Tag Archives: favorites

Apr23

Demon Slayer Villains Tattoos

Posted on April 23, 2024 by lifewithlilred

Hello! Yesterday we took a look at the heroes from Demon Slayer that I got tattooed turned my tap out session. Today, we are going to peep the baddies – the villains! While I already had a huge Demon Slayer heroes piece prior to this session, I only had one villain tattooed – Enmu from the Mugen Train arc. Only one simply wouldn’t do and I wanted to add Daki and Gyutaro who are, easily, my favorite demons in the series thus far. They were Just. So. Cool. The tattoos are pretty rad too! Check it out:

Daki and Gyutaro are the demons from the Entertainment District arc and I loved the dynamic between the “brother and sister” duo. Daki is one hundred percent pure brat power while Gyutaro handles the heavy lifting and Daki’s emotional support. Their tandem fighting was absolutely insane to watch with Daki’s killer kimono and Gyutaro’s flesh sickles. They were a deadly team and my mind was blown the first time I saw this season. I have watched it several times since and the shock value has yet to wear off!

For my tattoos, I chose to get the image when Daki and Gyutaro are shown together for the first time midway through their big fight. Coincidentally, this is shortly after Daki gets beheaded by Uzui which is the tattoo I got on my inner leg. This worked out perfectly because I have Uzui (seen yesterday) on the other side and it looks like something right out of a manga. The tattoo of the demons together on my outer thigh wasn’t anything to sneeze at. Like the Uzui tattoo we discussed yesterday, the Daki tattoo on my inner thigh was not all that. Lol, but hey – I made it through and have some killer ink to show for it!

Demon Slayer is something that my brother and I both love and truly bonded over. I am beyond thrilled with how my heroes and villains turned out and can’t wait to finish up my session soon!

What is the biggest tattoo you have? How long did it take? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr22

Demon Slayer Heroes Tattoos

Posted on April 22, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! During my tap out tattoo session last week, I got four huge new pieces to start somewhat completing my legs. The final odds and ends will be done at the end of the month and I can’t wait! The tattoos I got during my session are from one of my favorite animes called Demon Slayer. My brother introduced me to it and I was hooked one minute in. I already have a substantial tattoo on the side of my leg featuring Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Nezuko. So, I wanted to build on that by doing a heroes and villains motif. Take a look at a few of the good guys:

To expand on my heroes leg, I got two hashiras tattooed. The “fire guy” as my artist called him is named Rengoku and the “green guy” is Uzui. While there are a plethora of hashiras in the Demon Slayer world, these two have resonated with me and my bro as our favorites. Not just in their fighting skills, but their personalities too! Both Rengoku and Uzui are hilarious in their own rights and we are constantly quoting their phrases to each other. And, of course, a Rengoku tattoo wouldn’t be complete without his signature catchphrase “set your heart ablaze”.

These tattoos were not in the most comfortable spots, but it wasn’t awful. The Rengoku tattoo was super easy and there was essentially no pain with it. The Uzui tattoo on the inner leg, however, wasn’t ideal lol. That spot is tender and this one took significantly longer to complete. Despite any ouchies, my artist works extremely fast and this is highly motivating because I knew the process would be over soon(ish)! Before I knew it, I had the tattoos that I have been telling my brother for years that I was going to get and I could not be happier with them!

My hero tattoos turned out exactly how I wanted them to and I can’t wait to show them off in shorts this summer. Stay tuned for the villains pieces tomorrow!

What is your favorite anime? Who is your favorite character from it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec24

Bath & Body Works Holiday Scents Pt. 2

Posted on December 24, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy!! I used an afternoon off on Tuesday to pop into Bath & Body Works because I was running dangerously low on my beloved foaming hand soaps. The soap from B&BW has been a staple at chez moi ever since I got my own apartment and I simply refuse to buy anything else. They are the absolute best! While I enjoy many of the fragrances that are always available at Bath & Body Works, it’s fun to do a restock when their holiday scents drop. Yesterday, we discussed three of these fragrances and we will chat about the remainder today! Let’s get to it:

Twisted Peppermint: From fragrances to flavors, I love all things peppermint! The Twisted Peppermint from B&BW is exactly what you would expect it to smell like and offers notes of “cool peppermint, sugared snow, and fresh balsam”. Now, I don’t know what sugared smell or balsam is supposed to smell like. I don’t even know what balsam is lol. But, you can definitely smell the peppermint and that is all that matters to me! Some peppermint products can be almost harsh smelling and super mentholy but not this one. The Twisted Peppermint is minty, yes, but it doesn’t sting your nostrils when you take a whiff. It is just right!

Frosted Cranberry: A few years back, I gifted Frosted Cranberry candles for Christmas and I remember really liking the scent. Fast forward to present day and it wasn’t as good as I recall it being, but it’s still nice enough! The fragrance notes for Frosted Cranberry are… “frosted cranberry (lol), red delicious apple, and blonde wood”. What I like about the Frosted Cranberry is that it is much richer in its berriness than the Golden Berry Mistletoe which we reviewed yesterday. Not the best, but certainly not the worst either.

Snowy Peachberry: I think I saved the best for last because the Snowy Peachberry is the bomb.com! This scent serves with hints of “snow-kissed cranberries, frosted peach blossom, and shimmering woods”. I can’t speak for the shimmering woods portion, but this is a perfect wintery peach fragrance. It smells fresh and sweet, but also has some tartness to it compliments of the cranberries (the scent not the band). Snowy Peachberry is a fragrance that I would buy any time of the year and I wish that it would linger beyond the holidays. See what I did there? 😉

My favorite to least favorite scents:

Snowy Peachberry

Pink Sparkling Spritz

Twisted Peppermint/Vanilla Bean Noel (I can’t decide between the two!)

Frosted Cranberry

Golden Berry Mistletoe

Normally after a haul from Bath & Body Works, I consider myself to be well set. However, I think I will definitely be shopping the post holiday sales because some of these fragrances are just too good to only have around this time of year. Give me ALL of the Snowy Peachberry, please! 😀

Will you be doing any sale shopping after the holidays? What is a B&BW fragrance that you wish they had year round? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec11

How You Can Harmonize Your Concert Experience

Posted on December 11, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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How You Can Harmonize Your Concert Experience

Who doesn’t love going to a good concert? Getting to see your favorite performer live just feels unreal, doesn’t it? There’s so much anticipation, so much hype, and all of it is thrilling! Even though it’s exciting, concerts aren’t really what they used to be; even concerts today aren’t the same as they were a decade ago. Nowadays, there are phones recording everything everywhere, high ticket prices thanks to a certain company, and sometimes you have to drive really far just to see your favorite performers, like Weird Al. In general, it all feels a bit different. With that said, it’s important to make the most of concerts as the prices and etiquette change. Here’s everything you need to know:

Plan Everything Far in Advance:

Seriously, who wants to feel stressed out before, during, and after a concert? You’ll want to go ahead and choose your tickets wisely based on your preferences for seating, proximity to the stage, and overall concert atmosphere. Basically, as soon as you find out about the concert, buy the tickets ASAP. It is also helpful to keep tabs on who is playing by entering a search for “Uncasville concerts” (or your local area). The last thing you want is to find out your favorite band is playing and the tickets are sold out!!

Transportation is another big part of concert prep. You’ll need to research your options, whether it’s public transit, ride share services, or parking facilities near the venue. No matter what, you’ll need to always plan for potential traffic and make sure you have a reliable way to get there and back.

Another thing you’ll need to do in advance is to have an idea about the policies at the venue; they all vary no matter which MSG bag policy is common for that venue, but more and more venues are getting strict about this; there are even some that won’t allow for phone or camera usage either.

Comfortable Attire:

While it’s totally understandable that you want to look as cute as possible, being comfortable matters way more. This especially goes for shoes; you’ll want to opt for comfortable shoes, especially if there’s standing involved (for some reason, standing concerts seem to be getting more common). You’ll likely be on your feet for an extended period and comfortable footwear can make a significant difference. Of course, sometimes it’s just fun to wear whatever you like! Sassy cowboy boots seems like the only way to go if you are seeing Shania Twain in Guilford (or your local area).

You Need Ear Protection:

No matter how far away you are from the stage or speakers, you’ll still need ear protection. People will be screaming all around you, seriously everywhere, there will be screams (unless this is a classical concert, of course). So it’s best to just consider bringing ear protection to safeguard your hearing without compromising the music experience.

Contribute to a Positive Atmosphere:

This seems to be a problem nowadays, not just the etiquette but this questionable toxicity that’s been growing. You need to embrace the collective excitement, and you definitely need to respect the performers and fellow concertgoers to create an enjoyable environment for everyone.

Concerts are an amazing experience and they can be even better with the tips above!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Oct31

Good Movie Sunday

Posted on October 31, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy! One thing that Johnny and I have always bonded over is our love for movies. Foreign films are my absolute favorite and Johnny is incredibly partial to a war movie. We also both really enjoy thrillers, horror, and comedy flicks. Although watching movies is a hobby to us both, we rarely watch them. During the work week, we usually are too worn out once we’re home for anything but our go to comedy shows. And, over the weekend, we want to be out and about. Sunday, however, is our “do nothing” day and it sparked an idea… Good Movie Sunday.

Good Movie Sunday is all about watching movies that are “good” to us and we will alternate weekly over who is picking the flick. Our day of rest will also include movies that we have always wanted to see, Oscar nominated films, and our all time favorites. We both fell in love with this idea because what else are we going to do on a lazy Sunday?! It has been fun to rack our brains and come up with our selections and I consider this new weekly event as our two person film appreciation club lol.

Our first Good Movie Sunday was Johnny’s choice and we watched Riders of Justice and Lincoln. Riders of Justice was a special nod to me because it is a Danish film while Lincoln was a nod to both of us! I adore Daniel Day-Lewis and, of course, Johnny loves him a historical movie. Both were excellent and it made us really excited to continue on with this new tradition. While we may have fallen off the horse to watch horror flicks for Halloween on Sundays, we are bringing it back this weekend. It is my choice and I know exactly what I’m going to pick: Benny and Joon because Johnny has never seen it and The Shape of Water because I have only seen it once and am a huge fan of all things Guillermo del Toro. I can’t wait!

Good Movie Sunday was an inspired idea, I must say, and I am stoked about it. I can’t tell you the amount of times Johnny and I have talked about a movie and told each other “we should watch that” and now we have a perfect opportunity!

What do you consider to be a good movie? What is your favorite genre of film? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May31

Mini Mall Haul

Posted on May 31, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! After a very long tenure of working retail in the mall, I tend to avoid it like the plague now lol. I can probably count on ten fingers the amount of times I have been to the mall since being employed there and that is fine by me! You know your girl is a TJMaxx frequent flyer at heart. This past week, however, I crossed the threshold into Summit Mall because my brother had some birthday gift cards. I told myself that I wasn’t going to buy anything for myself, but that changed when I saw the most perfect T-shirt I have ever seen at Hot Topic. I also had a freebie coupon from Bath & Body Works to cash in! Check it out:

Bath & Body Works has recently switched up their freebie options and it has been most exciting! For the longest time, a free travel size product coupon left you limited to shower gel and lotion. Then, they upped their game to mini fragrance sprays, bar soap, and hand cream and they are all fair game for the free coupon. It is awesome and turns every time I get a B&BW coupon in the mail into an “I need to go there right now” event!

Johnny’s mom gifted me with some bar soap this past Easter and I forgot how much I enjoy a good ol’ bar of soap every now and again. With plenty of B&BW shower gel and lotion in my stockpile, I decided that trying out their bar soap for the first time would be the move. There wasn’t a huge selection of bar soap scents to pick from and I went with Coco Paradise to welcome summer with. Coco Paradise is a combo of coconut (obviously lol) and the softest hint of tropical flowers and it is lovely. It also is a shea butter based bar so I’m sure it will be ultra lush and hydrating. I can’t wait to try it out!

After browsing at other stores, my brother and I ended our rounds at Hot Topic. As a reminder, I truly had no intention of buying a single thing… Until I saw the AFI T-shirt that I just had to have. AFI’s album, Sing The Sorrow, was the first album I ever bought with my own money. It was and will always be in my top three favorite albums and seeing them live was one of the best moments of my life. I was so lucky because they only had one size small in this shirt among a sea of XLs and believe me when I say, I literally snatched it from the shelf!

The last T-shirt I bought from Hot Topic was from a few years ago and now I understand why almost all of Johnny’s T’s come from there. When I sported my AFI T the following day, I was blown away by how soft it was! It felt like a hug when I was wearing it and I honestly regretted not buying a few more! The fit was also perfect – not too loose and not too tight but just right. I am freaking obsessed with my new favorite T featuring my forever favorite band. 😀

After this trip to the mall, I don’t think I will go again for another handful of years lol. But, I was able to treat myself with an awesome pick me up purchase and for that I am grateful!

What was the first album that you ever bought? What is your favorite band? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan13

What Have We Been Watching?

Posted on January 13, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! I think it’s safe to say that if you experience cold weather in your neck of the woods during the wintertime, that you probably have been watching a bit more TV than usual. This is definitely the case for me and Johnny, anyways – especially because by the time I usually get home from work it is already dark out. It’s the worst! Until the sun sets later in the day, however, this is completely fine for us and we have been enjoying all of the following this winter:

Sometimes When We Touch:

Johnny and I just watched the most fabulous documentary on Paramount+ about the rise, ruin, and resurrection of soft rock called Sometimes When We Touch. This was a three part series and each episode was barely an hour long and our only regret was that there wasn’t more! It was SO good and if you love the yacht rock of the 1970s and early 80s, then I seriously can’t recommend it enough. The bangers from Pablo Cruise, The Captain And Tennille, Ambrosia, Air Supply, The Carpenters and so much more were nonstop. The documentary also featured a fascinating segment on the punk scene as soft rock decreased in popularity.

Regardless of if you are a soft rock fan or not, this is a documentary that is worth the watch. Johnny and I learned so much and we also found new artists to check out as the revival of soft rock was discussed. We can’t wait to give them a listen and have already made plans to watch it again. If you love the music as much as Johnny and I do, warm fuzzies after watching it are a Lil Red Guarantee.

Top Shot:

Johnny and his dad used to watch History Channel’s competitive shooting show, Top Shot, together and introduced me to it this past Thanksgiving. To literally everyone’s surprise, I was hooked within minutes! Lol, I just love a competition show and I don’t care what it is because the set up is always the same. Since beginning the Top Shot journey, Johnny and I have watched every season twice already! We are obsessed with the insane challenges like trick shots, shooting upside down, and firing cannons. Most importantly, we freaking LOVE the host, Colby Donaldson, he is a hoot. 😀

If you’re looking for a competition show based on athletics with all of the pageantry of America’s Next Top Model, look no further than Top Shot. And, be sure to get at me after you watch season three and witness the utter meltdown of Jake because it was nuts!

Superstore:

When Netflix took The Office and Parks & Rec off of their lineup, Superstore became mine and Johnny’s go to show. It has been so for the past forever and I highly doubt that it will change any time soon! It is our bedtime show, our whenever show, and our we just feel like laughing show. Set in a Walmart style store, Superstore on Hulu offers every character that you might expect to be employed there: A dopey manager, a manager who takes herself way too seriously, the “cool” guy, and a teen mom to name just a few. For anyone who has ever worked retail, I am sure that you will find a character on the show that reminds you of one of your coworkers – I know I did!

Every single character on Superstore is hilarious and lovable in their own way and it still bums me out that the show is officially over. If you are in the mood for something light, funny, and strangely heartwarming, then I think that you will love it. My favorite characters are Dina, Cody, and Marcus. 😀

Lego Masters:

Johnny and I finally finished season three of Lego Masters and couldn’t believe our good fortune that there were additional episodes called the Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular. During the Bricktacular, four former contestants were paired with a celebrity partner to compete in challenges and win money for charity. Cheryl Hiness, Robin Thicke, Leslie Jordan, and Finesse Mitchell were the celebrity partners and our hands down favorite was Leslie Jordan. He was SO funny and cute and we were saddened to learn of his death last year. If you are still feeling the holiday spirit, this three part competition will be just right for you. 🙂

Hibernating with Johnny all winter with our favorite shows and bunnies definitely makes the cold more tolerable since we’re barely experiencing it lol. I hope you enjoy all of these recommendations as much as we did!

What are you currently bingewatching? What shows do you recommend? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec8

It’s Not Just A Phase OOTD Bonus Pics

Posted on December 8, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to some bonus pics from my It’s Not Just A Phase OOTD! There were so many pictures I liked from this shoot because I loved the outfit that I created. It is for sure one that I can picture myself wearing again or with variations and it might just be one of my favorite looks from this past year of OOTDs. I think I achieved my goal of creating an elder emo look that the young bloods can look up to lol! What do you guys think?

I don’t know about all of you but my fashion sucked ASS in high school lol. It was basically as bad on the outside as I felt on the inside. However, that’s one of the cool things about growing up. You get to develop your own style and learn what works the best for you. This was a process of trial and error and how my style evolved from yikes to something I’m proud of stems from countless shopping trips to TJMaxx with my mom. Trying on fitting rooms full of clothes in every shape, style, and color really helped get me in tune with my body type and what compliments it. This also gave me the freedom to make fashion mistakes without showing it to the entire high school.

Shows like Euphoria had all of the high school aged characters serving LOOKS and that truly is not the case for lots of people, myself included. If you’re one of my younger readers and have similar sentiments to my days of yore, I promise that it will get better. It just takes a bit of time, reflection, and an adventurous spirit when you’re out shopping. This outfit was inspired by what I wish that I wore in high school and I think my younger self would have flipped her shit if she saw these pictures of grown up me.

“It’s just a phase” is something that young people hear a lot and it is such a massive eye roll. There are some things you will never outgrow and that is okay! Once an emo kid, always an emo kid and all you have to do is look at thirty-three year old Johnny and twenty-eight year old me to know that it was most certainly not just a phase. This look was all about tossing that phrase in the garbage and being proud of who you are and how you feel. All of it makes you you and I like you just the way you are! ❤

What was a phase that you never outgrew? How has your personal style developed? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul25

TJMaxx Haul: Skin Care Edition

Posted on July 25, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the last of my TJMaxx Haul! Today, we are going to be discussing some brand new skin care and then it’s onto bigger and better things. Keep it posted for a new OOTD and a few watercolor paintings by yours truly. They aren’t museum worthy but I’m pretty proud of them! Now, let’s get to it:

The main reason for this haul in the first place was to get some skin care with my birthday gift card from my sister. Cut to two hours later and I had a cart full of goodies! As the old saying goes, you don’t go to TJMaxx for what you need… It tells you what you need lol at least that’s what I say, anyways. 😀

Although I was looking for some eye cream and cleansers, I was happy to walk away with a new serum (which I can always use) and two micellar waters by Evoluderm. I have been obsessed with this product since I tried it out over three years ago and just have to grab a bottle or two whenever its available at TJs. It is, hands down, the best micellar water I have ever used and makes everything else pale in comparison.

I am a faithful user of micellar water both morning and night and love the way the Evoluderm makes my skin feel. While the Garnier micellar water is great at removing makeup, it never made my skin feel nourished. The Evoluderm is the polar opposite and not only leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean but hydrated and well protected. I can’t recommend it enough if you are on the hunt for a micellar water or if the Garnier brand just isn’t cutting it anymore!

There you have it, a fabulous haul for the ages at TJMaxx in its completion. Is it bad that I’m already daydreaming about a fall haul?!

What is your favorite skin care brand? Where do you like to shop skin care? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun7

What To Watch When You’re Bored Of Netflix

Posted on June 7, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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What To Watch When You’re Bored Of Netflix

Finding it tough to find something to watch these days? We’ve all been there. You’ve binged your favorites in two days, and now you’ve got the big black hole of Netflix where you’ve either seen everything or nothing appeals. You can waste a lot of time flicking between menus and never really watching anything!

So what can you do instead? The good news is that there’s a whole wide world out there of film and TV to watch. Who knows, you might even discover some hidden gems! Ready to dive in? It’s time to step away from Netflix and try the following:

Go to the movies:

While not particularly innovative, going to the movies can feel like a rare treat in the post-pandemic world. With most new movies making their way on-demand either instantly or in a matter of weeks, a lot of people take to watching them at home. But while watching movies at home is convenient, there’s still something magical about watching them on the big screen.

Take a look at the most anticipated movies of 2022 and book your tickets to see something at the theater. Dinner and a show, anyone?

Discover TV and movies from overseas:

What’s great about platforms like Netflix is that they help you discover shows you never heard of before. Great TV shows and movies are produced all over the world, and there are a lot of platforms where you can find some incredible new content. If you’re into anime, you can get access to a range of content at https://clearvpn.com/blog/entertainment/best-anime-torrent-sites/, and perhaps fall in love with a whole new genre. Or if you prefer reality shows, you can find the new series of Biggest Liar in Ghana to get your fix.

It’s fun to check out what’s popular across different countries and find some new shows that appeal to you. It’s also a great way to get introduced to a new language! Websites like 링크모음 also offer reviews from viewers which can be most helpful when you’re trying to find your next binge worthy series.

Rewatch childhood favorites:

If you can’t find something new to watch, then why not discover some old favorites instead? Revisiting some of your top shows and movies from when you were a kid is a great way to reminiscence and even share your nostalgia with others. From classic Disney to the shows you watched on Nickelodeon, it’s time to go back in time and give your old faves another watch.

Explore other on-demand platforms:

There’s a lot more to on-demand than simply watching Netflix. There are a lot of streaming services out there to choose from, including Amazon, Disney, and HBO – all with a lot of content to help you make some new discoveries. Most on-demand services come with free trials, giving you the perfect excuse to try something new!

While Netflix is home to some incredible shows and movies, it’s nice to branch out once in a while to keep your viewing fresh. When it is time to return to Netflix, there are some fantastic hacks to upgrade your evenings that will help you get the most from your chill time. Happy watching!

Featured Image By: Unsplash under Creative Commons

	Simon on Whatever’s Clever COTD…
	lifewithlilred on Cozy Coat OOTD
	Chantel Keona on Cozy Coat OOTD
	lifewithlilred on Simply Fall OOTD
	Chantel Keona on Simply Fall OOTD