Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
Jun3

NYX Lipstick Swatch In Shocking Pink

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NYX Lipstick Swatch In Shocking Pink

Hello everyone!! Back in the day, before I became a loyal red lipstick lover, I was all about experimenting with different lippie colors. But, now, I really only buy more reds or nudes, because I know that they will look good on me. With red hair, the pinks, purples, and the more out there colors all look a hot mess on me. So, I have a box full of lippies from my “let’s try every color ever” phase to swatch for you guys. And, now I present to you, Shocking Pink by NYX:

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Shocking Pink is definitely an appropriate name for this lippie, because this is PINK! But, to be more precise, I would call this fuchsia. 😉 Obviously, I would look like a clown in a color like this, but I can picture it looking SO stunning on someone with jet black hair. Shocking Pink has very cool blue undertones to it, so combining it with the sleekness of black hair would be really fabulous.

I used to think that I could get away with wearing any lipstick color, but I don’t think I ever even tried wearing this one. Shocking Pink looks like a really difficult color to pull off and I applaud anyone who can manage looking fantastic in a fuchsia lip!

Which color of lippie looks best on you? What are some lipstick colors that you would never wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun2

It’s In The Bag: Foley + Corinna Pt. 2 Edition

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It’s In The Bag: Foley + Corinna Pt. 2 Edition

As I was saying yesterday, my beautiful off white Foley + Corinna purse was so perfect that… I had to get it in black, too. *Face palm*

BUT LET ME EXPLAIN!!

As I admired myself with my white purse in the mirror at TJMaxx, I thought to myself “Boy, I sure hope that they don’t have this in another color”. I was so enamored with this bag, that if presented with it in a rainbow of colors, I would have bought every single one of them. But, luckily, TJs only had it in one other color, and it just so happened to be my favorite:

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Yeah… I bought it in black, too.

Finding this purse in black was like a kick in the gut and a complete brain blast all in one. I loved both of the colors so much and now I had to pick between the two?! I must have spent a solid half an hour at TJMaxx weighing in the pros and cons of each purse and each time I thought that I was making progress, something about the color that I was about to eliminate made me fall in love with it all over again. I was torn.

So, I guess it’s a good thing that my twenty-fourth birthday is coming up in five days because my mom pulled through in the clutch and offered to get me one of them for my b-day! How could I pass that up?! Was it necessary to get both colors of this bag? Absolutely not. But did I really, really want both? You have no idea. So, thanks to some birthday magic and a cool mom, I got to bring the only two of these purses in the store back home with me. HURRAY! 😀

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Have you ever bought anything in multiple colors? How has retail therapy helped you out during a tough time? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun1

Do Right By Your Kids With These Parenting Hacks

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Do Right By Your Kids With These Parenting Hacks

Being a parent is not easy, and you need to make sure that you do what you can to raise your kids to the best of your ability. There are a lot of considerations to make, and you need to figure out what is involved in the process of improving things for the kids. These are some of the key ideas that you might want to bear in mind that will help you do what’s best for them moving forward:

Keep Them Safe:

The biggest concern that so many parents have these days is whether or not their children are safe. This is something that all of us worry about at one time or another, but we can influence this in some way, as well. The best thing to do is to make sure that you take the steps to ensure that your child is being looked after properly. Choose the safest childcare options, make sure they know their address and phone number, and that they learn not to talk to strangers. Keeping your children safe is such a big concern as a parent, so the more that you can do to achieve it, the better.

Make Sure They’re Well Educated:

Education is so important, because it gives your kids opportunities and opens more doors in the future. Consider what is involved in your child’s education, and how you can improve these prospects as much as possible. Primary school kids need to learn their times tables, they need to be asking what is a composition? And they need to know about electricity and gravity, and all of those important things. So, do be sure you’re helping them study and keeping them on track at home.

Look After Their Future:

You need to do as much as possible to look after your kids’ future financially. You need to have money to help support them as they get older, and that means taking the time to start saving and being more financially sound as a family. Preparing for the future is so important and can help you do a lot to improve your financial situation as long as you are careful.

Don’t Overparent:

So many parents make the mistake of overparenting their kids, and this can be a negative thing. You don’t want to be smothering your child and not allowing them to experience new things because, otherwise, they will not develop properly and will not be involved outside of home as much as they should. You have to work on being the best parent you possibly can be, and this involves giving your kids space to make their own mistakes.

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 :*)

If you can follow these parenting hacks, you will be well placed to make sure that you do right by your kids as much as you can. It’s important to look after their future and help them to grow and develop as people. And you can do so much to achieve that, including looking after their education and financial futures.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jun1

It’s In The Bag: Foley + Corinna Edition

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It’s In The Bag: Foley + Corinna Edition

Hey! So as I mentioned earlier this week, your girl was in desperate need of some retail therapy. And retail therapy I did. Oh yes, retail therapy I did. Although I love all accessories equally, I can’t say that I am a huge purse girl. I’d much rather buy a new pair of shoes. But, that doesn’t mean that I don’t love purses and I definitely have a collection in my own right. I’m very particular when it comes to my bags, so when the right one (Or two!) come along at TJMaxx, it’s very hard to say no! Take a look:

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When I saw this GORGEOUS Foley + Corinna bag, it was really love at first sight. I loved the chain straps, the contrast between the off white color and the black spikes, and I am a sucker for all things studs and spikes in general. This purse is just the right size to hold all of my necessities and will be nice to carry around during the summer thanks to its small size. It really is just perfect. So perfect that I…

Find out tomorrow!!

What do you think I did next? What is your favorite style of purse? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May31

Gift Ideas For Your Best Friend’s Milestone Birthday

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Gift Ideas For Your Best Friend’s Milestone Birthday

You and your best friend have been close for many years and you have never celebrated a birthday without being by each other’s sides. Reaching those milestones together has been a ton of fun and you can’t wait for her big birthday to approach. You are always giving the best gifts to each other and this year will be no exception. You want to make sure that she has one to remember and that means going bigger and better than ever before. Grab some inspiration from here and light up her eyes with glee as soon as she receives her perfect present:

Beautifully Blooming:

A bunch of bright and beautiful flowers are bound to brighten up anybody’s day, especially when they are turning a year older. Make their day even better by organizing a flower delivery straight to their home or workplace. In the personal message you could include a special clue about what their evening ahead might entail. You can choose from an array of colors, species, and sizes too, so make sure you pick their favorite. From lovely lilies to perfect poppies you are bound to bring a smile to their face.

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 So pretty!

Happy Holidays:

Celebrating a milestone birthday can bring a sense of panic to anybody, so why not whisk them away and allow them to forget about their troubles? Choose their favorite holiday destination and book them a lovely trip away so that they can truly relax and celebrate their birthday. Whether they’d love an Australian adventure down under or a sun soaked beach holiday in Spain, book their tickets and join them for the trip of their lives!

Picture Perfect:

A picture is always going to be one of the most personal gifts that you can give to somebody. You could create your very own collage book filled with memories of your friendship. Allow them to travel back in time and smile to themselves as they flick through the personalized scrapbook that you created just for them.

Excellent Experiences:

Instead of a physical gift, you could take your friend on a day out to celebrate their birthday. There are so many experience days to choose from, no matter what your favorite activity is. You could go for a wine tasting afternoon at a fancy bar or take a trip to the theater and meet the cast at the end of the show. How about taking a road trip to take in the sights and visit new eateries? You could get restaurant inspiration based on your bestie’s favorite type of food by entering a search for “italian restaurant soho” (or the area you are visiting). A road trip definitely checks all of the boxes of an excellent experience gift! Think carefully about what your friend would really like to do and make it happen for her; you will never forget the huge smile on her face when she realizes what you’re doing together.

Whether your friend believes flowers are fabulous or a holiday would make her happy, be sure to go with her individual preferences. No matter what the milestone is, make sure it is one for her to remember forever. You might find that a combination of these gifts would make the ideal offering, so don’t be afraid to go all out and choose a few. Her birthday is going to be unforgettable, so splurge on something special and share the happiness on her big day.

May31

Let Me Take A Selfie

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Let Me Take A Selfie

HELLOOOO! In the name of fashion and having more updated pics of me on the ol’ blog and social media, I have been taking a lot of selfies lately. Believe me, I’m even starting to annoy myself, but sometimes the pay off is worth it because I really like the pictures seen below:

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As you can tell, I was really FEELING MYSELF in these selfies. I am obsessed with my True Destiny Flower Power Top from TJMaxx and, of course, it wouldn’t be a Sarah Selfie without NYX’s Pure Red Matte Lippie being featured! I was actually in the midst of feeling really emotionally shitty the day that I took these pictures. But, sometimes all it takes is getting dolled up, snapping some pics, and getting compliments from strangers on social media to brighten up the day! 😀

Although taking selfies can be a hit or miss activity for me, when it works it works, and I feel like everything was working in the above pictures. My makeup, my eye color, and my favorite top all combined with the ideal natural lighting outdoors made for a perfect photo op, and I am so glad that I took it. And, trust and believe that I ate hella Mexican food immediately after I took these pictures. #success

What are some of your secrets to taking the perfect selfie? How many selfies do you take per week? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May30

Are You An Anxious Night Owl?

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Are You An Anxious Night Owl?

In recent years, awareness of anxiety has come to the forefront. Aside from making you nervous, a full-blown case of anxiety can leave you on edge and unable to calm down. It feels as though you’re about to face something frightening every second of the day, and it can leave you on the brink of breaking.

If this sounds familiar, you should speak to your doctor and seek treatment which helps you to get on top of this. But, we aren’t focusing on treatment today. Instead, we’re going to address something few anxiety sufferers speak about: the fact that symptoms often get worse in the evenings.

In many ways, this seems strange. Surely anxiety should abate when you get home and let loose? But, often, the situation worsens once you get home. In many ways, this could be because you’re no longer distracted by work. As such, you’ll feel the full effects of the condition. But, this is also, in part, down to how we spend our evenings – so we’re going to look at a few every day habits which can make matters worse:

The Television Trap:

While television usage has dropped in recent years, many of us still put the box on the moment that we get home. It’s a comfort, and it helps a lot of us to relax. But, what you might not realize is that television can also boost anxiety in some ways. Even if you avoid anxiety-inducing programs, advertisements fill us with worries about what we don’t have. They also lead to comparisons with those on screen. On top of which, television eats time like nothing else. It could leave you feeling as though your evening’s over before it’s begun.

So, for at least a few hours, turn the TV off. Rely, instead, on board games like Scrabble. These still take complete concentration but without comparison. You can even avoid disputes by using tools like this word.tips word finder to check anything you’re unsure of. If that doesn’t appeal, you could always turn to hobbies like reading or coloring to see you through. The chances are, that you’ll feel much better after an evening of doing these.

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There’s nothing better than a good book!

You’re Too Hung Up On The Day:

Many of us also make the mistake of overthinking our days once we get home. And, we still wonder why we have anxiety-induced headaches by the end of the night. In truth, you should avoid thinking about work during your evenings. Draw a line under the day with a quick walk around the block or even a meditation session to ease your mind. Then, turn your attention to something else every time work crosses your mind. Getting this distance could work wonders for helping you to relax. Bear in mind that it may take longer to adjust to than you expect. After all, you’ve spent years thinking about work all evening, every evening. But, if you focus your attention here, you could soon find that your mind is much calmer when you need it to be.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

May30

Accessory Story: Bella Jack Earrings Edition

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Accessory Story: Bella Jack Earrings Edition

Hello everyone and happy Hump Day! Lil Red has been in desperate need of some retail therapy these past few weeks, so TJMaxx was the move both in store and online. And, as always, ol’ TJs was very very good to me. For example, if it wasn’t for TJMaxx, I wouldn’t have these insanely gorgeous, THIRTEEN DOLLAR Bella Jack earrings that I am SO in love with. Check it out:

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Now, normally I’m not too keen on buying new earrings, because I usually just wear my signature black crosses. But, I’ve had my eye on these periwinkle flower bells for a long time. And, did I mention that I was in desperate need of retail therapy? I think that these Bella Jack beauties are so charming, and all I needed to do was briefly hold them up to my face in the mirror to know that they were coming home with me.

I love the glassy but matte shading over the pale blue coloring of these earrings, and I think that they look lovely with my hair, eyes, and complexion – if I do say so, myself. I also adore how if you make the earrings move, you can hear the tiny chime of bells ringing in your ears. This Bella Jack jewelry is pure fairy tale fun, and I can’t wait to wear them throughout the summer!

Where do you love to shop for jewelry at? What is your go to summer accessory? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May29

100+ Beauty Tag Finale

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100+ Beauty Tag Finale

Hello! Today is the grand finale for the 100+ Beauty Tag as I answer the remaining twenty or so questions left! If you choose to complete the questionnaire, do tag me in your post or comment it to me so that I can see all of your answers. 🙂

Which cream or moisturizer is your favorite? The Vitamin E moisturizer by The Body Shop, and I also like their Vitamin C one a lot, too.

How many times do you use a moisturizer? Just once in the morning. I really should start taking my makeup off and using a night cream, though.

Have you ever tried using natural beauty products? Oh yes, that’s the best way to go.

Which natural beauty product is your favorite? Literally anything from The Body Shop.

Which fashion magazine do you read for styling and beauty tips? I’m not a huge magazine reader, because all of the fashion magazines feature clothing that is so unattainable price wise. And I have all of the beauty tips that I need right there, thanks to all of the amazing beauty bloggers on WordPress!

Which three beauty tips would you recommend? 1) Invest in a lipstick that makes you feel awesome. 2) Style your makeup and clothing in a way that makes YOU feel good. And 3) Try to make a statement with every look that you create.

Do you believe in using anti-ageing creams? Sure. I’m not at that point yet, but I would definitely use them later on down the line.

Do you choose your foundation according to your undertone color? I don’t wear foundation – but isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?

Skincare or makeup? Which is more important? SKIN CARE. You need a clean slate to apply your makeup on and that can only be achieved with good skin care.

What makeup tools do you use while applying makeup? Q-tips, lol.

Which makeup tool is always in your handbag? None.

What was the worst color that you dyed your hair? Black. I used to want the jet black, almost blue hair so badly and my hair just never took to it. It always looked dull and dusty after a few weeks and it was so disappointing.

What is your favorite eyeshadow color? Bronze, gold, and green.

A heavy makeup look or a natural one? I like somewhere in between.

Do you use a pencil eyeliner or liquid? A pencil. I do not have the steady hand for a liquid liner!

What is your experience with pigment eyeshadows? Lol, what is a pigment eyeshadow?

What is your favorite contrast color for eye shades? I love when my hazel eyes choose to be green for the day and I use a purple-ish eye pencil or shadow. It really makes my eyes pop!

Suggest a thing that makeup lovers should never miss? A good sale! 😀

All Done!!

How would you answer some of the above questions? Do you have any other beauty questions for me? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

May28

100+ Beauty Tag Part Three

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100+ Beauty Tag Part Three

 

Hello everyone and happy Monday! We are on the final half of the 100+ Beauty Tag that I’ve been working diligently on. I have to tell you, it’s been a hoot and I definitely recommend joining in on the fun by completing it yourself! Here are my answers to questions sixty through ninety:

Define beauty in one sentence? Beauty is feeling confident in your own skin.

Share the funniest makeup memory of yours? Oh jeez… I don’t think that I really have a funny one. But, I used to work as an actor at a haunted house and doing my makeup there was always good fun.

Discounted products or branded? Which do you prefer? Discounted, of course. #ballinonabudget

Do you share your beauty products with anyone? If yes, then whom? HELL NO! My sister used to use my makeup when we were younger and I hated that!!

What’s your favorite nail polish brand? Before I started getting acrylics, I really liked Sally Hanson.

What kind of coverage do you like from a foundation? I don’t wear it, so it doesn’t matter.

A simple nail color or designing? Which do you like? I would love to get designs on my acrylics if it wasn’t so damn expensive. So, simple colors it is, and then I do the rhinestones myself.

What is your favorite high end brand? I like Clinique.

A new makeup purchase or a dinner out. Which do you prefer? Food, food, always food.

What’s your favorite contrast for nail polishes? What does that mean?

Name the person who taught you how to paint your nails: I’m pretty sure it was my grandma.

Do you wear fake eyelashes? No. I have no idea how to apply them, anyways!

Share the worst moment of wearing fake eyelashes? None.

Has anybody praised your eye color while you were wearing contact lenses? I don’t wear colored contacts, but people do praise my natural eye color *hair flip*.

What is your favorite drugstore brand? I like CoverGirl.

Suppose you’re on your way to a party and you realize that you forgot to put on blush. What could be your best possible alternative? Take some of your lipstick and rub it in to your cheeks.

Describe your perfect mascara in one sentence: My perfect mascara is jet black and gives longer than life lashes.

Have you ever put mascara in your eyes on accident? YES. It always gets on my contacts and I have to put in a new pair of my one a days. So annoying.

Do you like a lipstick only or do you use it with a lip gloss? Lipstick only. I’ve never been a big lip gloss girl.

A simple lip gloss or a glittered one? If I did wear lip gloss, a glitter one might be fun!

What is your favorite hair product? Heat protecting spray is a necessity for me, because I flat iron my hair almost every day.

Do you like using different nail polishes at once? I usually do all black except for an accent nail on my pointer finger.

Do you ever consider taking makeup classes? Not really. But, I always am up for trying new things!

Which brand’s lipstick stays on the best while eating? I kid you not, I just ate a full on Mexican dinner the other day and my NYX matte lippie didn’t even budge.

How many times do you use a face wash? I use both a cleansing bar and a face wash during my shower in the morning. I don’t wash my face at night, but I really should.

Which makeup remover do you prefer? Micellar water is okay and cheap.

Name three differences that you feel in yourself with or without makeup? I feel more confident and beautiful in makeup. But, I feel more comfortable without it.

Do you use makeup base for the eyes, as well? Nope.

Do you like to gift makeup kits to your female friends? Not really, I prefer gifting bath and body care because you really can’t go wrong with that.

Name a beauty product that you always want to steal from your mom’s kit? I love my mom’s nude lipsticks and I want to snag her Pixi Glow Tonic so bad!!

How would you answer some of the above questions? How is your Monday going? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah