing nothing for me during this trip. Everything was so small, so short, plain ugly, or featured a tie in the front of the tops which I freaking hate lol. The women’s department was much more like it and I literally GASPED when I saw the flower power top by Caroline Constas. Once upon a time, there was a beautiful top at Urban Outfitters that I was obsessed with. It was very expensive and it didn’t come home with me. I honestly couldn’t even tell you what it looked like now, but for some reason the idea of it came to my head when I saw my new top. It was like getting a second chance at the one that got away and I was not letting it slip through my fingers again.

This cropped number is everything and it is so unique and adorable. The poppy embroidered flowers and red border over a stark white base remind me of an artist’s smock in the best way possible. And, of course, I loves me anything with balloon sleeves! This top screams fun in the sun and I cannot wait to pair it with sweet denim shorts and wedge sandals. It was a bit more expensive than I usually will spend for a top at thirty-five dollars, but it was worth every penny. There was no original price tag to compare to so I looked it up online and saw it for sale on Poshmark for one hundred and twenty-five smackers. Whatever it originally costed, I got it for a fraction of the price and you can’t beat that!

I have a feeling I will be wearing this top all summer long and it is officially one of my new favorites. Stay tuned for a brand new OOTD soon!

What is your favorite designer brand? Which stores or websites can you get the best bargains on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah