Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
May24

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Tenant By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Tenant By Freida McFadden Edition

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 Freida McFadden’s newest book called The Tenant. I have a love/hate relationship with McFadden’s books. I absolutely loved The Housemaid series, however, the other books I have read by her definitely did not meet my expectations. Unfortunately, The Tenant was another instance of that and fell under my usual critique of McFadden – “good but not great”. Before we begin our Book Club meeting, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Tenant for violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Blake and Krista are newly engaged and happy as can be. They live in a charming brownstown in New York City and Blake has just accepted a hotshot new position as VP of Marketing at the company he works for. Everything is going picture perfect, until Blake’s world comes crashing down. Shortly after settling into his fancy new office, Blake is fired for selling the company’s marketing campaigns. This is an offense that Blake isn’t even aware he made and has no idea what his boss is talking about. He feels confident that this was all some kind of misunderstanding and will have his job back before the week is out.

That week turns into months of unemployment and Blake and Krista are barely scraping by as Krista’s wages at a laundromat pale in comparison to their mortgage. If they don’t get their money problem solved ASAP, they will be on the streets and Blake finally agrees to Krista’s big idea: Have a tenant move in to help with bills. As they go about the interviewing process, every candidate is borderline crazy and they are ready to give up. Blessedly, Whitney shows up for her interview and is… normal. She’s pretty, has great references, and had her first and last month’s rent ready to go. They were sold.

The first week or so with Whitney goes swimmingly and Blake even has a new temp gig. Embarrassing, yes, but every little bit from the paycheck helps. Then, little things start to happen at the brownstone that never occurred before Whitney moved in. There are loud noises all throughout the night, the kitchen is filled with fruit flies, and Blake breaks into an inexplicable and painful rash. With no other plausible explanation, Blake blames Whitney wholeheartedly and is convinced that she is not who she says she is.

As more and more offenses against Whitney tally up and become even more disturbing, Blake quickly descends into a paranoid state. He can’t trust anyone and barely trusts himself as he repeats the claims in his head. All he knows is that he and Krista don’t know Whitney at all and she could be dangerous. In fact, she could be the reason Blake lost his cushy new job in the first place. But, is she? Or does Blake have his sights set on the wrong person entirely? Read The Tenant to find out!!

Let me start off by saying that I really liked the general story line of The Tenant. Happy couple, hard times, a stranger moves in, and the shit hits the fan. It really is a perfect combination and fits Johnny’s description of “LifeTime movie books” to the T lol. I just wish I liked the book more!! The tension that was building in the brownstone was delicious, a little slow moving at times, but my interest was piqued. Then, the twist happened, which I saw coming from a mile away but it just felt… random. It felt like a lot of build up for a twist that didn’t necessarily need to happen but simply was put there for shock value. This is actually a complaint that I have had with past McFadden books as well, like the plot changed fully on a dime and it wasn’t thought through completely.

On top of feeling wishy washy about The Tenant as a whole, none of the characters were particularly likeable. This book was told from Blake’s point of view and it was interesting to read a LifeTime movie book from the male perspective. BUT, Blake was a major a-hole and it was hard to feel sympathetic for him in the entirety of the read. Once my sympathy ran out, I was ready for The Tenant to be done because it was the only saving grace that the main character had. I can’t say that I felt strongly in favor of any of the characters and that’s not a good thing as I want to feel that connection when I read. The Tenant definitely missed the mark big time.

Overall, I am going to rate The Tenant with a three out of ten stars. If you are a diehard Freida McFadden fan, I am sure you will give it a read anyways. You are not missing out on anything if you don’t, though!

What are you currently reading? What is your favorite Freida McFadden book? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May23

Black & White OOTD Bloopers

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Black & White OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Black & White OOTD! And as a friendly reminder, you can view even more from this look on my TikTok @lilred6794 !! Hey, you just gotta work in a shameless plug sometimes. 😀 Today we are going to take a look at some of the yikes shots that most definitely didn’t make the first cut. While I had a plethora of winning photos to pick from from this shoot, the bloopers were aplenty as well. Allow me to dazzle you lol:

With the shape of an L on her forehead…

A brief moment to take stock of my life

Dripping SASS

I’M SEXY!!!!!!

No idea where this funky lighting came from!

My best “come hither” stare

Lmaoo ta daaaaa!

Getting my Mick Jagger on

This Black & White OOTD was worn to play mini golf at Fun n’ Stuff and their two courses are awesome. One is pirate themed and the other is dinosaurs and they are the perfect amount of fun and challenging. I absolutely love mini golfing but it is safe to say that I am… not the best. The same thing happens Every. Single. Time. we have a mini golf outing: I start out STRONG. Like shockingly good – we’re talking twos and threes across the board. And I’ll tell you what, I am feeling good and no one can tell me NOTHING.

Then, somewhere along the way, my downfall happens and it is swift…

I don’t know what it is lol – maybe it’s me getting too cocky or maybe it’s just beginner’s luck but about halfway through, it’s like I forgot where I even am! Twos and threes turn into can’t making a putt to save my own life and before I know it, I’m racking up sixes on every hole. Going from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows makes the whole process even more frustrating and there is just no coming back from that. I am pleased to report, however, that I didn’t come in dead last during this outing with Johnny, our bestie Cliff, and my brother but THIRD! I genuinely couldn’t believe it once the two courses were tallied up so, despite the mini golf skills all but disappearing, who’s the real winner here?! 😀

Part crazy annoying but always fun – who doesn’t love mini golf? I can’t wait to hit the greens again to defend my third place title!

Are there any mini golf courses in your neck of the woods? What are they like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May22

Black & White OOTD Bonus Pictures

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Black & White OOTD Bonus Pictures

Howdy everyone and welcome to some bonus pictures from my Black & White OOTD! As any content creator will tell you, some shoots are just better than others. I’ve shot countless OOTDs where I was only satisfied with three or so pictures and others where the options are seemingly endless. I most definitely prefer the latter and was blessed with it when taking these outfit pics. After a little OOTD hiatus, it was the best way to get back into it – a great look, perfect lighting, and a fun day to wear said outfit to!

Can we just talk about how amazing technology is? Lol, random I know – but let me tell you a little story. All along the stairwell leading up to my apartment are bird nests. There is constant activity and almost every time I leave home, a bird flies right in front of my face and it scares me Every. Single. Time. I am always wide awake for wherever I am going afterwards, though! As you can imagine, with all of these birds means a lot of poo poo on the premises. And, I didn’t realize that there was a lot of poo poo that was showing up in these pictures! *Facepalm*

As I was going over the pictures after the fact, I was trying to find a solution to editing out the poo poo problem. And, let me tell you, my mind was simply BLOWN over the “clean up” function on the iPhone! With a simple swipe, the bird crap was a mere memory and the novelty didn’t fade. I’m pretty sure I said “oh WOW” every time I removed one of the offenses. In fact, I was so amazed that I showed Johnny and he couldn’t believe it either!! This just goes to show that there is always a solution to shit and that I should probably get to know my iPhone a bit better because this is a game changer!! 😀

I might be a little late to the party on this iPhone function but I couldn’t have become hip at a better time. The more you know!

What is your favorite app? What is your favorite iPhone function? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May21

Black & White OOTD

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Black & White OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! It has been a minute since my last OOTD post but your girl is back at it after a little hiatus and this Sunday was the perfect opportunity to do so. I had the best day with Johnny, our bestie Cliff, and my birthday brother going mini golfing and out to dinner. It was a bit chilly out so I wanted something warmer and comfy while I got my putt putt on and put together this fit in a Black & White motif. Check it out and stay tuned for more from this shoot and the Blooper Reel later this week!

Who? What? Wear?

Flannel: Miami, Francesca’s

Crop Top: Been Trill, PacSun

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Heeled Combat Boots: Forever 21

Panama Hat: Gypsy Warrior, PacSun

As I began planning my outfit, the first order of business was determining what to wear for the weather. It wasn’t cold enough for a jacket or sweater but it wasn’t warm enough for just a long sleeved shirt. So, I turned to my trusty flannels. I am a huge flannel fan and they are just right for days like Sunday. They have the warmth factor, yes, but they also can be taken off and still look cute wrapped around the waist if the sun comes out. I decided to go with one of my favorite flannels from Francesca’s because I love it, of course, but also for convenience! I have So. Much. black and white clothing that the outfit essentially built itself based on the flannel’s palette.

For under the flannel, I went with a crop top by Been Trill that is old as the hills. This was bought way back when I worked at PacSun! But, hey, it still looks great and I am all about the fit of the top. While it is cropped, it’s not super short or tight so it was exactly what I needed to swing comfortably for a day on the putt putting greens. Next up was black skinny jeans, obvi, and I am pleased to report that my newest addition to the black skinny jeans collection is still looking crispy AF. There is nothing better!

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. I chose a great pair of stark white heeled combat boots from Forever 21 and I just love how they pop. The crispy black skinnies against them was a match made in heaven! As my hair wasn’t behaving, I popped on a Panama hat by Gypsy Warrior and I’m actually glad my hair didn’t want to work with me. Simply adding a hat elevated basic pieces into something special! Last but not least, I put on a pair of long dangly black cross earrings to accentuate my neckline and I was ready for a mini golf adventure!

This Black & White OOTD was ideal for an out and about day and I loved how it turned out. Because, yes, I do have to show out even at mini golf! 😀

What is your favorite outdoor activity? What do you like to wear for an out and about day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May20

Bikini Body

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Bikini Body

Hello!! Summer is about to bring the Hot Hot Heat (Who remembers that band?! LOVED them!) and with that comes a total wardrobe change. The layers are shed, long sleeve tops are traded for Ts and tanks, and jeans shorten into… shorts lol. For some, this is as natural as the seasons changing. For others, it can be a nerve wracking exercise in dressing for the weather and feeling comfortable about it. In this situation, I fluctuate from oozing a godlike charisma to wanting to hole up in a closet to wallow in poor self esteem and never come out.

If you are a long term reader of lifewithlilred, you will know that I detest dressing for summer. Part of it is simply aesthetics. I just love fall clothing – cozy cardis, gorgeous jackets, and all the accessories like scarves, gloves, and beanies. I wear these layers for looks, of course, but they provide an extra layer of protection as well. I don’t mind showing skin but it’s never high up on my agenda when I’m styling an OOTD. So when the transition happens to wearing shorts, crop tops, and tanks out of sheer necessity for the weather, that layered security blanket is tossed to the side and worry sets in. “Do my breasts look too big?” “How many rude comments on my tattoos am I going to get today?” “Is someone going to pull the old ‘grab my arm’ to get a closer look at said tattoos?” (The latter happens more than you would think!)

Like I said, to some people dressing for summer is whatever. For others, it is anything but. And, whatever that reason might be for a lack of self confidence in dress, rest assured that it will weigh heavily on the person who carries that burden. As everyone begins to don warm weather clothing, I always like to give a friendly reminder: What people wear is none of your business. Unwarranted comments on body type or clothing can do more damage than you could ever imagine and it stings even harder when it’s from a complete stranger. So ask yourself a question: Do I really want to ruin someone’s day with a comment? And, do I really want someone to ruminate on that comment for forever? Unless you plan on singing someone’s praises, the best rule of thumb is to say nothing and if you don’t like what you see, look away.

I will always be a recovering bulimic and I can give you exact moments in time when comments on my body were made that destroyed me. It could have happened years ago but in my head, it happened just yesterday. Every single person that you encounter is struggling in some way shape or form. So again, before you make a comment on body type or dress, ask yourself a question: Do I really want to make what that person is going through even worse? Every body is beautiful and should be celebrated. And, as the old saying goes: If you don’t have anything nice to say – don’t say it!

One of my favorite quotes via social media is that “Every body is a bikini body” and wiser words have never been spoken or typed. This summer, let’s dress for us and feel amazing about it because when you feel like the star you are – no one can tell you NOTHING!!

What is your favorite season to dress for? What is your least 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

May19

Be That Neighbor

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Be That Neighbor

Hello!! Johnny and I were absolutely addicted to the show Fear Thy Neighbor and quickly finished the entire series with daily viewings after work and marathons over the weekends. As you can imagine if you haven’t watched the show, it is all about the worst neighbors ever lol. Our running joke as we watched the series was “What are we going to do, get mad at Tony?!”. Tony is our downstairs neighbor and he is the absolute best so every time we watched Fear Thy Neighbor, it was an exercise in “can’t relate” for which we are so thankful!

Tony, Johnny, and I became fast friends when Tony moved in and we would chat away every time our paths crossed when he was out for a smoke. This turned into Dinner Club get togethers, watching movies, going to the shooting range, and just having fun. And, of course, we always come running every time Tony might need a quick favor around the apartment. I’m going to be perfectly honest, our neighbors in our old apartment were not the best. Some were insanely loud and another was feeding the raccoons outside of her apartment door lol. So, when Tony moved in not doing any of that and being someone we actually wanted to hang out with, it was nothing short of a gift.

The other day as we were eating a baked potato dinner and watching an episode of SVU, Johnny got a call from Tony. It was nothing urgent, just asking if he could change the battery in his smoke detector as he wasn’t comfortable going up on the ladder. In a heartbeat, Johnny put down his meal and ran downstairs. In the handful of minutes while Johnny completed the task at hand, I couldn’t stop thinking about how lucky and proud I am. Lucky to have Tony and proud to be those neighbors. And not in the Fear Thy Neighbor way but in the best way possible!

Having a neighbor that we truly consider to be a best friend is something we have never experienced and it feels so good. I love that we are the people that Tony calls when he needs a helping hand and having regular hang outs together. The feeling is mutual across the board and that is a beautiful thing. The moral of the story? Be that neighbor!! Be the neighbor who fixes an extra plate at dinner. Be the neighbor who offers to take the trash out or shovel the walkway. Be the neighbor who is never too busy for a chat. It will do both parties a world of good and the relationship with our beloved neighbor is a testament to that. ❤

Johnny and I love our apartment so much and Tony is part of the reason why. I am so happy to have and be a good neighbor and the smoke detector story was a wonderful reminder!

Do you have a great neighbor? Have you ever had an awful neighbor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May18

Fun Summer Activities With The Kiddos

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Fun Summer Activities With The Kiddos

Howdy!! School is almost out and carefree summer days are about to be in full swing. I am so excited to be able to have lots of fun in the sun with my nieces and nephew and am always trying to come up with our next big adventure. Keeping the kiddos occupied all summer long can definitely be a challenge so it’s a great idea to start planning different activities now. Here are some of the ideas I’m thinking to beat those lazy day boredom blues for a super fun summer for all:

Scavenger Hunt:

Whether it’s in your own backyard or on a hiking trail, scavenger hunts are a blast. I still remember a birthday party that I attended in grade school that was a neighborhood wide scavenger hunt and it was, easily, the best one I had ever been to! Create a list of objects or landmarks to find and get to stepping. The objectives can be as simple or challenging as you see fit and it is an awesome way to encourage your kiddos to be curious and observing. An incentive like a small prize or a trip to the ice cream parlor is the perfect way to celebrate once all of the goals on the list have been checked off!

Create Your Own:

Constantly restocking art supplies can be pricey and feel never ending. Why not create your own?! There are an infinite amount of recipes for bubble soap, sidewalk puff paint, slime, and play dough so hop on Pinterest and take a look. Chances are, you already have a majority of the ingredients you will need in your own home. These craft supplies will be just as fun to make all together as they will be to use and the recipes are simple enough that your kiddos could DIY depending on their age. They will also think that it is the coolest to have made crafts with supplies that they made all by themselves.

Cool Down:

In the same breath, summer treats are just as fun to make as they are to enjoy after a long day of play. We’re talking smoothies, popsicles, slushies, snow cones, fresh squeezed lemonade, and even homemade ice cream. No chasing after the ice cream man required! Tasty popsicles are as simple as getting the molds and filling them with your favorite juices. Homemade ice cream can be made in a zip lock bag. Got crushed ice, flavored syrup, and a blender? Instant slushie! Find recipes together, hit the grocery store, and you will have countless options for the perfect treats to cool down with.

To The Library:

Rainy or ultra hot days can mean being stuck inside. If this is the case, head to the library! Your local library is an amazing resource and not just for checking out books and movies. Plenty of libraries offer programs for kiddos like story hour, crafts, cooking workshops, and garden projects. If your local library is anything like mine, they also will have additional items you can check out. For example, my library offers pickleball kits, zoo passes, instruments, and tablets that you can rent for the week. The best part? Anything at the library will be free of charge and it doesn’t get better than that!

Parks A Plenty:

Going to the park is always fun but going to the same park every time? Not so much. Take the time to find different playgrounds within a radius you’re fine driving to and check them out! Their new favorite playground might just be a hop, skip, and a jump away and you didn’t realize it. You can also try and find new parks based off of activities that your kids love like a wading pool, splash pad, or great big slides. Some parks might also have shelters and areas to grill at so you can make a day of it with a picnic lunch. Your kids will love to explore a brand new place and they might even make some new friends too!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Gardening is not only an awesome summer long activity but an excellent learning opportunity. Your kiddos will learn how to plant and nurture all of the things that grow and will have an end result they can be proud of. Their garden can be as simple or elaborate as you see fit. Maybe it will be a small patch of flowers with a fairy garden. It could be a couple of pots with fresh herbs. Or, perhaps, a full fledged vegetable garden! Whatever it may be, it will get them in the great outdoors and you will have beautiful flowers and delicious veggies to show for it. Total win/win!

Summertime just got a whole lot sweeter with these ideas. Use some or all and enjoy!!

Do you have any big summer plans? What activities will you be doing with your kids this summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May17

Happy Birthday, Brother!!

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Happy Birthday, Brother!!

Hello!! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my big brother, Andrew’s, birthday!! Andrew is my partner in crime. He is my best friend, my work out buddy, and an absolute gift to all who know him. Whether we are hiking, gaming, or just hanging out it is the best time because we are together. Andrew has an incredible sense of humor, is so caring, and always has a kind word to say. He is the first person who notices when I get my nails done or am wearing something new and you have no idea how much that warms my heart.

Being able to have built in besties with my siblings is such a special thing and Andrew and I are the dream team. Our personalities work so well together and there is nothing we can’t do when we have a plan in mind. Andrew inspires me to no end and is always striving to better himself, which is something that we can all learn from. He’s a hard worker, a loving son, and the most amazing friend I could ever ask for. I am so excited to be able to celebrate my big bro and am thankful for every minute we have together!! ❤

Happy Birthday, Andrew!!! I love you!!! ❤

May16

Can’t Wait!!!

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Can’t Wait!!!

Hello!! During the pandemic, Johnny and I had tickets to several concerts that we could no longer attend. We were going to go to Riot Fest for the My Chemical Romance reunion and that hurt deeply. We also had tickets to see Willie Nelson at Blossom Music Center and that fell through too. It was all extremely disappointing, to say the least. However, I am thrilled to say that we have an excellent concert lineup for this summer and the festivities are going to be starting very soon because…

WE ARE GOING TO SEE AC/DC AT THE END OF THE MONTH!!!!

Johnny and I don’t merely celebrate birthdays, but a birthaversary. His birthday is June first, mine is the seventh, and we got married on the fourth. So, when this momentous occasion happens – we do it big! My husband has wanted to see AC/DC live since he was just a little guy and when we found out they were coming to Cleveland, I had to make it happen. We will be in the nosebleeds and that is A-okay because we are going to be there!! Since the beginning of May, I must have heard Johnny say how excited he is at least one hundred times and it never gets old. We have been listening to ALL of the AC/DC even more so than usual and I can’t believe the big show is only a few weeks away since I purchased the tickets forever ago. It’s going to be so special to have this experience with him and I wish it would just hurry up and get here! 😀

Not only do we have AC/DC on our roster but we are also going to be seeing Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan for Outlaw Fest as well as Weird Al, both taking place at Blossom Music Center. We will finally be making good on seeing Willie Nelson together and this will be mine and my brother’s third time being blessed by Weird Al. Blossom has gifted us with an amazing lineup this year and I am chomping at the bit to fill mine and Johnny’s summer concert series even more. Ghost will be coming to Cleveland as well as The Struts and we would absolutely love to see them too. Needless to say, my honey and I are going to be living it up this summer! ❤

So many concerts, so little time and I am so excited to be able to share them with all of you!!

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

May15

ValJean Labs Radiant Glow Face Scrub Review

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ValJean Labs Radiant Glow Face Scrub Review

Howdy!! I love shopping skin care at TJMaxx because it is such a fun and inexpensive way to try new brands and revisit old favorites. While I do have a few tried and true products that I get whenever they’re available, I will just wing it for the rest and go for whatever sounds good and is cruelty free. A new brand I discovered was ValJean Labs and I have been obsessed with their foaming cleanser. It’s easily one of the best face washes I have used in recent memory! I was so excited to have found a Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid Scrub of the same brand at TJs and have been using it daily for the past several weeks. Like the cleanser, this scrub is one of the best I have used in a while:

I don’t use scrubs very often but when I do, I need something that’s extremely gentle. While I enjoy a gritty scrub, my skin type is very normal and the harsher exfoliants can be too much. This ValJean Labs scrub is exactly what I need! It is so rich and creamy in texture and the grit factor is minimal but it still feels like I am getting a deep clean. It is gentle enough to use every day and I follow up by washing my face with the foaming cleanser afterwards. It’s the perfect combination and my skin feels smooth and looks soft and fresh.

Not only is this scrub gentle and effective to the T, but it smells great too! It has the lightest citrus scent which is one of my favorites and always perks me up during my morning shower. A little of this scrub also goes a long way, making it an awesome value because a nickle sized dollop will do just fine. I will say that this scrub is a bit of a pain in the butt to wash off fully. I wouldn’t call it “sticky” but it does cling to the skin and takes longer than you would expect for it to gone completely. I learned this after the first few uses when my micellar water cloth was coming back with the remnants! This is no harm no foul, though, just something to be aware of if you try it too. 🙂

The ValJean Labs Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid Scrub is a must if you are on the hunt for a new one. It is an excellent year round product and I will definitely be buying it again if it graces TJMaxx’s skin care department!

Do you use facial scrubs? Which one is your favorite? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah