Tag Archives: fun

Oct28

Scarf Series: London Calling Edition

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Scarf Series: London Calling Edition

Hi everyone and happy weekend! Today we’re going to talk about another scarf from TJMaxx that ignited a newly found passion for such a staple accessory. Because the way I style my outfits is so shoe and jacket oriented, scarves have been a part of my wardrobe that has fallen by the wayside. I have a lovely collection of scarves before these new additions in the Scarf Series, but my newbie purchases have sparked a fire to wear one literally whenever I can now. It’s new, but I’m not mad about it! Take a look at the next scarf segment in this series and let’s discuss:

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If there’s one thing that Lil Red loves, it’s all Europe everything. From a strong desire to travel there to a deep appreciation for the style and culture, this girl is destined to make her way across the pond. Whenever I see a piece of clothing or an accessory that fits my style and has an ode to Europe, whether it be literally in its design or made overseas, I am attracted to it like bees to honey. So, obviously you can see why I loved this scarf at first glance!

I am unsure of the brand of this scarf, as there was no tag. But, I like to make pretend that it came from some darling boutique in London that I could spend a rainy afternoon browsing through. This scarf screams “British Invasion” and I love everything about it. The fun, cartoon like designs, the fact that it’s not an infinity scarf (Hello, Parisian style wearing!), and the muted yet somehow bright colors with an emphasis on black, white, and red makes me go all heart eyes. I honestly can’t even, because this little baby was made for me.

This scarf is cheeky, which is so classic in describing Brit humor, so obviously I’m going to style this accessory with a sense of fun in mind. I’m thinking of throwing this around my neck over top of a mini dress layered with an over sized army green button down on top and a chunky, funky heel on the bottom to bring some London luxe to Akron, Ohio. Cheers!

So there you have it, the latest issue in my Scarf Series: London Calling Edition! Where in Europe would you like to visit? What do you admire most about European style/culture? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct27

Hats Off: Cheetah Girl Edition

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Hats Off: Cheetah Girl Edition

Hi everyone and TGIF! Fall finally appears to be in full swing, as Ohio is definitely enjoying brisk, autumn temperatures after almost the entire month of October treated us to summer like weather. With the drop in temperature comes the incessant need to accessorize with all of the fall cuteness, including scarves, hats, and fingerless gloves. A recent trip to Target brought me a darling new pom pom beanie to add to my collection, just in time for the hit of cold weather. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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I’m normally not a huge cheetah print fan, but there was something about this sassy sweet hat that spoke to me. I loved the cream, black, and gold color palette so much that the animal print pattern was something that I embraced, rather than shied away from. I’m also not one for pom pom hats, but the Pittsburgh Steelers colored puff was way too adorable to say no to!

Yellows and golds are both colors that I really enjoy wearing, especially as a top or an accessory that’s close to my face. The burnt gold of this hat looked so lovely on top of my red hair and it made the yellow in my hazel eyes really pop. I also loved that this hat had a cream base color instead of white, which gave this cute little number a more muted, fall look.

During the fall, I normally opt for my oversized floppy hats and Panamas, but I am so excited to throw this new addition on with my navy peacoat and hit the road. This hat is so sweet to me but the cheeky cheetah print adds just the perfect amount of sass, which made it a perfect add on to the landfill that is the Lil Red fall wardrobe.

So there you have it, the latest issue of Hats Off: Cheetah Girl Edition! What is your favorite fall accessory? What is your favorite animal print? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct26

Feeling Crafty? 3 Gifts You Can Make In One Hour

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Feeling Crafty? 3 Gifts You Can Make In One Hour

Getting a bit tired of Christmas being all about consumerism? The shops are taking advantage of our willingness to spend money during the festive season is true enough, but the choice to partake in it is up to you. Just because you’d like the holiday to be a bit more about spending time together rather than buying presents doesn’t mean you have to stop giving, though!

Here is a great list of creative DIY presents that most of us can make, which your friends and family would love to receive. They won’t take half a year to make, either, so you still have time to get crafting:

Treat Jars:

Those with a sweet tooth would be happy to get jars, sleighs, and barrels filled with treats for Christmas. Homemade candy canes and gingerbread takes almost no effort and very little money to make, giving it the great title of the number one Christmas present to cook up this year. Put as much thought into the packaging and presentation as you put into the candy, though, to make it even more impressive.

Have a look at these fantastic candy ideas for the festive season, and your friends and family will hardly believe that you made them yourself. It’s great to include your kids when you cook or bake, by the way. Reserve a batch for them to hand out in class, as well, and treat yourself to a smug smile in the next PTA meeting. AYYY!!!! 😀

Spruced Up Oven Gloves:

Head off to the shop and pick up a standard set of oven gloves for your foodie friends. They won’t look boring at all when they unwrap them, though, as you’ve put your crafting skills to excellent use with your sewing machine.

It’s really easy to make a pair of oven gloves look fancy and decorative – plus, your friends or family will have the most original pair on the market yet. Check out these sewing machine ratings if you don’t own one of your own, so that you don’t have to borrow your mother-in-law’s machine every time you feel creative.

Then, you can fill the unique oven glove with some new kitchen utensils. It’s an original way to jazz up their kitchen game, and you can fill it with whatever knick-knacks that they want or need.

A Small Clutch Purse:

In the spirit of sewing, try crafting together a neat little clutch purse for one of your friends or sisters. Just find a piece of fabric that you like, buy a small zipper and piece it together in half an hour. Clutches are so trendy lately, and most of us use one for something. If you’re feeling extra generous, put a few small prezzies in the pouch, as well, for a gift within a gift!

With a tiny amount of baking skills and a few simple tools, you can craft your way through every Christmas present this year. It’s so much more fun than walking around in shops, that’s for sure, or having to get up to open the door for the Amazon-delivery guy. #lazygirlproblems

Featured Image By: Pexels

Oct26

AnkhorRed’s First Annual Bloggers Conference Highlights

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AnkhorRed’s First Annual Bloggers Conference Highlights

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! Today, we are going to discuss three of my favorite things from Lil Red’s trip to the Big City for my bloggers conference with Kate from Ankhor You. Obviously, I could go on for literal days on end about the BC, but I don’t want to give you guys FOMO on what was an amazing trip! I know, I know, I’m far too kind. Anywho, let’s get started:

1) The time spent with Kate:

Honestly, it really didn’t matter where Kate and I had our bloggers conference, because I’m confident that we could make any location fun. Cemeteries, dollar stores, the middle of nowhere – but given these options, I’m glad that we were in NYC! If you think that Kate is the coolest, sweetest, most fashionable girl on the planet based on her blog, just wait until you meet her in real life… BECAUSE SHE IS!!!!!!

Kate was always someone that I was impressed by and admired before I met her, but our BC just solidified that for me even more. Not only is she as genuine and kind as she is via her blog, text, and FaceTime in person but she really is a modern day Renaissance woman, as she describes herself on her page. As a writer/skater/yoga instructor/amazing human/fashionista, she takes Manhattan by storm, and does it all while walking literal miles per day in the fiercest outfits you’ll ever see.

Kate is a person who follows her dreams and achieves them in her own way and I think that everyone can take a note from that. From binging on Harry Potter to walking down Fifth Avenue and eating hella food, being with Kate was everything that I hoped it would be AND MORE. And you better believe I miss her like crazy!

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^^^ SHE’S ALSO SO PRETTY OMGGGGGG!

2) Skating at Rockefeller Center:

As I mentioned yesterday, Kate and I are both former skater girls, which is how we initially bonded. Then, upon talking further, we realized that we are basically the same person, lol good times. Anyways, I knew that after reminiscing with her constantly about skating, that going together during our BC was a necessity. Although the TWENTY-FIVE DOLLAR ADMISSION into Rockefeller was steep and, sadly, it is nowhere near as big as it is on TV and film, we had a blast.

It was so much fun to be able to skate around the rink and (cautiously) make our way into the center to do a few tricks when it was safe for us to do so. I love going skating with my friends and family, and even though I was so far away from Ohio, I felt right at home with Kate on the rink. It was so special to be able to share the ice with someone who genuinely appreciates it as much as I do. I’m looking forward to skating with Kate again hopefully soon, but maybe next time we’ll be in Ohio where admission onto the ice is free or way cheaper!

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3) Eating (literally) all the food:

Sigh. I go to NYC and instead of writing about sightseeing or all of the amazing places that we went to, I choose to write about food. But I like to eat, SUE ME FOR IT. Kate took me to all of her favorite places like Maison Kayser, Le Pain, BareBurger, and Bonjour Crepes & Wine. For four days in a row, we ate like queens and, although my wallet and waistband weren’t thanking me, my heart and stomach definitely were. #fatandhappy

Going to New York and experiencing all of the different options to eat at was incredible, albeit a little overwhelming! In Akron, Ohio, we do have some specialty restaurants, but for the most part, we have a lot of chain dining. Think, Applebee’s, the Olive Garden, TGIFridays, etc. Being in a location where literally every restaurant is a specialty one was insane! I’m so happy that Kate gave me options of places that she knew that I would like, because we probably would have spent a majority of our bloggers conference waiting for me to pick a place to eat!! I miss Kate like crazy, but I would be a liar if I didn’t say that I miss all of the food, too! 😉

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So there you have it, my highlights from AnkhorRed’s First Annual Bloggers Conference! And let it be known that I LOVE YOU, KATE!!!! What is one of your favorite things to do in New York City? What places are on your travel bucket list? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct25

Bright Ideas To Spruce Up A Gloomy Home

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Bright Ideas To Spruce Up A Gloomy Home

When summer is put behind us, it’s tempting to revert to dark, deep colors. Mustard yellows and soft browns are autumnal and reflect the changing leaves outside. However, if one goes too far with a deep color palette, a gloomy home can be created, which is somewhat depressing. Remember that the sun sets far earlier and that there is less sunlight during the autumn and winter months. Exploiting light to combat this is never as important as it is now and in the months to come.

Don’t fret, though, because sprucing up a gloomy house is by no means impossible. In fact, with the following tips, it’s pretty easy!

Paint It White:

The Rolling Stones are a fan of painting things black, but they’re rock stars and allowed to be miserable. The average person can’t pull off their attitude without a guitar in hand. So, as a rule, it’s better to use white when brightening up a home. The reason for this is the sheen. All paint is glossy, yet white has an extra shine, which gives it an added edge. Even lighter colors can’t compete because they are softer and not as bright. It’s okay to use non-autumnal colors. Use white as the foundation, and then you can accessorize the rest of the house with darker tones.

Glass Paneled Doors:

Removing blockages from the windows and using power light bulbs are simple fixes. Still, the light may not travel well from one room to another. The reason, quite simply, is the blockages within the rooms. Doors are a prime example because they are big and bulky. As soon as the light hits the wood or PVC, it will bounce elsewhere. With panels, the rays will travel straight through unimpeded and into the next area of the house. The doors don’t have to be paneled from head to toe because it’s overkill. Just install them halfway up the wood for excellent results.

Make It Fun:

You didn’t think to brighten up a home was all about light, did you? No, the right light settings are crucial but not the end of the line. To make a house less gloomy, it needs to be a place that you enjoy. Whether it’s relaxing or bright and poppy, there should be a stylish and practical nature throughout the property. Relaxing is easy, so let’s focus on having fun. If there is space, turn an empty bedroom into a games room. The best billiard tables can provide you with hours of entertainment. Make sure you get a mini fridge and an awesome speaker system, too! Finally, make sure that the house is accessible. Nothing is more annoying than struggling to move in your own home. Clear away the clutter and the boxes and watch the space and light flow better than ever.

Keep It The Same:

The above are useful tips if a gloomy house is a problem. But what if you love your house the way it is?! Keep everything the same if your home looks perfect. For one thing, it should be a reflection of your family’s likes and dislikes. Secondly, some people are winter people, as in they love this time of year. In that case, embrace the dark afternoons and freezing cold temperatures! Pull a Mick Jagger and Paint It Black and light some candles for a spooky chic atmosphere. Go all out, because nothing is cooler than a house that is completely and utterly you.

A murky home is not always doom and gloom. But if you do want to brighten things up, follow the above steps and let the sunshine in!

Featured Image By: PxHere

Oct25

AnkhorRed’s First Annual Bloggers Conference

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AnkhorRed’s First Annual Bloggers Conference

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! As you all know, Lil Red visited the Big City this month to visit my blogging (and real life) BFF, Kate, from Ankhor You. After literal months of constant texting and FaceTiming, we decided to take the next “big step” in our friendship and finally meet each other!

In case you didn’t know, Kate and I are both former figure skaters, so we planned our get together for October, when the rinks in New York are open. Kate jokingly called our hang out a “bloggers conference” and it was so funny and appropriate that it stuck. After what seemed like months of waiting…because it was quite literally months of waiting…October rolled around and the BC was a go! I Greyhounded myself to Manhattan (A ten hour ride!) and was greeted by Kate at the gate.

Saying that our first “real life” meeting was surreal is a true understatement. Yes, we talk every day and yes, we FaceTime almost weekly but talking via phone is never the same as meeting in real life. Anyone on CatFish can attest to that! But our initial meeting went exactly how I hoped it would go – with a big hug and infinite high pitched “eeeeeeee’s”. Although, I could do without the fact that I needed to go to the Port Authority bathroom immediately after and that I was blind as a bat because I accidentally fell asleep on the bus in my one a day contacts and had to take them out. Smh.

ANYWAYS, spending four days in NY and staying in Kate’s “doll house” apartment was magnificent, to say the least. The days were long and filled with walking, in heels no less! But the company was fantastic, the laughter was nonstop, and, as if things couldn’t get any better, a Harry Potter marathon on TV was there to greet us every evening.

Tomorrow, I will discuss some of my favorite highlights of my trip and some more NYC fun with one of my favorite people on the planet! Where is your favorite place to travel to? What is your preferred method of travel? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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Oct23

Monday Update: The Fall Tag Edition

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Monday Update: The Fall Tag Edition

Hi everyone and happy Monday! Last week, my darling friend from Absolutely Blush nominated lifewithlilred for its first Fall Tag. Out of all of the fantastic awards that my page has so graciously been nominated for, this one is probably my favorite because I love and live for all things fall. Please make sure to check out the fabulous fun that is Absolutely Blush and let’s get to the tag rules:

The Rules:

  •  Put the badge and rules in your post.
  • Answer the tag questions.
  • Tag at least 5 other bloggers to join in the fun!

Q & A:

What’s your favorite fall outfit? Mmmm, let’s see. I can’t say that I have a favorite outfit in particular but I would have to say that my favorite piece of fall clothing would definitely have to be peacoats. I’m obsessed with my newest peacoat purchase from Target – it’s perfect!

What is fall weather like where you live? I am located in Akron, Ohio which is about forty minutes from Cleveland. Right now, it feels way too warm here to be fall. Usually in the good ol’ AK-Rowdy we enjoy brisk temperatures in the 50’s and low 60’s, which is perfect for putting on a big, chunky sweater and hiking in one of our gorgeous Metro Parks.

What’s your favorite drink to have during the fall? Every once in a while I like to treat myself to the yummy Caramel Apple Spice from Starbucks. However, I definitely enjoy hot coffee more during the cooler weather so I usually will just make myself a pot while I’m working and sip away.

What’s your favorite fall scented candle? I’m not a huge candle girl but I do love vanilla scented candles year round, even though that’s not really a fall scent!

What are your favorite fall activities? I love going to haunted houses, watching scary movies, and going for hikes. Apple picking and corn mazes are a plus, too!

What is one of your favorite fall memories? My family and our two pups went apple picking in Asheville, North Carolina last year and it was so much fun! The orchard was huge, the scenery was breathtaking, and the apples were delicious.

What are some fall movies that you enjoy? All of the Saw movies, the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Ils, Sinister one and two, and The Conjuring. If it’s a scary movie, then chances are I love it!

What is your favorite fall treat? A great big caramel apple with peanuts! Yum!

If you celebrate Halloween, what is your favorite costume that you have worn? I can’t say that I really have a favorite, because I normally don’t dress up. When I was little, I was a generic, bought at the drug store princess for five years in a row – so clearly my younger self loved that!

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: The Fall Tag Edition! Many thanks again to Absolutely Blush for my nomination! How would you answer any of these tag questions? What is your favorite season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct14

Let The Halloween Heaven Guest Bloggers Series COMMENCE!

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Let The Halloween Heaven Guest Bloggers Series COMMENCE!

Hello everyone and happy weekend!! Tomorrow begins lifewithlilred’s Halloween Heaven guest bloggers series and I, for one, am really freaking excited. I have a bunch of incredibly cool posts to share with you brought to you by some of the best makeup artists, photographers, chefs, and writers that I know.

This guest bloggers series is going to be a fun change of pace from the fashion based series (Which I’ve loved!) that have graced lifewithlilred in the past. The Halloween Heaven posts that will launch tomorrow are all made by brand new (and one returning) guest bloggers on my page and I am so thrilled to share their talent with all of you.

I hope that you all are ready for some Halloween themed fun on lifewithlilred! I SURE AM. What was your favorite Halloween costume that you’ve worn? What is something that you enjoy doing during this spooky time of the year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct10

Walgreens Freebie Bag

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Walgreens Freebie Bag

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! I’ve been frequenting Walgreens a few times within the past few months because they are the only store in my area that still carries my beloved Vidal Sassoon hair dye. Normally, when I stop in the store, I just take the lot of how ever many boxes of the Runway Red color that they have so that I’ll have a healthy amount on back stock if, god forbid, anything happens to the Vidal Sassoon London Luxe collection.

When I went into the store over the weekend, I was treated to a beauty goodie bag full of amazing coupons and samples just for buying what I was going to purchase, anyway. Not only that, but because I have their reward card, I got five dollars added on to it for my next hair dye purchase. Clearly, I picked the right day to restock my hair dye! Take a look at the spoils of my goodie bag:

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When the cashier handed me the bag, it was literally filled to the brim with freebies. I was so curious as to what was in it that I couldn’t wait till I was home to open it, so I sat in my car and was blown away at the contents of the bag, which included:

  • Crest Whitening Therapy tooth paste
  • Olay retinal eye cream
  • CeraVe complexion bar
  • Aveeno lotion
  • Jergens lotion
  • Pocket mirror
  • FAT stack of coupons
  • Lotion samples
  • Whitening strips
  • 3 packets of various shampoos and conditioners
  • Moisturizer samples
  • Hair, skin, and nails gummie samples
  • And more!

I had a blast showing off the contents of my bag at home and dividing up the booty to my family, since there were quite a few things that I don’t use. I’ve never been “anti Walgreens” but this amazing freebie surprise definitely makes me feel more inclined to shop there more often. Now, if only Target and TJMaxx would start giving away goodie bags like this! #wishfulthinking

So there you have it, my Walgreens Freebie Bag! What would you like to try from the goodie bag that I received? Which store gives away the best freebies and coupons? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Walgreens

Oct9

If The Shoe Fits: Betsey Johnson Mules Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Betsey Johnson Mules Edition

Hi everyone and happy Monday! I hope that all of you had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. So we all have those certain trends that we love to hate/hate to love/yada yada yada. For me, that trend is the mule. Don’t get me wrong, I love the first pair of Matisse mules that I bought and I think that some mules can be totally gorgeous. But, as a heel girl through and through, it’s a rarity that I can put my best feet forward in flats.

Obviously, a heeled mule would be ideal BUT THEY ALL LOOK LIKE CLOGS and I hate those. Lol, it’s not even a mule – it’s a straight up clog. I’ve thought a lot about this style of shoe and realized that what I need is the slipper shape of the top of the mule with a heel tacked onto the back for good measure. Preferably, a heel that’s not made of hard rubber, which makes the shoe look like a pair of clodhoppers if I’ve ever seen them.

I’ve clearly put a lot of energy into imagining the ideal shape for a heeled mule, but have had no luck in finding the pair that was “just right”. So, can you believe my surprise when I found the seemingly perfect pair of Betsey Johnson HEELED MULES while browsing on TJMaxx’s website?! Swoon. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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So, yeah. You can see that these babies above are exactly what I wanted. These shoes are literally a mule with a heel thrown on for funsies. These Betsey beauties are just darling. Mules definitely have the potential to look like shoes for the (very fashionable) elderly, but not these. The black and white striped heel in contrast with the vibrant yellow flowers screams whimsical tea party. These mules are youthful, sassy, and perfect for a twenty-something who considers a night on the town to consist of strutting down the aisles of Target and TJMaxx.

The best part of Betsey Johnson clothing and accessories are the adorable surprises that are in the details. The center of the flowers on my mules are actual metal, beaded, and jeweled brooches – not just some lame-o craft store find tacked smack dab in the middle. All of these hidden delights just show how much joy that Betsey has in creating her brand and why she will always be one of my favorite designers.

These shoes were made for everything from ambling through daily errands to a boozy bar crawl with the girls on a Saturday night. Somehow, Betsey Johnson knew that I was in desperate need of mules just like my new pair, so she snapped her fingers and put these on the market. Love, love, freaking LOVE.

So there you have it, the newest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Betsey Johnson Mules Edition! What is a trend that you love to hate? Do you prefer flats or heels? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah