Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Swatch In Ayesha

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Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Swatch In Ayesha

Hello!! The swatches from my hand me down haul from my sister just keep on coming. Today, we are going to be chatting about Kat Von D’s Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Ayesha. I have never used her products before, I don’t exactly plan on it, and I am also not the biggest fan of the shade we’re swatching. However, just because it wouldn’t look flattering on me doesn’t apply to everyone and some of you might love it! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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My first impression of this lippie after opening the tube was the smell of it. At first, I thought it smelled really creamy – kind of like opening up a big tub of ice cream or a fresh gallon of milk. But, unfortunately, as I kept smelling the product while applying it, I realized it smelled faintly rotten as if the milk had gone sour. So, trust and believe I was more than happy to put a heart on my hand to see the color instead of putting it on my lips!

As far as the color goes, I don’t hate it but it would wash me out completely as it is much too purple for me. If I want to rock a shade in the mauve family, it absolutely needs to have pink undertones. Maybe next Halloween I could use it if I went as something undead but for normal use? Forget about it, lol.

My last comment on Kat Von D’s Liquid Everlasting Lipstick was that it did stay on very well! It smudged a little after it was dry but other than that the lippie didn’t budge and I had to scrub at it fairly hard with soap and water to remove it completely. So, it’s nice to know that if you do want to experiment with this product that it does have a lot of holding power. 🙂

Would I recommend this lipstick? Not necessarily. I am glad that I got to try it out from the comfort of my home, though, so big ups to my sister for giving me something new to me for all of us to learn more about!

What is your favorite shade of lipstick to wear? Which shade doesn’t look the best on you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

4 Ways To Keep Your Workers Safe & Healthy

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4 Ways To Keep Your Workers Safe & Healthy

Your employees are the backbone of your company. They keep it up and running and help you reach your goals. Therefore, it’s wise to implement ways to keep your workers safe and healthy.

The following advice will help you maintain a productive and satisfactory workplace so everyone is happy and stays well. It’s your responsibility as the business owner and boss to ensure your work environment keeps your employee’s safe and that they feel comfortable coming into the office each day. You’ll find that you will deal with fewer accidents or mishaps and that your workers won’t be out sick as much when you follow through with these suggestions:

Clean & Disinfect Often:

If you want to continue to operate and serve your clients during these trying times, then you must be prepared to maintain a clean and sanitary workspace. It’s a reality that many business owners like yourself have to deal with and manage daily. Keep your workers safe and healthy by cleaning and disinfecting the work environment, surfaces, and your building often. Consider hiring a professional restoration services team that specializes in deep cleaning to protect against the coronavirus and other illnesses.

Document & Communicate Policies & Procedures:

Another way to keep your workers safe and healthy is to document and communicate policies and procedures. Put it in writing, so there is less confusion among your workers. You must set expectations early on and have rules in place that help keep them protected and out of harm’s way. Circulate these documents and provide copies to your employees so they can review them and ask any questions they have. These guidelines will help you to maintain a safe and healthy working environment.

Encourage A Culture Of Work/Life Balance:

It’s also wise to encourage a culture of work-life balance at your office. Keep your workers safe and healthy by letting them know the importance of them taking care of themselves and that they have your full support in doing so. They’ll have more energy and get better sleep this way and, in turn, will be more productive and content at work. Ensure each person has an amount of work they can realistically handle and have others jump in and help whenever necessary. You might also want to obtain an employee discount to a local gym and implement half-day Fridays during the summertime to show that you’re committed to this initiative. 

Train Your Employees:

You can also prevent injuries and keep your workers safe and healthy by training them. Make sure that they know how to work special equipment or handle toxic chemicals if applicable in your work environment. You want to do all that’s in your power to ensure your employees can do their jobs correctly while at the same time remaining safe and protected. You’re also showing that you’re invested in your workers by making sure they are properly trained and that you’re committed to them performing well on the job.

Implement the tips above and keep those in your company safe during the coronavirus pandemic!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Ill Fitting Face Mask? Try This Quick Tip!

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Ill Fitting Face Mask? Try This Quick Tip!

Hello! It is so important to wear a face mask right now to help with the spread of COVID-19. It is also so important that your face mask fits well and that there are no gaps anywhere that leave parts of your face exposed. I love my cloth masks, myself, because I find that they fit much better than the surgical masks, which are very loose on me.

My mom is a very petite lady and has the cutest little face. But that means that some cloth masks can be really big on her. This past week, she told me her secret for improving the fit of her masks and it is so simple and smart that I just had to share it with all of you:

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If the top half of your cloth mask slides past your nose and can open up to expose the inside, then all you need is a bag of coffee grounds for the solution. Actually, all you need is the silver safety seal on a bag of coffee grounds to help keep it fresh.

Once your seal has been acquired, all you need to do is slide it up to the top crease of your mask through the opening. This will then act as a clamp so that you can tighten the top half, much like the tops of the blue surgical masks.

This quick fix has improved my mom’s mask game tenfold and all it takes is a bag of coffee. So, grab your favorite blend, keep caffeinated, use this tip, and pass it along to anyone who might find it helpful! 🙂

What are some of your fixes for an ill fitting mask? Where do you find the cutest face masks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Lisa Frank X Glamour Dolls Eyeshadow Swatch In Stargazing

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Lisa Frank X Glamour Dolls Eyeshadow Swatch In Stargazing

Hi! Back when I was in grade school a million years ago, it was all about all Lisa Frank everything. From her colorful designs, lots of shimmer, and cute animals adorning school supplies and book bags, it was impossible to not get into the Lisa Frank hype. It has been forever since I have thought about that brand but memories of my favorite LF notebooks came rushing back when I found a Lisa Frank eyeshadow in the hand me downs my sister gave me.

This eyeshadow in Stargazing is a special nod to Lisa Frank’s signature style and it also happens to be one of my fave colors. So, take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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^^^ The first heart is the eyeshadow applied wet and the second one is applied dry.

Everything about this eyeshadow is so fab to me. From the punchy purple and silver packaging to the glittering hue of shooting stars once you open the compact, this is Lisa Frank to the T. When I first saw this eyeshadow in my hand me down haul, I was shocked because I had no idea that a collaboration between Lisa Frank and Glamour Dolls even happened. But, now that I see it, my only question is why the heck it didn’t happen sooner!

This eyeshadow also couldn’t have come soon enough because I was running dangerously low on my go to bronze shade from The Body Shop. Out of all of the eyeshadows that I swatched these past few days, I can definitely say that I will be wearing this Stargazing hue the most. I just know I’m going to love it and, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s even prettier than my old TBS fave seen here. 😀

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Bring on all of the fun of early 2000’s Lisa Frank with this amazing eyeshadow!

Did you have any Lisa Frank gear back in the day? What did it look like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Beaute Basics Eyeshadow Swatch In Satin Taupe

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Beaute Basics Eyeshadow Swatch In Satin Taupe

Hello! Today, we are going to be taking a look at an eyeshadow by Beaute Basics thanks to a hand me down haul from my sister, Kristen. The shade that I’m swatching is called Satin Taupe and I can definitely picture myself wearing it! So, take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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^^^ The top heart is the eyeshadow applied while wet and the second one is applied while dry.

As you all know, nothing pleases Lil Red more than a metallic hue from the bronze or brown family. I just think it looks so flattering with my eyes and skin tone and I never venture too far from those shades when it comes to my makeup. My sister knows this better than anyone because she constantly makes fun of me for it, lol. But, she is also my biggest supporter because when I get hand me downs from her, nine times out of ten there is some type of shimmery gold or brown eyeshadow waiting for me.

Beaute Basics was right in calling this shade Satin Taupe because it seriously applied smooth as satin. The eyeshadow felt so soft but it was still nice and compact. This was a huge bonus because I find that the softer shadows usually apply pretty flaky and you end up with more makeup around your eyes than on the lid itself.

What I liked the most about this eyeshadow is the fact that the color on my skin was true to what I saw in the compact, unlike the Elizabeth Mott shade that I swatched yesterday. My only recommendation would be applying it wet because the eyeshadow is more of a shimmer when dry as opposed to an actual, bold color. I can’t wait to add this Beaute Basics hue into my makeup arsenal!

Do you like to experiment with makeup? Or, like me, do you have a handful of shades that you stick with? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Elizabeth Mott Pop! Goes The Shadow Swatch In Gunmetal

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Elizabeth Mott Pop! Goes The Shadow Swatch In Gunmetal

Hello everyone! It has been a while since I’ve swatched much of anything because I haven’t been wearing a lot of makeup this past year. Due to COVID, I pretty much only go to work and that’s it besides for a monthly grocery shopping trip and getting my nails done. In fact, makeup has been one of the last things on my radar, considering more than half of my face is usually covered by a mask!

Despite not “throwing paint on the old barn” as often as I once did, I am the first to admit that testing out different shades of makeup is a lot of fun. So, I was very thankful to my sister, Kristen, for bestowing some of her makeup hand me downs on to me – some of them were brand new! 😀

Today, we are going to be swatching a very cool gunmetal eyeshadow by Elizabeth Mott. And, can we please talk about how cute the name “Pop! Goes The Shadow” is? Adorable! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

^^^ The top heart is the eyeshadow while wet and the second one is when it’s dry.

Wayyyy back in the day when I was an Assistant Manager at The Body Shop, they had a cream eye liner that I loved in silver. I wore it all the time and the compliments on the bold color never ceased. Although this gunmetal shadow is not nearly as shocking, it still reminds me of one of my makeup OGs and I was just tickled when trying it out. And, the answer is: YES. I do plan on wetting this eyeshadow and wearing it as a liner, of course.

I am a fan of this Elizabeth Mott eyeshadow but, my one complaint is that the color (On my skin, at least) has a lot of brown undertones. This definitely took away from the “wow factor” of a pure gunmetal grey and I wish that it applied more true to the color in the second picture seen above. This is not to say that I didn’t like it, though! It applied easily, washed off easily, and who doesn’t love a lil glitter?! ❤

What is your favorite brand of eyeshadow? Which makeup brand has the best packaging? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Literally Falling For Fall Update

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Literally Falling For Fall Update

Hello! If you have been following lifewithlilred for a while, then you have been with me through all kinds of ouches like when Johnny and I got in a car accident and I was hospitalized and an oral surgery gone dreadfully wrong. My most recent “whoopsy daisy” of taking a tumble on the wet, leaf strewn wooden walkway to my apartment was nowhere near as severe but, gotDAMN did it hurt and I’ve got a hell of a bruise to prove it. Check it out:

Now, this is not a post to get sympathy for this deep purple monstrosity. Rather, it is a reminder to be careful!! Coincidentally, my Johnny took a spill mere hours before me when he was taking out the trash that day and we have since been taking our time making the walk to our apartment on the wet, rainy fall days that Ohio has been plagued with.

Johnny has actually been so sweet because, most days, he gets home from work before me and he’ll text me to remind me that it’s really slick so I don’t take another spill. Falls, tumbles, accidents, oopsies, boo boos, or whatever you call it can be so painful and even fatal for some so this is just your Lil Red reminder to take your time while walking (And driving!) during this slippery weather so you don’t end up with a major bruise on your side too!

What is the fall weather like in your neck of the woods? What are some of your safety tips for bad weather? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Barbie Dreams

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Barbie Dreams

Hello! I don’t know about all of you, but when I was little I love, love, LOVED to play with dolls. Any kind would do – Barbie, Polly Pocket, Bratz and whatever else I could dress up and create stories with. Dolls always helped stimulate my imaginative play and I couldn’t wait to take each and every doll out of my toy box and change their outfits, careers, names, and story lines.

While my sister and I were in Pittsburgh visiting our cousin at her amazing microblading studio, Kristen told me the platforms that I had on looked like Bratz doll shoes:

It was basically the best compliment ever and it brought me back to the hours on end that I would spend playing dolls in my youth. I absolutely think that my love of dolls helped stoke the coals of the burning passion I have for fashion today. I have also always loved to write and my ever changing plots for all of my dolls definitely helped with that, too.

It has been literal decades since I’ve played with dolls but, now that I have a little niece (Valerie), I cannot wait to instill the joys of story telling and dress up with her. I was adamant about buying Val her first baby doll for her first birthday and it makes me so happy when I see her snuggling up with her gift from me.

My late grandma had the most divine collection of Madame Alexander dolls – many of which I have today. I love having these special, beautifully costumed dolls that my grandma held so dear and I still admire them as if I was seeing them for the first time. I am so thankful for my mom and grandma for helping develop my love of dolls because it impacted my adult life so positively.

Here’s to looking forward to many hours of playing dolls with my niece as she continues to grow and to looking backward at the favorite toys of my youth that I will always love. ❤

What was your favorite toy growing up? How did your favorite activities in youth impact your adult life? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

The Best Ways To Surprise Yourself

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The Best Ways To Surprise Yourself

Life can get pretty stale sometimes. Most of the time, if we want to be surprised, we have to wait for someone else to do it by arranging a spontaneous trip or giving us a gift. But what if we didn’t wait? What if, when we wanted to be surprised, we did it ourselves? It might not sound possible since being surprised is all about not knowing what’s coming, but we think it can be done, and we think it should be done. Here are some of our ideas:

Join A Subscription Box:

A subscription box is definitely something you can surprise yourself with. You’ll be sent a new box each month, and you’ll never know what’s going to be inside it. So, although you organized the box to be delivered, and although you’re paying for it, it’s still going to be a surprise. At the same time, it’s something you can look forward to, and this is a scarce combination indeed.

The key to enjoying your subscription box is to pick something you know you’re going to love, whatever the box’s actual contents might be. You could choose a Me Time Box or something that delivers food or cooking ingredients. There are boxes of clothes, bath salts, perfumes, and books. There are subscription boxes for pretty much everything, so search around and you’re sure to find one you like.

Write Yourself Notes:

We might think we’ve got good memories, but the human brain doesn’t remember everything. It only keeps the most important things where they can easily be reached through memory, and everything else is stored away much deeper. These things can usually only be triggered by a certain smell, photographs, or perhaps stories from friends and relatives.

This is why writing notes to yourself can be a great surprise. Write some positive notes and leave them in places where you know you’ll find them later on – maybe months down the line. When you find them, it will be a pleasant surprise and something to make you feel good. Some examples of what you can write include:

  • Stay positive
  • You are beautiful
  • You are loved
  • I’m proud of you
  • Keep going

Place the notes into drawers, under cushions, in coat pockets, in books, or even in outside places that you’re going to return to time and again.

Say Yes:

When we are asked to do something or given any kind of opportunity, there are two responses. You’ll either say yes or no. It’s easier to say no. Saying no means that nothing has to change, and we don’t have to try anything new. So most of the time, that’s what we’ll say.

Why not surprise yourself and say yes, instead? This will give you the chance to try all kinds of new things. Some you will dislike, some you will enjoy, and others you might fall in love with, and your life might change (for the better) because of it. Unless you say yes and give yourself a surprise, you’ll never know. Staying in your comfort zone is not surprising and will only cause stress and anxiety over time. At the very least, you’ll be bored!

Say yes to the ideas above and give yourself a surprise today!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Monster Mash

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Hello! A few days ago, I posted about a Halloween craft that I made with my client out of Popsicle sticks. They turned out like this:

While the Barney sticks were for my client, the ghosts, Jack-O-Lantern, and Frankenstein were for Johnny who wanted to decorate his space at work for Halloween. Despite forgetting to bring his flat friends with him on the job for the first few days, my sweetie finally remembered and he claims that he is never going to take them down. 🙂

The day that Johnny brought the Popsicle sticks into work, he took a picture of his decorated area WITHOUT ME EVEN ASKING! Check it out:

I was not expecting my fairly simple crafts to be the crowning jewel of Johnny’s display and it made me so proud that he liked them that much. His little paper cut out ghosts make me smile and that applies for basically everything he does, lol.

While we are all worried about the outcome of Election Day today, I just had to post some mushy nonsense to help take the edge off. And I am so thankful to get through whatever the results will be together with my Johnny. ❤

How did you decorate for Halloween? How is your work space decorated? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah