Tag Archives: ballin on a budget

Sep5

Sephora Golden Hour Highlighter In Dusk Swatch

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Sephora Golden Hour Highlighter In Dusk Swatch

Yo! Back in March, I tried out my first highlighter from Sephora. I used my Beauty Insider points to get a mini Becca highlighter in Opal during one of my orders. I’ve been using my highlighter for the past five months and am just about finished with it. And, five months isn’t bad at all for a mini product! While picking up my Mistress Hair Balm by IGK, I decided to get a new highlighter, too. I ended up with a Sephora brand one for a multitude of reasons, but price was definitely the main factor. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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^^^ The alternating pictures are with the flash off and the flash on, so you can see the illumination of the highlighter.

Originally, I had planned on getting another Becca highlighter. I really liked the shade that I was using and, if I was feeling saucy enough, maybe I would try a different one. But, then I realized that one of their highlighters costed thirty-five dollars and I said hell no. That would be the most that I’ve ever spend on a makeup product before and I just wasn’t comfortable with it.

I asked one of the workers if she could show me some of the different highlighters that the brands had and, everything but the Sephora brand, which ran for sixteen dollars, was upwards of thirty bucks. So, the Sephora brand it was. I liked that the color I went with, Dusk, was lighter than the shade that I’ve been using. Opal was nice and warm, which was perfect for summer. But, Dusk is cooler and more subdued, which is going to be lovely for the fall and winter months ahead.

I did like a lot of the more expensive highlighters that were shown to me, but I’m glad that I stuck to my guns and went with the cheapest option. I feel guilt free about my purchase and I definitely think that I would be feeling buyer’s remorse if I bought a thirty-five dollar highlighter. I’m looking forward to playing with my Sephora highlighter once I finish my Becca one in its entirety and will have to take some pictures to show you guys the makeup goods when I can! 😀

What is the most expensive beauty product you own? What about the least expensive? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug23

Scary Movie Mini Haul

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Scary Movie Mini Haul

Howdy! One thing that I love about Target, other than EVERYTHING, is their excellent five dollar movie selection. At the Target that I frequent, they have at least two front and back full length rows dedicated to their DVDs that range from four, five, seven, or ten dollars. During my last trip, I was able to snag two five dollar scary movies that I’ve been hoping to add to my ever growing collection for a while now. Check it out:

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The Babadook and The Conjuring are two horror flicks that I deeply enjoy. And, with fall fast approaching and me getting my apartment in the near future, there is no better time to host some scary movie nights with my friends or boyfriend. Both of these movies are ones that I could watch multiple times and not get sick of, which made the ten dollar purchase totally worth it.

It’s nice to have a collection of my favorite movies readily available for a lazy day or a night in and Target has made that an easy and cheap thing to obtain. I love having tangible movies, books, and games on my person as opposed to an online entertainment cache and nothing beats being able to do that for a whopping five bucks!

Who else has a movie collection? What do you like to collect? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug10

Movie Time!

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Movie Time!

Hello one and all and TGIF! After discovering the magic of the five dollar movie selections while shopping in store at places like Target and Walmart, collecting movies has become a new interest of mine. It’s nice to have all of your favorite flicks readily available to you, no trip to the library or being upset if it isn’t on Netflix required. Throwing in a five dollar movie is a cheap night in and I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t love displaying them on my book shelf!

As a horror movie junkie, I couldn’t say no to snagging these two DVDs for a whopping ten bucks at Walmart. Check it out:

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What makes a movie fall under my “favorite” category is if I can watch it multiple times a year and not grow tired of it. This rule applies to all genres, which gives me an overall pretty eclectic list of my fave flicks. Especially because Don’t Breathe and 31 are considered a favorite to me along with movies like The Heat, Napoleon Dynamite, Harry Potter, and Pan’s Labyrinth.

Despite both of these movies having a fairly classic story line, they are both done well and have enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. But, that’s just my opinion. Don’t Breathe had excellent reviews, while many found 31 to be a disappointment. I couldn’t disagree more. I am a huge fan of Rob Zombie movies and I felt like he had such fun with this one, and you can certainly tell. It’s campy and raunchy in all of the best ways and can we talk about Sheri Moon Zombie’s killer crop top?! Forget about it!

Who else enjoys purchasing movies? How many flicks are in your collection? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug9

Sephora Shopping Steals

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Sephora Shopping Steals

Hi everyone! I regret saying this, because the last thing I need is another store to obsess over – BUT, I am definitely doing that over Sephora! Seriously, their online deals are FABULOUS. I recently got an email saying that if you spend over twenty-five dollars on Too Faced products, then you could get a free mini lip paint with your purchase. I needed to reup on my Better Than Sex mascara, anyways, so I figured that I might as well get it online.

After spending just five minutes on their website, I decided that I will be doing all of my shopping online from now on. You get three free samples with your order, free shipping if you spend over fifty dollars, and there is almost always a promotion to get a freebie gift with your purchase if you spend over twenty-five dollars. Shopping in store is fun, but you get nowhere near that value when you are in person. And, why not get free stuff if you have the option to?

I’m lucky, because I haven’t fallen too deeply into my Sephora shopping to be spending a small fortune on beauty products. Normally, I just get my sister’s prezzies from there for gift giving occasions and stock up on my BTS mascara. But, that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t get maximum savings when I do so. If I ever feel the urge to explore makeup more closely, I will definitely shop in store and then make the purchase online.

I ordered a Sephora Play bag to get myself over the fifty dollar free shipping mark, so maybe the day will come sooner than later where I feel like experimenting with more of the products at Sephora. And, if that ever happens, it’s nice to know that I will be getting a lot of bang for my buck by shopping with Sephora online!

Which stores offers the best freebies or rewards programs? What are some of your savings tips for when you shop Sephora? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug6

New Kasper Topper Coat

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New Kasper Topper Coat

Hi everyone and welcome to another wonderful week here on lifewithlilred! I’ve been bad…real bad…Because I ended up ordering more stuff on TJMaxx! But, in my defense, I want to finish all of my fall clothing shopping before I move into my apartment so SUE ME FOR IT. My purchases included two drop dead gorgeous BCBG dresses, which you will see tomorrow and Wednesday, and this lovely topper coat by Kasper seen below. Let’s discuss:

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  • Suggested Price: $149
  • TJMaxx Price: $40
  • Total Savings: $109

My favorite pieces of clothing are definitely coats and jackets. I love how something that you literally just throw on can transform an outfit in its entirety. From moto jackets and peacoats to blazers and trenches, they each hold a special place in my heart. But, I’ve never owned a topper coat until now. Do I know exactly what it is? NO. Do I love it, anyways? HELL YES!

This little number by Kasper is going to look so freaking posh come fall and winter and I cannot wait to wear it for the first time once the weather cools down. I love the black scales peaking out from underneath the white netting, its length, and the elbow length sleeves. And then pairing it with black, thigh high boots and a large statement bag with your OOTD? Forget about it.

From the work Christmas party to throwing this topper on and running your errands, my new Kasper coat will serve its purpose well once the temps get chilly. Can fall get here now, or?

How would you style this topper? Better yet, what the hell is a topper?! I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul29

More New Clothes!

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More New Clothes!

Howdy! Right about now marks the time when I love to shop, because fall clothes are beginning to be introduced in stores. And, as we all know, fall is Lil Red’s season. The clothes, the weather, the activities, the clothes – I love it all! But, most importantly, I love the clothes! Fall fashion is the jam. From cozy sweaters and cute boots to layering all the things, my fashion sense truly shines in autumn.

To help kick start my fall wardrobe, some online shopping at TJMaxx was a must, and I was able to welcome these pretty little numbers home. Check it out:

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  • Faux Leather Skirt by BB Dakota: $20
  • Rust Colored Sweater by Lush: $10

The midi skirt is an article of clothing that I have admired from afar for a long time. Because of my 5’1 stature, most midi skirts end up looking maxi on me, until this BB Dakota one came along. I. Love. It. So. Much. It fits at my natural waist instead of on my hips, so the extra length doesn’t go down my legs but, rather, up my torso to make for a real midi skirt instead of a maxi. And the faux leather floral material? Forget about it.

This skirt is going to look amazing with a pair of heeled booties, a tucked in black sweater, and a denim jacket over the top if it’s a bit chilly out. I am so excited to finally be able to style my first midi skirt and am looking forward to hopefully finding more midis that I can actually wear as a midi in the future!

And, we can’t forget about the ten dolla holla sweater by Lush! This top is so totally comfy and the colors are so totally perfect for fall AND for me. Rust orange is one of my favorite colors to wear, because it’s deep enough that it doesn’t clash against my bright red hair. Instead, it plays up with my pasty pale skin tone and creates a really nice look overall.

You really can’t beat a brand new sweater for ten dollars and I am psyched to wear it already. This is a perfect lazy fall day top, because all you need do is pair it with a good pair of skinnies and boots and go. Love it!

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

Jul28

New Nine West Cape Blazer

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New Nine West Cape Blazer

Hello everyone and a very happy weekend to all of you! I don’t know about you but, when I get the idea of something that I want in my head, it literally takes until I get that thing for the thought to dissipate. This rings true constantly for clothing, because I want the piece that I buy to be just right. Take the cape blazer, for example. I’ve wanted one for close to two years, and I finally found the one, because every cape that I encountered leading up to the Nine West number seen below just wasn’t up to snuff. Check it out:

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Ugh, ain’t she a beaut?! Nine West is a brand that I really, really love. But, god knows that their normal prices cost a pretty penny, so I don’t indulge unless it’s at TJMaxx or a thrift store. My new cape was forty dollars, which is ONE HUNDO cheaper than its original price. You literally can’t beat that!

I love everything about this cape. The polka dot lining, the shape, how it falls perfectly away from my hips, the styling potential. WOOF. It really is perfect and I can’t wait to wear it constantly. From a more formal take on business casual for work to exploring my favorite outdoor mall, Crocker Park, during a blustery fall day, this Nine West piece will be the jam.

Every cape blazer that I’ve tried on has paled in comparison to my latest find and, even though it was a long time coming, it was so worth the wait. The cape is such a unique piece of clothing and when you find just the right one for just the right price, it would be a shame to not get it!

Who else is a fan of the cape? How would you style this piece? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul24

Face Mask Festivities: Nubian Heritage Mud Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Nubian Heritage Mud Mask Edition

Hello everyone and a happy Tuesday to all of you! In today’s surprise edition of Face Mask Festivities, we are going to discuss a mud mask by Nubian Heritage. I say surprise, because I wasn’t expecting to have another FMF post for a while but, then, my mom bought this mask ON THE CHEAP at Target! How can you say no to an originally fifteen dollar mask for five bucks?! Lol, take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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In all honesty, this mask was not my favorite and I feel disappointed by that, because I LOVED the texture of it. It felt so cool to the touch and the consistency was like BUTTAH! It was so smooth and creamy and it felt amazing when I applied it. And, then, it remained that way on my face for the entire ten minutes that I had it on. It didn’t dry, it didn’t harden, and it felt like it didn’t do NOTHIN. When I washed it off, it felt exactly how it felt when I first put it on my hands, so it left me feeling like it didn’t even work. It was really weird.

I will say, that the blackheads on my nose look a bit better, and the scent of the mask was nice and earthy. BUT, its lack of a change of consistency when the mask was supposedly doing its thing left a lot to be desired. And, now I see why this was marked down to five dollars! #smh

Has anyone else used this Nubian Heritage mask before? How did you feel about it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul11

Bath & Body Works July Freebie

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Bath & Body Works July Freebie

Hello everyone and happy Hump Day! It’s no secret by now that 99% of the time that I go into Bath & Body Works is because I have a travel sized freebie coupon. That certainly rang true when I ran in last week to pick up this here mini shower gel! Take a look:

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In my humble opinion, you can NEVER go wrong with vanilla scented anything. Candles, perfumes, lotions, and, of course, shower gels! I’ve been a bit underwhelmed with the freebie fragrances that I’ve been getting lately, so I decided to go for an old standby this time around with Warm Vanilla Sugar. It combines the decadence of vanilla that I love with the sweet warmth of brown sugar, making for a totally delicious scent during shower time!

What is one of your go to fragrances when it comes to bath and body care products? What is your least favorite scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul10

Tiny TJMaxx Haul

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Tiny TJMaxx Haul

Hello everyone! Thanks to a generous birthday gift card from my big bro, I was able to ball out at TJMaxx this past week. After my first shopping trip, I had about ten dollars left on my card and it was burning a hole in my pocket, so of course I had to go back! For eight cents over the ten bucks that I was working with, I was able to get the last of the beauty supplies that I need to last me for a good long while. Check it out:

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As you guys know by now, I am an avid lover of all charcoal everything when it comes to my skin care routine. Destiny Boutique has the literal best charcoal products that I’ve ever used, so it was an absolute must to grab another one of their face bars, especially because I just finished up the one that I was using. And, did I mention that it takes me SIX MONTHS to finish one of their beauty bars?! For five dollars per bar, the cost per use is less than one penny and you definitely can’t beat that! 😀

I also treated myself to a new body scrub by Kind Natured. Using an exfoliator is a necessity for me when I am shaving, and since I finished up my Strawberry scrub from The Body Shop, it was high time for me to grab another. My new Kind Natured scrub smells freaking amazing – like oats and honey, which is one of my favorite bath and body and skin care scents. I did want to get another scrub from The Body Shop because they’re my favorite, but it will be nice to try something new and maybe it will become a favorite of mine, too.

What is one of the longest lasting products that you use? Who else is a lover of charcoal products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah