Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
Jun15

Sunshine Blogger Award #6

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Sunshine Blogger Award #6

Hi everyone and TGIF! Lifewithlilred recently got nominated for its sixth Sunshine Blogger Award by the wonderful and immensely talented Lady Lazarus. This lovely lady is a freaking hoot and her writing touches me because of its candidness and relate-ability. Do be sure to check out her blog and a huge thank you to Lady Lazarus for the nomination! Now, let’s get 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 have dinner with anyone, living or deceased, who would it be? I always find this question difficult to answer, because I don’t have a set in stone reply. Right now, I’m on a huge Hunger Games kick so probably Jennifer Lawrence.

If you were a pro-wrestler, what would your theme song be? Lunchbox by Marilyn Manson, for sure.

If you could have any job, what would it be? I would actually love to be a Developmental Pediatrician like my mom, but I don’t want to be in school for forever!

What is at the top of your bucket list? To explore Europe in its entirety.

What’s your favorite color and why? Black, because it’s slimming, it goes with everything, and I like it.

What were your top three favorite movies from when you were a kid? Oooooh…. I would say that The Little Mermaid, Shrek, and FRAGGLEHOUSE ROCK (lol) were my childhood jams if memory serves me correctly.

What song evokes the most emotion from you? Beautiful Day by U2.

What cartoon character do you most identify with? None. I don’t do cartoons.

What is the last thing you thought of before bed last night? Probably that I was full because I ate hella pita bread and spinach dip before bed haha.

What is your biggest fear? Not telling.

What does ” The Sunshine Award” mean to you? That you brighten someone’s day enough for them to nominate you, which is really special.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. Are there any foods that you’ve never tried simply because it looks gross?
  2. What was your favorite childhood toy?
  3. How do you like to spend your days off?
  4. Biggest pet peeve?
  5. Would you rather not shower or wear the same outfit for a week?
  6. Do you have any nicknames?
  7. Do you have any unique talents or party tricks?
  8. What song or musician can you not stand?
  9. How do you get inspiration for fashion or beauty looks?
  10. Besides writing, what are some of your other hobbies?
  11. Is there anyone in your family who people say that you look a lot like?

Major shout out again to Lady Lazarus for nominating yours truly to participate in my sixth Sunshine Blogger Award – it was a blast! How would you answer some of the questions asked by my nominator? How about some of the questions that I had for my nominees? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun14

Sweet Birthday Surprises

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Sweet Birthday Surprises

Hi everyone! My 24th birthday was exactly one week ago as of today. I still have yet to write a birthday haul post because of late arriving gifts from my siblings, but I did receive some really sweet surprises from my parents on my big day. Take a look:

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When I woke up on my big day, I was surprised with a freshly picked bouquet from my dad’s garden. I don’t know what the vibrant purple flowers are, but they sure are pretty! And then, even though I told my mom no birthday cake, she brought home a vanilla torte with a layer of strawberry filling that was to die for. I’m really not a huge fan of any type of cake, but this one with the white chocolate shavings and buttercream frosting was the exception! So delicious!

Flowers and cake might be the norm on one’s birthday, but being treated to such beautiful surprises never gets old! I had a wonderful birthday filled with my favorite people, food, and PRESENTS!! 😀

How do you like to celebrate a loved one’s birthday? What is your favorite thing to gift someone with? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun13

The Popular Piano

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The Popular Piano

The piano is a popular instrument. It is estimated that in the United States alone, that at least 21 million people play the piano. When the piano was first invented, it is unlikely that its creators understood how popular the instrument would become. Throughout the centuries, the piano has gone through some changes. However, the basics of what the piano is has stayed the same.

When the piano first came on the scene, there was no piano store Boston residents could go to to simply pick up a piano. Pianos were handmade. It took a large amount of effort to create one. However, toward the end of the 19th century, it was possible to mass-produce pianos. As a result, pianos became less expensive, and more people were able to have access to this instrument in their home.

The importance of the piano is seen in the way that being able to play it affected one’s perceived social standing. For example, back in the 18th century, it was believed that a woman was marriage material if she could play the piano. Ooh la la!

The popularity of the piano continues to this day, because it is an easy instrument to play. A person can begin playing the instrument immediately. Regardless of the age of the student, they can press a key and make a sound. Other instruments like the guitar, flute, or saxophone require complicated fingering or controlled breathing patterns in order to make a noise. And, since the piano is relatively easy to play, students can learn the fundamentals of the instrument more quickly.

One of the neat things about a piano is that it allows the player to play the melody and the rhythm at the same time. Beginning students marvel at their ability to play multiple notes simultaneously. The fundamentals of music that are laid out on sheet music for a piano are easy to understand. Concepts that can seem abstract, like half notes or scales, become clearer when you see them laid out on the piano, and beautiful noise is sure to follow!

Jun13

Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday Gift

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Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday Gift

Hi!! Before I even began shopping at Sephora, and by shopping I mean just buying Better Than Sex mascara, I was sure to sign up for their Beauty Insider rewards program to cash in on free product for my birthday. This year, you could choose between a mini moisturizer and mud treatment by Glamglow or a lip kit by Bite. Of course, I chose the lipsticks to experiment with the gorgeous shades offered in the prezzie. I’ll swatch them later but, for now, check out how nice this freebie is:

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Seen Below:

  • Mini Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Chai
  • Mini Matte Creme Lip Crayon in Glace
  • Agave Lip Treatment Sample Duo (A scrub and balm)

I am completely in love with both the lipstick and lip crayon by Bite. Chai and Glace are shades that would look great on anyone, and it’s always fun to try out new makeup – especially products that you wouldn’t necessarily buy for yourself. And, the scrub and balm sample duo will be great during a spa night to keep my lips pucker perfect!

Check back soon for swatches of each shade! ❤

Which birthday freebie from Sephora would you choose? Which stores and eateries have the best rewards programs? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun12

June 2018 Funky Time Jams

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June 2018 Funky Time Jams

Hello!! Warm weather brings the best listening to music scenarios in existence: 1) Outdoor concerts. And 2) Driving with your windows down and your music loud. I am still basking in the glory of being front and center at X Fest, and I am so looking forward to seeing Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie next month. But, for now, I have been revisiting some old and new favorites as we make our way through June. Like the following:

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

I got to see lovelytheband at X Fest and I am SO glad that I did, because their music fucking slaps. The song “Broken” is so damn catchy and I can’t wait to explore their songs more once I get my hands on their LP “Everything I Could Never Say”. Really good stuff. And, of course, I’m on an even bigger Jack White kick than usual since I got to breathe the same air as him a little over a week ago!! What a man, what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man. :*)

What concerts are you attending this summer? What are some of your summer anthems? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun11

New Pixi Eyeliner

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New Pixi Eyeliner

Hello everyone and happy Monday! My mom is a big fan of Pixi cosmetics and always scores super awesome deals when shopping their products online. She always manages to get some type of freebie or percentage off of her order, making the purchasing of a more expensive makeup line totally worthwhile. During her last online haul, my mom got two mini eyeliners for free, and bequeathed the black one onto me since she wouldn’t use it. Take a look:

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I have to say, this Endless Silky Liner by Pixi offers the smoothest application that I’ve experienced from any drugstore brand. Although I use similar eyeliners to this one, you can definitely tell that they are a pencil. Not the case with this one. The liner itself feels so creamy and the color is so pure and I can kind of see why people would spend about fourteen dollars for a full sized one of these.

Would I ever venture into purchasing from the Pixi brand after I finish this eyeliner? Maybe if it was a really amazing deal. But, I’m okay with sticking to my CoverGirl eyeliner for now! 🙂

What brand of eyeliner do you use? Do you use a liquid liner or a pencil? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun10

Birthday Freebies

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Birthday Freebies

Hi everyone! As you all know, Lil Red balls on a budget and that means embracing rewards programs at my favorites stores and eateries like it’s my job. So, it’s no surprise that when my birthday month comes around, I get bombarded with all of the deals and freebies like nobody’s business. If you sign up for the different apps and rewards programs listed below, you can get in on the freebies, too!

  • Small popcorn at Regal movie theaters
  • One burrito from Moe’s
  • Free dessert from the Olive Garden
  • Small smoothie from Robek’s
  • Drink of choice from Starbucks
  • Makeup product from Sephora
  • Makeup product from Ulta
  • Bread sticks from Pizza Hut
  • Medium pizza from Hungry Howie’s

Obviously, I have been eating REALLY good lately and the price has always been right when you don’t pay a cent for it! Happy birthday to me, INDEED! 😀

What other stores and restaurants offer birthday rewards? Which rewards programs are you registered to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun9

X Fest Birthday Bash

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X Fest Birthday Bash

Hello everyone and happy weekend! Exactly one week ago, my sister, Kristen, and I were in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania for X Fest – a music festival featuring Lovelytheband, Sir Sly, AWOLNATION, Cold War Kids, and Jack White. My parents were kind enough to treat me to FRONT PIT tickets to the show for my birthday, which resulted in my sister and I being mere feet in front of the stage for the entire seven hour duration of the festival. It. Was. Amazing. If you don’t believe me, take a look for yourself:

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^^^ Lol at Aaron Bruno’s pelvic thrust pictures and Sir Sly straight GETTIN’ IT with his hands in the air! 😀

What was cool about X Fest, is that it featured such a fantastic lineup. Obviously, I would have gone just to see Jack White, since he’s one of my all time favorites. But, the fact that another one of my favorites, AWOLNATION, and two other bands that I thoroughly enjoy, Sir Sly and Cold War Kids, was there made it so much sweeter. And, then, you add being literally right in front of the stage into the mix, and it turns into being one of the best days of my life.

The nice thing about the set lists for all of the bands that performed, was that they didn’t just strictly play songs from their most recently released albums. It was more of a fan favorite lineup, where crowd pleasers were played, as well as a wide array from a variety of albums. It was so much fun to be able to hear throwback favorites like Sir Sly’s “Gold” during his set or Cold War Kids’ “Miracle Mile” and “Hang Me Up To Dry” live, because it was such a firm reminder of why I enjoy these bands in the first place.

Sir Sly and Cold War Kids were awesome. They were. But, my loyalty will always lie with AWOLNATION and Jack White for what would be considered the highlights of my day. X Fest was actually my second time seeing AWOLNATION live, and they were just as fantastic as I remember them being.

AWOLNATION’s set was filled, as per usual, with Aaron Bruno interpretive dancing, running around the stage like a mad man, and singing his beautiful heart out. Their set was eight songs long, and I sure wish that it could have been longer! Four of the songs were off of AWOLNATION’s latest album, “Here Come The Runts” while the remaining half was from “Run” and “Megalithic Symphony”.

Almost all of the songs were fast paced, hype you up songs, until things slowed down for “Handyman”. During this song, Aaron Bruno acquired a fistful of pink roses and threw the very first and last of the five or six to ME!! I seriously could have cried – I honestly can’t believe that I didn’t. I got TWO ROSES from Aaron Bruno, one of my major man crushes. It doesn’t get much better than that.

The five bands that played before Jack White all probably performed for a half hour to forty-five minutes, respectively. Jack, however, played for an entire hour and a half and it was pure magic from start to finish. Despite his latest album, “Boarding House Reach” being released recently, Jack White played songs from all three of his solo albums and bands, The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, and The White Stripes.

Although Jack White’s entire performance was a major highlight, some of my most favorite songs that he played included “My Doorbell”, “Steady As She Goes”, “Lazaretto”, “I Cut Like A Buffalo”, and his opener of “Over And Over And Over”. And, it wouldn’t be a Jack White concert if he didn’t close with “Seven Nation Army”!

It was so insane to be standing directly in front of the man that you’ve had a crush on since grace school. It seriously didn’t even feel real that Jack White was playing within six feet of me. The same goes for every band that performed. I was literally right there. I got to spend the day with my sister enjoying amazing music and seeing some of my favorite bands. I can’t believe how lucky I am, and I wish that I could go back in time and relive the day a million more times.

Who else has attended X Fest before? What concerts are you going to this summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun8

Unique Differences In U.S. Military Weddings

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Unique Differences In U.S. Military Weddings

Each of us is dreaming and planning of how to make our special day stand out and worth remembering for everyone. But, sometimes, it’s easier said than done. However, if you are serving in the military, you are an ex-Army officer, or you’re a cadet in the Academy, you are entitled to have a wedding ceremony in a military fashion. Military weddings in the States are different than the typical civil weddings in many ways.

Although they proved to be very hard to organize and plan due to the uncertainty and dynamics of living the military life, there is a big chance that everyone present at the wedding will remember it for all of those little things that are applicable only to these types of weddings. In this article, we’ll give you a number of brief examples of all of the traditions related to military-themed weddings:

Dress Code:

If you’re in the military and you decide to marry your beloved, you will be expected to wear your unit’s uniform, along with all of the medals or ribbons that you might have. And, as there will probably be lots of other military members (most commonly, the best man), they are also expected to wear their Army suits.

In cases when the bride is the one serving her country, there is a tradition that calls for a bride wearing military boots under her beautiful wedding dress. Apart from that, when attending a military-themed wedding, all attendees should wear formal attire if they’re not members of the military.

Arch From the Drawn Swords:

The feeling of walking down the aisle and saying that fateful ‘’yes’’ is even better when you know that there will be a memorable moment after that where you and your beloved will march down the arch made of drawn swords and sabres. Truly a sight to behold and relatable only to military weddings.

Army Insignia:

To spice things up even more and make everyone feel like part of the Army tradition, couples can also opt for engraving custom insignia on challenge coins and presenting a coin to each guest. Professional yet affordable coins can be made by Embleholics on your big day.

It’s also worth noting here that military couples do enjoy some benefits in the form of numerous discounts when it comes to finding a professional makeup artist for the wedding or acquiring pearl wedding rings.

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Unsplash Image

Getting Married on Base:

Military bases of operation usually provide everything for the wedding ceremony and the reception that comes after that. You won’t have a chance of attending a wedding ceremony on base if you are invited to a civilian wedding!

There are many other things that we didn’t mention in this article, but we will leave the rest for you to imagine (although we are pretty sure that you already know of many things that should be added to our little list here). The bottom line, is that military weddings are truly different than other weddings. They never fail to create unforgettable memories and experiences for everyone.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Jun8

BFF Birthday Haul

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BFF Birthday Haul

Hiii everyone and TGIF! My best friend, Lea, and I have been gifting birthday and Christmas presents to each other since our Freshman year of high school in 2008. So, of course, this year was no exception! We always seem to know exactly what to get each other, so it was no surprise that I loved her birthday presents to me seen below:

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The Haul:

  • A bottle of moscato (My favorite!)
  • A bag of vanilla Starbucks coffee grounds (Also my favorite!)
  • A darling new coffee mug (My other favorite!)
  • A Starbucks gift card (My most favorite!)

The best part about Lea’s gifts, is that they are always things that I wouldn’t buy for myself. And, in my opinion, that makes for the perfect present. I have so many amazingly cute mugs and knick knacks from Lea throughout the years of our friendship and I cherish all of them and have them displayed proudly in my room. I am obsessed with the stonewear “Hello Gorgeous” mug that will be perfect to hold my morning coffee in. The bronze pineapples add an amazing touch of summer fun, which is great for my early summer birthday!

And, of course, who doesn’t love wine?! 😉

What kind of prezzies do you love to gift your BFF with? How long have you been friends with your bestie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah