Tag Archives: express

Cleaning Out My Clothing Hoard

Standard
Cleaning Out My Clothing Hoard

Hey!! One thing that I have a really difficult time doing is letting go of clothing. I have a dresser and closet filled with gorgeous clothes that are certainly pretty to look at, but some of them really just don’t belong anymore. Whether that be from the clothes not fitting the best or I haven’t worn it in years, I never know when I might need it! πŸ˜‰ Hence, a massive clothing hoard that needed to be tamed.

On the day after Christmas, I spent my time going through my closet and dresser and selecting clothes to sell to Plato’s Closet. It was hard!! There were pieces that I had in mind to add to my Plato’s bag, but when the time came to remove it from the hanger and fold it, it was like my feet became super glued to the floor. I knew that I needed to purge my closet but, damnit, I really didn’t want to!

Despite massive cold feet about my closet clean out, I managed to fill a whole bag to bring to Plato’s Closet. How, you might ask? First, the clothes that didn’t fit well were an automatic toss into the bag. Then, I took a deep breath, really tried to measure how many times I’ve worn the piece in the past year, and made my decision based on that.

The first few times that I had to make a decision to keep or toss was so difficult because, of course, you want to keep everything! But, then you think about why the clothing is taking up space in your closet if you’re not using it and it just makes sense to rid yourself of it. It really seemed like a “now or never” type of situation and even though I had a hard time, I was committed to completing my project in the now.

I took my clothes to Plato’s Closet and got twenty-five bucks for the clothes that they wanted the day after Christmas. It was great, because no one was there so I was in and out in no time! Everyone, me included, thinks that their clothes are worth way more but hey, it’s better than nothing!

I wasn’t too disappointed that everything wasn’t taken from my bag, but there are two things that I wanted to throw out to the blogging world to see if anyone wanted to make an offer on them. They just seem too nice and cute for someone not to want to score a great deal!!

clothesclothes1clothes2

Both the Express blazer and American Eagle Outfitters peacoat are an Extra Small. The blazer was originally $108 with the tags still on it and the AEO peacoat was close to one hundred, as well. The Express blazer has a bit of discoloration on the collar from my hair dye, but can’t be seen when it’s worn. Both are super cute and in great condition, so if you want to make an offer, it’s all yours! πŸ™‚

What are your tips on cleaning out a clothing hoard? How do you choose which items to keep or toss? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Are You Ready To Start Expressing Yourself?

Standard
Are You Ready To Start Expressing Yourself?

One thing that a lot of people struggle with is that they don’t feel as though they’re able to project much about who they are to the world as a whole. You might be the most interesting, creative, and exciting person on the planet and yet you still feel as though you blend into the background when you’re around other people. Sure, not everyone wants to be the center of attention, but it can be tough when it feels like people aren’t getting to see the real you.

However, that doesn’t mean that you’re stuck with that kind of situation for the rest of your life! Being able to express yourself isn’t all that difficult, you just need to know how to go about it, and feel comfortable enough to let the real you shine through no matter what. Here are a few simple things that you can do to get started on really showing the world what you’re made of:

Change Up Your Look: Not everyone is going to be obsessed with fashion, and that’s okay! But the way that you present yourself can have a huge impact on the way the world sees you and can be a wonderful opportunity for you to express yourself. Different styles say different things, and it’s cool to be able to share something about yourself with everyone that you walk past. And of course, no one feels the same every day so why not change up your look constantly?!

Many people will look completely different on a day to day basis, whether that’s through clothes, makeup, or even wigs. That might sound a bit drastic but it can be a lot of fun, and it’s worth trying at least a couple of times. When it comes to wigs, try CelebWigs for a bunch of different styles to see how you can express yourself. Of course, if you’re not looking to make that much of an entrance wherever you go, sticking to a style that you love and reflects who you are is just as good!

express

Who doesn’t love a good makeover?!

Be Proud Of The Things You Love: We all have things that we’re passionate about, but a lot of the time we don’t want to express those things to other people because we’re worried about how they will judge them. This is where the idea of a “guilty pleasure” comes from. The truth, is that you should never have a guilty pleasure. If you love something, then that doesn’t impact anyone else’s life, so why shouldn’t you be proud of it? Whether it’s a type of music, TV, book, or anything else, wearing your passions on your sleeve can be a great way to express yourself to the world. And hey, you might even find that someone else feels the same way and you can strike up a new friendship.

Be Confident In Who You Are: One of the hardest things in the world is being confident in who you are. The media and the world around us work very hard to tell us that we’re not good enough. That we’re too fat, thin, short, tall, old, or young. All of these things mean that many of us are walking around on a day to day basis feeling as though we can’t be confident in who we are. But the world’s not going to change unless we change. So, no matter who you are, it’s important to be proud of it and never let the world tell you that there’s something wrong with that.

Change Your Environment: Of course, sometimes those kinds of feelings don’t come from inside yourself but from a toxic environment. Having friends who don’t appreciate who you are or people around you who try to make you feel bad for the way that you express yourself can make life very difficult and lonely for a lot of people. If that’s the case, then there’s nothing wrong with ending those friendships and changing your environment to something more loving and supportive. You would be amazed what a change of scenery can do for your self love and confidence.

Now, none of this is trying to tell you that you should try and be some kind of bold, brash person if that’s not who you are deep down. You should never try to be anyone else. The point is simply to be able to embrace what makes you a unique individual and to avoid hiding that from the world, because everyone deserves to see the real you shine.

Featured Image By: Pexels

New American Eagle Outfitters Jeans

Standard
New American Eagle Outfitters Jeans

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! I hope all of you are having a great week so far. A little fact about Lil Red is that I freaking hate blue jeans. I absolutely one hundred and fifty percent despise them. I feel like they are so unflattering on me and that they make me look like a total heifer. Therefore, I only wear black skinny jeans. But here’s the thing – the skinnies can’t look or feel like denim. I’ve been in need of a new pair of these hard to come by pants for a while and finally caved this past weekend and purchased a pair from American Eagle Outfitters. Despite a few issues that I have with them, they’re alright so far so let’s discuss:

My holy grail pair of black skinnies is from H&M. They’re the literal best pair of pants that I ever owned and I love them so much. Unfortunately, my H&Ms as well as my pair from Express are starting to show signs of wear and tear which needed to be remedied ASAP. The nearest H&M to me is about an hour away and Express is way too expensive for my liking so I had to do some soul searching around the mall to find a pair that I could live with.

After trying on a few duds, I ended up settling for the AEO Sateen Jegging. I really liked the material that it was made out of because it didn’t feel like denim at all. They seriously feel like cloth on my legs when in all reality, they’re made out of a Super Super Stretch cotton blend of denim. This was a major plus for me because I hate the texture of denim and the way it lays on my body. And even though these jeggings felt awesome on my skin, they didn’t look like cloth by any means which I would never be caught dead in.

Another bonus about my new jeggings is that they fit skin tight but because the material is so stretchy, you never feel constricted. My other pairs of skinnies no longer fit closely to my skin anymore from over a year of wear so it felt really good to try on a pair of skinnies that fit nice and tight, like they should. I think that my new jeggings look really flattering and I love the way that they make my legs and booty look thanks to their super snug fit.

Although I really do love the fit and make of AEO’s Sateen Jeggings, I can’t help but think that they’re a little boring. My pair from Express was embellished with a snakeskin pattern while my H&M pair was coated and had quilted patches on the knees. It’s essential to me that the clothes that I buy have a little extra something to them to make them unique and unfortunately, there isn’t anything special about my AEO pair. Don’t get me wrong, I do like them but because I was in such desperate need for new pantalones, I ended up settling for the pair at the mall that didn’t suck the least.

Another major downside to American Eagle’s denim is their outrageous prices. These jeggings cost me fifty dollars which I was not thrilled about. My favorite pair of skinnies from H&M were half the price at twenty-five bucks so to pay double for a pair that didn’t totally knock my socks off kind of hurt. I think the prices at AEO are absurd to begin with so I was kind of mad that the jeggings I went with were from there. But hey, I was desperate and beggars can’t be choosers.

Even though I feel pretty wishy washy about my New American Eagle Outfitters Jeans, I am happy that I got them. They were much needed, they fit well, and I know that I’ll get a lot of use out of them. The clothes that I have purchased from AE has lasted me such a long time so I know that these jeggings will be no exception. Now if only I can make it out to H&M to restock my black skinnies collection with some pieces that are more reasonably priced!

You can check out my new AEO Sateen Jeggings as well as all of American Eagle’s clothing on the link provided. What is the best place to find black skinny jeans at? What is your favorite store to splurge at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Hello, It’s Me!

Standard
Hello, It’s Me!

Hey there everyone and happy Sunday! I hope all of you are having a wonderful and relaxing weekend. I’ve noticed that I haven’t put up a whole lot of pictures of me on the ol’ blog lately. To remedy that, I had my dad break out his prized camera and snap some pictures of me during this past week. We shot some pictures outside and as you can see, Ohio got quite a bit of snow! (So much so that I was snowed in at home for an afternoon!) We also took some pics on our cool, color blocked hallway for your viewing pleasure. Take a look:

^^^ Thanks, dad! ❀

What I Wore:

  • Featured Image Jacket:Β This was one of my Christmas gifts, compliments of Target. You can read all about it in my post,Β New Coat Heaven.
  • Killin’ It Hoodie: My hoodie dress is one of my all time favorite Forever 21 finds which you can read about in my Monday Update: Forever 21 Haul Edition.
  • Black Skinnies: I got these from Express about a year or so ago. They used to have the coolest snakeskin pattern printed on them but unfortunately it faded away after over a year of washing. -_-
  • Zipper Front Heels: These babies are one of my steals that I got from Kohl’s a while back ago which you can read about in, If The Shoe Fits – Apt. 9 Edition.
  • Teal Fingerless Gloves: My glovies are one of my favorite accessories that I own. My mom got these for me from TJMaxx when I was in high school. It was on a day that I didn’t feel like going to school so we went shopping instead! I love them just as much now as I did when I first got them.

It was so nice to be able to spend the afternoon being photographed by my dear old dad. He definitely shot some winners and it was a great way to spend time together! How has everyone’s weekend been? What kind of weather are you having in your neck of the woods right now? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Lil Red Recommends: January Edition!

Standard
Lil Red Recommends: January Edition!

Whatsup guys! Happy Sunday to each and every one of you! I’ve read quite a few good books this month, discovered a cool new band, and had a somewhat religious experience while shopping, so I wanted to share all of these and more with you in the newest Lil Red Recommends! Let’s get to it:

Read Tuesdays With Morrie: Seriously. Like Nike…just do it. My dear friend Kate got this for me a few Christmas-es ago and I decided to pick it up when I was out of a book to read after I finished Big Little Lies (which will be discussed later!) I read this book quite some time ago, and I am SO happy that I finally reread it. This book touched my heart and soul in ways that I can’t even describe the second time around. I guess that has to do with the fact that my beloved grandma was still alive and well the first time I read this book. This is a true story that chronicles the final visits a professor suffering with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) has with a former student. Mitch, who hasn’t spoke with his favorite college professor Morrie Schwartz in sixteen years becomes aware of his professor’s disease by seeing him doing a television interview while flipping stations. He hops a plane to Boston to see Morrie looking fragile and pallid in a wheelchair. After their first visit together which fell on a Tuesday, Morrie asked if Mitch would come to see him again next week, to which Mitch obliged. All of their meetings in their college days fell on a Tuesday and these visits stayed true to that tradition because they’re “Tuesday people” according to Morrie. During the visits between professor and student topics like religion, emotions, forgiveness, and death are discussed. We learn about Morrie and Mitch’s past and current struggles, that are peppered with humor and the questions that everyone probably asks themselves. This tribute to an amazing man had the ability to make me love both Morrie and Mitch as if they were my own family, and I cannot recommend this book enough. If you’re looking for a quick read that makes you think and opens your heart, grab yourself a copy of Tuesdays With Morrie pronto. If this book doesn’t move you in some way, then you literally have no soul.

morrie

Read Big Little Lies: Ohh yes, this book is FABULOUS. Big Little Lies tells the tale of the drama of three women: battered and beautiful Celeste, fashionable and confrontational Madeline, and of course shy and young Jane. These ladies meet through the kindergarten that their children attend and through fast friendship their lives become intertwined. All of the struggles these women face lead up to a tragic night at a school trivia night function for the parents. The chapters literally begin with counting down the amount of time left until the trivia night. This book covers everything from domestic violence, fabulous fashion, sexual assault, bullying, and relationships and it is an absolute thrill of a read. I can’t tell you too much about the book because it’s going to ruin a lot of the shocks and surprises that happen in basically each chapter. I’m a big fan of the author Herman Koch and Big Little Lies is written very similarly to his work, so I instantly fell in love with it. I know this description of the book was vague, but seriously PLEASE read it and tell me what you think! I’m already obsessed with the author Liane Moriarty and just started one of her best sellers The Husband’s Secret last night. I’m very confident that it will be on my next Lil Red Recommends segment!

big little lies

Listen to Sam Roberts Band: I know, I know – typical PacSun music. SUE ME FOR IT because I love these guys! So catchy, so fresh, so upbeat. I just put their debut album Lo-Fantasy on my iTunes two days ago and I’m kind of obsessed. It comes with two disks, the actual CD and then remix versions of some of the songs. Upbeat is honestly one of the best words I can use to describe these guys, because that’s what they are – they’re fun and the beats of their songs are absolutely infectious. I dare you to not listen to Sam Roberts Band without bobbing your head or tapping your feet. Or in my case – dancing very poorly. I heard their songs “Metal Skin”and “Shapeshifters” when I used to work at PacSun, and they remain two of my favorite songs off of Lo-Fantasy. Do yourselves a favor and give them a try, you’ll be glad you did.

Shop The Pre-Spring Sales: So I was at the mall earlier this week with my sister and all of the stores were still flaunting their post holiday/pre-spring sales. We went to the two stores that we wanted to find the best deals at, which were Victoria’s Secret and Express. Kristen managed to get a sixty dollar bra from VS for only twenty dollars! You seriously can’t beat that. There were a few bras that I had my eye on in their sale bins, but I have more than enough bras to wear a different one every day of the week so I controlled myself from purchasing one, as hard as it was!!! #selfcontrol The real steal of the day came from my find at Express. This entire winter season I had my eye on a gorgeous snake skin print embellished V-neck sweater but the seventy-nine dollar price tag was just too steep for me to justify buying it. While rummaging through the sale bins in Express, a miracle happened. I FOUND THE SWEATER!!! My hands got sweaty (which always happens when I get excited – it’s my cross to bear.) and I rushed to the fitting room. I stripped off my winter layers of a jacket, hoodie, and sweater as quickly as I could and slipped into the sweater I had been lusting over for so long. It. Was. Perfect. It was exactly how I hoped it would fit and look on me, and I couldn’t wait to wear it out that evening. The best part about it? I got it for NINETEEN DOLLARS! Saying that I felt like I was on Ecstasy is an understatement!!! There she is:

IMG_1433[1]

Do a Winter Activity: Whether it be sledding, skiing, snow shoeing, or making some winter food like soups or peppermint treats with a friend – DO IT! I figure skated for close to ten years when I was younger, and a few nights ago my sister and I went ice skating. We had an absolute blast – well maybe me more than her because I actually knew what I was doing! That night was my first time back on the ice in close to four years and I was amazed at how much I could still do. As soon as I hit the ice I could feel my muscle memory kicking it – it was just like riding a bike. I was still able to jump, spin, and do a lot of fun footwork tricks. At one point during the night my sister said “Sarah, people are watching you” and I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit how good it made me feel. It took me back to when I would compete and all eyes would be on me when I performed my routines. Being the center of attention for just a few hours at the rink lifted my spirits and my ass, because it was a great work out! If you’re ever in the Akron, Ohio area and wanna go skating – you know how to find me!

skating

So there you have it! My Lil Red Recommends for the month of January! What’s your favorite winter activity? Have you read Big Little Lies or Tuesdays With Morrie? What did you think of it? What was a great winter sale steal that you got? I’d love to hear from you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Have a fabulous day! -Sarah

Lil Red’s New Obsessions

Standard
Lil Red’s New Obsessions

Hello one and all and happy Saturday! These past few weeks I’ve gained a lot of great stuff from Christmas gifts and the extra moolah I acquired to hit the post holiday sales. I wanted to share all of this fun stuff with you guys, especially because all of the items I’ll be mentioning below should still be available to purchase in stores and online if you like them!

Gypsy Warrior Flannels: I absolutely adore these flannels! After I quit working at PacSun, Gypsy Warrior was the one brand that I particularly missed getting clothes from. I already had one of their flannels like these new ones except in a different color, so when I saw that the brand launched some new ones, I immediately added it to my Christmas wish list. I was so happy when I opened this gift from my mom! If you’re interested in buying these flannels, just know that the sizes run more like a mans shirt. I’m 5’1 and 1/4 (because the quarter counts, damnit!) and 113 pounds, and I wear a size small – if that helps you figure out what size you need at all! These should still be available on http://www.pacsun.com and in stores. If you sign up for their email program, you get a 15% off coupon emailed to you!

IMG_1316[1]IMG_1317[1]IMG_1319[1]IMG_1324[1]

Betsey Johnson Snake Cuff: This little beauty was another stellar gift from my beloved mama. I was absolutely blown away when I opened this gift, because I had forgotten that I even wanted it! A few weeks prior to Christmas, my sister, mother, and myself took a trip to the mall. In Macy’s they had a Betsey Johnson display up, and I absolutely adore her clothing and jewelry so I had to stop and take a look. Naturally, I liked everything, but this snake cuff really caught my eye because I absolutely LOVE snake jewelry. I pointed this one out to my mom and told her how much I liked it, and then we walked away and it was never discussed again. I was so so happy to add this piece to my collection, I was even happier to hear that my mom got this bracelet at TJMaxx for a much better price than at Macy’s. This bracelet should still be available at TJ’s if you’re lucky, at Macy’s, or on Betsey Johnson’s website http://www.betseyjohnson.com!

IMG_1290[1]IMG_1303[1]

Express Sweater & Shoes: Express has slowly but surely become one of my favorite stores to shop at. I never really cared to shop there until a few months ago, when I went in with my sister who needed new black clothing for her job at The Body Shop. I was blown away by how chic and sharp all of their clothing was. I saw my cowl neck sweater that night with my sister, and had my eye on it ever since. A few weeks ago when Kristen and I went shopping, Express was having a half off sale and I knew that the sweater had to be mine! It has become an instant favorite, and I wear it way more often than I care to admit. My snake skin patterned shoes were a Christmas gift from my sister. She originally got me the same shoes in a floral print pattern which I didn’t care for, so I exchanged it out for these bad boys. I absolutely love black snake skin print, and I was so happy when I saw these! They match perfectly with my black snake skin super skinny jeans that I got from Express a few months ago. Who could ask for anything more?! Love it. Both of these items should still be available on http://www.express.com or in stores!

IMG_1310[1]IMG_1288[1]

Target Winter Coat: Yesterday when my mom and I were running errands at Target, I found this lovely jacket marked fifty percent off. I was so thrilled when I found it, because it was a great deal, and I don’t have a really warm winter coat to brave the Ohio cold. I love the black and dark blue color blocking going on and I find the shape of this coat so charming! Best of all, it keeps me warm and toasty when I’m out and about. This jacket came with a detachable black faux fur collar, which I clearly have taken off already! However, I put good use to the collar by attaching it to my flannel collars for a fun unexpected twist. This coat should still be available in stores and online for half off at http://www.target.com! This jacket also came in all black without the dark blue color blocking.

IMG_1314[1]

BustedTees Shirts: My beloved big bro Peter got me a thirty dollar Groupon to http://www.bustedtees.com and I couldn’t be more delighted by the shirts that I ordered from this hilarious website. All of the t-shirts on BustedTees are simply fantastic. A lot of them are inside jokes from movies, television, or video games. For example, my Speaker City shirt was the company that Beanie founded in the movie Old School, which is one of my favorites! “I built Speaker City from the ground up and I can’t even read. Truth.” The website is filled with shirts dripping with sarcasm and pure wit. Peter and I thought that the Daft Punk shirt pictured below was an absolute riot and I thought that the Reunite Pangaea shirt was great. There is sure to be something for everyone on http://www.bustedtees.com! The shirts fit fantastically and your purchases arrive promptly as well. One of the best things about this website was it’s ingenious size chart. It showed the shirts in a size small, medium, and large, on different girls with different body types. A size small looked like it fit well on a girl shaped similarly to me, so that’s what I got and it fits like a glove! So brilliant!

busted

Peter Pan Book: My beloved best friend Kate got this for me for Christmas in honor of our beautiful evening of decorating ornaments, drinking wine, and watching Peter Pan Live. I was so touched by how thoughtful this gift was and simply stunned by its beauty. The illustrations in this book are just magical and the pages are lined with silver to match the shimmering cover. Kate informed me that she purchased this book at Barnes & Noble, and apparently a lot of beloved fairy tales have been made to look like this one. I definitely would like to add more of these books to my collection. They’re so fun to read and just as enjoyable to admire! When Kate got this book, it was buy one get one half off, I’m unsure of if that promotion is still running, but the book should be available in store and online at http://www.barnesandnoble.com!

IMG_1306[1]IMG_1307[1]

So there you have it, Lil Red’s latest obsessions! Was there anything you got this holiday season that you absolutely loved? Did you score any great post holiday deals? Leave me a comment and let’s chat! Have a great day! -Sarah

Lil Red Recommends – Part 5!!!!

Standard
Lil Red Recommends – Part 5!!!!

Not gonna lie, this week has been less than ideal. Work has been filled with not so nice coworkers and rude customers and school has been stressful. Luckily there’s been a few things that have made me feel better, which I’m going to share with you in this edition of Lil Red Recommends!

Getting drunk with your mother: Last night I came home from a particularly shitty day at work to find my family getting ready to have dinner. It was Italian night in my household so naturally that called for some wine! I’m a big wine drinker and with my moms help of barely drinking one glass, I finished the entire bottle. My mom is such a light weight that she claimed that her glass of wine got her drunk, it’s the most precious thing ever. So the evening was spent with gut busting laughter, stumbling around the kitchen, and singing a duet to the song “You Had a Bad Day” while using the empty wine bottle as a microphone. It was an absolute blast. I’ve never gotten drunk with my mom before and I sincerely hope that this happens again every now and then. The straight up ridiculousness of the mother daughter bonding time that happened last night was indescribable! All of the silliness that occurred was the perfect cure to a shitty day!

hahaa

Drunken retail therapy: So after my mom and I sobered up, we headed to the mall for some retail therapy. I was in desperate need of some new jeans. But here’s the trick, I refuse to wear any denim that isn’t black and super skinny. My purchase will be discussed in the next recommendation! Let me tell you guys, while my mom may have been completely sober after her one wine glass πŸ˜‰ I was still slightly tipsy from almost a full bottle of wine. And from this experience I learned that there is nothing more fun than wandering around the mall while you have a wine buzz! It took my love for shopping to a new extreme because I combined it with my second favorite thing….getting drunk. I highly recommend public intoxication at least once in your life time, its a real treat! (Only once though…then no more public intoxication, kay?)

Snake skin patterned denim: I found my beloved new jeans at Express, one of my favorite stores. These jeans are drop dead GORGEOUS. They’re jet black with a gunmetal snake skin pattern coating it and are extremely skinny. About two weeks ago while I was shopping there with my sister, I noticed these beauties and was drooling over them the entire time. Unfortunately at eighty eight dollars, they were out of my price range. But I could NOT stop thinking about them. Lucky for me, last night they were having a forty percent off sale at Express and they had one pair of the jeans left in my size. All of the other sizes they had were ginormous. I knew that the denim had to be mine. I slipped into the fitting room, and changed into my new favorite piece of clothing. When I looked into the fitting room mirror they were just as perfect as I hoped they would be. They fit like a glove and were a perfect punk piece to add to my wardrobe. I’ve been looking for a pair of snake skin print jeans for quite some time now. But all of the pairs that I have found have been a snake skin pattern on top of grey or white jeans, and that doesn’t follow my all black everything rule. I thank the fashion gods for this gift of the perfect pair of black snake skin print jeans! Hurray! (Please excuse my mismatched socks in the photo below!) πŸ˜‰

IMG_1045[1]

Read the book Perfect: I started the book Perfect by Rachel Joyce a few days ago. (She also authored one of my favorite books, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry). I’m about one hundred pages in and I can’t recommend this book highly enough. The book revolves around a boy who has witnessed a terrible accident and is doing everything in his power to prevent his mother from finding out…as she’s the one who caused the crime. We are introduced to a unique cast of characters – young Byron who is very protective of his mother Diana who is a forward thinking woman in the 1970’s. She refuses to live the cookie cutter lifestyle of the female house wife which leads to animosity from her peers. There is also sweet OCD ridden Jim, who has been in and out of mental institutions his entire life. I have yet to find out how the paths of Byron and his mother will cross with Jim’s, but I’m excited to find out. Rachel Joyce does an amazing job of creating a feeling of empathy for each of her characters… I love them all so much already! Reading Perfect has been the perfect distraction from a below average week.

perff

Listen to Tapes ‘n Tapes: I’ve been listening to A LOT of Tapes ‘n Tapes lately. I think that their music is just fantastic. I’ve enjoyed playing all of their albums on shuffle as I’ve been driving around to where ever I needed to be this past week. They really are the perfect Indie rock band. Each of their three albums The Loon, Outside, and Walk It Off give a solid combination of upbeat tunes, amazing instrumentals, and sentimental ballads. My favorite album between the three is definitely their debut album The Loon. Each song off of that one is a slam dunk. But there are also many crowd pleasers on their second and third efforts as well! Tapes ‘n Tapes is great driving music and just hanging around the house doing nothing music. The music video below is for their song “Freak Out” from their second album Outside. It’s super catchy!

Don’t be an asshole: Pardon my French, but I’ve come across a lot of not so nice people this week. From awful customers to the most incompatible Β coworkers ever I’m almost at my breaking point. I genuinely don’t understand the people who are mean to others just for the sake of being mean. And let me tell you, I’ve encountered a lot of people like that this week. Being around stand offish people really is enough to ruin my day. For some people it’s easy to just shake things like that off, but not me. I wish I didn’t take so much offense to it, but I do. It’s just the way I am I suppose, but I don’t think it’s out of reason to be upset by people who act like assholes to you for no good reason. So here I am freaking pleading all of you guys (myself included) to be courteous and respectful to others. You never know what the person you give a dirty look to might be going through that day. #enoughsaid

Watch Step Brothers: If there’s one thing that always makes me feel better, it’s watching my favorite Will Ferrell movie: Step Brothers. I watched this with my sister and mom a few days ago and it’s still funny to me no matter how many times I watch it! I’ve seen Step Brothers enough that I can quote the entire movie along with the actors (much to my family’s annoyance!). Sometimes you really just need to pop in your favorite stupid movie and veg out for a few hours. I don’t know about you, but I always feel better after two hours straight of laughing! “SO MANY ACTIVITIES!!!”

Be thankful: With Thanksgiving coming up, this is a no brainer. But it felt right to mention it anyways. Tell your family members and friends that you love them, compliment a stranger, apologize to those you have done wrong to. You know the drill. It only takes one small act of kindness to transform yours and somebody else’s day completely!

thanks

So there you have it, my Lil Red recommends for the week! What are some things that you do to make yourself feel better after a rough week? What’s your favorite quote from Step Brothers? Leave me a comment and let’s chat! Happy Sunday! -Sarah