Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
Sep19

TJMaxx Beauty Haul

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TJMaxx Beauty Haul

Hello everyone and happy Hump Day! I was so happy on Saturday, because my mom and I finally got to go to TJMaxx together after about TWO MONTHS of not going. With a scary long stay in the hospital last month and just getting back on her feet, sweet JANE was definitely not able to hit the shops like the good old days. But, that changed this Saturday and we had a wonderful little jaunt to our favorite store. I got a fabulous new fall and winter staple, which you’ll see tomorrow, and some new beauty finds. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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The Haul:

  • Unknown brand Radiance Crystal Cleansing Foam: $4
  • Vital C Vitamin C Brightening Serum: $8
  • Alpine Silk Rosehip Day Cream: $7

Grand Total: $19

Whenever I am in need of new skin care products, I almost exclusively purchase from TJMaxx. This is so crazy to me, because less than a year ago, I was still ordering skin care from The Body Shop and spending a buttload on some of the same products that I can buy at TJs. Without a sale, the prices at TBS are even more than the nineteen bucks that I paid for three products, and that’s just shameful to me. Of course, I’ll utilize a good TBS sale every now and then, but TJMaxx is truly where it’s at for skin care and beauty products… and also everything else! 😀

One of the items that I’ve been buying for the better part of a year is the Vital C serum. I pay eight dollars for a bottle that lasts me two and a half months. Meanwhile, at TBS, their Vitamin C Skin Boost that I used to use costed thirty dollars a bottle! I finished up my Vital C on Sunday, so I was so happy that they had it in stock at TJs, because I don’t know what I would do without it. A little radiance goes a long way, and my skin care routine would be nothing without some Vitamin C.

I also purchased a new moisturizer from New Zealand, which will be nice to try out. Because I have a very normal skin type, I can get away with experimenting with new products. I have heard wonderful things about skin care with rosehip in it in the past, so I’m looking forward to giving it a go once I finish the moisturizer that I’m using now.

And, finally, for funsies I tried out a Korean cleanser, because I’ll be needing a new one soon. The TJMaxx that I was at had an entire section of Korean skin care and I decided to change things up by going with the Radiance Crystal Cleansing Foam. Like I said, a little radiance goes a long way, so we’ll see how it works out!

I am really happy with the amount of products that I got for just under twenty dollars and am confident that I couldn’t get that value elsewhere. TJMaxx always does me right, and it was awesome to have a long awaited shopping trip with my mom! ❤

Who is a fan of Korean beauty products? What is one of your skin care staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep18

The Five Hottest Trends To Wear This Winter

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The Five Hottest Trends To Wear This Winter

Does your winter wardrobe need some sprucing up? If so, here are five bold ideas to inject some fun and vivacity into your outfits this upcoming season:

Animal print:

It’s definitely a daring thing to try if you’re new to it, but animal print is all the rage this winter. Head to any high street store and you’ll see it adorning everything from coats to trousers – and when paired with the right colors and cuts, it works strikingly well, making for a particularly vibrant outfit in the dreary winter months.

Try a leopard print coat or some snakeskin trousers for an impactful look which will giving you warmth this winter. Pair the designs with simple colors and garments in order to create an outfit with an animalistic statement piece to create a pop of flavor without looking costumey.

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^^^ Too cute!

Two coats instead of one:

Why settle for one coat when you can have two? To some, this might sound like a crazy trend – but with layers coming to the forefront of fashion this season, you’ll be seeing many people layering a big, thick coat on top of a lighter one. It adds a unique flair to an outfit that also doubles up as extra warmth.

Seen on the runways this year, this trend is now translating to high street fashion – expect to see layers everywhere in the biggest shops. Opt for a thin, light coat underneath a bigger, bolder overcoat for a winter staple with a warm twist.

All brown everything:

Gone are the typical blacks and greys so often seen in winter fashion. Instead, the 70s are calling with browns adorning many of the shops this season. It’s been an underrated color in clothing for many years, and it’s finally taking the spotlight once again – it’s a neutral color that provides a bit more pizazz than the monochrome alternatives.

Brown coats are a common choice this season, but why not go for something a bit different? Boots, trousers, and accessories are a great way to introduce a new color into your winter wardrobe.

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^^^ A camel scarf is a great place to start!

80s influences:

Expect to see strong eighties influences in winter fashion this year. It’s being embraced with partywear in particular, with foils and bodycon dresses making waves in stores. Understated is out – instead, making a bold impact is to be expected at parties and celebrations over the festive period.

Partying like it’s 1989 will be the norm this winter, with mini dresses, sequins, silk, and velvet being brought out front and center. Don’t be modest with your outfit for any big occasion – making a bold, eighties-esque statement is recommended.

Plaid, please:

It has never truly gone away, but plaid is coming back as a popular design choice for clothing this winter. Putting a quirky spin on traditional winter garments, expect to see it on trousers, jumpers, coats, and accessories. If you’re looking for something more left-field, pair some plaid slacks with sneakers for a smart casual look that is sure to impress.

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^^^ How Lil Red does plaid this winter!

These hot trends will keep you nice and warm during the chilly winter months ahead – no space heater required!

Sep18

New (Short!) Black & Champagne Nails

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New (Short!) Black & Champagne Nails

Hiii everyone! Yep, you read it right. I got my nails cut down on this past fill! *Gasp* ! My claws were getting long, even for me, so I decided to get them cut nice and short so that I could grow them out again. And, shockingly, I quite like them! They’re not as long as I would like but, for the time being, they are cute as hell. I call them my emo Barbie nails. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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The first change that I made besides for the obvious, is that I went to a different salon for this service. My normal stomping grounds, Empress Nails, was getting too damn expensive for me so I went with LT Nails, instead, and will continue going there. It wasn’t the best fill I’ve ever had, but it was thirty dollars cheaper than my last one, so you do the math. I’ll take a not as good experience and a cheaper price over high class pampering and breaking my bank any day.

Although I didn’t necessarily enjoy my time at LT, I think that the tech that I went to was just having an off day. I have been to this salon before and was really satisfied every time except for this one, so I’m not going to hold is against them. And, I do like the way my nails turned out. It took some getting used to, because they are way shorter than normal. But, once they grow out a little, they will be perfect. For now, though, I am loving these dainty, edgy claws! :*)

Have you ever changed salons after going somewhere consistently? What was your reasoning? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep17

Fall Flowers

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Fall Flowers

Howdy! In my neck of the woods, there’s a really awesome garden center called Graf Growers. They have farmer’s market events, workshops, a garden store, and a market filled with fresh produce. Every week during the fall, you can get a Market Basket that comes filled with fresh fruits and veggies along with recipes and a surprise gift. In the basket that we just got, all of the vegetables that were included could be used to make pico de gallo. Yum!

Normally, the surprise gift is an extra selection of produce but, this week, we were treated to a beautiful bouquet from their gardens. Check it out:

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What I love about this arrangement is that it looks like fall. The deeper colors that are used are so striking, and they look so lovely against the white roses and snap dragons in the arrangement. There is nothing like a fresh bouquet of flowers to make you smile, especially one that was a surprise! And, this special treat certainly displays all of the glory of autumn in one small bunch. So pretty! :*)

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

Sep16

Four Year Blogiversary?!

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Four Year Blogiversary?!

HOLY MOLEY!!!! According to WordPress, I have had lifewithlilred up and running for four years as of the thirteenth of September and I had no idea! It feels like just yesterday that I started my blog as I prepared to start college and, now, here we are four years later and still going strong. I am so proud of my dedication to keeping my page afloat for four whole years. That’s almost a half a decade of fabulousness and I’m so thankful for having such a wonderful group of readers to share that with.

Blogging can sometimes be a thankless job, but the friends that I have made and the businesses that I’ve had the pleasure of working with make it all worthwhile. There is nothing like a blogiversary to give you a swift kick in the booty to keep up the good work and my motivation is sky high right now. Here’s to another four years of lifewithlilred and I’m looking forward to sharing it with all of you! Much love. -Sarah

Sep15

Do You For You

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Do You For You

Hello everyone and happy weekend! As many of you probably know, I figure skated competitively for close to ten years. I still love to hit the rink every now and then to get my skate on, but, I haven’t had a real lesson in about eight years. And, this past week, that changed! After running into one of my old coaches while I was at work, I decided that I would like to try my hand at ice dancing. And, try my hand at ice dancing I did!

I had the absolute best time being back on the ice and actually learning something new. Ice dancing is completely foreign to me, but the old girl can’t jump like she used to so I figured that dancing would be the best way to go. I had a half hour lesson with my coach, Chris, who is really the end all be all in my neck of the woods when it comes to all aspects of skating. Then, I got to practice on my own for a half hour.

By the end of my time on the ice, I was beat! But, boy, did it feel good. As I consider continuing to learn ice dancing, I find myself leaning towards not doing it, because it’s rather expensive. And, then, I find myself thinking that I do so much for others and that maybe I should do something for me, for once. Having a lesson every other week is definitely not as desirable as weekly skate time. But, it’s the best I can do and it sure would make me happy.

It feels so good to have something that I’m genuinely excited about. I’m twenty-four, which, for all intents and purposes, is over the hill in the skating world. But, I came back on the ice strong, I tried hard, and I can’t wait to do it again.

Doing you for you is so important, because if you don’t take that extra time for yourself, it’s so easy to become burnt out. I was definitely getting to that point and just one hour on the ice made me feel totally rejuvenated. And, you just can’t put a price on that. 🙂

Then and now! ❤

How do you do you for you? What is a hobby that you did when you were younger that you would like to get back into? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep14

Blog Maintenance Tips & Tricks

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Blog Maintenance Tips & Tricks

Hiii everyone and TGIF! While I was sick AF a few weeks ago, I found myself worrying a lot about my blog, because I was not well enough to take care of daily maintenance. But, upon returning back to a healthy state of being, I found that I didn’t have anything to worry about, because I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Daily blog maintenance is so important, even when you can’t do it daily. How is that possible? I’m going to show you how:

Prewrite, Please:

You might notice on lifewithlilred that all of my posts are published at midnight every night. That’s compliments of prewriting. At one time, I normally have three to four posts scheduled so that I don’t have to worry about three to four days of writing. That’s why, when I was sick, I could breathe a sigh of relief because I had articles on backstock being published every day. This is the perfect solution for those who don’t have the time to write daily, but might have a free evening to knock out several posts in one sitting.

But, where do you get ideas for multiple posts at once? So glad you asked, because this leads me to my next tip:

Take Notes:

This sounds so basic, I know. But, damnit, if it isn’t the most valuable tip on here. How do I get so many things to prewrite about? Because I take notes on anything and everything for inspiration for future posts. Even if I just need a reminder to write about something the following day, I make note of it, because god knows how easy it is to forget an important memo in one days’ time. My notes range from writing about a new pair of shoes that I just bought to taking pictures next time I go on a hike in one of Ohio’s amazing Metro Parks. Reviewing my notes gives me ample inspo to create daily posts, which is something that is important to me for lifewithlilred.

Create Goals:

This ties into the last sentence of Taking Notes. Creating goals for yourself and things that are important to you for your page definitely can help keep you on track. What’s important to you for your page might be different than anyone else, but that’s part of what makes your blog unique. My goals for my page are to maintain daily posts and to log on at least once per day to interact with my readers in the comments. Once you identify what is important to you when it comes to blogging, every thing else just falls into place.

What are some of your goals for your page? What are some of your tips and tricks when it comes to blogging? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep13

Sunshine Blogger Award #7

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Sunshine Blogger Award #7

Hello!! This past weekend, I was so excited for lifewithlilred to be nominated for its seventh Sunshine Blogger Award by my friend, Tiffy, at The Life Of Tiffy. Tiffy runs a wonderful lifestyle blog that covers everything from product reviews and fitness to everything in between. It’s a real treat, so do be sure to check it out and give it some love! Now, on to the rules for this award:

The Rules:

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you in the post and link to their blog
  • Answer the 11 questions asked of you
  • List the rules and include the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post
  • Write a new list of 11 questions for your nominees
  • Nominate 11 bloggers for the Sunshine Blogger Award

Q & A:

If you could not blog, what would you do? I guess if I was technologically challenged, I would journal. I kept a journal all throughout high school until the time I was twenty or so. If lifewithlilred didn’t exist, it would be back to the ol’ pen and paper.

Dream holiday destination and why? Paris! Because shopping, finally putting speaking French to good use, and getting lost in the city.

You’re on a desert island. What three things would you have with you? I feel like people normally go with the obvious things like a boat or a cell phone. So, I’m going to go with more minimal and say a lighter to start a fire, a pot to boil water, and a supply of vegetarian friendly food so I don’t have to hurt an animal.

Cats or dogs? Or neither? Dogs! Dogs, dogs, dogs. But, my sister and her boyfriend and my boyfriend both have cats and they’re not the worst thing ever. 😉

Favorite way for you to destress after a long day? Taking a bath with a Lush bath bomb and watching a movie before going to bed early.

Favorite thing to do on a first date? Coffee dates are always good!

The one product I could not live without is… A really good moisturizer. Skin care always comes first for me.

Who is your inspiration in life? Basically everyone who I choose to interact with inspires me in some way shape or form.

You find out your grandmother has a secret fortune, and you inherit a large sum of money. First thing you would do? Find good homes for all of the animals in shelters.

Who would you form a band with? 4 extra members max. Jack White, Marilyn Manson, and Bono.

Favorite Disney film, classic and modern? Beauty & The Beast and then I’m not really sure of the modern ones because I’ve never watched them.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. Describe a perfect day off from work.
  2. Do you have any traditions that are special to your family?
  3. What is your favorite board game?
  4. What was your favorite childhood toy?
  5. What is your go to accessory?
  6. What are your favorite things to do in the fall?
  7. Text messages or phone calls?
  8. Do you have any hidden or weird talents?
  9. Who is a celebrity that you can’t stand?
  10. What are your goals for your blog?
  11. Who do you go to when you need advice?

Thank you so much again to Tiffy for nominating lifewithlilred for its seventh Sunshine Blogger Award! How would you answer some of the questions that Tiffy has for her nominees? How about some of the questions that I have for mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep12

Blog Better And Make Some Cash

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Blog Better And Make Some Cash

These days, blogging has become a lucrative career, so there is no wonder that many hobby bloggers are now turning their sights to making a bit of money from their blog. There are various ways that you can monetize your site, from offering advertising space to companies to running sponsored posts for them. You might even want to sign up to an affiliate program, such as the one offered by Amazon, which will earn you a commission for every reader that you send over to their site.

Of course, you will need to put in a bit of effort and hard work before you can start to make some money from your blog. Ready to start blogging better so you can cash in on it all? Here are some tips that can help you make a success out of your blog:

Figure Out Your Niche:

If you don’t already have a niche for your blog, it’s time to figure one out. This can help you bag a lot more readers and followers. The bigger your readership, the more you will be able to charge for advertising space and sponsored posts, so it’s always necessary to try to get more clicks onto your site. Even though your niche will mean that you need to narrow down what you write about, it will bring you a lot more dedicated fans. So, what sort of niche should you take? If you are a beauty blogger, you might want to start blogging about niche products that can help soothe certain skin conditions. Food bloggers can cater to different dietary requirements. For example, you might want to turn your food blog into one that focuses on gluten-free recipes.

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What is your niche?

Create A Long-Term Plan:

Next, it’s essential to think about your whole editorial approach. This will include things like the topics you will cover in future posts and when you will be covering them. Ideally, you should create an editorial plan to keep you on track. One useful tip is to write a lot of posts at once but then schedule their publication. That way, you will also have a bank of posts that you can fall back on if you ever go through a slow patch with your writing.

Take Your Own Pictures:

If you are currently using stock photos to brighten up your posts, you might want to think about starting to take your own pictures. Sure, there is nothing wrong with stock photos, especially since they are free to use. But, your own images will help to add a personal touch to your blog. Thankfully, the cameras on smartphones are so good these days, that you won’t have to invest heavily in professional camera equipment to be able to make your blog photos look incredible. It’s amazing what you can do with a smartphone and some filters!

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Snap!

Double Check Content For Errors:

Don’t forget that you need to make sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes in any of your posts, either. If there are, then your blog might not look as professional as you would like, and this could ruin your chances of building some solid relationships with other brands and companies. Brands will want to find a blog and blogger that can help them reflect the quality of their products and services, and making these kinds of silly little mistakes could really put them off of working with you. If you know that spelling and grammar is something that you struggle with, you might want to hire some ServiceScape proofreaders to take a look at your posts before you publish them. You can then be happy knowing that all of your blog posts are free from any kinds of errors!

Use Mixed Media:

Photos might not be enough to make your blog posts look engaging and interesting to readers. Lots of bloggers are now using a variety of mixed media in their posts and throughout their website so that it all looks super appealing. If you go onto YouTube, you will find that there are thousands of videos that you might want to embed into your posts, for instance. In fact, you might want to even start making your own videos and try your hand at becoming a YouTuber. You can also earn money by posting videos onto YouTube. The more clicks you get, then the more money you can make. If you add advertisements to the start of each video, you even stand to make a lot more! So, using mixed media can not only help to improve your blog, but it can even help you make a bit of extra cash along the way!

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Pexels Image

Always Cross-Link:

Do you already add a lot of links to previous posts in your new blog posts? If not, then this is something that you need to start doing right away. This encourages readers to click to your other posts, which will keep them on your website for longer, and will bring down the average bounce rate. A low bounce rate is something that you need if you want to attract big-name brands to collaborate with you.

Integrate Social Platforms:

It’s also necessary to integrate social platforms into your blog, as well. This means that you need social media buttons on your website to encourage readers to share the posts on their own profiles. The wider your posts get shared, then the bigger your audience will grow. It’s also a good idea to automate sharing to your own profiles whenever a post is published. This can be easily done by connecting your blog hosting account to your Facebook and Twitter accounts. Then, when a post is published on your blog, a link will be posted on your social media.

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Make sure to cross link!

It may take some time before your blog can be monetized, but making use of all of the tips in this post will set you off in the right direction. Good luck with it all in the future!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Sep12

Sugar & Spice OOTD

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Sugar & Spice OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a new OOTD post here on lifewithlilred! Today, we are going to talk about how to style a Sugar & Spice look that combines all things edgy with a little bit of sweetness to it. This post is also very special, because my boyfriend took all of these pictures! I have so much fun creating camera ready looks and taking pictures with my MAN, and it makes for an amazing date – no credit cards or cash required! Take a look:

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Who? What? Wear?

Whenever I am styling an outfit, I normally always go the edgy route with it. It’s rare that you will see me in something purely girly, like a dress without a moto jacket over top of it! But, combining Sugar & Spice gives you a look with dimension and a lot of visual break up to make one’s eyes dance when they look at you. It also keeps an outfit looking like me, which is of utmost importance.

To start with this look, I went with one of my favorite tops from Kohl’s. This Rock & Republic number has literally been sitting, untouched in my closet for years and I have finally realized its glory after all of this time. I love the crosses, jewels, and safety pins adorning it and the touch of glitter on the sleeves and around the bottom adds some unexpected sweetness. With a top that’s relatively busy, you don’t need anything for your bottoms except a pair of solid colored shorts or jeans. So, I went with my Hollister short shorts from TJ’s to continue with the black motif on top.

Now, for some sugar. To add some visual interest to this OOTD, I paired a gorgeous pair of Bonetti Giordano knee highs with one of my favorite pairs of heels. Because everything in my outfit is neutral, the bright floral colors on the knee highs didn’t look costumey and flowed really well with the ensemble. I loved how the heather grey socks looked against the cream Juicy Couture heels, and it all counterbalanced the black top and shorts for a striking but cohesive overall look.

And, finally, we need accessories to complete the OOTD. I chose to use one of my favorite purses from Charming Charlie’s as the statement accessory and then kept everything else pretty simple. With a loud British flag with studs outlining it, you don’t need much more! So, I opted for a big pair of Loft sunnies attached to a belt loop and my long gold chain earrings along with a pair with black crosses at the end of each chain. Any more accessories than that would have felt like too much for this look, especially with the bleak color palette. When in doubt, always go for the less is more option!

I really enjoyed styling and wearing this outfit. It made me feel so confident, and you can’t ask for more than that when creating a killer OOTD!

How would you style a Sugar & Spice look? What are some of your go to accessories? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah