Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!

If The Shoe Fits: Qupid Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Qupid Edition

Hellooo everyone and welcome to a special Holiday Haul edition of If The Shoe Fits, compliments of my sister, Kristen. Back in November, I sent my sibs a list of gift ideas for yours truly, because I’m pretty particular. Granted, every item on the list was shoes, but that’s neither here nor there. Kristen took this list, which was hashtagged with “all I want for Christmas is shoes”, to heart and got me these amazing Qupid faux snakeskin heeled boots. Take a looksee:

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My favorite animal print of all time is snakeskin. I love it oh so much and, although I already have a snakeskin printed pair of booties, ONE IS NOT ENOUGH!! These Qupid pointed toe babies are just divine. I love the bright white in the pattern as opposed to darker greys and taupes. It gives such an edgy shock to a classic print and that it what I am all about. And, of course, I love anything with a pointed toe!! :*)

Kristen knocked it out of the park with this prezzie, especially because by the time I figured that I would just buy them for myself, they were already sold out – so she was way ahead of the game. These bootie beauties are going to look so sharp throughout the rest of the winter and are going to make a statement with short shorts as the weather warms up. Accessories are so required with these shoes, and I cannot wait to pair them with a huge Panama hat, chunky jewelry, and a bold bag for an overstated but still very chic look.

So there you have it, the latest Holiday Haul issue of If The Shoe Fits, Qupid Edition! What is your favorite animal print? How do you let people know what you really really want for the holidays? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Holiday Haul: Beauty Edition

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Holiday Haul: Beauty Edition

Hi everyone! My Holiday Haul was bountiful and beautiful and I had a wonderful Christmas day spent with my family. To commemorate all of the sweet thoughts behind each present, we’ll go about each main gift individually. Today, I think that we will start with some delightful beauty and bath and body care goodies compliments of my brother and sister in law, as well as my older sister. Take a looksee:

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Peter and Megan treated all of the girls in my family to a box set from The Body Shop, which is so amazing because all of us really love their products. I am also totally obsessed with their body washes right now, so I’m happy to have another one to add to my hoard. I then got a double whammy of Better Than Sex mascara from Kristen and Peter and Megan and I am so thrilled about it, because I desperately needed a new tube. And now I have two! What whattttt.

Kristen knows me all too well, because I always ask for Better Than Sex mascara for every gift receiving occasion. And Peter and Megan were very clever in their purchase because they looked on lifewithlilred to know that that’s what I wanted, thanks to completing a Holiday Q & A! It was really sweet, because as soon as I opened it, I knew that that’s how they figured out what I wanted. Peter and Megan often turn to my blog to gather inspiration for gifts for me, and I think that that’s freaking awesome. It’s nice to have siblings that put tons of thought into presents, because it’s a physical reminder of how much they care. :*) I LOVE THEM!!

So there you have it, part one of my Holiday Haul: Beauty Edition! Be sure to tune in tomorrow for more Christmas fun here on lifewithlilred. What was your favorite gift that you received this year? What was your favorite present that you gave? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits: Forever 21 Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Forever 21 Edition

Howdy! So Facebook has this weird thing where it shows you EVERYTHING THAT YOU’VE EVER WANTED in their ads. It’s insane. Shoes that I overlooked but still liked, ModCloth clothes, Forever 21 accessories – all things that Lil Red loves but have yet to buy. So, imagine the distress of scrolling through Facebook and having the devil tempt you at every turn! I’m not too mad about it, though, because these new bootie beauties came from the aforementioned hardship! Take a look and let’s discuss:

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When I saw the ad for these Forever 21 platform boots, I fell head over heels in love (Pun intended!). And, somehow Facebook knows about my ballin on a budget lifestyle, because these shoes were only twenty-five bucks! #blessed Platform shoes became big this summer, and I am obviously not over the trend, because I still feel the urge to buy every single pair that I encounter. Seriously, how could I say no to shoes that would keep my feet warm with the flame decals this winter anyways?! 😉

I recently paired these shoes with my new Karl Lagerfeld button down, black skinnies, a moto jacket, and my favorite Stevie Nicks scarf to accessorize. And, let me tell you, I was really feeling myself, lol. I felt so posh, fun, and fierce strutting around in an edgy outfit with these disco fab platforms on my feet. The compliments that came rolling in didn’t hurt the cause, either! My new Forever 21 boots are the perfect way to add some cheeky fun to any look with an ode to 70s glam and I am so thankful to Facebook for tapping into my brain so that I could find them. Now, please cut it out so that I can stop spending money! THANKS.

So there you have it, the latest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Forever 21 Edition! How do you rock the platform trend? Has Facebook been tempting you with their ads as much as me? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Is It Time To Make More Room For Yourself In Your Life?

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Is It Time To Make More Room For Yourself In Your Life?

If you’re the kind of person that finds it hard to put themselves first, you’re not alone. So many of us tend to put others, especially our loved ones, before ourselves. It’s only natural. We want to make sure that they’re happy and healthy, content and comforted, and we’ll deal with our own needs after. But sometimes, when this is something that you do all of the time, you may find that you get taken advantage of.

You may also realize that you’re not really getting what you want out of life, because you’re not working on you, but others instead. So, there’s going to come a time where you need to put yourself first. While it will take work, you’ll be able to become your best self. So let’s take a look at how you can make more time for yourself in your life:

Allow Yourself To Relax: When this is something that you’re really not used to, you’re going to want to start off slow. And a great way to do that is to allow yourself to relax a bit. In a way, this is encouraging you to make time for your own needs and happiness. So get yourself a scent diffuser machine, find the best bath products, and create a cozy space at home just for you. Then, by slowly relaxing more and more, you’ll be able to ensure that you’re comforted and rested, and you start to see why putting yourself first counts.

Fill Your Time How You Choose: If you’re someone that tends to do what others want you to do, you’re going to get to a point where you realize that you’re not really living for you. So, you’re going to want to start being a bit more assertive on how you spend your time. Be sure to fill up your life with the things you love, and you’ll instantly feel like you’re living a whole lot more.

Make Time For A Social Life: Whether you’re someone that spends a lot of their time working or you just tend to focus on the needs of others too much, you may not have much of a social life. It’s time that you changed that. By making more time for a social life, not only will you be able to do more of the things that you love, but you should find a circle of friends who care about your well being as much as you do.

Focus On Your Health: Making more time for yourself isn’t always about the things you do with your time, it’s also about how you treat yourself. You should definitely look to focus on your health a little more. When you improve your health, your mind and body will feel better and, in turn, you’ll be able to feel happier too.

Learn To Say No: And finally, you’re going to want to learn to say no more. Because when you’re stronger, you’ll be able to start making choices that will benefit your life, rather than make you unhappy. That always starts with the ability to say no to things and people when it could negatively effect your lifestyle.

2018 is all about loving yourself, which means taking the best care of you as much as possible. Try starting out with the above tips and seeing how you feel!

Featured Image By: Pexels

If The Shoe Fits: Catherine Malandrino Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Catherine Malandrino Edition

Howdy! Winter makes me go a bit stir crazy when I’m bundled indoors against the cold and because of that, online shopping turns into my favorite inclement weather hobby. So, instead, I go shoe crazy. Ba dum chhhhhh! A TJMaxx haul brought me these b-e-a-utiful Catherine Malandrino four buckled beauties and I am obsessed. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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When it comes to booties, I am typically sold if they are black, buckled, and bedazzled in some way and these shoes have it all. The sleek black color against a rougher texture, the four buckles going across the shoe, the studs to add even more edge. Woof – what a shoe success! I am also partial to these booties having a slight lifted heel so that I don’t feel like a complete fish out of water on flat feet! Thanks, Catherine Malandrino. ❤

I am stoked to wear these booties during the cold weather, but I am actually more looking forward to wearing them during the summer. These babies are going to look so badass with a pair of short shorts, a panama hat, and a faux fur vest over a graphic tee for a really funky warm weather OOTD. I. Can’t. Wait. There’s nothing better than buying an item with styling potential and, man, have these boots got it. I can’t wait to expand my wardrobe horizons with them and enjoy it fully with all of the buckled badness that these shoes deliver!

So there you have it, the latest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Catherine Malandrino Edition! How do you style badass booties? What do you look for in a good pair of ankle boots? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Fitting Self-Improvement Into A Hectic Lifestyle

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Fitting Self-Improvement Into A Hectic Lifestyle

The new year provides us with the opportunity for a new start. This is perhaps why so many of us make vows and resolutions to change and become better people. Do you want to start going to therapy? Or you’re searching for Gyms in Wokingham, or nearby, to work on your fitness? Regardless of your resolution, you get to start a completely clean page. Moving on from the past events of the previous year and heading into a brighter future.

But if, like many of us, you have a relatively hectic and chaotic day to day routine, how are you supposed to fit grand ventures of self-improvement into the equation? Well, the good news is that with a little organization and forward thinking, the world is your oyster and endless opportunities abound! Here are just a few ways to become a more rounded being without throwing your already busy lifestyle into disarray:

Education:

Increasing numbers of people are returning to education at a later point in their lives. There are various reasons for this. Perhaps they want to boost their resume. Maybe they want to explore subject areas that they don’t have much previous experience in. They might even want to specialize their existing knowledge. Regardless of the reason, a return to education doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to commute to campuses, sit in extensive lectures, or attend group seminars. The increasing efficiency of the internet means that you can now engage in distance learning, AKA taking courses online. Take online msc in international accounting and finance, as an example. This course offers everything that a standard degree course would, but you can complete it from the comfort of your own home. This allows you to schedule your education around your existing responsibilities. Perfect!

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 Study up!

Exercise:

While it may seem like you’re run off your feet all day, chances are that you haven’t managed to schedule a proper workout for a little while. Though an exercise class at the gym or a quick circuit of the machines may only take half an hour or so, showering and changing afterwards and the commute back and forth to the gym itself can mean that you’re out of the house for hours at a time. Instead, why not try to exercise at home?

This means that you don’t have to spend time getting to the gym and you can work out before you’d usually shower in the morning or go to bed at night. While you may not have the same equipment or professional trainers at hand, there are several things you can do to ensure that you get your heart beating and energy flowing. Consider exercise apps with tutorials in yoga and Pilates, squats, planks, push ups, and sit ups. They will monitor your progress and give you a basic understanding of how to achieve certain positions or poses all straight from your phone.

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While education and exercise are just two methods of self-improvement, you can see that they can easily be incorporated into already busy lifestyles. Take the same reasoning and thinking to whatever it may be that you want to improve about yourself. You will see positive changes taking place in next to no time!

December 2017 Finishes

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December 2017 Finishes

Helloooo everyone and welcome to my final finishes post for 2017! Crazy, right? December brought me two of my favorite fruity flavored finishes, so this post is going to be short and sweet. Here’s to health, happiness, and more empties in 2018!

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Would I Use Again?

  • Bath & Body Works Country Apple body spray: YES
  • The Body Shop Vineyard Peach lotion: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Spray: We all know by now that all apple everything is one of my all time favorite scents. I love me some Country Apple fragrance and I use it constantly. I pay about three dollars per bottle when Bath & Body Works brings back their discontinued products and it takes me approximately five months to finish one. I can definitely swing that! This scent is so refreshing – a sweet, crisp apple with just that perfect bit of bite to it. Country Apple brings you fresh from the orchard deliciousness in a bottle!

TBS Lotion: We all know by now that my other all time favorite scent is all peach everything! I got this lotion of my fave scent from The Body Shop for five bucks at TJMaxx and it lasted me five full body uses. It’s not the best cost per use but, hey, sometimes a girl has to throw caution to the wind and pamper herself! The Vineyard Peach scent is divine. It’s so light and sweet but not the overpowering kind of sweet. It’s more the “I just bit into a ripe peach” kind of sweet and it is such a treat.

Although I didn’t finish a ton of products in December, I got to enjoy two of my favorite scents in perfume and lotion form and there is really nothing better than that! Which products did you finish up this month? What is your favorite scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits: Bamboo Beauties Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Bamboo Beauties Edition

Hello hello and happy day after Christmas! I hope that everyone had a beautiful day celebrating and enjoyed their time spent with family and loved ones. Stay tuned here on lifewithlilred for my holiday haul and December finishes! Today, we are going to talk about a pair of Bamboo platform booties that I have been lusting after for a while now. The color is red, the heel is high, and the pattern is to die for. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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As I mentioned above, I’ve been obsessed with these shoes for a lifetime, so an online TJMaxx haul meant that I finally got to bring these babies home to mama. These high to the heavens heels with a geisha girl inspired pattern gives me so much life. The divine embroidery, the shiny red fabric, and could be on a kimono style. Ugh, everything about these Bamboo shoes is perfect.

Styling these booties is going to be a lot of fun because you could go simple with them or get totally wild. For a simple look, I would pair these shoes with an all black everything ensemble, which would include black skinnies, an oversized boyfriend blazer, and a black sweater underneath for a coffee house chic look. Then, for something more fun, I would pair my booties with one of my favorite Loft tops featuring paper fans and my mustard yellow A-line skirt for a funky but fabulous work or play OOTD. The possibilities are completely endless!

So there you have it, the latest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Bamboo Beauties Edition! How would you style these fun platforms? What is your favorite pattern to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Seasons Greetings!

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Seasons Greetings!

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas! I wanted to write a quick post to wish everyone the happiest of holidays. Whatever you celebrate and however you spend your day, I hope that you have the most amazing time doing it! Enjoy your day with your family or if it’s just a normal day for you, make it your best yet. Happy holidays!! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits: Lil Red Booties Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Lil Red Booties Edition

Hi hi hi! One brand of shoes that I really love is Bamboo. I have several pairs of their heels, platforms, and booties, and just added on to my collection with two new pairs. One of which includes these gorgeous red, heeled, pointed toe boots with a surprise in the back. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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One would think that Lil Red would have tons of red shoes, but the sad truth is that I only own one other pair. So, naturally, when I saw these shoes on TJMaxx’s website, I had to indulge like the Maxxinista that I am. Of course, I was sold on the color but I simply loved the pointed toe and the surprise tasseled zipper in the back! Not only is it a faux suede material but there are also delicate golden chains thrown into the mix for good measure and I am so in love. How fun is that?!

I loved pairing my other red pair of heels with one of my many mustard yellow colored dresses so these bootie babes will be no exception. They will also make a great addition to my Christmas wardrobe with an emerald green (Or any green!) top or sweater for a festively fab look. In fact, it’s just been decided two seconds ago that that is what I will be wearing for Christmas! Happy Christmas Eve, ya’ll! ❤

So there you have it, a new issue of If The Shoe Fits: Lil Red Booties Edition! How do you style a fun colored shoe? What are you wearing to celebrate the holidays in? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah