Hello! I am an avid fan of 5 Below and love stopping in for a cheap lil treat for myself. One of my favorite things to purchase from 5B has got to be pajamas. I have always loved the idea of cute and cozy PJs to cuddle up in but much prefer to spend my moolah on regular wear clothing instead. Oh and shoes… Lots of shoes! The spooky pajamas I bought during October from 5 Below costed less than fifteen dollars and ignited a PJ passion. So much so that I absolutely couldn’t resist this holiday pair a few weeks ago. Check it out:
I fell in love with these peppermint stripe PJs as soon as I locked eyes on them and they just had to come home with me. An adorable set for just fifteen bucks? I can swing that! These pajamas are SO soft and snuggly and I genuinely don’t want to take them off when I wake up in the morning. They are nice and light which is a huge plus because I sleep with ALL of the blankets in our apartment as the weather cools down. My 5 Below set reminds me so much of Victoria’s Secret PJs and it’s oh so sweet to get them for a fraction of the cost. 😀
If you are on the hunt for some fun holiday PJs, RUN don’t walk to 5 Below… Because I just might buy them all lol. They have countless patterns available including Highland Cows, ornaments, woodland animals, Peanuts, Christmas trees, and classic plaids to name a few. These are the perfect jammie jams to gift to yourself or the people you need to shop for for the holidays. I am completely blown away by the quality of my pajamas despite their budget price and they are definitely something you can feel comfortable gifting with. Highly recommend!
If you, too, love the idea of pajamas more than actually buying them then 5 Below is the place to be. I have a sneaking suspicion that I will be buying at least a few more pairs before the holiday season is out!
What do you like to wear to bed? What is your favorite thing to lounge in? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello! I treated myself to a fabulous fill this past Tuesday and it was so nice to spend an hour getting pampered while I was on break. I have to admit that I was a bit sad to say goodbye to my Halloween nails to compliment my pirate costume but I was excited to explore new colors for fall. Come fall time, I feel like I see endless shades of brown and nude nail polishes and that is not me in the slightest. I adore the gem tones when it comes to fall hues and wanted to go that route for a fresh take on a fall fill. One of the colors was actually not what I had in mind but I loved how it turned out anyways. Talk about a happy accident! Check it out:
As I browsed through the nail polish book, I immediately was drawn to the grape color and moved onto my next shade. Nearby was a deep indigo (Or so I thought!) and that was the winner. When I requested the colors to my tech, she came back verifying that I chose two purples and in my head I was like “huh” lol. What I took as indigo was a really deep purple! I didn’t want to bother with swapping it out and just decided to go for it and I’m so glad I did. My tech and I were swooning over this color combo once all was said and done and she thought it looked “Victorian”. I couldn’t agree more and it was just the Lil Red take on fall colors I was hoping for despite the mix up!
My time spent at Elysian Nails can’t be beat and I recommend the salon to any and everyone. This includes my mom, mother in law, friends, and anyone looking for recommendations on Talk Of The Town pages on Facebook. Earlier in the day, I scheduled my next fill for myself in December as well as a manicure for my mom. Literally thirty seconds after I scheduled my mom’s mani, I got a text from the salon owner asking who it was for lol. He knew darn well I will never be without my acrylics and when I arrived at the salon, we shared a laugh and he said “It could never be you”! That just shows the level of service Elysian Nails provides. Everyone from the owner to the techs knows the clients and I really appreciated that he went out of his way to double check. ❤
I am already chomping at the bit for my next fill and can’t wait to take my mom to her mani appointment – not mine!!!
How do you like to treat yourself? What color of nail polish are you rocking? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Howdy!! We are obviously living in some pretty crazy times and one of the best things that you can do is be safe. I had a situation on Monday that I think is worth offering a friendly reminder for. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe I watch too many true crime documentaries lol. However, this is a good tip to pass along if you should experience something similar…
When I got home from work on Monday, Johnny was heading out the door to meet his mom for dinner. After he left, I went into the kitchen to make myself something to eat. Grilled cheese and tomato soup for the win on a chilly fall day! Less than ten minutes later (Between five and seven, I would guesstimate), I got a knock on my door. I thought Johnny might have forgotten something but he always announces himself when he’s at the door and I’m by myself. From the kitchen, I could see that it was an older man who I didn’t recognize at all.
As we had no memos from our apartment community for maintenance checks, I knew that it was not someone who worked on the property. He left after a few minutes and there was no note at the door which confirmed it wasn’t someone who was employed where I live. I decided to call my downstairs neighbor and he didn’t have any visitors at his place and I thought that was odd. If this person was selling something, it would make sense that he knocked on my neighbor’s door next.
Once again, it could have been nothing but the reminder is: If you are home alone and not expecting anyone that it is okay to not open the door. If you have an off feeling, then listen to yourself. I definitely had a weird feeling when the person arrived so shortly after I was by myself and remained in the kitchen until the coast was clear. Should you answer the door and the person questions if there is anyone with you – lie. Your neighbor is about to stop by for coffee. Your partner is returning home from work. You are expecting a call from your boss. Anything to get that door shut again. Also, don’t open the screen door and keep one hand on your phone and your other hand on the knob so you can shut it quickly.
Being cautious when you are by yourself at home and not expecting anyone at your door is smart. If you don’t have a safety plan in mind, I encourage you to make one so you don’t feel on the spot when you feel like something is off!
Do you have a safety plan in place for yourself? What is on your plan? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Howdy!! I had a most successful spooky season this year and I hope all of you had a blast too. I absolutely loved my pirate costume but my favorite thing was going to two different haunted houses! Johnny and I had a fabulous date night at the Factory Of Terror and on Halloween we went to the Haunted Schoolhouse And Laboratory with my big bro. We were so happy he wanted to come with us because haunted houses aren’t really his thing and we had the best time! The Schoolhouse And Lab has been a staple in Akron, Ohio for so long and I was most impressed with our visit. Check it out:
The last time I went to the Haunted Schoolhouse And Laboratory was at least seven years ago and honestly? It sucked ass lol. I don’t remember too much about going but I do recall paying a lot for tickets and being thoroughly disappointed by the experience considering what we paid. Because of that, I never bothered with it again until this past Halloween. Right from the jump I was amazed by how much this haunt has improved and I enjoyed every minute of it!
The Haunted Schoolhouse was definitely the main attraction and it was fantastic. It is set in an old brick building that is at least five stories tall and we got to explore all of it. Every floor was something different from scary nuns at school to a Texas Chainsaw Massacre-esque feature that I was most fond of. It is my favorite horror movie of all time! One of the coolest parts of this haunt was being banished to hell for the last floor by a nun. This floor took us into a dungeon style area complete with huge statues of Baphomet, cemeteries, creepy organ music, and exorcisms. After making our way down five floors, it felt like we were going into the abyss and it looked phenomenal. Just one floor alone of the Schoolhouse blew my past review out of the water and I couldn’t wait for more.
Once we emerged from hell, we went outside to the next addition of the haunt which is the Laboratory. This was set up like an alien takeover and holy WOW did it have some dynamite features. My only regret was that it wasn’t longer! For me, the best part of this haunted house was close to the beginning. Like the Schoolhouse, we began from the top down and were walking across sturdy theater catwalks. We were up fairly high and when Johnny told me to look down it was like staring into the mouth of a cave. It could have gone on for forever!
As we made our way through the floors of the lab, we saw a bunch of scenes of aliens causing mayhem. All the while we were walking through the most terrific lighting. It legit looked like we were making our journey in a swirling waist high sea of green. That was a really nice touch! At the final floor of the lab, we were greeted by a mad scientist who asked us if we were ready for the big show. Then, he turned on a huge orb that crackled with purple light and electricity. It was quite the send off because afterwards we were back outside into the Halloween night and delighting over our time together. ❤
The Haunted Schoolhouse And Laboratory is a haunt that I would happily visit again next year. This time around, the ticket prices were well worth it and then some and it was the perfect way to spend Halloween!
How did you celebrate Halloween? Did you go to any haunted houses this year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello! I always enjoy styling OOTDs no matter the season because it’s just pure fun for me. It has been a while since I have had a good clothing haul and that is okay. My funds have been strictly for holiday shopping since September! Regardless of if the clothes are new or not, I love shopping in my wardrobe department store, revisiting old favorites, and freshening them up with new combinations. As we are fully in fall weather here in good ol’ Akron, Ohio there has been one particular item that I have been most excited to break out again. The coat you are about to see is one of my all time favorites and it was like being reunited with an old friend as soon as it was on! Check it out:
In my perfect, happy world it would be fall weather all of the time. There is nothing better to me than throwing on a coat and adding on cold weather accessories to beat the chill. With all of the extra add ons, the Lucky Brand topper jacket was the perfect way to go. It is a gorgeous neutral which means that I get to pair it with anything I want and it is going to work out fine. This coat is just so beautiful to me lol. It’s uber soft which makes the creamy color even more luxe, has a mid calf length to keep me cozy, and is the ideal in between of a light and heavy jacket. My lovely little Lucky number can go from casual to dressy depending on how you style it and I love it for a day of errands or a night on the town!
When I am on the go, I tend to keep whatever coat I am wearing on ninety-nine percent of the time. The exception being if the place I’m at is super warm. I don’t know why, it’s just one of my things lol. Because of this quirk, I kept what I had on underneath simple with coated skinnies and a sweater. The Lucky topper jacket radiates in its simplicity and I didn’t want to take away from that with a crazy color beneath it. So I kept things neutral with black and navy and it was onto shoes and accessories where I could have some FUN. 😀
For shoes, I opted for a bright red pair of Bamboo heeled booties. They popped so brightly against the cream hued coat and that is exactly what I wanted. I just love a pop of color against a neutral base and these added a vibrant surprise to the look. In the jewelry department I chose the most stunning pair of earrings that my eldest niece got me for my birthday. It is so special to wear these because she wanted to pick something for me all by herself and she nailed it. These earrings feature teardrop jewels that fall into a diamond shape. I had my pop of color and needed that pop of bling!
Finally, it was onto cold weather accessories – my favorite! As this look was all about revisiting my most beloved fall duds, I knew just what I wanted from my accessories stash. For the scarf, I snagged a heather grey little number by Nardi & Tagliaferri. It blended seamlessly with this fit as it was another neutral and the smiley faces provided a cool touch of whimsy. With that, all that was left to do was slip on my go to pair of fingerless gloves by Steve Madden and I was ready to strut my stuff in fabulous fall fashion. ❤
This Cozy Coat OOTD is oh so fall and oh so cute. Stay tuned for more outfit fun here on lifewithlilred. I can’t wait to see you!
What is one of your most beloved pieces of clothing? Have you updated your wardrobe for fall? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello! Several of my clients absolutely LOVE 5 Below and I am always happy when they request a shopping trip there because I love it too. You can’t beat the prices, they have so many fun things to pick from, and the quality of my purchases has always been excellent. One of my favorite buys from 5 Below has got to be my adorable Halloween pajamas and I wear them frequently. They are just too cute and comfy! 5 Below has recently put out a majority of their holiday collection and I couldn’t help treating myself to a new pair of jammies. They had countless darling matching sets but this peppermint stripe pattern spoke to me. Check it out:
Does anyone remember the pajama set from Victoria’s Secret that was pastel pink and was striped with a deeper pink hue? I had always lusted after that and it was the first thing that came to mind when I saw this set from 5 Below. Rather than paying upwards of fifty bucks, however, I paid fifteen and couldn’t be happier! The material is so soft and I like that it’s on the thinner side as I love to snuggle up in a million blankets as soon as the temperature drops. This set invokes sipping hot chocolate by the fire and unwrapping presents on Christmas day and I can see myself living in them all holiday season long.
As you might have noticed, I am a Halloween kind of gal through and through. My best friend, Kate, is the Christmas Queen and she wears the crown oh so well. This is the first actual Christmas inspired clothing that I own and I couldn’t wait to tell her about it. I knew she would be so proud! I imagine she felt like I did when she told me about the handful of spooky movies and shows she watched during Halloween. It literally made my heart swell. Kate’s love of Christmas is absolutely joyous to see and I think it has been rubbing off on me. I found some SUPER cute Santa dresses for holiday celebrations and they have really been tempting me. The problem is that I can’t pick which one so stay tuned because I will need all of your help!
A Pajama Party OOTD in these sweet jammies is on the horizon so keep it posted here on lifewithlilred!
Do you have a favorite pair of pajamas? What gets you into the holiday spirit? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the horror novel by Josh Malerman called Bird Box. This book was made into a movie in 2018 I believe and I never watched it despite the internet going crazy for it. I can’t wait to watch it now! After reading Incidents Around The House, also by Malerman, I decided that I would like to read more by him and thought Bird Box was an excellent place to start. It sure was as I finished this book in one sitting! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Bird Box for violence, disturbing content, child abuse, and harm to animals. Ready? Let’s get to it:
Malorie is newly pregnant and lives with her sister, Shannon. Despite their occasional sibling arguments, they are close as can be and are excited to start their lives in a bigger city. Then, The Problem started. In Russia, a man saw something and violently killed the person he was by and then himself. Similar incidents began to occur throughout Russia, then all over the world, and eventually into America. As The Problem starts by seeing something, people are advised to board up their windows, lock their doors, and never go outside without a blindfold. Shannon succumbs to The Problem and Malorie is left all alone with a decision.
Sure, she could stay in the home where her sister has perished. Or, she could travel with no eyesight to a home who placed an ad in the paper. A home that was safe where people could gather and face The Problem together. She takes option B and through blind faith arrives at the property. She is greeted by several housemates but finds herself drawn to Tom. Tom is a thinker, a problem solver, and a gentle soul. He welcomes pregnant Malorie into the home with open arms even though she will soon bring another mouth to feed.
Flash forward to present day and Malorie has gone at it alone with two children, Boy and Girl, in tow. Since birth, Boy and Girl have been trained to use their ears instead of their eyes. They are so good that they can hear a spider crawling on a windowpane and that is good. Malorie needs Boy and Girl. Supplies are running desperately low and it is only a matter of time before they need to leave to the only safe location she can think of. The journey is a dangerous one as she will have to take them by river in a rowboat. And, yes, she is blinded the whole time.
As we journey back and fourth between past and present, we learn of the turmoils that brought Malorie to where she is today. The people she encountered before Boy and Girl were born. How The Problem can decay peoples’ minds into insanity. And the intense training Boy and Girl had to endure seconds after they were born. Will Malorie have the strength to bring her, Boy, and Girl to safety? Will it ever be safe to step outdoors and see the world again? Read Bird Box to find out!
Holy WOW was Bird Box a great read! As I didn’t follow the hype around the movie release, I had no idea of what I was getting myself into. All I knew was that Sandra Bullock had a blindfold on lol. As soon as I read the first page, I wanted to know more and literally could not stop reading until I was done. What a crazy story. What a crazy idea. And what a fantastic gift Josh Malerman is to the world of horror. Bird Box taps into a primal fear – living in complete darkness. Every time a blindfold is placed on a character’s eyes, I found myself holding my breath for them. The simple act of fetching water from the well or answering the door has turned deadly. Evil could be right beside them and they wouldn’t even know it. Painstakingly written and absolutely harrowing, this book was one hundred and ten percent unputdownable.
Reading Bird Box was an exercise in “what would you do?” and “what type of person in the house would you be?”. As you read, you are immersed into a world that seems impossible but not implausible. A world where every single decision you make could lead to the death of yourself or your ragtag band of survivors. Double that with having children like Malorie and it makes your head spin. Malerman crafted the characters of Bird Box so beautifully and provided every type of person you might encounter. An innovator, a skeptic, a madman, a mother to be. The home they resided in became their cage and, when caged, true selves took form. Reading these characters, some beloved and some not so much, rise to the challenge or shrink away propelled this story forward and begged the question of if man is the scariest creature of all.
Overall, I am going to award Bird Box with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This is a standout horror novel that should not be missed and I am so excited to read more from Josh Malerman!
What did you think of Bird Box if you read it? Did you like the movie if you saw it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
You ever notice how when the weather finally cools down, you’re excited for cozy sweaters and hot chocolate, but every bug in existence seems to get the same idea? Yeah, it’s not really a fun way to have a seasonal shift, right? Well, not just bugs (though it’s mostly bugs), but mice and other pests too. Unlike birds, pests don’t migrate south for the winter; they’re trying to get into your warm house instead. Your lawn is basically like a waiting room for pests until they can get into your home. Usually, this can be fairly preventable, but it starts with your lawn and utilizing these tips:
Your Lawn Might Need a Quick Glow-Up:
On the one hand, your lawn is nature and it needs nature to thrive (obviously). But at the same time, if you let Mother Nature set its course, or welcome Mother Nature a little too much, that means a bug infestation. Obviously, there needs to be a balance, because you can’t just expect to have literally zero pests in your lawn; that’s not possible or healthy. If your lawn is covered in leaves, sticks, and grass clippings, it’s basically saying, “Come on in”. Well, for a bug (or even mice), that’s what it seems like. So, is it autumn? Is it damp? Is there anything like leaves decomposing? That’s perfect for bugs and rodents trying to stay warm. You just need to clean it up, rake the leaves, compost (in a bin) the leaves, remove trash, cut the grass, it’s those sorts of things that make a big difference.
Your Lawn’s an Ecosystem:
This was already mentioned, but it helps to just say it again. People often forget that lawns are alive. Think of it like this: Too much moisture – that means grubs. Are there dead spots? You can say hello to ants. You get the picture. For the most part, a healthy lawn does fight back. And sure, it can be hard having to “perfect” this art, like aerating the soul, bug control, fertilizer, ect, and in that case, if you have the money for it, it could help to look into SolTerra Lawn & Pest since they can keep your lawn strong and keep the bugs outside (and not going into your house).
Fix the Tiny Stuff ASAP:
Here’s an example: you know that crack near the garden bed you’ve been ignoring for months? The bugs are using it. In general, those little gaps in the soil, patio, or fence line are where bugs crawl into to stay warm. So you will need to fill or patch these ASAP. The same goes for standing water, too, like puddles. Standing water can, of course, damage the lawn further and bring pests right to your front door.
Fixing problem areas in your lawn can help keep your home pest free for the winter. Start now while the weather is still warm(ish)!
Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! The first half of October was unseasonably warm and it has finally cooled down to my perfect, happy temperature. I live for a crisp fifty to sixty degree day. I love the chill in the air but primarily, I love the fashion lol. There is nothing better to me than cozying up in a cute coat and feeling the leaves crunch beneath my feet. I have been waiting to break out my lighter fall jackets for so long and have been eagerly anticipating ALL of the OOTD shoots. Like this one! Check it out:
Pinocchio Necklace: This was purchased forever ago from TJMaxx!
I have no idea where the earrings are from!
The beauty of fall OOTDs is that you can turn something basic like jeans and a sweater into something elevated by simply putting on a jacket. It can transform an entire look and it makes dressing for fall oh so fun! Elevated simplicity was the name of the game for this fit and I started with my Shrinking Violet sweater. This sweater is as old as dirt. I actually bought it to wear during my first day of college at Tri-C. I just can’t part with it though because it is so perfect. It is nice and light and just right for pairing underneath a jacket. Remember, when you are layering you want to use a thinner item with a thicker one and it was exactly what I needed for my OOTD.
Next up was the pantaloons department and I wore my sweater tucked into a high waisted pair of coated skinny jeans. These jeans added a pop of texture and sheen while providing shape to my waist as the sweater isn’t the most form fitting. The All Black Everything palette with this combination allowed me to do whatever I wanted with my coat, shoes, and accessories. A monochrome base is never going to be boring when you add a splash of color or a bold pattern to it!
In the overflowing jacket section of my closet, I chose my deep red Philosophy coat with a houndstooth pattern. This little number is so fabulously fall and is one of those coats that you can just throw on and go. I am an avid fan of houndstooth anything and couldn’t believe my good fortune to find this coat at TJMaxx in one of my favorite colors and patterns. That red was popping against the base I had established and livened up this look with a classic fall hue.
Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I went with one of my favorite pairs of heeled boots by Olivia Miller. These are my go to fall boots – I love the chunky platform shape and that chunky chain across the ankle! For once, I also decided to wear a necklace. In the summer, my tattoos are out in all their glory and no accessories are needed. Fall is a different story and allows me to access my jewelry collection once more. I chose a long necklace with Pinocchio on it and it swayed and moved with every step. To match the brassy hue of the necklace, I popped on a pair of deep gold cross earrings and was ready to go!
This Simply Fall OOTD was the first fully fall look of the season for me and I felt awesome in it. I can’t wait to style more looks for the best season of all!
What is your favorite season? What is your favorite season to dress for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and happy November! The best holiday of all has came and went and now it’s onto the next best holiday of all. I’m not going to lie, I’ve been thinking about my Thanksgiving plate since last Thanksgiving lol. I freaking love Thanksgiving food so much! 🙂 I also love a successful month of beauty empties and October was pretty darn good in that regard. I think I might have found my new favorite serum! Take a look at these empties and let’s discuss further:
B&BW Body Cream: This isn’t a comment on how amazing this body cream is, just a funny story. Johnny thought that the scent Champagne Toast was Champagne & Toast and I genuinely cannot think of it differently now. In fact, that’s almost how I typed it above! Also the B&BW body cream is so nourishing and fabulous and leaves my skin smooth and hydrated as the temperatures continue to drop. It took a little over two weeks of full body use to finish the bottle.
B&BW Shower Gel: I am extremely faithful to my B&BW shower gel and couldn’t imagine using anything different. I just love how foamy it gets, the scents, and how hydrating they are. However, Strawberry Soda was a scent I couldn’t get behind and I wouldn’t buy it again. This strawberry scent was just too sweet for my liking and almost had a syrupy fragrance. I like my fruity scents with a bit of tartness so it’s a no from me. It took me about a month and a half to finish the bottle.
B&BW Body Spray: If you are looking for sunshine in a bottle, Golden Mango Lagoon is just right for you! This beachy fragrance is paired with freshly cut mango and it is absolutely delicious. This was a freebie item and I thought it would be nice to test out a travel size spray without committing to a full bottle. Normally, I am not one for tropical scents but I loved this one. It invoked sweet summertime on chilly mornings and just made me happy. It took me four months to finish this bottle.
Glow Elixir Serum: So. Much. Yes. This Hyaluronic & Retinol serum by Glow Elixir was the truth. It took me over a month and a half to finish the bottle and I enjoyed every single use. This serum was shockingly thin in consistency and a few drops went a long way for full face and neck coverage. Glow Elixir is the perfect name for this brand because my skin was literally glowing. It was radiant, peaches and cream perfection and I could visibly see it with each morning and night use. I would love to use this serum again and am keeping my fingers crossed to find more at TJMaxx. I’ll buy the lot!
Vital Beauty Eye Gel: I have been loyal to the Vital Beauty eye gels for some time and will happily continue using them. I love the longevity of the product and one jar typically lasts me at least three and a half to four months with twice daily use. That’s awesome! The cooling eye gel soothes and nourishes and feels oh so nice around tired eyes at the end of the day. It also provides an invigorating boost in the morning. As far as I can tell, no new wrinkles have appeared (fingers crossed) with consistent use of this product so I’ll continue to use it as long as TJMaxx has it available!
Out with the old and in with the new! There is nothing better than finishing up long term products and I can’t wait to keep using more goodies and reporting back to all of you! ❤
Which products did you use up last month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
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