Tag Archives: cute

Dec28

Post Christmas Shopping

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Post Christmas Shopping

Hi everyone and happy hump day! I hope all of you are having a fabulous week so far. The day after Christmas, my mom and I ventured to the mall to make some returns and do a little shopping. It was actually not as crazy as I expected it to be and thanks to some gift cards and holiday cash, I was able to add two fun new things to my wardrobe. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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The Haul:

  • Forever 21 cropped rainbow sweater
  • Loft velvet skinny jeans

F21 Sweater: I lucked out this Christmas and ended up getting some gift cards to Forever 21 which is easily one of my favorite stores. I think that this sweater is the cutest and it was only twenty dollars which, in my opinion, was a steal. My mom and I went shopping at just the right time because I snagged the only small that was left among a bunch of larges! GREAT SUCCESS. I am actually wearing my new sweater along with my velvet skinnies from Loft at this very moment and it looks adorable! Pictures will definitely be up some time this week so stay tuned! 🙂

Loft Jeans: First of all, Loft literally has the best skinny jeans that I have ever worn, so I was so happy to score another pair that was marked all the way down to twenty-seven bucks from seventy! Second of all, I have had a love/hate relationship with the velvet trend that has been so popular as of late. I love some of the velveteen pieces that I’ve seen but I hate that none of them speak to me on a personal level! But, black velvet skinnies are definitely something that I can do since you guys all know that black skinnies are all I wear. Not only is the fit of the Loft skinny jeans superb but the velvet adds a fun new texture to every outfit and I am loving them with my Forever 21 rainbow sweater! ❤

After a tiny post Christmas shopping haul, it’s now time to save my money and store away my Forever 21 gift cards until spring to add to my warm weather wardrobe. However, this is going to be SO HARD considering my email inbox is legitimately overflowing with sale notifications from all of my favorite stores! GET BEHIND ME, SATAN!!

So there you have it, my Post Christmas Shopping! Has anyone scored some amazing after holiday deals? Where is the best place to get the best price after the holiday season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov16

Three Fun Ways To Get Your Partner To Propose

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Three Fun Ways To Get Your Partner To Propose

Getting engaged and planning a wedding is a pretty big deal. Having an ultimatum like that can be a little scary. Things don’t always go according to plan, either. It is easy to see why both people in the relationship might be having hesitations to get engaged. It might be the scenario that your other half is really dragging their heels, though. So here are a few fun little ideas, to drop some hints to your darling. They’re never going to propose if they think you aren’t interested in it! It can feel like a conversation that you aren’t ready to just say so sometimes signals can work the best. But, as always, honest and open communication is always good in any relationship.

Give a Signal: You’d be surprised at just how many people aren’t proposing because they think they will get rejected. Really! It can be a big thing to make changes in a relationship. Especially if things are going well as they are so dropping them a few hints might be needed. Try bringing in conversations about weddings more and more. It could be a friend is recently engaged or a new movie that features a wedding, for example. Just drop hints about your take on marriage. If you’re feeling brave enough, then you could ask them their views on it, too. Another bold choice could be showing your partner some budget wedding dresses. They won’t be able to help picturing you in them! Chatting about it more and more will help eliminate the excuse of not knowing if you were interested or not.

Hint at the Ring You’d Like: The chances of you going out shopping together are quite high. So how about wandering past an engagement ring shop? Or you could even check out some custom engagement rings online together. If that is going to be way too obvious for your liking, then try a conversation, instead. This low key approach is especially effective if you already wear a lot of jewelry. You could talk about the things you do or don’t like such as your thoughts on platinum vs white gold or whether you prefer a ring that is unique or classic.

Do you like a ring to have one single stone or several smaller ones? Subtly bring up the topic. Looking online is a simpler way, as you are more likely to stumble across a friend’s ring on Instagram, for instance. Then the next thing you know you’ll be looking online at wedding rings. Somewhere like Tacori wedding rings might be a good place to start. Have a browse if you aren’t sure of what style you like. Just be subtle about it!

Don’t Set Timelines: In your head, you might want to be engaged by a certain age, married by a certain age, or having children by a certain age. Don’t set timelines on yourself, though. It can knock your confidence when things don’t happen as you’d like to. You could have those things as goals but avoid putting a time limit on it. It also works in terms of your wedding, too. If you’ve always wanted a summer wedding, you might be thinking of when you need to be engaged to make it happen. But this can also be detrimental! If your other half knows it, it adds extra pressure. So chill out with the timeline. If all else fails, though, you can always propose to them!

While you might have a dream wedding planned in your head, you never know how your timeline will change once you are engaged. The mood might strike you to just go to the courthouse or even elope! Companies like Italy Elope offer elopement packages to navigate the ceremony, photography, and travel for your big day. No matter where you might want to elope to, there are sure to be similar companies or wedding planners to help every step of the way.

How did you or your partner pop the question? What is your dream proposal like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Totes Adorbs Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov7

The Joys And Trials Of Cat Ownership

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The Joys And Trials Of Cat Ownership

For all of the “crazy” cat people out there! 😉

The Joys And Trials Of Cat Ownership

If you are a cat person, you’ll be well aware of how wonderful it is to have a furry feline friend or two in the house. The joy of their soft, warm fur when they are cuddled up with you on the sofa in the evening. Or their meows, when you come home from work, are so wonderful. But, of course, they can be little terrors too! Being a cat mom is truly the best of times and sometimes the worst of times. Read on to see what I mean.

Affectionate: Cats are known for being kind of aloof but in the right situations they can be very affectionate. The trick with cats is to let them come to you. Once they realize that they won’t be crowded and attention is demanded of them, they will be much more likely to come over and say hi.

The level of affection and fuss that your cats enjoys will also depend on its temperament, too. For example, some cat breeds like Rag Dolls have no problem being picked up and carried about. Although other breeds and moggies can dislike this intensely. Some brave individuals can be quite demanding of attention and meow and head butt until you fuss them!

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 MEOW!

Mischievous: Of course as well as being affectionate cats can also be mischievous, too. Sometimes they don’t totally realize that they’re doing wrong. When they bring a mouse or a bird in from outside, for example. This is usually meant as a gift for you. It’s food that they have hunted themselves, so it shows that they care about you, as they don’t want you to starve! They probably don’t understand why you scream or are cross because in their minds they have done a good thing.

The same goes for when they are overcome with the temptation to eat something that they shouldn’t. Cats have a very sensitive nose and can smell good things to eat from a fair way away. This means that keeping any fish or other things that they find yummy a secret is a pretty hard thing to do.

However, sometimes it seems as if they know exactly what they are doing wrong but do it anyways just to be naughty. This is especially true when they do the terrible, but the adorable thing of looking at you while they push an ornament off a high shelf. It’s like they are saying “Am I allowed to do this? No? We’ll I’m going to anyway!”

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 Purrfect 😉

Clean: One of the major joys of owning a cat as opposed to any other pet is that they are relatively clean with their potty habits. For the most part, when you get a cat it is already litter trained. Although this may not be the case with a stray that needs re homing.

If they are litter trained, you are definitely onto a winner, as it means that all of their waste goes into the tray and you just have to keep that clean. Even so, emptying the litter tray and cleaning it out can be one of the least favorite things about cat ownership. That is why some clever people have come up with innovative robotic litter tray designs like the one reviewed on Petsho. These are designed to clean themselves making your life even easier.

Dirty: Of course, there is some issue with dirt that is specialized to having a cat. They are quite good at getting muddy or greasy paw prints over everything. Especially windows! There is also the dander to deal with. Dander is the hair that pets shed. This can be problematic for anyone that has asthma or allergies. However, you can use a pet vacuum like this and HEPA filters to reduce the amount of this in your home environment.

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 Hello!

Relaxing: Cats are wonderfully relaxing. They are furry and warm and are more than happy to curl up in your lap on a cold day. Their purrs are actually healing as well. A cats purr vibrates at 20-140 Hz, which has been scientifically proved to encourage the healing of broken bones.

Stressful: While cats are for the most part a relaxing pet to have around when they are in good health and well behaved, it can also be stressful to own a cat. This depends on the cat’s own temperament. The lazier ones tend to be less stressful to look after. It also has to do with their health. Having a well-beloved pet get sick is bound to stress anyone out! cats4.jpg

 Pixabay Image

Having said all of that, the joys of cat ownership definitely outweighs the trials. Especially when you have a house filled with felines and still want more! MEOW! 😉

Are you a cat person or a dog person? What was your first pet’s name? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Adorable Featured Image By: Pixabay

Oct15

PAJAMA PARTY!

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PAJAMA PARTY!

Hi everyone and happy weekend! Last night I had a little Pajama Party with me, myself, and I…and also Harry Potter. I have been OBSESSED with the new jammies that I got from Target and have taken every opportunity I’ve had for the past two weeks since buying them to get comfy, cozy, and cuddle up. I have been in need of new pajamas for years now but have just never really bothered. I just continued to make do with the body butter and lotion saturated sweats that I purchased from Aerie like three years ago.

However, this past month I have been OBSESSED with finding the perfect pair of PJs. I had tried Kohl’s, TJs, and Target a few times but nothing really spoke to me. I was looking for something that was the perfect combination of cute and cozy so not just any pair would do. After shopping trips to the three stores resulted in failure every time, I had damn near given up. But one final trip to Target changed the PJ game.

I had tried Tarjay before and was in love with their Disney line PJs but they were absurdly expensive for a nightgown or top and bottom set. So, despite the cuteness, I had to pass. My mom had pointed out the pair seen in the picture below and initially I turned them away. But after further examination, I decided that the red, flannel, lumberjack chic jammies were perfect. They were warm, cozy, and absolutely adorable. I could definitely picture myself counting a few sheep in them! Take a look:

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It’s admittedly not the best picture but you get the point. I love snuggling up in my new pajamas every night and now I just need a pair in every color! You can shop Target in stores or online to join in on the Lil Red Pajama Party happening nightly! Where is the best place to get pajamas from? What does your perfect pair of PJs look like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct14

Kids And Pets: Teaching Your Children Responsibility The Adorable Way

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Kids And Pets: Teaching Your Children Responsibility The Adorable Way

My first pet was a guinea pig way back when in the fifth grade. He was the most precious little thing – black and white with a brown circle around his left eye. My fifth grade level of creativity settled on the name of Oreo and he was simply the best. I have always been really fond of small, furry animals and now the latest battle is getting my boyfriend to get me a bunny! So far I have been unsuccessful but that’s nothing that a little persistence can’t cure! Check out some more ideas for pets that are perfect for children in this article:

Kids And Pets: Teaching Your Children Responsibility The Adorable Way:

Any parent knows the feeling that creeps up when the kids decide that they want a pet. There is a conversation that always takes place between the parent, who is keen and reluctant at the same time, and the kids. You know that there will be early enthusiasm, followed by distraction. You will be left being the one who looks after the pet – which you won’t mind, but there are valuable lessons about responsibility here.

It doesn’t help that the most usual pets are the ones who often require the most looking after. Everyone loves a kitten or a puppy. As they grow, though, they need to be seen through some milestones. Unless you want a misbehaving adolescent dog or a litter of surprise kittens, they need to be “fixed”. And if they act out while you’re away from home, it’s carnage. So to get kids used to looking after a pet, a less high-maintenance one may be a great start.

Birds: Noisy And Full Of Character, But Not Too Much Stress: A tropical bird can be one of the most enjoyable pets for kids and adults alike. It is advisable to find one that is already habituated to humans. Find a hand raised Amazon for sale and look forward to some of the most entertaining years of your life.

Of course, they need to be fed but that’s no sweat. Even the most squeamish kid can find the fun in feeding bits of fruit to a parrot. And be careful of your children trying to teach the parrot rude words. It’s almost inevitable, but the more attention you pay, the less likely there will be “hilarious consequences.”

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Bird is the word

Tortoises: The Anti-Parrot (In Most Ways): If you’re looking for a low maintenance pet, you can’t go far wrong with a tortoise. Your kids may initially be skeptical. You can’t take a tortoise for a walk on a leash, or teach it to beg for scraps. However, they are sociable and patient animals. One major advantage that they have is that they can live to a ripe old age. Anyone who has ever consoled a child through the loss of a pet knows how much of a relief this is.

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TURTLE!!

Guinea Pigs: Full Of Fun And Easy To Handle: If you’re looking for something in the small rodent family, then the Guinea Pig is the ideal pet to get your kids used to furry friends. They’re highly sociable and don’t mind being handled. They also know when they are about to be fed, which leads to an excitable squeak that the kids will adore. And when they’re euphoric, they do something called “popcorning.” On that, we’ll let the video speak – or squeak – for itself.

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So. CUTE!

Of course, you will need to talk seriously with your kids from time to time about how to look after a pet. Naturally, their attention spans are not at the same level as yours. But as they gain the skills to care for a pet, you can think about cats and dogs too. Just watch out if you have a cat and a parrot. Cats like to chase birds, and they may see an adult parrot as the ultimate challenge!

What was your first pet? What kind of pet do you have now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Sep16

Hats Off

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Hats Off

Hi everyone and TGIF! The next few posts on lifewithlilred are going to be all about my fall fashion haul that took place last weekend. I thought we would start from the top by discussing two gorgeous new hats that I can’t wait to top off my looks with this fall! Take a look:

Hat Haul:

  • Black Calvin Klein bobby hat: TJMaxx, $16
  • Mustard Yellow turban: Forever 21, $7

TJMaxx: While shopping at TJMaxx with my mom to find some new fall staples, my eyes locked in on my gorgeous new CK hat and I knew that I had to have it. I have never owned anything Calvin Klein before and at sixteen dollars, I thought the hat was a steal. The fit of the hat screams London Chic and the chain accent on the front is a great edgy detail to complete the look. I am planning a European trip for the spring of 2017 and I can totally picture myself ambling about the streets of London in this darling bobby style hat.

Forever 21: One of my favorite things to do when I have some spare time during the day is online shopping! I love browsing the pages of my favorite stores and drawing inspiration for spicing up my wardrobe. On Forever 21’s website I saw quite a few turbans that I was obsessed with so on Monday, my boyfriend and I went to the mall to check them out. Even though he told me that shopping in F21 with me was what purgatory must be like, he did treat me to this pretty crocheted, mustard yellow turban! Mustard yellow is one of my favorite colors to wear and this turban looks perfect against my bright red hair and pale skin. Shout out to my boyfriend for braving Forever 21 with me for this fabulous new addition to my fall accessories! ❤

So there you have it, my latest fall accessories haul in Hats Off! What fall accessories are you most looking forward to wearing? Who else loves sporting hats of all shapes and sizes during the cool weather? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug18

One Year Anniversary

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One Year Anniversary

Hey everyone and happy Thursday! So Monday was a lot of fun because my boyfriend, Kyle, and I celebrated our one year anniversary. Technically, it falls on the twentieth but there’s no harm in breaking out the party pants a few days early! We had a fantastic day of fine dining at Taco Bell, getting drinks, and going to see Suicide Squad in the evening. AND exchanging presents is always a plus! Our big day together was just the best and I wanted to give an extra special I love you shout out to my Kyle! You are amazing and thank you for a fantastic year together! Hurray! ❤

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^^^ #AWE 😉

Apr26

Monday Update: This Or That Edition Update

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Monday Update: This Or That Edition Update

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! During a previous Monday Update, I asked for everyone’s opinion on what pair of glasses I should pick out between two equally gorgeous pairs. The choice was between a circular pair of Dolce & Gabbanas or a rectangular pair of Kliik Denmarks. I made my decision and received my new pair of glasses last week and I must say, I’m very happy with them! So what pair did I pick? Take a look and find out:

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THE DOLCE & GABBANAS!!!

Shocking, I know, because the majority of you guys picked the Kliik Denmarks as the pair that I should pick. So why did I go with the polar opposite? I guess I just liked how quirky the circular pair was. I liked that it made me feel professional but still fun and I loved how I could picture myself wearing them to school, my job, and my internship. And yes, I was totally enamored by the fact that they were Dolce & Gabbana. I’m really not a girl that goes gaga over labels but I do have a soft spot in my heart for designer eye-wear. It’s a weakness and a sickness, I tell ya!

All of the above reasons kind of sealed the deal for the D&Cs but one major “aha!” moment made me feel that much more confident in my decision. When I returned to the optometrist’s office after a weekend with both pairs of glasses to help make up my mind, I was wearing my old pair of specs. I’ve had my only pair of glasses since I was fifteen (I’m almost twenty-two, now) and it took trying the Kliik Denmark pair on one more time after I took my old glasses off to know that they were no longer the pair for me.

My pair of old faithfuls just so happens to be the exact same shape as the Kliik Denmarks except that the frames are thicker. I had no intentions of parting with my old pair of glasses so that I could have them as a backup pair and to wear them around the house on a lazy day. Once I saw that I would essentially be having two pairs of the same glasses but in different colors and widths, I knew that I made the right choice by picking the Dolce & Gabbanas.

The D&Cs were the first pair of glasses that I tried on after my eye appointment so it seems fitting that they ended up being the pair that I left with. I’m so happy with my new glasses and all of the compliments that I’ve received about them make me feel even more confident with my quirky cool choice!

So there you have it, an Update on a previous Monday Update: This Or That Edition! Has anyone purchased any new eye or sunglasses recently? How about a new pair of shoes or a purse? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr12

It’s In The Bag – Sonoma Edition

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It’s In The Bag – Sonoma Edition

Hello everyone and happy Tuesday! Last week, I had to run into Kohl’s for my mom to return a few things before I had to pick up my brother from work nearby. I was running a bit early so I had some time to browse the store before I left and found the most darling canvas purse on the planet. As soon as I laid eyes on it, I fell in love. I envisioned myself toting it around to my internship this summer and packing it full of necessities to use as an overnight bag on vacation.

Despite my daydreams, the purse didn’t come home with me because I didn’t have any Kohl’s coupons with me and I was certain that they would send some in the mail within the week. In the meantime, I told my mom about the bag in vivid detail and raved about how cute it was. Over the weekend, I decided that I still really wanted the purse so my mom and I ventured off to Kohl’s to make the purchase. By the time we returned, there was only one of the bags left so I quickly plucked it off of the hook and into my loving arms. Take a look at my newest little beauty:

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^^^ I LOVE IT!!

The best part about this sweet tote? It was marked down from thirty dollars to fourteen which was a total steal. AND, my mom was kind enough to purchase it for me as a congratulations gift for the internship I landed this summer. I’m so happy with my latest addition to my accessory collection especially considering that I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I saw it and there was only one left when I made my way back to the store. That’s how you know that you and a clothing item or accessory were meant to be!

So there you have it, the latest segment of It’s In The Bag – Sonoma Edition! I can’t wait to incorporate my new favorite purse into my spring and summer wardrobe and I am so totally obsessed! Has anyone scored any good deals while out shopping recently? What warm weather item are you looking forward to wearing? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr10

DOGS

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DOGS

Hello everyone and happy Sunday! I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend! As you guys know, our newest addition to the family was adopted on Valentine’s Day. He’s a little dog named Ollie and he’s seriously the cutest thing on the planet. Every day my family learns something new about Ollie and it has been recently discovered that he’s really afraid of storms.

The first major rainfall in Ohio happened a couple of weeks ago and Ollie was so scared that he retreated under my bed. We didn’t know this, though, and my dad ended up calling my boyfriend and I upstairs from the basement because he couldn’t find Ollie anywhere. We scoured all of the closets, cabinets, and corners and finally Kyle found him curled up under my bed. It was so scary not being able to find him for those few minutes so it was definitely a huge relief when Kyle discovered Ollie’s hiding place.

Now that we know of Ollie’s storm phobia we decided to break out the thunder coat that belonged to one of our past precious pooches. But the trick is, is that the thunder coat is five times too big for little Ollie! My mom and I managed to figure out a way to get the coat wrapped and secured on Ollie and he was then able to brave the next storm like the big boy that he is! Take a look:

^^^ Omg. SO cute.

I love how the thunder coat looks like a little cape on Ollie! He looks like a tiny super hero dog. The picture of me holding him was taken when it was raining and I couldn’t get over how adorable the way I was holding him was. He got himself like that on his own and it was like cradling a fury little toddler!

So there you have it, some cute new pictures of my brave wittle Ollie!! Has anyone welcomed a new pet into their home recently? How do you help comfort a pup that is afraid of storms? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah