Tag Archives: haul

Dec16

Holiday Haul: My Friend Edition

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Holiday Haul: My Friend Edition

Hello! It is a very rare thing for me to take time off from work. Mainly because I love my job but also having no paid time off, lol. However, I have taken two weeks off so I can safely celebrate Christmas with my family. I have had such fun enjoying the holiday season with my clients. From online shopping for the perfect presents for each of them to decking out their homes with Christmas decor – it really doesn’t get much better than that!

On my last week of work before my holiday vacation, one of my dear friends who I have the joy of working with bestowed these beautiful gifts onto me. Check it out:

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My pal and I love to color together and I am tickled that he selected a coloring book and colored pencils just for me. I am so excited to bring the Buggie Buddies book with me the next time I watch my niece because she loves stickers and creating masterpieces with crayons. The Malley’s Chocolates are delicious and tastes like a fancy Heath Bar, which is perfect because that’s one of my favorite candies. I also love the Christmas card that came with my gifts – it is absolutely adorable!

Nothing is more special to me than the gifts that my sweet friends have chosen. Honestly, the selection above is already my favorite gift and it isn’t even Christmas yet. I know how much thought and care went into picking these gifts out – from the carefully wrapped package to the contents inside that are filled with such happy memories. I know my friend is going to love the present I got for him and I cannot wait to call him on Christmas day when he opens it! ❤

What is one of your favorite gifts that you have received? Is there a gift that you’re really excited about giving this year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec9

Bath & Body Works Haul Review

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Bath & Body Works Haul Review

Hellooo everyone! When I first got my hand soaps a couple of weeks ago from Bath & Body Works, they were impossible to open and smell because of a shipping mishap. One of the bottles was already open and it leaked, causing a sticky mess all over my order. Now that they are all wiped down, I was finally able to open them and decide for myself if I liked all of the Christmas themed scents that I purchased. Here’s the breakdown:

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Would I Buy Again?

  • Winter Candy Apple: NO
  • Frosted Cranberry: NO
  • Vanilla Bean Noel: YES!!!
  • Fresh Sparkling Snow: NO
  • Let’s Chill: YES
  • Snowy Peach Berry: YES

First things first, can we please talk about how cute the packaging is for these hand soaps?! I absolutely love the ice skating penguin on the Let’s Chill bottle! Overall, I am really pleased with the soaps I purchased. I am particularly fond of Vanilla Bean Noel. It has a classic vanilla scent with no bells or whistles to it and that is perfect for me because pure vanilla is one of my favorite fragrances.

I also really like the Snowy Peach Berry scent because it has the crispness of Fresh Sparkling Snow with a little extra pop to it thanks to the berry and peach. The Winter Candy Apple was okay but it was a lot more pungent than the body wash in the same scent and, although I like it, it is too overpowering for me to consider buying again. That was a bit disappointing because I was really excited to get the hand soap because I love the Winter Candy Apple body wash.

Now, onto the duds. I got my parents and my sister Frosted Cranberry candles from Bath & Body Works last year and they smelled SO good. However, the hand soap has an almost acidic smell to it as opposed to the tangy, spicy scent that I remember. Fresh Sparkling Snow is also one that I wouldn’t purchase again. It smells clean and light but I would have liked a little something more to it because it paled in comparison to the bolder scents.

At the end of the day, Johnny and I are far from picky when it comes to our soaps and will happily use up all of the ones in our latest haul. I’d be a liar if I didn’t say I was already eager to buy more, though!

What is your favorite holiday scent? Which hand soap from B&BW should I get next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec3

Bath & Body Works Haul/Annoyances

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Bath & Body Works Haul/Annoyances

Helloooo! Ever since moving into my apartment, I have only used the foaming hand soaps from Bath & Body Works in my bathroom and kitchen. Both Johnny and I love them and we alternate between who buys more when we are running low. This time around, it was my turn to order the goods and I went with all of the Christmas scents for the six soaps for twenty-six dollars deal. Check it out:

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In the close to two years that I have been ordering from Bath & Body Works, I have never had a problem with their delivery services. However, this time around, one of the soaps was actually open and it was just a mess inside the box. All of my soaps are now super sticky and I can’t even get them open to take a whiff of the scents I’m unfamiliar with.

This is a minor inconvenience and, of course, accidents happen. My biggest gripe with Bath & Body Works is how they handle their coupons online. I get at least one to two B&BW coupon packets in the mail per month and this normally includes some type of free item. The real kicker? I can’t use any of them online in combination with the deals for my hand soap.

To receive my free item, I would have to make another order and pay for the six dollar shipping again despite originally having other items in my cart that do not qualify for any type of deal. The realest kicker? If I went into one of the stores, it would not be an issue and I could get my freebies without having to pay multiple shipping costs for multiple transactions.

As someone who works in the care profession, I have had to resort to doing all of my shopping other than groceries on the world wide web. I have not been “shopping shopping” since February and I’m sure a lot of people are in the same boat. Once again, it’s a minor inconvenience but you would think that online retailers would be a bit more considerate to the situation given a lot of people just aren’t comfortable shopping in store.

At the end of the day, boo hoo. I didn’t get a plethora of freebies within these past several months. It’s just more annoying than anything, considering I have been a loyal customer for years now. I have a lot of respect for all of the retailers that have made online shopping and using their promos more accessible during COVID times and B&BW’s strict coupon rules online just comes off as stingy.

ANYWHO, sorry for the rant but that has really been irking my nerves for a while! Lol, I love my freebies – sue me for it!

Which stores offer the best coupons/promotions? How do you get the best deals when shopping online? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov18

Amazon Skin Care Haul

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Amazon Skin Care Haul

Hello! Whenever I needed new skin care back in pre-COVID days, I would go to TJMaxx and browse the aisles for everything I needed/didn’t need. Now, when I am running low on my skin care, I order a three or so month’s supply from Amazon. Originally, I was having a lot of luck finding all of the brands that I liked from TJs on Amazon. The prices weren’t as good but I was still happy to use what was familiar to me.

This time around, it came as a HUGE shock to see that the SkinLab brand on Amazon that I love so very much had all of their prices jacked up to twenty dollars. I was normally paying seven to eight bucks at TJs and eleven or so on Amazon. Twenty dollars for moisturizer and eye cream is just ridiculous so I had to try out some new products at prices I was more comfortable with. Check it out:

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The Haul:

  • Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel Cream for normal/combo skin
  • Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel Cream for dry skin
  • Clean & Clear Morning Burst Hydrating facial cleanser
  • Pacifica Kale Charcoal Foaming Facial Detox Bar
  • 3 Azure Lux Rose Gold serums
  • Garnier Micellar Water

After I discovered the high price of my SkinLab products, it took me a while to find a moisturizer at a price point I was okay with. Finally, I found a great deal on the Garnier pack of two moisturizers for SEVEN BUCKS! I thought that was a steal and I love Garnier products as well as gel cream moisturizers. Do I wish that I could have gotten my usual SkinLab Lift & Firm? Yes. But, I am excited to try something new.

Another product that I was sad to see wasn’t available on Amazon that used to be there was the Destiny Boutique charcoal face bars. I have been using their face bars for years and always like to have one or two handy at my apartment. Sadly, the brand was nowhere to be found on Amazon so I had to try my hand at the Pacifica bar, instead. I like that it is a foaming bar but I don’t like how small the bar is in comparison to the picture online. It was also packaged really poorly, which was kind of a turn off so we will see!

Along with my other usuals of Garnier micellar water and the Azure Lux serums, I bought a new Clean & Clear cleanser, as well. I am currently finishing up their Skin Brightening Morning Burst cleanser and have enjoyed it. However, it was really expensive on Amazon – over ten bucks, if I recall correctly. So, I went with the less pricey Hydrating cleanser. I am okay with this swap, though, because my skin needs all the hydrating it can get come winter.

I am looking forward to trying out all of my new products because it certainly has been a while since I went for something totally different. The almighty dollar talks every time and I don’t think I will be using my old faithfuls again until their prices go down.

Do you have a favorite product that got discontinued or really expensive? Does the substitute you picked out compare? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov11

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick Swatch In 9 To 5

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Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick Swatch In 9 To 5

Howdy! Today, we are going to be talking about the last product from my hand me down haul from my sister. It is last but certainly not least, though, because the lipstick we’re swatching today is definitely my favorite of the bunch. In this post, we are going to be talking about Smashbox’s Be Legendary lipstick in 9 To 5 and it sure is pretty! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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First things first, can we please talk about how freaking ADORABLE this lipstick’s tube is?! I have never seen a lippie packaged like this before and it makes me wish all of my lipstick tubes featured poppy colors and fun patterns. This alone made me excited to open up the tube and check out the color and I was not disappointed!

Back when I was a full redhead without my blonde patch, I never would have dreamed of wearing a punchy pink shade. The bright pinks just didn’t look good so I stuck with my red lippie and nude hues pretty exclusively. Now, a whole new color palette has opened up to me and I am obsessed with the watermelon punch 9 To 5.

All I can think about when I see this color is spring time, floral dresses, and a swiping of 9 To 5 on my lips. The texture of this Smashbox lipstick is so creamy yet is long lasting and I am so thankful to my sister for bestowing it onto me. Working 9 To 5 has never been so sweet and sassy with this lippie and I can’t wait to rock it when I actually have an occasion to, lol!

Which makeup brand has the best packaging? Did makeup shades that normally didn’t work for you look better if you have ever changed your hair color? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct22

Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Manuka Honey & Tea Tree Oil Deep Clearing Clay Mask & Cleanser Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Manuka Honey & Tea Tree Oil Deep Clearing Clay Mask & Cleanser Edition

Hi! At least every weekend I try to use a new face mask as a pampering treat after a long week. I am currently using up a pack of six Freeman masks I got from Amazon and, unfortunately, the first two I tried were total duds. It definitely made me ambivalent to try the other masks but I am happy to have had some success because it turns out the third try is a charm!

I loved the Deep Clearing mask I used with Manuka Honey and Tea Tree Oil so take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

I’ll be honest, I was a little wary of the honey and tea tree combination because I thought it would smell nasty. However, my first impression when I opened the packet was just how good it smelled! It was seriously like oats and honey and it made the rich and creamy texture feel that much more lush and nourishing. The mask was also really easy to apply, despite its thickness, and that is always a bonus because I hate having a struggle to even put the mask on.

I left this mask/cleanser on for about seven minutes and was curious to see how it would wash off. Like the application, the mask was a piece of cake to remove because it doubled as a cleanser too. As I washed it off, it was kind of foamy which helped take the mask off in its entirety without harsh scrubbing – it was really nice!

Yes, the mask application and removal process was the best out of the three Freeman masks I have tried… But how did it leave my skin feeling? The answer is: EXCELLENT! My skin felt so soft, my pores felt like they got a deep clean, and my skin tone looked perfectly even. I legit couldn’t stop rubbing my cheek because it was baby’s bottom smooth. 😀

I would absolutely recommend the Freeman Deep Clearing Manuka Honey & Tea Tree Oil Mask/Cleanser. I haven’t used a mask that left my skin feeling so nourished in a long time and I would be happy to use it again!

Which brand has the best face masks? How do you pamper yourself? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct17

Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Glacier Water & Pink Peony Hydrating Gel Cream Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Glacier Water & Pink Peony Hydrating Gel Cream Mask Edition

Hello! During one of my previous Amazon hauls, I ordered a set of six new face masks from Freeman. Unfortunately, the first one I tried was a dud and this gel cream mask just didn’t do anything for me, either. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

When I decided to use this gel cream mask, I thought it sounded so refreshing that it would have to be good. I love gel masks because of their bouncy texture and the glacier water/pink peony combo seemed like it would just add to the enjoyment. So, I prepped my bath water and applied my face mask for an evening of pampering.

As I squeezed the mask into my hand, it reminded me so much of one of my favorite gel masks from The Body Shop and I was taken with the pale blue color it was tinted. The gel cream dried fairly quickly and, as per the instructions, I left it on all night.

The following morning, I was eager to wash my face and see how my skin felt as I had the mask on for well over ten hours at that point. Sadly, I noticed no difference to my skin. In fact, after I got out of the shower my skin felt tight and was practically begging me for my moisturizing routine.

I have never used a gel mask that did this little for me before and I was honestly shocked. With some of my favorite gel masks, it left my skin looking so radiant and feeling hella moisturized but, obviously, all of them can’t be winners. -_-

I definitely wouldn’t recommend this face mask and, as of now, I am striking out on my Freeman haul. Here’s to hoping the next few will be better so keep it posted for more Face Mask Festivities coming soon!

Which face masks would you not recommend? Do you have a favorite gel cream mask? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct12

Fall Haul: Seven Jeans Edition

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Fall Haul: Seven Jeans Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to the last post of my Fall Haul with TJMaxx! I am so happy with all of my purchases and can’t wait to incorporate all of my new clothes into my fall and winter wardrobe. It is, indeed, the most wonderful time of the year for me to shop and I think this was one of my best Fall Hauls yet!

Now, finally, let’s check out these coated, snakeskin patterned skinny jeans from Seven:

Man, do I love when the items I purchase still have their original price tag. My new jeans were marked as seventy-nine bucks and I got them for thirty, I believe. Score!

If there’s one thing Lil Red loves, it is coated skinny jeans. I think they are just the tops. The sheen, the punk rock appeal, the cool patterns – give me a pair of coated jeans over regular any day of the week! I was so taken by these skinnies just in the picture on TJ’s website that I didn’t even care if they were high waisted. I threw caution to the wind and it paid off big time because they are, easily, one of the most unique pairs of jeans I own.

When placing my order online, I really didn’t realize that these jeans were Seven brand until seeing them at home. For those of you who don’t know, Fergie references Seven in the timeless classic “My Humps” by the Black Eyed Peas. So, permission to be feeling myself for the rest of the year was obviously granted after that discovery! 😀

Although these jeans are high waisted, they fit a little bit higher than a standard normal rise. I can definitely get down with that and I love how long and lean they make my legs look. The metallic shine of the coated snakeskin pattern adds such a dramatic flare and Fergie really was right… My butt looks great in them! Lol!

Pre-COVID, I lived for my fall shopping trips to TJMaxx. Unfortunately, that’s just not possible right now and my online haul was the next best thing. I got a lot of super cute new pieces for a fraction of their original price and there is nothing better. ❤

What is your favorite thing from my Fall Haul? Have you purchased any new clothes recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct11

Fall Haul: Sound & Style Skinny Jeans Edition

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Fall Haul: Sound & Style Skinny Jeans Edition

Hello! In Lil Red’s world, one can never have enough pairs of black skinny jeans. From pleather and coated to plaid and plain Jane, I try to get at least one to two new pairs of jeans per year as I can’t stand once my black jeans start turning grey after multiple washes! During this TJMaxx haul, I tried my luck by ordering two new pairs, not really expecting either to work. To my surprise, both of them did! Check out the first pair today and then tune in tomorrow for the last post of my Fall Haul. Let’s get to it:

The main reason why I thought that both of my new jeans were going to be unsuccessful was because both of them happen to be high waisted. Most of you know by now that I hate high waisted clothing but, for those of you that don’t: I hate high waisted clothing. I have never been a fan because I never found it to be flattering on my body type. It literally was just butt and boobs when I tried high waisted shorts out and I have steered clear ever since.

Because I refuse to wear high waisted, it can be difficult for me to find normal rise jeans and shorts. But, it had been a while so I figured “how bad can it be” and added both of my high waisted jeans into the cart. Once I tried them on at home, I was pleased to see that neither of the pants went up too high and, I’ve got to say, they both looked damn good!

I absolutely love my new plaid skinnies by Sound & Style. The black background with the muted plaid in purple, green, and yellow just seems like a perfect pair for fall. I can so picture myself wearing them with all of my favorite sweaters and cardigans in hues that match the plaid.

I have wanted jeans like this for a long time and my hatred of high waisted prevented me from having them. Of course, if they didn’t work I could have always returned them at my local TJMaxx but who wants to do that?! I am proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and the pay off of pants that fit amazingly and are too cute to boot was well worth any feelings of uncertainty! 😀

What is your preferred rise for pants? How do you step out of your comfort zone when it comes to clothes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct10

Fall Haul: Chaser Pullover Sweater Edition

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Fall Haul: Chaser Pullover Sweater Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to my favorite purchase from my TJMaxx Fall Haul! Today, we are going to be talking about the most adorable pullover sweater by Chaser blinged out in sparkling, golden stars. As soon as I saw it on TJ’s website, it just had to be mine and I can’t wait to wear it all fall and winter long! Check it out:

There was a point in time when I shied away from colors I deemed “boring”. AKA white and brown. Lol, for the longest time I never owned anything in those shades and finally decided to give both of them a shot. After realizing that I happen to look good in white and brown, I learned that colors are only as boring as the outfits you style and began adding both colors into my wardrobe palette.

Of course, just plain brown or white will never do so when I found this lovely creamy colored, star adorned sweater I was in love. And when I say in love I mean love love. This pullover fits so nicely without being too tight or too loose. You can rock it zipped up or you can easily put a lacy cami top underneath for a sexy surprise zipped down.

I always thought that hues in the white and brown family would wash me out but this sweater does the total opposite. It makes my red and yellow hair as well as all of my features pop and I know I’m going to wear it all of the time! I feel like an absolute star in this sweater and for under thirty dollars I consider it a steal. Hurray for fall shopping!

Is there a color you used to never wear that you like now? What is your favorite and least favorite color to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah