Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
Jan5

Accessory Story: Betsey Johnson Earrings Edition

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Accessory Story: Betsey Johnson Earrings Edition

Salutations and welcome to a new Accessory Story compliments of my Holiday Haul from my parents. Betsey Johnson has always been a designer who has spoke to me. From her crazy cartwheels on the runway to her bold, funky, and unique clothing and accessories, I was smitten at first sight. I never say no to Betsey Johnson jewelry and TJMaxx always has a surplus of the good stuff. My mom knows whatsup because we never fail to ogle at her flashy bling while we shop and she gifted me with these beauties for Christmas:

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These Betsey Johnson earrings literally hit every mark on my check list for things that I like. Black? Check. Skulls? Double check. A hint of sparkle? Check, please. I am simply enamored with the floral sugar skulls and their huge ruby eyes and I can’t get enough of the interesting shape that still provides length and an ability for them to dangle.

I have been a short hair girl for at least a decade now and I am all about playing that up with earrings. Of course, they are a fun accessory for my girls rocking the long locks but with my shorter than medium hair length, they just seem to pop. I live for my huge gold hoops but I also love my super long drop earrings, too! My new pair is the perfect addition to add to my ever growing collection and can we please talk about my red hair with the ruby eyes?! Ugh, forget about it!

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

Jan4

If The Shoe Fits: Unisa Ankle Booties Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Unisa Ankle Booties Edition

Howdy! This brand spanking new edition of If The Shoe Fits is compliments of my holiday haul from my mom and dad. When the countdown to Christmas approaches, I always give my mom a friendly push in the right direction of what to buy me. AKA: Shoes, shoes, and more shoes. I will scour the TJMaxx website and send some links her way and then hope and pray for shoe box sized packages beneath the tree.

Thankfully, my mom got the message loud and clear and I ended up with these pretty new babies by Unisa:

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What drew me to these ankle booties was there texture. I absolutely love an animal print on shoes and am partial to (Faux!) snakeskin. I never really thought about a pseudo crocodile pattern because I’ve never seen anything like that before. When I saw my new Unisa boots, I knew that I had to have them because they are so different from the millions of other pairs that I own.

Of course, I am looking forward to sporting these booties for the rest of the winter season. But, this past summer I grew very fond of rocking a combination of short shorts with ankle or combat boots and frilly socks. Summer is probably my least favorite time of the year for styling because the option for jackets and layering goes out the window. So, a cool combination of girly sweet frills and rocker chic boots keeps me feeling edgy and confident with just shorts and a T-shirt on. My Christmas gift is just what the doctor ordered to continue on with this tradition come summertime!

What is your favorite season to style for? What fashion items do you like finding under your tree? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan3

Steps To Becoming An Advanced Practice Nurse

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Steps To Becoming An Advanced Practice Nurse

Becoming an advanced practice nurse could be the next step in your career if you work in nursing. It can offer you opportunities to work in specialist areas and take on more responsibility at work, including moving into leadership roles. If you’re thinking of becoming an advanced practice nurse, these are some of the steps that you may need to take:

Consider a Patient Focus Areas and Specialisms:

There are several areas of patient focus you can consider if you want to be an advanced nursing practitioner. There are also more specific specializations for you to choose within different practice areas. You might choose something like midwifery or psychiatric health.

Check Licensure Rules:

You will need to ensure that you have the necessary license to practice to be an advanced nurse practitioner. To be registered nationally in the US, you need to be licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRC). Different states and even medical settings can also require certain licenses.

Gain Valuable Experience:

Getting experience in your field of choice will help you to find the roles that you want and climb through the ranks too. You will need nursing experience if you want to complete a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).

Continue Your Education:

Nurses often start with an associate’s degree or may have a bachelor’s degree. To become an advanced practice nurse, you can consider gaining an MSN or DNP. Both of these qualifications could help you to achieve your goals.


Infographic Design By Bradley University

Jan3

Holiday Haul: Sister & Brother In Law Edition

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Holiday Haul: Sister & Brother In Law Edition

Hello everyone! No matter what winter holiday you celebrate, I trust that all of you had a wonderful time celebrating with friends and family. I know I did! Now, I hate to toot my own horn but I am usually the MVP of Christmas in my family. I live for holiday shopping and I love gifting those close to me with something special. Unsurprisingly, my title was bequeathed onto me again this year. However, my sister and brother in law, Kristen and Ramon, did a bang up job themselves! Check it out:

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Kristen and Ramon treated me to a lovely red flannel button down from Express, a handmade beanie from our friend’s Etsy shop, and some Better Than Sex mascara for my beauty hoard. I absolutely love my flannel and I feel so spoiled because I never shop at Express, as it is a bit out of my price range. I am really excited to pair it with my new knitted beanie for a look to keep me comfy and cozy all winter long. Pair with your favorite leggings, rinse, repeat.

And, of course, you can never go wrong with gifting me the Better Than Sex mascara by Too Faced. Granted, I have two back up tubes already but now I won’t have to buy any more for a good long while. I am so touched by the thought that went into these gifts by my sister and brother in law and I am looking forward to putting all of it to good use. ❤

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

Jan2

5 Signs You Need To Visit An Emergency Dentist

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5 Signs You Need To Visit An Emergency Dentist

Although it may be a little overwhelming, deciding whether or not you need to visit an emergency dental practice ​can be difficult. Whether you’ve been experiencing a lot of pain or you’ve been in an accident that has caused damage to your teeth, you need to be sure you know exactly when you need to see a professional. Whilst not everything will be considered an emergency, it’s important for you to know when you need medical attention. With that in mind, here are 5 signs you need to visit an emergency dentist:

You’re Experiencing Severe Pain​:

One of the main reasons you need to book yourself an emergency dentist appointment is if you’re experiencing severe pain. Although toothaches can be incredibly painful, you need to be in severe agony to be able to consider an emergency appointment. Whether that means your pain doesn’t subside with tablets or it means you’re unable to do day-to-day activities, if you’re in pain you need to see someone straight away. For at-home ways to treat severe toothache, you can visit this site here.

You’ve Been In An Accident That Has Damaged Your Tooth​:

If you have been in an accident that has damaged your tooth, you need to book an appointment as soon as you possibly can. Although you may not be able to fix the issue right away, the sooner you see a professional the better. Not only will they be able to tell you the type of treatment you need, but they’ll be able to give you something to help with the pain. For advice when it comes to damaging a tooth, you can visit this site here.

You’ve ​Been Referred By A Professional:

Another sign you need to visit an emergency dental office is if you have been referred by another medical professional. Although you may not feel as though you’re in a medical emergency, a toothache can affect several other parts of your body. From earaches to sore throats, you may find that a dentist is able to help.

Your Pain Hasn’t Subsided​:

If you have visited the dentist with an issue in the past and the pain still hasn’t subsided, you may want to book an appointment to see them again. If the pain is getting worse, you need to ensure you’re booking an emergency appointment, as it could be something serious. If you can’t get an appointment right away, you might want to consider calling an out of hours helpline.

There’s No Other Practice Open​:

Finally, if there is no other practice open and you think you need help right away, it might be best to book an emergency appointment. If you’re unsure, the dental office will also be able to advise you as to whether or not you can wait until your regular practice is open again.

If you are experiencing extreme problems with your teeth, use the advice above and act accordingly!

Featured Image By: StockSnap from Pixabay

Jan2

7 Ways To Say Thank You

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7 Ways To Say Thank You

The most difficult thing to do these days is to tell someone “thank you”, and do it with feeling. There will be people in your life who you are grateful for every day, and sometimes, the words are just not enough to convey how thankful you are. The best thing to do is to go the extra mile and make your thank you the best one ever. This means getting a little more creative sometimes; more than just firing off an email and hoping for the best.

With our help below, you’re going to have seven new ways to say thank you to those whom you love the most. Let’s take a look:

A New Gift:

We don’t mean running to the nearest store and buying bath salts. Sometimes, only the most unique Hawaiian gifts will do! You can pair this with a beautiful home made gift bag like the ones that you find here. It’s a great way to show your appreciation to someone who deserves it!

A Toast To Them:

Not many people enjoy public speaking – we get that. However, giving a toast at an event you’re both at can make them feel so good! A sincere toast is one that is well-received, so practice in front of the mirror so that you can see that your toast is done with eloquence!

Write A Heartfelt Poem:

Words really are all you need. Go online and do some searching for the best poetry rhythms around and you’ll likely find something that is perfect for you and the person you want to gush to! Write a poem according to that rhythm and make them feel fantastic about themselves.

Take Them Out:

There are times where a thank you cannot be put into words or gifts and you need to do a little more. Does your friend or relative love musicals? Why not take them to a show and treat them to dinner while you’re there? It can make a huge difference: your time is all they need.

Think About A Gift Card:

Choosing a present isn’t always easy, but a gift card for a store that you know that they love is always a good way to go. They’re not impersonal if you know the best stores that they shop in, and if you make the amount on the gift card generous enough, you’re going to find that you have the perfect present.

Write A Letter:

You can say why you are thanking someone on the phone but it never seems to have the same impact as the written word. Never panic about how long the letter is – it can be as long as you feel is necessary to get your feelings across.

Declare Thanks On Social Media:

Everyone knows that social media has an impact on people these days; a positive one for the most part. So, put out a blast on social media and let them know how much they mean to you there, too. Social media blasts can then be shared, and everyone will know how grateful you are to that person.

The holiday season is the perfect time for giving thanks to your loved ones. Do so with the tips above!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan2

Holiday Haul: Boyfriend’s Family Edition

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Holiday Haul: Boyfriend’s Family Edition

Hello everyone! I was so thankful this past year to spend another beautiful holiday with my boyfriend, Johnny’s, family on Christmas Eve. We spent the whole day together opening gifts, playing games, enjoying a delicious meal, and watching their yearly viewing of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It was such a blast taking part in their family traditions and my time between their house on Christmas Eve and my family’s on Christmas day made it the best holiday yet.

I was just happy to be a part of the day with my boyfriend’s family but I was completely blown away by their generosity. Check it out:

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As you can see, Johnny’s family knows me pretty well already considering I was treated to gift cards to all of my favorite places: TJMaxx, Elysian Nails, Marshalls, and Dunkin’ Donuts. It was so sweet, because Johnny’s aunt gifted both myself and his mom to a gift card to Elysian so we could get mani pedis together. I’m really looking forward to making a date of it with lunch or coffee thrown into the mix for a perfect girls day.

And, of course, you can never go wrong with giving me chocolate and bath and body care as a present, because I can always put all of that to good use! I am also very excited to break out my adult coloring book set. I used to use those all of the time and just fell out of it so it will be nice to get back into it with such lovely pictures and supplies.

Honestly, my boyfriend’s family didn’t have to get me one damn thing but I am so grateful and touched that they did. I can’t wait for more holidays and hang outs with each of them and my life is so much better for having them in it! ❤

Where did you spend your holidays at? What is one of your favorite Christmas movies to watch? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan1

Holiday Haul: Sweet Friends Edition

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Holiday Haul: Sweet Friends Edition

Hello hello! This Christmas, I was so touched to receive some lovely gifts from two of my dear friends. One of which is my neighbor, Alice, at my family home who has been one of my besties for years now. What started out as me dog sitting her pups has turned into weekly coffee dates and hang outs and I treasure our time together so much.

Another was from my skating coach, Sarah, who I’ve known since I was at least eight years old. I love our weekly skating seshes and am so happy to have her in my life again since I rekindled my passion for figure skating. Check it out:

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Alice provided the prezzies on the left and she truly does know me so well because she got me all of my favorite things: Anything dog related, candles, and gift cards to Starbucks and TJMaxx! Alice and I always spoil each other during gift giving occasions and I definitely view her as a second mom while she sees me as the daughter she never had as a mom of three boys! We had such a lovely morning of coffee and chit chat during our gift exchange and I feel so incredibly lucky to have her as one of my best friends.

My skating coach, Sarah, gifted me with an adorable pencil pouch filled with goodies to utilize in my skating binder, which she writes notes in during our practices. It included chapstick and tons of great office supplies that will come in handy on and off the rink! I was so tickled by this thoughtful gift because it’s something that I will be putting to good use and I have already made quite a dent in the delicious sugar plum scented lip chap!

I am so thankful for having such sweet friends to share holiday cheer with and am blessed to have two wonderful women looking out for me. ❤

Do you have a second mom in your life? Have you rekindled an old passion recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec31

December 2019 Finishes

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December 2019 Finishes

Good morning and we interrupt the normal scheduling of the Holiday Haul to bring you the last monthly finishes post of 2019! December was an excellent month for using up some long term products that I’ve been working on and I love being able to start something new after a two or three month run. So take a look at my empties and let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

Softsoap Body Wash: I never understood why people spend a buttload of money on body washes when there are brands like Softsoap available for three dollars a bottle. I loved the pomegranate and mango scent, the moisturizing beads, and how it lathers so well. This body wash was so invigorating to use during my morning shower and it took me over one month to finish the bottle.

Garnier Micellar Water: We all know that I love my Garnier micellar water and I’ll be using it for forever, I reckon. The big bottle, which costs about twelve dollars, lasts me three months while the smaller one for around seven gets used up in one. Talk about a great value!

Clean & Clear Cleanser: I liked the Clean & Clear Morning Burst cleanser a lot. It always helped wake me up in the morning, it lathered well, and my skin would feel so fresh but not overly dry after using it. It took me at least two months to finish one bottle and I would happily use it again.

Provence Beauty Serum: This serum was a TJMaxx purchase and it lasted me a little over one month. I loved how the serum’s consistency was very liquidy because one dropper full was enough to cover my whole face and neck. Sometimes, you have to use a lot more when the consistency is thicker. The faint scent of orange in the serum was nice and it always seemed to rejuvenate my tired skin in the morning.

SkinLab Moisturizer: I absolutely love the SkinLab moisturizers and have been using them pretty exclusively for the past handful of months. The Detox Cloud moisturizer was a thicker texture but it never felt too heavy and still sat well under makeup. It is the ideal moisturizer to use during the winter months when dry skin can be a problem and it took me one month to finish one jar.

Laneige Sleeping Mask: This mini jar was a sample from Sephora and I was surprised that I was able to get at least six uses on my full face and neck from such a tiny container. I didn’t love this sleeping mask but I didn’t hate it. To me, it didn’t pack enough of a super hydrating punch but if the freebie option for it was available again I would probably go for it.

This was the perfect month of finishes to end the year on because every product was successful in their own ways. This is Lil Red’s last post of 2019 but I’ll catch you all tomorrow in 2020 for more of the latest and greatest!

Which products did you use up this month? How are you ringing in the new year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec30

Holiday Haul: Light Of My Life Edition

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Holiday Haul: Light Of My Life Edition

Hi! One of my clients that I work with is an older man with Down Syndrome and I always call him the “light of my life” because it’s the honest to god truth. This fellow has me wrapped around his little finger and everyone knows it! We have so much fun together and it really is nothing short of a delight to be his provider.

My friend has been looking forward to Christmas for months and months now. In fact, I think he started looking forward to this year’s Christmas the day after last year’s Christmas. In preparation for the big day, we decorated the tree and have played nonstop Christmas movies and music. It absolutely tickles me to see his love for this time of the year and he is the epitome of what the holiday season is all about.

During my last day of work before a holiday break, we had our gift exchange and I was surprised with all of the following:

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^^^ Note that the bottle of wine was from his brother!

I had to have a silent laugh when I opened my presents because I’m pretty sure that my client just gives people stuff that’s in his room for Christmas. And, that’s what made it so unbelievably perfect. My friend knows that I have no holiday decorations at my home and I’m sure that’s why he gave me my little Precious Moments penguin that is seriously the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

But, can we please talk about my caricature?! I am so excited to hang it up on my wall because I am all about having quirky things at chez moi and it just might be one of my favorite gifts that I’ve ever received. It was obvious how much thought he put into picking out his presents for me and they are going to be treasured for forever. ❤

What do you gift your work friends with? What was your favorite gift that you got this holiday season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah