Tag Archives: beautiful

Jun9

Shoes Muse: Follow Your Heart, Not Fads

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Shoes Muse: Follow Your Heart, Not Fads

Hi everyone and welcome to another vacation guest post brought to you by the beautiful Tara over at Tarabells. If there’s one thing that Tara and I know, it’s that girls love shoes. So what better way to pay tribute to every female’s undying love for all things heels, flats, booties, and wedges than discussing some super cute summer footwear trends? Please take a look at Tara’s blog because it’s absolutely fantastic and then enjoy this post that she created special for my lifewithlilred readers:

Shoes Muse: Follow Your Heart, Not Fads

I’ll be the first to admit, when I read a trendy fashion blog post about the hottest thing this season (aka lace-up ballet flats) I turn into Cookie Monster (“me WANT!”). But so often what’s ‘in’ turns out to be uncomfortable, forgettable the next year, incompatible with most of our wardrobe, or worst of all – guilt inducing to wear out (I think this is because deep in our hearts we know shopping should be more of a thoughtful ritual and less of a hasty catharsis).
One thing I have been hasty with is SHOES. So this year I did something different. Instead of vacant online perusing and clicking, I decided to visit stores in person A LOT. I did my research and took mental notes. I read four fashion books, yes, FOUR (I will share at the end of this article). I journaled about my personal style and asked myself what makes me unique.
I’m nowhere near done with this process; even the fashion gurus say finding your own style takes time. But I did gather a nice assortment of summer shoes that I’m happy with so far! Here’s the lineup:
Navy Print Keds: SO unbelievably cute, casual, and COMFORTABLE. These will go with just about anything in your wardrobe. And you don’t even have to wear socks, for crying out loud (as long as you’ve got foot powder)!  I like them so much because I can take the dog for a walk and my feet still feel adorable.

Vintage Cowboy Boots: These warm my heart because they were purchased at a local music store next to a bar that I used to play music at frequently. There’s nothing like a pair of cowboy boots to hold all of those Kentucky memories of summer nights in the dive bar with no A/C, sharing crappy beer and original songs!

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Kitten Heels: Sometimes you find the best things when you’re not looking. These sexy kitten heels peeked out at me from the size 10s and 11 section (I wear a size 7 1/2 or 8!). Somehow they got misplaced and how on earth I was able to spot the tiny size 8 tag I will never know. I guess their magnetism just drew me to them!

 

Green Goddess Sandals: Ha, well that’s what I call them. They represent everything about me that’s ME. They aren’t really trendy at all. They’re well worn (bought from a local used clothing store). They are bright green (one of my favorite colors!). And most of all, my feet feel good in them. I especially love that they add a little pop of color and make a basic outfit chic!

Jewel Encrusted Sandals: I have had my eye on this style for years…it started when I read about them in a Paris Street Style book. Mystical as they were, to wear anything with gems, sparkles, or jewels felt foreign to me. Could I pull it off? Now I realize it’s less about ‘pulling it off’ and more about having fun. Go ahead and feel fancy from time to time – we all deserve that! FYI, you’ll be delighted to know that they did not cost a fortune – these babies were thrifted for six bucks!

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Thanks so much for reading. Click here for a lil’ freebie (it was a grad school project that involves fashion and I now give it away on my site). Cheers!

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^^^ LOVE IT! I can’t thank Tara enough for creating such an amazing post for lifewithlilred. It was so much fun being able to see her gorgeous pics and what she thought about each shoe and I’m very thankful to be able to host such brilliance on my page! Please be sure to check out Tara’s blog if you’re interested in more posts like this one! What is your favorite type of shoe to wear? How about least favorite? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun4

Summer Time MOTD

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Summer Time MOTD

Hi everyone and welcome to a drop dead gorgeous Summer Time MOTD guest blog by my darling friend, Reeva, at Beauty By Reeva. Miss Reeva is the queen of all things beauty and makeup so I am so excited to be able to house her here on lifewithlilred for the day. While emailing back and forth, we decided that her post should be a bright and fun MOTD perfect for a sunny summer day. Obviously, she aced it! Please be sure to give her page some love and enjoy the guest post that she created special for my readers:

Summer Time MOTD

Hey beauties! Summer time is all about fun and colorful MOTDs. It’s time to work that gorgeous summer glow, wind swept hair, and pop of color makeup. Here is my version of a bright makeup look using pinks and blue:

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Makeup Used:

  • Eyes: Sephora Eyeshadow Palette, colors are indicated in the pic
  • Lashes: Eyelure #117
  • Brows: Essence Eyebrow Stylist Set
  • Cheeks: MAC Cosmetics, Warm Soul
  • Highlight: MAC Cosmetics, Global Glow
  • Lips: Inglot #64 mixed with #56 lip paint
  • Body: The Body Shop, Honey Bronze

My face makeup is usually very light as we tend to sweat a bit (gross I know) when the heat is up. I stick to my concoction of mixing one of my favorite concealers, MAC Prolong Wear, with my moisturizer. I’ve been doing this for years as opposed to wearing a heavy, full coverage foundation which will slip and slide off of my face within minutes. This combination gives me a full coverage and bullet proof foundation without the fear of my makeup melting off. I know that I used Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream but I would recommend a moisturizer that contains SPF.

This look required minimum products because the focus is on the colorful eyeshadow which is what makes it fun. Oh, and don’t forget the highlight which I go a bit heavier on than usual to achieve that fresh, glowing appearance.
Hope you enjoyed this makeup look!
Thank you Sarah for featuring me on your wonderful blog and I hope that you have the best vacation ever!!!
Thanks for stopping by! 😊

^^^ I want to thank Reeva for creating such an amazing post for my vacation guest bloggers series. And can we please talk about how beautiful she looks?! Once again, make sure you check out her page at Beauty By Reeva – you won’t be disappointed! What are your favorite summer makeup trends? What is your favorite bright colored eyeshadow to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May8

Au Natural MOTD

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Au Natural MOTD

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! Welcome to a shiny new guest blogging post from one of my favorites, Rehma, from Glamorous Etoiles. Her blog is absolutely fantastic so please be sure to check it out and give her some love! Rehma is the queen of all things beauty and makeup so I asked her to create an easy, fresh-faced look that’s perfect for an on the go summer day. Take a look at the Au Natural MOTD created by one of my dear friends, she did a bang up job!:

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Makeup Used:

  • Foundation: TV Paint Stick by Kryolan (FS45)
  • Concealer: Maybelline Eye Eraser (Nude)
  • Powder: Artistry Mineral Powder (Light)
  • Eye Shadows: Makeup Revolution Palette & Sleek Strom Palette
  • Mascara: Maybelline Sensation & Great Lash (Blackest Black)
  • Highlighting: Makeup Revolution Highlighter Palette
  • Contour: NYX Highlight & Contour Palette
  • Blusher: Makeup Revolution Contour Blush
  •  Lipstick: Gerard Cosmetic (Nude)
  • Liner: Maybelline Gel Eyeliner
  • Makeup Brushes: Morphe & Makeup Addiction
  • Setting Spray: Urban Decay Chill Cooling & Hydrating Spray

What I love about Rehma’s MOTD is how light it looks. I think that barely there makeup for summer time is so chic. This Au Natural look is perfect for a day of running around in the sun but can easily be transformed to a night time look with a bold lip. Rehma knows how to rock a winged liner like no other but for us gals who weren’t blessed with a steady hand, a good compromise could be a dusting of a bronze or gold eyeshadow instead! That’s what I plan on doing because god knows I would never be able to achieve a winged look to Rehma’s standard!

Thank you again so much to the always beautiful, Rehma, from Glamorous Etoiles for making this Au Natural MOTD post possible! You’re fabulous. How do you rock an easy, breezy summer look? What is your summer makeup staple? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr28

Attention!!!

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Attention!!!

Hi everyone! So my super amazing, talented, gorgeous friend, Sujata has just launched her online store for her beautiful clothing brand. I had the pleasure of creating a wedding look for Sujata a while back ago and we’ve been friends ever since. I loved being able to see her website and brand develop and her newly launched site is a true testament of her flawless designs and talent. Please be sure to check it out by clicking the link of “online store” and help support a fabulous fellow blogger and friend! Much love. -Sarah

Apr24

Black Leather Jacket OOTD

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Black Leather Jacket OOTD

Hi everyone and welcome to a very special post here on lifewithlilred thanks to the fabulous Tara from venuslaughing. When Tara initially approached me for the possibility of guest blogging I was a little ambivalent because I still was unsure of how I wanted to go about doing guest posts on my page. However, after looking over her AMAZING blog, I just couldn’t say no. Tara is so creative, talented, and just lovely as can be and I am so incredibly lucky to have her on my page. I asked Tara if she could create some OOTDs involving a Black Leather Jacket (or pleather which is what I prefer!) and her post and photos blew me away. So without further ado, here is Tara’s guest post created special for my lifewithlilred readers. Enjoy:

Hello! Today I am thrilled to get to share with you one of my favorite wardrobe essentials that can be worn any season: the black leather jacket. I have been drooling over leather jackets for the past two years. Finally, my budget has allowed for this fantasy to become a reality! After a couple hours of careful perusing, I found an Etsy shop in California called The Industry that had a style I loved: vintage 1980s, black, short length, with patina and fringe! I’m so happy this treasure now lives in my closet.
Leather jackets communicate being secure in your own skin, marching to the beat of your own drum, and being in tune with your wildish nature. Also, wearing animal skin is a reminder of our primal connection to the earth itself, which modern society tends to be so out of synch with! And of course, buying vintage/used leather is smart for eco-sustainable and ethical reasons.

A leather jacket can pair with so many things! Here are a few of my favorite looks:
 
A Pop Of Color:
The inspiration for this look came from a beautiful bag my mom surprised me with one day, purchased at a local fair trade store called Just Creations. I had this idea to do my hair up in a kind of Bridget Bardot-esque look. The leopard booties (ASOS) might be too much, but they’re fun! Cut your mesh tights into socks and roll your skinny jeans over them for this look!

Romantic:

The inspiration for the romantic look was this floral summer dress, AKA the “Nashville dress”. It reminds me of a trip my sister and I took to Nashville once to try busking on the street (we made a whopping nine dollars!). Also, a beautiful book called Paris Street Style by Isabelle Thomas and Frederique Veysset, given to me for Christmas by my sister. It has a selection on leather jackets and dresses!
 
 Tips & Pics:
  • Mix it with something frilly, lacey, floral, romantic, or soft.
  • Pair it with white.
  • Bring a pop of color to it with earrings or shoes.
  • Put your hair in an updo to soften the look (Pro Tip: Use hair powder!).
  • Wear a bright colored lipstick.
  • And remember, above all else, have fun! The best fashion breaks rules. Do what feels good!

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Thank you so much to the beautiful Tara for such a wonderful guest post! Once again, please be sure to check out her page at venuslaughing! What is your favorite look that Tara created? How would you style a Black Leather Jacket OOTD? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr17

Glamour Girl MOTD

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Glamour Girl MOTD

Hi everyone and welcome to a very special guest blogging post here on lifewithlilred thanks to my friend, Rehma, over at glamorousetoiles. I adore Rehma’s blog so much and I’m sure that you guys will, too, so please check it out and give her page some love! While Rehma and I discussed what her post should be about, I suggested creating an MOTD and she happily agreed. I’m so glad, too, because Rehma is a makeup queen. And me? Not so much. So check out her Glamour Girl MOTD that she created special for my readers on lifewithlilred and then let’s discuss:

^^^ Beautiful!

Makeup Used:

  • Foundation: TV Paint Stick by Kryolan (FS45)
  • Concealer: NYX Orange Color Corrector & Maybelline Eye Eraser (Nude)
  • Powder: Artistry Mineral Powder (Light)
  • Eye Shadows: Makeup Revolution’s Flawless Palette
  • Waterline: Rimmel London Kohl Kajal (Nude 005)
  • Mascara: Maybelline Sensation and Great Lash (Blackest Black)
  • Highlighting: Colourpop Supershock Cheek and NYX Highlight & Contour Palette
  • Contour: NYX Highlight & Contour Palette
  • Blusher: Sleek Antique
  • Lipstick: Medora in Dark Coco
  • Liner: Makeup Revolution’s black liner
  • Makeup Brushes: Morphe & Makeup Addiction
  • Setting Spray: Urban Decay Chill Cooling & Hydrating Spray

What I love the most about Rehma’s MOTD is her deep berry lip! Nothing screams glamour to me more than a dark lip paired with a dramatic eye. Seriously, this look belongs on the red carpet of a movie premiere! I also like that, for the most part, Rehma created this look with products that you could buy from your local drugstore. I’m particularly obsessed with the fact that she used my personal favorite brand, NYX, to help create her MOTD. You look so gorgeous, Rehma! You go, girl.

I want to thank Rehma again so much for doing such an amazing job on this guest post. It was such a huge help and it turned out fabulous! Once again, please check out her blog at glamorousetoiles and give her page a follow and some love! What is your favorite drugstore makeup brand? What is your favorite makeup brand to splurge on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr8

Happy Birthday, Sissy!!

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Happy Birthday, Sissy!!

Hello everyone and TGIF! In the past couple of weeks there have been a lot of birthdays in my family! Both of my parents and now my sister who turns twenty-four today! I refer to my big sister/best friend/soulmate, Kristen, frequently here on lifewithlilred so now it’s time to give her some birthday loving! Let’s do this thing:

Happy birthday to the best sister in the world…MINE. I love you so much, Kristen, and I can’t wait to celebrate with you this weekend! Thank you for all of the late night Taco Bell runs, borrowing my clothes without asking, and always providing me with a laugh or support when I need it. You are the bravest, strongest, most beautiful gal I know and I’m so happy that we share DNA with each other! I can’t wait to continue adding on to our endless list of memories and adventures now that you’re the big 2-4. You are beyond my best friend and I hope that you have the best day in the whole world! ❤

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❤ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KRISTEN!! ❤

Mar23

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

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Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! Yesterday was a very special day because it was my mom’s birthday!! I am so lucky to have the best mom in the whole wide world and I love her so much. She is the smartest, funniest, bravest, most beautiful person that I know and I’m privileged to be able to call her mom! I hope your new year is filled with nothing but happiness because if anyone deserves it, it’s you. Take a look at us being cute and then be sure to give my mom some happy birthday loving:

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^^^ When we took these pics, my madre said that she wasn’t “selfie material”. I say FALSE!!!!

❤ Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you!! ❤

Jan14

Sujata Gazder Wedding Look

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Sujata Gazder Wedding Look

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! This past week I was so honored to be asked by the amazing designer, Sujata Gazder, to create a punky cool wedding look with one of her dresses. Usually wedding attire isn’t my forte but I was excited to give it a try. As you read this post, you can shop along at Gazder’s website: sujatagazder and check out her blog at: sujatagazderblog, as well! Now, check out how I would style an edgy and unconventional wedding look:

Ta Da! While I was creating this look, it was important to me that it still looked wedding appropriate. I achieved this by sticking with a gorgeous and somewhat traditional dress and then accessorizing with pieces that you might not see at your every day wedding. Let’s discuss:

The dress: As I browsed through Sujata Gazder’s website, this dress spoke to me. I liked that it definitely looked like a wedding dress but it was unique enough that one could get away with styling it in an edgy fashion. The hand embroidered vine design at the top of the gown eases effortlessly in to the layers of tulle ruffles for a fun and unexpected twist. The beauty of the dress is its versatility. There are so many different ways to style it depending on the bride, which makes the possibilities endless. The impeccable design, flow, and overall look of this dress allowed me to create a cool punk look that was still appropriate for walking down the aisle.

Hats off: I knew right away that I wanted to top the wedding look off with a hat or fascinator. I also knew that I wanted it to be veiled. Originally, I had my heart set on a pill box hat but as I browsed through different options, none of them screamed out at me. After I searched through the world wide web for a while, I finally stumbled upon the fascinator pictured above. I loved how quirky and sweet it was but I knew that when paired with the right accessories, it would still fall under the punk category. The only thing that I would change about this piece would be the length of the veil. In my mind I envisioned the veil to be long enough to completely cover the face and then be able to pull it back after the bride made her way down the aisle.

Black gloves: Nothing says drama more than a pair of elbow length black gloves. I thought that a glove would pair perfectly with the dress, fascinator, and over all feel of the look that I was going for. Long gloves are so chic and sharp and doing them in  jet black is an edgy twist on the traditional white or cream. They’re bold yet so elegant and classy. To really take the gloves over the top, you could also pile on loud rings and chunky bracelets for some bling!

Sparkled & spiked shoes: As I planned this look out, I knew that the shoes had to be completely out of the ordinary. However, every heel or stiletto that I thought might work always ended up falling short of my expectations. They just weren’t bold enough. I wanted something really loud and I also wanted the shoes to be blatantly “punk”. After much pondering and disappointment, I began to think about heel-less heels and stumbled upon the little beauties featured above from aliexpress. I think that these heel-less heels are absolutely to die for and I love how they counterbalance the sweetness of the dress. Spikes and sparkles? Yes, please. Any bride that can stomp down the aisle in these babies is a friend of mine!

Pucker up: Dramatic makeup is a must for this look and nothing does that better than a deep oxblood lip. Every bride needs the perfect pout to complete her look and a sultry dark shade is the best cocktail of sexy, sophisticated, and so so cool. A beautiful bold lip and a smouldering charcoal smokey eye are the finishing touches in achieving a wedding look that is perfectly punk and totally pretty.

So there you have it, my Sujata Gazder Wedding Look! I had such a blast creating this post and please be sure to check out all of the links within the article to do some shopping of your own! What piece would you like to wear from Sujata Gazder’s collection? How would you style a punk wedding look? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec28

Monday Update: Holiday Haul Edition

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Monday Update: Holiday Haul Edition

Hello everyone and happy Monday! Welcome to this week’s Update: Holiday Haul Edition! Lil Red made out like a bandit this Christmas and it’s still not over! I still have presents to receive from my sister and my best friend later this week. But so far, the loot has been fantastic. I feel so spoiled because I’ve never had a boyfriend during the holiday season and Kyle and his mom were nice enough to give me some amazing presents. Take a look at what I received on Christmas according to each person:

My parents:

I am SO in love with the gorgeous coat that my mom and dad got me. I’ve been eyeing this jacket from Target for over two months now and I’m so happy that it’s finally mine! My mom got it for me the day after I tried it on in front of her in October and has been hiding it for my surprise ever since. What a lady! I also received a generous donation to the Lil Red Foundation as well as a fresh supply of my favorite beauty products from The Body Shop and Trader Joe’s. Thanks, mom and dad!

My brother and sister-in-law:

From Peter and Megan I received my first Adult Coloring Book, complete with colored pencils and a sharpener. My sister and I have been interested in these for a while so I’m so excited to unleash my inner child and crack open the coloring book with her. I also got a Groupon for two free admissions to a Paint Nite. In Ohio, there are certain bars that offer a night of drinking and canvas painting and I’ve heard that they’re so much fun! It will be the perfect date night for me and Kyle!

The most special gift I got this Christmas, however, was the rosary that Peter and Megan brought home for me from their honeymoon in Italy. It’s my favorite color and it is also blessed by Pope Francis from when they had the honor of meeting him. How cool is that?!

My other brother:

cash

From my second oldest brother, Andrew, I received another generous donation to the Lil Red Foundation. You can’t go wrong with cold hard cash!

My boyfriend:

My darling Kyle spoiled me rotten this year with some of the most fantastic gifts ever!! He gave me an entire family of stuffed animals from Despicable Me – one of our favorite movies. I also got a stuffed Moogle from Final Fantasy, which I’m pretty stoked about! To continue with the Minion theme, Kyle got me the most comfy pair of Minion patterned fleece pajama pants, which were unfortunately in the washing machine while I was taking my haul photos! Rest assured, they’re cute. 🙂

Kyle did a wonderful job of picking me out some beautiful accessories as well. I was so surprised when I opened the boxes of gorgeous jewelry, which included two stunning bracelets and a necklace. Kyle also knocked it out of the park with a burgundy and grey infinity scarf (Which I’m wearing right now!) and burgundy and black trimmed gloves. I can’t wait to wear my new scarf with all of my favorite sweaters and pair my gloves with my new coat from my parents! Thanks, babe – I love you! ❤

My boyfriend’s mom:

I was so humbled by the lovely gifts that my boyfriend’s mom treated me to. She got me the absolute cutest ornament for my tree of a little penguin ice skating. I made sure to put it right by my human skater, which I got at a figure skating competition in New York. Mrs. Kyle’s Mom also gifted me with some luscious bath and body products from Philosophy. I’ve never used their products before but have always wanted to so I was SO excited to try both of them out! Spoiler alert: They’re amazing and they smell heavenly!

As much as I enjoyed receiving all of these beautiful presents, I enjoyed giving everyone the gifts I picked out special for them even more! I am so thankful for all of the goodies that I was gifted with but would have been just fine with only having the quality time with my family and loved ones. My Christmas this year was one of the best ever and I can’t wait to continue the celebrations this week with my sister and darling best friend!

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: Holiday Haul Edition! How was everyone’s holiday? What was your favorite gift that you received or gave? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah