Nov18

New Eva Franco Maxi Skirt

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New Eva Franco Maxi Skirt

Helloooo! It’s funny how your fashion sense continues to develop year after year. For example, when I was 23, I wore skirts on very rare occasions. And, here we are now one year later, and I can’t stop buying skirts to save my own life. My New Eva Franco Maxi Skirt is one that I have had my eyes on for a while but, I couldn’t justify paying fifty dollars for it. So, imagine how happy I was when I snagged it on clearance for twenty bucks! Take a look and let’s discuss:

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Where do I even begin when it comes to expressing my adoration for this skirt? Should I start with the charming color palette of candy colored embroidery against navy blue? Or how about the whimsical layer of the gauzy fabric flowing against the actual skirt? This Eva Franco piece is total fairground fun and I love every minute of it.

The beauty of this skirt, aside from how darn pretty it is, is the styling opportunities that come with it. I consider navy to be a neutral, so you could pair this with almost any color on top and you would create a stellar outfit. I can’t wait to pair this with a hot pink crop top in the spring and summer for an adorably bright look. But, I can also see this skirt worn during the winter with a pair of thick tights underneath and a warm moto jacket to add some colorful delight to the bleak outdoor weather.

My new Eva Franco skirt makes me smile when I look at it and getting it for a bargain price makes the purchase just as sweet as the pastel polka dots adorning it. Love, love, love!

How would you style this skirt? How has your style developed over time? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov17

Living Microbladed

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Living Microbladed

Helloooo everyone and welcome to one of two follow up posts from Lil Red’s Adventures In Microblading! As you all know, I visited La Marie Brow Club in Pittsburgh in October to have my brows finessed by my cousin, Laura. And, now that my makeup routine has been literally cut back seventy-five percent and I never have to buy an eyebrow pencil again, I simply cannot believe that I didn’t have Laura do my brows when she began her business last year. Take a look at my result pics and let’s discuss:

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Living Microbladed is the best thing that ever could have happened to my face, lol. Seriously, the time that is saved from having perfect brows is second to none. I can sleep in longer or I can get up at my normal time and finish an extraordinary amount of work on my blog before I leave for work because I’m not wasting my time trying to get both eyebrows to look exactly the same with makeup.

My new eyebrows make me feel SO freaking confident. They frame my face in a way that my natural brows never could, with or without makeup, and they make my eyes pop, pop, pop! Even my boyfriend thinks that they make me look “more sophisticated” and I totally agree – I love it!

Laura is going to touch my brows up in mid December and during this session she is going to add any extra hair strokes that she might have missed. I am also going to have her darken them to the color that they were when I first got them done. The color that Laura chose is perfect because it’s the exact same color as the pencil that I was using. But, now that they have lightened to that color, I now know that I prefer them to be a bit darker. I’m excited! 😀

I cannot wait to visit La Marie Brow Club again in December and do be sure to check out my last blog post on my adventures and schedule your appointment with Laura today!

Would you ever get microbladed? What is your eyebrow makeup routine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov16

The Wow Factor Of A Frameless, All Glass Shower Door

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The Wow Factor Of A Frameless, All Glass Shower Door

A glass shower door is becoming more and more popular to homeowners due to the fact that it gives a bathroom an elegant and luxurious look. What more, you can take it one step further and opt to use a frameless, all-glass shower door! But setting “aesthetics” aside, below are some more reasons why a frameless, all glass shower door might be perfect for your bathroom:

They Create a More Open, Seamless, and Contemporary Space:

As homeowners, we’re always looking for openness, fluidity, and flow when it comes to our bathrooms. By installing a frameless, all-glass door, you are keeping this openness which helps bring together all the elements such as the decorative tiles, bath fixtures, and all other vanities inside. Traditional shower curtains or doors, on the other hand, work against the open feel since it tends to create a closed, defined space.

If you are daydreaming about giving your bathroom an update, you can get inspiration from Glass ShowerDirect.com for ideas on shapes, styles, and sizes. With an all glass shower door, you can turn every evening into a spa-like experience. Doesn’t that sounds fabulous after a long day?!

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They Aren’t Just For Looks:

A door built to last completely sums up the frameless, all-glass shower enclosures. With a standard thickness ranging from ⅜ to ½ inch, frameless doors are sturdy, structurally sound, and safe. All glass shower doors are also made of tempered glass which is very hard to break or shatter, so if going all glass seems a little too risky for you, you haven’t found the right kind of shower door yet.

Most common questions from homeowners when considering frameless, all-glass doors are safety since the edges aren’t protected by frame barriers. While we can understand why it might be a bit concerning, the shower door’s edges are filed down to be soft and smooth, thus removing the danger of being cut or otherwise hurt for anyone going in and out of your shower.

In addition, thanks to the seal-in technology used in all frameless, glass shower doors, they have watertight seals which makes leakage near impossible. These doors are not just stylish, but they’re also very functional. Moreover, since there is little to no metal used in making them, homeowners need not worry about dealing with corroded parts. Win, win, win!!!

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Simple Cleaning and Maintenance

Installing a frameless, all-glass shower door in your bathroom isn’t just about appearance, it’s also a practical decision. Since frameless glass enclosures do not have the structural edge of aluminum framing, it is much easier to clean and restore due to its trackless design.

They Can Fit Any Space:

Frameless, all-glass shower doors can be designed to fit any bathroom space, no matter what look you’re going for. If you aren’t a fan of the boxy look, you can opt for circular, triangular, or even oval frameless doors to fit your bathroom space while still creating the same elegant effect.

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Increases the Appraisal Value:

Doesn’t stop there, either. These doors can be quite the investment, too. By increasing the appearance of your home including your bathroom, you are creating an impression that the property is well-taken cared of. And, having an elegant looking bathroom and shower door to match is a major turn on to home buyers, making it hard for them to resist a reasonable offer on your home.

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Sounds like it’s time to install that frameless, all-glass shower door. One important thing to remember, though, is to only trust a certified glass contractor like Oak Mountain Glass to ensure that you get that glass shower door of yours installed professionally and perfectly the first time around.

Nov16

First Snow OOTD

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First Snow OOTD

Hi! This past weekend, Ohio treated us to some snow. Although we’re barely in the middle of November, it is full fledged winter temps here and I’m already fed up. But, despite the many things in life that we can control, the weather is not one of them so we all just have to keep on truckin’ – myself included!

When it comes to dressing for the winter, I prefer to layer as opposed to walking around with a huge coat on. I love faux fur, cold weather accessories, and boots and, when worn properly, a well layered outfit can be just as warm as a puffer jacket. Take a look at how I style for the cold months ahead and let’s discuss:

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Who? What? Wear?

Now, I’m sure that for some of you, this outfit looks nowhere near warm enough for a blustery winter day. But, keep in mind, that I have enjoyed spending my free time at a cold skating rink for over a decade and the winter weather really doesn’t phase me any more. So, this OOTD was just right for me to be comfortable outside for the amount of time that I was in and out of different places throughout the day. If I had gone on a hike or something like that, though, trust and believe that I would have bundled up a little better!

Anyways, I like this look because it offers a really unique shape while still looking chic. The fairly tight fitting jacket and sweater along with the jeans and boots look nice and crisp while the kimono that balloons out underneath adds an unexpected element to the look, and I love that. The floppy hat also mimics the shape of the kimono, which adds cohesiveness to the OOTD and keeps my pretty lil’ noggin warm. :*)

Winter accessories are a definite must in any good OOTD during the cold months, so don’t be afraid to go a bit crazy with them. Had it been colder the day that my boyfriend took these pics, I would have opted for a scarf, too. But, the hat and driving gloves did the job just fine. Also, do remember that jewelry is important in the drab winter, as well. With bleak weather and grey days a little pop of bling goes a long way. I love black and gold together, so I went with a long chained pendant from Urban Outfitters to complete my look.

Although winter is a time to be bundled up, it can still look oh so chic so style never has to be sacrificed… Thank gawd! 😀

How do you stay warm in the winter? What is winter weather like where you live? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov15

Non-Medical Careers That Can Improve Others’ General Health

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Non-Medical Careers That Can Improve Others’ General Health

When we choose a career path that we want to follow, we tend to have one main thing at the forefront of our mind: We want to generate sufficient sums of money to provide ourselves with a comfortable quality of life. But, we need to bear so many more things in mind to gain true satisfaction from the job that we want. The average person will work up to forty hours a week, so you want to do something that gives you a sense of achievement and that you genuinely enjoy. So, you need to determine what you want from your career before chasing down any particular position.

Many of us want our careers to help other people in the world. If this is what interests you, medical positions tend to automatically spring to mind. But, these require years on end of education and training. If you want to help others without this high level of pressure, then you might want to consider an alternative. Here are just a few that you could pursue:

Personal Trainer:

If you become a personal trainer, your role is to help people get in shape – you will specialize in instructing people when it comes to curating and carrying out a fitness regime that will help them to meet their fitness goals. Remember, that people will come to your for different reasons, as everyone has different aims and different ideals. Some people will seek out your help because they want to lose weight. Some people will reach out to you for help with boosting their overall fitness levels, so they can be more toned, be stronger, and build stamina. Some will want to gain muscle and significantly increase their strength. This is why it’s important that you can create specialist regimes that will meet different end goals. In order to qualify as a personal trainer and boost your overall fitness knowledge, you should carry out a course with a reliable company like Origym. Not only will this ensure that you are able to do your job properly, but it will also mean that potential clients are more likely to trust (and consequently) book you.

Nutritionist:

Diet is also important when it comes to overall health and well being. If you become a nutritionist, you will survey clients as individuals, taking a look at their current eating habits and determining how these impact their overall levels of health. Then, taking any medical conditions or dietary preferences into account, you will be able to come up with an action plan to get them kick started on the road to a better diet.

Both of these career paths have an end goal of helping people get healthy. They are extremely rewarding and you will be benefiting the health of others without intensive medical training.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov15

A Life Lesson From Facebook

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A Life Lesson From Facebook

Hi everyone! Facebook is the only form of social media that I have and I definitely prefer it that way. For the most part, it keeps me entertained and it would be just too much to have to maintain other social media pages on top of my blog. While scrolling through the book, I came across a meme that said something along the lines of “The people who are doing better than you don’t look down on you, it’s the ones who are falling behind that are hating” or whatever. Reading this poorly paraphrased quote instantly reminded me of a little story that goes like this:

I was once on a date with a guy and we were talking about college while we were in his car. At the time, I was at Cuyahoga Community College and he was at Kent State University studying photography. So, we’re sitting there talking and he tells me that he’s failing basically all of his classes. Meanwhile, I share with him that I’m really enjoying all of my courses and I wish that I had started my college career earlier. And, he snaps back with “that’s because you go to community college”.

Excuse me?!?!

Because he was the one failing his courses and I’m thriving in a college setting, that automatically makes Tri-C easier? Although they offer the same classes as any college in the area? Righhhhhht. I spent over three years out of school and I made the choice to give college a try even though I was so nervous of failure that I sometimes found it hard to breathe. And, instead of congratulating me for what would surely be a difficult task for anyone, he replied with a verbal slap in the face.

I’ll never forget this story, because it is so incredibly off putting. But, seeing it from the light of what that meme on Facebook said made me see it in an entirely different way. It was basically a rephrasing of the quote from The Interview “They hate us cause they ain’t us”. Lol, I was so confident in how I was doing in school and proud of myself but, someone tried to dull that down because he wasn’t happy with himself. And this, boys and girls, is an awful way to be.

I guess the point that I’m making is to not let anyone’s jealousy or whatever they might be feeling take away your confidence. Jealous people want you to stoop down to their level, because misery loves company. No matter what anyone says, words hurt. Use your words appropriately and, if you need to think about whether you should say something or not, chances are that you shouldn’t!

Has anyone ever had a similar scenario to the one that I described? How do you deal with haters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov14

Clinique Chubby Stick In Woppin’ Watermelon Swatch

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Clinique Chubby Stick In Woppin’ Watermelon Swatch

Hi everyone! Yesterday, I got to show off my freebie haul from Sephora and, I’ve got to say, I’m still basking in the glory of that purchase. Money well spent, amiright?! The product that we are swatching today was compliments of my five hundred point Beauty Insider gift – a goodie box of Clinique products. At first, I was pretty ambivalent about their chubby stick balm in Woppin’ Watermelon. But, after swatching it and putting it on before I showered it off for good measure, I’m a fan. Check it out:

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When I first inspected this balm out of its package, I wondered why the heck whomever was in charge picked that truly watermelon pink color. Surely they know that that shade doesn’t look good on everyone (Especially me!), right? Lil Red never rocks pink lips and, mind you, it’s not because I don’t want to – it’s because pink lipstick looks like ass on me. Truth. So, I figured that I would just give this balm to my sister, because pink suits her really well.

I had every intention of giving this to Kristen, until I swatched it for this post, that is. Because, upon swatching, I realized that the chubby stick left very little of that shocking pink pigment on. Rather, it was more like a gloss with the tiniest hint of pink to it. After seeing that on my hand, I was interested to see what it would look like on my lips and, I’ll be damned, because it actually looked alright on me!

Woppin’ Watermelon left my lips with a slightly more pink color and a glossy shine that looked very sweet and simple. It might not necessarily be the best shade for winter, but it will be darling in the spring and summer time. I liked how moisturized the balm left my lips feeling, too, even if it was only on for a handful of minutes! Lil Red never thinks pink, but, I guess it’s okay just this once. 😉

What is your favorite brand of lipstick, gloss, or balms? Which type of lip product do you prefer to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov13

Sephora Freebies

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Sephora Freebies

Hi! While getting some of my holiday shopping done on Sephora’s website, I received a major freebie haul! It. Was. Awesome. I cashed in my 500 point Beauty Insider gift for a Clinique goodie bag and I also received a free travel bag filled with good stuff for spending over fifty dollars. Plus, I got free shipping! I spent just one dollar over the fifty minimum and I got a ton of amazing travel sized products to show for it. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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The Haul:

  • Lancome: La Vie Est Belle perfume sample
  • Laneige: Water Sleeping Mask (Loved it!)
  • Lancome: Mascara
  • Rahua: Omega 9 Hair Mask
  • Urban Decay: All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray
  • Fresh: Soy Face Cleanser
  • Briogeo: Heat Protecting Cream
  • Caudalie: Moisturizing Sorbet
  • Tarte: Lip Paint in Birthday Suit (LOVE! I was running low on my birthday gift color from last year!)
  • Clinique: Moisture Surge Face Spray
  • Clinique: Chubby Stick in Woppin’ Watermelon (See the swatch tomorrow!)
  • Clinique: Moisture Surge moisturizer sample
  • Clinique: Mascara
  • Clinique: Foundation + Concealer samples

^^^ So good, right?!

Sephora is such a wonderful company to shop with online, because the promotions that they offer are second to none. I have never not received a free product when shopping online, because they usually offer the promo when you spend over twenty-five dollars. And, let’s be honest, that’s not hard to do!

I used to shy away from Sephora, because when you shop in store there is never any type of promotion running to give you some bang for your buck. But, when I shop online, I always feel pleased with what I’m getting in free product for the amount that I’m spending. I will definitely still pop into the store to see what’s new and examine all the colors and products up close. But, I will go home and order whatever I liked online every time, and I recommend that all of you Sephora lovers do the same. Can you get that amazing haul seen above in store for absolutely free?? I think not!

Which stores offer the best online promotions? How do you shop smart when it comes to Sephora? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov12

Preparing For A Long Trip

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Preparing For A Long Trip

It can be a fun and exciting prospect to embark on a long term adventure. But, it can also be a stressful and anxious time in terms of getting yourself prepared before setting off.  The great thing about long term travel, is that it brings so much variety into life, and as they say, variety is the spice of life… but with such variety comes uncertainty, and whilst this level of uncertainty can be part of the fun, it can also be anxiety inducing, which is why it’s important to ensure that you are well prepared before embarking on a long trip. This article looks at a few aspects to take care of prior to departure:

Your Home Life:

Chances are that you’ll be leaving a loving family, comfortable home, and reliable job behind. In terms of your family, it would be nice for them to have some quality time with you in the weeks before your trip. They will appreciate the fact that you’re making an effort to spend time with them rather than just abscond abroad.

With regard to your home, it’s important to leave things in a stable condition, for instance, if you know there might be an issue with pests it would be good to call pest control before you leave to take care of the issue rather than leave it to get out of control. Also, make sure that a family member, friend, or neighbor has a set of keys in order to check up on the house from time to time.

That said, if you have an animal, you might want to consider a house sitting situation where your home and pet are looked after while you are away.

Income:

If you’re traveling long-term, there’s a good chance that you’ll need to top up your income whilst away. Having something in place before leaving can reduce the stress associated with long term travel finances; for instance, you could try to keep your job but work remotely or set yourself up as a freelancer, that means you can work from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

It’s also a great idea to look into various ways to save money throughout your travels to provide an extra cushion. This could mean purchasing tickets during non peak times or giving yourself a budget to stick to when dining out. If you are renting a car, the company you choose might offer some incentives to lower your bill and that is definitely worth checking out. To get started, simply enter a search for “car rental paros” (or your travel destination) to see how you can save on your transportation. Every little bit helps!

Travel Insurance:

Finally, the other crucial aspect to reduce the anxiety associated with preparing for a long trip is to see that you have adequate travel insurance coverage in place. This can be expensive for long-term trips, particularly if you plan to undertake adventure activities such as mountain climbing, white water rafting, and bungee jumping. But, without it, you could not only find yourself at financial risk, but that your entire life is at risk, too.

Insurance is a prophylactic measure that you can hopefully live without, but if you should get sick or be injured, it’s worth its weight in gold. The option of having to pay for your own treatment is not always financially viable, meaning you will be stuck in a “local hospital” without the ability to get home and receive the care you require.

Long term travel is an exciting adventure, but it can also be anxiety inducing if you leave with loose ends. This is why it’s important to provide as much stability and peace of mind for yourself as possible before you leave.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov12

Poshmark Review

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Poshmark Review

Hiii everyone! If you guys remember from a post a few days ago, Lil Red tried Poshmark for the first time to get a moto jacket by Kensie. The jacket arrived a few days ago, one day after it shipped because, coincidentally, the woman who I bought it from and I live about twenty-five minutes away from each other! Let me give you a reminder of what this Kensie number looks like if you don’t remember and let’s discuss:

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Overall, I’m really happy with this purchase and I love my new/used jacket. BUT, my major complaint is that it smelled so smokey and I could smell it as soon as I took it out of the packaging. Now, I get why this would be hypocritical of me to say since I smoke. However, if you’re sending out any type of product to someone, I think that it’s important for it to be in the best condition possible and that includes the smell.

Despite that little hiccup, I would definitely use Poshmark again, I just don’t think that I would buy from the seller that I purchased from. This is all hunky dory with me, though, because, at the end of the day, I got the jacket that I was so desperately seeking out. The price was also fair enough although, since the odor was an issue, I wish that I got it for a little cheaper. But, alas, beggars can’t be choosers!

Poshmark seller rating for @sundaygirlpicks:

6

What has your experience with shopping or selling on Poshmark been like? What else do you do to make some money off of used clothes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah