Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
Sep11

September 2018 Funky Time Jams

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September 2018 Funky Time Jams

Helloooooo! This month, I have still been enjoying listening to my iPod on shuffle when I’m driving or getting myself ready in the morning. Variety is the spice of life, as they say, so things have been quite spicy in my music world if you know what I mean! 😉 😀 Playing my music on shuffle has helped rekindle the flames of some old favorites, and I’ve discovered music that I didn’t even know was on there to begin with! Like some of the following:

(And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos!)

Back in the good old days when I used to work at PacSun, my fondness for all things indie and alternative increased tenfold, because that was the type of music that was played there. This little sampler playlist definitely has some favorites of mine from when I spent over four years as a retail goddess and it’s nice to know that those songs literally never get old, because they never cease to put me in a good mood!

I also had to include two of my favorite songs from the Baby Driver soundtrack on here, which is a must see if you haven’t already. My mom made me put the album on my iTunes because it’s one of her favorites, so it has been showing up when I play my music on shuffle. I am looking forward to exploring more from T.Rex and The Damned so, who knows, maybe some of their other songs will be on next month’s music post! 😀

What songs have you been listening to lately? What is your favorite movie soundtrack? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep10

Shopaholic Styles: All Autumn Everything OOTD

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Shopaholic Styles: All Autumn Everything OOTD

Hello one and all and Happy Monday! In all of the blogging world, there is one special gal who always comes to mind first. And, that is Nida from Shopaholic Blogs. Nida was the very first guest blogger that I ever had on lifewithlilred and she has become a staple on my page every time I host a guest bloggers series. She is funny, fashion forward, and downright fabulous! Not only that, but it’s impossible not to smile while reading her posts and watching her videos.

Nida creates a mean OOTD post and her take on a fall themed look can be seen below:

Shopaholic Styles: All Autumn Everything OOTD

Hola companeros blogueros ❣️

Welcome to a fabulous fall inspired 🍂 post courtesy of my long time blogging BFF Sarah of lifewithlilred 💞. I love collaborating with Sarah on guest posts, because she gives me so much creative freedom and she is always so appreciative of my work that it pushes me to do better every time.✨ So, for this fall themed post, I decided to put together an autumn OOTD (Which, by sheer coincidence, happens to be my favorite kind of post💓).

Technically speaking, there really is no fall season here in Dubai since summer ☀️ lasts all the way to November and then we jump straight into a very mild winter. However, just because we don’t get to experience actual fall 🍁 doesn’t mean that we can’t dress up for it! 😉

My take on fall included a bright, flowy top in a gorgeous yellow color, which I think is reminiscent of the splendor of autumn. I paired it with statement crop pants in a deep forest green 🍃 and beautiful foliage in all shades of green, yellow, and orange.

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Both pieces are from the Loft petites collection, which is my go to store for trendy, affordable clothing. ✨ I finished the look with these charming (Though extremely uncomfortable 😳) sandals by Jessica Simpson.

I hope that you guys enjoyed this fall inspired OOTD! 🍁 Sarah and I look forward to your comments. 😘

Thanks to Sarah for this fun opportunity and until next time loves xoxo❣️

How do you style a fall OOTD? What is your favorite store to snag affordable, on trend clothing at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep9

What I Love About Autumn

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What I Love About Autumn

Hello everyone and welcome to a post in pictures by my favorite It Brit, Dannii, from A Beautiful Thing! Dannii brings so much vibrancy to the blogging world with her fun page that showcases her wonderful travels, fashion, and the most beautiful pink hair you will ever see. She is such a delight and you just have to go check out her page after this post because I, for one, can’t get enough!

What I Love About Autumn

I Love…. Cozy Sweaters

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I Love…. Keeping Warm with a Hot Chocolate

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I Love…. The Leaves Changing Color

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I Love…. Pumpkin Picking

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And I Love…. Halloween

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

Sep8

The Magic Of Koselig

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The Magic Of Koselig

Hi everyone and welcome to a guest post brought to you by my friend, Christina, over at Stiina Marie! As a reader of my page, Christina knows that I have a fondness for learning new languages and, today, she is going to teach all of us about the Norwegian term called “koselig”. Read on to find out more!

The Magic Of Koselig

Warm light from candles, a cold breeze, and rustling leaves as you scoop up some stew your friend just made. You take a sip of some beer and talk with your friends about everything and anything. A fire is lit and you hang out well into the night. You get drunk, forgetting that the weather is not so great – or is it? This is Norwegian Koselig.

The more popular sister to Koselig is Hygge from Denmark.“While there’s no one English word to describe hygge, several can be used interchangeably to describe the idea of hygge such as coziness, charm, happiness, contentedness, security, familiarity, comfort, reassurance, kinship, and simpleness” says hyggehouse.com. Let’s describe it better in pictures:

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Thank you lifewithlilred for allowing me to post about my beloved Norway! Learn more about me and my new life in Norway by following my blog: Stiina Marie. Next time we will learn Koselig words in Norwegian! Any questions? Comment below!

Is there a word or phrase in your country similar to koselig? What is fall like in your country? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Sep7

Celebrating Mabon

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Celebrating Mabon

Hello! Today, we are going to hear a little something from my darling friend, Carlie, over at Bombshell on Celebrating Mabon. As you will read in this post, Mabon is a Pagan nature holiday that gives thanks to all things fall and it’s something that Carlie enjoys participating in. Carlie will also be back later on this month with more fall and Halloween fun so definitely keep it posted, because she’s awesome! ❤

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Autumn is my favorite time of year for many reasons. The weather starts to get cooler, I love seeing the leaves changing beautiful colors, Halloween aka Samhain, and celebrating “Mabon”. Like Samhain, Mabon is a Pagan nature based holiday that represents the beginning of the Autumnal Equinox. It also signifies the second harvest of the calendar and promotes equality and balance. It’s a very positive time of the year where a lot of people celebrate the changing of the seasons, create their own little traditions, and enjoy nature of course. I hope you all are looking forward to the beginning of Autumn/Mabon as much as I am. This year the Autumn Equinox begins Friday, September 21st. And, if you want to celebrate Mabon in any way, it goes from September 21st to Saturday, September 29th!

How do you welcome the fall season? What is your favorite fall tradition? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep6

4 Tips For Buying A Lake House

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4 Tips For Buying A Lake House

Maybe you’ve always wanted a place to take the kids during the summer. Maybe you’re just trying to get away from it all. Whatever your reasons for considering the purchase of a lake house, here are four tips for making a smart decision about lakeside real estate:

1. Make a List

How big does it need to be? What features are you hoping to find? What amenities would get you excited? This doesn’t have to be a hard-and-fast list that you can’t deviate from; it can be a flexible collection of ideas that will get you thinking about what you desire in your future lake house.

2. Consider the Location

Location is one of the most important aspects of buying a lake house, especially if you’ll be responsible for maintaining the land around it. You might wind up needing something like weed control for lakes to keep nature from taking over. You’ll also want to think about climate, soil, shade, and the view from your windows.

Don’t be afraid to shop around for the location that is “just right” for you. Whether it be close to where you lived previously or in an entirely different state, you want your lake house property to be relaxing, safe, and family friendly. If waterfront property in your area is lacking, there are 55+ communities in Tennessee that boast lakeside views as well as communities along the different Great Lakes. Road trip, anyone?

3. Look Into the Owner

Once you’ve found a potential lake house, make sure that you do your research about its owner. They should have a clean, non-criminal record, and the house shouldn’t have any weird leasing issues or documentation mishaps. If you ever suspect that your lake house deal isn’t legitimate, don’t be afraid to cut your losses and walk away. A little firmness now can save you a world of trouble tomorrow.

4. Think About Year-Round Upkeep

If you’ll only be vacationing in the lake house once or twice a year, what will happen to it when you’re not there? Will you rent it out? Will you hire someone to maintain it? How much will it cost? Think about these things before committing to a particular land or cabin purchase. The little details could end up being a big deal.

These are just a few tips for finding, selecting, and evaluating a potential lake house. They can be a great investment for the future, but you’ll need to know what you’re doing before you sign on the dotted line. Good luck!

Sep6

Preparing To Attend A Baby Shower

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Preparing To Attend A Baby Shower

Baby showers are a traditional way to celebrate pregnancy and the introduction of a new life into the family. Family members and friends gather to shower the expecting mother with a variety of cards, gifts, supplies, advice, love, and support. There are usually fun games to be played and delicious refreshments to be served, as well. Below are some tips if you are attending or planning a baby shower soon:

Purchasing the Gift:

At a typical baby shower, the most common gifts include newborn clothing, newborn sized diapers, blankets, and bathing supplies. This is especially true when the gender is kept a secret, because all of these items are gender neutral baby gifts. It’s always a great idea to purchase useful items that other people may not think of, such as larger diaper sizes (2’s or 3’s), diaper pail liners, unique gift baskets, high quality cloth diapers, wipe warmers, matching clothes hampers, car window shades, or adorable “emergency” kits for the new mother’s diaper bag. Check out Kaiby Prime for baby hampers that make great gifts too.

While the mother to be probably has a registry, you might want to go with more unique but equally thoughtful options from stores that people haven’t thought of. Shop around with Nuna, Premium Car Seats, Pushchairs, and Baby Gear AU for all of the things that the soon to be mommy can be gifted with.

Cards & Gift Cards:

When selecting a card, be sure to leave a message for the mother and a message for the baby. This card may be handed down to the child when he or she is older, making these little notes very special. If a gift card is to be inserted into the card, be sure to choose a very popular retail chain where the mother could purchase baby supplies; she might decide to stock up on diapers before the baby arrives.

Be Ready for Games and Food:

Most baby showers feature fun games for the guests. These games may involve guessing the number of candies in a jar for a prize, blindfolded drawing contests, baby food identification, or bingo. It is important to dress comfortably, especially if the shower is held outside during the warmer months. Since most showers also offer food, it is recommended to eat a light snack before attending. Guests are always encouraged to take full advantage of the food, if it is provided!

Baby showers are fun, care-free, and casual parties that are meant to bring friends and family together in a joyous celebration of a new life. When attending one’s first shower as a guest, it is relieving to find that they are quite easy to prepare for!

Sep6

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Balm & Sugar Scrub Review

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Bite Beauty Agave Lip Balm & Sugar Scrub Review

Hello! For a while now, my Bite Beauty Agave Lip Balm & Sugar Scrub has been sitting in my bathroom waiting to be used. Since my birthday in June, more specifically, because it was part of my Beauty Insider birthday treat from Sephora. Don’t ask me why I never used it, because I don’t know. But, I am glad that I held off, because it definitely came in handy last week!

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While I was sick with the flu, my skin suffered because I was so dehydrated. My lips took a real beating, and by the time I was feeling better, they were raw from the cracking and peeling. I was picking at them until they bled (Shame on me!), and there still seemed to be dead skin that I wasn’t getting. So, I enlisted the help of the Bite balm and scrub.

First, I used the sugar scrub to buff my lips and try to remove any excess skin that was hanging on. The scrub tasted great – like sugar and honey. It worked well, too! I let it sit on my lips and rubbed them back and forth for a handful of minutes and they felt awesome after wiping the product off. They were so smooth and a good amount of yucky stuff came off, too. But, not all of the huge pieces of skin that hurt too bad to remove came off.

Instead of trying to take matters into my own hands, I applied the balm. The Agave Balm was nice and thick and I put a generous amount on my lips. Both the balm and scrub had a really tasty honey aroma, and the balm sat really well – no budges or anything. After an hour or so, I checked the progress on my lips and was able to remove the rest of the excess pain free. It also helped take away the stinging pain that comes with severely chapped lips.

My lips felt really good after using the sugar scrub and balm duo. It felt amazing to get them back to feeling normal after being so sick and they were even better than how they were before falling ill. I liked this product, and I would love to make a DIY sugar scrub so that I can indulge in this treat more often. I don’t think that I would purchase the Bite Beauty combination, though, just because a cheaper alternative is definitely out there somewhere!

Who has a good sugar scrub recipe? How do you take care of your lips? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep5

Sephora Golden Hour Highlighter In Dusk Swatch

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Sephora Golden Hour Highlighter In Dusk Swatch

Yo! Back in March, I tried out my first highlighter from Sephora. I used my Beauty Insider points to get a mini Becca highlighter in Opal during one of my orders. I’ve been using my highlighter for the past five months and am just about finished with it. And, five months isn’t bad at all for a mini product! While picking up my Mistress Hair Balm by IGK, I decided to get a new highlighter, too. I ended up with a Sephora brand one for a multitude of reasons, but price was definitely the main factor. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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^^^ The alternating pictures are with the flash off and the flash on, so you can see the illumination of the highlighter.

Originally, I had planned on getting another Becca highlighter. I really liked the shade that I was using and, if I was feeling saucy enough, maybe I would try a different one. But, then I realized that one of their highlighters costed thirty-five dollars and I said hell no. That would be the most that I’ve ever spend on a makeup product before and I just wasn’t comfortable with it.

I asked one of the workers if she could show me some of the different highlighters that the brands had and, everything but the Sephora brand, which ran for sixteen dollars, was upwards of thirty bucks. So, the Sephora brand it was. I liked that the color I went with, Dusk, was lighter than the shade that I’ve been using. Opal was nice and warm, which was perfect for summer. But, Dusk is cooler and more subdued, which is going to be lovely for the fall and winter months ahead.

I did like a lot of the more expensive highlighters that were shown to me, but I’m glad that I stuck to my guns and went with the cheapest option. I feel guilt free about my purchase and I definitely think that I would be feeling buyer’s remorse if I bought a thirty-five dollar highlighter. I’m looking forward to playing with my Sephora highlighter once I finish my Becca one in its entirety and will have to take some pictures to show you guys the makeup goods when I can! 😀

What is the most expensive beauty product you own? What about the least expensive? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep4

Small Sephora Shopping

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Small Sephora Shopping

Hello! Literally hours before I fell ill last week, I did a spot of shopping at Sephora to get myself a new highlighter and grab a full sized item that I fell in love with after using a tester in my Play! box. If you remember from my unboxing of the goodie bag, then you will know that the product that I’m talking about is the IGK Hydrating Hair Balm in Mistress. It is absolutely divine and is what we will be talking about in this post, as I will be swatching the highlighter tomorrow. Check it out:

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Now, normally, I would never pay TWENTY-NINE DOLLARS for a tube of hair product, but, then, I remembered that it took me three weeks to finish the tester and sometimes I used it twice a day. So, a little obviously goes a long way. I suspect that I will have this product for close to a year and that makes the initial, somewhat expensive investment, well worth it.

And, the fact that this balm kicks ass makes the investment worth it, too. My hair had three weeks of feeling simply lustrous and I would be a monkey’s uncle if I gave that up! The coconut oil in IGK’s leave in conditioner gives it a rich, creamy smell without being too perfumey or overpowering. It leaves your hair with the perfect amount of sleekness and shine but it doesn’t weigh it down, so your locks will still be able to maintain body and volume. Frizzy days are definitely a thing of the past thanks to Mistress, and your hair will look and feel like you got it done at the salon after styling it with each use.

I put a dime size dollop into my hair after my shower and by the time I’m ready to straighten it, the product is locked, loaded, and ready for action. I love the shine that my hair has from using this IGK balm and it feels so silky to the touch all day. It’s like you don’t even have anything in your hair. So consider it our little secret, okay? 🙂

Tomorrow, we’ll swatch my new highlighter from Sephora’s Golden Hour collection called Dusk. But, for now, what is your favorite hair product to use? What is one of your at home remedies for perfect hair? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah