Tag Archives: ballin on a budget

Nov6

Lil Red Loves: Libraries

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Lil Red Loves: Libraries

Hi! Something that I’ve been fond of for as long as I can remember but, even more so this year, is the good ol’ local library. In my neck of the woods, there are plenty of different libraries to go to that have instilled in me a love for reading from story time as a youngin up until now as a twenty something. And, what I have learned this past year, is that libraries aren’t just for checking out books and movies.

Frequenting the libraries in the greater Akron area has become a staple in my day job, as they offer wonderful, educational, and fun programs that are all completely free. My clients and I love visiting different libraries and always end up reaping the benefits that the programs and events have to offer. From gaining knowledge and new hobbies to receiving totally free books like the ones below, the library is definitely the place to be.

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The libraries in my area offer everything from reading with therapy dogs to GED classes and murder mystery dinners. I have been to excellent music concerts with clients and showings of recently released movies in a huge auditorium. I’ve also attended yoga classes, escape rooms, and lessons in meditation all for the cost of absolutely FREE.

Just last week at North Hill Library’s meditation class, there were cardboard boxes full of free books for the taking. Mysteries, romances, fiction, and nonfiction alike were all there to be sorted through and there was no limit to what we could select. My client and I had a blast looking at all of the choices and I ended up picking out all of the above horror style murder mysteries (My favorite!) to take home with me. Will I like all of them? Maybe not, but that’s no harm done, because I can always donate it so that someone else can have what might be their new favorite page turner.

Lil Red will always support establishments that better the community and I am thankful that mine has so many excellent libraries to choose from, because they do just that. Libraries are inclusive to every single person in this world and there is much to be learned and a lot of fun to be had during your next visit to the neighborhood library!

Who else makes good use out of their local library? What type of programs does your library offer to the public? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov4

Dollar Tree Deals

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Dollar Tree Deals

Hi! We all know that Lil Red loves to shop but, the trick is, is that I am all about the discount stores to save copious amounts of cash while I partake in my favorite hobby. In today’s post, it’s all about the Washingtons, because I began my Christmas shopping early at the Dollar Tree and got six fairly decent sized candles for a dollar apiece. Check it out:

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The beauty of discount stores, aside from the immense amount of savings from shopping there, is that no one is the wiser when they receive their presents. I plan on attaching sets of three of the above candles with a festive bow as part of gifts for friends and family and, for all they know, I could have gotten them at Target. Not only is the size of the candles relatively big for a dollar deal but, they smell amazing, too! The Pineapple Upside Down Cake is my favorite and I know that it will be a hit for my giftees. 🙂

What is your favorite discount store? Who has started their holiday shopping already? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Gephardt Daily

Nov2

Hats Off: Peter Grimm Edition

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Hats Off: Peter Grimm Edition

Yo! Aside from shoes, which we all know are one of Lil Red’s major vices, I am definitely a hat girl. This gene was single handedly passed down from my grandma (my mom’s mom), who owned over one hundred hats. I began my own collection when I was fifteen or so with a deep purple cloche number, and it has expanded from there. In fact, quite a few of the hats in my collection are from my beloved grandma, so I know that she’s happy up in heaven that this love for her favorite accessory was passed down to one of her granddaughters. So, I’m positive that she’ll be pleased with my latest headwear purchase – I know I am! Take a look:

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I scored this Peter Grimm beauty from TJMaxx for seventeen bucks and, when I looked on the website for Peter Grimm, it was sixty! It was a total steal for such a cool hat, especially since I don’t own any in the camel coloring. I don’t know why I used to associate tan with being boring, because the color of this hat made my red locks POP. So, major shout out to Mister Peter Grimm for helping me to adjust that major character flaw.

What I love about this hat, is that it’s safari inspired with the faux suede rope and adjustable toggle, but it looks so damn chic because it’s attached to a somewhat bowler style hat instead of a traditional safari one. I can picture this Peter Grimm number with a cargo jumpsuit or romper, obviously. But, because it’s so neutral, it can be worn with literally anything to add some unexpected spice to an outfit. For example, I can totally see myself pairing it with my Fervour skeleton jumpsuit just because for a look that’s quirky cool – my specialty!

Who else is a hat lover? 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

Nov1

Five Below Find

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Five Below Find

Howdy! Something that I’ve grown very fond of as of late are discount stores. Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Five Below – you name it, and I like it. Ballin on a budget is my lifestyle choice and these stores live by my motto of “why pay more if you don’t have to”. From office supplies and snacks to holiday decor for a dollar, sometimes I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot when I stop into a discount shop. Just the other day at Five Below, for example, I walked away with this darling hair bow for three bucks and I’m sure it would have costed at least ten at Claire’s! Take a look:

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This beautiful black bow with the long streamers ties in perfectly with my sweet goth aesthetic and I cannot wait to wear it. My hair definitely needs to grow out a bit more and, once it does, I will be pairing it with half up and messy bun styles ASAFP. The beauty of discount stores is that no one needs to know the price that you paid for a good find. For three bucks, I found a new accessory that would have costed me triple the price elsewhere and you just can’t beat that!

What is your favorite discount store to shop at? What is one of your best discount store finds? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Five Below

Oct15

ModCloth Haul: Heart Balloon Kit

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ModCloth Haul: Heart Balloon Kit

Yooooo. The next item in my ModCloth Haul was one that I got on sale and am very happy with! I scored a heart balloon kit that was originally twenty dollars for seven bucks, which I thought was a steal. These darling balloons will be perfect for a Valentine’s Day photo shoot on lifewithlilred and I am totally okay with having them on backstock until then, as opposed to paying a more expensive price once V-Day rolls around. Check it out:

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The kit includes:

  • Six balloons
  • String
  • Three different colors of streamers (White, pink, and red)

Like I said, seven dollars for all of that seemed like such a bargain! I absolutely love cute balloon related photo shoots and, I suppose that I could use these at any time, but it doesn’t get much sweeter than a bouquet of pink heart balloons on Valentine’s Day. This purchase made me feel proud, because planning an article that is four months away means that lifewithlilred will still be alive and kicking until then. I consider each day of writing for my page a success and, although the photo shoot is a ways away, it’s one less thing that I have to worry about. And that, my friends, is the power of planning ahead!

What is your favorite holiday to style looks for? Have you ever done a balloon photo shoot? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep19

TJMaxx Beauty Haul

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TJMaxx Beauty Haul

Hello everyone and happy Hump Day! I was so happy on Saturday, because my mom and I finally got to go to TJMaxx together after about TWO MONTHS of not going. With a scary long stay in the hospital last month and just getting back on her feet, sweet JANE was definitely not able to hit the shops like the good old days. But, that changed this Saturday and we had a wonderful little jaunt to our favorite store. I got a fabulous new fall and winter staple, which you’ll see tomorrow, and some new beauty finds. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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The Haul:

  • Unknown brand Radiance Crystal Cleansing Foam: $4
  • Vital C Vitamin C Brightening Serum: $8
  • Alpine Silk Rosehip Day Cream: $7

Grand Total: $19

Whenever I am in need of new skin care products, I almost exclusively purchase from TJMaxx. This is so crazy to me, because less than a year ago, I was still ordering skin care from The Body Shop and spending a buttload on some of the same products that I can buy at TJs. Without a sale, the prices at TBS are even more than the nineteen bucks that I paid for three products, and that’s just shameful to me. Of course, I’ll utilize a good TBS sale every now and then, but TJMaxx is truly where it’s at for skin care and beauty products… and also everything else! 😀

One of the items that I’ve been buying for the better part of a year is the Vital C serum. I pay eight dollars for a bottle that lasts me two and a half months. Meanwhile, at TBS, their Vitamin C Skin Boost that I used to use costed thirty dollars a bottle! I finished up my Vital C on Sunday, so I was so happy that they had it in stock at TJs, because I don’t know what I would do without it. A little radiance goes a long way, and my skin care routine would be nothing without some Vitamin C.

I also purchased a new moisturizer from New Zealand, which will be nice to try out. Because I have a very normal skin type, I can get away with experimenting with new products. I have heard wonderful things about skin care with rosehip in it in the past, so I’m looking forward to giving it a go once I finish the moisturizer that I’m using now.

And, finally, for funsies I tried out a Korean cleanser, because I’ll be needing a new one soon. The TJMaxx that I was at had an entire section of Korean skin care and I decided to change things up by going with the Radiance Crystal Cleansing Foam. Like I said, a little radiance goes a long way, so we’ll see how it works out!

I am really happy with the amount of products that I got for just under twenty dollars and am confident that I couldn’t get that value elsewhere. TJMaxx always does me right, and it was awesome to have a long awaited shopping trip with my mom! ❤

Who is a fan of Korean beauty products? What is one of your skin care staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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