Oct13

Halloween Costume Sneak Peek

Posted on by
Standard
Halloween Costume Sneak Peek

Howdy! I absolutely love getting dressed up for Halloween and revel in styling costumes as much as any OOTD. Johnny and I do matching costumes and this doubles the fun! This year we were workshopping an Alice Cooper and Cold Ethyl costume but decided against it as it would be one we would have to create on our own. Piecing together costumes can be pricey and we are really trying to save for a big vacation next year! We decided to keep it simple by being pirates and I REALLY like what we picked out. However, I do kind of wish that we kept with our original plan because our purchases at Spirit Halloween were CRAZY expensive. I genuinely think we could have done an ode to one of our favorite rockers for a similar price. That’s neither here nor there, though, because I know we are going to be the cutest pirates across the seven seas! Here is a sneak peek of my costume:

There was no shortage of pirate costumes at Spirit Halloween and I had a hard time choosing because they were all adorable! Whenever I ask Johnny’s opinion on which one he likes, he always errs on the side of sexy and he was right – the Wicked Pirate costume set was definitely the best of the bunch! It came with the top, bottoms, and head scarf and I was so pleased that it fit like a glove when I tried it on at home. If you are considering ordering online from Spirit Halloween or shopping there, their sizes are very true to the label. Although you might want to size up if you’d like a bit more wiggle room.

Of course the costumes at Spirit Halloween don’t come with any additional accessories and that simply wouldn’t do. If I am going to dress up, I’m going to do it right! However, the accessories and beauty departments were when things started getting really pricey. The first order of business was a wig because I wanted huge red curls and the Ombre option was exactly what I was looking for. Fake lashes were also a necessity because Halloween is the only time I wear them and the red and black lashes matched my color palette perfectly.

For accessories, I wasn’t feeling the headscarf my costume came with at all so I opted for a hat instead. There were a few different options to pick from that looked like a floppy hat but had buttons to make it a trifold. I was delighted to find one that had red accents when folded up and I think it will look stellar on top of the wig! I also had my heart set on an eye patch and surprisingly there were literally none except for the jeweled one. That was fine because I would have chosen it anyways – it is so freaking cool and provides a fun pop of bling. Speaking of bling, how great are those dangly earrings? I was a bit worried that I was over accessorizing but they will be tangled amidst the curls in the wig and won’t be a focal point.

My last purchase was a pair of thigh high socks which I liked much better than the fishnets seen on the costume packaging. I just thought they were cute and the chain decals look like the one on my costume’s top to tie it together from head to toe. Blessedly, I didn’t need to think about spending any more money on shoes because I plan on wearing my vertebrae heels from my wedding. Thank goodness! 😀

I am so excited to see this costume come together and can’t wait to show all of you the end result. Stay tuned!

Are you dressing up for Halloween? Where do you like to shop for costumes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct12

New Black & Red Glitter Nails

Posted on by
Standard
New Black & Red Glitter Nails

Hello! This past Tuesday I was treated to a fabulous break time fill at Elysian Nails. It is always the best little midday pick me up and I was excited to get colors that would match my Halloween costume’s aesthetic. This year, Johnny and I are going to be pirates and recently purchased our costumes. Mine features a heaping dose of sexiness and a red, black, white, and gold motif. I had a general idea in my head for my nails but these colors are FIRE and completely exceeded my expectations! Check it out:

As red and black are my two favorite colors, it’s no surprise that that was the color combo I gravitated towards! The garnet glitter polish for my red selection was everything and reminds me of Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. They shimmer and shine like nobody’s business and I seriously can’t stop looking at them! I wanted to compliment the red with some black glitter polish but there was none to be had. So, my nail tech created her own with a gorgeous sparkle top coat. The shine provided was so intense it made me think of crushed diamonds and this combination is going to be absolutely perfect for my pirate costume!

I got a full set during my last appointment so my acrylics were in really good condition. They just needed shaped, sharpened, and a tiny repair or two and my pampering session was complete in forty-five minutes. It was a new record and it gave me time for my nails to fully dry before heading back to work! During my appointments, my tech and I catch up on all of the latest and greatest and love discussing documentaries, books, and anime. I recently started watching Death Note (It is AMAZING!) and was delighted to learn she did too. What are the odds of that?! I can’t wait to come back next month so we can delve further into the series, which will basically be us just fan girling about how good it is. 😀

Stay tuned for a sneak peek of my pirate costume coming soon. You will definitely agree that these fierce acrylics are the perfect match!

What color of nail polish are you rocking? What is your favorite way to pamper yourself? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct11

Halloween Queen OOTD Bloopers

Posted on by
Standard
Halloween Queen OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Halloween Queen OOTD! When you see my OOTDs for the first time, anything unsightly in the scenery has been removed. In the bloopers, however, I let it all hang out lol. When I was shooting this look, I didn’t realize that I was standing right by a freaking drain pipe and I’m genuinely unsure how I didn’t notice. It was staring me right in the face SMH! Take a look at these yikes shots starring the drain pipe and featuring Lil Red:

Looking straight up INSANE. I guess all the scary movies I have been watching inspired me

Talk about wind in the whole body, amiright?

Just showing off my awesome Sprinkler dance move

Lol this little incline got the best of me SEVERAL times!!

Bringing down the house and doing the absolute best I can

Looking like I saw a ghost! It is spooky season so I wouldn’t be surprised!

I am so beautiful ❤

As you all know, Johnny and I have been completing the 31 scary movies in 31 days challenge for October. We take turns picking the movie of the day and I genuinely can’t wait to come home at the end of work to see what we’re going to watch next. While Johnny and I like to pride ourselves in our absolutely amazing taste in everything, there have definitely been movies in our selection that have actively sucked lol. For the most part, we can withstand a flick and say it was pretty good at the end. However, there have been two movies that are just WOOF with a capital W O O F.

Our most recent stinker was the original I Know What You Did Last Summer, as per Johnny’s choice. It has been SO long since I watched that movie at some slumber party or another so I had no qualms about rewatching it because I forgot everything lol. Also, the remake that was released over the summer was enjoyable so we figured it couldn’t be all bad. WRONG. Guys, wtf? The original sucked on ice. So much so that we talked the entire duration of the first half of the movie and promptly shut it off. I understand it’s somewhat of a cult classic but it was a total what happened for us! I promise, you’re much better off watching The Room. 😉

I regret to inform you that the selection that was the worst was my choice and mine alone. Even though I try to pin it on Johnny every chance I get! It was called We’re All Going To The World Fair and we watched it last year for our 31 for 31. It was so bad, so pointless, so incredibly stupid that I daresay I Know What You Did Last Summer was better and that’s really saying something. Because Johnny doesn’t read my blog as he lives my blog, he will not know that I admitted guilt in picking this movie. So, yes, I will continue to put the blame *jokingly* on my main squeeze! ❤

These two movies were the biggest duds in the entirety of our 31 for 31 challenge. If you are participating too, please skip on these flicks and you can thank me when you watch something infinitely better. Literally anything will be!

What is the worst movie you have ever seen? What is your favorite cult classic movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct10

Halloween Queen OOTD

Posted on by
Standard
Halloween Queen OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Spooky season is my happiest time of the year and Johnny and I actually got our Halloween costumes this past weekend. We were originally planning on Alice Cooper and Cold Ethyl but decided to postpone that. Building a costume from scratch can be pricey as last year’s COTD proved and we are saving up for a big trip next year. We decided to go with matching pirate costumes instead and honestly the joke was on us. Spirit Halloween was so expensive that I think we could have gone with our Plan A for around the same amount SMH. You can peep a costume preview soon but take a look at what I wore to get our shopping on. Spooky shopping calls for a Halloween Queen OOTD:

Who? What? Wear?

Pumpkin Pullover: Better/Together, TJMaxx

Spooky Leggings: Marc’s (These were only a dollar fifty!!!!)

Heeled Combat Boots: Forever 21

Dagger Earrings: These were purchased on vacation in the Poconos!

Other than going to work looking like a stone cold bum, I very rarely go out on the weekends dressing for comfort. Weekends are OOTD time so I like to break out all of the good stuff for those occasions. However, I simply couldn’t resist wearing this Spooky/Comfy/Cute fit to go shopping at Spirit Halloween because it just fit the situation so perfectly. Hey, if the broom fits – fly it! Or however that old saying goes. 😀 Not only was this an ideal OOTD for our outing but it was also just right for cuddling up in to watch scary movies afterwards as per our 31 in 31 days challenge!

This outfit has actually been in my mind for a while. In my neck of the woods, there is a popular discount store called Marc’s and every year I eagerly await when their Halloween goodies arrive. You can get awesome decorations on the cheap and I am all about that! During this year’s haul, I found the adorable skeleton and pumpkin adorned leggings for pocket change. Yes, you did read that right above – they were only a dollar fifty!! These little babies are SO damn comfortable and fit like a glove. I was expecting something so cheap to only be so so but these exceeded my expectations and I just love them!

When I added the leggings to the cart, the rest of an OOTD with them came to me in a vision. Obviously, we had to keep with the theme and I paired it with my pumpkin pullover by Better/Together. These pieces were definitely better together because it ended up looking like a paired set! For shoes, a stark white pair of heeled combat boots were the move and they provided a bright pop that I loved. With a fairly loud outfit in terms of patterns, all that was left to do was add a gorgeous pair of dagger earrings and I was ready to go costume shopping with my main squeeze. ❤

If this little OOTD had me feeling like a Halloween Queen, you can only imagine how I feel in my pirate costume. I can’t wait for all of you to see it!

What was your favorite Halloween costume? Are you going to dress up this year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct9

The Everyday Mistakes That Are Damaging Your Skin

Posted on by
Standard
The Everyday Mistakes That Are Damaging Your Skin

Everyone wants radiant, healthy skin. But sometimes there are barriers in the way of achieving the glow you want or are working towards, and no matter what you do, your efforts aren’t rewarded with the results you want. Chances are, you’re making mistakes that are hampering your progress, stopping you from achieving that fresh-faced look. Let’s look at a few of the most common mistakes so you can step up your skin care game even more:

Over Cleansing:

Nothing beats that fresh, clean skin feel, but cleansing too often or using too harsh a cleanser for your skin can strip it of its oils and can upset the protective barrier. The result? Redness, irritation, and more breakouts and dry patches than you started with. The trick is to cleanse gently using an appropriate cleanser for your skin type once or twice per day.

Forgetting Sunscreen:

Or not using it at all. And those UV rays that damage your skin? They’re present even on cloudy days, too, and in the winter. The damage can be done all year round, not just in the height of summer. Skipping sunscreen speeds up visible aging and increases your risk of skin cancer, too. Try adding a lightweight SPF 30 to your skincare routine for maximum protection benefits.

Relying on Quick Fixes Over Routines:

There is no quick fix for good skin. Good skin is the culmination of religious skincare routines that are consistent every single day. While those hydrating and glowing face masks can give you the moisture boost and healthy look you need before a night out, the effects will only be temporary. The same principles apply to co-harmonizing and harmonizing products. You need to find the right products for your skin and use them consistently to get the benefits and glowing skin you want.

The importance of using ingredients that will directly benefit your skin type cannot be understated. For example, a teenager using retinol products will experience dryness and irritation. A thirty something will benefit from enhanced elasticity. When you shop for skin care products on www.skindeepprofessional.com (or your favorite skin care brand), pay close attention to the ingredients listed and take note of the changes you see as you use it. If your skin has never looked better, you’re on the right path. If you notice irritation, discontinue use immediately.

Not Getting Professional Skincare Advice:

Sidestepping visiting a dermatologist for skin concerns can end up making matters worse than they were. A dermatologist can enlighten you as to the health of your skin and what you need to do and products or ingredients you need to use to achieve the skin of your dreams. From here, you can implement the perfect skincare routine, choose appropriate products, and even discover skincare treatments that can boost your skin health, such as laser skin resurfacing or acne laser treatment.

Ignoring the Role Lifestyle Plays:

Yes, what you put on your skin matters, but also how you live your life matters too. Dehydration, a poor diet, increased stress levels, and a lack of sleep all impact your skin. And before you know it, you’re showing the signs of your lifestyle habits in your skin. Drink plenty of water, eat a nutritious, balanced diet, prioritize sleep, and work on reducing stress levels to help you work on your skin from the inside out. If you’re not addressing the fundamentals of good health, even the best skincare products and routine in the world won’t have any impact.

Healthy skin isn’t about chasing perfection; it’s about avoiding the habits that damage your skin and hold you back. By focusing on the points above and removing everyday skincare mistakes in your life, you can start to reap the benefits of great skin!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Oct9

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Strawberry Thief By Joanne Harris Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: The Strawberry Thief By Joanne Harris Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing the fifth and final installment of the Chocolat series called The Strawberry Thief. I have been rereading the series to gear up for the newly released prequel called Vianne and I am so excited to sink my teeth into it next. In October, scary movies reign supreme as Johnny and I complete the 31 scary movies in 31 days challenge. These lighthearted, easy read books are a nice change of pace from that and I have really enjoyed revisiting Joanne Harris’s work again. Before we begin chatting about one of my favorite books in the series, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Strawberry Thief for child abuse and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

It has been eight years since Vianne returned to Lansquenet with Anouk and Rosette after receiving a letter from her beloved and deceased friend. She had no intention of staying for long, just long enough to solve a problem for Father Reynaud and then it was back to Paris to be with Roux. However, the urge to settle became too strong and so Vianne, the girls, and even Roux made Lansquenet their home once again. A lot has changed in eight years but some things have remained the same. Vianne’s chocolaterie is open once more, Anouk is now living in Paris with her boyfriend, Rosette is still Rosette, and Roux has stayed in the same place for longer than he ever has before. Life is good, but the wind is blowing and with that wind comes drastic changes.

Rosette has never been one for words and prefers to use sign language or make animal noises. She makes some people uncomfortable but found a friend in the elderly man who runs a flower shop named Narcisse. He is gruff and unfriendly to almost everyone but has taken a shine to Rosette, his little strawberry thief. This nickname came from her love of exploring the woods behind his shop and eating her fill of the wild strawberries that grow there. She dreams of living there one day all by herself and maybe she will. Narcisse passed away suddenly and left the woods on his property to Rosette, much to the disdain of his daughter and family.

Not only did Narcisse leave Rosette a substantial piece of property but he made Father Reynaud the executor of his will. He also leaves behind his confession and life story that is for Reynaud’s eyes only. This infuriates his daughter even more and she spends her time harassing Vianne, Roux, Reynaud, and Rosette for more information. She wants to contest the will so she can have Rosette’s property all to herself. This isn’t the only change that the wind has brought. Shortly after Narcisse died, a new renter has set up in his old flower shop. A mysterious place, ran by an even more mysterious woman.

Vianne has a bad feeling about whatever is going on in that shop and demands that Rosette stay away. Perhaps because the owner reminds her a bit too much of Zozie, the eater of hearts? Despite her mother’s urges, the temptation to enter the shop is too great and Rosette enjoys the company of the owner named Morgane. On her first visit, she learns that Morgane is a tattoo artist – a profession that Lansquenet has never seen the likes of. This information delights Vianne because there is no way that a tattoo parlor will flourish in their small village. Right?

Wrong! Soon enough, Lansquenet is buzzing with tattoo fever and even the most unlikely residents have gotten fresh ink from Morgane. Rosette loves visiting the shop and between the stress of Morgane and her daughter’s friendship, a faltering romance with Roux, and Rosette’s newly acquired property, Vianne takes matters into her own hands. Vianne was once an outcast in Lansquenet and she wants Morgane to have the same treatment. No one, even Father Reynaud, can see what she sees but she feels it fiercely. Maybe if the wind takes Morgane away, the Kindly Ones will be satisfied and leave Vianne in peace. Or maybe, what she’s feeling is all in her head. Will Rosette be able to keep her woods? And will order be restored in Lansquenet if Morgane were to just pack up and go? Read The Strawberry Thief to find out!

I absolutely loved The Strawberry Thief and it was such a wonderful change of pace from its predecessor, Peaches For Father Francis. The Strawberry Thief was fast paced, short and sweet, and I devoured it in three sittings. This book was told from the point of view of Vianne and Father Reynaud as well as Rosette and this delighted me. Finally being able to hear Rosette’s thoughts after two books of not knowing much about her was so amazing. Rosette is sixteen in this book and her chapters spoke of growing up, social isolation, and carving a place in the world that was just for her. The words in her chapters moved me so deeply and solidified what I always knew – she’s not so different after all.

Not only did we get to see the world through Rosette’s eyes, but we also got to travel back in time with Narcisse’s life story. There is a secret that he took to his grave and needed to confess to someone in his passing. Who better than Father Reynaud? To learn the secret, we must start at the beginning and his is a harrowing tale of trauma, abuse, and grief that never left him. It was heartbreaking but beautiful as this shed light on why he became so fond of Rosette. With all of the excitement of these interweaving tales AND a tattoo shop opening in Lansquenet, I simply couldn’t stop turning the pages. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it and was definitely one of the strongest in the entire series!

Overall, I am going to rate The Strawberry Thief with an eight out of ten stars. After my wishy washy sentiments over Peaches For Father Francis, I wasn’t sure what I was in for with this book. It was even better than I hoped for!

What are you currently reading? Who is your favorite author? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct8

Deja Vu OOTD Bloopers

Posted on by
Standard
Deja Vu OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Deja Vu OOTD! This outfit was worn way back in 2021 and was actually the very first OOTD that Johnny shot for me. He has taken the pictures for almost every outfit you have seen since and he is the very definition of a blog husband! He may jokingly complain every time he takes said photos but he knows I appreciate it so very much. ❤ His favorite thing? Catching all of these yikes moments because he told me he got several “good” ones from this shoot lol. Check it out:

This class photo looking pic haha

Don’t hate me cause I’m beautiful

Trying to get a hair on my mouth captured to Johnny’s delight

Pro Tip: Robot arms ALWAYS look good 😉

Me playing the same five songs I like on repeat

Wiping the sweat from my furrowed upper lip also captured to Johnny’s delight

Short and red and mean mugging the girl from Akron, Ohio goes lumbering

Johnny and I absolutely love taking our biggest niece on Treat Days and went on an outing with her this past weekend. A Treat Day is when we go get Chipotle, maybe do a bit of shopping, and go somewhere fun in the community and it’s a delight. Our niece’s request for her big day was to go to one of her favorite places: Urban Air. For those of you who aren’t hip, Urban Air is an indoor trampoline park and it’s a ton of fun! Well… Maybe for five to ten minutes, anyways. Then, it is downright painful lol.

My husband and I are elder emos through and through and we were definitely feeling it at Urban Air. I’m thirty-one and Johnny is thirty-six and chasing after a six year old in a trampoline park had us fighting for our lives! I can’t tell you how many times I got stuck in the massive ball pit and when I managed to get myself out, I was hoisting myself onto the ground like a person lost at sea for a year. Johnny, on the other hand, was pulling some amazing American Ninja Warrior moves by tackling the monkey bars like it was nothing. It was really impressive!

I hate to brag, but I did much better on the trampolines! There is nothing like a good bounce on a trampoline and it’s honestly such a treat. When I was little, my mom never let me and my siblings go on trampolines and I can count on less than five fingers the amount of times I’ve been on one. Bouncing to the stars with my niece was a joy and in her own words “it’s like we’re in outer space”. After five minutes on the trampolines Johnny tapped out but I think best girl and I could have hung out there all evening!

We may be elder emos but Johnny and I can still hang. For the most part because we were SO sore the following day!

What was your favorite childhood game? When do you really feel your age? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct7

Deja Vu OOTD

Posted on by
Standard
Deja Vu OOTD

Hello! I couldn’t wait to take OOTD pictures after getting my hair done and I knew exactly what I wanted to wear. Normally when I shoot outfits, I want to style something brand new every time. However, I had a perfect outfit to show off my new do that had already been worn way back in 2021! Regardless of the deja vu of shooting it again, I didn’t care one bit because I felt like a star. This look is also a really good visual for mixing and matching patterns by pulling from the same color palette and pairing one bold pattern with a minimal one. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Striped Sweater: Cynthia Rowley, TJMaxx

Plaid High Rise Skinnies: Sound & Style, TJMaxx

Plaid Platforms: Dolls Kill

Sparkle Earrings: SugarFix By BaubleBar, Target

There are some outfits that you just feel SO good in and this is the one for me. In the original post, my sister told me I looked like a Bratz doll when I wore it and that compliment has stayed with me. 1) They were my absolute favorites growing up. And 2) Who doesn’t want to be a Bratz girl?! This look is quirky and demands confidence to pull it off and I found myself not walking but STRUTTING when I wore it this past weekend. As I mentioned above, I felt like a star in this look and received star treatment at my go to gas station…

I always say that if you’re feeling low, get yourself dolled up and hit up your local gas station. You have the Lil Red Guarantee that you will be complimented so much that your spirits will be lifted. That was very much the case when I went to the Mapco up the road to get some of my beloved Diet Coke. I kid you not, every single person complimented me and I even got free Skittles from the cashiers lol. NICE! I was literally on cloud nine for the rest of the day.

It felt amazing to have this look be appreciated because it is loud, bold, and might not be everyone’s cup of tea. The thing is, is that I felt great in it and it showed. As the old saying goes, don’t let the clothes wear you and it’s so true. When your natural confidence shines, you could be wearing the craziest OOTD or a potato sack and it would still work. So wear what you like and wear what you want because when your fabulous self shows out like the king or queen you are, everyone is going to notice. Embrace your inner and outer beauty and don’t apologize for it. It will transform any outfit into a runway moment!

This is my “I’m a star, damnit” OOTD and I loved every minute of wearing it. This is your sign to go for it if you are questioning an outfit choice. I promise that you look fierce AF!

What is an outfit that makes you feel amazing? What makes you feel confident? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct6

September 2025 Finishes

Posted on by
Standard
September 2025 Finishes

Hello everyone! Holy cow, we are into October which means it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes from this past month. This was a particularly good month because I would happily use all of the empties again that we are about to see. GREAT SUCCESS! I don’t know about all of you, but October is the best time ever for me. It’s spooky season, baby, and I can’t wait to do ALL of the fall things. It’s also fabulous from a beauty standpoint too because you know your girl loves an apple fragrance – my favorite! Now, let’s do this thing because we have a lot of skin care inspo to expand on:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Starfruit Sangria Body Cream: YES

ValJean Labs Radiant Glow Face Scrub: YES!!!!!!!!

Bath & Body Works Strawberry Pound Cake Body Cream: YES

Elf Holy Hydration Moisturizer: YES

Dr. Wellness Collagen Moisturizer: YES

Why/Why Not?

ValJean Labs Scrub: I started using this scrub at the beginning of May and it took me until September 30th to finish it. I so wish I had more because this Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid scrub was the truth. Obviously, it was an amazing value as I got five months of use out of it and I enjoyed it every day. This scrub was very gentle but effective despite its lack of grit. Sometimes scrubs just feel like you’re shredding your skin and I loved that this one had a cream based formula. My skin looked radiant, was smooth as can be, and the cost per use for a five dollar bottle can’t be beat. A dime sized dollop went a very long way. Highly recommend!

Elf Moisturizer: Holy wow was this Holy Hydration moisturizer a delight. My mom gave me this sample jar and, like the scrub, a little went a long way. It took me over a week of twice daily use to finish it and that’s awesome for such a small size. I love Elf products and the Holy Hydration moisturizer is easily one of their best and most popular. Try it for yourself and you can see why! This moisturizer is seriously as light as air on the skin but provides such rich hydration. It also absorbs really quickly so you can feel its effects immediately with a rush so noticeable it’s like splashing water on your face. I need to get me a bigger jar!

Dr. Wellness Moisturizer: The Dr. Wellness Collagen Moisturizer was a REALLY good one and I was so sad when I completed the jar after a month and a half of twice daily use. It was an excellent value, smelled like freshly falling rain, and I definitely noticed a positive effect on my skin. I sometimes find that collagen products make my skin feel dry but this one both tightened and hydrated in a major way. My skin felt firm and was insanely soft to boot. I hope I find it again at TJMaxx because I would end up buying the lot – it was that good. 😀

Although I’m bummed to not have more of these wonderful skin care products, it’s always exciting to test out new ones. I am loving the cleanser and moisturizer I have started so check back in for the reviews!

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

Oct5

Groovy Movies: The Strangers – Chapter 2 Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Groovy Movies: The Strangers – Chapter 2 Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! If you are a horror movie fan like me, now is your time to shine. There are countless new scary flicks on the horizon that look awesome and previous releases that share the same sentiments. One movie that I was particularly looking forward to is The Strangers – Chapter 2 because I absolutely love that franchise. I saw it this past week and I really enjoyed it despite the reviews raking it through the coals.

I never go into watching a horror movie with the expectation of a masterpiece and view them as popcorn flicks instead. Regardless of the outcome, I will be entertained and that was very much the case for the newest addition of The Strangers. It was a popcorn flick through and through! Let’s discuss in a spoiler free setting, as always. But, before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on the film for harm to animals, disturbing content, and graphic violence. Now, let’s get to it:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!!

The Strangers – Chapter 2 picks up exactly where Chapter 1 left off. The lone survivor, Maya, is recovering in the hospital after her terrifying first ordeal with The Strangers and is grieving the loss of her beloved fiance. She is wounded, in pain, and an emotional wreck but her problems are far from over. She is the only one who has ever survived an encounter with The Strangers and they aren’t going to let it stay that way. They have already infiltrated the hospital and the mad chase begins.

As Maya becomes the hunted once more, she emerges from the hospital into the rainy night in Venus, Oregon. Is there anyone she can really trust, though? Everywhere she turns, it seems like the whole small town is in on it and The Strangers know her every move before she even makes it. During moments of blessed solitude when Maya tends to her wounds, we learn flashbacks about Pin-Up Girl and Scarecrow when they were children in school as well as the origins of the question on everyone’s mind: Who is Tamara? Maya’s time alone is always short lived and she is outnumbered and has no one or nowhere to turn for help. Will she survive her second night being hunted by The Strangers? We’re going to have to wait for Chapter 3!

As I mentioned earlier, the reviews for The Strangers – Chapter 2 were anything but flattering and it scored a whopping eighteen percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The main qualms being that The Strangers should have been a stand alone film and that we don’t need a backstory into the three villains. My thoughts? The first Strangers movie was brilliant. It’s actually one of my favorite movies and I can see why people would say that it should have just been left alone. Its predecessors pale in comparison but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t entertaining. As for the backstory on The Strangers themselves, I am so there for it. Yes, it’s harrowing that their original reason for their murderous spree was “because you were home”. However, it is enticing to me to learn exactly why that is and how the whole town plays a part in it.

The Strangers – Chapter 2 was fast paced and clocked at just under an hour and forty minutes. For its entire duration, I was on the edge of my seat. It had plenty of good jump scares and the fact that The Strangers always seem to be everywhere was so suspenseful. Even more so because it was easy to root for Maya – seriously can that poor girl catch a break? I was genuinely bummed out when the movie ended on a To Be Continued because I wanted it to keep going and wanted to know more. I don’t know, I really liked it!

Overall, I am going to rate The Strangers – Chapter 2 with a seven out of ten stars. If you are a fan of this franchise, go into it with no preconceived notions. I think you will like it too!

What is your favorite scary movie? What did you think of The Strangers – Chapter 2? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah