Tag Archives: fashion

Jun30

Matching Set Magic OOTD Bloopers

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Matching Set Magic OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Matching Set Magic OOTD! This little look was created after hightailing it home from my hair appointment just in time to take some pics and head to Blossom Music Center to see The Strokes. Saying that I have wanted to see them for forever seems like such a drastic understatement and I am still on cloud nine from seeing one of my favorite bands live. Johnny and I had such a fabulous time at the show mingling with other concertgoers, dancing, and simply basking in the charged atmosphere at the venue. These pics? Not so fabulous:

Practicing my moves for the show

I’M SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting myself together and also my hair looks awesome! 😀

Taking a moment with my imaginary friend to pat them on the head

Serving the sass!!!!

Lol what in the world is going on here?!

Johnny’s van in the background is honestly the star of this picture. The Great Golden Hope!!

When you buy tickets at Blossom you can either sit in the pavilion or stand on the lawn. Pavilion seats just happened to be five or so bucks more expensive so I decided to go for it on the off chance that it rained. It was an excellent choice as our seats were even closer to the stage than I could have hoped for! Not only did we have an outstanding view of the stage but we also enjoyed the company of the dad, his kid, and his kid’s friend that were sitting behind us. Picture two twenty something guys that star in a soap opera by the beach and that is exactly what they looked like. We told them as such and they delighted in the compliment!

As we got to talking, we learned that our new friends were twenty-five and twenty-two and we felt SO old! The Strokes were so popular when Johnny and I were little and I jokingly asked our concert mates if they were alive when the band came out. We all got a chuckle out of it and one of them quipped that people from his generation liked The Strokes too. I was so convinced he was going to call me ma’am! That one would have hurt lol. But, all joking aside, it is such fun to go to a show, meet new people young and old, and just have a laugh in between sets and songs. We couldn’t have asked for a better crew of people around us to rock out at the amazing show with!

No matter where we go, Johnny and I are always making new friends and the best memories. I can’t wait for more Blossom shows this summer!

What is your favorite era of music? Is there anything that makes you feel old? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun28

Matching Set Magic OOTD

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Matching Set Magic OOTD

Hi everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This past Friday was a whirlwind day of awesome. I got my hair done AND I got to see The Strokes at Blossom Music Center with my main squeeze. I couldn’t wait to get home after my hair appointment to put together a cute little outfit, take some pics, and hit the town with Johnny for an amazing concert. The OOTD I put together required zero think work because it was a matching set. All I had to do was put it on, accessorize, and go! We were on a slight time crunch so it couldn’t have worked out better and I spent the evening at the show feeling like a star. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Matching Set: Altar’d State

Platforms: Olivia Miller, Walmart

The earrings were purchased on a family vacation to Universal Studios!

This matching set has been worn in a previous OOTD post but I just had to run it back because it is that good! This little lilac loveliness is simply the cutest and screams fun in the sun. That pretty pastel with the sweet as can be daisy pattern is all things sugar with the spice of a bodycon skirt and crop top. It is such a sweet tart vibe and I cannot get enough! This matching set from Altar’d State complimented my new do so perfectly and I like it so much that I will let the overwhelming amount of jesus in the store slide lol. This is one of the only purchases I made at that store for that reason and I ended my shopping at Altar’d State on the hosanna in the highest note. See what I did there?!

Shoes and accessories were all that was needed before I was concert ready and the obvious choice was my lilac platforms by Olivia Miller. I got these for a whopping five bucks at Walmart and am still not over that online shopping victory. Not only were these platforms a match made in heaven with the matching set but they are comfy AF to boot. We had to walk a lot from our car to the concert venue and I didn’t even break a sweat. In fact, I could have kept on going! Finally, I put on some purple lightening bolt earrings to amp up this look for a rock show. With that, I was ready to cross The Strokes off of my concert bucket list after wanting to see them live for so long. Best. Night. EVER! ❤

From the outfit to the post, this Matching Set Magic OOTD was short and sweet. Stay tuned for the Blooper Reel coming soon for the skinny on all of our concert antics!

Are you going to any concerts this summer? Which artists are on your concert bucket list? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun24

New Hair, Who Dis?

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New Hair, Who Dis?

Hi! I had an absolutely fabulous day this past Friday! I spent my morning and afternoon getting my hair right at the Shear Shop by my amazing stylist, Anna, and then went to Blossom Music Center in the evening to see The Strokes. I have wanted to see them live for forever and it was the most wonderful post birthaversary treat. Further amplified by the fact that I simply cannot get over my new hair and was the textbook definition of “feeling myself”! Our inspo for this look was 1970s with a modern twist and, as always, Anna delivered with this hair magic:

Pulp Riot Colors Used:

Top: Shag Rug

Bottom Left: Velvet

Bottom Right: Pyro

The last picture is their instant toner in Golden Shimmer!

The process for getting my hair done doesn’t start when I’m in Anna’s chair. It starts at my last appointment when we discuss what we want to do next! The last time I got my hair done, we experimented with the orangey copper Shag Rug and I was in love with its retro vibes and knew I wanted to see more of that. Then, a week or so later the Calico hair trend came in hot and I was very intrigued by it but didn’t want to work with primarily natural colors. I sent a few pics to Anna and we decided to do Calico our way with deep purple, orange, and gold streaks.

To prepare my hair, I spent the week before my appointment washing as much of my old colors out as I could to speed up the bleaching process. By the time Friday rolled around, my hair was a swampy hodge podge of yuck and I couldn’t wait for Anna to strip it clean and start fresh! We began the day with bleach and let that sit for about twenty minutes with heat and five minutes without. Once the timer rang, my hair was ready to be washed and a perfect canvas of light blonde hair was achieved for the fun part: Painting on the colors!

After my hair was dried, Anna began mixing our pseudo Calico palette of Shag Rug, Velvet, and Pyro. She expertly placed the groovy hues in chunky highlight style strips while also leaving some areas blank. The instant toner in Golden Shimmer was only to be applied for the last fifteen minutes of processing. We had never used the Pulp Riot toners and were curious to see what would happen. It didn’t work exactly how we wanted it to but that was okay because it turned out even better! All that was left to do was play Pokopia while the timer counted down, wash the Sweet/Tart scented dye out, and check out the grand reveal.

When my hair was washed we were surprised to see no gold at all but peachy pink strips compliments of the toner. It was like Pulp Riot knew that I wanted a non-natural Calico palette and Anna and I were so not mad about it because all of the colors together were everything! That deep but vibrant purple, copper, and fairy tale pink with the slightest hint of gold screamed of decade’s past while skyrocketing into 2026. The retro hues were further enhanced by the coolest shag cut that I have been growing my hair out for. This was such an amazing makeover and, I know I say this every time, but I really do think it might be one of my favorite hair transformations yet!

Stay tuned for a brand new OOTD showing off my new hair as well as a concert review coming soon!

How often do you get your hair done? How long has your stylist been doing your hair? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun23

Cute In Crochet OOTD

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Cute In Crochet OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Johnny and I went on a little date night on the Friday after my birthday and had the best time. We bought the new Mario Kart for the Switch 2, hit up the dispensary for some weed treats, and had a delicious dinner out at Boss ChickNBeer. It was so nice to have an extra birthday celebration with my main squeeze and I just had to put together something cute to step out in. This simple summer look was perfect for being out and about in the hot AF weather and is very easy to recreate! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Crochet Top: Bozzolo, TJMaxx

Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Platforms: Sbicca, ModCloth

The earrings are Lucky Brand and were a gift from my mom!

The cuff bracelets are both from American Eagle Outfitters.

I am one of those people who just doesn’t do well in the heat. I have a very low tolerance for it and the medications that I’m on make hot days feel like I’m in hell lol. For this reason, dressing for summer bores me because I only have one thing on my mind: Staying as cool as humanly possible. This means that what I can wear comfortably in my wardrobe decreases exponentially and I’m basically left with a variety of shorts and crop or tank tops. But, I work with what I’ve got and came up with this look to beat the heat in.

I am a sucker for all things crochet when it comes to tops and selected a cutie crochet crop by Bozzolo. This little number is so sweet, made me sweat minimally (lol), and how adorbs are those wooden buttons going smack dab down the middle?! While the crochet is sweet, this top still serves so much sass and was just right when paired with some AEO short shorts. This combo gave classic summer vibes but still felt so unique with my tattoos out on full display. They really are the best accessories!

Speaking of accessories, with lots of open real estate I slipped on some cuff bracelets as well as one of my favorite pairs of earrings. I just love my turquoise cross Lucky Brand babes and my mom absolutely crushed when she gifted me with them! That pretty dose of blue definitely popped against the creamy shade of the crop top. For shoes, I kept with the blue motif and opted for a darling pair of platforms by Sbicca. That light denim blue with the tan flower embroidery is *chef’s kiss* and tied this look together from head to toe. With that, I was ready to hit the town with my Johnny!

Stay tuned for the Blooper Reel from this look and more fashion fun all summer long. lifewithlilred is the place to be!

How do you do in extreme heat? What are some of your tips for keeping cool? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun18

New J. McLaughlin Top

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New J. McLaughlin Top

Howdy! This past week I had so much fun shopping till I dropped at TJMaxx with my mom so I could spend some birthday gift cards. I got everything I wanted and then some and there was nothing like a little retail therapy to brighten both of our days! While I was hoping to find a few new pieces of summer clothing, TJs showed me the light and I ended up with a new swing coat and top that will be perfect for fall. Honestly, it makes sense because it was hot AF the week we went shopping and it had me craving fall weather something FIERCE. As always, TJs knew exactly what I needed in my heart of hearts because this J. McLaughlin top is everything AND it was on clearance to boot! Check it out:

I couldn’t believe my good luck when I stumbled upon this little number in the clearance section. It was fifteen dollars, there was only one and it happened to be in my size, and I absolutely loved the nod to all things 70s retro. The pattern and colors on this top scream 70s wallpaper and I am living for it. Who knew that olive green and rosy pink would work together so well?! This top is so comfy, breezy, and light with fabric that almost borders on silky without all of the hassle of caring for silk clothes. It was one of those pieces that I knew would be a winner even without trying it on but, of course, I had to try it on anyways!

As it often happens when I am in the fitting room at TJMaxx, an OOTD vision came to me once this top was on in all of its glory. The 70s inspo of the top reminded me so much of my Makeup Magic OOTD and I can’t wait to do a follow up fit. Especially after getting my hair done this Friday! I plan on rocking this top with my favorite pair of straight leg slacks by Sincerely Jules, a killer pair of denim blue embroidered platforms, and *fingers crossed* a more defined shag hairdo after my hair stylist works her magic. It is going to be SO groovy and I am amped for all of you to see it. Stay tuned! 😀

We might be in the middle of summer but fall clothing will always reign supreme in my world. Big ups to TJMaxx for forever guiding me and nurturing my passion for fashion! ❤

Have you updated your summer wardrobe? Do you have any fun summer plans coming up? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun16

New Bagatelle Collection Swing Coat

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New Bagatelle Collection Swing Coat

Howdy! This past Wednesday I had a content shoot to attend for my social media management job and then had the rest of the day off. I had a TJMaxx gift card for my birthday burning a hole in my pocket and swooped up my shopping partner in crime mom for an afternoon outing to TJs. It was absolutely fabulous! I walked away with a new pair of shoes that you saw yesterday, a funky 70s inspired top, new skin care, and the gorgeous swing coat that we will be discussing today. Be sure to check out the rest of my haul coming soon! Now, let’s get to the good stuff because I am simply swooning over this Bagatelle Collection coat:

As I browsed through the clothing racks, my heart literally stopped when I landed upon this Bagatelle Collection swing coat. It has been in the high eighties for the past week and the last thing I wanted was to think about wearing a coat! However, I thought about wearing it during my vacation to Italy in the fall and it immediately went into the cart. That soft beige base with the creamy flowers and crosshatching is oh so dreamy, the all white collar pops, and it is nice and light. A perfect coat for the slight chill of early fall! As soon as I tried it on, visions of Italy OOTDs danced in my head and it would have been a slap in the face to the fashion gods if it did not come home with me.

My grand OOTD plan goes a little something like this… A pseudo dress formed from a bubble skirt and chic and silky cami top, a Barbie pink pair of platform heels, and my new Bagatelle Collection swing coat to tie the look together. It just makes me happy to think about an evening in Italy in this outfit and I am pins and needles for this look and setting to come to fruition. Every time I go shopping now, I have Italy outfits in mind. And, every time I think of Italy, I think of shopping lol! I think I’m going to need a much bigger suitcase for our return flight home and have already warned my family to leave space in their bags for my purchases. I can’t wait to share this trip of a lifetime with all of you come October!! ❤

This new swing coat is an amazing addition to my Italy look book and my fall in Ohio look book too lol. Thank you, TJMaxx, for always showing me exactly what I need!

Do you have any upcoming travel plans? What is your dream vacation destination? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun15

If The Shoe Fits: Adidas Sneakers Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Adidas Sneakers Edition

Hi!! All of my hiking shoes have gone to the fashion gods in the sky and I was in desperate need of a new pair of tennies to hit the trails in. I decided to rectify this with a quick stop into Famous Footwear and was thoroughly disappointed as literally none of their shoes fit me. All of their size sixes were WAY too big and I walked out of the store empty handed. However, I did have an ace up my sleeve: A TJMaxx gift card from Johnny’s parents for my birthday! I honestly wasn’t expecting to find a new pair of sneakers during a shopping trip with my mom because TJ’s in store selection leaves a lot to be desired. To my pleasant surprise, I ended up with a new pair of Adidas that I really like! And, yes, I’m just as shocked as all of you that this edition of If The Shoe Fits doesn’t involve heels lol. Check it out:

The shoe department in TJMaxx gave me two options: A poppy pair of burgundy sneakers and the subdued but chic Adidas. I’m not going to lie, I was hoping that the burgundy pair would work because they were ten dollars cheaper. However, they were too big and went back on the shelf. The Adidas tennis shoes were my last chance before turning to online shopping and I was a little nervous as I tentatively slipped them on. To my delight, they fit like a glove! A true blue size six which is exactly what I am and exactly what I needed. These sneakers are sturdy, comfortable, and I just know that I’ll be able to walk for miles on the hiking trails or exploring the scenery of Italy during my vacation in the fall.

After trying the Adidas on, I was actually really happy that the burgundy pair didn’t work out. I think these shoes are ultra cool! I love the stone grey color paired with the beige stripes, chocolate brown soles, and the bold black laces. While the burgundy tennies provided a pop of color they might not go with every outfit while the Adidas are a perfect neutral. It has been a loooong time since I shopped for sneakers and it was way more difficult than I thought it would be. After a lot of trial and error, I came out on top and, as always, have TJMaxx to thank for that. I scored these Adidas for forty-five bucks which was a much nicer price than the eighty plus dollar options at Famous Footwear. Remind me why I even bothered with that store in the first place!

I kind of feel like a traitor for doubting the TJMaxx shoe department but I made good with this purchase. Peep more from my shopping haul coming soon!

What is your preferred style of shoe? Are you a sneakerhead? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun14

Bestie Birthday Gifts

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Bestie Birthday Gifts

Hello! June is a very special month because of mine and Johnny’s birthaversary, yes. But there is also another equally important special occasion to celebrate – My best friend/Gemini Twin, Kate’s, birthday! Kate of Live In The Nautical is my other half and our birthdays are a mere six days apart. June is truly our time to shine and to spoil each other like crazy! I am always so excited to shop for her birthday gifts as well as receiving her gifts to me in the mail. Seriously, I am like a child on Christmas day as soon as her packages arrive in the mail and tear them open like a rabid animal. Or just a very amped up best friend! As always, Kate crushed with my gifts and I think you can all agree that they are perfect for me! Check them out:

It is no secret that I am a reading and Lego enthusiast and these gifts spoke to two of my favorite hobbies. How freaking adorable is that Lazy One sleep sweatshirt?! The sage green color, gorgeous graphic, and sunflowers on the inside of the hood set the stage for the best hoodie to snuggle up in and crack open a good book. It is oh so soft and quite heavy and, as my apartment is like a sauna in the summer, I will have to wait until fall to break it out. However, when that first chilly day of autumn arrives you can trust and believe that it will be the first thing I wear. I can’t wait to get comfy cozy and binge read! 😀

Next up is the Gameboy Lego set and there’s actually a fun story behind that. Johnny got my brother the same set for Christmas and they built it together. We were both incredibly jealous of it because it’s just so freaking cool but never bought it for ourselves. The thing is – Kate didn’t know that (Which is surprising considering I tell her everything!)! My bestie does know that Johnny and I are huge gamers and love building Lego and was able to combine two of our hobbies into one perfect set. Johnny and I plan on building it together ASAP and we have my mind reader bestie to thank for that. Our Gemini Twin telepathy is always going strong and this is a true testament to it! ❤

My best girl is the best gift of all but her prezzies to me definitely come in second place. Thank you, darling! I love you so!!

Have you built Lego recently? Which Lego set do you have your eyes on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun12

When Does It Make Sense to Sell Old Jewelry?

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When Does It Make Sense to Sell Old Jewelry?

Many people have their old jewelry tucked away in drawers, storage containers, and jewelry boxes. Some people’s pieces may have been gifts and others may have been left over from changing their fashion and preferences. Some may simply be broken or incomplete. While all of these items often remain out of sight for many years, they will still hold a lot of value. Deciding whether you want to keep or sell your old jewelry is a very personal choice. However, there are situations where selling may be the most practical and financially sensible thing to do.

Understanding the factors that are involved can assist individuals in making informed decisions about the pieces that they no longer wish to use:

Let every piece hold the same value:

One of the first things to consider is whether or not the jewelry is going to serve a purpose. Some pieces are going to carry sentimental value simply because they are connected to important memories, life events, and family members. The emotional significance will often outweigh any financial benefits that can be had from selling. Other items may have very little personal meaning. Broken chains, outdated designs, and single earrings may simply take up space without providing a lot of value in everyday life. Evaluating the role that each piece plays will make the decision a lot easier.

Changing financial priorities:

Life circumstances can change as time goes on. People may choose to save up for a major purchase, build an emergency fund, or pay off debt. In situations like these, selling unused valuables is going to provide access to funds without it having an effect on your everyday income. Jewelry that has not been worn for many years will often represent an asset that could be put towards your more immediate financial goals. This does not mean that every item needs to be sold, but it can be very worthwhile to understand what pieces are worth it for you.

Gold continues to hold value:

Unlike many consumer products that lose their value over time, precious metals will often retain their worth. Due to their material gold remains a sought after asset because of its long-standing role in investment and manufacturing. As a result, items that appear damaged or outdated may still have value based on the gold content. This is one reason why many individuals start to explore options for obtaining cash for gold when evaluating the unused jewelry in their collection. Understanding the value of precious metals will assist you making more informed decisions.

Consider both emotional and financial factors:

Before you sell your jewelry, it’s extremely important for you to think about financial and sentimental considerations. A piece may have a limited market value but be significant emotionally or vice versa. Taking the time to evaluate each item on an individual basis will help to prevent regret. In many cases, keeping a meaningful piece while selling unwanted items will give you a more balanced approach.

Old or damaged jewelry could be providing you extra funds for a rainy day. What’s in your jewelry box that you could sell?!

Featured Image By: Mian Shahzad Raza from Pixabay

Jun12

If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit?!

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If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit?!

Hello! My brother and I are avid hikers and sadly all of my hiking shoes have bit the dust. In their defense, I only have a handful of shoes that aren’t heels and they were all old as dirt and falling apart when I had to part with them. And, while my new wheelies are technically tennis shoes, they are pretty clunky and not the best for a trek through the woods in. I decided to rectify this by stopping into Famous Footwear during my break at work and expected to be in and out in a matter of minutes. Believe you me, it doesn’t take your girl long to find a perfect pair of shoes! To my complete and utter surprise, that was not the case in the slightest and I am still shooketh!

I think the last time I was in a Famous Footwear was when I was in grade school lol but it was the only option that made sense as TJMaxx’s in store shoe selection leaves a lot to be desired. I rolled into the store on a mission: Find a cute, sturdy pair at forty dollars or less and then I would be on my way. This was far more difficult than I could have imagined! I am so used to discount prices at TJs that my mind was simply blown when I saw full price footwear. Of course, the shoes were brand name like Nike, Vans, and Sketchers, but they were eighty dollars plus! Hard no.

Rather than entertain those options, I started looking at canvas shoes instead which were much more complimentary to my budget. There were several pairs that I liked so I took five boxes or so to the mirror to try them on. I am SO glad I did. My shoe size is a true blue size six and in my head there is no reason why size sixes shouldn’t fit. So tell me why literally none of the sixes at Famous fit me?! Every size six I tried was at least a half a size too big and that went across the Blowfish, Hey Dude, and Jelly Pop brands.

Saying I was frustrated was an understatement. Shoes are my thing lol and this store was giving me so much trouble! Then, I decided to dig deeper by looking at the labels of each brand as they included European sizes. It was just as I suspected. The size sixes I was trying were a thirty-seven in European sizing. When it comes to those size ranges, I am a thirty-six because thirty-seven is a six and a half. Therein lied the problem and there were no five and a half women’s shoes. I even looked in the children’s section before leaving the store with empty hands! Although there was a light up pair that I was really considering…!

In conclusion, shopping for heels is easy peasy. Shopping for sneakers is a shockingly different story. I never thought I would find myself writing a post about If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit but I guess there’s a first time for everything!

What is your favorite brand for tennis shoes? Where can they be purchased at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah