Feel Better, Look Better

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Feel Better, Look Better

We all have this obsession with wanting to look perfect. We want to have that killer body, with those pearly whites, and flawless skin. But have you ever thought that in order to achieve those things, you need to ensure that you’re healthy and well on the inside? The healthier that you are, the better you will not only feel, but look too. Ever heard of that saying “my body is my temple”? Well everyone should think this way about themselves – you should worship it and want to do all that you can in order to be better.

Rather than focusing so much on how that girl’s body looks on Instagram and how she got her hair to look that shiny – think about how you can make yourself feel good. One of the biggest mistakes that every woman (and man) can make, is to compare themselves to others. Especially when it comes to a photograph. You need to realize that things aren’t all that real anymore. Those models you see in the magazines – they’ve been picked apart and had all their ‘bad’ areas photoshopped. That means no more cellulite, stretch marks, freckles, scars, or spots. So you can’t possibly compare yourself to that. Even Instagram nowadays is hard to decipher what is real and what isn’t, as there are so many filters and edits that are made within a mere few clicks of a button on a phone – you just can’t win. So put all of that attention into focusing on yourself – you haven’t got time to waste on negative thoughts.

Strengthen your mind:

You may think that improvements are to be made on your appearance, but the first place that you should be giving some love to is your mind. This is the place where all of your thoughts and feelings come from. So you know when you look in a mirror and hear those nagging voices in the back of your mind that tell you you’re not good enough? That all comes from your brain, so you need to work on changing your perception of things. One trick to doing this is telling yourself that you’re beautiful every single day. Out loud. It doesn’t matter if you feel silly. Stand up tall, look at yourself, and declare your beauty. It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe it yet – you will. Say one beautiful thing about yourself, but this doesn’t necessarily mean in terms of your looks. Think more about your traits and qualities. “I am beautiful because I’m kind.” “I am beautiful because I’m compassionate.” These reinforce the whole meaning of what beauty really is.

Give your body what it needs:

Your body needs certain nutrients and vitamins in order for it to function to the best of its ability. You should feel energized and, well, not tired and moody. All of these things are affected by what you put inside your body. Every different vitamin provides you with an essential source. This is why supplements are a good idea for people that are on the go a lot, because they don’t have to worry about not getting exactly what they need if it’s all there in a capsule, instead. KetoMCT is very good at fueling your brain and keeping it focused and alert, as well as supporting your weight management and boosting your immune system. All of these things are vital if you want to live a healthy life. Another trick that you can do is to eat as much of a colored variety of fruits and vegetables as you possibly can. The bigger the array, the more selection of goodness you are making available to your body.

Keep yourself in shape:

If you have noticed that you’ve gained some extra pounds and you aren’t happy about it, then it’s simple – do something about it. One of the biggest things to battle is laziness. We all suffer from it at one time or another, and finding the motivation to fight it can be very difficult. But, this is where you need to start being strict with yourself. If you expect to see a difference, then you need to put in the work. There are plenty of great exercises out there that you can do that are easy, and don’t necessarily require you to go to the gym. If you like the water, then swimming is a great workout, especially if you are a little heavier, because water makes you weightless, as opposed to if you were running. This is why it is so great for practicing mobility without the worry of straining yourself or causing an injury. Then as soon as you feel ready to push further – add some weights to the mix for added resistance.

Support one another:

Us girls need to stick together, not hate on one another. So spread the love and all of that positive energy that you know you have within you. Go out with your girlfriends, shop together, and give each other some tips to update your style a little. Let’s face it, shopping is a lot more fun when it’s done with your besties. Make a whole day of it and put on a fashion show with tons of different looks that you have all picked out. You may learn a lot about yourself that you would have never known if you hadn’t have tried on that weird frilly dress that looked gross on the hanger, but ends up making you look like a true woman. Then, after your long shopping spree, you can hit the fancy restaurant in your just-bought outfit and enjoy your new found confidence thanks to the awesome company you have around you.

Now, of course, you can’t expect things to miraculously change overnight. But with a little bit of patience and persistence, you will have a brighter outlook on yourself – and for good reason!

Featured Image By: Google

Sunshine Blogger Award #5

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Sunshine Blogger Award #5

Hello everyone and TGIF! The darling Stephanie over at StephanieLeigh Beauty just nominated lifewithlilred for its fifth Sunshine Blogger Award. I mean this in the most non creepy way, but Stephanie is seriously SO pretty and she knows how to rock a red lip, instantly making her a woman after my own heart. Her posts and product reviews are excellent AND she’s hilarious, so please do yourself a favor and check out her page! Now, let’s get on to the rules for this post:

The Rules:

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you in the blog post and link back to their blog.
  • Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
  • Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.
  • List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

Q & A:

What is your favorite movie genre and why? Horror all the way! I’ve always loved scary movies. It’s fun to be all cozied up under a bunch of blankets and feel shock and then the laughter and relief when the scary scene is over.

What was the last TV show you binge watched? Uhmm… I think it was just rewatching Wentworth in its entirety… again.

Would you rather wear sandals and socks OR triple denim? Give me a denim tuxedo any day! I don’t even own sandals, anyways lol.

What is your favorite thing to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon? Get some of my blogging done for the week! I definitely try to do a lot of writing on Sundays.

Where is your favorite place to visit? Harry Potter World at Universal Studios in Florida!

What do you wish you could tell your 11 year old self? Stop caring so much what other people think. It doesn’t matter nearly as much as you think it does.

Your biggest pet peeve? When people talk during movies or TV shows that I’m trying to watch!! I hate that!

Coffee or tea? Coffee, all day every day.

A night in or a night out and why? A night in. It’s just as fun and it’s cheaper.

If you were to go on a talent show, what would your talent be? Quoting the movie Step Brothers in its entirety.

If you could have any job in the world, what would it be? Getting paid to hold baby animals!!!!!!! :*)

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. What is your favorite hang out spot in your neck of the woods?
  2. Favorite season?
  3. Favorite flower?
  4. What was your first job?
  5. What is one of your guilty pleasures?
  6. What was your worst subject in school?
  7. How do you like to spend your free time?
  8. What was the last book you read?
  9. What was the last movie you saw in theaters?
  10. Favorite store to shop at?
  11. What was a beauty blunder that you used to make?

Thank you so much again to Stephanie for lifewithlilred’s fifth Sunshine Blogger Award! How would you answer some of Stephanie’s questions for her nominees? How about some of my questions for mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Confidence Boosting Secrets You Can’t Deny

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Confidence Boosting Secrets You Can’t Deny

If you are looking to improve the way that you think about yourself, it is a good idea to be aware of the many options there are available for you to do just that. The more that you know about how to boost your confidence, the more likely it is that you will be able to maintain a real sense of it for longer. In this article, we are going to look at some of the secrets to boosting your confidence, which you can’t deny are powerful. Give all of these a go if you want to feel as confident in yourself as possible. You might be surprised at the power that these methods really do hold:

Improve Your Appearance:

People often get confused or upset about the subject of improving your appearance. The fact is, that you don’t need to try and make yourself fit into a typical beauty standard in order to be confident or happy. It’s not about looking in such a way that society wants you to look, or even about trying to attract the opposite sex. It’s all about looking the way that you personally want to look, despite what others might think. For some people, the only thing they want is a breast augmentation. For others, all that is required is to dress differently or slim down a little. Whatever your own idea of beautiful is, follow it with your heart and it will lead you to a place of better self-acceptance in no time.

Go Outside Of Your Comfort Zone:

Probably the single most powerful way to build your confidence is to engage in acts which you find difficult or scary to engage in. In other words, you generally need to go outside of your comfort zone regularly if you are to try and feel as confident in yourself as you would like to. This can be done in a variety of ways. It might be a case of trying to complete a new kind of project – or maybe you just want to get involved in a new sport that you haven’t tried before. Whatever it might be, trying new things and becoming generally more adept at them will make you feel like you can do anything – which is absolutely true. You can.

Smile:

It’s a proven fact that smiling regularly boosts endorphins and helps you to feel better about yourself. If you are struggling with any other confidence-boosting method, then a simple and powerful one could be to just smile and relax. Even if you don’t feel like it, giving a great big grin could sometimes be the best thing to do. What’s more, doing it regularly will help you to change what you think of yourself in a profound way, so it’s definitely something that you should try out. You might be amazed at just how much of a difference it makes – and how fast it happens, too. For that reason alone it is something to consider, regardless of whether you have thought to do it before or not.

In this world, confidence is key and boosting it could be the best thing that you do for yourself.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

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Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Hello! Today is a special day, because it is my beautiful, amazing, wonderful mother’s birthday. Saying that my mom is my best friend is a severe understatement. I don’t know what is better than a best friend, but that’s what she is. She is my confidant, my TJMaxx partner in crime, and my viewing buddy for Ellen DeGeneres, The Voice, and America’s Next Top Model.

Although my mom and I love being women on the go, I love being able to just hang out and enjoy our lunch or dinner together when one of us isn’t working. It’s such a treat to sit down and chat while sharing a meal or one of her to die for grilled cheeses on her homemade bread. YUM.

Through simple pleasures and sweet surprises, my mom brings so much joy to my life. I literally can’t look at her without smiling. Every day, my mom teaches me something new about physical and emotional fortitude, kindness, and just taking life one step at a time. Through both good days and bad, JANE radiates positivity wherever she goes, and I think that anyone can take a page out of that book.

To the best mom and friend in the world, we raise our Margarita glasses to you!

Happy Birthday, Mom! ❤

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(And shout out to the man in the blue shirt on the far right who has no relation whatsoever to my family. Best photobomb ever.)

Who else is celebrating a birthday soon? What is one of your best birthday memories? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Movie Memories: The Devil Wears Prada

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Movie Memories: The Devil Wears Prada

Hellooo! One of my all time favorite chick flicks is easily The Devil Wears Prada. Starring Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, and designer clothing – this movie never gets old. In fact, I have this condition where I have to watch TDWP every time it’s on TV – which is fairly frequently!

Last week, my mom and I were able to snuggle up and watch The Devil Wears Prada together and it brought back such a happy memory. When this movie first came out, my mom, sister, grandma, and I all went to see an afternoon showing at the theaters together. It was such a fun day with just us gals and I can remember so vividly laughing in the theater and discussing which outfits we wanted as we walked out with the credits rolling.

Every time I see even snippets of The Devil Wears Prada, my mind always goes back to that day and the joy of spending time together at a matinee. As my mom and I watched the movie a few days ago and had the same conversations of “I want that, that, and that” that we have every time, it was impossible not to think of us four girls walking arm and arm out of the theater and gabbing about the exact same thing.

My grandma has since passed away, but she will always be one of the most well dressed women that I have ever known. Of course, who wouldn’t want to emulate the style of post make over Andy and Emily in The Devil Wears Prada? But, if I can channel my grandma’s classic fashion sense in my daily looks, I think that I’ll be doing just fine!

Which movies bring back happy memories for you? What is one of your must watch movies whenever it airs on TV? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: UVMBored

Netflix Top Ten Picks Pt. 3

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Netflix Top Ten Picks Pt. 3

Helloooo everyone and happy Tuesday! Today, we are going to discuss ten more of my top choices on Netflix. With the always expanding amount of movies to choose from on Netflix, sometimes it can feel impossible to pick which flick to watch. Luckily, you can choose from some Lil Red Guaranteed films below for movie night made easy:

  1. Return To Sender: I have to say, I am not the biggest Rosamund Pike fan. I find that all of her characters are exactly the same and her performances are very flat. HOWEVER, I didn’t completely hate Return To Sender. It was a pretty intense tale of a seemingly level headed woman taking total control of seeking revenge against her recently released from jail rapist. 7/10
  2. The Imitation Game: If you have not seen this movie and are a Benedict Cumberbatch fan, then SHAME ON YOU. This is actually one of my favorite movies. A true story about the closeted Alan Turing who cracked Enigma during World War II. Bursting at the seams with emotion and a riveting story line, you can’t go wrong with this one.
  3. I Love You, Man: This movie is easily one of my favorite comedies. Featuring an all star cast Of Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, and Rashida Jones, you get to live through the cringe worthy moments of man dates as newly engaged and friendless Peter tries to find groomsmen for his wedding. Freaking hilarious and oddly heartwarming, I Love You, Man is a definite crowd pleaser.
  4. Meet The Parents: This used to be one of my favorites when I was younger. Early Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro are a match made in funny movie heaven. There are definitely some cringey parts in this movie – like finding out that “Greg” is really named Gaylord Focker, but it’s a lot of fun with some early 2000’s flare.
  5. Sing Street: I LOVE THIS MOVIE. 10/10 WOULD WATCH SEVERAL TIMES. If you are a fan of Irish cinema, good music (The Cure, anyone?), and a heart wrenching tale of the younger boy falling for the mysterious older gal then, please do yourselves a favor, and watch this movie. You’ll thank me later.
  6. The Little Prince: This animated flick is nowhere near as good as the claymation one featuring Gene Wilder – I’m warning you now. But, The Little Prince is one of my favorite books and this sweet retelling still does it justice.
  7. The Prince Of Egypt: And, speaking of animated films, this is one of the BEST animated flicks of all time. Someone, please try and change my mind. I’m not even religious and I flipping LOVE this movie. A banging soundtrack, an interesting Bible story of Moses, and visually stunning, The Prince Of Egypt rules.
  8. Raw: Certainly not the best French movie I’ve ever seen, but definitely not the worst, either. A young vegetarian veterinarian hopeful discovers a taste for meat after a hazing event at school. Like I said, not the best but not the worst – but, I still enjoyed it. *Shrugs*
  9. Changeling: As a huge Angelina Jolie fan, this movie is pure perfection. In a too crazy to be true but based on a true story … I can’t give anything away! It is a longer movie than most, but if you’re looking for a sad, shocking, inspiring movie, then tuck in for the night with Changeling.
  10. Creep 1 & 2: Both the first and the second Creep movies were very good. I’ll call it a horror flick even though there’s nothing too “scary” about it in the something is going to pop out and kill you sense. Shot documentary style, a lonely man lures videographers to remote locations to film his wolf mask wearing weirdness. I wouldn’t call these movies scary – but, they are definitely creepy!

Your next movie night is a go, with my above top ten selections! Turn on Netflix, grab your popcorn and blankets, and enjoy!

What are some of your top picks on Netflix? Which of the above movies do you plan on watching next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sephora Success

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Sephora Success

Howdy! I can’t say that I’m Sephora’s number one fan when it comes to shopping there, because I will always and forever be a drug store makeup girl. However, I have had nothing but success when it comes to purchasing prezzies for my sister for Christmas and her upcoming April birthday. When I can get wonderful products for my makeup queen sis and still score a great deal, I am a happy camper.

Sephora always seems to have some type of freebie promotion going on, depending on what you buy and I love that. One of the gift sets that I got my sister was a Clinique Dewey You collection and I got a free mini moisturizer for myself for purchasing it. I used it this past week and it was FABULOUS! And, speaking of the gift sets, what an amazing value they are! The Clinique set that I got was eighteen bucks and then I got her a Stilla bronzing kit that had FIVE full size products in it for forty dollars. You literally can’t beat that.

I’ve always been a huge fan of gifting gift sets for gift giving occasions (Say gift one more time!), and Sephora has never disappointed me or the giftee with their box sets. 1) They are a great value and 2) The giftee can try out new products that they might not have thought of before. Talk about a win/win.

And, to top the Sephora Success off, when you order online, you can pick out three samples to try at home. I picked out a perfume, a face mask, and a lip plumper sample that came in a mini tube and has a good amount of uses in it for a freebie. I also was able to pick out a free highlighter with the points that I earned from shopping for my sis and restocking my Better Than Sex mascara. I got five free things just for the shopping that I was going to do, anyways – it doesn’t get much better than that!

Who else has had some Sephora Success recently? How do you score the best deals when you shop Sephora? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Omg Omg Omg.

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Omg Omg Omg.

HELLOOOO!! As you all know, I love Jack White. I have loved him since I was probably eight years old and my feelings have only deepened as time went on. I have all of his albums from all of his bands, I have his lyrics tattooed on me – but, sadly, I have never seen him in concert. BUT THAT IS ALL ABOUT TO CHANGE THIS JUNE!!

With Jack’s new album, Boarding House Reach, coming out on March 23rd, a tour to celebrate only seems appropriate. So, when I got word that Mr. White would be gracing Cleveland with his presence, getting tickets became an absolute necessity. And, using the old “Can I get the tickets for a birthday present” trick worked very nicely with my parents!!

After confirming that this would be my birthday gift, even though I totally would have paid for the tickets myself had it not worked, I began scouring the various ticket venue websites. I landed on LiveNation and was about to purchase two tickets for the pit in the front of the stage (Eeeek!), until I saw their exorbitant processing fees, which totaled to an extra hundred dollars. An extra hundred dollars my ass!!

I instantly poo pooed LiveNation, and decided to see if Jack White had any other performances that were farther away in the calendar that might be cheaper. Of course, I realize that this logic was skewed, but desperate times, man. Desperate times. It was then, that I discovered that Jack White was headlining X Fest, just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania along with AWOLNATION, Cold War Kids, Sir Sly, and other performers to be announced. I could definitely work with that!

I ended up purchasing front of the stage pit tickets on Vivid Seats and wound up saving about sixty dollars in processing fees. Suck it, LiveNation. And, now, not only will I finally see Jack White in concert, but I will get to see AWOLNATION for the second time, and Cold War Kids and Sir Sly for the first time. And, I just so happen to deeply enjoy them, too! It doesn’t get much better than that!

THANKS MOM AND DAD!!!! ❤

Five days before my June 7th birthday, I will get to attend the concert of a lifetime and I’m so excited I could cry. Now, can it hurry up and get here, or?!

Which artist would you love to see in concert? Who else is a huge Jack White fan? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Pick Up The Pacer

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Pick Up The Pacer

Howdy! While it may not be warm enough to run outside at the moment in Ohio, I do try to walk as often as I can. Whether that be a quick walk around the block with my dogs or walking around the room during my TV time, I try to stay active. I am one of those people that love to have numbers. How many steps did I take? How many miles was it? How many calories did I burn?

Since warmer weather will be among us soon and that means tiny shorts and crop tops, I have been trying to get in the best shape possible. And since I love numbers, I decided to download the Pacer pedometer app. And, I have to say, I’m obsessed.

I’ve been using Pacer for the past week or so and have really been enjoying it. It gives you your step, calorie, and distance count, which is all of the information that I want to know. The counts update every time you view it and, believe me, I view it often. When I see the numbers going up and up during the day, it gives me such motivation to increase it even more to get to that next mile or next thousand steps.

Thanks to Pacer, I can definitely say that I’ve been more active and it’s only been a week of using it! When I’m watching TV, I almost look forward to the commercial breaks so that I can get up and begin my walks around the room and hallway. I even take my steps in place during the actual show so that I can get my walk on and still view my guilty pleasures! It’s not much, but I sure feel good about it!

How do you increase your activity during the day? Who else uses a pedometer to monitor their movement? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Lollipuff

True Destiny Flower Power Top

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True Destiny Flower Power Top

Hi everyone! I don’t know about ya’ll, but I am ready for spring! It has been snowing on and off again in Ohio, so I have still been bundled up in my winter’s best. But, that doesn’t mean that I can’t think about warmer weather constantly and do some spring shopping! Who needs spring cleaning, anyways?!

To get myself ready for warmer weather and spring flowers, I indulged in this gorgeous, retro inspired True Destiny top from TJMaxx. Take a look and let’s discuss:

td1td2

I am so obsessed with this top. The colors, the structured torso counterbalanced with larger than life balloon sleeves, and a tie neck back to top it all off. I can’t handle the cuteness. The bright colored flowers bouncing against a bleach white base make me so happy and it takes spring florals to a whole new and unique level. It is truly a mod, flower power top to the max and I’ve already worn it three times this week!

Since it’s been so cold, I’ve only been pairing this shirt with my black skinnies. But, come warmer weather, I am so excited to wear this True Destiny top with a sweet pair of dark denim shorts and my heeled floral sneakers for a fun and sunshiney OOTD.

How would you style this top? What is one of your favorite patterns to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah