Dec5

Ugh Bug

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Ugh Bug

Hello!! I have often found that there comes a point a few times a year where the metaphorical wall has been hit. And, rather than allowing myself to have a break like a rational person, I just keep pushing myself. Then, my body decides for me when it’s time for a reprise lol. This is exactly what happened this past Tuesday. After a strenuous fourteen hour day on Monday, the Ugh Bug hit me and I was down for the count. At least I had some company because Johnny caught it too so we were down for the count together. 😀

On Tuesday morning, I was feeling great. I woke up, took care of the bunnies, showered, and began my normal work routine. Then, literally out of nowhere, everything went horribly wrong. While I was on the phone, I started getting really nauseous. I chalked it up to having too much coffee and switched to sipping on water. Then, as I was back on the phone a few minutes later, it turned into “oh no” and the conversation blessedly ended in time for me to get to the bathroom. Small miracles, people!

This is going to be TMI but guys, I legit erupted like a geyser. Lol, in that moment, I knew it was time to put my pajamas back on and call it a day. In between bathroom breaks, I finished the work I could online and then became one with my couch. I watched Degrassi as well as the new Netflix documentary on JonBenet Ramsey. And, can I please just say, I’m going to solve the damn case myself. I. Need. ANSWERS. But, that’s neither here nor there.

Anywho, Johnny returned home as I laid in my own misery feeling just as awful as I was. In fact, he was probably worse off than me because he was experiencing a fever and chills too. In this case, yes. Misery does love company! After going to bed really early, we both woke up on Wednesday morning feeling about fifty percent better. That’s not good enough to go to work, so as I type this he is playing Call of Duty lol. It feels incredibly weird with us both being home in the middle of the work week but I’m glad we caught the Ugh Bug before the holidays. As I said, small miracles!

In conclusion, if you are feeling rundown: Take it easy or you’re going to end up in this exact same situation!

Do you get sick often? What makes you feel better when you are under the weather? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec4

1500 Day Duolingo Streak!!

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1500 Day Duolingo Streak!!

Howdy!!! As most of you know, I thrive on having a strict routine. It brings me a lot of comfort to know ahead of time what my day is going to look like and I rarely stray far from it outside of the weekend. Knowing that I live for a good schedule, it should not come as a surprise that there is nothing more pleasing to me than a good streak. No, not running naked through the neighborhood, but doing something regularly and tracking the days! My most recent accomplishment for a streak happened this past weekend when I hit 1500 days in a row on Duolingo:

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I always say that if I had a super power, I would want to be fluent in every language in the world. I would love to be able to communicate with people in any language that they are most comfortable with! While I am not there yet lol, I have to say that Duolingo has been a great asset. For over FOUR YEARS now, I have woken up every morning and completed at least one practice session of French. It comes as naturally as my daily early morning Facebook check and I have never forgotten or faltered. Probably because the owl would blow up my phone if I did!

Because of massive time restraints, I don’t get to work on Spanish, Italian, German, and Czech as often as I would like. However, I am always pleased with my recollection when I can squeeze in a multilingual practice. And, I am extremely happy with how my French has advanced over time. I have studied French literally since high school and it has been my dream for as long as I can remember to go to France. Will I ever get there? Who’s to say? But I love that I would feel comfortable with my communication if Johnny and I treat ourselves to a very belated honeymoon. 😀

Thanks to the handy Duolingo app, I get to start my mornings off right with something I enjoy so much. I can’t wait till my next milestone!

Which languages do you speak? Which languages would you like to learn? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec3

“New” Vintage Brooches

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“New” Vintage Brooches

Hello!!! Johnny’s mom and aunts have been in the process of sorting, organizing, and clearing out old stored away items in their respective homes. Every time we have made a visit recently, we have been gifted with vintage finds including some amazing lamps and gorgeous fashion accessories. Our Thanksgiving get together was no exception to this and I was presented with two vintage brooches from one of Johnny’s aunts. I literally clutched my pearls when I opened the box and saw them! Check it out:

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Now, I don’t wear brooches very often. However, I LOVE to collect them and have quite a few from my grandma. They are the perfect, pretty, shiny little somethings in my jewelry box and just seeing them is enough to give me all the sentimental warm fuzzies. What’s that old saying? Gemstones are a girl’s best friend?! Despite not being a brooch wearer, I am an avid brooch appreciator so I was thrilled to see the heart adorned feather and sparkly, not spooky spider!

While the feather brooch offers obvious beauty, it should not come as a shock that the spider was the piece de resistance of these hand me downs. It’s the spooky/girly aesthetic to the T and it delighted me and Johnny. As soon as we returned home from our Thanksgiving celebration, both brooches were placed in a very special spot of my jewelry box. It is so cool to have these bits and baubles that belonged to people I love so much and I can’t wait to see what Johnny’s mom and aunts dig up during their next treasure hunt. 😀

Out with the old and in with the… new to me old! These brooches are everything and I am living for the vintage collection I have been compiling!

Do you have any vintage or antique items? Where is your favorite spot for secondhand shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec2

Date Night OOTD Bloopers

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Date Night OOTD Bloopers

Howdy everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Date Night OOTD! Johnny and I live for a good date night and our favorite is, hands down, Middle Class Fancy night. AKA getting dressed up, going to a chain restaurant, drinking several weak cocktails, and having a meal that is never the best or the worst either. There is just something so fun about it and our Olive Garden outing was everything I wanted it to be and so much more. These pictures, though? Not so much!

In the words of Johnny “you’re standing in a puddle of wet”

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Clearly unphased by it!!!!

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Very blurry because I NEEDED the OG and was fading fast

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What’s cookin, good lookin? 😉

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Easy, breezy, beautiful Olive Garden

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I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Just out here modeling my little heart out!

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We celebrated Thanksgiving with Johnny’s parents and aunt on Wednesday and a wonderful time was had by all. Especially during the game portion of the evening. After every holiday gathering, we always play some type of game together and Johnny decided to shake things up this year. And shake things up he did because he got Cards Against Humanity to bring to the festivities!

I have actually never played Cards Against Humanity, but I knew it was like a raunchy version of Apples To Apples. So, good thing I played my first round with Johnny’s entire family lol. Early into the game, I said it felt like watching a movie that has a steamy sex scene with your parents. However, once we all shook off the initial awkwardness, we were in stitches. Johnny laughed so hard that he cried several times! Yes, the prompts and responses in the game were hilarious. When combined with Johnny’s parents reading them, it turned into comedy gold. We legit can’t wait to play it again at Christmas. 😀

The moral of the story? If you are questioning whether playing Cards Against Humanity with your parents is a good idea, rest assured it is the BEST idea! Family game night will never be the same!

What is your favorite game? Do you have game nights regularly? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec1

Date Night OOTD

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Date Night OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This past Friday, Johnny and I enjoyed a Middle Class Fancy night on the town at the Olive Garden. I was looking forward to it all week and it did not disappoint. The OG never does! Of course, it wouldn’t be date night if Johnny and I didn’t get spruced up so I had to put together a little something something. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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Who? What? Wear?

Blazer: Express, Goodwill

Cami Top: mittoshop, French Rooster

Coated Skinny Jeans: Seven Jeans, TJMaxx

Dagger Earrings: Spirit Halloween

The heeled boots were purchased forever ago at Target!

By the time Johnny and I returned home from work, we were pretty hungry so we did a mad dash to get ready. As I applied my makeup, I began sorting through my mental wardrobe Rolodex so I wouldn’t have to spend time browsing my selection. I decided to go the blazer route and I had just the one in mind: A four dollar Express blazer from the Goodwill. It was an incredible find and I feel like a sexy, sophisticated, woman on the go whenever I wear it. So, clearly, it was perfect for date night!

For underneath the blazer, I went with a pretty oyster shell hued cami top by mittoshop. The soft color and the lace looked so pretty and delicate under the jet black blazer! I love how girly and sweet this top is and the lace serves as an accessory in itself – no necklaces required. This top also incorporated some sheen, which was exactly what I needed for the jeans I planned on wearing.

I chose my favorite pair of coated, snakeskin patterned skinnies by Seven Jeans and the sheen from the top and pants flowed beautifully together. Despite the blazer being plain, it was still the focal point of the outfit. It essentially gave me a blank canvas to play with different textures and patterns for what was worn underneath without negatively impacting the overall look. The visual interest from both the jeans and top turned a plain black blazer into something special.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. I popped on a dangly pair of daggers with red gemstones to elongate my neck as it was the only skin showing. And, because of the lace on the top, a necklace wasn’t necessary. So, I wrapped up the look with a pair of heeled boots from Target that are literally old as dirt lol. In fact, I realized I should probably throw them out! But, they added height, kept with the established palette, and I just love the curved shape of the heel. With that, I was date night ready!

Johnny and I had the best time on our Middle Class Fancy extravaganza and I can’t wait for our next night out together! ❤

Where is your favorite place to go on a date? What is your Middle Class Fancy favorite? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov30

November 2024 Finishes

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November 2024 Finishes

Hello everyone!!! November is wrapping up and, goodness me, did it go by quick!! Another month is officially in the books, which means that it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes. Were there many? Not really. Are they worth blogging about? Absolutely! There has been a game changer to one of my least favorite Bath & Body Works products and I am SO there for it!! Take a look and let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Bath & Body Works Poppy Body Cream: YES

Provence Beauty Hyaluronic Acid Serum: NO

Bath & Body Works Hand Creams: YES!

Why/Why Not?

Provence Beauty Serum: The Hyaluronic Acid Serum by Provence Beauty was nothing to write home about. In fact, I like it even less now after falling in love with another hyaluronic acid serum (Which you read about in yesterday’s post). After twice daily use of the Provence Beauty serum for a month any improvements were unnoticeable. This is in stark comparison to the results I saw in one use of the CEO Of H20 serum! The Provence Beauty one is definitely a product you can skip on.

B&BW Hand Cream: I often get coupons for a free hand cream from Bath & Body Works and, although they aren’t my favorite, free is free! I wouldn’t say the hand creams by B&BW are bad, but they’re just not as good as the traditional lotion or body cream. However, after using my most recent freebies of Platinum and Vanilla Romance, I feel much differently. B&BW must have changed the formula because the hand cream was WAY better than it was before. It was rich, creamy, thicker in texture and my hands/upper body were smooth as silk after each use. I finished both tubes within a week and even if they don’t last very long, I will be happy when I get another freebie coupon in the mail. This was a stellar improvement and they would make great stocking stuffers!

Was this the best month for Beauty Empties? Nope! But Bath & Body Works made my freebie treats even better and that is a GREAT SUCCESS!

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov29

Purifect CEO Of H20 Serum Review

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Purifect CEO Of H20 Serum Review

Hello! Nothing pleases me more than a good skin care haul. It just feels like such a treat to browse through the skin care department of TJMaxx and pick out new brands and old favorites. I enjoy my skin care routine every morning and night and it is one of the small ways that I try to incorporate self care into my day. I have been using a lot of new to me products recently and can’t say that any of them have particularly blown me away. However, I started using a serum by Purifect in the past two or so weeks and I cannot get enough of it! Let’s discuss:

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^^^ I just love the picture so much lol

Out of all of the different types of skin care, I probably strike out the most with serums. I have had some tried and true favorites in the past but the ones I have been using in my stockpile have done nothing for me. Upon my first use of the CEO Of H20 serum, I was expecting more of the same lackluster sentiments. To my surprise, I was treated to the best serum I have tried out in recent memory. Even if it wasn’t, it was the best marketing I have seen in recent memory! 😀

When it comes to serums, I am very particular about the consistency. I don’t like when they’re too thin or too thick. They have to be just right! The Purifect serum had a much heavier consistency than my usual preference and it felt more like a gel. In this case, I freaking loved it! I am a huge fan of gel moisturizers and revel in that instant boost of hydration. CEO Of H20 was that exact same feeling but in serum form. It applied like a dream, a dime sized dollop was all I needed, and it still absorbed really fast.

The best part? My skin has been GLOWING. Like seriously glowing. Every time I use it, this permanently tired girl looks like she got twelve hours of beauty sleep. My skin looks so much brighter and supple and I know it’s not good to touch your face but sometimes I can’t help myself. It is WAY softer too!! This is the first serum I can recall that has given me instant effects and I simply can’t recommend it enough.

The CEO Of H20 serum by Purifect is aptly named and you have just got to try it if you are on the hunt for a good serum too. In fact, this is the one product I plan on ordering online in case I don’t find it again at TJMaxx. It is that good!

What is your favorite brand of skin care? What is your go to serum? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov28

Happy Thanksgiving!!

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Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hello everyone and Happy Thanksgiving!!! Today is one of my favorite days of the year and I am so looking forward to celebrating with mine and Johnny’s family. I am sure that all of you have grand plans for the day so I don’t want to take up too much of your time! But what kind of blogger would I be if I didn’t give an extra special holiday shout out to my dear readers? You already know I am infinitely thankful for all of you!!

lifewithlilred has been going strong for a decade and change and I still have a really hard time believing that. During this extensive tenure, you have been with me for every update, accomplishment, disappointment, and life changes and I think that is really cool. In fact, it’s what motivates me to keep up with daily content because I know that you are out there, somewhere reading it. My blog is just as much mine as it is yours and my biggest hope is that people smile when they stumble upon my corner of the internet.

The blogosphere is a beautiful thing and it has the power to bring people together. My blog gifted me with my best friend in the world and has brought people into my life that I would have never known otherwise. I was extremely lonely when I started lifewithlilred and the blogging community really helped remedy that. From Akron, Ohio, I am able to say that I have friends all over the world and my gratefulness for that knows no bounds.

Thank you to all of you for being my friend. Thank you to all of you for stopping by my page and being with me. Happy Thanksgiving to all! ❤

Nov27

Let’s Dish: Thanksgiving Food

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Let’s Dish: Thanksgiving Food

Hello!! I have literally been looking forward to Thanksgiving since last Thanksgiving. And, when Thanksgiving is over, I eagerly await Christmas because my family just does Thanksgiving dinner Round Two. In case you haven’t noticed, I freaking LOVE Thanksgiving food and it makes me sad that I only get to indulge in this passion twice a year lol. And, indulge I shall. Let’s Dish on some Thanksgiving staples that I will definitely be going in for seconds (or tenths!) on:

ALL The Yes:

Green Bean Casserole:

There are some people who absolutely detest green bean casserole and that’s fine – you can just give it all to me! This is one of my designated dishes to prepare and, I hate to brag, but I knock it out of the park every time. It is SO easy to make, tastes divine, and is my all time favorite Thanksgiving food.

Stuffing:

Stuffing is also one of the sides on my To Cook list and, once again, I hate to toot my own horn but it is always bomb AF. I load mine up with celery, onions, tons of garlic, and freestyle the herbs. The trick is to not make it too dry or moist so I am very careful when adding in the vegetable stock. I also add a few pads of butter over top of the stuffing before sticking it in the oven and it has never not turned out just right.

Any Form of Potatoes:

Potatoes are a beautiful thing, aren’t they? No matter how they’re made, I like it all! My mom makes the best homemade mashed potatoes and it is the perfect blend of not too creamy but not too chunky either. And, of course, I can’t get enough of sweet potatoes! While I prefer them plain with a bit of butter, my mother-in-law makes a dynamite sweet potato casserole that I always look forward to. 🙂

ALL The No:

Turkey:

As a vegetarian, turkey is a very obvious no. However, even if I did it meat it would still be a no lol. I genuinely don’t even remember what turkey tastes like. What I do know, is that I don’t think I ever liked it because it was never on my plate when I was a kid!

Cranberry Sauce:

Is it weird that I have never tried cranberry sauce? Guys, I just can’t do it. It’s not so much the way it looks, although that is part of it. It’s mainly a texture thing. It’s one of those foods that I know for a fact I won’t like so I don’t bother. And, at thirty years old, I don’t plan on bothering because I’ve lasted this long without it.

Pumpkin Pie:

HARD no. The only time I have ever tried pumpkin pie is when one of my old client’s brother insisted I take a bite. It was awful! The flavor. The texture. Everything. Even with half a canister of whipped cream on one bite!! I mean, if you like baby food then what a treat lol.

Side dishes reign supreme on my Thanksgiving and I simply can’t wait to dig in! 😀

What is your favorite and least favorite Thanksgiving food? What are your plans for the holiday? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov26

Middle Class Fancy Date Night

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Middle Class Fancy Date Night

Hello!!! While driving home from a particularly long day last Monday, I was already looking forward to the weekend lol. Of course, I was eager to relax but I also wanted to do something fun with Johnny. So, I decided on treating us to a Middle Class Fancy Date Night. I also knew exactly where I wanted to go because I had been craving it something fierce: the Olive Garden! Johnny and I haven’t been there since my thirtieth birthday and the Fettuccine Alfredo was calling my name. As soon as I got home, I announced the Friday night plan and we were excited for it the whole week. We had the best time, even if this picture of Johnny makes you think otherwise:

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There are countless amazing restaurants in our general vicinity that aren’t part of a chain and that’s fantastic. However, Middle Class Fancy nights are all about embracing the chains and we both have our preferred spots. Johnny loves Outback Steakhouse and the Olive Garden is never not far from my mind. A vegetarian can never go wrong with pasta! After work on Friday, we both took a half hour or so to get spruced up and then we made our way to the OG on a rainy afternoon. Despite the weather, it was all sunshine and rainbows in my world because we come alive during date night!

For our meal, we ordered our old standbys: Fettuccine Alfredo for me and the same for Johnny except with chicken. We gorged on our pasta, soup, and bread sticks and sipped on tasty cocktails. The entire time we were at dinner, we chatted away and at some points were in hysterics laughing in our cozy corner booth. This is exactly why I love date night – being in any date style setting with Johnny forever will bring me back to our first date. That feeling that we could talk and laugh until it was time for the restaurant to close and wanting the night to last forever.

After we finished our delicious meal, we had one final stop to make before we could retire home to get comfy: The Exchange. Johnny’s pay day treat to himself is a couple of new records so this was a necessity. He selected a few for himself and then surprised me with a record for my minuscule collection: Rio by Duran Duran. I am an avid Duran Duran fan and as soon as I pointed the record out to Johnny, he plucked it from the shelf and added it to the “To Buy” pile. It was the sweetest! With records in tow, we headed back home to listen to all of them, play games, and revel in a perfect Middle Class Fancy Date Night. ❤

It has been a while since Johnny and I had a night on the town together and this was our reminder that we need to do it way more often. I can’t wait to start incorporating more date nights into our schedule because there really is no better way to wrap up the week!

What is your perfect date night? What is your favorite chain restaurant? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah