Tag Archives: haul

Jun18

Surprise Gifts For Mel & Pen

Posted on June 18, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Hello! Johnny and I had a very low key birthaversary week and received so many lovely well wishes and gifts, which were much appreciated. One of Johnny’s sweet aunts apparently didn’t want our bunny babies, Melvin and Penelope, to go without gifts of their own and sent them some prezzies too. It was such an adorable gesture and, as always, Mel and P are spoiled rotten. Hey, these little gremlins are so cute that they deserve it! Check it out:

When I first opened the bunny gift box, I was unsure what I was looking at because I saw a strawberry shape and pattern first. I assumed it was a little backpack for Val! In reality, it’s a bag that you can put hay and treats in that can be clipped onto their hutch. We also have variety because of the carrot one! I love the fact that Mel and P now have these accessories so that they can start styling just like their old mom and pop. And, they actually just tried strawberries for the first time as a treat this week and it was a huge hit!

My gremlins also received a huge set of their favorite toys in their goody box, which are balls made out of various chewing materials. These are a staple in every Chewy order I make because Mel and Pen make such quick work of them and they are only available in a set of three. I like to place some in their cage as well as in our bunny proofed area for them to roll around and toss. While they enjoy all of the different textures, their favorite has to be the ones with openings in them because I’ll put treats inside. My goal is to get Mel and P to be able to roll the balls back to me so now we have lots of practice material to work with. 😀

Mel and Pen loved having gifts of their own and I know because I’m their mom lol. And, yes, they had a blast with the box itself too and were sitting inside of it as I typed this! Spoiled? Yes. Insanely loved? Abso-freaking-lutely! ❤

Do you buy gifts for your pets? What is your pet’s favorite toy? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun17

Aldi’s Haul Success: Pickle De Gallo

Posted on June 17, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!!! For the past several years, Johnny and I have done our grocery shopping at the Giant Eagle. The convenience of curbside and the fact that it is barely five minutes away from us was hard to beat. However, the prices at GE were simply getting out of hand and the amount we were spending to keep us fed and watered was ridiculous. So, we decided to make a change by shopping at Aldi’s and getting what we couldn’t find there at the GE.

We had our first Aldi’s trip together earlier this week and it was nothing short of a remarkably GREAT SUCCESS. Outside of about six things that weren’t available, we found everything we needed and paid over one hundred dollars less for it. The nearest Aldi’s to us is about twenty minutes away but, needless to say, it was well worth the trip!

I haven’t gone “real” grocery shopping in so long because I freaking LOVE online shopping with curbside. However, I always enjoyed a trip to the grocery store and going to Aldi’s with Johnny was a blast. There were SO many new to us options and we filled our cart with can’t say no finds. One of which being, pickle de gallo. I had seen people posting about it on Facebook before and I told Johnny that I really hoped it was at the Aldi’s we were going to. Lucky for me, it was!

Johnny and I are avid dippers. No, not in the chewing tobacco way! We just love chips and dip and like to make what we call “dip island” AKA a wide variety of dips on a table lol. So, when I heard talk of a pickle based salsa, I NEEDED it. Pickles are one of my favorite things to snack on and pico de gallo is my preferred style of salsa. A combination of both of these things really blew my mind and I couldn’t wait to dig in as soon as we returned home from our shopping trip.

At Aldi’s, there were two different types of pickle de gallo – a mild one and a thick and chunky medium heat one. Obvi, I got them both! I decided to try the mild pickle salsa first and it was everything that I hoped it would be and so much more. The pickles were tangy, the onions were sweet, and the red pepper had the perfect amount of zip to make my taste buds soar. Every bite had an insane amount of crunch and it wasn’t from the tortilla chips I purchased which were kind of a dud. Several chips in, I had to exercise self control because I most definitely could have kept on going!

If you are a pickle fan and looking for a new and exciting way to eat them; RUN to Aldi’s. Also, if you are looking to save money on groceries; RUN to Aldi’s. This shopping trip was a complete game changer and I can’t wait to go back! 😀

What grocery store do you shop at? What is the best thing that you have found at Aldi’s? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun6

BFF Birthday Haul

Posted on June 6, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! It is birthaversary week for myself and my darling Johnny and it is also Gemini season, baby! Not only is this a special time of the year for me and my main squeeze, but it is also a month long celebration with my Gemini Twin and best friend in the entire world, Kate. Kate is the fantastic author of Live In The Nautical and we became fast friends almost a decade ago when lifewithlilred first began. We share almost week apart June birthdays and, although I am not very into astrology, we both definitely live up to our Gemini status!

Every year for birthdays and Christmas, Kate spoils me rotten and she truly outdid herself this year. Both of us share a passion for musicals and she hooked me up with all of the swag from one of my all time favorites – Sweeney Todd. Check it out:

This haul was more like a giftathon because every other day for the past week, I received another package in the mail from my bestie. Every time I got a call from my dad saying that another package arrived, I would rush over to my parents, who live not even five minutes away to pick it up. It was so exciting because I would text Kate immediately after opening a gift and couldn’t believe it when she told me that there was more!

I am loving my new coffee mug to add to my huge collection and the soft and comfy as can be T. The true piece de resistance, however, was the cutting board fresh from Mrs. Lovett’s Pie Shoppe. I actually really wanted a new cutting board for my birthday, which Kate didn’t know and just shows how strong our bestie telepathy is! She knows me so well. ❤

Every day since Kate and I met, I am so thankful to the blogosphere for bringing us both together in a perfect instance of cosmic fate. We basically skipped the line to best friend status and my days feel SO weird if we haven’t texted at least once! Kate is such a shiny, bright light in my life and has and always will be a complete godsend – especially during this current rough patch that I am going through. Her constant care and support never fail to make me smile no matter how bad I am feeling and I am the luckiest gal in the world to be able to call someone like her my best friend. ❤

Thank you to my BFF and Gemini Twin for the amazing gifts, love, and years of beautiful friendship. Here’s to living all year round like it is Gemini season – you know both of your favorite bloggers will be! ❤

What is your favorite musical? Have you met any friends through the blogosphere? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May29

Honest Beauty Calm & Heal Melting Balm Review

Posted on May 29, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Honest Beauty Calm & Heal Melting Balm Review

Hello! At the end of April, I had a HUGE skin care haul from TJMaxx and got lots of new to me products compliments of the remainder of my Christmas gift cards. I recently finished the Look Alive Moisturizer + CBD by Happy Dance and enjoyed it so much! I decided to keep on testing out the new brands that I purchased by using the Honest Beauty Calm & Heal Melting Balm next. I have always been interested in the Honest brand and was so happy to find a moisturizer and serum as well. The Happy Dance moisturizer was unique in its own right, but the Melting Balm is also unlike anything that I have used before! Check it out and let’s discuss:

Prior to my first use of the Melting Balm, I didn’t read the instructions on it and was really surprised when I opened the jar. I was expecting a gel based texture and found the Honest balm to be incredibly waxy. Even more so than the Happy Dance one. I had no idea how it was going to apply, but found that the waxiness melted into a workable, true moisturizer texture the longer I rubbed it into my skin. Then, I read the instructions and learned that it was best to heat the balm up in my hands before rubbing it into my face. That made much more sense and reminded me a lot of the Sujata Gazder Body Bar that I love so very much.

This fragrance free balm took a decent amount of trial and error to get right. Too little didn’t fully cover my face and neck, but too much felt like… too much lol, as if it was just sitting on my skin instead of sinking in. Once I found my “just right” amount of balm, which is close to a quarter sized dollop, I was able to more fully enjoy the product. Granted, it takes a decent amount of time for the balm to fully absorb in my skin, but it feels so nice and nourishing that I hardly mind.

I have been using this balm morning and night for the past two or so weeks and love the way that my skin has been feeling. It is SO soft and hydrated and just feels healthier. However, I do think that it would be better for wintertime use because of the rich, thick texture. It has been heating up in Ohio and on especially warm days or when it’s hot in my apartment, this balm tends to feel really heavy on my skin because of its slow absorption rate. BUT, I refuse to not finish a product that I have started so I will keep chipping away at it until I’m done. This might take some time, though, because a little of it goes a very long way!

Although this balm is a bit out of season for warm weather use, I still like it a lot and plan on ordering it online in the fall and winter to see if my suspicions are correct. Either way, I recommend this product because it is most definitely worth a try!

Have you tried the Honest brand before? What is your favorite product from it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May25

Wall Art Collection Expansion

Posted on May 25, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Mine and Johnny’s apartment is filled with all of our favorite things. We have a huge video game, board game, and knick knack collection as well as our own personal library. Another thing that we are connoisseurs of is our ever growing wall art collection. Our apartment features an art wall on the stairway, an ode to all things horror in the living room, and some rather unique pieces scattered throughout the space as well.

A vast majority of our art collection is from the Goodwill or handmade and, now, we have a few more things to add from The Exchange. I just couldn’t pass these up:

The Office is one of mine and Johnny’s top tier comfort shows and we are currently on our millionth time of watching it! With that in mind, I wasn’t going to not get the poster for Threat Level Midnight, an absolute classic. I also had a laugh attach over the Date Mike poster, which is something that I have never seen before! Date Mike is one of Johnny’s favorite Michael Scott bits and I didn’t think it was possible for him to like this find more than me, yet here we are. While taking a look at the poster selection at The Exchange, I almost flipped past this one thinking it was for the movie Date Night. However, something made me take a second glance and I am so glad I did! I’m Date Mike. Nice to meet me. 😉

Another find that I am so pleased with is the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation poster. This is an homage to Miller family tradition because we watch it every single year for our Christmas celebration. It’s a blast to watch this movie with Johnny’s family because we all know it by heart at this point, but it’s still SO funny every single time. Our Christmas Vacation viewing is more like us just reciting the entire movie and laughing hysterically. It is the best and I couldn’t say no to a tip of the cap to past and future Christmases with my second family. ❤

Finally, as a treat for Johnny, I purchased a poster for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which is his all time favorite video game. It took me a while to find this poster in the store, but I knew they had to have it because I saw one for Majora’s Mask. I was so excited to bring this one home because Johnny has been working an insane amount of overtime as of late and I wanted something to cheer him up. He was like a kid delighting over a new birthday present when he pulled it out of the bag and ran to the game room to put it up by our Master Sword. I can’t think of a better place for it to go and now we just have to find a home for everything else! 😀

This little haul from The Exchange wasn’t a necessary one at all, but it was a fun purchase that made me and Johnny happy and that’s all that matters to me. We both enjoy expanding our many collections further and these posters will make a great addition to the apartment!

What is a beloved movie in your family? What is your favorite episode of The Office? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May15

Happy Dance Look Alive Face Moisturizer + CBD Review

Posted on May 15, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Happy Dance Look Alive Face Moisturizer + CBD Review

Hello! During my last shopping trip to TJMaxx, I was in desperate need of a restock to my beauty care hoard and returned with a huge haul. I got several products from new to me brands, one of which being a moisturizer with 150 MG CBD by Happy Dance. I have been using it for the past three weeks or so morning and night and I am obsessed with it!! It is, hands down, one of the best moisturizers that I have used in a long time and I am keeping my fingers crossed to find it again at TJs. Let’s discuss further:

Although I have always been interested in CBD infused products, I have shied away from them because a CBD serum that I tried didn’t react well with my skin. That was a few years ago, though, and I figured that it wouldn’t hurt to try a moisturizer out, instead. TJMaxx rarely carries CBD beauty products so I had to take advantage of the opportunity at hand. It was also very hard to say no to the adorable brand name Happy Dance and the bright, poppy yellow and purple packaging!

I was eager to try this moisturizer out right away and I did because I was completely out of the Bellyssima one I was using. My first experience with the Happy Dance moisturizer was at night and it was a unique one. This moisturizer has little to no scent and an interesting texture. It’s balmy to the point of being waxy, which is way different than anything I have ever used before. I was concerned that it wouldn’t apply or absorb well, but that was far from the case! When I began rubbing it in, it felt so rich and creamy – not what I was expecting at all.

As soon as the moisturizer was applied and began sinking in, I felt so soothed and calm. It is often hard for me to turn my brain off come bedtime and as soon as this product began working its magic, I was ready to fall asleep right away! It was awesome and just what I needed to relax more fully before drifting off. When I woke up the next morning, my skin felt incredibly soft and nourished. However, I was a bit worried that the moisturizer would just make me tired during my morning skin care routine. Happily, that was far from the case too!

While this moisturizer helped me doze at night, it was so invigorating in the morning. It was like using an entirely different product. I am in a constant state of tired when I am completing my morning routine and the Happy Dance moisturizer definitely perked me up. I wouldn’t say it had the effects of drinking a cup of coffee, it was more like being in a decent mood and feeling ready to take on the day. Hey, I’ll take it. 😀

The Look Alive moisturizer doesn’t just soothe and awaken, but it really works wonders as a moisturizer itself. I love the way my skin looks and feels with each use. My skin feels so unbelievably hydrated, looks way more supple, and I really like the matte finish it leaves. A little of this product also goes a very long way to cover your entire face and neck. At ten dollars for the jar, I thought I was splurging on this moisturizer. Now, I feel like I got it for a steal. Yeah, it’s that good!

I cannot recommend the Happy Dance Look Alive Moisturizer + CBD enough. It is a great product to start with if you would like to begin using CBD infused skin care. Just make sure you get a jar for yours truly too! 🙂

Have you used CBD infused skin care before? What are your thoughts on it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr27

TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Posted on April 27, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hey! Whenever I am gifted with TJMaxx gift cards, I always like to do a full restock on my skin care. While new clothes and shoes are fun, skin care is something that I’m always going to need and buy and I’d rather get it for free! I take my beauty hoard in my bathroom cupboard very seriously and consider myself stocked up when I have: Three moisturizers, three eye creams, three serums, three cleansers, and three micellar waters. Noticing a theme? I have found that a three to four month supply works well for me so I don’t have to shop for skin care monthly. To get myself back in the comfort zone of my hoard because I was running dangerously low on everything, I bought all of the following with the glory of gift cards:

I have loved skin and bath and body care since I was a teenager. It has always been my favorite form of self care and I have had a solid skin care routine since I was about fifteen. After all of this time, I can still count on my morning routine to invigorate me and my nighttime routine to help soothe myself before bed. Lil Red is, first and foremost, a creature of habit and with that in mind, it only makes sense that I keep a constant supply of products handy!

To begin my restock, I started with moisturizers. I have used the Vitamin C one before but I have never tried any products by Honest or Happy Dance so I decided to add both to my cart. I can’t wait to try the Honest Dew You melting balm because the name itself had me sold – it just felt lux to me and I had to have it! The CBD infused moisturizer was a bit pricey at ten dollars, but it sounded so nice that I couldn’t resist! I wasn’t particularly fond of the CBD serum that I tried a year or so ago, but I have high hopes for this cream by Happy Dance… See what I did there? 😉

Next, it was onto serum and eye cream. I only needed one more serum to get me back to a full supply and chose another Honest product for that. I am excited to try the moisturizer and serum by Honest as I have always been interested in the brand and this is the first time I ever saw it at TJMaxx! In the eye cream department, I went with two brightening formulas by Simple and 40 Carrots. Like Honest, these were both brands that I was familiar with and never tried because they were not available at TJs. This was my lucky day of shopping because I had been using the same handful of brands for a while and was ready to switch things up!

Finally, I needed a few cleansers and wanted something light and invigorating for warm weather. I couldn’t say no to the adorable, poppy packaging of the My Beauty Spot and Clinical Works face wash and I also selected the Hydro Boost cleanser by Neutrogena. I am eager to try out the pink coconut cleanser first because it looks like summertime and I am hoping it feels that way too! However, this will be the last time I use any Neutrogena products as I was disappointed and surprised to learn that they aren’t entirely cruelty free. Every other product in this post is Leaping Bunny certified!

My beauty haul at TJMaxx concluded with more of my favorite micellar water and those stretchy gelly hair ties that I have been dying to try! I have more shoes than I can count and one hair tie to my name so that was a definite must lol. Keep it posted for brand new OOTDs coming soon this week!

What is your favorite cruelty free brand? Which brands have you stopped using that aren’t Leaping Bunny certified? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr26

New Sincerely Jules Pants

Posted on April 26, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone!! During my Christmas gift card extravaganza jubilee jamboree at TJMaxx, I didn’t have too much luck in the clothing department. This is, admittedly, a weird time to shop for because you never know if you’re going to get hot or cold in late April and May. It definitely reflected on the racks of clothing with tons of winter items on clearance and random warm weather pieces interspersed throughout. In this mixed bag, I ended up with an amazing new jumpsuit by Japna as well as some pantaloons by Sincerely Jules. They are very simple, but I am obsessed:

Does anyone remember the paper bag pants trend that was super popular a few years ago? You know, the high waisted pants with a gathered waist, slim cut leg and made from really rigid material? I do! I loved those freaking pants and ended up trying a pair on every time I went shopping, but never made the purchase. They looked like garbage on me lol. The shape of them did not compliment my body at all and the gathered waist always made me look ten pounds heavier no matter how many pairs I tried on.

What I needed was something similar, but with tons of modifications haha so different? Basically, whatever I was looking for, I found it in the Sincerely Jules slacks. At first glance, these pants are kind of boring. However, the retro straight leg fit paired with a more defined waist had the possibility of working so I tried them on and am so glad I did! These pants fit perfectly and felt so good as soon as they were on. The material was soft, they hit right below the ankle, and as a bonus – I looked my actual size and finally got the ultra long leg line I was imagining with the paper bag pants. Also, how cute are those cuffs?!

Once I had these pantaloons on, I realized that they were not boring at all because there are so many exciting styling options that come with it, be it for work or play. These slacks would be darling with a tucked in button down and loafers for a day at the office. My work wardrobe consists of lounge clothes, though, so I will be styling them with play, play, play in mind! One of the things that I want to do this summer is visit the botanical gardens in Cleveland and I have just the outfit in mind for it. You will see it soon enough, but spoiler alert these pants will definitely be featured!

Although both of my clothing purchases from TJs were fifty shades of beige, that’s okay! I can’t wait to wear them and just thinking about the outfits that I can build makes me feel very colorful! 😀

What is your favorite neutral color to wear? Do you like to buy pieces that can double for work and play? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr25

New Japna Jumpsuit

Posted on April 25, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Last Tuesday, I enjoyed some much needed retail therapy and had a blast finally spending my Christmas gift cards from TJMaxx. I mainly needed odds and ends like birthday gifts and skin care, but I did manage to find two new pieces of spring clothing that I am loving. Today, we are going to take a closer look at an amazing jumpsuit I found by Japna – the last one on the rack! 😀 Let’s get to it:

I have been a huge fan of the jumpsuit theory for forever. However, in practice as a shorter gal, it has always left me disappointed. At barely over 5’1, ninety-nine percent of the jumpsuits that I have tried left me swimming in them. The other one percent featured other no go’s like random cutouts or a plunging neckline, which does nothing for me either. I had all but given up on finding a jumpsuit that would suit me best, but patience is virtue because this one by Japna is perfect.

What first drew me to this jumpsuit when I saw it was the color. While I often rock bold shades, this piece was bold enough in its shape alone and the crisp linen hue wouldn’t battle against all of my tattoos but enhance them. I also was liking the bustier style top with the gathered back because that style tends to agree with me. On the rack, this jumpsuit had everything that I was looking for, but the true test would come in the fitting room. This could be the best jumpsuit in the world and that would mean nothing if the length was dragging a foot below my feet!

As you probably already guessed because I purchased this jumpsuit, the length was not an issue whatsoever. In bare feet, it fell right at the ground and that is nothing that a killer pair of platforms can’t fix! The shape on my body was also exactly what I was hoping for. The more form fitting top against the breezy pants still offered definition, which is very important because it established a silhouette without having to resort to a belt at the waist.

Another major bonus of this jumpsuit is the extra slip of fabric falling from the waist to the lower thigh, respectively. This was great because I have tried on several jumpsuits that didn’t offer that and the visible panty lines were out of control. I was actually pretty worried about this before I tried it on because you could potentially see undies under the light colored fabric. Happily, this was not a problem and my new jumpsuit checked off every single one of my requirements. It’s like it was made for me!

I cannot wait to wear this fun little number ASAP and I think that it will be one of my staples this spring and summer. I love the ease of this jumpsuit because you basically just have to slip it on and go. Pair with platforms and a huge floppy hat and you have yourself an OOTD, baby! Keep it posted for more from my TJMaxx Haul tomorrow! 🙂

How do you feel about jumpsuits? What is a style of clothing that you love but haven’t had any luck finding? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr23

So Bright I Need Shades

Posted on April 23, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Last Tuesday, I had the morning to myself after working from home and all I wanted to do was shop, shop, shop! Before my afternoon shift, I hit up TJMaxx and Bath & Body Works for some much needed retail therapy and had an absolute blast. At TJMaxx, I spent my Christmas gift cards on a few new things for me, skin care, birthday gifts for my bestie, a new shirt for Johnny, and sunglasses! I have been so sick of wearing Johnny’s plain frames and chose two new pairs; one by Sam Edelman and the other, surprisingly, was by America’s number one baddie, Martha Stewart lol. Check them out:

There was a point in my early twenties when I had sunglasses galore as they were a cheap and fun way for a little pick me up. I had quite the collection of sunnies in various shapes, sizes, and colors and would change out which one I was using often. Of course, sunglasses don’t last forever and all of them had definitely seen better days. Scratches, loose screws, and cracks began to form and one by one my collection ended up in the trash. And, eventually, I had to resort to square black frames a la Johnny when driving and out and about.

The sunglasses that I had been using were probably the most boring thing that Johnny and I own and I decided to check out the sunglasses wall at TJs during my excursion. I was pretty unimpressed with a majority of the options and was drowning in a sea of tortoiseshell! However, I did have luck with two pairs and that’s great because literally anything was better than what I had! I was shocked to see so many Martha Stewart pairs on the shelf, but it all worked out because they were arguably the most fun frames available. I still can’t quite wrap my mind around that. 🙂

The pair of Martha, Martha, Marthas that I selected are really cool and I love the shape; they are huge! One problem that I have found with gigantic frames are how heavy they are and that was not the case with my new pair at all. These are so light but still feel sturdy and that is a major plus. I feel so perfectly posh in these shades and ten dollars isn’t a bad price to pay for a pair by America’s sweetheart! 😀

The other pair I chose was by Sam Edelman, whose accessories I am obsessed with. In fact, I used to have a pair of sunglasses from that designer until they broke! I am all about sunnies with a unique shape and these octagonal frames were an instant must. In fact, I used to have a very similar pair until they broke lol. Noticing a theme here? I have been wearing these sunnies every day since I got them and they are awesome! Like the Marthas, they are nice and light and the protection they offer from the sun without drastically changing the colors of everything makes for an ideal pair for driving. And for also looking fresh to death!

For so long, I focused on clothing and shoes while shopping that I didn’t even think about getting new sunglasses, which I really needed. These new pairs will come in very handy during the sunny days of spring and summer and I might just have to start rebuilding my sunglasses collection again! Keep it posted for more from my TJMaxx Haul coming soon!

Do you have a collection of any accessories? What is your favorite accessory to shop for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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