70s Spring OOTD

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70s Spring OOTD

Hello! We are finally starting to experience springlike weather in good ol’ Akron, Ohio and I have been SO ready for it. In fact, it has warmed up so significantly that Johnny and I currently have our air conditioning running. Hey, I’ll take it! Although I have enjoyed giving a final hurrah to beloved winter clothes, I have been looking forward to styling spring looks. When I think of spring OOTDs, I think of crisp, fresh pieces that can go from strolling through quaint downtown Cuyahoga Falls to drinks on the patio. The look you are about to see was inspired by spring staples with a 70s spin. Check it out:

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Who? What? Wear?

Aviator Pattern Button Down: Karl Lagerfeld, TJMaxx

Straight Leg Slacks: Sincerely Jules, TJMaxx

Platform Heels: Bamboo/Cape Robbin, TJMaxx

Flower Earrings: Bella Jack, TJMaxx

Bracelets: Two were gifts and one is by AllSaints

To style this OOTD, I built from the bottom up because I knew I wanted to rock my Sincerely Jules slacks. These straight leg pants are so retro and cool and they just felt perfect for spring. The neutral shade is also enticing because they can be paired with anything but still offer maximum chicness. Because these slacks are oh so seventies inspired, the outfit was incredibly easy to style as I only had so many pieces that would achieve my vision. Like the Karl Lagerfeld button down…

I love me a good button down, but the aviator adorned one I chose had everything I needed. The pattern, of course, was a major selling point. However, this button down was mainly selected for its fit and color. I absolutely loved the stark white of the top against the soft oat hue of the pants. It really popped and brought that crispness that I was looking for. The fit was also very flattering. It’s not baggy, but definitely not tight and it allowed me to loosely tuck it in for that effortlessly breezy effect that is so popular in seventies style.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. You’re not going to not sport a fab pair of platforms for a seventies inspo look and I went with a pair by Bamboo and Cape Robbin. The denim added an extra something something while still adhering to the neutral palette and the floral embroidery on the heel was a fun surprise! For earrings, I went with one of my favorite pairs featuring transparent bluebell flowers for some additional movement. Then, I stacked on a few simple mini cuff bracelets and was ready for my closeup!

I love how my 70s Spring OOTD turned out and Johnny did too! As soon as he saw me when he returned home, he immediately let me know and noted the seventies nod. My husband, the fashionista! ❤

What is your favorite era of style? What is your favorite season to dress for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

TGI Fridays Cajun Pasta Taste Alike Recipe

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TGI Fridays Cajun Pasta Taste Alike Recipe

Hello!! Johnny and I are so lucky to have such a wonderful downstairs neighbor. We make frequent visits to his apartment to hang out or go on adventures like trips to the shooting range. About once a month or so, we also like to do a dinner out and we swap whose turn it is to pay each time. Our neighbor is a huge TGI Fridays fan and we both order the same thing every time: Cajun pasta except hold the meat for mine! After our last TGIs trip, I decided that a recipe for Cajun pasta wouldn’t be too hard to make and found one by My Heavenly Recipes. It turned out heavenly! Check it out:

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I came across several taste alike recipes for the TGI Fridays Cajun pasta and all of them looked easy enough. As per ushe, I went with the one by My Heavenly Recipes because it only required nine ingredients, a majority of which I already had. All I needed from the store was red pepper, red onion, and chicken breast. Say what?! I cooked chicken?! Yes, I did for the very first time lol. I am truly expanding my culinary horizons because I recently tried my hand at cooking steak too. It wasn’t the worst thing ever, but I hate not being able to taste something that I have made!

The prep work for this recipe was minimal. I cut the peppers, garlic, and onion and let them saute with cayenne pepper. Then, once the veggies were softened, I added in water and tomato sauce to make the sauce and let it simmer. I also had the chicken that I coated in onion powder, black pepper, and Cajun seasoning cooking too. Although I normally try to follow a new recipe to the T, I did make some modifications this time around. Since I wasn’t going to have the extra heat to my dish sans chicken, I added the same seasoning to the sauce and I am glad I did. I did a quick taste test of it and it definitely needed a little something something.

Once the chicken and sauce were at a good place, I began to boil the fettuccine. During that time, the sauce was thickening nicely and the chicken was getting there. The cuts from the store were pretty big so once I was able to, I cut them up to not only speed up the process but ensure that it was fully cooked as our meat thermometer is useless lol. I couldn’t wait to dig in by the time everything was done and I am pleased to report that it was fantastic. This taste alike recipe was spot on and both myself and my neighbor can attest to it. Considering Cajun pasta is one of our favorite meals, this was the best compliment!

I cannot recommend My Heavenly Recipes’ take on Cajun pasta enough regardless of whether you have tried it at TGI Fridays or not. It was so flavorful and had just the right amount of bold heat without going overboard. It was delicious and I can’t wait to make it again!

What is your go to order at your favorite restaurant? What is one of the best taste alike recipes you have tried? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mini Madness

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Mini Madness

Hello! During the work week, I typically have an hour and a half or so of time in between shifts to run errands on Tuesday. I take full advantage of this because then I don’t have to pencil in time during the weekend to make it happen. If I have nothing that needs done, I’ll post up in a Panera or Starbucks and grab a drink and set up my laptop there. This past Tuesday, I had a few little odds and ends to take care of including a quick stop in Bath & Body Works and TJMaxx for some mini goodies. Check it out:

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I have been running dangerously low on my Better Than Sex mascara. However, I simply refuse to buy more from Sephora until my birthday month in June so I can get my free birthday prezzie with the purchase. During my last TJs shopping trip, I purchased some Ellen Tracey mascara to tide me over. Unfortunately, it was the most crap lousy product I have ever used in my life. I needed to go to TJs anyways to make a return so I just bought a mini MAC tube of mascara to get me through until June. I was disappointed they didn’t have some Better Than Sex mascara in store because they sometimes do, but beggars can’t be choosers. -_-

After my astoundingly quick time in TJMaxx, I went to Bath & Body Works next to cash in a free travel size product coupon. Normally when I get a freebie coupon, I like to try new to me scents. This time around, I reverted back to a fragrance I got in my January freebie haul: Calypso Clementine. This scent is exactly what you think it is and it’s delightful. I am extremely partial to citrus and just had to get Calypso Clementine in a fragrance spray too. I have a feeling I am going to be wearing it all summer. It is bright, zesty, and screams sunshine! Highly recommend. 😀

Good things come in small packages and that was definitely the case with this Mini Madness. Now, here’s to hoping I won’t need any more mascara until June! #fingerscrossed

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

Slumber Partayyy!

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Slumber Partayyy!

Hello! Johnny and I take our title of “Fun Aunt and Uncle” to our sweet nieces and nephew very seriously. We delight in treat days, outings, and surprises to further solidify that we are the best lol and we have the best time doing it! As often as we can, we like to have our niece, Val Gal, over for slumber parties for an evening of playing music, crafts, movies, and snacks. Surprisingly, I had the day off this past Thursday and was so excited to be able to host our lil BFF. I was SO tired the next day, but that’s a small price to pay for such a wonderful time! Check it out:

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When my sister dropped Val off at chez nous, lil buddy immediately went into her overnight bag for a surprise for me and Johnny. She bought us chips with her own money and made an origami bunny with her dad for us too. It was so sweet I could have cried because it’s usually the other way around for who’s getting a little gift! Before dinner, Val wanted to play music with Johnny and he is always happy to accommodate. He got them matching ukuleles for her third birthday and she brings it every time she comes over so they can play together. My heart! ❤

After our music block, it was time for dinner and a show and we watched our all time favorite, Vivo. It is a slumber party staple and it gets me every time. I love singing along to all of the songs with bestie! We noshed on mac n cheese and ice cream sundaes, then we spent the rest of the movie time painting together. I decided to make a picture for Val in a rainbow motif and then I wrote her name on it. She wanted to do the same thing for me and I came in with the assist to help her finish it. I love my painting so much and it has a very special place on my art wall with all of the crafts she has made for Johnny and I.

We spent the rest of the evening holding the bunnies, running around the apartment like crazy people, and watching a bit of Elf before bed. The following morning, I got up extra early so I could work before she woke up. Val threw an adorable wrench in my plans because she got up extra early so she could have more time with me! We finished Elf and before I took her home, we broke out her new diary and wrote an entry and drew pictures together about our slumber partay. It was absolutely precious and I’m not sure which one of us had more fun!

Being an aunt brings me so much joy and Johnny feels the same about his uncle status. We love every minute with our lil besties and we both agreed that this was one of our best slumber parties yet!

Did you have a favorite aunt or uncle growing up? How do you like to spoil your family? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Statement Trench Coat OOTD Bloopers

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Statement Trench Coat OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Statement Trench Coat OOTD! As we transition from winter to spring, I have been trying to give a final hurrah to beloved coats and jackets before it gets too hot to wear them. In Lil Red’s perfect world, it would be fall weather all the time because nothing pleases me more than a statement coat like the one featured in this past OOTD. They have the power to transform any outfit from blah to bold simply by putting it on. However, no matter how amazing the coat is, sometimes the end result is just yikes:

A nice lil smile for all of you 🙂

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Serving sassafras LOOK OUT

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I’M SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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When you think you’re slaying and this is what you end up with -_-

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A wild Karen looking for a manager to speak to

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No longer ready for my closeup… Gimme my phooooone!

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While I LOVE getting dressed up and going out with Johnny over the weekend, I think I might love staying in the best! The irony is not lost on me that some of these OOTDs never even make it out in public because we just don’t feel like doing anything lol. Although we did run some errands while I was rocking the above look, sometimes we shoot pictures and I get in my pajamas immediately afterwards. And, no, the PJs are never as cute as anything I styled before putting them on! They sure are comfy, though. 😀

By the time the weekend rolls around, Johnny and I are always exhausted from a long week of work and getting up at the buttcrack of dawn. That’s not to say that we don’t have a ton of fun just vegging out because we have began gaming together a lot again! We have been obsessed with the horror puzzle game, Little Nightmares, and nothing in the outside world seems as enticing as beating it. It is challenging, exciting, and pretty scary too! So, even if I was dressed to the nines minutes prior to heading back inside, it begs the question: Why go out when you can stay in?!

Until we have some consistently nice weather, Johnny and I are going to prolong our winter hibernation. I have yet to see a problem with it! ❤

What is your favorite puzzle game? Do you prefer to stay in or go out over the weekend? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Lemon Lime Nails

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New Lemon Lime Nails

Hello!! This past week, I just couldn’t get enough of Elysian Nails and I am so not complaining! On Monday, I enjoyed a wonderful pedicure with my mom as a belated birthday gift. Then, I was back the following day for a much needed fill. And I mean very much needed because they were busted, broken, and lifted. As always, my amazing fabulous tech got me right and I am so happy to have my nails back to their former glory! Check it out:

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Sometimes when I get a fill, I have no idea what polish colors I want. Other times, I know exactly what I want. The latter was the case for me this past fill because I had lemon lime on the mind. I wasn’t quite sure why, but I finally figured it out! I have had a can of unopened Sprite in my car from when I returned to work after being sick last month. I never bothered taking it out because I consider it my “emergency drink” in case I happen to get really thirsty while driving. Lol, I mean hey – it’s better to have it and not need it! I am definitely glad that I kept it around because it turned into my nail inspo and I am loving the yellow/green combo. 😀

This fill blew me away and was such a testament to my tech’s expertise. She replaced five nails that were either lifted or broken and rather than put on new tips, she painted the acrylic on freehand. I always assumed you needed the tips for acrylic nails so you learn something new every day. It really sped up the process and within minutes I had brand new nails and they were already shaped so well. My tech did such a good job with her freehand application that my talons only needed a little bit of sharpening to get the stiletto shape afterwards. She is the best!

My back to back appointments at Elysian Nails had me feeling like a billion bucks and I love my pretty new toes and nails. My claws look awesome and I seriously can’t stop looking at them. Lemon Lime for the win!

What is your favorite kind of pop? What color of nail polish are you rocking? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Total Solar Eclipse

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Total Solar Eclipse

Hello! The solar eclipse this past Monday has been the buzz in Akron, Ohio for months because we just so happened to be in the path of totality. For once, something cool was happening here and everyone was SO excited for it and for good reason. The Total Solar Eclipse was one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced and Ohio delivered. I mentioned earlier that we were fearing a cloudy day and, thankfully, that wasn’t the case whatsoever. We had the most perfect, sunny weather for the ultimate view of the big show and it was truly spectacular.

These pictures I took are not the best and they do not do justice to the solar eclipse at all. But, I did the best I could with limited visibility lol! Check it out:

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There were countless eclipse festivals that Johnny and I could have attended on Monday, but we opted to stay home and watch it with our downstairs neighbor from the porch. I’m so glad we did because we were delighted by what we saw when we walked out the door. It seemed like every single person in our apartment community was outside watching too and it was such fun to be all together and cheering as the sun and moon performed. Even if we did go to a festival, I highly doubt we would have had a better view because ours was crystal clear and mainly unobstructed.

The total eclipse happened around 3:15 and Johnny and I were able to go outside as soon as we finished up with work at 2:45. During that time, the moon was moving and grooving closer to the sun and rapid progress was being made every time we looked up. This was neat to see, but the magic happened when totality was reached. During that four minute window, everything went completely dark. Street lights came on and the temperature dropped ten degrees. You could feel it immediately! It was such a surreal feeling to experience nighttime in the middle of the day and I think everyone was simply blown away. I sure was!

Minutes after the total eclipse, we were back to a typical afternoon level of sun and warmth. However, the feeling of witnessing a once in a lifetime phenomenon remained. Johnny and I are still not over it and why should we be? It was beautiful. ❤

Did you watch the solar eclipse? What is something cool that you experienced in nature? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Pedi Party

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Pedi Party

Hello!! Mondays are one of my favorite days of the week because I either work with my online boss in person or just get to work from home and it is great! I also love being able to spend that WFH time with the bunnies so it is a banner day to be me. This past Monday was even better than usual. I worked from home, Johnny was off, the solar eclipse happened (More on that soon!), and I got to hang out with my mom. As a belated birthday gift, I treated my mom and I to Spa Pedicures at Elysian Nails. This is the fourth pedicure I’ve ever had and my mom’s first and we both enjoyed ourselves so much! Check it out:

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The last time I got a pedicure was when I got married and I just did the most basic one. I wanted to go all out for my mom’s birthday treat, though, so two Spa Pedis it was. This type of pedicure came with all of the bells and whistles and my mom and I loved every minute of it. After selecting our colors (Hot pink gel for her and black polish for me), we sat down in massage chairs and let the fantastic techs get to work. I think we would have both been happy with our feet in the warm water and letting the massage chairs do their thing!

For almost an entire hour, we were pampered with scrubs, rubs, hot towels, and the finest attention to detail on our tootsies. After just a few minutes of our pedicure, it was like looking at entirely different toes! We were both amazed at how the nails were essentially reshaped and it was a night and day difference. All of the treatments used worked wonders too. My feet and calves have never felt so soft and smooth and I didn’t think it was possible for them to feel that good. We both left our appointment feeling like a million bucks with pretty painted toes and a brand new memory to share together. ❤

As we drove home from our Pedi Party, we decided that twice a year pedicures should be a new tradition for my sister, mom, and me. I already can’t wait for our next one and, as always, Elysian Nails got us just right!

How often do you get pedicures? What is your favorite spa treatment? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Professional Skills That Can Elevate Your Everyday Life

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Professional Skills That Can Elevate Your Everyday Life

Nowadays, it seems as if the boundaries between our personal and professional lives are becoming increasingly blurred. While we often focus on honing skills for career advancement, it’s essential to recognize that many of these same skills can also enrich our personal lives. This isn’t just for people who work in corporate or who are aspiring to be influencers; this goes for all industries, and that even includes those who want to go into the medical field, trade school, and beyond.

Today, we are going to talk about some professional skills that could be fantastic in your personal life, especially when it comes to building up your personal brand. Here are a few that you might want to start perfecting:

Effective Communication:

Is this low-hanging fruit? Probably, but this is still some pretty important advice! Everyone knows the importance of effective communication, but many don’t quite grasp that this is the cornerstone of healthy relationships. Solid communication is so important, and it’s more than just hearing the other party; it’s listening to them and understanding what they’re saying.

The ability to express thoughts and feelings clearly, listen actively, and empathize with others fosters deeper connections and reduces misunderstandings. Just by honing your communication skills in professional settings, you can enhance your relationships, resolve conflicts more constructively, and become a better partner, parent, friend, and colleague.

Time Management:

It’s probably easily agreed by everyone that time is a precious commodity. This is why learning to prioritize tasks, set goals, and manage your time efficiently not only boosts productivity in the workplace but also allows you to make the most of your leisure time. Again, this might be one of those obvious skills; it’s something that children usually learn at a young age, but to this day, people whether in their professional or personal lives still struggle with time management. Learning how to mitigate all of this just makes life so much easier and less stressful.

Being Adaptable:

Life tends to throw curveballs at us every once in a while, and we need to manage it and try to overcome it (or catch it). Since it’s inevitable and can happen at any time, it’s important to understand that the ability to adapt to change and bounce back from setbacks is invaluable both professionally and personally. No matter who you are, you need to understand that life is full of unexpected twists and turns, from job transitions and financial challenges to health crises and personal losses. This is exactly why developing resilience equips you with the mental fortitude to navigate adversity with grace, learn from setbacks, and emerge stronger than before.

Basic Life Support:

This one might be a little dark, but if you were to take a BLS class, there might always be the chance that you could one day literally save someone’s life. This is one of those skills that’s mixed. Some industries (like medical) just expect this, while other industries will think it’s an important skill to have in case an emergency happens to a team member.

This can potentially help someone in case of an emergency professional-wise, but it can be just as valuable when it comes to your personal life, too. In everyday life, unexpected emergencies can arise, such as cardiac arrest, choking, or drowning. If you have BLS training, you’re gaining the knowledge and confidence to intervene effectively in such critical situations, potentially saving the life of a loved one, friend, or stranger.

Negotiations:

Negotiating can be a very uncomfortable situation. But you need to keep in mind that negotiation skills are invaluable in navigating professional relationships, whether it’s securing a deal, resolving disputes, or collaborating with colleagues. These same skills are equally essential in personal interactions, from negotiating household responsibilities to resolving conflicts with loved ones (or even just trying to buy a high-ticket item like a house or car).

Emotional Regulation:

When it comes to a professional setting, sometimes you need to swallow your pride and take what’s being thrown at you. It can be so hard not to explode and it might be seen as unprofessional if you show negative emotions when someone is mistreating you. In your personal life, you might be more tempted to talk back if someone mistreats you. Being able to control your emotions no matter how unpleasant the situation may be is an excellent tool. Lacking that emotional regulation and control can get you into serious trouble. This is a valuable skill that takes time to learn, but it’s so worth it.

No one is saying to bring work home with you, but some skills you use in the workplace can be most helpful in your every day life!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Fake Chicken & Waffles

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Fake Chicken & Waffles

Howdy!! Every once in a while, Johnny will announce that he is craving something or another. It might be a candy bar, it could be a cup of tea, a huge burger, and anything in between. This past week, he shared with the bunnies and I that he really wanted some chicken and waffles. He then went to the store after work for supplies and made himself the dinner of his dreams that evening. It was so nice to not have to cook lol! I had to admit that the food looked and smelled delicious so I wanted to try a modified version with my MorningStar buffalo chicken patties. Check it out:

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I must give credit where credit is due and say that Johnny hit the nail on the head with his idea. I have never had chicken and waffles before and it was the bomb.com! The waffles that he picked out were an inspired choice because they were thick, fluffy, and infused with maple syrup. It was like a flavor explosion paired with the fake buffalo chicken and I have never tasted anything like it before. This meal required no prep whatsoever and it was a relief to make such an easy dinner after a long day at work. I can’t say that I would make this for myself all of the time, but it was definitely a treat.

If you haven’t tried the MorningStar buffalo chicken patties before, I can’t recommend them enough. They are mine and Johnny’s favorite and we always have them on hand at home. I am so happy that Johnny likes them too because I never have to worry about making something else for him. We love making classic chicken sandwiches with them and Southwest wraps. Now, apparently, we love them for chicken and waffles too. Who knew that I would try a new vegetarian creation thanks to my carnivore husband’s craving of the week?! ❤

Although the kitchen is definitely my domain, Johnny does a banner job making simple, innovative meals and I think that’s great. I can’t wait to see what he’s hungry for next and if I can modify it!

Which brand makes the best fake meat? What is your favorite easy meal to make? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah