Jun30

June 2020 Finishes Pt. 2

Posted on June 30, 2020 by lifewithlilred

Hello! Yesterday, we discussed a lot of the skin care that I finished up this past month of June. And, if you’re checking back in today, you’ll see we have a few more goodies to chit chat about. With the part one and two finishes combined, it would have been a long ass post. So, why not break it up into two? Let’s get on with my June 2020 Finishes… Part Two:

Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES
Bath & Body Works Champagne Apple & Honey shower gel: YES
Destiny Boutique Charcoal face wash: YES
Azure Lux Rose Gold serum: YES

Why/Why Not?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: It doesn’t really bother me to constantly be using the micellar water by Garnier… Obviously, considering it shows up on almost every empties post! But, whenever given the opportunity at TJMaxx, I just have to grab some of the Evoluderm water if it’s there. I don’t know why it makes Garnier’s micellar water feel like plain old water but the Evoluderm brand feels like magic. I love using it as a toner and makeup remover and one bottle lasts me about a month and a half.

B&BW Shower Gel: Love the B&BW, love anything apple, and love anything champagne! Haha, this shower gel combines a lot of my favorite things and it easily makes the Champagne Apple & Honey scent one of my must haves. It’s sweet and tart and the luscious bubbles make you never want to get out of the shower! One bottle typically lasts me a little over a month.

Destiny Boutique Face Wash: I use a lot of charcoal products when it comes to my skin care and Destiny Boutique has always been one of my go to brands. Their charcoal face wash and face bar have been staples in my skin care routine for years now and I tend to order the goods on Amazon when I can’t find them at TJ’s because the products are that good. Pesky blackheads and blemishes will be a thing of the past and stay that way because one bottle took me over three months to use!

Azure Lux Serum: I was introduced to the Rose Gold serum by Azure Lux a year or so ago and have remained fairly faithful to it since. I just love how radiant the serum makes my skin look and the real flecks of 24K gold makes it feel oh so lush with each use. It takes me one month to finish one bottle and, although I wish it lasted a bit longer, I am never not going to buy it.

June has brought us a ton of empties to discuss and, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but fingers crossed for a lighter finishes haul in July! Lol! 😀

Which products did you finish this month? What are your thoughts on any of my empties 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

Jun29

June 2020 Finishes Pt. 1

Posted on June 29, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! I have a theory that June seriously dragged because of my family vacation to look forward to at the end of the month. It made each day feel like a lifetime… Maybe that explains why I have so many empties that I had to break my normal monthly finishes post into a part one and two!

The real reason, however, is that I haven’t been wearing makeup in quarantine. Therefore, I’m using twice as much skin care per month because I have a fresh face to apply a nighttime routine on. I can definitely notice the difference in my skin from the daily double whammies of moisturizers and serums. Now, maybe I’ll be more motivated to take my makeup off at night post quarantine. Maybe!

Lol, let’s take a look at these skin care empties and discuss:

Would I Use Again?

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair moisturizer: NO
SkinLab Lift & Firm moisturizer: YES
SkinLab Lift & Firm Eye Gel: YES
Biossance Vitamin C & Rose Hip Serum: YES

Why/Why Not?

Neutrogena Moisturizer: My mom gave me this moisturizer when I was running low at home and holy wow is this stuff powerful. Of course, this product was made with more mature skin in mind and at twenty-six, mine just didn’t meet that mark. After a few days of use, my skin was SO dry and red that I had to put olive oil on it just to breathe some lift back into the painful, burning dryness.

Once I realized it was way too strong for my skin, I mixed a bit of it into my normal SkinLab moisturizer and that felt much better. Waste not, want not as the saying goes. I can’t say I recommend this product for anyone in my age range but I think it would be fabulous for those with more mature skin.

SkinLab Moisturizer: My Lift & Firm moisturizer felt like absolute heaven in comparison to the Neutrogena one! So rich and insanely hydrating, my skin was drinking it up after being so dried out. It takes me one month to finish one jar and I always plan on using it again. In fact, I need a restock soon!

SkinLab Eye Gel: And, as you know, I am all about the SkinLab Eye Gel too. It takes me at least three months to finish one tiny jar and I can’t picture my skin care routine without it, either.

Biossance Serum: I received this little vial of serum as a freebie during my last Sephora haul and, if given the opportunity, I would use it again. My skin looked radiant and felt so nourished after each use. My only qualm, though, is that it never fully sank into my skin and it left a somewhat greasy residue. This is not ideal, especially in the hot summer months. It took me a week and a half of twice daily use to finish the sample.

Now you know all about my skin care empties for the month! Do tune in tomorrow to learn more about the rest of my June Finishes. 🙂

Which products have you used up this month? Have you tried out any new skin care recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun28

A Flower For Me

Posted on June 28, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! On Father’s Day, my sister and her daughter arrived at our parents’ house at the exact same time that I did. We didn’t plan it at all and it was perfect because we all had the maximum time together before we split back up for the day. Beautiful presents and lots of love were gifted to our dear old dad but I think I got the most special treat of all that day. Check it out:

After presents, we all took a pause and went to the backyard so my niece, Valerie, could move and groove before my sister took off. My dad loves to show Val his flower and vegetable garden and she loves it too. More often than not, you can see my dad smelling the flowers with her and then he will help her pick a bloom for her mom.

On Father’s Day, Val wanted a flower for each hand once she picked her favorite. Then, she toddled up to her auntie and handed me a flower with a big smile on her face. And, right at that moment, our Golden Retriever gobbled up the flower in the hand she wasn’t paying attention to. *Face palm*

Once Val realized her other flower was missing, I offered her mine to make up for it. But, she just kept handing it back to me. I have to say, I was really happy she did because there is literally nothing better than getting a pretty little flower from your fifteen month old niece. I brought it home with me and put it in my dried flower collection and it’s never not going to make me smile whenever I see it. ❤

How did you celebrate Father’s Day? How is your garden doing this summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun27

What Have I Been Watching? Pt. 3

Posted on June 27, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! As the old saying goes “When in quarantine, do as those who are quarantined do”… Or however it goes. But, we all know that this means watching ample amounts of TV. And I mean AMPLE. We’re talking one new series a week or you’re doing it wrong. Haha, well maybe not that extreme but you get the point.

Johnny and I are both huge fans of the entertainment world. We love movies, TV, music, and video games so we never have a lack of things to do. We also have four different streaming services so the options are endless. As soon as I get home from work or am off on the weekends, we immediately watch some of the following:

Hannibal:

Johnny’s mind was completely blown that I had never seen The Silence Of The Lambs before. Believe you me, I understand how crazy it is that I haven’t seen it either since I am a horror fan. But, my logic was that I’ve gone this long without seeing it, so why start now? I have to say, I loved the movie and can’t wait to watch it again.

In fact, I loved the movie so much that we began watching the TV series called Hannibal, who is played by the incomparable Mads Mikkelson. Long story short, this is all of the cat and mouse drama between Hannibal Lector and the FBI before he gets caught. Every episode leaves me gasping, freaking out, and at the edge of my seat. And, of course, we always have to watch a few!

Hannibal is a show that is absolutely NOT for the faint of heart because every trigger warning imaginable is in it. But, if you can stomach all of the high fashion horror that takes place, then you’re in for a wild ride.

The Office, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks & Rec:

After all of the intensity of Hannibal, Johnny and I will usually end our days with shows that make us laugh. Something lighthearted and pure fun. Cue The Office, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or Parks & Rec. We have both seen The Office and Parks more times than we can count and typically just end up quoting each episode verbatim.

We have never watched Brooklyn Nine-Nine before and are just about done with it. 9-9 follows the 99th detective precinct in Brooklyn, obvi, and the cast is led by the hilarious Andy Samberg, Terry Crews, Andre Braugher, and my absolute favorite: Stephanie Beatriz (She’s a badass!).

I don’t know if we’ll watch 9-9 again like The Office and Parks & Rec but it certainly has provided us with a lot of laughs. I’ll be the first to admit that it kind of slows down towards the last few seasons but I am looking forward to finishing it. 😀

Le Manoir:

As all of you know, learning languages is one of my favorite hobbies so I love watching foreign films in my free time. This past week, I watched a dreadfully funny French horror comedy called Le Manoir. It was basically a spoof on your classic horror movie thread of staying in an old school castle or mansion and having all of your friends die off, one by one.

A scary plot, yes. But, the cast of twenty-somethings who were such caricatures (social media queen, wannabe actor, etc.) brought so much humor into it. The plot twist ended up shocking me and there were some parts that had me just rolling with laughter. I got to practice French and I was thoroughly entertained. I can definitely see myself watching Le Manoir again!

Blind Date:

Now, I’m sure all of you know by now that Lil Red is not a romantic comedy type of gal. However, I LOVE French romantic comedies and Blind Date was simply adorable. I just feel like the characters in French romcoms are so much more like regular people than anything made in America and it keeps me interested.

There was really no fluff to Blind Date because the man and woman in a very peculiar relationship started out the flick as enemies! I can’t tell you the nature of their relationship because that would destroy the movie. But, if you enjoy foreign films and are looking for a cheeky and very real romcom, then do yourself a favor and watch Blind Date. Similar to Le Manoir, I plan on watching it again ASAP.

Now you know all of my recommendations and I want to hear about yours! What have you been binging on? Which streaming service is your fave? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun26

New Hair, Who Dis?

Posted on June 26, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hellooo everyone! Now, we all know that “Life is better in red” but I found out that blondes do have more fun. Well, I’m having half more fun anyways! I have been hinting at a hair change for a while and I finally was able to get to the salon so my hair guru, Anna, could work her magic. I always thought that I would look really cute with yellowy blonde hair and my hunch was correct. Behold, the glory of my new “convertible” half red and half blonde hair:

Convertible hair is honestly the most accurate term for my new do because it is the most versatile style I have ever had. Literally any way I fix my hair in the morning could be a little or vastly different than how it was worn the day before. Hell, I could have a different hair style for every hour of the day! How cool is that?

To achieve the blonde half of my hair, Anna bleached it for an hour. I have never had my hair bleached before so we had no idea what was going to happen. And, of course, we both understand the importance of being safe than sorry. Thankfully, my bleached half still feels and looks very healthy!

After washing the bleach out, the toner was applied to give my hair the yellowy hue that I was after. The ultimate goal is a bright mustard yellow and I will be going back in a month to get that taken care of. I can’t wait! I plan on having Anna help keep me blonde until I am more educated about it but I will continue to dye the red part at home. There’s nothing better than a trip to the salon so even getting half of your hair dyed is a treat. 😀

I am so proud of myself for embracing a brand new style after the same old for what seemed like forever. My confidence is through the roof and I’m already thinking of what color I want to compliment my red next. I’m thinking pink! ❤

What is your favorite salon treatment to get? Have you recently embraced a new look? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun25

Easy Bathroom Upgrades

Posted on June 25, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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For most people, the bathroom is the second most important room in the house, after the kitchen. It’s traditionally seen as a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the home, providing a relaxing space where we can get away from it all. But there’s a problem: most bathrooms are lacking in the decor department and are in desperate need of an upgrade. Fortunately, there are a bunch of things that you can do to improve your bathroom and make it even cozier than it already is:

Tile the Floor: Most modern bathrooms are tiled. The days of vinyl flooring to save on costs are long gone, especially now that the price of tiles has come down so much. Installation is quick and easy, usually done in about a day by an expert. Or you can save labor costs and do it yourself by watching videos on YouTube on how to do it. The only problem with bathroom tiles is that they can be cold, a big problem if you’re disrobed. Underfloor heating is an excellent solution, but you’ll need a specialist to install it for you.

Install a New Shower: Modern showers are a heck of a lot more advanced than the power showers of old. These days, it’s possible to get power showers where sensible movements of the temperature dial don’t result in enormous swings in the temperature of the water. New bathrooms are also going eco-friendly. As Solarark.com.au explains, hot water can be heated using solar energy which is essentially free once the system has been set up.

Anchor a Towel Bar: You might not think that there was much to anchoring towel bars. But it turns out that they have to be a lot sturdier than you might think. It’s surprising just how much a wet towel can weigh and how much force it exerts on your bathroom wall. The last thing you want is for the bar to rip away from the wall, bringing a load of tiles and plaster with it. Learning how to anchor a towel bar is important for making sure that your towels stay off the floor and that your walls remain intact.

TOWEL TIME!

Tile Your Tub: There’s nothing worse than sitting in the bath, worrying about the water splashing out and damaging the walls. But bath areas that aren’t tiled run this exact risk. Water that splashes out of the tub can seep into the walls, making them damp and leading to the possibility of mold. Tile around the bath: it’ll spruce up the space and it’s easier than you think! thisoldhouse.com explains how to do this.

Create Your Own Vintage Towel Rack: Regular towel racks and bars are nice and functional, but they’re not exactly inspiring. Instead of using a boring, plastic bar to hang your towels, you could opt for a vintage-inspired rack. These racks are usually made from wood, have a shelf for keeping things like towels and maybe a flower pot and come with three or four hooks for towels. There are all sorts of guides out there on the internet explaining how to make vintage towel racks, so get started and spruce up the throne room.

DIY

Featured Image By: Donut Rock City

Jun25

Face Mask Festivities: Sephora’s The Bubble Mask Edition

Posted on June 25, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Sephora’s The Bubble Mask Edition

Hi! There is nothing that Lil Red loves more than when I can apply a face mask during my free time in the evening. During my last Sephora haul, I purchased a bubble sheet mask to help me get over the fifty dollar free shipping threshold. The baby blue packaging and the description all looked and sounded so nice and I am happy I bought it because it WAS nice! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

Alright, let’s start off this post by saying that sheet face masks are, admittedly, extremely creepy. The creepier part? I had the intention of putting this face mask on all day and was looking forward to it at work. So, naturally, I had to apply the mask anyways while my boyfriend and I were watching Hannibal. There is something about wearing a sheet mask while watching a show about Hannibal Lector that seems so wrong and we were in stitches when I walked out of the bathroom with the mask on my face. But, hey, limited free time means pampering oneself while… one can? Lol!

Despite feeling like a total CREEPER, Sephora’s Bubble Mask was amazing! As soon as I put it on, I could feel the bubbling effect begin to take place. And, within minutes, my face was being treated with luscious, sudsy bubbles popping and fizzing away. This mask was refreshing and it was so cool to feel it actually working instead of just sitting there like a clay mask.

My only qualm with this product is that the sheet mask was SO saturated with the treatment that it would slide down my face. This was not great because the liquid would get in my eyes and it burned. In fact, I couldn’t even leave the mask on for the full fifteen minutes, as much as I would have liked to, because it hurt too bad. Had this not been a problem, I honestly would have rated this mask with a ten out of ten.

Although there was the problem with the eye irritation, I cannot even tell you how shocked I was with the results once I removed the mask. My skin looked SO fresh, it was almost as if I spent all day getting beauty sleep instead of working. It looked radiant and bright and I definitely plan on purchasing it again if I need a little extra something to get me free shipping when I shop online with Sephora. But, next time? No watching Hannibal during my relaxation time! 😀

Do you prefer sheet or traditional face masks? What is your favorite face mask? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun24

Embracing Change & LOVING It

Posted on June 24, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! One of the unique things about lifewithlilred is my fondness for featuring guest bloggers. I love interacting with the blogging community and this has proven to be an amazing way to do it. In the almost six years since lifewithlilred has been live, I have became very close to many of the lovelies who have starred on my page before.

All of these friendships are very special to me and I am always looking to extend my lifewithlilred family. So, obviously, I was thrilled when the darling Sheryl of Sheryl’s Light reached out to me. I have so enjoyed our exchanges and any gal who can rock purple hair is a friend of mine. Check it out:

Embracing Change & LOVING It

I have been waiting for the perfect guest post for my young friend Sarah AKA Lil Red. I told her when we first met through blogging that she reminded me of myself at her age. They say the proof is in the pudding or the color is in the hair dye and that’s what I did. I dyed my hair purple and I love the color. I’ve been wanting this for a very long time!

When trying to dye my hair a few months ago, I discovered after applying the dye that the look wasn’t what I wanted. Plus, when I went over the directions the hair dye company recommended two boxes for long hair, which I have. Taking a deep breath and pinning a towel around my neck and shoulders, I mixed the dye and applied it to the top part of my hair. The second bottle covered the bottom. I occupied the half-hour with taking photos out of my daughter’s albums for scanning so the time flew. I also love the conditioners that come with hair dye! I didn’t realize this was on my bucket list so check that one off! Remember you are never too old to try something new.

Lifewithlilred is a page that celebrates all of the differences that makes people special. And, I am so proud that it is a place where Sheryl can show off her fabulous new look! You go, girl. ❤

Is anyone planning a personal appearance change? Haircuts and color, tattoos, piercings, etc.? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun23

Face Mask Festivities: Actual Face Mask Edition

Posted on June 23, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Actual Face Mask Edition

Hello!!! My county board of Developmental Disabilities has been doing a wonderful job of educating and protecting all of their employees and the people we help. Earlier in May, a care package was delivered to me that was filled with games and activities to help entertain my clients while in quarantine.

This month, a box of personal protective equipment was dropped off and I was able to divvy up the goods between all of the families I serve. I even got to keep two cloth face masks for myself and Johnny. I was so happy because I’ve been meaning to buy cloth masks for a while but never did because Johnny and I have been using the disposable hospital masks.

I love that the cloth masks can be reused and, while they may seem thicker than the disposable masks, I feel that they are so much more breathable. I also am a huge fan of the paisley pattern on mine! Check it out:

Normally, I would go for the plain black mask that I chose for Johnny but the bright orange and yellow on mine just made me happy. In fact, I didn’t even mind putting it on when I ran into the store. Summit DD provided me with a lot of pattern options from polka dots and paisley to rainbow and regular, solid colors. Each of my clients enjoyed picking out their favorite and I enjoyed knowing that they had an extra way to keep them safe.

Are face masks the most fun thing to wear? No! Especially if you wear glasses, lol. But, my new cloth mask certainly makes, what I feel is an obligation, a whole lot easier. ❤

What pattern is on your face mask? Do you prefer cloth or disposable masks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun22

Kind Of Adulting?

Posted on June 22, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! My boyfriend and I recently celebrated his thirty-first birthday and my twenty-sixth. Johnny and I have birthdays exactly one week apart from each other and I kind of have to laugh at our haul. We received and purchased quite a few appliances for the kitchen and bathroom so adulting, right? Sort of!

Johnny and I are also big kids at heart so our birthdays wouldn’t be complete without something a little more fun. Hence, the LEGO sets we gifted to each other. We got the perfect combination of “work” and “play” things for our birthdays and despite feeling like a grown up with our new appliances, we couldn’t be happier! We have been enjoying the following:

Electric Toothbrush:

I have had a lot of dental woes compliments of my oral surgery gone wrong two years ago. Because of the extensive problems I still suffer from, I have to see a periodontist pretty frequently. My periodontist has recommended an electric toothbrush till he’s blue in the face and I guess I didn’t realize just how bad I needed it until I found my gum problems were getting worse.

That past visit to the periodontist happened a week or so before my birthday and I planned on purchasing an electric toothbrush for myself. But, then I remembered birthday and my mom agreed to let me order one off of Amazon. The first time I used it, I couldn’t believe I had been brushing my teeth any other way before. And, now I can’t picture my dental care without it.

The best part? Johnny loves it too and let me pick out a pink electric toothbrush that we share, with different brush heads obvi! I just adore the color and I am so pleased with the results I’ve had so far. 🙂

Air Fryer:

Johnny’s parents so kindly gifted us with their barely used air fryer, which was amazing because we were going to buy one right after we left their home. So, instead, we went to the grocery store and purchased ALL of the air fried delicacies you can think of. French fries, mozzarella sticks, hash browns, you name it. Then, we went back to our apartment and had a big air fried feast!

We are so obsessed with the ease of using our air fryer and how FREAKING AMAZING it makes everything taste. We are both looking forward to trying new recipes and if you have any favorites, please pass them along. Especially anything vegetarian. 😀

Brita Water Pitcher:

The last new thing we got for our apartment was a Brita water pitcher and filters. Mainly because Johnny was sick of lugging all of my water bottles and gallons after going grocery shopping! Haha, but seriously, the Brita pitcher is awesome. We have both been drinking so much more water, which comes right from our own tap and filters to delicious, safe to drink H20 instantly.

I honestly have never seen Johnny drink as much water since purchasing the Brita pitcher and it is such a positive change. I, myself, have been drinking way more too even though I’m usually pretty good about it. The filters last for one month and they are inexpensive to purchase – I got six on Amazon for twenty-five bucks.

Another great bonus? The pitcher and filters are easily going to pay for themselves since we won’t be purchasing water at the store anymore. You just can’t beat that.

Johnny and I are adulting in our own way and I love it. We also love all of these handy little tools that make life so much easier! 😀

What is your favorite appliance? How do you stay young at heart? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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