Tag Archives: happy birthday to me

Aug14

The Struts Concert

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The Struts Concert

Hello! This past Tuesday I got to recelebrate my birthday with Johnny’s gift – seeing Dirty Honey and The Struts at the House Of Blues! As soon as I saw that The Struts were coming our way for their tenth anniversary tour of their debut album, Everybody Wants, I told Johnny that was the gift for me and he delivered! We had the absolute best time rocking out and dancing the night away to one of our favorite bands and new favorite too. Dirty Honey freaking ruled! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

After a fantastic dinner at Barrio for the most delicious tacos ever, Johnny and I headed to the House Of Blues which is my all time favorite venue. It’s rather small and provides ample opportunity to get up close and personal at the stage and it is just so freaking cool! After paying an arm and a leg for insanely overpriced drinks, we were able to squeeze our way through to the front of the right stage wing and had a phenomenal view of the bands. This was super lucky because by the time we got to the venue after dinner it was jam packed with fans!

Rather than listen to Dirty Honey prior to the concert, we decided the first time we hear them should be live and that was an excellent decision. They were So. So. SO. Good!! Dirty Honey was serving MAJOR Led Zeppelin vibes but they did it in their own way. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Greta Van Fleet but let’s be real – they could simply be a Led Zeppelin cover band. Dirty Honey just oozed pure rock n’ roll sex appeal in a way that felt so vintage but fresh and new. We’re talking killer riffs, thumping bass, and the voice of Marc Labelle that would make Robert Plant oh so proud. From gravel lows to the highest of highs, his voice was carved by the rock gods and Johnny and I were mesmerized. If they come to your neck of the woods, I cannot recommend checking them out enough and you can thank me later. 🙂

Very shortly after Dirty Honey completed their set, the night kept on rocking with The Struts. It was very exciting when they took the stage because I have a big fat crush on Luke Spiller and it’s wild to see your celebrity crushes IRL. I just love his fashion and voice and he really is a pint sized power house! Taking a trip down memory lane with The Struts as they revisited their debut album was such a treat because it’s just banger after banger. We’re talking “It Could Have Been Me”, “Kiss This”, “Put Your Money On Me”, “She Makes Me Feel”, and “Where Did She Go” – just to name a few. It was amazing to hear It Could Have Been Me live because that will always be my favorite as it was the first song by The Struts Johnny ever played for me. ❤

The band’s energy from start to finish was captivating and it was impossible to not dance your ass off and sing your heart out. Spiller was flitting about the stage at rapid speed giving ALL of the drunk aunt feels and I was living for it. It’s always interesting to see how a band compares live to their albums and I think The Struts sounded even better live. It was so real and hearing the songs not sound as studio album perfect only enhanced the glam rock party atmosphere of their music. This concert really was a party and it wasn’t over until The Struts said so. We were gifted with a four song encore including their rendition of “We Will Rock You”, “Body Talks”, “Pretty Vicious”, and “One Night Only” to wrap the show in the most wonderful bow. 20/10 one of the best nights ever!

The Struts have been on my concert bucket list for a good long while and everything about the night exceeded my expectations. Shout out to my main squeeze for such a perfect gift! ❤

Have you seen The Struts or Dirty Honey before? What did you think of their performance? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul1

Stanley Surprise

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Stanley Surprise

Hello and holy wow! Johnny and I have had an extremely busy month celebrating our birthaversary and we spent another weekend living it up. My bestie, Lea, came over last Friday for dinner and my birthday hangout and Johnny and I went to Outlaw Fest on Saturday! Lea and I both share summer birthdays and this is our seventeenth year having a special get together for our big days. That alone is such a beautiful gift and I treasure the time with my best girl so much! When it comes to gift giving, Lea and I are very similar. We get our ideas from simply listening when people are talking and store them away for later use. That is exactly what she did for my prezzie and I can pinpoint the precise moment when she decided on my perfect gift. Take a look and let’s discuss:

The last time Lea was over a month or so ago, she came walking in with a gorgeous lavender Stanley mug. I complimented the color immediately and showed off my Halloween tumbler I was using after Johnny threw out my beloved sea green Stanley because he didn’t wash it and there was mold in it. SMH. I told Lea that my main qualm with my current mug was that I was refilling it constantly and wanted to replace it with something bigger, perhaps with some birthday cash. Looking back on that moment after Lea gifted me with my pastel pink Stanley, I just know she was like “noted” in her head! ❤ I felt so special and loved that she remembered this and it made receiving the cup even more special.

The funny thing is, the Tuesday before our hang out, I actually did end up replacing my old Halloween tumbler with a forty ounce beast by Manna from TJMaxx. When Lea walked into the apartment this time, she clocked the mug and realized she was gifting me with something I already had. The thing is, what she gave me was infinitely better. There were Stanley cups at TJs that I was going to get, but the one I purchased was cheaper and I didn’t want to go overboard as I was buying new clothes too. She gave me exactly what I wanted and would have bought for myself and there was also the BFF sentiment behind it, which makes it the absolute best. I am now the proud owner of a mom and baby tumbler lol:

Shout out to my darling Lea for helping me stay hydrated all summer long with the replacement of my fallen Stanley. I love it and I love YOU so much, my sweet angel! ❤

Have you had to replace anything recently? How do you like to celebrate your birthday? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun23

B-Day OOTD

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B-Day OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred!! And, as always, check out the videos from this look on my TikTok! 🙂 For mine and Johnny’s birthaversary gift, we requested a big family lunch at Olive Garden this past weekend. We wanted to celebrate with my family all together, eat delicious food, and enjoy each other’s company. We did just that and it was the perfect gift! Of course, I had to show out for the b-day outing and put together this fun little fit:

Who? What? Wear?

Crochet Crop Top: Rebellion Again, TJMaxx

Tennis Skirt: Kyodan, TJMaxx

Wedges: Charles By Charles David, TJMaxx

The earrings are by Sincerely Jules and were a birthday gift from my niece! ❤

It has been hot, hot, hot here in good ol’ Akron, Ohio and keeping it cool, cute, and comfy has been the name of the game. To achieve that, I began styling this outfit by browsing in the skirt department of my wardrobe. Skirts are great because they’re basically shorts but dressier and that is exactly what I needed to be cool and cute for my birthday lunch! In some cases, however, skirts are both a skirt and a short like the adorable tennis skirt by Kyodan. This gauzy pleated skort is everything and is perfect for some fun in the sun. It is so light, the shorts provide coverage for any wardrobe malfunctions, and I love that you can see the shorts through the skirt’s fabric. We had a winner and the rest of the outfit built itself from there.

For my top, I decided to go with a darling little crochet number by Rebellion Again. I am a huge fan of pairing black with white or a close enough shade of white and this top was ideal for adding contrasting colorblocks. Not only did this top provide a color palette that pleases me but its crop was just right in length. It hit right at the waistline of the skirt so only a minimal peek a boo of tummy was visible. For my own personal rule of thumb, I usually don’t like pairing two revealing items together and this top allowed my legs to still be the main attraction.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. I went with one of my go to pairs of summer wedges by Charles By Charles David. These wedges are such a classic summer staple and their black and woven palette tied the look together from head to toe. Jewelry was a no brainer because I knew exactly what earrings I was going to wear: The gorgeous pair by Sincerely Jules that my niece gifted me. She was just as proud to see me in them at lunch as I was to wear them! ❤

I had the best birthday celebration and felt like a star rolling into the Olive Garden in my B-Day OOTD!

How do you like to celebrate your birthday? What is one of your summer wardrobe staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun22

Garlic Gift

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Garlic Gift

Hello! For mine and Johnny’s birthaversary gift, we decided that we wanted to celebrate with a big family lunch at Olive Garden. We went this past weekend and had the best time eating like kings and enjoying all of us (Sans my big bro and family who live out of state) being at the same place together. It really was the perfect gift! Not only did we have a simply wonderful outing, but my dad presented me with one final prezzie before we parted ways: A total blast from the past product from our family vacations to Asheville, North Carolina. Check it out:

My family vacationed in Asheville in 2016 and 2019, respectively. One of our favorite things to do on family vacations is visit farmers markets and local shopping centers and we would go to the same gigantic market every time we were in the area. There were countless booths peddling their wares but we were primarily interested in one lone vendor: Joy’s Gourmet. Joy’s Gourmet features all kinds of delicious canned goods like salsa, pasta sauce, and salad dressing. Their piece de resistance, however, is their garlic spread. All it took was one taste of the samples at the booth and we were hooked! My favorite is the Chipotle and Sundried Tomato spread and we would stock up on them to bring back to Ohio.

These garlic spreads are absolutely divine and I would put them on everything – sandwiches, pasta, as a dip with crackers, etc. My family would savor every bite once we returned home after vacation and the last time I had this spread was after our last trip in 2019. Until this past weekend, that is! A few weeks ago, my dad called me out of the blue to ask if I remembered Joy’s Gourmet and I said did I ever lol. He still gets emails from the shop and informed me that they were offering free shipping, he was going to place an order, and wanted to get me a few jars for my birthday. This was the last thing I was expecting him to say and I was blown away by how thoughtful it was. He remembered that these garlic spreads were my favorite thing on the planet, saw an opportunity, and went for it! ❤

After our lunch, my dad delivered the goods and it was the cherry on top to an already amazing day. This has been the best birthaversary ever!!

What is your favorite thing to do on vacations? Are you going anywhere exciting this summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun21

Super Sweet Birthday Gifts

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Super Sweet Birthday Gifts

Hello!! My birthday was on June 7th and I have been having the best time celebrating! This past week, I enjoyed two more b-day extravaganzas: A delicious family lunch and a sleepover with my two darling nieces. Since last year, my eldest niece has decided that a slumber party is a perfect birthday gift and it has become our tradition. This was also the first time that her younger sister has joined the crafting/movies/ice cream sundae jamboree and we all had a blast. It was exhausting, but a hoot! As soon as my nieces arrived for our party, they came barreling in with the sweetest prezzies for their favorite aunt. Check it out:

For my big day, I was presented with the most gorgeous wall art and earrings I have ever seen. They were already amazing gifts, but what really took the cake was that my oldest niece helped select the embroidery and picked out the earrings all by herself. Like the slumber party, she thought they were “perfect” for TT and she was so right! Anytime the girls have something just for me is special and I was so touched that my niece wanted to have a hand in shopping for my gifts. It turned a gesture that was lovely to begin with into something that I am always going to treasure.

Can we talk about how pretty these two prezzies are?! Johnny and I have an extensive collection of wall art and I am especially partial to anything embroidered. In fact, if I saw the wall art I was gifted with during a shopping trip, I would have definitely bought it! I love the thick stitches of the flowers and greenery and the huge, over the top gold frame. I can’t wait for Johnny to find an empty space to hang it up! And, of course, we can’t forget the birthday bling with the earrings. This dazzling dangly pair has so much movement, personality, and all of the glitz and glam to ring in my thirty-first year. I was beyond excited to wear them to my family lunch and my niece was just as proud to see them displayed as I was to wear them! ❤

I am the luckiest gal in the world for having the best party with my nieces, which would have been a gift enough. I feel so totally and completely spoiled!

Who is your favorite person to shop for? Do you have any celebrations coming up? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun19

Sweet Surprises: Birthday Bouquet Edition

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Sweet Surprises: Birthday Bouquet Edition

Hello!! Johnny and I have had such an awesome birthaversary celebration so far and the good times are going to continue rolling all month long. We still have plans for a concert, a baseball game, and hang outs with all of our nearest and dearest and it is such fun to take over the entire month of June with Johnny! I have been surprised with so many wonderful messages and gifts already and had a “but wait – there’s more!” moment when Johnny brought home this gorgeous bouquet that his aunt sent for my birthday:

When Johnny walked through the door, I could barely see him over the huge bouquet bursting with the most beautiful blooms. Of course, I was surprised by the sheer enormity of it, but what really blew me away were the colors! Burnt orange, pale peach, purple, and pink flowers worked in tandem to create a display that is truly stunning. I can’t help but to smile every time I look at it because it’s just so pretty and thoughtful. Johnny’s aunt doesn’t live in Ohio so it’s like getting a great big hug from her!

I absolutely love being gifted with flowers because bouquets are something that I don’t buy for myself and they always remind me of my dad. Whether it’s a bouquet he picks up from the store or one he created on his own from the garden, he frequently surprises my mom with flowers. I think it is the sweetest thing and look forward to seeing his masterpieces front and center on the kitchen table. A bouquet is like a little ray of sunshine just for you and I am so appreciative for the flowers in both mine and my parents’ home. ❤

My birthday and apartment got so much brighter from this Sweet Surprise. I am in awe of this bouquet and it was the most lovely gift!

What is your favorite flower? Do you have fresh flowers in your home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun14

New & Improved Concert Lineup

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New & Improved Concert Lineup

Hello!! During the pandemic, Johnny and I had a plethora of concerts that we were going to attend but, sadly, couldn’t. One of the most painful losses was easily not seeing My Chemical Romance for their reunion tour and I am still Not Okay about it! While it was a bummer to forego all of these shows and experiences and basically eat my money, I am so happy that Johnny and I are making up for it this summer. We have already seen AC/DC and will be seeing Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson next weekend and Weird Al in September. But wait! There’s more!!

For my birthday, I was surprised by not one but two sets of tickets. For my gift, Johnny ordered us two tickets to see The Struts for their tenth anniversary tour at the House of Blues. We are avid fans of The Struts and to make it even better, they are playing at my favorite venue! I have seen countless shows at the House of Blues and they have always been some of my favorite concerts. It is a smaller venue and gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with the stage. It makes for such an exciting evening and being in such close proximity to your favorite musicians is intoxicating. I have been dropping helpful hints that I would love to see The Struts since I learned that they were coming to Cleveland and I am so happy Johnny caught on. 😀

Not only did Johnny gift me with concert tickets, but my beloved big sis did too. We recently learned that Lil Wayne was coming to Blossom Music Center and I let Kristen know but we didn’t do anything with that information. This was okay because I actually saw Lil Wayne at Blossom Music Center when I was a teenager (I definitely sneaked out to see that show!). I had kind of forgotten about his upcoming show because I assumed we weren’t going. Then, Kristen texted me with the most beautiful sentiment I ever read on my birthday: “Do you have tickets to Lil Wayne?” I was on cloud nine and Kristen, my brother-in-law, and I will have a banner night on the town. So nice, I’ll see him twice and I can’t wait for my belated birthday outing!

This was a musical birthday, indeed, and I am so excited to make so many amazing concert memories this summer with all of my favorite people!

Are you going to any concerts this summer? Who would you love to see live? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun7

Happy Birthday To Me!!

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Happy Birthday To Me!!

Hello and holy moly! Today is my 31st (…21st?) birthday!! When I started lifewithlilred in 2014, I never imagined writing a birthday post for myself eleven years later but here we are. And I wouldn’t want it any other way! As it’s mine and Johnny’s birthaversary, I have already had a wonderful celebration so far. A party at home, dinner with my in laws, and treating myself to a fresh new fill. I am also very much looking forward to a birthday FaceTime with my blogging bestie, a hang out with my other bestie, and a big family dinner at Hibachi Japan. Why celebrate for one day when you can celebrate all month, amiright?!

As I reflect on another year older (And hopefully wiser!), I can’t help but to think how lucky I am. Lucky to have an amazing family, friends, husband, bunnies, and the whole blogosphere in my corner. It is such a gift to be surrounded by so much love every day and no matter how much I wish I could slow the aging process down, it is a gift to be able to do so with the best company by my side. You know what? These past handful of years have been some of the best of my life so maybe getting older isn’t all that bad. Not that thirty-one is old (I’m trying to remind myself!), but you know what I mean lol. All I know is that I am in store for another great year and I can’t wait to share it with each and every one of you!

Happy birthday to me and thank you ALL for spending time with me on lifewithlilred every day. I love you!!!
Jun6

Bath & Body Works Birthday Haul

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Bath & Body Works Birthday Haul

Hello!! This past Monday, Johnny and I enjoyed a wonderful birthday dinner at Texas Roadhouse with his parents. It might seem like an odd choice for a vegetarian, but apps and salads always reign supreme for me! After a whole weekend of celebrating our birthaversary, this was the perfect cherry on top. Any time with my in laws is such a gift that anything else is completely unnecessary. However, it was so nice to be spoiled with some goodies to pamper with from Bath & Body Works. I never don’t want bath and body care since I use it daily and I can’t wait to use one of my old favorites and new to me scents. Check it out:

Champagne Toast: Lol, let me start off by saying that Champagne Toast is a staple in my household and one time Johnny thought the packaging read “Champagne and Toast”. I can never picture it as its normal name again! ANYWHO, Champagne Toast is a classic B&BW scent featuring notes of “bubbly champagne, sparkling berries, and juicy tangerine”. Some scents based on alcohol smell so much like the real thing which can be really off putting. Champagne Toast does smell bubbly, yes, but thanks to the berry and tangerine, it’s a lot like a sparkling juice. It is light, fizzy, and fruity and would definitely be a safe bet to gift with. If you aren’t a fan of giving alcohol as a gift, a bundle of Champagne Toast products is the next best thing!

Waikiki Beach Coconut: My husband is all about tropical scents. Me? Not really, but I only wear lotion to bed so whatever it smells like doesn’t matter all that much to me. The only tropical scent I do like a lot, however, is coconut! I always loved the coconut line from The Body Shop and while nothing will beat that, the Waikiki Beach Coconut is very nice. This scent offers notes of “tropical white coconut, saltwater breezes, and sun-bleached woods”. While I can’t speak for the sun-bleached woods, lol, this scent smells exactly like sun, sand, and surf. It has a bit more musk to it than a traditional coconut scent but, all in all, this is a day at the beach fragrance for sure.

Starfruit Sangria: Speaking of alcohol based scents that don’t smell like alcohol at all, we have Starfruit Sangria which features notes of “golden starfruit, kiwi nectar, and chilled sangria”. This scent is incredibly light and it’s hard to pick up on the fruit notes as starfruit and kiwi aren’t exactly known for a strong aroma. It’s a very soft and fresh scent, which is perfectly fine by me because I don’t care for anything too overpowering. Like Champagne Toast, Starfruit Sangria would be a great gifting option if you are not sure what fragrances your giftee likes. Perfect for a summer birthday!

I haven’t had a good Bath & Body Works haul since their winter semi annual sale and my stockpile has been in need of a re-up. These sweet gifts will certainly tide me over until the next big sale!

What is your favorite thing to receive as a gift? What do you like to gift for other people? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May31

BFF Birthday Haul

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BFF Birthday Haul

Hello!!! The best thing that lifewithlilred has ever done is, easily, connecting me with my best friend in the world, Kate, of Live In The Nautical. One day, we just started talking and I swear we haven’t stopped since! Despite living in two different states, Kate might as well be right next door to me. We are always texting and I live for our FaceTime dates that turn into hours on end discussions. She is such a bright light in my life – my blogging bestie, my Gemini twin, and a true gift to everyone who is lucky enough to know her. Regardless of where we’re located, we are joined at the hip and that is never going to change. ❤

When I got to work at chez parents this past Tuesday, I was greeted by a goodie box waiting for me on the kitchen table. Then, when I returned after a little shift, I saw more packages that were delivered while I was gone. The contents were none other than an amazing haul from my BFF and she spoiled me rotten this year! Check it out:

Getting gifts from Kate is a straight up “But wait – there’s more!” experience. The first prezzie I opened was the adorable travel cup boasting the fact that I am, indeed, in my Bunny Mom Era!! I just love the funky 70s print and that it is even customized with the names of my sweet buns, Melvin and Penelope. I know that I will be sipping Diet Coke on ice from this perfect sized cup all summer long. I also know that my niece is going to love using this when she visits at my apartment because she forever insists on having a straw to drink from lol. AND I also ALSO know that my bunnies appreciate being thought of too because they are always running around whenever Kate and I FaceTime so they know who their aunt is!

The next gift I tore into was a tiny jewelry box from a brand called Sirius Woods. I clutched my pearls when I saw the gorgeous carved skull earrings nestled inside! As a spooky gal, I love literally anything with skulls on it. However, these are so sentimental because they look exactly like my engagement ring!! My beloved engagement ring features a huge pearl carved into a skull and these earrings make my bling feel like a completed set. They are beautifully crafted and delicate and I couldn’t imagine how Kate was going to top herself on the remaining present. Of course, she totally did!

The final package to tear open was the piece de resistance: A page of music from her, mine, and Johnny’s very special show called Hadestown. Kate introduced me to this astounding musical and Johnny and I were able to see it when it toured at Playhouse Square. We went to Hadestown during one of the worst times of my life and it was one of the few happy moments in literal months of agony. The show transported us and the music moved me so deeply. In fact, the framed song Kate gave me makes me cry every time and that is no exaggeration. Just ask my husband! Trust and believe, tears were shed when this gift revealed itself but, for once, they were the happy kind. Tears of joy to be soul sisters with someone who knows me so well, bonds with me on every level, and provides me with the sunshine of her spirit every day. It was like opening up a hug and I am still blown away. ❤

Since day one, being best friends with Kate has made my life better. And, as much as I treasure all of the treasures she gave me, she will always be my greatest gift! ❤

How did you and your best friend meet? Have you made any friends through your blog or social media? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah