Hello! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my dad’s birthday!! As my dad refuses to celebrate birthdays, I gave him his prezzies last week on his unbirthday so he could still enjoy them lol. However, that will never stop me from sending him an extra special birthday shout out on the ol’ blog! My dad is my bestie pal and we have so much fun together. Whether we are doing puzzles, gardening, or playing along to The Price Is Right, there is nothing better than spending time with my dad. He is freaking hilarious and always keeps me in stitches. My dad also keeps himself in stitches as he is prone to laugh attacks which make the matters at hand even funnier. Not to mention how charming and handsome he is to boot! ❤
One of the things that I love about my dad is his spirit of adventure. He is constantly planning experiences for my family like vacations and nights at the theater and is always up for trying something new. For the past year, my dad has been taking guitar lessons from Johnny and he practices every day. I so enjoy being a fly on the wall during their lessons and hearing my dad practice because it’s just cool. Learning the guitar is no easy feat but he is dedicated to it and Johnny and I are both amazed at how much he has improved. No matter what, you should never stop learning and my dad really is a testament to that. It inspires me deeply!
Spending time with my dad is a lesson in good things taking time. It could be nurturing his beautiful garden, working on a difficult puzzle, or hearing him piece together a song. These are all reminders to just keep working at it and plugging away because something great is right around the corner. As a child and, honestly, sometimes as an adult, my MO has been to quit out of frustration. My dad has always been the one to encourage me to give it another try. One more lesson, one more practice, one more go and it worked every time. It worked because my dad was in my corner and that was the most important thing. Everything is better when he’s by my side because he is the best and I will forever be a daddy’s girl. ❤
Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel for my On The Go OOTD! This casual ensemble was worn for a birthday treat day for our birthday girl niece and we all had a blast. Well, minus me absolutely EATING IT when we were roller skating. As a former competitive figure skater, everyone makes the assumption that I would be good at roller skating. That is SO far from the truth lol. My niece was skating circles around me and when I fell I literally saw my life flash before my eyes. I was so sore the next day, had a ginormous bruise on my knee, and came to the conclusion that I think that’s enough roller skating for my lifetime! Smh. Take a look at these yikes shots and then let’s discuss an activity that doesn’t make me feel like I’m thirty-one going on ninety:
My face after falling while pretending to my niece I was a-okay -_-
Wind in the hair, catching flies in the mouth
When my niece said she wouldn’t get me and Johnny a crock pot prize with the tickets she won
When my niece also said she wouldn’t get me and Johnny adorable horror movie plushies with the tickets she won lol
Thinking about the good times when it didn’t hurt to move after taking a tumble
Johnny and I LOVE playing co op puzzle solving games together like Little Nightmares, Reanimal, and Unraveled Two. It’s so fun to work together to move our characters forward and we both revel in the challenge. We are always on the hunt for more puzzle games to play and It Takes Two had been recommended to us by several people. It was on sale this past week for eight dollars on the PlayStation store so Johnny purchased it for us. We played it all of Saturday evening this past weekend and it was a delight. The game play was very reminiscent of Unraveled Two, which is our all time favorite. Jumping, swinging, switching levers, and workshopping all options to move along. Yes, we were moving minus one glaring issue…
The cut scenes! For anyone who has played It Takes Two, did you actually watch the cut scenes? Lol, we sure as hell didn’t! We watched about five minutes of the opening scene that depicts two parents on the verge of divorce. We decided we would rather play the game than watch this sad, sad tale and promptly skipped over every one afterwards. From what we saw, there is a magic spell, a talking book, and a whole lot of other stuff that we just don’t care about. And the cut scenes just kept coming! Did this game really need a feature film too? Who’s to say? Did not watching them effect our enjoyment of the game? It made it even better! If you are looking for a fun puzzle solver, a depressing story, or both then we highly recommend It Takes Two. I can’t wait to play more! 😀
All of the arcade games we played with our niece during treat day definitely inspired the purchase of It Takes Two. Unfortunately, we just can’t win any horror plushies for beating it! 😦
What is your favorite puzzle solving game? What is your favorite arcade game? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello! I have a stockpile of skin and bath and body care that runneth over – especially in the smell goods department as I love stocking up during the Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sales. There is also no shortage of travel size B&BW products since they send a freebie coupon for one at least every other month. Or so I thought there was no shortage! As I packed my toiletries for New Orleans, I couldn’t believe that there was not a single travel size shower gel in my hoard! I ended up having to use a combination of the hotel soap and shampoos during my travels and it was so hard to feel clean without the sudsy, fragrant B&BW shower gels. I was so happy to have been able to rectify this with a March freebie coupon as my need for travel size shower gels isn’t over yet. My family will be going to Italy later this year and I already have one thing out of the way to pack:
Every time I visit B&BW for a free product, I feel like their travel size options have dwindled down exponentially. What used to be a sprawling tower of mini shower gels and lotions was pretty much bare so I just had to take what I could get this time around. I landed on A Thousand Wishes, which is an incredibly popular B&BW scent that I have never bothered trying lol. A Thousand Wishes offers notes of “pink prosecco, crystal peonies, and amaretto creme” and it is actually really nice! It reminds me a lot of their Sweet Pea scent. It’s floral, yes, but not in an overpowering way because there’s more to it than just the peonies. Perhaps it’s the amaretto creme? 😀
Also, can we just talk briefly about showering in hotels because I’m still not over it lol. Showering in a hotel is like being on an episode of Naked and Afraid. You are in unfamiliar territory, you might not have your favorite products (In my case!), and why is the water either scalding hot or freezing cold?! I know it doesn’t seem like much, but just having this shower gel for Italy is a little peace of mind. I am not a traveler in the slightest and it is comforting to have familiar and favorite things when away from home. At the bare minimum, at least I know that I will not have to combine bar soap with shampoo during vacation and that is a blessing in itself!
In conclusion, if you like Sweet Pea then you are going to be a fan of A Thousand Wishes. And remember to always check your travel size stash before a trip! Smh!
What toiletries do you pack when traveling? Are you going on a vacation this year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Whether you’re renting or you own your home, you surely want to keep it looking good and to take care of it as much as possible. Your environment plays a big role in how you feel and in your overall health and your home is the best place to start. There is nothing better than returning after a long day at work to a space that is clean and fresh. Here are a few easy ways that you can better maintain it as you start your spring cleaning:
Keep On Top Of Everyday Tidying:
One great way to care for your home is to tidy regularly. This is not going to take long because there won’t be time for it to get too messy again. We’re talking about simple things like putting items back where they belong, wiping surfaces, dealing with small messes before they get bigger, and so on – it can all make a massive difference.
Check Things Before They Become Problems:
Another helpful thing to do is spot minor issues around the home early. Things like a loose handle here, a dripping tap there, or perhaps a squeaky door or a slightly blocked drain. These can turn into bigger problems if you ignore them because they don’t seem like they’re causing too much harm. The fact is, spending a few minutes checking (and ideally fixing) little things is going to save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
Look After Outdoor Areas:
Outdoor spaces are part of your home too, and keeping them tidy improves the overall feel. That’s why doing things like sweeping paths, trimming plants, and clearing leaves can all help. Of course, not everyone has the time, patience, or skills to improve their gardens to the level they might want. If you want to go a little further than a quick tidy up, it’s worth speaking to landscaping experts who can give you advice and come up with a plan before getting on with the work themselves.
Keep A Simple Routine:
Having an easy routine (easy to do and easy to remember) can make maintenance feel a lot more manageable, so it’s a good idea to take a little time to create one. Once it’s done, you just have to follow it and everything becomes easier, quicker, and less stressful. For example, you could choose one small task to do every day, or set some time aside each week to do your home maintenance checks. Having a routine in place means the work gets spread out and stops everything from piling up at once, which usually means nothing actually gets done!
Spring is in the air and it’s the perfect time to clean. Keep your home sparkling with the tips above!
Hello everyone and happy April!! March was a big month full of travel, new hair, and a whole lot of fun! It took a while to get myself back in the work flow after my mini New Orleans vacation but I am in full swing now and it feels great to be back. I even started another new social media job so stay tuned for more on that later. 😀 Before we dive into April showers in the hope of May flowers, let’s back peddle a bit to discuss my beauty finishes for March. There were several new favorite items in there so let’s get to it:
Aroma Naturals Moisturizer: I purchased this travel size Vitamin E moisturizer by Aroma Naturals for my trip to New Orleans and I liked it a lot! This moisturizer was nice and light which was perfect for the warm days and all of the walking in NOLA. It absorbed very quickly and I like to think it made me look slightly less tired after a trip to the bars on Bourbon Street lol! It took me a little over two weeks of twice daily use to finish the jar and I would happily use it again. In fact, I plan on it when my family goes to Italy this year!
Trader Joe’s Lip Mask: I started using the Trader Joe’s Watermelon Lip Mask in August and just finished it during the first week of March. Talk about a long lasting product and an excellent value! I used this lip mask every night before bed and really enjoyed it. The scent was delightfully reminiscent of Lip Smackers, a small swipe across the lips went a long way, and I woke up every morning with lips that were kissable and soft. It was especially helpful during the cold months of winter when my chapped lips get out of control. Definitely grab one if you are at Trader Joe’s – you are in for a treat. 😀
Dr. Wellness Moisturizer: Speaking of a long lasting product and an excellent value, we have the Vitamin C Moisturizer by Dr. Wellness. I began using this moisturizer during the first week of January and finished it up in the middle of March. I was SO sad when it was all gone because this moisturizer was phenomenal and I would be thrilled to find it again at TJMaxx. This product was literal radiance in a jar and my skin looked bright and alert after each use. The texture of the Dr. Wellness moisturizer was light and bouncy while still feeling incredibly nourishing. Even Johnny liked using this one so it is a double winner!
Trader Joe’s Body Butter: I was raised on the body butter from The Body Shop and miss having it in my routine so very much. The Ultra Rich Body Butter from Trader Joe’s is the next best thing. Although nothing will be better than The Body Shop, this is a close second. The vanilla orchid scent was so soft and pretty and, yes, this body butter was ultra rich. The Shea Butter formula made for a much denser body butter that did require a fair dose of rubbing in. Once it was on, you could feel it working immediately and my skin was so happy and hydrated. Both Johnny and I used this body butter and loved how it took away all of the redness from our dry hands in one night! It took me a month and a half of a few quarter sized dollops per night to finish the jar.
This was a GREAT SUCCESS for my March empties with all of them being potential repeat purchase products. I highly recommend all of them so be sure to add it to the cart if you see them while out and about!
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
Hi! The weekend of my new hair jamboree was a big one as the following day we were taking our niece for a birthday treat day. Fun n’ Stuff, which is an indoor attraction that boasts tons of arcade games, laser tag, roller skating, rides, and a playground, was the move and we had a blast! For my outfit, I wanted to wear something comfy enough to chase after my niece in but still cute because I wanted to take pictures lol. I didn’t get my hair done for nothing! Check out these pics from my On The Go OOTD and let’s discuss:
^^^ I am just as shocked as all of you that I wasn’t wearing anything from TJMaxx!!
I rarely dip into my comfy wardrobe when I am out and about because I’m always trying to show out lol. However, given the circumstances, that is exactly the department of my wardrobe that I needed to visit! For a brief moment I played around with jeans and a cardigan but thought better of it, especially if we were going to be roller skating. And we most certainly did and I most certainly fell HARD smh. But that’s neither here nor there! In the cozy corner of my closet, I opted for a knee length hoodie from Forever 21 that says Killin’ It. I purchased this hoodie in 2016 and have been killin’ it every day since! Although this hoodie has lots of additional length, it is incredibly lightweight and was perfect for our afternoon of frivolity. I also like that it is slightly oversized without the bulk to keep me cool as we went about our adventure.
In the pants department, I went with a pair of hand me down Under Armor leggings from my sister that were a huge treat. I own leggings but they are all old as dirt and I never wear them outside of the house. These leggings fit like a glove while still being really breathable and are actually the best pair of leggings that I have ever worn. I loved the way they fit and they played up the bagginess of the hoodie as they hugged every curve. In the best way possible! 😀
I didn’t bother with wearing jewelry because I didn’t want to think about rogue earrings or bracelets falling off. So, I headed straight for the shoes instead. My favorite place to be! For shoes, I selected another Forever 21 number with the stark white heeled combat boots. They were nice and sturdy for all of the walking and running we did and tied the look together from head to toe. With that, I was ready to be On The Go with my lil bestie and main squeeze for a birthday bash!
No matter how simple the look, I always want to have some fashion fun. And, with that new hair, I could have been wearing a paper bag and no one could tell me NOTHIN!
What is your favorite brand of leggings? What is your typical On The Go outfit? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Faux Fur Fierce OOTD! These pictures were taken as soon as I returned home from getting my hair done and I am SO in love with the results. I always say that every time my stylist does my hair is my favorite but I honestly think this Spring Sunset palette takes the cake. It is just so good and I legit will never be over it. We like to change up my hair at every appointment but these new colors might have to stick around for a while because I can’t get enough! Unlike my fabulous new do, these yikes shots leave a lot to be desired lol check it out:
Sending come hither vibes
New hair got me like
Lol I love these stiletto mules but they kept getting stuck in the wooden walkway smh
Johnny told me my vest looked like Chewbacca SO sweet ❤
How YOU doin?
I think all the bleach went to my head!
I don’t know about all of you, but Johnny and I LOVE watching game shows. Whether it’s Jeopardy, Family Feud, The Floor, or The Quiz With Balls we just have a blast playing along and revel in our success when we get answers right. Our newest favorite game show has got to be The Greatest Average American hosted by Nate Bargatze. We are avid fans of his comedy and were completely hooked after a few minutes of watching the first episode. The game is all about thinking like the average American when it comes to questions like “If you weren’t going to get injured, what would make the best story?” with options like getting struck by lightening, falling from a plane, or getting swept up in a tornado. If you answer in line with the people questioned, you are one step closer to winning the average American salary of $67,920. Even this amount is funny because classic game shows offer one hundred grand at least!
For the past several Thursdays we watch The Greatest Average American as soon as I get home from work and it’s just the best. Thursdays are my long days and I love being able to shake it off by tuning into something interactive and hilarious. Our favorite part of the show has got to be when Nate has to complete physical challenges including throwing footballs from a recliner or hitting wiffleballs into the audience. The piece de resistance, however, is Nate’s Favorite Things. Should the contestant win the grand prize, the audience wins one of Nate’s Favorite Things. It could be a Stouffer’s meal, an Uncrustable, or a package of Red Vines. Johnny and I would have loved to score the Applebee’s gift card as, like Nate, we appreciate a Middle Class Fancy meal too. 😀
If you are in the mood to have some fun, I can’t recommend The Greatest Average American enough. You will be in stitches!!
What is your favorite game show? Do you have weekly shows to tune into? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello! My sister, Kristen, and I experienced some travel turmoil when we were in New Orleans because our flight home got cancelled. However, that wasn’t the only incident of the day as we had an incredibly not okay Uber ride when we wanted to go to the Garden District. When we first arrived in NOLA, we opted for the “women driver only” option on Uber and that made us feel a lot more secure in a brand new city. However, I didn’t remind my sister to select that option again when we went to the Garden District as I thought it was an automatic setting. We ended up having a driver that made some highly inappropriate comments and drove like an absolute mad man. We’re talking swerving, we’re talking speeding, we’re talking running over curbs/sidewalks, and almost getting into several accidents. It was VERY scary.
After this experience, we were left with literal heart palpitations as we made our way through the Garden District and then the punches kept coming shortly after with the cancellation of our flight. We were blessedly able to catch a plane home the following day after many, many delays! That morning we, of course, selected the women driver only option and had the coolest lady ever get us to the airport. We talked to her about our ride from the previous day and she shared some very good advice that I wanted to pass on to all of you. This is information that you never want to need but it’s so important to have a safety plan no matter the situation:
When we told her about our ride, we mentioned that we honestly didn’t know what to say to get ourselves out of the car and were too scared to say pull over. And, in the moment, our minds were blank to come up with anything at all. So, she gave us an alternative. Our driver said if we find ourselves in a situation like that, start bringing up food, drink, and bathrooms. IE: Oh is that a Wendy’s? Can you actually drop us off here? I’m feeling a little nauseous. Or: A gas station! I could use some Gatorade, I feel queasy after all the walking we did. These are perfectly valid, common statements and no one wants someone getting sick in their car. AND you will be in a public area where people will have eyes on you. As soon as the coast is clear – report, report, report the driver.
Our driver then went on to say that she has a safety plan in place for herself too. If she ever feels uncomfortable when providing rides, she pulls over to the most public area she sees first. She then gets out of the car and begins to walk towards a crowd of people. Eventually, the person she is driving figures it out and exits the vehicle. And, should they have anything to say, she is surrounded by people. Once again, as soon as the coast is clear – report, report, report the rider.
I am SO appreciative to our driver for sharing this advice because it was so smart and simple enough to stay with you. If you use Uber often, have a safety plan and a backup one too because you really just never know.
What are some of your rideshare or travel safety tips? Have you had an experience similar to ours before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing an excellent thriller by Mary Kubica called It’s Not Her. Although there were several parts of this book that were very hard to read, it was completely unputdownable and I finished it in three sittings. I am definitely interested in reading more by Kubica and plan on starting with Local Woman Missing as It’s Not Her was one of the best thrillers I have read all year. Before we begin, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on this book for graphic violence, sexual violence, mental health disorders, and highly disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:
It’s family vacation time! Courtney and her husband Elliott and daughter Cass will be having a joint vacation with Courtney’s brother Nolan, his wife Emily, and three children named Reese, Wyatt, and Mae. Their getaway takes place in the remote woods of Wisconsin in a resort along the lake. Resort might be a far stretch for their destination as it’s pretty ramshackle but it will be home for the next few weeks. Mae and Cass are close in age and spend their days joined at the hip. The adults drink and have grown up conversations while Wyatt does whatever fourteen year old boys do. Meanwhile, Reese can be found wallowing in the misery of all of this family time until a young man named Daniel makes her do a double take.
The vacation is, indeed, in full swing. Until it gets cut short. After Cass and Mae enjoy a slumber party in Courtney and Elliott’s cabin, Mae makes her way back to her family with a belly full of pancakes and a smile on her face. A few minutes later, she runs screaming back to Courtney and Elliott’s place. Mae has discovered the deceased bodies of her mom and dad. Reese is nowhere to be found and Wyatt managed to sleep through the entire ordeal. Courtney returns to the grisly scene and it is so much worse than she could ever imagine. Her brother and sister-in-law have been slain brutally and Reese could be anywhere dead or alive.
A police investigation immediately follows and there is not much to go off of. There are no leads to point to the murderer and no traces of Reese after extensive searches. All the while, Courtney, Elliott, Wyatt, Mae, and Cass are holed up in a tiny cabin and are not allowed to leave. Courtney can not handle the stagnation and decides to do her own investigating in her determination to bring Reese home. However, the clues that she finds only incriminates those closest to her. How could Wyatt sleep through the murder of his parents? And why is there blood on her husband’s shoes? As the days drag on, Reese is nowhere closer to being found until Courtney discovers a major break in the case. Who is responsible for this terrible crime? And will Reese be alive to tell the tale? Read It’s Not Her to find out!
It’s Not Her was a wild ride from start to finish. It was harrowing, heartbreaking, and So. Freaking. Twisty! Just when I thought I had a feel for what might have happened, Mary Kubica’s expert writing pulled the rug out from under me. And it kept happening again, and again, and again. I always love when I can figure out a grand reveal. I love it even more when I can’t, though, and the final twist left me absolutely shook. It has been a few days since I finished It’s Not Her and I still can’t stop thinking about it.
I very much enjoyed Kubica’s writing style because it was so raw. She kept the punches coming rapidly and interspersed them with such tender moments that the next blow would feel even more heart wrenching. Every dead end was a kick to the gut. The agony of every passing day with Reese missing was palpable and every single Red Herring felt infuriating. It’s Not Her will leave you questioning your own ideas as to what happened with each turn of the page until you have no idea what to think. And, when you learn the truth, you will be just as shocked as me.
I am going to award It’s Not Her with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This was a dynamite introduction into Mary Kubica’s work and if her other books are anything like this, then I know I am in for a treat. Highly recommend!
What are you currently reading? Have you read any of Mary Kubica’s books? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! I had too much fun getting my hair freshened up for spring at The Shear Shop last week. My stylist created the most dreamy Spring Sunset palette and I couldn’t wait to get home and show Johnny… And take pictures to show if off, of course! Whenever I return home from the salon, Johnny always greets me with “Who are you and what have you done to my wife?” and it never gets old. ❤ After he shared his usual Middle Class Fancy sentiments, I rushed to put together the outfit I was daydreaming about at the salon to get the content train rolling. Check it out:
Prior to my appointment at the salon my stylist and I will discuss what colors we are thinking so she can purchase them for me. Originally, we were planning on a paler blue called Blue Tux with the Shag Rug orange. Then, we pivoted hard! However, I definitely still had blue on the brain as my color sat and began styling an OOTD around my Thread & Supply faux fur vest. I absolutely loved the Blue Tux Pulp Riot dye and it actually closely matches the lighter blue in the vest but way more vivid. With that, I knew what must be done next.
Black jeans were a given, as per ushe, but what to wear underneath the vest? I toyed around with a few different options before landing on my blingy collar button down from H&M. This shirt is as old as dirt but I still love it all the same and that collar just adds so much fun to any OOTD. The faux fur vest is, without a doubt, a statement piece while the button down is a basic staple with a twist. That is exactly what I like and thanks to the collar, it was able to hold its own under the vest with that bedazzling that made this look even better.
Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I went with a gorgeous pair of snakeskin patterned heeled mules by Dolce Vita. While I love the idea of a classic mule, mama needs a heel and these ones are perfect and feature my favorite animal print. They might not have been great for where we shot pictures because the skinny heel kept getting caught in between the wooden walkway but, hey, I made it work! To keep with the snake theme, I wore my new favorite snake wrap bracelet from Earthbound. My sister treated me to it when we were in New Orleans and I was so excited to bust it out. Last but not least, I put on a dangly pair of earrings with a big amber gem to play up the new tones in my hair. With that, I was ready to rock my new do!
I am an avid fan of faux fur and this fit turned out just as I imagined it. I love it when that happens! 😀
Are you updating your wardrobe for spring? Do you like to rock faux fur too? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
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