Author Archives: lifewithlilred

Unknown's avatar

About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
Nov27

Holiday Season Guest Bloggers Wanted

Posted on by
Standard
Holiday Season Guest Bloggers Wanted

Hiya! With the holiday season in full swing, now is the perfect time to join lifewithlilred’s family of guest bloggers for some good cheer. If you are interested in sharing any winter or holiday themed posts for my viewers in one hundred and eighty-eight different countries, then please email me at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com

Your guest post could range from anything to photos of your hometown during the winter to your favorite holiday traditions or recipes. Or, how about a New Year’s Eve inspired OOTD or MOTD? I’m not picky! Email me some ideas and we will get you all set to star on lifewithlilred for the day. Looking forward to hearing from all of you! Much love. -Sarah

green15

Nov26

Making A More Creative Living Space

Posted on by
Standard
Making A More Creative Living Space

If you are someone who enjoys creating and is passionate about the arts, then you may find that being in a sterile home environment can be a bit uninspiring. If you are all about the arts, then why not let that shine through in your home decor? Here are some ways that you can make a creative impact on your living space with some little decorating tips that will make a big impact:

Create A Rainbow Bookshelf:

If you are a lover of literature, then you will probably have plenty of books in your home. One creative decor idea would be to arrange your bookshelves by color order. Image having a beautiful rainbow bookshelf! It may take some time to perfect, but the results will look amazing.

Musical Instruments Make The Most Creative Ornaments:

Of course, we would all love the centerpiece of our home to be a Steinway art case pianos, a beautiful work of art that, if played by the right person, can take your breath away. However, that may be wasted on you if you are not a pianist! How about getting some old guitars and mounting them to your wall? Pick an instrument that looks great, or is similar to one that was played by one of your musical heroes.

Hang The Art That You Want To See:

We all have our favorite types of images. Whether photography or paintings, having the types of pictures on your walls that you like will make a statement about you. Think about the placement of the items. You could go with large paintings which are not crowded on the walls, leaving a lot of space around them. Or, you could go for a cluster of images. You could either keep the pictures in a pattern, which will look neat on the walls. Or, you could fill the wall with quirky and interesting images using every piece of space possible.

Go Big Or Go Home On Your Feature Wall:

How often do you see a design makeover show where a feature wall is created, but it is somewhat lackluster? If you are going to create a wall in your home that stands out against the rest, make it a real eye catching statement that matches the room’s personality.

You can try some cute wallpapers as an accent wall in your children’s rooms and adorn the rest of the walls with their own artwork in frames. For the living room a gem hued feature wall is ideal if you are looking for something more bold. The kitchen is a space you could have some fun with by hanging your cookware and spices on floating shelves. The possibilities are endless and you can be as playful or dramatic as you’d like!

Create A Unique Wallpaper Look:

Have you ever gone into a DIY store and had a sample of wallpaper to take away and help you decide on what you want on your walls? Well, why not collect wallpaper samples and use all of them to create the most unique look possible on your walls? Start collecting as many pieces as possible. Think about getting pieces that are up to one foot in size and then fill your wall using them. Have pieces overlapping, in a haphazard fashion and mix up the colors to create a really eye-catching and creative look.

Let your love for the arts shine through in your home decor to keep you inspired and your guests impressed!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov26

Dollar Tree Haul

Posted on by
Standard
Dollar Tree Haul

Hello everyone! If there’s one thing that Lil Red doesn’t believe in, it’s paying full price for just about anything. So, it’s pretty shocking that I really didn’t get into shopping at the Dollar Tree until this past year. One of my clients loves that store and I always end up there at least one time a week. It wasn’t until I took a closer look around until I realized that the Dollar Tree is friggen awesome and I have had much success shopping there, especially since moving into my apartment. Don’t believe me? Check out this big ol’ haul for yourself:

tree

For twenty items I paid twenty dollars altogether and I am confident that if I purchased all of this at a normal grocery store it would easily be over fifty dollars. The Dollar Tree pulled through in the clutch for me at just the right time because after all of my holiday shopping this month, my credit card bill is going to be huge. BUT, I also have no food in my apartment. This will definitely tide me over until my bill turns over in December and I can do a bigger grocery shopping trip.

Also, can we please talk about the potato gnocchi and Arizona nacho trays?! They are both SO freaking good and the only thing that isn’t pictured is the nachos that I already ate, lol. They are a perfect snack for when I get home from work and I was so stoked that the Dollar Tree that I was at had them that I just had to get six, lol! The gnocchi is also a quick, easy, and delicious meal that my boyfriend and I both love and will be a perfect, simple dinner after we’ve both had a long day.

I have never quite understood the people that considered themselves above discount shopping but I, for one, will never be. Compliments of shopping at TJMaxx and Marc’s (a discount grocery store in my neck of the woods), I am sure that I’ve saved over thousands throughout the years and that ballin on a budget train isn’t going to end any time soon!

What is your favorite discount store? How do you ball on a budget for your grocery shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov25

Groovy Movies: Doctor Sleep Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Groovy Movies: Doctor Sleep Edition

Hi there! This past weekend, my sister, boyfriend, and I headed off to the movies to see Doctor Sleep, the sequel to Stephen King’s The Shining. We are all avid fans of Mr. King so we were definitely looking forward to an afternoon viewing of Doctor Sleep. I am not proud of this, but I never got around to reading the book. Believe you me, I’m just as ashamed of myself as all of you!

However, this allowed me to see the film with no preconceived notions of how it should be because I really didn’t know too much about it. This was a good and a bad thing so, without giving away any spoilers, let’s discuss:

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to this video!

Danny Torrence is all grown up, an alcoholic, and is still shining despite his efforts to stifle it through his addiction. And, can you blame him after his traumatizing stay at the Overlook Hotel as a child? But, what does it mean to shine, you might ask? Well, the shining is kind of like your intuition working on overdrive. You might be able to tell someone where they lost their watch. You could see people who have been dead for years. Or you can communicate with others telepathically. It all depends on the person who is shining.

To shine is an amazing gift and there are those who want to harvest in on that power by tracking down the shiner, killing them, and inhaling their “steam”, which is released through fear and pain. With this group of baddies on the prowl, the shining population is dwindling down leaving some with hardly any shine at all and a handful of mega powerful minds whose shine is impossible to dim.

Cue Danny Torrence and his new friend, Abra, a teenage girl who he meets through telepathic communication. The shine hunters are on to them but can they turn those chasing them into the prey? Watch Doctor Sleep and find out!

Okay, so let’s get to the good things about watching Doctor Sleep without reading the book. Let me start out by saying that this flick was close to three hours long, so not knowing anything about the story line helped keep my attention for most of the film. It made every new development exciting but, as with any long movie, I found myself wondering throughout the viewing just when the hell it would be over so I could go pee.

Had I known where the plot was going and would ultimately end up, maybe the jitters of mentally begging the movie to finish up would have gone away. I also wish that I had a better appreciation of who the characters were and where they were coming from. Don’t get me wrong, the cast was cool and the baddies were badass. But, I think I would have liked them all a bit more if I had a book description to compare them to.

Do I have a problem with long movies? Absolutely not. I could watch the Lord Of The Rings on repeat for days. But, I do have a problem when movies are long and they don’t necessarily have to be. For example, a healthy half hour could have easily been shaved off of Doctor Sleep and the movie would have still been good, if not better. The beginning and ending were exciting but the middle was so drawn out that it made me wish that the grand finale would just hurry up and finish.

My sister happened to read Doctor Sleep and commented that the beginning and ending were very true to the book but it strayed hard in the middle. I can’t comment on this but just going off of what she said, the movie rendition could definitely have been shortened.

I am still happy that I saw the movie in theaters and I had a fun outing with my favorite people but it wasn’t the best film that I’ve seen, by far. In fact, the more I think about it the less I like it. But, it was still good by my standards and I will rate it with a six out of ten stars.

What were your thoughts on Doctor Sleep if you have seen it? What is your favorite Stephen King book or movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: IMDB

Nov24

Lil Red’s Black Friday Shopping Pro Tips

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Black Friday Shopping Pro Tips

Howdy!! In a mere handful of days it will be my favorite holiday of Thanksgiving because FOOD… and family, of course. 😉 And, with Thanksgiving just around the corner means that Black Friday will be coming in hot on its heels. I, personally, have never gone Black Friday shopping before because I suffered through five years of working on the day during my time in retail.

It’s no surprise that I have no desire to be within twenty feet of a mall on Black Friday. But, Lil Red lives and breathes shopping so allow me to grace you with these pro tips for a successful Black Friday haul:

Be Nice:

Although this has nothing to do with scoring the best deals, it has everything to do with being the best person. Please, please, PLEASE be kind to your retail and restaurant workers on Black Friday and every day. Those who have never worked a Black Friday before honestly have no idea how stressful it is and a rude customer can be enough to completely ruin someone on the biggest shopping day of the year.

Say please and thank you, try not to leave destruction in your wake as you shop, and be mindful of the other shoppers. And, always remember, you literally just spent the day prior celebrating all you have to be thankful for so if you don’t get what you wanted, there’s no need to punch someone in the face about it. Je-sus!

Do Your Research:

Now, having said all of that, the first step to a successful Black Friday is to do some research. It’s a mixed bag of which stores reveal their deals before the day and which don’t, so try investigating by either calling the store or going online. This will help you to decide the best order in which to shop. If there’s a hot deal going on right at midnight for something you have your eye on, then twenty-five percent off at your favorite store can wait.

Often times, stores repeat the deals that they had in year’s past so also bear that in mind when you are making your preparations.

Make A List:

Once you have a general idea of where to go and when, it’s time to make a list of what you would like to purchase. I know I always mention list making – but, damnit, it’s helpful! If you have specific things in mind that you want to buy on Black Friday, you cannot hit the stores willy nilly. It’s important to coordinate your wants with the deals happening so that you can create the best course of action for the order of stores you want to visit.

Time Is Of The Essence:

So you have a plan of what you want, the deals happening, and where you want to go. But, the thing is, so does everyone else. It’s all in the timing when it comes to Black Friday shopping. If you are shopping for specifics, you can’t spend too much time in one store or you might jeopardize getting the other things you want. Get in, grab your item, check out, and head to your next location. Then, once your shopping is complete, feel free to revisit anywhere else you want to spend more time in.

However, if you are going shopping just for the fun of it, take all of the time in the world. But, remember, if you do shop at a leisurely pace, a lot of the stores will be pretty picked over by the time you get there.

Know When To Say When:

Black Friday shopping is awesome for nabbing a big electronic for a song or doing your Christmas shopping. But, don’t be crazy about it. If you find yourself spending way too much money or shoving other people to get to the next place or hot item, then you’ve probably had enough Black Friday. Go home, take a chill pill, and try again on Cyber Monday when you’re not in the general public. 😉

Speaking Of Cyber Monday…

If you’re not keen on the craziness that is Black Friday, Cyber Monday is just days away and you can enjoy the deals from the comfort of your own home. Just remember to do your research prior. This might involve signing up for emails, which could notify you of the deals ahead of time (The same goes for regular Black Friday shopping!).

Get ready, get set, and shop with Lil Red’s Black Friday Shopping Pro Tips!

Have you been Black Friday shopping? Do you have any crazy stories from working or shopping a Black Friday? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov23

Fairy Hair!

Posted on by
Standard
Fairy Hair!

Hello everyone! While vacationing in North Carolina this past summer, I stumbled upon a cute little boutique that offered “fairy hair”. This was enough to get me in the store and when the saleswoman explained that it was strands of colored tinsel tied into your hair, I was sold. I was so enamored with my sparkly locks that I just had to purchase a hair tinsel kit on Amazon to make the hair bling a reoccurring theme once the ones I got fell out.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t even get one strand of tinsel into my sister’s hair let alone on myself. But, lucky for me, my wonderful hair stylist, Anna, used to do fairy hair all of the time at her old shop and said she would do it for me during my next hair cut. I was really looking forward to this because we were going to do a ton of tinsel as opposed to the ten measly strands I got on vaca.

Although it was a long process, it was worth the hour in the salon chair and I have a head full of sparkles compliments of Anna. I’ll get better pictures when I’m not taking them by myself, but check it out:

fairy2fairy

Anna and I dubbed my tinsel tresses as “disco hair” and I am so in love with the results. The compliments I get everywhere I go doesn’t hurt, either! Hair tinsel is such a fun, simple, and inexpensive way to spice up your do as I only paid ten dollars for ten huge packs of sparkles. These will literally last me a lifetime and I can’t wait to continue the hair tinsel trend during my next appointment at the Shear Shop!

hair

What is your favorite trend for funky hair? How do you make a statement with your locks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov22

Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Creme Lipstick Swatch In Nu Prefere

Posted on by
Standard
Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Creme Lipstick Swatch In Nu Prefere

Hello everyone and welcome to the last swatch of the Rouge Essentiel Silky Lip Cremes by Laura Mercier. Unfortunately, I saved the worst for last, which was totally unintentional! I honestly thought that I was going to like this nude shade the best but, I daresay, I might like the orange color more than this one. Shocking, I know. Take a look at some pics and I’ll let you decide:

lm3nunu1

At first glance of Nu Prefere, I thought that I was going to like it a lot. I love a good nude lippie and this shade looked like a pretty dusty pink that I could get down with. Sadly, that just wasn’t the case. If you can recall from the last two Laura Mercier swatches, the pigment was very rich and I don’t know what went wrong with this one but it was definitely lacking in that department. What I really wanted was for the color to be as highly saturated as the others and, as you can see, it just looks like a cheap gloss rather than a lip creme.

My other qualm with this hue is the orangeness once it was applied. It has this really rusty undertone to it, which is less than flattering and a far cry from the swatch on the marketing seen above. Nu Prefere was a huge hell no for me and that’s saying a lot when I like a straight up orange shade better than a nude one! Smh.

Overall, I am unimpressed with the samples I received of Laura Mercier’s Rouge Essentiel lipsticks. The colors were not the best, the price for a full tube is outrageous, and I am confident that you could find a drugstore brand to suit you and your wallet better. Whomp whomp.

What is your favorite nude lipstick? Do you prefer neutral shades or bold colors when it comes to your lippie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov21

Cycling Safety Tips Women Should Always Remember

Posted on by
Standard
Cycling Safety Tips Women Should Always Remember

Cycling is an exhilarating activity that many people enjoy. Sadly, it does not seem to be a sport with a lot of women involved. In fact, only 29 percent of cyclists in San Francisco are women. Meanwhile in Barcelona, there’s only a single female cyclist for every three male cyclists.

Women deal with many struggles when cycling, which include violence, discrimination, and harassment. Just as much as people need to be educated against such behaviors, women also need to learn how to protect themselves when cycling – whether it is from rude drivers or from potential road accidents. Enjoy cycling by staying safe. Here are eight safety tips that women can apply when they hit the road:

Gear up:

Cycling requires you to be on the road, which means that you will be exposed to hazards every driver faces. Make sure to wear appropriate attire. Don’t let anything hang loose, as it could get snagged along the way. Wearing a helmet is also an extra protection that will save your life. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen, especially on easily exposed areas like the back of your neck. And upgrade your bike to improve its condition and to ensure your safety.

Be seen:

The more you dress like a peacock, the more you will stand out and get seen on the road. Always wear high-visibility gear when cycling. Choose ones that are not only reflective but also breathable. Bringing along a backpack will cover the majority of your back and block your high-vis outfit. You can opt to invest in a reflective backpack to make you visible from the back.

Keeping the lights on will also help you see the road at night and make you visible at the same time. Bring backup LED lights just in case the main lights go off.

Stay alert:

Always keep your eyes on the road and have a presence of mind when you go cycling. Look out for other drivers, motorists, and fellow cyclists. Even pedestrians walking their cute pets can distract you in one second. And anything can happen in that single second.

Of course, injuries can happen no matter how alert you are. Should you have been injured while cycling from the actions of someone else, you will want to get legal help for your Midland personal injury claim (or your local area) immediately. Be sure to document everything well so you can receive the compensation you deserve.

Be aware of others:

Cyclists are some of the most vulnerable on the roads. Because of this, you need to be extra cautious of others. Yes, do everything in your power to be safe; from wearing a high-vis outfit to following road rules, but be aware of those around you too. If you do end up being injured, you should seek expert assistance. You can read this personal injury guide for more information.

Follow road rules:

If you haven’t biked or driven lately, you may need to get a refresher course on the road rules, especially ones that are applicable to cycling. Most importantly, know the bike safety rules. This will help you prevent the most common cyclist accidents. Being over familiar with safety rules and preventative tips is one of the best ways to protect yourself. However, if an accident does occur specialized accident lawyers are at hand to help defend your case, and bicycle accident reconstruction litigation even exists wherein experts can forensically examine your bicycle to help conclusively determine what happened in the accident.

Be confident:

Cyclists have as much right on the road as motorists. Be confident in your decisions and abilities. To keep safe on the road, let road users know your intention clearly early on. This will help keep traffic flowing. Avoid road accidents by steering clear from vehicle blind spots. Staying close to the side or behind a moving car will not end well for you in case an accident occurs.

Prevent doorings:

Always be on the lookout for possible doorings. You will never know when accidents will occur, so you should take steps to minimize this occurrence. Watch out for parked cars and look ahead at their mirrors for any vehicle occupants. Avoid riding inside the door zone as doors could spring open unexpectedly.

Be safe by bringing along some first-aid supplies, such as an elastic sports tape that will help relieve inflamed muscles. These should come in handy if you ever encounter a dooring or any other accident.

Ride smart:

Whether you are cycling in your local area or cycling across America, your safety is paramount. Before setting off it’s a good idea to study the area you are riding in so there are no sudden surprises. Plan when to ride ahead of time. Early mornings or evenings will let you ride in less traffic and keep you a lot safer. Avoid peak times, especially if you ride anywhere near shopping centers or school zones. If you find yourself riding in such settings, though, be extra careful. Watch out for pedestrians and drivers and always be prepared for anything.

Stay secure:

Keeping yourself safe also means keeping your trusty steed secure. Don’t forget to include a bike lock when you prepare for a ride. This is especially useful when you’re taking a quick stop and have to leave the bike in an unfamiliar area.

Both women and men have the right to participate in cycling. Just like any sport, there are many hazards that surround it. But these shouldn’t stop people from doing the activities they love. Simply follow the rules of the road, apply the right safety tips, and you should enjoy cycling to the fullest.

Featured Image By: Shutterstock

Nov21

Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Creme Lipstick Swatch In Rouge Ultime

Posted on by
Standard
Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Creme Lipstick Swatch In Rouge Ultime

Howdy! Today, we are on to our next swatch in the Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel sample pack that I got from Sephora. This shade in the Silky Creme Lipstick is called Rouge Ultime. But, is it the ultimate red? Lil Red is a little bias because I like to think that I am. Ba dum chhhh! I’ll let you all decide for yourselves, though. Take a look and let’s discuss:

lm3rougerouge1

As I’ve mentioned before, I am very picky when it comes to my red lipsticks. Due to my complexion and hair color, only a pure red looks flattering on me. Anything with too blue or orange undertones just misses the mark. I’ve made the mistake before of buying lipstick shades willy nilly and that turned out to be a massive waste of money. So, sticking to my preferred brands and colors is usually what I opt for.

I’ve swatched a lot of lipsticks on my day on lifewithlilred and the Rouge Ultime hue by Laura Mercier isn’t bad! I like the poppy crimson color and, as we discussed yesterday, I really enjoy the creme texture of this lippie. My only qualm with this shade is that it might have a tad too much blue undertones to it for my liking.

Am I upset about it? Absolutely not, because one tube of the lipstick is a whopping THIRTY-TWO DOLLARS!! I will keep using my five dollar tube of NYX, thank you very much. Sephora samples are truly a double edged sword. On one end, it’s nice to be able to test new products out. But, on the other, if you fall head over heels for it, you usually end up thirty bucks in the hole!

Do you prefer high end or drugstore brands? What is a beauty item you splurge on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov20

Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Creme Lipstick Swatch In L’Orange

Posted on by
Standard
Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Creme Lipstick Swatch In L’Orange

Hello!! When shopping with Sephora online, you get to pick two samples out of eight or so for free. Normally, I’ll select a perfume tester for my mom because she’s a fragrance gal and, if they’re available, lipstick sample pods for me. I am not the most adventurous when it comes to my lippie colors because I will always prefer my NYX matte red lipstick over anything else.

However, I do like swatching the shades that I get as Sephora freebies on lifewithlilred. During my last haul, I selected the Laura Mercier tester pack to share with all of you. This is the Silky Creme Lipstick in L’Orange:

lm3lm4lm5

I have never been an orange lipstick kind of girl. Anything with the faintest orange hue in it appears awfully clown like on me when it is paired against my red hair. This is unfortunate, because I love the idea of peach colored lips in the summertime. I think L’Orange would be a perfect summer or late spring shade but with snow falling consistently in Ohio now, the cheerful shade seems almost inappropriate while it’s so crap lousy out.

Would I be willing to try this shade out on myself? Hell no. Do I think it would be pretty on the right person? I think it would be stunning. But, orange is a really tricky shade to pull off so it would have to be done right. When paired with a simple all white ensemble and a more natural MOTD, a huge statement could be made with one small pop of color.

Now, as far as the consistency of this lippie goes – it really wasn’t bad. Shocking, I know, because Lil Red is a matte girl through and through. Despite L’Orange having a shiny luster to it, it wasn’t a glossy feel at all. It felt heavier than your standard gloss lipstick but not as much as a full on matte lippie. I could get down with this, especially in the colder months when it’s so easy for your lips to get dried out, which can become even worse with a matte lipstick.

Overall, I’m still impressed with this product so far but not in this shade. So, I’ll be looking forward to trying another hue tomorrow!

Do you prefer a matte or glossy lipstick? How do you rock a bold lip color? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah