Hello! A few weeks ago I went on a fabulous TJMaxx shopping trip with my mom. Hitting up our favorite store together is one of my favorite things to do. Of course, I love a solo shopping adventure but it’s SO much better with my mom. ❤ We were on the hunt for birthday and Christmas prezzies and, of course, I couldn’t resist taking a look at the clothes too! I’m glad I did because I found the absolute perfect dress to wear for Thanksgiving. I think it’s going to be great for showing out then sitting down and eating lol. Take a look:
This Blu Pepper frock was bought for a song at fifteen dollars and I just can’t get enough of it. That rich caramel color, those sweet as can be polka dots, and a darling A-line skirt to twirl in. This dress looks like it belongs to a doll and, as I am one, it had to come home with me! As an early twenty something, I adored shopping at Urban Outfitters and my new dress reminds me so much of the duds from there. Just way less expensive and even more adorable! In fact, I’m pretty sure UO carried the Blu Pepper brand at one point or another which made both my younger and thirty something year old self swoon!
I cannot wait to play around with styling this dress and my Thanksgiving fit came to me in a vision. I’m thinking cable knit grey tights, a cream colored cardi, and my heeled oxfords. Talk about a collegiate chic OOTD! This dress would also look amazing with a sleek black blazer which I definitely plan on rocking too! As I was scrolling through Facebook, I caught a glimpse of my cousin’s story and was delighted to see that she had on the exact same dress. What can I say, my family has great taste and I think we both wore it best. 😀
I have been fantasizing about Thanksgiving since last Thanksgiving and will be eagerly awaiting filling up my plate while sporting this little beauty!
What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish? Do you have your outfit picked out already? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello! I am an avid fan of 5 Below and love stopping in for a cheap lil treat for myself. One of my favorite things to purchase from 5B has got to be pajamas. I have always loved the idea of cute and cozy PJs to cuddle up in but much prefer to spend my moolah on regular wear clothing instead. Oh and shoes… Lots of shoes! The spooky pajamas I bought during October from 5 Below costed less than fifteen dollars and ignited a PJ passion. So much so that I absolutely couldn’t resist this holiday pair a few weeks ago. Check it out:
I fell in love with these peppermint stripe PJs as soon as I locked eyes on them and they just had to come home with me. An adorable set for just fifteen bucks? I can swing that! These pajamas are SO soft and snuggly and I genuinely don’t want to take them off when I wake up in the morning. They are nice and light which is a huge plus because I sleep with ALL of the blankets in our apartment as the weather cools down. My 5 Below set reminds me so much of Victoria’s Secret PJs and it’s oh so sweet to get them for a fraction of the cost. 😀
If you are on the hunt for some fun holiday PJs, RUN don’t walk to 5 Below… Because I just might buy them all lol. They have countless patterns available including Highland Cows, ornaments, woodland animals, Peanuts, Christmas trees, and classic plaids to name a few. These are the perfect jammie jams to gift to yourself or the people you need to shop for for the holidays. I am completely blown away by the quality of my pajamas despite their budget price and they are definitely something you can feel comfortable gifting with. Highly recommend!
If you, too, love the idea of pajamas more than actually buying them then 5 Below is the place to be. I have a sneaking suspicion that I will be buying at least a few more pairs before the holiday season is out!
What do you like to wear to bed? What is your favorite thing to lounge in? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello! Several of my clients absolutely LOVE 5 Below and I am always happy when they request a shopping trip there because I love it too. You can’t beat the prices, they have so many fun things to pick from, and the quality of my purchases has always been excellent. One of my favorite buys from 5 Below has got to be my adorable Halloween pajamas and I wear them frequently. They are just too cute and comfy! 5 Below has recently put out a majority of their holiday collection and I couldn’t help treating myself to a new pair of jammies. They had countless darling matching sets but this peppermint stripe pattern spoke to me. Check it out:
Does anyone remember the pajama set from Victoria’s Secret that was pastel pink and was striped with a deeper pink hue? I had always lusted after that and it was the first thing that came to mind when I saw this set from 5 Below. Rather than paying upwards of fifty bucks, however, I paid fifteen and couldn’t be happier! The material is so soft and I like that it’s on the thinner side as I love to snuggle up in a million blankets as soon as the temperature drops. This set invokes sipping hot chocolate by the fire and unwrapping presents on Christmas day and I can see myself living in them all holiday season long.
As you might have noticed, I am a Halloween kind of gal through and through. My best friend, Kate, is the Christmas Queen and she wears the crown oh so well. This is the first actual Christmas inspired clothing that I own and I couldn’t wait to tell her about it. I knew she would be so proud! I imagine she felt like I did when she told me about the handful of spooky movies and shows she watched during Halloween. It literally made my heart swell. Kate’s love of Christmas is absolutely joyous to see and I think it has been rubbing off on me. I found some SUPER cute Santa dresses for holiday celebrations and they have really been tempting me. The problem is that I can’t pick which one so stay tuned because I will need all of your help!
A Pajama Party OOTD in these sweet jammies is on the horizon so keep it posted here on lifewithlilred!
Do you have a favorite pair of pajamas? What gets you into the holiday spirit? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello! Halloween is just around the corner! Are you ready? I sure am! In fact, I’ve been ready since last Halloween. 😀 It goes without saying that everything is SO. Freaking. Expensive nowadays and I completely understand not wanting to shell out for a costume if you are attending a party or an evening at the bars. As much as I love spooky season, I’m genuinely bitter by how expensive my own costume was. If you want to dress up on a budget, there are still plenty of options for you to show out in your Halloween best. Let’s explore a few last minute, budget friendly costumes that you can make with pieces you probably already own:
Robot:
If you’re like me, you are an early bird holiday shopper. Or, you might also be like me and love to online shop period! What does online shopping mean? Lots of boxes! Perfect for jerryrigging a robot costume. With a few boxes and spray paint, you’re in business for a classic robot fit. Simply pair your creation with a black long sleeved shirt and black jeans for underneath and viola. Just don’t try and take over the world when you’re wearing it! 😉
Scarecrow:
If you have a pair of boyfriend or baggy jeans and an old flannel, look no further. A scarecrow costume is the one for you! Bonus points if you have a straw hat but that could easily be found marked down in store for summer clearance or at a costume shop. You could even attach a few decorative crows or birds from a craft shop to your shoulder. You will need some patchwork makeup to sell this look so opt for bright oranges and yellows for this to make it pop. How easy is that?
Devilishly Good:
Love wearing the color red? Love it! If you have a pair of red jeans, a red top, and some funky red shoes or heels – turn this into a devilishly good COTD. Hit up Spirit Halloween for a pair of devil horns and a tail or staff if you’d like and your costume is good to go. This can also be done with an All Black Everything motif!
Your Favorite Person:
A few years ago I had absolutely no time to costume shop but still wanted to dress up, of course. So, I decided to dress up as my husband! After raiding his wardrobe, I came up with a COTD that was a huge hit and was so proud of the reaction I got for such a scrambled costume. This is a fun idea for couples, besties, or siblings so have a wardrobe swap and you’ve got a costume without spending a dime.
Prom King/Queen:
If you have a fancy suit or still own your prom dress or perhaps a bridesmaid dress – be king or queen for the day prom style. You can even make it scary by going as the Carrie version of prom king or queen! Complete the look with a crown and sash and you have my vote for Best Costume. This is your time to shine if you have kept your prom relics so break it out again for the one time!
If you have a majority of the pieces for these ideas, it will cost you roughly twenty to twenty-five dollars to purchase the remaining accessories you need, makeup, or spray paint. Make these last minute costumes your own and no one will be the wiser that you balled on a budget to create them!
What was your favorite Halloween costume you have worn? What are your Halloween plans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello! I was due for a reup of my beloved foaming hand soaps from Bath & Body Works and made a shopping trip this past Tuesday. I was armed with a free travel size product and twenty percent off coupon and was ready to save money AND smell all the things! I walked in knowing exactly what I needed but Bath & Body Works told me what I needed… And that was seventy-five percent off their Halloween fragrances! It honestly couldn’t have come at a better time because I was running dangerously low on lotion. Between the $3.50 hand soap promotion the store was running, Semi-Annual Sale pricing on Halloween goodies, and my coupons I ended up making out like a bandit. I got the fifteen products you see below for thirty-seven dollars even! How amazing is that?! Let’s discuss some of these scents:
Pearberry: Pearberry is one of my all time favorite throwback scents and I couldn’t believe it was available in hand soap form. Normally I have to wait for a Semi-Annual Sale to score this fragrance! For those of you who don’t recall, Pearberry offers notes of “anjou pear, wild berries, and golden freesia”. It is a primarily pear fragrance with the slightest tartness from the berries and a hint of freesia floral. I love a good fruity fragrance with no floral notes but Pearberry has always been the exception!
Frosted Cranberry: With Halloween scents out the door, holiday fragrances were in full swing at B&BW and Frosted Cranberry is one of my faves. This is a sweet/tart scent with notes of “frosted cranberry, red delicious apple, and blonde wood”. I can’t speak for the blonde wood lol but this is a perfect holiday fragrance. It invokes freshly baked cranberry scones, falling snow, and a crackling fire. I can’t get enough of it and it seriously smells good enough to eat.
Whipped White Cocoa: This scent is exactly what the fragrance notes describe with “white chocolate, frothy milk, and whipped cream” and it is absolutely delicious! It’s such a true match to the real drink that one smell will have you feeling like you are holding a warm cup of cocoa between your hands. I am a huge fan of this one!
Milk Bar Birthday Cake: Mmmmm… “Layered vanilla cake, creamy frosting, and rainbow sprinkles”? Yes, please! The Milk Bar Birthday Cake in its delightful pink packaging is such a treat and smells like it too. If you’re like me and love a cakey, vanilla scent then you cannot skip on this one. It smells just like cake batter!
Vampire Blood: This is a scent we have discussed a few times before on lifewithlilred so peep the review here. Other than I Scream Float, this is my favorite Halloween fragrance hands down. 😀
I Scream Float: This is also a scent that you can read a review for but I do need to repeat one thing: I Scream Float smells EXACTLY like Diet Coke and if you are as fond of the most delightful beverage in the world as I am, it is a complete must!! ❤
Cookie Butter Truffle: Can you tell that I live for dessert fragrances?! With notes of “cookie butter (As the name implies lol), whipped cream, and vanilla extract you are going to be craving a homemade cookie with each use. This is my least favorite one of the bunch because I actually smell a lot of cinnamon in it, which I despise. Definitely will skip on this one in the future.
As well as my hand soaps, I purchased a couple of wallflowers, body cream, a fragrance spray, and shower gel. Evil Queen is the only one from that batch we haven’t talked about previously so let’s get to it:
Evil Queen: The Disney Villains line was also part of the seventy-five percent off promo and whatever came in the green bottle STANK. I think it was the Maleficent fragrance? I wouldn’t say Evil Queen is my favorite scent in the world but I needed lotion and it was infinitely better than my other option! This scent features notes of “dark red apple, vanilla suede, and wicked pear”. This is a really light fragrance and I wish it had more oomph because I love everything in the fragrance notes. Great in a pinch but I wouldn’t purchase it again.
Thanks to this fabulous haul, I am going to be well set with my bath and body care until the winter Semi-Annual Sale rolls around. I still can’t get over the price for so many goodies and ended up saving a total of one hundred twenty dollars!!!!
What is your favorite Bath & Body Works throwback scent? Where do you like to shop for bath and body care? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Spooky season is my happiest time of the year and Johnny and I actually got our Halloween costumes this past weekend. We were originally planning on Alice Cooper and Cold Ethyl but decided to postpone that. Building a costume from scratch can be pricey as last year’s COTD proved and we are saving up for a big trip next year. We decided to go with matching pirate costumes instead and honestly the joke was on us. Spirit Halloween was so expensive that I think we could have gone with our Plan A for around the same amount SMH. You can peep a costume preview soon but take a look at what I wore to get our shopping on. Spooky shopping calls for a Halloween Queen OOTD:
Dagger Earrings: These were purchased on vacation in the Poconos!
Other than going to work looking like a stone cold bum, I very rarely go out on the weekends dressing for comfort. Weekends are OOTD time so I like to break out all of the good stuff for those occasions. However, I simply couldn’t resist wearing this Spooky/Comfy/Cute fit to go shopping at Spirit Halloween because it just fit the situation so perfectly. Hey, if the broom fits – fly it! Or however that old saying goes. 😀 Not only was this an ideal OOTD for our outing but it was also just right for cuddling up in to watch scary movies afterwards as per our 31 in 31 days challenge!
This outfit has actually been in my mind for a while. In my neck of the woods, there is a popular discount store called Marc’s and every year I eagerly await when their Halloween goodies arrive. You can get awesome decorations on the cheap and I am all about that! During this year’s haul, I found the adorable skeleton and pumpkin adorned leggings for pocket change. Yes, you did read that right above – they were only a dollar fifty!! These little babies are SO damn comfortable and fit like a glove. I was expecting something so cheap to only be so so but these exceeded my expectations and I just love them!
When I added the leggings to the cart, the rest of an OOTD with them came to me in a vision. Obviously, we had to keep with the theme and I paired it with my pumpkin pullover by Better/Together. These pieces were definitely better together because it ended up looking like a paired set! For shoes, a stark white pair of heeled combat boots were the move and they provided a bright pop that I loved. With a fairly loud outfit in terms of patterns, all that was left to do was add a gorgeous pair of dagger earrings and I was ready to go costume shopping with my main squeeze. ❤
If this little OOTD had me feeling like a Halloween Queen, you can only imagine how I feel in my pirate costume. I can’t wait for all of you to see it!
What was your favorite Halloween costume? Are you going to dress up this year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello!! Johnny and I adopted our beloved bunnies, Melvin and Penelope, in November of 2022 and will be celebrating our three year buniversary here soon! They have brought an indescribable amount of joy into our lives and I simply couldn’t imagine our home without them. Since the homecoming of our pets, I have been a loyal shopper on Chewy and was making purchases at least every month. The convenience of ordering all of their supplies in a matter of minutes couldn’t be beat so I never bothered shopping anywhere else. However, my tune has changed drastically…
Every once in a while, I will need a new bag of hay or bedding before a Chewy order is due and will visit the Pet Supplies Plus down the road from me for a reup. These trips were few and far between so I wasn’t interested in signing up for their loyalty program. One faithful day about two months ago, I stopped in for more bedding and saw that they were running a stellar buy one get one half off promotion and was able to purchase bedding and hay for the tune of thirty something dollars. It was a TOTAL steal and in that moment, I realized I was sleeping on Pet Supplies Plus for far too long. In almost three years, I have never seen Chewy run a promotion that good.
After making my purchase, I immediately went home and created a rewards account and the savings have been nonstop. Since signing up for it, I receive thirty percent off coupons constantly and that is a substantial amount off of bunny supplies. Now, I am often getting their hay and bedding for twenty-five to thirty dollars in total. With Chewy, I was spending at least forty-five for these necessary supplies and that is a huge difference! I still shop Chewy for their hutch cleaner, favorite toys, and pellet food because Pet Supplies Plus doesn’t carry them. Believe you me, I wouldn’t be ordering on Chewy period if they did!
When I find a brand or company I like, I tend to be fiercely loyal to it and that was certainly the case with Chewy. But listen, literally EVERYTHING is so damn expensive now that if I can find a better deal elsewhere, I’m just going for it. My bunny supply cost went from roughly one hundred dollars a month to seventy if that and that is an amount that can’t be overlooked. I also really appreciate that Pet Supplies Plus teams up with a lot of the local rescues in the greater Akron area! While I love the convenience of online shopping, I love saving moolah even more. 😀
If you are a pet parent and have a Pet Supplies Plus in your neck of the woods, I truly can’t recommend making a visit there enough. You will be amazed at the difference that their promotions, coupons, and rewards cash can make!
Where do you shop for pet supplies? Have you changed where you shop recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Howdy! Yesterday you read about a fantastic weekend shopping trip Johnny and I took to one of the coolest stores I have ever been to, The Bomb Shelter. It was my first time going but certainly won’t be my last and I would LOVE to do a content shoot with all of their amazing retro kitchen settings. There were a few that really spoke to me and it would be such fun to put together a vintage chic look. Of course, I would accessorize with one of the pieces of jewelry that I just couldn’t say no to. I got both of these fab “new” necklaces for under twenty bucks which was a total score. Check it out:
After our stroll through the huge property that is The Bomb Shelter, it was time to check out the handful of records and gifts that Johnny selected. As luck would have it, the cash wrap was also where the jewelry was displayed and I obviously had to see what that was all about. As a heavily tattooed gal, I haven’t worn a lot of jewelry as of late because I like to let my ink do the talking in summer OOTDs. However, when fall rolls around is when I can break out my expansive jewelry collection again to add a pop to my looks when my tattoos are fully covered. Nothing transforms a chunky sweater or cardigan better than a statement necklace!
With fall fits on my mind, I wanted to find a little treat for myself to wear and went through the jewelry on display with a fine toothed comb. A lot of the jewelry at The Bomb Shelter was more on the costume side and that is not my style at all. However, a standing display housed more classic necklaces and that is what I gravitated to. The first thing that caught my eye was the simple wooden heart on a collar length chain. Hearts always remind me of my mom and I like to wear them as often as possible. The wood finish made me think of an acorn as well as the retro wooden paneling in my apartment and it was an instant yes. Granted, it was impossible for me to put on with my talons and kind of difficult for Johnny too but that’s show biz, baby, and he got it eventually lol. Great success!
My next purchase was a toss up as there were several necklaces that I liked but I didn’t want to go hog wild on accessories. I exercised self control, gave myself a limit of one more, and decided on the mid length necklace with chain tassels. I loved the burnt gold hue and the overall design but what really spoke to me was the chain. Yes, it was nice to be able to slip it over my head but that is beside the point. The chain of this necklace was delightfully reminiscent of that of a locket from my grandma that was home to a picture of her and my grandpa. It was perfect and I think I ended up with the two best pieces of jewelry on display. ❤
As the weather cools down, I can’t wait to begin fully accessorizing OOTDs again and I have a great place to start with my new old necklaces from The Bomb Shelter!
Do you have any vintage clothing or accessories? Where do you like to shop for retro finds? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello! I love shopping here, there, and everywhere for Halloween goodies and it’s such fun for me to see what all of the different stores have to offer. Whenever spooky season hits, there is one place that I ALWAYS have to visit: Marc’s. For those of you who are not hip, Marc’s is a discount grocery store in Ohio. They have great prices on their products and have a fabulous “closeout section” of random and seasonal decor, children’s toys, clothing, and the list goes on. My parents shop there frequently and when my dad sounded the alarm that their Halloween decorations were out, I just had to swing by the next day for some swag on the cheap. I got all of this for ten dollars and change! Check it out:
^^^ How amazing is that sign?!
I will say that the Halloween selection at Marc’s this time around was not as good as the years prior but that is okay because I still made out like a bandit! The first thing I added to my cart was a pair of spooky leggings that I got for a whole buck fifty which was a total score. I only have one pair of leggings that double for work and pajamas and couldn’t resist snagging a new pair specific to lounging. These babies might not be my size but they are cute as can be and will keep my work leggings for work only. Also I love the dancing pumpkin skeleton. 😀
Next in the cart was one of my favorite things in the whole world: Hair glitter! Glitter hair spray is just pure fun and adds a sweet touch of sparkle to Halloween costumes, concert OOTDs, or every day wear. At Marc’s the hair glitter was only one dolla holla and I got my usuals of gold and silver. I also was so happy to have found a blue hair glitter spray too! Johnny and I plan on being Alice Cooper and Cold Ethyl for Halloween and the blue and silver glitter is going to be perfect on whatever wig I end up picking out. These glitter sprays were definitely a lucky find because I could imagine that one bottle at Spirit Halloween would be at least five dollars or more. Such a steal!
The last of my purchases is easily my favorite and gave me and Johnny a fit of laughter – a five dollar sign proclaiming “give ’em pumpkin to talk about” LOLOL. It’s a freaking HOOT and too cute to boot. I just love that spooky garland at the bottom! This is one of those sayings that I wish I came up with because I think it’s so damn clever and I live for a good play on words. In the past week, I have visited several different stores for Halloween decor and there is no way I would have found something so well made, sizeable, and cheap at any of them. Long live discount stores!!
I balled on a budget during my traditional Marc’s Halloween shopping trip with five items for ten dollars. You simply cannot beat that!
What is your favorite discount store? Where is your favorite place to shop for home decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello! A few months ago, I saw a preview of 5 Below’s Halloween collection on social media and one thing in particular really caught my eye: A pseudo Lego set called Snap & Switch featuring precious Sam from one of mine and Johnny’s favorite Halloween movies, Trick ‘r Treat. I was on pins and needles to finally snag a set for myself and was keeping my fingers crossed that it would be available during a recent 5 Below trip. Despite the fact that it wasn’t there, I still had a fabulous Halloween haul but, of course, Sam was weighing heavily on my mind.
With my eyes on the prize, I returned back to 5 Below two days later and could not believe my good fortune: The box containing the Trick ‘r Treat builds were on the shipment cart, I asked an employee if I could have one, and actually got two sets. Snap & Switch made a Trick ‘r Treat candy set too! There were only three of each set in the box and I got mine before they even went on the shelves. GREAT SUCCESS. AND Johnny and I built them over the long Labor Day weekend. DOUBLE GREAT SUCCESS! Check it out:
^^^ His lil sucker!!!!
^^^ My lil builder hard at work!
^^^ My Sam plushie has a friend now!! ❤
^^^ Very aware that random black piece doesn’t belong there! -_-
^^^ All done!!! 😀
The first build we tackled was Sam himself and that was easy peasy. It had less than one hundred pieces and we finished it in about fifteen minutes. However, Snap & Switch is obviously no Lego lol. The bricks in the Snap & Switch sets were tiny and I mean TINY and they also were a pain in the butt to snap together. Not a snap at all! Pieces kept flying off constantly and a lot of them were difficult to fit into the build correctly. But, hey, for five bucks what do you expect? I think it’s a great thing that little sets like these are available for on the cheap! You can get a taste for building with bricks without spending an arm and a leg because I guarantee if this were a Lego set, it would be thirty dollars bare minimum. And, regardless of the ease of use for this product, we were still very pleased with the end result!
After quickly building Sam, we expected the candy Snap & Switch to be, well… A snap lol. We couldn’t wait to build Sam’s sucker and then things went horribly wrong. About five steps into the build, we were stumped. The directions were showing one thing but it was very much impossible with the pieces they allowed. Johnny and I tried several different approaches to no avail and we ended up having to use an extra piece to supplement for what couldn’t be done. That left us sans a piece we needed later on, hence the random black Lego brick. For such a small build, this one was frustrating AF and buyer beware that the directions in this set are wrong and you will need an extra piece to complete it fully.
Once we were done with our makeshift sucker, all that was left to do was make the razor blade chocolate. Thankfully, this one went without a hitch because we couldn’t take much more Snap & Switch after the sucker debacle lol. The candy bar was thrown together in under ten minutes and we loved the fact that the piece of chocolate slid off so you can see the danger that looms underneath. This candy set was a surprise because I wasn’t aware of it at all and I am still happy with it although it caused some difficulty. Yes, it bites that the directions weren’t accurate and pieces were missing but, hey, what do you expect for five dollars?!
If you are a Trick ‘r Treat fan, the Sam build is available on 5 Below’s website as far as I know. Definitely worth it for an hour or so of fun with an adorable end result!
Do you like to build with Lego? What is the best off brand Lego? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
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