Tag Archives: live in the nautical

Jun13

Happy Birthday, Best Friend!!

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Happy Birthday, Best Friend!!

Hello everyone!! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my beautiful best friend, Kate’s, birthday!! Gemini season is in full swing and we are the stars!! This is our happy time and we spend the entire month celebrating and hyping each other up more than we already do on a regular basis. I met the esteemed, talented, gorgeous author of Live In The Nautical very shortly after lifewithlilred was conceived and when her page was still called Ankhor You. I will not age ourselves by saying how many years that has been but it has been a minute. Even if we both just turned twenty-one this year!

Kate is someone who I connect with on every single level and it was evident the first time we spoke. Seriously, one day we just started talking and we never stopped lol. That’s truly a magical thing to experience for two gals who live several states away from each other and I am thankful for it every day. And, yes, I actually do send out a special “thank you” into the ether every day because I am the luckiest girl in the world to have her as my A1, ride or die BFF. I always say that my blog has done so much good for me, but providing me with a best friend is the best thing it has or will ever do.

Imagine the most purest form of sunshine, sea breeze, and fairy dust in a bottle and you have Kate. She is the girl everyone wants to be friends with and her radiant smile and darling laugh are simply intoxicating. And, the beauty of Kate is that she makes everyone feel like her friend. She loves so deeply and pours kindness and care into everything she says and does. Kate is a giver and spreads joy liberally to her beloved family, friends, and any and everyone she encounters – myself especially!

Being besties with Kate is one of my greatest joys and I don’t even entertain the notion of what my life would be like without her. Since day one, she is the person who I want to talk to first on good days and bad. She’s the one to laugh with, dish on celebrity gossip with, and play detective with whenever we watch true crime documentaries. It is so special to share June with my Gemini Twin and I cannot wait for another year of text message novels and hours on end FaceTime dates with my best girl. ❤

To my other half and best friend:

Happy Birthday!!! I love you so!!!!

May31

BFF Birthday Haul

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BFF Birthday Haul

Hello!!! The best thing that lifewithlilred has ever done is, easily, connecting me with my best friend in the world, Kate, of Live In The Nautical. One day, we just started talking and I swear we haven’t stopped since! Despite living in two different states, Kate might as well be right next door to me. We are always texting and I live for our FaceTime dates that turn into hours on end discussions. She is such a bright light in my life – my blogging bestie, my Gemini twin, and a true gift to everyone who is lucky enough to know her. Regardless of where we’re located, we are joined at the hip and that is never going to change. ❤

When I got to work at chez parents this past Tuesday, I was greeted by a goodie box waiting for me on the kitchen table. Then, when I returned after a little shift, I saw more packages that were delivered while I was gone. The contents were none other than an amazing haul from my BFF and she spoiled me rotten this year! Check it out:

Getting gifts from Kate is a straight up “But wait – there’s more!” experience. The first prezzie I opened was the adorable travel cup boasting the fact that I am, indeed, in my Bunny Mom Era!! I just love the funky 70s print and that it is even customized with the names of my sweet buns, Melvin and Penelope. I know that I will be sipping Diet Coke on ice from this perfect sized cup all summer long. I also know that my niece is going to love using this when she visits at my apartment because she forever insists on having a straw to drink from lol. AND I also ALSO know that my bunnies appreciate being thought of too because they are always running around whenever Kate and I FaceTime so they know who their aunt is!

The next gift I tore into was a tiny jewelry box from a brand called Sirius Woods. I clutched my pearls when I saw the gorgeous carved skull earrings nestled inside! As a spooky gal, I love literally anything with skulls on it. However, these are so sentimental because they look exactly like my engagement ring!! My beloved engagement ring features a huge pearl carved into a skull and these earrings make my bling feel like a completed set. They are beautifully crafted and delicate and I couldn’t imagine how Kate was going to top herself on the remaining present. Of course, she totally did!

The final package to tear open was the piece de resistance: A page of music from her, mine, and Johnny’s very special show called Hadestown. Kate introduced me to this astounding musical and Johnny and I were able to see it when it toured at Playhouse Square. We went to Hadestown during one of the worst times of my life and it was one of the few happy moments in literal months of agony. The show transported us and the music moved me so deeply. In fact, the framed song Kate gave me makes me cry every time and that is no exaggeration. Just ask my husband! Trust and believe, tears were shed when this gift revealed itself but, for once, they were the happy kind. Tears of joy to be soul sisters with someone who knows me so well, bonds with me on every level, and provides me with the sunshine of her spirit every day. It was like opening up a hug and I am still blown away. ❤

Since day one, being best friends with Kate has made my life better. And, as much as I treasure all of the treasures she gave me, she will always be my greatest gift! ❤

How did you and your best friend meet? Have you made any friends through your blog or social media? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec20

Bestie Christmas Haul

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Bestie Christmas Haul

Hello!! It has honestly been an exhausting month and I am so completely drained. Can holiday break get here now or?! Despite not feeling holly or jolly in the slightest, I am feeling the slightest bit better thanks to Santa Mail from my A1 best girl, Kate of Live In The Nautical. I was surprised with a heated blanket that is simply the best over the weekend and was greeted to another package when I got to chez mom and dad on Tuesday. Kate spoiled me totally rotten this year and I cannot wait to spoil myself with these goodies from Rusted Acre Soap Co.:

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Kate got me hip to Rusted Acre Soap Co. last Christmas when she gifted me with these amazing horror themed bath bombs. I have to admit, I am a Lush bath bomb snob so I was curious to see how the set would compare with my tried and true favorite. I have used many bath bombs in my day that didn’t hold a candle to my beloved Lush so I was incredibly surprised that the ones by Rusted Acre were comparable, if not better. 1) There’s nothing better than being gifted with something that supports a small business. And 2) Has Lush ever made a Jason Voorhees bath bomb that actually looks like the mask in the water when it dissolves? I think not and I rest my case!

I am completely enamored with my Rusted Acre holiday gift set and I legit felt more relaxed just thinking about taking a bath with these goodies! The love potion is definitely my favorite one… Actually, maybe the skull haha but also how cute is that gingerbread man with a bite taken out of it?! This is just the treat I needed and I know for a fact Kate felt like I needed it too. Which is why she is the best friend/gift giver ever! My favorite thing about Lush bath bombs is how entertaining they are to watch dissolve. There is something about the ones from Rusted Acre that hit different, though, and I can’t wait to see how they perform. They also hit different because they’re from my ride or die. ❤

Being besties with Kate is seriously like Christmas every day because she is an absolute gift. Thank you to my doll for making my day merrier and brighter with this fabulous self care surprise! ❤

What is your favorite small business? Where do you like to holiday shop at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec17

Best Blanket EVER!!

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Best Blanket EVER!!

Howdy!! Every weekend, I have been diligently wrapping away at my cache of Christmas prezzies. I also got the very last gift I needed on my shopping list this past week at Elysian Nails. GREAT SUCCESS! On Sunday, I decided to finish my gift wrapping in its entirety and it was so nice to get some floor space back in my office once all of the packages had been opened! To my surprise, one of the boxes I opened contained something I didn’t remember ordering for myself at all. I questioned if I did some drunk Amazon shopping, but then I realized it was a Christmas gift from my A1 blogging bestie – Kate from Live In The Nautical. Check it out:

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One thing about Kate and I is that we are massive freeze babies lol. We are both literally always cold and Kate loves to cocoon in her heated blanket. Wrapping up in a warm hug of a blanket is something that is most appealing to me, but it’s something I would never buy for myself. So, Kate took matters into her own hands and I have an inkling that she has known exactly what to spoil me with for Xmas since this October. We had a massive drop in temperatures in Ohio and my apartment complex didn’t turn the heat on so Johnny and I were basically living in an ice box for a week. Kate is the most spectacular gift giver because she is constantly taking mental notes of situations like this and provides a remedy for it. ❤

My heated blanket was actually the last package I opened before it was a wrap on wrapping presents. As soon as I saw it, I ripped the box the blanket came in open and was ready to reward myself with a day of becoming one with my couch after a successful holiday shopping season. And become one with my couch, I did. From the comfort of my new heated blanket, I had a Degrassi marathon and vegged TF out. I live for a good Degrassi binge sesh and it was further enhanced by this Bwarm blanket because it is the freaking BEST. It is SO soft, SO comfortable, and has six different heat settings so you can adjust the temps as needed. I opted for a healthy “four” and it literally felt like I was wrapped up in all the comforters on my bed. It was also so soothing on my arms and back which tend to get a bit achy from never ending work on the computer. 12/10 Highly recommend!

Huge shout out to my main boo for this top tier present!! I have a feeling I am going to be living in this blanket as soon as I get home from work every day!

What is your favorite item that brings you comfort? Are you always hot or always cold? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun18

Blogging Bestie Birthday Gift Pt. 2

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Blogging Bestie Birthday Gift Pt. 2

Hi!! One of the most exciting parts about my June birthday isn’t so much the actual day, but the surrounding ones. My Johnny had his birthday on the first, our wedding anniversary is on the fourth, and my best friend’s birthday is on the thirteenth. Between all of these special days, it has been hard to feel down and out about turning thirty. It also makes it easier to be in a festive spirit when you have the best Gemini Twin hype girl!! My BFF, Kate of Live In The Nautical, always makes our Gemini season the most wonderful time of the year and I love her so much for it. She surprised me with a fabulous spooky gift box and I couldn’t believe it when she told me there was more on the way. The remainder of my prezzies arrived this past week and it was definitely worth the wait! Check it out:

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Johnny and I live for Halloween, horror, and all things creepy, scary, and spooky. Kate is most certainly not a horror fan, but her gifts to me could say otherwise lol. They are always the most fantastically creative with a dose of creepy for good measure! Just like these gorgeous skull earrings with pressed flowers and leaves. I legit could not believe my eyes when I opened the tiny package because I had never seen anything like them before. I live for edgy fashion with a girly twist and my new flower skull earrings fit that to the T.

Kate and I have known each other for almost a decade (Please don’t do the math on this!) and it has made all of our past b-days even better. She is one of my nearest, dearest, closest friends so it only makes sense that our big days are only six days apart. It is such a beautiful thing to be able to celebrate each other and our textbook Gemini-ness all month long. And, when Gemini season is over, we still treat each other like it’s our birthday. Lol, that’s what best friends are for! It truly is the best gift of all to have Kate in my life and everyone deserves a friend like her. I am the luckiest gal in the world. ❤

The June birthdays have come and passed, but good friends and memories are worth celebrating all lifetime long. I am thankful for my Gemini Twin every day and every birthday since meeting her has been even better than the last!

What is your style aesthetic? How do you celebrate your besties? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun13

Happy Birthday, Best Friend!!

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Happy Birthday, Best Friend!!

Hello!!! It’s Gemini season, baby, and what a banner time it has been. Johnny celebrated his birthday, we had our wedding anniversary, it was my birthday and now… *Drum roll, please* it’s my best friend’s birthday!!!! Yes, today is a wonderful, fantastic day because it is my blogging bestie’s big day. I hate to age us both, but Kate of Live In The Nautical and I became instant BFFs almost a decade ago when lifewithlilred first began. She is my Gemini twin and soul sister. Despite living states away from each other, our lives are basically exactly the same and I know I can go to her for anything and everything. Not to mention she’s oh so beautiful inside and out!

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Have you ever met someone and you just click? That’s how it was with Kate and I. What started as her being a guest blogger on my page turned into us chatting the days (and years lol) away. I live for our FaceTime dates and always laugh at the fact that we are true writers when we text. It’s literally just us sending novellas back and forth all day! Johnny has grown very accustomed to our texting style and forever refers to me as “Tolkien” when I’m giving Kate all of the updates. Even though we are far away, our textathons are a constant bright spot in my life and it feels like she could be right down the street from me. I wish she were!!

When I started my blog, of course, I wanted to make new friends. However, I was not anticipating to find a BBFF (Best Blogging Friends Forever) almost immediately. The blogosphere truly smiled upon me when Kate entered my life bringing her sunshine, fashion, sense of humor, and kindness. Kate is the perfect combination of sweet and sass and adds a touch of sparkle and shine everywhere she goes. This girl has been strong for me when I needed it, a shoulder to (metaphorically) cry on, and someone I can be my full self with. Everyone needs someone like that in their life and my wish on my bestie’s birthday is that you find and cherish that person. Kate is my one in a billion trillion gal and I am thankful for her every day. ❤

Happy Birthday to my Kate on her big day. The world is a better place with you in it and twenty-one (ish!) looks fab on you!!! I love you!!!!!!!!!!

May31

Blogging Bestie Birthday Gift

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Blogging Bestie Birthday Gift

Hello darlings!!! This past weekend, I received the most fabulous box of birthday greetings from my blogging bestie, Kate, of Live In The Nautical. Kate and I became fast friends when lifewithlilred came into existence almost a decade ago and my life simply wouldn’t be the same without her. She is the absolute best friend a gal could ask for and even though we are in opposite states, I always feel like she is right next door when we are texting or FaceTiming. For my Dirty Thirty, Kate spoiled me with my favorite thing – spooky surprises from Brightside Organics! Check it out:

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Kate and I are Gemini twins and our June birthdays are only six days apart. Just like me and Johnny! This is a time of year that we revel in and it is so much fun to celebrate each other together – even more than we already do every day lol. Our siren call when gifts are on the way is “you’ve got mail” and it is most exciting. Kate is one of my all time favorite people to shop for and she shares the same sentiments about me. I always know that her gifts are going to be on point for her horror loving BFF and this gift was no exception.

For my birthday, Kate treated me to all kinds of enticing products from Brightside Organics. Body butter, soaps, candles, and a bonus surprise. The skull candle doubles as a lidded glass. I was wondering why a plastic straw was included in the gift box and then it all made sense lol. I love the tombstone shaped bar soaps and they smell exactly like a crisp autumn day. The scent is called Magical Brew and is the same for the skull candle and body butter. My You A Spooky Bitch (And proud of it!) candle is of a lovely lavender and sage and it will be perfect to burn while winding down at the end of the day. I also thought it was such a cool touch that a little vial of matchsticks were included.

Because I get so much free product from Bath & Body Works, bath and body care is never on my agenda to buy for myself. And, while I like the idea of having candles in my apartment, I never replenish them once they have burned out. Regardless, Kate knows that I love stuff like this and makes it a point to make sure I get some for my big day. We both are all for the pampering route of self care and I always look forward to seeing which products she enjoys for herself that I would like by default. What can I say, her and I are insanely similar and, as per usual, this gift set knocked it out of the park!

I can’t wait to test out all of my new goodies and begin browsing for gifts for Kate’s upcoming birthday too. I am so lucky to have a BFF like her! ❤

What is your favorite thing to be gifted with? Are you and your BFF really similar to each other? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec31

Bath Bomb Blitz: Rusted Acre Soap Co. Jason Voorhees Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Rusted Acre Soap Co. Jason Voorhees Edition

Hello! Unfortunately, my holiday was less than holly jolly because I was sick AF. This was so incredibly disappointing to me because I took a whole week off of work to relax and visit with friends and family. I mean, I guess I did relax because I watched So. Many. Episodes. of My 600 Lb. Life lol. I also very much enjoyed using the bath bombs from my BFF Christmas gift. My darling Kate of Live In The Nautical treated me to the most amazing set of horror themed bath bombs by Rusted Acre Soap Co. They have been such a blast to use and it was so soothing to be able to soak my troubles away. After using the Knife bath bomb, I decided to use the Jason Voorhees one the following day. Check it out:

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^^^ Note how the final formation in the second to last picture kind of looks like the Jason mask!!

After the great success of the Knife bath bomb, I couldn’t wait to try more! Johnny and I watched all of the Friday The 13th movies this past Halloween and even though those movies suck, it was still a lot of fun. Nothing about this bath bomb sucked, however, and I was shook from the show this bath bomb put on! While Jason Voorhees is our least favorite slasher star, this is one of my favorite bath bombs I have ever used. As I watched this bath bomb do its thing, I found myself wondering at every surprise just how Rusted Acre Soap Co. created something so freaking cool!

Like the Knife bath bomb, the Jason one really didn’t start doing anything noteworthy until a few minutes in. It took well over five minutes (maybe eight?) for this bath bomb to fizz out entirely and this is both a blessing and a curse. While it does look awesome, it isn’t ideal for my situation because we do not have a lot of hot water at our apartment. By the time the bath bomb was done, the water was less than steamy, but I digress. Like any good slasher, the climax had a slow build up and the end result was phenomenal.

Out of nowhere, streams of blood red and forest green water began to shoot out of the eyes of the mask. It went this way and that throughout the tub and began changing the water to the inky red that the Knife bath bomb produced. This went on for a fair bit of time and I was honestly mentally willing it to go faster so the water would still be hot. Then, I noticed what the bath bomb was actually doing. It was replicating the Jason mask in the water! It took a good while for this to happen, but what a thrill when I realized it!!

I am going to rate the Jason Voorhees bath bomb with an eight out of ten stars. Yes, it took a minute to get to the grand reveal. BUT, this bath bomb accomplished something I didn’t even know was possible and it was fabulous. I can’t wait to see what the remaining three slasher stars in my gift set does!

Who is your favorite slasher star? What is the best bath bomb you have ever used? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec15

BFF Christmas Gift

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BFF Christmas Gift

Hi darlings!! In the past few days I have received so many early Christmas gifts and it has warmed my little heart. My Christmas countdown has been going on since the beginning of the month and these early prezzies are the perfect thing to tide me over until then. I am SO looking forward to some time off to celebrate with my family and finally giving them the gifts that have been sitting in my apartment for months! This Tuesday, I was delighted to receive Santa Mail from my beautiful angel best friend, Kate, of Live In The Nautical. She is my blogging/IRL bestie and her gifts this year simply sleighed – check it out:

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For literally every gift giving occasion, Kate wins. Lol, I consider myself to be an excellent gift giver but my best girl is on a whole other level. For my Christmas prezzies, Kate gifted me with a hand massager and an amazing set of horror themed bath bombs by Rusted Acre Soap Co. What I love about presents from Kate is that her gifts are always perfectly tailored to me. They are SO thoughtful and I can tell that she saves little tidbits from conversations in her Christmas Rolodex to find something just right. In fact, her gifts to me are either something that I would buy for myself or think about purchasing but never do. It’s that best friend telepathy, baby!

Kate gave me the gift of pampering this year and I can’t wait to use all of my new goodies. A car accident when Johnny and I first started dating left me with a lot of issues in my hands and arms that come and go. Spending a ton of time on the computer doesn’t exactly help the cause either lol so the hand massager is going to be fabulous to use! It is also so sweet to me that Kate clocked my complaints of hand pain throughout the year and said “I know the gift for her”. Johnny is also most eager to use it too haha so it’s a double gift. 😀

The piece de resistance, however, is the horror themed bath bombs by Rusted Acre Soap Co. Kate and I are both avid true crime fans, but she is SO not a horror movie gal! Yours truly, on the other hand, lives for them and I clutched my pearls when I opened my bath bomb box. These bath bombs are the absolute coolest and they look so great that I almost don’t want to use them. I totally will, though, and I just know they are going to be awesome. Bath bombs are a product I love, but rarely buy for myself and they are almost always a staple in Kate’s gifts. She has gifted me with spooky bath bombs before, but these ones take the cake!

The best gift of all will forever be having a best friend like Kate. I thank my lucky stars for her every day and for the wonderful blogosphere that brought us gals together. I love you, BFF!!! ❤ ❤ ❤

What is your favorite scary movie? How did you and your bestie meet? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug25

Mental Health Day

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Mental Health Day

Hello!! This past Monday, I enjoyed my first mental health day in I don’t know how long. Granted, it wasn’t necessarily my choice but it still counts lol. This weekend, I was in a crazy freak accident – no one was hurt, but my car was so I was out of commission to get to work anyways. I would have loved to have had a mental health day under different circumstances, but I guess I’ll take what I can get? Haha and I used my time off well!

On Monday, I slept in until… SIX AM!!! It was great and definitely beats my normal wake up time around 4:30. Melvin and Penelope weren’t thrilled to have postponed their super early morning outing, but once I was up they got to hang out outside of their hutch almost all day. I also was able to get my car set up for its repairs because who knew auto body shops were closed on the weekend? Not me and it was a big relief to get all of that sorted. Also, I took my car to a mom and pop shop and the owner was just adorable. 🙂

Once I was home from my errands, I got to work doing lots of cleaning and that felt fantastic. When my life was really crazy, it was hard to find the time or energy to do a good deep cleaning of the apartment. I got to do that and more with my day off and I felt so accomplished and proud of my efforts. Maybe I needed this day for me more than I realized because I knew it would be nice to clean, but I didn’t appreciate how nice until I proudly surveyed a sparkling space.

After my chores were done, I completed the last item on my agenda which was finishing my Independent Provider annual training. Every year, we must do eight hours of additional online training to maintain our certification. I was on hour six of mine so I didn’t have too much left to do, but it was cool to not have to do it once I was home from work. I also don’t mind the online training at all because they’re always super interesting and it’s fun to learn something new!

Once all of my checklist for my day off was accounted for, I got to spend the rest of my afternoon FaceTiming with my bestie, Kate, of Live In The Nautical. It was the perfect way to end my Mental Health Day. If you are feeling like you need a day for you too, then I can’t encourage an MHD enough. We all need one from time to time and it’s important to listen to what your mind and body needs!

How do you like to spend a day off? When was your last mental health day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah