Tag Archives: haul

Holiday Haul: Boyfriend’s Family Edition

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Holiday Haul: Boyfriend’s Family Edition

Hello everyone! I was so thankful this past year to spend another beautiful holiday with my boyfriend, Johnny’s, family on Christmas Eve. We spent the whole day together opening gifts, playing games, enjoying a delicious meal, and watching their yearly viewing of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It was such a blast taking part in their family traditions and my time between their house on Christmas Eve and my family’s on Christmas day made it the best holiday yet.

I was just happy to be a part of the day with my boyfriend’s family but I was completely blown away by their generosity. Check it out:

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As you can see, Johnny’s family knows me pretty well already considering I was treated to gift cards to all of my favorite places: TJMaxx, Elysian Nails, Marshalls, and Dunkin’ Donuts. It was so sweet, because Johnny’s aunt gifted both myself and his mom to a gift card to Elysian so we could get mani pedis together. I’m really looking forward to making a date of it with lunch or coffee thrown into the mix for a perfect girls day.

And, of course, you can never go wrong with giving me chocolate and bath and body care as a present, because I can always put all of that to good use! I am also very excited to break out my adult coloring book set. I used to use those all of the time and just fell out of it so it will be nice to get back into it with such lovely pictures and supplies.

Honestly, my boyfriend’s family didn’t have to get me one damn thing but I am so grateful and touched that they did. I can’t wait for more holidays and hang outs with each of them and my life is so much better for having them in it! ❤

Where did you spend your holidays at? What is one of your favorite Christmas movies to watch? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Holiday Haul: Sweet Friends Edition

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Holiday Haul: Sweet Friends Edition

Hello hello! This Christmas, I was so touched to receive some lovely gifts from two of my dear friends. One of which is my neighbor, Alice, at my family home who has been one of my besties for years now. What started out as me dog sitting her pups has turned into weekly coffee dates and hang outs and I treasure our time together so much.

Another was from my skating coach, Sarah, who I’ve known since I was at least eight years old. I love our weekly skating seshes and am so happy to have her in my life again since I rekindled my passion for figure skating. Check it out:

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Alice provided the prezzies on the left and she truly does know me so well because she got me all of my favorite things: Anything dog related, candles, and gift cards to Starbucks and TJMaxx! Alice and I always spoil each other during gift giving occasions and I definitely view her as a second mom while she sees me as the daughter she never had as a mom of three boys! We had such a lovely morning of coffee and chit chat during our gift exchange and I feel so incredibly lucky to have her as one of my best friends.

My skating coach, Sarah, gifted me with an adorable pencil pouch filled with goodies to utilize in my skating binder, which she writes notes in during our practices. It included chapstick and tons of great office supplies that will come in handy on and off the rink! I was so tickled by this thoughtful gift because it’s something that I will be putting to good use and I have already made quite a dent in the delicious sugar plum scented lip chap!

I am so thankful for having such sweet friends to share holiday cheer with and am blessed to have two wonderful women looking out for me. ❤

Do you have a second mom in your life? Have you rekindled an old passion recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Holiday Haul: Light Of My Life Edition

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Holiday Haul: Light Of My Life Edition

Hi! One of my clients that I work with is an older man with Down Syndrome and I always call him the “light of my life” because it’s the honest to god truth. This fellow has me wrapped around his little finger and everyone knows it! We have so much fun together and it really is nothing short of a delight to be his provider.

My friend has been looking forward to Christmas for months and months now. In fact, I think he started looking forward to this year’s Christmas the day after last year’s Christmas. In preparation for the big day, we decorated the tree and have played nonstop Christmas movies and music. It absolutely tickles me to see his love for this time of the year and he is the epitome of what the holiday season is all about.

During my last day of work before a holiday break, we had our gift exchange and I was surprised with all of the following:

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^^^ Note that the bottle of wine was from his brother!

I had to have a silent laugh when I opened my presents because I’m pretty sure that my client just gives people stuff that’s in his room for Christmas. And, that’s what made it so unbelievably perfect. My friend knows that I have no holiday decorations at my home and I’m sure that’s why he gave me my little Precious Moments penguin that is seriously the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

But, can we please talk about my caricature?! I am so excited to hang it up on my wall because I am all about having quirky things at chez moi and it just might be one of my favorite gifts that I’ve ever received. It was obvious how much thought he put into picking out his presents for me and they are going to be treasured for forever. ❤

What do you gift your work friends with? What was your favorite gift that you got this holiday season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits: Sassy Skeleton Platforms Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Sassy Skeleton Platforms Edition

Hello hello everyone and welcome to the last issue of If The Shoe Fits from my Dolls Kill Black Friday haul. It was so much fun browsing through their selection, picking out the ideal pairs for Lil Red, and eagerly awaiting their arrival in the mail. Well, that last part was a lie because the anticipation was literally killing me – but that’s neither here nor there. Anyways, check out my last pair of platforms from Dolls Kill compliments of their Halloween collection and let’s discuss:

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With a special shout out to human anatomy and the spooky season, these taller than life platforms spoke to me on a spiritual level. I love their exaggerated platform shape and the contrast of the jet black with the pale grey vertebrates climbing up the heel. I am a firm believer in living every day like it’s Halloween because that’s just the emo kid in me and these heels are the perfect ones to enact that with.

Whether you pair these with your best black skinnies or sport it with a black or pale pink tulle skirt, you will be sure to make a statement. You can keep your look edgy or soften it up as much as you like for a punk touch to your OOTD. Either way, you will be the best warm body of the ball in these skeleton platforms. Just don’t break a bone trying to strut around in them! Ba dum chhhhhhhhhh.

What is your favorite holiday to dress for? What is your favorite pair of shoes from my Dolls Kill haul? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits: Sugar Thrillz Platforms Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Sugar Thrillz Platforms Edition

Hello! I have had my eye on the shoes that we will be discussing today from Dolls Kill for months now and I couldn’t pass up buying them during their Black Friday sale. These pink plaid, heart embellished beauties are so Cher a la Clueless and I am nothing short of obsessed. Am I a pink girl normally? Hell no. But these Sugar Thrillz platforms were way too sweet to not purchase. Take a look:

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As all of you well know by now, my personal style is far from “cutesy” and much more on the edgy rocker spectrum. So, what drew me to these cute as a button heels? I honestly couldn’t tell you – I just like them! The Clueless vibes just spoke to me and I loved the retro shape along with the heart chain links. They are so adorable but they also have the school girl sex appeal circa Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time”  that made for a perfect combination of sweet and sassy.

I cannot wait to pair my new Sugar Thrillz platforms with skater skirts and cable knit tights. But, I am most looking forward to wearing them with my yellow plaid skinnies from Target and red plaid blazer from Goodwill for an All Plaid Everything look that will be super funky and unique. To me, fashion is all about pushing the envelope and what could be more cool than fifty shades of plaid?! The answer is nothing, of course! 😀

What is your favorite style of shoe? How do you incorporate plaid into your OOTDs? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

BFF Holiday Haul

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BFF Holiday Haul

Hellooo! This past weekend, my best friend, Lea, came over for a holiday hang out. Gifts were exchanged, champagne was poured, and a fun time was had by all! I absolutely love gift giving occasions with Lea because we always seem to buy each other the same style of gifts. We both live for wine, candles, and bath and body care and that’s usually what makes up both of our holiday hauls. But we are definitely okay with that! Check out what my BFF gifted me with:

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Lea always picks me out the cutest little knick knacks that are awesome for my apartment. You can see a lot of the decor that I’ve received from her throughout the years scattered around my place and it never ceases to make me smile. I adore my new wine themed magnets that are already displayed on my fridge and the “classy bitch” glass is my new favorite!

I’m looking forward to having a pampering night complete with my new candle, a glass (or bottle) of the moscato, and the aromatherapy bubble bath to give me the perfect night’s sleep. Lea and I had the best time girl talking the night away, popping bubbly, and just enjoying each other’s company. I am so thankful to have her as my BFF and can’t wait to begin wedding festivities as one of her bridesmaids. :)))

What do you like to gift your best friends with? How do you have the ultimate girl’s night in? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Amazon Haul

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Amazon Haul

Helloooo everyone! Thanks to my hella holiday shopping on Amazon, I racked up big points on my credit card so I could do MORE shopping on Amazon. I figured that I would stock up on some of my favorite skin care products that I essentially got all of for half off thanks to my extra shopping money from the Amazon rewards program. I think I should be all set for a long time! Check it out:

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The Haul:

My skin care routine is fairly simple: Give me a good face wash, micellar water, serum, moisturizer, and eye cream and I am all set. I am not picky when it comes to my products but, once I find a brand that I like, I usually stick with it. So, grabbing some extra bottles of the Garnier micellar water for my toner and makeup remover was a must. I also just had to snag some Destiny Boutique goodies because they are hands down the best charcoal products I have ever used.

I was a bit disappointed that Amazon didn’t carry the Wonder Therapy coffee cream scrub that I love to use when I’m shaving, so I had to try something new. The Tree Hut scrub received high marks in its Amazon reviews and the scent sounded delicious so into the cart it went. I was excited to receive this product in the mail because I was eager to take a whiff of the Lemon Blueberry Tart and it smells divine! It’s sweet without being too sweet and the lemon adds that zingy freshness which will be a perfect pick me up. I can’t wait to try it!

What are some of your go to skin care products? What is your favorite scent for bath and body care? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Small Dollar Tree Haul

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Small Dollar Tree Haul

Howdy! I end up at the Dollar Tree at least once a week when I’m with my clients and it is definitely hard to not pick up a few treats for myself while I’m there! It’s so nice to snag some little pick me ups for a whole one dollar because it’s not like you broke your bank for it if it ends up being a disappointment of a product. This past trip to the good ol’ DT provided me with a new movie to pop in during a free night as well as some adorable hair products that I hope will work well! Check it out:

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My boyfriend and I are notorious for quoting all of our favorite movies and shows like a broken record much to some people’s annoyance but mostly their delight! And, Borat just so happens to be one of those flicks so I was so happy to pick it up for only a dollar. Are some parts of that movie in poor taste? Absolutely. But, it’s overall pretty funny so it will be a good choice to pop in during my lazy Sundays with my beau.

I also purchased two containers each of both purple and pink hair glitter. I was sporting my tinsel fairy hair for a while but, unfortunately, almost all of the strands fell out while I was dying my locks a few weeks ago. I was disappointed because I won’t be going to the salon for a while so I’m hoping that the glitter gel will help tide me over until I can get my tinsel back. Be on the lookout for a product review post once I get around to using it!

What is one of your most quoted shows or movies? What did you get during your last discount shopping haul? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

TJMaxx Haul

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TJMaxx Haul

Hello! My last holiday shopping to accomplish was for my boyfriend’s parents so I hit up TJMaxx during my free time to find something for them. I ended up with a lovely Starbucks gift set for them as well as a little something something for my cousin and some skin care for myself. Check it out:

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There is nothing better than a nice, warm cup of hot chocolate during the winter and when I saw the gift set above I thought it was the perfect present to surprise the rents with. Along with a delicious combo of peppermint and double chocolate hot chocolate, the gift set included two Starbucks logo mugs which will be ideal for their morning coffee as well as the hot cocoa. I don’t know my boyfriend’s parents too well yet but you can’t go wrong with a holiday themed box set so hopefully they like it!

I also gifted my Boston Terrier crazy cousin with a dog shaped cookie jar filled with holiday cookies. He looks oh so dapper in his shades and tie! My cousin, Laura, in Pittsburgh is my go to for microblading and she always does so much for me when I come to visit so it was the least I can do for the next time I pop up. I know her and her boyfriend and their two precious Boston Terriers will love it and TJMaxx always has the cutest themed decor for that specific breed for those interested.

And, finally, I needed a new moisturizer and serum in my life so I went with the SkinLab lift and firm serum and moisturizer combo to keep my mug looking young, fresh, and hydrated all winter long!

My holiday shopping is officially complete and now it’s time to wrap up my presents, get them to their respective owners, and enjoy the rest of my holiday season!

Are you all done holiday shopping? Do you finish your shopping early or last minute? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dollar Tree Haul

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Dollar Tree Haul

Hello everyone! If there’s one thing that Lil Red doesn’t believe in, it’s paying full price for just about anything. So, it’s pretty shocking that I really didn’t get into shopping at the Dollar Tree until this past year. One of my clients loves that store and I always end up there at least one time a week. It wasn’t until I took a closer look around until I realized that the Dollar Tree is friggen awesome and I have had much success shopping there, especially since moving into my apartment. Don’t believe me? Check out this big ol’ haul for yourself:

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For twenty items I paid twenty dollars altogether and I am confident that if I purchased all of this at a normal grocery store it would easily be over fifty dollars. The Dollar Tree pulled through in the clutch for me at just the right time because after all of my holiday shopping this month, my credit card bill is going to be huge. BUT, I also have no food in my apartment. This will definitely tide me over until my bill turns over in December and I can do a bigger grocery shopping trip.

Also, can we please talk about the potato gnocchi and Arizona nacho trays?! They are both SO freaking good and the only thing that isn’t pictured is the nachos that I already ate, lol. They are a perfect snack for when I get home from work and I was so stoked that the Dollar Tree that I was at had them that I just had to get six, lol! The gnocchi is also a quick, easy, and delicious meal that my boyfriend and I both love and will be a perfect, simple dinner after we’ve both had a long day.

I have never quite understood the people that considered themselves above discount shopping but I, for one, will never be. Compliments of shopping at TJMaxx and Marc’s (a discount grocery store in my neck of the woods), I am sure that I’ve saved over thousands throughout the years and that ballin on a budget train isn’t going to end any time soon!

What is your favorite discount store? How do you ball on a budget for your grocery shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah