Oct11

Arcade Fire – Neon Bible

Posted on October 11, 2014 by lifewithlilred

If there’s one album by Arcade Fire that I don’t think gets enough credit, it would have to be Neon Bible. This album is severely under rated. Funeral was such a beloved album by Arcade Fire so of course it would be difficult to follow up on that – but I think the band succeeded in making a successor that was completely fresh and unique. The most intriguing part of this album to me is that each song tells a different story through their use of reoccurring themes, such as imagery of the ocean (Black Mirror, Ocean of Noise), television, (Antichrist Television Blues, Windowsill,) and the feeling of a post-apocalyptic world after 9/11 (Intervention, Antichrist Television Blues, Black Wave/Bad Vibrations). The songs on Neon Bible were so uniquely composed with less common instruments like the pipe organ, hurdy gurdy, accordion, and mandolin which helped put a sound to the feeling of dread and dissonance that most of the lyrics held. I find that a lot of people forget that there’s a lot of fan favorites on Neon Bible like My Body Is A Cage, Keep The Car Running, and Intervention. My Body Is A Cage has always been one of my all time favorites, so make sure you take a listen.

Funeral was an album that made me feel hopeful and uplifted, as I’m sure it did to many other listeners. It was definitely a nice change of pace for their second album to take a darker turn. I think that’s why I really enjoy Neon Bible as much as I do, because I’m always drawn to the dark and slightly depressing. (ha!) There’s no denying Arcade Fire’s obvious talent either. Even people who don’t care for their music will admit that their sound is impressive. Win Butler’s vocals, as usual are amazing on Neon Bible. His wife, Regine Chassagne also improved leaps and bounds vocally on this album. Her sweet voice on Black Wave/Bad Vibrations is a nice change from the slightly squeaky vocals we’ve heard on Funeral’s “In The Backseat” as well as “I’m Sleeping In A Submarine” from their self titled EP. And of course, the rest of the band deserves a lot of recognition as well – their playing as a seven person band is honestly just as pleasing as hearing an orchestra play.

One final song on Neon Bible, that was also featured on their EP that holds a special place in my heart is No Cars Go.

When I was younger, I figure skated competitively. Even then I was an Arcade Fire fan and chose to skate one of my routines to the instrumental parts of No Cars Go. That was always one of my favorite programs to perform, because it was to one of my favorite bands. And oh look, here’s my cute little 12 year old self at a competition I was in!

So there you have it! What album by Arcade Fire is your favorite? What’s your favorite all time song by them? Leave me a comment and let’s chat! -Sarah

Oct11

Wowee Wow Wow!

Posted on October 11, 2014 by lifewithlilred

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Over 50 followers?!!!! Thanks guys! This basically sums up how I feel:

Thanks Pharrell. I’m going on my one month bloggiversary on the 12th, and I feel like 53 followers is a very healthy place to be at for only having lifewithlilred up for a month! I’ll tell ya guys, this past month has been an absolute doozy. I was at a pretty hardcore rock bottom when I started my page (which I’ll go into more detail about when the time is right). But now I feel on top of the world with all of the exciting changes that are happening, like my new job and going off to college! I feel like I had a sky rocket moment after things were going so shitty and it was really awesome to feel like things were finally going my way and falling into place. I’ll be honest with you though, my pessimistic side has been poking its ugly head out lately and it’s making me a bit anxious. I have this awful mentality that all of the great stuff that’s been happening is too good to be true. I know that I shouldn’t be thinking that way, but it’s so hard not to. I feel like any day now things are just going to plummet back to rock bottom again. Does anyone have any pointers on how to block out this negativity? If so, pleease leave me a comment! God knows I need it! However, this rising anxiety doesn’t take away from the fact that I’m proud of myself. These new adventures like my job at Next and attending school weren’t just handed to me. I worked hard for both of them, and I did it all by myself. There’s a really great sense of accomplishment to know that I made a game plan and I followed through and made it happen. I wanted a fresh new change of pace and I got it. I should be focusing on that and I should only be feeling positivity right now – but that’s easier said than done, I suppose!

Btw, I’ve been OBSESSED with the song “Pools” by Glass Animals, so make sure you check it out and let me know what ya think!

Does anyone have any tips on how they control their anxiety? What are some positive mantras that you like to tell yourself? Leave me a comment and let’s chat! Goodnight! -Sarah

Oct10

Blue Door Cafe

Posted on October 10, 2014 by lifewithlilred

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If you’re ever in the Akron, Ohio area, I cant recommend going to the Blue Door Cafe enough. It’s located in Cuyahoga Falls, which is lucky for me because it’s right down the street from my house! The Blue Door is probably one of the best hole in the wall food establishments I’ve ever dined at. Their menu changes frequently, and a lot of their options accommodate to dietary considerations such as vegetarian (which is great for me!), vegan, gluten free, and dairy free. Whenever I go for brunch or lunch with my best friend Kate, I always order the exact same thing – their grilled cheese sandwich! It’s hands down the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had. The changes they made to the sandwich for their fall menu was delicious – it included thick pieces of cheddar cheese and diced apples in the middle to add the perfect amount of seasonal flare. The meal also includes a bowl of their tomato soup which was especially tasty when I went yesterday. There were hints of what tasted like red wine for a unique touch. You also get the option to pick between fresh fruit, greens, or home baked potato chips to accompany your meal. I always pick the fresh fruit. The medley of pineapple, strawberries, blue and black berries, and grapes was just gorgeous yesterday. The colors were vibrant and they tasted as sweet as sugar. The Blue Door Cafe also boasts a lovely bakery where the pastries and breads used in each meal are made daily. You can also purchase their bakery items there as well. My grilled cheese sandwich was made with thick slices of freshly baked Challah bread. Delicious! Kate usually opts for the Tartine when we go to the Blue Door. I’ve gotten it once before and it’s great! The Tartine is a dark chocolate filled croissant with three dipping sauces on your plate – blackbery jam, melted white chocolate, and melted milk chocolate. This treat also comes with fresh fruit. Yum!! The croissant is to die for – it’s the perfect balance of crisp and soft with a sweet butter glaze to top it all off. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.

Not only is the food at the Blue Door Cafe incredible, but the service there is fantastic too. The servers and chefs are so great at what they do. One of the managers, Wes, is just the sweetest guy in the whole world. He usually takes care of me and Kate – we’re his favorites! Especially me. Yesterday when he brought me my coffee, he also returned with a flower he made out of parchment paper.

So. Sweet. My heart absolutely melted! Swoon!

If you’d like to learn more about the Blue Door Cafe, here is their website: http://bluedoorcafebakery.com/ . Make sure you check it out!

What’s your favorite hole in the wall establishment to eat at? What do you like to order there? Leave me a comment and let’s chat! Happy Friday! -Sarah

Oct10

American Horror Story – Season Premiere

Posted on October 10, 2014 by lifewithlilred

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So as all of you know, I’m absolutely obsessed with American Horror Story, and last night was the season premiere of season four. I must say, I was quite impressed. Let’s start with the good of the premiere. I deeply enjoyed the fabulous Miss Sarah Paulson as Bette and Dot the conjoined twins. The girls are pretty much yin and yang, with polar opposite personalities. Bette is a wide eyed sweet heart with a passion for movies on the big screen, while Dot contributes as her cynical pessimistic counter part. I thought it was really interesting in the first ten minutes of the premiere how Elsa (Jessica Lange) appeared in double vision on screen while talking to the twins. It was a very cool visual move.

Another member of the crew of Freak Show who I instantly fell in a terrified love with was Twisty the Clown, as pictured below. Don’t get too scared!

Twisty gives a hell of a debut in this premiere. One episode in and he’s murdered at least four people in an absolutely gruesome manner of maniacal stabbing. There was one particular scene that really stuck out to me, which involved a young boy and a twenty something female who he kidnapped that he’s currently holding hostage in a van. He walked into the vehicle and began performing tricks for his victims, but with every sudden movement he made, it put the boy and girl into visible terror whether it be by shaking or screaming. There was something SO powerful to me about this, because it really classified Twisty as a monster to me, which is what I’ve been waiting for AHS to dabble in for a long time. The show has never really had a true scary to look at, sends shivers down your spine villain. The fact that these victims found pure fear in the clown simply making a balloon animal was interesting and intriguing to watch. It just shows how much of an effect his mere presence has and will have on this show. I’m thrilled to find out the back story on Twisty and what made him the way he is. I’m also really interested in what lies beneath his smiling mask, because according to articles I’ve read about him, something even more terrifying lies underneath.

Now, onto some things I didn’t appreciate all that much:

1) Elsa’s accent. Jessica Lange is phenomenal. We know this. However, it was beyond difficult to understand her thick German accent at some points during the show. I really wish I had subtitles while watching – that’s how hard of a time I had understanding her. Some of her dialogue was so quiet too that her voice ended up sounding very muffled. I’m really hoping that this is something that gets better as the season progresses, because Elsa is half of the show! I need her to be audible, damnit!

2) The EXTREMELY awkward scene where Jimmy Darling (Evan Peters) fingers a girl with his lobster like hands at a party. I felt it was so tasteless and inappropriate. Nothing about that scene had anything to do with Jimmy as a character at all. Of course, AHS is known for pushing the envelope on all of their seasons – but to me, this was just vulgar.

3) The Freak Show orgy. This was DISGUSTING. The gist of this was shown on a projector in black and white for at least two minutes, and it made me extremely uncomfortable. That’s really all I’m going to say about it. I think there’s a way to do certain things tastefully and dare I say artistically, but this was pure vulgarity. (which is really the only word I can think of to describe seeing stuff like this on television.)

It’s not like the things I didn’t care for about this episode “Monsters Among Us” over shadowed all of the good though. It really was a bang up premiere, which has left people talking (clearly!) and that’s exactly what the producers want. They wanted something that pushed the envelope, sparked conversation, and left people eager for the new episodes – and they did just that. I’m really looking forward to seeing what this season holds in store for us, because the premiere set the stage for a lot of crazy stuff to happen. There are still many characters to introduce as well, so I’m excited to meet all of them and start getting a feel for their back story.

Where are my AHS fans at? How did you feel about the season premiere? What did you like? What did you hate? Leave me a comment and let’s chat! -Sarah

Oct9

GREAT NEWS!!!!!

Posted on October 9, 2014 by lifewithlilred

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So I am SO happy to tell you guys that I got offered the job at Next!!!!! I start on Sunday! I got the call yesterday, and I am so beyond thrilled. I honestly didn’t think I was going to get the job because it had been a week and a half since my interview, so I deleted their number thinking I wasn’t going to hear back from them. When they called I didn’t recognize the number and almost didn’t pick up – but I’m so glad I did! I want to thank you guys SO much for sending me the good vibes and keeping your fingers crossed for me, because I firmly believe that helped me get the job! Yesterday was so perfect. I had an awesome visit with my guidance counselor, as you read about in I Love College! Part 2! and I got a new job to boot! Could the day get any better? The answer is YES, because the season premier of American Horror Story: Freakshow was on last night!!!!! It was fantastic! However, there were a few parts that I didn’t care for, so keep posted on my page for my review of the episode, which will be up by the end of the day. I’m so happy guys. September was a rough month for me, so I’m really thankful that October has started with a bang. I feel like things are finally coming together. I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be right now, and that really is an amazing feeling. I hope that all of you are experiencing positivity and joy this week. I’ll be sending all of you the good vibes and positive thoughts to keep the good times rollin! If you’d like to check out Next, here’s their website: http://www.ruleofnext.com/ . There’s a bunch of really cool stuff on there, so definitely take a look! I’m so ready for this new and exciting chapter in my life, and I can’t wait to share it with you guys along the way!

Hope you all have a fantastic Thursday! I’d love to hear all about the great things that happened to you today, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! -Sarah

Oct8

I Love College – Part 2!

Posted on October 8, 2014 by lifewithlilred

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It’s not an I love college post without referencing the great Asher Roth at least once…so enjoy this music video and enjoy my post immediately after!

KEG STAND KEG STAND KEG……done already? Whoops. Then I shall proceed with the important stuff!

So I met with my guidance counselor today and she is absolutely FANTASTIC. Seriously we were a match made in heaven. I beyond lucked out when I got paired with her when I called to schedule an appointment. I won’t use her name to ensure her privacy, so we’ll just call her Miss Lady! And let me just say that Miss Lady is an absolute dynamo. Our energy is so alike it’s almost unreal. We’re both extremely enthusiastic and witty, but also straight forward enough that we were able to get legitimate work done amidst all of our first meeting jabber and jokes. I know for a fact that I’ll be on a path to success at Tri-C with Miss Lady by my side. She managed to get me into some classes so I can start them on October 20th rather than in January when the Spring semester starts. Needless to say, I’m THRILLED, because the last thing I wanted to do was have to wait any longer to start some courses. My counselor was genuinely interested in me and my hobbies. When I told her that I’m really into music, she asked me for suggestions on bands I like so that she could listen to them and talk with me about them when I see her next Wednesday for my new student orientation. I thought that was the coolest thing ever – the fact that she wanted to get to know me on a more intimate level than just guidance counselor and student made me feel like we’re going to be friends. Pause. I know we’re going to be friends…..

Jack White thinks so too.

Not only was she interested in my taste in music, but she was interested in my blog as well! She was specifically interested in my fashion sense which sealed our friendship deal right there. Anyone who appreciates my piercings, my freshly dyed bright red hair, and the outfits I throw together can be my friend any day! The personal touches she added to our conversations, like how she was excited to see what I was going to wear next Wednesday made me so excited to start this college chapter in my life. It’s so nice going into a new adventure with somebody on your side. Now I don’t feel so alone and overwhelmed. I feel quite the opposite actually – I feel empowered, I feel ready, I feel like I’m going to be successful. I’ve never felt that way about school before and it’s an AWESOME feeling. For once in my life, I feel really proud of myself. Tri-C – I’m ready for you!!!! Have a fantastic Hump Day everyone! Learn something new. -Sarah

Oct7

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

Posted on October 7, 2014 by lifewithlilred

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One thing I love more than anything in the world is giving and receiving letters. My beloved grandmother (RIP <3) instilled in me at a very young age the power of hand written letters. Growing up, I remember getting so excited to see letters from my grandma in the mail. It wasn’t long before I began to write to her individually and eagerly anticipate a reply back. I loved reading my grandmas beautiful flowing cursive in rich black ink, because she always used brand new ball point pens. I’m actually getting insanely emotional as I type this, because now that my grandma has passed, the letters that I saved from her are even more dear to me. I began thinking about how no one really writes letters anymore while I was writing today to my sweet friend Neva, who you can read all about in my post Thankful. Neva was one of my grandma’s friends, and she’s sort of like my pen pal in between when I visit her. There’s something so beautiful to me about a handwritten note. A note just for you. A note that someone took the time out of their day to sit down and write, because they were thinking about you. That’s just so amazing to me. Whenever I would receive a letter from my grandma or Neva, thoughts like that would fill my head, and make the gift of the letter that much more special to me. The personal touch of a letter is far beyond anything a quick text message, email, or phone call can give you. Whenever I read old notes from my grandma from over a year ago, I can still hear her saying her written words in my head. It’s like an extra special hug from her to reread her telling me that she loves me. What could be better than that? Letters make me happy. It makes me feel good every time I send a letter to Neva, because I know she’s going to open it up and smile at my words. Brightening someones day like that is what I live for. The power of words never ceases to amaze me. Honestly, I’m not sure why people don’t write anymore, especially knowing that writing a quick ten minute note could make someones day. Who wouldn’t take the time to do that? Maybe I’m an old soul at heart, but I’d rather get something handwritten than all this virtual mumbo jumbo any day.

The picture above are just a few of the notes and cards I have saved from my grandma and Neva. I have them tucked safely away in my desk drawer, where I can look at them any time I want. I can’t encourage you guys enough to sit down and write a letter today to someone who means something to you. They’re going to appreciate it more than you know, I can promise you that. Have a lovely Tuesday evening! -Sarah

Oct7

Lil Red Shopping Tips! Part 3!

Posted on October 7, 2014 by lifewithlilred

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My go to place for bras as mentioned in Lil Red Shopping Tips, is none other than Victoria’s Secret. I’ve been absolutely in love with their Dream Angels demi bra collection for years now. Here’s just a small selection of my bra collection:

So gorgeous!!! As you can see, the Dream Angels bras are b-e-a-utiful. On a lot of bras I’ve noticed you have to sacrifice beauty for support – but not these babies. I’m supported and locked and loaded all day every day in all of my bras. They update the designs on the Dream Angels collections constantly, and you can also pick from a push up or demi bra in the DA fit. Definitely take the time to check out this link: https://www.victoriassecret.com/bras/angels-by-victorias-secret where you can shop the Dream Angels collection!

Now a lot of people claim that Victoria’s Secret is too expensive…and they’re absolutely right – if you don’t know how to shop there. My first recommendation is applying for the VS Angel credit card, where you can rack up points according to how much money you spend and earn gift cards every month. I usually earn at least a ten dollar gift card every month when my bill comes. One time I earned a $45 gift card which made for a very fun shopping trip. I used that gift card to purchase my bikini, and only paid EIGHT DOLLARS for the top and bottom. Once you have their credit card, you get a free panty coupon, a ten dollars off a bra coupon, and a free item with a purchase of $75 or more coupon at least every two weeks. That’s a lot of free panties! And with no purchase necessary to get them, your panty drawer will be stocked up in no time.

My second recommendation is entering in your email address every time you make a purchase at VS. The nice thing about their emailing list is that they don’t bombard you with emails. They usually only contact you when something major is going on, like their Semi Annual Sale or to give you some free panty coupons which is always awesome. The more times you enter your email, the more likely it will be for you to get the email coupons rather than sale notifications.

My final recommendation is SHOP THEIR SALES!!!!! Whenever the Semi Annual Sale is happening it’s so easy to stock up on bras, panties, or beauty supplies for a fraction of the original price. During a particularly good haul, I paid twelve dollars for FIVE BOTTLES of my favorite perfume. You won’t find that deal ANYWHERE ELSE, I can promise you that. My mom once walked away with three gorgeous slips and two new bras for about sixty dollars. That’s the price of ONE of their bras. Why pay full price for anything when you don’t have to?! If you’re willing to wait for the sales, you’ll never complain about Victoria’s Secret being too expensive again.

Where are all of my Victoria’s Secret shoppers at? What’s your go to secret for saving money there? If you have any tips, leave me a comment and let’s chat! -Sarah

Oct7

Dancing With The Stars – Week 4!

Posted on October 7, 2014 by lifewithlilred

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It was a solid Middle Aged Monday tonight as we entered week four in Dancing With The Stars. Tonight was the “most memorable year” theme, and there were quite a few dances that really moved me. One of them being Lea Thompson’s Contemporary dance to honor her father. The story of her dance was extremely touching. The year that was most memorable for Thompson was the year of her father’s passing. Herself and her family found out that he had a cancer that spread basically everywhere in his body, and he only had about a week to live. On each day of this week, the family celebrated his birthday, the Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. On the final night of the Christmas celebration, Lea’s father got himself up from his seat and began dancing with her. While Thompson told this story in her package, I cried like a baby. This was SO moving to me, and even more so, as I had my father by my side while watching this. (As you know in my previous posts I mention watching DWTS with my daddy.) I don’t particularly care for Lea Thompson, but this performance definitely was beautifully done, and I really appreciated it. With an almost perfect score of 39, it appears everyone else enjoyed it too! Another dance that I found very emotionally driven and lovely was Janel Parrish’s Rumba to honor her mentor and friend who passed from breast cancer. Usually I don’t care for any of the slower dances performed on DWTS, bring on the sassy sambas and cha chas, but tonight was filled with such beautiful stories that it was hard to ignore these tributes. Miss Parrish can MOVE! The lines in her dancing and the shapes she creates are really stunning – and she looked like an absolute angel tonight. So so gorgeous. One person who I’m particularly sick of this season is Sadie Robertson of the Duck Dynasty family. Lord have mercy on me. Her and her family kind of make me sick. She mentions her father having to approve all of her costumes and whatnot almost every episode – but I’m not really sure how her dad can approve of his daughter gyrating up a storm on national television. It’s actually quite hypocritical. But that’s all I’m going to say about it, because I could voice my opinions on the views of that family for hours. The lovely Miss Betsey Johnson was eliminated tonight, which was so sad! I absolutely love her. Miss girl can move for being 72 years old!!! She was such a bundle of life and joy, and she was so much fun to watch. I definitely applaud her dancing and her vivacious spirit! It was definitely a fun Middle Aged Monday, and I’m looking forward to the celebrity switch up next week!

Where are all of my DWTS fans at? How did you feel about tonights’ episode? Who are your favorites? Who do you hope gets eliminated next week? Leave me a comment and let’s chat! Goodnight. -Sarah

Oct6

Lil Red’s Fall Fashion Obsession!

Posted on October 6, 2014 by lifewithlilred

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My fall fashion staple this year is everything khaki! I think it’s the most fantastic neutral in the whole world. To narrow my obsession down even more, let me specify with these three jackets – which I plan on wearing all fall and winter long!

All three of these coats are from PacSun, the trench coat is Jack and the two pictured on the right are LA Hearts. I bought that gorgeous belted trench when I was 16. I remember seeing it and thinking it was the most beautiful thing in the world. It’s probably the most classic article of clothing I own. Therefore, four years later, I’m still madly in love with it. My favorite way to wear my trench is with a super sharp pair of skinny jeans, knee high boots, and a bowler hat. Whenever I work variations of this outfit, I seriously feel like a model strutting down the streets of New York City. It makes me feel SO chic and stylish. It’s such a simple outfit too, yet so timeless. Ten years from now, when I’m 30, I know I’ll be wearing something similar. My LA Hearts parkas are also fantastic fall staples and layering pieces. The top right jacket was purchased a year ago, and it still remains as my go to fall coat. The contrast between the khaki structure and the charcoal gray sleeves is so alluring to me. And don’t even get me started on the cute Aztec elbow patches! Love. No matter where I go, I always get complimented on this coat. Both right hand pictures are great for layering. I usually pair both of these with a sweater and some type of scarf to tuck into the neckline. When paired with something heavier underneath, I can usually get away with wearing these babies into the snowy winter weather. One thing that I fell in love with about my bottom right coat was the utilitarian feel of it. I liked the symmetry of the two sets of pockets and I thought the toggles on the waist were a really sweet touch. The plainness, for lack of a better word, of this coat really drew me in, because I knew I could pair it with anything and it would look awesome. I’m excited to pair this baby with a dress and tights this fall. Honestly, I’m excited to pair all of these with whatever I want this season, because no matter what, they’re going to go with 100% of my wardrobe. Khaki is a fantastic take on the usual neutrals such as black, brown, gray, or navy. It feels a lot fresher, which is what I really like about it. I’m always on the prowl for the “fresh take” on go to colors or pieces, and I think khaki fits this to the T!

What’s everyone’s go to fall piece? How do you plan on wearing it? How do you make your neutral pieces pop? Leave me a comment and let’s chat! -Sarah

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