Tag Archives: accessories

Aug27

Bestie Bracelets

Posted on August 27, 2024 by lifewithlilred

Hello!!! My two nieces are my A1 besties and Johnny and I adore being their aunt and uncle. One recently celebrated her second birthday and the other is off to kindergarten and I’m ready for them to stop growing any time now! During my last trip to TJMaxx, I wanted to pick up a few “starting school” treats so little lady could have gifts to open while her sister celebrated her birthday. I got her some fun hair accessories, a nail polish kit, and best friends bracelets. I was hoping she would give me one of them because it was inspired by something my mom did for me when I started school. She did and I proudly wear my half of the Bestie Bracelets every day:

As a new kindergartner, I missed my mom terribly. To help ease that transition, my mom gave me a locket with a picture of us in it. She told me that I should open the locket every time I missed her and I made great use of it and still have it to this day. Johnny’s mom did something similar. She gave him a drawing of a clock with the time that she would pick him up and he was better able to measure the time when he would see her again. This is exactly why I gave my niece our BFF bracelets – so if she ever needed a hug from her TT at school, all she would have to do is look at her bracelet and know how much I love her. Honestly, my bracelet is going to help me too because I am going to miss her SO much while she is at school!

If you have kiddos or lil besties that are about to start their school year, I cannot recommend doing something like this enough. It’s such a simple but effective gesture in combating that back to school angst. It is also something that will be forever remembered. Johnny and I are in our thirties and still think about how our moms gave us something tangible to hold onto when we began kindergarten! Whatever you choose for your little will be cherished and it is definitely worth giving it a try as they start their big adventure. ❤

I am so excited to see how much my niece learns and grows this year and I am so happy that we have Bestie Bracelets together. This proud TT is going to need it, without a doubt!

Did you like going to school? (I sure didn’t lol) What was your favorite subject? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug21

Guest Appearance OOTD

Posted on August 21, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! I attended a work function this past Friday with Johnny to celebrate with his teammates on the completion of a new product. I was really excited because I have never met any of his coworkers before and just had to make a Guest Appearance after my shift at work. It was an absolute blast to sip on drinks and chat it up with everyone who spends part of their day with my better half! Since it was a casual event, I didn’t want to go all out with an outfit but wanted to put together something cute and eye catching. Especially since Johnny did an outfit change to go to the party too! I love how this little look turned out:

Who? What? Wear?

Houndstooth Vest: Sincerely Jules, TJMaxx

The black crop top is from Target from forever ago!

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Color Pop Loafers: Steve Madden, Walmart

Bat Earrings: AbbieDabbles

The necklace is from American Eagle from forever ago!

I am so not a jeans and a T-shirt girl and when it comes to casual dressing, this OOTD is about as casual as it gets for me. A majority of Johnny’s coworkers are aware of my blog and job so I wanted my look to reflect that without being too extra about it. However, that proved to be more difficult than I imagined because all of my clothes are pretty extra lol! As I browsed through my closet to decide what to wear, I locked in on my houndstooth vest by Sincerely Jules and went for it. I am a huge fan of anything in this pattern and knew I could use the vest as the focal point of the outfit while keeping the rest fairly basic. Exactly what I needed for a low key event!

Since I wanted the vest to do the talking, I went the minimal route for the base of the outfit. My ballerina crop top from Target is old as dirt but it served its purpose well for this look. It also provided just the right amount of peek-a-boo skin that wasn’t too revealing. For jeans, I slipped on my pair of skinnies by 1822 Denim. These are one of the newest additions to my black skinny jeans collection and I am all about that distressing at the ankle. It’s a simple touch but it turns basic skinnies into something a little more special.

Finally, it was time for shoes and accessories. The shoe selection was easy peasy because I couldn’t wait to break out my new Steve Madden loafers! I am obsessed with the bright green pop of color and it packed even more of a punch among the neutral palette established. Last on the agenda was jewelry. I filled the blank space on my torso with a canteen style necklace on a thin silver chain and popped on a pair of small dangly bats. With that, I was ready to hit the work party with my main squeeze!

My Guest Appearance OOTD was a hit at the function and I’m confident that everyone knew who I was as soon as I walked in. And, if they didn’t, a smooch hello from Johnny certainly cleared things up!

Do you like attending work parties? Do you hang out with your coworkers outside of work? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug8

Cute Jumpsuit OOTD

Posted on August 8, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Johnny and I went on some fantastic outings this past weekend and we had the best time. Whenever we can go on a date together is a special occasion and I always want to look the part for it. Amazing company and a great outfit can turn the most ordinary date like a dinner out into something extraordinary. Johnny and I really do revel in a night out and just like me, he dresses to impress too! For date night, I put together a little look with an adorable jumpsuit. Oddly enough, Johnny had a dream the night before that we went on a date to a concert and I wore a jumpsuit. We are so in sync, even in our dreams! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Jumpsuit: Japna, TJMaxx

Floral Platforms: Qupid, TJMaxx

Butterfly Sunglasses: A Signature Antiques

Pink Snake Cuff Bracelet: Betsey Johnson

Blue Snake Cuff Bracelet: I got this at the zoo forever ago lol

The large gold cuff is from Aerie and the stud earrings are from PacSun – both purchased when I was in high school!!

One style of clothing that I absolutely love is the jumpsuit. They are such a simple piece but so effective in creating a stand out outfit. The only problem with jumpsuits are that they are definitely made with people over five foot one in mind! I cannot tell you the amount of jumpsuits I have tried on at TJMaxx that were perfect – minus the fact that about one foot in leg length would have to be removed. It was certainly a stroke of good luck when I found the Japna jumpsuit seen above that I could just make work with an uber tall pair of platforms!

For mine and Johnny’s date night, we were going to do dinner and a movie. I’m not sure why I instantly thought of my jumpsuit (Maybe it was from Johnny’s dream!), but I thought it would be a comfortable option for reclining in a movie theater after a meal. We didn’t end up going to the movie after the fact of the outfit being styled and I stuck with it anyways. The canvas hued linen screams summer and I can’t get enough of the stitch details and bustier button up top. It is truly a summer staple and exactly what I needed for a balmy evening on the town.

Since the top and bottom of this OOTD were accounted for, it was time for shoes and accessories. For shoes, I went with a pair of pink floral print platforms by Qupid. These were a must for the added height and gave a sweet peek-a-boo pop of pink with every step. For accessories, I chose a pair of stud earrings because I didn’t want a dangly pair to overshadow the length of my neck. When you are a petite gal, you always have to think about accentuating your length – especially when you’re in something with a lot of fabric like a jumpsuit. Rather than necklaces or earrings, I accessorized with some funky cuff bracelets and was ready for a date night with my main squeeze!

This Cute Jumpsuit OOTD was a cinch to style and a joy to wear. I was literally in the outfit of Johnny’s dreams and it had him doing a quadruple take. I’ll take it!

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

Jul18

Accessory Story: Vintage Gloves Edition

Posted on July 18, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Johnny and I had a lovely Date Day during our Fourth of July staycation that included some vintage and antique shopping. I was enamored with one of the shops we visited and couldn’t stop thinking about all of the wonderful (and wildly expensive) treasures. Then, a few days later I forgot all about it because Johnny brought me home the most amazing surprise. He was helping his mom go through boxes and trunks of storage and I was presented with vintage treasures of my very own – five pairs of gloves and two clutch purses that belonged to Johnny’s grandma. Both himself and my mother-in-law thought I should have them and I was so incredibly touched. These beautiful accessories date back to the 1940s! Check it out:

When I opened the box containing my “new” accessories, I was literally stunned. I am very rarely speechless and this was one of those situations that didn’t require words. All I could think was that the vintage shops we visited could eat their hearts out because in my hands was something so special that they are invaluable. While Johnny’s grandma had a fondness for gloves, my mom’s mom was all about hats. I have at least fifteen of her vintage hats and they are some of my most prized possessions. I now have something from Johnny’s grandma that I can add to that category AND wear with some of my grandma’s hats to complete the look. ❤

…. Of course, if the gloves fit that is!

Lol, after getting over my initial shock, the next thought I had was “Wouldn’t it suck if none of them fit?”. I have very small hands but these gloves looked tiny. I kid you not that I had more butterflies in my stomach than when I go swimsuit shopping and I really hate that. However, you can always get a bigger size of a bathing suit in the store. Definitely not the case with gloves that are over eighty years old! Thankfully, the fashion gods blessed me. Despite some slight difficulties, I was able to wear each pair quite comfortably. YAY! My favorite accessories from the bunch are easily the gloves and purse from the second photo. The pinwheel style rouching on the cuffs are *chef’s kiss* and can we talk about that sequined bag? Perfect for keeping your phone, credit card, and keys in during a night out!

I am so completely over the moon over these accessories and I cannot wait to incorporate them into fall and winter OOTDs. Vintage chic styles here I come!

Do you have any relics from your grandparents? How do you add vintage vibes to your outfits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul9

A Signature Antiques Accessories

Posted on July 9, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Johnny and I enjoyed some amazing time off for the Fourth of July week. It was much needed and we were able to jam pack our schedule full of outings and pencil in some time to relax too. One of my favorite things we did during our staycation was a Date Day this past Tuesday. We went shopping in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls AKA the Riverfront and then had drinks and a snack at the Cashmere Cricket. It is our favorite bar because it’s awesome lol and it’s where we had our first date! It was a perfect day and I loved being able to check out all of the fantastic vintage and antique shops along the Riverfront. The best one was, hands down, A Signature Antiques. If I had all of the money in the world, I would have bought everything! Alas, I don’t but I couldn’t leave without the following:

The first thing that really caught my eye in A Signature was the stunning black choker necklace with chains and dangling jewels. It was displayed on a mannequin head and I literally clutched my pearls when I saw it. I love choker necklaces but I have never found one that I fell in love with. There was a point a few years ago when they were a HUGE trend. However (And I hate to say this!), I always thought the simple style chokers looked a bit basic. I definitely needed to find one with extravagance and my “new” vintage choker checks all the boxes. It is my favorite color, has so much drama, and makes a stunning addition to my jewelry collection. I cannot wait to plan an OOTD with it as the focal point. 😀

My next purchase was a pair of adorable, blinged out butterfly sunglasses. They remind me SO much of the 90s (Aging myself here!) and the online fashion dolls that you could customize outfits for. I think these sunglasses are just the tops. The shape and decorative crystals are so bold but there is something about them that feels classic and chic. They literally make me feel like a 90s/early 2K pop star and it truly doesn’t get any better than that! I am also really looking forward to styling an OOTD with these stunner shades. I’m thinking baggy jeans and a tiny little crop top for sure!!

These new accessories totally fall under the “treat yourself” category and they are lovely staycation souvenirs from the best date day! ❤

What is your favorite era of fashion? How about your favorite era of music? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr30

Hawaii Haul

Posted on April 30, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! In mid April, my mom, dad, and brother went on a guided vacation to Hawaii. This was their dream trip and we were all thrilled that they got to go on such a wonderful adventure. Although I was happy for their fun in the sun, I was missing them something fierce. Honestly, I couldn’t wait for them to come home as soon as they left! Prior to their departure, they asked all of the family what kind of souvenirs they might like. I answered with jewelry and my history buff husband wanted something from Pearl Harbor. I am pleased to report that my travelers delivered! Check it out:

When I visited my family after they returned, it was like a mini Christmas on the dining room table. It was laden with gifts for the kids and grandkids and it warmed my heart that all of us were thought of no matter how far apart we were. Johnny received some guitar picks and a model of the USS Arizona Memorial. He was SO excited to build the model and when I returned home from work the following day, he was almost done with it already. In fact, he enjoyed the build so much that he plans on buying more from the brand. Both the picks and model are proudly displayed on our knick knack shelves.

For my gift, I got exactly what I wanted – a stunning necklace and earrings! I am loving the shell necklace and it will be a fabulous accessory this summer. I am going to wear it wrapped as a bracelet and the pretty, neutral palette will allow me to wear it with anything and everything. The piece de resistance, however, was the earrings for sure. The delicate gold cutouts of sea turtles blew me away and they are also highly sentimental. Sea turtles are my brother’s favorite and what he was most looking forward to seeing. Like the necklace, these earrings are going to enhance any outfit and it will be like a hug from my family every time I wear them. ❤

My family had the best time on their trip and I had the best time welcoming them home. I call dibs on next vacation!!!

Do you have any vacations planned? Where are you going? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar10

Date Night OOTD

Posted on March 10, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past Friday, I enjoyed a wonderful date night with my sweet Johnny. To me, there is nothing better than a night out with my husband because it means we will both be serving looks! I absolutely love getting dressed up with Johnny because we both have really unique personal styles and it’s fun to show that off together. We are definitely a couple that turns heads when we step out because of bold fashion choices, body mods, and big personalities. It just adds to that “night on the town” vibe and it is simply the best! This is what I wore for our dinner date:

Who? What? Wear?

Oversized Button Down: Zara

Tank Top: Rachel Zoe, TJMaxx

Skinny Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters

Skeleton Platforms: Dolls Kill

Skeleton Hand Earrings: These were a Christmas gift from my bestie!

Wooden Necklace: Made by John Deveer

As per ushie in Ohio, you just never know what kind of weather you are going to get. On Friday, it was in the high forties and pretty overcast so I knew that I didn’t want to wear anything too heavy, but still be covered up against the cold. As I browsed my wardrobe boutique, my oversized button down by Zara caught my eye. Not only has it never been worn in an OOTD post before, but it was just what I needed for the weather. This button down clearly has a very grungy vibe given the color, length, and the phrase “there are no rules” plastered across the back. With a piece as obviously as one particular style as this one, all that was left to do was go grunge to complete the look!

The next order of business was a top to wear under the button down and I kept things simple with a plain white tank. While I could have gone the band tee route, I still wanted to be able to show off my shape. When you’re petite and rocking an oversize piece, it’s important that the rest of the look fits like a glove to keep from being totally overwhelmed by fabric! I slipped on my black skinnies afterwards and tucked the tank in so that the high waisted fit could be seen. Normally, I don’t care for high waisted, but this was a strategic move to give myself some more shape underneath the button down.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I immediately went with my skeleton platforms from Dolls Kill. These just scream “grunge” to me and I thought they made my legs look a mile long! I popped on a pair of gorgeous skeleton hand earrings my bestie bought me next, but still needed something more. After shopping my accessories department, I chose a handmade necklace I got in Atlanta with my mom and brother. It is one of my favorites and I thought it tied the look together beautifully because it blended so seamlessly with the established palette. With that, I was ready for a fabulous night out!

Johnny and I were both huge fans of my Date Night OOTD and it was compliment central when we were at Mike’s Place. There is nothing better than rave reviews for an outfit and it made me feel so good! ❤

How would you describe your personal style? What is your partner or best friend’s style like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb12

Jeans & A V (Neck) OOTD

Posted on February 12, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! On Friday the second, I spent a glorious morning and afternoon getting my hair done at the Shear Shop. There is nothing better to me than freshly dyed hair and it makes me want to take all of the pictures! It’s very exciting to get my hair done because my stylist and I never know which colors are going to pull or exactly how the end result will turn out. My new do definitely fell under the “vivid cool” color palette and I knew just what I wanted to wear to accentuate it. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

V-Neck Sweater: Express

Distressed Skinny Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters

Hidden Wedge Boots: Jennifer Lopez, Kohl’s

The tear drop earrings are from Target (I think). BTW – I, too, am shocked that there’s nothing from TJMaxx in this outfit!

The red, navy, and purple palette of my new hair compliments of Pulp Riot makes me feel like an ice queen. The colors are bright, yes, but they have deep, cool undertones and I love how it makes my pale skin pop. To keep with the “icing out” theme, I started this look with a sweater from Express in a white and grey snakeskin pattern with silver rhinestones adorning it. I got this sweater almost ten years ago for dirt cheap when 1) I used to shop at Express and 2) They used to run their bin sales. I rarely wear it, but I can’t seem to part with it! In this case, it was just what I needed and the wintry hues of the pattern let my hair do all the talking.

Next on the agenda was jeans and I went with my distressed pair from American Eagle Outfitters. The sweater really doesn’t allow for anything other than a neutral colored bottom so the distressing added some visual interest. It also helped show some skin because the V-neck in the sweater isn’t a plunging one. Since I was still almost completely covered on top, I had to get some ventilation elsewhere! 😀

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I wore my all time favorite pair of winter boots by Jennifer Lopez. I will never forget when I got these for four dollars at Kohl’s after admiring them and turning my nose up at the one hundred dollar price tag all winter! These boots are very cool because they have a hidden wedge heel and gave me the extra length that I always want when I’m dressing up. And, how cute are those stud details?! As I didn’t have a lot of open real estate for a necklace or bracelets, I simply put on a pair of black gemstone tear drop earrings and called it an outfit!

My Jeans & A V (Neck) OOTD was just right for showing off my new do and I can’t wait to continue styling looks around it. Stay tuned for more fashion fun soon! ❤

Do you prefer warm or cool undertones for your hair or clothing? What is your favorite animal pattern to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec19

Hats Off: Misny Merch Edition

Posted on December 19, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hi darlings!! It has been forever since we’ve had a new edition of Hats Off because I haven’t bought a new hat in… Well, forever. That changes today, though, because we have a few hats from the Misny Merch collection to check out! Ohio’s favorite local celebrity, Tim Misny, is the man and it was such a joy to create content with him. We had so much fun showing off the Misny Merch line in its entirety and shining a light on the Cleveland City Mission. All proceeds from merch purchases directly benefit this amazing charity that helps battle homelessness in Cleveland. Tim is a huge supporter of the Cleveland City Mission and I tip my new Misny Merch hats to all of those who give their time and love to those who need it at the CCM. Let’s take a look at this swag!

During the fall and winter, I feel like I am constantly rocking a beanie. They are such a classic cold weather staple and it’s just too easy to throw one on in the morning and call it a day. My go to beanie features the phrase “bad hair day” and, yes, it does cover up my crazy hair from first waking up but also assists in my pure laziness lol. During the work week, I am either up at three or four thirty AM and the last thing I am concerned about is the state of my hair in the wee hours of the morn! I am LOVING my new Misny Merch beanies because they are really similar in style to my bad hair day one and offer an infinitely cooler tagline: A variation of Tim’s signature catchphrase, “I’ll make them pay”.

Another fun item from the Misny Merch line are the baseball caps that say “Misny To The Max”. I think the slogan is absolutely hilarious and I also have this cap in black too. In fact, I wore it in the OOTD I styled to win the contest that put me into Tim’s orbit. Everything that Tim does, trust and believe he does it to the max. Whether that be helping the Cleveland City Mission, taking on a personal injury case, or even decorating Misnyland – he’d rather go big or go home. These hats are a fabulous reminder to do everything to the max and see what happens. It applies to me firsthand. If I didn’t have a “to the max” attitude, then I never would have secured the interview that made me and Tim instant besties!!

Live your life to the max and good things will come your way. Live your life in a “Misny To The Max” baseball cap and you’ll look cool while doing it. Buy yours today at Misny Merch and support the Cleveland City Mission!!

How do you live your life to the max? What is your favorite style of hat? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec16

Sweet Surprises: Lovely Ladybugs Edition

Posted on December 16, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Sweet Surprises: Lovely Ladybugs Edition

Hey darlings!! Tuesday was a banner day for your girl because I got Santa Mail from my sweet Kate of Live In The Nautical AND from the beautiful Carlie of Bombshell. These lovely ladies have been my blogging besties since lifewithlilred started all the way back in 2014. In this almost decade tenure of being in the blogosphere, I have had the joy of collaborating and becoming friends with Carlie and she is nothing short of a delight. She is cool, crafty, and the spooky match to my spooky soul. Carlie gifted me with the most adorable pair of earrings that I have ever seen and I just had to share them with all of you:

When I saw my package from Carlie, the vampire goddess herself, I tore it open like a rabid animal. In the packing envelope, I found a little red box and that was already perfect in and of itself. As my blog tagline goes, Life is better in red, and that applies to jewelry boxes too! After smiling to myself about Carlie’s perfect gift box choice, I opened the lid and was delighted with my findings. These delicate gold ladybug earrings are so precious and they warmed my little heart. I absolutely love ladybugs and I love them even more when they are gold and have pink rhinestones! 😀

Being a blogger is awesome because writing is my passion. What makes it the awesomest, however, is all of the wonderful people I have been able to connect with through lifewithlilred. Carlie lives in California and I would have never met her otherwise. Through my page, we became fast friends via text and FaceTime and meeting her was like meeting my blogging big sis. Every day, I am SO thankful to the blogosphere for bringing such amazing friends like Carlie and Kate into my life. And, of course, all of you too. ❤ ❤ ❤

My girl Carlie is an absolute queen and you can keep up to date with all of her fabulousness by giving her a follow on Instagram: @carliemichelle66 . Thank you for my earrings, doll – love you!!! ❤

Have you met any friends through blogging? What is something cool that your blog has done for you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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