Jul16

Born To Ball OOTD

Posted on July 16, 2024 by lifewithlilred

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Today, we’ll be taking a look at a little number that I wore for a lunch date with a few friends this past weekend. It might not look like a classic summer fit with jeans and an All Black Everything aesthetic to which I reply: 1) It’s always cold AF in the Mexican restaurant we went to. And 2) Does an elder emo really let something like summer stand in the way of wearing black? The answer is a resounding NO! Lol, check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Ballin Crop Top: Reason, PacSun

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Platform Heels: These were purchased from ModCloth

Leopard Necklace: Natasha, TJMaxx

Stud Earrings: American Eagle Outfitters

My first job was working retail at PacSun. I started working there at sixteen and stopped in my early twenties when I went to college. Prior to working at Pac, I already had a deep love for fashion and being surrounded by clothes every day helped foster this passion even more. I still have several relics from my time there that I don’t think I could ever part with. As you can see, one of them is my “Ballin” crop top by Reason. I remember when this crop arrived in shipment, thinking that I had to have it, and bought it immediately after my shift. It is so sassy, fun and still looks great for being over a decade old if I do say so myself! I wanted to keep my lunch outing look casual while, as always, still being cute so I began styling my OOTD around it.

Normally, I prefer to wear my crop top with shorts but I didn’t want to freeze my nads off at the restaurant so jeans it was. This crop hits right below the natural waist so I went with my pair of skinnies by 1822 Denim. These were a recent purchase from TJMaxx and are my new go tos – peep that adorable distressing at the ankle! Even if these jeans weren’t my favorite, I would have worn them anyways because of the fit. These skinnies have a very slight high waist which worked perfectly with the top. It still showed some skin but no more than what I was comfortable with and it gave a peek a boo pop to the tattoos on my sides and back.

Next, it was onto shoes and accessories. Because of the minimal color palette, I wanted to add something bold for jewelry. I chose a chunky and blinged out necklace by Natasha featuring a leopard head nestled between the gold chain. I don’t think it gets bolder than that so I put on a small pair of gold dangly studs to let the statement necklace do all of the talking. For shoes, I selected one of my favorite pairs of platforms from ModCloth. They are so ideal for summertime and the pattern and necklace gave some visual interest from top to bottom to keep the eyes dancing. With that, I was ready to get my Margarita on!

So there you have it! My Born To Ball OOTD. Stay tuned for lots more fashion and fun on lifewithlilred!

What was your first job? What was your favorite store to shop at as a teenager? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul15

Johnny’s Record Shelf

Posted on July 15, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! One of the gifts that I gave to Johnny for his birthday this past June was a new record player. Oddly enough, we had three in the apartment that were his old relics and none of them worked lol. It has been so nice to have a functional record player again and we have loved playing music and board games and hanging out in our game room. The only thing that wasn’t ideal was housing the records. Johnny’s collection is extensive and by that I mean, he has over three hundred vinyls! Thankfully, Johnny came up with an ingenious solution to this issue and he built it all by himself – and some help from his dad. 🙂 Check it out:

Ever since our new record player arrived in the mail, Johnny got to work by organizing his collection and giving the game room a deep clean. We soon found that no amount of rearranging or condensing was going to give the records a true home, though. So Johnny turned his attention to the closet and decided that it would work perfectly. He definitely had big things in mind because rather than going to the store to buy some shelves, he thought he would make them instead. He took measurements, sketched a plan, bought all of the lumber and supplies, and dedicated a day during our staycation to build them with his dad. Johnny is a handy guy, but this was on a whole other level and I was very impressed!

Johnny’s dad has an amazing workshop and they spent an afternoon cutting, drilling, and doing what needed to be done so Johnny could take the parts home and assemble them with screws. When I returned home from my outing later that day, I found Johnny in the game room putting the final touches on his handiwork. I honestly couldn’t believe my own eyes when I saw it! The shelves were sturdy, fit just right in our closet, and turned the endless crates of records into an actual display. I know I was proud of the accomplishment, but it was even better to see Johnny so proud of it too. He put a lot of time and effort into this project and worked really hard to make it happen. Our game room is the best ever because of it. ❤

The record shelves Johnny built were a win in so many ways. He got to spend time with his dad, our game room looks awesome, and he found a new hobby too. Johnny enjoyed the build so much that he plans on trying his hand at cornhole boards next. I can’t wait!

Have you done any projects around the house recently? How did they turn out? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul14

New Rachel Zoe Handkerchief Top

Posted on July 14, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! I had a lovely outing with myself during my break on Tuesday doing some shopping at TJMaxx with a birthday gift card. It was definitely hard going back to work after some time off so it was the perfect little treat! During this shopping trip, I lucked out with two new clearance finds that I am loving. You saw the fabulous sweater dress yesterday and, today, we are going to be looking at an adorable little number by Rachel Zoe. It features all of my favorite things – A chartreuse color, fun bling, and a handkerchief cut which is one of my go tos. This top was thirteen dollars and is a small price to pay for a top that truly screams summer in all of its citrusy glory. Check it out:

Unless I am shopping for something very specific, I let the garments do the talking at TJMaxx. When I am browsing, I am looking simply for what catches my eye. It could be a quirky pattern or color or an interesting cut or material, my only requirement is that it makes me do a double take. As I perused the clearance racks, I noticed something sparkly and realized that the bright orange and yellow gemstones were the “sleeves” to a top. I was instantly intrigued and was even more so when I saw what the bling was holding up – a little chartreuse masterpiece. AND the only one in store, thank you very much. 😀

Literally just looking at this top made me happy because it is the answer to the question “what if sunshine was a shirt?” It is bright, poppy, and as if lemon lime soda became a handkerchief top. I have quite a few different options of this style in my wardrobe, but none quite like this. And, yes, it is all because of the gem spaghetti straps! It adds such a playful touch to a more revealing top and, in my opinion, makes it sweet rather than too sexy. The sheen of the fabric against the bling bling is a dazzling display and I feel SO lucky to have found it. I cannot wait to wear it ASAP with jean shorts or a sassy black and white bodycon skirt (Chunky platforms are a given!)!

Although I am by no means a fan of summer, this new top might help the cause a bit. I don’t think anyone, myself included, could wear it and not want to have some fun in the sun!

What catches your eye when you’re shopping? What is your favorite color to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul13

New Heartloom Sweater Dress

Posted on July 13, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! For my thirtieth birthday, my parents gave me the most perfect prezzie – a TJMaxx gift card! It has been burning a hole in my pocket since and I finally got the chance to spend it during a low key afternoon this past week. While I love to shop at TJs at the turn of each season, I also love to shop during the in between too. Who am I kidding? I love to shop there all of the time! But, during this interim period of “still summer but not quite back to school” is when they bring out the more unique pieces that might not have sold well before. You can really find some clearance treasures during these non-peak shopping times and I definitely did! I am obsessed with this new sweater dress by Heartloom that I got marked down for twenty dollars. I can’t wait to wear it to the next Misnyland picnic I’ll be working! Check it out:

During mine and Johnny’s Fourth of July staycation, we had a Date Day and went vintage shopping and antiquing. I walked away with some fabulous new accessories, but no clothes. However, the clothes we saw deeply inspired me and I still find myself thinking about some of the amazing pieces a week later! As I browsed the “anything goes” clearance section, I literally clutched my pearls when I stumbled upon this sweater dress by Heartloom. It was the only one in store, happened to be in my size, and looked like it was straight out of a 1970s fashion magazine. I was totally and completely sold and I hadn’t even tried it on yet.

I simply adore this dress because it is just so different and retro. It turned a classic sweater dress on its head with the short sleeves, huge buttons, and funky raised pattern. And can we please talk about how the color palette looks like every kitchen appliance from the 70s?! SO fun. As soon as this dress was on, it was a certified winner and I was delighted to find something new to wear to the upcoming picnic event. I plan on sporting this dress with a gorgeous pair of pebble grey knee high boots and some statement earrings for a modern take on vintage staples. Crossing an OOTD off my to do list: Check. 😀

A TJMaxx gift card is the way to my heart and all I have to say is – thanks for the new dress mom and dad! You’re the best! ❤

When is your favorite time of the year to shop? What era of fashion inspires you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul12

Mini Golf Fun

Posted on July 12, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! During mine and Johnny’s Fourth of July staycation, we did ALL of the activities. One of my favorites was going mini golfing together with my brother. We hopped into the Little Red Love Machine and headed to Fun n’ Stuff, which is an amusement center in my neck of the woods. There’s a little something for everyone young and old at Fun n’ Stuff – arcade games, laser tag, roller skating, bumper cars and boats, go karts, and two huge mini golf courses. The mini golf set up is awesome and has a pirate and dinosaur themed course. There were fun surprises scattered throughout like animatronic dinos, an octopus that shoots water, and challenging twists and turns with each put! Check it out:

In my neck of the woods, there aren’t too many mini golf courses in a close vicinity. The only other one within a fifteen mile radius is called Downview and it is not the best lol. It is small, expensive, and can be completed in under a half hour. At Fun n’ Stuff, the pricing was infinitely better and you got so much more for it. For a whopping eight dollars and fifty cents, you could play the two mini golf courses for as long as you’d like. It took us at least an hour and a half to finish both the dinosaur and pirate courses and it was worth every penny!

Visually, the dinosaur course was a lot more appealing and the gigantic moving dinosaurs really stole the show. I also loved the smoking and steaming volcano. However, I think I liked playing the pirate course more because it was just cool! Putting the ball through cannons, going on the pirate ship, and the skull tunnel with glowing eyes really spoke to me. So much so that I actually won the game with fifty-three strokes on the pirate course which literally never happens. Let’s just say I lack finesse when it comes to the subtle art of put put golf! I am pleased to report that between both courses I got FOUR hole in ones so it was a banner day for yours truly. We definitely plan on going back before the summer is out. 😀

Mini golf is one of my favorite summertime activities and I am so glad we got to squeeze it into our staycation. There is nothing like some good competitive fun and next time we go back I am manifesting a win on both courses!!

What is one of your favorite summer outings? Are there any cool mini golf courses in your area? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul11

Date Day OOTD Bloopers

Posted on July 11, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hellooo beautiful people and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Date Day OOTD! Johnny and I had some absolutely glorious time off for Fourth of July and it was such a treat. During a normal workweek, we only ever make plans for the weekend. In one week, it was like we squeezed a month’s worth of weekends in and we had a blast! It was so nice to enjoy the summer weather and it was perfect last week. It was never overly hot which is exactly what your favorite vampire couple needs. On Tuesday afternoon we took a stroll through an outdoor shopping center and, of course, I needed to find a brick wall to post in front of for some OOTD shots. And, yes, bloopers too:

JUST STANDING HERE!

Something STANK

Lol, just going to leave this one here!

Foot popping Expectations VS Reality. An expose in four parts:

^^^ The face of sheer concentration lol.

It is a very rare occasion that I call off of work because, first and foremost, I freaking love my jobs and secondly, I am self employed. The whole no PTO thing can be a massive pain! A lament I’ve had this summer is how awesome life would be if we still got a summer vacation lol. Could you imagine three months of nonstop fun?! It would be a dream! Then, Johnny blessedly had a week and change off for the holiday and I knew that it was my big chance for a summer staycation too. I worked a few shifts as well as online, but a majority of our time was spent with our version of fun in the sun.

We did a little bit of this and a little bit of that during our staycay. There was shopping, mini golf, running around the park like crazy people with our nieces, and catching up with our friends. We had some delicious meals out and I had time to cook a delicious meal myself! When we weren’t out and about, Johnny and I spent a lot of time in our game room that he has been working so hard on. We listened to records, played cards and Scrabble, or just sat and talked. It was a novelty to hang out somewhere other than our living room and we were still able to monitor our mischievous little bunnies for maximum safety! ❤

I loved every minute of my staycay with Johnny and am so glad we had the opportunity to have done so. I was able to turn my summer blahs into boo-yeahs and can’t wait for more adventures!

What is something fun you have done this summer? Where is your dream vacation location? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul10

Date Day OOTD

Posted on July 10, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Today, we are going to take a look at what I wore for a Date Day with Johnny during our Fourth of July staycation. It really was a fantastic week of time off for Johnny and partial time off for me. We definitely struggled going back to work when it was all said and done, but that’s a small price to pay for all of the memories we made and fun we had. Every day was something new during our staycation and one of my favorite parts was date day, for sure. I love getting dolled up and stepping out with my main squeeze and this was my look for strolling around an outdoor shopping area:

Who? What? Wear?

Flower Embroidered Top: Love On A Hanger, TJMaxx

Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Embroidered Platforms: Sbicca, ModCloth

Forest Green Floppy Hat: Gypsy Warrior, PacSun

I have no clue where the daisy earrings came from lol

My main issue with dressing for the summertime is because summer fashion bores me! I live for styling layered looks during the cold weather and my wardrobe is very tailored to the fall and winter. What I do love about summer weather is that I can show off my tattoos because they spend a majority of the year covered up. Every time summer rolls around I find myself amazed by all of the ink that I genuinely forgot I had. Out of sight, out of mind right?! I consider my tattoos to be accessories and with so many on my person, I always find it’s best to keep my summer outfits simple. Anything more is honestly visually overwhelming!

With simplicity in mind, I went for one of my favorite warm weather tops by Love On A Hanger. It screams classic summer vibes and there are just so many fun things about it. The cut, the embroidery, and the peplum all work together so well and it is one of my go to tops. To keep with the classic aesthetic, I paired it with some cute denim shorts from American Eagle Outfitters. With this top, there is truly not a better way to go and makes for a look that could be recreated so easily from your own wardrobe. Adorable and attainable. 😀

For shoes, I went with a pair of denim embroidered platforms and that helped create cohesiveness from top to bottom. I also adore the stud detailing on them! Because this OOTD flowed beautifully thanks to the established palette, I knew I could add in some extra touches and get away with it. As a pop of color and bonus protection from the sunshine, I put on a forest green floppy hat by Gypsy Warrior. I love a floppy hat so very much and this one helped elevate the look into something more special. As a final surprise, I popped on a darling pair of huge daisy stud earrings and I was ready for my date!

This Date Day OOTD kept me comfortable in the heat while still making me feel my best. Amazing moments deserve amazing outfits!

What is your perfect date day? How do you stay cool in the summertime? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul9

A Signature Antiques Accessories

Posted on July 9, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Johnny and I enjoyed some amazing time off for the Fourth of July week. It was much needed and we were able to jam pack our schedule full of outings and pencil in some time to relax too. One of my favorite things we did during our staycation was a Date Day this past Tuesday. We went shopping in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls AKA the Riverfront and then had drinks and a snack at the Cashmere Cricket. It is our favorite bar because it’s awesome lol and it’s where we had our first date! It was a perfect day and I loved being able to check out all of the fantastic vintage and antique shops along the Riverfront. The best one was, hands down, A Signature Antiques. If I had all of the money in the world, I would have bought everything! Alas, I don’t but I couldn’t leave without the following:

The first thing that really caught my eye in A Signature was the stunning black choker necklace with chains and dangling jewels. It was displayed on a mannequin head and I literally clutched my pearls when I saw it. I love choker necklaces but I have never found one that I fell in love with. There was a point a few years ago when they were a HUGE trend. However (And I hate to say this!), I always thought the simple style chokers looked a bit basic. I definitely needed to find one with extravagance and my “new” vintage choker checks all the boxes. It is my favorite color, has so much drama, and makes a stunning addition to my jewelry collection. I cannot wait to plan an OOTD with it as the focal point. 😀

My next purchase was a pair of adorable, blinged out butterfly sunglasses. They remind me SO much of the 90s (Aging myself here!) and the online fashion dolls that you could customize outfits for. I think these sunglasses are just the tops. The shape and decorative crystals are so bold but there is something about them that feels classic and chic. They literally make me feel like a 90s/early 2K pop star and it truly doesn’t get any better than that! I am also really looking forward to styling an OOTD with these stunner shades. I’m thinking baggy jeans and a tiny little crop top for sure!!

These new accessories totally fall under the “treat yourself” category and they are lovely staycation souvenirs from the best date day! ❤

What is your favorite era of fashion? How about your favorite era of music? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul8

Bath & Body Works Wallflower Haul

Posted on July 8, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hi!! I had a fantastic haul from Bath & Body Works compliments of their Semi Annual Sale. For forty dollars, I got twenty products and it just doesn’t get better than that. Especially when you consider that the price of one full size product tends to be between fourteen and sixteen dollars. Score! The last of the haul we will discuss today is my new selection of Wallflowers. I have a love/hate relationship with them. I love how they look and the idea of them. However, I don’t think they work the best but I am too deep into the game to stop buying them lol. Let’s take a look and see what these scents are all about:

Would I Use Again?

Sheer Peach: YES

Country Apple: YES

Aloha Kiwi Passionfruit: MAYBE

Fiji White Sands: YES

Gingham Unstoppable: YES

Spring Clothesline: NO

Why/Why Not?

Peach/Apple: Two of my most beloved scents are peach and apple. I am a fruity fragrance kind of gal and there is a ninety-nine percent chance that I will like anything with these two fruits in the name. If you love really pure fruit fragrances, the Sheer Peach and Country Apple are great ways to go. They are straight up, no chaser peach and apple with nothing else added in. These wallflowers are bright and refreshing and I would happily buy each again.

Aloha Kiwi Passionfruit: I have used this scent of wallflower a few times because my Johnny loves a tropical fragrance. It has notes of “Tropical passionfruit, radiant kiwi, and juicy pineapple”. The pineapple was what I could pick up on the most and although it’s nice, it is a bit too subtle for my liking. I’m glad that I got another wallflower of this fragrance on the cheap, but I don’t think I would get it again immediately for the sake of trying something new next time.

Fiji White Sands: Now, this scent is one I liked a lot! Fiji White Sands is crisp, clean, and smells like a day at the beach. The fragrance notes feature “Fresh cut sugarcane, white nectarine, and sandalwood”. I could smell the nectarine perfectly and loved that it added some fruitiness to such a fresh fragrance. I took a roll of the dice when I added this wallflower to my shopping cart because it’s something I wouldn’t normally go for. The risk paid off because this is actually my favorite one from the wallflower haul!

Gingham Unstoppable: A resounding YES for Gingham Unstoppable and you can read my review here. 🙂

Spring Clothesline: There was bound to be a dud or two in this haul and that just so happened to be Spring Clothesline. I assumed I was going to get a scent like freshly laundered clothes. What I got was really pungent and I felt like I was huffing laundry detergent when I did the smell test lol. The notes of Spring Clothesline offers “Lemon water, sun dried blossoms, and golden amber”. I can’t speak for any of that because I couldn’t smell any of it lol. All I got was a nose full of Tide!

I am really happy with my Wallflower Haul and am actually impressed with the success rate of it. You just never know what you’re going to get when you shop fragrances online!

Do you use any type of scent plugin at chez vous? What is your favorite one? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul7

Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo Taste Alike Recipe

Posted on July 7, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo Taste Alike Recipe

Howdy!! Johnny took me to the Olive Garden for my thirtieth birthday celebration and it was simply divine. It was a Middle Class Fancy night on the town, indeed, and the Fettuccine Alfredo from the OG is never far from my mind lol. So much so that I just had to find a taste alike recipe for it. This past Wednesday, I tried my hand at a recipe submitted on Food. by Robbie Rice. I am pleased to report that it was, hands down, the best taste alike recipe I have ever made. I felt like I literally ordered takeout from the Olive Garden after one bite! Check it out:

The Fettuccine Alfredo recipe was an incredibly easy one to make. It required under ten ingredients and the preparation was just a matter of stirring them together. The only things that I did differently was add a healthy amount of minced garlic to the butter as it melted. And when I say “healthy” I mean six cloves lol I love me my garlic! I am also really glad that I did because I think the sauce would have been too bland without it. The other modification I made was using way more black pepper than the one teaspoon the recipe called for. However, it wasn’t enough! I still needed a bit more salt and pepper with each serving so I would definitely recommend taste testing the sauce a few times until you get the flavor to your liking.

This recipe took about twenty minutes to make and by the time I was done, Johnny and I were SO ready to dig in. We were both in carbohydrate heaven and savored every single bite. The Alfredo sauce was rich, creamy, and absolutely perfect. In fact, Johnny told me he liked this rendition of the recipe even better than the Fettuccine Alfredo at the Olive Garden. No shade to the OG, but I have to agree. Yes, it’s nice to go out to eat. What we love the most, though, is a home cooked meal and this gave us the best of both worlds. I cannot wait to make this again – especially when my dad has a more bountiful harvest of parsley from his garden for the garnish!

If you are as fond of the Fettuccine Alfredo from the Olive Garden as I am, then you have to try this recipe out. You are going to be in for such a treat!

What is one of your favorite taste alike recipes? Have you tried cooking something new recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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