Tag Archives: easter

May2

Garden Party OOTD

Posted on May 2, 2025 by lifewithlilred

Howdy everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred!! Whenever I shoot OOTDs, the amount of time I wear each outfit varies. I might wear the look out, I might be shooting the look before work and will change afterwards, or I shoot the look at home and get back into comfy clothes immediately. The latter was very much the case for the fit you are about to see because I actually had it on on Easter prior to going to chez Johnny. We both agreed that we didn’t want to dress up for the low key gathering so I got into a less showy outfit after taking pictures. While this look didn’t see the light of Easter day, it would still be perfect for a Garden Party on a gorgeous spring afternoon! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Flower Embroidered Sweater: Jessica Simpson, TJMaxx

Cami Top: mittoshop, French Rooster

Faux Leather Pleated Skirt: BB Dakota, TJMaxx

Kitten Heels: Nine West, TJMaxx

As I began building this outfit, I had skirts on the mind. But, which one? When dressing for spring, I always err on the side of the weather being a bit chilly so anything mini was an instant no go. My options for longer skirts were doing nothing for me and then my eyes locked in on the pretty little number by BB Dakota and I knew we were in business. This fantastic faux leather skirt is everything!! The pleats are playful and provide the most delicious movement and the tea length is simply charming. Despite the jet black background, the floral pattern in soft shades of pink felt oh so spring and the rest of the outfit built itself from there.

First, I paired the skirt with a tucked in cami top. However, this was not appropriate for the weather in the slightest as there was a brisk breeze in the air. Although I think this look would be great with a sharp blazer, that was more of a date night vibe than Garden Party. With that aesthetic fully in mind, I selected a darling cream cardigan by Jessica Simpson with raised flower embroidery. It might not have been a perfect match to the cream highlighting shades in the skirt, but it was close enough. And, as always, that’s good enough! This cardi provided such a dreamy pop and I loved the differing textures between the cozy fabric and faux leather skirt.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. Given the tea length of the skirt, I didn’t want to wear any shoes with a strap as it would break up the leg line. Luckily, I had just the pair for the occasion and broke out the cutest kitten heels by Nine West. They kept the outfit flowing and added a touch of shine and bling. With minimal real estate for jewelry, I put on a pair of super dangly black cross earrings to accentuate my neckline and with that, I was ready for my photo op… Only to change immediately after! 😀

This look is incredibly easy to replicate and is ideal for any spring special occasion. How sweet would this OOTD be for afternoon tea?!

Do you have any events or gatherings coming up? What do you wear for a special event? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr17

Pet Bunnies For Easter – DON’T!

Posted on April 17, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy!! Easter is right around the corner and, for some reason, animals seem to be an extremely popular gift to give to kids in their Easter baskets. From bunnies and ducks to chicks and cuddly puppies and kittens, Easter has become synonymous with welcoming a new pet. And, sadly, a majority of these pets will be a favorite plaything for a while until they end up abandoned in the wild or a shelter. Am I the only one who finds this absolutely ridiculous?! As a proud bunny mom of two sweet angels, I am here to talk about all of the reasons why a pet bunny might not be the experience that you think:

A long commitment:

Did you know that a well cared for bunny can live up to ten years? That’s essentially equivalent to a family cat or dog and their care requires multiple daily commitments to allow them to thrive. From constantly cleaning up messes to visits to the vet, regular snack times, and ample time outside of their hutch to roam and play – bunnies are more work than you might have thought. They are not just sedentary creatures that are up for constant cuddles. Bunnies want to be on the go and your schedule must accommodate a lot of free roaming time. Can’t commit? Don’t get them.

A financial investment:

One thing is for sure about pet bunnies – they are not cheap! In a previous post, I did some bunny math and the amount I spend for two rabbits per month is roughly one hundred and fifty dollars. Chewy orders and trips to the grocery store for fresh veggies and the occasional fruit treat are constant and it will be that way for up to a decade. These little sweeties have expensive taste just like their mom lol and they are definitely a financial investment. All of the items needed for their care are essential and cannot be bypassed. Can’t commit to spending over one hundred bucks per month? Don’t get them.

Unique temperaments:

If you are under the impression that your new bunny will want to be constantly held by your kids, prepare for your worldview to be shattered. All bunnies have unique temperaments. My Melvin, for example, loves being pet and doesn’t mind being held but is ready to roam after ten or so minutes. Penelope, however, is incredibly shy. It took a lot of time and patience to get her acclimated to my touch. She adores her pets now (usually) but isn’t interested in being held in the slightest.

This very well could be the case for the bunny you bring home and if you try to force this kind of contact, you are going to end up traumatizing the bunny and it will be miserable. Every bunny’s temperament should be respected. This is something that can be hard for a child to grasp because, at the end of the day, they are going to want to hold them anyways. That can truly impact their pet’s quality of life in a negative way if the bunny is uncomfortable being held and that is unacceptable. If you feel that you or your child can’t accept that, don’t get them.

Safety first:

Safety for your bunny isn’t just trips to the vet. It means bunny proofing their roaming area so they can’t hurt themselves. This means eliminating anything that is dangerous for them to ingest, covering wall sockets, and getting any and all wires out of there. Their roaming area should be totally and completely free from anything that can harm them as well as any items you are attached to. Trust and believe, your bunny will find a way to chew them. Their quality of life and safety is paramount and if you don’t have a space in your house where they can safely roam freely, they are not the pet for you.

A pet as a gift in theory might seem great to you. In practice, it is a totally different thing and I hope this post will make you think twice on your Easter basket selections. Stuffed animals are a much better way to go!

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

Apr4

Sweet Surprises: Bunny Decor Edition

Posted on April 4, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! I am incredibly lucky to be able to call my sister, brother-in-law, and three darling nieces my best friends in the whole world. They are simply the best and Johnny and I cherish every second with them. My crew is never far from my mind and I know the feeling is mutual – this was further confirmed by a Sweet Surprise from the bestie squad! When I got to my shift at chez parents this past week, there was a gift waiting for me on the kitchen table compliments of my BFFs and it absolutely delighted me. Check out this perfect prezzie for everyone’s favorite bunny mom:

As you all know, Easter is one of my favorite holidays. Not for religious purposes but because of the fact that bunny decor reigns supreme in stores. I have to get at least one new bunny themed decoration per year to celebrate my sweet pets and it just makes me happy lol. I’m even happier to know that my besties got into the spirit too! After unwrapping my adorable bunny in bow tie present, I could almost picture the shopping scene in my head of my sister and nieces. I am sure that as soon as my eldest niece saw it on a shelf, she told her mom that TT, Melvin, and Penelope, would love it. Even if this vision was imaginary, whoever thought I would love it was spot on!

Do I need more bunny decor? That was a trick question because the answer will always be a resounding YES! My Sweet Surprise is proudly displayed in my bunny corner of the knick knack shelf and it makes me smile every time I see it! ❤

Do you have any pet themed home decor? What is your favorite holiday to decorate for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr8

Easter Extravaganza OOTD Bloopers

Posted on April 8, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Easter Extravaganza OOTD! My Easter was short and sweet with a quick visit to my mom and dad’s for some lunch. We just ended up getting a take out meal from Giant Eagle and everything was so good. So good and SO very filling! After our lunch paired with champagne, I was ready to go home, put on my pajamas, and sleep for the rest of the week lol. Of course, it wouldn’t be a holiday without getting dressed up in your Sunday best to just eat food. Despite being in my Sunday best, these pics were the absolute worst:

Just out here trying my best

FE FI FO FUM ready or not here I come

TFYM when you know you’re about to fall over

The leaning tower of Lil Red

Action shot of me kicking the winning goal

How I looked after my food coma

I’M SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Although Easter breaks my rules of never doing anything on a Sunday, I was pretty excited for it. We were going to do an Easter egg hunt for my sweet nieces and I couldn’t wait to assemble the eggs with candy treats. Then, my sister ended up having to work and Ohio did that typical Ohio thing… It rained all weekend so any outdoor egg hunts were no longer an option anyways. I’ll be looking forward to having a belated egg hunt with better weather soon. ❤

Another Ohio uh oh will actually be happening today. In my neck of the woods, we are in a path of full totality for the solar eclipse. It has been the hot buzz here for over a month and there are countless festivals and events taking place. For once, people are traveling from all over just to come to Ohio lol. Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone is going to be getting the show they expected because it will be cloudy all day. This has been a “what if” joke online and leave it up to my state to make good on it. Maybe next solar eclipse four hundred years later… 😀

Like the weather in Ohio, the blooper pictures are never the best. But, hey, at least that’s to be expected with both of them!

Are you going to view the solar eclipse? Are you going to an event for it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr5

Easter Extravaganza OOTD

Posted on April 5, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Holidays like Thanksgiving and Easter crack me up because it’s basically just getting dressed up to sit there and eat food lol. That was the case this Easter, for sure, and I am so not complaining – everything was delicious. 😀 Even though I was only stopping by my parents’ house for a short visit, I still had to show out in a fun lil look. Trust and believe I got back in my pajamas as soon as I got home! I was in a champagne and food coma haha. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Floral Blazer: Scotch & Soda, TJMaxx

Cami Top: mittoshop, French Rooster

Distressed Boyfriend Jeans: Banjara, TJMaxx

Snakeskin Pattern Boots: Target

Turquoise Earrings: Lucky Brand

When I am styling an OOTD, I usually like to start from the top down. However, I already knew that I wanted to wear my new Banjara jeans so I built from the bottom up. These boyfriend jeans were an amazing find from TJs and I can’t get over the bling bling embellishment and the price. They were only eight dollars on clearance! As you all have probably noticed, these jeans are not as tight as what I normally wear. It definitely felt different lol! But, they also helped set up the rest of the outfit because I knew exactly how I wanted to style them.

Since the jeans offered more wiggle room, I wanted the top of the look to be a bit more form fitting. I popped on my go to lace cami top from French Rooster to have something on that fit closer to my body. The lace also helped to balance out the toughness of the distressing on the jeans. Then, I went shopping in my blazer department and chose a floral number by Scotch & Soda. For the blazer, I didn’t want a power suit level fit. The Scotch & Soda one was perfect because it is a pajama top style and worked with the fit of the jeans so nicely. It gave shape without going in the polar opposite direction and it kept the look flowing seamlessly.

Next, it was onto shoes and accessories. I wanted to add an additional pattern with the shoes because they are so far away from the floral blazer and the jeans acted as a buffer. After browsing my shoe selection, I went with a pair of snakeskin patterned heeled boots from Target. These are literally old as dirt, but I still love them! They added such a funky pop as they peek a booed out from beneath the slightly too long for me jeans. The pattern was also soft enough that it didn’t clash with the blazer. The last thing I did was put on a pair of turquoise dangly earrings because the outfit didn’t need anything else. I also adored the pretty shade against the orange of the blazer. One of my favorite color combos!

With that, I was ready to go eat at chez parents in style. Our celebration wasn’t an extravaganza, per se, but my outfit sure was!

What is your favorite gemstone? How about your favorite animal pattern? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar31

Happy Easter!!

Posted on March 31, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and Happy Easter to those who celebrate! I hope you all have a fantastic day. 🙂 This past week was an absolute doozy in the worst way possible and it has been nice to take the time to unwind this weekend. Tuesday was literally horrible and I am hoping for sunshiny days ahead… Well, as sunshiny as you can get with April showers! Despite Tuesday being awful, I did have a little Easter pick me up that I thought I would share with all of you:

On Wednesday morning, I was still reeling from the day before and was feeling really blue as I went to pick up my transport client. All I wanted to do was sleep, but seeing my clients always perks me up and I am so glad that I powered through. As my client approached my car, I noticed him carrying a pretty wrapped package and card. It was an early Easter gift and it couldn’t have come at a better time. In fact, this is not the first time I was gifted a sweet surprise from this family when I desperately needed a pick me up. They must have some type of telepathy!

After I got my client to work, I parked my car to unwrap my prezzie because I couldn’t wait till I got home. I was delighted by a beautiful card and some Bunny Hollow hand soap! It was such a thoughtful gesture and is a true testament to wonderful things coming in small packages. Even though the week was extremely trying times for yours truly, this was such a welcome reminder of all of the good that is in my life. I was so thankful for this perfectly timed surprise. ❤

This little token of appreciation went a long way and it feels so good to be cherished by others during the holidays. Happy Easter to all of you and I hope this spring brings you flowers, rainbows, and happiness!

Have you had any sweet surprises recently? How are you celebrating Easter? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar9

Pet Bunnies For Easter: DON’T

Posted on March 9, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Apparently, Easter is at the end of the month, which I just learned by looking it up lol. With Easter comes the decision of whether or not to get your children a bunny or another form of baby animal as a pet. I’ll make that decision easier by telling you… DON’T DO IT!! I have been happy to see lots of similar posts on my social media newsfeeds, which means it’s about time for my yearly PSA to say the same. Need more reasons other than it’s simply not a good idea to get an Easter bunny of your own? I’ve got you:

Melvin and Penelope sure are cute right? So cute, in fact, that it’s easy to forget how much work and care that two little balls of fluff require. I have wanted pet bunnies for as long as I can remember, but I am so happy that I got Mel and P as an adult because I knew exactly what I was getting myself into. Remember, bunnies can live for over ten years. That’s a long commitment and chances are a majority of their care will fall on you. Here’s some key points to know about bunnies that will hopefully leave you with getting your kiddos a stuffed animal instead…

Bunnies Are Shy:

If you think that bunnies are going to be happy immediately being cuddled, coddled, and held: You are wrong. I have had Mel and P for a year and a half and it took them a very long time to get acclimated to mine and Johnny’s touch. As of now, Penelope finally doesn’t mind being held and Mel still despises it. Even though Pen tolerates being held well, it’s something I don’t do often because I never want to break the trust that I have so carefully cultivated. Bunnies require a lot of patience to have them be friendly with you and anything less will simply traumatize them.

Bunnies Are Expensive:

You know what doesn’t require constant Chewy orders? A stuffed animal! Bunnies are a HUGE financial responsibility and I spend at least a hundred dollars on them on Chewy monthly – not to mention vet bills. You will need to get your bunnies pellet food, Timothy hay, bedding, toys, and don’t forget weekly trips to the grocery store for fresh veggies. So, in all reality, you are looking to spend closer to one hundred fifty per month. If you can’t commit to that financial responsibility for the next ten years, then don’t get the bunnies period.

Bunnies Are Messy:

Every morning, I spend an hour caring for my bunnies. This includes a thorough cleaning of their litter boxes and any accidents they had outside of it. It can be a really lengthy process. Then, the bunnies will come out to play and that means bedding, hair, and hay everywhere! Johnny and I are constantly sweeping our floors and the amount of dust bunnies after just one day is unreal. If you are not up for forever cleaning up after bunnies, then they are not the pet for you. I’m here to tell you and be perfectly honest – it is never ending.

PS:

All of these things are important to consider, but there is so much more too. Bunnies need lots of exercise to be happy and if you can’t be around to let them roam in a safe setting, they are not living their best lives. They are also very social creatures and it’s best to get them in a pair so they have a companion. Bunnies want your love and attention and if you can’t do the things that make them feel this way, they are not a good choice for a pet.

Having said all of that: Bunnies are absolutely amazing and my life is infinitely better because of Mel and P. However, any animal should not be adopted as a split decision or a gift and most bunnies adopted for Easter will end up back in a shelter. Make this choice wisely and stick to traditional treats for Easter, instead.

How does your pet get exercise? What is your pet’s favorite treat? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb19

Bunny Galore Home Decor

Posted on February 19, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! As you all know, Johnny and I are bunny parents to the sweetest mother and son duo named Melvin and Penelope. They are our little pride and joys and life simply wouldn’t be the same without them scampering about the apartment and being cute. This past week, we took a look at some gorgeous new clothes from my TJMaxx haul. This is all well and good and I love everything I got. However, there were some home decor pieces that I couldn’t pass up and they just might be my favorite things of all! Check it out:

^^^ LOL pardon my shedding husband in the last picture. SMH!!

Have you ever noticed how there is never a shortage of home decor for dog and cat owners in stores? No matter the time of the year, there will always and forever be “dog/cat mom” items to pick from. I have, honestly, never thought about this until this past shopping trip. When my mom and I made our way to the home decor department, I almost died and went to bunny heaven. There were bunny decorations everywhere and it took me a minute to realize this was in preparation of Easter lol. Now, I know that this is truly the bunny owner’s time to shine!

If I had all of the money in the world, I would have bought every single bunny item in the store. They were all just SO cute! The first thing that caught my eye was the topiary bunny on a pedestal and it immediately went into the cart. This was a great substitute because they had a huge topiary bunny that I wanted desperately, but lacked the space for. Next, my mom showed me the beautiful flower print bunny figurine and that also had to come home with me. They had this little statue in a variety of patterns, but the one my mom pointed out was the first one I saw and I liked it the most. I especially like that it makes me think about her when I see it. ❤

The last bunny items I purchased were some adorable decorative plates with images from Peter Rabbit on them. I have several Halloween themed plates from TJs that I just like to have so I was happy to add onto the collection. The pictures are so incredibly sweet and I actually have a few teacups with Peter Rabbit on them to match. Finally, Johnny and I are avid fans of wall art and after some deliberation, I added the butterfly illustration to my cart too. I have quite a few prints of scientific drawings of plants that I got from the Goodwill and this will look perfect hanging next to them. I love the frame and bold colors and, of course, I always think about my niece when I see butterflies – her favorite!

Now that I know when to find bunny themed home decor, you can catch me at the same place, same time next year. Thank you, TJMaxx, for making this bunny mom an extremely happy customer!

Do you change your home decor out every season? What is your favorite season to decorate for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr19

Belated Easter Egg Hunt

Posted on April 19, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! With the craziness going on in Lil Red’s world, my family didn’t do anything for Easter and Johnny and I enjoyed a much needed day of rest. I still had grand plans for an Easter egg hunt for my sweet niece, Val Gal, and this past Thursday we spent the afternoon outside together in the summertime temps. Prior to the arrival of my sister, Raya, and Val, I filled up the eggs with prizes and placed them throughout the backyard to be found. I would say that it was a raging success; Val loved it!

This was Val’s very first Easter egg hunt and my girl came to WIN! She was finding eggs left and right and it was so fun to watch her scurrying around the yard and filling up her bag. Almost every single egg was found without a hitch and the only one she needed help finding was one directly in front of her lol. Once the hunt was over, we went back inside to evaluate the spoils which included money, chocolate, and Sweet Tarts. Some of the chocolate did melt so it was lucky we had backup supplies and Val was so sweet to offer the first Hershey Kiss in one of her eggs to me. Angel! ❤

After the eggs were all opened, we just had to go back outside and soak up the sunshine. My dad, Kristen, Val, Raya in the stroller, and Archie the dog went for a nice, long walk around the neighborhood. We taught Val about the different flowers that were blooming and, although every yellow flower was a sunflower, I think she learned a thing or two haha. To end our day, Val and I stayed outside and played with our favorites; Chalk and bubbles! We colored rainbows and the flowers we saw on our walk and, I hate to brag, but we popped a very impressive amount of bubbles. 😀

When my sister arrived back home with the kiddos, she sent me a picture of Val fast asleep in the car after our activity filled afternoon. The sure sign of the best Easter egg hunt ever and Val is already eager to do another one again soon!

What was your favorite thing to play outside with when you were little? Did you or your kids attend an Easter egg hunt this year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar3

Pet Bunnies For Easter: DON’T!!

Posted on March 3, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Johnny and I have had our sweet baby bunny angels, Melvin and Penelope, for almost four months already! I honestly can’t believe it has only been that short of a time because it feels like I have had them for forever. The more time I spend as a very active bunny mom, the more I truly can’t understand why small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters are given to children as pets. They are way more work than you could ever expect and it’s not fair to expect a child to meet the needs of pets that require a lot of care.

With the Easter season approaching, I wanted to share my thoughts on this as bunnies are as common to give to kids as candy for the holiday. However, a majority of these rabbits will end up in shelters within the year. Here is a brief summary of all that having a bunny entails before you make the decision to incorporate a new pet:

Bunnies Need Exercise:

If your plan is to get a rabbit and confine it to a hutch all day every day, then let me stop you right now. For both the mental and physical health of the rabbit, they need plenty of exercise outside of their cage. Because I work from home a lot, I allow my bunnies to roam for six plus hours a day. Your rabbit’s exercise space will need to be fully bunny-proofed to prevent them from getting hurt or chewing on anything that they shouldn’t. And chew, they will – one look at our windowsill will prove it!

Bunnies Are Expensive:

There are so many supplies that you will need to have constantly at home for your small animal; Pellet food, veggies, Timothy hay, bedding, toys, and litter to name just a few. Individually, these things aren’t the most expensive in the world but it adds up when you have to replenish supplies often. On average, Johnny and I probably spend between sixty to one hundred dollars on Chewy per month. If this is something that your budget won’t allow, then let me stop you right now as these are all essential items to your bunny’s care.

Bunnies Are Messy:

After the arrival of Melvin and Penelope, I had to push my wake up time back to 5 AM so that I could care for them and still start online work in time. Every morning, I have to thoroughly clean their potty area including three litter boxes. While Mel and P are pretty good about using their litter box, they still are subject to accidents. Bunnies deserve a clean space and if you can’t set aside adequate time every day to spot clean and empty litter boxes, then let me stop you right now.

Bunnies Are Social:

Bunnies are very social animals and having a bonded pair is ideal. Like humans, bunnies can get depressed too and need stimulation to keep them happy. This means lots of toys, taking the time to pet and groom them, and interacting with them throughout the day. If you can’t commit to the highly necessary extra socialization for your bunny, then let me stop you right now.

Bunnies Are Usually NOT Cuddly:

If you are imagining a fluffy little something that the kids can hold and snuggle, then let me stop you right now. Bunnies, traditionally, are prey animals and they despise being picked up. Kind of like a cat, you really need to let your bunny come to you on their own terms. Penelope is very shy and it took a decent amount of time for her to warm up to me. Melvin, on the other hand, is very adventurous and never minded me too much! It all depends on the temperament of your bunny and forcing cuddles is only going to terrorize them.

Bunnies Are Awesome:

Melvin and Penelope are the absolute best and I love them so much. Before committing to wanting pet bunnies in the first place, I researched their necessary care and felt like I could provide that and more. It makes me happy that I can and it’s important to me that people know what they are getting into before taking a small pet home. It is incredibly rewarding, but a lot of work!

If you or someone you know is considering an Easter bunny, please consider this post before making any decisions. If you can’t meet all of these daily tasks for their care, then a bunny isn’t the pet for you.

What kind of pet do you have? Have you had a small animal as a pet before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

	lifewithlilred on Spirit Christmas Haul
	oliveunicorn on Spirit Christmas Haul
	Simon on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers
	lifewithlilred on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers
	Simon on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers