Tag Archives: fun

Mar5

Hats Off: Nicole Marciano Edition

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Hats Off: Nicole Marciano Edition

Hiii everyone and happy weekend! I hope all of you are having a wonderful and relaxing Sunday! Yesterday, a quick stop to TJMaxx got me a super cute new floppy hat by Nicole Marciano for a whopping four dollars. Thanks to a ten dollar off coupon compliments of their credit card, I was able to snag this little beauty which I am SO stoked to sport this summer. Take a look:

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^^^ So. Fun!

I have quite a large hat collection due to a love that I developed from my grandma who had over one hundred of them! I love, love, love floppy hats but all of mine are either felt or wool which is fine for fall, winter, and the spring but not so much for summer. I’ve wanted a big, floppy, straw style hat for a while now but never managed to find one that I liked enough to purchase. They were all either too big, too small, too blah, or the shape wasn’t to my liking. Seriously, some of the floppy hats that I’ve encountered were HUGE which would result in the hat to droop in an unflattering sad elephant ear style that was just…no.

But, I absolutely LOVE this little Nicole Marciano number. It’s big without being gigantic, the shape that the hat takes when it’s actually on is quite attractive, and the “bonjour” detailing was just too darling to pass up. And for four dollars?! Hello! This hat is going to be so charming with a little sun dress, chunky wedges, and “don’t look at me” sunglasses for a glam but fun summer time look. It will provide me with the perfect shade and a touch of Paris chic for a day of shopping at my favorite outdoor mall, a trip to the zoo, or simply reading the latest issue of Cosmo on my deck. Just thinking of it makes me more than ready for summer!

Hats Off, indeed, to this cute as can be Nicole Marciano piece! What is your must have accessory for spring or summer? Who else has a hat collection of their own? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar3

A Cure For Wellness

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A Cure For Wellness

Hi everyone and TGIF! Last night, I went to the movies with my sister and her boyfriend, truly living up to the permanent third wheel status. Kristen, Ramon, and I went to see A Cure For Wellness and it was alright! Ramon told me that he heard it described as a combination of American Horror Story: Asylum and Shutter Island and I think that that was right on the money. I can’t say that it was my favorite movie I’ve ever seen in my life but I’m glad that I saw it. However, I would have much preferred to see Get Out, instead! Hopefully that will happen soon because I’d love to see it in theaters.

I’m not going to give away any spoilers because the movie is still brand new but it really did leave me scratching my head. I do like when movies are thought provoking and ambiguous because I love nothing more than discussing film and TV show theories with my friends. I mean, I know what I took away from the plot points that they seemed to leave up to interpretation and, I hate to brag, but I’m pretty sure my theory is close to what they were trying to tell us without actually telling us.

So, that was vague. But what I will say is that I thought that the acting was very well done. Dane DeHaan who played the leading character and ambitious Lockhart was superb and he was very easy on the eyes! All of the actors seemed to work really well with each other and it was fun discussing afterwards who we felt was good, bad, or could have done more at the questionable sanitarium where the film took place.

A Cure For Wellness isn’t a movie that I plan on watching multiple times when it comes out on video but I would like to watch it once more to pick up on things that I might have missed yesterday. Despite its poor Rotten Tomatoes rating, I still enjoyed my evening at the movie theater especially since I didn’t pay a dime for my ticket and popcorn. The Regal Theaters reward card is basically the best thing that has ever happened to me. As an avid lover of going to the movies, it is nice to actually get tangible and useful rewards like sixteen dollars worth of free swag yesterday night. And if free movies, popcorn, and beverages aren’t your deal, you can always go to their online store where you can spend your points on movie merchandise!

After A Cure For Wellness has been out for a couple more weeks, I’ll post what my general conclusion from the film was. But, until then, it is open for discussion in my comments section. What was your takeaway from the film? What were some parts that left you pondering? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

^^^ I have no rights to this trailer, which is compliments of 20th Century Fox.

Possible Spoiler Alert in the comments section!!

Featured Image By: Slash Film

Mar2

Selfie Spam

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Selfie Spam

Hiiii everyone and happy Thursday! I have come to realize that I’m not the best at posting some Sarah Selfies every now and then on lifewithlilred. But, thanks to a lazy day, that is about to change! And what better time to do it than on Throwback Thursday considering both of these were taken a week or two ago?! SCORE.

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So, there’s that. Lol.

Selfies can seriously be either the most fantastic or most stressful thing of your life. I’ll tell ya, there’s nothing better than taking a fabulous picture on the first few clicks of your camera. When you’re feeling yourself and the lighting is giving you all the love, it feels like the hallelujah chorus should be singing your praises any second.

But, god forbid, that your pics are just not working. I can think of few things that are more frustrating than when you’re looking fab and can literally not take a “good” picture to save your life! Whether the lighting is wonky, you can’t make the perfect face, or your palms are sweaty (knees weak, arms are heavy), a selfie shoot that is going wrong freaking SUCKS. It’s like…you know you’re looking Instagram worthy so why in the name of all that is holy is it not translating to one measly picture. Yeeesh!

So, here’s to you: the selfie queens that can take a gorgeous picture about 99.9% of the time. I admire the hell out of you and salute you. Maybe, if Sarah Selfie Shoots weren’t so freaking annoying half of the time, I could aspire to be on your level!

It only felt right to upload some Selfie Spam today and my hope for all of you is nothing but perfect selfies in the future! What are your tricks and tips for a super like-worthy selfie? How do you choose your favorite picture when literally all twenty of the ones that you took look exactly alike? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb28

Ruby Tulip Update!!

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Ruby Tulip Update!!

Hihihi everyone and happy Tuesday! My wonderful, talented scentstress, Angela, posted a Ruby Tulip Update on the Angie’s Bath & Body Facebook page and I am so excited that I had to share it with all of you! Take a look:

“A custom SPRING perfume RUBY TULIP for my blogger buddy and friend Sarah. RUBY TULIP is curating so the oils will come out perfect for her readers. It will be ready in a day or so and will ship in cute organza bags with or without rose petals (customer’s choice)“

^^^ YAY!!!

I am so happy that baby Ruby Tulip is a brewin so nicely and that very soon, the absolutely delicious scent will be available for purchasing. Until then, I strongly urge all of you to take a look at the Angie’s Bath & Body Etsy shop, which is filled with amazing and all natural bath and body products! ❤

Who plans on getting a hold of the custom made Ruby Tulip scent? What is your favorite bath and body care item to treat yourself with? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb23

Man Cave Or She Shed: What Could Your Garage Be Turned Into?

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Man Cave Or She Shed: What Could Your Garage Be Turned Into?

If you are someone that is looking to move to a bigger home just because you want a place with more rooms, then it might be worth rethinking where you already live. There are rooms that can be divided up and you could even think of extending. One place that often gets forgotten about is the garage. If you have one, it can get left for junk and storage, especially if you don’t use it to store a car. So if your garage does fall into that category, then what could you change it into? No garage or shed to work with? No problem! You can purchase garage and shed kits with duramax building products to get your project started. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking, and you might not need to move after all!

Man Cave or She Shed: If you live in a family home, then having somewhere for you to escape to can be really refreshing. It might not be somewhere that you use on the daily, but having it there and ready is useful. You could set it up with some seating, a television, and perhaps a games console or a games table. It takes that kind of thing out of the main house, which can free up a lot of space. You could even turn part of the garage into a bar for the ultimate place to chill out and relax in. Getting a dual tap keg could be a good idea, then it will be like your very own pub at home. There is a review of the Edgestar Dual Tap Kegerator at this link if it is something that you want to look into. It could be nice to have your own grown-up playroom, right?

Of course, prior to your renovations of the garage, you will want to ensure that the space is in working order. This could mean bringing an electrician in to see if there are any wiring issues or using a company like Ben Garage Doors LLC garage door experts (or a similar one in your local area) if your garage door isn’t working exactly as it should. A man cave or she shed is all about privacy and a garage door on the fritz is not conducive to that when you are trying to unwind and escape.

Cinema Room: How neat would it be to open your Garage Doors and walk into a mini movie theater? If you have children or just like to have lots of people over to your house, then a cinema room could be a really good idea. Make sure that you get the walls insulated or have heaters installed. You could go for traditional cinema seating, or even get lots of bean bags, floor cushions, or recliners to watch movies in style. Set up a projector and paint the walls white and you’ll be good to go. All you’ll need now is the popcorn!

Office: More and more people are choosing to work from home or have freelance based jobs so having a space in the home that is set aside for work is definitely a bonus. You can’t shut the door on your work if your computer is in the living room or in your bedroom. So shut your garage door on it instead! And, if your garage door isn’t functioning properly, do a search for “garage door installation huntsville” (or your local area). After all, you can’t have an office space without a working door!

You will need a large desk, comfy chair, and plenty of storage are essentials for turning the garage into an office. Just make sure that you can get WiFi in there. Otherwise, it just wouldn’t work. If so, you might need to get an extension to reach out into the garage.

Fitness Room: Why pay for a gym membership if you don’t have to, right? You could convert your garage into a fitness room. Then there is no excuse to get in there and get exercising. Some padded flooring is a good idea, especially if you are doing weights. Just make sure that there is an easy way to control the heat in the room, as you’ll probably want to keep cool when you’re working up a sweat.

If you have a garage or spare room, the possibilities to convert it into a cool hangout are endless! All you need is a little imagination to create a space that is perfect for you.

Featured Image By: Wikimedia

Feb22

Think Spring Guest Bloggers Series Conclusion

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Think Spring Guest Bloggers Series Conclusion

Hello everyone! I hope that all of you enjoyed my Think Spring guest bloggers series and are now looking forward to the wonderful season that is on the horizon. Thank you to all of my amazing guest bloggers that took part in making this series a success and all of you are welcome back on lifewithlilred anytime! BUT WAIT. There’s more…

I mentioned on a previous post that one of my darling friends, Angela, was creating a special spring time fragrance for the series and that still is a go. Unfortunately, we couldn’t tack it on after Nida’s post because Angela had quite a busy month moving into her new home! But, nevertheless, she is experimenting with scents as we speak and there will soon be a gorgeous spring roll on oil on her Etsy shop for my readers. We will also be offering a promo code, as well, so be on the lookout for the post announcing it! Congratulations on your move, Angela!

Thank you again to my guest bloggers and the scent queen herself, Angela, for helping to create such a fun series on my page! What is your favorite season? What is your favorite part of spring? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb22

Blogger Recognition Award #3

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Blogger Recognition Award #3

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! My beautiful blogging BFF, Nida, from Shopaholic Blogs was kind enough to nominate lifewithlilred for its third Blogger Recognition Award! Nida is one of my dearest blogging friends and has been featured on my page quite often. You can see her most recent work in a spring themed OOTD for my Think Spring guest bloggers series. I absolutely adore Nida and I know that all of you will too, so make sure to check out her page and give it some love! Now, for the rules:

The Rules:

Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
Write a post to show your award.
Give a brief story of how your blog started.
Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to.
Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide the link to the post you created.

Because lifewithlilred has already completed this award, as seen here, I am just going to move right along to my nominations. Definitely check out the original post if you are interested in reading about the birth of my blog baby, though!

My Nominees (I am only doing three!):

Thank you again to the lovely Nida for the nomination! Love you! How did you start your blog? Who is enjoying a marg today for National Margarita Day (ME!)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb22

How To: Creating A Garden Indoors

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How To: Creating A Garden Indoors

If you live in a city, green spaces can be hard to find. The noise and pollution that is part of our day to day life shouldn’t follow us home. Our homes should be a place of rest and recuperation. At home we should be able to let go of the stresses of the day and enjoy some healthy and happy quiet time. With all this in mind, it makes sense to have a garden in our homes! There are so many benefits to having plants and nature-inspired items in our house, and it can be so easy to create an indoor garden. Keep reading for some inspiration…

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Pretty!!!

What Are The Benefits? It may sound like an eccentric concept, but creating a garden indoors actually has lots of benefits. Living in close proximity to plants and flowers can help us to feel more at ease with our surroundings, less anxious, and more relaxed. Plants also add something interesting and stimulating to look at and care for in our homes. These factors all contribute to our overall well being and can make us happier and less stressed. There is even some evidence to suggest that plants can create an improved learning environment.

One of the other benefits of having plants indoors is that they help with breathing and purifying the air. Plants release oxygen during photosynthesis, which increases oxygen levels in the home. The process of photosynthesis also produces moisture vapor. This is good news as the humidity in the air increases, meaning less dry skin, colds, and sore throats.

How to Create an Indoor Garden: Creating a garden indoors is no mean feat. You’ll have to invest time and money into your project, but the results will be well worth it. It is possible to grow plants indoors with LED grow lights. LumiGrowth has a great guide to the best lights to buy and how to use them. Once you’re set up and growing plants indoors, you can move on to the other garden features.

Most gardens contain some kind of pathway, decking, or patio. Bring some stone into your home to give the feeling of a garden path. Statement walls are a great place to incorporate stone or around a fireplace if you have one. For a cheaper alternative, buy some stone statues or ornaments to place around your home. You can even place some smooth stones around your house as a quirky accessory. For a more practical approach, use smooth stones as doorstops instead.

Another key aspect of a garden is well tended grass. Now I’m not suggesting you bring grass indoors, but use the color green where you can to add some bursts of nature. You don’t have to take this too literally either. Rather than painting the walls green, create a little herb garden in the kitchen. Simply line up fresh herbs in pots on a windowsill and watch them grow! They will help you create an indoor garden, and will make an awesome addition to your meals!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Feb20

Monday Update: Spring Cleaning Edition

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Monday Update: Spring Cleaning Edition

Hiii everyone and happy Monday! The weather in Ohio has been insanely springy these past few days which is crazy, because our winters can be brutal. The sixty degrees and sunny weekend had me outside reading while listening to music, driving with the windows down, and taking my precious pups on long walks. The warm weather also resulted in a hard bite from the spring cleaning bug which left me with a much cleaner closet and desk which I am so happy about!

I didn’t really have any intention of spending my Sunday evening spring cleaning but I wanted to find a spot in my room to display my college degree, which is what began the process. I still haven’t found the perfect spot to put it but I did manage to clean off my desk and clear up some of the clutter in my closet so I guess my degree display can wait! Over the winter, my desk turned into more of an additional storage unit as opposed to an actual work space. Between multiple jobs and random odds and ends, my desk became the piece of furniture where paperwork, knick knacks, and whatever else I couldn’t find a specific space for in my room went.

The most obnoxious thing on my desk, though, was a cute container full of accessories like beanies, gloves, and bandanas that I had no idea where to house in my room. I knew that if I found a spot for them, that I would clear up a lot of additional space so I decided to create my own accessories drawer in my dresser. As I opened up the drawers and tried to figure out what I could condense into a shared space, I found hope in my very bottom drawer. I cleared it out and gave all of the items in it a new home, and then created this little nook for my clothing accessories:

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I’m admittedly not the best at DIY solutions for storage problems and decor but I was really happy with my idea for an accessories drawer. It definitely helped free up my desk top clutter and I was able to put all of my outfit extras into a space where they wouldn’t collect dust and are easily attainable. I was able to finally see accessories that I haven’t worn in forever that were shoved into the bottom of my original container, which was really satisfying and left me feeling like I just returned from the mall with all of these old but new goodies.

Hopefully, I find a suitable place to put my degree soon but I would still say that this cleaning sesh was a success!

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: Spring Cleaning Edition! What is the weather like in your neck of the woods today? Who has started some early spring cleaning for themselves already? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb18

What DO I Wear?!?! Spring Has Sprung

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What DO I Wear?!?! Spring Has Sprung

Hi everyone and welcome to an OOTD post compliments of the darling K.M. from Ankhor You for my Think Spring guest bloggers series. This post is a branch out from her What DO I Wear?!?! segments on her blog so definitely check them out because they are all equally fabulous! K.M.’s Spring Has Sprung look will show you how to create the perfect ensemble for browsing botanical gardens, sipping coffee at an outdoor cafe, or simply hanging out with the girls once the warmer weather hits. Take a look:

What DO I Wear?!?! Spring Has Sprung

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” ~  Coco Chanel

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Spring is one of my favorite times of year. It is the signal of the end of winter doldrums. The streets become busier as people, birds, and flowers alike come out of the cocoons they hibernated in, blossoming with a plethora of energy. In the city it seems almost over night that the abundance of food carts and street side cafes are introduced back onto the blocks, fully stocked with goodies for sale. The city is vibrant again. We are no longer hunched over protecting ourselves from the wind and bitter cold, but instead stealing away on our lunch breaks to the park, taking trips to the Botanic Gardens, or hanging out at Bryant Park on the weekends.

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Despite the new zest on life, Spring can still be brutal in New York. While the days might be getting longer and the sun stronger, Mother Nature still likes to play pesky mind games. Which is why despite wanting to shed the darker palette that makes my winter wardrobe, and don a cute sundress, I also don’t want to be freezing my Kim K derrière (!!!!! -Sarah) as I smell the flowers in Central Park.

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//Sunglasses and bag: Tory Burch// Sweater and shirt: Anthropology// Jeans: White House Black Market// Sandals: Aldo// 

When Sarah and I discussed ideas for this post I immediately went to an oldie but goodie. It is an oldie because jeans and a shirt are such a classic look and can be worn anywhere depending on how you style it. I have chosen to give it a bit of an update with some spring pizzazz, which incorporates the going strong trend of florals. Because let’s be real, spring is the perfect time to look like a flower pot, so I say go for it if you want to bust out those flowery prints! It also makes layering super easy, which is a must during this time of the year. It combines casualness with some glam making it perfect to transition from frolicking in the park to hitting the two for ones at night. Just add some cute cork wedges and you are ready to go.

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Now the Look:

Being a petite curvy gal, I am obsessed with White House Black Market’s jeans. They not only come in petite but a variety of styles making them flattering for everyone but especially those who have a little bit of a booty. This style is called the Skimmer Jean and is similar to the skinny jean. I love the dark wash, and the rips at the knees creates an edgier look. While I love a good dress, the jeans make it much easier to have some spring time fun, whether it is an impromptu yoga session in the grass, or playing a game of catch on the green in Bryant Park.

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I decided to pair my jeans with a floral blouse from Anthropology channeling one of the trends for Spring. This shirt is as comfy as it is feminine and chic. The chiffon fabric, delicate embroidery, and ruffled collar channel my inner skater girl making me feel poised and graceful, without feeling too buttoned up. It is that perfect combination of casual and glam.

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I am obsessed with this Primula cocoon sweater from Anthro’s 2016 fall collection. It feels like I am wrapped in a big cuddly yet fashionable snuggie and is perfect for those Spring days where Mother Nature doesn’t know whether to shine or be a downer. The wool blend isn’t at all itchy and the blush color adds that perfect touch of spring softness.

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I love going barefoot, especially in a park with my feet in the grass, so when it hits about fifty-five degrees, I throw the boots away and dive into flip flops as soon as I can. These sandals from Aldo are equally comfortable AND fashionable.

To finish the look, I decided to keep with the blush theme and added a SeaMilligan Design necklace and paired it with my Tory Burch sunglasses and tote bag. Last but not least, I added my lace cuff bracelet, another Anthropology treasure to close out the look.

^^^ Thank you so much again to K.M. for such a beautiful post! I loved your look and pictures as I’m sure all of my readers did! How do you still a spring ready look? What is one of your spring wardrobe staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Make sure to tune in tomorrow for a post by Lakshmi from The Rink!