Tag Archives: enjoy

Aug14

Sephora Play! Unboxing

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Sephora Play! Unboxing

Hii everyone and welcome to my very first Sephora Play! Unboxing! This subscription box was ordered simply to get me over the free shipping price during my online shopping extravaganza on Sephora. And, I enjoyed all of my goodies from the box so much that I’m definitely considering getting it for the entire year! Check it out:

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Survival Of The Chillest Play! Box:

  • Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara
  • Origins Clear Improvement Active Charoal Mask
  • IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm
  • Sephora Rouge Cream Lipstick in The Red
  • Caudalie Vinoperfect Concentrated Brightening Essence
  • Burberry perfume sample in Blush
  • 50 Beauty Insider points with a purchase at Sephora coupon

I was so completely impressed with my box of travel sized treats from Sephora and I simply adore the Me O’Clock bag that it came in. My sister has an Ipsy subscription and I always eagerly anticipate when she opens her bright pink envelope. But, I daresay, I think that this ten dollar deal from Sephora is even better than Ipsy. The high end products that I get to sample are such a treat and it’s so fun to be able to test out brands that I would never have tried before.

So far, I have used the IGK hair balm and have been loving it. In fact, I want to get it in full sized so that I can continue using it every day! I have also used the Origins face mask, which you can read about on Face Mask Festivities tomorrow and have been mixing my Caudalie essence with my micellar water to make it last. And, as I’m not a huge perfume girl, I gave my mom the Burberry sample and it smells awesome on her! It smelled very floral and powdery on me and it smelled energizing and citrusy on her. Crazy how that works out, huh?

I am looking forward to trying out the Marc Jacobs mascara and will be swatching my Sephora lippie soon, so keep it posted for that. And, definitely be on the lookout for more on the Sephora Play! boxes on lifewithlilred, because I have a feeling that it will become a monthly thing really soon!

Who else gets the Play! boxes from Sephora? Are there any other subscription boxes that I should look into? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug12

Making Moscow Mules

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Making Moscow Mules

Helloooo! This past week, my brother and sister in law came up to visit from Atlanta, Georgia. During this exciting reunion, Peter, Megan, and I decided to make DRANKS and settled upon Moscow Mules. We used Megan’s recipe and it was delicious so, now, I will share it with all of you! POUR UP.

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  • One shot vodka
  • 1/2 bottle of ginger beer
  • Juice from 1/2 lime
  • Ice

** And if you don’t have copper mugs, coffee mugs will do just fine! 😀

Moscow Mules are one of my favorite drinks. They are so crisp and refreshing and always seem to go down just right. And, who knew that they would be so easy to make?! These drinks are a wonderful option when entertaining guests or when you feel like day drinking on your day off! It’s up to you to be as classy or, for lack of a better words, trashy with it as you like. I don’t have room to talk, though, because I created this post at 11:30 in the morning on my day off and enjoyed two drinks before lunch! #YOLO 😉

What is your favorite drink? What is one of your tried and true drink recipes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug3

Meditation Station

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Meditation Station

Hi there! Something that I’ve been enjoying a lot lately is meditation. One of the libraries in my area has been hosting the two founders of a local nonprofit organization Health, Happiness, & Chan to teach meditation classes to the public. I have been going since the spring time, and found it to be really difficult. Dare I say, I even found it to be completely ineffective.

Then, we had a hiatus for a few months until the summer session began. Upon returning to classes, I had a total turn around during our hour together. I was able to complete the entire forty minute process when, before, I couldn’t even finish five minutes. It felt awesome and I left class feeling so uplifted and accomplished.

Unfortunately, but fortunately, one of our two amazing teachers (Both of whom are professors at Akron U.) has accepted a position at Harvard and is no longer with us. But, our other guru, Joanne is simply the best. I have such a strong connection with her and it was such a delight to be welcomed back to class by her with a huge hug.

Joanne has quite possibly the most beautiful voice known to mankind and, after all of us insisting on it for months, she has finally made a YouTube channel! The quality of her first few videos is not the best, but there will certainly be more to come so I wanted to share them with all of you, anyways. Joanne has such a gentle, kind, and nurturing spirit and you can literally feel it just by hearing her speak. So, subscribe and enjoy as she walks you through all different types of meditation!

Who else practices meditation? What are some of your meditation tips? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug2

August Funky Time Jams

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August Funky Time Jams

Helloooo! I don’t know about you, but when I really like a band, I listen to them a lot. While getting ready in the morning, while driving, while working, I will beat that horse into the ground like nobody’s business. But, as enjoyable as it is, it can get boring. This is why I like to turn the almost 9,000 songs in my collection on shuffle every once in a blue moon to freshen my interests up. This puts me back in touch with long forgotten favorites and it introduces me to songs that I didn’t even know I had on my iPod to begin with.

This month’s music is a hodge podge of good stuff so take a listen and enjoy:

(And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos!)

Like I said above, a hodge podge of greatness!! I mentioned yesterday that I have been on a huge Madonna kick lately, and I meant every word of it. I’ve had Madonna on my iPod for forever, but never really listened to her. Then, one day, I had a hankering to hear Die Another Day, and the rest is history. And, can we please talk about how amazing the new Greta Van Fleet song is?! I am so in love with this gaggle of guys and have been simply obsessed with their glam appearance and pure rock n’ roll vibes. Keep up the fab work, boys!

What have you been rocking out to recently? What is your favorite way to discover new music? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug1

How To Throw The Ultimate Wedding For Your Guests

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How To Throw The Ultimate Wedding For Your Guests

Weddings are a two-way street, and not just between the bride and groom. They are a balance of your own personal enjoyment and that of your guests. For that reason, many couples aim to make their special day one of the largest parties possible.

Ensuring that everyone has a good time is easier said than done, though, especially with the number of guests in attendance. What your best friend since college and your parents find entertaining are vastly different, right? So, how can you keep your roughly 50 to 250 guests happy over the course of several hours?

Believe it or not, there are a few simple ways to make your big day an event to remember in the minds of your guests. Check out these top wedding and reception tips that are sure to make your event a smash hit:

Comfort Is Key:

Nothing ruins a fun time like being uncomfortable. Summer weddings are notorious for sweat inducing heat and annoying bugs, while winter celebrations are often more about fighting off the cold. It’s impossible to enjoy a cocktail or dessert bar in either situation, let alone trying to deal with those uncomfortable conditions for hours on end.

Consider the conditions your guests will be subject to, then plan accordingly. If heat is the issue, you might want to serve ice cold glasses of lemonade. If the cold will be a concern, then hot chocolate might be in order. Picking the right bridesmaids dresses for either occasion is another essential factor. You can check here for summer and winter designs. Other considerations could be a basket of flip flops near the dance floor for tired feet, mints in the restrooms, or a sewing kit handy for emergencies.

Comfort doesn’t just apply to weather conditions but the venue itself. Is it large enough for all of your guests? Are there several bathroom facilities? Is it climate controlled? These are all excellent questions to consider as you ponder different venue options like an art museum, banquet center, or Pylewell Park (or something similar in your local area). The wrong venue for your wedding will certainly have an effect on both yourself and your guests so choose wisely.

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Destination Wedding:

If you really want to make guests happy, how about a destination wedding? Who doesn’t love a mini vacation paired with a celebration?! Of course, a destination wedding will mean putting your faith in people you aren’t meeting face to face for preparations. Wherever you choose to have your wedding, research your options carefully and opt for video chat as often as you can while communicating. You might find that popular destinations often have planners and professionals specific to the location like this Normanton Church wedding photographer. The people you pick to hire that are the most familiar with that particular place will often ensure the success of your wedding and comfort of guests too.

Avoid Stagnation:

Sitting around waiting for the next part of the main event can quickly kill the mood, not to mention highlight those uncomfortable factors mentioned above. Work with your planner to make sure that things happen in a timely fashion, to keep the day moving along. That includes the ceremony, meals, dancing, and when the bar opens. Speaking of wedding planners, enlisting the help of one could be a game changer. To begin finding the right person to make your day even more special, simply enter a search for “Puerto Vallarta Wedding Planner” (or your local area) and have your ideas ready to brainstorm together.

The Dance Floor:

Speaking of dancing, the idea is to get everyone on the dance floor ASAP. Take your time during your ceremony, but move things along quickly from there. Make sure everyone is fed and has a few drinks in them, then have your first dance and open up the floor. A grooving dance floor is the perfect opportunity for your photography and videography team to capture everyone having a blast together. Then, you can send the photos and videos to your guests afterwards as a keepsake. To begin researching the videography aspect of your wedding, simply enter a search for “Wedding Videographer in Miami” (or your local area). You could watch your wedding video together every anniversary!

The Food:

Quality food is great, but the key to happy guests outside of alcohol is having enough food for everyone. Outside of the main courses, you’ll want to have some sort of catering that allows guests to grab something to eat as they’re walking around.

Since neither food nor alcohol are cheap, many couples have turned to crowdfunding to help foot the bill. While most sites market themselves with a slogan like, “We will help your ideal honeymoon happen,” they’re also a great place to help pay for some of your wedding expenses.

Having guests chip in on the costs of both weddings and honeymoons in lieu of a gift is an excellent way to make them events to remember. While the idea might sound strange from a traditional standpoint, it happens to be trending in the wedding world.

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Everyone wants their big day to be something guests will remember for years to come. By following the advice above, you can do just that. These few key factors are all it takes to wow your guests and throw the wedding of your dreams.

Jul21

Londontown Pampering Party

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Londontown Pampering Party

Hello everyone and happy weekend to all of you! As we all know by now, Lil Red is a nail girl and I would be nothing without my beloved talon acrylics. I think this deep love for being pampered in terms of my nails comes from my beautiful grandma, because I can always remember how much she enjoyed having her nails painted with lovely shades of seashell pinks.

I am lucky enough to be pampered every four to five weeks or so when I get my nails filled. My mom, on the other hand, doesn’t get to enjoy the luxury of a manicure, because with the intense medical treatment that she’s under, she wants to avoid any more chemicals on her body than need be. This is perfectly understandable, of course!

But, this doesn’t mean that sweet JANE doesn’t want her nails looking as nice as possible, so I decided to treat her to a fabulous cuticle treatment by Londontown. Londontown is an amazing nail and hand care brand that is dedicated to strengthening nails and nourishing hands in the most natural way possible. Their products use a variety of different oils and essential vitamins to show your phalanges some love, and I knew that it would be the perfect surprise to give to my mom. Take a look:

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^^^ In order, you can see my mom’s nails without treatment, with the treatment on, and after the treatment was finished.

Londontown’s Nourishing Cuticle Oil treatment worked wonders on my mom, and she has now deemed herself “obsessed” with it. We had a blast playing beauty shop together as I applied the product and we watched as it worked its magic. Our first impression of the treatment was its scent. It smelled herbal and sweet without being overly pungent or perfumey. This was so nice, because that’s actually one of my mom’s favorite scent styles and it made us eager to apply it and see if it works as good as it smells!

Before using Londontown’s Nourishing Cuticle Oil treatment, my mom’s cuticles were really dry and brittle. They looked so ready to be removed, and I was really hoping that this product would be as good as anticipated, because if anyone deserves to be pampered – it’s my mother. Lucky for us, we didn’t have to wait long to see if this treatment was the one for her, because almost instantly upon application, she could feel it moisturizing the problem areas on her nails.

Not only was the treatment so nourishing, but its consistency did so in a non-greasy manner, which is so important to both of us when it comes to our beauty products. Its texture was not thick but, rather, quite thin and it stayed on the nail well without running onto the towel under my mom’s hands. #wastenotwantnot

After the Nourishing Cuticle oil was on my mom’s nails for a few minutes, she pushed her cuticles back, removed them as best as she could, and then I applied some more treatment. Neither of us are nail experts, by and means, but in just one use her nails looked so much better. My mom said that she felt so spoiled to be using the treatment and it made her nails look pretty without polish, which was the goal all along. ❤

Be sure to tune in next week to see my new acrylics featuring some gorgeous nail polish shades by Londontown!

How do you pamper your hands and nails? How do you create a spa night in? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: I can’t make this up. As I write this, my mom literally walked down the stairs while rubbing in the cuticle treatment and goes “Sarah, I’m addicted to this. I just feel like my nails look better”. So it definitely has the Sarah & Jane Seal Of Approval! Thanks, Londontown!

Jul17

Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Avocado & Oatmeal Clay Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Avocado & Oatmeal Clay Mask Edition

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! Until I acquire more face masks, this will be the last Face Mask Festivities post on lifewithlilred for a while. But, it has been a hoot trying out four different masks and I’m looking forward to trying out some of the ones that my wonderful readers have recommended next! To wrap things up, we are going to talk about Freeman’s Avocado & Oatmeal Clay Mask, so take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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I am a huge fan of all things avocado and oatmeal when it comes to skin care, and it was nice to use a mask with those ingredients that wasn’t a massive disappointment like the one I tested from CVS in May. This clay mask by Freeman really was just right and it left my skin feeling completely cleansed without being starved for moisture.

I love the way that this avocado and oatmeal mask smells, for starters. It doesn’t have the scent of either of its main ingredients but, rather, smells oh so creamy and rich. The lush, heavy cream aroma went hand in hand with the texture of the mask. It was thick without being too thick and spread perfectly during application.

The best part about this mask, however, was the fact that when it dried, it didn’t leave my skin feeling as dry as the desert along with it. It was easy to wash off and, after applying my moisturizing routine, my skin felt amazing. It had a vaguely cool feeling to it and my pores felt like they were taking a huge sigh of happiness. I would definitely recommend this mask for what it is – a simple product done exceedingly well. 10/10 would use again!

What are your favorite ingredients when it comes to face masks? How do you care for you skin after you wash your mask off? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul15

Duolingo Progress (Finally!)

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Duolingo Progress (Finally!)

Hello!! So for a solid month I felt like I was completely slacking not only on Pacer, but on Duolingo, too. I was feeling super unmotivated and depressed and, damnit, I just didn’t feel like doing anything. But, now that I’m back to my normal, chipper, go getter self, it was time to get back on the horse and start making some progress again.

I’ve recently began working on my advanced French and beginner Spanish again and, I’ve got to tell you, it feels great. The mental exercise that I get from spending time with my languages daily makes me wonder why I ever stopped practicing in the first place, because I feel so good afterwards. In fact, it has motivated me to start practicing sign language again, which I took a hiatus from after having difficulty finding folks to practice with. Regardless of regular use or not, knowing a plethora of languages is an amazing skill to have, and I want to keep sharpening those skills on the daily.

I was halfway nervous to start practicing my languages again after a depression break, because I was worried that I had lost all of my knowledge in one short month. But, like riding a bike, I was able to pick up right where I left off and have since been enjoying every second of it. I’m proud that I didn’t let my anxiety about forgetting my skills get the best of me in regards to whether I should bother practicing again or not. And, even if I did forget anything, the worst that could happen is that I relearn something – and what’s the harm in that?

I’m getting back to feeling great mentally and physically after a rough past month and I am ready to continue making daily progress again just like in the good old days! 😀

Are you learning a new language right now? Who else utilizes Duolingo? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul9

Summer Fun Q & A

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Summer Fun Q & A

Hello everyone and happy Monday! Can you believe we’re already one week into July?? Summer has really been in full swing lately, especially with scorching temperatures and summer holiday celebrations. So, now it’s time to recap the season so far with a little Q & A that I concocted! Feel free to spread the fun on your page, too! Let’s get to it:

Q & A:

What is the most summer-like activity that you have done so far? I have been on many a hikes in Ohio’s wonderful Metro Parks and I’ve also gone swimming in one of the lovely lakes that they offer. That was a lot of fun, minus the sunburn!

What is the hottest that it has been in your neck of the woods? It was 96 degrees a few days ago in the A-K-Rowdy, but it had a “it feels like” temperature of 109! Gross.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Mint chocolate chip, but it has to be the green kind!!

What is your favorite beverage to cool off with? I love the Very Berry Hibiscus refreshers from Starbucks but, if we’re talking alcohol, then I love me a Moscow Mule so very, very much.

What is the perfect temperature for a summer day? I friggen HATE the heat, so I would be really happy with a day in the low 70s.

What are you still looking forward to this summer? My family’s North Carolina vacation, even though it isn’t until October. 😦 😦 😦

What would your ideal summer day look like? Sleeping in past seven o’clock, hitting up my favorite outdoor shopping mall called Crocker Park, and enjoying dinner and drinks in the air conditioning!

What is your favorite thing about summer time? My birthday! I turned 24 on June 7th and I always have loved having a summer birthday. There is nothing better than getting drinks on the patio of my favorite bar during an early summer evening to celebrate.

Does the way you eat or drink change during the summer? I would say somewhat. I definitely prefer cold teas over my normal water when it’s hot out. I also think that I enjoy lighter foods like salads and flatbreads more in the summer. Because I don’t like the heat, I’m really just looking for my food and drinks to make me feel refreshed!

What happens when you get too much sun? Pardon my French, but I burn like a motherfucker. I burn, and I burn, and I burn some more. But, now I have a secret weapon up my sleeve: Aloe Vera. That stuff is the best, and I can’t believe that I haven’t used it sooner. It literally got rid of my sunburn after applying it three times a day for TWO DAYS! So amazing!

How would you answer some of the above questions? What are some of your summer time questions for me? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul8

Face Mask Festivities: Freeman’s Anti-Stress Clay Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Freeman’s Anti-Stress Clay Mask Edition

Hi everyone and welcome to the newest edition of Face Mask Festivities. Today, we are going to be discussing Freeman’s Anti-Stress Clay Mask. Delightfully reminiscent of Lush’s Don’t Look At Me mask, this blue baby definitely was a hit and was a fraction of the cost at only $3.29. Plus, no refrigerator to keep this mask fresh is required! Check it out:

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If there’s one thing that the ballin on a budget lifestyle has taught me, it’s that drugstore brands are equally, if not better, than name brands. This mask by Freeman’s was essentially the exact same thing as Don’t Look At Me by Lush for so much less. And, this made me enjoy it even more, because I felt so pampered completely guilt free.

Using Freeman’s Anti-Stress Clay Mask was the perfect treat after a long day of working and getting caught in the rain during a hike. I ran a bath, applied the mask, and was instantly transported to Relaxation Station. This mask smells awesome, for one. It is so minty and invigorating with the slightest touch of an ocean breeze, thanks to the dead sea minerals in the formula. It also was the perfect texture. It wasn’t too light or too thick, but right in the middle, and it didn’t over dry when my bath took longer than the wash off time.

Because this mask didn’t over dry, it left my skin feeling amazing after washing it off. My pores felt like they got deep cleaned and all of my blackheads were removed, to boot. Once my face was nice and clean, I applied my Vitamin E Sleep Mask from The Body Shop and drifted off into the Land Of Nod feeling like I just spent my evening at the spa. Except this spa costed me less than ten dollars to enjoy, and I can definitely swing that!

What is your favorite face mask to use? How do you create a spa experience at home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah