Pros Of Being A Practical Present Presenter

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Pros Of Being A Practical Present Presenter

Are you tired of being a bad gift buyer? In order to be a better gift buyer, you need to think practically. When you evaluate the presents for your birthday or under the Christmas tree, the best gift buyer is almost always the person that buys something that has a purpose and a practical use. Read on to find out why you should become a practical gift buyer, too:

No One Wants Gifts That Turn Into Clutter: No one wants gifts that just get left lying around doing nothing. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people who receive gifts that they don’t really want. These items just get thrown in a drawer and then they never get used again. This is probably not what you want to happen to the gifts that you buy for people. So, to make sure that you don’t buy bad gifts for people, you should make sure that what you buy can be used for something specific. It’s a great way to make sure that your gift doesn’t just become clutter but a new favorite household or wardrobe staple, instead.

To prevent a gift from turning into clutter, it’s a great idea to explore stores and websites that you don’t usually shop at. This will make the gift feel more exclusive to that person because it’s something that not everyone will already have. Rather than pick up a T-shirt at the mall, browse on Chummy Tees for more unique options. Or you could try gifting bath and body care from around the world rather than one chain store.

You Can be Sure That Value Can be Found in Your Gift: When you do decide to buy gifts that have a practical purpose for the people who you’re buying for, you will find that you can get value for what you spend. Although the item will, of course, be used by the people you bought it for, it will still be getting used. This means that the amount of money that you spend will not be wasted in the way it would if your gift wasn’t used. No one wants to feel like they are just throwing money away and not getting value from it, so this is vital.

Being Practical Doesn’t Have to Mean Being Boring: Just because you are buying a gift that has a practical use doesn’t mean that it has to be boring. You can just as easily find a way to make your gifts interesting and practical at the same time. For example, you can buy stationery online, and have it personalized. This makes it that little bit more special and it becomes less of a blah item and a lot more personal and thoughtful. These things are important when buying gifts so put some thought into how you can customize practicality presents for the person receiving them.

You Can Make the Receiver’s Life Easier in Ways They Would Never Have Thought Of: Sometimes, you can make a person’s day to day life easier and more enjoyable by getting them a practical gift. And the interesting thing is that the person you’re buying for would probably never have thought to buy these kinds of things for themselves. This is often how it goes. Embrace this, and buy your friends and relatives a gift that they can make the most of. My father in law is the king of practical gifts and they really have had a positive impact in my apartment. We have received safety kits, fire extinguishers, and simple sets of tools. Flashlights were also another item we were gifted as we sometimes experience power outages. These practical prezzies have come in handy more times than I can count and we feel much better prepared for any situation with these essential items readily available.

Kitschy little gifts are all very well to a point but when it comes down to it, the practical presents always seem to take the cake!

Featured Image By: Public Domain Pictures

New Dress Success

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New Dress Success

Hi everyone and happy Monday! I had a super fabulous Target haul this weekend and as your typical basic gal named Sarah, I went shopping there BOTH Saturday and Sunday haha smh. So this week, you guys will be hearing a lot about my purchases for a super reasonable price and if you love what I got, you can hit up your local Target and we can be twinsies. Ayyyy.

ANYWAYS, I had a really bad hankering these past few weeks to buy all of the things. As the seasons change, I always feel like my shopping is justified so that I can work in new weather-appropriate pieces into my wardrobe. At Target, I was on the hunt for some fun in the sun clothes like maxi dresses, skirts, and cute little mini dresses. But, with Sarah being Sarah, of course I ended up with a black and white Wednesday Adams dress, instead. Lol, take a look and let’s discuss:

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^^^ SO CUTE!

This dress is from Victoria Beckham’s recent line that she created for Target. To be frank, it looks like it didn’t do all that well because everything from the collection was marked down. But hey, it worked in my favor and I am so not complaining! I got this pretty little number for a whole twenty-five bucks, which I thought was such a steal.

I’ll be honest, I was pretty nervous trying this dress on because all they had was extra smalls and larges and I just wanted it to work SO badly. I am in that unfortunate spot between extra small and small. It really just depends on the clothing being tried on and from what store so depending on where I am, I can fit comfortably into either size.

While in the fitting room, I just had to take a deep breath and slip into the dress and thank freaking GAWD it fit! I wouldn’t say that the dress was a body con style by any means but it definitely laid closely to my body, which was just great because I never think to wear seamless panties when I’m shopping. So here I am in the dressing room with this gorgeous dress on and the literal WORST underoo seam lines ever. Lol, thank goodness that the Victoria’s Secret seamless panties work wonders for that awkward misfortune. -_-

I have always wanted a dress that looks like my new one from the Victoria Beckham line but I was never overly impressed with any of the ones that I’ve tried on in the past. I’ve noticed that this style of dress seems to be made baggier instead of form fitting and that just doesn’t work for my body type. The fact that this dress shows off my figure instead of trying to hide it is so fabulous to me. And the cute little rabbit decals on the collar had me sold the moment that I saw it.

This dress is going to be absolutely perfect for date nights or evenings out with the girls at a classy (not college student infested!) bar. I can’t wait to pair my new dress with a really fun pair of heels to offset the black and white palette, a red lip, pompadour hair, and a moto jacket for those chilly nights. Hello, sweet rocker chic!

My New Dress Success may not have been exactly what I set out for while shopping but, regardless, I am SO happy about it! You can shop the Victoria Beckham collection both in stores and online if you love this pretty baby as much as I do! How do you style a date night look? What is the best style of dress for your body type? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

When Bargain Hunting Gets Serious

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When Bargain Hunting Gets Serious

We all love a bargain and nothing beats finding the perfect thing on sale. It gets your heart pumping and makes you feel GOOD! And, the invention of online discount code sites has changed the way many of us shop, too. Shopping also releases endorphins. It may not be scientifically proven yet, but most of us would agree that finding a bargain releases even more. But sometimes, there’s more to getting a deal than that feel good buzz. We’re stepping away from finding the dress that you were looking for at half price. Instead, we’re going to look at when finding a deal can make a difference to your life. Believe it or not, some things are more important than clothes (though it may be a small, select few!):

Food: We can all agree that food is an essential. But, finding food when you’re working on a tight budget is far from easy. For some of us, clothes shopping is far from our minds. When we can’t afford to feed our families, life can get on top of us. So, how can you ensure that you can always buy food? The first thing and a point we’re going to return to again and again is the importance of shopping around. Knowing where you can get the best deals is important.

Despite what you might believe, prices on the same products vary a huge deal from store to store. When money is stretched, you can’t afford to buy at the shop closest to you. Instead, look around. Go to a few different stores to see which one has bargains on certain things. It’s also important to have a set meal plan for the week and only buy the ingredients that you need. People who shop per meal are sure to spend more than those who plan ahead and shop once a week or so.

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The chip aisle is SO beautiful.

Health: Healthcare isn’t cheap. Those with enough money can afford to pay for health care to cover costs. But, people on a tight budget don’t have that luxury. Instead, they have to cross their fingers and hope nothing happens. Frankly, a big health bill would be enough to cripple the best of us. It may seem strange to consider bargain hunting where health is concerned, but it’s important. Few people realize that you can get discounts on prescriptions if you need them. It’s even possible to find deals on health insurance if you know where to look. Again, shopping around is key.

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Bills: Most of us would agree that our bills are the largest monthly expense that we have. So, it makes sense that we would want to find deals where we can. Sorry to sound like a broken record, but again, shopping around is your best bet. If you don’t look at each company’s prices, you could be paying well over the odds. Once you’ve done your research, you also have the opportunity to return to your current company and see if they can offer a competitive price. Playing companies off against each other is sure to knock costs down.

As you can see, the secret to saving money on important costs all comes with doing your research. Check the ads, apps, and websites for the best deals as well as keeping up with the promotions certain companies may be offering for new customers, etc. and you are sure to see savings!

Featured Image By: Public Domain Pictures

13 Reasons Why I’m Happy Challenge

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13 Reasons Why I’m Happy Challenge

Hey everyone and happy weekend! So my friend Charlie girl over at CharlieeStar tagged me in the 13 Reasons Why I’m Happy Challenge and I love these little awards and tags posts so I figured why not. Charlie is going to be featured during my Salute To Summer guest bloggers series so be on the look out for her! But until then, make sure to check out her wonderful blog! Okay, here we go. 13 Reasons Why I’m Happy in no particular order:

  1. I’m waiting for my pot of coffee to cool down to make some iced coffee and I’m really excited about it because I got a new creamer to try last night.
  2. I just walked my two rescue dogs, Gem and Ollie, with my mom and the weather in Ohio is actually acceptable to walk in, as it’s been raining here ALL WEEK.
  3. I’m talking to this really cute guy who’s coming up from North Carolina at the end of the month for my birthday.
  4. My mental health is finally in check, so that’s nice.
  5. There’s a Taco Bell within a mile of my home so that’s a blessing.
  6. I graduated college in December and I’m still happy about that!!
  7. I have a handful of really good friends who I love dearly. Quality over quantity and whatever.
  8. My family, obvs.
  9. All of the wonderful friends that I’ve made through lifewithlilred. I always get so happy every time I think about that!
  10. Bubble baths, face masks, and moscato.
  11. My background as a competitive figure skater has given me some rock solid legs and a sturdy gait that keeps me away from spine surgeons, which is also a blessing haha.
  12. Whenever I’m writing my talon nails click away on the keyboard and I love that.
  13. My personal style. I have a closet full of beautiful clothes, shoes, and accessories. Wonderful makeup, bright red hair, long acrylic nails, piercings, and tattoos and I love it all.

Well that was fun! I thought that this list would be a bit harder to make but I actually feel like I could have kept going, which is a pleasant surprise. I’m not going to tag anyone in this because it’s more up to you if you want to participate in the 13 Reasons Why I’m Happy Challenge, but it was most enjoyable!

Thanks again to my Charlie girl for the tag, you’re a doll! What makes you happy? What bums you out? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Summer’s Coming! Health Tips To Prioritize

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Summer’s Coming! Health Tips To Prioritize

Now that spring has seen it’s last few days and summer is finally on its way, it’s time to talk about health. Our health matters differ from winter to summer. When the months warm up, we have certain things that we need to prioritize over others. With the sun coming out in full force and the days lasting longer, we can often focus on having fun over looking after ourselves. But, with these key areas, all you have to do is take precautionary steps now, and your health will be covered all summer long:

Protect Your Skin: When we’re exposed to the sun, our skin can suffer. So, it’s important to take a few precautionary measures before you head out for the day. Along with trying to avoid being in direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day, you should aim to take breaks in the shade as much as possible. When your skin is exposed to the sun, regardless of how cloudy it may seem, you need to make sure that you wear sunscreen. That way, you’re protected from harmful rays and have a better chance of staying safe and sun burn free.

If you find yourself craving summer heat, but don’t want to risk burning, a trip to the sauna can help scratch that itch. There are distinctive benefits to a traditional sauna experience and one that uses infrared sauna light therapy. Explore both options to find the setting that is right for you!

Tackle Those Allergies: Having allergies can be hard during the summer months. Whether you’re suffering from a blocked nose, itchy eyes, or painful sinuses, the sooner you work on tackling your allergies, the better you will feel. Sometimes, taking a mild antihistamine is all you need. However, if you’re still suffering, then you might want to think about speaking to your doctor about the alternative options you may have, like natural remedies or surgery.

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Pretty!

Prioritize Hydration: As the weather gets warmer, we’re more likely to suffer from dehydration. What you would drink in winter may need to be increased for summer, because we tend to sweat a lot more. So if you drank four glasses of water a day on average in the winter, you might need to make that six for the summer. But everybody is different, so what ‘hydrated’ means to you might be too much or little for somebody else. Some great tips on staying hydrated can be found here in case you feel like you need an extra H2O boost.

Control Circulation: Poor circulation can happen for many different reasons, but when the weather warms up the effects can worsen. Whether you experience numbness in your legs, pain, or even a high level of fatigue, it’s time to take back control of your circulation. You may need to seek advice from your doctor, but you will often find that when you buy compression socks, you can not only promote good circulation again but ease the pain.

Get Active: Exercise is important for a balanced lifestyle. But when it comes to summer, stepping up your activity levels could not only improve your well-being, but give you more energy, too. Now that the sun is shining more, it’s time to get outside because cold winter days are no longer an excuse! Walk rather than drive and head out to enjoy nature parks around your area. Not only will you feel better for it, but you’ll also look it, too.

Summer is a time for fun, sun, and some much needed R&R. When you’re in the best health that you can be, the care free summer vibes will only be intensified!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Weekend Reader Q & A! (Yayayay!)

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Weekend Reader Q & A! (Yayayay!)

Hiii everyone and happy weekend! I had so much fun with my Friday Q & A here on lifewithlilred. I love it when my readers have the opportunity to get to know me a little bit better BUT, more importantly, I love getting to know you guys better even more! That’s why this post is going to be all about you. Below will be a list of questions and you can choose to answer as many or as little as you want in the comment section. Or, you could even make your own post to respond to my questions if you’re feeling saucy! Alright, let’s do this:

Lil Red’s Reader Q & A:

  1. Where are you located?
  2. How did you come up with the name for your blog?
  3. What was your favorite childhood toy?
  4. What qualities do you look for in a friend?
  5. Favorite band?
  6. Do you have any weird or hidden talents?
  7. One celebrity that you can’t stand?
  8. Someone you admire?
  9. Favorite restaurant?
  10. Alcoholic or normal beverage of choice?
  11. Summer plans?
  12. Would you rather wear the same outfit for a month or the same shoes for a year?
  13. Favorite way to spend free time?
  14. Coffee or tea?
  15. Best date you’ve ever been on?
  16. How about the worst?
  17. Favorite season?
  18. Biggest guilty pleasure?
  19. Something that you love?
  20. Something that you hate?

Sorry for asking all them questions but hey it could be super fun and I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

8 Stylish Ways to Beach up Your Home

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8 Stylish Ways to Beach up Your Home

Hi everyone and happy weekend! This post is compliments of my darling friend and design guru, the lovely Miss Chloe Taylor. Thanks again, Chloe girl! ❤

8 Stylish Ways to Beach up Your Home

It was the year 2003 when the world fell in love with the amazing beach house from the movie “Something’s Gotta Give” with Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. The Hamptons house Keaton’s character lives in was everything anyone could wish for from a beach house – light shades of blue, warm whites, soapstone counter tops, an amazing pool, and a fabulous view of the waterfront. However, not all of us can enjoy the benefit of having a shore near our homes, but that doesn’t mean that we should be deprived of laid-back coastal decor. If you are interested in “beaching up” your home, here are a few ways to do it:

Start With the First Impression:

If you want to turn your landlocked home into a beach-like heaven, you should start from the very entrance. Painting the facade in light grey or white (or a combination of the two) should do the trick. Then, you can enhance the vibe with a pastel blue front door and lush green plants on the sides of the entrance.

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Choose a Beachy Color Palette for the Interior:

Once you enter your little sea shore kingdom, you’ll want the interior to match what’s outside and enhance that light summer vacation feeling even more. To achieve that, go with colors like white, light shades of blue, beige, pastels, and light grey.

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Let the Light In:

If you want to show those wonderful colors in their truest light, you’ll have to use precisely that – light. Shine some natural light by leaving the windows bare, or using sheer or linen curtains. Also, especially in the kitchen, you can use bamboo or woven shades.

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Use Rattan and Sea Grass:

Rattan furniture is an instant way to transform an ordinary room into a traditional looking beach house. The living room and the dining room are the best places to introduce such pieces, but you can also use them outdoors to connect the two environments. A sea grass rug in the living room will amplify the summer lightness of the beach decor.

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Cover up:

If you’re a little short on cash and don’t feel like buying new furniture, that’s alright. You can always slipcover the pieces that you already own and bring that special lighthearted feeling to the room. Linen and cotton duck cloth are perfect fabrics for this task.

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Stripe it up:

Don’t you think that after all of these light colors, that it’s about time to add some drama to the whole picture? We have the perfect thing for you: sailor stripes. It is the perfect pattern to implement on an area rug (just like in “Something’s Gotta Give”), accent wallpaper, or an armchair/sofa slipcover.

Sea-Loving Artwork and Accessories:

Now it’s time to sprinkle your home with just a bit of fairy dust. And by fairy dust, we obviously mean some accessories associated with the seaside. Collect some beach treasures like sea stars, rocks, sand dollars, pieces of coral, and driftwood. You can display them independently, cluster them in a bowl, or use them to encrust a chandelier or a mirror.

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Don’t Have a Shore? Make One!

Who needs the sea when you have your pool? It just needs a few upgrades to get close enough to beach-indulgence. And since the waterfront is your main inspiration, this is the very place where you should splurge on outdoor designer furniture (stylish pool lounges sound like a great idea!). Plant some shrubs and bushes around the pool (palm trees are also an option) and add some tiki umbrellas. Pour yourself a margarita and enjoy.

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If there could be one term that would easily replace “a dream home” it would definitely be “a beach home”. Unfortunately, we aren’t all blessed with a Hamptons house (or even better, a Caribbean estate), but we can do our best to introduce just a bit of the sea breeze, sparkly shells, and sunny days into our lives. There’s no shame in being a beachy-keen dreamer!

^^^ Thanks again to my Chloe girl for a beach-tastic post! This was perfect, considering it’s been raining ALL WEEK in Ohio! Are you a beach fan? If not, what type of land/climate do you prefer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Which Drink Should You Be Serving With Your Food?

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Which Drink Should You Be Serving With Your Food?

If you’re a bit of a foodie, you probably love cooking for your family and the people that you love. However, it’s important that you make sure that you serve the right drinks with your food, too. The right drink will complement the different flavors of the food that you’ve made, and will make the whole experience so much better. If you serve the wrong drink, the whole thing can taste off and become a bit of a dinner disaster. Some people think that it’s all down to the perception of the person eating and drinking, but the experts disagree! 😉

Here are some tips to help you discover the best drinks to serve with your meal:

Contrast: One thing that you can do to make sure you have the perfect pairing of flavors, is to choose flavors that will contrast your food. This might sound counter intuitive, but it can create a mind blowing flavor experience. It doesn’t have to be too dramatic. Just think about how things like lemon and lime can contrast flavors and make them so much better with just a drop!

Alcohol Level: The alcohol level of the beverage is also important. It isn’t just about the flavor! If you’re serving a light meal, then something with a light alcohol content should be served. If you’re serving a heavier dish, then you can afford to do so with your beverage, too. Bottoms up!

Have Fun With It: And, of course, you can experiment! Read the different flavors in beverages and see if you think that they will pair nicely or contrast with your food and test them out. Eventually, you’ll be able to pair things all by yourself. Just make sure that you pay attention to the temperature of certain beverages, as that can also make a big difference.

Check out this awesome infographic for more on the perfect serve of vino! Cheers!


Thanks To: winecoolers.reviews

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Friday Q & A

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Friday Q & A

Hi everyone and TGIF!! I have seen so many fun Q & A posts lately and I WANT IN! It’s Friday, which usually means having some fun at one point or another and I thought there’s no better place to do that than on my little ol’ blog. Not only do I think that Q & A’s are an enjoyable past time, but they are also a great way to get to know each other better so LET’S DO THIS:

Lil Red’s Q & A:

Age? I am 22 and am going to be 23 on June 7th. I am SO not excited. -_-

Favorite food? I’m all about that Taco Bell, darling. And as a vegetarian, I always get the most confused looks when I say that but you can get beans on everything there instead of meat! #protip

Last thing watched on Netflix? A movie called We Need To Talk About Kevin, which I’ve seen like a million times but I still love.

Current series I’m watching? I am keeping up with both the new seasons of Fargo and Wentworth at the moment. I would consider both of them two of my favorite shows. And I’m super looking forward to the new season of Orange Is The New Black!

Favorite candy? Anything sour.

Favorite ice cream flavor? Mint chocolate chip but only the green kind!!!!

Favorite store to shop at? TJMaxx is my number one favorite, but I also love Target, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, and H&M.

Last movie seen in theaters? I saw Beauty & The Beast with my mom and sister for my mom’s birthday and I freaking loved it.

Last YouTube video watched? One of my ex boyfriends showed me this and it’s the first thing that I think of when I think of questions, lol.

Last song listened to? Basically an ode to my talons.

Last book read? I just finished rereading the Sandman graphic novel series by my author crush, Neil Gaiman. ❤

Alcohol of choice? MOSCATO, lol so girly.

Beverage of choice? I am a Diet Coke fiend and yes, I know it’s super bad for me!!

Weekend plans? I make it up as I go along!

So there you have it, a little Friday Q & A here on lifewithlilred! How would you answer some of my questions? What are some of your questions for me? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Wanted: Salute To Summer Guest Bloggers

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Wanted: Salute To Summer Guest Bloggers

FYI!! 🙂

lifewithlilred's avatarlifewithlilred

Hiiii everyone and TGIF! With summer somewhat on the horizon (although, let’s be real – it’s still a healthy distance away!), I thought that it would be the perfect time to get the ball rolling on lifewithlilred’s upcoming Salute To Summer guest bloggers series. I’ll be the first to admit that I am so not a summer fan. I hate being hot. I hate wearing shorts (which is why a majority of my summer is spent in my signature black skinnies!). I hate water related activities. And, did I mention that I HATE being hot?!

Obviously, I’m a spring and fall kind of gal. But, that doesn’t mean that summer should be put on the back burner on the ol’ blog! Especially considering that a majority of my friends are huge summer fans – the most important one being my big sister. And, if nothing else, I have a summer…

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