Tag Archives: accessories

Accessory Story: Earthbound Bracelet Edition

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Accessory Story: Earthbound Bracelet Edition

Howdy!! My sister and I had the most fantastic time in New Orleans and it was such fun to explore the city with Kristen. Prior to our cousin’s Saturday evening wedding we shopped till we dropped in the French Quarter. We hit up plenty of markets and quirky souvenir shops and had to laugh at the random CVS because it stuck out like a sore thumb. There weren’t many chain stores to visit but we did end up stopping in Earthbound as we have never been there before and the closest one to us is an hour away. It was a cool, hippie chic shop that boasted clothing, decor, and beautiful jewelry. They were also running a buy one get one half off sale which was a score! Kristen ended up purchasing a lovely bracelet for her daughter and treated me to this dynamite snake wrap bracelet. Check it out:

When I saw this bracelet on display, I literally clutched my pearls. I absolutely love snake themed jewelry and have several pieces in my collection. None of them are like this one, though! Unraveled, this bracelet stretches two feet long and then you can wrap it up as a bracelet or a necklace. All of my bracelets are just cuffs and this number by Earthbound is the perfect jewelry embodiment of a real snake. The salesperson at the store told me they got the bracelet back in stock the day before and that they sell out very quickly. I can definitely see why!

As this bracelet was a bit pricier at twenty dollars, I told my sister I would buy it and get the bracelet she wanted for the half off price. Instead, she got it for me and it was just the sweetest! The whole weekend away warmed my heart and it was so special to have a memento from her to commemorate our trip. I have worn it several times since our mini vacation and it’s impossible not to smile about it. Not only is this bracelet insanely fun to put on but it instantly takes me back to all of the amazing memories we created. Spending all of that time one on one with my sister was the greatest gift I could ever ask for and this bracelet from big sis to little sis was the cherry on top. ❤

Tune in tomorrow to check out an OOTD featuring my new hair and this fabulous Earthbound find. See you then!

Which store has your favorite jewelry? What is your favorite kind of accessory? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Orleans Wedding OOTD

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New Orleans Wedding OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! The weekend of Friday the thirteenth was a fantastic one as my sister, Kristen, and I were in New Orleans to celebrate our cousin’s wedding. We went to a wonderful pre wedding party on Friday and then the big show happened on Saturday evening. The wedding was absolutely beautiful and we even got to parade through the street after the happy couple said “I do”. It was way cool! It was such fun to get dressed to the nines with my sister and be with our extended family and new friends. Take a look at what I wore and let’s discuss:

Floral Dress: ModCloth, Coconinno

Fringe Shawl: TJMaxx, Laundry

Gloves: These belonged to Johnny’s grandma!

Heels: Steve Madden, Kohl’s (I think!)

I think the earrings are from Target!

Outside of going to Playhouse Square for a play or musical, I rarely have the chance to get super dressed up and definitely took advantage of the wedding to do so. Styling formal wear is something that I get to do maybe once a year and there is no better occasion than a wedding to get all dolled up! For my wedding look, I started with a gorgeous dress by Coconinno. I actually wore this when my oldest brother got married over ten years ago and am very glad it still fits lol. From the fitted top to the a-line skirt and the stunning medley of colors, this dress is so charming. This Coconinno number is also quite light making it ideal for a summer wedding or an early spring one in New Orleans. I just love the movement of the skirt and it was perfect for dancing the night away!

Next up was shoes and accessories. For accessories, I added a little bit of everything! First was an adorable fringe shawl by Laundry which is oh so pretty and unique. Although the dress could have been worn without it, the shawl covered up the bra area and I really appreciated that as I could attend the wedding without worrying about bra straps being visible. It also added movement to the top half of the look with the fringe bouncing with every step I took. I also decided to wear a pair of gloves that belonged to Johnny’s grandma which I thought looked so elegant. If you look closely, you can see that there are ruffles going around the wrist and it was yet another sweet detail that elevated this fit.

Last but not least for accessories, I added a pair of dangly three tiered black gemstone earrings. I styled my hair in a chignon inspired do and the gems looked so pretty as they danced around my bare neck. For shoes, I went with the very first pair of heels I ever owned – a strappy little pair by Steve Madden. I will never part with them and that is a good thing because they were exactly what I needed to wrap this OOTD up. That wooden heel is so funky and it was a thrill to hear them clacking across the brick sidewalks! With that, I was ready for a night to remember at the most lovely wedding. ❤

I felt like a star in this look and am so in love with how it turned out. The dress was already great but the accessories took it over the top!

Are you going to a wedding this year? Do you get the chance to rock formal wear often? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Accessory Story: SuperKitties Necklace Edition

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Accessory Story: SuperKitties Necklace Edition

Howdy! My sweet nieces absolutely love doing crafts and making jewelry. For Christmas, I got them each a necklace kit with one featuring Moana 2 for my biggest niece and SuperKitties for my middle niece who is a super fan. There is nothing better to me than when they gift me with one of their works of art and I keep them proudly displayed throughout my apartment. This past week, I swung by my sister’s after work for a visit and had the best time dancing around like crazy people with my girl squad. I was also delighted by little feet running towards me with a present in hand. A SuperKitties necklace just for me!

Being an aunt is truly one of my greatest joys in the whole world. I revel in being a TT to the literal coolest kids on the planet and they are never far from my mind. I am always thinking about them! Are they having fun? Have they said anything hilarious? Did they learn something new today? They really are my little besties and any time spent with them is treasured. That’s why it’s so special to receive crafts that they made for me. It shows that they are thinking of me too and looking forward to TT time. When my niece handed me the necklace and said she made it all by herself for me, I seriously could have cried. It was just so sweet!

When I see my girls, I never show up empty handed. Like I said, they are never far from my mind and I can’t help but pick up new treats or toys whenever I am doing some shopping. During our visit, I was able to give them all of their Valentine’s Day prezzies and returned home with new bling bling around my neck. I have a massive jewelry collection but I can’t think of one piece that is better than the jewelry my nieces made me with love. TJMaxx may have an excellent jewelry selection but they will never have anything as beautiful or special as my homemade bling. ❤

As soon as I got home, I hung my SuperKitties necklace up on one of my jewelry stands and it makes me smile every day. What a perfect Valentine’s Day gift!

What was your favorite craft as a kiddo? Do you enjoy making jewelry? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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

Beautiful Bracelet Gifts

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Beautiful Bracelet Gifts

Hello! My family celebrated Christmas on Sunday and it was the most wonderful time. The only thing that was missing was my brother in law who wasn’t feeling well. We played games, opened tons of prezzies, and had a delicious lasagna for dinner. I had been so looking forward to giving everyone their gifts as I have had them for months at this point lol. What I was especially excited for was a gift for my niece. When she started school last year, I got her best friend bracelets for us to wear. She promptly lost it that day while I have been wearing mine every day since. So, I decided to get us new ones for Christmas. Her and my sister had bracelets on their brains too! Check out these gifts:

My niece requested that we open our gifts to each other at the same time and as luck would have it she selected the tiny gift box with our bestie bracelets first. We cracked up when we saw that we had both gifted each other bracelets! I cannot even explain to you how much this Best Aunt bracelet from my best gal means to me. She picked it out at the Santa Shop at her school and used her own money to buy something perfect for me. My gal completely knocked it out of the park because this gift surpasses perfection. Being an aunt is one of my greatest joys and I am so happy that my nieces and nephew feel that too when we are together.

The next bracelet I received was a gorgeous sentiment for sisters from my big sis. I can’t believe at one point we were mortal enemies when we have been besties for so long! I was so touched by the thoughtfulness of this gift and I adore the colors of those beautiful beads. Between both of our busy schedules it can feel hard for us to make time for each other. This is a physical reminder that we are always together anyways and I felt so loved from it. ❤

It was a jewelry kind of Christmas and I was so there for it. I have a few new bracelets to add to my “wear every day” collection now and they are the best additions!

How did you celebrate the holidays? Did you get a meaningful gift this year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Let It Snow OOTD

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Let It Snow OOTD

Howdy everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This past Saturday I enjoyed a wonderful pampering session at The Shear Shop and emerged with a beautiful new do in a peacock palette. Afterwards, I could not wait to take pictures to show off my new look – rain, shine, or snow! Once I returned home from the salon, Johnny and I ventured out into the cold for some OOTD magic in the freshly falling snow. I just love how these pictures turned out! Take a look:

Faux Fur Jacket: Me Jane, TJMaxx

Coated Skinny Jeans: Seven Jeans, TJMaxx

Heeled Boots: Olivia Miller, TJMaxx

Gloves: StilEstro, TJMaxx

I have no idea where the earrings are from!

I pondered what I wanted to wear for these pictures as I drove home from the salon and decided that I wanted to sport an All Black Everything motif. These pics were about the outfit, of course, but also to showcase the hair. I wanted the rockin peacock palette to be seen in all of its glory and that called for a neutral background to prevent color clutter. This may be a simple OOTD but between the unique details in the clothing and my new hair, it turned into a full fledged fashion statement.

For my jacket, I chose a stunning faux fur number by Me Jane. I am an avid fan of faux fur and this jacket is pure sophistication. I adore the visible diamond shaped stitches and the brooch style button. The shape is so classic and it is nice and warm for the wintertime. The timelessness of this jacket created such an interesting juxtaposition with the modern hair and I felt like an old fashioned movie star! As I was going with All Black Everything, I paired my jacket with some top or another underneath as I planned on wearing it buttoned and my coated skinnies by Seven Jeans. These pieces paired together formed a long and lean silhouette while also playing with texture from the shiny coating of the jeans and soft faux fur to make the eyes dance.

Next up was shoes and accessories. I went with my favorite pair of chunky heeled boots by Olivia Miller which added a shiny pop of bling from the chains. It also helped tie the look together from head to toe thanks to the blinged out brooch button on the jacket. As another additional sparkly surprise, I chose a pair of gloves by StilEstro in a gorgeous cream hue that featured a big flower brooch on one of the hands. Finally, I popped on a pair of dangly earrings with sizeable burnt amber gems hanging from them. These playful touches of shiny gems and silver looked so striking against my neutral palette and the white fluffy stuff falling from the sky!

With winter fashion this good, I say Let It Snow… In moderation, of course!

Have you had a snowy winter? What is your favorite wintertime activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Thxgiving Pt. 2 OOTD

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Thxgiving Pt. 2 OOTD

Hi!! The day after Thanksgiving, Johnny and I enjoyed a wonderful lunch at El Meson with his parents. I might have still been in a slight food coma but I never say no to Mexican food and El Meson is, hands down, the best restaurant in our neck of the woods. The meal was delicious, the company was delightful, and I loved piecing together this little something to wear. Also, so aware there aren’t many pics to check out. We were starving and freezing our nads off when we took these before leaving and it was definitely not my best work. Lol, hey it happens to the best of us!

Jacket: Vince Camuto, TJMaxx

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Boots: Candie’s, Kohl’s

Earrings: Argentino Vivo, TJMaxx

The hat belonged to my grandma! ❤

I am not a fan of winter in the slightest and am a spring and fall girl through and through. However, I sure love dressing for winter! Jackets are one of my favorite fashion items and I have quite a collection of cold weather coats to choose from. It is exciting to break them out again and I couldn’t wait to wear my amazing blazer style jacket by Vince Camuto. It is one of my all time favorite TJMaxx purchases and I feel like a star in it. Those faux fur cuffs just scream luxury and I have a little Devil Wears Prada moment every time I slip it on. This jacket is a timeless staple with a twist and that is exactly what I like.

The base of this outfit was kept simple as I wanted the jacket and accessories to do all of the talking. And anyways, I had no intention of taking my jacket off. Did I mention it was freaking freezing?! Black skinny jeans and a form fitting navy sweater were the move and it was off to accessorize. This is always the best part of dressing for winter for me as I am a huge accessory girl and the cold months are my time to shine. As a heavily tattooed chick, accessories fly out the window when it’s hot out because they are my accessories. In the winter, I forget I have a majority of my ink because I’m all covered up!

For accessories, I delved into my hat collection and returned with a beautiful vintage cloche hat from my grandma. She had the most impeccable style and hats were her favorite. I am lucky enough to have several of her hats and it brings me so much joy to wear them. I think she would be so happy about it too! This hat is so timeless yet modern with that black feather and it was just right with my jacket for that freshened up old-timey feel.

In the shoe department I opted for a gorgeous pair of thigh high boots by Candie’s to strut my stuff in. These boots are eight years old but I just can’t part with them! I love their length, the heel, and how form fitting they are for a sleek and lean silhouette. Last but not least was jewelry and I chose a medium sized pair of hoops by Argentino Vivo in forest green. As red and green are complimentary colors, they looked especially striking against the vibrant red of the hat. With that, I was ready for food coma round two!

I love me a holiday where all that’s required is to dress up and eat. Is it bad that I’m already thinking about Christmas dinner… and next year’s Thanksgiving?! 😀

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

Fashion Holiday Gifts

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Fashion Holiday Gifts

Howdy! I am pleased to report that my holiday shopping is donezo! I made excellent use of Black Friday sales for my remaining giftees and I am so excited to pop on one of my comfort shows and wrap everything up. For those who still have some holiday shopping to get done, fear not! We’ll be having gift guides leading up to the big days to give you some inspiration. Let’s venture into the world of fashion. Whether you have a giftee who is a full fledged fashionista or keeps their style simple, these gifts will always go over well:

New PJs are an excellent option for wearing to bed or just lounging about the house. In the cold winter months, people want to feel cozy and curling up in some soft pajamas is the best way to do it! Regardless of if a set of PJs are your giftee’s thing, they are certainly going to use it and can break up the pieces as they choose. 5 Below has an amazing selection of pajamas for fifteen dollars and you can often find sets at TJMaxx for around twenty. Jammies are something people rarely buy for themselves as sweatpants and old T’s make an equally viable option so this gift would feel like a real treat. I know I would love it because thanks to 5 Below I have become pajama obsessed!

Let me say something controversial but so brave: Winter is cold lol. How many times have you not bundled up and instantly regretted it after two minutes? Too many to count on my end! Lovely hats, scarves, and gloves can not only provide an added boost of warmth but gives the opportunity to shake up outfits too. If you’re unsure of which colors to choose, opt for something neutral like cream, tan, or black. That way the accessory can be paired with anything and will still work beautifully.

Who doesn’t love a touch of bling? For the fellas you could go for cuff links, tie clips, watches, or chains. Delicate, meaningful jewelry always makes a great gift for the ladies. I am especially partial to best friends bracelets as well as mother related jewelry for my mom, sister, and mother-in-law. When you put some genuine thought into a jewelry gift, it will turn into not just an accessory but a treasure. Find pieces that speak to your giftee’s style and your own relationship and I just know they will love it!

Did I mention that winter is cold?! Plush throw blankets, fuzzy socks, slippers, mug and drink koozies, or even weighted stuffed animals are all fabulous options to curl up on the couch with and watch your favorite holiday flick. For items like blankets or koozies you could go the customized route with a local vendor. There is also never a shortage of fuzzy socks or slippers in store to choose from. Cozy gifts are fun because they often fall under someone’s “nice to have” but not necessary category when they are making purchases. Even if your giftee is a blanket fiend like me, they will simply say the more the merrier. 😀

Do you know someone whose wardrobe constantly runneth over? Anyone with jewelry and earrings scattered around like breadcrumbs (Me!)? Or perhaps a giftee who could use some extra help organizing? Come in with the assist! Jewelry boxes, shelves or hanging organizers, and plastic bins to keep seasonal clothes safe are practical and can transform a cluttered room. You can double gift by lending a hand during the installation and organizing the space so their clothes and accessories get the treatment they deserve.

The options above are a practical look at fashion gifts. You know your giftee best and when you find that perfect item that speaks to their style, you will definitely know!

What is your favorite type of present to gift? What is a fashion gift you would love to receive? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Lunch Date OOTD

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Lunch Date OOTD

Howdy! This past weekend Johnny and I went on a fabulous lunch date to Boss ChickNBeer. We had the most fantastic meal, made some new friends, and found our new favorite restaurant! Since our plan was to dine and dash… Not literally lol as in dash to go back home, I opted for a casually cute OOTD. As soon as I got back home it was back into comfortably cute pajamas! I couldn’t wait to show off my amazing new TJMaxx cherry earrings and knew exactly what I wanted to wear to really make them pop. Check it out:

Cardigan: Jessica Simpson, TJMaxx

Crop Top: This was purchased forever ago from Target

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Heeled Combat Boots: BCBG, TJMaxx

Cherry Earrings: Anthropologie, TJMaxx

The apple belt was legit purchased when I was a teenager from some stand in the mall lol

An outfit like this is about as casual as it gets for your girl without being in pajamas. I am one to dress for the occasion, however, and a lunch date definitely doesn’t call for dressing to the nines. Regardless, I still had a lot of fun with this look because of the accessories! I knew right where to start with this fit because I had already pictured pairing my cherry earrings with the cream colored Jessica Simpson cardi. The deep red cherries directly against this neutral sweater was just *chef’s kiss*. Also, can we talk about how pretty those raised flower decals are? This cardi is so soft and sweet and is the perfect one to wrap yourself in on a chilly fall day.

Next on the agenda was the outfit’s base. As I wanted cherry red to pop with the other fruit themed accessory I had up my sleeve, All Black Everything was the move. I slipped on my go to pair of skinnies by 1822 Denim as well as a little cropped number from Target. I’m pretty sure I got this top as a teenager but I refuse to part with it. It is so handy to have this basic essential to put on when you want to make other pieces in your outfit shine. Remember, simple is best when you want a statement piece to be the focal point in your fit.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. I started with my cherry bomb earrings, of course, and chose a pair of heeled combat boots by BCBG. Red and green are complimentary colors so I knew this pair would work. I didn’t want this look to be Christmas-y, though, and that was deterred by having the green all the way at the bottom. After the shoes and the earrings were on, I still wasn’t in love with this OOTD. So, I decided to add a bright red belt with apple clasps to the mix. That was much more like it! From the top down it went from pop of red to cream back to pop of red again for a tutti fruity surprise. With that, I was ready to hit the road for our Lunch Date!

These accessories made my Lunch Date OOTD a total blast with bursts of red for casual vibes with a fruity twist!

Do you have a favorite type of jewelry? Do you own any quirky accessories? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Cherry On Top Earrings

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New Cherry On Top Earrings

Hello! Every Tuesday I get an hour and a half break before my last shift of the day. I use that time to write, read, or do blog jobs. And, oh yeah, I go shopping too! There is a TJMaxx right by the job site I am at and I have been frequenting it as I plug away at my holiday shopping. I am pleased to report that I am almost done and can’t wait to finish up, wrap them up, and cozy up for the rest of the holiday season. Of course, it’s extremely hard to visit TJMaxx without looking a little bit for myself too! During my last shopping trip, I ended up with a ten dollar treat and I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I have wanted something like this for forever! Check it out:

When I saw these darling cherry earrings I literally gasped. I have always thought that a pair of dangly cherry earrings would be so retro and fun. They were never a must have but a nice to have and the pair I found at TJMaxx was even better than what I had in mind. These good enough to eat earrings detach at the top of the cherry so you have to put the stem through the ear and then put them back together again. I thought this was way cool and unique and I absolutely love the deep red, shiny cherries. They are the ultimate in fairycore chic!

There was no brand listed on the packaging of my new earrings so I decided to look them up. Once again, I couldn’t believe my good fortune because these are actually from Anthropologie! The price listed on their website is forty-four dollars and I got mine for ten. You just can’t beat that! Anthropologie is a brand that I have always coveted and I got an accessory from there that I have been dreaming of for a song. Lady Luck continued to smile on me because there are three colors of the cherries to pick from at Anthropologie and I found the deep red. The brighter hued options on their website didn’t speak to me whatsoever. This find was as sweet as cherry pie! 😀

As always, huge ups to TJMaxx for providing me with the things I want and the things that I didn’t know I needed. Forever my happy place! ❤

Is there a fashion item you have been coveting? Where is your happy place to shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah