Tag Archives: accessory story

Apr30

Best Girls Girl Time

Posted on April 30, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Hello!! My nieces, Valerie and Raya, are two of the best things that have ever happened to me. They have been my little besties since day one and I love watching them grow, even though I’d prefer for them to stay little forever! Last Tuesday, I finally got to spend some quality time at my sister’s house for the ultimate girl’s night in. We play, play, played, danced, and ran around the house like crazy people! The best part, though, was playing dress up with my Val Gal:

Valerie is so much like me and it never fails to warm my cold, bitter heart. She is so funny, sassy, and kind and I love her creativity. Val has taken to her dance classes like a fish to water and is eager for her TT to teach her how to ice skate. Like her ol’ T, she also has a passion for fashion. Val selects her own outfits every day and I am always excited to see what she comes up with. Future OOTD blogger in the making? I think YES!

On Tuesday, Val wanted to get fancy and I was so there for it. She proudly showed me her jewelry box filled with her Disney Princess nail polish, necklaces, bracelets, hair accessories, and random artifacts and TT got to work. First, we played nail salon and Val selected her favorite colors of polish and the pattern she wanted for her nails and toes. Like me, she insisted on nail touch ups if they smudged while drying. I was so proud. ❤

Once her nails were to her liking, she let me do her hair and I was thrilled about that because she never lets me put her hair up. I have wanted to do space buns for her for forever and they turned out as adorable as I pictured them! After her nails and hair were on fleek, it was time to accessorize and, in this case, more was more. Val put on every single bracelet she owns and I helped her clasp all of her necklaces. The look was completed with a butterfly clip and a bow in her hair and my girl was ready to work it!

I like to think of this day as when Val learned the power of the confidence boost you can get when you are wearing something that makes you happy. By the time her OOTD was done, she was not merely walking but strutting! We worked on our runway walks and poses and my heart melted when she summoned her parents to check out our handiwork by saying “Mommy, daddy! Look at me! I’m so fancy!” Haha, that’s my girl. 😀

While Val and I played dress up, my mind went into a montage of us shopping, getting our nails done, and having girl time. It made me so happy and proud and these are seriously the moments that I live for. Val is most excited for our next slumber party because we plan on playing dress up again in TT and Uncle Johnny’s closet. I think she is going to lose her mind seeing all of our scarves, hats, and jewelry at her disposal! I can’t wait. ❤

What was your favorite thing to play when you were little? What makes you feel “so fancy”? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr23

So Bright I Need Shades

Posted on April 23, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Last Tuesday, I had the morning to myself after working from home and all I wanted to do was shop, shop, shop! Before my afternoon shift, I hit up TJMaxx and Bath & Body Works for some much needed retail therapy and had an absolute blast. At TJMaxx, I spent my Christmas gift cards on a few new things for me, skin care, birthday gifts for my bestie, a new shirt for Johnny, and sunglasses! I have been so sick of wearing Johnny’s plain frames and chose two new pairs; one by Sam Edelman and the other, surprisingly, was by America’s number one baddie, Martha Stewart lol. Check them out:

There was a point in my early twenties when I had sunglasses galore as they were a cheap and fun way for a little pick me up. I had quite the collection of sunnies in various shapes, sizes, and colors and would change out which one I was using often. Of course, sunglasses don’t last forever and all of them had definitely seen better days. Scratches, loose screws, and cracks began to form and one by one my collection ended up in the trash. And, eventually, I had to resort to square black frames a la Johnny when driving and out and about.

The sunglasses that I had been using were probably the most boring thing that Johnny and I own and I decided to check out the sunglasses wall at TJs during my excursion. I was pretty unimpressed with a majority of the options and was drowning in a sea of tortoiseshell! However, I did have luck with two pairs and that’s great because literally anything was better than what I had! I was shocked to see so many Martha Stewart pairs on the shelf, but it all worked out because they were arguably the most fun frames available. I still can’t quite wrap my mind around that. 🙂

The pair of Martha, Martha, Marthas that I selected are really cool and I love the shape; they are huge! One problem that I have found with gigantic frames are how heavy they are and that was not the case with my new pair at all. These are so light but still feel sturdy and that is a major plus. I feel so perfectly posh in these shades and ten dollars isn’t a bad price to pay for a pair by America’s sweetheart! 😀

The other pair I chose was by Sam Edelman, whose accessories I am obsessed with. In fact, I used to have a pair of sunglasses from that designer until they broke! I am all about sunnies with a unique shape and these octagonal frames were an instant must. In fact, I used to have a very similar pair until they broke lol. Noticing a theme here? I have been wearing these sunnies every day since I got them and they are awesome! Like the Marthas, they are nice and light and the protection they offer from the sun without drastically changing the colors of everything makes for an ideal pair for driving. And for also looking fresh to death!

For so long, I focused on clothing and shoes while shopping that I didn’t even think about getting new sunglasses, which I really needed. These new pairs will come in very handy during the sunny days of spring and summer and I might just have to start rebuilding my sunglasses collection again! Keep it posted for more from my TJMaxx Haul coming soon!

Do you have a collection of any accessories? 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

Jul10

White Hot OOTD Pt. 3

Posted on July 10, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the last of my White Hot OOTD shoot before we move on to the lols of the blooper reel! Prior to taking these pictures with Johnny, we had no idea of the beauty surrounding our new apartment. Although we still live in the same community, the scenery at our new place is vastly different to the old one. We used to be in a cluster of different complexes and are now nestled in the woods with greenery everywhere and a creek running through the property.

The last location we shot at is actually really cool because it’s a rock wall that makes up the base of our new complex:

To wrap up this photo series, I thought that we would talk a little bit about accessorizing. Knowing how to accessorize is just as much of an art as any other aspect of fashion because it is a delicate dance. Too much jewelry can take away from a great outfit and too little makes it feel like it’s missing something. You, truly, need that “just right” medium for optimum success and I think this OOTD achieved that.

There are a few key rules to follow when accessorizing that will help you put the cherry on top of any look:

Fill Negative Space:

Blank spaces on an OOTD are where accessories come into play, which you can see on my OOTD. Are you wearing a tank top? How about adding a jangling stack of bangles? Or, maybe you’re rocking a hot pair of short shorts – try an anklet or some bejeweled Gladiator sandals! Scooping neckline? Add a necklace of an appropriate length to fill the space!

Creating visual interest with an outfit means that you are making the eyes of whomever is looking at you dance. So, instead of just a brief up and down glance, they are looking here, there, and everywhere at all of the little touches you added to your look. Properly placed accessories is what helps to achieve this.

Consider Your Clothing:

This seems like an obvious tip but it needs to be said. Accessories thrive on a more neutral palette, which is why I limited mine to the top half of this OOTD. A bold patterned piece of clothing is an accessory in and of itself so you don’t want to weigh it down with unnecessary jewelry.

Let’s think about a white tank top again – this is grounds to spice things up with a lengthier pendant necklace. But what if you’re wearing a bright floral top? A short length silver or gold chain necklace or sweet stud earrings will work perfectly. Remember, accessories are meant to enhance – not take away from your overall OOTD.

As a heavily tattooed and pierced woman with some crazy cool hair, I have had to reconsider how I accessorize as my body mod collection grows. All of my modifications are my accessories so I am even more mindful of the jewelry that I wear in my OOTDs. The tips above work wonders for me and I know for a fact that they will for you too!

What is your favorite type of accessory? Do you have a piece of jewelry that you wear every day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun17

Accessory Story: New SJ Pearl Obsidian Necklace

Posted on June 17, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Accessory Story: New SJ Pearl Obsidian Necklace

Hello! Last Monday, I had a very successful shopping trip at TJMaxx with a new friend. I got all kinds of cute stuff with my birthday gift cards, including a new SJ Pearl necklace that I love so much. Part of the novelty of shopping at TJMaxx that never gets old is being introduced to new brands that you haven’t heard of before. I purchased two SJ Pearl necklaces almost three years ago from TJs and still find myself looking for more every time I go.

On Monday, my prayers were finally answered and there were several new SJ Pearl necklaces on the jewelry counter. I knew the brand as soon as I saw it from aisles away and couldn’t reach the display fast enough. There were three different designs to choose from and, honestly, I wish that I bought them all lol. Here is what I went with:

Despite having a huge jewelry collection, I always seem to gravitate towards my SJ Pearl necklaces to spice up an OOTD. They are, easily, some of my favorite pieces that I own and they add a unique touch to the most simple of outfits. I love the reassuring weight of them around my neck as they are fairly heavy because of being made with precious stones. Obsidian is used for protection and, maybe it’s just in my head, but I do feel more at peace just knowing that it’s on.

My other SJ Pearl necklaces are shorter in length, although they can be adjusted. So, I was very excited to find my new one that is longer. It is such a stunning design and I can’t wait to wear the jet black beads against cream colored blouses to add a major pop of visual interest. Also, if anyone knows more about the image on it, then please fill me in because I couldn’t find it when scouring Google.

My new necklace is the last thing from my TJMaxx haul and it was definitely one of the better trips that I have had recently. Once a maxxinista, always a maxxinista!!

What is your favorite jewelry brand? Where do you go to discover new brands? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun11

Accessory Story: Larioseta Scarf Edition

Posted on June 11, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Accessory Story: Larioseta Scarf Edition

Hello!! I had many a birthday gift card for TJMaxx burning a hole in my pocket and I was so happy to go shopping with a new friend to spend them. We had the best time and each had a haul worth blogging about! As always, I wanted to be able to find some new tops. And, as always, that was a total bust lol. However, I did find lots of other goodies starting with this gorgeous silk scarf by Larioseta:

From necklaces and purses to shoes and scarves, I love accessories. I am a huge fan of scarves and have several in my collection but none as good enough to eat looking as my new Larioseta one! I saw this darling donut patterned scarf from aisles away and just had to hurry over to snag it because it was the only one there. It reminded me so much of my favorite Popsicle print silk scarf by BCBG and I had to have it. Clearly, I have a fondness for dessert print accessories!

Silk scarves are a fabulous way to spruce up a summer outfit whether tied at the neck, worn as a headband, or even wrapped around the straps of a purse. I plan on letting my sweet tooth do the talking by tying it at the neck with a simple white tank top and my go to American Eagle shorts. While cozy scarves should be saved for the fall, silk scarves are a perfect summer option for a touch of retro cuteness that won’t leave you burning up. 😀

Keep it posted here on lifewithlilred for more on my TJMaxx birthday gift card haul and a huge thank you to everyone for the generous gifts!! ❤

What is your favorite place to receive a gift card for? 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

May5

Accessory Story: Forgotten Ring Edition

Posted on May 5, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! I love putting on my engagement ring and wedding band every day because I think that they are the most “me” pieces of jewelry that I own. I didn’t think it was possible to love another piece of bling more so I was blindsided when I found this surprise ring while I was packing for mine and Johnny’s big move:

I have a pink dish chair that has held all of my bras, sports bras, and swimsuits for as long as I can remember. I also have not moved anything from that chair for as long as I can remember. Lol, Johnny caught onto this too because while I was boxing up everything from the chair, I found a velvet gift bag. At first, it felt empty and I almost threw it out. Then, I reached into the bag and discovered this gorgeous pearl ring with amber jewels!

I literally clutched my pearls when the ring was revealed because it was just so cute. It looks like a gemstone bow and I have never seen anything like it. I was so curious where this ring had came from because it was in the most random location. I couldn’t wait for Johnny to get home to question him about the ring’s origins because I thought that it might have been an engagement ring he picked out before ordering the one that I have.

Once Johnny got home, he told me that he also had no idea where he acquired the ring and then we started playing detective. It didn’t come from me so it would have had to have been from Johnny. We both thought that the gift bag’s gold motif was similar to my ring box and packaging from the Etsy shop we got my engagement ring from. Then, concluded that it must have been an extra gift for purchasing the engagement ring.

I asked Johnny how he could have forgotten this and I guess with the excitement of getting engaged it just slipped his mind! He also expertly hid it in a place where we both never look so I don’t think I would have ever found it unless we were moving. I love this bonus ring so much and I am thrilled that it is finally in its rightful possession – mine! ❤

Have you ever found anything unexpected while moving? Where is the best hiding spot at your place? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May3

Accessory Story: Handmade Necklaces Edition

Posted on May 3, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Accessory Story: Handmade Necklaces Edition

Hello! A couple of weeks ago, my niece made my mom and dad the cutest necklaces with Blues Clues pendants on them. I’m not going to lie, Johnny and I were pretty jealous that we didn’t get one too. So, the next time we watched her we asked if she could make us some necklaces and she said yes! They are absolutely adorable and my mind is blown by how much necklace making technology has improved for children. Check it out:

I loved making necklaces when I was little… Until it was time to tie the string together, that is. Without fail, my necklace would end up falling apart and always resulted in frustration. I had to share the necklaces my niece made because 1) How could I not? and 2) The rubbery necklace strand is literally fail proof.

When my niece gifted my parents with their new bling, my dad’s came off and it happened in slow motion when it fell to the floor. I was positive that the beads would be flying off and tears would start to fall. But that wasn’t the case! The end of the necklace strand has two thick posts with one being hollow to attach the sides together. This change in width catches the beads every time for hours of jewelry making fun without the possibility of a masterpiece being ruined.

The amount of options for toys, clothes, TV shows, and everything in between has grown exponentially since I was a kid. These necklace strands are definitely one thing that I wish had been invented in my youth! I can’t wait to rock my new Blues Clues necklace and this improvement to jewelry making will be a fun activity for your little ones come summer break. 🙂

What was your favorite activity as a child? How about your favorite childhood TV show? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr21

Letting Your Personality Shine With Accessories

Posted on April 21, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Letting Your Personality Shine With Accessories

When it comes to fashion, the old saying “less is more” definitely does not apply. In fact, when it comes to accessories, the more, the merrier! Accessories can help you show off your personality and style and take a basic outfit over the top. Let’s explore this a little more to make your next OOTD a winner:

Accessories can help you express your personality:

When you see someone wearing a piece of jewelry or an article of clothing that you love, it instantly tells you something about that person’s taste and style. By choosing accessories that reflect your own personal taste, you can easily communicate who you are to the world around you. And there’s nothing wrong with expressing yourself! Fashion is all about self-expression and individuality. So go ahead and rock those statement earrings or that bold necklace – we guarantee they’ll get people talking (in a good way)!

Show Off Your Unique Sense of Style:

Take a look at any celebrity or fashion icon – they all have their own signature style that is reflected in the way they dress and accessorize. And you can do the same! Your clothes and accessories are like a blank canvas, and it’s up to you to fill that canvas with your own personal style. Don’t be afraid to experiment until you find a look that represents who you are. Trust us, when you find your signature style, people will start to take notice.

Make a Statement:

Another great reason to let your personality shine through your accessories is that it allows you to make a statement. Whether you’re going for girly, professional, or showing off your edgy side, there’s no better way to do it than with your clothes and accessories. There are many types of accessories that you can use to make a statement, like Prescription Eyeglasses or even a simple T-Shirt. So if you’re looking for a way to get your voice out there, consider using your accessories as a platform. Who knows – you might just start a fashion trend in the process!

Photo by Atikh Bana on Unsplash

Turn Heads:

Let’s face it, we all love a little attention now and then. And what better way to get it than by wearing something that shows off your unique sense of style? Whether you’re at a party or just walking down the street, if you’re wearing something that turns heads, you’re guaranteed to feel confident and fabulous. So go ahead and experiment with different looks until you find one that makes you feel like a million bucks!

Feel Confident and Fabulous:

We all know that feeling – when you walk out of the house, and you just know you look good. It’s awesome, isn’t it? By playing with your style, you can easily achieve that feeling of confidence and fabulousness. When you feel good about the way you look, it shows! Put on those killer heels or that fantastic piece of jewelry – we promise you’ll love the way you feel.

No OOTD is complete without the right accessories so go for the bold and bright to reflect the spring and summer weather and strut your stuff!

Featured Image By: Amos Bar-Zeev on Unsplash

Apr16

Newly Organized Jewelry Tower

Posted on April 16, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Johnny and I are moving at the end of the month, which means that it has been a frenzy of packing and organizing in the apartment almost formerly known as ours. Every day, I have been trying to make a dent in the packing process during my times when I’m working from home and have a break. One task that I recently completed is one that I am particularly proud of because it’s something that I’ve meant to do for forever. And, that is to finally make good use of the makeup/jewelry organizer that Johnny got me for my birthday a few years ago:

When it comes to my bits and baubles, I am usually meticulously organized. So, don’t ask me why all of my most worn earrings and hair accessories ended up in a Dolls Kill box on my kitchen table… Especially when my jewelry container was literally sitting on the ground a few feet away from it! I knew that this simply wouldn’t do for the move for fear of my accessories getting lost and so I got to work.

The container that Johnny got me is marketed for makeup but I thought that putting my jewelry in it would be a much better option. I don’t have too much makeup but jewelry? That’s a totally different story! I don’t think I ever really realized how many accessories I had thrown into my makeshift jewelry box until I began sorting through it because, although it was shallow, it seemed never ending.

When I have the time for it, nothing pleases me more than an organizing sesh and as I began arranging my container, I felt so pleased with myself. It was so nice to make good use of a gift from Johnny and actually be able to see everything that I have in an organized fashion. In fact, I daresay that filling up my jewelry container felt even better than making a new and improved beauty stock pile and that’s really saying something because I love that too!

For fast access to your favorite accessories or makeup products, I can’t recommend a container like mine enough. I never would have known how great it was to be organized until I was running late and was able to find the pair of earrings I needed in record time! 😀

How do you keep your accessories organized? What about your beauty products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar30

Accessory Story: Cynthia Rowley Earrings Edition

Posted on March 30, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Accessory Story: Cynthia Rowley Earrings Edition

Howdy! The last thing I purchased during my final hurrah before my favorite TJMaxx closes was a really cool pair of earrings by Cynthia Rowley. I had actually seen them before at TJs and liked them a lot but didn’t buy them so I figured it was now or never when I saw them again! Check it out:

When it comes to my jewelry, simple will simply not do and I love accessorizing with quirky pieces. These earrings definitely fall under that category! I love the design of my new Cynthia Rowley earrings and, of course, the bold red lip in the shape of a heart speaks to me. I have a skirt in a pattern that is almost identical and now I have the earrings to match. 😀

I cannot wait to break out my new earrings and the skirt you saw yesterday from my mini haul at TJs and I am so happy with my purchases… Just not the circumstance! Since my youth, the TJMaxx that is closing has provided me with many fond memories and lots of fabulous finds. Parting is, truly, such sweet sorrow and, although I am excited for the opening of a new TJMaxx, nothing will ever beat Old Faithful. ❤

Do you have a favorite store that closed? What is your favorite jewelry to accessorize with? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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