Tag Archives: celebrate

Nov27

Happy Thanksgiving!!

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Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hello everyone and Happy Thanksgiving! I am going to keep this post short and sweet because we all have places to go and people to see… And green bean casserole to eat! Just me? Lol, that’s okay because y’all can send it my way. It is my FAVORITE! Thanksgiving is the time to celebrate what is important to you and what’s important to me is all of you – my dear readers. It has almost been another year here on lifewithlilred and even though it has been eleven years of Lil Red ramblings, I feel like I’m just getting started! I hope you will always continue to join me for the ride. ❤

No matter where you are located, you are a friend to me and there are few things I appreciate more than the friends I have. We might not really know each other and that’s okay. If you have read my blog, I think you get the idea! 😉 Having my little corner of the internet to create and share is something that I have always wanted. You know my old saying, even if no one read my blog – I would still write it for the joy of writing. That would get awfully lonely, though, and words can’t express how thankful I am that you are all here sharing this space with me. It means the world to me and I can only hope that you get a little bit of joy when you stop by on my page.

Thank you for being my friend, thank you for sharing with me, and thank you for being you. I love you all!! ❤

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Are you pro green bean casserole? What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov7

Haunted Schoolhouse And Laboratory

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Haunted Schoolhouse And Laboratory

Howdy!! I had a most successful spooky season this year and I hope all of you had a blast too. I absolutely loved my pirate costume but my favorite thing was going to two different haunted houses! Johnny and I had a fabulous date night at the Factory Of Terror and on Halloween we went to the Haunted Schoolhouse And Laboratory with my big bro. We were so happy he wanted to come with us because haunted houses aren’t really his thing and we had the best time! The Schoolhouse And Lab has been a staple in Akron, Ohio for so long and I was most impressed with our visit. Check it out:

The last time I went to the Haunted Schoolhouse And Laboratory was at least seven years ago and honestly? It sucked ass lol. I don’t remember too much about going but I do recall paying a lot for tickets and being thoroughly disappointed by the experience considering what we paid. Because of that, I never bothered with it again until this past Halloween. Right from the jump I was amazed by how much this haunt has improved and I enjoyed every minute of it!

The Haunted Schoolhouse was definitely the main attraction and it was fantastic. It is set in an old brick building that is at least five stories tall and we got to explore all of it. Every floor was something different from scary nuns at school to a Texas Chainsaw Massacre-esque feature that I was most fond of. It is my favorite horror movie of all time! One of the coolest parts of this haunt was being banished to hell for the last floor by a nun. This floor took us into a dungeon style area complete with huge statues of Baphomet, cemeteries, creepy organ music, and exorcisms. After making our way down five floors, it felt like we were going into the abyss and it looked phenomenal. Just one floor alone of the Schoolhouse blew my past review out of the water and I couldn’t wait for more.

Once we emerged from hell, we went outside to the next addition of the haunt which is the Laboratory. This was set up like an alien takeover and holy WOW did it have some dynamite features. My only regret was that it wasn’t longer! For me, the best part of this haunted house was close to the beginning. Like the Schoolhouse, we began from the top down and were walking across sturdy theater catwalks. We were up fairly high and when Johnny told me to look down it was like staring into the mouth of a cave. It could have gone on for forever!

As we made our way through the floors of the lab, we saw a bunch of scenes of aliens causing mayhem. All the while we were walking through the most terrific lighting. It legit looked like we were making our journey in a swirling waist high sea of green. That was a really nice touch! At the final floor of the lab, we were greeted by a mad scientist who asked us if we were ready for the big show. Then, he turned on a huge orb that crackled with purple light and electricity. It was quite the send off because afterwards we were back outside into the Halloween night and delighting over our time together. ❤

The Haunted Schoolhouse And Laboratory is a haunt that I would happily visit again next year. This time around, the ticket prices were well worth it and then some and it was the perfect way to spend Halloween!

How did you celebrate Halloween? Did you go to any haunted houses this year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug28

Eleven Year Blogiversary!!

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Eleven Year Blogiversary!!

Howdy! lifewithlilred has been a big part of my life for so long that I honestly forget how long it has been around for lol. It always comes as a surprise to me when I get the WordPress email that my domain name is about to renew and this time around was no different. You could have knocked me over with a feather when it dawned on me that my little corner of the internet is celebrating its Eleven Year Blogiversary! Not to mention over SIX YEARS of publishing daily content. Holy wow, it really is quite an accomplishment and I am so very proud of it. ❤

lifewithlilred started out as a pleasure project when I first started college and honestly it wasn’t even my idea. At that point, I was regularly posting pictures of my outfits on Facebook and I was getting constant comments that I should start a blog. I had always loved writing and, of course, fashion and I decided to go for it. I am so glad I did because I could not imagine my life without my blog baby today. lifewithlilred has given me countless gifts that I am eternally grateful for. It introduced me to my best friend in the world, provided me with the space to create, have fun, and be my most authentic self, and opened up an entire blogosphere with the most amazing people. I put myself into lifewithlilred fully and I was rewarded in ways that I will always treasure.

Of course, the most important aspect of lifewithlilred is you. My dear readers and beloved friends. You have been with me through life’s many ups and downs, through thick and thin, and every milestone for the past eleven years. You know me well and it is my complete pleasure to know you too. The blogosphere is my friend and I truly mean that. Whenever anything happens, you are the first person I want to tell and I eagerly await to put words to keyboard to fill you in. That is something that I can’t thank you enough for. lifewithlilred has shown me that you are all here with me no matter where we are located and because of that, I am never ever alone. ❤

Here’s to eleven years of lifewithlilred and eleven more. I love you all!

Aug22

Selecting The Perfect Wedding Ring

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Selecting The Perfect Wedding Ring

Your wedding ring is one of the most meaningful pieces of jewelry you’ll ever own. It’s not just a symbol of love and commitment, but it’s also something that becomes part of your look every single day. This is why choosing the right wedding ring is so important. It doesn’t matter whether you’re drawn to something modern or something timeless. Your ring should reflect both your personal style as well as your relationship. But no matter what you pick, the ring you choose will play a special role in your life and here’s why finding the right one truly matters:

It’s a daily reflection of your style:

Unlike your wedding dress or your suit which is worn just for a day, your wedding ring is something you’re going to wear every single day. This makes it one of the most personal style choices you’ll ever make. Trends like baguette wedding bands offer a fresh take on tradition, combining vintage elegance with modern minimalism. They have geometric cuts and clean silhouettes which give them a contemporary edge while still feeling classic. Whether one solo or paired with an engagement ring, they add a touch of sparkle that feels subtle and yet intentional.

It symbolizes your relationship:

Beyond the aesthetics, your wedding ring holds deep emotional value. It’s a physical representation of your commitment and your love. Many couples choose designs or custom details that hold personal meaning, from engraved messaging to birthstones or unique settings. When you take the time to find the right ring together, it becomes so much more than just a piece of jewelry, but it becomes a symbol of the promises that you’ve made and the journey that you’re beginning together.

It needs to suit your lifestyle:

The perfect ring is not just about looks, it has to work for your lifestyle too. Your ring should be designed to fit seamlessly into your daily routine. You need to choose something that’s appealing as an active wearer. A ring that has a low profile setting and smooth, clean lines is not just beautiful, but it’s practical. This makes it a great option for those who want a bit of glamour without sacrificing their comfort.

It’s a piece that you’ll treasure for life:

Your wedding ring is likely going to be one of the few accessories that remains constant throughout your life. It’s with you during milestones, quiet moments, celebrations and challenges, and over time, it becomes enmeshed in your story. It’s worth investing the time and thought into choosing a ring that resonates with you, something you’ll love just as much in thirty years as you do right now.

No matter the type of wedding band that you pick, the right ring will be a reflection of your love, your style, and your life. Pick something with care, wear it with pride, and let it tell your story every day!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Aug20

Concert Cutie OOTD Bloopers

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Concert Cutie OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Concert Cutie OOTD! These pics were taken before an absolutely fabulous night seeing The Struts and thank goodness we didn’t take them after because I was a sweaty mess. I love styling OOTDs for concerts because it provides the perfect opportunity to not only show out but stand out in the crowd. It gives you the chance to be bold, have fun, and put on a fit that you might not normally wear on a normal outing. My look to see The Struts was Spice Girls inspired and it is one of my favorite ones yet – I had to go full glam to be in the presence of glam party rockers! I put my best face and fit forward but in these pics, the face leaves a lot to be desired lol check it out:

Don’t mind me, it’s my first day with my hands

Why do I always have to get an itch at the most inconvenient time?

Apparently I REALLY had to go to the bathroom

Wiping the sweat from my furrowed chin

Look out! Sexy lady coming through!!

Fist pumping like champs

Off to the show BYE!!!!

This has nothing to do with the concert but it is a funny story nonetheless. The concert was my belated birthday gift and our sweet niece recently turned three. Her party was held at Chuck E. Cheese… Excuse me – Charles Entertainment Cheese. I honestly didn’t even know this place still existed, all I knew was that my mom absolutely despised taking me and my siblings there when we were little. And, believe you me, I get it. It’s a germ buffet and all of the characters are creepy AF! Funny enough, my birthday girl and eldest niece held similar sentiments. They LIVED for the games but are terrified of Chuck E.! Whenever the character actor would roll through the function, they both ran away like their lives depended on it. Lol, I guess it was a small price to pay for arcade games, pizza, and a Bluey cake!

Johnny and I were in stitches throughout the event because Chuck E. Cheese serves booze, which is wild. There is a catch, though. Two drinks maximum and one drink per hour which is probably a good thing considering there was a point when fights were breaking out at Charles Entertainment constantly. As we sipped our White Claw and played games so our nieces could cash in the tickets we won for prizes, we joked that it was our favorite bar lolol. As we had to work the following day, we decided to get a personal pizza to go and share it. Guys, I kid you not, this pizza literally looked like play food. You know the kind – the plastic pizza with Velcro to attach the slices. It also tasted like what I assume play food tastes like lol. But, hey, it was a small price to pay to celebrate one of our favorite little ladies and play ALL the Skee Ball! 😀

If you have a Chuck E. Cheese in the area, I highly recommend taking your kiddos because it’s straight up hilarious. 15/10 experience sans the scary costumed rat!!!

How would you celebrate your birthday when you were little? What is something that creeped you out in your youth? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul12

Geneva On The Lake Getaway

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Geneva On The Lake Getaway

Hello!! A few weeks ago Johnny got an invite from one of his coworkers for us to join him and his partner for a Fourth of July weekend getaway at Geneva On The Lake. They rented an Airbnb right on the water, had a spare room, and said the more the merrier. We happily accepted the opportunity for some fun in the sun and had the absolute best time! The last and only time Johnny and I had been to GOTL was for a work event for my dumb old boss and it was the freaking worst. To go back there in good company and actually enjoy the sights was a gift because I didn’t realize how awesome it was when I was punching the clock in misery lol. 😀

^^^ Hell yeah!!!

Johnny and I headed to our getaway as soon as I got home from work on Thursday and arrived at Geneva On The Lake in about an hour and a half. The travel traffic for the holiday weekend was blessedly nonexistent and that was great because we couldn’t wait to start our mini vacation. The Airbnb that our friends rented was seriously perfect. It was cozy, quaint, and was like having our own private beach. After getting settled and having a quick tour, we decided to hit the boardwalk for drinks, dinner, and visiting an awesome arcade bar.

The boardwalk at GOTL is the cutest and I would love to go back and explore it more. It was old timey, bursting with color, and bustling with activity between the shops, restaurants, and snack booths. It felt like going back in time and enhanced the vacation vibes even more. No stuffy offices, no chain stores or eateries, just quirky local establishments. It’s exactly what Johnny and I like! After stopping at a bar for a bevvie, we decided we were famished and went to a lovely beach side restaurant. They had the best Peach Sangria I have had in a long time and their pierogie platter was to die for! Once we finished our meal, we headed straight to an arcade bar for more drinks (Hey, it was a vacation!) and ALL of the skee ball before calling it a night. And, as per ushe, Johnny and I totally crushed at skee ball which is our all time favorite. I wish we had one in our house!

The following day was Fourth of July and our plan was to hit the beach for the day, head to the boardwalk, and watch the fireworks over the water. We made our way to the actual beach area of Geneva On The Lake and there were no parking spots in sight. Rather than make endless loops trying to find a place to park, we just headed back to the Airbnb and made use of our own slice of paradise instead. We brought chairs, coolers, and beaucoup sunscreen and spent all afternoon on the water. There wasn’t another person in sight and it was absolutely wonderful! It sure beat being in an endless sea of people and I didn’t want to leave! However, there came a point when all of our sunburns got too bad to ignore so we packed up and went inside. (As a side note, my sunburns were BRUTAL so I’ll be in my closet for the rest of the summer!)

We hung out at the Airbnb for a bit and freshened up, then we made our way back to the boardwalk for the rest of the evening. We, once again, had an incredibly difficult time finding parking which ate up a ton of time and ended up finding the last spot in an entire lot. It was a miracle! After playing some more games at the arcade, it was about time for fireworks to start and we just stayed where we were for a while to watch. It was spectacular and the most amazing way to commemorate our mini vacation!

Geneva On The Lake might have only been an hour and a half away but we felt like we were on another planet entirely. It was just the getaway Johnny and I needed and I would love to plan a long weekend trip for us this summer. I’m thinking Hocking Hills for sure!

How did you spend your holiday weekend? Where is your favorite weekend getaway spot? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul1

Stanley Surprise

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Stanley Surprise

Hello and holy wow! Johnny and I have had an extremely busy month celebrating our birthaversary and we spent another weekend living it up. My bestie, Lea, came over last Friday for dinner and my birthday hangout and Johnny and I went to Outlaw Fest on Saturday! Lea and I both share summer birthdays and this is our seventeenth year having a special get together for our big days. That alone is such a beautiful gift and I treasure the time with my best girl so much! When it comes to gift giving, Lea and I are very similar. We get our ideas from simply listening when people are talking and store them away for later use. That is exactly what she did for my prezzie and I can pinpoint the precise moment when she decided on my perfect gift. Take a look and let’s discuss:

The last time Lea was over a month or so ago, she came walking in with a gorgeous lavender Stanley mug. I complimented the color immediately and showed off my Halloween tumbler I was using after Johnny threw out my beloved sea green Stanley because he didn’t wash it and there was mold in it. SMH. I told Lea that my main qualm with my current mug was that I was refilling it constantly and wanted to replace it with something bigger, perhaps with some birthday cash. Looking back on that moment after Lea gifted me with my pastel pink Stanley, I just know she was like “noted” in her head! ❤ I felt so special and loved that she remembered this and it made receiving the cup even more special.

The funny thing is, the Tuesday before our hang out, I actually did end up replacing my old Halloween tumbler with a forty ounce beast by Manna from TJMaxx. When Lea walked into the apartment this time, she clocked the mug and realized she was gifting me with something I already had. The thing is, what she gave me was infinitely better. There were Stanley cups at TJs that I was going to get, but the one I purchased was cheaper and I didn’t want to go overboard as I was buying new clothes too. She gave me exactly what I wanted and would have bought for myself and there was also the BFF sentiment behind it, which makes it the absolute best. I am now the proud owner of a mom and baby tumbler lol:

Shout out to my darling Lea for helping me stay hydrated all summer long with the replacement of my fallen Stanley. I love it and I love YOU so much, my sweet angel! ❤

Have you had to replace anything recently? How do you like to celebrate your birthday? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun23

B-Day OOTD

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B-Day OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred!! And, as always, check out the videos from this look on my TikTok! 🙂 For mine and Johnny’s birthaversary gift, we requested a big family lunch at Olive Garden this past weekend. We wanted to celebrate with my family all together, eat delicious food, and enjoy each other’s company. We did just that and it was the perfect gift! Of course, I had to show out for the b-day outing and put together this fun little fit:

Who? What? Wear?

Crochet Crop Top: Rebellion Again, TJMaxx

Tennis Skirt: Kyodan, TJMaxx

Wedges: Charles By Charles David, TJMaxx

The earrings are by Sincerely Jules and were a birthday gift from my niece! ❤

It has been hot, hot, hot here in good ol’ Akron, Ohio and keeping it cool, cute, and comfy has been the name of the game. To achieve that, I began styling this outfit by browsing in the skirt department of my wardrobe. Skirts are great because they’re basically shorts but dressier and that is exactly what I needed to be cool and cute for my birthday lunch! In some cases, however, skirts are both a skirt and a short like the adorable tennis skirt by Kyodan. This gauzy pleated skort is everything and is perfect for some fun in the sun. It is so light, the shorts provide coverage for any wardrobe malfunctions, and I love that you can see the shorts through the skirt’s fabric. We had a winner and the rest of the outfit built itself from there.

For my top, I decided to go with a darling little crochet number by Rebellion Again. I am a huge fan of pairing black with white or a close enough shade of white and this top was ideal for adding contrasting colorblocks. Not only did this top provide a color palette that pleases me but its crop was just right in length. It hit right at the waistline of the skirt so only a minimal peek a boo of tummy was visible. For my own personal rule of thumb, I usually don’t like pairing two revealing items together and this top allowed my legs to still be the main attraction.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. I went with one of my go to pairs of summer wedges by Charles By Charles David. These wedges are such a classic summer staple and their black and woven palette tied the look together from head to toe. Jewelry was a no brainer because I knew exactly what earrings I was going to wear: The gorgeous pair by Sincerely Jules that my niece gifted me. She was just as proud to see me in them at lunch as I was to wear them! ❤

I had the best birthday celebration and felt like a star rolling into the Olive Garden in my B-Day OOTD!

How do you like to celebrate your birthday? What is one of your summer wardrobe staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun22

Garlic Gift

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Garlic Gift

Hello! For mine and Johnny’s birthaversary gift, we decided that we wanted to celebrate with a big family lunch at Olive Garden. We went this past weekend and had the best time eating like kings and enjoying all of us (Sans my big bro and family who live out of state) being at the same place together. It really was the perfect gift! Not only did we have a simply wonderful outing, but my dad presented me with one final prezzie before we parted ways: A total blast from the past product from our family vacations to Asheville, North Carolina. Check it out:

My family vacationed in Asheville in 2016 and 2019, respectively. One of our favorite things to do on family vacations is visit farmers markets and local shopping centers and we would go to the same gigantic market every time we were in the area. There were countless booths peddling their wares but we were primarily interested in one lone vendor: Joy’s Gourmet. Joy’s Gourmet features all kinds of delicious canned goods like salsa, pasta sauce, and salad dressing. Their piece de resistance, however, is their garlic spread. All it took was one taste of the samples at the booth and we were hooked! My favorite is the Chipotle and Sundried Tomato spread and we would stock up on them to bring back to Ohio.

These garlic spreads are absolutely divine and I would put them on everything – sandwiches, pasta, as a dip with crackers, etc. My family would savor every bite once we returned home after vacation and the last time I had this spread was after our last trip in 2019. Until this past weekend, that is! A few weeks ago, my dad called me out of the blue to ask if I remembered Joy’s Gourmet and I said did I ever lol. He still gets emails from the shop and informed me that they were offering free shipping, he was going to place an order, and wanted to get me a few jars for my birthday. This was the last thing I was expecting him to say and I was blown away by how thoughtful it was. He remembered that these garlic spreads were my favorite thing on the planet, saw an opportunity, and went for it! ❤

After our lunch, my dad delivered the goods and it was the cherry on top to an already amazing day. This has been the best birthaversary ever!!

What is your favorite thing to do on vacations? Are you going anywhere exciting this summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun21

Super Sweet Birthday Gifts

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Super Sweet Birthday Gifts

Hello!! My birthday was on June 7th and I have been having the best time celebrating! This past week, I enjoyed two more b-day extravaganzas: A delicious family lunch and a sleepover with my two darling nieces. Since last year, my eldest niece has decided that a slumber party is a perfect birthday gift and it has become our tradition. This was also the first time that her younger sister has joined the crafting/movies/ice cream sundae jamboree and we all had a blast. It was exhausting, but a hoot! As soon as my nieces arrived for our party, they came barreling in with the sweetest prezzies for their favorite aunt. Check it out:

For my big day, I was presented with the most gorgeous wall art and earrings I have ever seen. They were already amazing gifts, but what really took the cake was that my oldest niece helped select the embroidery and picked out the earrings all by herself. Like the slumber party, she thought they were “perfect” for TT and she was so right! Anytime the girls have something just for me is special and I was so touched that my niece wanted to have a hand in shopping for my gifts. It turned a gesture that was lovely to begin with into something that I am always going to treasure.

Can we talk about how pretty these two prezzies are?! Johnny and I have an extensive collection of wall art and I am especially partial to anything embroidered. In fact, if I saw the wall art I was gifted with during a shopping trip, I would have definitely bought it! I love the thick stitches of the flowers and greenery and the huge, over the top gold frame. I can’t wait for Johnny to find an empty space to hang it up! And, of course, we can’t forget the birthday bling with the earrings. This dazzling dangly pair has so much movement, personality, and all of the glitz and glam to ring in my thirty-first year. I was beyond excited to wear them to my family lunch and my niece was just as proud to see them displayed as I was to wear them! ❤

I am the luckiest gal in the world for having the best party with my nieces, which would have been a gift enough. I feel so totally and completely spoiled!

Who is your favorite person to shop for? Do you have any celebrations coming up? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah