Tag Archives: haul

Jul2

Rebellion Again Mustard Yellow Kimono

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Rebellion Again Mustard Yellow Kimono

Hi! During the pandemic, I really didn’t do too much online clothing shopping. It’s not like Johnny and I were going anywhere and I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of making inevitable in store returns. While I bought a few odds and ends, I found that I played it pretty safe with my purchases so I wouldn’t have to make a separate trip for pieces in the “no” pile.

Given the circumstances, this method worked. However, we all know that the last thing Lil Red likes to do when it comes to fashion is play it safe! That is why my past few shopping outings with myself, my mom, and best gal Danielle were so much fun. It felt amazing to be able to actually try clothing on in store and experiment with shapes and colors that I normally wouldn’t pick for myself.

Thanks to my recent hauls, I would consider my wardrobe perfectly refreshed for summer. The fashion bug continues to bite, though, because all I can think about is how I’m going to style all of these cool new finds. Like this Rebellion Again kimono, for starters:

I found this kimono at TJMaxx when I went with my mom and, originally, didn’t even plan on trying it on because they only had one size – a large. I thought it was going to be way too big but JANE encouraged me to give it a shot anyways and I’m glad she did because it fit just right! I have never owned anything like this breezy little number before and I think it is so unique.

As always, when it comes to anything mustard yellow, I fall in love with it pretty quickly because it is one of my favorite colors to wear other than black. Paired with the cream stitching, this kimono screams summer and I can picture myself throwing it on to go to the pool, work, and just about anywhere! Whether paired with simple shorts and a tank top or over a maxi dress for a boho vibe, I think it will transform any outfit into a statement.

The details and colors of my new Rebellion Again kimono are gorgeous but the best part of it is, easily, the fabric. The mustard yellow part is all mesh and I have never seen anything like that before. I love the contrast between the gauzy material and thick stitching and it is a light as a feather option even on a super hot day. I cannot wait to wear it ASAP!

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

Jul1

Moon & Madison Knit Tank

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Moon & Madison Knit Tank

Hi! Shopping at TJMaxx with my mom this past week has been one of the highlights of my year – and getting married, of course! We had not had a mother/daughter TJs outing since before the pandemic and we picked up right where we left off so long ago. Walking into TJMaxx together felt like finally coming home after a vacation and we each left with an awesome haul of clothes, skin care, and home goods. My mom also found two cute new pairs of sandals which made my inner shoe diva so proud!

We were both able to refresh our summer wardrobes and I think I am well set for the season now. I am so happy with all of my purchases and can’t wait to sport this little Moon & Madison number ASAP:

I recently bought a knit tank at Dry Goods thanks to inspiration from Facebook ads and when I saw my new Moon & Madison top at TJs, I just had to try it on. I loved that it was cropped as my Thread & Supply one is much longer and, most importantly, I loved being able to show support to my friends in the LGBTQ+ community. It also shows support to myself, as well, because I am bisexual!

lifewithlilred is a page that celebrates and embraces all of the wonderful things that make us different and I am a safe person to anyone who may need to talk. My inbox is always open and I am just an email, comment, or Facebook message away. You can find me at: Sarah Mushenheim or email me at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com . I encourage everyone to live their life in color and with a little bit of red too! ❤

Who is your shopping partner in crime? What is something about you that you are proud of? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun29

TJMaxx Home Goods Haul

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TJMaxx Home Goods Haul

Hi! After a long year and change without in store TJMaxx shopping, my mom and I finally had our first outing to TJs last week. It was everything I ever could have imagined AND MORE! While it was great fun to spend my birthday gift cards, it was even better to spend time with my mom browsing the aisles and modeling the clothes we tried on together. We both walked away with lots of goodies that we are so happy with and I have been mentally reliving our shopping trip since we left the store.

Today, we are going to look at a few of the home goods items that I got for mine and Johnny’s apartment. My TJMaxx clothing haul will begin on July first after we discuss my June 2021 Finishes so keep it posted for that! Now, let’s get to it:

Since moving into my apartment over two years ago, I haven’t bought too much in terms of home goods. Between my initial Moving On Up Hauls and all of the things Johnny brought when he moved in, we really didn’t need anything. However, the laundry hamper that I purchased at TJMaxx when I moved was falling apart at the bottom and it definitely needed replacing. I was hoping to find a new one during my outing with my mom and the TJMaxx gods must have felt it! I love the woven wood hamper that I picked out because of how sturdy it is, the fact that it has a lid, and it is way prettier than my old one. 😀

For my kitchen, I picked up a few odds and ends like ice cube trays in an adorable honeycomb pattern, plates, and a few dish towels. Johnny and I have been saying for forever that we need some ice cube trays and the ones I found are ideal because they won’t take up a lot of room in our tiny freezer. The plates were also a must because we are constantly running out of them, which means we are constantly doing dishes! I thought that four plates for eight dollars was a steal, too.

TJMaxx didn’t have a whole lot of choices in terms of dish towels, but the Love Birds ones that I selected (On clearance!) will do just fine. In fact, they are perfect for us as a newly married couple! My mom was even kind enough to get some of the home supplies for us as an extra wedding prezzie. So sweet! ❤

Shopping at TJMaxx with my mom was absolutely amazing and this outing in particular will forever hold a special place in my heart. We picked up at TJs right where we left off so long ago and I am already looking forward to our next shopping trip. ❤

Where is your favorite place to shop? Who do you like to go shopping with? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun26

Dry Goods Haul: Thread & Supply Knit Tank Edition

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Dry Goods Haul: Thread & Supply Knit Tank Edition

Hello! When it comes to Facebook ads, all of the ones that show up on my newsfeed are from different clothing websites – some of which I’ve never even heard of. Unfortunately, my awful experience with my wedding heels has completely turned me off from shopping with Facebook ad sites again. That doesn’t mean I can’t look, though, and I always find myself scrolling through the ads anyways for fashion inspo.

One website’s ads (Which I couldn’t tell you the name of now) featured a ton of cute knit tanks and sweater vest style tops. I loved all of them and was so happy to have found a similar knit tank in Dry Goods when I went to Summit Mall. Check it out:

When shopping in Dry Goods, I immediately noticed this tank on an end cap. It was paired over a T-shirt and it was just what I had been wanting so into the try on pile it went. While there were a ton of clothes I liked to try on, I was really hoping that this Thread & Supply tank would work well. I had been picturing something like it in my wardrobe for at least a month now and was insanely relieved when I knew it was a for sure purchase as soon as it was on.

My new top is, of course, totally charming with the multicolored pastel stripes but its versatility it what makes it the most appealing to me. During the summertime, wearing your arms bare is perfectly acceptable. However, it can be used in every season thanks to the possibility of layering. Throwing this over a form fitting sweater and pairing with a mini skirt and knit tights will, without a doubt, be the move in the winter.

After my shopping session in Dry Goods, I walked away with this tank and the Blu Pepper sweater featured yesterday. I also just had to grab one more little treat at the cash wrap:

There was a jar of computer and bumper stickers at the cash register for a dollar and when I saw the “Darlin'” one, I couldn’t say no because it’s my husband’s pet name for me! I stuck it onto my laptop as soon as I got home and it makes me smile every time I see it. 🙂

I am very pleased with all of my purchases from Dry Goods and definitely plan on shopping there in the future for a fall wardrobe refresh!

Have you ever ordered anything off of social media ads before? What was your experience? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun25

Dry Goods Haul: Blu Pepper Sweater Edition

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Dry Goods Haul: Blu Pepper Sweater Edition

Hi! This past weekend, my friend Danielle and I hit up Summit Mall for a little retail therapy. It has felt so good to have actual shopping trips again instead of plopping down in front of my laptop to scroll through endless pages on TJMaxx’s website! Our outing was fabulous and she introduced me to one of her favorite stores, Dry Goods. I had been in this store once several years ago and didn’t care for anything I tried on so I never bothered with it again.

This time around, however, was a great success and I found two new tops there, helping to complete my summer wardrobe refresh. The light sweater we are about to discuss was something I originally picked out for Danielle and it looked so cute on her that I had to try it too! We both fell in love with it and are now twinsies. 😀 Check it out:

I just adore my new Blu Pepper sweater and it is really a perfect all seasons option. It is light enough that you could wear it for an outdoor meal during a chillier summer evening and will layer so well during the colder months. I thought it looked amazing on Danielle and, not to toot my own horn, but it looked awesome on me too. Thanks to the charcoal grey and dusty rose color combo as well as the not too tight or too loose fit, this Blu Pepper number is universally flattering.

While the side button details are cute, the real piece de resistance are the elbow patches! I am a huge sucker for them and like the old school flare that they add to modern clothing. The details, color, and shape all work together incredibly well and I am so happy with my purchase. At first glance, this sweater seemed a bit too Plain Jane for me but I ate my words as soon as it was on and am so excited to be twinsies with one of my favorite gals! ❤

Do you have any clothes that you would consider to be universally flattering? What are your favorite details in clothing? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun24

Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Haul

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Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Haul

Hello! The Bath & Body Works semi annual sale is like a siren call and, whether I need new bath and body care goodies or not, I always end up doing a little shopping. This past weekend, I met my friend Danielle at Summit Mall for an outing and I showed up early enough to run into B&BW beforehand to make some purchases. I got eleven items for under thirty bucks with a total savings of one hundred and two dollars. Talk about a steal! Check it out:

The Haul:

  • 2 Champagne Apple & Honey shower gels
  • 2 Pearberry shower gels
  • 2 Pretty As A Peach shower gels
  • 1 Raspberry Tangerine body spray
  • 1 Pretty As A Peach body spray
  • 1 Market Peach hand soap
  • 1 Boardwalk Vanilla Cone hand soap
  • 1 travel size Warm Vanilla Sugar shower gel (Free!)

I know what you all are thinking… Sarah, did you really need all of the above? And my answer is YES, yes, a thousand times yes! When it comes to my beauty stock pile, my motto is the more the merrier and why not buy products that I know I am going to use at a fraction of the cost? I exclusively use the shower gel, hand soap, and body spray from B&BW and if I can get a great deal on it, I am going to stock up.

Not only is my bath and body care hoard good for me, it’s especially beneficial during gift giving occasions as well. If I feel like whatever I am gifting needs a little something extra, I am happy to add in a goodie or two from Bath & Body Works to sweeten the pot. After this haul, I am thinking that I will be good for bath and body care products for close to a year…

The only reason I didn’t buy more? I knew the bags were going to be so heavy while shopping with Danielle that I restrained myself and I’m glad I did. Toting around the purchases above for over two hours was a work out!!

Which store has the best sales? What do you have in your beauty stock pile? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Jun18

Amazon Skin Care Haul

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Amazon Skin Care Haul

Hi! Throughout the pandemic, you just couldn’t beat the convenience of ordering off of Amazon and I know that firsthand lol. I didn’t go on any non grocery related shopping trips for over a year, which meant no more monthly outings to TJMaxx for a restock of my skin care necessities. Rather, I turned to Amazon whenever I needed more supplies.

A few weeks ago, I had one last big Amazon Skin Care Haul and am looking forward to bringing my monthly TJMaxx visits back in full swing. My birthday gift cards are burning a hole in my pocket! The following purchases have become staples in my skin care routine during the pandemic and I still plan on keeping a few of each handy in the hoard. It will definitely be fun to experiment with different skin care products and brands again, though! 

I have always been partial to gel moisturizers and I love the way my skin looks and feels from using the Neutrogena Hydro Boost and Garnier Moisture Rescue gels. My favorite thing about these moisturizers is how light they apply and quickly they absorb. They make my face look bright and alert while still feeling highly moisturized without any heaviness. Gel moisturizers are also perfect for the hot summer weather!

Another product that I got privy to during the pandemic is the Vitamin C serum by Eclat. It is, hands down, one of the best serums I have ever used in my life and it only costs seven dollars per bottle. It doesn’t get much better than that! After just one use, I thought my skin looked radiant and I still feel that way after several months of using it exclusively. As you can recall from my Azure Lux obsession, once I find a serum I like then I stick with it and I plan on continuing to use the Eclat Vitamin C serum for a long while.

Finally, I needed a few more cleansers in my stock pile and decided to go with a Destiny Boutique charcoal bar and a two pack of Clean & Clear cleansers. I thought the multi pack was a complete steal at just seven dollars! The Clean & Clear cleansers have always been a fan favorite of mine and I love how invigorating they feel during my morning shower. They also last such a long time for their price and it takes me several months to finish one container.

The charcoal bar by Destiny Boutique is another old faithful in my skin care routine and once I am done using a cleanser, I’ll wash my face with a charcoal bar too. It provides the ultimate deep clean and no product has been more effective in keeping blackheads at bay. The Destiny Boutique charcoal bar is the first one that I have ever tried and while I do enjoy trying different ones out, none of them seem to compare to Destiny Boutique’s.

There are few things more satisfying to me than a fully stocked beauty hoard and I am so pleased with all of my purchases. Each product was a quarantine staple and I think my skin has never looked better after the long term use of all of them!

What are your skin care staples? Where do you like to shop skin care at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun17

27th Birthday Haul

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27th Birthday Haul

Hello! My twenty-seventh birthday was on June seventh and was also three days after I got married! Needless to say, it was an amazing few days and I thought I’d share a bit of my birthday haul today while I wait for more wedding pictures from the photographer. The anticipation is seriously killing me and I just want to see all of them!! There are still a plethora of wedding posts to come so keep it posted for the inside scoop on my big day. Now, check these prezzies out:

You can’t go wrong with gifting me gift cards for special occasions and I was so thankful to receive an astounding amount of Taco Bell and TJMaxx gift cards. Those who know me best know that those are my two favorite places in the world so I am looking forward to lots of shopping and spicy potato tacos in my future. While gift cards always go over well with me, it’s fun to have presents to open too and I love my gifts from my in laws and bestie, Kate.

Johnny’s parents gave me the bath and body care goodies, which is one of my favorite kinds of presents. There’s nothing better than adding to the ol’ stock pile and I also didn’t even know shower gel pouches existed so that’s pretty cool! The mini wine bottle and hilarious decor came from my darling BFF Kate of Live In The Nautical and, as per ushe, she knocked it out of the park.

Kate is one of my absolute favorite people in the world and her friendship means so much to me. She is also a fellow June birthday girl and blogger so be sure to check out her page and give her some belated b-day love!! And thank you again to everyone who made my birthday so special. ❤

What is in your beauty stock pile? What is one of your favorite presents that you have received? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May30

American Eagle Outfitters Haul

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American Eagle Outfitters Haul

Hi!! When I went to Summit Mall a week or so ago for the first time in at least two years, I made the most of it with a huge haul from Altar’d State. I also needed new shorts in a bad way and there is only one store that I can trust will have what I am looking for every time: American Eagle Outfitters. But Sarah, it’s about to be summertime! Every store is selling shorts. Be that as it may, I am not a fan of high waisted shorts and AEO is one of the few stores I know of that still sells classic midrise shorts.

As always, AEO delivered and I found two new pairs of shorts that fit just how I like as well as a multi pack set of earrings for my wedding! Check it out:

I have exactly two high waisted pairs of jeans in my wardrobe and, believe you me, I was very surprised by those purchases! However, high rise shorts just do not work on my body type. I have muscular thighs, a butt, and hips with a small waist so what fits over my bottom half is HUGE on my waistline and leaves a lot to be desired in the fit department. Therefore, midrise shorts will always be the move for me.

I was so happy to find two pairs of excellent quality shorts at American Eagle that I know will last me for a good long while because I only had one pair of shorts before this shopping trip! My midrise AEO shorts fit me like a glove without being too tight and it’s nice to have a little variety between the black shorts and distressed dark denim. Both pairs will go with literally anything this summer which takes any guesswork out of styling so that I can get out and go for mine and Johnny’s next adventures!

Originally, I only planned on purchasing shorts at AEO – until I got to the cash register that is. At the cash wrap, I noticed their jewelry display and remembered that I needed some smaller earrings for my wedding. When I buy earrings, I only go for flashy dangly pairs so there was a definite lacking of no fuss earrings at my place! I like that the multi pack that I purchased had options in both silver and gold and I am excited to mix and match until I find the perfect combination for the big day.

It felt so good to do some actual shopping at Summit Mall as opposed to browsing online and I am incredibly happy with everything that I bought. Here’s to successful shopping trips to all!

What is your preferred rise for jeans and shorts? Do you prefer dangle or stud earrings? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May29

Altar’d State Haul Finale

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Altar’d State Haul Finale

Hello everyone and welcome to the finale of my Altar’d State Haul! Today, we are going to wrap things up by talking about a lovely black and white floral print summer dress. This is a purchase I am particularly proud of because, normally, I wouldn’t have even bothered trying this dress on. Take a look at some pics and read on to find out more:

The first thing that I noticed when I saw this dress on display after how much I liked it, of course, was that a bra would be incredibly visible. As a bustier gal, a bra is absolutely necessary for me to feel comfortable but it would ruin the silhouette of the crossback straps and the plunging V of the back of the dress. As mentioned above, I would usually acknowledge how cute a dress like this is on previous shopping trips and then move on to something I could wear a bra in. So imagine my surprise when I took this dress from the rack to try it on in Altar’d State.

Chalk it up to my quickly upcoming wedding (!!!!!!) but my self confidence has been sky high lately and it feels awesome because of how much I have struggled with it in the past. So, instead of feeling disappointed when I saw this dress because I used to think I “couldn’t” wear it, I tried it on anyways. I thought to myself that I could make it work, especially with the adhesive strapless bras that I got for my wedding and almost jumped for joy in the fitting room once I had it on and loved it so much.

It could be the novelty of trying something so new to me but I think that this dress is just the most. The uneven hem is so charming and flowy and it reminds me of fairies. The pattern is also so beautiful to me and it feels like there’s a surprise on the dress everywhere you look from the peekaboo keyhole on the back to the crossback straps. I hate to toot my own horn but I was feeling my DAMN self in it.

I felt amazing in my new dress and even better about the fact that I took a risk and tried something different. This is the first time I have ever considered an option other than my standard, supportive bra when buying something and I know it has to do with my very improved self image. I can’t wait to go shopping again so I can try more new shapes and styles that I didn’t think were possible for me to wear before! ❤

How do you take fashion risks? What makes you feel confident? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah