Tag Archives: birthday

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!!

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Happy Birthday, Mom!!!!

Hello everyone! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my amazing mom’s birthday!! My mom is my A1, ride or die bestie and every second of every minute spent with her is a joy. She is the most fun, hilarious, beautiful person I will ever know and I hit the jackpot being her daughter. Not only is my mom the best on the planet, but she is also the best grandma too of four kiddos and two bunnies. 🙂 Every day, I am thankful beyond words for my mom who is the brightest light to everyone she meets.

My mom is a pillar of strength and grace. She is a fighter, a badass, and a constant source of inspiration to me. I am lucky because I get to see my mom almost every day of the week and when we are not together, we are texting away about how much we miss each other! I know that we can both go to each other about anything and everything and it is so special to be able to have that kind of relationship. No matter how old I get, she is the first one I go to for advice, a kind word, or a shoulder to cry on. We are and forever will be two peas in a pod, best of friends, and an unshakable mother/daughter duo! ❤

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Mom, thank you for being you and all you do. I wouldn’t be me without you!!! I love you more than words will ever say!

Happy birthday to you!!!!!!!! ❤

Treat Day!!

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Treat Day!!

Hello!! This past week, our darling niece turned five years old! Both Johnny and I are SO not okay about Val being the big five, but we had so much fun celebrating it. For Val’s birthday, we took her out for a Treat Day. What is a treat day, you might ask? It basically solidifies my husband and I as the “fun aunt and uncle” lol. On treat day, we take Val out for one major activity as well as lunch, ice cream, shopping or whatever her little heart desires. For her birthday outing, we went to Fun ‘n’ Stuff and Dairy Queen and it was the best, most exhausting day haha. Check it out:

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Fun ‘n’ Stuff is a staple in Northeast Ohio and has been around for as long as I can remember. In fact, I went there for field trips in grade school! It is an indoor/outdoor attraction center, but we were limited to indoor activities because the outdoor ones aren’t open yet. This was fine, though, because there was so much to do inside that I couldn’t imagine doing anything else! The indoor attractions at Fun ‘n’ Stuff include a gigantic playground, a ton of arcade games, roller skating, laser tag, bumper cars, a mini rollercoaster, and so much more. We can’t wait to take Val again in the summer so she can do the outdoor activities too like bumper boats, go karts, and little amusement park rides!

For our Fun ‘n’ Stuff adventure, Val was extremely partial to the playground. It was the first thing that caught her eye and it would have been hard not to – this thing was like a McDonald’s Play Place on steroids! We spent a majority of our time there running after Val as she explored all of the different obstacles and ended up circling back to it at least three times. When we weren’t at the playground, Val loved doing the trampoline bounce and playing games with Johnny and I. We also took adorable photo booth pictures which I’m so happy about because those are my favorite keepsakes. ❤

At the arcade, we went for easy games that Val could catch on to quickly, but still reward us with maximum tickets. Johnny and I were dead set on getting ALL of the tickets for her to pick out prizes with! By the time we were finished with games like ball drop, token toss, and Wheel of Fortune we had fourteen hundred tickets for Val to shop with. We were thrilled that Val was able to get two stuffed animals and some extra candy for her stash with them. After we cashed out our tickets, we went to Dairy Queen for a snack, and dropped Val off at home. Then, we came back to our apartment and literally dropped!

Johnny and I legit couldn’t move after Treat Day, but it was a small price to pay for such a wonderful time. We all had a blast and it was the perfect way to celebrate our sweet niece! ❤

What is your favorite arcade game? Do you have an amusement center like Fun ‘n’ Stuff in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sephora Birthday Haul

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Sephora Birthday Haul

Hello!!! Before my birthday month wrapped up, I had to make sure that I did a little online shopping with Sephora to cash in my free birthday gift. If you are a Beauty Insider, you are treated to your pick from three or so travel size beauty bundles and I look forward to it every year! It was the perfect time for me to place an order because I was running dangerously low on one of my favorite hair care products – the Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm by IGK. Two bottles of the hair balm were the only things that I paid for and the rest of this haul was completely free! Check it out:

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^^^ All of these products are from cruelty free brands!

The Haul:

2 bottles of IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm: $29/bottle

Farmacy Birthday Gift: FREE

Goop Glow Vita-C Eye Cream: FREE with $25 purchase

Alpyn Beauty Melt Moisturizer Sample: FREE with purchase

Glossier Cloud Paint Sample: FREE with purchase

Every time I have an amazing Sephora Haul, I always have to mention the merits of making the purchase online. There is typically free shipping for orders over fifty dollars, you get to pick two free samples with every order, and there is a HUGE selection of free product with purchases over twenty-five dollars. You get so much more bang for your buck and I feel satisfied with the money I spent rather than robbed. Hey, you can never go wrong with free!

For my Sephora birthday gift, I chose the skin care set by Farmacy. Every year, the freebie bundle selection usually follows the same formula, just with different brands. There is one for hair care, makeup, fragrance, and skin care, respectively. As I am pretty inflexible with my makeup and hair care, I pick the skin care sets nine times out of ten. Even if I were more adventurous when it comes to makeup, I would still make the same choice because I can never have enough skin care. 😀

Farmacy is a brand that I have heard of, but never tried and I am looking forward to it! This birthday set includes the Honey Potion Plus Hydrating Mask, a moisturizer, and a cleansing balm. I haven’t used a face mask in months so I am most excited to try the Honey Potion Plus. The cleansing balm is one that I could take or leave, but who knows? Maybe I’ll end up loving it! And, of course, testing new moisturizers is always fun. 🙂

For the remainder of my haul, I got a Goop Glow eye cream as my freebie for spending more than twenty-five dollars. Like Farmacy, this is a brand that I am familiar with but haven’t tried anything by. The brand definitely has a name that I wouldn’t soon forget! A moisturizer and blush were my free samples and I have already used the Alpyn Beauty one – it was lovely and would be especially nice for those with a dryer complexion.

I am so happy with my Birthday Haul from Sephora and can’t wait to use all of the new to me products. Keep it locked for a new Face Mask Festivities and swatches from the Glossier blush coming soon!

Which store offers the best promotions? Do you like to shop Sephora in store or online? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

BFF Birthday Gift

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BFF Birthday Gift

Hello!!! My bestie, Lea, and I have been BFFs since we started high school in 2008. We have fifteen years of best friendship under our belt and our love only grows fonder with each passing day! For this past decade and a half, we have celebrated holidays and birthdays together and for my 29th birthday jubilee, I requested a low key hang out. We had a slumber party in her brand new house and it was the best! It’s funny because we have only had one sleepover in our teens and have now had another when we are almost thirty lol.

During our celebration, I received the grand tour of her home while we sipped on champagne like the rich and famous. We dug into oven pizza, White Claws, and girl talked the night away while her precious cats, Fin and Win, kept us company. It was a blast and just what I needed as Johnny and I didn’t have a big birthaversary celebration this year.

For all gift giving occasions, Lea and I love to spoil each other and she truly knocked it out of the park this year. For my birthday, she surprised me with a GORGEOUS new pair of earrings that you can see soon in an upcoming OOTD! Check it out:

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Lea and her mom and sister enjoy going to craft fairs together, which is where she found this amazing pair of earrings from Janell & Co. She actually bought them half a year ago because she knew that they would be perfect for my birthday. As always, she was SO right! I literally gasped when I opened my parcel because I have seen similar items on Facebook ads, screenshotted them, and never bought a pair for myself. These were even better than anything I could have purchased because they supported a local artist and were way prettier than I remember the other pairs being.

I am a huge fan of big statement earrings and I was so eager to wear my birthday gift that I just had to incorporate them into an OOTD shoot the following day. As soon as I put them on, I couldn’t stop shaking my head to make the rain drops dance! Every step invited delightful movement of the earrings and they were magnificent when they caught the light just right. I am so lucky to have such wonderful besties who spoil me so much every trip around the sun!

Thank you times a trillion to my darling Lea for the best birthday gift and hang out in the world. Here’s to not waiting twelve years for our next slumber party! I love you! ❤

What is the most “you” gift you have received? Who is your favorite local artist? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Turning 29 – It’s Not So Bad!

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Turning 29 – It’s Not So Bad!

Hello!!! Although my Gemini Twin and I have been joking that we have been turning twenty-five for the past several years, I turned twenty-nine this past week. And, no, that running joke never gets old by the way! Lol, anyways, I cannot tell you the amount of people who have wished me a happy birthday along with the sentiments of “oh, you’ll be thirty next year, you’re getting old”, yada, yada, yada. And, yes, that is factual information. BUT, I have come to the realization that maybe, just maybe it’s not that old after all. 😉

I feel like once people reach their twenties, turning thirty is looming over their shoulders like a character in a horror movie. The big 3-0 seems to have become the death of youth so to speak and I am here to call bullshit. Believe you me, I had the exact same thoughts and a teeny tiny part of me still feels that way. However, turning twenty-nine has made me start making the mental flip in my head and adopting the old phrase of “you’re only as young as you feel”.

In 100% seriousness, I honestly forget how old I am constantly and my mind is blown when I remember my actual age. Yes, I’m an adult and am close to thirty, but I really don’t feel like it. Sure, when I’m working I feel like a grown up. When it comes to my downtime, though, my age comes as a surprise to me. I am a goofy, outgoing gal, and I love to have a good time. Johnny is five years my senior and he is the exact same way. So, when we’re hanging out together or we’re with our friends age truly feels like just a number.

Despite everyone’s obsession with youth, I find myself thinking if I would like to be in my early twenties again and it’s a hard NO from me, dawg. I was plagued with mental health issues, was in one shitty relationship after the next, and my businesses hadn’t blossomed to what they are today. Now, here I am at twenty-nine and my mental health is much more stable, I’m married to the best guy in the world, and I am a successful business owner of two. My personal style has developed into something amazing, I love the way I look, and I feel happy other than a loved one being in poor health. It just took some extra years on the old odometer to get there.

If you feel like an approaching landmark birthday is the end of the world, I can now confidently say that it isn’t. I’m staring at thirty dead on and, at this point, all I can say is “bring it on” because there’s nothing else I can do. Youth is a mindset so, yeah, I guess I always will be twenty-five! 😉

Did you freak out before turning a certain age? Do you feel like your age? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy Birthday, Best Friend!

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Happy Birthday, Best Friend!

Hello!!!!!! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my best friend, Kate’s, birthday! Kate of Live In The Nautical is my sweet angel Gemini Twin and it is our happiest time of the year. The blog gods and stars and whatever else truly aligned when I started lifewithlilred because they brought me an instant BFF. Comment and blog collabs quickly turned into texting nonstop and FaceTime dates and nothing has changed in almost a decade. Wait… pretend you didn’t read that last part because we both turned twenty-five this year! 😉

Kate is such a firecracker and a force to be reckoned with. She gives so much, does everything at 150%, and asks for nothing in return. She reminds me so much of me and with all of our similarities from our upbringing and hobbies to current struggles, we really were destined to be best friends. Whether we need a laugh or a vent sesh, we both know who to go to and it is nothing short of an honor to be that person for Kate.

Even though Kate and I are in completely different states, it always feels like she could be right next door whenever we talk. We have probably texted each other a Stephen King length novel in our years of twinship! Johnny now knows without even having to ask who I’m texting when I’m feverishly typing away and always pauses whatever we are watching until my novella is complete lol. What can I say, we just have a lot to say to each other!

My life is SO much better because Kate is a part of it and anyone who has the pleasure of meeting her will say the exact same thing. Her personality and the way she chooses her words can connect with perfect strangers and I know that firsthand! I am the luckiest gal in the world to call Kate my best friend and she deserves to be celebrated every second of every minute of every day. And, even more so on her birthday!!!

Happy Birthday, Gemini Twin! I love you!!!!! ❤

Many Thanks!!!!!!!!

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Many Thanks!!!!!!!!

Hello everyone!!!! Wednesday was my 29th birthday and I spent the day at The Shear Shop getting my mop taken care of and it was the best. I haven’t had my hair done since the beginning of the year due to the craziness in my life and it was a MUCH needed and deserved treat. I also got my nails done on Thursday morning so look out because your girl is feeling her damn self! Keep it locked with your favorite Lil Red blogger to see my transformation coming soon in a new OOTD post!

Finally taking the time for me was just what the doctor ordered. And, I wanted to take the time to thank everyone who reached out with birthday wishes! My phone, blog, Instagram, Facebook, and email was blowing up with notifications from all of my darling family, friends, and readers and it meant the world. I have been struggle bussing hard lately and the fact that so many people took the time out of their day to think about me was overwhelming in the most wonderful way. ❤

Although Johnny and I won’t be having a big birthaversary party this year, there are still some fun plans happening and I’m really looking forward to them! I can’t wait to hit the pool with my nieces next week and have a slumber party with my bestie, Lea, in her brand new house. Johnny and I will also STILL be playing hella Diablo IV and will be penciling in a lunch or dinner date too. Hey, it’s not just a birthday but a birth month! 😀

It has been hard to feel special recently with all of my current hardships and I can’t thank everyone enough for helping me feel that way on my big day! It means more to me than all of you will ever know. ❤

What do you like to do to celebrate your birthday? Do you celebrate all birth month long? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy 29th Birthday To Me!!

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Happy 29th Birthday To Me!!

Hello!!!! Break out the fanfare, parades, and marching band because it is your favorite Lil Red blogger’s 29th birthday!! Johnny and I have been enjoying a low key birthaversary celebration starting this past weekend because the world gave us a gift: The release of Diablo IV! We have been LOVING it, even though it’s basically the same as all of the other installments in the Diablo series. But, hey, if it’s not broken then don’t fix it! 😀

Although I am not too fond of growing older, I have high hopes for 29 because 28 lightweight sucked lol. And by lightweight, I mean majorly. I had two good months after I turned 28 and that was pretty much it due to some devastating circumstances in my family. Honestly, it’s hard to believe I’m only 29 when I have felt 50 for the past almost year. And, yes, my aching back can confirm. *Face palm*

I have a few birthday wishes this year and the biggest, most important one is that my loved one in the hospital is blessed with perfect health. And, of course, I am wishing the best for my Johnny, family, friends, and darling readers. My final wish for 29 is one for me… I wish that I have more than two good months and for my online work to go even better than it already is because that is a major high point in my life. I know you aren’t supposed to say your wishes, but sometimes putting them out into the universe is the best thing you can do to make them come true!

Happy Birthday To Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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BFF Birthday Haul

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BFF Birthday Haul

Hello!! It is birthaversary week for myself and my darling Johnny and it is also Gemini season, baby! Not only is this a special time of the year for me and my main squeeze, but it is also a month long celebration with my Gemini Twin and best friend in the entire world, Kate. Kate is the fantastic author of Live In The Nautical and we became fast friends almost a decade ago when lifewithlilred first began. We share almost week apart June birthdays and, although I am not very into astrology, we both definitely live up to our Gemini status!

Every year for birthdays and Christmas, Kate spoils me rotten and she truly outdid herself this year. Both of us share a passion for musicals and she hooked me up with all of the swag from one of my all time favorites – Sweeney Todd. Check it out:

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This haul was more like a giftathon because every other day for the past week, I received another package in the mail from my bestie. Every time I got a call from my dad saying that another package arrived, I would rush over to my parents, who live not even five minutes away to pick it up. It was so exciting because I would text Kate immediately after opening a gift and couldn’t believe it when she told me that there was more!

I am loving my new coffee mug to add to my huge collection and the soft and comfy as can be T. The true piece de resistance, however, was the cutting board fresh from Mrs. Lovett’s Pie Shoppe. I actually really wanted a new cutting board for my birthday, which Kate didn’t know and just shows how strong our bestie telepathy is! She knows me so well. ❤

Every day since Kate and I met, I am so thankful to the blogosphere for bringing us both together in a perfect instance of cosmic fate. We basically skipped the line to best friend status and my days feel SO weird if we haven’t texted at least once! Kate is such a shiny, bright light in my life and has and always will be a complete godsend – especially during this current rough patch that I am going through. Her constant care and support never fail to make me smile no matter how bad I am feeling and I am the luckiest gal in the world to be able to call someone like her my best friend. ❤

Thank you to my BFF and Gemini Twin for the amazing gifts, love, and years of beautiful friendship. Here’s to living all year round like it is Gemini season – you know both of your favorite bloggers will be! ❤

What is your favorite musical? Have you met any friends through the blogosphere? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy Birthday, Husband!!!!

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Happy Birthday, Husband!!!!

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! ❤

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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!!!!!!