Hello!! I enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Shear Shop to get my hair right for spring in mid April and your girl has been feeling herself ever since! My amazing stylist, Anna, painted a beautiful palette with Pulp Riot’s finest in Pyro, Lemon, Blue Muse, and Desert Sky and it created pure Rainbow Ice magic. I am having so much fun with my new look and have been loving showing it off as often as I can get in OOTD posts while it is still at its freshest.
As I was shooting my 70s Spring OOTD, I realized that I had not changed my profile picture on literally any platforms in a PHAT minute. I decided to rectify that by taking some ready for my closeup shots and am so happy with how these turned out. And, yes, I do realize they both look exactly the same but I just don’t care lolol:
Whenever Anna does my hair, I always revel in the excitement of a brand new change. It’s such fun to experiment with different colors and I leave the salon feeling like a billion bucks and then some. I can definitely tell how good I feel in the photos above and the sentiment still remains the same! This trip to the Shear Shop couldn’t have come at a better time because I had a pretty crummy few months prior to. The new hair and taking pictures when I was feeling my absolute best was a major confidence boost. It was like turning a new page and I had the photographic proof that Lil Red was back, baby, and better than ever!
The moral of the story is that you can always bounce back to living your best life and sometimes you might need a little push. In my case, it was a new look to close a chapter with and I am ready to take on the next one with a better outlook AND better hair!
What makes you feel confident? What is your favorite thing about yourself? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Garden Party OOTD! Today we are going to take a look at the yikes shots that definitely didn’t make the first cut. In fact, this outfit didn’t even make the cut either because I changed into jeans and a hoodie immediately after these pictures were taken lol. This fit was worn prior to visiting Johnny’s parents for Easter and we both wanted to be comfy for the occasion. I’m so glad we did because I was in a full fledged food coma afterwards! Let’s get to it:
Always tryna crank that Soulja Boy
Who, me?
Looking like I’ve got a mouthful of lemon but STILL werking
Going any way the wind blows
Lol, what is even happening?
Which shows do you like to put on purely for fun? For me and Johnny, we enjoy watching and playing along to game shows. This isn’t a constant occurrence but it’s always a good time and gives us the chance to take a break from whatever true crime show we are binging. In fact, we recently swapped out Fear Thy Neighbor for The Floor because we weren’t aware that a new season just ended! The Floor is a game show that really humors us because it’s essentially just naming pictures. We call it “adult flashcards” lol. Regardless of the simple premise, we like that we truly can play along with the game, use minimal think work, and still get answers right.
It has been a while since the last season of The Floor and I honestly forgot how much fun it was to put it on after work. By the time we are settled and the TV is on, it is game time! Johnny and I took great pleasure in rooting on our favorites, laughing at all of the peanut gallery commentary, and witnessing the major upsets. And, of course, the thrill of yelling answers at the TV and crushing categories in our own right. We breezed through the entire season of The Floor and were genuinely sad when it was over. Thankfully, there is always Family Feud because The Floor inspired us to have a laugh after work, yell stuff at the TV, and see what sticks!
However Johnny and I spend our time after work is great, but those game show viewings just hit different! 😀
What is your favorite game show? Which game show would you like to compete on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Summer is fast approaching and that means now is the perfect time to get yourself organized and ensure that you and your home are ready for the sunny season, and all of the fun and joy it brings. Here are a few key things to get you started so that you’ll be ready when summer comes and you can simply sit back, relax and enjoy it:
Take Stock of It All:
Before you do anything else, you are going to want to take some time to wander around your home and take stock of anything that needs doing to get the place ready for summer. This could be the garden, which needs trimming down so you have a nice clear view of your surroundings or your kitchen which could benefit from a good clean, so you can hang out and make frozen cocktails with friends. Note down everything that needs doing and prioritize the most necessary jobs first.
Declutter to Destress:
Clutter is summer’s secret enemy. Piles of papers, abandoned flip-flops, and that stack of unopened mail whisper “chaos” every time you pass by. Embrace the three-box method: One for keepers, one for trash and one for “maybe later.” Go through your stuff with ruthless kindness. If you haven’t used it since last July, it probably won’t suddenly become precious this year. Clearing visual clutter will make your home feel calmer, and it might even spark joy, à la that famous organizational guru you all admire.
Command the Calendar:
When life feels unstructured, put it on the calendar. Block out time for work, relaxation, home projects and social calls. Color-code like a pro: Blue for focus hours, yellow for fun, green for errands, and red for “urgent but boring.” Seeing your entire summer laid out helps you seize the day without losing track of deadlines or dentist appointments. Plus, sharing your color-coded calendar with housemates or family can prevent those “Why didn’t you tell me” moments.
Automate the Annoying Stuff:
Bill reminders, subscription renewals, and routine home maintenance can slip your mind when the poolside calls. Automate online payments, set up digital reminders for filter changes, and subscribe to a lawn care service app that pings you before it’s too late to sharpen the blades. Automation isn’t cheating; It’s smart management.
Get the Garden Tools in Shape:
In summer, many of us spend a whole lot of time in the garden, which means we want it to look as good as possible, right? This means that we need to sort out that lawn mower repair, sharpen our garden shears, and oil those all-important garden tools so they are all in good working order and we can keep the garden in similar shape, with as little effort as possible.
Clean the Garden Furniture:
Now is also the perfect time to clean and patch up the garden furniture so that it is in perfect condition for sitting and enjoying the hard work you’ve put in to get summer ready at home. Comfy, inviting garden furniture is a must for get togethers, bonfires, and cookouts!
Howdy everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred!! Whenever I shoot OOTDs, the amount of time I wear each outfit varies. I might wear the look out, I might be shooting the look before work and will change afterwards, or I shoot the look at home and get back into comfy clothes immediately. The latter was very much the case for the fit you are about to see because I actually had it on on Easter prior to going to chez Johnny. We both agreed that we didn’t want to dress up for the low key gathering so I got into a less showy outfit after taking pictures. While this look didn’t see the light of Easter day, it would still be perfect for a Garden Party on a gorgeous spring afternoon! Check it out:
As I began building this outfit, I had skirts on the mind. But, which one? When dressing for spring, I always err on the side of the weather being a bit chilly so anything mini was an instant no go. My options for longer skirts were doing nothing for me and then my eyes locked in on the pretty little number by BB Dakota and I knew we were in business. This fantastic faux leather skirt is everything!! The pleats are playful and provide the most delicious movement and the tea length is simply charming. Despite the jet black background, the floral pattern in soft shades of pink felt oh so spring and the rest of the outfit built itself from there.
First, I paired the skirt with a tucked in cami top. However, this was not appropriate for the weather in the slightest as there was a brisk breeze in the air. Although I think this look would be great with a sharp blazer, that was more of a date night vibe than Garden Party. With that aesthetic fully in mind, I selected a darling cream cardigan by Jessica Simpson with raised flower embroidery. It might not have been a perfect match to the cream highlighting shades in the skirt, but it was close enough. And, as always, that’s good enough! This cardi provided such a dreamy pop and I loved the differing textures between the cozy fabric and faux leather skirt.
Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. Given the tea length of the skirt, I didn’t want to wear any shoes with a strap as it would break up the leg line. Luckily, I had just the pair for the occasion and broke out the cutest kitten heels by Nine West. They kept the outfit flowing and added a touch of shine and bling. With minimal real estate for jewelry, I put on a pair of super dangly black cross earrings to accentuate my neckline and with that, I was ready for my photo op… Only to change immediately after! 😀
This look is incredibly easy to replicate and is ideal for any spring special occasion. How sweet would this OOTD be for afternoon tea?!
Do you have any events or gatherings coming up? What do you wear for a special event? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello!! One of my girlfriends and I had plans to visit our favorite bar, the Cashmere Cricket, this past Friday. I put in a reservation and we were on pins and needles for the big day to arrive. We couldn’t wait to nosh on Grilled Cheese Dippers, sip on pickle martinis, and catch up in the most charming martini bar in town. Unfortunately, these grand plans were not seen through because our reservation was cancelled due to renovations. It was Earth shattering, to say the least, and we were both so disappointed because we had this date set for at least a month.
At this point, our appetites were so ready to go for Grilled Cheese Dippers and I simply refused to give it up that easily. Grilled Cheese Dippers are the bomb and are exactly what they sound like – ooey gooey strips of grilled cheese with a tomato bisque to dip in. How hard could that be? So, I let my friend know that we were still going to have them a la Lil Red and ended up having a two person dinner party at chez moi. It was the best and the food couldn’t have turned out better! Check it out:
I am quite possibly soup’s number one fan. However, it is actually something I have never made at my apartment. Johnny and I agree on almost everything except soup lol. My love for it is undying and he, on the other hand, can’t stand it. Because of our polar opposite tastes, I’ll buy pre-made soup at the store rather than home cook it because I have no one to share with. And, blessedly, my mom makes soup fairly frequently so I can still get my fix of the homemade good stuff. When it came to making tomato soup, I was already ahead of the recipe game because I knew exactly which one I was going to use: A creamy tomato soup by King Arthur Flour that is one of my mom’s go to staples.
I don’t say this lightly, but the King Arthur Flour tomato soup will change your life. It is creamy and thick like a bisque, hearty, and has the most divine, rich flavor with just the perfect touch of sweetness. Not to mention it is easy as pie to make! The prep time for this soup was minimal and it took about fifteen minutes in total to get everything set to simmer away. My only issue that came with making the soup wasn’t the recipe itself but utilizing an immersion blender. When I gave it a go, the soup literally got everywhere and I had to take a break to clean off my walls lol. If you would like to blend your soup, a food processor would definitely be the way to go. Should you not have access to one like me and prefer a less oniony concoction, do not use as much as the recipe calls for. Sans blend, there was way too much onion for my liking but you live and you learn!
After my soup was fully prepped, I let it simmer for a good hour and a half. Then I made grilled cheeses on sourdough and pumpernickel bread with sharp cheddar cheese as my friend was on her way. By the time she arrived, everything was ready for us to dig in and we ate like queens! Granted, we might not have had pickle martinis to enjoy but the Grilled Cheese Dipper sentiment was the same and that was good enough for us. ❤
This meal was comfort food at its finest and I am so happy that our favorite dish at the bar we were going to go to was so easy to replicate. Even when plans don’t go accordingly, there is always a Plan B!
Do you have any favorite restaurant taste alike recipes? What is your favorite kind of soup? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Howdy!! Just like that, April is drawing to a close and it went by in the blink of an eye. Honestly, I’m sad to see it go because April was a pretty good month for me. In its entirety, I got to bask in the glow of being, blessedly, way less busy and enjoying all of the fun that comes with it. It has been a gift to make plans, keep them, and genuinely look forward to what’s next. Speaking of looking forward to what’s next, I can’t wait to test out lots more skin and bath and body care goodies. This past month was nothing exciting in that regard which typically means that May will be the month to finish long term products and try something new. Take a look at these empties and let’s discuss:
B&BW Shower Gel: Johnny is a huge fan of tropical scents. Me? Not so much. However, I absolutely love the scent of pineapple and the Costa Rica Pink Pineapple Sunrise from B&BW was the bomb.com! This fragrance was incredibly straight forward and if you love the smell of fresh pineapple too, then this scent is for you. This shower gel gave me a heaping dose of sunshine even on the greyest April days and I enjoyed using it daily for the whole month.
Pearlessence Facial Oil: I decided to experiment with facial oils this winter and the lesson I learned is that I don’t like it at all lol. The initial test product by CleanBeauty was an instant no from me but I still had the Argan + Vitamin E oil by Pearlessence and wanted to just get it over with. I will say that this was a fair bit lighter as far as facial oils go and while I appreciated that, it was still much too heavy for my liking. If you have very dry skin, the Pearlessence oil could be a good option for you. If not, this is a product you can definitely skip on. It took me about five weeks of twice daily use to finish the bottle and I was so happy to be done with it!
Like I said, this wasn’t a very exciting product roundup so let’s wrap it up and I will see all of you darlings in May! ❤
Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
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 a book that simply delighted me from start to finish: The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose. This is the third installment in The Maid series and if you are like me, you fell head over heels for the unlikely heroine, Molly, and a cast of supporting characters that can’t be beat. Like its predecessors, The Maid’s Secret welcomes us back to the Regency Grand Hotel for Molly the Maid’s biggest mystery yet. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Maid’s Secret for physical abuse and sexual assault. Now, let’s get to it:
It’s a big day for Molly and her beloved fiance, Juan Manuel. The Regency Grand is hosting a live taping of the hit show, Hidden Treasures. The Hidden Treasures! Hosted by the adoring couple, Baxley Brown and Thomas Beagle, the two art aficionados uncover lost art and heirlooms in the most unexpected places and shed light on hidden masterpieces. The hotel is abuzz with excitement from VIP guests and the staff alike because they will be able to get their trinkets and special items appraised too. Before leaving their humble apartment, Molly assembles a box from her dearest gran’s curio cabinet with prized possessions. And, at Juan’s insistence, she brings the “golden huevo” an unspeakably beautiful treasure that fell into Molly’s hands at a manor her gran once worked at as a maid.
With the treasure box in tow, Molly and Juan walk to work and into the hustle and bustle of the big event. After last minute preparations are done to perfection, the staff waits in line to meet Baxley and Brown to see if the old saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” rings true. Before she knows it, it’s Molly’s turn to grace the stage and show the hosts what she brought. Her gran’s teacup and silver spoon that contained priceless sentimental value holds no monetary gain. However, the “golden huevo” catches the eyes of Baxley and Brown. This is no ordinary piece of decor at all: It is the original prototype made from the House of Faberge. Molly is an instant multimillionaire, promptly faints, and becomes an instant sensation too.
When Molly comes to, she is enveloped in a strange new world. Suddenly, her and Juan are rich beyond their wildest dreams and everyone wants a piece of her. From invisible to overnight celebrity, the doting couple tries to take their change of fortune in stride but it proves to be most difficult. At the end of the day, Molly loves her life with Juan Manuel and wants everything to return to normal ASAP. With the hopes of never having to penny pinch again and for her newfound celebrity to die down, Molly agrees to auction off her treasured treasure. The auction will take place at the Regency Grand and when it is over, Molly and Juan will be able to afford their dream wedding, a new apartment, and anything and everything they could ever want.
We return to the tearoom of the Regency Grand where everyone is on pins and needles for the auction’s end result. To Molly’s utter surprise, the lost Faberge is sold for a cool ten million smackers. The lights dim, the crowd goes wild, and when the room is illuminated once again there is one thing missing. The egg! The Faberge was stolen right beneath everyone’s noses and is yet again lost to the world. The only clue? A threat to Molly written on a piece of paper: Find the egg and you die.
Just like that, the buzz on Molly the Maid comes to a screeching halt. No Faberge and no money, but on the bright side – her and Juan get to live their normal life together. That is, until the egg has been returned. The investigation is in full swing once again and it is up to Molly and her companions to solve the case: Her dear granddad, true crime obsessed Angela, Detective Stark, and support from the person she needs the most – the words in a journal from her beloved, departed gran. Will this unlikely team crack the case of the Faberge? Read The Maid’s Secret to find out!
Holy WOW was the third installment of The Maid series amazing. In fact, The Maid’s Secret is my favorite one yet! This book went back and forth between the journal of gran and Molly’s latest adventure and I could not stop reading if you paid me. The multiple narrator format is something I am most fond of and it was incredible to be reunited with gran. She has always been with Molly, but to read her words and hear her story that she kept hidden for so long allowed the series to shine in a brand new light. All of the fairy tales and fables that gran would instill in Molly turned out to have a deeper meaning than you could ever imagine and it was absolutely beautiful to read.
Of course, it was also incredible to be reunited with Molly! Her character is a gift to the literary world and between all of her quirks and darling phrases, I would be hard pressed to find anyone who didn’t instantly fall in love with her. She is the girl you want to root for and see win and everyone in her close circle feels the same way. To have a supporting cast that wants nothing but the best for Molly, just like me, is a rarity in the books I typically read and my heart was bursting with every turn of the page. The true beauty of Molly is that even, in her words, the “bad eggs” have a chance to redeem themselves and that is such an important lesson in and of itself. Molly is a heroine that will encourage, teach, and stay with you and The Maid’s Secret has further solidified her as one of my all time favorite characters.
I am going to award The Maid’s Secret with the coveted ten out of ten stars. If you, too, are a fan of the series: RUN don’t walk to read this book!
Who is your favorite literary character? What is your favorite book in The Maid trilogy? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Marvelous Maxi Dress OOTD! Since starting my TikTok, I have had a crash course in the art of using the tripod. Mine is, admittedly, not the best and is pretty rickety. However, practice really does make perfect and I have noticed a huge improvement after shooting at least two outfits per week. Despite all of the time and effort, there are some things that I can’t improve no matter how hard I try – the weather! And let me tell you, the sky was angry the day I shot this OOTD. It was windy AF and made for countless moments like this lol:
^^^ Just a little taste of what you’ll find on my TikTok! 😀
Now, where was I? Ah, yes. The sky was angry that day, my friends. You can literally hear the wind howling! At one point, this was excellent. As I pretended to model, I was having full fledged wind in the hair moments and I was living for it! I flipped my new hair this way and that and you know your girl was feeling her damn self. I was well aware of my tripod being slightly tipsy (Too many mimosas before a morning OOTD shoot, perhaps?), but like the throwback toy – Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down. The ol’ tripod held on for dear life until it came toppling down with a resounding thud.
Blessedly, this whoopsy was no harm no foul to my phone and I assumed the position to shoot at least one decent video. And then the tipsy tripod continued to fall again, and again…. and you guessed it – AGAIN. I kid you not, this must have happened between five to seven times and I was getting irate at this point lol. Back when I first started shooting with my tripod, there always came a time when I just threw my hands up and called it a wrap because frustrated. This feeling came back tenfold every time I heard the thud of the tripod fall but, hey, it made for some fabulous blooper footage. It wasn’t a complete wash, either, because I still managed to find ONE good take amidst the rubble of tripod falling down videos. The sky may have been angry, but there was definitely a silver lining!
As one of my favorite theater warm up tongue twisters goes: Whether the weather is cold or whether the weather is hot: Whatever the weather we’ll weather the weather, whether we like it or not. I definitely didn’t like it lol but I think I weathered the weather the best I could!
What is springtime weather like in your neck of the woods? Have any spring flowers bloomed in your yard? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Ever since I got my hair done, all I want to do is show it off and have been having so much fun shooting fashion content for the ol’ blog and TikTok (@lilred6794). Better yet, the weather has been behaving (kind of) and that means I can break out ALL of the dresses for spring. Today, we are going to take a look at a look featuring one of my personal favorites – the maxi dress. And, yes, it’s mainly a personal favorite because no leg shaving is required lol lazy girl win! Check it out:
Who? What? Wear?
Maxi Dress: Hayden Los Angeles, EmLeigh’s and Mama B’s
The belt was purchased forever ago from some stand in the mall and I’m ninety-nine percent sure the earrings are from Target!
I am, indeed, dress obsessed. And, yes, you guessed it – it’s another lazy girl win lol. Dress OOTDs are the best because there is literally nothing to it. Dress, shoes, accessories, done. I chose the Hayden Los Angeles dress for this look because I have been waiting on pins and needles to break it out. It is the perfect spring time maxi dress! It offers flowy movement, a gorgeous palette of flowers on a deep navy blue background, and I just love that Western inspired piping. This dress is ideal for a garden party, dinner on the patio, or a springtime special occasion. And, while this dress might seem “dressy” – don’t let it fool you. It is comfy as can be so you can show out in style while feeling like you’re wearing a nightgown. There is, truly, nothing better!
Next, it was time for shoes and accessories. This dress is actually too big for me but it was the only one in the store so I bought it anyways. To add some shape, I put on a belt with the most darling apple clasps. It cinched in my waist and provided a fun pop! I also opted for a pair of long, dangly earrings to accentuate my neckline as the open real estate for showing skin was minimal and I wanted to add length wherever I could. Finally, I chose a beautiful pair of stone grey Formentini boots. As they are a neutral, it was no harm no foul and it gave me the height boost I needed. Who says a five foot one gal can’t wear a maxi dress?!
With that, I was ready to strut my stuff in my Marvelous Maxi Dress OOTD feeling like a Spring Fling Queen!
What is your favorite style of dress? What do you look forward to wearing in the warm weather? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to a *sort of* brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! I rarely repeat outfits that I post on my blog, however, there is one particular look that I have been dying to wear since I got my hair done. This OOTD was one of my favorites. It was super retro, super fun, and I thought the color palette would compliment my new do beautifully. And, all I have to say is: When I’m right, I’m right lol! Check it out and be sure to peep the videos from this look on my TikTok @lilred6794 . Now, let’s get to it:
I originally wore this look during the wintertime on a weekend getaway with my family. This time around, no topper jacket or cozy scarf was needed to keep me warm and I got to fully show off this OOTD in glorious springtime weather. Let’s start by talking about the MaxSport LA dress because I am truly never going to get over it. I purchased this dress for ten dollars on clearance at TJMaxx and it still had the original price tag. Guess how much it was? Did you guess? Okay, I’ll tell you: Two hundred and forty bucks! It was the steal of the century and the fashion gods were shining upon me. I love the colors and the fit is just perfect. It hugs in all of the right places without being clingy, it provides fabulous movement, and those mini bubble sleeves are the cutest! This dress is also fairly light, making it ideal for a warm spring day.
Shoes and accessories were all that was left for this look and I wasn’t going to steer from the original formula aside from excluding boot socks. Even if I wanted to switch up the norm, I couldn’t imagine a different pair of shoes than my floral embroidered babies by B.A.I.T. ! They fit the 70s vibe that the dress invokes to the T and also has a similar clearance story. I admired these one hundred forty dollar boots on ModCloth for forever and got them during a warehouse sale for thirty dolla holla. It was simply thrilling lol. For jewelry, I put on a tiny pair of pearl studs so my favorite necklace from my grandma could do all the talking. It nestled into the U-line of the dress like it was made to be worn with it and it is always so special to wear it. ❤
This repeat OOTD with a few modifications might not be the norm on lifewithlilred but I sure loved wearing it! 😀
Do you have any clothing or jewelry that is special to you? What is an outfit that you have no problem repeating? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
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