Tag Archives: haul

Happy Haulidays: Bestie Edition

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Happy Haulidays: Bestie Edition

Hello! This past Wednesday, my best friend of fourteen years, Lea, and I had our holiday gift exchange. It may have been a bit late but it still felt like Christmas magic to me. As soon as she walked in the door, we immediately began opening presents and spent the evening girl talking away. I am so in love with what my best girl gifted me with and my new flower pressed coasters she got me from Etsy already have a very special place on my coffee table:

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Lea and I both know the value of receiving bath and body care during gift exchanges so I was very excited for some eos brand goodies to add to my beauty hoard. I have only ever used their lip balms before, which are fabulous, so I can’t wait to test out the lotion and hand cream. Eos is a brand that I have always been interested in, but would never buy for myself so it was a perfect present.

Of course, the piece de resistance were the handmade coasters that she purchased off of Etsy. We both share an affinity for shopping on Etsy and my gifts from her were actually ordered on there too. I have never owned coasters before so it definitely felt like moving up in the adult world. And, what an amazing place to start because they are beautiful! 😀

For over fourteen years, Lea and I have participated in gift exchanges and it will never get old. It is so special to share holidays and birthdays with her and, oh yeah, half of our lives too. She is the best friend a gal could ask for and I love her so much! ❤

How do you celebrate holidays with your bestie? Do you have a favorite Etsy shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy Haulidays: Husband’s Family Edition

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Happy Haulidays: Husband’s Family Edition

Hello! Due to the high rates of COVID in Ohio, Johnny and I have had to have late Christmas celebrations with our families. This is why you haven’t seen any OOTDs or Hauliday posts recently but keep your eyes peeled because they are still going to happen! This past week, we celebrated with Johnny’s family and one of his aunts who is just wonderful and it was such a great time.

Living during a pandemic is insanely difficult but especially during the holidays as Johnny and I want to protect our vulnerable populations as much as we can. We haven’t seen his family as much as we would like so it was so nice to be able to share a meal, catch up, and open presents. Johnny’s family so generously gifted me with the following:

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Hanging out with Johnny’s family after so much time apart was the best gift of all, of course, but I am so appreciative of everything that they treated us to. I love my cobweb earrings the best of all and I am tickled by the gift from Johnny’s dad of the flashlight/screw driver/whistle/everything else lol. It is such a dad gift and I am obsessed – even if I don’t quite know how to use it. 😀

I am also very touched by the ornament from his mom made for caregivers, although we all had a laugh about how we couldn’t read the sweet sentiments that were on it. Johnny and I have been diligently working through our holiday chocolate – my favorite being the chocolate covered chips. I have never tried one before and it is the perfect combination of sweet and salty. I could seriously eat twenty bags of them!

The piece de resistance of our holiday haul had to be the new air fryer for the both of us. We meant to buy a new one after we got married as ours was on the fritz but we just never got around to it. It finally went kaput a few months ago so we were thrilled with the new appliance. We have been air frying literally everything and have missed it so much. The novelty of air fried food never wears off. 🙂

Although we didn’t keep up with our Miller family tradition of watching Christmas Vacation together, it was still an amazing celebration. I am so thankful to have two beautiful families to join in the holidays with and have my fingers crossed that we can celebrate next Christmas on time altogether! ❤

How did you celebrate the holidays this year? What is your favorite gift in your holiday haul? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New & Improved Beauty Hoard

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New & Improved Beauty Hoard

Hello! Saying that mine and Johnny’s refrigerator/pantry situation was getting cluttered was a severe understatement. So, I took it upon myself during winter break to rectify this. But, I didn’t stop there and I cleared enough pantry space to incorporate my beauty hoard into it. Originally, my stock pile was just a big Amazon box filled with products. Now, it looks like this:

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From Bath & Body Works freebies to semi annual sale hauls, I don’t think I realized just how much I had in my hoard until seeing it all set out in front of me. I knew that I was a product pack rat prior to but damn lol. Sifting through my stock pile was very enlightening, to say the least, and I also found the face masks that I thought I misplaced and an extra bottle of Tree Of Life serum. 😀

My new stock pile set up is something that I am very pleased with and it will also help me save some money. Normally, when I am restocking supplies, I just get a little bit of everything regardless of if I actually need it or not. Now, I can see clearly what I need to buy more of and what I can hold off on. For example, I always seem to be buying more micellar water but it turns out I have four bottles of it!

Not only is this new set up handy but it is also very visually pleasing to me. It’s like my own little beauty shop right in my pantry. Now that I have my hoard all nice and organized, I can’t believe it was ever stowed away like it was. GREAT SUCCESS!

This was a little project but it made a big difference and I vow to never do my hoard the disservice of an Amazon box again. 😀

What is in your beauty hoard? Where do you stow your stock pile? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

LEGO Hogwarts Chamber Of Secrets Completed Set

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LEGO Hogwarts Chamber Of Secrets Completed Set

Hello! During our holiday break, Johnny and I completed the final set from our LEGO haul, which means that it’s time to buy more! We spent about three hours building the Hogwarts Chamber Of Secrets from Harry Potter and it turned out great. With fun surprises everywhere you looked and awesome extras like Chocolate Frog cards, glow in the dark pieces, and a golden Voldemort, this might be one of my favorite builds yet! Check it out:

Johnny and I are frequent builders of LEGO and I can tell that our skills have improved. Considering the size of this set, it didn’t take us too too long to complete it. We were so pleased with our handiwork! Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets is one of my favorite books and movies in the series and this set definitely did it justice.

While the builds for Hogwarts in itself are always really neat, the Chamber Of Secrets gives it a wonderful contrast. I love how you can make the basilisk move in and out of the chamber just like in the movie. It also includes a slide for the Minifigs to go down and the snake adorned door to enter the depths of Hogwarts. I wish that there was a set just of the Chamber because I would be all over it. 😀

My favorite part of this set is, easily, the pictures of Gilderoy Lockhart and I laugh every time I look at them – they are so funny! Expertly placed Chocolate Frogs and Cornish Pixies are also much appreciated and I can’t wait for my niece to come over to see if she can find them all. She is our future LEGO Master!

Johnny and I are fresh out of LEGO now but I already know which sets I want next, as always. I have my eye on the Astronomy Tower and Hogsmeade Village and I can’t wait to get them!

What do you like to build with LEGO? Did anyone receive any LEGO sets for the holidays? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

TJMaxx Haul: Wit & Wisdom Jeggings Edition

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TJMaxx Haul: Wit & Wisdom Jeggings Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to the last edition from my TJMaxx Haul! Today, we are going to wrap things up by discussing some new jeggings by Wit & Wisdom. And surprise surprise – they’re a taupe snakeskin pattern rather than my traditional black skinnies! These jeggings were a great buy at thirty dollars compared to its original eighty and I am loving them. Check it out:

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While my husband is extremely partial to all things cheetah print, I am a huge fan of anything and everything snakeskin. To me, there is nothing chicer, edgier, and sexier than a snakeskin patterned clothing or accessory. It’s mysterious and sleek while still adding the touch of punk rock that I adore and I can’t get enough of it.

As you all know, these new jeggings are a bit of a branching out for me because I pretty much exclusively wear black skinnies. In fact, I can’t remember the last time that I wore anything differently! I actually love the idea of patterned pants but I have always found that they made me look bottom heavy. When ordering these jeggings, I wasn’t expecting them to work so well but here we are!

Had this Wit & Wisdom number been adorned in bright flowers or polka dots, they definitely would have been a no go. However, the muted pattern spoke to me and I know that it will make a statement even paired with a simple black sweater and ankle boots. Also, how fun are the side zippers? 😀

The pattern is, of course, what sold me on these jeggings but the fit is nothing to sneeze at, either. They are SO comfy and it also features an elastic waist for additional wiggle room. My new jeggings will be perfect for being on the go and running errands or going to work and it offers the potential to be dressed up or down. I am so happy with this purchase!

My TJMaxx Haul accomplished exactly what I set out to do when I began my shopping – expanding my work wardrobe that could double for play. I can’t wait to begin wearing all of these pieces after I return to the outside world from winter break!

What is your favorite animal print? Which brand has the best jeans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

TJMaxx Haul: MaxSport LA Dress Edition

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TJMaxx Haul: MaxSport LA Dress Edition

Hi! Other than the new clothes, the best part about shopping at TJMaxx is the prices, of course. I revel in a good deal and there is nothing better to me than getting name brand prices for the low low. Like the MaxSport LA dress that we will be discussing today, for example. The suggested price on its original tag was two hundred and forty dollars and I paid ten bucks for it on clearance. Talk about an amazing score! Check it out:

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During my online shopping, I saw my new dress and wasn’t so sure about it. I really liked its pattern and balloon sleeves but the tent shape was questionable for me because I prefer something a bit more form fitting. However, when I saw it’s ultra marked down price, I thought that it couldn’t hurt to add it to the cart. If it worked, I got a new dress for a crazy cheap price. If not, no harm no foul and I could return it.

While I do love online shopping more than words can say, I tend to go with “safer” options so I don’t have to go through the hassle of making returns. So, I pick clothes and accessories in shapes and styles that I know will look good on me. Ordering this dress was a caution to the wind buy because I was so uncertain of it. In store shopping gives you the luxury to experiment with styles and adjust sizes. Online? Not so much.

Nevertheless, I was really excited to try this dress on and was so pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. The tent shape, which I was the most ambivalent about was sweet rather than oversized and combined with the pattern, it felt like the perfect nod to all things retro. I cannot wait to pair my MaxSport number with my knee high floral boots from ModCloth for a three seasons student teacher chic look in the fall, winter, and spring!

Due to the pandemic, a majority of my shopping has turned online. This dress encouraged me to branch out of my “safe” styles when scouring my favorite sites and I am itching for my next haul to throw caution to the wind some more!

What is your favorite style of dress? How would you style this dress? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

TJMaxx Haul: Lucky Brand Cardigan Edition

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TJMaxx Haul: Lucky Brand Cardigan Edition

Hi! I have always loved Lucky Brand and pretty much died and went to heaven when I got to shop in one of their actual stores during a vacation to North Carolina. I am always on the lookout for their clothing and accessories at TJMaxx and I was thrilled to find the cardigan we’re going to be discussing today. The price was pretty exciting too – I got it for thirty dollars compared to its original price of one hundred and thirty! Check it out:

Many moons ago when I worked at PacSun, I had what seemed like an infinite amount of Aztec patterned oversized cardigans. I am genuinely unsure as to why I got rid of them all but here we are lol. So, when I saw this Lucky cardi during my online shopping, I just had to add it to my cart. It reminded me so much of all of the cardigans that I have loved and lost and it seemed like everything in my life was leading up to this shopping experience… Okay, that might be a little over dramatic but you know what I mean!

Until my new cardi arrived in the mail, I had no idea of its original price so you could have knocked me over with a feather when I found out. I thought that I was getting the steal of the century. Oh yeah, and it’s cute! I absolutely love its length, the drapery, and the colors reminiscent of a fall sunset. This is a cardigan perfect for curling up in front of a bonfire or just lounging about at home and I am so there for it.

Lucky Brand has always spoke to me because of how classic all of their pieces are. Everything that I own by them from clothes to jewelry is something that I can picture myself wearing now or ten years from now. Lucky combines simple and crisp silhouettes with unique touches making them the ultimate brand of wear now and later. Or, when it comes to my favorite buys from them – wear all of the time! 😀

What is one of your favorite brands? What is one of the best buys you have had at a discount store? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

TJMaxx Haul: Moon & Madison Star Bright Cardigan Edition

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TJMaxx Haul: Moon & Madison Star Bright Cardigan Edition

Hello! One of my favorite pieces of clothing in the whole world other than a good jacket or blazer is a nice, comfy cardigan. I love just being able to throw one on and head to work while giving the appearance that I *somewhat* got ready for my day lol. Not to mention that I am usually cold all of the time so an extra layer always comes in handy!

During my online shopping with TJMaxx, I purchased two new cardis that I couldn’t say no to. Did I need them? Not necessarily. But did I want them? REAL BAD. Today, we’ll be discussing an adorable Moon & Madison cardi and tomorrow we’ll take a look at one by Lucky Brand – which happens to be one of my favorite brands! Let’s get to it:

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As soon as I saw this cardigan, I knew that it was going into my shopping cart. The dusty mauve color, star pattern, POCKETS (!!!), and teddy bear soft material made this Moon & Madison number a must have. I absolutely could not wait for it to arrive in the mail because I just wanted to wrap myself in it. It was as cozy, comfy, and soft as I imagined it to be and I have a feeling that I will be wearing it constantly.

When it comes to cardigans, I love oversized ones because you can’t go wrong with pairing it with super skinny jeans and ankle booties and walking out the door. My new Moon & Madison cardi is one that you could wear in spring, fall, and winter and I can also picture myself wearing this over a dress and tights for a special occasion or date night.

Prior to having red, pink, and violet hair, colors in the purple family never looked good on me. However, my new hair opened up a whole new color palette for me to experiment with – purple being one of them! Now, I am always scoping out lavender, mauve, and violet clothing so, of course, my Moon & Madison cardigan spoke to me. The mauve hue looks just right with my funky colored hair and I am already itching for more clothes in a similar color! 😀

As winter drags on, I will be beating the cold weather in the ultimate comfy cozy cardigan! Tune in tomorrow to continue the cardi party with my new Lucky Brand number. ❤

What does your favorite cardigan look like? What are your favorite colors to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

TJMaxx Haul: Scotch & Soda Pajama Style Blazer Edition

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TJMaxx Haul: Scotch & Soda Pajama Style Blazer Edition

Hello! It has been a while since I had a big TJMaxx haul so I decided that it was definitely time to change that. 😀 This past week, my online order finally arrived in the mail and I am obsessed with all of the goodies that I picked out for myself. After So. Much. Holiday. Shopping. I thought that I deserved a treat too!

Today, we will be discussing an amazing pajama style blazer by Scotch & Soda. My only regret? That I didn’t buy the matching pants! Let’s get to it:

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I must admit that when I originally ordered this blazer, I didn’t have high hopes for it and had plans of it being one of the pieces that I returned. But, man, was I wrong because this is one of my favorite purchases from my shopping. What I thought might look like I forgot to get dressed in the morning turned out to be oh so fabulous and I can’t wait to wear it to work/out and about.

This Scotch & Soda blazer was part of a matching set and as soon as I tried it on, I instantly was kicking myself for not ordering the pants too. After my fashion show, I raced to the computer to see if they were still available and, sadly, my size was sold out. I thought that the full set would be a bit much and I genuinely don’t know what I was thinking because “a bit much” isn’t part of Lil Red’s vocabulary.

While I would have liked to see this set in its completion, I still love the blazer as an individual piece just the same. The colors are muted but so rich and they really pop against its black background. I also can’t get enough of the piping throughout the blazer for a touch of pajama party chic!

During my online shopping, I was looking for pieces that could double for work and play and I think that this blazer hit the nail on the head. This is something that I could easily wear to my office or for a date day with Johnny. It’s also light enough that I could sport it during multiple seasons for ultimate versatility.

Whether paired with skinny jeans or a little black skirt, I am dying to style my new blazer so be on the lookout for OOTD pics soon. And, keep it posted for more from my TJMaxx Haul! ❤

How do you feel about clothing sets? How would you style this blazer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Face Mask Festivities: Holler And Glow Hangover SOS Sheet Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Holler And Glow Hangover SOS Sheet Mask Edition

Helloooo everyone and welcome to the final Face Mask Festivities post from my Target Haul! I have so enjoyed pampering myself with the masks I purchased – both the good and the bad. And, I hope that the next time you make a Target run, these reviews will point you in the right direction of which face masks to buy and the ones that you can skip on.

Today, we will be discussing the Hangover SOS sheet mask by Holler And Glow. I admit, that I probably should have used this one this past Sunday lol! Let’s get to it:

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^^^ Lol

I will be completely honest with all of you… The only reason that I bought this mask in the first place was for the pattern! The donuts look like little frogs and I think that it is the cutest thing. Unfortunately, this sheet mask was one that I should have acknowledged was adorable and moved on because it was not the best.

In terms of staying in place, the Hangover SOS sheet mask was okay. The top half was fine but the bottom half gave me some grief and I had to adjust it a considerable amount of times in its fifteen minute sitting period. I actually couldn’t wait to take it off for that reason so while I waited I was literally just counting down the minutes. As you can imagine, it was not the most relaxing face mask session.

The results of this mask were also below average. My skin felt nice after using it but it didn’t feel any more hydrated or nourished than when I complete my regular skin care routine. The Holler And Glow sheet mask costed me four dollars and, although it was a cute novelty mask, the buck pretty much stopped there. This is one that you can most definitely pass on. WHOMP WHOMP!

Despite more duds than winners in my face mask haul, I still had fun creating this Face Mask Festivities series. Now, fingers crossed that I will get lots of face mask stocking stuffers so that the pampering can continue into the new year!

Have you used the Holler And Glow brand before? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah