Tag Archives: birthday

Jun1

Happy Birthday, Husband!!!!

Posted on June 1, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Hello!!! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my sweet husband, Johnny’s, birthday!!! Today rings in the beginning of our birthaversary, as our two year wedding anniversary is on the fourth and my birthday is on the seventh. I can’t wait to celebrate!! Johnny is my darling, angel, love of my life and he is the absolute best husband, uncle, and bunny dad in the world. No matter what we do together, we always have SO much fun. Johnny isn’t just my husband, but my AI ride or die bestie too! ❤

Mine and Johnny’s first date almost four years ago was truly love at first sight and we have been inseparable ever since. It was most definitely a whirlwind romance and we are still going stronger than ever all of these years later. Johnny is the most funny, kind, talented, smart, hardworking man and he makes me so proud every day. His endless love and support have gotten me through some really hard times these past few months and he knows how to make me smile even when I don’t feel like it.

Being with Johnny is so easy and we spend ninety-nine percent of our time laughing! We genuinely enjoy each other’s company and it is such an effortless relationship. And to think, I swore off of dating the week before Johnny asked me out. We were both unknowingly crushing on each other on Facebook so I wasn’t about to say no! Our first date was, hands down, the best date of my life and every day since has been the best too. I just love him more than words can say. ❤

Happy birthday to my Johnny, who has made me the happiest gal in the world. Here’s to many, many more birthaversaries together! I love you!!!!!!

Apr8

Happy Birthday, Sister!!!

Posted on April 8, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!!! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my big sister, Kristen’s, birthday!! Kristen and I are barely over two years apart in age and she was and will always be my first best friend. She is such an amazing sister, daughter, and mother and I am so indescribably proud of her. Thanks to Kristen and her equally awesome husband, Ramon, I have two precious nieces who are my world. They are the happiest, most loved little girls and I can’t sing praises of their parents enough. A sister is a gift and I am so thankful for mine:

Kristen is my A1 and despite having drastically different schedules, we still make time for each other as much as we can. We are always trying to cook up fun plans for us and the kiddos and I live for our trips to the park, zoo, and story time at the library. My favorite hang out is when Kristen, Ramon, and the girls come over to my apartment for dinner. I love to host and cook and it brings me so much joy to make a big meal and then enjoy Johnny’s guitar playing or watching a movie or show all together. It isn’t a day at the zoo, but it sure is the absolute best. ❤

My sister is one of the kindest, empathetic, funniest people I have ever met. She is a fierce warrior for animals and is such a great pet parent to her two rescue dogs and two rescue cats too. Whenever she can, Kristen still manages to find time to volunteer at shelters and lends her voice to the animals that have none. I thought I was good at making schedules, but I truly pale in comparison to her. Between family life, work, and volunteering, I genuinely have no idea how she does it all and with a smile on her face to boot!

Throughout my childhood, Kristen has been my role model and she still is every single day as adults. I just love her to pieces and can’t wait to celebrate her special day together! ❤

Happy birthday, Kristen!!!!! ❤ ❤ ❤

Apr6

Happy Birthday, Dad!!!!!

Posted on April 6, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my dad’s birthday!!! I am a huge mommy and daddy’s girl and I am so beyond proud to be the daughter of such amazing parents. Times have been very trying in Lil Red’s world and my dad has been my rock, confidant, and shoulder to cry on. His strength is unparalleled, his love for his family is fierce, and his devotion to my mom is a prime example of true and pure love. He is, simply, the best.

As I continue to get older, I am constantly blown away by how selflessly my parents give without ever expecting anything for themselves. This has molded me into the person I am today and I see it reflected in my work as a provider for people with developmental disabilities every day. One of my favorite things that my dad has ever done for me goes back to my college days when I had a really early winter class at Tri-C. Every single morning, without fail, my dad would get up and prepare a travel mug of coffee for me to drive to Cleveland with. The first day of class, I tried to make coffee for myself and it sucked. When I told my dad about it, he took it upon himself to do it for me all in the name of me waking up enough to drive to school safely. I think about this often and my heart feels just as warm as my hands were as I cradled a hot travel mug in the bitter winter cold.

Watching my parents’ relationship continue to bloom after almost forty-three years of marriage also was a major assist in my own love life. After dating a lot of assholes, I threw up my hands, gave up, and waited for the real thing. Then, I met Johnny and, well, you know the rest. He was the first guy who my dad ever approved of and that honestly told me everything that I need to know. I am so lucky to have the parents that I have, whose opinions I value, whose company I cherish, and who still continue to push me to be my best self at almost twenty-nine years old.

My dad isn’t the biggest fan of birthdays so I will wrap things up by saying that I love him so very much and he is the best dad that a gal could ever ask for. ❤

Happy birthday, Dad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ❤ ❤ ❤

Mar22

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!!

Posted on March 22, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!!! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my mom’s birthday!! My mom is my best friend in the whole world and, I hate to brag, but she’s the best mom in the whole world too. Every day she inspires me with her strength, bravery, and positivity and I am a better person because of it. People always seem to have a fear of turning into their parents as they age, but that is far from the case with me. As I get older and catch myself doing “mom-isms” of my own, I feel proud to be even an iota like her! Check out this stunning beauty:

My mom fiercely loves her family, grandchildren, and pets and faces every single hardship with a smile on her face because of it. She radiates joy and it is impossible to be in a bad mood around her. And, if you are, you’ll forget about it after just a few minutes of being with her. Even at almost twenty-nine, a hug from my mom still serves as my favorite cure all and I always can’t wait to see her again as soon as our visits end. ❤

As I type this, Melvin and Penelope are out running around and I have my mom to thank for that. Watching her care for our family dogs and be an A+ pet parent all of my life makes me want to provide nothing less for my bunnies. As I type this, my watercolor flowers that we just painted together are still on my desk and I have my mom to thank for that too. By signing herself, me, and my sister up for a class this past summer, she gave me and her a brand new hobby to do together. I feel proud that she encouraged all of us to try something different and that we are still painting several months later.

Everything I love, I have my mom to thank for because she has been with me every step of the way with her endless support and unconditional love. Being her daughter is a gift and I love her so very, very much. Happy birthday to the best mom and I will see you later today!

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Mar13

Fun Aunt & Uncle

Posted on March 13, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!!! Johnny and I are firm on not wanting children and are very happy to be bunny parents. Another title that we take very seriously is the “fun aunt and uncle” to our two sweet nieces, Val Gal and Raya, and our nephew, Patrick. There is nothing better than raising a ruckus with our favorite little humans and then sending them back to their parents afterwards! This past Tuesday was an incredibly special day because Miss Val turned four years old! To celebrate, Johnny and I hosted a birthday slumber party on Thursday with all of her favorite things: Spaghetti and pesto for dinner, a vanilla cupcake and sprinkles for dessert, and lots of presents!

Val is so dear to Johnny and I because she was only half a year old when he and I started dating and she has grown up with us as a couple. We couldn’t wait to have her over for a party just for her and I thought that we had to be more excited than she was. However, we were proved wrong when Val decided she wanted to skip her dance class (Her fave!) to start the festivities early. And, believe me when I say, Val came to our apartment ready to rage lol.

Within minutes presents were ripped open and Johnny was on the floor being attacked by the Tickle Monster. I began the chant of “fun aunt and uncle” and it spread like wildfire between the three of us. Very shortly after, Val assured her mom that she could go home and our party continued with checking out some of her haul. Rather than the toys, Val was enamored with the music box I got her and was convinced it was magic when she shut the box, opened it, and the ballerina continued to spin. It was a hoot. 😀

With promises of birthday cupcakes after dinner, we settled in to eat and watch an episode of Sonic The Hedgehog as per her latest obsession. Johnny and I thought it was hysterical and we were snuggled up on the couch together in stitches. After a rousing round of “happy birthday” and cupcakes, Johnny assembled her new mobile pet grooming station and we played Pet Shop and Johnny’s favorite childhood board game of Uncle Wiggly. Val also got a surprise visit from my bunny baby, Melvin, who so graciously let her and I give him a cuddle before bed. 🙂

Once Johnny went to sleep, Val and I began winding the party down with a bit of TV and silliness. She wasn’t awfully fond of TT’s favorite game called “let’s go to sleep” but she did love jumping on the bed every time I turned my back. Hey, you only turn four once! Johnny and I had the best time celebrating our best girl’s big day and we are so lucky to be the Fun Aunt and Uncle to the coolest kids on the planet! ❤

Did you have a favorite aunt and uncle growing up? How did you celebrate childhood birthdays? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep1

Falcon Grove Studio Art Haul

Posted on September 1, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! I took an awesome watercolor painting class with my mom and sister in July. It was taught by the amazing Ana of Falcon Grove Studio and we still talk about how much fun we had all together. This past week my best friend, LEA, turned twenty-eight and I decided to treat her to some beautiful artwork made by Ana on her Etsy shop. They will be perfect for her office at work and don’t worry, they are already in her possession so this post won’t come as a surprise! Check it out:

It is so important to support local artists and I try to do so as often as I can. When Lea’s birthday began drawing near, I had Ana’s Etsy shop in mind because her work is just the type that she likes. Ana’s art is so elegant and bold without being “too much” and I am in love with both pieces that I chose. I am especially partial to the framed painting with the 3D butterfly. I wish that I bought one for me too!

Shopping on Ana’s Etsy shop was a great experience. My order arrived quickly, shipping was free, and it was packaged with so much care. I also received a coupon for fifteen percent off of my next purchase, which will definitely come in handy this holiday season. I have a feeling that I will make great use of it. 😀

Lea and I have been best friends for fourteen years and it has been a joy to celebrate almost a decade and a half of birthdays together. It was also a joy to shop for all of them too lol. Do be sure to check out Ana’s Etsy shop for a handcrafted gift that yourself or your giftee will adore!

Who is your favorite local artist? What is the link to any of your online stores? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun23

Paint By Numbers Misfortune

Posted on June 23, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! My best friend, Lea, gifted me with everything that I needed for my own personal wine and paint night for my birthday. She got me a paint by numbers kit, which I have heard of before but never tried and was eager to give it a shot. This past weekend, I decided that I would get started on my project before a friend showed up for a game night. Unfortunately, it was way harder than I could have ever imagined:

After unboxing the paint by numbers kit, I was surprised by how difficult it looked but was hopeful that I would be able to complete it. The kit included the canvas, three paint brushes of various sizes, numbered paints, and supplies for hanging it up. With everything that I needed provided, I was still under the impression that once I got the hang of it, it would be easy. That was, however, far from the case.

I had a few hours to kill and I thought that I would start with the biggest task on the canvas first, painting the background and small details white. I began working on one of the vases and even with the smallest paint brush available, I was getting paint in the wrong places and covering up numbers I would need later left and right. After the epic failure of attempting one color on a vase, I started painting the background because that should be easy, right?

WRONG!!!!

The biggest paint brush that the kit had was hardly making a dent in the vast spaces on the canvas that needed covered up. Not to mention that you had to perfectly outline the vases and flowers with the white paint too. I switched back and forth between the biggest and smallest brush to accomplish this and was constantly covering up other spaces that needed painted. You seriously almost needed a toothpick small brush to get into all of the tiny nooks and crannies and the smallest brush was way too big for the task.

Of course, I am so thankful to Lea for her super thoughtful gift but I can’t say that this project is one that I plan on finishing. After my first effort, I essentially shot myself in the foot since so many areas got painted over. I am sure that other easier paint by numbers kits are a lot of fun and would happily try one of them. I just don’t have the surgeon steady hands to successfully complete this canvas!

Have you tried a paint by numbers kit before? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun22

Final Birthday Hurrah

Posted on June 22, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Unfortunately, I didn’t get to celebrate my birthday on the day of with my sister and her family due to a bout with COVID. Once they were ten days out, however, we had a wonderful late birthday outing together. I was treated by Kristen, Ramon, and my darling niece Valerie to a delicious dinner at my favorite restaurant, the Saffron Patch. It is the most divine Indian food that I have ever had and I savored every bite. I was also gifted with a TJMaxx gift card (Bless!), a sticker adorned card compliments of Val, and this gorgeous Betsey Johnson necklace:

Betsey Johnson has always been one of my favorite brands and I love her quirky, bright designs. There is nothing like a Betsey accessory to add a fun pop to any OOTD and I have several of her purses, shoes, and jewelry. When I opened up the box containing my new necklace, I couldn’t believe my eyes… I had actually just been drooling over it during my last shopping trip at TJMaxx. Talk about sister telepathy, right? 😀

I am obsessed with this necklace and it is so different from all of my other Betsey accessories – most of them have skulls and snakes as the focal point lol! The sweet gem stoned hearts are SO. Freaking. Cute. and remind me of the plastic star and heart jewelry of my youth (In the best way possible!). Another amazing thing about this necklace is that you can put it on over your head without undoing the clasp. We all know that that is a difficult task for me with my claws!

My new necklace is perfect for adding candy dream colors to a neutral base and I can’t wait to see it shine against white, black, and grey. I had a great time celebrating my birthday with three of my favorite people in the whole world and my festivities ended on the best note possible. ❤

What is your favorite accessory brand? How would you style this necklace? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun21

Sephora Birthday Gift Unboxing & Tinted Lip Oil Swatch

Posted on June 21, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Sephora Birthday Gift Unboxing & Tinted Lip Oil Swatch

Hello!! I had a great little mostly freebie haul from Sephora, which also included my birthday gift for being a Beauty Insider member. As a Beauty Insider, you get to pick one from three or four different gift options during your birth month and I look forward to it every year. The choices range from a set for skin care, hair care, makeup, or fragrance and I always opt for the makeup because I rarely try out new products in that regard.

For the makeup gift, I received a sample pack from Ilia that had a tinted lip oil, mascara, and a lip mask:

^^^ Lol, I had to swatch on my wrist because my hands are now occupied with tattoos!

I am a tried and true user of Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara so the travel sized one in this birthday gift will be going to my sister. What really sold me on the Ilia set was the lip mask and tinted lip oil. I love me a lip mask and am constantly on the hunt for a good one because the last several that I have tried have been duds. The tinted lip oil in Only You was also just too pretty to pass up!

I have so many lip colors from Sephora birthday gifts and they never disappoint. Only You by Ilia, however, might be my favorite one yet. It is the most lovely carnation pink hue and I love the texture. While it looks like a gloss, it feels like a balm and I think that everyone can get down with that… No one likes a sticky lip gloss! It makes my lips feel smooth, look supple, and provides the perfect touch of color. I know for a fact that I will be wearing it all summer long. 😀

Keep it posted on lifewithlilred for a review of the Ilia lip mask as well as one more birthday present surprise. Gotta love a birth month!!

What is your favorite makeup brand? What did you choose as your Beauty Insider birthday prezzie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun18

Best Friend Birthday Gift

Posted on June 18, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! I had a blast celebrating my birthday last week and had plans to hang out with people almost every night. Needless to say, I am exhausted and am done socializing for the next couple of weeks lol! On Friday, my best friend and her husband came over for a game night and I was gifted with this super thoughtful prezzie from Lea:

Lea and I have been best friends since freshman year of high school, which is fourteen years of celebrating birthdays and holidays together. We absolutely love to spoil each other for special occasions and it has been that way for as long as I can remember. For my birthday, Lea outdid herself with a paint by numbers kit and a delicious looking bottle of blueberry moscato. Yum!

I have heard of paint by numbers projects before but have never tried one and I can’t wait. It looks like such fun and is a delightful nod to the many craft nights that Lea and I have shared together. In fact, several of the canvases on my apartment’s art wall are from said best friend craft nights and I can’t wait to complete and hang up my new painting… If it turns out good lol. And, of course, the bottle of wine is the perfect compliment to make it a wine and paint night – which we have also participated in together! 😀

Lea is one of the most incredible people and we have been there for each other through thick and thin. Boyfriends, college, new jobs, and marriage are all things that we have tackled together and I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side. Fourteen birthdays are almost officially in the books after her special day in late August and I can’t wait for fourteen more. I love you!!!

How long have you and your best friend been friends for? Have you ever tried a paint by numbers kit before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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