Hello! Several of my clients absolutely LOVE 5 Below and I am always happy when they request a shopping trip there because I love it too. You can’t beat the prices, they have so many fun things to pick from, and the quality of my purchases has always been excellent. One of my favorite buys from 5 Below has got to be my adorable Halloween pajamas and I wear them frequently. They are just too cute and comfy! 5 Below has recently put out a majority of their holiday collection and I couldn’t help treating myself to a new pair of jammies. They had countless darling matching sets but this peppermint stripe pattern spoke to me. Check it out:
Does anyone remember the pajama set from Victoria’s Secret that was pastel pink and was striped with a deeper pink hue? I had always lusted after that and it was the first thing that came to mind when I saw this set from 5 Below. Rather than paying upwards of fifty bucks, however, I paid fifteen and couldn’t be happier! The material is so soft and I like that it’s on the thinner side as I love to snuggle up in a million blankets as soon as the temperature drops. This set invokes sipping hot chocolate by the fire and unwrapping presents on Christmas day and I can see myself living in them all holiday season long.
As you might have noticed, I am a Halloween kind of gal through and through. My best friend, Kate, is the Christmas Queen and she wears the crown oh so well. This is the first actual Christmas inspired clothing that I own and I couldn’t wait to tell her about it. I knew she would be so proud! I imagine she felt like I did when she told me about the handful of spooky movies and shows she watched during Halloween. It literally made my heart swell. Kate’s love of Christmas is absolutely joyous to see and I think it has been rubbing off on me. I found some SUPER cute Santa dresses for holiday celebrations and they have really been tempting me. The problem is that I can’t pick which one so stay tuned because I will need all of your help!
A Pajama Party OOTD in these sweet jammies is on the horizon so keep it posted here on lifewithlilred!
Do you have a favorite pair of pajamas? What gets you into the holiday spirit? 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 horror novel by Josh Malerman called Bird Box. This book was made into a movie in 2018 I believe and I never watched it despite the internet going crazy for it. I can’t wait to watch it now! After reading Incidents Around The House, also by Malerman, I decided that I would like to read more by him and thought Bird Box was an excellent place to start. It sure was as I finished this book in one sitting! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Bird Box for violence, disturbing content, child abuse, and harm to animals. Ready? Let’s get to it:
Malorie is newly pregnant and lives with her sister, Shannon. Despite their occasional sibling arguments, they are close as can be and are excited to start their lives in a bigger city. Then, The Problem started. In Russia, a man saw something and violently killed the person he was by and then himself. Similar incidents began to occur throughout Russia, then all over the world, and eventually into America. As The Problem starts by seeing something, people are advised to board up their windows, lock their doors, and never go outside without a blindfold. Shannon succumbs to The Problem and Malorie is left all alone with a decision.
Sure, she could stay in the home where her sister has perished. Or, she could travel with no eyesight to a home who placed an ad in the paper. A home that was safe where people could gather and face The Problem together. She takes option B and through blind faith arrives at the property. She is greeted by several housemates but finds herself drawn to Tom. Tom is a thinker, a problem solver, and a gentle soul. He welcomes pregnant Malorie into the home with open arms even though she will soon bring another mouth to feed.
Flash forward to present day and Malorie has gone at it alone with two children, Boy and Girl, in tow. Since birth, Boy and Girl have been trained to use their ears instead of their eyes. They are so good that they can hear a spider crawling on a windowpane and that is good. Malorie needs Boy and Girl. Supplies are running desperately low and it is only a matter of time before they need to leave to the only safe location she can think of. The journey is a dangerous one as she will have to take them by river in a rowboat. And, yes, she is blinded the whole time.
As we journey back and fourth between past and present, we learn of the turmoils that brought Malorie to where she is today. The people she encountered before Boy and Girl were born. How The Problem can decay peoples’ minds into insanity. And the intense training Boy and Girl had to endure seconds after they were born. Will Malorie have the strength to bring her, Boy, and Girl to safety? Will it ever be safe to step outdoors and see the world again? Read Bird Box to find out!
Holy WOW was Bird Box a great read! As I didn’t follow the hype around the movie release, I had no idea of what I was getting myself into. All I knew was that Sandra Bullock had a blindfold on lol. As soon as I read the first page, I wanted to know more and literally could not stop reading until I was done. What a crazy story. What a crazy idea. And what a fantastic gift Josh Malerman is to the world of horror. Bird Box taps into a primal fear – living in complete darkness. Every time a blindfold is placed on a character’s eyes, I found myself holding my breath for them. The simple act of fetching water from the well or answering the door has turned deadly. Evil could be right beside them and they wouldn’t even know it. Painstakingly written and absolutely harrowing, this book was one hundred and ten percent unputdownable.
Reading Bird Box was an exercise in “what would you do?” and “what type of person in the house would you be?”. As you read, you are immersed into a world that seems impossible but not implausible. A world where every single decision you make could lead to the death of yourself or your ragtag band of survivors. Double that with having children like Malorie and it makes your head spin. Malerman crafted the characters of Bird Box so beautifully and provided every type of person you might encounter. An innovator, a skeptic, a madman, a mother to be. The home they resided in became their cage and, when caged, true selves took form. Reading these characters, some beloved and some not so much, rise to the challenge or shrink away propelled this story forward and begged the question of if man is the scariest creature of all.
Overall, I am going to award Bird Box with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This is a standout horror novel that should not be missed and I am so excited to read more from Josh Malerman!
What did you think of Bird Box if you read it? Did you like the movie if you saw it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
You ever notice how when the weather finally cools down, you’re excited for cozy sweaters and hot chocolate, but every bug in existence seems to get the same idea? Yeah, it’s not really a fun way to have a seasonal shift, right? Well, not just bugs (though it’s mostly bugs), but mice and other pests too. Unlike birds, pests don’t migrate south for the winter; they’re trying to get into your warm house instead. Your lawn is basically like a waiting room for pests until they can get into your home. Usually, this can be fairly preventable, but it starts with your lawn and utilizing these tips:
Your Lawn Might Need a Quick Glow-Up:
On the one hand, your lawn is nature and it needs nature to thrive (obviously). But at the same time, if you let Mother Nature set its course, or welcome Mother Nature a little too much, that means a bug infestation. Obviously, there needs to be a balance, because you can’t just expect to have literally zero pests in your lawn; that’s not possible or healthy. If your lawn is covered in leaves, sticks, and grass clippings, it’s basically saying, “Come on in”. Well, for a bug (or even mice), that’s what it seems like. So, is it autumn? Is it damp? Is there anything like leaves decomposing? That’s perfect for bugs and rodents trying to stay warm. You just need to clean it up, rake the leaves, compost (in a bin) the leaves, remove trash, cut the grass, it’s those sorts of things that make a big difference.
Your Lawn’s an Ecosystem:
This was already mentioned, but it helps to just say it again. People often forget that lawns are alive. Think of it like this: Too much moisture – that means grubs. Are there dead spots? You can say hello to ants. You get the picture. For the most part, a healthy lawn does fight back. And sure, it can be hard having to “perfect” this art, like aerating the soul, bug control, fertilizer, ect, and in that case, if you have the money for it, it could help to look into SolTerra Lawn & Pest since they can keep your lawn strong and keep the bugs outside (and not going into your house).
Fix the Tiny Stuff ASAP:
Here’s an example: you know that crack near the garden bed you’ve been ignoring for months? The bugs are using it. In general, those little gaps in the soil, patio, or fence line are where bugs crawl into to stay warm. So you will need to fill or patch these ASAP. The same goes for standing water, too, like puddles. Standing water can, of course, damage the lawn further and bring pests right to your front door.
Fixing problem areas in your lawn can help keep your home pest free for the winter. Start now while the weather is still warm(ish)!
Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! The first half of October was unseasonably warm and it has finally cooled down to my perfect, happy temperature. I live for a crisp fifty to sixty degree day. I love the chill in the air but primarily, I love the fashion lol. There is nothing better to me than cozying up in a cute coat and feeling the leaves crunch beneath my feet. I have been waiting to break out my lighter fall jackets for so long and have been eagerly anticipating ALL of the OOTD shoots. Like this one! Check it out:
Pinocchio Necklace: This was purchased forever ago from TJMaxx!
I have no idea where the earrings are from!
The beauty of fall OOTDs is that you can turn something basic like jeans and a sweater into something elevated by simply putting on a jacket. It can transform an entire look and it makes dressing for fall oh so fun! Elevated simplicity was the name of the game for this fit and I started with my Shrinking Violet sweater. This sweater is as old as dirt. I actually bought it to wear during my first day of college at Tri-C. I just can’t part with it though because it is so perfect. It is nice and light and just right for pairing underneath a jacket. Remember, when you are layering you want to use a thinner item with a thicker one and it was exactly what I needed for my OOTD.
Next up was the pantaloons department and I wore my sweater tucked into a high waisted pair of coated skinny jeans. These jeans added a pop of texture and sheen while providing shape to my waist as the sweater isn’t the most form fitting. The All Black Everything palette with this combination allowed me to do whatever I wanted with my coat, shoes, and accessories. A monochrome base is never going to be boring when you add a splash of color or a bold pattern to it!
In the overflowing jacket section of my closet, I chose my deep red Philosophy coat with a houndstooth pattern. This little number is so fabulously fall and is one of those coats that you can just throw on and go. I am an avid fan of houndstooth anything and couldn’t believe my good fortune to find this coat at TJMaxx in one of my favorite colors and patterns. That red was popping against the base I had established and livened up this look with a classic fall hue.
Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I went with one of my favorite pairs of heeled boots by Olivia Miller. These are my go to fall boots – I love the chunky platform shape and that chunky chain across the ankle! For once, I also decided to wear a necklace. In the summer, my tattoos are out in all their glory and no accessories are needed. Fall is a different story and allows me to access my jewelry collection once more. I chose a long necklace with Pinocchio on it and it swayed and moved with every step. To match the brassy hue of the necklace, I popped on a pair of deep gold cross earrings and was ready to go!
This Simply Fall OOTD was the first fully fall look of the season for me and I felt awesome in it. I can’t wait to style more looks for the best season of all!
What is your favorite season? 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
Hello everyone and happy November! The best holiday of all has came and went and now it’s onto the next best holiday of all. I’m not going to lie, I’ve been thinking about my Thanksgiving plate since last Thanksgiving lol. I freaking love Thanksgiving food so much! 🙂 I also love a successful month of beauty empties and October was pretty darn good in that regard. I think I might have found my new favorite serum! Take a look at these empties and let’s discuss further:
B&BW Body Cream: This isn’t a comment on how amazing this body cream is, just a funny story. Johnny thought that the scent Champagne Toast was Champagne & Toast and I genuinely cannot think of it differently now. In fact, that’s almost how I typed it above! Also the B&BW body cream is so nourishing and fabulous and leaves my skin smooth and hydrated as the temperatures continue to drop. It took a little over two weeks of full body use to finish the bottle.
B&BW Shower Gel: I am extremely faithful to my B&BW shower gel and couldn’t imagine using anything different. I just love how foamy it gets, the scents, and how hydrating they are. However, Strawberry Soda was a scent I couldn’t get behind and I wouldn’t buy it again. This strawberry scent was just too sweet for my liking and almost had a syrupy fragrance. I like my fruity scents with a bit of tartness so it’s a no from me. It took me about a month and a half to finish the bottle.
B&BW Body Spray: If you are looking for sunshine in a bottle, Golden Mango Lagoon is just right for you! This beachy fragrance is paired with freshly cut mango and it is absolutely delicious. This was a freebie item and I thought it would be nice to test out a travel size spray without committing to a full bottle. Normally, I am not one for tropical scents but I loved this one. It invoked sweet summertime on chilly mornings and just made me happy. It took me four months to finish this bottle.
Glow Elixir Serum: So. Much. Yes. This Hyaluronic & Retinol serum by Glow Elixir was the truth. It took me over a month and a half to finish the bottle and I enjoyed every single use. This serum was shockingly thin in consistency and a few drops went a long way for full face and neck coverage. Glow Elixir is the perfect name for this brand because my skin was literally glowing. It was radiant, peaches and cream perfection and I could visibly see it with each morning and night use. I would love to use this serum again and am keeping my fingers crossed to find more at TJMaxx. I’ll buy the lot!
Vital Beauty Eye Gel: I have been loyal to the Vital Beauty eye gels for some time and will happily continue using them. I love the longevity of the product and one jar typically lasts me at least three and a half to four months with twice daily use. That’s awesome! The cooling eye gel soothes and nourishes and feels oh so nice around tired eyes at the end of the day. It also provides an invigorating boost in the morning. As far as I can tell, no new wrinkles have appeared (fingers crossed) with consistent use of this product so I’ll continue to use it as long as TJMaxx has it available!
Out with the old and in with the new! There is nothing better than finishing up long term products and I can’t wait to keep using more goodies and reporting back to all of you! ❤
Which products did you use up last 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
Avast and ahoy landlubbers! Can you tell that I am still obsessing over my Halloween costume?! Johnny and I revel in dressing up together every Halloween and always opt for matching costumes. We understand that pirates is such a basic ass costume choice but once we decided to go for it, we were all in. In both of our thirty something years of living, neither of us have been pirates before for Halloween and there was no better time than the present. If these pictures didn’t make it obvious – we enjoyed every minute! Check it out:
Johnny and I both take our fashion extremely seriously and that is one of my favorite things about him. I like to think that our personal styles are pretty unique and every time we step out together is an occasion to get dressed up. Halloween is no exception. In fact, we probably take our Halloween costumes more seriously than our regular clothes! We’re not massive party goers and we don’t frequent the bar scene so when we dress up to pass out trick or treat candy is our one night to show off our costume creations. One night to let our inner children go crazy and immerse ourselves in a new character.
I have to say, we might have had more fun than the trick or treaters when we were posted up at our candy station. We had a roaring fire, Johnny was playing guitar, and we couldn’t get over the cuteness of every costume we saw. The entire night was a highlight but there was one moment that really stuck out to me. When I was chatting with a family that visited us, the little daughter timidly asked me if I had pink hair last year. I couldn’t believe that she remembered my Candy Queen costume and it warmed my heart so much. We pride ourselves on being the “cool” house to trick or treat at and this solidified that we are doing Halloween right. Sometimes a pirate’s life isn’t plundering for treasure, but sharing the wealth with candy instead!
I love all of the Halloween costumes Johnny and I have put together but our pirate COTD holds a special place in my heart. I can’t wait to see what we dream up next year!
What is your favorite candy? Did you have a favorite Halloween costume growing up? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Howdy!! Every year Johnny and I look forward to passing out trick or treat candy in my mom and dad’s neighborhood. We set up a bonfire, play music, and delight in all of the costume cuteness. Of course, the trick or treaters aren’t the only ones dressing up and we couldn’t wait to bust out our pirate costumes for the occasion. I seriously couldn’t be happier with how they turned out and am so excited to share ALL of the content with you! Take a look and stay tuned for more swashbuckling good times coming soon:
Being pirates was not mine and Johnny’s original plan. We were thinking of doing Alice Cooper and Cold Ethyl this year. However, we just didn’t feel like piecing together a costume via online shopping. This was how I built my Candy Queen costume last year and it was expensive and a bit of a hassle and we were so not trying to deal with that. After vetoing Plan A for this year, for some reason “pirates” popped into my head and I had my heart set on it. 1) It would be so totally cute. And 2) Finding a costume would be as simple as a trip to Spirit Halloween!
After making extensive purchases at Spirit Halloween, the trick was honestly on us. It was crazy expensive and we probs could have done our Plan A at a comparable price. We loved what we picked out so much, though, that it didn’t even matter. At this point, we both had being the baddest pirates across the seven seas on our mind and nothing was going to change that. With our costumes and beaucoup accessories prepped to go, all that was left to do was wait (im)patiently for trick or treat time.
I hate to toot my own horn about this costume because all I did was buy it, pick out accessories, and put it on but: TOOT TOOT! As soon as this COTD was on in all of its glory, you could not tell me NOTHIN. I felt absolutely amazing in it and I know it sounds silly but I really did feel like a pirate. Halloween is such a magical time because it allows you to be anything you want to be. To get into character and just have fun. Trust and believe that every trick or treater was a matey to me and Johnny and they were all greeted with a hearty “ahoy”. We pride ourselves on being the “cool” house to trick or treat at and I think this year was one of our best yet!
This costume was all treats and no tricks about it. Set sail for all Halloween everything here on lifewithlilred!
What did you do for Halloween? What did you dress up as? 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 will be discussing a horror novel by Josh Malerman called Incidents Around The House. I see a fair amount of book related posts on my Facebook newsfeed and the first page of this book has shown up several times during my scrolling sessions. The first page is absolutely gripping and I finally decided to give it a go. Once I started reading, I literally couldn’t stop and finished this three hundred seventy page book in one day! It was excellent and I can’t wait to read more by Malerman. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Incidents Around The House for disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:
Bela is a little girl who lives with her Mommy and Daddo. She is on summer vacation and has been spending an awful lot of time indoors. Bela doesn’t have many friends to play with, but that’s okay. She has Other Mommy and Other Mommy is her friend. She thinks so, anyways. Other Mommy lives in Bela’s closet and has been visiting in the night for as long as Bela can remember. Sometimes they would laugh and play games, sometimes Other Mommy just watches her.
Although Bela is excited to see Other Mommy when she goes to bed at night, she is scared of her too. Other Mommy has a frightful appearance and has been known to pull terrifying faces, grow gargantuan in size, and slither around the floor like a snake. Other Mommy says that she’s Bela’s friend and that friends should help each other whenever they can. All Bela needs to do to help Other Mommy is let her into her heart. Then, Other Mommy can be Bela and Bela can live wherever Other Mommy goes whenever she slinks back into the closet.
Other Mommy has grown increasingly persistent and impatient for an answer from Bela about her request. So much so, that she has began making herself known to the adults in Bela’s life. Now that Mommy and Daddo know about Bela’s Other Mommy, they must protect their daughter from the evil in their home. But how? No matter where they go, Other Mommy follows and Other Mommy hurts. Will Other Mommy be vanquished for good? Or is Bela letting her into her heart the only solution? Read Incidents Around The House to find out!
Holy wow! Creepy right? Incidents Around The House was an unputdownable horror read from start to finish. I have to say, it was also delightfully refreshing to read some horror that isn’t Stephen King, as much as I love him! Incidents Around The House definitely reminded me of Coraline and this isn’t a bad thing as I am a huge fan of the book and movie. But make no mistake, this is no children’s book and truly feels like a Coraline for adults. I enjoyed every single page and couldn’t turn them fast enough.
Incidents Around The House is told from Bela’s perspective and my heart just broke for this poor girl. She is dealing with something SO scary all by herself. And, even when adults know about Other Mommy, she is still alone. The adults around her are cracking after just one glimpse of Other Mommy, while Bela has seen her every night. Incidents Around The House is, of course, about being brave even when you are by yourself. But it is also a firm reminder of the danger of harboring secrets and how quickly it can get out of hand when it finally comes to the surface. If you are a horror fan, this is a must read!
Overall, I am going to rate Incidents Around The House with a nine out of ten stars. I suspect there will be a lot more book club reviews for Josh Malerman’s books in the future. Also, I cannot wait to see the movie of this book coming out next year!
Have you read Incidents Around The House? 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! I am a huge chapstick gal and this love was definitely fostered by my obsession with Lip Smackers in my youth. Lol you just couldn’t beat the scent of them even though I’m pretty confident they did absolutely nothing! As a smoker, my lips get dry easily so I always like to have a chapstick on my person. Several, actually. I have one in my purse, one on my bedside table, and one on my table when I’m working on the computer. A while back ago, I purchased a set of chapsticks by Cliganic and I am most impressed by the product. With winter weather approaching and chapped lip season upon us, I thought we’d discuss this lip chap because I think you will love it:
^^^ This is a cruelty free chapstick!
One of the biggest gripes people have with chapstick is the constant reapplication and I totally get it. If I am using a product, I want it to work right off the bat and what’s the point of a chapstick if you have to keep putting it on every ten seconds? This is SO not the case with the Cliganic lip chap! These chapsticks are made with sunflower seed oil, Vitamin E, and beeswax and they really pack a punch. The formula is so nourishing and rich and you can literally feel it working as soon as you apply it and after the fact.
With just a small swipe across your lips, you are on your way to ultimate and long lasting hydration. I can’t stand when a chapstick feels like it’s just sitting on your lips and the Cliganic lip chaps really do absorb and improve. The best part? My lips still feel soft and smooth even when this product is off! I reapply mine three times a day, at most. Part of it is out of habit but it’s honestly not even necessary because of how well it works. I put some on about two hours ago and even though it has all absorbed, my lips legit feel like I used a lip mask instead of a chapstick. If you want a truly effective chapstick without having to reapply throughout the day, this is the one for you!
I cannot recommend the Cliganic chapsticks enough and plan on buying more once I am out. I couldn’t imagine using anything different since I am already using the best!
How do you soothe chapped lips? What is your favorite chapstick scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
No matter how organized you are, home emergencies have a way of showing up at the worst possible moment. IE: A burst pipe just before bed, a power cut on a cold evening, a leak in the roof when it’s pouring down, and so on – you know the kind of thing. The problem is that these things happen fast, and when they do, it’s easy to panic. A calm, practical response can make a big difference to the outcome, and knowing what to do in those first few minutes can save you money, reduce damage, and keep your home safe. Keep reading to find out more:
Start With Safety First:
Before anything else, make sure the situation isn’t putting anyone at risk. For example, if there’s water involved, switch off the electricity before going near the problem, and if there’s a fire or gas leak, leave the property immediately and call emergency services. Then, once you know everyone’s safe, you can turn your attention to limiting the damage.
Know Where To Turn Things Off:
A lot of emergencies are made worse because people don’t know where their stopcock or fuse box is, which is why it’s worth taking a few minutes as soon as you can to learn how to turn off your water, gas, and power quickly. This small bit of knowledge can stop a minor issue from turning into a disaster because doing something like turning off the main water supply right away can make a huge difference if a pipe bursts.
Act Fast To Contain The Problem:
Quick action often means less damage, so if water is leaking, use buckets or towels to stop it spreading, and if the roof is letting water in, a temporary cover can protect belongings until help arrives. Why do something at that point even if you’ve got help on the way? It’s because even a few simple steps in those first moments can save a lot of stress later on.
Call In The Right Help:
Some jobs are best left to professionals, especially when it comes to plumbing, electrics, or structural issues. If a burst pipe has caused flooding, getting water damage restoration experts in quickly can prevent mold, protect flooring, and stop further problems from developing. The longer you go with water damage, the more issues are certain to arise and the costs of repair will continue to go up. It’s a good idea to have a few different water damage restoration businesses on standby so a team can be readily available. To get started, simply enter a search for “Water Damage Restoration Deal NJ” (or your local area) to look into well reviewed professionals. Be sure to call with any questions you might have and take note of them so you can be better prepared in case of an emergency.
Keep A Basic Emergency Kit:
You don’t need to turn your house into a survival bunker, but having a few basics ready can make emergencies easier to manage. Your kit could include a flashlight, spare batteries, a few tools, sandbags or sealant, and a copy of emergency contacts can all help you act fast. Even if you never end up needing to use your kit, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and have one ready anyways.
Home emergencies are stressful, but they don’t have to be overwhelming. Keeping a calm head, a bit of preparation, and knowing when to bring in professional help can make all the difference!
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