Hello!! One thing that I really like to gift to people during the holidays is board games. I love me a good board game, myself, and I love that it promotes family fun and spending time together without being glued to your phone. This past year, I have grown particularly fond of a board game called Sequence. I played it with a client’s family and I have been hooked ever since. I have already given it as a gift to my big bro for his birthday and I definitely plan on passing it along to my loved ones this holiday season. Check it out:
Sequence is a game of strategy and a little bit of luck thrown in for good measure. The basic gist is that each player or team takes turns placing a chip on the board that coincides with a card in their hand. The goal is to get five of your chips in a row, like Bingo. But, if you have a one eyed Jack, you can replace an opponent’s chip with one of yours and a two eyed Jack is a wild card. As I’m sure you’ve guessed already, the player or team with the most sequences wins.
I enjoy playing this game so much and it’s just as fun playing it with one other person as it is on teams. It’s a simple game to learn, which will make it the perfect choice for when you’re having a get together or just killing some time during a rainy afternoon. You can’t beat the thirteen dollar price tag on Amazon and it will make a great stocking stuffer or a gift under the tree for someone on your shopping list!
What is your favorite board game? Have you ever played Sequence before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Helloooo everyone! During a recent Dollar Tree haul, I was totally enamored with their Halloween fake eyelashes and bought a set in every color that they had. Now, mind you, I have never applied fake eyelashes in my life and it could have either gone really good or really freaking bad. Quality is also always a concern when you shop beauty at the Dollar Tree and I didn’t want to have to worry about the lashes coming off all day.
Purchasing the eyelashes was a gamble, to say the least, but taking the risk reaped a huge reward because they were wildly successful! Check it out:
For Halloween, my boyfriend’s band The Outside Voices were playing at a local venue in downtown Akron called Musica. All of the members of the band dressed up as rock legends and you can peep Johnny’s lil Angus Young get up! This means that not dressing up was not an option so your girl got to bust out the Sexy Raggedy Anne costume that I’ve literally had since high school. *Praise be to he that it still fits!*
As soon as I saw the red fake eyelashes at the Dollar Tree, I thought that it would be the perfect addition to my makeup look and bought the lot of them. The morning of the concert, I decided that I would just apply the lashes then because I was working from home and I would have time to fix them if they were an epic failure.
I’d be a liar if I said that I wasn’t nervous – applying fake lashes has always seemed like a difficult feat to me and I don’t have the most steady hand. But, I put the lash glue along the lid line and gave it my best shot. And, hey, it worked! Not only were my red glitter lashes a hit, but they stayed on all day and night and are still in tact if I want to use them again.
As you all know, I had a disappointing experience with a Dollar Tree bath bomb so I wasn’t expecting much. This made the huge success of my lashes even more pleasantly surprising and it made me so happy that I bought a set in each color. Now, if only I can figure out an occasion to wear them again. New Year’s Eve party, anyone?
What did you dress up as for Halloween? How do you rock fake lashes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Salutations! One of my favorite “treat yoself” items to get while shopping is a new pair of sunglasses. Or, in this case, three of them. I just couldn’t help myself! Sadly, my favorite pair of Lucky sunglasses broke during the car accident. I was really upset about this and once my boyfriend and I were up and moving again he bought me a similar pair at the mall to replace them. And, sadly, the pair he bought me broke too! So, I just had to fill the Lucky Brand shaped void with these little beauties. Check it out:
The top and bottom pair seen above were actually both from the Dollar Tree and I was astounded to find such cuteness there for one whole dollar. I loved the funky 70s flower pattern and I can never have enough tortoise shell hued shades, either. As always, will they be of the best quality? No, definitely not. But, were they cute enough that I didn’t care? Obviously!
I also totally swooned over the Crayola indigo colored aviators at TJMaxx. I *shockingly* only own one other pair of aviators and they are on the fritz so I figured it was time for an upgrade. The unique color and gold detailing creates an amazing contrast with my hair and skin tone and they feel so posh while still being totally badass. Will these be of better quality? I sure fucking hope so!! 😅😅😅
What is one of your favorite treat yoself things to buy? How often do you buy new sunglasses? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Salutations! So, I know what some of you are thinking from the title of this post… “What kind of beauty products could they possibly have at the Dollar Tree?” Lol, well, you’d be surprised! On top of my new Halloween glasses, I ended up with a bunch of fun little beauty goodies to take home during my last Dollar Tree shopping excursion. I didn’t mean to go so hard but WHAT CAN YA DO?! Blog about it, obvi. Haha, take a look and let’s discuss:
I have never been one for fake eyelashes and just opt for my Better Than Sex mascara to give me big, bold lashes. However, as soon as I saw the fun green, red, purple, and blue lashes I was instantly enamored and needed all of them. With Halloween around the corner, the red ones will be perfect with my sexy Raggedy Anne costume and I’m sure I’ll find use for the other three when my boyfriend’s band plays a show. Will they be of the best quality? Absolutely not. Will they last at least one night? Here’s to hoping!
And, of course, I couldn’t say no to the darling new lip balms in the cherry and red lip containers. I shit you not, I have had the same chapstacks in my purse for literal years so it was definitely time for an upgrade. I couldn’t think of a better way to do that than with a great big red lip container since we all know that that’s my signature. :*)
Finally, I snagged a few bath bombs because I thought it would be interesting to see how they worked. Will they be of the best quality? Absolutely not. Will it be on the blog tomorrow for a new edition of Bath Bomb Blitz? You know it!
There is nothing like getting some treats for yourself to perk you up during the work week and this little haul did just that. I’m excited to experiment with all of my new goodies and I’m even more excited that they didn’t break the bank at a dollar apiece. 😀
How do you treat yoself? What is your favorite discount store? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hi! One store that I grow increasingly fond of with every passing trip is the Dollar Tree. I always seem to find the best deals on food, apartment supplies, and little add ons for gift giving occasions. And I do literally mean the best deals considering that everything there is one dollar! This past trip to the Dollar Tree left me with a big haul of Halloween (And every day of the year supplies!), beauty goodies, and sunglasses. You will see all of the other purchases later but, for now, check out my new Halloween glasses perfect for sipping on your favorite potion:
I have had my eye on these plastic Halloween themed glasses for a while now and I finally caved and took a few home with me during my last shopping trip. And, because I live every day like it’s Halloween, they will all definitely be a year round staple at my apartment. I love the orange and grey skull cups but the purple and orange skeleton hand stemmed wine glasses are my absolute favorite! The funky colors and the spider web detailing on the bottom of the glasses are pure spooky fun and I can’t wait to break them out. 😀
What is your favorite holiday to decorate for? How do you prepare your house for Halloween? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hellooooo everyone! While on vacation, we were wandering around downtown Hendersonville in North Carolina and I stumbled upon a little boutique advertising “fairy hair”. Naturally, I was intrigued and ended up with ten strands of colored tinsel in my hair, which you can kind of see in my featured image. I loved my fairy hair so much that I decided to order a hair tinsel kit on Amazon but, unfortunately, it is much harder than the lady made it seem in the shop!
^^^ So fun!
While attempting to put some blue tinsel in my sister’s hair, we read directions and watched YouTube videos and I could not for the life of me figure out how to tie a slip knot to get the process started. I seriously must have tried for a half hour and just when I thought I got it, I was sadly mistaken.
I plan on having my hair stylist put my tinsel in because there is no way in hell I will be able to do it on my own. But, I would like to be able to do it for my friends so I am open to any and all advice to make the hair tinseling easier! Simple slip knots, a step by step guide, the best way to separate the hair. Basically, I really need help lol so if you have any blog posts or videos that could be of service be sure to put them in my comments!
What is your favorite trend for hair? How do you rock bling in your hair? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hi! With fall in full swing and winter arriving before we know it, there are definitely some tasks that must be accomplished when the cooler weather begins. From creating a cozy atmosphere in your home to prepping your wardrobe and making adjustments to your car, it’s best to be prepared to keep yourself warm and safe all season long. Let’s discuss:
Fill Up Your Tires:
Literally the first thing that the Little Red Love Machine does after the first cold night in Ohio is turn on the check tire light on the dashboard. The cooler temps cause the air in the tires to become denser which, in turn, lowers your tire pressure. So, be sure to air up your tires as soon as your light turns on to keep your gas mileage in check.
Abundance Of Blankets:
There is absolutely nothing better than snuggling up in bed or on the couch with a good movie or book once the temperature drops. Getting nice and comfy cozy after a long day of work always makes me feel better and settling in with something entertaining helps you to forget about all of the frustrations that made your day stressful. Take this one step further by investing in some soft fleece blankets and plush pillows to curl up with and let the movie night commence. 😀
^^^ A Step Brothers inspired blanket is a great place to start!
Wardrobe Prep:
As much as I would like to invest in a whole new wardrobe every time the season changes, it is just not feasible or necessary. Instead, I try to buy a few new pieces that will help me to refresh my closet without breaking the bank. Purchase a handful of key staples like some chunky sweaters, fashionable but practical boots, and a new jacket to make all of your old favorites feel brand new again. Don’t forget to grab some cold weather accessories like scarves and gloves if yours have become too well worn.
Staying comfortable once cold weather strikes is the name of the game so bundle up, enjoy your favorite hot beverage, and keep fashion forward and warm all fall and winter long!
How do you prepare for cold weather? What are fall and winter like in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Howdy! We are flying through October and I have been loving every minute of it. Well… except for the first week of the month when we were still experiencing NINETY DEGREE temperatures in Ohio. It was absolutely miserable! But, the weather has since cooled down and all of the outdoor fall activities can officially commence. Here’s what I’ll be playing on my way to the haunted houses this month:
^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos!
The University Of Akron has a radio station called Z88 and every Thursday and Friday they participate in Throwback Thursday and Flashback Friday. Both of these days just so happen to be when I work about five minutes away from my apartment, so I never bother to plug my iPod in and opt for the throwback bangers, instead. It is so much fun to hear songs from over a decade ago that you still manage to know all of the words to and it definitely rekindles a desire to listen to them all on repeat.
It has been recently announced that Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will be performing at the Super Bowl halftime show and I’m honestly not sure how I feel about this. Not that I don’t love them both but, it’s not like they have come out with anything new recently and they’re not particularly relevant in the music scene right now. Despite my ambivalence to this lineup, it sure as shit hasn’t stopped me from bumping Hips Don’t Lie every chance I get!
What are your favorite throwback songs? How do you feel about the Super Bowl halftime show pairing? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello! As soon as I get home from work and blogging needs and paperwork are complete, all I want to do is relax. Usually, my routine once I return home and complete the rest of my busy work is eat, practice my languages on Duolingo, pop in a movie, and read before bed. I am an avid movie fan and, because I don’t have any streaming services, I’ll purchase DVDs in store if I can find them on the cheap. The last time I was at Walmart with a client, they had a three dollar movie bin so I took home the following:
Lol, no surprises here that one from my selection is a scary movie! But, now I have both of The Conjuring films which I’m happy about. And, I just watched the second one this past week after a busy day. Despite my love of all things horror, I still need a laugh and my beloved Melissa McCarthy and Will Ferrell are just what the doctor ordered for that. Old School is one of my favorite comedies, other than Step Brothers, so it was exciting to have found it. And, although Tammy is the dumbest movie ever, it reminds me of when my sister and I saw it in theaters and we still quote it to this day – so I couldn’t not get it!
Discount movie buying is a nice little pick me up for when I need a treat and it provides me with entertainment for many evenings to come. For three bucks a pop, I’d say that these were all totally worth it. Movie night, anyone?
How do you treat yourself? What kind of entertainment do you enjoy after a day at work? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Creating cards and letter writing is a lost art. Taking the time to make something with care adds personality to your crafting, something that cannot be replicated when buying cards from a store. That’s actually where most of the fun comes in, making a card that is entirely unique and took incredible patience and skill. If you’re just teetering on the brink of getting started and buying the various equipment you need, then take a look at these examples where card making becomes the perfect craft:
A mark of professionalism:
What if you could make your business card yourself? If you had the freedom, what kind of design would you use? When it comes to card making, it’s not just the normal greeting cards that you will be able to make, but business cards too. Right from scratch, you can decide the material so when someone touches it, they get a unique sensation. A business card made out of foam, for example, is much more memorable than typical card stock. Being able to make your own 3D designs so again, anyone who is rubbing their finger over it gets a different feel. And, rather than the typical rectangle business card, how about curved edges? Any colors, fonts, dies and materials, the choice is yours.
A bespoke wedding:
Wedding cards are, perhaps, the most difficult to choose. It’s not like a birthday that comes around every year, weddings are once in a lifetime. People who have been invited to the wedding will often fret whether or not their card looks extravagant enough and does it warrant being saved by the couple. Usually the married couple will only choose a select few cards that they’re going to save for the rest of their life along with all of the other wedding day memories. To make your card worthy of being kept and valued, you’ll need to make it yourself using Sizzix dies. These dies are some of the most detailed in the crafting world and there are plenty of them to choose from. Characters, letters, houses, animals, patterns and jewelry designs, for starters.
For your wedding card, you may wish to use thinlit dies, which are intricate patterns that are used to cut out the frontal design of your card. This allows the cover to be see-through and show a bit of what’s inside without opening it. The festive repeats, floral, seasonal, and mystical dies would go great for celebrating a moment of love and happiness.
Celebrating a milestone:
Normally, people get into crafting because they want to make a brilliant birthday card, which is fine. But you can use your crafting skills to make a card that marks a special milestone. This could be something like giving your parents an anniversary card for their 20 years together. It might be giving your daughter a card for her promotion at work. A moment in time where an achievement of perseverance and struggle is documented, acknowledged, and celebrated is perfect for making a personalized card.
First, you need custom dies which you can very easily order online. But what kind of dies would you need? For a promotion, how about the logo of the company they work for? For an anniversary maybe a picture from the photo album? Anything that relates to the focal point can be made into a 3D design with a custom die. Next, you should use materials and colors that match the event. Again, you could use corporate colors for the promotion card or the favorite colors of the couple. Ribbons and flowers are a great addition to personalized cards as a change of material and adds depth to the card.
Making a children’s book:
Children will one day grow too old to be read bedtime stories but, while you have the chance, make them a personal bedtime story. You can make up your own characters and story line to reflect the kind of teachings you want them to learn. With using the dies, you can make a 3D book which has lots of opportunity for interactive storytelling. Popup books are popular because they have moving parts, so you might want to incorporate that into your crafting skills, as well.
Handcrafted cards are incredibly personal and will instantly be recognized for the hard work you have put in. Start crafting a card and make something special for someone you care about!
lifewithlilred 