Jan23

Stereophonic At Playhouse Square

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Stereophonic At Playhouse Square

Hello! This past Saturday Johnny and I had a hilarious little adventure “seeing” Stereophonic at Playhouse Square. We got dolled up (Peep my OOTD soon!), had a delicious lunch at El Meson, and headed to Cleveland for a matinee showing. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Stereophonic, it is loosely based on Fleetwood Mac’s recording process for their album, Rumours. Johnny and I thought we definitely could get down with that. Unfortunately, we definitely could not lol. Let’s discuss:

Whenever I attend a show at Playhouse Square, I expect excellence. My main squeeze and I have been lucky enough to go to so many wonderful performances there and it’s extremely rare for us to not enjoy ourselves. I guess there is a first time for everything (Minus a silly blip when we saw Les Mis and left) because, pardon my French, but Stereophonic sucked ass. In fact, I was so immediately not into it that I almost whispered to Johnny that we should leave five seconds in. If you are interested in Stereophonic from the music perspective, just know that that’s not what you’re going to get. Rather, you are in for a whole lot of meaningless chatter.

I would say that Johnny and I got about twenty-five minutes into Stereophonic before I pulled the plug and we hightailed it. In that time, all we saw was a bunch of people talking over themselves, getting drugged and boozed up, and having conversations that meant nothing to the task at hand. That being, recording an album. It was very difficult to even know who was speaking as the characters were spread out between the studio and the lounge area. The audio was very disjointed and even if we cared to follow along with the dialogue, it felt like it was just voices in the air rather than seeing the cast speak. If that makes sense?

All Johnny and I wanted was to hear a song and leave. Roughly twenty minutes in, the drummer laid down a killer beat and we were like okay, let’s go. Then, he stopped and the incessant chit chat commenced once more. Five minutes later, we were literally like okay, let’s go and left lol. From my understanding, a hefty portion of the audience dipped out at intermission and I applaud them for holding out that long. They have far more strength and mental fortitude than Johnny and I could muster that afternoon.

When we returned home, plenty of ads for Stereophonic were on my Facebook and I took the time to read some of the comments left for Playhouse Square. I would say about seventy percent of them were in the negative with complaints that included: Too much talking, too slow a pace, not enough music, and the final nail in the coffin – that they just didn’t care. On the positive end of comments, others were saying that it was like being a fly on the wall to watch the creative process. These comments begged the question – Were we even watching the same show? From start to twenty-five minutes later, Stereophonic was exhausting and I cannot speak about it poorly enough!

If you are expecting a rocking Fleetwood Mac-esque musical with Stereophonic, do not and I repeat: DO NOT bother. This was easily the worst production I have seen in my extensive span of Playhouse Square shows. Very disappointing!

What are your thoughts on Stereophonic? Are you seeing anything at the theater soon? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan22

It’s In The Bag: Antik Kraft Saddlebag Edition

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It’s In The Bag: Antik Kraft Saddlebag Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of It’s In The Bag! I so loved going on a TJMaxx trip with my mom and had grand plans for my Christmas gift cards. 1) A skin care restock. 2) A new piece of Valentine’s Day clothing. 3) A new pair of black skinnies. And 4) A new purse if the gift card could cover it. I am pleased to report that I achieved all of these goals with EXACT CHANGE. Peep this girl math… The amount left over for me to pay was $18.01. As luck would have it, the cash in my purse totaled to eighteen dollars and lots of change for good measure. It was freaking awesome and I just had to share. ANYWHO, let’s take a look at this bag, baby!

I haven’t bought a purse for myself since 2019. Yes, you read that right – seven years of no new purses. However, I never felt the need to buy more because I have so many and always prefer to spend my moolah on clothes and shoes. My tune definitely changed in the past few months, though! During the fall, TJMaxx had a gorgeous black purse that was embossed with skulls. I was obsessed but couldn’t justify the eighty dollar price tag. So, I waited for it to go on sale but someone with great taste snatched it up in the meantime. As much as I wanted it, it was no harm no foul and I vowed to eventually find a purse at a price point I was more comfortable with. I sure did with this little number by Antik Kraft for thirty-five dollars! That was much more like it. 😀

When I made my first round through the purse department, I noticed the same bag by Antik Kraft in a rich camel hue. It was pretty, but I am an All Black Everything girl through and through and thought to myself how much better it would be if it were black lol. As luck would have it, black was the other color option available and it was perfect. The saddlebag shape is just so cool and I do not have a purse in my collection that even remotely mimics that style. The oversized stitching on the strap is everything and the size of the purse in general is ideal. It’s big enough to hold all of my belongings without being so big that I can’t find anything. Despite this purse’s simplicity, it still manages to invoke an edgy vibe and it just had to come home with me. I swapped purses as soon as I got home and feel like a star with it slung over my shoulder!

Although I never ended up with the skull adorned bag of my dreams, this Antik Kraft saddlebag will do just fine. Even better, actually, because the price was right!

How often do you swap out your purses? What is your favorite accessory to shop for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan21

Bath & Body Works January Freebie

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Bath & Body Works January Freebie

Hello! My mom joined me during my afternoon break last Tuesday for a shopping trip and we had the best time! I had gift cards to spend, supplies for the bunnies to get, and a freebie coupon from Bath & Body Works to cash in. At B&BW it was out with the old post Semi Annual Sale and in with all kinds of new fragrances. Normally I like to get a travel size lotion or body wash as my free item but I could not resist a fragrance spray in a new scent called Zesty Peach. Check it out:

Outside of my deep love for all things vanilla, I am a fruity fragrance girl through and through. I like deep berry scents but my all time favorites have got to be apple and peach. It is rare for me to find an apple scent that misses the mark. However, peach is a different story. I want my fruit fragrances to be a mix of sweet and tart and sometimes peach scents can be overly sweet. Zesty Peach is a complete game changer and it reminds me so much of The Body Shop’s Vineyard Peach line. In fact, if you read this old review on my page, I even say that it’s a peach scent that’s not overpoweringly sweet. Some things never change!

Zesty Peach offers fragrance notes of “peach nectar, sugar crystals, and luminous musk”. Also, after typing that sentence I did a resmell of the perfume and accidentally inhaled most of it. All the better to describe it with, my dear! I cannot speak for the sugar crystals or luminous musk and feel that B&BW should have left the description as “peach” lol. You know that scent that comes immediately after biting into a peach? Zesty Peach is that to the T! It errs on the side of tart over sweet and I just can’t get enough of it. If you are a peachy person, you are going to adore this scent. 😀

It may be grey and snowy here in Akron, Ohio but Zesty Peach is summertime in a bottle. A perfect pick me up!

What is your favorite kind of fragrance? Have you tried any of B&BW’s new scents? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan20

Very Truly Yours Valentine’s Day Sweater

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Very Truly Yours Valentine’s Day Sweater

Hello! I have a nice long break between shifts on Tuesdays. During that time, I like to read or work on the computer. If I have nothing to do, I use that time to shop because I am right in a plaza with a TJMaxx. It’s a gift. Speaking of gifts, my mom joined me this past Tuesday on a shopping trip and we had the best time! I had Christmas gift cards and TJMaxx rewards burning a hole in my pocket and I planned on restocking the skin care I needed and purchasing treats for myself with the remainder. I did exactly that and ended up with this gorgeous little number for Valentine’s Day by Very Truly Yours. Check it out:

As soon as we walked into TJs, this sweater was the first thing I saw and it was love at first sight. It is just the sweetest! The baby pink color, the argyle style diamonds, white embroidered hearts, and heart buttons put me in Valentine’s Day heaven. This sweater fits snugly without being tight, is soft as can be, and literally gave me heart eyes! Although V-Day is a while away, I plan on busting it out this weekend as Johnny and I are going on a date to Playhouse Square to see Stereophonic. Hey, it’s never too early to give some Valentine’s Day OOTD inspo on the ol’ blog!

Even before trying this sweater on, visions of what I could wear with it swirled through my head at a rapid pace. What I decided on is a Bratz doll inspired look that I am so excited for all of you to see. I’m thinking a white pleated mini skirt, thigh high tights, and a funky pair of pink platforms. Bratz doll style is all about girly clothes with a sassy twist and I hate to toot my own horn but I think this outfit is going to fit that to the T. Keep it posted on lifewithlilred for a review of the show and exclusive OOTD pics. Can’t wait? Follow me on TikTok for an early peek at an outfit video coming soon. ❤

I had such a fabulous time shopping with my mom and had a great haul to boot. Lots more fashion fun is on the way!

What is a perfect Valentine’s Day date for you? Were you a Barbie or Bratz girl? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan19

Hail Yourself OOTD

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Hail Yourself OOTD

Hi! Johnny took last Friday off which was great! The bunnies got to stay out and play all day and it gave us time to knock out a quick OOTD shoot before I left for work. Normally, we save that for Saturday but it was SO hard going back to work after holiday time off that we had no intention of moving once the day was out. I am pleased to report that we made good on that goal! The look you are about to see is ultra casual as I was bopping around town for work but I still loved it just the same. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Cropped Sweater: Johnny got this for me from the Last Podcast on the Left website

Star Skinny Jeans: Kut From The Kloth, TJMaxx

Wedge Boots: Jennifer Lopez, Kohl’s

The earrings were a Christmas gift from my blogging bestie!

This past Friday was a balmy fifty degree day so I started building this outfit in the sweater department of my wardrobe as that’s all I needed to be comfortable. From there, my eyes landed on the Last Podcast on the Left cropped sweater that my main squeeze got me. Johnny is an avid fan of that podcast and treated himself to a bit of their merch as well as a little something for me too. It was so sweet and this sweater rules! I am all about the sentiment, that oversized neckline, and the pentagram elbow patches. Way cool!

After my top was selected, I moved on down to the jeans department and went with a pair of star patterned skinnies by Kut From The Kloth. I knew I was going to sport an All Black Everything ensemble so that gave the opportunity to have some fun with a bold pattern. Also, the stars on the pants nod to the pentagrams on the sweater which I didn’t even notice until now lol. Hey, that worked out well. 😀

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For my shoes, I picked a pair of hidden wedge boots by Jennifer Lopez as they were relatively plain minus the stud details. These shoes are ten years old, were purchased for four dollars, and I just can’t part with them. They are SO comfy while providing extra height and are just right for trudging around in the lousy winter weather. Last but not least, I popped on a gorgeous pair of sword earrings gifted to me by my bestie. These earrings also feature a dangling burnt orange gem which was a perfect match to the lettering on the sweater. With that, it was off to work!

It is very rare for me to do my makeup or wear something other than skinnies and a hoodie to work. As simple as this look was, it definitely felt like I was spruced up!

What do you usually wear for work? How long does it take you to get ready for work? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan18

Dr. Wellness Vitamin C Moisturizer Review

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Dr. Wellness Vitamin C Moisturizer Review

Howdy! I started using a new Vitamin C moisturizer by Dr. Wellness at the beginning of December. I was excited to give it a shot because I have used that brand’s lip balm in the past and loved it. I honestly had no idea that Dr. Wellness had skin care staples too and got to test it out for a song. A huge tub was only five dollars and I am nowhere near done. That’s great for me because this Vitamin C moisturizer is the bomb.com. Fingers crossed that TJs has it again when I do my annual Christmas gift card skin care restock. I’ll buy the lot! 😀

Completing my morning and night skin care routine is something that brings me peace. Those extra five minutes to pamper yourself and get started for the day or wind down at night. No matter what products I am using, I enjoy this time. However, it’s even better when I’m using one as nice as the Dr. Wellness moisturizer! Its texture is almost whipped and cloud like, it smells faintly like oranges, and a nickle sized dollop allows for full face and neck coverage. That’s what I’m talking about!

This moisturizer’s consistency is a bit thicker but it absorbs quickly and sits like a dream under makeup. It has been especially soothing and hydrating in the winter but could be used any time during the year and it would still be a pleasant experience. I have been using this moisturizer twice daily for over six weeks with wonderful results. My skin is so soft and I have noticed a huge radiance boost. That extra dose of brightness definitely perks me up during these grey January days! Highly recommend. 🙂

If you have a normal to dry skin type, you are going to love the Dr. Wellness Vitamin C moisturizer. A new year is the perfect time to freshen up your skin care routine!

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

Jan17

Vampire Survivor

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Vampire Survivor

Oh hey! The day after Christmas I couldn’t get to my computer fast enough to shop the Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale. I made out like a bandit and got seventeen products for sixty dollars! Johnny also did some shopping as PlayStation was having a sale. He fared incredibly well and got five or so games for around thirty dollars. While he bought a few recognizable game titles like Assassin’s Creed, the piece de resistance was something more obscure. A two dollar game called Vampire Survivor. Since Johnny’s purchase, we have been playing it nonstop and have gotten our money’s worth and then some. It’s great! Also be sure to check my TikTok for videos from Vampire Survivor too. 😀

Have you ever started playing a game and felt immediately overwhelmed by it? The game play, the rules, the items, the everything? Well, that is SO not the case for Vampire Survivor because literally all you do is walk. That’s right, you walk, choose items as you level up, and slay the demons in your path. That’s it and that’s all. And you know what? It’s awesome! Vampire Survivor is a game that anyone can play by simply picking up a controller. Classic gamers will love the highly visible nod to Castlevania (There’s a Castlevania expansion too!) and new players will enjoy its ease of play while still feeling like you are kicking major butt. No one can tell me nothin when I am playing Vampire Survivor!

Each level of Vampire Survivor has an end in sight. Survive thirty minutes and you win. Now, it might start out as easy but don’t let that fool you. You will need to be smart about which weapons you choose to defeat the masses and when they start crowding, they don’t stop until you are completely surrounded. The wrong weapons choice could be your downfall. Or it could be your saving grace when you level all of them up. Believe me, it looks amazing when you do! There is also legit nothing better than making it the full thirty minutes when you are backed into a corner and thousands of demons encircle you. 😀

If you are looking for an ultra fun game, then I truly cannot recommend Vampire Survivor enough. When Johnny and I first started playing, we were nowhere close to lasting through thirty minutes of a level. This wasn’t frustrating, though, and if anything it made us want to keep playing more to unlock better weapons and characters. Now, we can get through levels like it’s *almost* nothing and look forward to playing every day when we get home from work. Best two dollar purchase ever!

Johnny and I will be hibernating for the rest of the winter with Vampire Survivor and I can’t think of anything I’d rather do more!

What is your favorite video game? Have you played Vampire Survivor before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan16

Groovy Movies: Primate Edition

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Groovy Movies: Primate Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing one of the newest horror flicks called Primate. When it comes to horror, I am not a huge fan of the creature genre and much prefer a good old fashioned slasher. However, Primate turned everything that I thought I knew on its head. This movie was absolutely insane from start to finish! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on Primate. The only words I can use to describe it are brutal and gruesome. It is not for the faint of heart! Now, let’s get to it:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Lucy is a college student and is back in Hawaii with her dad, little sister, and a few friends who tagged along for summer break. She is also returning home to Ben, the family’s pet chimpanzee. Not the usual choice for a pet, but her deceased mother was a linguistics professor who was studying communication between humans and animals. One day she just brought Ben home and he has been a family staple since. He’s clever, silly, and completely harmless, right? So wrong. Ben recently got infected with rabies and his once beloved family is now his prey.

While Lucy and her friends enjoy a dip in the infinity pool, Ben begins his rampage and gravely injures her little sister. As he cannot go into the water, that is where they remain. But they can’t stay there forever and medical help is needed immediately for Lucy’s sister. The only thing that can be done is to get to a phone. Phones that are all in the house. Phones that they will have to get past Ben to use. His blood lust is palpable, his strength is unmatched, and his kill count is rising rapidly. Will Lucy be able to rescue what remains of her friend group? Or will Ben destroy his family in one night? Watch Primate to find out!

Long story short, Primate was a wild ride. I didn’t know what I was expecting but it definitely wasn’t all of that! About three minutes in is Ben’s first kill and if you thought that scene was bad, wait until you see the rest because holy shit lol. Brutal is seriously the only way to sum this movie up. I have seen countless horror movies in my day but I can’t recall any with kills that compare to Primate. Some of them were legit throw up worthy and all of it came from a pet chimpanzee.

I had to laugh when I saw the initial trailers for Primate that showed people in the theater reacting to the movie. It reminded me so much of when Paranormal Activity came out! In these trailers, the people watching Primate were jumping, screaming, and at the edge of their seats. My sentiments were exactly the same! My heart was pounding and my stomach was clenched for the entire duration of this one and a half hour powerhouse. Honestly, thank goodness it was a short movie because I genuinely don’t know how much more I could take and that’s really saying something!

Overall, I am going to award Primate with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This was a game changer to horror and not just the specific creature genre. Best of luck if you go to see it!

What were your thoughts on Primate if you have seen it? Are there any movies you are looking forward to seeing? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan15

3 Things To Consider When Looking At Your Finances

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3 Things To Consider When Looking At Your Finances

When it comes to finances, we know that it can be hard to keep yourself on the straight and narrow. There are so many unknown elements to factor in. Will you get a raise at work? Will one of your kids need to go to the ER for stitches? What should you spend on and what should you save for? The answers to these questions are not black and white. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at three of the things that we encourage you to consider:

Finances Won’t Stay The Same Forever:

We’re going to kick things off by saying that your finances are not going to stay the same forever. If you’re struggling financially at the moment and you’re finding it really hard to keep pushing forward, then you need to remember that the situation can improve. Things will get better, the tide will turn, and there will come a time when managing your finances doesn’t make you feel like tearing your hair out. If your budget isn’t stretching as far as you would like it to, or you feel as though you’re constantly behind where you should be, just remind yourself that it’s all temporary, and your time will come soon. For now, you just need to do your best.

Ensure Your Taxes Are Done Correctly:

Another thing that you’re going to need to do is make sure that your taxes are done correctly. Taxes are complex, and it’s always advisable to have an accountant on your side helping you with them. We understand that this seems counterproductive to some as you’re just adding another expense to your list, but it actually does help. This will ensure that you get all of the breaks and deductions that you are entitled to. It’s worth looking at an individual income tax service for yourself, seeing what is out there, and watching how much it benefits you. We’re not saying that you don’t need to know how to do your taxes though, as it’s still an important life skill, just that help is available.

Saving Is Your Best Friend:

The last thing that we want you to consider is that saving is your friend. Yes, it’s hard to save money, and yes, you may feel as though no matter what you can’t save. If that’s true, refer back to the first point that we mentioned and keep pushing forward. If you can save and you’re just choosing not to, that’s a whole other issue. Take a look into all of the options for saving, and see what you think would work best for you. At the end of the day, budgeting is a skill and you cannot improve if you don’t practice.

A new year is a brand new opportunity to better manage your finances. Get started with these tips!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan15

Christmas OOTD Pt. 3

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Christmas OOTD Pt. 3

Hello everyone and welcome to my last Christmas OOTD! Better late than never, amiright?! This holiday season was magical, to say the least. However, this weird January limbo leaves a lot to be desired! Every day feels like a month long Monday and I never know what time it is because it always looks like five in the afternoon. Winter has been cool and all but I am so ready for spring now! Before the ol’ blog shifts to warmer days ahead, let’s take a look at this blast from the past half a month ago lol:

Who? What? Wear?

Step Brothers T-Shirt: Spirit Christmas

Christmas Tree Skirt: Spirit Christmas

Bedazzled Fishnets: Urban Outfitters

Heels: Bamboo, TJMaxx

The earrings were a gift from my mother-in-law!

When I visited Spirit Christmas for the first time, I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I walked away with the fabulous tree skirt and a silly sweater vest. Most importantly, though, I purchased the festive Step Brothers holiday t-shirt. For those of you who don’t know, Step Brothers is one of my all time favorite movies. I could not even put a number on how many times I have watched it but at this point I think it’s safe to say I have the flick fully memorized. I just love Dale and Brennan and nothing says “season’s greetings” more than a shirt with them on it. My family shares in my passion for comedy gold and I know they appreciated this top during our Christmas celebration too!

I couldn’t let Christmas pass by without wearing my tree skirt one more time so that was the move for this outfit. And, although the skirt was paired with the gemstone tights already, I just couldn’t help myself but wear them again. They just add to the sparkly brightness of Christmas Day and both pieces were a huge hit with my nieces and nephew. The littles couldn’t get over the disco ball ornaments, pops of bling bling, and shiny tinsel. In fact, my nephew told me I looked like a “very fancy woman” and it was the best compliment ever. 🙂

To wrap up this look, I went for a darling pair of red heeled boots by Bamboo. These boot babies are great for any season but that gorgeous red just screams Christmas! I think Mrs. Claus should get a pair so we can twin but I am assuming she would prefer something more sensible at Santa’s Workshop. The last order of business was popping on a pair of pretty silver earrings from my mother-in-law and I was ready to enjoy the holiday with my nearest and dearest. ❤

Sayonara, Christmas and see you soon, spring. Here’s to dethawing, glorious sunshine, and spring flowers!

How has your 2026 been going? Has January felt like it has been dragging for you too? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah