Tag Archives: christmas

Spirit Christmas Haul

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Spirit Christmas Haul

Hello! This past week I took a trip to Spirit Christmas and had a complete blast. Spirit Christmas is basically Spirit Halloween… But Christmas lol and the setup is the same. As soon as you walk in, you are greeted by a walk through of motion activated decor and there is also an area filled to the brim with inflatable lawn decor. And, oh yeah, beaucoup holiday themed T-shirts, costumes, ugly sweaters, stockings, and ornaments. For my holiday OOTD, I had a vision of a Sabrina Carpenter inspired ensemble. The sweater vest below is for my “naughty” OOTD and the T-shirt is for the “nice” version! Check it out:

Prior to visiting Spirit Christmas I was browsing on a few online stores for a holiday OOTD. However, I didn’t make any purchases as I had never bought from them before and wasn’t sure of how the clothes would fit. The last thing I wanted to do was to make last minute returns and exchanges so I decided shopping in store was the best way to go. Although Spirit Christmas had a handful of pre-assembled costumes, they were a bit too basic for my liking. Luckily, they had stand alone options too so I pieced together my OOTD and I am loving it!

The first thing I clocked was the Christmas tree inspired mini skirt and I knew I could work with that. It is just so festive and FUN with that sparkling tinsel and disco ball style ornaments. I cannot wait to twirl and swirl in it and am happy to have it as I have literally no holiday season themed clothing. I think this skirt is the best place to start! The next order of business was finding a top to pair it with. I bypassed the ugly sweaters because they were upwards of seventy dollars and that was way too expensive to justify. That was no matter because who needs an ugly sweater when you have a Step Brothers T-shirt and sweater vest? 😀

In the T-shirt department, I snatched the Step Brothers T as soon as I saw it. It’s literally perfect lol. Step Brothers is one of my all time favorite movies and I all but have it memorized. Nothing says Season’s Greetings like Dale and Brennan sending their well wishes for an activity filled Christmas and it was just what I needed for my “nice” OOTD. For the “naughty” portion, I simply could not say no to the “Santa’s Favorite Ho” sweater vest because LOLOLOL. This little number is so sassy and downright hilarious and it’s going to look amazing with the mini skirt. It’s a Sabrina Carpenter style OOTD Lil Red’s way to the T and I couldn’t ask for anything more. ❤

I cannot wait to show off my naughty and nice OOTDs so stay tuned all holiday season long on lifewithlilred for more fashion fun!

Are you dressing up in a costume for the holidays? Did you get a new outfit to celebrate in? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Homemade Holiday Gifts

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Homemade Holiday Gifts

Howdy everyone and welcome to the last gift guide for the holiday season! Throughout the month we have been discussing gifting options for everyone on your list and today we are going to explore the world of homemade gifts. We are down to the wire for holiday shopping but fear not! These homemade prezzies will not be time consuming to create while still being incredibly thoughtful. Let’s get to it:

I gave my niece a photo album of all of our pictures together for her birthday this year and she absolutely loved it. If you have a cache of photos with your bestie, mom, or anyone on your list – use them! A homemade photo album is as easy as printing them out at the drugstore, purchasing an album, and filling the pages. You can keep the album simple with just photos or jazz it up with scrapbooking supplies or little notes about when the picture was taken. However you do it, a photo album is a gift that will always be treasured.

Local screen printing shops have a very speedy turnaround meaning that custom clothing, office supplies, or sports gear is just a visit away. Bonus points because you’re supporting small businesses! How about a custom mug with the logo of your giftee’s business? A silly slogan tee for your brother? A jersey with your favorite sports enthusiast’s last name on the back? All of this is possible so if this idea speaks to you, head to the printing shop ASAP to ensure your gift is ready on time!

If there is a nature lover on your list, you could make them their own terrarium or fairy garden. Small plants and succulents and potting soil will be available at a store like Lowe’s and the rest can more than likely all be purchased from a craft store. You can go classic with a terrarium filled with pretty pebbles or pond stones or go creative with a fairy garden filled with tiny details and hidden surprises. This gift combines the great outdoors with unique home decor for a one of a kind gift.

Mason jars tied with pretty ribbon and filled with the ingredients to make cookies, soup, or bread is a gift that can be made in an afternoon after a trip to the grocery store. Tasty, thoughtful, practical, and so super easy – this is a perfect last minute homemade gift. If you want to add more to this prezzie, you could include a gift card to a local bakery so your giftee can enjoy a freshly made baguette with their soup. Or perhaps you can give a cookie sheet or bread pan along with the ingredients so your giftee can continue creating bakery magic.

If you are gifted in the art of graphic design, then gift it! Maybe you will make business cards for your cousin? Draw up that tattoo that your partner really wants? If you have giftees in a band you could design posters for their next show! If you don’t have the time to design for everyone on your list, that’s a-okay! You can schedule a lunch to sit down and discuss what they would like and the visions they have. Amazing art never goes out of style and your giftees will have something that no one else in the world will have. That’s way cool!

Homemade gifts don’t need to be a month long project. These ideas are as easy as a trip to the store!

Are you skilled in any mediums of art? What is the best homemade gift you have ever received? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Tech Gift Ideas

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Tech Gift Ideas

Hi hi! Another gift guide? Coming right up! Everyone uses technology every single day of their lives, making tech gifts an extremely viable option for holiday shopping. This is an easy category to overlook as we often think of technology as being expensive. That isn’t always the case so let’s explore a few gifting options that will be gentle on the wallet while still delighting your giftee:

Literally every app has some type of Plus or Premium membership to purchase. If your giftee is using an app every day and maintaining a strong streak, this could be a great way to go. I personally know that this makes an awesome gift because Johnny got me a membership to Duolingo Plus for a year a few Christmases ago and I was ecstatic! Not only do these subscriptions get rid of annoying ads but it unlocks content you can’t use without it. It will make their app experience even better!

Phone cases, charms, screen protectors, earbuds, chargers, tripods, and ring lights are all handy gifts that can be used immediately. Your content creator friend (Like me!) will be thrilled with some shiny new equipment as much as your friend who is constantly losing their phone charger will love a backup. This sentiment is especially true for yours truly as our bunnies once pulled a Houdini and chewed through our phone charger! New earbuds will be ideal for your gym bunny bestie. Simple, practical, done and done.

At this day and age, who doesn’t have at least one streaming service? We have several so I say the more the merrier! A month subscription to a new streaming service or one your giftee already has can either save them some moolah or introduce them to a brand new favorite show. If there is a show on a service that they would love to watch without the commitment of signing up, this is your sign. I definitely feel that way about a subscription to Apple TV!

We’re not talking the kind from the library – we’re talking EReaders and audio books! If you have a literature enthusiast on your list who prefers to read their Kindle or listen to a book on the way to work, why not throw some credits their way? Reading more is such a popular New Year’s Resolution so you can help them achieve their goals or just indulge in their favorite hobby. No matter how you read, there is nothing better than a good book on a cold winter day. Add a big mug and some teabags or K-pods to create a perfect afternoon.

Got a gamer to gift for? How about some gift cards for the Nintendo Switch or PlayStation if you aren’t sure of a new game they would love? Don’t forget to explore accessory options like new controllers, a headset, or travel cases. You could also go the experience gift route like a night at an arcade bar or a trip to a VR cafe. Game on!

These tech gifts won’t break the bank but they will for sure make your giftee break out in a smile!

What is on your Christmas list? Do you have anyone that is difficult to gift for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Stocking Stuffer Gift Ideas

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Stocking Stuffer Gift Ideas

Hello! I may be a Halloween girl through and through but there is something about Christmas that just hits different. My suspicion? Because I love to shop even when it’s not for myself lol. I pride myself on being an excellent gift giver and revel in the process of finding that perfect something for everyone on my list. The hard part is waiting for months on end to give it to them! As you wrap up your own holiday shopping, let’s take a look at some small prezzies to put in your stockings and hang above the mantel with care:

If you have a family of brick enthusiasts, why not add a small Lego kit to the stocking? Lego has a ton of tiny holiday themed sets to choose from including Santa, snowmen, Mini Fig Advent calendars and more. Once your gifts are unwrapped, you can assemble them together and make your own holiday scene. For extra creative fun, you could give a bag of assorted Lego bricks and have everyone do a brainstorm build with the pieces they have. You can create categories like best ornament or best decorated snowman and give prizes or just bragging rights!

Candy is such a classic stocking stuffer but let’s kick it old school. 😀 Current candy? Been there done that. Retro candy? Always fun to taste test! We’re talking candy buttons, Zott’s, candy necklaces, Pop Rocks, and all of that sweet sugary goodness. This blast from the past approach will delight kiddos and adults alike and gives a twist on the same old. Bonus points if you have a local candy shop in your neck of the woods to support.

While a care package for your adult children might not necessarily fit in a stocking, the sentiment remains. I have always loved the idea of the adult Easter baskets filled with cleaning supplies and that can easily translate to Christmas. A few rolls of toilet paper, paper towel, bathroom and kitchen cleaner, and Magic Erasers are all great options. Although this is not the most exciting gift, it sure is practical and one that I would love to receive. Toilet paper is low on my list of things I like to shop for for myself lolol.

Everyone needs a bevvie to sip on during gift exchanges. Cue the stocking stuffer! You can provide specialty sodas or juice for the kiddos and airplane bottles of booze, mini wine bottles, or mocktail cans for the adults. Add in a bag of popcorn, trail mix, or mixed nuts to nosh on and you have a perfect snack to tide everyone over until dinnertime.

Countless stores have a section specifically for travel size beauty and basic care items so hit it up! Bath & Body Works is an excellent place to start with as they offer both men and women’s travel size items and are always on promotion. A hand sanitizer, body wash, and lotion in a compact size is just right for filling those stockings and keeping everyone smelling and feeling fresh to death. 😀

Stocking stuffers are the opportunity to have some fun with add on gifts. Hope the ideas above can help! ❤

Do you hang stockings at home? What are some of your stocking stuffer ideas? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Food & Drink Holiday Gifts

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Food & Drink Holiday Gifts

Howdy! The countdown to the holidays is SO on – are you ready for it? I know I am! Family, friends, and sweet sweet time off. What could be better? The answer is literally nothing! If you still have holiday shopping to get done, you’re in the right place. Today’s gift guide will feature ideas for a very popular gifting option: Food and drink. Everyone needs to nosh and sip on something delicious so you know your gift is going to be used and enjoyed. Let’s discuss:

Do you have a coffee or soda fiend in your life? You kind of do, because I am both lol. Countertop appliances like a single serve Keurig or a Soda Stream is sure to delight your giftee who always errs on the side of caffeinated. Johnny actually got me a single serve Keurig for Valentine’s Day a few years back and it was the best gift ever! These appliances don’t take up a ton of counter space and feel like such a treat with each use. If your giftee already has one, that’s okay. You can give them a stockpile of K-cups or soda mixes to keep the go go juice flowing.

DoorDash, restaurants, fast food, or grocery store gift cards are a no brainer if you are looking to make your holiday shopping quick and easy. Johnny and I usually get a DoorDash gift card from his parents and it is SO appreciated. To be able to hit up your favorite eatery with gift card in hand is awesome because it’s literally guilt free. How many times have you bypassed a craving because there’s food at home? Throw that preconceived notion of gift cards being thoughtless out the window. They are as thoughtful as it gets because it gives you the opportunity to treat yourself whenever you want!

Local bakeries often offer cookie decorating kits which is a total win/win. You are supporting local as well as giving a fun gift for a family to enjoy together. These kits usually come with the cookies pre-made and the supplies like frosting and sprinkles to decorate with. It’s a perfect activity for a snowy afternoon and kiddos will revel in creating their own sugary masterpieces. My little nieces LOVE cookie and cupcake decorating and would have a blast with a cookie kit. 😀

Seriously, who doesn’t love a gift basket? I am an avid fan of both receiving and gifting them! Of course you can buy pre-made baskets in store but you could also create them yourself. Hit up your local craft store and get your baskets, then head to the grocery store and get to work! You could fill the basket with something sweet like chocolate and candy or go the savory route with popcorn, peanuts, or pretzels. How about a basket that creates a meal like soup or pasta? Perhaps you could include a muffin tin, mixes, and jams to top them with. No matter what you choose, it’s going to be yummy!

If you have a passion for cooking, share it! One year for Valentine’s Day, Johnny hired our friend who works as a chef to make dinner for us. It was absolutely amazing and one of my favorite gifts ever! You can create menus specific to your giftee’s tastes, purchase the ingredients, and serve a fantastic meal. While it’s nice to go out to eat, there is nothing better than a home cooked meal. This is a bonus gift because it also gives your giftee the night off from cooking which is such a blessing lol.

I hope your giftee’s all brought their appetite with these ideas – can you say YUM?!

Do you like to cook? What is your favorite thing to make? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New White & Red Glitter Nails

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New White & Red Glitter Nails

Howdy! I am one of those people that isn’t a fan of seasonal nails because I’d rather my color palette work for a month rather than one day. I went into my pre-Christmas fill at Elysian Nails with that sentiment on my mind and was thinking some gold glitter. A festive touch sans full fledged holly jolly flare. So tell me why I ended up with the most Christmas-y nails ever?! Lol all of my sentiments went out the window when I saw these two colors in the nail polish book. I didn’t even put two and two together until the polish was on SMH! Check it out:

As I browsed the nail polish book, nothing was really screaming out at me until I was seeing red. They don’t call me Lil Red for nothing, I guess! The shade of red I selected is one of my all time favorites and I actually used it for my Halloween nails. I just love that deep shade of garnet and they remind me of Dorothy’s ruby slippers. Gold would have looked nice with this but glitter white hues were directly above the red and I forgot all about it. The white glitter I picked out looks like crushed diamonds and as they are a girl’s best friend I couldn’t say no!

After choosing my colors and sitting down at my tech’s station, I was too focused on chatting it up to reevaluate. My go to girl had the day off during my last fill and we had so much to catch up on! Life, books, TV shows, food, and ALL the things. By the time my nails were drying, I realized that the color palette is Santa suit chic and I just had to laugh. This is not my normal style at all for holiday nails but you know what? I kind of like it! Maybe the glitter has me distracted, maybe it’s just pure fun, or both but I can’t wait to tear into my prezzies with these perfectly Christmas talons. 😀

This fill had unexpected results but delighted me all the same. I think I’ll do gold and silver glitter for New Years so bring on more bling, baby!

Are you getting your hair or nails done for the holidays? What are you planning on getting? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Funko Pop Haul

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Funko Pop Haul

Hi!! A few weekends ago I attended Akron Comicon with Johnny and my big bro. It is our tradition to go together and we look forward to it every year! Akron Comicon is the place to be to celebrate any and all fandoms, meet new friends, and shop til you drop. From walls of Lego Minifigs to outstanding artwork and collectables of all kinds, it is so much fun to walk through the vendors peddling their wares. One of the stands was selling Funko Pops for half off which was SUCH a steal and we ended up walking away with four more to add to our collection. Check it out:

Our haul definitely erred on the side of Christmas with a side of music for good measure. I was absolutely elated when Johnny found Luke Spiller, the front man of The Struts. This is one I have coveted for a while as they are one of our favorite bands and we were lucky enough to see them in Cleveland this past August. Experiencing The Struts live was one of our bucket list concerts and it was unforgettable. I still can’t quite believe it and our new Funko is such a fantastic nod to our big night out. ❤

On a polar opposite note, the remainder of our haul paid homage to our all time favorite Christmas movies. Ever since Johnny and I started dating, it is our tradition to watch The Muppet Christmas Carol together every Christmas. I am treated to a concert starring Johnny as he knows every song by heart. I must say, last year’s performance was probably the best one yet and we were both impressed with his character voice work lol. There is nothing humbug about our new Scrooge Funko, though! How cute is that?! It even comes complete with his first gift he received – a red scarf. :*)

Last but not least was our little pride and joys from Jingle All The Way. This is not just a Christmas movie to us but a year round flick and we must watch it at least ten times per year. We love an Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle and this one holds strangely sentimental sentiments. When Johnny and I had our first conversation on Facebook Messenger, I scrolled through his page and saw that the only thing he posted in literal months was a video of the “Put the cookie down – NOW!” scene. It really humored me and I knew he was a keeper! Also we just LOVE that Howard As Turbo Man is holding a little Turbo Man Funko!! 😀

This Funko Pop Haul was a collection of a few of our favorite things and we got them for a steal. You can’t beat that!

Do you collect anything? Do you have any Funko Pops? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Last Minute Holiday Gifts

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Last Minute Holiday Gifts

Howdy! As you all know, I am an early bird Christmas shopper. As someone who had an extensive tenure working retail from my teens to early twenties, the last thing I want is to be caught in the midst of holiday shopping anarchy. I experienced it first hand for so long that even now I can’t be bothered with it! I still have a handful of gifts to purchase and I feel like time is running out despite Christmas being over a month away lol. In my head it is down to the wire! Waiting till the true last minute, however, can be unavoidable so let’s explore some gift options that are sure to please when it gets down to the nitty gritty:

In the weeks leading up to the holidays, there are sure to be countless vendor fairs happening in your neck of the woods. This is a win/win situation to purchase from. You will be supporting local makers while checking off everyone on your list. From homemade crafts and body care to jewelry and sweet treats, you could consider an outing to a vendor fair as a one stop shop. If you are not sure where to find a vendor fair, take a look at your local talk of the town pages. You can also explore the calendars at churches, banquet halls, or community centers which are often popular places to host a vendor fair.

The beauty of food and drink gifts are that they can truly be purchased at the last minute! Your local grocery store might carry options like gift sets for chocolate, booze with a glass or two included, or a festive tin of mixed nuts or popcorn. If not, good thing you’re in a grocery store! Food and drink sets can easily be made on your own. All you need are some baskets and an idea. Perhaps you will opt for all of the fixings for soup or a pasta dish. Maybe you will put together a basket with cake mixes and a cupcake tin. How about a basket filled with movie theater candy for those with a sweet tooth? A gift like this can be perfectly customized to the recipient and will definitely be used.

There is this common fear that gift cards feel impersonal and not thoughtful enough. I think that can’t be farther from the truth! If you feel this way about gift cards, you can still personalize it to make it feel more special. You could treat a couple on your list to a gift card to the movie theater or a restaurant for a date night on you. Maybe you will get a gift card for your mom to get her nails done and you can get a mani or pedi together. What about a gift card to Home Depot or a craft store for those with a project in mind? Gift cards specific for what a person wants or needs to get done is extremely thoughtful!

Gifts of experience are always a fabulous way to go as it’s a clutter free gift and a way to have fun altogether. You could take the kiddos on your list to an afternoon at a trampoline park or an arcade. The adults could be treated to a few rounds of drinks at a favorite bar or a dinner out. If a play or musical is showing nearby, snag some tickets! Other great options include a craft workshop or paint class, bowling, a cooking class, or a coffee or wine tasting. Whether you try something new or visit a family favorite location, a day with family is the best gift ever.

A game gift is perfect for those who love to host game nights or enjoy a rousing board game with their partner or kiddos. Like food and drink gifts, game gifts are an extremely safe bet for last minute prezzies. Any store like Walmart is bound to have shelves full! Local gaming stores also will carry classic games as well as more unique ones that you might not find elsewhere. Board games, card shufflers, or video games can be used again and again to provide hours of amusement. You can also opt for a gift card for the Nintendo Switch or a subscription for PlayStation. Then, tie it in with a gift of experience like the first family game night taking place at your house!

Regardless of waiting until the last minute, these ideas above are always going to be available and ready to put under the tree!

Are you an early or last minute holiday shopper? When do you want to have your holiday shopping done by? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sweet Surprises: Random Money Edition

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Sweet Surprises: Random Money Edition

Hello!! This past week, I had a little moment on my break at work that simply tickled me and I just had to share it with all of you. I don’t know about you, but every once in a while I will see a post on Facebook about someone finding random money on their person. Unfortunately, I can’t relate because I am one of those people that rarely carry cash… Primarily because I want to spend it immediately! However, that statement is no longer true because that is what happened during my break time surprise and, I’ve got to say, it was just as delightful as I imagined it being.

After finishing up some work on the computer, I still had a bit of time to kill. So, I started reading a new book called The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers (Peep the Book Club review soon!). As I was reading, I reached in my purse for anything that could be used as a bookmark and pulled out the first thing that felt like paper. As per ushe, I was expecting a receipt that I didn’t need but wasn’t going to leave my purse until cleaning it out. Rather, it was a small envelope. You can only imagine my surprise when I opened it to discover it was Christmas cash from last year from my parents. I must have stuck it in my purse with the intention of spending it, it got lost in the black hole that is my handbag, and I straight up forgot about it.

When I made this discovery, it seriously felt like getting a hug from my mom and dad. Yes, the cashola was nice but it was even better to have a Christmas surprise in June! I immediately called my mom to announce my findings and what I thought would be a short call turned into a ten minute gab fest and that was the cherry on top. I was already having a great day but this made it an excellent one and it really is the little things in life that make it so much sweeter. ❤

Like I said, as soon as I have cash – I want to spend it! I used it to buy more leafy greens for the bunnies, a couple of dinner options for me and Johnny, and some super yummy dill pickle trail mix too. Dinner and snack time for us and the bunnies were proudly sponsored by mom and dad. I just love them!!! :*)

What is a little thing that made you happy recently? Have you found random money before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Stunner Shades

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New Stunner Shades

Hello!! I love treating myself to a new pair of sunglasses every once in a while because it’s a cheap and fun way to change things up. However, I feel like there comes a point every year when all of my sunglasses are on the fritz. They might be crooked, scratched, or straight up broken but the damage to each pair always seems to happen really closely to each other, leaving me with crappy back up sunnies as a replacement. This just so happened to be the case recently so I made a quick stop at TJMaxx to purchase a few new pairs with the rest of my Christmas gift cards. Check them out:

^^^ The first pair is Lucky Brand and the second pair is by House of Harlow. Also one time the dumpster behind me was on fire and it was crazy!

Over the years, I have experimented in sunglasses in every possible shape, style, and color. From aviators and cat eyes to gigantic hater blockers in all shades of the rainbow, chances are I have been there done that. So when I am looking for new sunnies, I am on the hunt for something that is totally different. I definitely think I found that with my two newest additions! These two pairs totaled to twenty dollars and they are, easily, some of the best I purchased in recent memory.

I was very excited to find some Lucky Brand sunglasses because it’s one of my all time favorite brands and these circular frames are spot on. Circular sunnies are a style that I like a lot but they tend to be more miss than a hit. The frames are usually pretty small and it does me no favors. The Lucky Brand pair might not be a true circle in shape but it is close enough and the size is just right. Not too big, not too small and I love the quirky bridge of the nose. I have been wearing them every day since I got them last week and I just feel so cool every time I put them on. 😀

Next up is the unique pair by House of Harlow, another brand that I am a huge fan of. You can’t go wrong with they grayscale tortoiseshell but what I was especially drawn to was the shape. Like I said, I want different and this connected bridge was something I have never seen before. As soon as this pair was on, they were off immediately because they were instant winners. Now, here’s to hoping that these two pairs never break because I am obsessed!

I made great use of my holiday gift cards to TJMaxx this year and my new sunnies were the perfect treat to spend the remainder on. You can’t beat two beloved brands for twenty bucks!

Do you buy new sunglasses often? What is your favorite style of sunnies? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah