Tag Archives: gift

Jan23

Halloween Pop Up Tree

Posted on January 23, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Hello! This past holiday season, my client’s mom offered my family her pop up Christmas tree to use since we didn’t put one up. She also learned that Johnny and I didn’t have a tree, either, but if we ever got one then, of course, it had to be black. As a bonus Christmas gift, I was surprised once again by her generosity because Johnny and I got the Christmas or should I say Halloween tree of our dreams! Check it out:

^^^ Lol, please don’t mind our corral of bunny supplies in the background!

When I originally brought the borrowed pop up tree to my family home, I had no idea what it entailed because I had never heard of it before! It is, however, exactly what you would think it would be and is so very cool. A pop up tree is basically a base, poles, and a “tree” to place over them. The Christmas pop up tree that we used was five feet tall and came pre-decorated with ornaments, ribbons, and lights. Similarly, our Halloween tree came pre-lit and adorned with glittery pumpkins. 😀

It took me less than two minutes to assemble the tree and I couldn’t believe its perfection. Everything about it is just right for me and Johnny. The narrow size is also ideal for our apartment setting and we will be able to put it anywhere without taking up too much space. Every year for Christmas, Johnny’s mom gifts us with a couple of ornaments apiece and they have all been sitting on our knick knack shelves. Now, we finally have a tree of our own to decorate and I can’t wait to dress it up with our fairly extensive ornament collection!

I am obsessed with my Halloween Pop Up Tree and am so appreciative to my client’s mom for the amazing gift. And, yes, just like all of our other Halloween gear, the tree will be staying up all year round!

Do you use real or artificial Christmas trees? What is your favorite Christmas ornament? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov19

Eos Heal + Repair Body Cream Review

Posted on November 19, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! I don’t know about you guys, but it is about that time of the year for me to start experiencing extremely dry hands. Every morning when I walk my sweet pup, Archie, I step outside knowing that my hands are going to be raw by the time I get back. Combined with the fact that I have spent almost every day of the past three weeks Pureling constantly at the Cleveland Clinic and washing my hands a lot after interacting with the bunnies, my hands are awful by the end of the day.

I have tried many a lotion to combat dry skin and have been pretty impressed. However, I recently started using the Eos Heal + Repair Body Cream that I was gifted with by my bestie last year and I can confidently say that it blows every other lotion that I have tested out of the water. Let’s discuss:

^^^ This product is cruelty free!

Before we get into the details, we must start with how good the Pomegranate Raspberry scent smells. The tart raspberry is counterbalanced by the soft pomegranate notes and it makes for a perfectly light fragrance. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind a more powerful scent but this one is just right to use before bedtime because it’s comforting rather than stimulating. Before I rub the lotion in, I always have to take a whiff because it seriously never gets old! 😀

When it comes to my dry skin, it takes form on my hands through noticeable redness and parched skin. I never use a lotion expecting it to be a cure all to this issue on the first go so you can imagine my surprise when I woke up to see my hands back to their normal shade and totally hydrated. My hands felt so touch-ably soft and smooth and it almost made me forget how bad they were prior to using it. This was not a one off occurrence but an every use thing and I am marveling at the results even now as I type this.

While I am a huge fan of cocoa butter based creams, I have learned through trial and error that my skin responds better to shea butter and this cream has it in spades. A huge plus about this product is how easily it absorbs into the skin without a greasy residue despite the shea butter base. From my time working at The Body Shop, I learned that cocoa butter bases tend to have a thinner consistency than shea and this was a concern for me. I am a very tactile person and can’t stand when lotion doesn’t absorb fully. This was not the case with the Eos cream at all and it melted into my skin with ease even with a thicker texture.

I have been using the Eos Heal + Repair Body Cream since the beginning of November and I will be so sad when it is all gone. It is, hands down, one of the best creams that I have ever used and I would highly recommend it if you are experiencing winter skin too!

What is your favorite body cream or lotion? Do you prefer cocoa or shea butter? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr16

Newly Organized Jewelry Tower

Posted on April 16, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Johnny and I are moving at the end of the month, which means that it has been a frenzy of packing and organizing in the apartment almost formerly known as ours. Every day, I have been trying to make a dent in the packing process during my times when I’m working from home and have a break. One task that I recently completed is one that I am particularly proud of because it’s something that I’ve meant to do for forever. And, that is to finally make good use of the makeup/jewelry organizer that Johnny got me for my birthday a few years ago:

When it comes to my bits and baubles, I am usually meticulously organized. So, don’t ask me why all of my most worn earrings and hair accessories ended up in a Dolls Kill box on my kitchen table… Especially when my jewelry container was literally sitting on the ground a few feet away from it! I knew that this simply wouldn’t do for the move for fear of my accessories getting lost and so I got to work.

The container that Johnny got me is marketed for makeup but I thought that putting my jewelry in it would be a much better option. I don’t have too much makeup but jewelry? That’s a totally different story! I don’t think I ever really realized how many accessories I had thrown into my makeshift jewelry box until I began sorting through it because, although it was shallow, it seemed never ending.

When I have the time for it, nothing pleases me more than an organizing sesh and as I began arranging my container, I felt so pleased with myself. It was so nice to make good use of a gift from Johnny and actually be able to see everything that I have in an organized fashion. In fact, I daresay that filling up my jewelry container felt even better than making a new and improved beauty stock pile and that’s really saying something because I love that too!

For fast access to your favorite accessories or makeup products, I can’t recommend a container like mine enough. I never would have known how great it was to be organized until I was running late and was able to find the pair of earrings I needed in record time! 😀

How do you keep your accessories organized? What about your beauty products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb21

Silly Valentine’s Day Gift

Posted on February 21, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! When it comes to Valentine’s Day, Johnny and I never go overboard on gifts and prefer to save that for birthdays and Christmas. My main gift from Johnny was a delicious meal at Pepper’s before going to see Jesus Christ Superstar which was more than enough for me. I am still thinking about my gnocchi with Alfredo sauce as I type this! Our dinner date wasn’t my only gift from Johnny and, although it wasn’t quite what he thought it was going to be, I still love it just the same:

When ordering this “blanket” for me, Johnny definitely didn’t realize how small it actually was. He thought it was going to be around the size of my Step Brothers fleece blanket but that was so not the case. When he gave it to me, we were both in stitches because it is more like a bath towel than anything! In fact, it’s even smaller than our bath towels and we have taken to calling it the doily, dish towel, baby blankie, and so on and so forth lol.

It was incredibly sweet how disappointed Johnny was by this sizing mix up but I couldn’t tell him enough how much I loved it. The print is absolutely hilarious and the itty bitty size makes it even funnier to me. We had plans of hanging it up above our bed but I have been snuggled up with it every night – it’s so soft! This blanket is definitely not what either of us were expecting and it provides us with lots of lols whenever we look at it, which is a huge gift in itself. ❤

My Valentine’s Day was a GREAT SUCCESS because of our date night at the theater and I couldn’t have asked for a better additional gift – regardless of if it’s a dish towel sized blanket or not! 😀

What did you do for Valentine’s Day? Have you ever ordered something online that didn’t turn out as expected? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul13

Face Mask Festivities: LANEIGE Berry Lip Sleeping Mask Edition

Posted on July 13, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: LANEIGE Berry Lip Sleeping Mask Edition

Hello! At the end of June, I had an online Sephora haul just in time to get my birthday freebie. For my gift, I went with a skin care set by LANEIGE because I have always been interested in trying their products. While I can’t wait to test out the moisturizer and sleeping face mask by LANEIGE, I was most looking forward to using the Berry Lip Sleeping Mask. I see their lip masks all the time at TJMaxx but I could never justify the fifteen dollar price tag. After a few uses, however, I will happily be purchasing a full sized jar because I am obsessed! Let’s discuss:

In a world of skin care that revolves around moisturizers, serums, and eye creams, it is a rarity to find a product solely dedicated to the lips. While I do apply moisturizer to my lips, I have never used a treatment specifically for them, which is why I was so eager to test the Berry Lip Sleeping Mask out. I am very prone to chapped lips and after just three uses I have noticed a huge difference in both the hydration and appearance of my lips.

My first impression of the LANEIGE lip mask was how pretty the seashell pink packaging and product was! It also smelled amazing – just like the mixed berry Lip Smackers. The jar I received was, of course, a trial size but just a small swiping of it went such a long way and I have hardly made a dent in it after three uses. The texture of the mask is rich and creamy without feeling thick and I have been applying a small amount after my nighttime skin care routine every other few days.

When I used the Lip Sleeping Mask for the first time, I couldn’t wait to wake up in the morning to see the results! After washing it off, I couldn’t believe what I saw and felt. My lips had never felt so hydrated and cared for before and they looked fuller and healthy. I even think that the natural color of my lips has improved too from the berry tinged mask. The best part? My lips still were highly moisturized and had a supple, color tinted appearance after a handful of days without using it.

The LANEIGE Berry Lip Sleeping Mask is literally everything and I never realized how much I needed a product just for my lips until testing it out. I highly, highly recommend it!

What is a skin care essential for you? What are your thoughts on this mask if you have used it before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb17

LEGO Architecture Paris Skyline Set

Posted on February 17, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Hi! My boyfriend, Johnny, and I love building with LEGO and we have quite the collection of Harry Potter and Star Wars sets. For Valentine’s Day, Johnny and I never really go overboard with gifts for each other and one of the two things that I got him was the Paris skyline LEGO set from their Architecture collection. Paris is, easily, one of the most romantic places in the world and it is somewhere that I would love to go with Johnny.

Given the world’s current conditions, it will be a long time until we make it there so, for now, our own little Paris on our knick knack shelf will suffice! Check it out:

When building with LEGO, Johnny and I have our process down to a science. He handles all of the little pieces and details while I build with the bigger bricks because putting the small ones together are impossible with my nails! As you can see, the Paris Architecture set is completely made up of teeny tiny bricks so Johnny built it in its entirety in a matter of an hour while we talked and listened to music. I was blown away by how quickly he got it done!

Our Paris set is the first one that we have gotten together that is not inspired from a movie and it was the perfect introduction to the LEGO Architecture collection. I am so looking forward to when Johnny and I can travel together because I would love to have a LEGO skyline set of the places that we visit. Each skyline set boasts the most recognizable landmarks in each city. For Paris, this included the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Tour Montparnasse, Grand Palais, Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs-Elysees.

Johnny really enjoyed building this set because it was so different than anything that we already have. I am so happy that my Valentine’s Day gift to him was a success and be sure to keep it posted to see what Johnny surprised me with!

Where would you love to travel to? Which LEGO sets do you have? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul10

If The Shoe Fits – Carlos Santana Edition

Posted on July 10, 2015 by lifewithlilred

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If The Shoe Fits – Carlos Santana Edition

Heyy everyone and TGIF! This issue of If The Shoe Fits is brought to you by my knee high Carlos Santana gladiator sandals! These beauties were a gift from my sister for my twenty-first birthday and it’s safe to say it was one of the best presents I’ve received in my life! Take a look at my knee highs and then let’s discuss:

^^^ I LOVE THEM!!!

About a year ago I developed an obsession for wanting a pair of knee high gladiator sandals which probably sprung from a picture in Vogue or somewhere or another. I searched high and low on different websites for the perfect pair but none of them seemed to cut it – they all looked so cheap and costume-y. Finally in my quest for the sandals I stumbled upon a lovely pair on http://www.shoedazzle.com but the shoes I lusted after so much were sold out! I was heart broken. After that experience last year I had given up on my dream of being a proud owner of knee high gladiators. Usually I’m never one to throw in the towel when I want something but finding a pair worthy of my ownership seemed impossible after my shoedazzle catastrophe. Luckily, on my twenty-first the impossible became a tangible reality thanks to my big sis!

Two days before my birthday outing, my sister Kristen and I were browsing around at the mall. As we aimlessly window shopped we passed by a Journey’s and a pair of mid calf gladiators caught my eye. I walked into the store and pointed them out to my sister and she immediately made her classic sour face and said “those are ugly…but do you like them in black or brown?” At that point I had a sinking suspicion that new sandals were on the horizon for me for my birthday and I could barely contain my excitement!! I begged my sister to tell me what she got for me but she wouldn’t budge! I kept flip flopping in my mind of what my gift was because I hadn’t mentioned my desire for knee high gladiators in a long time. It was very possible that she didn’t know that I still wanted a pair desperately. No matter what my gift was the anticipation was killing me!!!

Finally, on the night of my birthday get together my sister presented me with a HUGE red box with a pretty gold paisley pattern on it. Could it be? The sandals that I’ve yearned for for SO long? I pulled off the lid of the box and there they were in all of their glory! They were simply gorgeous and I couldn’t wait until I got home to try them on so I took my shoes off in the middle of Olive Garden and slipped them on…The Carlos Santana’s fit like a glove and they are light years better than the pair that I wanted to order off of shoedazzle. These gladiators are edgy, cool, and exactly what I wanted. Kristen seriously hit the nail right on the head with this gift!

I’ve enjoyed wearing my gladiators so much this summer! I love pairing them with shorts, body con skirts, and sweet floral dresses. Every time I wear them when I’m out and about I get too many compliments on them to count and I love being able to say, “Thank you! My sister got them for me!”. My Carlos Santana knee high gladiator sandals are the perfect edition to my summer wardrobe and I can’t wait to wear them for many years to come. I adore them for their fashion value but I love them even more because my sister got them for me. Best. Gift. EVER!

So there you have it, the latest edition of If The Shoe Fits – Carlos Santana style! I hope that all of you enjoyed reading this post as much as I did writing it! Now I need your help on deciding what shoe to write about next. Your choices are between Vince Camuto pointed toe ankle booties, army green Guess summer wedges, or Calico primary color kitten heels. I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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