Tag Archives: disappointed

Nov29

Face Mask Festivities: Julep Triple Quench Sheet Mask Edition

Posted on November 29, 2020 by lifewithlilred

Hi everyone and welcome to a new edition of Face Mask Festivities! During my last little TJMaxx haul, I ordered an intriguing looking mask by Julep that was not only a sheet mask but also offered a pre and post treatment. I have never used a mask that had multiple treatments in one package so I figured it had to be good. I figured wrong, though, because this mask was definitely nothing to sneeze at. Lol, take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

Pic 3: Pre-treatment gel
Pic 4: Lol, you know I love sheet mask pictures!
Pic 5: Post-treatment cream

Step one of this Julep mask was to apply a pre-treatment gel for maximum absorption before putting on the sheet mask. The “gel” didn’t have the traditional, sticky texture which was nice and it was easy to put on.

Next, it was time for the sheet mask. I love sheet masks but, sadly, I don’t think they love me because they’re all too damn big! Lol, this sheet mask was huge and it was not the most comfortable to have on for a full fifteen minutes. Despite it slipping and sliding, I powered through by distracting myself with an episode of Trailer Park Boys with Johnny.

Before I knew it, the sheet mask was ready to come off and the post treatment cream came on to help seal in all of the nutrients and hydration. I can’t say that I was impressed with the results once I completed all three steps. My skin didn’t feel super hydrated, either. In fact, it actually felt rather tight and my cheeks were a rosy pink for the entire evening.

I thought that I might see a better outcome the following morning once all of the treatments could soak in but that wasn’t the case. My skin felt a bit softer, yes. However, I feel like I get those results just from my normal nighttime skin care routine of a serum, eye cream, and moisturizer. This is also a three step process but at least I know it to be effective.

I can’t say that I would recommend this mask because it really didn’t do much. I thought that the three step process the Julep sheet mask offered was an inspired idea but the results left a lot to be desired. I haven’t had a lot of luck with sheet masks recently and I’m thinking it might be time to go back to the traditional clay masks, which I think work a little bit better. We’ll see what happens!

Do you recommend any great sheet or clay masks? Have you used any products that were a dud lately? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct17

Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Glacier Water & Pink Peony Hydrating Gel Cream Mask Edition

Posted on October 17, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Glacier Water & Pink Peony Hydrating Gel Cream Mask Edition

Hello! During one of my previous Amazon hauls, I ordered a set of six new face masks from Freeman. Unfortunately, the first one I tried was a dud and this gel cream mask just didn’t do anything for me, either. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

When I decided to use this gel cream mask, I thought it sounded so refreshing that it would have to be good. I love gel masks because of their bouncy texture and the glacier water/pink peony combo seemed like it would just add to the enjoyment. So, I prepped my bath water and applied my face mask for an evening of pampering.

As I squeezed the mask into my hand, it reminded me so much of one of my favorite gel masks from The Body Shop and I was taken with the pale blue color it was tinted. The gel cream dried fairly quickly and, as per the instructions, I left it on all night.

The following morning, I was eager to wash my face and see how my skin felt as I had the mask on for well over ten hours at that point. Sadly, I noticed no difference to my skin. In fact, after I got out of the shower my skin felt tight and was practically begging me for my moisturizing routine.

I have never used a gel mask that did this little for me before and I was honestly shocked. With some of my favorite gel masks, it left my skin looking so radiant and feeling hella moisturized but, obviously, all of them can’t be winners. -_-

I definitely wouldn’t recommend this face mask and, as of now, I am striking out on my Freeman haul. Here’s to hoping the next few will be better so keep it posted for more Face Mask Festivities coming soon!

Which face masks would you not recommend? Do you have a favorite gel cream mask? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct16

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Hunting Party By Lucy Foley Edition

Posted on October 16, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Hunting Party By Lucy Foley Edition

Howdy and welcome to a new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, we are going to be talking about a book called The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley, without giving any spoilers away, of course. Now, this author might sound familiar to you because I actually just finished up another book of hers a few weeks ago. While I enjoyed the last book I read of Lucy Foley’s well enough, The Hunting Party missed the mark severely.

Read on to find out more and find out what star rating this book ends up with:

It’s a New Year’s bash and anyone who is anyone in the posh “inner circle” will be there. A group of the closest friends who, for the most part, all met during their university years at Oxford. Every New Year, couples Giles and Samira, Julian and Miranda, Mark and Emma, Nick and Bo, and odd one out Katie embarks on a mini vacation to celebrate.

They end up somewhere different each time, as it’s always up to a different person to plan it, and this year they find themselves in the Scottish Highlands. Scenic and beautiful, yes, but extremely remote and with a startling lack of WiFi. Each respective couple has their own tiny cabin on the resort but their primary hang out is the rustic chic Lodge with plush rugs and couches, mounted deer heads, and oh yeah… It’s made entirely of glass.

For the most part, this all sounds relatively nice. However, as the booze is poured, celebratory pills are popped, and a downfall of snow threatens to keep them barricaded all of their dark secrets and rivalries begin to bubble to the surface. The Hunting Party covers their entire New Year’s excursion from the moment they board the train to the ghastly murder that concludes their trip. Anyone and everyone is a suspect and it’s up to you to find out who if you read The Hunting Party.

Similarly to Foley’s last book, The Hunting Party is told in an interweaving tale between beautiful Miranda, homely Emma, quiet Katie, as well as the gamekeeper of the property named Doug, and the property manager called Heather. Similarly to Ruth Ware’s In A Dark, Dark Wood, this book revolves around a celebratory weekend gone awry in a remote location in a house made of glass.

Because of both of these identical nods to books that I have already read, it felt really impossible to enjoy this book. It almost felt like I was reading a combination of Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley instead of individual books from each author. Not to mention the fact that I didn’t particularly care for any of the characters. None of them were incredibly relatable in terms of their personalities, professions, and backstory and I never felt like I was getting “in” to the book. Rather, just speed reading to finish it up.

Perhaps, all of these other issues would be less damning had the grand reveal been amazing. Unfortunately, that fell flat too. I figured it out extremely early and every Red Herring introduced was debunked so quickly that there were no real “twists and turns” throughout the book.

I honestly can’t say that I would recommend The Hunting Party to any of you and have to rate it with a zero out of ten stars. The plot was tired and used before, the characters felt like caricatures instead of real people, and the grand reveal was so simple I think that a fifth grader could figure it out. It is not worth your time and definitely wasn’t worth mine. WHOMP WHOMP.

Have you read any lackluster books lately? Do you have a recommendation for what I should read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct7

New Oxblood & Black Nails

Posted on October 7, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hi! This past week, a new set of acrylics was much needed as all of my real nails underneath had grown out the length of the fake ones. I was very much looking forward to getting my claws done with a spooky color palette for Halloween but, naturally, I just had to get the nail tech who manhandles me again. *Massive eye roll*.

Other than the general discomfort of the whole experience, my nails did turn out really good. But, I promise, next appointment I am putting my big girl pants on and asking for a new tech! Lol, check it out:

I honest to god have never experienced a nail tech quite like this woman before. She literally cut into my real nail and it hurt so bad to the point that I half yelled “ouch”. You would think after that she would have been more careful but nope, I had so many ouchies and boo boos after this time at the salon that my fingers ached.

Another major problem with this nail tech is her constant need to complain about my hands and the difficulty I have moving them. I was in a car accident a year ago that left nerve damage in both of my arms. My hands tend to get very stiff and rigid and they are usually even worse after my day at work. I explained my accident to her but to have her constantly poke and prod my hands and say “relax” after the fact is just offensive when I can’t.

I decided that the next time I call in for an appointment is when I ask for a different tech because I am so sick of this. Lol, my nails look awesome but I hardly even mentioned it in this post because the situation is so off putting. But, yes, I love my dark and spooky oxblood and black nails and they are just what I wanted for October. I just wish a different nail tech did them! 😀

What color of nail polish are you wearing? What is your favorite Halloween activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep17

Disappointment Of The Day: Mango Outshine Popsicles With Tajin Edition

Posted on September 17, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Disappointment Of The Day: Mango Outshine Popsicles With Tajin Edition

Howdy! I recently had a huge grocery shopping trip because Johnny and I were down to below the bare minimum at our apartment. I picked out plenty of our favorites but I also snagged something that I’ve been curious about compliments of never ending Facebook ads about it: Mango Outshine popsicles with a coating of chili lime Tajin seasoning on it.

I love trying out new foods and unique flavors and after seeing it advertised for what felt like forever, I just had to give these popsicles a shot. I thought the sweet heat of the mango and chili lime combination would be tasty but I guess I didn’t take into consideration the fact that I would have to eat an entire popsicle’s worth of it.

My first bite into the popsicle was great, I’m not going to lie. So, I had a few more and got maybe a quarter of the way into it. Then, the taste got really old really quickly and I was totally done. The mango portion of the popsicle was sickly sweet in comparison to the spicy seasoning and it left a really questionable taste in my mouth and stomach.

The combination of the way too sweet fruit with an, on its own, very tasty and kicky seasoning was anything but refreshing which is what you want in a popsicle. I don’t think I could ever eat a full one of these fruit bars and I definitely regret buying them because I know damn well the remaining five are going to sit uneaten in my freezer for the next century, lol!

Save yourself some cash and skip on these Outshine fruit bars because they were a big fat Disappointment Of The Day. -_-

Have you bought any duds lately? What are your thoughts on these popsicles if you have tried them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep12

Disappointment Of The Day: WordPress Block Editor Edition

Posted on September 12, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Disappointment Of The Day: WordPress Block Editor Edition

Hello! For those of you who don’t know, I am not the biggest fan of ever changing technology. For example, I refuse to get a smart phone and have been rocking an old school slide up for the past ten years. Lol, my phone can call and text and that’s all I need. The day I have to get a smart phone? I guess you can call me on the landline. 😉

I have been a WordPress blogger for going on seven years now. I have always enjoyed the simplicity of the original editor and it did not take me long to whip up visually appealing posts thanks to the handy tool bar with literally anything you need on it. So, you can imagine my disappointment when this new block editor came into play and we have to use it now.

I’ve gotta say, this new editor is a hassle and it has been taking me forever to figure out how to use it. The worst part? You actually can get the old editor back. However, you can only get it back if you update your plan to a Business one which will allow you to use plugins. It just so happens that this upgrade is over two hundred dollars a year!

Obviously, I am not going to change to a business plan just to get the old editor back but the principle of it is kind of shitty. Yes, I will get used to this new block editor and I know I am being petty right now. But, damn! Your girl needed to vent, lol. *Deep breath* I think I feel better now. 😀

How do you feel about the new editor? How long have you been blogging for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep3

New Yellow & Red Violet Nails

Posted on September 3, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone! Your girl was feeling her damn self in August! I got my hair done, new tattoos, and a gorgeous fill on my talons. It’s safe to say my self esteem is sky high because there’s nothing like some pampering (Yes, getting tattooed is pampering to me!) to make me feel at one hundred million percent. I love my “treat time” in the salons and it is always just what the doctor ordered. Because the doctor did, in fact, order these claws:

Way back in the day, my sister had an eyeshadow kit by some drugstore brand or another – it might have been CoverGirl or something of the like. Anyways, it was called “Bird Of Paradise” and the colors were very similar to the ones I picked. I have always loved the color combination of a bright red violet and poppy yellow ever since and wanted to do one more hurrah to summer hues before we transition into the fall.

Last time I got my nails done, you might remember me complaining about how rough the nail tech was on my nails. She made me bleed multiple times and I don’t think I have ever been so uncomfortable during a fill before. So, naturally, I would get this nail tech again this time around.

I am never one to complain and I understand that things aren’t always going to feel like a massage at the nail salon. However, I have just never had an experience of getting nicked and legit man handled So. Many. Times. before. After the fourth or fifth “ouch” I finally had to say something because it was just getting ridiculous at that point.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the results of my fill but I don’t want to spend an entire hour and fifteen minutes (She takes a long time.) with my fingers bleeding. Not the best look and I definitely plan on asking not to have her do my nails again the next time I come in. #SOannoying -_-

Have you ever had an unpleasant salon experience before? What happened? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug14

Face Mask Festivities: Celavi Avocado Sheet Mask Edition

Posted on August 14, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Celavi Avocado Sheet Mask Edition

Hello! Today we are going to discuss the fourth out of the six Celavi face masks that I purchased from Amazon. I was most impressed with the Pomegranate mask I used earlier as well as the Charcoal one too. I was looking forward to trying the regenerating Avocado mask because I was on a bit of a roll with the success rate from this set. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end because the Avocado one was whomp whomp. Lol, take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

To determine if the face mask that I have just used is worth purchasing again, I ask myself one question: Do I feel a difference in my skin? If I can feel or see a difference – no matter how minor, I consider it money well spent and would probably purchase it again. So, did I feel or see a difference in my skin after using the Avocado mask? Not in the slightest.

As I said, I was eager to try this sheet mask because it promised a lot of good stuff and sounded so nourishing. In fact, I was thrilled when I put the mask on because it was significantly smaller than the other Celavi masks I’ve tried and it fit so much better on my face. Without all of the slipping and sliding of the gigantic sheet masks I used before, I settled onto the couch and watched My 600 Pound Life until it was time to take it off twenty minutes later.

I was really hoping for awesome results after removing the mask because my skin looked SO dull and tired prior to putting it on and was definitely in need of a good moisturizing, as well. Sadly, I really don’t think this mask did anything after examining the results which is disappointing because my normal skin care routine is easily more effective and I want at least a little something something!

As of now, my Celavi sheet mask success rate is tied at a 2-2 of whether I would use them again or not. I loved the Charcoal and Pomegranate masks but the Honey and Avocado ones were so not worth it. There are only two more Celavi masks left for me to try so keep it posted as we determine if the Amazon set I purchased was a steal or nah!

Which type of face mask do you prefer? How do you keep your skin nourished? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul22

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Girls In The Garden By Lisa Jewell Edition

Posted on July 22, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Girls In The Garden By Lisa Jewell Edition

Hi! As the old saying goes: “when in quarantine, do as those in quarantine do”, which is just Greek for I’ve been reading a lot. Lol, I’ve been devouring books left and right and have been loving every minute that gives my brain a break from the America’s Next Top Model marathons. The most recent book I finished was called The Girls In The Garden by Lisa Jewell. It was… Okay I guess?

Without giving any spoilers away, let’s discuss. But, please be warned that there is some subject matter in The Girls In The Garden that could be very triggering. Now, let’s get to it:

Virginia Park may seem like the perfect, picturesque place to raise a family. Quaint flats, a communal park that stretches close to three acres, and tons of children running about. However, the situation that brought young mother Clare and her two daughters Pip and Grace into the neighborhood was anything but picture perfect.

Clare, who is estranged from her husband, is weak and vulnerable upon their arrival. This, in turn, leaves her twelve year old daughter, Grace, and eleven year old daughter, Pip, free to explore the park and get acquainted with the other kids. Handsome Dylan, frigid Tyler, and the eccentric sisters Willow, Catkin, and Fern. The parents of the three sisters, Adele and Leo, are essentially the “cool parents” and their house is constantly full of kids running in and out.

As the preteens and teenagers hang about the park, cliques begin to form and catty attitudes cause a palpable tension. All the while, the children’s parents aren’t doing much better, shielding dark secrets of their own that span from their childhood. Long buried memories begin to reveal themselves ranging from pervy old men to affairs and, oh yeah, murder.

One fateful summer night, the present mimicked the past after a young, pretty girl is found bloody, unconscious and uncovered in the park. So similar to the death of another young, pretty girl in the park decades prior. Who is responsible for the past and present attacks? And will history try to repeat itself once more? Read The Girls In The Garden to find out more!

Okay, so I know what you guys are thinking: A whodoneit with intertwining stories and secrets. How did Sarah not like it? Believe you me, all of that is very fair and I did enjoy certain aspects of the story line. However, there were a lot of parts that made me just plain uncomfortable to read. This includes some insanely inappropriate displays of affection between a freshly turned thirteen year old girl and her boyfriend.

After that part went down, I really didn’t care what happened next in the book because I just didn’t care anymore. It was such a stomach churning thing and it literally made me feel disgusting after reading it. It’s really too bad too because if the author wasn’t so focused on being “edgy”, she would have had a hell of a book on her hands. Although, I did see the ending coming.

Had a crucial part of this book not made me nauseous, I would have rated The Girls In The Garden much higher. But, that is not the case. So, for the first time in history, Lil Red will be awarding no stars out of ten stars. I really didn’t care for the direction this book took towards the end and I couldn’t look past it. Not sorry about it and I definitely wouldn’t recommend this for your next book club meeting!

Which book is currently on your night stand? Do you have any reading recommendations for me? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr4

Bath Bomb Blitz: Dove Milk Swirls Vanilla Raspberry Creamsicle Edition

Posted on April 4, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Dove Milk Swirls Vanilla Raspberry Creamsicle Edition

Hello! This past week, my mom gifted me with a marked down bath bomb by Dove that she got while grocery shopping. I like Dove products well enough and the Vanilla Raspberry Creamsicle scent definitely had me invested so I was looking forward to trying it. Unfortunately, I can totally see why this product was marked down after using it and it instantly fell under the “wouldn’t use again” category. Let’s discuss:

When I think of a bath bomb that promises a “bath milk” style feature, I always think of the water looking rich and creamy – kind of like half and half, lol. I figured the raspberry hue and fragrance would offer me a really lush bath filled with delicious, light pink, moisturizing water. Instead, I was offered scuzzy lavender pond water with no change in how it felt or smelled at all.

As soon as I put the bath bomb in the water, it began to fizz and I felt hopeful that it would work how I wanted it to. Especially because it initially fizzed very quickly and the water around it was changing. Unfortunately, about halfway through placing the bath bomb in the tub, it stopped working completely and I just broke the rest apart with my hands.

The sudden halt in the bath bomb working left for murky water and a less than impressive experience. But, I should have known that it wasn’t going to be that great from the beginning. Upon taking the bath bomb out of its plastic wrap, I literally couldn’t smell the Vanilla Raspberry Creamsicle scent that I was so excited for at all. Normally, this is a tell tale sign that the bath bomb is going to be A DUD… And it was. Whomp whomp.

What is your favorite bath bomb? Which bath bomb would you not use again? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

	Simon on V-Day Bratz Doll OOTD
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	Simon on V-Day Bratz Doll OOTD
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