Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!

Accessory Story: Argentino Vivo Hoops Edition

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Accessory Story: Argentino Vivo Hoops Edition

Hiii! One of my favorite accessories is easily my gigantic gold hoop earrings by Argentino Vivo. They are so sassy and fun and I wear them literally all of the time. So, when I saw a pair of green hoops by Argentino Vivo while online shopping at TJMaxx, I had to jump at the opportunity to make them mine. I am so glad I did! Take a look:

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Green, especially the deeper shades like that of my new earrings, is one of my favorite colors to wear. It pairs so nicely with my red hair, hazel eyes, and pale complexion and I try to wear it often. Not as often as black… but often! I love, love, LOVE these earrings even though they are not as big as my other pair, but that’s okay. The color makes up for it and it is going to look so cool right against all of the things that pop with the green assist.

I firmly believe that every girl should own a good pair of hoop earrings. Big, small, silver, or blue – it doesn’t matter. The variety you can pick from will make sure you are getting a pair that is just right for you. I am so happy to have found another pair that I like so much and now, no surprises here, I just want more!!

These will definitely not be the last pair of hoops that I will be purchasing and it will only be of the Argentino Vivo brand in the future. The earrings are of such high quality and the TJMaxx price is just right for a #treatyoself purchase. Sold!

What is your favorite accessory? How about your favorite style of earrings? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Zac & Rachel Skort

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New Zac & Rachel Skort

Hellooo! As far as I’m concerned, summer is here. And, with each changing of the season, I usually have a big TJMaxx haul to refresh my wardrobe with some fun new pieces. I’m not going to lie, summer is my least favorite season to dress for. It is not like me to just throw on a tank top and shorts and call it a day, which is so easy to do when it’s hot out. So, despite the heat, I still like putting together outfits that make a statement. And, that shouldn’t be hard to do with this new Zac & Rachel skort! Check it out:

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Before I purchased my first skort from TJ’s a few months ago, I always associated that type of clothing with childhood. But, I now know that the skort is a-okay for GROWN ASS WOMEN, too! The skort is a wonderful invention because you don’t have to worry about anyone sneaking a peek up your skirt throughout the day and you also don’t have to deal with the shorts riding up into a denim wedgie as if you were wearing shorts. #winning

This Zac & Rachel skort just screams “fun in the sun” to me and I love the pattern of oranges, sunflowers, and polka dots. Such a sweet combination! What’s great about this skort, is that it’s going to look dressed up with a black crop top and some espadrilles thanks to the stark white and flattering fit. Bye bye, basic summer OOTDs and hello to an ensemble that will still help you beat the heat but look oh so chic.

How do you avoid the basic summer OOTD blues? What is one of your summer wardrobe staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Doing Me For Me

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Doing Me For Me

Hiii everyone! This past month, I have made some major changes when it comes to work and my life in general and I honestly have never been happier. For the past couple of years, my life has felt like the epitome of “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. Not to say that I don’t love my job, because it is simply the best. But, I was working so much to the point that my social life or even just time for me was essentially nonexistent.

I was starting to become really bitter, especially from seeing all of my friends doing such cool stuff all over social media while my days off on the weekend were spent recouping from a long work week. I felt envious of my friends or people I don’t even know on my newsfeed living their best life while I felt like I was merely working my way through mine week after week.

I was fed up and so I made the decision to change things. I made the difficult choice to drop one of my clients and I also rearranged my schedule to give myself some evenings off. And, within one week, I felt a major difference in my mental health. For once, I was enjoying having friends over for drinks at my apartment, going out, and running errands that I had saved for the weekend. And, my boyfriend and I get more regular times to see each other, which is the best!

I spent a majority of twenty-three and twenty-four building my businesses. And, now that both of them are totally stable, I am fortunate enough to cut back on my hours a bit. I feel proud of myself that I took a major stand to start improving my mental health and being able to feel like a twenty-four year old with a social life is what I desperately needed. It was a big step and I could have easily kept running myself into the ground but, doing me for me needed to happen and my life feels infinitely better for it.

So, this post is a friendly reminder for all of you to take the steps to do you for you. Carve out time to give yourself a break, cut out negativity, and do what you have to do to live your best life. ❤

How do you do you for you? What can you do to improve your life today? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Face Mask Festivities: SpaLife Brightening Sheet Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: SpaLife Brightening Sheet Mask Edition

Hiii everyone! While in the shower the other day, I remembered that a friend of mine gave me a Target gift card when I was moving into my apartment. I was so happy that I remembered this but was also SO annoyed because I had been to Target at least three times since moving. Smh.

But, it’s better late than never for using the gift card so I made a Target run and purchased a few essentials as well as a sheet face mask to push me slightly above the gift card limit. I have never used a sheet mask before so I thought that I would give it a try as a little treat to myself. I went with a brightening mask made with papaya by SpaLife and it was about three dollars per mask. I can’t say that it was my favorite face mask experience but I didn’t hate it. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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^^^ Hahaha, ahhhh that picture kills me! 😀

Because my skin type is as normal as it gets, I always go for masks that are either brightening or hydrating. And, with summer coming in hot, I thought that my skin could use some brightening for a more radiant appearance in the bright sun. I have also been really tired lately so my skin has been looking and feeling pretty lackluster. Needless to say, a brightening mask was just what the doctor ordered.

When I took the sheet mask out of the package, it was absolutely dripping with the papaya serum. I was a little surprised by this because the mask was inexpensive. I wasn’t expecting it to be bone dry but I also wasn’t expecting it to be jam packed with papaya goodness, either. This mask smelled really good, too. I caught a whiff of papaya as soon as I opened the packet and it lingered for the duration of having the mask on.

I left the mask on for about twelve minutes and then it fell off while I was in the shower. The mask wasn’t uncomfortable by any means but I didn’t like that you essentially just had to sit there with the mask on to avoid it falling off. This is why I prefer your standard face mask from a jar or tube so that you can continue going about your business until it’s time to wash it off.

Although the mask came off prematurely, I can say that I definitely saw some results from it. I had literally no expectations for this mask so maybe that’s why I was more keen to pick up on any differences in my skin. But, my under eye circles seemed less prevalent, my skin looked brighter, and it felt insanely smooth so I was very happy about all of that.

I can’t say that I would go out of my way to use a sheet mask again because I enjoy normal face masks so much but I’m glad that I tried it. And, if you haven’t tried one before, then you should go to Target and grab a SpaLife mask. It was inexpensive and an overall pleasant experience for what it was!

How do you feel about sheet masks? What is your favorite face mask to use? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Fun Activities To Do With Your Kids This Summer

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Fun Activities To Do With Your Kids This Summer

If you are looking for things to do with your kids this summer, then you have come to the right place. Down below, you are going to find a short list of ideas that you can use to fill the time while your little ones are off from school. They don’t have to be anything elaborate as you will see when you keep reading, but just something different and fun to do as a family. Take a look:

Take Them Climbing:

The first thing that we are going to suggest is that you take them climbing. There is going to be some sort of mountain within a few hours drive from you, and this is the perfect thing to do on a sunny day. Just make sure that you are taking a lot of food and drinks with you to avoid anyone feeling weak or tired on your journey. Not only is this something fun that you can do as a family, but it is also great for exercise and getting everyone out and about. Staying indoors can be fun, but every now and then you need something to get you moving and get your blood pumping!

Or, if climbing isn’t really something you want to do, you can find a nice nature trail to follow. There are lots of these dotted around, and you will find some amazing views when you embark on one of these journeys.

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So cool!

Learn An Instrument:

The next thing that we are going to suggest is that you take up an instrument. This can be fun to do with your children no matter what instrument you choose to do. This could be piano, guitar, or even something as peculiar as the ukulele! If this is something that you want to consider, you can find the Top 12 Easy Ukulele Songs with 4 Chords (C, G, Am, F) online to look at! By doing this, you don’t even have to hire a teacher to help you learn. Instead, you can teach yourselves at home and make it into a fun experience for those days where you just don’t want to leave the comfort of your own home.

Create Something Beautiful:

Finally, have you thought about doing something creative with them? This can be anything from painting with them in the garden to building somewhere for them to play. Obviously, you don’t want them handling sharp tools, that’s for you to do, but they can help with passing you stuff, assembling, and decorating when it’s finished. Projects like this are great because they take up a few days at least, and they make sure everyone has a task to do.

You can also think about getting them to help you out with the gardening and creating a beautiful outdoor space. This might not sound like the most fun idea, but it is something that everyone can be involved in and looks amazing when completed.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now have a few good ideas for activities that you can do with your kids this summer!

 

May 2019 Finishes

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May 2019 Finishes

Hellooo! May is drawing to a close and June is coming in hot, which means that very soon I’ll be turning twenty-five. UGH! So with another month and another year in my book coming to an end, it’s about that time to discuss our finishes for May. This month, I actually completed a lot of products so we have much to discuss. Let’s get to it!

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Would I Use Again?

  • Solmo Shea Butter & Oatmeal body wash: MAYBE
  • The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit shower gel: YES
  • Garnier Micellar Water: YES
  • The Body Shop Satsuma scrub: YES
  • The Body Shop Cocoa Butter lotion: NO
  • SkinLab Detox Cloud moisturizer: YES
  • The Body Shop Oils Of Life serum: YES

Why/Why Not?

Solmo Body Wash: I believe that my mom ordered this product off of Amazon and it was fine. It wasn’t the best body wash I’ve ever used but it wasn’t the worst. I have one more bottle left to use but I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t looking forward to trying something else with a more invigorating scent. However, this Solmo wash leaves my skin feeling really moisturized and it lathers well. It took me one month to finish one bottle.

TBS Shower Gel: I love, love, loved the Pink Grapefruit shower gel by The Body Shop and it took me over two months to finish the bottle. The scent was citrusy and rejuvenating, it lathered well, and it didn’t dry my skin out even though it was a gel. I’m normally not the biggest fan of the Pink Grapefruit scent from TBS for lotion but it worked great for a shower gel and I would definitely use it again.

Garnier Micellar Water: You know the drill. I will continue using this product until I find something else. And, as per ushe, it takes me one month to finish one bottle.

TBS Scrub: And, also as per ushe, I would use the Satsuma scrub from The Body Shop again too! This is one of my favorite products from TBS. It smells amazing, gives me a close shave, and leaves my skin feeling bright and clean. And, as always, I get at least seven full body uses from one bottle.

TBS Lotion: Although the Cocoa Butter from The Body Shop is easily one of my favorite scents, I have a bone to pick with this lotion. The bottle was absolutely impossible to squeeze, making it so hard to get any product out. I had to leave the bottle upside down and then unscrew the cap to use it. But, then, the lotion would come pouring out giving me way too much and getting on everything. So, I definitely won’t be using this one again even though I liked the lotion. I got about six full body uses from one bottle.

SkinLab Moisturizer: I LOVED this moisturizer that I found at TJMaxx. It sat well under makeup, was inexpensive, lightweight, and it left my skin feeling so hydrated. A little bit of the cream went a long way and it took me over a month to finish the jar. Hoping that I can find another one on my next shopping trip!

TBS Serum: Like all of The Body Shop products on here, I got the Oils Of Life serum from TJMaxx, too. It takes me over two months to finish one bottle and I can really tell a difference on my skin when I’m using it. It looks and feels so much more supple and radiant and that’s cool, because I normally never notice any differences on my skin when using a product. Despite the oil being rich, it sits really well under makeup and I am so happy I bought two bottles so I can continue using it.

Overall, May was a great month for finishes. I got to use a lot of products from The Body Shop which was a treat and I would gladly use almost all of them again. Great success!

Which products did you finish up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you used them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Psychic Experience

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Psychic Experience

Hiiii! Over the weekend, my boyfriend and I thought that it would be fun to go see a psychic. He has been to one before and I never have so we made a little afternoon of it. After searching for “the best psychics in Cleveland” for what felt like forever, we landed on a woman named Faye who had pretty solid reviews. Of course, all of the reviews for each place were a mixed bag with some people saying it was a scam and others claiming that it was the best reading of their life.

For cheapness’s sake, we decided to both do a palm reading and went on our merry way to meet Faye, who has a small business in downtown Cleveland. Her shop was very tiny with a sitting area in the front and an office style room in the back where she did her readings. As soon as we walked in, she decided that I would go first so I went back while my boyfriend waited up front.

I don’t know about you, but I definitely believe in the other wordly and spiritual powers. I do feel like Faye had it, but I also know when someone is just trying to upsell you and that’s exactly what she did to both me and my MAN. It was basically a case of “I can tell you more but you have to come back”. *Massive eye roll*

However, what she did tell me during the brief ten minute reading was all correct. She started off with the basic “you had a difficult childhood/teenage years blah, blah, blah” which I feel like isn’t that hard to tell by looking at me, lol. But, then she continued with being able to tell that I worked in the care profession, recently moved out, and had two specific people in my family that I worry about the most – which is all accurate. She also didn’t know my name so it’s not like she Facebooked me or read my blog beforehand.

I do wish that we could have talked longer, because I feel like she was holding back on everything that she told me so that she could pull the “but wait, there’s more” card. But, it was a really cool experience for what it was and it was even better that my boyfriend came up with such a unique date idea. Six out of ten, would go to Faye again. Twelve out of ten, would recommend this date to others!

Have you ever been to a psychic? What are your thoughts in favor or against practices like that? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Paranormal Activity?!

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Paranormal Activity?!

Hellooooo! Okay, so the weirdest things happened in my apartment this past week which begs the question of if it’s haunted. Lol, I know it sounds crazy, but the instances that occurred were so impossible that it made me really freaked out. Let us proceed:

Exhibit A:

A few days before this occurrence, I accidentally broke a small plate when trying to get it out of my cabinet on the stove and refrigerator side. The plate broke into a few large pieces that were easy to pick up and get moved directly to the trash can. I then got the little shards cleaned up and continued to go about my day. To my knowledge, that was the last of the problem.

But, three days later, broken plate pieces reappeared in places that just weren’t possible for them to be at. That morning, I had taken my trash out that contained the plate fragments before I left for work. I got home that night and walked into my bathroom to start preparing a bath. And, as luck would have it, I stepped on a piece of broken plate. Mind you, the plate broke three days prior, was in the trash, and hadn’t left the trash since. AND, I stood in my bathroom that morning doing my hair and makeup and didn’t step on anything.

I tended to my foot, ran the bath water, and went to the kitchen to get something to drink. Then, on the opposite counter from which the plate broke sat a larger piece of plate that I couldn’t have missed that morning when I stood in the same spot to fix a glass of Tang for breakfast. This is when I started getting really uneasy, because there was just no way that I would have missed such a big piece of broken plate that morning. And, even if I did, the chances of it sitting there for three days without me seeing it was absolutely impossible.

After the glass incident, it made me hyper aware of two other instances that happened, one being the night before and the other happening the day before that.

Exhibit B:

Maybe this was nothing, but I don’t see how this could have happened without my knowledge, either. The night before the glass incident, I got out of bed to go to the bathroom. I was looking in my mirror while washing my hands and, behind me, I saw a HUGE hornet sitting on my wall.

When I go in and out of my apartment, I never leave my door wide open and I am always quick to get in or get out to prevent things like this from happening. But, even if I wasn’t, I definitely would have noticed this big sucker flying into my apartment. I shit you not, it was a little smaller than a silver dollar. So, needless to say, I was terrified when I saw it just hanging out in my bathroom.

I grabbed my fly swatter and, because it was gigantic, it was really slow and I was able to send it to a watery toilet grave. I felt very unnerved afterwards, though, because it just seemed too big to miss and that means it probably was in my apartment while I was home that evening and I didn’t even know it. Weird.

And, finally, the last incident happened the day before the hornet and two days before the two other glass instances.

Exhibit C:

I would say at least two weeks ago, over a weekend, my boyfriend was over and we were drinking wine on my couch. He accidentally dropped his glass and it broke on the floor space in between my couch and coffee table. It was no big deal and the glass was cleaned up and I thought that was the end of it.

But, two weeks after the glass breaking, a shard showed up again underneath my foot at least ten feet from where the glass broke to begin with. Once again, I have no clue how such a big piece could have gone unnoticed for two weeks or longer without me or someone else stepping on it.

I am glad it was me that stepped on it, though, because that morning I had my old skating coach and her daughter over for lunch. Her little girl was running around my apartment barefoot and it could have been her that stepped on it instead of me. I walked on the glass literally right after they left and was so confused as to how it got almost all the way to my front door and was sitting there for who knows how long without anything happening.

Maybe all of these were coincidences but three weird things happening three days in a row had me so spooked. Nothing has happened since and, hopefully, that will be the last of it. But, if not, I’ll keep you all posted!!

Can anyone offer me some explanations for the above instances? Have you ever experienced any paranormal activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Summer Guest Bloggers Wanted!

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Summer Guest Bloggers Wanted!

Hiii everyone! Unfortunately in Ohio, we didn’t get to enjoy a whole lot of spring weather. It was desperately cold with a few nice days and now we have already skyrocketed into temperatures in the 80’s. I am so not thrilled about it, because Lil Red was not made for extreme heat. So, with summer weather basically here in Ohio, I figured I would announce a call to action for some guest bloggers!

If you have a warm weather OOTD or MOTD, summer vaca travel tips, favorite recipes, or activities and want to share it with my audience in over one hundred and eighty different countries, then please shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com . I look forward to hearing from all of you! Much love. -Sarah

Top Ways To Attract More Clients To Your Events Place

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Top Ways To Attract More Clients To Your Events Place

Ever wondered why malls, concert grounds, office buildings, hotels, resorts, events places, and even schools invest so much effort and money into beautifying their gardens and parking lots? The landscape and terrain of an events place are more than just a backdrop for photos and videos. They have a logistical purpose, too.

If you’re managing an event place and you want to attract more clients, you might need to look into the current amenities you’re offering. If you haven’t yet invested in commercial landscaping services in North Oklahoma City, it’s about time you rethink that decision. A well-landscaped garden area and parking lot, along with the affordability of your place and other amenities and features, is an important consideration for many potential clients.

Parking lot, gardens, pathways, driveway, etc:

Most of the time, an event place is filled to capacity with people. Whether it’s a wedding, a corporate event, a birthday, or a product launch, events places house as many guests as they are capable of. With this, comes the responsibility of providing ample parking spaces for the guests and the clients. This also includes regular maintenance to the parking area like seal coating and line striping, so that people can clearly see where a proper parking space is available. It would be wise to find a professional to manage the upkeep of this for you. In order to find a professional near you, simply enter a search for “Paving contractor in Royse City, TX” or your local area. And, while many event places leave enough area for a parking space, not many of them invest money and energy into landscaping their parking lots and driveway.

The landscape of an events place’s parking lot, pathway, and driveway, however, is more than just aesthetics. It’s more than just a backdrop for a nice wedding photo. Hilly and uneven terrain will make it hard for guests to reach the main hall of the event place (especially if it’s a formal event and the women are wearing sky-high heels!). A landscape artist will see that these issues are dealt with. They will also make sure that during rainy days, the gardens won’t collapse and the pathways are well covered to protect the clients and their guests.

Indeed, the right landscaping can turn your event space into a sought after destination for weddings and retreats. When you work with a commercial landscaping company, you will be able to coordinate a plan for all four seasons so your event space will always look photo op ready. The team you choose will be able to bring your vision to life with plants, flowers, and greenery appropriate for the season. A beautifully maintained property is a sure fire way to get people talking!

Marketing:

You could have the most beautiful event space in the world but no one will know about it if you don’t market it properly. A great place to start is by advertising your business at expo fairs specific to the events you host like weddings or corporate get togethers. You can set up your booth with a custom tent wall, giveaway products, flyers, and banners so it will catch everyone’s eye. After the fair, you can add the banners and flags you used to the exterior of your event center to capture the attention of even more traffic.

Another excellent way to put your business out there is by inviting the clientele you’re hoping to attract to an event. For example, those in the wedding industry would be impressed by a wine and cheese tasting to preview the space and be inspired for pre wedding cocktail hours. To get started, simply enter a search for “wine tasting bath” (or your local area) to find specialty restaurants or wineries to accommodate. An event like this is casual, fun, and a perfect ice breaker.

Full and topnotch amenities:

Does your event place have a waiting area for the guests’ drivers and aids? Is it wheelchair accessible? Do you have facilities that cater to the need of individuals with physical challenges? These are important features of an event place and many potential clients may start to look to your competitors’ direction just because you didn’t put enough ramps (for wheelchairs and strollers) in your building or garden. Sometimes, the reason why clients won’t rent your place is as simple as not having a few important amenities and features.

Let’s also consider your outdoor setting as this is a very important aspect if you are hosting events both inside and out. Are there enough shaded areas for guests to be comfortable on a hot day? Will there be an outdoor bar or dining area? How about benches scattered throughout to enjoy the landscape? Aluminum is an excellent option for this as it is durable in the weather and lightweight. Felton Industries (or a similar company in your local area) specializes in outdoor aluminum furniture and can be your one stop shop to furnish the outside of your event space. Always remember, the comfort of your guests is key!

Affordability and price competitiveness:

There are a lot of competitions in this industry. Restaurants are opening their doors for events. Hotels have grand ballrooms where a large event can be held. There are exhibit halls to host seminars and conferences. Even parking lots are turned into concert grounds when the situation calls for it. What separates your event place from all of the others? One thing that potential clients will look into is the affordability and competitiveness of your pricing scheme. If you can offer the same facilities and amenities for a lower price than your competitors, then clients are more likely to choose your event place.

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Having a well-maintained landscape is good for your business, especially during the summer time! Keep these things in mind so that you can create a great environment for your employees and customers.